Paracoccidioides Brasiliensis Infection Promotes Thymic Disarrangement And Premature Egress Of Mature Lymphocytes Expressing Prohibitive Tcrs

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Paracoccidioidomycosis, a chronic granulomatous fungal disease caused by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis yeast cells affects mainly rural workers, albeit recently cases in immunosuppressed individuals has been reported. Protective immune response against P. brasiliensis is dependent on the activity of helper T cells especially IFN-gamma-producing Th1 cells. It has been proposed that Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is able to modulate the immune response towards a permissive state and that the thymus plays a major role in it. Methods: In this paper, we show that acute infection of BALB/c mice with P. brasiliensis virulent isolate (Pb18) might cause alterations in the thymic environment as well as the prohibitive TCR-expressing T cells in the spleens. Results: After seven days of infection, we found yeast cells on the thymic stroma, the thymic epithelial cells (TEC) were altered regarding their spatial-orientation and inflammatory mediators gene expression was increased. Likewise, thymocytes (differentiating T cells) presented higher migratory ability in ex vivo experiments. Notwithstanding, P. brasiliensis-infected mice showed an increased frequency of prohibitive TCR-expressing T cells in the spleens, suggesting that the selection processes that occur in the thymus may be compromised during the acute infection. Conclusion: In this paper, for the first time, we show that acute infection with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis yeast cells promotes thymic alterations leading to a defective repertoire of peripheral T cells. The data presented here may represent new mechanisms by which P. brasiliensis subverts the immune response towards the chronic infection observed in humans.16Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) [2012/22131-7, 2013/01401-9, 2013/08194-9, 2014/02631-0]Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Effect of Nitrophoska® and irrigation interval on root and sugar yield of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.), Gezira State, Sudan

Sugar beet is one of the promising crops in the Sudan due to its high root, sugar yield and by-products as an industrial crop. The crop is also a promising alternative energy crop for the production of ethanol. An experiment was conducted at the experimental Farm of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Gezira, Wad Medani, Sudan, during seasons 2012/13 and 2013/14. The objective was to investigate the effects of irrigation intervals (7, 14 and 21 days) and Nitrophoska (NPK compound fertilizer) rates (0, 100, 150 and 200 kg/ha) on root and sugar yield of sugar beet (Ballade cultivar) under Gezira conditions. Split-plot design with three replicates was used. Irrigation intervals were allotted to the main plots and Nitrophoska rates to the subplots. Results showed that shortening irrigation intervals from 21 to 14 and 7 days increased root diameter, root weight and root and sugar yields in both seasons. In addition, Nitrophoska rate of 150 kg/ha substantially improved most of the studied root characters and sugar yield in both seasons. Depending on the results of this study, to obtain high root and sugar yields from sugar beet Ballade cultivar, it could be recommended  to apply 150 kg/ha of  Nitrophoska  and  irrigate every 7 to14 days.   بنجر السكر من المحاصيل الواعدة في السودان وذلك نسبة لإنتاجيته العالية من الجذور والسكر ومنتجاته كمحصول صناعي. بنجر السكر من محاصيل الطاقة البديلة الواعدة لإنتاج الإيثانول. أجريت التجربة في المزرعة التجريبية، كلية العلوم الزراعية، جامعة الجزيرة، وادمدني، السودان في الموسمين 2012/ 13 و 2013/14م على التوالي. الهدف من التجربة هو دراسة تأثير فترات الري (7 و14 و21 يوم) ومعدلات سماد النيتروفوسكا المركب (0 و100 و150 و200 كجم للهكتار) على إنتاجية الجذور والسكر لبنجر السكر (صنف بلدي) تحت ظروف الجزيرة. تم إستخدام تصميم القطع المنشقة بثلاث تكرارات. أوضحت النتائج أن تقليل فترات الري من 21 الي 14 و7 زاد قطر الجذر ووزن الجذر وإنتاجية الجذور والسكر في كلا الموسمين. زيادة معدلات سماد النيتروفوسكا المركب من 0 الى أكثر 150 كجم للهكتار حسن بشكل كبير أغلب الصفات المدروسة للجذر وإنتاجية السكر في كلا الموسمين. إعتماداً على نتائج هذه الدراسة للحصول على أعلى إنتاجية من الجذور والسكر لمحصول بنجر السكر نوصي بإضافة سماد النيتروفوسكا بمعدل 150 كجم/هكتار على أن يروى المحصول كل 7 إلى 14 يو

Influence of Some Innovation Attributes on the Adoption of Growing Sunflower in Rahad Scheme

The vital economic importance of sunflower as one of the oil crops encouraged its introduction to the Sudan in the last twenty years. The production of sunflower crop began in Rahad scheme, as in other irrigated areas in the country, in 1992/93 growing season. Field survey was used to collect data from 100 sunflower growers (adopters) in Rahad Scheme (block 10) in 2002/2003 growing season selected from a total population of 1000-1100 farmers by using the simple random sample technique. An equal number of non-adopters was selected for comparison. The total number of interviewed farmers was 200. The collected data was statistically analyzed using the chi-square test. The results showed significant association (dependency) between adoption of growing sunflower (the innovation) and some of its attributes: Relative advantage on perceived production cost and income, compatibility with farmers need as cash crop and animal feed, complexity associated with use of technical package for sunflower. From the findings of this study, we can conclude that the adoption of this crop was dependent on some innovation attributes and the results were expected to reveal factors influencing adoption of the crop. The authors recommend that more attention should be given by agronomists to this crop in order to improve the yield of the crop and extension services should design special programs for the crop to promote its rate of adoption

Forage yield of some legumes in monoculture and mixtures under irrigation in central Sudan

    The study was conducted during summer, autumn and winter seasons of 2014/15 and 2015/16 at the experimental farm of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Gezira, Wad Medani, Sudan, to investigate the effect of mixing on forage yield of selected three legumes namely: cowpea (CP), black-eyed bean (BB) and lablab bean (LB) and their mixtures with three selected grasses, Sudan grass (SG), maize (MZ) and forage sorghum (Abu70). Legumes were grown in pure stand and mixed with grasses in 1:1 and 1:2 ratios. Treatment combinations were arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. The results showed that mixing significantly increased plant fresh weight, LAI, and fresh forage yield during most seasons and decreased number of branches per plant during different seasons. Land equivalent ratio mostly was greater than one. Based on the results of this study to obtain high forage yield, it was recommended to use seed combinations of 30 kg seeds/ha LB + 30 kg seed/ha MZ during autumn and winter and 30 kg seeds/ha BB + 30 kg seed/ha SG during summer season.     نفذت هذه الدراسة خلال صيف، خريف وشتاء 2014/2015 و2015/2016 بالمزرعة التجريبية لكلية العلوم الزراعية، جامعة الجزيرة، السودان. تهدف هذه الدراسة لتقييم أثر الخلط علي إنتاجية المحاصيل البقولية المختارة وهي اللوبيا الحلو واللوبيا البيضاء واللوبيا العفن ومخاليطها مع المحاصيل النجيلية حشيشة السودان، أبوسبعين والذرة الشامية تحت ظروف الري في أواسط السودان. زرعت المحاصيل البقولية منفرده وفي مخاليط بنسبة 1 : 1 و 1 : 2. تم استخدام تصميم القطاعات العشوائية الكاملة بأربعة مكررات. الخلط أدى إلى زيادة معنوية لكل من  وزن النبات الرطب، دليل مساحة الأوراق وإنتاجية العلف الأخضر خلال معظم المواسم بينما أدى الخلط إلى نقصان عدد الأفرع في مختلف المواسم. كانت قيم نسبة مكافئ الأرض في أغلب المواسم  أعلى من الواحد الصحيح. بناءً على نتائج هذه الدراسة ولتحقيق إنتاجية أعلاف عالية نوصي بزراعة المحاصيل البقولية في مخاليط بنسبة خلط 30 كجم بذور/هكتار لوبيا عفن + 30 كجم بذور/هكتار ذرة شامية خلال فصلي الخريف والشتاء وبنسبة 30 كجم بذور/هكتار لوبيا حلو + 30 كجم بذور/هكتار حشيشة السودان خلال فصل الصيف.                         &nbsp

Effects of mixed cropping with cowpea and nitrogen source on growth and yield of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

Field experiments were conducted during winter (2011/12) and summer (2012/13) seasons. The objective of the study was to examine the effects of mixed cropping with cowpea, nitrogen and chicken manure on growth and yield of sunflower. Randomized complete block design with four replicates was used. The experiment comprised 8 treatments; two sunflower cultivars namely, Hysun33 and Damazin-1, and three nitrogen sources viz: mixed cropping with cowpea, urea (43kgN/ha), chicken manure (5t/ha) plus control. Results showed that the two cultivars were significantly different in plant height, days to 50% flowering, 1000-seed weight and empty seed percentage in both seasons. Hysun33 had taller plants, late to flower, heavier seeds and lower empty seeds percentage than Damazin-1. They were also significantly different in LAI, head diameter, number of filled seeds/ head and total yield in the summer season only. Fertilizers significantly influenced plant height and stem diameter in both seasons. In the winter season, however, fertilizers had significantly affected LAI, days to 50% flowering, head diameter, number of filled seeds/head and total yield. Chicken manure resulted in the tallest plants and largest stem diameter in both seasons. Chicken manure expressed the largest LAI, biggest head diameter, highest number of filled seeds/head and highest total yield. The three-way interaction(seasonx fertilizerx cultivar) showed significant effects on percentage of empty seeds and total yield. The highest total yield was obtained by Hysun33 in the summer season when chicken manure was applied. The mean total yield of the summer season was higher than that of the winter season. To obtain high total yield of sunflower, it is recommended that sowing should be commenced during the summer season and chicken manure should be applied at the rate of 5 t/ha for both Hysun33 and Damazin-

scheduled synchronisation based on a mesoscopic flow model with speed dispersion

Abstract This paper proposes a method for netwok signal setting design, based on enhacements of an existing coordination method aiming: 1) to extend the existing approach in order to address the Traffic Control through Scheduled Synchronisation (i.e 'one step' optimisation of stage matrix, green timings, and node offsets ); 2) to extend the considered Mesoscopic Traffic Flow model (TRAFFMED) to the vehicle platoon speed dispersion; 3) to build up a solution method suitable for both off-line and on-line applications. The proposed optimisation method is an application of the Simulated Annealing meta-heuristic. Some numerical applications are proposed, specifically analysing 'two step' optimisation (synchronisation), and'one step' optimisation (scheduled synchronisation), for off-line (pre-timed strategy) and on-line applications (on-line computation strategy). A grid network was considered as case study and the effectiveness of the proposed strategies were evaluated by comparing the obtained results with those computed through commercial (benchmark) and in-house codes

solving stochastic assignment to transportation networks with tvs and avs

Abstract This paper focuses on solving stochastic assignment with several types of vehicles, for instance advanced and traditional vehicles, competing for the same arcs and jointly participating to congestion. In urban transportation networks paths likely overlap, thus two path choice models, derived from Random Utility Theory, are analyzed: Probit and Gammit, properly modeling path overlap through covariance between path perceived utilities. Since for these two models no closed form is available for choice probabilities, two specifications of Montecarlo algorithms for assignment to uncongested networks are presented: the efficiency of the commonly used Mersenne Twister Pseudo-Random Number Generator is compared with a PRNG based on Sobol (quasi-random) numbers. Then, several MSA-based algorithms for equilibrium assignment ot congested networks are analyzed: some step size strategies are proposed and compared with existing ones aiming at improving practical rate of convergence. Sufficient convergence conditions are presented for equilibrium assignment with arc cost flow functions with symmetric or asymmetric Jacobian matrix. Results of applications are also discussed to support theoretical results

Providing Theoretical Foundations: Developing an Integrated Set of Guidelines for Theory Adaptation

Developing and advancing theory in the information systems (IS) discipline requires scholars to use and contribute to theory. While few IS scholars create new theories, many borrow and adapt theories from other disciplines to study a variety of phenomena in the realm of IS. Over time, this practice has raised concerns as to the appropriateness and quality of theories adapted in the discipline. In particular, this practice causes issues when one considers conflicting results from many studies that claim to leverage the same theoretical foundation. We examine the issues surrounding theory adaptation in IS and provide a set of integrated theory adaptation guidelines to help scholars successfully and reliably adapt theory. We illustrate how one might use our guidelines via using Protection Motivation Theory in an organizational information security setting

Gaia23bab: a new EXor

© 2024 The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY), https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/On March 6 2023, the Gaia telescope has alerted a 2-magnitude burst from Gaia23bab, a Young Stellar Object in the Galactic plane. We observed Gaia23bab with the Large Binocular Telescope obtaining optical and near-infrared spectra close in time to the peak of the burst, and collected all public multi-band photometry to reconstruct the historical light curve. This latter shows three bursts in ten years (2013, 2017 and 2023), whose duration and amplitude are typical of EXor variables. We estimate that, due to the bursts, the mass accumulated on the star is about twice greater than if the source had remained quiescent for the same period of time. Photometric analysis indicates that Gaia23bab is a Class,II source with age < 1 Myr, spectral type G3-K0, stellar luminosity 4.0 L_sun, and mass 1.6 M_sun. The optical/near infrared spectrum is rich in emission lines. From the analysis of these lines we measured the accretion luminosity and the mass accretion rate L_acc(burst)=3.7 L_sun, M_acc(burst) 2.0 10 $^(-7) M_sun/yr, consistent with those of EXors. More generally, we derive the relationships between accretion and stellar parameters in a sample of EXors. We find that, when in burst, the accretion parameters become almost independent of the stellar parameters and that EXors, even in quiescence, are more efficient than classical T Tauri stars in assembling mass.Peer reviewe