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This work introduces the G-Fly-Crane, a proof-of-concept aerial multi-robot system designed to demonstrate the advantage of using multiple aerial robots as a valuable tool for novel construction techniques, not requiring the use of heavy engines and costly infrastructures. We experimentally demonstrate its capability to perform pick-and-place and manipulation tasks in a construction scenario, with an increased payload capacity and dexterity compared to the single robot case. The system is composed of three aerial robots connected to a platform by three pairs of cables. The platform is equipped with a gripper, enabling the grasping of objects. The paper describes in detail the hardware and software architecture of our prototype and explains the implemented control methods. A shared control strategy incorporates the human operator in the control loop, thus increasing the overall system reliability when performing complex tasks. The paper also discusses the next steps required to bring this technology from indoor laboratory conditions to real-world applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Tuberculosis (TB) of the eye is a well-known extrapulmonary localization in high-incidence countries. Data on its relevance in developed countries are scanty. We aim to study the epidemiological and clinical pattern of ocular TB in a tertiary care institution of a western country. Methods: From 2007 to 2010, consecutive patients with a diagnosis of isolated ocular TB or associated to extraocular TB were recruited. Patients with ophthalmological and clinical features of TB were treated with standard antitubercular therapy (ATT) and steroids in case of concomitant severe ocular inflammation. Results: Seventeen cases of ocular and extraocular TB and 45 cases of isolated ocular TB were identified. The proportion of patients with ocular and extraocular TB in our local district was 8.1 %, with a proportion of 10.6 % for the isolated cases. In Cohort 1, only one patient was symptomatic for ocular impairment, and uveitis without inflammation was the most common presentation. On the contrary, in Cohort 2, all patients had visual impairment, mainly with bilateral involvement. 77.8 % of the patients showed an inflammatory pattern. ATT was administered for at least 9 months, in four cases with a short course of systemic corticosteroids. Eight cases in Cohort 2 showed recurrence after 1 year from diagnosis. Conclusions: TB of the eye should not be forgotten, even in geographical areas not considered among endemic countries. Ocular evaluation is advisable in patients with pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB, as early detection may allow ATT to preserve visual acuity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Spine fusion is the gold standard treatment in degenerative and traumatic spine diseases. The bone regenerative medicine needs (i) in vitro functionally active osteoblasts, and/or (ii) the in vivo induction of the tissue. The bone tissue engineering seems to be a very promising approach for the effectiveness of orthopedic surgical procedures, clinical applications are often hampered by the limited availability of bone allograft or substitutes. New biomaterials have been recently developed for the orthopedic applications. The main characteristics of these scaffolds are the ability to induce the bone tissue formation by generating an appropriate environment for (i) the cell growth and (ii) recruiting precursor bone cells for the proliferation and differentiation. A new prototype of biomaterials known as 'bioceramics' may own these features. Bioceramics are bone substitutes mainly composed of calcium and phosphate complex salt derivatives. Methods: In this study, the characteristics bioceramics bone substitutes have been tested with human mesenchymal stem cells obtained from the bone marrow of adult orthopedic patients. Results: These cellular models can be employed to characterize in vitro the behavior of different biomaterials, which are used as bone void fillers or three-dimensional scaffolds. Conclusions: Human mesenchymal stem cells in combination with biomaterials seem to be good alternative to the autologous or allogenic bone fusion in spine surgery. The cellular model used in our study is a useful tool for investigating cytocompatibility and biological features of HA-derived scaffolds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates the expression of immunogenic tumor-associated antigens in malignant mesothelioma cells. Expression of cancer/testis antigens; Role of DNA methylation in the antigen expression; Suitability of cancer/testis antigen-based immunotherapy as an approach to malignant mesothelioma.

Benzhydrazone (BH) is an inhibitor of glycoprotein biosynthesis. It acts selectively in Herpes simplex virus (HSV)-infected cells and does not significantly affect glycoprotein synthesis in uninfected cells and in cells infected with other viruses. Previously, we reported on a syncytial (syn) mutant, designated HSV-1(13)S11, resistant to BH, and showed that BH-resistance is encoded in the mutant virus DNA and therefore can be transferred into the genome of wild type HSVs. The present paper reports on a preliminary mapping in HSV-1(13)S11 genome of the loci which confer resistance to BH and of three distinct syn mutations present simultaneously in this mutant. Two of them were mapped in previously described syn loci localized in BamHI fragment L (map units 0.707-0.745) (locus syn 1) and BamHI fragment Q (map units 0.296-0.317) (locus syn 5). A third mutation not described before and mapping in BamHI fragment SP (c.a. map units 0.81-0.85) conferred the syn phenotype to both HEp-2 and Vero cells. This novel mutation has been designated herein locus syn 6. Transfer of BH-resistance could be achieved in cotransfection experiments involving two HSV-1(13)S11 fragments, BamHIL and BamHISP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on the variability of structural polypeptides of 32 strains of Herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) isolated from various locations in the United States and Italy. Most strains were passaged a limited number of times at low multiplicity outside the human host; a few strains were characterized by numerous passages at variable multiplicities in cell culture. The acrylamide gel electrophoresis of polypeptides from purified virions revealed very few differences. Considering these differences the HSV-2 strains analysed can be classified into 3 groups according to the variability of three polypeptides. The study of polypeptides in HSV-2 infected cells revealed more differences than those seen in the structural proteins. Comparisons of the structural proteins specified by HSV-2 and HSV-1 virions, revealed clear variant features of the electrophoretic profiles, especially when pH of main gel was 8.9. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the detection of simian virus 40 in specific human tumors. Result of the polymerase chain reaction and filter hybridization with simian virus 40 oligoprobes internal to the amplified viral genome segments; Prevalence of simian virus 40 T antigen sequences; Indication for normal tissues of the same histotypes for simian virus 40 sequences.