Extrinsic Allergic Alveolitis: A Systematic Review of HLA-DR in Pigeon Breeder’s Disease

Abstract Introduction: Pigeon Breeder’s Pneumonitis (PBP) results due to a complex pathophysiology that includes exposure to avian antigens. Susceptibility has been linked to human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II, though consensus has not been reached. The goal of this systematic review is to further elucidate the association between PBP and HLA-DR subtypes. Methods: Databases utilized included PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane Library. Inclusion required a minimum of three studies in English presenting HLA-DR alleles of PBP and control subgroups. Exclusion was due to insufficient data or non-feasible control groups. Forest plots were created for HLA-DR subtypes’ association with PBP. The NIH Bias assessment tool and LFK index assessed bias. Results: 4 studies were included in the meta-analysis. HLA-DR3 was associated with the pooled PBP subgroups (OR=1.86 [1.13, 3.05], p Discussion: Limitations included limited sources, with multiple study methodology unacceptable to this review. These findings expand on previous research on HLA variants and PBP frequency, and offer further clarity supporting novel approaches in treatment of PBP

Behavior, for the Lorca earthquake on 11-05-2011, of wide beam building designed without seismic considerations

El terremoto de Lorca (11-05-2011) fue el movimiento sísmico más destructivo registrado en España, a pesar de su moderada magnitud. Este artículo describe la simulación numérica de la respuesta dinámica, al registro principal del terremoto de Lorca, de seis edificios de tres y seis plantas con forjados unidireccionales de hormigón con vigas planas; estos edificios fueron proyectados sin tener en cuenta la acción sísmica. Se ha elegido esta tipología constructiva por presentar, potencialmente, una elevada vulnerabilidad sísmica. Los seis edificios han sido seleccionados para representar un número importante de edificios de este tipo existentes en zonas de sismicidad baja o media (como Lorca) de España y correspondientes a los años 1974-1994, posteriores a la PDS-1 1974 y previos a la NCSE-94. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que estos edificios, aun contando con la cooperación de los muros, no poseen capacidad para resistir la componente más intensa del registro de Lorca.The recent earthquake in Lorca (11-05-2011) was the most destructive recorded event in Spain, despite its moderate magnitude. This paper describes the numerical simulation of the dynamic response to the main record of the Lorca earthquake of six 3 and 6-story buildings with one-way concrete slabs with wide beams; these buildings were designed without any seismic consideration. We have chosen this type of construction because it is potentially highly vulnerable. The six considered buildings were selected to represent a large number of buildings of this type in areas of low-to-medium seismicity (as Lorca) of Spain along the period 1974-1994. The results show that these buildings, even with the cooperation of the walls, do not have sufficient capacity to withstand the most severe component of the Lorca record.Este trabajo ha sido financiado por el gobierno de España, proyectos CGL2008-00869/BTE, CGL2011-23621, BIA2008- 00050 y BIA2011-26816 y por la Unión Europea (fondos Feder)

Bis{μ-2-[bis­(pyridin-2-yl)methyl­idene]hydrazinecarbothio­amidato}bis­[bromido­copper(II)] methanol disolvate

In the centrosymmetric binuclear title compound, [Cu2Br2(C12H10N5S)2]·2CH3OH, the CuII ion adopts a slightly dis­torted square-pyramidal coordination geometry. The hydrazine carbothio­amide moiety and one of the pyridyl rings together adopt an almost planar arrangement, with a maximum deviation of 0.052 (4) Å for the C atom of the thio­urea moiety. There are two mol­ecules of methanol solvent per complex in the asymmetric unit. The nonconventional intra­molecular C—H⋯Br hydrogen bonds make the mol­ecule more rigid, whereas the conventional N—H⋯N and O—H⋯Br inter­molecular hydrogen-bonding inter­actions, supported with N—H⋯π inter­actions, establish a supra­molecular linkage among the mol­ecules in the crystal. An intermolecular C—H⋯O inter­action is also present

Calibration of Land Surface Model Using Remotely Sensed Evapotranspiration and Soil Moisture Predictions

Abstract: Calibration is the process of estimating the optimal parameters for a model to accurately reflect the real system, using historical records of system data. The model calibration, however, is frequently limited by availability, quality, quantity and the nature of the ground observations. Lack of streamflow observations in the vast majority of the world, for example, constrains the calibration of hydrologic and land surface models. In this study, an attempt is made to calibrate a land surface model by using satellite retrievals of soil moisture and evapotranspiration (ET), without relying on streamflow measurements. This paper examines the capability of using satellite measurements for the calibration of hydrologic/land surface models for ungauged locations. The Australian Water Resources Assessment Landscape model (AWRA-L) modified to have single hydrological response unit (HRU) per each grid cell is chosen, as a simple land surface model that requires minimum forcing variables. Initial parameters for the control case are generated based on the fraction of trees and the Budyko's dryness index. Microwave soil moisture retrievals from the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer-EOS (AMSR-E) and daily estimates of ET from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) are adopted to calibrate a selection of the AWRA-L parameters. Shuffled complex evolution uncertainty algorithm (SCE-UA) is employed to perform local calibration at 25-km grid cell in the Kyeamba catchment, southeastern Australia. The results show that the calibration of AWRA-L using remotely sensed evapotranspiration and soil moisture can improve the predictions of evapotranspiration and runoff. Validation conducted in a separate period also exhibit improvements in the prediction of evapotranspiration, whereas the improvement in soil moisture is trivial during both calibration and validation periods. The monthly runoff ratio estimated after calibration is improved compared to the runoff ratio in the control case. This indicates the potential of calibration with evapotranspiration and soil moisture in improving streamflow predictions. Further research is warranted to increase efficiency in prediction of runoff ratio, so that the calibration scheme can be applied in the regions with sparse or no gauging stations

Interferon regulatory factor 8-deficiency determines massive neutrophil recruitment but T cell defect in fast growing granulomas during tuberculosis

Following Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection, immune cell recruitment in lungs is pivotal in establishing protective immunity through granuloma formation and neogenesis of lymphoid structures (LS). Interferon regulatory factor-8 (IRF-8) plays an important role in host defense against Mtb, although the mechanisms driving anti-mycobacterial immunity remain unclear. In this study, IRF-8 deficient mice (IRF-8−/−) were aerogenously infected with a low-dose Mtb Erdman virulent strain and the course of infection was compared with that induced in wild-type (WT-B6) counterparts. Tuberculosis (TB) progression was examined in both groups using pathological, microbiological and immunological parameters. Following Mtb exposure, the bacterial load in lungs and spleens progressed comparably in the two groups for two weeks, after which IRF-8−/− mice developed a fatal acute TB whereas in WT-B6 the disease reached a chronic stage. In lungs of IRF-8−/−, uncontrolled growth of pulmonary granulomas and impaired development of LS were observed, associated with unbalanced homeostatic chemokines, progressive loss of infiltrating T lymphocytes and massive prevalence of neutrophils at late infection stages. Our data define IRF-8 as an essential factor for the maintenance of proper immune cell recruitment in granulomas and LS required to restrain Mtb infection. Moreover, IRF-8−/− mice, relying on a common human and mouse genetic mutation linked to susceptibility/severity of mycobacterial diseases, represent a valuable model of acute TB for comparative studies with chronically-infected congenic WT-B6 for dissecting protective and pathological immune reactions

Nutritional Profile, Antioxidative and Antihyperglycemic Properties of Padina tetrastromatica from Tioman Island, Malaysia

Seaweeds are an important ingredient of functional foods recommended for daily food, due to their unique compositions and nutritional value. Padina tetrastromatica is a brown edible seaweed that is commonly found along the coastal regions of Peninsular Malaysia and consumed as food by some coastal communities. This study investigates the nutritional and antihyperglycaemic potential of P. tetrastromatica extracts, which is generally accepted as an important functional food. In our methodology, we induced diabetes intraperitoneally in experimental animals with a dose of 65 mg kg−1 body weight of streptozotocin. Oral treatment with 200 and 400 mg kg−1 of P. tetrastromatica ethanolic and ethyl acetate extracts were initiated, respectively, to experimental rats once daily for 18 days. Metformin was used as the positive control. Biochemical estimations and histopathological analysis were included in this study. Treatment with P. tetrastromatica extracts significantly lowered the plasma glucose levels in Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. In addition, P. tetrastromatica extract treatment also showed a significant reduction in serum alanine transaminase levels. However, no significant changes were observed in serum aspartate transaminase levels. The ethyl acetate extract of P. tetrastromatica at 400 mg kg−1 dose shows some nephroprotective effect, which is observed from the significant increase in the plasma albumin levels. Histopathological evaluation revealed no marked morphological changes in tissues of the isolated organs of the ethyl acetate extract-treated group, revealing the safe nature of P. tetrastromatica.</jats:p

Direct damage controlled seismic design of plane steel degrading frames

A new method for seismic design of plane steel moment resisting framed structures is developed. This method is able to control damage at all levels of performance in a direct manner. More specifically, the method: (a) can determine damage in any member or the whole of a designed structure under any given seismic load, (b) can dimension a structure for a given seismic load and desired level of damage and (c) can determine the maximum seismic load a designed structure can sustain in order to exhibit a desired level of damage. In order to accomplish these things, an appropriate seismic damage index is used that takes into account the interaction between axial force and bending moment at a section, strength and stiffness degradation as well as low cycle fatigue. Then, damage scales are constructed on the basis of extensive parametric studies involving a large number of frames exhibiting cyclic strength and stiffness degradation and a large number of seismic motions and using the above damage index for damage determination. Some numerical examples are presented to illustrate the proposed method and demonstrate its advantages against other methods of seismic design. © 2014, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht