Fas gene polymorphisms are not associated with systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis and HIV infection

n/

MF59®-Adjuvanted H5N1 Vaccine Induces Immunologic Memory and Heterotypic Antibody Responses in Non-Elderly and Elderly Adults

Pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1) has the potential to cause a major global pandemic in humans. Safe and effective vaccines that induce immunologic memory and broad heterotypic response are needed.Healthy adults aged 18-60 and > 60 years (n = 313 and n = 173, respectively) were randomized (1:1) to receive two primary and one booster injection of 7.5 microg or 15 microg doses of a subunit MF59-adjuvanted H5N1 (A/Vietnam/1194/2004) (clade 1) vaccine. Safety was monitored until 6 months after booster. Immunogenicity was assessed by hemagglutination inhibition (HI), single radial hemolysis (SRH) and microneutralization assays (MN). Mild injection-site pain was the most common adverse reaction. No serious adverse events relating to the vaccine were reported. The humoral immune responses to 7.5 microg and 15 microg doses were comparable. The rates for seroprotection (HI>40; SRH>25 mm(2); MN > or = 40) after the primary vaccination ranged 72-87%. Six months after primary vaccination with the 7.5 microg dose, 18% and 21% of non-elderly and elderly adults were seroprotected; rates increased to 90% and 84%, respectively, after the booster vaccination. In the 15 microg group, seroprotection rates among non-elderly and elderly adults increased from 25% and 62% after primary vaccination to 92% and 88% after booster vaccination, respectively. A heterologous immune response to the H5N1/turkey/Turkey/05 strain was elicited after second and booster vaccinations.Both formulations of MF59-adjuvanted influenza H5N1 vaccine were well tolerated. The European Union requirement for licensure for pre-pandemic vaccines was met by the lower dose tested. The presence of cross-reactive antibodies to a clade 2 heterologous strain demonstrates that this vaccine may be appropriate for pre-pandemic programs.(ClinicalTrials.gov) NCT00311480

Termites : a retinex implementation based on a colony of agents

This paper describes a novel implementation of the Retinex algorithm with the exploration of the image done by an ant swarm. In this case the purpose of the ant colony is not the optimization of some constraints but is an alternative way to explore the image content as diffused as possible, with the possibility of tuning the exploration parameters to the image content trying to better approach the Human Visual System behavior. For this reason, we used \u201ctermites\u201d, instead of ants, to underline the idea of the eager exploration of the image. The paper presents the spatial characteristics of locality and discusses differences in path exploration with other Retinex implementations. Furthermore a psychophysical experiment has been carried out on eight images with 20 observers and results indicate that a termite swarm should investigate a particular region of an image to find the local reference white

Termite Retinex : a new implementation based on a colony of intelligent agents

The original presentation of Retinex, a spatial color correction and image enhancement algorithm modeling the human vision system, as proposed by Land and McCann in 1964, uses paths to explore the image in search of a local reference white point. The interesting results of this algorithm have led to the develop- ment of many versions of Retinex. They follow the same principle but differ in the way they explore the image, with, for example, random paths, random samples, convolution masks, and variational formulations. We propose an alternative way to explore local properties of Retinex, replacing random paths by traces of a specialized swarm of termites. In presenting the spatial characteristics of the proposed method, we discuss differences in path exploration with other Retinex implementations. Experiments, results, and comparisons are presented to test the efficacy of the proposed Retinex implementation

The threat of the ambrosia beetle Megaplatypus mutatus (Chapuis) (=Platypus mutatus Chapuis) to world poplar resources

We describe the life cycle of Megaplatypus mutatus (Chapuis) (=Platypus mutatus) and the damage it causes to poplar resources in Argentina. This insect, native to the subtropical and tropical areas of South America, has extended its range into temperate regions, reaching as far south as Neuquén in Argentinean Patagonia. The damage is caused by the adult insects, which bore large gallery systems into living poplars (Populus spp.), willows (Salix spp.) and many other broadleaf species, including important fruit trees species such as apples (Malus spp.), walnuts (Juglans spp.) and avocados (Persea spp.). The galleries degrade the lumber and weaken the tree stems, which often then break during windstorms. A recent introduction of M. mutatus to Italy demonstrates that this insect can be transported long distances between countries, and therefore presents a threat worldwide - particularly to poplar cultivation. We review the taxonomic nomenclature for this pest, provide a summary of the life cycle, hosts and damage and summarize actions taken to reduce the risk of introduction of M. mutatus to Canada.Fil: Alfaro, René I.. Natural Resources Canada; CanadáFil: Humble, Leland M.. Natural Resources Canada; CanadáFil: Gonzalez Audino, Paola Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas para la Defensa. Centro de Investigación de Plagas e Insecticidas; ArgentinaFil: Villaverde, Raul. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Allegro, Gianni. Istituto di Sperimentazione per la Pioppicoltura Casale Monferrato; Itali