TLRs toll for Tregs.

Discussion on TLR3 triggering in CD4 T cells induces IFN beta and IL10-producing iTregs that suppress food allergy

Serious Gaming as an Additional Learning Tool for Medical Education

Computer-based learning methodologies have become more prevalent in the last decade. Web-based serious gaming and virtual patients are novel in medical education, which has the potential to become important tools to improve today's medical students' knowledge and performance. A total of 81 medical students participated in our study. They were either assigned to an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group completed a serious game module designed for Basic Life Support education. The control group received a theoretical lecture on the same content. On the next day, both groups received simulation-based hands-on training for BLS using the same criteria. All students were assessed with an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) the following week. There was no difference between the intervention group using a web-based serious game module for BLS and the control group that received a standard theoretical lecture from the faculty. Computer-based interactive serious games seem to present a favourable additional tool for medical education. OSCE results imply, that the use of serious games as a self-learning strategy can be as useful as theoretical lectures; which means that it is saving the time of learners and educators

A Preliminary Study of Three-Point Onboard External Calibration for Tracking Radiometric Stability and Accuracy

Absolute calibration of radiometers is usually implemented onboard using one hot and one cold external calibration targets. However, two-point calibration methods are unable to differentiate calibration drifts and associated errors from fluctuations in receiver gain and offset. Furthermore, they are inadequate to characterize temporal calibration stability of radiometers. In this paper, a preliminary study with linear radiometer systems has been presented to show that onboard external three-point calibration offers the means to quantify calibration drifts in the radiometer systems, and characterize associated errors as well as temporal stability in Earth and space measurements. Radiometers with three external calibration reference targets operating two data processing paths: i.e., (1) measurement path and (2) calibration validation path have been introduced. In the calibration validation data processing path, measurements of one known calibration target is calibrated using the other two calibration references, and temporal calibration stability and possible calibration temperature drifts are analyzed. In the measurement data processing path, the impact of the calibration drifts on Earth and space measurements is quantified and bounded by an upper limit. This two-path analysis is performed through calibration error analysis (CEA) diagrams introduced in this paper

Tracking Radiometer Calibration Stability Using Three-Point Onboard Calibration

Absolute calibration of radiometers is implemented onboard using one hot and one cold external calibration targets. However, two-point calibration methods are unable to differentiate calibration drifts and associated errors from fluctuations in receiver gain and offset. This paper investigates the use of onboard three-point calibration algorithm for microwave radiometers to track calibration drifts and characterize associated errors in Earth and Space measurements of the radiometer

A comparison of biosurfactant production between clinical and environmental exophiala isolates

Black Yeast in the genus Exophiala are able to grow in hydrocarbon-contaminated environments and are pathogenic in immunosuppressed hosts. The biosurfactant produced by Exophiala species May be associated with strain pathogenicity by changing the hydrophobicity. The aim of this study was to prove the hypothesis that biosurfactant production in Exophilia strains isolated from clinical samples is lower than the strains isolates from toxic (dishwasher and railway sleepers) environments. A total of 122 Exophiala isolates 108 environmental (isolated from 82 dishwashers and 36 railway sleepers) and 14 clinical isolates confirmed by molecular tests were included in the study. Biosurfactant activity was tested by the drop collapse method, in which the surface of a microtiter plate well was evaluated for the presence of a biosurfactant, and by the oil spreading technique on crude oil. An open source analyses program, ImageJ ® , was used for crude oil spreading technique data. A clear surface zone that differs more than two standard deviations from the mean size was accepted as a positive result. Among the 122 Exophiala species, 11 (9.0%) and 10 (8.2%) strains showed biosurfactant activity by the drop collapse test and oil spreading method, respectively. An acceptable relation was found between the drop collapse test and oil spreading method (Cohen κ coefficient= 0.30). Despite the presence of isolates showing biosurfactant activity, no statistically significant difference was detected between Exophiala strains (p= 0.72). The biosurfactant levels of environmental isolates were higher than the isolates obtained from the patients (p= 0.03). The highest biosurfactant level was observed in one Exophiala phaeomuriformis strain isolated from a dishwasher. There was no difference between the biosurfactant levels of the dishwasher and railway sleeper isolates (p= 0.66). Biosurfactant production May be a more important determinant of virulence in Exophiala species than expected. In this study, biosurfactant activity was higher in environmental isolates compared to the clinical isolates. Consensus of multiple biosurfactant screening protocols May clarify why environmental Exophiala species are less virulent. Further studies should evaluate biosurfactant activity in additional clinical Exophiala isolates. The biosurfactant activity of more Exophiala isolates obtained from patients should be investigated with further planned studies. © 2018 Ankara Microbiology Society. All rights reserved

Impact of quercetin supplementation on testicular functions in summer heat-stressed rabbits

[EN] The current study was designed to determine the effects of dietary quercetin on epididymal sperm and testicular changes in male rabbits during summer heat stress (HS). Twelve adult male New Zealand white rabbits were submitted to summer heat conditions (temperature-humidity index 29.9±1.2). One group was fed a basal ration (BR; n=6), whereas the other group was fed the same basal diet supplemented with quercetin (30 mg/kg d; Que-BR; n=6) for 60 d, and both groups were sacrificed at the end of the experiment. Epididymis and testicles isolation was done for sperm, histopathology and apoptosis assessments. The results showed that quercetin improved epididymis weight, but did not affect other testicular dimensions except testicular length. A significant improvement was observed in epididymal sperm motility, concentration, kinematic parameters, viability, mitochondrial potential and acrosome integrity in Que-BR compared to the BR group. Lowered serum malondialdehyde level was observed in quercetin supplemented rabbits. Moreover, the quercetin supplementation maintained the interstitial stroma, seminiferous tubules architecture, germinal and Sertoli cells under HS, decreasing the apoptotic germ cell rate in seminiferous tubules. In conclusion, HS condition affects the sperm and testes configurations in rabbits and dietary quercetin minimises oxidative stress, which in turn protects the testes and sperm against HS induced damage.The financial support for this work was granted by ADU-BAP, Project number VTF-15034, Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey.Naseer, Z.; Ahmad, E.; Aksoy, M.; Epikmen, E. (2020). Impact of quercetin supplementation on testicular functions in summer heat-stressed rabbits. World Rabbit Science. 28(1):19-27. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2020.12420OJS1927281Abarikwu S.O., Pant A.B., Farombi E.O. 2012. The protective effects of quercetin on the cytotoxicity of atrazine on rat Sertoli-germ cell co-culture. Int. J. Androlog., 35: 590-600. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2605.2011.01239.xAbd-Ellah M.F., Aly H.A., Mokhlis H.A., Abdel-Aziz A.H. 2016. Quercetin attenuates di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate-induced testicular toxicity in adult rats. Human Experiment. Toxicol., 35: 232-243. https://doi.org/10.1177/0960327115580602Aldemir M., Okulu E., Kosemehmetoglu K., Ener K., Topal F., Evirgen O., Gurleyik E., Avcı A. 2014. Evaluation of the protective effect of quercetin against cisplatin-induced renal and testis tissue damage and sperm parameters in rats. Andrologia, 46: 1089-1097. https://doi.org/10.1111/and.12197Al-Omair M.A., Sedky A., Ali A., Elsawy H. 2017. Ameliorative potentials of quercetin against lead-ınduced hematological and testicular alterations in albino rats. Chinese J. Physiol., 60: 54-61. https://doi.org/10.4077/CJP.2017.BAF440Altintas R., Ciftci O., Aydin M., Akpolat N., Oguz F., Beytur A. 2015. Quercetin prevents docetaxel-induced testicular damage in rats. Andrologia, 47: 248-256. https://doi.org/10.1111/and.12253AOAC. 2000. Official Methods of Analysis. 17th Ed. The Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Gaithersburg, MD, USA.Baccetti B., Collodel G., Piomboni P. 1996. Apoptosis in human ejaculated sperm cells (Notulae seminologicae 9). J. Submicro. Cytol. Pathol., 28: 587-596.Badr G.M., Elsawy H., Sedky A., Eid R., Ali A., Abdallah B.M., Alzahrani A.M., Abdel-Moneim A.M. 2019. Protective effects of quercetin supplementation against short-term toxicity of cadmium-induced hematological impairment, hypothyroidism, and testicular disturbances in albino rats. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res., 26: 8202-8211. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-04276-1Bharti S., Misro M.M., Rai U. 2014. Quercetin supplementation restores testicular function and augments germ cell survival in the estrogenized rats. Mol. Cell. Endocrinol., 383: 10-20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mce.2013.11.021Ciftci O., Aydin M., Ozdemir I., Vardi N. 2012. Quercetin prevents 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin-induced testicular damage in rats. Andrologia, 44: 164-173. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0272.2010.01126.xEl-Hanoun A.M., Elkomy A.E., Fares W.A., Shahien E.H. 2014. Impact of royal jelly to improve reproductive performance of male rabbits under hot summer conditions. World Rabbit Sci., 22: 241-248. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2014.1677Fanaei H., Khayat S., Halvaei I., Ramezani V., Azizi Y., Kasaeian A., Mardaneh J., Parvizi M.R., Akrami M. 2014. Effects of ascorbic acid on sperm motility, viability, acrosome reaction and DNA integrity in teratozoospermic samples. Iranian J. Reproduct. Med., 12: 103-110.Farombi E.O., Adedara I.A., Akinrinde S.A., Ojo O.O., Eboh A.S. 2012. Protective effects of kolaviron and quercetin on cadmium-induced testicular damage and endocrine pathology in rats. Andrologia, 44: 273-284. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0272.2012.01279.xFilho J.S., Corcini C.D., Santos F.C.C., Anciuti A.N., Gatti N.L.S., Anastacio E., Mielke R., Nogueira C.E.W., Curcio B.R., Jr Varela A.S. 2017. Quercetin in equine frozen semen. Cryo Letters, 38: 299-304.Gong Y., Guo H., Zhang Z., Zhou H., Zhao R., He B. 2017. Heat stress reduces sperm motility via activation of glycogen synthase kinase-3α and inhibition of mitochondrial protein import. Front. Physiol., 8: 718. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2017.00718Guo H., Gong Y., He B., Zhao R. 2017. Relationships between mitochondrial DNA content, mitochondrial activity, and boar sperm motility Theriogenology, 87: 276-283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2016.09.005Hu J., Yu Q., Zhao F., Ji J., Jiang Z., Chen X., Gao P., Ren Y., Shao S., Zhang L., Yan M. 2015. Protection of quercetin against triptolide-induced apoptosis by suppressing oxidative stress in rat leydig cells. Chem. Biol. Interact., 240: 38-46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbi.2015.08.004Jahan S., Ain Q.U., Ullah H. 2016. Therapeutic effects of quercetin against bisphenol A induced testicular damage in male Sprague Dawley rats. Sys. Biol. Reprod. Med., 62: 114-124. https://doi.org/10.3109/19396368.2015.1115139Kanter M., Aktas C., Erboga M. 2011. Heat stress decreases testicular germ cell ‐proliferation and increases apoptosis in short term: an immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study. Toxicol. Ind. Health, 29: 99-113. https://doi.org/10.1177/0748233711425082Khaki A., Fathiazad F., Nouri M., Khaki A., Maleki N.A., Khamnei H.J., Ahmadi P. 2010. Beneficial effects of quercetin on sperm parameters in streptozotocin-induced diabetic male rats. Phytother. Res., 24: 1285-1291. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.3100Khorsandi L., Orazizadeh M., Moradi-Gharibvand N., Hemadi M., Mansouri E. 2017. Beneficial effects of quercetin on titanium dioxide nanoparticles induced spermatogenesis defects in mice. Environment. Sci. Pollut. Res., 24: 5595-5606. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-8325-2Li G., Ma A., Shi W., Zhong X.H. 2010. Quercetin protects hamster spermatogenic cells from oxidative damage induced by diethylstilbestrol. Andrologia, 42: 285-290. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0272.2009.00990.xLiang X., Xia Z., Yan J., Wang Y., Xue S., Zhang X. 2016. Quercetin inhibits human sperm functions by reducing sperm [Ca2+]i and tyrosine phosphorylation. Pakistan J. Pharmaceutic. Sci., 29: 2391-2396.Maneesh M., Jayalekshmi H., Dutta S., Chakrabarti A., Vasudevan D.M. 2005. Role of oxidative stress in ethanol induced germ cell apoptosis - An experimental study in rats. Indian J. Clinic. Biochem., 20: 62-67. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02867402Marai I.F. M., Habeeb A.A.M., Gad A.E. 2002. Rabbits' productive, reproductive and physiological performance traits as affected by heat stress: A review. Livest. Prod. Sci., 78: 71-90. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0301-6226(02)00091-XMoridani M.Y., Pourahmad J., Bui H., Siraki A., O'Brien P.J. 2003. Dietary flavonoid iron complexes as cytoprotective superoxide radical scavengers. Free Radic. Biol. Med., 34: 243-253. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0891-5849(02)01241-8Naseer Z., Ahmad E., Şahiner H.S., Epikmen E.T., Fiaz M., Yousuf M.R., Khan S.A., Serin İ., Ceylan A., Aksoy M. 2018. Dietary quercetin maintains the semen quality in rabbits under summer heat stress. Theriogenology, 122: 88-93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2018.09.009Odet F., Gabel S., London R.E., Goldberg E., Eddy E.M. 2013. Glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration in mouse LDHC-null sperm. Biol. Reprod., 88: 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod.113.108530Osawe S.O., Farombi E.O. 2018. Quercetin and rutin ameliorates sulphasalazine-induced spermiotoxicity, alterations in reproductive hormones and steroidogenic enzyme imbalance in rats. Andrologia, 50: e12981. https://doi.org/10.1111/and.12981Parrish J.J., Willenburg K.L., Gibbs K.M., Yagoda K.B., Krautkramer M.M., Loether T.M., Melo F.C.S.A. 2017. Scrotal insulation and sperm production in the boar. Molecul. Reprod. Develop., 84: 969-978. https://doi.org/10.1002/mrd.22841Sönmez M., Türk G., Ceribas S., Ciftçi M., Yüce A., Güvenç M., Kaya S.O., Cay M., Aksakal M. 2014. Quercetin attenuates carbon tetrachloride-induced testicular damage in rats. Andrologia, 46: 848-858. https://doi.org/10.1111/and.12159Turner T.T., Lysiak J.J. 2008. Oxidative stress: a common factor in testicular dysfunction. J. Androl., 29: 488-498. https://doi.org/10.2164/jandrol.108.005132Uygur R., Yagmurca M., Alkoc O.A., Genc A., Songur A., Ucok K., Ozen O.A. 2014. Effects of quercetin and fish n-3 fatty acids on testicular injury induced by ethanol in rats. Andrologia, 46: 356-369. https://doi.org/10.1111/and.12085Van Soest P.J., Robertson J.B., Lewis B.A. 1991. Methods for dietary fiber, neutral detergent fiber, and nonstarch polysaccharides in relation to animal nutrition. J. Dairy Sci., 74: 3583-3597. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(91)78551-2Vaux D.L., Flavell R.A. 2000. Apoptosis genes and autoimmunity. Current Opin. Immunol., 12: 719-724. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0952-7915(00)00168-0Wechalekar H., Setchell B.P., Peirce E.J., Ricci M., Leigh C., Breed W.G. 2010. Whole-body heat exposure induces membrane changes in spermatozoa from the cauda epididymidis of laboratory mice. Asian J. Androl., 12: 591-598. https://doi.org/10.1038/aja.2010.41Yaeram J., Setchell B.P., Maddocks S. 2006. Effect of heat stress on the fertility of male mice in vivo and in vitro. Reprod. Fert. 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Parallel Direct Solution of the Covariance-Localized Ensemble Square Root Kalman Filter Equations with Matrix Functions

[EN] Recently, the serial approach to solving the square root ensemble Kalman filter (ESRF) equations in the presence of covariance localization was found to depend on the order of observations. As shown previously, correctly updating the localized posterior covariance in serial requires additional effort and computational expense. A recent work by Steward et al. details an all-at-once direct method to solve the ESRF equations in parallel. This method uses the eigenvectors and eigenvalues of the forward observation covariance matrix to solve the difficult portion of the ESRF equations. The remaining assimilation is easily parallelized, and the analysis does not depend on the order of observations. While this allows for long localization lengths that would render local analysis methods inefficient, in theory, an eigenpair-based method scales as the cube number of observations, making it infeasible for large numbers of observations. In this work, we extend this method to use the theory of matrix functions to avoid eigenpair computations. The Arnoldi process is used to evaluate the covariance-localized ESRF equations on the reduced-order Krylov subspace basis. This method is shown to converge quickly and apparently regains a linear scaling with the number of observations. The method scales similarly to the widely used serial approach of Anderson and Collins in wall time but not in memory usage. To improve the memory usage issue, this method potentially can be used without an explicit matrix. In addition, hybrid ensemble and climatological covariances can be incorporated.This research was partially funded by the NOAA Hurricane Forecast Improvement Project Award NA14NWS4680022. This work was partially supported by Agencia Estatal de Investigacion (AEI) under Grant TIN2016-75985-P, which includes European Commission ERDF funds. Alejandro Lamas Davina was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport through a grant with reference FPU13-06655. The fourth author's work was in part carried out under the auspices of CIMAS, a joint institute of the University of Miami and NOAA, Cooperative Agreement NA15OAR4320064. The authors acknowledge the NOAA Research and Development High Performance Computing Program for providing computing and storage resources that have contributed to the research results reported within this paper (http://rdhpcs.noaa.gov). We thank Jeff Anderson, Shu-Chih Yang, and three anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments and contributions. We also thank Hui Christophersen for providing technical assistance.Steward, JL.; Roman, JE.; Lamas Daviña, A.; Aksoy, A. (2018). Parallel Direct Solution of the Covariance-Localized Ensemble Square Root Kalman Filter Equations with Matrix Functions. Monthly Weather Review. 146(9):2819-2836. https://doi.org/10.1175/MWR-D-18-0022.1S28192836146

Heating of magnetic fluid systems driven by circularly polarized magnetic field

Cataloged from PDF version of article.A theory is presented to calculate the heat dissipation of a magnetic suspension, a ferrofluid, driven by7 circularly polarized magnetic field. Theory is tested by in vitro experiments and it is shown that, regardless of the character of the relaxation process, linearly and circularly polarized magnetic field excitations, having the same root-mean-square magnitude, are equivalent in terms of heating efficiency. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved