Artificial neural networks for 3D cell shape recognition from confocal images

We present a dual-stage neural network architecture for analyzing fine shape details from microscopy recordings in 3D. The system, tested on red blood cells, uses training data from both healthy donors and patients with a congenital blood disease. Characteristic shape features are revealed from the spherical harmonics spectrum of each cell and are automatically processed to create a reproducible and unbiased shape recognition and classification for diagnostic and theragnostic use.Comment: 17 pages, 8 figure

Fluctuations of the Magnetization in Thin Films due to Conduction Electrons

A detailed analysis of damping and noise due to a {\it sd}-interaction in a thin ferromagnetic film sandwiched between two large normal metal layers is carried out. The magnetization is shown to obey in general a non-local equation of motion which differs from the the Gilbert equation and is extended to the non-adiabatic regime. To lowest order in the exchange interaction and in the limit where the Gilbert equation applies, we show that the damping term is enhanced due to interfacial effects but it also shows oscillations as a function of the film thickness. The noise calculation is however carried out to all orders in the exchange coupling constant. The ellipticity of the precession of the magnetization is taken into account. The damping is shown to have a Gilbert form only in the adiabatic limit while the relaxation time becomes strongly dependent on the geometry of the thin film. It is also shown that the induced noise characteristic of sd-exchange is inherently colored in character and depends on the symmetry of the Hamiltonian of the magnetization in the film. We show that the sd-noise can be represented in terms of an external stochastic field which is white only in the adiabatic regime. The temperature is also renormalized by the spin accumulation in the system. For large intra-atomic exchange interactions, the Gilbert-Brown equation is no longer valid

<i>atonal-</i> and <i>achaete-scute</i>-related genes in the annelid <i>Platynereis dumerilii</i>: insights into the evolution of neural basic-Helix-Loop-Helix genes

Background: Functional studies in model organisms, such as vertebrates and Drosophila, have shown that basic Helix-loop-Helix ( bHLH) proteins have important roles in different steps of neurogenesis, from the acquisition of neural fate to the differentiation into specific neural cell types. However, these studies highlighted many differences in the expression and function of orthologous bHLH proteins during neural development between vertebrates and Drosophila. To understand how the functions of neural bHLH genes have evolved among bilaterians, we have performed a detailed study of bHLH genes during nervous system development in the polychaete annelid, Platynereis dumerilii, an organism which is evolutionary distant from both Drosophila and vertebrates. Results: We have studied Platynereis orthologs of the most important vertebrate neural bHLH genes, i.e. achaete-scute, neurogenin, atonal, olig, and NeuroD genes, the latter two being genes absent of the Drosophila genome. We observed that all these genes have specific expression patterns during nervous system formation in Platynereis. Our data suggest that in Platynereis, like in vertebrates but unlike Drosophila, ( i) neurogenin is the main proneural gene for the formation of the trunk central nervous system, (ii) achaetescute and olig genes are involved in neural subtype specification in the central nervous system, in particular in the specification of the serotonergic phenotype. In addition, we found that the Platynereis NeuroD gene has a broad and early neuroectodermal expression, which is completely different from the neuronal expression of vertebrate NeuroD genes. Conclusion: Our analysis suggests that the Platynereis bHLH genes have both proneural and neuronal specification functions, in a way more akin to the vertebrate situation than to that of Drosophila. We conclude that these features are ancestral to bilaterians and have been conserved in the vertebrates and annelids lineages, but have diverged in the evolutionary lineage leading to Drosophila

Estudo histológico prospectivo da epiderme e dos folículos pilosos na doença do enxerto contra o hospedeiro aguda após transplante de medula óssea

Orientador: Ricardo PasquiniCo-orientador: Giovanni LoddoDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Ciências da Saúde, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina InternaResumo: A detecção precoce da Doença do Enxerto contra o Hospedeiro (DECH) aguda, atualmente a principal complicação do transplante de medula óssea, é busca constante em pacientes submetidos a esta técnica de tratamento. A identificação de alterações morfológicas precoces na pele, o órgão mais acessível para biópsia, que possam predizer o desenvolvimento da Doença do Enxerto contra o Hospedeiro (DECH) aguda, é baseada na necessidade da urgência no diagnóstico, pois dele depende a orientação terapêutica. Estudos retrospectivos prévios foram realizados baseados principalmente em achados morfológicos, entretanto, nestes estudos, não foi possível verificar, por meio de dados de prontuário, a correlação entre as datas de biópsia e das primeiras manifestações clínicas. Baseados nisso, neste trabalho prospectivo foram estudadas 190 biópsias de pele, realizadas nos primeiros 28 dias após o transplante, em 38 pacientes submetidos ao transplante de medula óssea alogênico, no Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal do Paraná, em Curitiba, entre março e dezembro de 1996. Os objetivos do estudo consistiram em: 1) identificar alterações morfológicas precoces, dos folículos pilosos, correlacionados ao diagnóstico de Doença do Enxerto Contra o Hospedeiro (DECH) aguda, complicação freqüente nestes pacientes, mediante biópsias cutâneas seqüenciais, e acompanhamento clínico e laboratorial simultâneo; 2) identificar quais os achados morfológicos que teriam maior valor para este diagnóstico, tentando correlacionar as alterações encontradas com o surgimento das manifestações cutâneas e gerais dos pacientes; 3) verificar se as alterações morfológicas dos folículos pilosos são suficientes e específicas para predizer o aparecimento das lesões cutâneas e gerais da Doença do Enxerto Contra o Hospedeiro (DECH) aguda. Cabe assinalar que foram excluídos do trabalho quatro pacientes nos quais foram encontradas alterações histológicas descritas na literatura como específicas de DECH, no período pré-transplante, os mesmos pacientes que haviam sido submetidos à irradiação corporal total. Nos 34 pacientes que foram incluídos no trabalho não houve significância estatística na correlação entre as alterações histológicas isoladas e o desenvolvimento da DECH aguda. Agrupando-se estas alterações, segundo classificação sugerida por Loddo em 1993, também não observamos significância estatística na predição da DECH aguda. Finalmente concluiu-se que as alterações histológicas estudadas não são suficientes nem específicas para predição da DECH aguda.Abstract: Early detection of acute Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD), currently the major complication in bone marrow transplantation (BMT), in patients submitted to such treatment is a constant endeavor. The detection of early morphological changes in the skin (the most accessible organ for a biopsy), which can be na indication of acute GVHD, is based on the need of na immediate diagnostic which, in turn, may provide therapeutic guidelines. Previous retrospective studies have been carried out, mainly based on morphological findings. However, in such studies it was not possible to observe, through data drawn from patient charts, a correlation between the dates on which the biopsies were performed and the first clinical manifestations of the disease. In this prospective study, 190 skin biopsies were analyzed, performed 28 days after the transplant, in 38 patients submitted to allogeneic BMT, at Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal do Paraná (the university hospital of the Federal University of Paraná), in Curitiba, between March and December 1996. The study aimed at: 1) identifying early morphological changes, from hair follicles, correlated with the diagnosis of acute GVHD, a frequent complication in those patients, through sequential skin biopsies, plus simultaneous clinical and laboratory follow-up; 2) identifying which morphological findings would be more valuable to make this diagnosis, trying to correlate the changes encountered with the onset of the cutaneous and general manifestations in patients; 3) verifying if the morphological changes in the hair follicles are sufficient and specific enough to predict cutaneous and general lesions of acute GVHD. In the pre-BMT period, four patients presenting histological alterations described in the literature as specific of GVHD, were removed from the study; these patients had been submited to total body radiation. In the 34 patients that remained in the study, there was no statistically significant correlation between isolated histological alterations and acute GVHD. Grouping these alterations according to Loddo's classification (1993), we also failed to see any statistically significant prediction of acute GVHD. Finally, we concluded that the histological alterations analyzed are neither sufficient nor specific enough to predict acute GVHD

Regional Seismic Characterization of Shallow Subsoil of Northern Apulia (Southern Italy)

A first-order seismic characterization of Northern Apulia (Southern Italy) has been provided by considering geological information and outcomes of a low-cost geophysical survey. In particular, 403 single-station ambient vibration measurements (HVSR techniques) distributed within the main settlements of the area have been considered to extract representative patterns deduced by Principal Component Analysis. The joint interpretation of these pieces of information allows the identification of three main domains (Gargano Promontory, Bradanic Through and Southern Apennines Fold and Thrust Belt), each characterized by specific seismic resonance phenomena. In particular, the Bradanic Through is homogeneously characterized by low frequency (&lt; 1 Hz) resonance effects associated with relatively deep (&gt; 100 m) seismic impedance, which is contrasting corresponding to the buried Apulian carbonate platform and/or sandy horizons located within the Plio-Pleistocene deposits. In the remaining ones, relatively high frequency (&gt; 1 Hz) resonance phenomena are ubiquitous due to the presence of shallower impedance contrasts (&lt; 100 m), which do not always correspond to the top of the geological bedrock. These general indications may be useful for a preliminary regional characterization of seismic response in the study area, which can be helpful for an effective planning of more detailed studies targeted to engineering purposes

New report charts course for future of geosciences

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/95550/1/eost14543.pd

Evolutive follow-up of the photocatalytic degradation of real textile effluents in TiO2 and TiO2/H2O2 systems and their toxic effects on Lactuca sativa seedlings

Textile industry wastes raise a great concern due to their strong coloration and toxicity. The objective of the present work was to characterize the degradation and mineralization of textile effluents by advanced oxidative processes using either TiO2 or TiO2/H2O2 association and to monitor the toxicity of the products formed during 6 h irradiation in relation to that of the in natura effluent. The results obtained demonstrated that the TiO2/H2O2 association was more efficient in the mineralization of textile effluents than TiO2 alone, with high mineralized ion concentrations (NH4+, NO3-, and SO4(2-)) and significant organic matter reduction rates (represented by the COD and TOC). The toxicity of the degradation products to lettuce seeds (Lactuca sativa) was not significant, since percent germination was not significantly affected and neither was root and sprout percent growth. However, while the TiO2/H2O2 association was more toxic in the first hours of irradiation and less so in the end of the 6 h irradiation, the toxicity of TiO2 increased only slightly in the end of the experiments. Comparatively, the photogenerated products of both the TiO2 and the TiO2/H2O2 association were less toxic than the in natura effluent

Efeito da adubação potássica no sabor de morangos.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da adubação potássica sobre o sabor de morangos das cultivares Camino Real, Festival e Oso Grande