Islets of Langerhans Are Protected from Inflammatory Cell Recruitment during Reperfusion of Rat Pancreas Grafts

Background: Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury plays a pivotal role in the development of graft pancreatitis, with ischemia time representing one of its crucial factors. However, it is unclear, whether exocrine and endocrine tissue experience similar inflammatory responses during pancreas transplantation (PTx). This study evaluated inflammatory susceptibilities of islets of Langerhans (ILH) and exocrine tissue after different preservation periods during early reperfusion. Methods: PTx was performed in rats following 2 h (2h-I) or 18 h (18h-I) preservation. Leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions (LEI) were analyzed in venules of acinar tissue and ILH in vivo over 2 h reperfusion. Nontransplanted animals served as controls. Tissue samples were analyzed by histomorphometry. Results: In exocrine venules leukocyte rolling predominated in the 2h-I group. In the 18h-I group, additionally, high numbers of adherent leukocytes were found. Histology revealed significant edema formation and leukocyte extravasation in the 18h-I group. Notably, LEI in postcapillary venules of ILH were significantly lower. Leukocyte rolling was only moderately enhanced and few leukocytes were found adherent. Histology revealed minor leukocyte extravasation. Conclusion: Ischemia time contributes decisively to the extent of the I/R-injury in PTx. However, ILH have a significantly lower susceptibility towards I/R, even when inflammatory reactions in adjacent exocrine tissue are evident. Copyright (C) 2010 S. Karger AG, Base

Influence of transformation plasticity on residual stresses and distortions due to the heat treatment of steels with different carbon contents

The simulation of manufacturing processes is more and more becoming an important tool in simultaneous engineering. The aim is to cut the time necessary for development and to optimise processes by simulation of the complete manufacturing chain. The field of heat treatment offers a large variety of applications for the use of simulation tools. Heat treatment of steels always includes the development of residual stresses and distortions. The geometry of the part, the composition of the material, the heat treatment process as well as the initial state of the part interact with each other in complex ways and have an influence on the distortion of the part. Using simulation the temporal development of temperature, phases, stresses and distortions while quenching as well as the residual stress distribution and distortion after quenching can be calculated. Transformation plasticity has been proved to be very important for heat treatment simulation. Three steels with identical contents of alloying elements but different carbon contents of 0.2, 0.5 and 0.8 wt.-% were analysed. The transformation plasticity constants for the martensitic transformation under tensile as well as compressive stresses were determined by quenching hollow specimen with nitrogen. Distortions and residual stresses were examined experimentally with cylinders made out of the three steels. Additionally, simulations of the quenching process of the cylinders were taken into account in the analysis of the experimental findings

Navigation in politics – fuzzy cognitive map and argumentation approach for policy modelling and analytics

This paper will illustrate with the example of the Policy Compass, an EU research project, how ICT in government can address the need for policy tools with support of AI. In sum, this paper will reveal how open data and AI can support the policy impact modelling and analysis. In the Policy Compass platform, Carneades argumentation systems is being integrated with the Adhocracy e-participation platform and Fuzzy Cognitive Maps (FCMs) plays a critical role to model and simulate the impact of policy. These function shows the potential of applicability of AI technology for a complex policy evaluation as a political process.</p