Surface Nanomechanics of Biomolecules and Supramolecular Systems

Surface nanomechanics of biomolecules and supramolecular systems is an interdisciplinary and vital area of current research, with implications/applications spanning from synthetic biology to regenerative medicine, from smart surfaces to molecular machines. Biomolecule surface transformations and nanomachinery arise upon “wiring” them onto surfaces and interfaces. Surface confinement of biomolecules is a common feature of biological systems (e.g., cell membranes) and often a mandatory step for translating their properties into real‐world applications (e.g., biosensors). On surfaces biomolecules undergo peculiar transformations and interactions which they do not experience in solution. Such unedited effects open challenges in synthetic systems, for example, by altering or hindering the designed/expected property, but also disclose a wealth of opportunities and surprises. Based on our latest research, this chapter will bring fresh excerpts from the field. It will start with an accessible description of thermodynamics of surface nanomechanics of biomolecules and supramolecular systems and then will show how it can be implemented to gain understanding of grow factor cell signaling, to single out small ligands able to inhibit protein misfolding, to measure energetics of surface confined ferritin during iron loading, and to realize a universal probe for ammine‐based designer drugs

Protein Thin Film Machines

We report the first example of microcantilever beams that are reversibly driven by protein thin film machines fuelled by cycling the salt concentration of the surrounding solution. We also show that upon the same salinity stimulus the drive can be completely reversed in its direction by introducing a surface coating ligand. Experimental results are throughout discussed within a general yet simple thermodynamic model

Chief Medical Officers meeting on implementing a public health genomics approach

   &nbsp

Implementation of genomic policies in Italy: the new National Plan for innovation of the Health System based on omics sciences

  &nbsp

Application of machine learning techniques to derive sea water turbidity from Sentinel-2 imagery

Earth Observation (EO) from satellites has the potential to provide comprehensive, rapid and inexpensive information about water bodies, integrating in situ measurements. Traditional methods to retrieve optically active water quality parameters from satellite data are based on semiempirical models relying on few bands, which often revealed to be site and season specific. The use of machine learning (ML) for remotely sensed water quality estimation has spread in recent years thanks to the advances in algorithm development and computing power. These models allow to exploit the wealth of spectral information through more flexible relationships and are less affected by atmospheric and other background factors. The present study explores the use of Sentinel-2 MultiSpectral Instrument (MSI) Level-1C Top of Atmosphere spectral radiance to derive water turbidity, through application of machine learning techniques. A dataset of 222 combination of turbidity measurements, collected in the North Tyrrhenian Sea – Italy from 2015 to 2021, and values of the 13 spectral bands in the pixel corresponding to the sample location was used. Two regression techniques were tested and compared: a Stepwise Linear Regression (SLR) and a Polynomial Kernel Regression. The two models show accurate and similar performance (R2 = 0.736, RMSE = 2.03 NTU, MAE = 1.39 NTU for the SLR and R2 = 0.725, RMSE = 2.07 NTU, MAE = 1.40 NTU for the Kernel). A band importance analysis revealed the contribution of the different spectral bands and the main role of the red-edge range. The work shows that it is possible to reach a good accuracy in turbidity estimation from MSI TOA reflectance using ML models, fed by the whole spectrum of available bands, although the possible generation of errors related to atmospheric effect in turbidity estimates was not evaluated. Comparison between turbidity estimates obtained from the models with turbidity data from Copernicus CMEMS dataset named ‘Mediterranean Sea, Bio-Geo-Chemical, L3, daily observation’ produced consistent results. Finally, turbidity maps from satellite imagery were produced for the study area, showing the ability of the models to catch extreme events

Quantifying the nanomachinery of the nanoparticle-biomolecule interface

A study is presented of the nanomechanical phenomena experienced by nanoparticle-conjugated biomolecules. A thermodynamic framework is developed to describe the binding of thrombin-binding aptamer (TBA) to thrombin when the TBA is conjugated to nanorods. Binding results in nanorod aggregation (viz. directed self-assembly), which is detectable by absorption spectroscopy. The analysis introduces the energy of aggregation, separating it into TBA–thrombin recognition and surface-work contributions. Consequently, it is demonstrated that self-assembly is driven by the interplay of surface work and thrombin-TBA recognition. It is shown that the work at the surface is about −10 kJ mol−1 [mol superscript -1] and results from the accumulation of in-plane molecular forces of pN magnitude and with a lifetime of <1 s, which arises from TBA nanoscale rearrangements fuelled by thrombin-directed nanorod aggregation. The obtained surface work can map aggregation regimes as a function of different nanoparticle surface conditions. Also, the thermodynamic treatment can be used to obtain quantitative information on surface effects impacting biomolecules on nanoparticle surfaces.MIT-IQS Exchange Progra

Normal people's capacity of adjustment on a wheelchair basket: A preliminary study

The purpose of this work is to show the execution and the results of a study aimed at identifying and defining the level of the normal people's capacity of adjustment on a wheelchair. This study is based on an hypothesis of a readaptation of a sport's rules of basketball. The new regulation created supposes the contemporary participation of normal people and disabled people and it establishes the use of wheelchairs regardless the physical condition and performance. All of this has been decided to minimize possible physical differences. Consequently, the study was conducted on some young basketball athletes to achieve the intended goal. The chosen athletes are member of an under 15 regional championship. The test administered to them includes some time and precision exercises based on the main fundamentals of basketball, executed on a wheelchair. The test's administration took place in three days to judge the speed of adaptation and learning of using this new tool. The sample group seemed available and open to this first approach with a mobile device used mainly by disabled people, but the results of the study done weren't positive. So, the 30% of the group has provided excellent results and it has been able to perform the test discreetly, improving each time. On the other hand, the remaining 70% observed many problems, worsening their performance in the last drills

Development of motor skills applied to basketball in the developmental age

Usually, the training planning large amounts of technical skills and tactical work are planned, neglecting the part of athletic physical training, while it is necessary to combine the athletic phase with the technical one according to principle of the complexity of the sports performance that integrates the quantitative part with to the qualitative one. The study aims to show whether specific workouts aimed at developing and consolidating the basic motor patterns then lead to an improvement in performance in basketball, which is not only athletic but also technical and tactical components. Surveys were carried out every two months taking into account the evolutionary phase of the athletes, monitored on height and weight, in some there was an improvement and then a deterioration, while for others there was a constant improvement. This study helps to use the test administration method to monitor the correlation between training and performance activities

Rhythmic gymnastics and dyslexia

Rhythmic gymnastics is an Olympic sport with enabling and coordinating features characterized by "small tools" such as rope, hoop, ball, clubs and ribbon. The competitive program sees both individual and team performance. Dyslexia is a learning disorder, the failure of the development of hemispheric dominance or conflicts of dominance between the two hemispheres. In addition to having learning problems, people suffering from dyslexia also have problems in cognition of their bodies within space and with the musical rhythm. The aim is to verify if a dyslexic athlete can succeed in practicing this sport competitively, finding benefits in terms of performance, but especially in the sphere of self-esteem and sociality. Through the case study and ethnographic approach it was found that the gymnast manages to achieve the same results as the other gymnasts who train with her, but showing a small difficulty in teamwork. Moreover, after several steps it was found that the gymnast, already having innate physical qualities, during the competitions will be more valid than his training companions, despite his learning difficulties. These results encourage to deepen the links between physical activity and personal aspects because he is an athlete to all intents and purposes, with potential and weaknesses on a par with other athletes

Autoantibodies against the glial glutamate transporter GLT1/EAAT2 in Type 1 diabetes mellitus-Clues to novel immunological and non-immunological therapies

: Islet cell surface autoantibodies were previously found in subjects with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), but their target antigens and pathogenic mechanisms remain elusive. The glutamate transporter solute carrier family 1, member 2 (GLT1/EAAT2) is expressed on the membrane of pancreatic β-cells and physiologically controls extracellular glutamate concentrations thus preventing glutamate-induced β-cell death. We hypothesized that GLT1 could be an immunological target in T1DM and that autoantibodies against GLT1 could be pathogenic. Immunoprecipitation and ELISA experiments showed that sera from T1DM subjects recognized GLT1 expressed in brain, pancreatic islets, and GLT1-transfected COS7-cell extracts. We validated these findings in two cohorts of T1DM patients by quantitative immunofluorescence assays. Analysis of the combined data sets indicated the presence of autoantibodies against GLT1 in 32 of the 87 (37%) T1DM subjects and in none of healthy controls (n&nbsp;=&nbsp;64) (p&nbsp;&lt;&nbsp;0.0001). Exposure of pancreatic βTC3 cells and human islets to purified IgGs from anti-GLT1 positive sera supplemented with complement resulted in plasma membrane ruffling, cell lysis and death. The cytotoxic effect was prevented when sera were depleted from IgGs. Furthermore, in the absence of complement, 6 out of 16 (37%) anti-GLT1 positive sera markedly reduced GLT1 transport activity in βTC3 cells by inducing GLT1 internalization, also resulting in β-cell death. In conclusion, we provide evidence that GLT1 is a novel T1DM autoantigen and that anti-GLT1 autoantibodies cause β-cell death through complement-dependent and independent mechanisms. GLT1 seems an attractive novel therapeutic target for the prevention of β-cell death in individuals with diabetes and prediabetes