IL-12 and IL-4 activate a CD39-dependent intrinsic peripheral tolerance mechanism in CD8+ T cells

Immune responses to protein antigens involve CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, which follow distinct programs of differentiation. Naïve CD8 T cells rapidly develop cytotoxic T-cell (CTL) activity after T-cell receptor stimulation, and we have previously shown that this is accompanied by suppressive activity in the presence of specific cytokines, i.e. IL-12 and IL-4. Cytokine-induced CD8+ regulatory T (Treg) cells are one of several Treg-cell phenotypes and are Foxp3− IL-10+ with contact-dependent suppressive capacity. Here, we show they also express high level CD39, an ecto-nucleotidase that degrades extracellular ATP, and this contributes to their suppressive activity. CD39 expression was found to be upregulated on CD8+ T cells during peripheral tolerance induction in vivo, accompanied by release of IL-12 and IL-10. CD39 was also upregulated during respiratory tolerance induction to inhaled allergen and on tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells. Production of IL-10 and expression of CD39 by CD8+ T cells was independently regulated, being respectively blocked by extracellular ATP and enhanced by an A2A adenosine receptor agonist. Our results suggest that any CTL can develop suppressive activity when exposed to specific cytokines in the absence of alarmins. Thus negative feedback controls CTL expansion under regulation from both nucleotide and cytokine environment within tissues

Effects of Education on Correcting Misconceptions and Acceptance of the Influenza Vaccination Among a College Campus

Educating patients on the influenza vaccination is an important goal for health care providers. It fosters a working relationship between provider and patient and allows patients to make an informed decision on their health care needs. The percentage of individuals who receive the influenza vaccine in the United States has been consistently below goals set by the committee for Healthy People 2020. This DNP scholarly project aimed to determine whether the introduction of education was effective at increasing individuals’ choice to vaccinate against the influenza virus among college campus students. The study was a non-experimental, non-randomized control trial that utilized a simple random sample of students attending a Midwestern college. The theoretical framework utilized for this scholarly project is Pender’s health promotion model. A modified version of the College Student’s Perception of Influenza Vaccine and Childhood Immunizations survey was used utilizing a Likert scale which assessed responses to 22 questions before and after viewing an educational video created by this researcher. After the data was collected, a t-test and logistic regression were used to compare differences in the distribution of responses, and p values were used to determine the statistical significance while comparing the participants’ answers before and after education and vaccination status. The study found statistical significance to indicate that educational intervention improved participants’ knowledge/understanding surrounding the influenza vaccine and childhood vaccinations

Chemical Changes in Groundwater of Northern Utah Valley, Utah

Northern Utah Valley is one of the fastest growing areas of Utah and has increasing needs for domestic, industrial, and agricultural water. To meet these needs, groundwater and surface water systems must be understood to maximize their use. Chemical studies of the sediment mineralogy and related water-chemistry give insight to the movement of the water. There are three major aquifers present in the valley: shallow Pleistocene; deep Pleistocene; and Tertiary. They are composed of sands and gravels and are separated by confining layers (aquitards) composed mostly of clay. Along the flanks of the bordering mountains there are undifferentiated aquifers which act as conduits supplying water for aquifers in the valley. Sediment samples from aquifers and confining layers were obtained by rotary and cable-tool drilling. X-ray diffraction analyses showed that the aquifers are mainly composed of quartz, calcite, and dolomite, whereas the con fining layers contain illite and montmorillonite with some kaolinite, quart z and calcite. One hundred nine water samples were collected in this study from s ur face water, spring water, undifferentiated aquifer water, shallow Pleistocene aquifer water, deep Pleistocene aquifer water and Tertiary aquifer water. Results show that the ground water system has several geochemical cells in each aquifer, due to diverse areas of recharge. Three major water types can be identified in different areas of the shallow Pleistocene aquifer, three in different areas of the Tertiary aquifer, and four in different areas of the deep Pleistocene aquifer. The differences in these water types are related to the composition of the mountain recharge areas and positions of faults within the valleys. The aquifer composition exerts relatively little influence on the chemistry of the ground water. Mountains of predominantly carbonate rocks produce recharge waters rich in calcium and bicarbonate. Mountains of predominantly granitic rocks produce recharge water low in mineral content. Valley sediments near major faults produce highly mineralized waters

Annual Periodicity of the 18O16O and 13C12C ratios in the coral Montastrea annularis

The isotopic ratios 18O/16O and 13C/12C show an annual periodicity in the coral Montastrea annularis from Bermuda, Jamaica and Barbados. The abundances of 18O and 13C are positively correlated in the Jamaica and Barbados samples, but inversely related in the Bermuda sample. Annual high density growth bands are formed during the season of warmest water temperature at all 3 sites and are enriched in 16O. M. Annularis has a constant displacement from oxygen isotopic equilibrium and accurately records seasonal temperature variations via the temperature-dependent aragonite-water fractionation factor. Light intensity, through the activity of the coral\u27s endosymbiotic algae, regulates the depth-dependent and seasonal variations in the skeletal carbon isotopic composition

Perceived vocal morbidity in a problem asthma clinic

<p>Aims: Asthma treatment has the potential to affect patients' voices. We undertook detailed characterisation of voice morbidity in patients attending a problem asthma clinic, and we determined how patients' perceptions related to objective assessment by an experienced observer.</p> <p>Methods: Forty-three patients took part in the study. Subjects completed the self-administered voice symptom score (VoiSS) questionnaire and underwent digital voice recording. These voice recordings were scored using the grade–roughness–breathiness–asthenicity–strain system (GRBAS). Laryngoscopy was also performed.</p> <p>Results: The median VoiSS was 26 (range three to 83). VoiSS were significantly lower in the 17 patients with normal laryngeal structure and function (range four to 46; median 22), compared with the 26 patients with functional or structural laryngeal abnormality (range three to 83; median 33) (95 per cent confidence intervals for difference 0.0–21.0; p = 0.044). The overall grade score for the GRBAS scale did not differ between these two groups, and only 13 patients had a GRBAS score of one or more, recognised as indicating a voice problem. There were positive correlations between related GRBAS score and voice symptom score subscales. Although voice symptom scores were significantly more abnormal in patients with structural and functional abnormalities, this score performed only moderately well as a predictive tool (sensitivity 54 per cent; specificity 71 per cent). Nevertheless, the voice symptom score performed as well as the more labour-intensive GRBAS score (sensitivity 57 per cent; specificity 60 per cent). Patients' inhaled corticosteroid dose (median dose 1000 µg beclomethasone dipropionate or equivalent) had a statistically significant relationship with their overall grade score for the GRBAS scale (r = 0.56; p < 0.001), but not with their VoiSS. Only one patient had evidence of laryngeal candidiasis, and only two had any evidence of abnormality suggesting steroid-induced myopathy.</p> <p>Conclusions: Vocal morbidity is common in patients with asthma, and should not be immediately attributed to steroid-related candidiasis. The VoiSS merits further, prospective validation as a screening tool for ENT and/or speech and language therapy referral in patients with asthma.</p&gt

Estudio de la nueva torre de control del aeropuerto de Tenerife-Norte

Aunque el criterio fundamental de diseño de la torre de control de un aeropuerto es obviamente que esta instalación satisfaga los requisitos funcionales propios del control del tráfico aéreo (suministrar los servicios de control de tránsito aéreo a tránsito de aeródromo), el hecho de que este elemento de la arquitectura aeroporLuaria deba ocupar, precisamente debido a los req ui sitos específicos de vis ibilidad, un lugar destacado dentro del complejo aeroportuario, ha ocasionado que con el tiempo en las construcciones se hayan convertido en elementos singulares y emblemáticos, diseñados tanto para cumplir la batería de requisitos operativos, constructivos y de equipamiento que asegurcn el cumplimiento de su misión, como para, en muchos casos, servir de signo identificador de l aeropuerto. Todo ello ha ocasionado que en los últimos años se haya vertido mucha imaginación en el diseño de tales torres de control, pudiéndose encontrar en los aeropuertos las torres de control de las más variadas formas y aspectos

The effects of obesity with pregnancy termination: a literature review

Obesity has become a major health problem in the United States as well as globally which may affect the safety of pregnancy termination. Thus, a literature review was conducted to determine the available evidence regarding the effects of obesity with pregnancy termination to assist with patient care and counseling. The available evidence is limited by small numbers and descriptive study design. While pregnancy termination upon obese women may impart additional technical challenges, experienced providers complete procedures upon obese women without statistically significant differences in procedure or patient outcomes compared to normal weight women for first trimester gestations. Pharmacological abortion may be a more practical option in some very obese women

Nineteenth annual New England Intercollegiate Geological Excursion: October 12 and 13, 1923, Massachusetts

Locality 1: Cut on Bow Street, south of Turkey Hill, northwest corner of Arlington; Locality 2: Blueberry Mountain, southeast border of Woburn between Woburn and East Woburn; Locality 3: Shore west of West Manchester, on Gloucester branch of the Boston and Maine R.R., third of the way from Beverly to Glouceste

Reliability of perceptions of voice quality: evidence from a problem asthma clinic population

<p>Introduction: Methods of perceptual voice evaluation have yet to achieve satisfactory consistency; complete acceptance of a recognised clinical protocol is still some way off.</p> <p>Materials and methods: Three speech and language therapists rated the voices of 43 patients attending the problem asthma clinic of a teaching hospital, according to the grade-roughness-breathiness-asthenicity-strain (GRBAS) scale and other perceptual categories.</p> <p>Results and analysis: Use of the GRBAS scale achieved only a 64.7 per cent inter-rater reliability and a 69.6 per cent intra-rater reliability for the grade component. One rater achieved a higher degree of consistency. Improved concordance on the GRBAS scale was observed for subjects with laryngeal abnormalities. Raters failed to reach any useful level of agreement in the other categories employed, except for perceived gender.</p> <p>Discussion: These results should sound a note of caution regarding routine adoption of the GRBAS scale for characterising voice quality for clinical purposes. The importance of training and the use of perceptual anchors for reliable perceptual rating need to be further investigated.</p&gt

Data Driven Regional Weather Forecasting: Example using the Shallow Water Equations

Using data alone, without knowledge of underlying physical models, nonlinear discrete time regional forecasting dynamical rules are constructed employing well tested methods from applied mathematics and nonlinear dynamics. Observations of environmental variables such as wind velocity, temperature, pressure, etc allow the development of forecasting rules that predict the future of these variables only. A regional set of observations with appropriate sensors allows one to forgo standard considerations of spatial resolution and uncertainties in the properties of detailed physical models. Present global or regional models require specification of details of physical processes globally or regionally, and the ensuing, often heavy, computational requirements provide information of the time variation of many quantities not of interest locally. In this paper we formulate the construction of data driven forecasting (DDF) models of geophysical processes and demonstrate how this works within the familiar example of a 'global' model of shallow water flow on a mid-latitude beta plane. A sub-region, where observations are made, of the global flow is selected. A discrete time dynamical forecasting system is constructed from these observations. DDF forecasting accurately predicts the future of observed variables.Comment: 46 pages, 10 figure