25 research outputs found
UN APPROCCIO MULTI-SENSORE PER IL RILEVAMENTO 3D DEL COMPLESSO DI VILLA FLORIO (PERSEREANO, UDINE)
No full textL’articolo illustra le potenzialità del rilevamento integrato multi-sensore di edifici storici, sperimentato per il vasto complesso edilizio e il parco della settecentesca Villa Florio di Persereano, nel comune di Pavia di Udine. Il processo ha integrato cinque metodologie diverse e complementari: misure topografiche con ricevitore GNSS Leica GS07 e con stazione totale Leica TCRA1103 (anche all’interno), scansioni laser terrestri con Leica BLK360 (interne/esterne), fotogrammetria SfM da drone DJI Mini3 (per le coperture) e rilevamento SLAM con Stonex X120GO (negli spazi più angusti e nel parco). Concettualmente ogni tecnica ha un proprio sistema di riferimento e l’integrazione non è immediata: grazie all’impostazione del lavoro nel datum cartografico RDN2008/UTM33N, le nuvole di punti da immagini UAV, da TLS e da SLAM sono invece già congruenti fra loro. Il ruolo chiave è dato dalle misure GNSS sui vertici della rete topografica e da quelle NRTK dell’antenna montata nel sistema SLAM. Grazie alle coordinate ENH dei punti topografici di appoggio, utilizzati sia per orientare le immagini che per georeferenziare le nuvole TLS, sono state agevolmente calcolate le roto-traslazioni delle corrispondenti nuvole di punti. Alcuni punti sono stati invece utilizzati come “punti di controllo” per verificare la precisione del bundle adjustment delle immagini UAV. Molte zone sono caratterizzate da “multi-nuvole” di punti, in alcune parti anche di tre origini diverse. Si sono distinte varie casistiche, identificando, per ognuna di esse, quale fosse la nuvola più precisa e dettagliata, operando sulle altre con roto-traslazioni locali, stimate via ICP, per migliorarne l’allineamento. La fusione delle nuvole è risultata più che soddisfacente, dimostrando l’efficacia di questo approccio multi-sensore per ottenere un rilevamento 3D completo e omogeneo, con errori centimetrici, utilizzabile per analisi strutturali, per operazioni di conservazione e per futuri interventi di restauro
Approaching the promise of operational tolerance in clinical transplantation
No full textLong-term acceptance of transplanted organs without requirement for indefinite immunosuppression remains the ultimate goal of transplant clinicians and scientists. This clinical state of allograft acceptance termed "operational tolerance" has been elusive in routine practice. However, there are published reports of recipients where immunosuppression has been discontinued, by intention or patient noncompliance, in which the outcome is a nondestructive immune response and normal function. The question now arises how clinical operational tolerance might be achieved in the majority of recipients. This review provides an overview of current approaches to achieve operational tolerance, including the use of donor bone marrow and depletion of recipient T cells and the resistance of liver transplants to rejection. It also describes the key role of clinical immune monitoring and future approaches to tolerance induction including inhibition of T-cell signaling, manipulation of costimulatory pathways, and expansion of regulatory T cells. The principles of these experimental approaches may ultimately be extended to provide safe and effective control of transplant rejection and induction of clinical operational tolerance.G. Alex Bishop, Francesco L. Ierino, Alexandra F. Sharland, Bruce M. Hall, Stephen I. Alexander, Mauro S. Sandrin, P. Toby Coates, Geoffrey W. McCaugha
Credere alla carne La funzione del corpo nel cinema di genere e documentario
No full textChe cos’è il cinema del corpo? E il cinema del corpo-animale? E ancora: il cinema può darci la presenza del corpo? Sulla scorta del concetto deleuziano di corpo cinematografico in questo saggio cercherò di condurre – con l’ausilio di alcune pellicole esemplari, film di “genere” e d’autore – un’analisi del cinema del corpo e del corpo-animale che, attraverso la raffigurazione di corpi mostruosi e di corpi sacrificabili, di corpi animali e animalizzati, attraverso il divenire animale di corpi visibili e invisibili, possa contribuire a restituire il discorso al corpo, a portare alla luce una nuova narratività del corpo del vivente e a forzare lo spettatore a credere nel corpo, nei corpi, a credere alla carne: poiché il cinema del corpo-animale è sempre cinema politico, come tale può spingere a un’azione politica, un’azione intesa come cambiamento della nostra postura di fronte all’alterità.What is the cinema of the body? And the cinema of the animal-body? And again: can cinema give us the presence of the body? On the basis of the Deleuzian concept of the cinematographic body, in this essay I will try to conduct – with the help of some exemplary films, “genre” and author films – an analysis of the cinema of the body and of the animal-body which, through the representation of monstrous bodies and expendable bodies, of animal and animalized bodies, through the becoming animal of visible and invisible bodies, can help to restore the discourse to the body, to bring to light a new narrativity of the body of the living and to force the viewer to believe in the body, in the bodies, to believe in the flesh: since the cinema of the animal-body is always political cinema, as such it can lead to political action, an action understood as a change in our posture in the face of otherness
A Designed Experiments Approach to Optimization of Automated Data Acquisition during Characterization of Bacteria with MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry
No full textabstract: MALDI-TOF MS has been shown capable of rapidly and accurately characterizing bacteria. Highly reproducible spectra are required to ensure reliable characterization. Prior work has shown that spectra acquired manually can have higher reproducibility than those acquired automatically. For this reason, the objective of this study was to optimize automated data acquisition to yield spectra with reproducibility comparable to those acquired manually. Fractional factorial design was used to design experiments for robust optimization of settings, in which values of five parameters (peak selection mass range, signal to noise ratio (S:N), base peak intensity, minimum resolution and number of shots summed) commonly used to facilitate automated data acquisition were varied. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was used as a model bacterium in the designed experiments, and spectra were acquired using an intact cell sample preparation method. Optimum automated data acquisition settings (i.e., those settings yielding the highest reproducibility of replicate mass spectra) were obtained based on statistical analysis of spectra of P. aeruginosa. Finally, spectrum quality and reproducibility obtained from non-optimized and optimized automated data acquisition settings were compared for P. aeruginosa, as well as for two other bacteria, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Serratia marcescens. Results indicated that reproducibility increased from 90% to 97% (p-value [~ over =] 0.002) for P. aeruginosa when more shots were summed and, interestingly, decreased from 95% to 92% (p-value [~ over =] 0.013) with increased threshold minimum resolution. With regard to spectrum quality, highly reproducible spectra were more likely to have high spectrum quality as measured by several quality metrics, except for base peak resolution. Interaction plots suggest that, in cases of low threshold minimum resolution, high reproducibility can be achieved with fewer shots. Optimization yielded more reproducible spectra than non-optimized settings for all three bacteria.The article is published at http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.009272
Biomarker- and similarity coefficient-based approaches to bacterial mixture characterization using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS)
No full textabstract: MALDI-TOF MS profiling has been shown to be a rapid and reliable method to characterize pure cultures of bacteria. Currently, there is keen interest in using this technique to identify bacteria in mixtures. Promising results have been reported with two- or three-isolate model systems using biomarker-based approaches. In this work, we applied MALDI-TOF MS-based methods to a more complex model mixture containing six bacteria. We employed: 1) a biomarker-based approach that has previously been shown to be useful in identification of individual bacteria in pure cultures and simple mixtures and 2) a similarity coefficient-based approach that is routinely and nearly exclusively applied to identification of individual bacteria in pure cultures. Both strategies were developed and evaluated using blind-coded mixtures. With regard to the biomarker-based approach, results showed that most peaks in mixture spectra could be assigned to those found in spectra of each component bacterium; however, peaks shared by two isolates as well as peaks that could not be assigned to any individual component isolate were observed. For two-isolate blind-coded samples, bacteria were correctly identified using both similarity coefficient- and biomarker-based strategies, while for blind-coded samples containing more than two isolates, bacteria were more effectively identified using a biomarker-based strategy.The final version of this article, as published in Scientific Reports, can be viewed online at: https://www.nature.com/articles/srep1583
MALDI-TOF MS as a Rapid Characterization Tool for Economically-Relevant Microalgae
No full textabstract: The ability of microalgae to be mass cultivated and harvested for production of pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and biofuels has made microalgae a focal point of scientific investigation. However, negative impacts on production are essentially inevitable due to the open design of many microalgae mass culture systems. This challenge generates a need for the consistent monitoring of microalgae cultures for health and the presence of contaminants, predators, and competitors. The techniques for monitoring microalgae cultures are generally time-intensive, labor-intensive, and expensive. The scope of this work was to evaluate the use of Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) as a viable alternative for the characterization of microalgae cultures. The studies presented here evaluated whether MALDI-TOF MS can be used to: 1) differentiate microalgae at the species and strain levels, 2) characterize simple mixtures of microalgae, 3) detect changes in a single microalgae culture over time, and 4) characterize growth phases of microalgae cultures. This research required the development of a MALDI-TOF MS microalgae analysis protocol for organism characterization. The results yielded in this research showed that MALDI-TOF MS was just as accurate, if not more so, than molecular techniques for the identification of microalgae at the species and strain levels during its logarithmic growth phase. Additionally, results suggest that MALDI-TOF MS is sensitive enough to characterize simple mixtures and detect changes in cultures over time. The data presented here suggests the next logical step is the development of protocols for the near-real time health monitoring of microalgae cultures and detection of contaminants using MALDI-TOF MS.Dissertation/ThesisMasters Thesis Biology 201
Identification of preferred carbohydrate binding modes in xenoreactive antibodies by combining conformational filters and binding site maps
No full textCarbohydrates are notoriously flexible molecules. However, they have an important role in many biochemical processes as specific ligands. Understanding how carbohydrates are recognized by other biological macromolecules (usually proteins) is therefore of considerable scientific value. Interfering with carbohydrate-protein interactions is a potentially useful strategy in combating a range of disease states, as well as being of critical importance in facilitating allo- and xenotransplantation. We have devised an in silico protocol for analyzing carbohydrate-protein interactions. In this study, we have applied the protocol to determine the structures of aGal-terminating carbohydrate antigens in complex with a panel of xenoreactive antibodies. The most important feature of the binding modes is the fixed conformation of the Galß(1,4)Glc/GlcNAc linkage across all of the binding modes. The preferred conformation of the terminal Gala(1,3)Gal linkage varies depending on the antibody binding site topography, although it is possible that some of the antibodies studied recognize more than one Gala(1,3)Gal conformation. The binding modes obtained indicate that each antibody uses distinct mechanisms in recognizing the target antigens. © The Author 2010. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: [email protected]
Measuring Engagement and Learning about Evolution through Online Videos
No full textabstract: Science communication to the public can help create informed citizens and help bolster professional creativity and skills. A method for exploring this discourse is through art and multimedia. In this study, online educational videos were created to test whether specific misconceptions about biological evolution could be effectively addressed while also engaging the viewer. Two short videos (~5 minutes total) were created and hosted on a website where participants could access the videos. Survey questions were provided before and after the videos to test participants' learning abilities. Additional survey questions asked for participants' opinions and experiences with the videos to gauge engagement. Overall improvement was observed in participants' learning and engagement with the videos but with variable levels of understanding and suggestions for better experience. Future work will focus on improving the quality of the video content as well as the level of engagement between participants and media
A Designed Experiments Approach to Optimizing MALDI-TOF MS Spectrum Processing Parameters Enhances Detection of Antibiotic Resistance in Campylobacter jejuni
No full textabstract: MALDI-TOF MS has been utilized as a reliable and rapid tool for microbial fingerprinting at the genus and species levels. Recently, there has been keen interest in using MALDI-TOF MS beyond the genus and species levels to rapidly identify antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria. The purpose of this study was to enhance strain level resolution for Campylobacter jejuni through the optimization of spectrum processing parameters using a series of designed experiments. A collection of 172 strains of C. jejuni were collected from Luxembourg, New Zealand, North America, and South Africa, consisting of four groups of antibiotic resistant isolates. The groups included: (1) 65 strains resistant to cefoperazone (2) 26 resistant to cefoperazone and beta-lactams (3) 5 strains resistant to cefoperazone, beta-lactams, and tetracycline, and (4) 76 strains resistant to cefoperazone, teicoplanin, amphotericin, B and cephalothin. Initially, a model set of 16 strains (three biological replicates and three technical replicates per isolate, yielding a total of 144 spectra) of C. jejuni was subjected to each designed experiment to enhance detection of antibiotic resistance. The most optimal parameters were applied to the larger collection of 172 isolates (two biological replicates and three technical replicates per isolate, yielding a total of 1,031 spectra). We observed an increase in antibiotic resistance detection whenever either a curve based similarity coefficient (Pearson or ranked Pearson) was applied rather than a peak based (Dice) and/or the optimized preprocessing parameters were applied. Increases in antimicrobial resistance detection were scored using the jackknife maximum similarity technique following cluster analysis. From the first four groups of antibiotic resistant isolates, the optimized preprocessing parameters increased detection respective to the aforementioned groups by: (1) 5% (2) 9% (3) 10%, and (4) 2%. An additional second categorization was created from the collection consisting of 31 strains resistant to beta-lactams and 141 strains sensitive to beta-lactams. Applying optimal preprocessing parameters, beta-lactam resistance detection was increased by 34%. These results suggest that spectrum processing parameters, which are rarely optimized or adjusted, affect the performance of MALDI-TOF MS-based detection of antibiotic resistance and can be fine-tuned to enhance screening performance.View the article as published at http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmicb.2016.00818/ful
Identification of Mycobacterium smegmatis and antibiotic resistance through the utilization of high titer mycobacteriophage concentrations and MALDI-TOF MS
No full textabstract: The diagnosis of bacterial infections based on phage multiplication has the potential for profound clinical implications, particularly for antibiotic-resistant strains and the slow-growing Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The possibility of hastening the diagnosis of antibiotic-resistant mycobacterial infections was accomplished via the study of Mycobacterium smegmatis, a generally non-pathogenic, comparatively fast growing microorganism to M. tuberculosis. These proof-of-concept studies established that after transduction of M. smegmatis cells with bacteriophages, MALDI-TOF MS could be used to detect increased amounts of phage proteins. Recording the growth of M. smegmatis over an 8-hour period, starting with very low OD600 measurements, simulated bacterial loads in clinical settings. For the purposes of MALDI-TOF MS, the procedure for the most effective lethal exposure for M. smegmatis was determined to be a 1-hour incubation in a 95°C water bath. Successful precipitation of the lytic mycobacteriophages D29 and Giles was performed using chloroform and methanol and overlaid with 1-2 μL of α-cyano-4-hydoxycinnaminic acid, which allowed for more distinct and repeatable MALDI-TOF MS spectra. Phage D29 was found to produce an m/z peak at 18.477 kDa, which may have indicated a 2+-charged ion of the 34.8 kDa minor tail protein. The Giles proteins that were identified with MALDI-TOF MS have not been directly compared to protein values reported in the scientific literature. However, the MALDI-TOF MS spectra suggested that distinct peaks existed between M. smegmatis mc2155 and mycobacteriophages, indicating that successful infection with lytic phage and replication thereafter may have occurred. The distinct peaks between M. smegmatis and the phage can be used as indicators of the presence of mycobacteria. At this point, the limits of detection of each phage must be elucidated in order for MALDI-TOF MS spectra to be successfully implemented as a mechanism to rapidly detect antibiotic-resistant mycobacteria
