121,797 research outputs found
Antiviral activity of mycosynthesized silver nanoparticles against herpes simplex virus and human parainfluenza virus type 3
No full textSwapnil Gaikwad,1 Avinash Ingle,1 Aniket Gade,1 Mahendra Rai,1 Annarita Falanga,3 Novella Incoronato,2 Luigi Russo,2 Stefania Galdiero,3 Massimilano Galdiero2 1Department of Biotechnology, Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University, Amravati, Maharashtra, India; 2Department of Experimental Medicine, Division of Microbiology, II University of Naples, 3Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico II”, DFM and Institute of Biostructures and Bioimages, Naples, Italy Abstract: The interaction between silver nanoparticles and viruses is attracting great interest due to the potential antiviral activity of these particles, and is the subject of much research effort in the treatment of infectious diseases. In this work, we demonstrate that silver nanoparticles undergo a size-dependent interaction with herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 and with human parainfluenza virus type 3. We show that production of silver nanoparticles from different fungi is feasible, and their antiviral activity is dependent on the production system used. Silver nanoparticles are capable of reducing viral infectivity, probably by blocking interaction of the virus with the cell, which might depend on the size and zeta potential of the silver nanoparticles. Smaller-sized nanoparticles were able to inhibit the infectivity of the viruses analyzed. Keywords: silver nanoparticles, antiviral, herpes simplex virus, parainfluenza viru
Genetic characterization of Calabrese and Casertana pig ancient autochthonous genetic types (AAGT) at CRC locus
No full textCalcium Release Channel (CRC) is a “candidate DNA segment encoding protein (gene)” of high interest for pork quality. It maps on the short arm of chromosome 6 and has two allelic forms: N (normal dominant allele) and n [mutated recessive allele, also known as “halothane sensitivity” allele (Haln)]. Haln is due to a point mutation (SNP, single nucleotide polymorphism) which consists in the transition of a thymine nucleotide base for a cytosine at position 1843 in the 134 bp exon, responsible for the synthesis of a protein containing a substitution of an “arginine” for a “cysteine” at position 615; in the muscle fiber this substitution induces anomalies in the calcium flow regulation at sarcoplasmic reticulum level (ionic calcium deregulation). This deregulation in pig species is manifested as PSS (Porcine Stress Syndrome). Meat of PSS animals displays PSE (Pale Soft Exudative) myopathy, which makes meat less acceptable to consumer and poorly suitable to transformation in products of a good quality.
The individuation of the point mutation allowed to set up a fast and efficient “genetic prophylaxis” test based on the genotype determination at CRC locus in order to detect heterozygous carriers of mutated allele and their incidence. In fact, the halothane test does not distinguish between the heterozygous (Nn) and homozygous normal (NN) animals, because both of these genotypes are non reactive. Furthermore, some nn subjects are halothane negative due to incomplete penetrance. In order to individuate the possible presence of mutated allele within Casertana (CT) and Calabrese (CA) AAGTs, a genetic screening was performed on 110 subjects of CT AAGT and 40 CA AAGT pigs, reared at ConSDABI experimental farm, using PCR-RFLP (Polymerase Chain Reaction - Restriction Fragment Lenght Polymorphisms) method. The results showed that all Casertana AAGT pigs were NN (100%) while in AAGT Calabrese the frequencies of NN and Nn genotypes were 75% and 25% respectively. No nn genotype was found in the tested animals. It is opportune to specify that familiar relationships exist between Calabrese subjects, due to the reduced consistency of pig population. These results, valid within the observation field, confirm what found in a previous research in which Casertana was different from Calabrese and Nero Siciliano AAGTs for genotypic frequencies values: NN: 100,0% vs 65,5% vs 93,9%, respectivel
A Multi-Language Comparison of Influences on Author Verification using Character N-Grams
No full textWe create a new multi-language corpus for author verification based on Wikipedia talkpages, and evaluate the influence that differences in topic and time have on character n-gram author profiles. Topic alignment between two texts is found to increase author verification precision, and an authors writing style is found to change over time, but not more significantly after 3 years than after 1 year.Information ArchitectureWISElectrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Scienc
Typification of Bagnolese sheep autochthonous genetic type at microsatellite loci : Preliminary results
No full textAppropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
No full textWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Multi-Channel SPAD Chip for Silicon Photonics with Multi-Photon CoIncidence Detection
No full textWe present the design and characterization of a microelectronic chip consisting of 32 independent single-photon counting and multi-photon time-coincidence channels, based on Single Photon Avalanche Diodes (SPADs). The chip aims at easing the assembly together with Silicon Photonics substrates and chips, for a broad spectrum of quantum applications. The chip provides not only 32 independent pulse outputs for multi-channel single-photon counting, but it features other two operation modalities. For single-photon applications, the chip provides the single-hit digital address of the channel detecting the photon among the 32 ones. For multi-photon applications, the chip provides an event-driven pulse every time more than n photons (n selectable between 2 and 4) concurrently trigger different channels. Each detection channel consists of 4 independent SPADs with different diameter (5 μm, 10 μm, 20 μm, and 50 μm), to easily match the waveguides and collection efficiency
Intracellular delivery: exploiting viral membranotropic peptides.
No full textRecent advances in the understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms of the pathogenesis of several diseases offer the possibility to address novel molecular targets for an improved diagnosis and therapy. In fact, in order to fulfill their function, macromolecular drugs, reporter molecules, and imaging agents often require to be delivered into specific intracellular compartments, usually the cytoplasm or the nucleus. From a medical perspective, biological membranes represent a critical hindrance due to their barrier-like behaviour not easily circumvented by many pharmacologically-active molecules. Therefore, identifying strategies for membrane translocation is essential. Several technologies have been designed to improve cellular uptake of therapeutic molecules, including cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs). These peptides, which are able to efficiently translocate macromolecules through the plasma membrane, have attracted a lot of attention, and new translocating peptides are continuously described. In this review, we will focus on the viral derived peptides, and in particular those derived by viral entry proteins that may be useful as delivery vehicles due to their intrinsic properties of inducing membrane perturbation
The vanishing author in computer-generated works: a critical analysis of recent Australian case law
No full textAbstract
The use of software is ubiquitous in the creation of many copyright works, yet the requirement in copyright law that every work have a human author who engages in independent intellectual effort means that its use may prevent copyright subsistence. Several recent Australian cases have refocused attention on authorship as an essential criterion of copyright subsistence, and these cases suggest that much computer-produced output may be authorless and thus lack copyright protection. This article, the first in a two-part series, analyses how each case deals with the question of authorship of computer-produced works and why the use of software diminishes copyright protection for a significant number of computer-generated works. The article critiques the application of conventional notions of human authorship developed in the pre-computer age to modern productions and suggests alternative approaches to authorship that satisfy both the major objectives of copyright policy and the need to adapt to the computer age. The article argues that, without a broader judicial approach to authorship of computer-generated works, Parliament must remedy the lacuna in protection for these ‘authorless’ works. Possible solutions for reform are suggested. In a forthcoming article, the author comprehensively examines those reform proposals
Genotyping of H-FABP loci in two pig ancient autochthonous genetic types: Calabrese and Casertana
No full textThe aim of the present research was to characterize two pig ancient autochthonous genetic types (AAGT) [Casertana (CT) and Calabrese (CA)] at H-FABP (Heart- Fatty Acid Binding Protein) loci as well as to evaluate the associations of qualitative and quantitative meat traits. H-FABP is a candidate DNA segment coding protein (gene) for intramuscular fat depot (IMF). The identification of haplotypes suitable for IMF may represent a valid tool for molecular assisted selection (MAS) to improve meat qualitative traits functional to human well being and welfare. Genotyping was performed on 150 pigs (100 CT and 50 CA) reared at ConSDABI Experimental Farm by PCR-RFLP (Polymerase Chain Reaction – Restriction Fragment Lenght Polymorphism) method. Three diallelic point mutations were investigated: one located in a 700 bp sequence in the 5’upstream region (HinfI restriction site) and two in a 850 bp sequence, about 300 bp apart, located in intron 2 (HaeIII and MspI restriction sites, respectively) of the H-FABP DNA segment; in total, these mutations map in a region of about 7.000 bp and may define a three locus haplotype. Some qualitative characteristics (colour and rheological traits) were detected on Psoas Major, Longissimus dorsi, Caput longum tricipitis brachii and Supraspinatus muscles of 59 CT and 50 CA.
Experimental data were analyzed using carcass weight as covariate (SAS package) and the significance of comparisons between the estimated mean values was tested by Student’s t test. 27 possible haplotypes taking into account the diallelic polymorphism of each locus were calculated. The results, in the limits of the observation field, showed some haplotypes ‘AAGT- exclusive’ [3 in Casertana (HHDdAA; HHDDAa; HHddaa) and 2 in Calabrese (hhddAA; hhddaa)] and a different incidence of the common haplotypes: in CT the most frequent was HHddAa (38%) while in CA was HhddAa (22%). The relation between genetic structure of H-FABP loci and quanti-qualitative characteristics of meat evidenced the association between H-FABP loci and fatty traits. CA carriers of HhddAa haplotype evidenced a significant higher backfat weight (19.11 kg) in comparison with carriers of HHddaa haplotype which showed the lower fatness (6.35 kg); furthermore, the former haplotype also affected the fatness in other cuts (jowl and belly). Animals with the hhddAA haplotype evidenced a higher thickness of backfat at shoulder level (79.41 mm), while HhddAa showed the lowest value in the Calabrese AAGT. A different chromatic behavior of meat was observed in relation to both muscle type and haplotype. In Casertana, meat of HHDdAA carriers was lighter as consequence of the highest lightness value (43.44; P<0.05) while in Calabrese the HHDdAa haplotype was associated with a higher lightness value (45.84; P<0.05). The statistical analysis did not evidence associations between haplotype and dissection data
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