Alcune proposte metodologiche per l’impiego di un GIS intra-site nella documentazione di un relitto: l’applicazione sul brick Mercurio (Punta Tagliamento, Italia)

The wreck of the ship Mercurio lies at a depth of 17 m, off Punta Tagliamento, between the Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia regions. It was discovered in 2001, and was excavated in 2001, and again between 2004 and 2011, by Carlo Beltrame (Università Ca’ Foscari) in collaboration with the local archaeological superintendency. It was a brigantine, belonging to an Italian-French squadron, sunk during the battle of Grado in the 1812. Problems typical of post-Medieval ships (especially when military), such as the complexity of the aspect because of the presence of metal concretions and a lot of items of different materials and typologies and the difficulties in documenting very small objects (such as the many buttons of uniforms) with the photogrammetrical system, were solved with the use of an intra-site GIS on a Quantum GIS open source application. The GIS allowed us not only to manage the large amount of information (site-plans, topological positions of the items, photos, etc.) produced during the excavations, but also to answer questions about the dynamics both of the sinking and the formation processes and, thanks to the use of a system of virtual frames, about the location of the nautical equipment, the links between the human skeletons and the personal objects and parts of the uniforms and the location of the caulker store-roo

Depinning of three-dimensional drops from wettability defects

Substrate defects crucially influence the onset of sliding drop motion under lateral driving. A finite force is necessary to overcome the pinning influence even of microscale heterogeneities. The depinning dynamics of three-dimensional drops is studied for hydrophilic and hydrophobic wettability defects using a long-wave evolution equation for the film thickness profile. It is found that the nature of the depinning transition explains the experimentally observed stick-slip motion.Comment: 6 pages, 9 figures, submitted to ep

Rayleigh and depinning instabilities of forced liquid ridges on heterogeneous substrates

Depinning of two-dimensional liquid ridges and three-dimensional drops on an inclined substrate is studied within the lubrication approximation. The structures are pinned to wetting heterogeneities arising from variations of the strength of the short-range polar contribution to the disjoining pressure. The case of a periodic array of hydrophobic stripes transverse to the slope is studied in detail using a combination of direct numerical simulation and branch-following techniques. Under appropriate conditions the ridges may either depin and slide downslope as the slope is increased, or first breakup into drops via a transverse instability, prior to depinning. The different transition scenarios are examined together with the stability properties of the different possible states of the system.Comment: Physics synopsis link: http://physics.aps.org/synopsis-for/10.1103/PhysRevE.83.01630

Thin film evolution equations from (evaporating) dewetting liquid layers to epitaxial growth

In the present contribution we review basic mathematical results for three physical systems involving self-organising solid or liquid films at solid surfaces. The films may undergo a structuring process by dewetting, evaporation/condensation or epitaxial growth, respectively. We highlight similarities and differences of the three systems based on the observation that in certain limits all of them may be described using models of similar form, i.e., time evolution equations for the film thickness profile. Those equations represent gradient dynamics characterized by mobility functions and an underlying energy functional. Two basic steps of mathematical analysis are used to compare the different system. First, we discuss the linear stability of homogeneous steady states, i.e., flat films; and second the systematics of non-trivial steady states, i.e., drop/hole states for dewetting films and quantum dot states in epitaxial growth, respectively. Our aim is to illustrate that the underlying solution structure might be very complex as in the case of epitaxial growth but can be better understood when comparing to the much simpler results for the dewetting liquid film. We furthermore show that the numerical continuation techniques employed can shed some light on this structure in a more convenient way than time-stepping methods. Finally we discuss that the usage of the employed general formulation does not only relate seemingly not related physical systems mathematically, but does as well allow to discuss model extensions in a more unified way

Photometry of GSC 762-110, a new triple-mode radially pulsating star

Stars pulsating in three radial modes are very rare; only three examples are known in the Galaxy. These stars are very useful since their periods may be measured very precisely, and this will constrain the global stellar parameters and the models of the star's interior. The purpose of this paper is to present a new example of the class of triple-mode radial pulsators. A search for candidate multi-mode pulsators was carried out in public survey data. Time-series photometry of one of the candidates, GSC 762-110, was performed. GSC 762-110 was found to be a triple-mode radial pulsator, with a fundamental period of 0.1945d and period ratios of 0.7641 and 0.8012. In addition two non-radial modes were found, for which the amplitude has diminished considerably over the last few years.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysic

Algorithm for automatic genotype calling of single nucleotide polymorphisms using the full course of TaqMan real-time data

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are often determined using TaqMan real-time PCR assays (Applied Biosystems) and commercial software that assigns genotypes based on reporter probe signals at the end of amplification. Limitations to the large-scale application of this approach include the need for positive controls or operator intervention to set signal thresholds when one allele is rare. In the interest of optimizing real-time PCR genotyping, we developed an algorithm for automatic genotype calling based on the full course of real-time PCR data. Best cycle genotyping algorithm (BCGA), written in the open source language R, is based on the assumptions that classification depends on the time (cycle) of amplification and that it is possible to identify a best discriminating cycle for each SNP assay. The algorithm is unique in that it classifies samples according to the behavior of blanks (no DNA samples), which cluster with heterozygous samples. This method of classification eliminates the need for positive controls and permits accurate genotyping even in the absence of a genotype class, for example when one allele is rare. Here, we describe the algorithm and test its validity, compared to the standard end-point method and to DNA sequencing

Vasospastic angina: a review on diagnostic approach and management

\ua9 The Author(s), 2024.Vasospastic angina (VSA) refers to chest pain experienced as a consequence of myocardial ischaemia caused by epicardial coronary spasm, a sudden narrowing of the vessels responsible for an inadequate supply of blood and oxygen. Coronary artery spasm is a heterogeneous phenomenon that can occur in patients with non-obstructive coronary arteries and obstructive coronary artery disease, with transient spasm causing chest pain and persistent spasm potentially leading to acute myocardial infarction (MI). VSA was originally described as Prinzmetal angina or variant angina, classically presenting at rest, unlike most cases of angina (though in some patients, vasospasm may be triggered by exertion, emotional, mental or physical stress), and associated with transient electrocardiographic changes (transient ST-segment elevation, depression and/or T-wave changes). Ischaemia with non-obstructive coronary arteries (INOCA) is not a benign condition, as patients are at elevated risk of cardiovascular events including acute coronary syndrome, hospitalization due to heart failure, stroke and repeat cardiovascular procedures. INOCA patients also experience impaired quality of life and associated increased healthcare costs. VSA, an endotype of INOCA, is associated with major adverse events, including sudden cardiac death, acute MI and syncope, necessitating the study of the most effective treatment options currently available. The present literature review aims to summarize current data relating to the diagnosis and management of VSA and provide details on the sequence that treatment should follow

Sanidade, transmissão via semente e patogenicidade de fungos em sementes de Cedrela fissilis procedentes da Região Sul do Brasil.

Pesquisas relacionadas à patologia de sementes de espécies florestais nativas, especialmente aquelas mais aprofundadas, são escassas. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a sanidade das sementes de cedro através de dois métodos de detecção, avaliar a transmissão de fungos associados às sementes para as plântulas e avaliar a patogenicidade de fungos associados às sementes e transmitidos para as plântulas. Para tanto, sementes de seis procedências, dentre os estados do Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina e Paraná, foram utilizadas. Estas foram submetidas a testes de sanidade, pelos métodos do papel-filtro e batata-dextroseágar (BDA), a teste de transmissão via sementes para as plântulas e a teste de patogenicidade de isolados de Rhizoctonia sp., patógeno escolhido por ser o mais frequente nos testes de sanidade e transmitido via semente. Os fungos encontrados em ambos os testes foram: Pestalotia sp., Rhizoctonia sp., Penicillium sp., Phomopsis sp., Rhizopus sp., Aspergillus sp. e Fusarium sp. Ambos os métodos podem ser utilizados para teste de sanidade em sementes de cedro. Os fungos transmitidos via semente para plântula foram Fusarium sp. e Rhizoctonia sp., sendo que, estes causaram danos nas raízes e posterior tombamento. Foi identificado um isolado de Rhizoctonia sp. patogênico para plântulas de cedro, causando os mesmos sintomas relatados no teste de transmissão

NF-kB overexpression and decreased immunoexpression of AR in the muscular layer is related to structural damages and apoptosis in cimetidine-treated rat vas deferens

Background: Cimetidine, histamine H-2 receptors antagonist, has caused adverse effects on the male hormones and reproductive tract due to its antiandrogenic effect. in the testes, peritubular myoid cells and muscle vascular cells death has been associated to seminiferous tubules and testicular microvascularization damages, respectively. Either androgen or histamine H-2 receptors have been detected in the mucosa and smooth muscular layer of vas deferens. Thus, the effect of cimetidine on this androgen and histamine-dependent muscular duct was morphologically evaluated.Methods: the animals from cimetidine group (CMTG; n=5) received intraperitoneal injections of 100 mg/kg b.w. of cimetidine for 50 days; the control group (CG) received saline solution. the distal portions of vas deferens were fixed in formaldehyde and embedded in paraffin. Masson's trichrome-stained sections were subjected to morphological and the following morphometrical analyzes: epithelial perimeter and area of the smooth muscular layer. TUNEL (Terminal deoxynucleotidyl-transferase mediated dUTP Nick End Labeling) method, NF-kB (nuclear factor kappa B) and AR (androgen receptors) immunohistochemical detection were also carried out. the birefringent collagen of the muscular layer was quantified in picrosirius red-stained sections under polarized light. the muscular layer was also evaluated under Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM).Results: in CMTG, the mucosa of vas deferens was intensely folded; the epithelial cells showed numerous pyknotic nuclei and the epithelial perimeter and the area of the muscular layer decreased significantly. Numerous TUNEL-labeled nuclei were found either in the epithelial cells, mainly basal cells, or in the smooth muscle cells which also showed typical features of apoptosis under TEM. While an enhanced NF-kB immunoexpression was found in the cytoplasm of muscle cells, a weak AR immunolabeling was detected in these cells. in CMTG, no significant difference was observed in the birefringent collagen content of the muscular layer in comparison to CG.Conclusions: Cimetidine induces significant damages in the epithelium; a possible antiandrogenic effect on the basal cells turnover should be considered. the cimetidine-induced muscle cells apoptosis confirms the susceptibility of these cells to this drug. the parallelism between enhanced cytoplasmic NF-kB immunolabeling in the damaged muscular tissue and muscle cell apoptosis suggests that this drug may avoid the translocation of NF-kB to the nucleus and interfere in the control of NF-kB-mediated smooth muscle cell apoptosis. the decreased immunoexpression of ARs verified in the damaged muscular tissue reinforces this possibility.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)UNESP, Araraquara Dent Sch, Lab Histol & Embryol, Dept Morphol, Jaboticabal, Estadual Paulis, BrazilFed Univ São Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Morphol & Genet, São Paulo, BrazilFed Univ São Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Morphol & Genet, São Paulo, BrazilFAPESP: 06/54776-6FAPESP: 08/53288-3FAPESP: 09/17895-5FAPESP: 10/02409-5Web of Scienc