Scaled Gradient Projection Methods for Astronomical Imaging

This book is a collection of 19 articles which reflect the courses given at the Collège de France/Summer school “Reconstruction d'images − Applications astrophysiques“ held in Nice and Fréjus, France, from June 18 to 22, 2012. The articles presented in this volume address emerging concepts and methods that are useful in the complex process of improving our knowledge of the celestial objects, including Earth

3D HDO-CLEM: cellular compartment analysis by correlative light-electron microscopy on cryosections.

Fundamental to obtaining a depth-understanding of the function and structure of cells is the ability to study and correlate their molecular topography with the ultrastructural morphology, for example, to visualize the position of a given protein relative to a given cell compartment and its morphology. Standard fluorescence light microscopy (FLM) relies on simple sample preparations, and localizes proteins in living or fixed cells with a resolution in the range of few hundred nanometers, allowing large field of view. However, FLM is unable to visualize the unlabeled cellular context. On the other hand, electron microscopy (EM) techniques reveal protein topology with the resolution in a range of a few tens of nanometer, retains the cellular context, but can only be applied on a limited field of view. Therefore, both approaches present shortcomings, in terms of field of view, statistical output, resolution, sample preparation, and context analysis, that can likely complement each other. To bridge the gap between FLM imaging and EM, several laboratories have developed methods for correlative light-electron microscopy (CLEM). In a nutshell, CLEM enables one to investigate the same exact region of interest utilizing the two microscope platforms, and thereby virtually combine their capabilities. We describe a protocol based on immunolabeling of Tokuyasu cryosections that allows correlation of LM and EM images with excellent preservation of cellular ultrastructure. We will refer to this method as high-data-output CLEM (HDO-CLEM). The major benefits of HDO-CLEM are the possibility to (1) correlate several hundreds of events at the same time, (2) perform three-dimensional (3D) correlation, (3) immunolabel both endogenous and recombinantly tagged proteins at the same time, and (4) combine the high data analysis capability of FLM with the high precision of transmission EM in a CLEM hybrid morphometric analysis. We have identified and optimized critical steps in sample preparation, defined routines for sample analysis and retracing of regions of interest, developed software for semi/fully automatic 3D FLM reconstruction and set the basis for a hybrid light/EM morphometry approach

Identification and characterization of Vitis vinifera subsp sylvestris populations in north-western Italy

The Italian peninsula, for its favorable environmental and geo-morphological conditions, can be considered an ultimate area for survival and development of Vitis vinifera subsp. sylvestris (Gmelin) Hegi, even though severely affected by human impact. Large surveys started in early 1990 throughout the country. At the time few regions, like Piedmont located in the north-west of the country, were considered lacking of wild vinifera. More recent prospection started several years ago, leading to the discovering of five vinifera sylvestris populations plus other sites with few individuals. The sites of discovery were described for their ecological features and the identified plants were referenced and characterized by morphology (18 descriptors from the OIV list) and genetics (14 n-SSR loci). The esteemed consistency of each population ranged from 20 to 150 individuals. Morphological and biological traits (dioecious plants, females producing very small roundish black berries), as well as genetic profiles, indicated the observed plants are true vinifera sylvestris. As to the ecological requirements, plants were confirmed to be highly dependent on water availability into the soil. The neighbor-joining (NJ) dendrogram resulting from SSR allelic pattern of the individuals belonging to the five populations and to one location with isolated plants, indicated population's genetic similarity broadly reflects site's geographic distance. Considering the numerous reports in the past, spreading and consistency of wild grape germplasm from the region of Piedmont severely decreased over a period of 100-150 years. The relative short distance from wild population's sites and vineyards must also be regarded as a worrying condition because of contamination risks. All means to avoid the loss of this native Vitis germplasm must be undertaken by protection policy and proper land management

Maillard reaction products as markers of the durum wheat pasta manufacturing process: A commodity investigation

In the present work, three volatile Maillard reaction products (maltol, furfuryl alcohol, and furfural) were considered for their supposed ability to act as process markers of dry durum wheat pasta. Hence, a commodity investigation was performed on Made in Italy pasta products and the HS-SPME/GC-MS technique was adopted to detect the target compounds in sixty samples. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to evaluate whether the relative abundance of the flavour compounds can differentiate pasta samples processed through mild technologies (traditional methods) from that submitted to intense thermal stress during their elaboration (industrial methods). Results showed that the analysed products were efficiently discriminated according to their claimed manufacturing method by maltol, furfuryl alcohol, and furfural, which thus can serve as reliable pasta process indicators

Quantitative lung ultrasonography: A putative new algorithm for automatic detection and quantification of B-lines

Background: This pilot study was designed to develop a fully automatic and quantitative scoring system of B-lines (QLUSS: quantitative lung ultrasound score) involving the pleural line and to compare it with previously described semi-quantitative scores in the measurement of extravascular lung water as determined by standard thermo-dilution. Methods: This was a prospective observational study of 12 patients admitted in the intensive care unit with acute respiratory distress and each provided with 12 lung ultrasound (LUS) frames. Data collected from each patient consisted in five different scores, four semi-quantitative (nLUSS, cLUSS, qLUSS, %LUSS) and quantitative scores (QLUSS). The association between LUS scores and extravascular lung water (EVLW) was determined by simple linear regression (SLR) and robust linear regression (RLR) methods. A correlation analysis between the LUS scores was performed by using the Spearman rank test. Inter-observer variability was tested by computing intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) in two-way models for agreement, basing on scores obtained by different raters blinded to patients' conditions and clinical history. Results: In the SLR, QLUSS showed a stronger association with EVLW (R 2 = 0.57) than cLUSS (R 2 = 0.45) and nLUSS (R 2 = 0.000), while a lower association than qLUSS (R 2 = 0.85) and %LUSS (R 2 = 0.72) occurred. By applying RLR, QLUSS showed an association for EVLW (R 2 = 0.86) comparable to qLUSS (R 2 = 0.85) and stronger than %LUSS (R 2 = 0.72). QLUSS was significantly correlated with qLUSS (r = 0.772; p = 0.003) and %LUSS (r = 0.757; p = 0.005), but not with cLUSS (r = 0.561; p = 0.058) and nLUSS (r = 0.105; p = 0.744). Moreover, QLUSS showed the highest ICC (0.998; 95%CI from 0.996 to 0.999) among the LUS scores. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that computer-aided scoring of the pleural line percentage affected by B-lines has the potential to assess EVLW. QLUSS may have a significant impact, once validated with a larger dataset composed by multiple real-time frames. This approach has the potentials to be advantageous in terms of faster data analysis and applicability to large sets of data without increased costs. On the contrary, it is not useful in pleural effusion or consolidations

Ozone Improves the Aromatic Fingerprint of White Grapes

Ozone, a powerful oxidative stressor, has been recently used in wine industry as sanitizing agent to reduce spoilage microflora on grapes. In this study, we evaluated ozone-induced metabolic and molecular responses during postharvest grape dehydration. Ozone increased the contents of total volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which have a great impact on the organoleptic properties of grapes and wines. Among terpenes, responsible for floral and fruity aroma, linalool, geraniol and nerol were the major aromatic markers of Moscato bianco grapes. They were significantly affected by the long-term ozone treatment, increasing their concentration in the last phases of dehydration (>20% weight loss). At molecular level, our results demonstrated that both postharvest dehydration and ozone exposure induce the biosynthesis of monoterpenes via methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway and of aldehydes from lipoxygenase-hydroperoxide lyase (LOX-HPL) pathway. Therefore, transcriptional changes occurred and promoted the over-production of many important volatile compounds for the quality of white grapes

A dataset of criteria on the use of thermal insulation solutions in building facades located in Norway, Portugal and Italy

The building sector is responsible for a significant percentage of the energy consumption in Europe. The level of thermal insulation of the building envelope leads to decrease energy consumption, thus contributing towards a sustainable and efficient built environment. As a result, the choice of the most suitable thermal insulation solution to be applied both in new construction and in retrofitting of building facades is fundamental for a satisfactory thermal performance of the building. Nevertheless, the thermal insulation solution should not be chosen considering only the thermal performance, but rather based on a set of performance parameters (i.e., water resistance, fire performance, impact on the environment and human health, among others) and climate-related requirements. This data article includes a dataset on criteria adopted in three European countries (namely Norway, Portugal, and Italy) considering a PESTE analysis (i.e., criteria related to Political, Economic, Social, Technological, and Environmental questions). The main objective was to evaluate the knowledge and perception of people living and/or working in these countries about the use and the performance of thermal insulation solutions in building facades. To this aim a questionnaire was developed within the scope of the EEA Granted EFFICACY research project (November 2022 – February 2023), whose overall objective is to create a database that serves as a reference for the choice of thermal insulation solutions to be applied in building facades for thermal and energy performances optimization. This database contributes to systemize criteria and can be extended by other researchers or professionals in the area, as well as in other countries

Heart rate and arterial pressure changes during whole-body deep hypothermia

Whole-body deep hypothermia (DH) could be a new therapeutic strategy for asphyxiated newborn. This retrospective study describes how DH modified the heart rate and arterial blood pressure if compared to mild hypothermia (MH). Fourteen in DH and 17 in MH were cooled within the first six hours of life and for the following 72 hours. Hypothermia criteria were gestational age 6536 weeks; birth weight 651800\u2009g; clinical signs of moderate/severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Rewarming was obtained in the following 6-12 hours (0.5\ub0C/h) after cooling. Heart rates were the same between the two groups; there was statistically significant difference at the beginning of hypothermia and during rewarming. Three babies in the DH group and 2 in the MH group showed HR 520\u2009ms. Infant submitted to deep hypothermia had not bradycardia or Qtc elongation before cooling and after rewarming. Blood pressure was significantly lower in DH compared to MH during the cooling, and peculiar was the hypotension during rewarming in DH group. Conclusion. The deeper hypothermia is a safe and feasible, only if it is performed by a well-trained team. DH should only be associated with a clinical trial and prospective randomized trials to validate its us