BOTDA Sensing Employing a Modified Brillouin Fiber Laser Probe Source

A theoretical and experimental study has been carried out on a tunable dual pump-probe optical source for distributed Brillouin optical time-domain analysis (BOTDA). The developed source exploits a modified Brillouin ring laser technology and is capable of a tuning range of ∼200 MHz without using phase-locked loop or optical sideband generation techniques, and exhibits a linewidth smaller than 2.5 MHz and ∼0.5 mW power. In BOTDA experiments, the proposed source has demonstrated to be an efficient solution enabling distributed sensing over 10 km single mode fiber with a spatial resolution of ∼4 m, and a strain and temperature resolutions of ∼10 μϵ and ∼0.5 °C respectively

Therapeutic homology-independent targeted integration in retina and liver

Challenges to the widespread application of gene therapy with adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors include dominant conditions due to gain-of-function mutations which require allele-specific knockout, as well as long-term transgene expression from proliferating tissues, which is hampered by AAV DNA episomal status. To overcome these challenges, we used CRISPR/Cas9-mediated homology-independent targeted integration (HITI) in retina and liver as paradigmatic target tissues. We show that AAV-HITI targets photoreceptors of both mouse and pig retina, and this results in significant improvements to retinal morphology and function in mice with autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa. In addition, we show that neonatal systemic AAV-HITI delivery achieves stable liver transgene expression and phenotypic improvement in a mouse model of a severe lysosomal storage disease. We also show that HITI applications predominantly result in on-target editing. These results lay the groundwork for the application of AAV-HITI for the treatment of diseases affecting various organs

Uncatalyzed conjugate addition of organozinc halides to enones in DME: a combined experimental/computational study on the role of the solvent and the reaction mechanism

The reaction mechanism of a new conjugate addition reaction of organozinc halides to enones is disclosed by a combined experimental/computational study

Satisfaction Levels of Sport Sciences University Students in Online Workshops for Substituting Practice-Oriented Activities during the COVID-19 Lockdown

Laboratory teaching in sport and exercise sciences universities is of fundamental importance as it provides students with the necessary hands-on skills that are indispensable to future kinesiologists. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students in lockdown missed the opportunity to acquire laboratory skills. Here we report the solutions adopted by a blended exercise science Master’s degree program of an online Italian university to ensure didactic continuity in the practice-oriented activities during the period of the COVID-19 lockdown. In order to mitigate this issue, laboratory sessions were replaced with online workshops and students’ satisfaction levels in this regard were investigated in the present study using an online survey conducted on 101 students during lockdown. The survey consisted of 7-point Likert scale items focusing on computer usage (CU), learning satisfaction (LS), social interaction (SI), and perceived value (PV). The analysis of the results revealed a good level of learning satisfaction of the students. Conversely, students perceived a moderate level of social interaction and had a moderate perception that online workshops can enhance their learning abilities. In conclusion, the results of the present study seem to indicate that online workshops can be considered a good and acceptable compromise during an emergency, although face-to-face activities remain the preferable learning delivery modality when dealing with the acquisition of hands-on skills

A real-time monitoring system for adherently grown cells

AbstractWe present a real-time, compact and low-cost imaging system for cell cultures grown attached in standard disposable multi-well plates. The system comprises a custom made platform to position a standard multi-well plate and a 1/4” CCD image sensor aligned, fixed and focused directly at the bottom of the well of interest. The image sensor has a resolution of 640×480 pixels. With a lens mounted on top of the CCD sensor we obtained a 3.26×2.45 mm2 field of view, corresponding to a pixel size of about 5 μm. With our imaging system we have successfully observed adherent epithelial cells (A549): individually, in spheroid shaped cluster, and in a wound healing assay

Type 1 Sodium Calcium Exchanger Forms a Complex with Carbonic Anhydrase IX and Via Reverse Mode Activity Contributes to pH Control in Hypoxic Tumors

Hypoxia and acidosis are among the key microenvironmental factors that contribute to cancer progression. We have explored a possibility that the type 1Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX1) is involved in pH control in hypoxic tumors. We focused on changes in intracellular pH, co-localization of NCX1, carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX), and sodium proton exchanger type 1 (NHE1) by proximity ligation assay, immunoprecipitation, spheroid formation assay and migration of cells due to treatment with KB-R7943, a selective inhibitor of the reverse-mode NCX1. In cancer cells exposed to hypoxia, reverse-mode NCX1 forms a membrane complex primarily with CA IX and also with NHE1. NCX1/CA IX/NHE1 assembly operates as a metabolon with a potent ability to extrude protons to the extracellular space and thereby facilitate acidosis. KB-R7943 prevents formation of this metabolon and reduces cell migration. Thus, we have shown that in hypoxic cancer cells, NCX1 operates in a reverse mode and participates in pH regulation in hypoxic tumors via cooperation with CAIX and NHE1

Preliminary experimental evaluation of electrotropic windows in a full scale test facility

This paper reports the results of a preliminary study aimed to evaluate the visual performances of an electrotropic switchable glazing using a south oriented full scale experimental station. The internal daylight illuminance and luminance distribution acquired with electrotropic glazing in clear state have been compared with those in milk state. At the same time, quantities able to characterize the external weather conditions were measured. The results highlight that: (1) the milk state helps to prevent areas with high luminance peaks as well as to reduce the maximum luminance values at the observer’s eyes, (2) the milk state allows to increase illuminance values in the points farthest from the window and (3) in terms of mean luminance values of the window, there are no remarkable differences between glazing states