Subjects increasing sperm DNA fragmentation (sDF) during Density Gradient Centrifugation (DGC), a common sperm selection procedure in Assisted Reproduction Techniques (ARTs), experience a 50% lower ...probability of pregnancy. Hence, identification of these subjects is of clinical importance. Here, we investigated whether such subjects are identified with higher accuracy detecting DNA fragmentation in viable (viable sDF) instead of total spermatozoa (total sDF) and whether swim up, an alternative procedure to DGC, does not increase sDF. With DGC, we identified 10/20 subjects increasing total sDF, and 2 more subjects using viable sDF. With swim up, we identified 8/40 subjects increasing total sDF, and 8 more subjects using viable sDF. In addition, viable sDF reveals more accurately the increase of the damage when it occurs. Finally, a multivariate analysis demonstrated that the proportional increase of sDF was higher after DGC respect to swim up. In conclusion, viable sDF is a more accurate parameter to reveal the increase of the damage by selection both with swim up and DGC. Swim up increases sDF in some samples, although at a lesser extent than DGC, suggesting that it should be used to select spermatozoa for ARTs when possible.
The paper presents the acquisition and data processing approach for the Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and laser scanner surveys carried out within the SOS project (the acronym comes from ‘SOtto ...Siena’, in English ‘Beneath Siena’). SOS is a program aimed to overcome some of the problems and limitations currently present in the study of cities with long-term continuity of life, responding in particular to the need for a better understanding of the city’s ancient fabric and hence to improvements in its conservation by: GPR city survey full coverage (of all the public spaces, streets, squares, courtyards, gardens, etc.), GIS data entry of the historical-archaeological and geoarchaeological knowledge and the development of a 3D Archaeological WEBGIS.The paper discusses the procedure for the creation of a 3D viewer within an already active WEBGIS platform, specifically created for the visualisation and management of archaeological data. The GPR data, once acquired, were exported in 3D in the form of point clouds and subjected to a procedure of cleaning and filtering from noise, so as to eliminate geometries not referable to anomalies and therefore to the presence of buried structures or cavities, and then transformed into mesh to meet the needs of the subsequent process of semantic enrichment. The GPR survey of the underground was flanked by laser scanning of some of the most significant structures in the historic centre (e.g. the cathedral). All 3D geometries were then inserted into the new visualiser via a pipeline using open-source tools and libraries.
Due to be launched in late 2021, the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) is a NASA Small Explorer mission designed to perform polarization measurements in the 2–8 keV band, complemented with ...imaging, spectroscopy and timing capabilities. At the heart of the focal plane is a set of three polarization-sensitive Gas Pixel Detectors (GPD), each based on a custom ASIC acting as a charge-collecting anode.
In this paper we shall review the design, manufacturing, and test of the IXPE focal-plane detectors, with particular emphasis on the connection between the science drivers, the performance metrics and the operational aspects. We shall present a thorough characterization of the GPDs in terms of effective noise, trigger efficiency, dead time, uniformity of response, and spectral and polarimetric performance. In addition, we shall discuss in detail a number of instrumental effects that are relevant for high-level science analysis—particularly as far as the response to unpolarized radiation and the stability in time are concerned.
Advanced and low-cost 3D technologies (Laser Scanner and Digital Photogrammetry) are nowadays widely used in several fields such as Cultural Heritage and Archaeology. In this paper a collaborative ...project between the Archaeological Park of Herculaneum, the CISA (Interdepartmental Services Centre for Archaeology) and the DAAM (Department of Asia, Africa and Mediterranean Studies) of the University “L’Orientale” of Naples is presented. Aim of the project was to find a solution to study the Roman boat discovered in the ancient city of Herculaneum and destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 A.D., without altering its state of preservation. Different digital survey techniques were employed to compare different types of sensors. The goal was to obtain an accurate definition of the construction characteristics of the boat thanks to the data fusion.
Atherosclerosis is enhanced in arterial segments exposed to disturbed flow. Perturbed shear stress increases the expression of oxidation-sensitive responsive genes (such as ELK-1 and p-CREB). ...Polyphenolic antioxidants contained in the juice derived from the pomegranate contribute to the reduction of oxidative stress and atherogenesis during disturbed shear stress.
To evaluate the effects of intervention with the Pomegranate Fruit Extract (PFE) rich in polyphones (punicalagin, which is a potent antioxidant) on ELK-1, p-CREB, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression induced by high shear stress in vitro and in vivo.
At the doses used in the study, both the PFE and the regular pomegranate juice concentrate reduced the activation of ELK-1 and p-CREB and increased eNOS expression (which was decreased by perturbed shear stress) in cultured human endothelial cells and in atherosclerosis-prone areas of hypercholesterolemic mice. PFE and pomegranate juice increased cyclic GMP levels while there was no significant effect of both compounds on the conversion of L-arginine to L-citrulline. Administration of these compounds to hypercholesterolemic mice significantly reduced the progression of atherosclerosis and isoprostane levels and increased nitrates. This protective effect was relevant with PFE. Vasomotor reactivity was improved and EC(25) values in response to Ach and NONOate were significantly increased in treated mice in comparison to controls.
This study indicates that the proatherogenic effects induced by perturbed shear stress can be also reversed by chronic administration of PFE.
The purpose of this article is to show that it is possible to make efficient optical tweezers using a properly modified single mode fiber. By using a micro-lens, fabricated directly on the cleaved ...end of an optical fiber, by a focused ion beam milling process, efficient optical tweezers can be obtained. A 30
keV focused Ga
+ ion beam is used to mill a continuous profile microstructure. An axicon with 10
μm diameters and 5
μm high is fabricated, which permits the transformation of a Gaussian mode in a Bessel mode beam. This particular mode was used to form an optical trap. Measures of the propagation profile and of the trapping effect will be discussed.
Electroencephalography (EEG), somasensorial evoked potentials (SSEP), auditory brainstem response (ABR) and electromyography (EMG) complete clinical examination and radiological findings in patients ...suffering from post-traumatic brain injury, post-anoxic brain injury, refractory male epiletticus status, and neuromuscular illness. In patients who present profound weakness of legs and hands we performed EMG to distinguish primary peripheral myopolyneuropathy (Guillian Barrè, miastenia gravis) from secondary illness acquired in the ICU (critical polyneuropathy, critical myopathy) 3.
The direct nanopatterning of a novel hybrid organic–inorganic sol–gel film based on bridged polysilsesquioxanes (BPS) using X-ray synchrotron radiation is reported. The main advantages of a direct ...fabrication technique with respect to conventional photolithography are represented by the possibility to bypass some typical post-exposure lithographic steps and to avoid the use of a sacrificial layer. The distinctive features rendering hybrid BPS-based material innovative for photolithographic applications are: the patternability as resist, the positive tone behaviour exhibited under X-ray irradiation, the porous structure demonstrated at low temperature, and the possibility to widely tailor material electro-optical and structural properties to experimental needs. A systematic investigation of the interactions between sol–gel BPS films based on the bis(triethoxysilyl)benzene precursor and soft X-rays is conducted. Under X-ray exposure, BPS-based films suffer structural changes attributed to the organic bridge breaking, and become soluble in suitable acidic aqueous solutions, producing final lithographies of sub-micron resolution, high contrast and good edge definition.
Natively porous hybrid organic–inorganic sol–gel systems have been engineered to be used as functional positive photoresists, aimed to the realization of microsensors in a single-step process.
...Interesting results have been obtained combing three main sol–gel system features: the direct patternability through X-ray lithography, being processable without the addition of a photocatalyst; the functionalizability, properly designing the organic component of the hybrid network or incorporating active species; the open micro or mesoporosity, tailored by the synthesis process and precursor choice.
The photoprocessable porous films have been synthesized starting from a Bridged Polysilsesquioxane (BPS) precursor, 1,4-bis(triethoxysilyl)benzene. The correlation between chemical properties of the sol–gel material and its patternability is described in detail. X-ray exposure leads to a progressive alkyl and aromatic compound elimination and promotes inorganic condensation in the system, allowing the selective dissolution of irradiated cross-linked films in suitable etchants. Patterns of final resolution lower than 100nm have been realized on BPS-based films synthesized in acid conditions, a procedure that allows to take advantage of a straightforward embedding protocol for active species in the sol–gel matrix. The BPS-based system has been doped with a covalently linked quinolinium dye, obtaining thin sensing films patternable by X-ray lithography. A feasibility test for the fabrication of optical microdevices, where fluorescence properties are obtained directly on the patterned coatings, has been provided.
In this work, a novel three-dimensional (3D) fabrication process was used to create a series of particular phase masks for astronomical applications. These phase masks, also known as spiral phase ...plates (SPP), find their application in astronomy for optical vortex coronagraphy in the search of extra solar planets. The 3D profile was directly written on 2.7
mm thick polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) slide by electron beam lithography (EBL). The effect of electron scattering on topography profile was investigated and the relationship among spatial distribution of electron beam irradiation, spot size and dosage level of irradiation were experimentally characterized. The quality of the fabricated profiles was evaluated using atomic force microscopy (AFM) technique. SPPs were then optically tested by injecting a Gaussian beam and an airy diffraction pattern obtained from a laser source comparing the optical vortices so far obtained with those drawn with numerical simulations.
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