KNH2 - KH: a metal amide - hydride solid solution

We report for the first time the formation of a metal amide-hydride solid solution. The dissolution of KH into KNH2 leads to an anionic substitution, which decreases the interaction among NH2 - ions. The rotational properties of the high temperature polymorphs of KNH2 are thereby retained down to room temperature.Fil: Santoru, Antonio. Helmholtz-zentrum Geesthacht; Alemania. Università di Torino; ItaliaFil: Pistidda, Claudio. Helmholtz-zentrum Geesthacht; AlemaniaFil: Sørby, Magnus H.. Institute for Energy Technology. Physics Department; NoruegaFil: Chierotti, Michele R.. Università di Torino; ItaliaFil: Garroni, Sebastian. University of Sassari; ItaliaFil: Pinatel, Eugenio. Università di Torino; ItaliaFil: Karimi, Fahim. Helmholtz-zentrum Geesthacht; AlemaniaFil: Cao, Hujun. Helmholtz-zentrum Geesthacht; AlemaniaFil: Bergemann, Nils. Helmholtz-zentrum Geesthacht; AlemaniaFil: Le, Thi T.. Helmholtz-zentrum Geesthacht; AlemaniaFil: Puszkiel, Julián Atilio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; Argentina. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia del Área de Energía Nuclear. Instituto Balseiro; ArgentinaFil: Gobetto, Roberto. Università di Torino; ItaliaFil: Baricco, Marcello. Università di Torino; ItaliaFil: Hauback, Bjorn C.. Institute for Energy Technology. Physics Department; NoruegaFil: Klassen, Thomas. Helmholtz-zentrum Geesthacht; AlemaniaFil: Dornheim, Martín. Helmholtz-zentrum Geesthacht; Alemani

Metabolomics Fingerprint Induced by the Intranigral Inoculation of Exogenous Human Alpha-Synuclein Oligomers in a Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is considered a synucleinopathy because of the intraneuronal accumulation of aggregated α-synuclein (αSyn). Recent evidence points to soluble αSyn-oligomers (αSynO) as the main cytotoxic species responsible for cell death. Given the pivotal role of αSyn in PD, αSyn-based models are crucial for the investigation of toxic mechanisms and the identification of new therapeutic targets in PD. By using a metabolomics approach, we evaluated the metabolic profile of brain and serum samples of rats infused unilaterally with preformed human αSynOs (HαSynOs), or vehicle, into the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). Three months postinfusion, the striatum was dissected for striatal dopamine (DA) measurements via High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis and mesencephalon and serum samples were collected for the evaluation of metabolite content via gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis. Multivariate, univariate and correlation statistics were applied. A 40% decrease of DA content was measured in the HαSynO-infused striatum as compared to the contralateral and the vehicle-infused striata. Decreased levels of dehydroascorbic acid, myo-inositol, and glycine, and increased levels of threonine, were found in the mesencephalon, while increased contents of fructose and mannose, and a decrease in glycine and urea, were found in the serum of HαSynO-infused rats. The significant correlation between DA and metabolite content indicated that metabolic variations reflected the nigrostriatal degeneration. Collectively, the metabolomic fingerprint of HαSynO-infused rats points to an increase of oxidative stress markers, in line with PD neuropathology, and provides hints for potential biomarkers of PD

Design of a Nanometric AlTi Additive for MgB2-Based Reactive Hydride Composites with Superior Kinetic Properties

Solid-state hydride compounds are a promising option for efficient and safe hydrogen-storage systems. Lithium reactive hydride composite system 2LiBH4 + MgH2/2LiH + MgB2 (Li-RHC) has been widely investigated owing to its high theoretical hydrogen-storage capacity and low calculated reaction enthalpy (11.5 wt % H2 and 45.9 kJ/mol H2). In this paper, a thorough investigation into the effect of the formation of nano-TiAl alloys on the hydrogen-storage properties of Li-RHC is presented. The additive 3TiCl3·AlCl3 is used as the nanoparticle precursor. For the investigated temperatures and hydrogen pressures, the addition of ∼5 wt % 3TiCl3·AlCl3 leads to hydrogenation/dehydrogenation times of only 30 min and a reversible hydrogen-storage capacity of 9.5 wt %. The material containing 3TiCl3·AlCl3 possesses superior hydrogen-storage properties in terms of rates and a stable hydrogen capacity during several hydrogenation/dehydrogenation cycles. These enhancements are attributed to an in situ nanostructure and a hexagonal AlTi3 phase observed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. This phase acts in a 2-fold manner, first promoting the nucleation of MgB2 upon dehydrogenation and second suppressing the formation of Li2B12H12 upon hydrogenation/dehydrogenation cycling.Fil: Le, Thi-Thu. Helmholtz Zentrum Geesthacht; AlemaniaFil: Pistidda, Claudio. Helmholtz Zentrum Geesthacht; AlemaniaFil: Puszkiel, Julián Atilio. Helmholtz Zentrum Geesthacht; Alemania. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Centro Atómico Bariloche; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; ArgentinaFil: Castro Riglos, Maria Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; Argentina. Helmholtz Zentrum Geesthacht; Alemania. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Centro Atómico Bariloche; ArgentinaFil: Karimi, Fahim. Helmholtz Zentrum Geesthacht; AlemaniaFil: Skibsted, Jørgen. University Aarhus; DinamarcaFil: Gharibdoust, Seyedhosein Payandeh. University Aarhus; DinamarcaFil: Richter, Bo. University Aarhus; DinamarcaFil: Emmler, Thomas. Helmholtz Zentrum Geesthacht; AlemaniaFil: Milanese, Chiara. Università di Pavia; ItaliaFil: Santoru, Antonio. Helmholtz Zentrum Geesthacht; AlemaniaFil: Hoell, Armin. Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie; AlemaniaFil: Krumrey, Michael. Physikalisch Technische Bundesanstalt; AlemaniaFil: Gericke, Eike. Universität zu Berlin; AlemaniaFil: Akiba, Etsuo. Kyushu University; JapónFil: Jensen, Torben R.. University Aarhus; DinamarcaFil: Klassen, Thomas. Helmholtz Zentrum Geesthacht; Alemania. Helmut Schmidt University; AlemaniaFil: Dornheim, Martin. Helmholtz Zentrum Geesthacht; Alemani

A review of the MSCA ITN ECOSTORE - Novel complex metal hydrides for efficient and compact storage of renewable energy as hydrogen and electricity

Hydrogen as an energy carrier is very versatile in energy storage applications. Developments in novel, sustainable technologies towards a CO2-free society are needed and the exploration of all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) as well as solid-state hydrogen storage applications based on metal hydrides can provide solutions for such technologies. However, there are still many technical challenges for both hydrogen storage material and ASSBs related to designing low-cost materials with low-environmental impact. The current materials considered for all-solid-state batteries should have high conductivities for Na+, Mg2+ and Ca2+, while Al3+-based compounds are often marginalised due to the lack of suitable electrode and electrolyte materials. In hydrogen storage materials, the sluggish kinetic behaviour of solid-state hydride materials is one of the key constraints that limit their practical uses. Therefore, it is necessary to overcome the kinetic issues of hydride materials before discussing and considering them on the system level. This review summarizes the achievements of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) innovative training network (ITN) ECOSTORE, the aim of which was the investigation of different aspects of (complex) metal hydride materials. Advances in battery and hydrogen storage materials for the efficient and compact storage of renewable energy production are discussed

Clinical phenotypes of Parkinson’s disease associate with distinct gut microbiota and metabolome enterotypes

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a clinically heterogenic disorder characterized by distinct clinical entities. Most studies on motor deficits dichotomize PD into tremor dominant (TD) or non-tremor dominant (non-TD) with akinetic-rigid features (AR). Different pathophysiological mechanisms may affect the onset of motor manifestations. Recent studies have suggested that gut microbes may be involved in PD pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the gut microbiota and metabolome composition in PD patients in relation to TD and non-TD phenotypes. In order to address this issue, gut microbiota and the metabolome structure of PD patients were determined from faecal samples using 16S next generation sequencing and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry approaches. The results showed a reduction in the relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae, Blautia, Coprococcus, Lachnospira, and an increase in Enterobacteriaceae, Escherichia and Serratia linked to non-TD subtypes. Moreover, the levels of important molecules (i.e., nicotinic acid, cadaverine, glucuronic acid) were altered in relation to the severity of phenotype. We hypothesize that the microbiota/metabolome enterotypes associated to non-TD subtypes may favor the development of gut inflammatory environment and gastrointestinal dysfunctions and therefore a more severe α-synucleinopathy. This study adds important information to PD pathogenesis and emphasizes the potential pathophysiological link between gut microbiota/metabolites and PD motor subtypes

Gut Microbiota and Metabolome Alterations Associated with Parkinson's Disease.

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the accumulation of intracellular aggregates of misfolded alpha-synuclein along the cerebral axis. Several studies report the association between intestinal dysbiosis and Parkinson's disease, although a cause-effect relationship remains to be established. Herein, the gut microbiota composition of 64 Italian patients with Parkinson's disease and 51 controls was determined using a next-generation sequencing approach. A real metagenomics shape based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was also investigated. The most significant changes within the Parkinson's disease group highlighted a reduction in bacterial taxa, which are linked to anti-inflammatory/neuroprotective effects, particularly in the Lachnospiraceae family and key members, such as Butyrivibrio, Pseudobutyrivibrio, Coprococcus, and Blautia The direct evaluation of fecal metabolites revealed changes in several classes of metabolites. Changes were seen in lipids (linoleic acid, oleic acid, succinic acid, and sebacic acid), vitamins (pantothenic acid and nicotinic acid), amino acids (isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, glutamic acid, and pyroglutamic acid) and other organic compounds (cadaverine, ethanolamine, and hydroxy propionic acid). Most modified metabolites strongly correlated with the abundance of members belonging to the Lachnospiraceae family, suggesting that these gut bacteria correlate with altered metabolism rates in Parkinson's disease.IMPORTANCE To our knowledge, this is one of the few studies thus far that correlates the composition of the gut microbiota with the direct analysis of fecal metabolites in patients with Parkinson's disease. Overall, our data highlight microbiota modifications correlated with numerous fecal metabolites. This suggests that Parkinson's disease is associated with gut dysregulation that involves a synergistic relationship between gut microbes and several bacterial metabolites favoring altered homeostasis. Interestingly, a reduction of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria influenced the shape of the metabolomics profile, affecting several metabolites with potential protective effects in the Parkinson group. On the other hand, the extensive impact that intestinal dysbiosis has at the level of numerous metabolic pathways could encourage the identification of specific biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson's disease, also in light of the effect that specific drugs have on the composition of the intestinal microbiota

Medeuro : the longing for identity and community among Maltese migrant settlers in North Africa

Based largely on materials held in the Service des Periodiques at the Bibliotheque Nationale de Tunisie in Tunis, and especially on content anaylsis of a 1930s newspaper Melita published in Sousse. this study explores the yearning for and the anguish of a cultural survivance among Maltese migrant settlers in North Africa, above all the retention of Maltese as a language of expression, affinity and identification, at a time when Maltese itself was experiencing a literary rebirth. However, such a campaign is undertaken in a 'non-Maltese' context, where moreover, in addition to separation and distance, the influence of European empires-the French, the British and the Italian-is pronounced, if not dominant, thus interfering with any continued loyalty to one mother tongue or mother country. Masterminding the intellectual push for a collective self-identity anchored in language, literature, history and religion, is a leading francophone litterateur whose family had settled in Algeria from the island of Gozo. What is also offered here, in the annotations, is a fairly comprehensive bibliography of Maltese migrant settlement in northern Africa with special reference to lesser known articles and other publications not available in English.peer-reviewe

Decreased allopregnanolone induced by hormonal contraceptives is associated with a reduction in social behavior and sexual motivation in female rats

RATIONALE: Allopregnanolone is a neurosteroid involved in depression, memory, social, and sexual behavior. We have previously demonstrated that treatment with a combination of ethinylestradiol (EE) and levonorgestrel (LNG), two compounds frequently used in hormonal contraception, decreased brain allopregnanolone concentrations. These changes may contribute to some of the emotional and sexual disorders observed in hormonal contraceptive users. OBJECTIVES: We thus examined whether the reduction in allopregnanolone concentrations induced by long-term EE/LNG administration was associated with altered emotional, learning, social, and sexual behaviors. METHODS: Rats were orally treated with a combination of EE (0.030 mg) and LNG (0.125 mg) once a day for 4 weeks and were subjected to behavioral tests 24 h after the last administration. RESULTS: EE/LNG treatment reduced immobility behavior in the forced swim test, without affecting sucrose preference and spatial learning and memory. In the resident-intruder test, EE/LNG-treated rats displayed a decrease in dominant behaviors associated with a reduction in social investigation. In the paced mating test, EE/LNG treated rats showed a reduction in proceptive behaviors, while the lordosis quotient was not affected. Progesterone, but not estradiol, administration to EE/LNG-treated rats increased sexual activity and cerebrocortical allopregnanolone concentrations. Prior administration of finasteride decreased allopregnanolone concentrations and abolished the increase in proceptivity induced by progesterone administration. CONCLUSIONS: The decrease in brain allopregnanolone concentrations induced by EE/LNG treatment is associated with a reduction in social behavior and sexual motivation in female rats. These results might be relevant to the side effects sometimes exhibited by women taking hormonal contraceptives