Battery Management System for a Formula SAE car concept

openIn this thesis, a Battery Management System prototype has been developed for a formula SAE concept car. The design is focused on trying to improve the reliability of the system and remove problems that the previous version had. To do this, numerous tests were carried out on the previous version and critical points were analyzed in order to solve them. The purpose of this report is to explain the entire development phase and how the prototype came about. The choices of the components that make up the prototype will be analyzed and the programming code written to be able to control the microcontroller and allow the correct exchange of data between the various integrated components in the prototype will be presented. However, with this elaborate we do not want to propose a finished design of the entire battery monitoring system, but a good starting point for the development of the structure.In this thesis, a Battery Management System prototype has been developed for a formula SAE concept car. The design is focused on trying to improve the reliability of the system and remove problems that the previous version had. To do this, numerous tests were carried out on the previous version and critical points were analyzed in order to solve them. The purpose of this report is to explain the entire development phase and how the prototype came about. The choices of the components that make up the prototype will be analyzed and the programming code written to be able to control the microcontroller and allow the correct exchange of data between the various integrated components in the prototype will be presented. However, with this elaborate we do not want to propose a finished design of the entire battery monitoring system, but a good starting point for the development of the structure

MicroRNAs involvement in fludarabine refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Fludarabine, is one of the most active single agents in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Over time, however, virtually all CLL patients become fludarabine-refractory. To elucidate whether microRNAs are involved in the development of fludarabine resistance, we analyzed the expression of 723 human miRNAs before and 5-days after fludarabine mono-therapy in 17 CLL patients which were classified as responder or refractory to fludarabine treatment based on NCI criteria.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>By comparing the expression profiles of these two groups of patients, we identified a microRNA signature able to distinguish refractory from sensitive CLLs. The expression of some microRNAs was also able to predict fludarabine resistance of 12 independent CLL patients. Among the identified microRNAs, miR-148a, miR-222 and miR-21 exhibited a significantly higher expression in non-responder patients either before and after fludarabine treatment. After performing messenger RNA expression profile of the same patients, the activation of p53-responsive genes was detected in fludarabine responsive cases only, therefore suggesting a possible mechanism linked to microRNA deregulation in non-responder patients. Importantly, inhibition of miR-21 and miR-222 by anti-miRNA oligonucleotides induced a significant increase in caspase activity in fludarabine-treated p53-mutant MEG-01 cells, suggesting that miR-21 and miR-222 up-regulation may be involved in the establishment of fludarabine resistance.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This is the first report that reveals the existence of a microRNA profile that differentiate refractory and sensitive CLLs, either before and after fludarabine mono-therapy. A p53 dysfunctional pathway emerged in refractory CLLs and could contribute in explaining the observed miRNA profile. Moreover, this work indicates that specific microRNAs can be used to predict fludarabine resistance and may potentially be used as therapeutic targets, therefore establishing an important starting point for future studies.</p

Employment of Oligodeoxynucleotide plus Interleukin-2 Improves Cytogenetic Analysis in Splenic Marginal Zone Lymphoma

To compare the efficiency of novel mitogenic agents and traditional mitosis inductors, 18 patients with splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL) were studied. Three cultures using oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) plus interleukin-2 (IL-2), or TPA, or LPS were setup in each patient. Seventeen/18 cases with ODN + IL2 had moderate/good proliferation (94, 4%) as compared with 10/18 cases with TPA and LPS (55%) (P = .015); 14/18 (77, 7%) cases with ODN + IL2 had sufficient good quality of banding as compared with 8/18 cases (44, 4%) with TPA and LPS. The karyotype could be defined from ODN + IL2-stimulated cultures in all 18 patients, 14 of whom (77, 7%) had a cytogenetic aberration, whereas clonal aberrations could be documented in 9 and in 3 cases by stimulation with LPS and TPA, respectively. Recurrent chromosome aberrations in our series were represented by aberrations of chromosome 14q in 5 patients, by trisomy 12 and 7q deletion in 4 cases each, and by abnormalities involving 11q and 13q in two cases each. These findings show that stimulation with ODN + IL2 offers more mitotic figures of better quality and results in an increased rate of clonal aberrations in SMZL, making this method ideal for prospective studies aiming at the definition of the prognostic impact of cytogenetic aberrations in this disorder

An Unusual Case of Cerebral Oedema

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare genetic disorder transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait, characterized by reduced plasma concentration or by the presence of non-functional C1 esterase inhibitor. Oedema caused by HAE mostly affects the skin and bowel and can induce swelling of genitalia. Oedema can be life threatening if it causes swelling of the larynx with obstruction of the airways. We describe the case of a 52-year-old man who presented a neurological emergency (coma), where the remarkable localization of the clinical manifestation and the unusual symptomatology hindered the correct diagnosis

Intracellular evaluation of ER targeting elucidates a mild form of inherited coagulation deficiency

none5Missense mutations reduce protein levels through several molecular mechanisms. Among them, altered targeting to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and its relationship with clinical phenotypes in patients have been poorly investigated. To address this point, we studied the prepeptide mutations (L-48P, L-42P) associated with mild deficiency of factor VII (FVII), the serine-protease triggering blood coagulation. Mutations were introduced into the native FVII to evaluate secreted and intracellular protein levels, and into a chimeric FVII-GFP to study ER targeting in living cells. In conditioned medium from stably or transiently transfected cells, expression levels of the -48PFVII (9% and 55%, respectively) and particularly those of the -42PFVII (2% and 12%) were decreased compared with those of WtFVII, indicating the causative nature of mutations. Markedly reduced protein levels were observed in cell organelles for -48PFVII (10.5 +/- 4.9 ng/mL; Wt-FVII, 130 +/- 43.4 ng/mL) and -42PFVII (approximately 5 ng/mL), thus suggesting impaired ER targeting. Fluorescence of the -48PFVII-GFP and -42PFVII-GFP was diffuse, covered the nucleus, and declined upon plasma membrane permeabilization with digitonin, which demonstrated mislocalization of variants in the cytosol. Noticeably, the residual fluorescence of -48PFVII-GFP (10%) and -42PFVII-GFP (20%) in organelles was fairly compatible with FVII levels in patients' plasma. The studies with the native and chimeric proteins indicated that both prepeptide mutations were associated with residual expression of normal FVII, which explained the mild form of FVII deficiency in patients. This approach, extendable to other coagulation serine proteases, clearly contributed to elucidate the relationship of genotype with plasma and clinical phenotype.mixedRIZZOTTO L; PINOTTI M; P. PINTON; RIZZUTO R; BERNARDI FRizzotto, Lara; Pinotti, Mirko; Pinton, Paolo; Rizzuto, Rosario; Bernardi, Francesc

Colorimetric aptasensor for detection of Bacillus cytotoxicus spores in milk and ready-to-use food

The high incidence of foodborne diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria raises concerns worldwide and imposes considerable public healthcare challenges. This is especially observed with dormant spores of Bacilli, which can often survive treatments used by the food industry to kill growing bacteria. The early and rapid detection of bacterial spores is essential to ensure food safety. Commercial availability of such a test will present a high potential for food sector. We present a point-of-need colorimetric assay for detection of Bacillus cytotoxicus spores in food. The detection principle is based on spore-enhanced peroxidase-like catalytic activity of gold nanoparticles. The sensing platform consists of a microtube containing gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), and magnetic particles (MPs), both conjugated with specific aptamer BAS6R that recognize B. cytotoxicus spores. Upon the addition of the sample, spores were determined as present by the enhanced color change of the solution, due to the oxidation of tetramethylbenidine (TMB) with H2O2. The assay was evaluated by the naked eye (on/off) and quantitatively with use of a spectrophotometer. BAS6R@AuNPs aptasensor coupled to BAS6R@MPs proved to be highly sensitive, achieving the naked-eye limit of detection as low as 102 cfu/mL in water and milk, and 104 cfu/mL in mashed potatoes. Moreover, discrimination between spores of B. cytotoxicus and B. subtilis as well as bacterial vegetative cells was achieved in contaminated food samples, providing a good selectivity. This work provides a promising proof of concept for the development of instrument-free, low-cost and rapid assay for Bacillus cytotoxicus spore detection, which is able to compete in sensitivity with conventional costly and time-consuming laboratory analyses

U1-snRNA-mediated rescue of mRNA processing in severe factor VII deficiency

Factor VII (FVII) is the plasma protease triggering coagulation, and its absence is lethal. Life-threatening hemorrhagic symptoms in severe FVII deficiency are prevented by frequent administration of fresh frozen plasma or recombinant FVIIa. Studies in animal and cellular models of human diseases showed that modified small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) can promote changes in mRNA splicing and thus in gene expression. Splicing mutations in clotting factors, a relatively frequent cause of severe bleeding, represent ideal models to test this strategy, because tiny increases in functional full-length protein levels in patients significantly ameliorate hemorrhagic phenotypes. We explored the snRNA-mediated rescue of coagulation factor VII (FVII) expression impaired by the IVS7+5 g/a mutation, which is associated to life-threatening bleeding in homozygous patients. This change occurs in the first of six homologous 37bp repeats containing cryptic donor splice site (5'ss) identical to the normal one. Expression of extended FVII minigenes in human hepatoma cells (Hep3B) and studies at the mRNA level (RT-PCR, fluorescent labeling and capillary electrophoresis) indicated that the IVS7+5g/a induces exon 7 skipping and activation of the first downstream cryptic 5'ss, thus generating frameshifts. Levels of normal transcripts were barely detectable (<0.2%). To restore correct mRNA processing we engineered the U1-snRNA, the spliceosome components selectively recognizing 5’ss. Vectors for three U1-snRNAs, complementary to the mutated 5’ss (U1+5a) or to neighbouring sequences, were created and co-expressed with FVII minigenes in Hep3B. The U1-snRNAs reduced from 80-40% the exon 7 skipping, thus increasing exon definition. The U1+5a construct also dramatically increased recognition of the correct 5’ss over the 37bp-downstream cryptic site preferentially activated by the mutation, thus inducing appreciable synthesis of normal transcripts (from barely detectable to 50%). This effect, which was dose-dependent, clearly demonstrated that impaired recognition by the U1-snRNA was the mechanism responsible for FVII deficiency. These findings suggest compensatory U1-snRNAs as therapeutic tools in coagulation factor deficiencies caused by mutations at 5’ss, a frequent cause of severe defects

Bacillus cereus Induces Severe Infections in Preterm Neonates: Implication at the Hospital and Human Milk Bank Level

International audienceHuman breast milk (HBM) is a source of essential nutrients for infants and is particularly recommended for preterm neonates when their own mother's milk is not available. It provides protection against infections and decreases necrotizing enterocolitis and cardiovascular diseases. Nevertheless, HBM spoilage can occur due to contamination by pathogens, and the risk of a shortage of HBM is very often present. B. cereus is the most frequent ubiquitous bacteria responsible for HBM being discarded. It can contaminate HBM at all stages, from its collect point to the storage and delivery. B. cereus can induce severe infection in newborns with very low birth weight, with sometimes fatal outcomes. Although the source of contamination is rarely identified, in some cases, HBM was suspected as a potential source. Even if the risk is low, as infection due to B. cereus in preterm infants should not be overlooked, human milk banks follow strict procedures to avoid contamination, to accurately identify remaining bacteria following pasteurization and to discard non-compliant milk samples. In this review, we present a literature overview of B. cereus infections reported in neonates and the suspected sources of contamination. We highlight the procedures followed by the human milk banks from the collection of the milk to its microbiological characterization in Europe. We also present improved detection and decontamination methods that might help to decrease the risk and to preserve the public's confidence in this vital biological product for infants whose mothers cannot breastfeed

Sensitive Detection of E. coli in Artificial Seawater by Aptamer-Coated Magnetic Beads and Direct PCR

E. coli in seawater can be simply and efficiently detected by direct PCR. The sensitivity of detection is significantly improved using magnetic beads based bacterial pre-concentration.abstract Foodborne and waterborne E. coli remains a major economic burden worldwide. Assaying seawater for trace levels of E. coli is challenging since it applies time-consuming preparations, expensive instrumentation and complicated procedures. Therefore, there is a continued demand for new analytical technologies that can detect low bacterial concentrations in a more cost- and time-effective manner. In this study, combination of E. coli pre-concentration with a direct polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was shown to enable rapid bacterial detection without enrichment step or DNA extraction/purification. The E1 aptamer that targets E. coli surface epitope grafted onto magnetic beads efficiently concentrated E. coli from water samples containing high concentration of NaCl. When direct PCR was performed on bacteria attached to these aptamer-modified magnetic beads, a limit of 10(3) CFU/mL was obtained. The overall analysis was performed in less than 3 h. This approach may lead to a future PCR-based biosensor system for online monitoring of enteric bacteria in seawater

Chromosome numbers for the Italian flora: 2

In this contribution new chromosome numbers for Italian endemic taxa are presented. It includes 13 chromosome counts for Ornithogalum (Asparagaceae), Anthemis, Carduus, Centaurea, Cirsium, Hieracium, Taraxacum (Asteraceae), Asyneuma (Campanulaceae), Knautia (Caprifoliaceae), Gypsophila (Caryophyllaceae), Linum (Linaceae), Helleborus (Ranunculaceae)