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The clinical progression of neurodegenerative diseases correlates with the spread of proteinopathy in the brain. The current understanding of the mechanism of proteinopathy spread is far from complete. Here, we propose that inflammation is fundamental to proteinopathy spread. A sequence variant of α-synuclein (V40G) was much less capable of fibril formation than wild-type α-synuclein (WT-syn) and, when mixed with WT-syn, interfered with its fibrillation. However, when V40G was injected intracerebrally into mice, it induced aggregate spreading even more effectively than WT-syn. Aggregate spreading was preceded by sustained microgliosis and inflammatory responses, which were more robust with V40G than with WT-syn. Oral administration of an anti-inflammatory agent suppressed aggregate spreading, inflammation, and behavioral deficits in mice. Furthermore, exposure of cells to inflammatory cytokines increased the cell-to-cell propagation of α-synuclein. These results suggest that the inflammatory microenvironment is the major driver of the spread of synucleinopathy in the brain.

We present measurements of the total cross section (TCS) for electron scattering by ammonia in the energy range of 18.5 − 90 eV using a transmission attenuation technique. The overall TCS values were below 18.3 × 10–16 cm2 and exhibited a decreasing trend with increased electron energy within the measuring energy region. The total uncertainty of this measurement was evaluated to be in the range of 3.8 − 18.3%, which varied with the incident electron energies. The measured TCS values were mostly consistent with previous experimental and theoretical results, demonstrating the reliability of our experimental findings. Minor discrepancies observed in comparison with other studies at relatively high energy levels may be attributed to differences in the experimental conditions and uncertainties. This study highlights the significance of precise TCS measurements in enhancing our understanding of electron–molecule interactions in ammonia within the intermediate-energy range of 18.5 − 90 eV. Although an overall agreement exists between theory and experiment, there are still discrepancies, particularly at higher energies, warranting further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electron collision cross section data are complied from the literature for electron collisions with the nitrogen molecules, N2, N 2 + , and N 2 * . Cross sections are collected and reviewed for total scattering, elastic scattering, momentum transfer, rotational excitation, vibrational excitation, electronic excitation, dissociative processes, and ionization. The literature has been surveyed up to the end of 2021. For each of these processes, the recommended values of the cross sections are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine the possibility of using a gas molecule as an SF6 alternative gas, the insulation properties of the molecule must be estimated. In this work, we present a theoretical approach to calculate geometry parameters, electron scattering cross sections, and transport properties of nitrogen fluoride oxide (F3NO), which we have selected as an alternative to SF6. The molecular minimum structure of F3NO was optimized using the ɷB97X-D functional combined with the aug-cc-pVTZ basis set. Using this initial geometry obtained by the molecular structure calculation, the R-matrix calculation was done to obtain the elastic and momentum transfer cross section. The BE-f method was used for electronic excitation cross section. For the ionization cross section, the binary encounter Bethe method was used. From the calculated cross section data, the electron transport coefficients and reaction coefficients were calculated by solving the two-term approximated Boltzmann equation to investigate the discharge and insulation characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two independent methods, namely, Binary-encounter Bethe (BEB) and complex scattering potential-ionization contribution (CSP-ic) methods, are employed to calculate the total ionization cross section (Qion) for cyclic organic molecules from ionization threshold to 5 keV for which there is a paucity of data in the literature. The Qion calculated with the (BEB/ωB97X) combination is found to give good agreement with the experimental results, the CSP-ic method, and the Qion calculated from Irikura orbital energies. The Qion for most of the targets are calculated for the first time over such a wide energy range. Hence, to check the consistency and reliability of the present data, we have also computed the static polarizability for all the targets and the variation of maximum ionization cross section (Qion,max) with polarizability is studied. A linear relationship is observed between these quantities indicating the consistency and reliability of the present Qion data. The targets studied are important for industrial applications, radiation biology, and astrophysics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]