438 research outputs found
Corrigendum to "Modelling soil erosion at European scale: towards harmonization and reproducibility" published in Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci.,15, 225–245, 2015
No abstract available
Cigarette Smoke Suppresses Type I Interferon-Mediated Antiviral Immunity in Lung Fibroblast and Epithelial Cells
The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of cigarette smoke on innate antiviral defense mechanisms; specifically, we examined the effects of cigarette smoke on the induction of type I interferon (IFN). We observed a dose-dependent decrease in the ability of human lung fibroblast and epithelial cells to elicit an antiviral response against a viral double-strand RNA (dsRNA) mimic, polyI:C, in the presence of cigarette smoke-conditioned medium (SCM). Mechanistically, SCM decreases the expression of IFN-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) and IFN regulatory factor-7 (IRF-7) transcripts and suppresses the nuclear translocation of key transcription factors, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and IRF-3, after polyI:C stimulation. Furthermore, we provide evidence that the intercellular defense strategy against viral infection is also impaired. We observed a decrease in the ability of fibroblasts to elicit an antiviral state in response to IFN-β stimulation. This was associated with decreased nuclear translocation of phosphorylated Stat1 in response to IFN-β treatment. The effects elicited by SCM are reversible and are almost entirely abrogated in the presence of an antioxidant, such as glutathione. Our findings suggest that cigarette smoke affects the immediate-early, inductive, and amplification phases of the type I IFN response
Attentional Bias for Pain and Sex, and Automatic Appraisals of Sexual Penetration:Differential Patterns in Dyspareunia vs Vaginismus?
Introduction: Current information processing models propose that heightened attention bias for sex-related threats (eg, pain) and lowered automatic incentive processes ("wanting") may play an important role in the impairment of sexual arousal and the development of sexual dysfunctions such as genitopelvic pain/penetration disorder (GPPPD). Differential threat and incentive processing may also help explain the stronger persistence of coital avoidance in women with vaginismus compared to women with dyspareunia.Aims: As the first aim, we tested if women with GPPPD show (1) heightened attention for pain and sex, and (2) heightened threat and lower incentive associations with sexual penetration. Second, we examined whether the stronger persistence of coital avoidance in vaginismus vs dyspareunia might be explained by a stronger attentional bias or more dysfunctional automatic threat/incentive associations.Methods: Women with lifelong vaginismus (n = 37), dyspareunia (n = 29), and a no-symptoms comparison group (n = 51) completed a visual search task to assess attentional bias, and single target implicit-association tests to measure automatic sex-threat and sex-wanting associations.Results: There were no group differences in attentional bias or automatic associations. Correlational analysis showed that slowed detection of sex stimuli and stronger automatic threat associations were related to lowered sexual arousal.Conclusion: The findings do not corroborate the view that attentional bias for pain or sex contributes to coital pain, or that differences in coital avoidance may be explained by differences in attentional bias or automatic threat/incentive associations. However, the correlational findings are consistent with the view that automatic threat associations and impaired attention for sex stimuli may interfere with the generation of sexual arousal. Copyright (C) 2016, International Society for Sexual Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.</p
Extracellular dsRNA induces a type I interferon response mediated via class A scavenger receptors in a novel Chinook salmon derived spleen cell line
The final publication is available at Elsevier via https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dci.2018.08.010 © 2018. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/Despite increased global interest in Chinook salmon aquaculture, little is known of their viral immune defenses. This study describes the establishment and characterization of a continuous cell line derived from Chinook salmon spleen, CHSS, and its use in innate immune studies. Optimal growth was seen at 14–18 °C when grown in Leibovitz's L-15 media with 20% fetal bovine serum. DNA analyses confirmed that CHSS was Chinook salmon and genetically different from the only other available Chinook salmon cell line, CHSE-214. Unlike CHSE-214, CHSS could bind extracellular dsRNA, resulting in the rapid and robust expression of antiviral genes. Receptor/ligand blocking assays confirmed that class A scavenger receptors (SR-A) facilitated dsRNA binding and subsequent gene expression. Although both cell lines expressed three SR-A genes: SCARA3, SCARA4, and SCARA5, only CHSS appeared to have functional cell-surface SR-As for dsRNA. Collectively, CHSS is an excellent cell model to study dsRNA-mediated innate immunity in Chinook salmon.Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of CanadaCanada Research Counci
Does alcohol catch the eye? Investigating young adults’ attention to alcohol consumption
Many studies on young adults' motivations for drinking overlook the symbolic aspects of alcohol use. However, research indicates that young adults' alcohol consumption is also driven by signaling motivations. Although the interest of a receiver is a necessary prerequisite of a signal, no previous studies have verified whether drinking behavior indeed attracts young adults' attention. Therefore, we conducted two studies. A two-part eye-tracking study ( N1 = 135, N2 = 140) showed that both young men and young women pay special visual attention to male and female drinking behavior. Additionally, a recall experiment ( N = 321) confirmed that observed male and female drinking is better remembered than observed nonsignaling, functional behavior. Moreover, alcoholic beverages also receive special attention, as they were recalled better than other functional products, and also nonalcoholic drinks similar in color and shape. In summary, the experiments clearly showed that male and female drinking behavior can be used as a signal, as both behaviors clearly function as an attention-attracting cue. Additionally, as alcoholic beverages draw more attention than nonalcoholic drinks, this attention is clearly linked to the alcohol element of the drinking behavior
Associations of Intimacy, Partner Responsiveness, and Attachment-Related Emotional Needs With Sexual Desire
In this online cross-sectional survey study in a large community sample we investigated the associations between attachment-related relational needs, partner responsiveness, intimacy, and sexual desire, using structural equation modeling. Participants were heterosexual and non-heterosexual women and men. Intimacy and partner responsiveness correlated positively with sexual desire in all subsamples. Anxious attachment-related relational needs correlated positively with sexual desire. Avoidant attachment-related relational needs correlated negatively with sexual desire. Anxious and avoidant attachment-related needs, however, did not moderate the association between intimacy and sexual desire. Individuals with problems of low sexual desire may benefit from an emphasis in sex therapy on ways to increase (perceptions of) intimacy
Ceres Scales Ground Validation Campaigns for Gerb. Assessment of the Valencia Anchor Station Capabilities
Proceedings del 3rd MSG RAO Workshop, celebrado el 15 de junio de 2006 en Helsinki, Finlandia.The Valencia Anchor Station (VAS) was set up by the
University of Valencia at the natural region of UtielRequena Plateau in 2001. The plateau is a large and
reasonably homogeneous area suitable for validation of
low spatial resolution satellite data and products such
as GERB's. In the framework of the EUMETSAT/ESA
MSG-RAO Project no. 138 GIST Proposal for
Calibration/Validation of SEVIRI and GERB, and of
the Spanish Research Programme on Space Project
SCALES (SEVIRI & GERB Cal/Val Area for Largescale Field ExperimentS), three GERB ground
validation campaigns have so far been carried out at the
VAS under different land surface conditions. CERES
instruments onboard NASA EOS Aqua and Terra
satellites, operating in PAPS (Programmable Azimuth
Plane Scanning) mode, have generously provided
additional SW and LW radiance measurements to
support validation efforts. These have shown to be
most valuable as intermediate validation step between
ground measurements and the large GERB pixel size
Pre-launch calibration results of the TROPOMI payload on-board the Sentinel-5 Precursor satellite
The Sentinel-5 Precursor satellite was successfully launched on 13 October 2017, carrying the Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) as its single
payload. TROPOMI is the next-generation atmospheric sounding instrument,
continuing the successes of GOME, SCIAMACHY, OMI, and OMPS, with higher
spatial resolution, improved sensitivity, and extended wavelength range. The
instrument contains four spectrometers, divided over two modules sharing a
common telescope, measuring the ultraviolet, visible, near-infrared, and
shortwave infrared reflectance of the Earth. The imaging system enables daily
global coverage using a push-broom configuration, with a spatial resolution
as low as 7Ă—3.5 km2 in nadir from a Sun-synchronous orbit at
824 km and an Equator crossing time of 13:30 local solar time.
This article reports the pre-launch calibration status of the TROPOMI payload
as derived from the on-ground calibration effort. Stringent requirements are
imposed on the quality of on-ground calibration in order to match the high
sensitivity of the instrument.
A new methodology has been employed during the analysis of the obtained
calibration measurements to ensure the consistency and validity of the
calibration. This was achieved by using the production-grade Level 0 to 1b
data processor in a closed-loop validation set-up. Using this approach the
consistency between the calibration and the L1b product,
as well as confidence in the obtained calibration result, could be established.
This article introduces this novel calibration approach and describes all
relevant calibrated instrument properties as they were derived before launch
of the mission. For most of the relevant properties compliance with the
calibration requirements could be established, including the knowledge of the
instrument spectral and spatial response functions. Partial compliance was
established for the straylight correction; especially the
out-of-spectral-band correction for the near-infrared channel needs future validation.
The absolute radiometric calibration of the radiance and irradiance
responsivity is compliant with the high-level mission requirements, but not
with the stricter calibration requirements as the available on-ground
validation shows. The relative radiometric calibration of the Sun port was
non-compliant. The non-compliant subjects will be addressed during the
in-flight commissioning phase in the first 6 months following launch.</p
Knowledge-based energy functions for computational studies of proteins
This chapter discusses theoretical framework and methods for developing
knowledge-based potential functions essential for protein structure prediction,
protein-protein interaction, and protein sequence design. We discuss in some
details about the Miyazawa-Jernigan contact statistical potential,
distance-dependent statistical potentials, as well as geometric statistical
potentials. We also describe a geometric model for developing both linear and
non-linear potential functions by optimization. Applications of knowledge-based
potential functions in protein-decoy discrimination, in protein-protein
interactions, and in protein design are then described. Several issues of
knowledge-based potential functions are finally discussed.Comment: 57 pages, 6 figures. To be published in a book by Springe
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