Search

We present the design and early-stage implementation of Uasisi, a system to assist the visually impaired in navigating physical spaces. In its simplest form, a single wearable device can assist the user by sensing the proximity of objects in the environment and providing vibratory feedback. More devices can be added in a modular way to form a wireless body area network, and this can, in turn, be connected to a cloud infrastructure where data related to the navigational patterns of the user can be analyzed and help in making further predictions. Our system can also adapt to form part of an augmented environment where smart objects communicate and cooperate with each other to provide a more rich and complex navigation experience for the user. We show a series of experiments where various configurations of the system are tested with users who can not see and must navigate spaces previously unknown to them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the design and early-stage implementation of Uasisi, a system to assist the visually impaired in navigating physical spaces. In its simplest form, a single wearable device can assist the user by sensing the proximity of objects in the environment and providing vibratory feedback. More devices can be added in a modular way to form a wireless body area network, and this can, in turn, be connected to a cloud infrastructure where data related to the navigational patterns of the user can be analyzed and help in making further predictions. Our system can also adapt to form part of an augmented environment where smart objects communicate and cooperate with each other to provide a more rich and complex navigation experience for the user. We show a series of experiments where various configurations of the system are tested with users who can not see and must navigate spaces previously unknown to them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our research challenges the traditional view that unemployment is an unequivocal negative event in working life. We argue that depending on workers’ educational attainment and on national-specific institutional settings unemployment might have different implications on young workers who begin their employment careers in low occupational positions. The strongly skill-based and rigid labour market in Germany increases the likelihood of a better initial position but might hinder occupational mobility via unemployment. In contrast, in the more flexible labour market of the United Kingdom, an unemployment phase might indeed be a conventional means by which workers improve their occupational positions. We use longitudinal data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP) and the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) to estimate chances of re-employment and changes in occupational status after unemployment. Our results show that workers with tertiary education, employed in jobs for which they are overeducated, significantly improve their occupational positions after unemployment in the United Kingdom and Germany. The same applies to workers with secondary education in the United Kingdom, but not in Germany. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hontomín Technology Development Plant for CO 2 geological storage located in Spain, owned by Fundación Ciudad de la Energía (CIUDEN) is the only current onshore injection site in the European Union,. iIt has been recognized by the European Parliament as a key test facility ( E.P. Resolution, 2014 ). The storage reservoir is a deep saline aquifer comprised of carbonates (limestones and dolomites) of the120 m thick Sopeña Fm, and seal rocks belong to the overlying series of Pozazal and Lias formations. In this article experiences and lessons learned during the reservoir hydraulic characterization are discussed, analyzing the methodology of different types of tests performed at laboratory and field scale. CO 2 injection in this reservoir shows specific features that are different than injection in porous media. Considering the low porosity/permeability of the rock matrix in the case study, the CO 2 transmissivity is dominated by the fracture network where hydrodynamic and geochemical effects play a key role influencing the reservoir behavior and defining conditions for safe and efficient injection. The challenge at Hontomín was to manage the low injectivity in the reservoir. Recommendations to overcome this difficulty are analyzed. The design of injection strategies must consider characteristic parameters at the well head, tubing and bottom hole according to the interpretation of results from petrophysical laboratory tests, in particular those performed under reservoir conditions, and from field tests conducted on site. The use of an appropriate dynamic model is essential to achieve a realistic assessment of reservoir behavior. The hypothesis, data interpretation and conclusions reached with the modeling are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of expanded graphitic materials are prepared from two different precursors: micrometric synthetic graphite and graphitized carbon nanofibers, and tested as anodes for sodium-ion batteries. The materials preparation involves the oxidation of the precursors followed by partial thermal reduction. Overall, the expanded synthetic graphite materials show better electrochemical performance as anode than the expanded graphite nanofibers, providing higher specific capacity, leading to lower capacity losses in the first discharge-charge cycle and exhibiting outstanding cycling stability. Specific capacities of ∼150 mA h g −1 at 37 mA g −1 and ∼110 mA h g −1 at 100 mA g −1 are attained, and up to 50% of the initial capacity at 19 mA g −1 is kept at 372 mA g −1 . Unexpectedly, higher capacity losses are measured for the nanostructured electrodes by progressively increasing the current density. These differences are attributed to the lower surface area and porosity of expanded synthetic graphite materials which favors the formation of thinner and more stable SEI, thus reducing the electrode resistance and enhancing the accessibility of Na + ions to surface oxygen-containing functional groups with the consequent increase of the surface capacity which was found to be the main contribution to the total specific capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an attempt to find an adequate carbon material to achieve a successful reversible adsorption of Na + ions, single layer graphene, is experimentally investigated in this work, for the first time, as anode for sodium-ion batteries. To this end, single layer graphene that was grown on copper foil by chemical vapor deposition was subjected to extended galvanostatic cycling and to cyclic voltammetry in the potential range of 0-2.8 V versus Na/Na + . Regardless of the current density and electrolyte formulation used, the amount of Na + ions adsorbed/desorbed reversibly per surface area (specific reversible cell capacity) was very modest and comparable to that obtained with bare copper electrodes of reference, thus suggesting that the reversible capacity of the single layer graphene electrode is mostly due to the electrochemical response of the copper substrate. These experimental results clearly agree with recent theoretical calculations showing that the adsorption of Na + ions on the surface of single layer graphene is energetically unfavourable unless that surface includes significant defects density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A systematic analysis is presented of a CSP plant family based on: - A solar radiation concentrator according to the Advanced Fresnel linear mirror system which optimizes the ratio between captured radiation and weigh of the concentrator. - A receiver using dry air (at 10 MPa) as heat carrier fluid, working as a bunch of pipes with outstanding performances of thermal efficiency. - A low-losses receiver using air at a constant pressure of 0.1 MPa, with strong suppression of radiation and convection. - A plant layout with to separated regions, the inner one directly connected to the Power Block through a steam generator; and the outer region where hot air is driven to an intermediate heat exchanger where a stream of molten salt is heated, and collected, and sent to a second steam generator feeding the power block. - The molten salt streams can be stored as thermal energy storage, so that the plant can be fully regulated and could work after sunset. The main result is that a simple and robust design of CSP plants embodying a number of patents and other innovations can be identified as a main road to reach commercial maturity and to low down costs until becoming competitive with traditional energy sources. This technology is estimated to achieve annual efficiencies of 13%, in the same order of magnitude than parabolic trough collectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of seven different hydrocolloids are tested as water-soluble binders for synthetic graphite (SG)-based electrodes of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and compared with the standard poly(vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF) binder. The hydrocolloids selected are sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (Na-CMC), sodium alginate (Na-Alg), gum arabic (GA), xanthan gum (XG), guar gam (GG), agar-agar (AA) and carrageenan (CAR), the latter three with no precedents in the literature. They all show thermal and electrochemical stability under the experimental conditions employed. For SG/hydrocolloid electrodes, binder concentrations of 5 wt% are found to be optimal, providing outstanding electrochemical performances for electrodes with Na-Alg Na-CMC, XG and GG in galvanostatic cycling experiments at constant (C/10, with C = 372 mA g −1 ) and variable (from C/10 to 2C) current rates, which are comparable, or even superior to those of SG/PVDF electrodes with higher binder content (8 wt%). In contrast, SG/GA, SG/CAR and SG/AA electrodes show poorer electrochemical performances, most likely owing to the low adhesion capacity of the binder (GA and CAR), or the formation of films covering the SG particles (CAR and AA). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrochemical performance as anodes in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) of graphitized stacked-cup carbon nanofibers (CNFs) with different degree of structural order is investigated by galvanostatic cycling. To this end, two types of commercial CNFs (PR19 and PR24) bearing this microstructure were heat treated in the range of 1800-2800 °C. The discharge capacity provided at the end of cycling, the capacity retention along cycling (cyclability) and the cycling efficiency (charge capacity/discharge capacity) of these nanomaterials improve significantly after heat treatment. Specifically, a progressive increase of the discharge capacity with the growth of the crystallites sizes (L c , L a ) and the decrease of the structural defects (I D /I t ) is observed. All heat-treated CNFs exhibit cyclabilities > 80% after 50 cycles and efficiencies > 90%. Particularly outstanding is the performance of PR19-2800 which provides a discharge capacity of 295 mAh g −1 with capacity retention up to 88%. The CNFs heat treated at 2800 °C also show good rate capabilities, keeping reversible capacities > 200 mAh g −1 at a 2C (744 mA g −1 ) rate, and > 100 mAh g −1 after prolonged cycling (500 cycles) at a 1C rate, clearly outperforming synthetic graphite having micrometric particle size and much larger development of the crystalline structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] We analyzed data from 42 population-based studies on Chagas disease prevalence. [•] National pooled prevalence ranged from 4.4% (95% CI: 2.3-8.3) in the 1980's to 2.4% (95% CI: 1.5–3.8) after 2000. [•] Pooled prevalence in >60 year-olds was 17.7% (95% CI: 11.4-26.5). [•] Systematic population-based studies are needed to provide more accurate estimates. [•] Compulsory notification of the chronic forms of Chagas disease should be implemented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Glass cannot be handled as a conventional structural material from the point of view of the mechanical strength. Its nature as brittle material, together with the inevitable presence of micro-cracks on its surface and the consequences of eventual failures, demand rigorous methods to achieve a safe design for glass elements, whose stress resistance is very much dependent on the integrity of its surface, element size and loading pattern. Thus, glass design must rely on probabilistic concepts and fracture mechanics criteria, substitutive of the conventional glass design based on charts derived from experimental programmes and subsequent application of the admissible stress concept. In order to analyze and compare the strength characteristics of tempered, heat-strengthened and annealed glass, a large test campaign based on four-point bending and coaxial double ring tests was performed and the results were fitted using a three-parameter Weibull cumulative distribution function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Short-sleep and long-sleep duration are associated with prevalent hypertension, poor cardiovascular health, and mortality. The relation of sleep hours with increased left ventricular (LV) mass, a strong correlate of elevated blood pressure (BP) values, is not established. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis among the participants of the population-based Cardiovascular Abnormalities and Brain Lesions study. LV mass was estimated by transthoracic echocardiography. Sleep duration was assessed by reported hours of sleep on a diary kept during 24-hour BP monitoring. Multivariate linear regression models were constructed to assess the relation between sleep hours and LV mass index (LV mass divided by body surface area). Analysis of sleep hour categories (short and long sleep) was performed. Among 756 participants (mean age 71 ± 9 years, 60% women, and 71% Hispanics), the mean sleep duration was 8.6 ± 1.8 hours, and LV mass index was 103 ± 26 g/ m². A J-shaped relation between sleep hours squared and LV mass index was observed adjusting for demographics and cardiovascular risk factors. Categorical analysis showed an association between long-sleep duration (>11 hours) and LV mass index (β = 7.4; p = 0.013). Long sleepers had higher diurnal systolic BP (p = 0.012) and nocturnal systolic BP (p <0.001) compared with the reference group. A great part of the variance between sleep duration and LV mass was explained by 24-hour systolic BP (β = 0.45; p <0.0001). In conclusion, self-reported long-sleep duration was associated with increased LV mass. Higher systolic BP, especially nocturnal, may account for part of the observed association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) and carbon nanotubes have revolutionized the world of the nanotechnology due to their excellent mechanical, electrical and thermal properties. CNFs are graphitic fibers made of stacks of graphene layers aligned perpendicular, tilted or parallel to the fiber axis, thus resulting in different microstructures. Post-production treatments can be applied to CNFs to improve their performance in several applications. Among them, the heat treatment at high temperature to achieve the transformation of the CNFs into graphite (graphitization) or graphitized CNFs (graphitization heat treatment) has been studied in detail. This review covers the literature on this topic for the last 20years, analyzing the structural and textural changes shown by the CNFs during graphitization, and how these changes influence their mechanical and electrical properties. Different techniques, particularly, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, have allowed to determine the microstructure of these nanofilaments. A survey of the applications of graphitized CNFs is provided, these including additives for polymer reinforcement in composites, anodes in lithium-ion batteries, catalyst supports in fuel cells, hydrogen storage and others such as potential biosensors and catalysts in diverse reactions. In this regard, special emphasis is placed on the advantages (or disadvantages) of using graphitized CNFs instead of as-grown CNFs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Asbtract: The mandibular condylar and temporal cartilages in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) play an important role as a stress absorber during function. However, relatively little information is available on its viscoelastic properties in dynamic compression, particularly in a physiological range of frequencies. We hypothesized that these properties are region-specific and depend on loading frequency. To characterize the viscoelastic properties of both cartilages, we performed dynamic indentation tests over a wide range of loading frequencies. Nine porcine TMJs were used; the articular surface was divided into five regions: anterior; central; posterior; medial and lateral. Sinusoidal compressive strain was applied with an amplitude of 1.0% and a frequency range between 0.01 and 10Hz. In both cartilages, the dynamic storage modulus increased with frequency, and the value was the highest in the lateral region. These values of E′ in the temporal cartilage were smaller than those in the mandibular condylar cartilage in all five regions except the lateral region. The Loss tangent values were higher in the temporal cartilage (0.35–0.65) than in the mandibular condylar one (0.2–0.45), which means that the temporal cartilage presents higher viscosity. The present results suggest that the dynamic compressive moduli in both cartilages are region-specific and dependent on the loading frequency, which might have important implications for the transmission of load in the TMJ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The effects of squamocin and laherradurin, two annonaceous acetogenins (ACG) from Annona cherimolia seeds on naphthalene degradation and biofilm formation of Pseudomonas plecoglossicida J26 were evaluated. These PAHs degrading bacteria have been shown to increase their biofilm formation when small concentrations of squamocin or laherradurin were added to the culture medium. An increase of initial naphthalene degradation rate was observed in ACG treated cultures that permitted us to establish that there is a relationship between naphthalene consumption and biofilm formation. The stimulation of biofilm formation led to increased consumption of naphthalene. Naphthalene consumption rate has been tripled in presence of ACG. This fact could be employed to increase biofilm formation and efficiency of PAHs bioremediation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Squamocin, an annonaceous acetogenin (ACG) extracted from Annona cherimolia (Annonaceae), has been shown to increase biofilm production of Pseudomonas plecoglossicida J26 (closely related to P. plecoglossicida), a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon degrading bacterium. PAHs have become priority pollutants for bioremediation due to their carcinogenicity and toxicity. The effect of various stressful stimuli (naphthalene, octanol, HCl, and NaCl) on cell growth, biofilm formation and autoinducer production of P. plecoglossicida were evaluated and compared with the effect of squamocin to establish its mode of action on biofilm formation. All stressors that inhibited growth stimulated autoinducer production while squamocin was growth stimulant at concentrations above 2.5 μg ml−1. Despite structural similarities, squamocin is not an autoinducer agonist. It indirectly stimulates autoinducer production and increases P. plecoglossicida J26 cell growth. This is the first report on an ACG mode of action in the formation of biofilm in a naphthalene-degrading strain. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: Background: Wilderness travellers to remote National Parks of Brazil may be particularly at risk of tropical diseases and injury. The aim of this study was to describe injury and illness, potentially hazardous situations, accidents and other incidents experienced by travellers to a remote National Park in Brazil. Method: The study was done in the National Park, “Serra da Capivara”, in Piauí State northeast Brazil. Key informants were interviewed using semi-structured interviews, and a self-administered questionnaire was used for visitors. Questions included information on health problems and risk behaviour in the park, as well as pre-travel health advice. Results: In total, 14 tour guides, 7 hotel managers and 17 health professionals were interviewed, as key informants. Eighty visitors returned the completed questionnaires (60 Brazilian, 20 foreigners). The key informants reported different risk behaviour of groups and individuals travellers, and incidents most commonly mentioned were minor injuries, insect bites/bee stings and allergic reactions. Seventy percent of the Brazilian and 55% of the foreign visitors had obtained pre-travel health advice, but only 5% of Brazilians and 15% of foreign visitors has obtained this advice from a physician. The most common source of information was other people who already had visited the park and travel books. Of the Brazilians, 13.3% reported some health incident during their stay, most commonly bee bites and headache. Two foreign travellers reported three incidents (insect bites/bee stings, diarrhoea and sunburn). Most commonly reported hazardous situations perceived by the tourists were possible accidents caused by falling from a stairway or falling stones, poisonous animals and insect bites/bee stings. Conclusions: Surveys conducted at remote tourist destinations are a feasible approach to report vulnerable situations, practices and incidents of visitors to a National Park. We have shown that most travellers are not adequately prepared and many experienced vulnerable situations during their visit to the National Park. It is important that visitors to National Parks in Brazil are encouraged to obtain travel health advice. The most common and potentially serious incident (bee stings) is rarely addressed in pre-travel health advice. Travel health advisers should ensure that they have access to locally relevant information for travellers, so that appropriate preventive measures can be instituted. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Cannabinoid CB1 receptors are the most abundant G-protein-coupled receptors in the brain. Its presynaptic location suggests a role for cannabinoids in modulating the release of neurotransmitters from axon terminals by retrograde signaling. The neuroprotective effects of cannabinoid agonists in animal models of ischemia, seizures, hypoxia, Multiple Sclerosis, Huntington and Parkinson disease have been demonstrated in several reports. The proposed mechanism for the neuroprotection ranges from antioxidant effects, reduction of microglial activation and anti-inflammatory reaction to receptor-mediated reduction of glutamate release. In the present work, we analyzed the morphological changes induced by a chronic treatment with the synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist, WIN 55,212-2, in four brain regions where the CB1 cannabinoid receptor is present in high density: the CA1 hippocampal area, corpus striatum, cerebellum and frontal cortex. After a twice-daily treatment for 14 days with the cannabinoid receptor agonist (3 mg/kg sc, each dose) to male Wistar rats (150–170 g), the expression of neurofilaments (Nf-160 and Nf-200), microtubule-associated protein-2 (MAP-2), synaptophysin (Syn) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was studied by immunohistochemistry and digital image analysis. Ultrastructural study of the synapses was done using electron microscopy. After the treatment, a significant increase in the expression of neuronal cytoskeletal proteins (Nf-160, Nf-200, MAP-2) was observed, but we did not find changes in the expression of GFAP, the main astroglial cytoskeletal protein. In cerebellum, there was an increase in Syn expression and in the number of synaptic vesicles, while, in the hippocampus, an increase in the Syn expression and in the thickness of the postsynaptic densities was observed. The results obtained from these studies provide evidences on the absence of astroglial reaction and a sprouting phenomena induced by the WIN treatment that might be a key contributor to the long-term neuroprotective effects observed after cannabinoid treatments in different models of central nervous system (CNS) injury reported in the literature. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Serotonin 1A (5HT1A) receptor agonists have shown neuroprotective properties in different models of central nervous system injury. Activation of neuronal 5HT1A receptors appears to be involved in the neuroprotective effects. It remains to be elucidated if astroglial cells are responsive to the 5HT1A neuroprotective effects. The participation of astroglial S100B trophic factor has been proposed since 5HT1A activation leads to S100B release and nanomolar concentration level of this molecule showed pro-survival activity in neuronal cultures. Using the cortical devascularization model (CD; unilateral pial disruption), a procedure that results in localized ischemia without producing direct physical damage to brain tissue, we tested the effects of a full 5HT1A agonist, 8-OH-DPAT, or the antagonist WAY-100635 on cortical neuronal survival, astroglial cell response and S100B expression. Wistar rats were subjected to CD lesion which consisted of a craniotomy followed by physical damage to the underlying pial blood vessels. Two and twenty-four hours after the CD lesion, animals received intraperitoneally 8-OH-DPAT (1 mg/kg), WAY-100635 (1 mg/kg) or vehicle (sterile saline). At 3, 7 or 14 days post-lesion, animals were sacrificed and their brains processed for immunohistochemistry to detect GFAP, vimentin, MAP-2, S100B and nuclear Hoechst staining. S100B level in the brain cortex and serum was quantified by an ELISA assay. Serum S100B was considered an index of S100B release. 8-OH-DPAT treatment reduced neuronal death, dendrite loss, astroglial hypertrophy and hyperplasia. In contrast, WAY-100635 treatment increased these parameters of damage. S100B intracellular immunoreactivity in astrocytes and total S100B level showed long-lasting changes after the CD lesion and subsequent treatments depending on the 5HT1A activity. The level of serum S100B was increased in 8-OH-DPAT-treated animals. Increased damage observed in WAY-100635-treated animals supports the hypothesis that the protective 8-OH-DPAT action may be mediated by specific 5HT1A receptors. The reduction in astroglial hypertrophy and hyperplasia as well as long-term changes in S100B immunoreactivity and increased S100B release that we observed allows us to hypothesize that astroglial cells may play an important role in 5HT1A-mediated neuroprotection. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Tau is the main component of the paired helical filaments (PHFs), aberrant structures that develop in the brain of Alzheimer''s disease (AD) patients and other tauopathies like frontotemporal dementia and parkinsonism associated to chromosome 17 (FTDP-17). Previous work has shown that tau overexpression in Sf9 insect cells results in the formation of long cytoplasmatic extensions as a consequence of microtubule stabilization and bundling. Throughout this work, we have taken studies in this system further by overexpression of an altered form of tau characteristic of FTDP-17, which includes three mutations (G272V, P301L and R406W) and biochemically behaves as a hyperphosphorylated form of the protein, with the aim of developing an in vitro model which would favour the formation of tau aggregates. Our results indicate that filaments resembling PHFs assemble when Sf9 cells overexpress FTDP-17 tau. The amount of these polymers is reduced in lithium treated cells which suggests that phosphorylation of FTDP-17 tau by GSK3 induces a conformational change favouring the formation of fibrillar polymers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Serotonin (5-HT) is expressed early during central nervous system (CNS) development and plays an important role during this period. Nitric oxide (NO) is also involved in neuronal development. Morphological and functional relationships between NO and 5-HT, demonstrated as alterations of the nitrergic system, were observed after a 5-HT depletion. It has been hypothesized that NO may be related to the neuronal damage induced by some 5-HT neurotoxins. A parachloroamphetamine (PCA) treatment is able to damage ascending 5-HT fibers proceeding from the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) and depletes 5-HT storage in neuronal somata. In order to study the effects of a 5-HT depletion on the nitrergic system during postnatal development, Wistar rat pups were injected subcutaneously twice, on postnatal day (PND) 3 and PND4 with PCA. Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) immunoreactivity and NADPH diaphorase reactivity were performed on brain sections from PND5, 7, 12, 19, 29 and 62 animals. After the treatment, we found an increased NADPH-d staining and nNOS immunoreactivity in striatum, frontal cortex and hippocampus along the different studied time periods. Interestingly, the expression of both NO markers was higher when 5-HT depletion was more evident, suggesting a very close relationship between 5-HT and NO systems during postnatal development. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Serotonin (5HT) modulates the development and plasticity of its innervation areas in the central nervous system (CNS). Astrocytic 5HT1A receptors are involved in the plastic phenomena by releasing the astroglial-derived neurotrophic factor S-100β. Several facts have demonstrated that nitric oxide (NO) and the nitric oxide synthase enzyme (NOS) may also be involved in this neuroglial interaction: (i) NO, S-100β and 5HT are involved in CNS plasticity; (ii) micromolar S-100β concentration stimulates inducible-NOS (iNOS) expression; (iii) neuronal NOS (nNOS) immunoreactive neurons are functionally and morphologically related to the serotoninergic neurons; (iv) monoamines level, including 5HT, can be modulated by NO release. We have already shown that 5HT depletion increases astroglial S-100β immunoreactivity, induces neuronal cytoskeletal alterations and produces an astroglial reaction, while once 5HT level is recovered, a sprouting phenomenon occurs [Brain Res. 883 (2000) 1–14]. To further characterize the relationship among nNOS, iNOS and 5HT we have analyzed nNOS and iNOS expression in the CNS after 5HT depletion induced by parachlorophenylalanine (PCPA) treatment. Studies were performed immediately after ending the PCPA treatment and during a recovery period of 35 days. Areas densely innervated by 5HT fibers were studied by means of nNOS and iNOS immunoreactivity as well as NADPH diaphorase (NADPHd) staining. All parameters were quantified by computer-assisted image analysis. Increased nNOS immunoreactivity in striatum and hippocampus as well as increased NADPHd reactivity in the striatum, hippocampus and parietal cortex were found after PCPA treatment. The iNOS immunoreactivity in the corpus callosum increased 14 and 35 days after the end of PCPA treatment. These findings showed that nNOS immunoreactivity and NADPHd activity increased immediately after 5HT depletion evidencing a close functional interaction between nitrergic and serotoninergic systems. However, iNOS immunoreactivity increased when 5HT levels were normalized, which could indicate one of the biological responses to S-100β release. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The omicron BA.1 bivalent booster is used globally. Previous open-label studies of the omicron BA.1 (Moderna mRNA-1273.214) booster showed superior neutralising antibody responses against omicron BA.1 and other variants compared with the original mRNA-1273 booster. We aimed to compare the safety and immunogenicity of omicron BA.1 monovalent and bivalent boosters with the original mRNA-1273 vaccine in a large, randomised controlled trial. In this large, randomised, observer-blind, active-controlled, phase 3 trial in the UK (28 hospital and vaccination clinic sites), individuals aged 16 years or older who had previously received two injections of any authorised or approved COVID-19 vaccine, with or without an mRNA vaccine booster (third dose), were randomly allocated (1:1) using interactive response technology to receive 50 μg omicron BA.1 monovalent or bivalent vaccines or 50 μg mRNA-1273 administered as boosters via deltoid intramuscular injection. The primary outcomes were safety and immunogenicity at day 29, including prespecified non-inferiority and superiority of booster immune responses, based on the neutralising antibody geometric mean concentration (GMC) ratios of the monovalent and bivalent boosters compared with mRNA-1273. Safety was assessed in all participants who received first or second boosters, and primary immunogenicity outcomes were assessed in all participants who received the planned booster dose, had pre-booster and day 29 antibody data, had no major protocol deviations, and who were SARS-CoV-2-negative. The study is registered with EudraCT (2022-000063-51) and ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05249829) and is ongoing. Between Feb 16 and March 24, 2022, 724 participants were randomly allocated to receive omicron BA.1 monovalent (n=366) or mRNA-1273 (n=357), and between April 2 and June 17, 2022, 2824 participants were randomly allocated to receive omicron BA.1 bivalent (n=1418) or mRNA-1273 (n=1395) vaccines as second boosters. Median durations (months) between the most recent COVID-19 vaccine and study boosters were similar for omicron BA.1 monovalent (4·0 months [IQR 3·6–4·7]) and mRNA-1273 (4·1 [3·5–4·7]), and for the omicron BA.1 bivalent (5·5 [4·8–6·2]) and mRNA-1273 (5·4 [4·8–6·2]) boosters. The omicron BA.1 monovalent and bivalent boosters elicited superior neutralising GMCs against the omicron BA.1 variant compared with mRNA-1273, with GMC ratios of 1·68 (99% CI 1·45−1·95) and 1·53 (1·41−1·67) at day 29 post-booster doses in participants without previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. Both boosters induced non-inferior ancestral SARS-CoV-2 (Asp614Gly) immune responses with GMCs that were similar for the bivalent (2987·2 [95% CI 2814·9–3169·9]) versus mRNA-1273 (2911·3 [2750·9–3081·0]) and lower for the monovalent (2699·7 [2431·3–2997·7] vs 3020·6 [2776·5–3286·2]) boosters, with respective GMC ratios of 1·05 (99% CI 0·96–1·15) and 0·82 (95% CI 0·74–0·91). Results were comparable regardless of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection status. Incidences of solicited adverse reactions with the omicron BA.1 monovalent (335 [91·3%] of 367 participants) and omicron BA.1 bivalent (1285 [90·4%] of 1421 participants) boosters were similar to those observed previously for mRNA-1273, with no new safety concerns identified and no occurrences of fatal adverse events. Omicron-containing booster vaccines generated superior immunogenicity against omicron BA.1 and comparable immunogenicity against the original strain with no new safety concerns. It remains important to continuously monitor the immune responses and real-world vaccine effectiveness as divergent SARS-CoV-2 variants emerge. Moderna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrochemical performance as potential anodes for sodium-ion batteries of boron-doped and non-doped graphitic carbon foams is investigated by galvanostic cycling versus Na/Na + at different electrical current densities, in glyme-based electrolytes which are known to allow the intercalation of the Na + ions into graphite. The influence of materials composition and graphitic degree on battery parameters is firstly determined and further discussed by analyzing the mechanism of the electrochemical storage of Na + ions into these materials which was found to occur through different combinations of pseudocapacitive intercalation and diffusion-controlled intercalation processes. In summary, the results of this study have demonstrated that graphitic carbon foams match a very acceptable capacity with excellent cycle stability as well as performance at high electrical current densities (up to ∼ 90 mAh g −1 after 300 cycles at 1.9 A g −1 with coulombic efficiency ∼ 100%) which make them suitable for sodium-ion battery applications. Overall, the increase of the interlayer spacing between the graphene layers and the presence of boron promote the pseudocapacitive intercalation which is responsible for the remarkable rate performance of these materials, whereas the improvement of diffusion-controlled intercalation capacity is mainly related to larger boron content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Population-based study of <2000 Hispanics/Latinos that underwent neuroimaging. • Older age was associated with smaller gray matter volumes. • Older age was associated with larger white matter hyperintensity volumes. • Age-related differences in gray matter volumes differed by sex. Hispanic/Latino adults are a growing segment of the older U.S. population yet are underrepresented in brain aging research. We aimed to characterize brain aging among diverse Hispanic/Latino individuals. Hispanic/Latino individuals (unweighted n = 2273 ages 35–85 years; 56% female) from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) population-based study underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as part of the SOL- Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging MRI (SOL-INCA-MRI) ancillary study (2018–2022). We performed linear regressions to calculate age associations with brain volumes for each outcome (total (global) brain, hippocampal, lateral ventricle, total white matter hyperintensity (WMH), individual cortical lobar, and total cortical gray matter) and tested modification by sex. Older age was associated with smaller gray matter volumes and larger lateral ventricle and WMH volumes. Age-related differences in global brain volumes and gray matter volumes in specific regions (i.e., the hippocampus and temporal and occipital lobes) were less pronounced among women. Our findings warrant further investigation into sex-specific mechanisms of brain aging using longitudinal studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrochemical performance as potential anodes for lithium-ion batteries of graphitized biogas-derived carbon nanofibers (BCNFs) is investigated by galvanostatic cycling versus Li/Li + at different electrical current densities. These graphitic nanomaterials have been prepared by high temperature treatment of carbon nanofibers produced in the catalytic decomposition of biogas. At low current density, they deliver specific capacities comparable to that of oil-derived micrometric graphite, the capacity retention values being mostly in the range 70-80% and cycling efficiency ∼ 100%. A clear tendency of the anode capacity to increase alongside the BCNFs crystal thickness was observed. Besides the degree of graphitic tri-dimensional structural order, the presence of loops between the adjacent edges planes on the graphene layers, the mesopore volume and the active surface area of the graphitized BCNFs were found to influence on battery reversible capacity, capacity retention along cycling and irreversible capacity. Furthermore, provided that the development of the crystalline structure is comparable, the graphitized BCNFs studied show better electrochemical rate performance than micrometric graphite. Therefore, this result can be associated with the nanometric particle size as well as the larger surface area of the BCNFs which, respectively, reduces the diffusion time of the lithium ions for the intercalation/de-intercalation processes, i.e. faster charge-discharge rate, and increases the contact area at the anode active material/electrolyte interface which may improve the Li + ions access, i.e. charge transfer reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]