Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) disrupts ascending auditory inputs, impairing auditory signal transmission, triggering cortical hyperexcitability, and increasing the risk of age-related cognitive decl Show more
Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) disrupts ascending auditory inputs, impairing auditory signal transmission, triggering cortical hyperexcitability, and increasing the risk of age-related cognitive decline. In early aging, multisession epidural direct current stimulation (DCS) of the auditory cortex (AC) preserves auditory thresholds and prevents cortical hyperexcitability in Wistar rats. Here, we hypothesized that multisession DCS could halt transcriptional dysregulation in the AC at the earliest stages of aging. We have characterized age-related transcriptional changes in the AC to assess DCS-mediated effects by RNA-seq. At 18.13 months, non-stimulated, aged rats (NES) showed 194 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in relation to young controls (YG), with enrichment in pathways associated with GABAergic, glutamatergic, and dopaminergic synapses, long-term potentiation/depression, inflammaging, autophagy, apoptosis and neurodegeneration. The upregulated genes included Gabrb1, Grin2b, Rac3c, Tnr, and Ndst1, suggesting compensatory hyperactivity, excitatory/inhibitory imbalance, and stiffening of perineuronal nets (PNN) around parvalbumin (PV) interneurons. Electrically stimulated (ES) rats showed 86 DEGs in relation to YG, with no significant enrichment in aging-related pathways. By contrast, NES vs ES showed 1393 DEGs, with strong enrichment in aging-related pathways. Also, many of the 121 common DEGs across comparisons, which are upregulated in NES and downregulated in ES, are related to neurotransmission (Gabrb1, Grin2b), synaptic scaffolding (Dlg2, Prkca), trophic signaling (Ntrk2, Igf1r) and PNN (Tnr, Ndst1). Based on these findings, multisession DCS curbs maladaptive genomic reprogramming in the aged AC most likely by preserving excitatory/inhibitory balance and maintaining PNN integrity, thereby protecting the AC from ARHL and cognitive vulnerability. Show less
(Sb,Bi)(S,Se)(Br,I) pnictogen chalcohalides constitute an emerging family of Van der Waals (VdW) semiconductors with remarkable potential for energy-related applications, including photovoltaics (PV), Show more
(Sb,Bi)(S,Se)(Br,I) pnictogen chalcohalides constitute an emerging family of Van der Waals (VdW) semiconductors with remarkable potential for energy-related applications, including photovoltaics (PV), photocatalysis (PC), and photoelectrocatalysis (PEC). These ternary compounds exhibit a quasi-1D orthorhombic crystalline phase, and an electronic structure analogous to lead-halide perovskites, making them promising candidates for sustainable and high-performance energy devices. This study introduces a new versatile and adaptable synthesis methodology, which combines co-evaporation of binary chalcogenides with reactive annealing under high-pressure halide atmospheres, to fabricate the eight (Sb,Bi)(S,Se)(Br,I) chalcohalides. Comprehensive structural, compositional, and optoelectronic analyses reveal a wide bandgap range (1.2-2.2 eV), high absorption coefficients, and anisotropic properties driven by unique ribbon-like morphology. Theoretical and experimental results highlight their high stability, versatile chemical adaptability, and defect-tolerant characteristics. Moreover, the distinct differences in morphology and crystallization between Sb and Bi-based compounds, as well as the influence of chalcogen and halogen elements on the optical and structural properties are discussed. Demonstrations of functional devices, including photocatalytic systems, underscore the practical viability of these materials. This work establishes a foundation for the development of pnictogen chalcohalides as scalable and eco-friendly alternatives for advanced energy applications. Show less