SPARC regulates transforming growth factor beta induced (TGFBI) extracellular matrix deposition and paclitaxel response in ovarian cancer cells

TGFBI has been shown to sensitize ovarian cancer cells to the cytotoxic effects of paclitaxel via an integrin receptor-mediated mechanism that modulates microtubule stability. Herein, we determine that TGFBI localizes within organized fibrillar structures in mesothelial-derived ECM. We determined that suppression of SPARC expression by shRNA decreased the deposition of TGFBI in mesothelial-derived ECM, without affecting its overall protein expression or secretion. Conversely, overexpression of SPARC increased TGFBI deposition. A SPARC-YFP fusion construct expressed by the Met5a cell line co-localized with TGFBI in the cell-derived ECM. Interestingly, in vitro produced SPARC was capable of precipitating TGFBI from cell lysates dependent on an intact SPARC carboxy-terminus with in vitro binding assays verifying a direct interaction. The last 37 amino acids of SPARC were shown to be required for the TGFBI interaction while expression of a SPARC-YFP construct lacking this region (aa 1–256) did not interact and co-localize with TGFBI in the ECM. Furthermore, ovarian cancer cells have a reduced motility and decreased response to the chemotherapeutic agent paclitaxel when plated on ECM derived from mesothelial cells lacking SPARC compared to control mesothelial-derived ECM. In conclusion, SPARC regulates the fibrillar ECM deposition of TGFBI through a novel interaction, subsequently influencing cancer cell behavior

Cognate xenoliths in Mt. Etna lavas: witnesses of the high-velocity body beneath the volcano

Various xenoliths have been found in lavas of the 1763 (“La Montagnola”), 2001, and 2002–03 eruptions at Mt. Etna whose petrographic evidence and mineral chemistry exclude a mantle origin and clearly point to a cognate nature. Consequently, cognate xenoliths might represent a proxy to infer the nature of the high-velocity body (HVB) imaged beneath the volcano by seismic tomography. Petrography allows us to group the cognate xenoliths as follows: i) gabbros with amphibole and amphibole-bearing mela-gabbros, ii) olivine-bearing leuco-gabbros, iii) leuco-gabbros with amphibole, and iv) Plg-rich leuco gabbros. Geobarometry estimates the crystallization pressure of the cognate xenoliths between 1.9 and 4.1 kbar. The bulk density of the cognate xenoliths varies from2.6 to 3.0 g/cm3. P wave velocities (VP), calculated in relation to xenolith density, range from 4.9 to 6.1 km/s. The integration of mineralogical, compositional, geobarometric data, and density-dependent VP with recent literature data on 3D VP seismic tomography enabled us to formulate the first hypothesis about the nature of the HVB which, in the depth range of 3–13 km b.s.l., is likely made of intrusive gabbroic rocks. These are believed to have formed at the “solidification front”, a marginal zone that encompasses a deep region (>5 km b.s.l.) of Mt. Etna’s plumbing system, within which magma crystallization takes place. The intrusive rocks were afterwards fragmented and transported as cognate xenoliths by the volatile-rich and fast-ascending magmas of the 1763 “La Montagnola”, 2001 and 2002–03 eruptions

Deswelling Induced Morphological Changes in Dual pH and Temperature Responsive Ultra-Low Crosslinked Poly (N-isopropyl acrylamide)-co-Acrylic Acid Microgels

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) microgels prepared without exogenous cross-linker are extremely “soft” as a result of their very low cross-linking density, with network connectivity arising only from the self-crosslinking of pNIPAm chains. As a result of this extreme softness, our group and others have taken interest in using these materials in a variety of bioengineering applications, while also pursuing studies of their fundamental properties. Here, we report deswelling triggered structural changes in poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) (ULC10AAc) microgels prepared by precipitation polymerization. Dynamic light scattering suggests that the deswelling of these particles not only depends on the collapse of the pNIPAm chains but is also influenced by the ionization state of the acrylic acid moieties present in the copolymer. The ULC10AAc microgel behaves like a traditional cross-linked pNIPAm microgel at pH 3.5, showing a sharp decrease in the hydrodynamic diameter around the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of pNIPAm. As the pH is increased to 4.5, we observe multiple transitions in the deswelling curve, suggesting inhomogeneity in the structure and/or composition of the microgels. At pH 6.5, the microgels cease to be thermoresponsive over the studied temperature range due to increased charge repulsion between the fully deprotonated AAc groups and an increase in gel osmotic pressure due to solvated counterion ingress. Atomic force microscopy images of particles deposited at different temperatures reveal a temperature-induced morphological change, with punctate structures forming inside microgels at pH 4.5 and 6.5 and temperature above the gel volume phase transition temperature (VPTT)

Revisão sistemática: SOBREDENTADURAS IMPLANTO-SUPORTADA V/S PROTÉSE FIXA IMPLANTO-SUPORTADA: INDICAÇÕES E CONTRAINDICAÇÕES

Esta dissertação tem como objetivo a realização de uma revisão sistemática integrativa sobre as Sobredentaduras Implanto-suportadas e as Próteses fixas Implanto-suportadas, indicações e contraindicações, revelando os critérios necessários para que haja sucesso das mesmas. As sobredentaduras implanto-suportadas são eficazes para a reabilitação de pacientes edêntulos, sendo uma alternativa menos invasiva e menos onerosa em comparação com as reabilitações implanto-suportadas fixas. Comparando os vários sistemas de retenções, o sistema barra-clip, é o que apresenta melhores resultados, por apresentar melhor eficiência mastigatória, melhor força de retenção e uma menor frequência estimada de manutenção. A reabilitação de uma mandíbula edêntula com prótese sustida com dois implantes, oferece resultados satisfatórios em termos de mastigação, retenção, fonética e estética e, é mais económica. O número de implantes para reabilitações implanto-suportadas fixas varia de quatro a nove, aumentando significativamente os custos biológicos e monetários para o paciente. Não existe nenhuma diferença em termos de satisfação para o paciente entre as sobredentaduras implanto-suportadas e próteses fixas implanto-suportadas, exceto na manutenção da higiene oral, que é significativamente mais fácil com sobredentaduras implanto-suportadas. A seleção do tratamento pelo médico dentista deve estar relacionada com as condições clínicas do paciente, capacidade económica e motivação para a higiene oral.This review aims to carry out a systematic realization of how Overlaid Supported Implantations and how Pros have objective successes and contraindications, revealing the proposed criteria for the same portability. Implant-supported overdentures are effective for the rehabilitation of patients and minors, being an alternative compared to fixed implant-supported rehabilitations. Comparing the various retention systems, or bar-clip system, it is the best presented, for presenting the best masticatory efficiency, the best maintenance and a less optimized efficiency. The rehabilitation of an edentulous mandible with a prosthesis supported with two implants, offers more satisfactory results in terms of esthetics, phonetics and esthetics, and is economical. The number of implants for fixed implant-supported rehabilitations varies from four biological costs to nine implants, increasing significantly for the patient. There is no difference in terms of patient satisfaction between implant-supported overdentures and implant-supported fixed dentures, except for maintaining oral hygiene, which is significantly easier with implant-supported overdentures. The selection of physicians for dental treatment should be related to the patient's clinical conditions, economic capacity and motivation for oral hygiene

Automatic detection of complete and measurable cardiac cycles in antenatal pulsed-wave Doppler signals

Background and objective: Pulsed-wave Doppler (PWD) echocardiography is the primary tool for antenatal cardiological diagnosis. Based on it, different measurements and validated reference parameters can be extracted. The automatic detection of complete and measurable cardiac cycles would represent a useful tool for the quality assessment of the PWD trace and the automated analysis of long traces. Methods: This work proposes and compares three different algorithms for this purpose, based on the preliminary extraction of the PWD velocity spectrum envelopes: template matching, supervised classification over a reduced set of relevant waveshape features, and supervised classification over the whole waveshape potentially representing a cardiac cycle. A custom dataset comprising 43 fetal cardiac PWD traces (174,319 signal segments) acquired on an apical five-chamber window was developed and used for the assessment of the different algorithms. Results: The adoption of a supervised classifier trained with the samples representing the upper and lower envelopes of the PWD, with additional features extracted from the image, achieved significantly better results (p < 0.0001) than the other algorithms, with an average accuracy of 98% ± 1% when using an SVM classifier and a leave-one-subject-out cross-validation. Further, the robustness of the results with respect to the classifier model was proved. Conclusions: The results reveal excellent detection performance, suggesting that the proposed approach can be adopted for the automatic analysis of long PWD traces or embedded in ultrasound machines as a first step for the extraction of measurements and reference clinical parameters

Rendimiento y características físico-químicas de las uvas de vides tratadas con extracto de Ecklonia maxima

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os efeitos do extrato de Ecklonia maxima (Kelpak®) sobre o rendimento e as características físico-químicas dos cachos das videiras viníferas. Os tratamentos consistiram de diferentes doses do produto comercial Kelpak®, concentrado de algas Ecklonia maxima, com a presença de auxinas naturais em sua composição: T1 - Água, T2 - Extrato de Ecklonia maxima – 2.5 L ha-1, T3 - Extrato de Ecklonia maxima – 3.75 L ha-1, aplicado com pulverizador manual com volume de aproximadamente 170 mL por planta, equivalente a 900 L ha-1. Foram avaliadas as seguintes variáveis: peso dos cachos, número de cachos por planta, número de bagas por cacho, peso das bagas, largura e comprimento dos cachos, teor de sólidos solúveis, pH e acidez total titulável. Os seguintes distúrbios fisiológicos em cachos foram avaliados visualmente: rachadura, desidratação, compactação e desavinho. Para a cultivar Merlot verificou-se aumento do comprimento de cacho e a diminuição da ocorrência de desavinho com o tratamento 2.5 L ha-1 de Ecklonia maxima em comparação com o tratamento com 3.5 L ha-1, mas sem diferenças em relação ao controle com água. Para a cv. Cabernet Sauvignon houve um aumento na compactação dos cachos e redução da incidência de desidratação das bagas entre 0-5% para o tratamento com 2.5 L ha-1 de extrato de Ecklonia maxima, diferindo-se da testemunha. Considerando os resultados, o uso de extrato de Ecklonia maxima tem um potencial para melhorar a qualidade de uvas e, novas pesquisas deveriam ser conduzidas para melhorar a sua eficiência em vinhedos comerciais.This trial aimed to evaluate the effects of Ecklonia maxima extract (Kelpak®) on yield and physicochemical characteristics of the clusters from wine grapevines. The treatments consisted of different doses of the commercial product Kelpak®, concentrate prepared of seaweed Ecklonia maxima, rich in natural auxins, as follow: T1 – Water, T2 – Extract of Ecklonia maxima – 2.5 L ha-1, T3 – Extract of Ecklonia maxima – 3.75 L ha-1,  applied with a hand sprayer with a volume about 170 mL per plant, equivalent to 900 L ha-1. The following variables were evaluated: weight of clusters, number of clusters per plant, number of berries per cluster, weight of berries, width and length of the clusters, soluble solids content, pH and trititable acidity. The physiological disorders in clusters were visually evaluated as follow: cracking, dehydration, shot berries and cluster compactness. For the grapevines cv. Merlot, the application of Kelpak at 2.5 L ha-1 increased the length of clusters and decreased the occurrence of shot berries, compared to the treatment with 3.5 L ha-1, but without differences in relation to the control with water. For the cv. Cabernet Sauvignon there was an increase in cluster compactness and reduction of berries dehydration for the incidence between 0-5% of the berries for the treatment with 2.5 L ha-1 of Ecklonia maxima extract, differing from the control. Considering the results, the use of Ecklonia maxima has a potential to increase grapes quality, and new researches should be carried out to improve its performance in commercial vineyards.Este ensayo tuvo como objetivo evaluar los efectos del extracto de Ecklonia maxima (Kelpak®) sobre el rendimiento y las características fisicoquímicas de los racimos de vides de vino. Los tratamientos consistieron en diferentes dosis del producto comercial Kelpak®, concentrado preparado de algas marinas Ecklonia maxima, rico en auxinas naturales, de la siguiente manera: T1 - Agua, T2 - Extracto de Ecklonia maxima - 2.5 L ha-1, T3 - Extracto de Ecklonia máximos: 3.75 L ha-1, aplicados con un pulverizador manual con un volumen de aproximadamente 170 mL por planta, equivalente a 900 L ha-1. Se evaluaron las siguientes variables: peso de los racimos, número de racimos por planta, número de bayas por racimo, peso de las bayas, ancho y longitud de los racimos, contenido de sólidos solubles, pH y acidez trititable. Los desórdenes fisiológicos en racimos se evaluaron visualmente de la siguiente manera: agrietamiento, deshidratación, bayas en rodajas y compacidad de racimo. Para las vides cv. Merlot, la aplicación de Kelpak a 2.5 L ha-1 aumentó la longitud de los racimos y disminuyó la aparición de bayas en comparación con el tratamiento con 3.5 L ha-1, pero sin diferencias en relación con el control con agua. Para el cv. Cabernet Sauvignon hubo un aumento en la compacidad del racimo y la reducción de la deshidratación de las bayas para la incidencia entre 0-5% de las bayas para el tratamiento con 2.5 L ha-1 de extracto de Ecklonia maxima, que difiere del control. Teniendo en cuenta los resultados, el uso de Ecklonia maxima tiene el potencial de aumentar la calidad de la uva, y se deben realizar nuevas investigaciones para mejorar su rendimiento en los viñedos comerciales

automatic detection of complete and measurable cardiac cycles in antenatal pulsed wave doppler signals

Abstract Background and objective Pulsed-wave Doppler (PWD) echocardiography is the primary tool for antenatal cardiological diagnosis. Based on it, different measurements and validated reference parameters can be extracted. The automatic detection of complete and measurable cardiac cycles would represent a useful tool for the quality assessment of the PWD trace and the automated analysis of long traces. Methods This work proposes and compares three different algorithms for this purpose, based on the preliminary extraction of the PWD velocity spectrum envelopes: template matching, supervised classification over a reduced set of relevant waveshape features, and supervised classification over the whole waveshape potentially representing a cardiac cycle. A custom dataset comprising 43 fetal cardiac PWD traces (174,319 signal segments) acquired on an apical five-chamber window was developed and used for the assessment of the different algorithms. Results The adoption of a supervised classifier trained with the samples representing the upper and lower envelopes of the PWD, with additional features extracted from the image, achieved significantly better results (p Conclusions The results reveal excellent detection performance, suggesting that the proposed approach can be adopted for the automatic analysis of long PWD traces or embedded in ultrasound machines as a first step for the extraction of measurements and reference clinical parameters

Les Beati Paoli : genèse d'un mythe

D'après plusieurs collaborateurs de justice, les origines de la mafia sont à rechercher dans la secte des Beati Paoli, dont les mafieux prétendent être les descendants. Selon la tradition, elle avait pour but de venger les populations des torts infligés par les puissants. Cependant, si en Sicile l'expression « Beati Paoli » renvoie effectivement à cette secte, dans d'autres régions italiennes elle est utilisée en référence à l'abondance ou à une grande quantité. À travers l'analyse de documents d'archives, à partir de textes remontant au XVIesiècle, cet article s'attache à rétablir le sens originaire de cette expression et à vérifier s'il existe un lien entre l'expression et le mythe palermitain des justiciers. Par ailleurs, en retraçant la genèse du mythe, il permet de vérifier si le noyau de la légende populaire provient d'une tradition orale séculaire ou s'il est le résultat du remaniement de divers éléments qui, sédimentés au fil du temps, ont contribué à le structurer.Secondo vari collaboratori di giustizia le origini della mafia vanno ricercate nella setta dei Beati Paoli, di cui i mafiosi si dichiarano discendenti. Secondo la tradizione, la setta aveva lo scopo di vendicare il popolo per i torti subiti dai potenti. Tuttavia, se in Sicilia l'espressione Beati Paoli si fa riferimento alla setta, in altre regioni italiane è un modo di dire che indica abbondanza o grande quantità. Attraverso analisi d’archivio, a partire da testi cinque-settecenteschi, questo articolo desidera stabilire il più antico significato dell'espressione e verificare se vi sia un legame fra l'espressione e il mito palermitano dei giustizieri. Inoltre, nel tracciare la genesi del mito cerca di appurare se il nucleo della leggenda popolare derivi da da una plurisecolare tradizione orale o se sia il frutto del rimaneggiamento di vari elementi che, sedimentati nel tempo, lo hanno strutturato

Annotated real and synthetic datasets for non-invasive foetal electrocardiography post-processing benchmarking

Non-invasive foetal electrocardiography (fECG) can be obtained at different gestational ages by means of surface electrodes applied on the maternal abdomen. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the fECG is usually low, due to the small size of the foetal heart, the foetal-maternal compartment, the maternal physiological interferences and the instrumental noise. Even after powerful fECG extraction algorithms, a post-processing step could be required to improve the SNR of the fECG signal. In order to support the researchers in the field, this work presents an annotated dataset of real and synthetic signals, which was used for the study “Wavelet Denoising as a Post-Processing Enhancement Method for Non-Invasive Foetal Electrocardiography” [1]. Specifically, 21 15 s-long fECG, dual-channel signals obtained by multi-reference adaptive filtering from real electrophysiological recordings were included. The annotation of the foetal R peaks by an expert cardiologist was also provided. Recordings were performed on 17 voluntary pregnant women between the 21st and the 27th week of gestation. The raw recordings were also included for the researchers interested in applying a different fECG extraction algorithm. Moreover, 40 10 s-long synthetic non-invasive fECG were provided, simulating the electrode placement of one of the abdominal leads used for the real dataset. The annotation of the foetal R peaks was also provided, as generated by the FECGSYN tool used for the signals’ creation. Clean fECG signals were also included for the computation of indexes of signal morphology preservation. All the signals are sampled at 2048 Hz. The data provided in this work can be used as a benchmark for fECG post-processing techniques but can also be used as raw signals for researchers interested in foetal QRS detection algorithms and fECG extraction methods