Presentation of the Same Glycolipid by Different CD1 Molecules

Five CD1 molecules are expressed in humans and it is unclear whether they have specialized or redundant functions. We found that sulfatide is a promiscuous CD1-binding ligand and have isolated T cell clones that are specific for sulfatide and restricted by distinct CD1 molecules. These clones have been used to compare the capacity of different CD1 to present the same glycolipid, to induce effector functions, and to form persistent immunogenic complexes. CD1a, CD1b, and CD1c molecules similarly load sulfatide on the cell surface without processing, and prime Th1 and Th2 responses. Stimulation by sulfatide-loaded CD1a persists much longer than that by CD1b and CD1c in living cells. Use of recombinant soluble CD1a confirmed the prolonged capacity to stimulate T cells. Moreover, other glycosphingolipids bind to all CD1, which suggests the presence of additional promiscuous ligands. Thus, group I CD1 molecules present an overlapping set of self-glycolipids, even though they are quite divergent from an evolutionary point of view

Camera calibration in sport event scenarios

The main goal of this paper is the design of a novel and robust methodology for calibrating cameras from a single image in sport scenarios, such as a soccer field, or a basketball or tennis court. In these sport scenarios, the only references we use to calibrate the camera are the lines and circles delimiting the different regions. The first problem we address is the extraction of image primitives, including the challenging problems of shaded regions and lens distortion. From these primitives, we automatically recognise the location of the sport court in the scene by estimating the homography which matches the actual court with its projection onto the image. This is achieved even when only a few primitives are available. Finally, from this homography, we recover the camera calibration parameters. In particular, we estimate the focal length as well as the position and orientation in the 3D space. We present some experiments on models and real courts which illustrate the accuracy of the proposed methodology

A pilot sequential multiple assignment randomized trial (SMART) protocol for developing an adaptive coaching intervention around a mobile application for athletes to improve carbohydrate periodization behavior

Background: It has recently been identified that manipulating carbohydrate availability around exercise activity can enhance training-induced metabolic adaptations. Despite this approach being accepted in the athletic populations, athletes do not systematically follow the guidelines. Digital environments appear to allow nutritionists to deliver this intervention at scale, reducing expensive human coaching time. Yet, digitally delivered dietary behavior change interventions for athletes and the coaching strategy to support them are still novel concepts within sports nutrition. Methods/design: We aim to recruit 900 athletes across the UK. 500 athletes will be recruited to test the feasibility of a novel menu planner mobile application with coaching for 6 weeks. 250 athletes with pre-existing nutritionist support will also be recruited as control. We will then conduct a 4-week pilot sequential multiple assignment randomized trial (SMART) with an additional 150 athletes. In the SMART, athletes will be given the application and additional coaching according to their engagement responses. The primary outcomes are the mobile application and coach uptake, retention, engagement, and success in attaining carbohydrate periodization behavior. Secondary outcomes are changes in goal, weight, carbohydrate periodization self-efficacy, and beliefs about consequences. Due to the high attrition nature of digital interventions, all quantitative analyses will be carried out based on both the intention-to-treat and per-protocol principles. Discussion: This study will be the first to investigate improving carbohydrate periodization using a digital approach and tailored coaching strategies under this context. Foundational evidence from this study will provide insights into the feasibility of the digital approach

Predicting Global Irradiance Combining Forecasting Models Through Machine Learning

This paper has been presented at : 13th International Conference on Hybrid Artificial Intelligence Systems (HAIS 2018)Predicting solar irradiance is an active research problem, with many physical models having being designed to accurately predict Global Horizontal Irradiance. However, some of the models are better at short time horizons, while others are more accurate for medium and long horizons. The aim of this research is to automatically combine the predictions of four different models (Smart Persistence, Satellite, Cloud Index Advection and Diffusion, and Solar Weather Research and Forecasting) by means of a state-of-the-art machine learning method (Extreme Gradient Boosting). With this purpose, the four models are used as inputs to the machine learning model, so that the output is an improved Global Irradiance forecast. A 2-year dataset of predictions and measures at one radiometric station in Seville has been gathered to validate the method proposed. Three approaches are studied: a general model, a model for each horizon, and models for groups of horizons. Experimental results show that the machine learning combination of predictors is, on average, more accurate than the predictors themselves.The authors are supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, projects ENE2014-56126-C2-1-R and ENE2014-56126-C2-2-R and FEDER funds. Some of the authors are also funded by the Junta de Andalucía (research group TEP-220)

Performance of a spaghetti calorimeter prototype with tungsten absorber and garnet crystal fibres

A spaghetti calorimeter (SPACAL) prototype with scintillating crystal fibres was assembled and tested with electron beams of energy from 1 to 5 GeV. The prototype comprised radiation-hard Cerium-doped GdAlGaO (GAGG:Ce) and YAlO (YAG:Ce) embedded in a pure tungsten absorber. The energy resolution was studied as a function of the incidence angle of the beam and found to be of the order of 10%/E⊕1%, in line with the LHCb Shashlik technology. The time resolution was measured with metal channel dynode photomultipliers placed in contact with the fibres or coupled via a light guide, additionally testing an optical tape to glue the components. Time resolution of a few tens of picosecond was achieved for all the energies reaching down to (18.5 ± 0.2) ps at 5 GeV.We acknowledge support by the CERN Strategic Programme on Technologies for Future Experiments, https://ep-rnd.web.cern.ch/, by the MCIN/AEI, GenCat and GVA (Spain), and by the NSFC (China) under grant Nos. 12175005, 12061141007. The measurements were performed at the Test Beam Facility at DESY Hamburg (Germany), a member of the Helmholtz Association (HGF). The authors would like to thank T. Schneider, H. Gerwig, N. Siegrist, and D. Deyrail (CERN) for their help in designing and assembling the prototype and the set-up, A. Barnyakov, Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics (BINP), Novosibirsk, for kindly providing the MCPs, and the ITEP ATLAS group for the DWCs

Progress towards the first measurement of charm baryon dipole moments

Electromagnetic dipole moments of short-lived particles are sensitive to physics within and beyond the Standard Model of particle physics but have not been accessible experimentally to date. To perform such measurements it has been proposed to exploit the spin precession of channeled particles in bent crystals at the LHC. Progress that enables the first measurement of charm baryon dipole moments is reported. In particular, the design and characterization on beam of silicon and germanium bent crystal prototypes, the optimization of the experimental setup, and advanced analysis techniques are discussed. Sensitivity studies show that first measurements of Λ+c and Ξ+c baryon dipole moments can be performed in two years of data taking with an experimental setup positioned upstream of the LHCb detector. Figur

Ethylene signaling triggered by low concentrations of ascorbic acid regulates biomass accumulation in <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i>

Ascorbic acid (AA) is a major redox buffer in plant cells. The role of ethylene in the redox signaling pathways that influence photosynthesis and growth was explored in two independent AA deficient Arabidopsis thaliana mutants (vtc2-1 and vtc2-4). Both mutants, which are defective in the AA biosynthesis gene GDP-L-galactose phosphorylase, produce higher amounts of ethylene than wt plants. In contrast to the wt, the inhibition of ethylene signaling increased leaf conductance, photosynthesis and dry weight in both vtc2 mutant lines. The AA-deficient mutants showed altered expression of genes encoding proteins involved in the synthesis/responses to phytohormones that control growth, particularly auxin, cytokinins, abscisic acid, brassinosterioids, ethylene and salicylic acid. These results demonstrate that AA deficiency modifies hormone signaling in plants, redox-ethylene interactions providing a regulatory node controlling shoot biomass accumulation.Instituto de Fisiología VegetalCentro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimento

Growth and nutrient absorption of Cape Gooseberry (Physalis Peruviana L.) in soilless culture

"This is an Author's Accepted Manuscript of an article published in [include the complete citation information for the final version of the article as published in the Journal of Plant Nutrition 2015 March, available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/01904167.2014.934474."Cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.) is a solanaceous plant. The growth and time-course of nutrient accumulation of the plant and its partitioning between roots, stems, leaves, and fruits were examined. The study was conducted analyzing two nutrient solutions in soilless culture under greenhouse conditions during two consecutive seasons. The macronutrient contents were analyzed. On average, the yield was 8.9 t.ha(-1). Growth of the plant until 90 d after transplanting obeys an exponential function of time and the relative growth rate for this period was determined. Nitrogen (N) was the element that showed the highest concentration, corresponding to leaves (4.67%), followed by potassium (K) in stems (4.46%). The highest accumulations of N, phosphorous (P), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) were found in leaves and of K in the stems. Potassium showed the highest nutrient accumulation (29 g.plant(-1)) and the highest specific uptake rate.Torres Rubio, JF.; Pascual Seva, N.; San Bautista Primo, A.; Pascual España, B.; López Galarza, SV.; Alagarda Pardo, J.; Maroto Borrego, JV. (2015). Growth and nutrient absorption of Cape Gooseberry (Physalis Peruviana L.) in soilless culture. Journal of Plant Nutrition. 38(4):485-496. doi:10.1080/01904167.2014.934474S485496384Bellaloui, N., & Brown, P. H. (1998). Plant and Soil, 198(2), 153-158. doi:10.1023/a:1004343031242Bennett, J. P., Oshima, R. J., & Lippert, L. F. (1979). Effects of ozone on injury and dry matter partitioning in pepper plants. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 19(1), 33-39. doi:10.1016/0098-8472(79)90022-4CAUSTON, D. R. (1991). Plant Growth Analysis: The Variability of Relative Growth Rate Within a Sample. Annals of Botany, 67(2), 137-144. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.aob.a088112Convenio MAG-IICA (Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería. Institución Interamericana de Cooperación para la Agricultura). 2001. The cape gooseberry (Physalis peruvianaL.Physalis edulis). Subprograma de Cooperación Técnica, Ecuador. Available at: http://www.sica.gov.ec/agronegocios/Biblioteca/Convenio%20MAG%20IICA/productos/uvilla_mag.pdf (Accessed July 2007, in Spanish).El-Tohamy, W. A., El-Abagy, H. M., Abou-Hussein, S. D., & Gruda, N. (2009). Response of Cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.) to nitrogen application under sandy soil conditions. Gesunde Pflanzen, 61(3-4), 123-127. doi:10.1007/s10343-009-0211-0Fresquet, J., Pascual, B., López-Galarza, S., Bautista, S., Baixauli, C., Gisbert, J. M., & Maroto, J. V. (2001). Nutrient uptake of pepino plants in soilless cultivation. The Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology, 76(3), 338-343. doi:10.1080/14620316.2001.11511373Heuvelink, E., Bakker, M. J., Elings, A., Kaarsemaker, R. C., & Marcelis, L. F. M. (2005). EFFECT OF LEAF AREA ON TOMATO YIELD. Acta Horticulturae, (691), 43-50. doi:10.17660/actahortic.2005.691.2Leskovar, D. I., & Cantliffe, D. J. (1993). Comparison of Plant Establishment Method, Transplant, or Direct Seeding on Growth and Yield of Bell Pepper. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science, 118(1), 17-22. doi:10.21273/jashs.118.1.17Marcelis, L. F. M. (1993). Fruit growth and biomass allocation to the fruits in cucumber. 1. Effect of fruit load and temperature. Scientia Horticulturae, 54(2), 107-121. doi:10.1016/0304-4238(93)90059-yPuente, L. A., Pinto-Muñoz, C. A., Castro, E. S., & Cortés, M. (2011). Physalis peruviana Linnaeus, the multiple properties of a highly functional fruit: A review. Food Research International, 44(7), 1733-1740. doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2010.09.034Radford, P. J. (1967). Growth Analysis Formulae - Their Use and Abuse1. Crop Science, 7(3), 171. doi:10.2135/cropsci1967.0011183x000700030001xRamadan, M. F., & Moersel, J. T. (2007). Impact of enzymatic treatment on chemical composition, physicochemical properties and radical scavenging activity of goldenberry (Physalis peruviana L.) juice. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 87(3), 452-460. doi:10.1002/jsfa.2728Ramadan, M. F., & Moersel, J.-T. (2009). Oil extractability from enzymatically treated goldenberry (Physalis peruvianaL.) pomace: range of operational variables. International Journal of Food Science & Technology, 44(3), 435-444. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2621.2006.01511.xSalazar, M. R., Jones, J. W., Chaves, B., & Cooman, A. (2008). A model for the potential production and dry matter distribution of Cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.). Scientia Horticulturae, 115(2), 142-148. doi:10.1016/j.scienta.2007.08.015Scholberg, J., McNeal, B. L., Jones, J. W., Boote, K. J., Stanley, C. D., & Obreza, T. A. (2000). Growth and Canopy Characteristics of Field-Grown Tomato. Agronomy Journal, 92(1), 152. doi:10.2134/agronj2000.921152xTrinchero, G. D., Sozzi, G. O., Cerri, A. M., Vilella, F., & Fraschina, A. A. (1999). Ripening-related changes in ethylene production, respiration rate and cell-wall enzyme activity in goldenberry (Physalis peruviana L.), a solanaceous species. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 16(2), 139-145. doi:10.1016/s0925-5214(99)00011-3Turner, A. (1994). Dry Matter Assimilation and Partitioning in Pepper Cultivars Differing in Susceptibility to Stress-induced Bud and Flower Abscission. Annals of Botany, 73(6), 617-622. doi:10.1006/anbo.1994.1077WILLIAMS, R. F. (1946). The Physiology of Plant Growth with Special Reference to the Concept of Net Assimilation Rate. Annals of Botany, 10(1), 41-72. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.aob.a083119Zapata, J.L., A. Saldarriaga, M. Londoño, and C. Díaz. 2002. Cape gooseberry Management in Colombia. Antioquia, Colombia: Rionegro, Programa Nacional de Transferencia de Tecnología Agropecuaria - Corpoica Regional Cuatro (in Spanish).Zerihun, A. (2000). Compensatory Roles of Nitrogen Uptake and Photosynthetic N-use Efficiency in Determining Plant Growth Response to Elevated CO2: Evaluation Using a Functional Balance Model. Annals of Botany, 86(4), 723-730. doi:10.1006/anbo.2000.123

Los socios de la RSEHN y el desarrollo de las colecciones científicas del MNCN

Valencia, del 8 al 11 de septiembre de 2021. El tema principal tuvo como lema: “La huella Humana en la Naturaleza”.Las colecciones científicas son una infraestructura de investigación única e irremplazable para numerosas áreas de la ciencia. En la actualidad, se estima que en el Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales se conservan 10 millones de especímenes, lo que suponen casi la mitad de todos los conservados en España. Esta infraestructura científica o este tesoro, como puede ser llamado, se ha reunido principalmente a lo largo del último siglo, y se debe al trabajo conjunto de muchos especialistas, estudiosos e interesados en diferentes disciplinas de las ciencias naturales. En esta ponencia se quiere poner en valor la aportación de los socios de la RSEHN en el incremento y desarrollo de las colecciones científicas del MNCN. Se ha realizado un análisis preliminar de los fondos de las diferentes colecciones del MNCN y de los ingresos efectuados por los socios de RSEHN desde su fundación (1871) hasta el momento en que abandona el MNCN (1971). Se realizó en cada una de ellas una consulta de los diferentes colectores y personas que aportaron especímenes y que aparecen en las bases de datos, cruzándola con la base de datos de socios durante dicho periodo. Se ha contabilizado el número de especímenes, número de tipos y taxones correspondientes a éstos. La cifra de socios total supera el centenar. El número de ejemplares ingresados por estos socios, entre esas fechas, se estima que superan el millón y medio, lo que supone al menos un 15% del total actual estimado. Hay que tener en cuenta que las colecciones no se encuentran informatizadas al 100%

Stratifying diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients treated with chemoimmunotherapy: GCB/non-GCB by immunohistochemistry is still a robust and feasible marker

Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a heterogeneous group of aggressive lymphomas that can be classified into three molecular subtypes by gene expression profiling (GEP): GCB, ABC and unclassified. Immunohistochemistry-based cell of origin (COO) classification, as a surrogate for GEP, using three available immunohistochemical algorithms was evaluated in TMA-arranged tissue samples from 297 patients with de novo DLBCL treated by chemoimmunotherapy (R-CHOP and R-CHOP-like regimens). Additionally, the prognostic impacts of MYC, BCL2, IRF4 and BCL6 abnormalities detected by FISH, the relationship between the immunohistochemical COO classification and the immunohistochemical expression of MYC, BCL2 and pSTAT3 proteins and clinical data were evaluated. In our series, non-GCB DLBCL patients had significantly worse progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), as calculated using the Choi, Visco-Young and Hans algorithms, indicating that any of these algorithms would be appropriate for identifying patients who require alternative therapies to R-CHOP. Whilst MYC abnormalities had no impact on clinical outcome in the non-GCB subtype, those patients with isolated MYC rearrangements and a GCB-DLBCL phenotype had worse PFS and therefore might benefit from novel treatment approaches