Positioning And Tracking Control

In this paper, de-coupled discrete-time sliding-mode tracking controllers are designed for an x-y sliding table driven directly by linear motors. The controllers are designed using an integrated reaching law method, based on a simplified model of the current control loop of these motors. To achieve high bandwidth tracking performance, a feedforward controller is added. Although the sliding table is operating in the presence of friction, no friction compensation is applied. Experimental results are presented

Long-Term Depletion of Conventional Dendritic Cells Cannot Be Maintained in an Atherosclerotic Zbtb46-DTR Mouse Model

<div><p>Background and aims</p><p>Increased evidence suggests a pro-atherogenic role for conventional dendritic cells (cDC). However, due to the lack of an exclusive marker for cDC, their exact contribution to atherosclerosis remains elusive. Recently, a unique transcription factor was described for cDC, namely <i>Zbtb46</i>, enabling us to selectively target this cell type in mice.</p><p>Methods</p><p>Low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient (<i>Ldlr</i>^<i>-/-</i>) mice were transplanted with bone marrow from <i>Zbtb46</i>-diphtheria toxin receptor (DTR) transgenic mice following total body irradiation. <i>Zbtb46</i>-DTR→<i>Ldlr</i>^<i>-/-</i> chimeras were fed a Western-type diet for 18 weeks while cDC were depleted by administering diphtheria toxin (DT).</p><p>Results</p><p>Although we confirmed efficient direct induction of cDC death <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> upon DT treatment of <i>Zbtb46</i>-DTR mice, advanced atherosclerotic plaque size and composition was not altered. Surprisingly, however, analysis of <i>Zbtb46</i>-DTR→<i>Ldlr</i>^<i>-/-</i> chimeras showed that depletion of cDC was not sustained following 18 weeks of DT treatment. In contrast, high levels of anti-DT antibodies were detected.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Because of the observed generation of anti-DT antibodies and consequently the partial depletion of cDC, no clear decision can be taken on the role of cDC in atherosclerosis. Our results underline the unsuitability of <i>Zbtb46</i>-DTR→<i>Ldlr</i>^-/- mice for studying the involvement of cDC in maintaining the disease process of atherosclerosis, as well as of other chronic inflammatory diseases.</p></div

Weight and plasma characteristics from control and DT-treated <i>Zbtb46</i>-DTR→<i>Ldlr</i>^-/- mice.

<p>Weight and plasma characteristics from control and DT-treated <i>Zbtb46</i>-DTR→<i>Ldlr</i>^-/- mice.</p

Primer sequences for determination of chimerism.

<p>Primer sequences for determination of chimerism.</p

Do refined consensus guidelines improve the uniformity of clinical target volume delineation for rectal cancer? Results of a national review project

In a previous national central review project, 74% of the rectal cancer clinical target volumes (CTVs) needed a modification. In a follow-up initiative, we evaluated whether the use of refined international consensus guidelines improves the uniformity of CTV delineation in clinical practice

Chronic DT administration does not affect atherosclerotic plaque size and composition in <i>Zbtb46</i>-DTR→<i>Ldlr</i>^<i>-/-</i> mice.

<p>Representative images and quantification of (A) atherosclerotic lesion size (Oil Red O⁺ area), (B) vascular smooth muscle cells (α-SMA staining), (C) collagen (Sirius Red staining), (D) apoptosis (cleaved caspase-3 staining), and (E) CD11c⁺ cells in aortic root cryosections of control and DT-treated <i>Zbtb46</i>-DTR→<i>Ldlr</i>^<i>-/-</i> mice (n = 14–19); Univariate analyses were performed for plaque area and composition of aortic root sections. Data that failed the Levene's test of homogeneity of variances were mathematically transformed before statistical analysis was performed.</p