Carnosine Biofunctionalized Hydroxyapatite Induces Copper-Driven Osteogenesis and Angiogenesis, Strengthening Its Bone Regenerative Capacities.

Hydroxyapatite (Hap) is a prominent biomaterial used as an effective implant material in bone tissue engineering, but its use presents some points of weakness in bone regeneration efficiency. Different biofunctionalization strategies have been utilized to increase the regenerative Hap capacities. Carnosine (Car) or β-alanyl-l-histidine dipeptide has received much attention due to its beneficial effects in osteoarticular diseases and bone tissue healing.

Three-Dimensional-Printed Biomimetic Scaffolds for Investigating Osteoblast-Like Cell Interactions in Simulated Microgravity: An In Vitro Platform for Bone Tissue Engineering Research.

Three-dimensional cell culture systems are relevant in vitro models for studying cellular behavior. In this regard, this present study investigates the interaction between human osteoblast-like cells and 3D-printed scaffolds mimicking physiological and osteoporotic bone structures under simulated microgravity conditions. The objective is to assess the effects of scaffold architecture and dynamic culture conditions on cell adhesion, proliferation, and metabolic activity, with implications for osteoporosis research.

Semilocal Pauli kinetic potential for orbital-free density functional theory, with an application to jellium clusters.

The kinetic energy (KE) functional development has been a well-established research field for several decades, but there are only a few studies that considered the KE Pauli potential as the main quantity and developed approximations for it. In this work, we follow this unconventional path and construct the Direct Semilocal-Laplacian Potential (DSLP) Pauli potential approximation that satisfies important exact conditions, such as an accurate linear response of the uniform electron gas at small wave vectors and a realistic asymptotic decay outside of the jellium spheres in the vacuum. We performed orbital-free density functional theory (OFDFT) calculations for jellium clusters, which are accurate models for real metal clusters.

Osteogenic Activity and Bone Matrix Mineralization Induced by Leaves Extract in Human Osteoblastic Cells.

The agricultural production of leaves represents the majority of agricultural remains among the least studied and valorized in the wine industry. contains a variety of bioactive compounds, for example, polyphenols with positive effects on human health. Grape polyphenols can modulate the expression of specific bone matrix proteins, promoting osteoblast differentiation and bone mineralization.

Simplified, Physically Motivated, and Broadly Applicable Range-Separation Tuning.

Range-separated hybrid (RSH) functionals with "ionization energy" and/or "optimal tuning" of the screening parameter have proven to be among the most practical and accurate approaches for describing excited-state properties across a wide range of systems, including condensed matter. However, this method typically requires multiple self-consistent calculations and can become computationally expensive and unstable, particularly for extended systems. In this work, we propose a very simple and efficient alternative approach to determine the screening parameter for RSH functionals solely on the basis of the total electron density of the system and the compressibility sum rule of density functional theory (DFT).

Toward a User-Accessible Spectroscopic Sensing Platform for Beverage Recognition Through K-Nearest Neighbors Algorithm.

Proper nutrition is a fundamental aspect to maintaining overall health and well-being, influencing both physical and social aspects of human life; an unbalanced or inadequate diet can lead to various nutritional deficiencies and chronic health conditions. In today's fast-paced world, monitoring nutritional intake has become increasingly important, particularly for those with specific dietary needs. While smartphone-based applications using image recognition have simplified food tracking, they still rely heavily on user interaction and raise concerns about practicality and privacy.

Møller-Plesset Adiabatic Connection Theory for Diverse Noncovalent Interactions.

Møller-Plesset adiabatic connection (MPAC) theory provides a powerful framework for constructing approximations to wave function-based correlation energy, enabling modeling of noncovalent interactions (NCIs) with near-CCSD(T) accuracy. We show that approximate MPAC functionals consistently outperform MP2 and dispersion-corrected DFT (DFT+DISP) across diverse systems, including charged and charge-transfer complexes. MPAC functionals operate holistically at the electronic level, require no heuristic dispersion corrections, and achieve near-chemical accuracy even for abnormal NCIs, cases where DFT+DISP errors exceed those of DFT.

Nanotechnology in brain cancer treatment: The role of gold nanoparticles as therapeutic enhancers.

Brain cancer, with glioblastoma (GBM) being one of the most aggressive and treatment-resistant cancers, represents a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Its complex nature and the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) significantly hinder the effectiveness of conventional therapies, posing major challenges for treatment development. In this context, nanotechnology-particularly nanomedicine-has emerged as a promising strategy to overcome these barriers and enhance standard treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy (RT).

From Structure to Performance: The Critical Role of DNTT Morphology in Organic TFTs.

The electrical performance of organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) based on DNTT as the semiconductor active layer (DNTT, which stands for dinaphtho [2,3-b:2',3'-] thieno [3,2-] thiophene) is investigated and related to the structural properties of the organic films grown on SiO and Cytop substrates. Conventional current-voltage measurements and high-sensitivity low-frequency measurements show a lower mobility and correspondingly higher defect density for DNTT/SiO devices. Morphological and structural characterizations of DNTT films grown on the two dielectrics were performed using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), revealing a highly ordered crystalline structure.

Unleashing the Impact of Topological Surface States on the Thermoelectric Properties of Granular SbTe Thin Films Deposited on Flexible Substrates.

Between thermoelectric materials, topological insulators (TIs) such as SbTe can effectively decouple phonon and electronic transport. Recent works mostly focused on TI composites or superlattices, where the contribution of the topological surface states (TSS) to the thermoelectric properties is overshadowed by other mechanisms such as energy filtering or electronic band reorganization. Here, we investigate efficient thermoelectric SbTe polycrystalline thin films deposited on plastic foil.

A cross-correlator-based timing tool for FemtoMAX.

We report on the commissioning of an ultrafast timing diagnostic for measuring a time-offset signal between two different synchronized ultrashort light pulses. The method is based on sum-frequency generation in a nonlinear crystal. The setup is similar to an auto/cross-correlator setup.

Electromagnetic Mode Management in Transparent DMD Electrodes for High Angular Color Stability in White OLEDs.

The understanding and management of the optical behavior of dielectric/metal/dielectric (DMD)-based electrodes are crucial for the design of fully transparent OLEDs. Specifically, the chromatic stability with the viewing angle of white OLED emission remains an important issue due to the angle dependence of internal reflection at the organic/electrode interface as the wavelength varies. The purpose of the present work is to provide a complete analysis of the optical behavior of DMD structures by Variable Angle Spectroscopic Ellipsometry in order to optimize the transmittance of DMD-based transparent white OLEDs over a wide viewing angle.

Investigating the Use of Electrooculography Sensors to Detect Stress During Working Activities.

To tackle work-related stress in the evolving landscape of Industry 5.0, organizations need to prioritize employee well-being through a comprehensive strategy. While electrocardiograms (ECGs) and electrodermal activity (EDA) are widely adopted physiological measures for monitoring work-related stress, electrooculography (EOG) remains underexplored in this context.

A 3D-bioprinted dermal-like scaffold incorporating fibroblasts and DRG neurons to investigate peripheral nerve regeneration.

Peripheral nervous system (PNS) regeneration is a rapidly advancing field with critical implications for addressing sensory impairments and neuropathic conditions. Dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, essential for sensory transmission, exhibit regenerative potential through axonal regeneration. However, the mechanisms driving these processes are not yet understood.

Silicon Nanowire Mats Enable Advanced Bioelectrical Recordings in Primary DRG Cell Cultures.

Primary dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cell cultures provide a valuable model for studying in vitro sensory transduction, neuropathies, and chronic pain, as they replicate the in vivo heterogeneity of DRG neurons and non-neuronal cells. However, traditional patch-clamp techniques are invasive and cannot capture the collective cell dynamics. While planar multielectrode arrays (MEAs) offer a non-invasive alternative, they suffer from poor cell-electrode coupling and limited resolution for identifying specific DRG neuronal types like C-fiber nociceptors, key targets in chronic pain research.

Multi-pathway blood biomarkers to target and monitor multidimensional prevention of cognitive and functional decline (nested in the IN-TeMPO study framed within the world-wide FINGERS network).

Background: As the population ages, the identification of preventive strategies able to delay cognitive and functional decline associated with aging represents a major challenge. To date, multidimensional approaches seem to be effective in reducing or delaying the onset of age-related diseases.

Objectives: The multicentric randomized controlled trial IN-TeMPO (ItaliaN study with Tailored Multidomain interventions to Prevent functional and cognitive decline in community-dwelling Older adults, ClinicalTrials.

Induced mitochondrial deficit by NDUFS3 transient silencing reduces RAB7 expression and causes lysosomal dysfunction in pancreatic cancer cells.

Background: RAB7 is a small GTPase with multiple cellular roles, regulating late endocytic trafficking and lysosomal biogenesis, influencing mitochondria-lysosome crosstalk, and contributing to many mitochondrial processes. Mitochondrial dysfunctions are widely reported in cancer and the development of cancer therapeutic strategies targeting mitochondria gained momentum in recent years. Mitochondrial impairment can cause alterations of mitochondria-lysosome crosstalk and can influence lysosomal function.

Effect of PET Micro/Nanoplastics on Model Freshwater Zooplankton.

Micro- and nanoplastic pollutants are among the major environmental challenges, and are exacerbated by the continuous degradation of growing amounts of plastic debris in the aquatic environment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the morphology of micro/nanoplastics (M/NPs) formed from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) by mechanical degradation in an aquatic environment, which mimics the processes in the natural environment well, and to determine the impact of these particles on model aquatic organisms. To this end, M/NPs were obtained by ball milling in an aqueous medium and the effect of milling length on particle size and shape was investigated.

Analysis of Single Nuclei in a Microfluidic Cytometer Towards Metaphase Enrichment.

Identifying analyzable metaphase chromosomes is crucial for karyotyping, a common procedure used by clinicians to diagnose genetic disorders and some forms of cancer. This task is often laborious and time-consuming, making it essential to develop automated, efficient, and reliable methods to assist clinical technicians. In this work, an original label-free microfluidic approach to identify potential metaphases is developed that uses impedance-based detection of individual flowing nuclei and machine-learning-based processing of synchronized high-speed videos.

Van der Waals Epitaxy of 2D Gallium Telluride on Graphene: Growth Dynamics and Principal Component Analysis.

A scalable epitaxy of 2D layered materials and heterostructures constitutes a crucial step in developing novel optoelectronic applications based on high-crystalline quality 2D materials. Here, the formation of continuous, strain-free, high-crystalline quality 2D hexagonal gallium telluride (h-GaTe) directly on epitaxial graphene using molecular beam epitaxy is demonstrated. Morphological and structural characterizations evidence a coherent layer at the heterostructure interface having an in-plane lattice constant of 4.

Design Optimization of RF MEMS-Driven Triangular Resonators with Sierpinski Geometry for Dual-Band Applications.

This paper proposes a detailed design study of resonating high-frequency notch filters driven by RF MEMS switches and their optimization for dual-band operation in the X-Band. Microstrip configurations will be considered for single and dual-band applications. An SPDT (single-pole-double-thru) switch composed of double-clamped ohmic microswitches has been introduced to connect triangular resonators with Sierpinski geometry, symmetrically placed with respect to a microstrip line to obtain a dual notch response.

A wearable tool for real-time dose monitoring during cancer radiation therapies.

We report on a wearable, human tissue-equivalent, real-time dosimeter designed to quantitatively monitor radiation absorbed by patients during cancer treatments. The fully organic device has been characterized under actual clinical conditions using a high-energy proton beam and an anthropomorphic phantom, with the aim to simulate a prostate cancer proton therapy treatment. We achieved a full control over the dosimeter operation, and we verified its linear response with the received dose.

Radar-Based Activity Recognition in Strictly Privacy-Sensitive Settings Through Deep Feature Learning.

Human activity recognition in privacy-sensitive environments, such as bathrooms, presents significant challenges due to the need for non-invasive and anonymous monitoring. Traditional vision-based methods raise privacy concerns, while wearable sensors require user compliance. This study explores a radar-based approach for recognizing the activities of daily living in a bathroom setting, utilizing a BGT60TR13C Xensiv 60 GHz radar, manufactured by Infineon Technologies AG (Munich, Germany, EU), to classify human movements without capturing identifiable biometric features.

Distinctive features of blood- and ascitic fluid-derived extracellular vesicles in ovarian cancer patients.

Background: Ovarian cancer (OC) is a highly aggressive malignancy characterized by early dissemination of cancer cells from the surface of the ovary to the peritoneum. To gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms associated with this intraperitoneal spread, we aimed to characterize the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in metastatic colonization in OC.

Methods: To this purpose, a total of 150 samples of ascitic fluids, blood serum, tumor and normal tissues from 60 OC patients, were extensively analyzed to characterize the EVs released in blood and ascitic fluids of OC patients, in terms of size, expression of superficial epitopes and abundance of miRNAs biocargo.

A Systematic Review of Surface Electromyography in Sarcopenia: Muscles Involved, Signal Processing Techniques, Significant Features, and Artificial Intelligence Approaches.

Sarcopenia, affecting between 1-29% of the older population, is characterized by an age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass and function. Reduced muscle strength, either in terms of quantity or quality, and poor physical performance are among the criteria used to diagnose it. The current gold standard methods to evaluate sarcopenia are limited in terms of their cost, required expertise, and portability.