Surface plasmon resonance imaging for affinity-based biosensors

SPR imaging (SPRi) is at the forefront of optical label-free and real-time detection. It offers the possibility of monitoring hundreds of biological interactions simultaneously and from the binding profiles, allows the estimation of the kinetic parameters of the interactions between the immobilised probes and the ligands in solution. We review the current state of development of SPRi technology and its application including commercially available SPRi instruments. Attention is also given to surface chemistries for biochip functionalisation and suitable approaches to improve sensitivity

Adaptive data synchronization algorithm for IoT-oriented low-power wide-area networks

The Internet of Things (IoT) is by now very close to be realized, leading the world towards a new technological era where people’s lives and habits will be definitively revolutionized. Furthermore, the incoming 5G technology promises significant enhancements concerning the Quality of Service (QoS) in mobile communications. Having billions of devices simultaneously connected has opened new challenges about network management and data exchange rules that need to be tailored to the characteristics of the considered scenario. A large part of the IoT market is pointing to Low-Power Wide-Area Networks (LPWANs) representing the infrastructure for several applications having energy saving as a mandatory goal besides other aspects of QoS. In this context, we propose a low-power IoT-oriented file synchronization protocol that, by dynamically optimizing the amount of data to be transferred, limits the device level of interaction within the network, therefore extending the battery life. This protocol can be adopted with different Layer 2 technologies and provides energy savings at the IoT device level that can be exploited by different applications

Few-Layer MoS₂ Nanodomains Decorating TiO₂ Nanoparticles: A Case Study for the Photodegradation of Carbamazepine

S-doped TiO2 and hybrid MoS2/TiO2 systems have been synthesized, via the sulfidation with H2S of the bare TiO2 and of MoOx supported on TiO2 systems, with the aim of enhancing the photocatalytic properties of TiO2 for the degradation of carbamazepine, an anticonvulsant drug, whose residues and metabolites are usually inefficiently removed in wastewater treatment plants. The focus of this study is to find a relationship between the morphology/structure/surface properties and photoactivity. The full characterization of samples reveals the strong effects of the H2S action on the properties of TiO2, with the formation of defects at the surface, as shown by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and infrared spectroscopy (IR), while also the optical properties are strongly affected by the sulfidation treatment, with changes in the electronic states of TiO2. Meanwhile, the formation of small and thin few-layer MoS2 domains, decorating the TiO2 surface, is evidenced by both high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and UV-Vis/Raman spectroscopies, while Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectra give insights into the nature of Ti and Mo surface sites. The most interesting findings of our research are the enhanced photoactivity of the MoS2/TiO2 hybrid photocatalyst toward the carbamazepine mineralization. Surprisingly, the formation of hazardous compounds (i.e., acridine derivatives), usually obtained from carbamazepine, is precluded when treated with MoS2/TiO2 systems

All-Carbon Conductors for Electronic and Electrical Wiring Applications

Electrical conductors based on carbons have recently attracted a growing interest due to the prospect of replacing metals. Electrical conductors without metals could represent not only an alternative for traditional wiring, but also a step forward in the progress and advancing of technology. This result can be achieved by combining high electrical conductivity with other properties, that are dexterity, light weight, environmental stability, high strength and flexibility. As the best mechanical properties, high electrical/thermal conductivity of the assembled fibers are all generally associated with low concentration of defects in the fiber backbone and in the individual carbon “building blocks”, a special attention is paid to an empirical relationship between morphology/structure/composition and the electrical properties. In this review, starting from the beginning, from the late 19th century, when the carbon filaments became the lights for urban streets, some of the recent developments in the field of “all-carbon” electrical conductors are discussed. Such conductors can be obtained by assembling nanoscale carbons (i.e., carbon nanotubes, graphene) into macroscopic fibers, yarns and ropes (hereafter fibers). In this perspective, the role played by the chemistry in particular by means of the molecularlevel control and doping, is emphasized. This contribution elucidates most recent results in the field, and envisages new potential applications

Relevance of arginine residues in Cu(II)-induced DNA breakage and Proteinase K resistance of H1 histones

This work analyzes the involvement of arginines in copper/H2O2-induced DNA breakage. Copper is a highly redox active metal which has been demonstrated to form compounds with arginines. For this aim we used mixtures of pGEM3 DNA plasmid and two types of H1 histones which differ only in their arginine content. The sperm H1 histone from the annelid worm Chaetopterus variopedatus (arginine content 12.6 mol% K/R ratio 2) and the somatic H1 histone from calf thymus (arginine content 1.8 mol% and K/R ratio 15). Copper/H2O2-induced DNA breakage was observed only in presence of sperm H1 histones, but it was more relevant for the native molecule than for the deguanidinated derivative (K/R ratio 14), in which 80% of arginine residues were converted to ornithine. Further, copper induced proteinase K resistance and increase of DNA binding affinity on native sperm H1 histones. These observations are consistent with a copper induced reorganization of the side-chains of arginine residues. Copper, instead, did not affect DNA binding affinity of somatic and deguanidinated H1 histones, which show similar K/R ratio and DNA binding mode. These results indicate that arginine residues could affect these H1 histones properties and provide new insights into copper toxicity mechanisms

Clinical characterization of a 6-year-old patient with autism and two adjacent duplications on 10q11.22q11.23. a case report

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder presenting in the first 3 years of life. Deficits occur in the core areas of social communication and interaction and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests or activities. The causes of autism are unknown, but clinical genetic studies show strong evidence in favor of the involvement of genetic factors in etiology. Molecular genetic studies report some associations with candidate genes, and candidate regions have emerged from several genome-wide linkage studies. Here, we report a clinical case of autism in a 6-year-old boy with double duplication on 10q11.22q11.23 with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), intellectual disability, developmental delay, hypotonia, gross-motor skills deficit, overgrowth and mild dysmorphic features. In the literature, only five cases of ASD with 10q11.21q11.23 duplication are reported. This is the first extensive clinical description of an ASD subject with 10q11.22q11.23 duplication. Our findings suggest that 10q11.21q11.23 microduplication could represent a copy number variant that predisposes to autism

Alteration of the growth hormone axis, visceral fat dysfunction, and early cardiometabolic risk in adults: the role of the visceral adiposity index

The aim of the study is to clarify the relationship between adipose tissue dysfunction, metabolic profile and growth hormone (GH)/insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I secretion in healthy adult subjects. We investigated the metabolic profile in a cohort of 231 consecutive healthy subjects in relation to GH, IGF-I levels, and visceral adiposity index (VAI). Anthropometric measures, lipid profile, and glucose and insulin levels during oral glucose tolerance test, Homa-IR and ISI Matsuda, IGF-I and GH peak after GHRH plus Arginine test were analyzed. The subjects with high VAI showed lower GH peak (22.8 ± 11.1 vs. 42.2 ± 21.3 µg/L; p = 0.049) and lower IGF-I (presented as IGF-I under normal range, UNR) (0.54 ± 0.14 vs. 0.64 ± 0.12; p = 0.005) than group with normal VAI. ROC curve analysis identified the cut-off, able to detect subjects with high VAI, i.e., 31.8 µg/L for GH peak and 0.63 for IGF-1 UNR. The subjects with GH peak and IGF-I UNR under the cut-off showed significantly higher levels of VAI, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, glucose and insulin levels, Homa-IR, and lower ISI Matsuda, with a concomitant worse lipid profile (all p < 0.001). A strong relationship between GH axis, VAI and metabolic risk has been demonstrated. A percentage of apparently healthy subjects show a degree of visceral adipose dysfunction associated with GH and IGF-I levels that do not meet the criteria of overt GH deficiency (GHD). Long-term prospective studies could help to clarify and confirm whether a hypothetical condition of subclinical GHD could be taken into account as a new clinical entity

Exploitation of grape marc as functional substrate for lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria growth and enhanced antioxidant activity

This study aimed at using grape marc for the growth of lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria with the perspective of producing a functional ingredient having antioxidant activity. Lactobacillus plantarum 12A and PU1, Lactobacillus paracasei 14A, and Bifidobacterium breve 15A showed the ability to grow on grape marc (GM) based media. The highest bacterial cell density (&gt;9.0 CFU/g) was found in GM added of 1% of glucose (GMG). Compared to un-inoculated and incubated control fermented GMG showed a decrease of carbohydrates and citric acid together with an increase of lactic acid. The content of several free amino acids and phenol compounds differed between samples. Based on the survival under simulated gastro-intestinal conditions, GMG was a suitable carrier of lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria strains. Compared to the control, cell-free supernatant (CFS) of fermented GMG exhibited a marked antioxidant activity in vitro. The increased antioxidant activity was confirmed using Caco-2 cell line after inducing oxidative stress, and determining cell viability and radical scavenging activity through MTT and DCFH-DA assays, respectively. Supporting these founding, the SOD-2 gene expression of Caco-2 cells also showed a lowest pro-oxidant effect induced by the four CFS of GMG fermented by lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria