Object-Based Greenhouse Classification from GeoEye-1 and WorldView-2 Stereo Imagery

Remote sensing technologies have been commonly used to perform greenhouse detection and mapping. In this research, stereo pairs acquired by very high-resolution optical satellites GeoEye-1 (GE1) and WorldView-2 (WV2) have been utilized to carry out the land cover classification of an agricultural area through an object-based image analysis approach, paying special attention to greenhouses extraction. The main novelty of this work lies in the joint use of single-source stereo-photogrammetrically derived heights and multispectral information from both panchromatic and pan-sharpened orthoimages. The main features tested in this research can be grouped into different categories, such as basic spectral information, elevation data (normalized digital surface model; nDSM), band indexes and ratios, texture and shape geometry. Furthermore, spectral information was based on both single orthoimages and multiangle orthoimages. The overall accuracy attained by applying nearest neighbor and support vector machine classifiers to the four multispectral bands of GE1 were very similar to those computed from WV2, for either four or eight multispectral bands. Height data, in the form of nDSM, were the most important feature for greenhouse classification. The best overall accuracy values were close to 90%, and they were not improved by using multiangle orthoimages

Properties of Some Variants of Human β2-Microglobulin and Amyloidogenesis

Three variants of human beta(2)-microglobulin (beta(2)-m) were compared with wild-type protein. For two variants, namely the mutant R3Abeta(2)-m and the form devoid of the N-terminal tripeptide (DeltaN3beta(2)-m), a reduced unfolding free energy was measured compared with wild-type beta(2)-m, whereas an increased stability was observed for the mutant H31Ybeta(2)-m. The solution structure could be determined by (1)H NMR spectroscopy and restrained modeling only for R3Abeta(2)-m that showed the same conformation as the parent species, except for deviations at the interstrand loops. Analogous conclusions were reached for H31Ybeta(2)-m and DeltaN3beta(2)-m. Precipitation and unfolding were observed over time periods shorter than 4-6 weeks with all the variants and, sometimes, with wild-type protein. The rate of structured protein loss from solution as a result of precipitation and unfolding always showed pseudo-zeroth order kinetics. This and the failure to observe an unfolded species without precipitation suggest that a nucleated conformational conversion scheme should apply for beta(2)-m fibrillogenesis. The mechanism is consistent with the previous and present results on beta(2)-m amyloid transition, provided a nucleated oligomeric species be considered the stable intermediate of fibrillogenesis, the monomeric intermediate being the necessary transition step along the pathway from the native protein to the nucleated oligomer

Frequent traces of EBV infection in Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas classified as EBV-negative by routine methods: expanding the landscape of EBV-related lymphoma

peer-reviewedThe Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is linked to various B-cell lymphomas, including Burkitt lymphoma (BL), classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) at frequencies ranging, by routine techniques, from 5 to 10% of cases in DLBCL to >95% in endemic BL. Using higher-sensitivity methods, we recently detected EBV traces in a few EBV-negative BL cases, possibly suggesting a “hit-and-run” mechanism. Here, we used routine and higher-sensitivity methods (qPCR and ddPCR for conserved EBV genomic regions and miRNAs on microdissected tumor cells; EBNA1 mRNA In situ detection by RNAscope) to assess EBV infection in a larger lymphoma cohort [19 BL, 34 DLBCL, 44 cHL, 50 follicular lymphomas (FL), 10 T-lymphoblastic lymphomas (T-LL), 20 hairy cell leukemias (HCL), 10 mantle cell lymphomas (MCL)], as well as in several lymphoma cell lines (9 cHL and 6 BL). qPCR, ddPCR, and RNAscope consistently documented the presence of multiple EBV nucleic acids in rare tumor cells of several cases EBV-negative by conventional methods that all belonged to lymphoma entities clearly related to EBV (BL, 6/9 cases; cHL, 16/32 cases; DLBCL, 11/30 cases), in contrast to fewer cases (3/47 cases) of FL (where the role of EBV is more elusive) and no cases (0/40) of control lymphomas unrelated to EBV (HCL, T-LL, MCL). Similarly, we revealed traces of EBV infection in 4/5 BL and 6/7 HL cell lines otherwise conventionally classified as EBV negative. Interestingly, additional EBV-positive cases (1 DLBCL, 2 cHL) relapsed as EBV-negative by routine methods while showing EBNA1 expression in rare tumor cells by RNAscope. The relapse specimens were clonally identical to their onset biopsies, indicating that the lymphoma clone can largely loose the EBV genome over time but traces of EBV infection are still detectable by high-sensitivity methods. We suggest EBV may contribute to lymphoma pathogenesis more widely than currently acknowledged

Tumor protein D52 (TPD52): A novel B-cell/plasma-cell molecule with unique expression pattern and Ca2+-dependent association with annexin VI

We generated a murine monoclonal antibody (B28p) detecting an antigenic determinant shared by the immunoglobulin superfamily receptor translocation-associated 1 (IRTA1) receptor (the immunogen used to raise B28p) and an unrelated 28-kDa protein that was subsequently subjected to extensive characterization. The expression of the 28-kDa protein in normal lymphohematopoietic tissues was restricted to B cells and plasma cells and clearly differed from that expected for IRTA1 (selectively expressed by mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue [MALT] marginal zone B cells). Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE)/mass-spectrometry analysis identified the 28-kDa protein as human tumor protein D52 (TPD52), whose expression had been previously described only in normal and neoplastic epithelia. Specific B28p reactivity with TPD52 was confirmed by immunostaining/immunoblotting of TPD52-transfected cells. TPD52 expression pattern in normal and neoplastic B cells was unique. In fact, unlike other B-cell molecules (paired box 5 [PAX5], CD19, CD79a, CD20, CD22), which are down-regulated during differentiation from B cells to plasma cells, TPD52 expression reached its maximum levels at the plasma cell stage. In the Thiel myeloma cell line, TPD52 bound to annexin VI in a Ca2+-dependent manner, suggesting that these molecules may act in concert to regulate secretory processes in plasma cells, similarly to what was observed in pancreatic acinar cells. Finally, the anti-TPD52 monoclonal antibody served as a valuable tool for the diagnosis of B-cell malignancies

Dysphonia among school teachers : perception and representations

Cette thèse s’intéresse à l’impact de la dysphonie à travers trois grands axes : la représentation de sa propre voix, la transmission du message et la perception d’autrui. Nous nous basons sur deux populations de femmes professeures des écoles (PE), l’une de 709 PE interrogées via internet et l’autre de 61 locutrices PE enregistrées en conditions contrôlées. À partir d’une évaluation perceptive experte sur l’échelle GRBAS, nos locutrices ont été catégorisées en deux groupes de 37 témoins et 24 dysphoniques légères. Outre les importantes plaintes vocales et l’altération de la qualité de vie qui touchent nos deux populations, nous observons un effet de l’âge des élèves sur la prévalence des troubles vocaux. L’analyse des productions de nos locutrices en lecture calme ou face à une classe bruyante suggère que les PE utilisent des stratégies d’adaptation dans leur pratique professionnelle qui pourraient être impactées par la dysphonie. La dysphonie semble également impacter la transmission de l’information à destination d’élèves de 7 à 10 ans puisque des temps de réaction plus longs sont relevés lors du décodage du contraste de voisement dans une tâche d’identification de mot lorsque la consigne est produite par une locutrice dysphonique. Enfin, suite à une première tâche de catégorisation libre, l’attribution de traits de personnalité par un panel d’auditeurs naïfs se basant uniquement sur la voix des PE met en évidence des profils vocaux associés à des représentations plus ou moins positives. L’accord modéré constaté entre le degré de trouble vocal perçu et l’évaluation experte de la dysphonie semble lié à la perception positive de la raucité par les auditeurs naïfs.This thesis focuses on the impact of dysphonia through three main axes: the representation of one's own voice, the transmission of the message and the perception by others. We consider two populations of female school teachers (ST), one of 709 ST interviewed via the internet and the other of 61 ST speakers recorded under controlled conditions. Based on an expert perceptual assessment on the GRBAS scale, our female speakers were categorized into two groups of 37 controls and 24 mild dysphonic speakers. In addition to the significant vocal complaints and impaired quality of life that affect both of our populations, we observe an effect of student age on the prevalence of vocal disorders. Analysis of our speakers' productions in quiet reading or facing a noisy class suggests that ST use coping strategies in their professional practice that could be impacted by dysphonia. Dysphonia also appears to impact the transmission of information to pupils aged 7 to 10 years old, with longer reaction times when decoding voicing contrasts in a word identification task when the instruction is produced by a dysphonic speaker. Finally, following a first free categorization task, the attribution of personality traits by a panel of naive listeners only based on ST’s voices highlights vocal profiles associated with more or less positive representations. The moderate agreement observed between the degree of perceived vocal disorder and the expert assessment of dysphonia seems to be related to the positive perception of roughness by naive listeners

La dysphonie chez les professeures des écoles : perception et représentations

This thesis focuses on the impact of dysphonia through three main axes: the representation of one's own voice, the transmission of the message and the perception by others. We consider two populations of female school teachers (ST), one of 709 ST interviewed via the internet and the other of 61 ST speakers recorded under controlled conditions. Based on an expert perceptual assessment on the GRBAS scale, our female speakers were categorized into two groups of 37 controls and 24 mild dysphonic speakers. In addition to the significant vocal complaints and impaired quality of life that affect both of our populations, we observe an effect of student age on the prevalence of vocal disorders. Analysis of our speakers' productions in quiet reading or facing a noisy class suggests that ST use coping strategies in their professional practice that could be impacted by dysphonia. Dysphonia also appears to impact the transmission of information to pupils aged 7 to 10 years old, with longer reaction times when decoding voicing contrasts in a word identification task when the instruction is produced by a dysphonic speaker. Finally, following a first free categorization task, the attribution of personality traits by a panel of naive listeners only based on ST’s voices highlights vocal profiles associated with more or less positive representations. The moderate agreement observed between the degree of perceived vocal disorder and the expert assessment of dysphonia seems to be related to the positive perception of roughness by naive listeners.Cette thèse s’intéresse à l’impact de la dysphonie à travers trois grands axes : la représentation de sa propre voix, la transmission du message et la perception d’autrui. Nous nous basons sur deux populations de femmes professeures des écoles (PE), l’une de 709 PE interrogées via internet et l’autre de 61 locutrices PE enregistrées en conditions contrôlées. À partir d’une évaluation perceptive experte sur l’échelle GRBAS, nos locutrices ont été catégorisées en deux groupes de 37 témoins et 24 dysphoniques légères. Outre les importantes plaintes vocales et l’altération de la qualité de vie qui touchent nos deux populations, nous observons un effet de l’âge des élèves sur la prévalence des troubles vocaux. L’analyse des productions de nos locutrices en lecture calme ou face à une classe bruyante suggère que les PE utilisent des stratégies d’adaptation dans leur pratique professionnelle qui pourraient être impactées par la dysphonie. La dysphonie semble également impacter la transmission de l’information à destination d’élèves de 7 à 10 ans puisque des temps de réaction plus longs sont relevés lors du décodage du contraste de voisement dans une tâche d’identification de mot lorsque la consigne est produite par une locutrice dysphonique. Enfin, suite à une première tâche de catégorisation libre, l’attribution de traits de personnalité par un panel d’auditeurs naïfs se basant uniquement sur la voix des PE met en évidence des profils vocaux associés à des représentations plus ou moins positives. L’accord modéré constaté entre le degré de trouble vocal perçu et l’évaluation experte de la dysphonie semble lié à la perception positive de la raucité par les auditeurs naïfs

Caratterizzazione geochimica del bacino del medio-basso Tevere

Il presente lavoro di tesi si è posto l’obiettivo di caratterizzare i sedimenti del bacino del fiume Tevere in modo tale da poter sviluppare una carta geochimica regionale. In particolare, data l’estensione del territorio, il focus è stato posto sull’area più ristretta del sottobacino del sistema Topino-Marroggia e del sottobacino del Nera (essenzialmente in territorio umbro). La progettazione della campagna di campionamento è iniziata con un’attenta valutazione del territorio mediante l’uso delle mappe fornite dal GeoPortale Nazionale e l’informazione ottenuta dalla ricerca bibliografica. Alla fine della campagna di campionamento sono stati raccolti 79 campioni di sedimento fluviale. Il sedimento prelevato è stato analizzato tramite fluorescenza a raggi X (XRF). I dati ottenuti sono stati processati tramite analisi delle componenti principali (PCA), in modo tale da individuare le variabili che maggiormente caratterizzano il sistema. Quest’indagine ha permesso anche l’interpolazione dei dati con gli elementi cartografici, in modo da poterli inquadrare nell’area di studio spiegandone la variabilità spaziale e mettendone in evidenza anomalie (imputabili a contaminazione antropica o ad arricchimenti di origine naturale). Particolare attenzione è stata posta sulla distribuzione dei metalli caratterizzanti la composizione delle rocce sedimentarie che caratterizzano l’area in esame e sulla distribuzione di alcuni metalli di interesse (Cu, Cr, Pb, Zn) di cui è stata prodotta la cartografia