Blind estimation of DED camera gain in Electron Microscopy.

The introduction of Direct Electron Detector (DED) videos in the Electron Microscope field has boosted Single Particle Analysis to a point in which it is currently considered to be a key technique in Structural Biology. In this article we introduce an approach to estimate the DED camera gain at each pixel from the movies themselves. This gain is needed to have the set of recorded frames into a coherent gray level range, homogeneous over the whole image. The algorithm does not need any other input than the DED movie itself, being capable of providing an estimate of the camera gain image, helping to identify dead pixels and cases of incorrectly calibrated cameras. We propose the algorithm to be used either to validate the experimentally acquired gain image (for instance, to follow its possible change over time) or to verify that there is no residual gain image after experimentally correcting for the camera gain. We show results for a number of DED camera models currently in use (DE, Falcon II, Falcon 3, and K2).

Passive-active immunoprophylaxis in newborns to HBsAg carrier mothers liguria--I.

Thirty neonates to HBsAg carrier mothers, two of whom were HBeAg positive, received passive-active immunoprophylaxis. Within 48 hours after birth and at the first month of life these newborns were given HBIG (0.5 ml/Kg) and at the third month of life they were given first vaccination (10 micrograms). "HB-Vax" (M.S.D.) has been employed and its schedule has been performed (2 degrees and 3 degrees injections respectively at 4th and 9th month of life). Blood specimens have been collected in infants at birth and at each HBIG and vaccine administration, two months after the 2nd vaccination, one and six months after the third one. All specimens have been tested for HBV markers: HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc, anti-HBe and anti-HBc IgM. The anti-HBs titration has been performed according to WHO International Reference anti-HBs Standard. ALT and AST levels were determined in all infants specimens. The newborns did not show clinical signs or lab tests expressing HBV infection during the follow-up period. The anti-HBs geometric mean titres have been the following: 125 mIU/ml at 1 month, 176.4 mIU/ml at 3 months, 64.4 mIU/ml at 4 months, 119 mIU/ml at 6 months, 321 mIU/ml at 9 months, 2580.8 mIU/ml at 10 months and 715.3 mIU/ml at 15 months of life. Finally, side effects were observed for no infants.