51 research outputs found
Quantitative analysis of interface pressures in transfemoral prosthetic sockets
Background: Among the different factors affecting socket comfort, the pressure applied on residual limb tissues is a crucial parameter for the success or failure of any prosthetic device. However, only a few incomplete data are available on people with transfemoral amputation, in this regard. This work aims at filling this gap in the literature. Methods: Ten people with transfemoral amputation wearing 3 different socket designs were recruited in this study: 2 ischial containment sockets featured by proximal trim lines that contain the ischial tuberosity and ramus and greater trochanter, 2 subischial sockets with proximal trim lines under the ischium level, and 6 quadrilateral sockets with proximal trim lines that contain the greater trochanter and create a horizontal seat for the ischial tuberosity. The pressure values at the anterior, lateral, posterior, and medial areas of the socket interface were recorded during 5 locomotion tasks (ie, horizontal, ascent, and descent walking, upstairs and downstairs) by using an F-Socket System (Tekscan Inc., Boston, MA). Gait segmentation was performed by exploiting plantar pressure, which was acquired by an additional sensor under the foot. Mean and standard deviation of minimum and maximum values were calculated for each interface area, locomotion task, and socket design. The mean pressure patterns during different locomotion tasks were reported, as well. Results: Considering all subjects irrespective of socket design, the mean pressure range resulted 45.3 (posterior)-106.7 (posterior) kPa in horizontal walking; 48.3 (posterior)-113.8 (posterior) kPa in ascent walking; 50.8 (posterior)-105.7 (posterior) kPa in descent walking; 47.9 (posterior)-102.9 (lateral) kPa during upstairs; and 41.8 (posterior)-84.5 (anterior) kPa during downstairs. Qualitative differences in socket designs have been found. Conclusions: These data allow for a comprehensive analysis of pressures acting at the tissue-socket interface in people with transfemoral amputation, thus offering essential information for the design of novel solutions or to improve existing ones, in this field
2b-RAD genotyping for population genomic studies of Chagas disease vectors: Rhodnius ecuadoriensis in Ecuador
Background:
Rhodnius ecuadoriensis is the main triatomine vector of Chagas disease, American trypanosomiasis, in Southern Ecuador and Northern Peru. Genomic approaches and next generation sequencing technologies have become powerful tools for investigating population diversity and structure which is a key consideration for vector control. Here we assess the effectiveness of three different 2b restriction site-associated DNA (2b-RAD) genotyping strategies in R. ecuadoriensis to provide sufficient genomic resolution to tease apart microevolutionary processes and undertake some pilot population genomic analyses.
Methodology/Principal findings:
The 2b-RAD protocol was carried out in-house at a non-specialized laboratory using 20 R. ecuadoriensis adults collected from the central coast and southern Andean region of Ecuador, from June 2006 to July 2013. 2b-RAD sequencing data was performed on an Illumina MiSeq instrument and analyzed with the STACKS de novo pipeline for loci assembly and Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) discovery. Preliminary population genomic analyses (global AMOVA and Bayesian clustering) were implemented. Our results showed that the 2b-RAD genotyping protocol is effective for R. ecuadoriensis and likely for other triatomine species. However, only BcgI and CspCI restriction enzymes provided a number of markers suitable for population genomic analysis at the read depth we generated. Our preliminary genomic analyses detected a signal of genetic structuring across the study area.
Conclusions/Significance:
Our findings suggest that 2b-RAD genotyping is both a cost effective and methodologically simple approach for generating high resolution genomic data for Chagas disease vectors with the power to distinguish between different vector populations at epidemiologically relevant scales. As such, 2b-RAD represents a powerful tool in the hands of medical entomologists with limited access to specialized molecular biological equipment.
Author summary:
Understanding Chagas disease vector (triatomine) population dispersal is key for the design of control measures tailored for the epidemiological situation of a particular region. In Ecuador, Rhodnius ecuadoriensis is a cause of concern for Chagas disease transmission, since it is widely distributed from the central coast to southern Ecuador. Here, a genome-wide sequencing (2b-RAD) approach was performed in 20 specimens from four communities from Manabí (central coast) and Loja (southern) provinces of Ecuador, and the effectiveness of three type IIB restriction enzymes was assessed. The findings of this study show that this genotyping methodology is cost effective in R. ecuadoriensis and likely in other triatomine species. In addition, preliminary population genomic analysis results detected a signal of population structure among geographically distinct communities and genetic variability within communities. As such, 2b-RAD shows significant promise as a relatively low-tech solution for determination of vector population genomics, dynamics, and spread
Tamm Plasmon Resonance as Optical Fingerprint of Silver/Bacteria Interaction
Incorporation of responsive elements into photonic crystals is an effective
strategy for building up active optical components to be used as sensors,
actuators and modulators. In these regards, Tamm Plasmon (TP) modes have arisen
recently as powerful optical tools for the manipulation of light-matter
interaction and for building sensors/actuators. These emerge at the interface
between a dielectric mirror and a plasmonic layer and, interestingly, can be
excited at normal incidence angle with relatively high quality factors.
Although its field is located at the interface between the dielectric mirror
and the metal, recent studies have demonstrated that corrugation at the
nanoscale permits to access the TP mode from the outside, opening new exciting
perspectives for many real-life applications. Here, we show that the TP
resonance obtained by capping a distributed Bragg reflector with a
nanostructured layer of silver is sensitive to the presence of bacteria. We
observed that nanoscale corrugation is essential for accessing the TP field,
while the well-known bio-responsivity of silver nanostructures renders such a
localised mode sensible to the presence of Escherichia Coli. Electrodoping
experiments confirm the pivotal role of nanostructuration, as well as
strengthening our hypothesis that the modifications of the TP mode upon
exposure to bacteria are related to the accumulation of negative charge due to
the bacterial-driven removal of Ag+ ions from its lattice. Finally, we devised
a case study in which we disentangled optically the presence of proliferative
and non-proliferative bacteria using the TP resonance as a read-out, thus
making these devices as promising simple all-optical probes for bacterial
metabolic activity, including their response against drugs and antibiotics
Genetic fingerprinting of salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) populations in the North-East Atlantic using a random forest classification approach
Caligid sea lice represent a significant threat to salmonid aquaculture worldwide. Population genetic analyses have consistently shown minimal population genetic structure in North Atlantic Lepeophtheirus salmonis, frustrating efforts to track louse populations and improve targeted control measures. The aim of this study was to test the power of reduced representation library sequencing (IIb-RAD sequencing) coupled with random forest machine learning algorithms to define markers for fine-scale discrimination of louse populations. We identified 1286 robustly supported SNPs among four L. salmonis populations from Ireland, Scotland and Northern Norway. Only weak global structure was observed based on the full SNP dataset. The application of a random forest machine-learning algorithm identified 98 discriminatory SNPs that dramatically improved population assignment, increased global genetic structure and resulted in significant genetic population differentiation. A large proportion of SNPs found to be under directional selection were also identified to be highly discriminatory. Our data suggest that it is possible to discriminate between nearby L. salmonis populations given suitable marker selection approaches, and that such differences might have an adaptive basis. We discuss these data in light of sea lice adaption to anthropogenic and environmental pressures as well as novel approaches to track and predict sea louse dispersal
A Rapid and Accurate MinION-Based Workflow for Tracking Species Biodiversity in the Field
Genetic markers (DNA barcodes) are often used to support and confirm species identification. Barcode sequences can be generated in the field using portable systems based on the Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) MinION sequencer. However, to achieve a broader application, current proof-of-principle workflows for on-site barcoding analysis must be standardized to ensure a reliable and robust performance under suboptimal field conditions without increasing costs. Here, we demonstrate the implementation of a new on-site workflow for DNA extraction, PCR-based barcoding, and the generation of consensus sequences. The portable laboratory features inexpensive instruments that can be carried as hand luggage and uses standard molecular biology protocols and reagents that tolerate adverse environmental conditions. Barcodes are sequenced using MinION technology and analyzed with ONTrack, an original de novo assembly pipeline that requires as few as 1000 reads per sample. ONTrack-derived consensus barcodes have a high accuracy, ranging from 99.8 to 100%, despite the presence of homopolymer runs. The ONTrack pipeline has a user-friendly interface and returns consensus sequences in minutes. The remarkable accuracy and low computational demand of the ONTrack pipeline, together with the inexpensive equipment and simple protocols, make the proposed workflow particularly suitable for tracking species under field conditions
RELICS: Strong Lens Models for Five Galaxy Clusters From the Reionization Lensing Cluster Survey
Strong gravitational lensing by galaxy clusters magnifies background
galaxies, enhancing our ability to discover statistically significant samples
of galaxies at z>6, in order to constrain the high-redshift galaxy luminosity
functions. Here, we present the first five lens models out of the Reionization
Lensing Cluster Survey (RELICS) Hubble Treasury Program, based on new HST
WFC3/IR and ACS imaging of the clusters RXC J0142.9+4438, Abell 2537, Abell
2163, RXC J2211.7-0349, and ACT-CLJ0102-49151. The derived lensing
magnification is essential for estimating the intrinsic properties of
high-redshift galaxy candidates, and properly accounting for the survey volume.
We report on new spectroscopic redshifts of multiply imaged lensed galaxies
behind these clusters, which are used as constraints, and detail our strategy
to reduce systematic uncertainties due to lack of spectroscopic information. In
addition, we quantify the uncertainty on the lensing magnification due to
statistical and systematic errors related to the lens modeling process, and
find that in all but one cluster, the magnification is constrained to better
than 20% in at least 80% of the field of view, including statistical and
systematic uncertainties. The five clusters presented in this paper span the
range of masses and redshifts of the clusters in the RELICS program. We find
that they exhibit similar strong lensing efficiencies to the clusters targeted
by the Hubble Frontier Fields within the WFC3/IR field of view. Outputs of the
lens models are made available to the community through the Mikulski Archive
for Space TelescopesComment: Accepted to Ap
RELICS: High-Resolution Constraints on the Inner Mass Distribution of the z=0.83 Merging Cluster RXJ0152.7-1357 from strong lensing
Strong gravitational lensing (SL) is a powerful means to map the distribution
of dark matter. In this work, we perform a SL analysis of the prominent X-ray
cluster RXJ0152.7-1357 (z=0.83, also known as CL 0152.7-1357) in \textit{Hubble
Space Telescope} images, taken in the framework of the Reionization Lensing
Cluster Survey (RELICS). On top of a previously known galaxy multiply
imaged by RXJ0152.7-1357, for which we identify an additional multiple image,
guided by a light-traces-mass approach we identify seven new sets of multiply
imaged background sources lensed by this cluster, spanning the redshift range
[1.79-3.93]. A total of 25 multiple images are seen over a small area of ~0.4
, allowing us to put relatively high-resolution constraints on the
inner matter distribution. Although modestly massive, the high degree of
substructure together with its very elongated shape make RXJ0152.7-1357 a very
efficient lens for its size. This cluster also comprises the third-largest
sample of z~6-7 candidates in the RELICS survey. Finally, we present a
comparison of our resulting mass distribution and magnification estimates with
those from a Lenstool model. These models are made publicly available through
the MAST archive.Comment: 15 Pages, 7 Figures, 4 Tables Accepted for publication in Ap
RELICS: Properties of z>5.5 Galaxies Inferred from Spitzer and Hubble Imaging Including A Candidate z~6.8 Strong [OIII] Emitter
We present constraints on the physical properties (including stellar mass,
age, and star formation rate) of 207 galaxy candidates
from the Reionization Lensing Cluster Survey (RELICS) and companion
Spitzer-RELICS surveys. We measure photometry using T-PHOT and perform spectral
energy distribution fitting using EAY and BAGPIPES. Of the 207 candidates
for which we could successfully measure Spitzer fluxes, 23 were demoted to
likely low redshift (). Among the remaining high redshift candidates, we
find intrinsic stellar masses between and
, and rest-frame UV absolute magnitudes between
and mag. While our sample is mostly comprised of
galaxies, there are a number of brighter objects in the
sample, extending to . The galaxies in our sample span
approximately four orders of magnitude in stellar mass and star-formation
rates, and exhibit ages ranging from maximally young to maximally old. We
highlight 11 galaxies which have detections in Spitzer/IRAC imaging and
redshift estimates , several of which show evidence for some
combination of evolved stellar populations, large contributions of nebular
emission lines, and/or dust. Among these is PLCKG287+32-2013, one of the
brightest candidates known (AB mag 24.9) with a Spitzer 3.6m flux
excess suggesting strong [OIII] + H- emission (1000\AA\ rest-frame
equivalent width). We discuss the possible uses and limits of our sample and
present a public catalog of Hubble 0.4--1.6m + Spitzer 3.6m and
4.5m photometry along with physical property estimates for all 207 objects
in the sample. Because of their apparent brightnesses, high redshifts, and
variety of stellar populations, these objects are excellent targets for
follow-up with James Webb Space Telescope.Comment: 20 pages, 9 figure
A Candidate Galaxy Strongly Lensed into a Spatially Resolved Arc
The most distant galaxies known are at z~10-11, observed 400-500 Myr after
the Big Bang. The few z~10-11 candidates discovered to date have been
exceptionally small- barely resolved, if at all, by the Hubble Space Telescope.
Here we present the discovery of SPT0615-JD, a fortuitous z~10
(z_phot=9.9+/-0.6) galaxy candidate stretched into an arc over ~2.5" by the
effects of strong gravitational lensing. Discovered in the Reionization Lensing
Cluster Survey (RELICS) Hubble Treasury program and companion S-RELICS Spitzer
program, this candidate has a lensed H-band magnitude of 25.7+/-0.1 AB mag.
With a magnification of \mu~4-7 estimated from our lens models, the de-lensed
intrinsic magnitude is 27.6+/-0.3 AB mag, and the half-light radius is r_e<0.8
kpc, both consistent with other z>9 candidates. The inferred stellar mass (log
[M* /M_Sun]=9.7^{+0.7}_{-0.5}) and star formation rate (\log [SFR/M_Sun
yr^{-1}]=1.3^{+0.2}_{-0.3}) indicate that this candidate is a typical
star-forming galaxy on the z>6 SFR-M* relation. We note that three independent
lens models predict two counterimages, at least one of which should be of a
similar magnitude to the arc, but these counterimages are not yet detected.
Counterimages would not be expected if the arc were at lower redshift. However,
the only spectral energy distributions capable of fitting the Hubble and
Spitzer photometry well at lower redshifts require unphysical combinations of
z~2 galaxy properties. The unprecedented lensed size of this z~10 candidate
offers the potential for the James Webb Space Telescope to study the geometric
and kinematic properties of a galaxy observed 500 Myr after the Big Bang.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures. Submitted to ApJ Letter
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