A Differential Approach to Shape from Polarisation: A Level-Set Characterisation

International Journal of Computer Vision - Despite the longtime research aimed at retrieving geometrical information of an object from polarimetric imaging, physical limitations in the polarisation...     

The slowly aggregating salmon Calcitonin: a useful tool for the study of the amyloid oligomers structure and activity

Amyloid proteins of different aminoacidic composition share the tendency to misfold and aggregate in a similar way, following common aggregation steps. The process includes the formation of dimers, trimers, and low molecular weight prefibrillar oligomers, characterized by the typical morphology of globules less than 10 nm diameter. The globules spontaneously form linear or annular structures and, eventually, mature fibers. The rate of this process depends on characteristics intrinsic to the different proteins and to environmental conditions (i.e., pH, ionic strength, solvent composition, temperature). In the case of neurodegenerative diseases, it is now generally agreed that the pathogenic aggregates are not the mature fibrils, but the intermediate, soluble oligomers. However, the molecular mechanism by which these oligomers trigger neuronal damage is still unclear. In particular, it is not clear if there is a peculiar structure at the basis of the neurotoxic effect and how this structure interacts with neurons. This review will focus on the results we obtained using salmon Calcitonin, an amyloid protein characterized by a very slow aggregation rate, which allowed us to closely monitor the aggregation process. We used it as a tool to investigate the characteristics of amyloid oligomers formation and their interactions with neuronal cells. Our results indicate that small globules of about 6 nm could be the responsible for the neurotoxic effects. Moreover, our data suggest that the rich content in lipid rafts of neuronal cell plasma membrane may render neurons particularly vulnerable to the amyloid protein toxic effect.     

Nutritional Profile and Productivity of Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) in Different Habitats of a Protected Area of the Eastern Italian Alps

Plant productivity and fruit quality in terms of occurrence of mineral elements and metabolites were determined on wild bilberry growing in open and forest stands in a protected area of N‐Italy. Plant productivity was significantly higher in open stands (3 ± 2.5 compared with 0.03 ± 0.05 fruits per plant) suggesting that both collections in the wild and semi‐wild cultivation should be planned in open habitats. Results obtained by ionomic and metabolomic analyses indicated that high quality fruits can be collected in the analyzed area and their nutritional profile did not differ between open and forest stands. Cyanidin and delphinidin proportion of bilberries from our study area was respectively 23.8% and 43.9% of total antocyanin and it is similar to that previously considered peculiar to bilberry fruits of high latitude regions of Europe and indicative of high quality food properties. A comparison between wild bilberry collected in the protected area and commercial blueberry was also performed and relevant differences between them detected, confirming the concept that wild bilberry has a better nutritional profile than blueberry. Practical Application Bilberry fruits provide relevant nutrients to human diet. However, the scarce availability in the wild is a limiting factor hindering a wider use of this product. In this study we compared plant productivity and nutritional profile of bilberry growing in open and forest sites, demonstrating that they do not differ in terms of mineral and metabolomic contents, whereas plant productivity is by far higher in open sites. This supports the possibility to obtain bilberry fruits by semiwild cultivation maintaining open sites that are also crucial for biodiversity conservation in mountain areas.     

Emodin prevents intrahepatic fat accumulation, inflammation and redox status imbalance during diet-induced hepatosteatosis in rats

High-fat and/or high-carbohydrate diets may predispose to several metabolic disturbances including liver fatty infiltration (hepatosteatosis) or be associated with necro-inflammation and fibrosis (steatohepatitis). Several studies have emphasized the hepatoprotective effect of some natural agents. In this study, we investigated the potential therapeutic effects of the treatment with emodin, an anthraquinone derivative with anti-oxidant and anti-cancer abilities, in rats developing diet-induced hepatosteatosis and steatohepatitis. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a standard diet (SD) for 15 weeks, or a high-fat/high-fructose diet (HFD/HF). After 5 weeks, emodin was added to the drinking water of some of the SD and HFD/HF rats. The experiment ended after an additional 10 weeks. Emodin-treated HFD/HF rats were protected from hepatosteatosis and metabolic derangements usually observed in HFD/HF animals. Furthermore, emodin exerted anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting the HFD/HF-induced increase of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Emodin also affected the hepatocytes glutathione homeostasis and levels of the HFD/HF-induced increase of glutathionylated/phosphorylated phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN). In conclusion, we demonstrated that a natural agent such as emodin can prevent hepatosteatosis, preserving liver from pro-inflammatory and pro-oxidant damage caused by HFD/HF diet. These findings are promising, proposing emodin as a possible hindrance to progression of hepatosteatosis into steatohepatitis.     

Molecular Signaling Involved in Oxysterol-Induced β1-Integrin Over-Expression in Human Macrophages

The hypercholesterolemia-atherosclerosis association is now established; hypercholesterolemia may induce vascular-cell activation, subsequently increasing expression of adhesion molecules, cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and other key inflammatory molecules. Among inflammatory molecules expressed by vascular cells, integrins play a critical role in regulating macrophage activation and migration to the site of inflammation, by mediating cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions. The main lipid oxidation products present in oxidized LDL that may be responsible for inflammatory processes in atherogenesis, are cholesterol oxidation products, known as oxysterols. This study demonstrates the effect of an oxysterol mixture, compatible with that detectable in human hypercholesterolemic plasma, on the expression and synthesis of β₁-integrin in cells of the macrophage lineage. The molecular signaling whereby oxysterols induce β₁-integrin up-regulation is also comprehensively investigated. Over-expression of β₁-integrin depends on activation of classic and novel members of protein kinase C and extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2, as well as of the up-stream G-protein (Gq and G13), c-Src, and phospholipase C. In addition, the localization of β₁-integrin in advanced human carotid plaques is highlighted, marking its importance in atherosclerotic plaque progression.     

The Immunopathological and Histological Landscape of COVID-19-Mediated Lung Injury

A complete understanding of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) physiopathology and related histopathologic lesions is necessary to improve treatment and outcome of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Many studies have focused on autopsy findings in COVID-19-related deaths to try and define any possible specific pattern. Histopathologic alterations are principally found within lungs and blood vessels, and these abnormalities also seem to have the highest clinical impact. Nevertheless, many of the morphological data collected so far are non-specific, fickle, and possibly associated with other co-existing factors. The aim of this minireview is to describe the main histopathological features related to COVID-19 and the mechanism known as “cytokine storm”.     

Inactivation of ccpA and aeration affect growth, metabolite production and stress tolerance in Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1

The growth of Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1 and of its ΔccpA ery mutant, WCFS1-2, was compared in batch fermentations in a complex medium at controlled pH (6.5) and temperature (30°C) with or without aeration, in order to evaluate the effect of ccpA inactivation and aeration on growth, metabolism and stress resistance. Inactivation of ccpA and, to a lesser extent, aeration, significantly affected growth, expression of proteins related to pyruvate metabolism and stress, and tolerance to heat, oxidative and cold/starvation stresses. The specific growth rate of the mutant was ca. 60% of that of the wild type strain. Inactivation of ccpA and aerobic growth significantly affected yield and production of lactic and acetic acid. Stationary phase cells were more stress tolerant than exponential phase cells with little or no effect of inactivation of ccpA or aeration. On the other hand, for exponential phase cells inactivation of ccpA impaired both heat stress and cold/starvation stress, but increased oxidative stress tolerance. For both strains, aerobically grown cells were more tolerant of stresses. Evidence for entry in a viable but non-culturable status upon prolonged exposure to cold and starvation was found. Preliminary results of a differential proteomic study further confirmed the role of ccpA in the regulation of carbohydrate catabolism and class I stress response genes and allow to gain further insight on the role of this pleiotropic regulator in metabolism and stress. This is the first study in which the impact of aerobic growth on stress tolerance of L. plantarum is evaluated. Although aerobic cultivation in batch fermentations does not improve growth it does improve stress tolerance, and may have significant technological relevance for the preservation of starter and probiotic cultures.     

Evaluation of Penicillium expansum isolates for aggressiveness, growth and patulin accumulation in usual and less common fruit hosts

Experiments were carried out in vivo and in vitro with four isolates of Penicillium expansum (I 1, E 11, C 28 and I 12) to evaluate their aggressiveness, growth and patulin accumulation in both usual (pears and apples) and less common hosts (apricots, peaches, strawberries and kiwifruits) of the pathogen. The 75% of isolates showed the ability to cause blue mould in all tested hosts. In particular, C 28 and I 1 were the most and the least aggressive isolates, respectively (52.9 and 10.6% infection and 20.7 and 15.4 mm lesion diameters). ‘Candonga’ strawberries and ‘Pinkcot’ apricots showed the largest lesion diameters (29.8 and 25.3 mm), followed by ‘Conference’ pears, ‘Spring Crest’ peaches and ‘Abate Fetel’ pears. With the exception of ‘Candonga’ strawberries, the formation of colonies and mycelial growth of P. expansum isolates on fruit puree agar media (PAMs) was stimulated in comparison to a standard growth medium (malt extract agar, MEA). Two of the most aggressive isolates in our assays (I 12 and C 28) showed the greatest accumulation of patulin both in vitro and in vivo, while the least aggressive isolate (I 1) produced patulin only in a few growth media and cvs. Patulin concentration on fruit PAMs was higher than patulin detected in infected fruit tissues. Apple PAMs were the more favorable substrates for patulin accumulation in vitro (maximum concentration 173.1 and 74.1 μg/mL in ‘Pink Lady and ‘Golden Delicious’ PAMs, respectively) and ‘Pink Lady’ apples inoculated with the isolate E 11 showed the greatest accumulation of patulin in the whole in vivo assay (33.9 μg/mL). However, infected tissue of cv Golden Delicious showed lower average accumulation of patulin (1.7 μg/mL) than that of cv Pink Lady (19.1 μg/mL), and no significant differences in patulin concentrations were found among ‘Golden Delicious’ apples and tested cvs of pears, kiwifruits and strawberries. Peaches were highly susceptible to patulin accumulation, showing average concentrations of 27.4 and 18.6 μg/mL in vitro and in vivo, respectively. Apricots were also consistently positive for patulin accumulation, both in vitro (average values of 20.1 μg/mL) and in vivo (average values of 9.4 μg/mL). Our study showed the potential of some less common hosts of P. expansum (in particular peaches and apricots) to support patulin production, indicating that a steady monitoring of patulin contamination should be carried out in fruit substrates other than apples and pears.     

Instructional strategies framework for military training systems

In an effort to improve training efficiency, the military has focused much attention on the development of replicable and generalizable training systems. As a result, a substantial number of companies and contractors have spent significant time and money developing a wide-array of simulators, virtual reality programs, and the like. However, many are designed without considering the effectiveness and efficiency of embedded instructional strategies. In response, the current review argues for the creation of improved training systems through the incorporation of a repository of research-based instructional strategies that can be employed across the entire training cycle. Using a grounded theory method, this review consolidates the vast literature on instructional strategies from the fields of education and the cognitive sciences into a coherent framework that can be used to enhance the design of military training systems. In particular, this review is intended to provide a concise, organized, and practical framework for the selection and implementation of research-based instructional strategies relevant to military training goals.