Devices based on 2D materials for on-chip amplification of ionization charges

Pixels detectors are widely used ionizing radiation detection devices in high-energy physics (HEP)experiments. Segmented detectors have been employed for many years due to the need to simul-taneously track the thousands of particles emerging from modern colliders. For more preciseand accurate measurements one would like to have faster, less noisy and smaller pixels, but cur-rent technology imposes several limits on these characteristics. The aim of this work is to ex-plore the possible applications of bi-dimensional materials such as Graphene or transition metaldichalcogenide monolayers (TMDs) to address these problems. In particular, one wants to de-termine whether nano-electronic devices based on 2D materials could be used to obtain built-inpre-amplification of the pixel signal, thus achieving better detection performance. The workingprinciple is the field-effect modulation of the channel conductivity in a 2D material-based tran-sistor, due to the presence of ionization charges in a silicon absorber. Several architectures aretested, and a final device of choice is presented, with a sketch of a realistic readout system andits noise figure. The conductance modulation due to incoming particles is found to be more than30%, resulting in a strong current signal, which leads to very favourable signal-to-noise ratios (SNR)

The success of Eso-SPONGE® therapy in the treatment of anastomotic dehiscence after Ivor-Lewis subtotal esophagectomy: A case report

Introduction Eso-SPONGE® has proved to be an excellent method for the treatment of persistent dehiscence of the intrathoracic esophagogastric anastomosis during the operation of subtotal esophagectomy sec. Ivor Lewis. Clinical case presentation The case presented is of a 72-year-old patient with esophageal adenocarcinoma (ADK) who underwent sub-total esophagectomy and esophagoplasty sec. Ivor Lewis complicated by an esophageal leak. The Eso-SPONGE® therapy has been successful halving the index of inflammation after the first two sessions and generation of a neowall after seven sessions. Discussion Eso-SPONGE® therapy has proven to be a valuable resource as a treatment for esophageal anastomotic dehiscences because it is easily repeatable in suburban centers, provided that they have a digestive endoscopy specialized in the positioning process. Conclusions Eso-SPONGE® is a minimally invasive method that delivers excellent results in the treatment of fragile patients, such as those who have post-esophageal anastomotic dehiscence

Highly Tunable Emission by Halide Engineering in Lead-Free Perovskite-Derivative Nanocrystals: The Cs2SnX6 (X = Cl, Br, Br/I, I) System

Nanocrystals of Cs2SnX6 (X = Cl, Br, Br0.5I0.5, and I) have been prepared by a simple, optimized, hot-injection method, reporting for the first time the synthesis of Cs2SnCl6, Cs2SnBr6, and mixed Cs2Sn(I0.5Br0.5)6 nanocrystalline samples. They all show a cubic crystal structure with a linear scaling of lattice parameter by changing the halide size. The prepared nanocrystals have spherical shape with average size from 3 to 6 nm depending on the nature of the halide and span an emission range from 444 nm (Cs2SnCl6) to 790 nm (Cs2SnI6) with a further modulation provided by mixed Br/I systems

Dysregulation of the Autonomous Nervous System in Patients with Temporomandibular Disorder: A Pupillometric Study

The role of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) was recently investigated in Temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Several authors argue that in subjects with TMD there is a dysregulation of ANS. Recent literature support that Pupillometry is a simple non-invasive tool to study ANS. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between TMD and ANS activity using pupillometry recording in Infrared light at rest Mandible Position (RP); Infrared light at Forced Habitual Occlusion (FHO); Yellow-green light at RP; Yellow-green light at FHO. Forty female subjects were enrolled: 20 case patients showed TMD based on the Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD, and 20 control patients, aged matched, had no signs or symptoms of TMD. Statistical analysis was performed on average pupil size. Ratio between pupil size in FHO and RP (FHO/RP ratio) and yellow-green and infrared (light/darkness ratio) lighting were carried out. Within group differences of pupil size and of "ratio" were analyzed using a paired t test, while differences of pupil size between groups were tested using an unpaired t test. Statistical comparisons between groups showed no significant differences of absolute values of pupil dimension in RP and FHO, both in yellow-green and in infrared lighting. In addition, there were no significant differences within groups comparing RP and FHO in yellow-green light. In within group comparison of pupil size, differences between RP and FHO were significant in infrared conditions. Control subjects increased, whereas TMD patients decreased pupil size at FHO in infrared lightening. FHO/RP ratio in darkness and light/darkness ratio in RP were significantly different between groups. Taken together, these data suggest that TMD subjects have an impairment of the sympathetic-adrenergic component of the ANS to be activated under stress. The present study provides preliminary pupillometric data confirming that adrenergic function is dysregulated in patients with TMD

MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION AND GENOTYPING OF CIAUSCOLO AUTOCHTHONOUS MICROFLORA: PRELIMINARY STUDY

The present study reports the results of a preliminary characterization of the bacterial population of Ciauscolo, a typical Italian fermented sausage, traditionally manufactured in Marche region. The bacterial community involved in Ciauscolo fermentation was investigated using both molecular and culturebased methods. The estimation of genotypic intra-species variation of the autochthonous bacteria isolated was also evaluated by using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis and unweighted pairgroup method with arithmetic averages (UPGMA) cluster analysis. Our findings revealed an high diversity of the autochthonous bacterial population investigated, both at species and strain level

Id1 Restrains p21 Expression to Control Endothelial Progenitor Cell Formation

Loss of Id1 in the bone marrow (BM) severely impairs tumor angiogenesis resulting in significant inhibition of tumor growth. This phenotype has been associated with the absence of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in the peripheral blood of Id1 mutant mice. However, the manner in which Id1 loss in the BM controls EPC generation or mobilization is largely unknown. Using genetically modified mouse models we demonstrate here that the generation of EPCs in the BM depends on the ability of Id1 to restrain the expression of its target gene p21. Through a series of cellular and functional studies we show that the increased myeloid commitment of BM stem cells and the absence of EPCs in Id1 knockout mice are associated with elevated p21 expression. Genetic ablation of p21 rescues the EPC population in the Id1 null animals, re-establishing functional BM-derived angiogenesis and restoring normal tumor growth. These results demonstrate that the restraint of p21 expression by Id1 is one key element of its activity in facilitating the generation of EPCs in the BM and highlight the critical role these cells play in tumor angiogenesis

OVOL2 impairs RHO GTPase signaling to restrain mitosis and aggressiveness of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer

Background: Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer (ATC) is an undifferentiated and aggressive tumor that often originates from well-Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma (DTC) through a trans-differentiation process. Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) is recognized as one of the major players of this process. OVOL2 is a transcription factor (TF) that promotes epithelial differentiation and restrains EMT during embryonic development. OVOL2 loss in some types of cancers is linked to aggressiveness and poor prognosis. Here, we aim to clarify the unexplored role of OVOL2 in ATC. Methods: Gene expression analysis in thyroid cancer patients and cell lines showed that OVOL2 is mainly associated with epithelial features and its expression is deeply impaired in ATC. To assess OVOL2 function, we established an OVOL2-overexpression model in ATC cell lines and evaluated its effects by analyzing gene expression, proliferation, invasion and migration abilities, cell cycle, specific protein localization through immunofluorescence staining. RNA-seq profiling showed that OVOL2 controls a complex network of genes converging on cell cycle and mitosis regulation and Chromatin Immunoprecipitation identified new OVOL2 target genes. Results: Coherently with its reported function, OVOL2 re-expression restrained EMT and aggressiveness in ATC cells. Unexpectedly, we observed that it caused G2/M block, a consequent reduction in cell proliferation and an increase in cell death. This phenotype was associated to generalized abnormalities in the mitotic spindle structure and cytoskeletal organization. By RNA-seq experiments, we showed that many pathways related to cytoskeleton and migration, cell cycle and mitosis are profoundly affected by OVOL2 expression, in particular the RHO-GTPase pathway resulted as the most interesting. We demonstrated that RHO GTPase pathway is the central hub of OVOL2-mediated program in ATC and that OVOL2 transcriptionally inhibits RhoU and RhoJ. Silencing of RhoU recapitulated the OVOL2-driven phenotype pointing to this protein as a crucial target of OVOL2 in ATC. Conclusions: Collectively, these data describe the role of OVOL2 in ATC and uncover a novel function of this TF in inhibiting the RHO GTPase pathway interlacing its effects on EMT, cytoskeleton dynamics and mitosis

Endogenous extracellular matrix regulates the response of osteosarcoma 3D spheroids to doxorubicin

The extracellular matrix (ECM) modulates cell behavior, shape, and viability as well as mechanical properties. In recent years, ECM disregulation and aberrant remodeling has gained considerable attention in cancer targeting and prevention since it may stimulate tumorigenesis and metastasis. Here, we developed an in vitro model that aims at mimicking the in vivo tumor microenvironment by recapitulating the interactions between osteosarcoma (OS) cells and ECM with respect to cancer progression. We long-term cultured 3D OS spheroids made of metastatic or non-metastatic OS cells mixed with mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs); confirmed the deposition of ECM proteins such as Type I collagen, Type III collagen, and fibronectin by the stromal component at the interface between tumor cells and MSCs; and found that ECM secretion is inhibited by a neutralizing anti-IL-6 antibody, suggesting a new role of this cytokine in OS ECM deposition. Most importantly, we showed that the cytotoxic effect of doxorubicin is reduced by the presence of Type I collagen. We thus conclude that ECM protein deposition is crucial for modelling and studying drug response. Our results also suggest that targeting ECM proteins might improve the outcome of a subset of chemoresistant tumors

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