Mitochondrial genomic landscape: A portrait of the mitochondrial genome 40 years after the first complete sequence

open3noNotwithstanding the initial claims of general conservation, mitochondrial genomes are a largely heterogeneous set of organellar chromosomes which displays a bewildering diversity in terms of structure, architecture, gene content, and functionality. The mitochondrial genome is typically described as a single chromosome, yet many examples of multipartite genomes have been found (for example, among sponges and diplonemeans); the mitochondrial genome is typically depicted as circular, yet many linear genomes are known (for example, among jellyfish, alveolates, and apicomplexans); the chromosome is normally said to be “small”, yet there is a huge variation between the smallest and the largest known genomes (found, for example, in ctenophores and vascular plants, respectively); even the gene content is highly unconserved, ranging from the 13 oxidative phosphorylation-related enzymatic subunits encoded by animal mitochondria to the wider set of mitochondrial genes found in jakobids. In the present paper, we compile and describe a large database of 27,873 mitochondrial genomes currently available in GenBank, encompassing the whole eukaryotic domain. We discuss the major features of mitochondrial molecular diversity, with special reference to nucleotide composition and compositional biases; moreover, the database is made publicly available for future analyses on the MoZoo Lab GitHub page.openFormaggioni A.; Luchetti A.; Plazzi F.Formaggioni A.; Luchetti A.; Plazzi F

Multilevel synchronization of human β-cells networks

β-cells within the endocrine pancreas are fundamental for glucose, lipid and protein homeostasis. Gap junctions between cells constitute the primary coupling mechanism through which cells synchronize their electrical and metabolic activities. This evidence is still only partially investigated through models and numerical simulations. In this contribution, we explore the effect of combined electrical and metabolic coupling in β-cell clusters using a detailed biophysical model. We add heterogeneity and stochasticity to realistically reproduce β-cell dynamics and study networks mimicking arrangements of β-cells within human pancreatic islets. Model simulations are performed over different couplings and heterogeneities, analyzing emerging synchronization at the membrane potential, calcium, and metabolites levels. To describe network synchronization, we use the formalism of multiplex networks and investigate functional network properties and multiplex synchronization motifs over the structural, electrical, and metabolic layers. Our results show that metabolic coupling can support slow wave propagation in human islets, that combined electrical and metabolic synchronization is realized in small aggregates, and that metabolic long-range correlation is more pronounced with respect to the electrical one

Object Pose Detection to Enable 3D Interaction from 2D Equirectangular Images in Mixed Reality Educational Settings

In this paper, we address the challenge of estimating the 6DoF pose of objects in 2D equirectangular images. This solution allows the transition to the objects’ 3D model from their current pose. In particular, it finds application in the educational use of 360° videos, where it enhances the learning experience of students by making it more engaging and immersive due to the possible interaction with 3D virtual models. We developed a general approach usable for any object and shape. The only requirement is to have an accurate CAD model, even without textures of the item, whose pose must be estimated. The developed pipeline has two main steps: vehicle segmentation from the image background and estimation of the vehicle pose. To accomplish the first task, we used deep learning methods, while for the second, we developed a 360° camera simulator in Unity to generate synthetic equirectangular images used for comparison. We conducted our tests using a miniature truck model whose CAD was at our disposal. The developed algorithm was tested using a metrological analysis applied to real data. The results showed a mean difference of 1.5° with a standard deviation of 1° from the ground truth data for rotations, and 1.4 cm with a standard deviation of 1.5 cm for translations over a research range of ±20° and ±20 cm, respectively

Colony Breeding Structure of the Invasive Termite Reticulitermes urbis

Dissertação de Mestrado em Lazer, Património e Desenvolvimento apresentada ao Departamento de Geografia da Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Coimbra.O turismo é uma atividade em expansão por todo o mundo, que representa 9% do PIB mundial e é considerada o quarto líder de exportações, de acordo com a OMT (2015). No entanto, assiste-se a uma alteração de consumos, devido à alteração de necessidades, motivada por uma elevação de rendimentos, cultura e escolaridade da população, mas também por alteração políticas e socioeconómicas. Assim, o turista atual procura novos destinos, que se diferenciem pela inovação, criatividade e autenticidade, alcançadas através dos seus recursos endógenos e singularidades. Desta forma, o desafio dos destinos turísticos situa-se na sua capacidade para competir no mercado global, através da diferenciação da oferta. O turismo cultural é o segmento turístico que mais se destaca e tem evoluído, em oposição ao turismo de massas, sobretudo em meio urbano. Contudo, importa encontrar novas estratégias que posicionem as cidades no mercado competitivo mundial, das quais se destacam os eventos. Nos últimos anos, os seus impactos ambientais e socioculturais têm ganho importância, justificando o seu papel enquanto produtos turísticos diferenciadores e autênticos, capazes de atrair novos nichos turísticos. Numa sociedade cada vez mais tecnológica, estes acontecimentos desempenham também um papel social relevante na promoção de interações e convívio humano. No entanto, a sua popularidade justifica-se devido aos seus impactos económicos e turísticos, que estimulam a competitividade entre destinos para a sua concretização, uma vez que os eventos são fenómenos centrais na sociedade atual, alvo de atenção constante dos meios de comunicação social e de partilha nas redes sociais pelos seus participantes, promovendo a divulgação e promoção do destino turístico. Ultimamente, a Figueira da Foz tem vindo a consolidar o seu calendário com eventos de projeção nacional e internacional, contribuindo também para a divulgação da sua imagem enquanto destino turístico. Nesse sentido, esta investigação incide na análise da sua oferta e seus impactos, bem como procura encontrar estratégias para que o município se assuma como um destino de eventos, tendo por base um enquadramento teórico que assenta na evolução do mercado turístico e na consolidação dos eventos enquanto produto competitivo.Tourism is a developing activity all over the world, which represents 9% of world GDP and is the fourth product most exported, in order with UNWTO (2015). However, patterns of consumption are changing because of changes in needs, motivated by higher incomes, culture and education of population, as well as by political and socioeconomic factors. This way, the actual tourist searches new destinies, which are able to distinguish themselves through innovation, creativity and authenticity, provided by endogenous resources and uniqueness of places. Nowadays, the challenge of the destinations is, therefore, the competitive capacity in world market, offering different products. Cultural tourism is the most important and increasing tourist segment in opposition of mass tourism, especially in urban environments. However, it is important for cities to find new strategies that could position them in the competitive world market, of which, events are the most appealing. Over the last years, their environmental and socioeconomic impacts are earning significance, justifying their role as authentic and different tourism products, capable of attracting new tourist niches. In a society increasingly technological, this happenings also have an important social role because they promote social interactions and sharing between people. However, their popularity is justified mainly because of their economic and tourism impacts, which increases the competitiveness of destinations for the organization of events, because they are central in the actual society, object of media attention and sharing in social networks, promoting and enhancing the tourism destination image. Lately, Figueira da Foz has had many demand for events with national and international projection, which also contributes for the promotion of its image as a tourism destination. This way, this investigation analyses its offer and impacts, as well as looks for new strategies capable of turning the municipality into a real event destination, while studies the evolution of tourism market and consolidation of events as a competitive tourism product

Dysbiosis and zonulin upregulation alter gut epithelial and vascular barriers in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Background: Dysbiosis has been recently demonstrated in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) but its implications in the modulation of intestinal immune responses have never been studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of ileal bacteria in modulating local and systemic immune responses in AS. Methods: Ileal biopsies were obtained from 50 HLA-B27+ patients with AS and 20 normal subjects. Silver stain was used to visualise bacteria. Ileal expression of tight and adherens junction proteins was investigated by TaqMan real-time (RT)-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Serum levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), LPS-binding protein (LPS-BP), intestinal fatty acid-BP (iFABP) and zonulin were assayed by ELISA. Monocyte immunological functions were studied in in vitro experiments. In addition the effects of antibiotics on tight junctions in human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 transgenic (TG) rats were assessed. Results: Adherent and invasive bacteria were observed in the gut of patients with AS with the bacterial scores significantly correlated with gut inflammation. Impairment of the gut vascular barrier (GVB) was also present in AS, accompanied by significant upregulation of zonulin, and associated with high serum levels of LPS, LPS-BP, iFABP and zonulin. In in vitro studies zonulin altered endothelial tight junctions while its epithelial release was modulated by isolated AS ileal bacteria. AS circulating monocytes displayed an anergic phenotype partially restored by ex vivo stimulation with LPS+sCD14 and their stimulation with recombinant zonulin induced a clear M2 phenotype. Antibiotics restored tight junction function in HLA-B27 TG rats. Conclusions: Bacterial ileitis, increased zonulin expression and damaged intestinal mucosal barrier and GVB, characterises the gut of patients with AS and are associated with increased blood levels of zonulin, and bacterial products. Bacterial products and zonulin influence monocyte behaviour

Omnidirectional camera pose estimation and projective texture mapping for photorealistic 3D virtual reality experiences

Modern applications in virtual reality require a high level of fruition of the environment as if it was real. In applications that have to deal with real scenarios, it is important to acquire both its three-dimensional (3D) structure and details to enable the users to achieve good immersive experiences. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate a method to obtain a mesh with high quality texture combining a raw 3D mesh model of the environment and 360 ° images. The main outcome is a mesh with a high level of photorealistic details. This enables both a good depth perception thanks to the mesh model and high visualization quality thanks to the 2D resolution of modern omnidirectional cameras. The fundamental step to reach this goal is the correct alignment between the 360 ° camera and the 3D mesh model. For this reason, we propose a method that embodies two steps: 1) find the 360 ° cameras pose within the current 3D environment; 2) project the high-quality 360 ° image on top of the mesh. After the method description, we outline its validation in two virtual reality scenarios, a mine and city environment, respectively, which allows us to compare the achieved results with the ground truth.</p

Extensible Immersive Virtual Environments for Large Tiled Video Walls

The intent of the work is to present an Immersive Virtual Environment (IVE) as a new abstracted management layer on top of the Scalable Adaptive Graphics Environment (SAGE) system, allowing the simplified management and linear scaling of multiple SAGE-driven video walls, and the creation and control of simple interactive scenarios. The framework exposes evolved Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) that are detached from the underlying system and can be used by mobile clients as well. Primitives offered to developers and content creators allow the definition of immersive cinematographic experiences using basic commands, which are synchronized on the whole IVE environment. A complete implementation of the system is described and then evaluated with the specific case of one physical installation

Electrophysiological actions of zonisamide on striatal neurons: Selective neuroprotection against complex I mitochondrial dysfunction

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A2A adenosine receptor antagonists protect the striatum against rotenone-induced neurotoxicity.

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Two Functionally Distinct Serotonergic Projections into Hippocampus

Hippocampus receives dense serotonergic input specifically from raphe nuclei. However, what information is carried by this input and its impact on behavior has not been fully elucidated. Here we used in vivo two-photon imaging of activity of hippocampal median raphe projection fibers in behaving male and female mice and identified two distinct populations: one linked to reward delivery and the other to locomotion. Local optogenetic manipulation of these fibers confirmed a functional role for these projections in the modulation of reward-induced behavior. The diverse function of serotonergic inputs suggests a key role in integrating locomotion and reward information into the hippocampal CA1