Installing and Configuring Application Software on the LHC Computing Grid

The management of application software is major scientific and practical challenge for designers of large-scale production Grids The Large Hadron Collider Computing Grid is unique in the sense that coupling between application scientists and the resource providers is extremely loose, thus adding even more complexity to the software management problem. After an analysis of the requirements for a Grid software management service from users and site administrators perspective, we give an overview of the solution adopted by the LHC Grid infrastructure to support High Energy Physics experiments, highlighting features and current limitations. Tank&Spark is our server-client solution that extends the LHC Grid application software system and tackles some of its limitations. Tank&Spark can be used as a stand-alone service also in other Grid infrastructures. Here we illustrate the design, deployment and preliminary results obtained

Data Grid tutorials with hands-on experience

Grid technologies are more and more used in scientific as well as in industrial environments but often documentation and the correct usage are either not sufficient or not too well understood. Comprehensive training with hands-on experience helps people first to understand the technology and second to use it in a correct and efficient way. We have organised and run several training sessions in different locations all over the world and provide our experience. The major factors of success are a solid base of theoretical lectures and, more dominantly, a facility that allows for practical Grid exercises during and possibly after tutorial sessions

Spatial distribution of fungal microflora in the sediment of a brackish lake (Lake Alimini Grande, Italy) used for fish production and bathing

A study of the distribution of fungal microflora was conducted on the sediment of Lake Alimini Grande in order to contrib- ute to the evaluation of the ecosystem characteristics that can effect the process of decomposition. The isolation and identification of fungal species and ergosterol analysis were performed on sediment samples taken from 33 monitorin stations in autumn and winter .Altogether, 24 strains belong- ing to 8 genera were isolated. Trichoderma spp (41.6%) and Aspergillus spp (20.8%) were the dominant genera: in par- ticular, Trichoderma was present near the Traugnano marsh, whereas Aspergillus was isolated in the area of connection to the sea

Transbulbar B-Mode Sonography in Multiple Sclerosis: Clinical and Biological Relevance

Abstract Optic nerve sheath diameter quantification by transbulbar B-mode sonography is a recently validated technique, but its clinical relevance in relapse-free multiple sclerosis patients remains unexplored. In an open-label, comparative, cross-sectional study, we aimed to assess possible differences between patients and healthy controls in terms of optic nerve sheath diameter and its correlation with clinical/paraclinical parameters in this disease. Sixty unselected relapse-free patients and 35 matched healthy controls underwent transbulbar B-mode sonography. Patients underwent routine neurologic examination, brain magnetic resonance imaging and visual evoked potential tests. The mean optic nerve sheath diameter 3 and 5 mm from the eyeball was 22–25% lower in patients than controls and correlated with the Expanded Disability Status Scale (r = −0.34, p = 0.048, and r = −0.32, p = 0.042, respectively). We suggest that optic nerve sheath diameter quantified by transbulbar B-mode sonography should be included in routine assessment of the disease as an extension of the neurologic examination

Safety and Immunogenicity of Conventional Subunit and MF59-adjuvanted Influenza Vaccines in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1-seropositive Patients

In this study of influenza vaccination, 37 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1-seropositive patients were randomized to receive either a vaccine with a conventional subunit or one adjuvanted with MF59. Blood samples were collected at the time of vaccination, and then 30 and 180 days later, to evaluate immunogenicity, CD4+ T-lymphocyte count and HIV-1 RNA levels. Seroconversion rates against the three viral strains included in the vaccine ranged between 44% and 72% and 53% and 68% for the adjuvanted vaccine and the subunit vaccine, respectively. Other criteria of the European Medicines Evaluation Agency were also met. Vaccination was not associated with serious adverse events. Local and systemic effects were mild and of short duration. CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts and viraemia levels were not negatively affected by vaccination. These results confirmed the safety and immunogenicity of these currently available vaccines in HIV-1-seropositive patients, thus supporting the recommendation for influenza immunization in this high-risk category

Fibronectin localization and fibrillization are affected by the presence of serum in culture media

In vitro models of fibrotic phenomena are often based on the fibroblast-myofibroblast transition as the contraction-triggering cellular event. There are, however, multiple sources of concern regarding the appropriateness of such models; a first and widely investigated issue is the often inappropriate nature of the interactions between mesenchymal cells and surrounding/underlying matrix/substrate. A second set of problems concerns the composition of the fluid phase, which includes both dispersed/dissolved paracrine messengers and matrix elements. In this study, we have focused on the effects that serum may generate. We have observed that A) serum causes high variability in the expression of typical markers of myofibroblast differentiation (ED-A fibronectin and α-Smooth Muscle Actin) upon treatment with TGF-β1; this is probably due to intrinsic variability of cytokine concentrations in different batches of serum. B) the fibrillization of endogenous fibronectin is partially hampered and its localization changed from ventral (on the substrate) to dorsal (upper surface); the latter morphology appears to be largely overlooked in literature, even though it may have a significant role in terms of mechanotransductive signaling. This quite dramatic change possibly occurs as a result of competition with serum proteins, although our data seem to rule out a direct role of serum fibronectin

Microfluidic-assisted preparation of RGD-decorated nanoparticles: exploring integrin-facilitated uptake in cancer cell lines

From Springer Nature via Jisc Publications RouterHistory: received 2020-02-23, accepted 2020-08-06, registration 2020-08-17, pub-electronic 2020-09-02, online 2020-09-02, collection 2020-12Publication status: PublishedFunder: AstraZeneca; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100004325Funder: University of Manchester; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000770Abstract: This study is about fine tuning the targeting capacity of peptide-decorated nanoparticles to discriminate between cells that express different integrin make-ups. Using microfluidic-assisted nanoprecipitation, we have prepared poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles with a PEGylated surface decorated with two different arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) peptides: one is cyclic (RGDFC) and has specific affinity towards αvβ3 integrin heterodimers; the other is linear (RGDSP) and is reported to bind equally αvβ3 and α5β1. We have then evaluated the nanoparticle internalization in two cell lines with a markedly different integrin fingerprint: ovarian carcinoma A2780 (almost no αvβ3, moderate in α5β1) and glioma U87MG (very high in αvβ3, moderate/high in α5β1). As expected, particles with cyclic RGD were heavily internalized by U87MG (proportional to the peptide content and abrogated by anti-αvβ3) but not by A2780 (same as PEGylated particles). The linear peptide, on the other hand, did not differentiate between the cell lines, and the uptake increase vs. control particles was never higher than 50%, indicating a possible low and unselective affinity for various integrins. The strong preference of U87MG for cyclic (vs. linear) peptide-decorated nanoparticles was shown in 2D culture and further demonstrated in spheroids. Our results demonstrate that targeting specific integrin make-ups is possible and may open the way to more precise treatment, but more efforts need to be devoted to a better understanding of the relation between RGD structure and their integrin-binding capacity