667 research outputs found
Characterization of Maltese pottery of the Late Neolithic, Bronze Age and Punic Period by neutron activation analysis
A set of 41 samples from Tas-Silg, Malta, has been analysed by neutron
activation. It contained nine ware groups formed by visual examination covering the Late
Neolithic, Bronze Age and Punic Periods (c. 3000–218 BC). Despite this diversity and
long time range, seven of these ware groups, including the ‘Thermi Ware’, all have a
similar chemical composition and, therefore, have been made from the same clay. This
points most probably to a local origin. One group from the Punic Period, containing only
Bricky Red cooking ware, is chemically separate and represents a second distinct pattern
probably assignable to a local production. Five amphora sherds also from the Punic
Period, and consisting of a micaceous fabric, all have different chemical characteristics
and are probably imports from overseas production sites of unknown location.peer-reviewe
Complementary Time-Frequency Domain Networks for Dynamic Parallel MR Image Reconstruction
Purpose: To introduce a novel deep learning based approach for fast and
high-quality dynamic multi-coil MR reconstruction by learning a complementary
time-frequency domain network that exploits spatio-temporal correlations
simultaneously from complementary domains.
Theory and Methods: Dynamic parallel MR image reconstruction is formulated as
a multi-variable minimisation problem, where the data is regularised in
combined temporal Fourier and spatial (x-f) domain as well as in
spatio-temporal image (x-t) domain. An iterative algorithm based on variable
splitting technique is derived, which alternates among signal de-aliasing steps
in x-f and x-t spaces, a closed-form point-wise data consistency step and a
weighted coupling step. The iterative model is embedded into a deep recurrent
neural network which learns to recover the image via exploiting spatio-temporal
redundancies in complementary domains.
Results: Experiments were performed on two datasets of highly undersampled
multi-coil short-axis cardiac cine MRI scans. Results demonstrate that our
proposed method outperforms the current state-of-the-art approaches both
quantitatively and qualitatively. The proposed model can also generalise well
to data acquired from a different scanner and data with pathologies that were
not seen in the training set.
Conclusion: The work shows the benefit of reconstructing dynamic parallel MRI
in complementary time-frequency domains with deep neural networks. The method
can effectively and robustly reconstruct high-quality images from highly
undersampled dynamic multi-coil data ( and yielding 15s
and 10s scan times respectively) with fast reconstruction speed (2.8s). This
could potentially facilitate achieving fast single-breath-hold clinical 2D
cardiac cine imaging.Comment: Accepted by Magnetic Resonance in Medicin
Plan de negocio para la creaci?n de un marketplace de venta de artesan?a peruana para la decoraci?n del hogar en Lima
La presente tesis se ha realizado con el objetivo de determinar la factibilidad de implementar un marketplace que conecte la demanda de art?culos de decoraci?n en Lima, con la oferta de artesan?as peruanas. Ofreciendo la posibilidad de decorar hogares con art?culos de artesan?a peruana, resaltando su valor cultural e hist?rico. Asegurando intercambios de valor justos entre artesanos y consumidores, convirti?ndonos en una plataforma que crea experiencias memorables para ambos clientes. Para cumplir con el objetivo de este an?lisis, se propusieron objetivos espec?ficos y una metodolog?a de investigaci?n que permiti? situarnos en el mercado de decoraci?n para el hogar y evaluar la oportunidad de negocio. A partir de los resultados de la investigaci?n de mercado, construimos los lineamientos estrat?gicos de Wallpari Deco. Los mismos que guiaron el desarrollo posterior de los planes estrat?gicos de marketing, operaciones, recursos humanos y tecnolog?as de informaci?n. Todos los planes con objetivos espec?ficos y estrategias que apuntan a cumplir con la propuesta de valor: Ser un marketplace que ofrece la posibilidad de decorar hogares con art?culos ?nicos de artesan?a peruana, resaltando su valor cultural e hist?rico. Asegurando intercambios de valor justos entre artesanos y consumidores, convirti?ndonos en una plataforma que crea experiencias memorables para ambos clientes
Broad cross-reactivity across sarbecoviruses exhibited by a subset of COVID-19 donor-derived neutralizing antibodies
Many anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies target the ACE2-binding site on viral spike receptor-binding domains (RBDs). The most potent antibodies recognize exposed variable epitopes, often rendering them ineffective against other sarbecoviruses and SARS-CoV-2 variants. Class 4 anti-RBD antibodies against a less-exposed, but more-conserved, cryptic epitope could recognize newly-emergent zoonotic sarbecoviruses and variants, but usually show only weak neutralization potencies. We characterized two class 4 anti-RBD antibodies derived from COVID-19 donors that exhibited broad recognition and potent neutralization of zoonotic coronavirus and SARS-CoV-2 variants. C118-RBD and C022-RBD structures revealed CDRH3 mainchain H-bond interactions that extended an RBD β-sheet, thus reducing sensitivity to RBD sidechain changes, and epitopes that extended from the cryptic epitope to occlude ACE2 binding. A C118-spike trimer structure revealed rotated RBDs to allow cryptic epitope access and the potential for intra-spike crosslinking to increase avidity. These studies facilitate vaccine design and illustrate potential advantages of class 4 RBD-binding antibody therapeutics
Specific, sensitive and rapid detection of human plasmodium knowlesi infection by loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) in blood samples
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The emergence of <it>Plasmodium knowlesi </it>in humans, which is in many cases misdiagnosed by microscopy as <it>Plasmodium malariae </it>due to the morphological similarity has contributed to the needs of detection and differentiation of malaria parasites. At present, nested PCR targeted on <it>Plasmodium </it>ssrRNA genes has been described as the most sensitive and specific method for Plasmodium detection. However, this method is costly and requires trained personnel for its implementation. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), a novel nucleic acid amplification method was developed for the clinical detection of <it>P. knowlesi</it>. The sensitivity and specificity of LAMP was evaluated in comparison to the results obtained via microscopic examination and nested PCR.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>LAMP assay was developed based on <it>P. knowlesi </it>genetic material targeting the apical membrane antigen-1 (AMA-1) gene. The method uses six primers that recognize eight regions of the target DNA and it amplifies DNA within an hour under isothermal conditions (65°C) in a water-bath.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>LAMP is highly sensitive with the detection limit as low as ten copies for AMA-1. LAMP detected malaria parasites in all confirm cases (n = 13) of <it>P. knowlesi </it>infection (sensitivity, 100%) and none of the negative samples (specificity, 100%) within an hour. LAMP demonstrated higher sensitivity compared to nested PCR by successfully detecting a sample with very low parasitaemia (< 0.01%).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>With continuous efforts in the optimization of this assay, LAMP may provide a simple and reliable test for detecting <it>P. knowlesi </it>malaria parasites in areas where malaria is prevalent.</p
Different niches for stem cells carrying the same oncogenic driver affect pathogenesis and therapy response in myeloproliferative neoplasms
Aging facilitates the expansion of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) carrying clonal hematopoiesis-related somatic mutations and the development of myeloid malignancies, such as myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). While cooperating mutations can cause transformation, it is unclear whether distinct bone marrow (BM) HSC-niches can influence the growth and therapy response of HSCs carrying the same oncogenic driver. Here we found different BM niches for HSCs in MPN subtypes. JAK-STAT signaling differentially regulates CDC42-dependent HSC polarity, niche interaction and mutant cell expansion. Asymmetric HSC distribution causes differential BM niche remodeling: sinusoidal dilation in polycythemia vera and endosteal niche expansion in essential thrombocythemia. MPN development accelerates in a prematurely aged BM microenvironment, suggesting that the specialized niche can modulate mutant cell expansion. Finally, dissimilar HSC-niche interactions underpin variable clinical response to JAK inhibitor. Therefore, HSC-niche interactions influence the expansion rate and therapy response of cells carrying the same clonal hematopoiesis oncogenic driver
Different niches for stem cells carrying the same oncogenic driver affect pathogenesis and therapy response in myeloproliferative neoplasms
Aging facilitates the expansion of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) carrying clonal hematopoiesis-related somatic mutations and the development of myeloid malignancies, such as myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). While cooperating mutations can cause transformation, it is unclear whether distinct bone marrow (BM) HSC-niches can influence the growth and therapy response of HSCs carrying the same oncogenic driver. Here we found different BM niches for HSCs in MPN subtypes. JAK-STAT signaling differentially regulates CDC42-dependent HSC polarity, niche interaction and mutant cell expansion. Asymmetric HSC distribution causes differential BM niche remodeling: sinusoidal dilation in polycythemia vera and endosteal niche expansion in essential thrombocythemia. MPN development accelerates in a prematurely aged BM microenvironment, suggesting that the specialized niche can modulate mutant cell expansion. Finally, dissimilar HSC-niche interactions underpin variable clinical response to JAK inhibitor. Therefore, HSC-niche interactions influence the expansion rate and therapy response of cells carrying the same clonal hematopoiesis oncogenic driver
Fermi Large Area Telescope Constraints on the Gamma-ray Opacity of the Universe
The Extragalactic Background Light (EBL) includes photons with wavelengths
from ultraviolet to infrared, which are effective at attenuating gamma rays
with energy above ~10 GeV during propagation from sources at cosmological
distances. This results in a redshift- and energy-dependent attenuation of the
gamma-ray flux of extragalactic sources such as blazars and Gamma-Ray Bursts
(GRBs). The Large Area Telescope onboard Fermi detects a sample of gamma-ray
blazars with redshift up to z~3, and GRBs with redshift up to z~4.3. Using
photons above 10 GeV collected by Fermi over more than one year of observations
for these sources, we investigate the effect of gamma-ray flux attenuation by
the EBL. We place upper limits on the gamma-ray opacity of the Universe at
various energies and redshifts, and compare this with predictions from
well-known EBL models. We find that an EBL intensity in the optical-ultraviolet
wavelengths as great as predicted by the "baseline" model of Stecker et al.
(2006) can be ruled out with high confidence.Comment: 42 pages, 12 figures, accepted version (24 Aug.2010) for publication
in ApJ; Contact authors: A. Bouvier, A. Chen, S. Raino, S. Razzaque, A.
Reimer, L.C. Reye
A population of gamma-ray emitting globular clusters seen with the Fermi Large Area Telescope
Globular clusters with their large populations of millisecond pulsars (MSPs)
are believed to be potential emitters of high-energy gamma-ray emission. Our
goal is to constrain the millisecond pulsar populations in globular clusters
from analysis of gamma-ray observations. We use 546 days of continuous
sky-survey observations obtained with the Large Area Telescope aboard the Fermi
Gamma-ray Space Telescope to study the gamma-ray emission towards 13 globular
clusters. Steady point-like high-energy gamma-ray emission has been
significantly detected towards 8 globular clusters. Five of them (47 Tucanae,
Omega Cen, NGC 6388, Terzan 5, and M 28) show hard spectral power indices and clear evidence for an exponential cut-off in the range
1.0-2.6 GeV, which is the characteristic signature of magnetospheric emission
from MSPs. Three of them (M 62, NGC 6440 and NGC 6652) also show hard spectral
indices , however the presence of an exponential cut-off
can not be unambiguously established. Three of them (Omega Cen, NGC 6388, NGC
6652) have no known radio or X-ray MSPs yet still exhibit MSP spectral
properties. From the observed gamma-ray luminosities, we estimate the total
number of MSPs that is expected to be present in these globular clusters. We
show that our estimates of the MSP population correlate with the stellar
encounter rate and we estimate 2600-4700 MSPs in Galactic globular clusters,
commensurate with previous estimates. The observation of high-energy gamma-ray
emission from a globular cluster thus provides a reliable independent method to
assess their millisecond pulsar populations that can be used to make
constraints on the original neutron star X-ray binary population, essential for
understanding the importance of binary systems in slowing the inevitable core
collapse of globular clusters.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A. Corresponding authors: J.
Kn\"odlseder, N. Webb, B. Pancraz
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