8 research outputs found
Web5VR: a flexible framework for integrating Virtual Reality input and output devices on the web
No full textThe availability of consumer-level devices for both visualising and interacting with Virtual Reality (VR) environments opens the opportunity to introduce more immersive contents and experiences, even on the web. For reaching a wider audience, developing VR applications in a web environment requires a flexible adaptation to the different input and output devices that are currently available. This paper examines the required support and explores how to develop VR applications based on web technologies that can adapt to different VR devices. We summarize the main engineering challenges and we describe a flexible framework for integrating and exploiting various VR devices for both input and output. Using such framework, we describe how we re-implemented four manipulation techniques from the literature to enable them within the same application, providing details on how we adapted its parts for different input and output devices such as Kinect and Leap Motion. Finally, we briefly examine the usability of the final application using our framework
The Impact of Portfolios on Enhancing Writing Skills in ESP Classes
No full textAbstractThis study aimed to investigate the effect of portfolios on developing writing skills among 52 Turkish undergraduate learners in ESP classes. This study was carried out on two groups ⿿ experimental and control groups- each of which consists of 26 students. The learners were freshmen at the department of Sea and Marine Management at Vocational School of Higher Education, Sinop University. Before the treatment, a pre-test was administered to both groups in order to investigate the writing performance and sub skills of focus, elaboration, organization, conventions and vocabulary of learners of ESP. Throughout the study the experimental group was taught through portfolio assessment technique and the control group was taught through the conventional method. An Independent samples t-test was applied in order to see whether there was a statistically significant difference or not between the groups. Additionally, a Paired Samples t-test was used so as to compare differences within each group. The results obtained from the post-test demonstrated that there was a statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups in terms of the type of treatment, which signifies that portfolios had a statistically significant effect on promoting writing performance and its sub skills in ESP classes. After the treatment, the students in the experimental group were also administered an attitude questionnaire to elicit their thoughts about the effectiveness of using portfolios on augmenting writing abilities in ESP classes. The data collected from the attitude questionnaire was analysed through descriptive statistics including the frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations etc. The results showed that students have positive attitudes towards using portfolios on improving their writing skills in ESP classes
Synthesis of triphosphate nucleoside prodrugs: γ‐ProTriPs
No full textAlthough monophosphate nucleoside prodrug approaches have been extensively investigated, leading to the development of several key antiviral and anticancer drugs, less attention has been given to the design of triphosphate prodrugs for the delivery of triphosphorylated nucleotide analogues. Expanding on this strategy, we report here an efficient synthetic methodology for preparing nucleoside triphosphate prodrugs, in which the γ‐phosphate of a nucleotide is masked with an amino acid ester and an aryloxy group (γ‐ProTriP). This approach aims to achieve the direct intracellular release of the triphosphate nucleotide active species, circumventing metabolic bottlenecks and potential toxicity that are often associated with the accumulation of nucleoside analogues and/or their mono‐ and diphosphate species. This article outlines the synthetic strategy for preparing γ‐ProTriP derivatives using either microwave‐accelerated synthesis or conventional heating methods. The approach is exemplified by the preparation of a clofarabine γ‐ProTriP, which emerges as a promising alternative to traditional monophosphate prodrug strategies. © 2025 The Author(s). Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol: Preparation of triphosphate aryloxy phosphoramidate of adenosine, uridine, and clofarabine with microwave heating Alternate Protocol: Preparation of triphosphate aryloxy phosphoramidate of adenosine with conventional heating Support Protocol 1: Cation exchange of UDP disodium salt to UDP di(triethylammonium) salt Support Protocol 2: Synthesis of di(triethylammonium) salt of clofarabine 5′‐diphosphate Support Protocol 3: Synthesis of pentafluorophenyl phosphorylating reagent
Una novela lírica de la tierra de los faraones: La serpiente de Egipto, de Isaac Muñoz
No full textIn 1997 it was published for the first time La Serpiente de Egipto, a lyric novel of Orientalist theme, decadent inspiration and undoubtedly attached to a strong flurry of Egyptphilia spread through the entire nineteenth century. Its author was the novelist from Granada Isaac Muñoz (1881-1925), a close friend of Francisco Villaespesa, and his companion in the exciting venture of literary renewal that led to the consolidation of Modernism in Spain. His life and literary career offer a clear interest, and, above all, show its evidence as a sign of the times. Symptom of the fin-de-siècle crisis, Isaac Muñoz captures, in his literary creation, the contradictions, ambiguities and unsatisfied desires that marked the culture of a fruitful period.En el año 1997 vio la luz por primera vez La Serpiente de Egipto, una novela lírica de temática orientalista, inspiración decadente y adscrita sin duda alguna a una intensa corriente egiptófila que atraviesa todo el siglo XIX. Su autor había sido el novelista granadino Isaac Muñoz (1881-1925), amigo íntimo de Francisco Villaespesa, y compañero de éste en la apasionada empresa de renovación literaria que propició la consolidación del modernismo en España, y cuya trayectoria vital y literaria ofrece un indudable interés, y, sobre todo, muestra su evidencia como síntoma de la época. Síntoma, en definitiva, de la crisis de fin de siglo, Isaac Muñoz plasma en su creación literaria las contradicciones, ambigüedades y deseos insatisfechos que marcaron la cultura de una etapa fecunda
MRI radiomics-based machine learning for classification of deep-seated lipoma and atypical lipomatous tumor of the extremities
No full textPurpose: To determine diagnostic performance of MRI radiomics-based machine learning for classification of deep-seated lipoma and atypical lipomatous tumor (ALT) of the extremities. Material and methods: This retrospective study was performed at three tertiary sarcoma centers and included 150 patients with surgically treated and histology-proven lesions. The training-validation cohort consisted of 114 patients from centers 1 and 2 (n = 64 lipoma, n = 50 ALT). The external test cohort consisted of 36 patients from center 3 (n = 24 lipoma, n = 12 ALT). 3D segmentation was manually performed on T1- and T2-weighted MRI. After extraction and selection of radiomic features, three machine learning classifiers were trained and validated using nested fivefold cross-validation. The best-performing classifier according to previous analysis was evaluated and compared to an experienced musculoskeletal radiologist in the external test cohort. Results: Eight features passed feature selection and were incorporated into the machine learning models. After training and validation (74% ROC-AUC), the best-performing classifier (Random Forest) showed 92% sensitivity and 33% specificity in the external test cohort with no statistical difference compared to the radiologist (p = 0.474). Conclusion: MRI radiomics-based machine learning may classify deep-seated lipoma and ALT of the extremities with high sensitivity and negative predictive value, thus potentially serving as a non-invasive screening tool to reduce unnecessary referral to tertiary tumor centers
SDF1 gradient associates with the distribution of c-Kit+ cardiac cells in the heart
No full textAbstract
Identification of the adult cardiac stem cells (CSCs) has offered new therapeutic possibilities for treating ischemic myocardium. CSCs positive for the cell surface antigen c-Kit are known as the primary source for cardiac regeneration. Accumulating evidence shows that chemokines play important roles in stem cell homing. Here we investigated molecular targets to be utilized in modulating the mobility of endogenous CSCs. In a four week follow-up after experimental acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with ligation of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery of Sprague-Dawley rats c-Kit+ CSCs redistributed in the heart. The number of c-Kit+ CSCs in the atrial c-Kit niche was diminished, whereas increased amount was observed in the left ventricle and apex. This was associated with increased expression of stromal cell-derived factor 1 alpha (SDF1α), and a significant positive correlation was found between c-Kit+ CSCs and SDF1α expression in the heart. Moreover, the migratory capacity of isolated c-Kit+ CSCs was induced by SDF1 treatment in vitro. We conclude that upregulation of SDF1α after AMI associates with increased expression of endogenous c-Kit+ CSCs in the injury area, and show induced migration of c-Kit+ cells by SDF1
Estimating the use of biological samples in Finnish biobanks and hospital collections
No full textFinland has steadily developed its biobanking infrastructures since the early 2010s. This article presents a systematic overview of the number of biological samples that have been provided for research since 2013 when the Finnish Biobank Act came into force. Using data from individual biobanks and from permits issued by Fimea (formerly Valvira), we present the most up-to-date and complete account of sample use at a national level. Between 2014 and 2023 a total of 1,474,881 samples were provided through 998 sample requests. A better understanding of the use of biological samples at the national level can help highlight the important impact biobanking has as an infrastructure for supporting research. We argue that developing standards can help in developing national biobanking strategies and identify areas where biobanking can be further developed. We also conclude that the ability to combine tissue samples and health data flexibly and efficiently is essential and needs to be secured also within the context of the European Health Data Space (EHDS).Peer reviewe
