Digital Data, Virtual Tours, and 3D Models Integration Using an Open-Source Platform

The site of the 'Balsignano village' in Modugno (Italy), for some years has been the object of attention by scholars. Recently renovated, its valuation is nowadays the main objective for that Municipality. The aim of this article is describing our approach in integrating digital data, virtual tours and 3d models of the village elements to produce an interactive tool available on the internet, stimulating the desire to physically visit the settings. Our findings can be generalized to any context in which a link between a website and a physical site represent a challenge for low-budgeted Administrations

Silencing by nuclear matrix attachment distinguishes cell-type specificity: association with increased proliferation capacity

DNA loop organization by nuclear scaffold/matrix attachment is a key regulator of gene expression that may provide a means to modulate phenotype. We have previously shown that attachment of genes to the NaCl-isolated nuclear matrix correlates with their silencing in HeLa cells. In contrast, expressed genes were associated with the lithium 3,5-diiodosalicylate (LIS)-isolated nuclear scaffold. To define their role in determining phenotype matrix attached regions (MARs) on human chromosomes 14–18 were identified as a function of expression in a primary cell line. The locations of MARs in aortic adventitial fibroblast (AoAF) cells were very stable (r = 0.909) and 96% of genes attached at MARs are silent (P < 0.001). Approximately one-third of the genes uniquely expressed in AoAF cells were associated with the HeLa cell nuclear matrix and silenced. Comparatively, 81% were associated with the AoAF cell nuclear scaffold (P < 0.001) and expressed. This suggests that nuclear scaffold/matrix association mediates a portion of cell type-specific gene expression thereby modulating phenotype. Interestingly, nuclear matrix attachment and thus silencing of specific genes that regulate proliferation and maintain the integrity of the HeLa cell genome suggests that transformation may at least in part be achieved through aberrant nuclear matrix attachment

Bioluminescence in G protein-coupled receptors drug screening using nanoluciferase and halo-tag technology

Here we describe the stepwise application of bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET)-based conformational receptor biosensors to study GPCR activation in intact cells. This technology can be easily adopted to various plate reader devices and microtiter plate formats. Due to the high sensitivity of these BRET-based receptor biosensors and their ability to quantify simultaneously receptor activation/de-activation kinetics as well as compound efficacy and potency, these optical tools provide the most direct and unbiased approach to monitor GPCR activity in a high-throughput-compatible assay format, representing a novel promising tool for the discovery of potential GPCR therapeutics

Termination and activation of store-operated cyclic AMP production.

Diverse pathophysiological processes (e.g. obesity, lifespan determination, addiction and male fertility) have been linked to the expression of specific isoforms of the adenylyl cyclases (AC1-AC10), the enzymes that generate cyclic AMP (cAMP). Our laboratory recently discovered a new mode of cAMP production, prominent in certain cell types, that is stimulated by any manoeuvre causing reduction of free [Ca(2+) ] within the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) calcium store. Activation of this 'store-operated' pathway requires the ER Ca(2+) sensor, STIM1, but the identity of the enzymes responsible for cAMP production and how this process is regulated is unknown. Here, we used sensitive FRET-based sensors for cAMP in single cells combined with silencing and overexpression approaches to show that store-operated cAMP production occurred preferentially via the isoform AC3 in NCM460 colonic epithelial cells. Ca(2+) entry via the plasma membrane Ca(2+) channel, Orai1, suppressed cAMP production, independent of store refilling. These findings are an important first step towards defining the functional significance and to identify the protein composition of this novel Ca(2+) /cAMP crosstalk system

Sensor Frontend Architecture

In this chapter, the three main functional blocks in the smart sensor (analog signal conditioning, analog to digital conversion, and logic) are analyzed. It will be shown that most of the system, architectural, and circuital choices must be based on technology constraints and not on the target application, as it usually happens in standard technologies. First the analog signal conditioning chain is considered from a system point of view, choosing an architecture suitable for our dual-gate p-type only TFT technology