Calretinin distribution in the octopus brain: an immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization histochemical analysis

The distribution of calretinin containing neurons examined by in situ hybridization mapping was compared with that obtained by immunocytochemistry in the brain of octopus. Results revealed a close correspondence between the two types of investigations. Western blot analysis disclosed a 29 kDa protein immunostained with anti-calretinin antibody. Calretinin containing neurons were localized mainly in the cortex of octopus lobes, including the vertical, frontal, basal, buccal, palliovisceral, pedal and branchial, with variations of staining intensity and density of immunoreactive cells. The amacrine cells surrounding calretinin containing neuronal bodies of the cortex were also labeled unlike the glial cells. The close correspondence of blotting analysis, immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization indicates with no doubt that calretinin, like other calcium-binding proteins previously studied, is also present in the nervous system of cephalopods. Furthermore, although recent findings localize calretinin also in endocrine glands, the presence of this calcium-binding protein in the brain of octopus indicates that calretinin appeared early in the phylogeny as a neuronal protein already in invertebrates

Experimentation of a PVA-Borax hydrogel for the removal of Paraloid B72® from artifacts of archaeological interest from the National Archaeological Museum in Naples, Italy

This paper shows the results of an experimentation aimed at the removal of a polymeric film of aged Paraloid B72® originally placed to protect some wooden artifacts belonging to the Egyptian collection of the National Archaeological Museum of Naples (MANN). The study was conducted on two shabtis dated to the 19th Dynasty and a sculpture of Ptah-Sokar-Osiris dating to the late period. Thanks to the collaboration between the National Archaeological Museum of Naples and the Laboratory of Restoration of Wooden Artifacts of the University of Naples Suor Orsola Benincasa, it was possible to conduct an in-depth study of the artifacts, from both an archaeological-historical point of view and from a conservation point of view. This led to the development of the above-mentioned experimentation and to the planning of a proper restoration intervention. The study and experimentation were supported by several diagnostic techniques. In a first stage, non-invasive investigations were carried out to study the execution technique and the state of conservation of the artifacts. This allowed the recognition of the wood species that constituted the three sculptures through optical microscopy, whereas IR reflectography, UV induced fluorescence and X-ray radiation (XRF) were conducted to identify the type and the chemical nature of the pigments. Based on the above analysis, different restoration strategies, based on the removal of Paraloid B72® through a methodology that would act in full respect of the wooden support of the artifacts, were considered. Pros and cons of the different methodologies applied in the recent past for the removal of aged Paraloid from artifact surfaces were analysed. A removal technique based on the use PVA-Borax hydrogel loaded with a solvent mixture was selected. Experiments were conducted to validate the effectiveness of the selected method

Cell-to-Cell Adhesion and Neurogenesis in Human Cortical Development: A Study Comparing 2D Monolayers with 3D Organoid Cultures

SUMMARY Organoids (ORGs) are increasingly used as models of cerebral cortical development. Here, we compared transcriptome and cellular phenotypes between telencephalic ORGs and monolayers (MONs) generated in parallel from three biologically distinct induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines. Multiple readouts revealed increased proliferation in MONs, which was caused by increased integrin signaling. MONs also exhibited altered radial glia (RG) polarity and suppression of Notch signaling, as well as impaired generation of intermediate progenitors, outer RG, and cortical neurons, which were all partially reversed by reaggregation of dissociated cells. Network analyses revealed co-clustering of cell adhesion, Notch-related transcripts and their transcriptional regulators in a module strongly downregulated in MONs. The data suggest that ORGs, with respect to MONs, initiate more efficient Notch signaling in ventricular RG owing to preserved cell adhesion, resulting in subsequent generation of intermediate progenitors and outer RG, in a sequence that recapitulates the cortical ontogenetic process

Using spectral diversity and heterogeneity measures to map habitat mosaics: An example from the Classical Karst

Questions: Can we map complex habitat mosaics from remote-­sensing data? In doing this, are measures of spectral heterogeneity useful to improve image classification performance? Which measures are the most important? How can multitemporal data be integrated in a robust framework? Location: Classical Karst (NE Italy). Methods: First, a habitat map was produced from field surveys. Then, a collection of 12 monthly Sentinel-­2 images was retrieved. Vegetation and spectral heterogeneity (SH) indices were computed and aggregated in four combinations: (1) monthly layers of vegetation and SH indices; (2) seasonal layers of vegetation and SH indices; (3) yearly layers of SH indices computed across the months; and (4) yearly layers of SH indices computed across the seasons. For each combination, a Random Forest clas- sification was performed, first with the complete set of input layers and then with a subset obtained by recursive feature elimination. Training and validation points were independently extracted from field data. Results: The maximum overall accuracy (0.72) was achieved by using seasonally ag- gregated vegetation and SH indices, after the number of vegetation types was re- duced by aggregation from 26 to 11. The use of SH measures significantly increased the overall accuracy of the classification. The spectral β-­diversity was the most im- portant variable in most cases, while the spectral α-­diversity and Rao's Q had a low relative importance, possibly because some habitat patches were small compared to the window used to compute the indices. Conclusions: The results are promising and suggest that image classification frame- works could benefit from the inclusion of SH measures, rarely included before. Habitat mapping in complex landscapes can thus be improved in a cost-­and time-­effective way, suitable for monitoring applications

Obtención experimental del coeficiente difusivo de carne deshidratada (charqui)

The agricultural products simulation requires information about the product behaviour, the diffusive and convective coefficients among others parameters. These coefficients can only be obtained experimentally. At a lab scale it was performed the drying of meet to obtain Charqui, with control and registration of the main variables of the process: temperature, humidity, product weight. It was also performed the estimation of the fresh product area and the dried one trough imagen analysis. The results allowed obtaining the AtHd (diffusive coefficient) and AtHc (convective coefficient) for meat drying. The importance to obtain these parameters is that both can be used in simulation models of the studied process. It remains to perform the mentioned simulations and to evaluate the adjustment for passive solar dryers.La simulación del secado de productos agrícolas requiere disponer de información sobre el comportamiento del producto y las variables del proceso, entre diferentes parámetros se incluyen los correspondientes a los coeficientes difusivos y convectivos. Ambos coeficientes, vinculados a las propiedades de transporte de flujos, se obtienen mediante el análisis de escala; o mediante el uso de correlaciones previstas a tal fin, o de manera experimental. A escala de laboratorio se ensayó el deshidratado de carne para la obtención de Charqui, con control y seguimiento de las principales variables del proceso: temperatura, peso y humedad. Se efectuó también, mediante análisis de imágenes, el cálculo de las áreas de los productos frescos y secos. Los resultados alcanzados posibilitaron obtener los parámetros AtHd (coeficiente de difusión) y AtHc (coeficiente convectivo), para el secado de carne. La importancia de la obtención de los mencionados parámetros radica en la posibilidad de incorporación de los mismos en modelos de simulación con ajuste al producto bajo estudio. Quedan aún por realizarse las mencionadas simulaciones y evaluar el ajuste para secadores solares pasivos.Tema 3: Energía solar, aplicaciones térmicas y químicas.Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanism

Usability Characteristics Assessment Protocol Applied to eTouch Ultrasound User-defined workflow Optimization Tool

AbstractThe Ultrasound (US) examination time reduction is an increasing compelling request in sonographer's everyday life. The increased number of patients and the cost reduction are two opposite forces, which can lead the sonographer to work faster without caring about scanning posture. The numerous repeated actions performed can easily lead to Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMSD). The analysis of those problems has driven to the definition and implementation of eTouch tool: user-defined Macros appositively created, automatically and sequentially saved and performed in real time by pressing a button. The present work investigates ergonomics and usability performances of a portable US system (MyLabAlpha, Esaote S.p.A., Italy) by using eTouch as well as the classical manual interface in two clinical applications (Abdominal and Vascular). performed by a skilled sonographer on a healthy subject. is. Upper-body kinematic and muscle activation of the sonographer's left arm were recorded through an optoelectronic system (SmartDx400, BTS Spa, Italy) and a multi-channel Wireless Superficial Electromyography (SEMG, Freemg300, BTS Spa, Italy). The number of keystrokes used during the manual procedure was more than 3 times higher than the one with eTouch. This difference implied a reduction of US execution time when using eTouch in comparison with manual use of about 30%. Results of the upper-body kinematic showed that the arm was extended for less time intervals when using eTouch, whereas during the manual procedure there was a greater activation of the deltoid, responsible for the elevation of the shoulder and thus the extension of the arm. SEMG analysis showed that eTouch allowed a significant reduction of muscular activation, especially for the anterior deltoideus. Our findings showed that eTouch is recommendable for decreasing WRMSD risk

Cost Analysis of Outpatient Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Autograft versus Allograft

Prior studies suggest the cost of allograft anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is less than that for autograft reconstruction. Charges in these studies were influenced by patients requiring inpatient hospitalization. We therefore determined if allograft ACL reconstruction would still be less costly if all procedures were performed in a completely outpatient setting. We retrospectively reviewed 155 patients who underwent ACL reconstruction in an ambulatory surgery center between 2001 and 2004; 105 had an autograft and 50 had an allograft. Charges were extracted from itemized billing records, standardized to eliminate cost increases, and categorized for comparison. Surgeon and anesthesiologist fees were not included in the analysis. Groups were compared for age, gender, mean total cost, mean cost of implants, and several other cost categories. The mean total cost was $5465 for allograft ACL reconstruction and$4872 for autograft ACL reconstruction. There were no differences in complications between the two groups. Allograft ACL reconstruction was more costly than autograft ACL reconstruction in the outpatient setting. The cost of the allograft outweighs the increased surgical time needed for harvesting an autograft. Level II, economic and decision analyses. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence

Obtención experimental del coeficiente difusivo de carne deshidratada (charqui)

The agricultural products simulation requires information about the product behaviour, the diffusive and convective coefficients among others parameters. These coefficients can only be obtained experimentally. At a lab scale it was performed the drying of meet to obtain Charqui, with control and registration of the main variables of the process: temperature, humidity, product weight. It was also performed the estimation of the fresh product area and the dried one trough imagen analysis. The results allowed obtaining the AtHd (diffusive coefficient) and AtHc (convective coefficient) for meat drying. The importance to obtain these parameters is that both can be used in simulation models of the studied process. It remains to perform the mentioned simulations and to evaluate the adjustment for passive solar dryers.La simulación del secado de productos agrícolas requiere disponer de información sobre el comportamiento del producto y las variables del proceso, entre diferentes parámetros se incluyen los correspondientes a los coeficientes difusivos y convectivos. Ambos coeficientes, vinculados a las propiedades de transporte de flujos, se obtienen mediante el análisis de escala; o mediante el uso de correlaciones previstas a tal fin, o de manera experimental. A escala de laboratorio se ensayó el deshidratado de carne para la obtención de Charqui, con control y seguimiento de las principales variables del proceso: temperatura, peso y humedad. Se efectuó también, mediante análisis de imágenes, el cálculo de las áreas de los productos frescos y secos. Los resultados alcanzados posibilitaron obtener los parámetros AtHd (coeficiente de difusión) y AtHc (coeficiente convectivo), para el secado de carne. La importancia de la obtención de los mencionados parámetros radica en la posibilidad de incorporación de los mismos en modelos de simulación con ajuste al producto bajo estudio. Quedan aún por realizarse las mencionadas simulaciones y evaluar el ajuste para secadores solares pasivos.Tema 3: Energía solar, aplicaciones térmicas y químicas.Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanism