Evaluating the impact of task demands and block resolution on the effectiveness of pixel-based visualization

Pixel-based visualization is a popular method of conveying large amounts of numerical data graphically. Application scenarios include business and finance, bioinformatics and remote sensing. In this work, we examined how the usability of such visual representations varied across different tasks and block resolutions. The main stimuli consisted of temporal pixel-based visualization with a white-red color map, simulating monthly temperature variation over a six-year period. In the first study, we included 5 separate tasks to exert different perceptual loads. We found that performance varied considerably as a function of task, ranging from 75% correct in low-load tasks to below 40% in high-load tasks. There was a small but consistent effect of resolution, with the uniform patch improving performance by around 6% relative to higher block resolution. In the second user study, we focused on a high-load task for evaluating month-to-month changes across different regions of the temperature range. We tested both CIE L*u*v* and RGB color spaces. We found that the nature of the change-evaluation errors related directly to the distance between the compared regions in the mapped color space. We were able to reduce such errors by using multiple color bands for the same data range. In a final study, we examined more fully the influence of block resolution on performance, and found block resolution had a limited impact on the effectiveness of pixel-based visualization.peer-reviewe

Complement C4 Copy Number Variation is Linked to SSA/Ro and SSB/La Autoantibodies in Systemic Inflammatory Autoimmune Diseases

Objective Copy number variation of the C4 complement components, C4A and C4B, has been associated with systemic inflammatory autoimmune diseases. This study was undertaken to investigate whether C4 copy number variation is connected to the autoimmune repertoire in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS), or myositis. Methods Using targeted DNA sequencing, we determined the copy number and genetic variants of C4 in 2,290 well-characterized Scandinavian patients with SLE, primary SS, or myositis and 1,251 healthy controls. Results A prominent relationship was observed between C4A copy number and the presence of SSA/SSB autoantibodies, which was shared between the 3 diseases. The strongest association was detected in patients with autoantibodies against both SSA and SSB and 0 C4A copies when compared to healthy controls (odds ratio [OR] 18.0 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 10.2–33.3]), whereas a weaker association was seen in patients without SSA/SSB autoantibodies (OR 3.1 [95% CI 1.7–5.5]). The copy number of C4 correlated positively with C4 plasma levels. Further, a common loss-of-function variant in C4A leading to reduced plasma C4 was more prevalent in SLE patients with a low copy number of C4A. Functionally, we showed that absence of C4A reduced the individuals’ capacity to deposit C4b on immune complexes. Conclusion We show that a low C4A copy number is more strongly associated with the autoantibody repertoire than with the clinically defined disease entities. These findings may have implications for understanding the etiopathogenetic mechanisms of systemic inflammatory autoimmune diseases and for patient stratification when taking the genetic profile into account.publishedVersio

Urkundenbuch des Hochstifts Hildesheim und seiner Bischöfe. 1370 - 1398

Digitalisat der Ausgabe von 1911, erschienen 202

Autoantigen-specific B cells and plasma cells are prominent in areas of fatty infiltration in salivary glands of patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome

Salivary and lacrimal gland involvement is a characteristic feature of primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS), where tissue destruction is mediated by mononuclear cell infiltration, resulting in lacrimal and salivary gland impairment. We have previously shown distinct prevalence of adipose tissue replacement in the minor salivary gland tissue from pSS patients. The salivary gland microenvironment was further examined through microarray analysis, identifying signalling pathways that promoted adipose tissue development, inflammation, and lymphoma. As B cells may also contribute to disease progression, we now aimed to study the B cell pattern with regard to adipocyte development in pSS. Double immunohistochemical staining of paraffin-embedded salivary gland tissue from 22 pSS patients and 11 non-SS tissue controls was employed, using the characteristic pSS autoantigens Ro52 or Ro60, alongside CD27. Additional CD138/CD20 double staining was also performed to identify the plasma- and general B- cell pattern. Our results demonstrated CD27-positive Ro52 and Ro60 specific cells observed within and in close proximity to the adipose tissue. CD138-positive plasma cells were also seen in areas of adipose tissue replacement, while the CD20+ cells were located within focal infiltrates, forming distinct B cell zones. The quantification of CD138+ and CD20+ cells revealed elevated numbers of CD138+ cells in areas of fatty infiltration, and also interstitially, in the salivary glands of pSS patients when compared to non-SS controls. A significant increase (p < .01) in CD138+ cells close to areas of fatty infiltration, and interstitially, with increasing fatty infiltration and focus score was further observed in pSS patients. A correlation between the number of CD20+ B cell zones/mm2 of salivary gland tissue and focus score values was also witnessed in the patients (r2 = 0.6047, p < .001). In conclusion, autoantigen-specific B cells and plasma cells appear prominent in areas of fatty infiltration in salivary glands of pSS patients, where an increase in CD138+ plasma cells and CD20+ B cells, in relation to both fatty and focal infiltration, suggests their active involvement in promoting inflammation. Further studies are needed to assess whether these adipocytes are also a result of tissue repair

Komplexe sozialistische Automatisierung und sozialistische Wirtschaftsorganisation

SIGLEISDA, Berlin / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekDEGerman