Search results for "TG"
showing 10 items of 2275 documents
The gut microbiota of larvae of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Oliver (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)
2014
Background: The red palm weevil (RPW) Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is one of the major pests of palms. The larvae bore into the palm trunk and feed on the palm tender tissues and sap, leading the host tree to death. The gut microbiota of insects plays a remarkable role in the host life and understanding the relationship dynamics between insects and their microbiota may improve the biological control of insect pests. The purpose of this study was to analyse the diversity of the gut microbiota of field-caught RPW larvae sampled in Sicily (Italy). Results: The 16S rRNA gene-based Temporal Thermal Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (TTGE) of the gut microbiota of RPW …
Intelligibility in microbial complex systems: Wittgenstein and the score of life
2012
Knowledge in microbiology is reaching an extreme level of diversification and complexity, which paradoxically results in a strong reduction in the intelligibility of microbial life. In our days, the “score of life” metaphor is more accurate to express the complexity of living systems than the classic “book of life.” Music and life can be represented at lower hierarchical levels by music scores and genomic sequences, and such representations have a generational influence in the reproduction of music and life. If music can be considered as a representation of life, such representation remains as unthinkable as life itself. The analysis of scores and genomic sequences might provide mechanistic…
Impact of DNA Extraction Method on Variation in Human and Built Environment Microbial Community and Functional Profiles Assessed by Shotgun Metagenom…
2020
Both the host microbiome and the microbiome of the built environment can have profound impacts on human health. While prior studies have suggested that the variability introduced by DNA extraction method is less than typical biologic variation, most studies have focused on 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing or on high biomass fecal samples. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing provides advantages over amplicon sequencing for surveying the microbiome, but is a challenge to perform in lower microbial biomass samples with high human DNA content such as sputum or vacuumed dust. Here we systematically evaluate the impact of four different extraction methods (phenol:choloroform, and three high-throughput kit…
Large Depth-of-Field Integral Microscopy by Use of a Liquid Lens
2018
Integral microscopy is a 3D imaging technique that permits the recording of spatial and angular information of microscopic samples. From this information it is possible to calculate a collection of orthographic views with full parallax and to refocus computationally, at will, through the 3D specimen. An important drawback of integral microscopy, especially when dealing with thick samples, is the limited depth of field (DOF) of the perspective views. This imposes a significant limitation on the depth range of computationally refocused images. To overcome this problem, we propose here a new method that is based on the insertion, at the pupil plane of the microscope objective, of an electrical…
What about computational super-resolution in fluorescence Fourier light field microscopy?
2020
Recently, Fourier light field microscopy was proposed to overcome the limitations in conventional light field microscopy by placing a micro-lens array at the aperture stop of the microscope objective instead of the image plane. In this way, a collection of orthographic views from different perspectives are directly captured. When inspecting fluorescent samples, the sensitivity and noise of the sensors are a major concern and large sensor pixels are required to cope with low-light conditions, which implies under-sampling issues. In this context, we analyze the sampling patterns in Fourier light field microscopy to understand to what extent computational super-resolution can be triggered duri…
Fourier-domain lightfield microscopy: a new paradigm in 3D microscopy
2020
Recently, integral (also known as lightfield or plenoptic) imaging concept has been applied successfully to microscopy. The main advantage of lightfield microscopy when compared with conventional 3D imaging techniques is that it offers the possibility of capturing the 3D information of the sample after a single shot. However, integral microscopy is now facing many challenges, like improving the resolution and depth of field of the reconstructed specimens or the development and optimization of specially-adapted reconstruction algorithms. This contribution is devoted to review a new paradigm in lightfield microscopy, namely, the Fourier-domain integral microscope (FiMic), that improves the ca…
The Effects of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Intervention on Inflammation and Stress Biomarkers : a Randomized Controlled Trial
2020
Abstract Background Psychological processes can be manifested in physiological health. We investigated whether acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), targeted on psychological flexibility (PF), influences inflammation and stress biomarkers among working-age adults with psychological distress and overweight/obesity. Method Participants were randomized into three parallel groups: (1) ACT-based face-to-face (n = 65; six group sessions led by a psychologist), (2) ACT-based mobile (n = 73; one group session and mobile app), and (3) control (n = 66; only the measurements). Systemic inflammation and stress markers were analyzed at baseline, at 10 weeks after the baseline (post-intervention), and…
Mistiskais kā vārdos neizsakāmā paveids Vitgenšteina “Loģiski filosofiskā traktātā”
2019
Šī bakalaura darba mērķis ir argumentēt par labu tam, ka, pat kontekstā ar Ludviga Vitgenšteina darbā Loģiski filosofisks traktāts rodamo metafizikas noraidījumu, tajā izvērstais mistiskā nojēgums nav atmetams kā nejēdzīgs, tā vietā mistiskais ir domājams kā apstāklis, kas vedina runāt jēgpilni. 1. nodaļā pievēršos saistībai starp mistisko, ētisko, estētisko un to attiecībai pret Loģiski filosofiskā traktātā rodamo valodas un loģikas izpratni. 2. nodaļā pievēršos diskusijai par nejēdzīgā izpratnes iespējām, kur, rakstot izskaidrojošā lasījuma ietvaros, centīšos vājināt Loģiski filosofiskā traktāta šķietami stingri paradoksālos secinājumus.
Ar Lī sindromu saistīto mitohondriālās DNS variantu ietekme uz gēnu ekspresiju
2022
Lī sindroms ir reta iedzimta progresējoša neirodeģeneratīva mitohondriālā slimība, kas parasti sāk izpausties jau zīdaiņa vecumā vai agrā bērnībā. Lī sindromu var izraisīt izmaiņas gan kodola, gan mitohondriju genomā. Patogēni varianti mitohondriju genomā var ietekmēt kodola gēnu ekspresiju caur mitohondriju atgriezenisko regulāciju. Maģistra darba mērķis bija noskaidrot divu, ar Lī sindromu saistītu, mitohondriālās DNS (mtDNS) variantu ietekmi uz gēnu ekspresiju. Tika veikta transkriptoma analīze transmitohondriālo citoplazmatisko hibrīdu (cibrīdu) šūnu līnijām, kas saturēja divus ar Lī sindromu saistītus mtDNS variantus, pārbaudīta abu patogēno variantu heteroplazmijas stabilitāte, veikta…
Assessing first-year engineering students' pre-university mathematics knowledge: preliminary validity results based on an item response theory model
2020
The importance of students’ prior knowledge to their current learning outcomes cannot be overemphasised. Students with adequate prior knowledge are better prepared for the current learning materials than those without the knowledge. However, assessment of engineering students' prior mathematics knowledge has been beset with a lack of uniformity in measuring instruments and inadequate validity studies. This study attempts to provide evidence of validity and reliability of a Norwegian national test of prior mathematics knowledge using an explanatory sequential mixed-methods approach. This approach involves use of an item response theory model followed by cognitive interviews of some students …