The Airy fibre: an optical fibre that guides light diffracted by a circular aperture

We have designed and made an optical fibre that guides an approximate Airy pattern as one of its guided modes. The fibre's attenuation was 11.0 dB/km at 1550 nm wavelength, the match between the fibre's mode and the ideal infinite Airy pattern was 93.7%, and the far field resembled a top-hat beam. The guidance mechanism has strong similarities to photonic bandgap guidance.Comment: 11 page

Semiquantitative interpretation of anticardiolipin and antiβ2glycoprotein I antibodies measured with various analytical platforms: communication from the ISTH SSC subcommittee on Lupus Anticoagulant/Antiphospholipid antibodies

Background Antiβ2glycoprotein I (aβ2GPI) and anticardiolipin (aCL) IgG/IgM show differences in positive/negative agreement and titers between solid phase platforms. Method specific semiquantitative categorization of titers could improve and harmonize the interpretation across platforms. Aim To evaluate the traditionally 40/80 units thresholds used for aCL and aβ2GPI for categorization into moderate/high positivity with different analytical systems, and to compare with alternative thresholds. Material and methods aCL and aβ2GPI thresholds were calculated for two automated systems (chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) and multiplex flow immunoassay (MFI)) by ROC-curve analysis on 1108 patient samples, including patients with and without APS, and confirmed on a second population (n=279). Alternatively, regression analysis on diluted standard material was applied to identify thresholds. Thresholds were compared to 40/80 threshold measured by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Additionally, likelihood ratios (LR) were calculated. Results Threshold levels of 40/80 units show poor agreement between ELISA and automated platforms for classification into low/moderate/high positivity, especially for aCL/aβ2GPI IgG. Agreement for semiquantitative interpretation of aPL IgG between ELISA and CLIA/MFI improves with alternative thresholds. LR for aPL IgG increase for thrombotic and obstetric APS based on 40/80 thresholds for ELISA and adapted thresholds for the other systems, but not for IgM. Conclusion Use of 40/80 units as medium/high thresholds is acceptable for aCL/aβ2GPI IgG ELISA, but not for CLIA and MFI. Alternative semiquantitative thresholds for non-ELISA platforms can be determined by a clinical approach or by using monoclonal antibodies. Semiquantitative reporting of aPL IgM has less impact on increasing probability for APS

Three-Dimensional Integrable Models and Associated Tangle Invariants

In this paper we show that the Boltzmann weights of the three-dimensional Baxter-Bazhanov model give representations of the braid group, if some suitable spectral limits are taken. In the trigonometric case we classify all possible spectral limits which produce braid group representations. Furthermore we prove that for some of them we get cyclotomic invariants of links and for others we obtain tangle invariants generalizing the cyclotomic ones.Comment: Number of pages: 21, Latex fil

Aplicação de água residuária de processamento de mandioca em sistema de irrigação por gotejamento

The wastewater discarded from the cassava processing causes a serious environmental problem when dumped into water bodies. On the other hand, this residue can be used as a source of nutrients for crops. However, it is necessary to control the quality of this effluent because of the negative effects that it may cause to the irrigation system. This study aimed to evaluate a drip irrigation system with the application of cassava wastewater by determining the coefficients of variation of emitter discharge (CVq), distribution uniformity (DUC) and Christiansen’s uniformity (CUC). The experiment was conducted at C. Vale cassava processing factory in the city of Terra Roxa (Paraná, Brazil). Four systems of 66 m² were installed, with 7 lateral lines of 11 m, spaced in 1 m, with one dripper at each 0.30 m. The systems were fed by two tanks of 1000 L, situated at 1.5 m and 2.0 m above the ground and containing water for irrigation and the cassava wastewater for fertigation. A plastic mesh filter was installed in the tank and two digital manometers controlled the pressure. Thirty trials were performed for each treatment, using the methodologies of Keller and Karmeli (1975) and Denículi (1980). Excellent averages, above 90%, were obtained for both DUC and CUC. The results showed no expressive differences between the use of water and the use of effluent, demonstrating that cassava wastewater can be applied efficiently on a drip irrigation system.A água residuária do processamento de mandioca ocasiona um sério problema ambiental quando lançada em corpos hídricos. Por outro lado, este resíduo pode ser utilizado como fonte de nutrientes para as culturas. Contudo, é necessário controlar a qualidade desse efluente devido aos efeitos negativos que pode acarretar ao sistema. O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar um sistema de irrigação por gotejamento com aplicação de resíduo de mandioca, por meio da determinação dos coeficientes de variação de vazão total (CVt), de uniformidade de distribuição (CUD) e de uniformidade de Christiansen (CUC). O estudo foi conduzido na Amidonaria da C. Vale, em Terra Roxa (PR). Foram instalados quatro sistemas de 66 m², com sete linhas laterais de 11 m, espaçadas em 1 m, com um gotejador a cada 0,30 m. Os sistemas foram alimentados por dois reservatórios de 1000 L, elevados a 1,5 m e 2,0 m do chão, onde foram armazenadas a água para irrigação e a água residuária do processamento de mandioca para fertirrigação. Foram instalados um filtro de tela plástica de 1” junto ao reservatório e dois manômetros digitais. Foram realizados 30 ensaios para cada tratamento, por meio das metodologias de Keller e Karmeli (1975) e de Denículi (1980). Obteve-se uma média geral excelente, acima dos 90%, para CUD e CUC. Os resultados evidenciam que não houve diferença expressiva entre a utilização de água ou de efluente no sistema, demonstrando que a água residuária de processamento de mandioca pode ser aplicada com eficiência em um sistema de irrigação por gotejamento

Assessment of oxidative metabolism

Oxidative metabolism is one of the central physiological processes that regulate multiple functions in a cell including cell death and survival, proliferation, gene transcription, and protein modification. There are multitudes of techniques that are used to evaluate oxidative activity. Here, we summarize how to measure oxidative activity by flow cytometry. This versatile technique allows the evaluation of the level of oxidative activity within heterogeneous populations of cells and in cell culture. Flow cytometry is a quick method that yields highly reproducible results with small sample volumes. Therefore, it is an ideal technique for evaluating changes in oxidative activity in samples from mice

NLRP3 Plays a Critical Role in the Development of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis by Mediating Th1 and Th17 Responses

The interplay between innate and adaptive immunity is important in multiple sclerosis (MS). The inflammasome complex, which activates caspase-1 to process pro–IL-1β and pro–IL-18, is rapidly emerging as a pivotal regulator of innate immunity, with nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich repeat containing protein family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) (cryopyrin or NALP3) as a prominent player. Although the role of NLRP3 in host response to pathogen associated molecular patterns and danger associated molecular patterns is well documented, its role in autoimmune diseases is less well studied. To investigate the role of NLRP3 protein in MS, we used a mouse model of MS, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Nlrp3 expression was elevated in the spinal cords during EAE, and Nlrp3−/− mice had a dramatically delayed course and reduced severity of disease. This was accompanied by a significant reduction of the inflammatory infiltrate including macrophages, dendritic cells, CD4, and CD8+ T cells in the spinal cords of the Nlrp3−/− mice, whereas microglial accumulation remained the same. Nlrp3−/− mice also displayed improved histology in the spinal cords with reduced destruction of myelin and astrogliosis. Nlrp3−/− mice with EAE produced less IL-18, and the disease course was similar to Il18−/− mice. Furthermore, Nlrp3−/− and Il18−/− mice had similarly reduced IFN-γ and IL-17 production. Thus, NLRP3 plays a critical role in the induction of the EAE, likely through effects on capase-1–dependent cytokines which then influence Th1 and Th17

The Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model: Group Summary Report

CONTENTS: 1. Synopsis, 2. The MSSM Spectrum, 3. The Physical Parameters, 4. Higgs Boson Production and Decays, 5. SUSY Particle Production and Decays, 6. Experimental Bounds on SUSY Particle Masses, 7. References.Comment: 121 pages, latex + epsfig, graphicx, axodraw, Report of the MSSM working group for the Workshop "GDR-Supersym\'etrie",France. Rep. PM/98-4

The eINTACT system dissects bacterial exploitation of plant osmosignalling to enhance virulence

Bacteria inject effector proteins into host cells to manipulate cellular processes that promote disease. Since bacteria deliver minuscule amounts of effectors only into targeted host cells, it is technically challenging to capture effector-dependent cellular changes from bulk-infected host tissues. Here, we report a new technique called effector-inducible isolation of nuclei tagged in specific cell types (eINTACT), which facilitates affinity-based purification of nuclei from Arabidopsis plant cells that have received Xanthomonas bacterial effectors. Analysis of purified nuclei reveals that the Xanthomonas effector XopD manipulates the expression of Arabidopsis abscisic acid signalling-related genes and activates OSCA1.1, a gene encoding a calcium-permeable channel required for stomatal closure in response to osmotic stress. The loss of OSCA1.1 causes leaf wilting and reduced bacterial growth in infected leaves, suggesting that OSCA1.1 promotes host susceptibility. eINTACT allows us to uncover that XopD exploits host OSCA1.1/abscisic acid osmosignalling-mediated stomatal closure to create a humid habitat that favours bacterial growth and opens up a new avenue for accurately elucidating functions of effectors from numerous gram-negative plant bacteria in native infection contexts.Fil: You, Yuan. Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen; AlemaniaFil: Koczyk, Grzegorz. Polish Academy of Sciences; ArgentinaFil: Nuc, Maria. Polish Academy of Sciences; ArgentinaFil: Morbitzer, Robert. Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen; AlemaniaFil: Holmes, Danalyn R.. Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen; AlemaniaFil: von Roepenack Lahaye, Edda. Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen; AlemaniaFil: Hou, Shiji. Huazhong Agricultural University; ChinaFil: Giudicatti, Axel Joel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Gris, Carine. Université de Toulouse; FranciaFil: Manavella, Pablo Andrés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Noël, Laurent D.. Université de Toulouse; FranciaFil: Krajewski, Paweł. Polish Academy of Sciences; ArgentinaFil: Lahaye, Thomas. Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen; Alemani