Video Data Visualization System: Semantic Classification And Personalization

We present in this paper an intelligent video data visualization tool, based on semantic classification, for retrieving and exploring a large scale corpus of videos. Our work is based on semantic classification resulting from semantic analysis of video. The obtained classes will be projected in the visualization space. The graph is represented by nodes and edges, the nodes are the keyframes of video documents and the edges are the relation between documents and the classes of documents. Finally, we construct the user's profile, based on the interaction with the system, to render the system more adequate to its references.Comment: graphic

Expression of Fas antigen and Fas ligand in bronchoalveolar lavage from silicosis patients.

OBJECTIVE: To understand the role of apoptosis through Fas/Fas ligand (FasL) interaction in the pathogenesis of silicosis, we examined the expression of Fas antigen, FasL and apoptosis in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid lymphocytes obtained from patients with silicosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten patients with silicosis, and 10 healthy controls were studied. Non-adherent cells were separated and analysed by cytometry for the expression of Fas antigen, FasL, and the co-expression of Fas/FasL. By double staining, we studied the FasL expression on CD4, CD8, CD56 and CD45RO-positive cells. DNA fragmentation was investigated by the terminal deoxy(d) UTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) method. RESULTS: We have found Fas and FasL expression in silicosis patients to be significantly higher than those in healthy controls. Interestingly, 6-18% of lymphocytes from silicosis patients co-expressed Fas and FasL. In silicosis patients, FasL was highly expressed on CD4+, CD56+ and CD45RO+ bronchoalveolar lavage cells. Fas antigen expressing cells showed DNA fragmentation characteristic for apoptosis. CONCLUSION: FasL was significantly expressed on cytotoxic effector and memory cells. The Fas/FasL system is implicated in the inflammatory process observed in silicosis patients

Association of GST Genes Polymorphisms with Asthma in Tunisian Children

Background. A positive association between genetic polymorphism and asthma may not be extrapolated from one ethnic group to another based on intra- and interethnic allelic and genotype frequencies differences. Objective. We assessed whether polymorphisms of GST genes (GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1) are associated with asthma and atopy among Tunisian children. Methods. 112 unrelated healthy individuals and 105 asthmatic (73 atopic and 32 nonatopic) children were studied. Genotyping the polymorphisms in the GSTT1 and GSTM1 genes was performed using the multiplex PCR. The GSTP1 ILe105Val polymorphism was determined using PCR-RFLP. Results. GSTM1 null genotype was significantly associated with the increased risk of asthma (P = .002). Asthmatic children had a higher prevalence of the GSTP1Ile105 allele than the control group (43.8% and 33.5%, respectively; P = .002). Also, the presence of the GSTP1 homozygote Val/Val was less common in subjects with asthma than in control group. We have found that GSTT1 null genotype (GSTT1 *0/*0) was significantly associated with atopy (P = .008). Conclusion. Polymorphisms within genes of the GST superfamily were associated with risk of asthma and atopy in Tunisia

Inflammatory Process of CD8(+)CD28(−) T Cells in Induced Sputum From Asthmatic Patients

Previously unreported CD8(+)CD28(−) and CD8(+)CD28(+) T-cell subsets occur in healthy individuals and expand in patients suffering from autoimmune disease. Here we studied, for the first time, the expression of CD8(+)CD28(+), CD8(+)CD28(−), and CD8(+)CD56(+) subpopulations in induced sputum from asthmatics. Using sputum samples, purified CD8(+) T cells were stained for surface antigen CD28, CD56, FITC-conjugated anti-perforin, and anti-IFN-γ. Cytotoxic activity was evaluated in a chromium releasing test. Induced sputum CD8(+)CD28(−) T cells were found to be more expanded and expressed low levels of IFN-γ in severe asthmatics than mild asthma and age-matched healthy controls. The predominance of CD8(+)CD28(−) T cells can be in part explained by the expansion of CD8(+)CD56(+). CD8(+)CD28(−) T cells from severe asthmatics produced high intracytoplasmic perforin and exerted a potent cytotoxic activity. Considering their phenotyping and functional properties, the CD8(+)CD28(−) T-cell subset may constitute an intermediate phenotype in the process of CD8(+) T-cell differentiation of effector-type cells in severe asthmatics. Functional studies showed that CD8(+)CD28(−) T cells had cytotoxic function

Association of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Polymorphisms with Asthma in Tunisian Children

Background: Previous studies demonstrated that the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was being implicated in the airways inflammation and remodeling process in patients with asthma.Aims: We explored the relationship of three polymorphisms in the VEGF gene with asthma in both case control and family studies.Methods: We Genotyped a total of 210 children with asthma, 224 unrelated controls and 160 parents for the +936 C > T (rs3025039), −634 G > C (rs2010963) and −2549 –2567 del 18 of the VEGF promoter region. The Mutations were identified with polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis for the +936 C > T, and −634 G > C polymorphisms.Results: Of the three polymorphisms studied, a borderline association with asthma was found for the G allele in the −634 G > C polymorphism (p = 0.059). No Statistically significant differences were observed for both +936 C > T, and −2549 –2567 del 18 polymorphisms between asthmatic patients and controls, considering either allelic or genotypic frequencies.The distribution of genotypes according to the severity status revealed a significant differences for the +936 C > T, and −2549 –2567 del 18 polymorphisms. In addition, association was found with the haplotypes inferred by the three polymorphisms and asthma susceptibility.Conclusion: We suggest that VEGF Gene polymorphisms can be implicated in asthma

NKT Cells in the Induced Sputum of Severe Asthmatics

To determine whether there was a specific inflammatory process in severe asthmatics, the phenotypic characteristics of induced sputum immune cells were analysed among patients with severe asthma. Twenty-two induced sputa (10 severe asthmatics) were studied. Flow cytometric analysis was performed using immune cells of the sputum and monoclonal antibodies to CD3, CD4, CD8, CD56, CD25, and TCRγδ. The number of NKT (CD3(+)CD56(+)) cells was significantly higher in the sputum of severe asthmatics compared with mild asthmatic and healthy control groups (P < .05). CD8(+)CD56(+) cells were the predominant subtype of the increased NKT cells in severe asthmatics. CD3(+)CD56(+)Vα24(+), TCRγδ(+) CD56(+), and CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells were significantly increased in severe asthmatic patients. These results suggest that the immunopathogenesis of severe asthmatics vary between severe and mild asthmatics, and that CD8(+)CD56(+) NKT cells may play an important role in the immunopathogenesis of severe asthma

Effect of Exogenous Fibrolytic Enzymes Supplementation or Functional Feed Additives on In Vitro Ruminal Fermentation of Chemically Pre-Treated Sunflower Heads

peer reviewedThis study aims to provide possible utilization of sunflower head byproduct (SFH) as a feedstuff by implementing chemical pretreatments (4% sodium hydroxide (SFHNaOH) or 4% urea (SFHurea) and supplementation with either exogenous fibrolytic enzymes (EFE) or functional feed additive (FFA). The experimental EFE was a complex (1:1, v/v) of two enzyme products with high activity of β-1,3-1,4-glucanase and endo-1,4-β-D-xylanase and applied at 0 (SFHout), 1, 2, 5, and 10 µL/ gdry matter, while FFA was a fermentation byproduct rich in cellulase and xylanase activities, applied at 0 (SFHout), 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 mg/g DM. SFHurea had the highest (p < 0.05) crude protein (CP) content compared to other SFH substrates. Linear enhancements (p < 0.05) in kinetics of gas production (GP), metabolizable energy (ME), organic matter digestibility (OMD) and total short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) concentrations were observed for all SFH substrates supplemented with EFE. The SFHout had the highest (p < 0.05) potential GP, maximum rate (Rmax) of GP, ME, OMD and SCFAs. Supplementation of EFE was more pronounced than FFA in affecting the kinetic parameters of in vitro GP for all SFH substrates. SFHout supplemented with EFE seems to be the most promising substrate to enhance microbial fermentation in vitro

Pacifica: Poetry International: Revolutions in Tunisian Poetry

A collection of contemporary poetry from Tunisia, including poems in translation with their French and Arabic original texts