Netosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

The article presents the data on assessment of functional features of neutrophils in 34 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Development of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) was evaluated in cell cultures incubated in vitro for 30 and 150 minutes (basal levels, NETBAS30 and NETBAS150, respectively), and in the presence of heat-inactivated S. аureus (strain ATCC 25923, 108 CFU/ml) (stimulated levels, NETST30 and NETST150, respectively). NET looks like thin free-lying extracellular fibrillar structures, 2-3 times exceeding the size of unchanged granulocyte. The result was expressed as percentage and relative amount of extracellular traps per 100 counted leukocytes. Phagocytic activity of neutrophils was evaluated as phagocytosis of S. аureus by counting the percentage of neutrophils that engulfed phagocytic index of microbial particles (PI); the average number of phagocytosed objects per neutrophil phagocytic number (PC). ROS-producing activity was determined in the reduction of Nitroblue Tetrazolium tested in spontaneous and stimulated S. аureus variants (NBTBAS and NBTST, respectively). The result was expressed as the percentage of formazan-positive cells per 100 white blood cells. Nitroxide-producing properties were determined using the Crow (1999) method in spontaneous and stimulated samples for the accumulation of the nitrated amino acid tyrosine (3-nitrothyrosine, 3-NTBAS, and 3-NTST, respectively). We revealed a decrease in ROS production, phagocytosis and NO-forming activity of neutrophils associated with increased netosis. Activation of the netosis was observed in cell cultures without stimulation, indicating the in vivo formation of networks in SLE. The NET increase is most pronounced in the patients with lupus nephritis (p < 0.05), and in remission of the disease (p < 0.05). We have revealed a correlation of NET formation parameters with duration and degree of SLE activity (rs = -0.6; p = 0.001, and rs = 0.39; p = 0.02, respectively); autoantibody titers (anti-dsDNA and ANA) (rs = 0.67; р = 0.047 and rs = 0.59; р = 0.034, respectively); prothrombin complex activity (rs = 0.6; p = 0.036), as well and urea and creatinine levels (rs = 0.47; p = 0.037 and rs = 0.39; p = 0.048, respectively). The parameters of NETs can be considered a promising biomarker for verifying the diagnosis of SLE, evaluation of clinical activity, disease severity, and predicting the development of complications

Expected Performance of the ATLAS Experiment - Detector, Trigger and Physics

A detailed study is presented of the expected performance of the ATLAS detector. The reconstruction of tracks, leptons, photons, missing energy and jets is investigated, together with the performance of b-tagging and the trigger. The physics potential for a variety of interesting physics processes, within the Standard Model and beyond, is examined. The study comprises a series of notes based on simulations of the detector and physics processes, with particular emphasis given to the data expected from the first years of operation of the LHC at CERN

Ancient Nursery Area for the Extinct Giant Shark Megalodon from the Miocene of Panama

BACKGROUND: As we know from modern species, nursery areas are essential shark habitats for vulnerable young. Nurseries are typically highly productive, shallow-water habitats that are characterized by the presence of juveniles and neonates. It has been suggested that in these areas, sharks can find ample food resources and protection from predators. Based on the fossil record, we know that the extinct Carcharocles megalodon was the biggest shark that ever lived. Previous proposed paleo-nursery areas for this species were based on the anecdotal presence of juvenile fossil teeth accompanied by fossil marine mammals. We now present the first definitive evidence of ancient nurseries for C. megalodon from the late Miocene of Panama, about 10 million years ago. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We collected and measured fossil shark teeth of C. megalodon, within the highly productive, shallow marine Gatun Formation from the Miocene of Panama. Surprisingly, and in contrast to other fossil accumulations, the majority of the teeth from Gatun are very small. Here we compare the tooth sizes from the Gatun with specimens from different, but analogous localities. In addition we calculate the total length of the individuals found in Gatun. These comparisons and estimates suggest that the small size of Gatun's C. megalodon is neither related to a small population of this species nor the tooth position within the jaw. Thus, the individuals from Gatun were mostly juveniles and neonates, with estimated body lengths between 2 and 10.5 meters. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: We propose that the Miocene Gatun Formation represents the first documented paleo-nursery area for C. megalodon from the Neotropics, and one of the few recorded in the fossil record for an extinct selachian. We therefore show that sharks have used nursery areas at least for 10 millions of years as an adaptive strategy during their life histories

The ATLAS Transition Radiation Tracker (TRT) proportional drift tube: design and performance

A straw proportional counter is the basic element of the ATLAS Transition Radiation Tracker (TRT). Its detailed properties as well as the main properties of a few TRT operating gas mixtures are described. Particular attention is paid to straw tube performance in high radiation conditions and to its operational stability

The ATLAS TRT electronics

The ATLAS inner detector consists of three sub-systems: the pixel detector spanning the radius range 4cm-20cm, the semiconductor tracker at radii from 30 to 52 cm, and the transition radiation tracker (TRT), tracking from 56 to 107 cm. The TRT provides a combination of continuous tracking with many projective measurements based on individual drift tubes (or straws) and of electron identification based on transition radiation from fibres or foils interleaved between the straws themselves. This paper describes the on and off detector electronics for the TRT as well as the TRT portion of the data acquisition (DAQ) system

Alignment of the Pixel and SCT Modules for the 2004 ATLAS Combined Test Beam

A small set of final prototypes of the ATLAS Inner Detector silicon tracker (Pixel and SCT) were used to take data during the 2004 Combined Test Beam. Data were collected from runs with beams of different flavour (electrons, pions, muons and photons) with a momentum range of 2 to 180 GeV/c. Four independent methods were used to align the silicon modules. The corrections obtained were validated using the known momenta of the beam particles and were shown to yield consistent results among the different alignment approaches. From the residual distributions, it is concluded that the precision attained in the alignment of the silicon modules is of the order of 5 micrometers in their most precise coordinate.Comment: 22 pages, submitted to JINST, 129 author

Drons col·laboratius

La robòtica col·laborativa és senzillament robots dissenyats per dur a terme treballs de col·laboració amb els humans. Els robots col·laboratius o cobots són cada cop més utilitzats a les indústries. La robòtica col·laborativa és un dels àmbits d'actualitat en aquests moments. Però també és un dels més interessants en més d'un sentit. Com es comuniquen dos drons autònoms que col·laboren per fer una tasca? Com són aquests missatges que s'envien? Que poden fer que no podrien fer sols? Aquestes són algunes de les preguntes que ens volem respondre en aquest projecte. En aquest treball es presenta un disseny i implementació de dos drons terrestres que es comuniquen per col·laborar entre ells per resoldre una tasca.Collaborative robotics is simply robots designed to perform collaborative work with humans. Collaborative robots or cobots are increasingly used in industries. Collaborative robotics is one of the current topics now. But it is also one of the most interesting in more ways than one. How do two autonomous drones that collaborate to perform a task communicate? How are these messages sent? What can they do that they could not do alone? These are some of the questions we want to answer in this project. This work presents a design and implementation of two ground drones that communicate to collaborate with each other to solve a task.La robótica colaborativa es sencillamente robots diseñados para llevar a cabo trabajos de colaboración con los humanos. Los robots colaborativos o cobots son cada vez más utilizados en las industrias. La robótica colaborativa es uno de los ámbitos de actualidad. Pero también es uno de los más interesantes en más de un sentido. ¿Cómo se comunican drones autónomos que colaboran para hacer una tarea? ¿Cómo son estos mensajes que es envían? ¿Qué pueden hacer que no lo podrían hacer solos? Estas son algunas de las preguntas que queremos responder con este proyecto. En este trabajo se presenta un diseño e implementación de dos drones terrestres que se comunican para colaborar entre ellos para resolver una tarea

Efficiency assessment of the rule and model bases in decision support systems

In the article new indices for e±ciency assessment of the intelligence rule and model bases in decision support systems (DSS) are suggested. These indices are rule base certainty and coverage, rating class e±ciency, rating e±ciency. Formulae for these coe±cients calculation are deducted, received with use of rough sets theory and DSS e±ciency assessment experience. Recommendations on their practical using are given

Efficiency assessment of the rule and model bases in decision support systems

In the article new indices for e±ciency assessment of the intelligence rule and model bases in decision support systems (DSS) are suggested. These indices are rule base certainty and coverage, rating class e±ciency, rating e±ciency. Formulae for these coe±cients calculation are deducted, received with use of rough sets theory and DSS e±ciency assessment experience. Recommendations on their practical using are given

Fuzzy Evaluation of the Risk of Investment in Securities in the Portfolio Optimization Problem

Investment in securities always associates with the risk, but in practice it is enough difficult to evaluate the risk quantitatively. There is no united opinion about quantitative evaluation of the risk in the theory of finance. Two models of the risk evaluation are the most popularized: Value-at-Risk (VaR) model and risk interpretation as standard deviation of the security return