Interacting with a multi AGV system

This paper introduces a novel Human Machine Interface (HMI) that allows users to interact with a fleet of Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) used for logistics operations in industrial environments. The interface is developed for providing operators with information regarding the fleet of AGVs, and the status of the industrial environment. Information is provided in an intuitive manner, utilizing a three-dimensional representation of the elements in the environment. The HMI also allows operators to influence the behavior of the fleet of AGVs, manually inserting missions to be accomplished

Fluorometric detection of protein-ligand engagement: The case of phosphodiesterase5

Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) regulate the intracellular levels of cAMP and cGMP. The great clinical success of the PDE5 inhibitors, Sildenafil (Viagra), Vardenafil (Levitra) and Tadalafil (Cialis) has led to an increasing interest for this class of enzymes. Recent studies have shown a correlation between tumor growth and PDE5 overexpression, making PDE5-selective inhibitors promising candidates for cancer treatment. The search for such inhibitors rests today on radioactive assays. In this work, we exploit the conserved catalytic domain of the enzyme and propose a faster and safer method for detecting the binding of ligands and evaluate their affinities. The new approach takes advantage of Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) between, as the donor, a fluorescein-like diarsenical probe able to covalently bind a tetracysteine motif fused to the recombinant PDE5 catalytic domain and, as the acceptor, a rhodamine probe covalently bound to the pseudosubstrate cGMPS. The FRET efficiency decreases when a competitive ligand binds the PDE5 catalytic site and displaces the cGMPS-rhodamine conjugate. We have structurally investigated the PDE5/cGMPS-rhodamine complex by molecular modelling and have used the FRET signal to quantitatively characterize its binding equilibrium. Competitive displacement experiments were carried out with tadalafil and cGMPS. An adaptation of the competitive-displacement equilibrium model yielded the affinities for PDE5 of the incoming ligands, nano- and micromolar, respectively

The oral and gut microbiota: beyond a short communication

Introduction. The current treatment and prevention of oral disorders, dental caries, periodontal and gum diseases, follow a very non-specific control of plaque as the main causative factor. The main therapeutically approach is carried out on the sole perspective to keep the levels of oral bacteria in an acceptable range compatible with one-way vision of oral-mouth health, as something completely separated from a systemic microbial homeostasis (dysbiosis) concomitant present in the gut. A sealed compartmental view which sees separate and incommunicable responses to a specific condition without considering the presence of interacting confounding factors can negatively influence the diagnosis a diseases and of course its progression. A general non-specific antimicrobial with more general antiplaque therapy based mainly on oral care products together with surgery interventions represent at the moment the only mechanical responses in treating oral diseases. Material and method. The present paper is a narrative review concening interractions between oral and gut microbiota, with a focus on the interdisciplinary approach in antimicrobial treatment. Pubmed, Cochrane Library database were used for searching engines. Key words used were as follows: "inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS)", "ulcerative colitis", "oral dysbiosis", "gut dysbiosis", "probiotics", "periodontitis". Results and discussions. Literature research showed that there are few issues to be discussed the ever increasing resistance to antibiotics, the high consumption of industrial food and sugars and their negatively effect on gut and oral microbiota. There is a need to highlight and develop a novel philosophical approach in the treatments for oral diseases that will necessarily involve non-conventional antimicrobial solutions. Such approaches should preferably reduce the consumption of both intestinal and oral microbiota, that are intimately connected and host approximately well over 1000 different species of bacteria at 108–109 bacteria per mL of mucous and saliva. Preventive approaches based upon the restoration of the microbial ecological balance, rather than elimination of the disease associated species, have been proposed. Conclusions. Having both oral-gut microbiota screened is an essential moment that influence the healthy immune modulatory and regenerative capacity of the body and, the new proposed formula integrates a wider screen on the patients where oral condition is strictly evaluated together with gut screen; therefore any proposed treatment will be inevitably sustained by the use of prebiotics and probiotics to promote health-associated bacterial growth. Keywords: inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS), ulcerative colitis, oral dysbiosis, gut dysbiosis, probiotics, periodontitis

Essential oils utility implications in symptomatic Burning Mouth Syndrome

Introduction. Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a clinical condition characterized by the presence of chronic pain in absence of clinically visible lesions of the oral mucosa. The etiology is uncertain and the therapeutic strategies still controversial. The objective of this prospective study is to analyze the efficacy of essential oils-based mouthwashes in the therapy of BMS. Material and method. This study included 16 patients affected by BMS who were treated with essential oils-based mouthwashes and glucose solution on alternated days for 30 days. Symptomatology was evaluated after 15, 30 and 90 days. Results and discussions. A the end of the treatment, most of the patients (67%) referred an improvement of symptoms up to complete remission in 90 days. Conclusions. Based on this study, essential oils-based mouthwashes could represent a valid aid in the treatment of BMS. Further studies are necessary in order to identify effective and standardized therapeutic protocols. Keywords: Burning Mouth Syndrome; oral rinse; essential oils; therapeutic strategies

Biostimulation with low-level laser therapy and its effects on soft and hard tissue regeneration. Literature review

Objective. Low-Level Laser Therapy encourages the healing process, reduces inflammation and pain. The aim of this study is to identify the impact of Low-Level Laser Therapy on tissue regeneration with special attention to hard tissues and to compare the effect of several wave lengths in the proliferation and differentiation of cells. Methods. The keywords used were “bone regeneration”, “laser therapy”, “photobiomodulation” OR “bio-stimulation”, “Low-Level Laser therapy” OR “LLLT”, “osteoblast proliferation” AND “differentiation”. Results. The bio-stimulation with Low-Level Laser Therapy also seems to interfere with the osseous integration of implants, by increasing its adherence on the bone-implant surfaces. Evidence has shown that Low-Level Laser Therapy influences the cellular proliferation and differentiation. Conclusions. Low-Level Laser Therapy is a promising therapy in the field of regeneration, but further studies are needed in order to define the standard protocol

Immunotherapy for colorectal cancer: where are we heading?

Introduction: In the last few years, significant advances in molecular biology have provided new therapeutic options for colorectal cancer (CRC). The development of new drugs that target the immune response to cancer cells seems very promising and has already been established for other tumor types. In particular, the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors seems to be an encouraging immunotherapeutic strategy. Areas covered: In this review, the authors provide an update of the current evidence related to this topic, though most immunotherapies are still in early-phase clinical trials for CRC. To understand the key role of immunotherapy in CRC, the authors discuss the delicate balance between immune-stimulating and immune-suppressive networks that occur in the tumor microenvironment. Expert opinion: Modulation of the immune system through checkpoint inhibition is an emerging approach in CRC therapy. Nevertheless, selection criteria that could enable the identification of patients who may benefit from these agents are necessary. Furthermore, potential prognostic and predictive immune biomarkers based on immune and molecular classifications have been proposed. As expected, additional studies are required to develop biomarkers, effective therapeutic strategies and novel combinations to overcome immune escape resistance and enhance effector response

Search for dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks in √s = 13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search for weakly interacting massive particle dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks is presented. Final states containing third-generation quarks and miss- ing transverse momentum are considered. The analysis uses 36.1 fb−1 of proton–proton collision data recorded by the ATLAS experiment at √s = 13 TeV in 2015 and 2016. No significant excess of events above the estimated backgrounds is observed. The results are in- terpreted in the framework of simplified models of spin-0 dark-matter mediators. For colour- neutral spin-0 mediators produced in association with top quarks and decaying into a pair of dark-matter particles, mediator masses below 50 GeV are excluded assuming a dark-matter candidate mass of 1 GeV and unitary couplings. For scalar and pseudoscalar mediators produced in association with bottom quarks, the search sets limits on the production cross- section of 300 times the predicted rate for mediators with masses between 10 and 50 GeV and assuming a dark-matter mass of 1 GeV and unitary coupling. Constraints on colour- charged scalar simplified models are also presented. Assuming a dark-matter particle mass of 35 GeV, mediator particles with mass below 1.1 TeV are excluded for couplings yielding a dark-matter relic density consistent with measurements