86,826 research outputs found
Figure 5 from: Vizzini A, Tatti A, Huijser HA, Liang JF, Ercole E (2019) Looking for Lepiota psalion Huijser & Vellinga (Agaricales, Agaricaceae). MycoKeys 52: 45-69. https://doi.org/10.3897/mycokeys.52.34021
No full textFigure 5 Lepiotapsalion. Microscopic features (CAG P.11_9/7.68) a–b Elements of the pileus covering c Cheilocystidia d Elements of the annulus e–f Spores. a–d in ammoniacal Congo red e in 5% KOH f in Melzer's reagent. Scale bars: 10 μm (a–d); 5 μm (e–f). Photographs by A. Tatti
Devonian filamentous microfossils (Hollard Mound, Morocco) as investigated by Focused Ion Beam
No full textAstrobiological relevance of FIB microscopy techniques in the investigation of biogenic morphologies. A pilot study
No full textStructural analysis of saposin C and B. Complete localization of disulfide bridges.
No full textSaposins A, B, C, and D are a group of homologous glycoproteins derived from a single precursor, prosaposin, and apparently involved in the stimulation of the enzymatic degradation of sphingolipids in lysosomes. All saposins have six cysteine residues at similar positions. In the present study we have investigated the disulfide structure of saposins B and C using advanced mass spectrometric procedures. Electrospray analysis showed that deglycosylated saposins B and C are mainly present as 79- and 80-residue monomeric polypeptides, respectively. Fast atom bombardment mass analysis of peptide mixtures obtained by a combination of chemical and enzymatic cleavages demonstrated that the pairings of the three disulfide bridges present in each saposin are Cys4-Cys77, Cys7-Cys71, Cys36-Cys47 for saposin B and Cys5-Cys78, Cys8-Cys72, Cys36-Cys47 for saposin C. We have recently shown that saposin C interacts with phosphatidylserine-containing vesicles inducing destabilization of the lipid surface (Vaccaro, A. M., Tatti, M., Ciaffoni, F., Salvioli, R., Serafino, A., and Barca, A. (1994) FEBS Lett. 349, 181-186); this perturbation promotes the binding of the lysosomal enzyme glucosylceramidase to the vesicles and the reconstitution of its activity. It was presently found that the effects of saposin C on phosphatidylserine liposomes and on glucosylceramidase activity are markedly reduced when the three disulfide bonds are irreversibly disrupted. These results stress the importance of the disulfide structure for the functional properties of the saposin
Simultaneous presentation of idiopathic macular and posterior full-thickness retinal holes successfully treated with inverted internal limiting membrane flap technique
No full textPurpose: To report an unusual non-iatrogenic case of central macular and posterior full-thickness retinal holes (FTRHs). Observations: A 60-year-old man presented with a progressive visual loss in the right eye. A complete ophthalmological evaluation including best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) measurement, fundus examination and spectral - domain optical coherence tomography (SD–OCT) was performed. Fundus examination and SD-OCT confirmed the presence of simultaneous macular and posterior FTRHs. A 25-gauge vitrectomy was performed and the internal limiting membrane (ILM) was grasped and peeled off around the two holes. A fragment of the peeled-off ILM anchored on the FTRHs edges was left and inserted into the gaps. Closure of both retinal holes was achieved at 1-month, and BCVA improved from 20/630 at baseline to 20/63 at month 3. No intraoperative or postoperative complications were recorded. Conclusions and Importance: Inverted ILM flap technique represents a good treatment option in this rare non-iatrogenic condition, allowing a good anatomical and functional recovery
Solar Technologies as a Driver to Limit Energy Poverty in the Rocinha Favela
No full textIn developing countries, the constant conditions of economic and social crises resulted in a continuous expansion of non-regulated solutions to access energy services, especially in low-income settlements of urban areas such as Brazilian favelas, where people rely on illegal connections to the power grid, called gato, to fulfil their energy needs. An appropriate exploitation of renewable energy could reduce these energy thefts, contributing to urban sustainability and creating employment opportunities for locals. This section presents the results of a study developed for a pilot area within the favela of Rocinha, meant to establish ways to limit energy poverty, by spreading access to renewable energy. Both the favela’s energy uses, the potential of local climate and of photovoltaic (PV) panel’s production, have been assessed, leading to the proposal of a solar district based on the use of PV and of battery storage systems. In addition to it, the deployment of an urban management system (UMS), able to manage data coming from different urban facilities, will contribute to outline a new sustainable culture on the use of energy and urban services through the active participation of consumers
Ability of low-cost force-feedback device to influence postural stability
No full textLow-cost gaming technology offers promising devices for the rehabilitation of stroke patients at home. While several attempts have been made to use low-cost motion tracking devices (Kinect) or balance boards (Wii Board), the potential of low-cost haptic devices has yet to be explored in this context. The objective of this study was to investigate whether it is possible to influence postural stability with a low-cost device despite its technical limitations, and to explore the most promising modes of haptic interaction to increase and decrease postural stability. Two groups of younger subjects used a high-end (Omega.3) and a low-cost (Falcon) device respectively. A third group of older subjects used the Falcon. We show that light touch contact with the device improves stability, whereas the force tasks decrease it. The effects of the different tasks are consistent in the two age groups. Although there are differences in the participants' interaction with the two devices, the effect of the devices on postural stability is comparable. We conclude that a low-cost haptic device can be used to increase or decrease postural stability of healthy subjects with an age similar to that of typical stroke patients, in a safe and controllable way
Technical and economic assessment of a battery storage system for a nZEB in the Mediterranean climate
No full textIn recent years, the promotion of nearly-Zero Energy Buildings (nZEB), has become a priority for European member states. In order to get this label, typically, a monthly or yearly energy balance of energy use through the exploitation of renewable energy sources (RES) is required, but not a hourly balance. This approach may determine a low exploitation of the RES on site in the case of solar and wind energy, because they are intermittent by nature. Moreover, energy production and energy use peaks are often in mismatch during the day. Battery energy storage systems (BESS) offer a solution to better integrate RES into buildings as well as into the grid, increasing its reliability and minimizing interactions. The cost of these systems is rapidly decreasing, opening new economic opportunities for investors. However, for many applications they do not yet represent the optimal cost-effective solution due to the lifespan of their short-lived components. The paper investigates the technical and economic feasibility of integrating a BESS into a high-performance residential building in the Mediterranean climate based on the outcomes of an original case study based research. The existing photovoltaic system combined with the BESS may substantially optimize the energy use, maximizing the self-consumption and minimizing grid interactions; nevertheless, the pay-back time may become fully-attractive for the analysed building, only if BESS costs will halve by 2030
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