Age-dependent differences in the pathogenesis of bovine respiratory syncytial virus infections related to the development of natural immunocompetence

The severity of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections appears to differ with age in both humans and bovines. A primary RSV infection in naïve infants and in young calves runs a more severe course when they are 1–6 months old than in their first month of life. The relative lack of clinical signs in the first month of age may be due to high levels of maternally derived neutralizing antibodies or low exposure to infectious virus. This study examined whether age-dependent differences in the pathogenesis of bovine RSV (bRSV) between neonatal and young calves may be due to differences in age-dependent immunocompetence. To study the effect of age and immune parameters on bRSV disease in neonatal and young calves, neonatal (1-day-old) calves without maternally derived antibodies were infected experimentally with bRSV and the severity of disease and immune responses were evaluated in comparison with disease in similar 6-week-old infected calves. Neonatal calves had more extensive virus replication and lung consolidation, but lower pro-inflammatory [in particular tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-{alpha})] responses, specific humoral immune responses, lung neutrophilic infiltration and clinical signs of disease than 6-week-old calves. The lack of correlation between virus replication and clinical signs suggests an important role of pro-inflammatory cytokines, in particular TNF-{alpha}, in the disease. The capacity to produce pro-inflammatory TNF-{alpha} appeared to increase with age, and may explain the age-dependent differences in RSV pathogenesis

Inclusiebeleving van medewerkers TU Delft doorgelicht.

Security and Global Affair

Connecting flow structures and heat flux in turbulent Rayleigh-B\'enard convection

The aspect ratio (\Gamma) dependence of the heat transfer (Nusselt number Nu in dimensionless form) in turbulent (two-dimensional) Rayleigh-B\'enard convection is numerically studied in the regime $0.4 \le \Gamma \le 1.25$ for Rayleigh numbers $10^7 \le Ra \le Ra^{9}$ and Prandtl numbers Pr =0.7 (gas) and 4.3 (water). Nu (\Gamma) shows a very rich structure with sudden jumps and sharp transitions. We connect these structures to the way the flow organizes itself in the sample and explain why the aspect ratio dependence of Nu is more pronounced for small Pr. Even for fixed \Gamma different turbulent states (with different resulting Nu) can exist, between which the flow can or cannot switch. In the latter case the heat transfer thus depends on the initial conditions.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figure

Development and Validation of a Genotype 3 Recombinant Protein based Immunoassay for Hepatitis E Virus Serology in Swine

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is classified within the family Hepeviridae, genus Hepevirus. HEV genotype 3 (Gt3) infections are endemic in pigs in Western Europe and in North and South America and cause zoonotic infections in humans. Several serological assays to detect HEV antibodies in pigs have been developed, at first mainly based on HEV genotype 1 (Gt1) antigens. To develop a sensitive HEV Gt3 ELISA, a recombinant baculovirus expression product of HEV Gt3 open reading frame-2 was produced and coated onto polystyrene ELISA plates. After incubation of porcine sera, bound HEV antibodies were detected with anti-porcine anti-IgG and anti-IgM conjugates. For primary estimation of sensitivity and specificity of the assay, sets of sera were used from pigs experimentally infected with HEV Gt3. For further validation of the assay and to set the cutoff value, a batch of 1100 pig sera was used. All pig sera were tested using the developed HEV Gt3 assay and two other serologic assays based on HEV Gt1 antigens. Since there is no gold standard available for HEV antibody testing, further validation and a definite setting of the cutoff of the developed HEV Gt3 assay were performed using a statistical approach based on Bayes' theorem. The developed and validated HEV antibody assay showed effective detection of HEV-specific antibodies. This assay can contribute to an improved detection of HEV antibodies and enable more reliable estimates of the prevalence of HEV Gt3 in swine in different regions

Membranous urethral length measurement on preoperative MRI to predict incontinence after radical prostatectomy:a literature review towards a proposal for measurement standardization

Objectives: To investigate the membranous urethral length (MUL) measurement and its interobserver agreement, and propose literature-based recommendations to standardize MUL measurement for increasing interobserver agreement. MUL measurements based on prostate MRI scans, for urinary incontinence risk assessment before radical prostatectomy (RP), may influence treatment decision-making in men with localised prostate cancer. Before implementation in clinical practise, MRI-based MUL measurements need standardization to improve observer agreement. Methods: Online libraries were searched up to August 5, 2022, on MUL measurements. Two reviewers performed article selection and critical appraisal. Papers reporting on preoperative MUL measurements and urinary continence correlation were selected. Extracted information included measuring procedures, MRI sequences, population mean/median values, and observer agreement. Results: Fifty papers were included. Studies that specified the MRI sequence used T2-weighted images and used either coronal images (n = 13), sagittal images (n = 18), or both (n = 12) for MUL measurements. ‘Prostatic apex’ was the most common description of the proximal membranous urethra landmark and ‘level/entry of the urethra into the penile bulb’ was the most common description of the distal landmark. Population mean (median) MUL value range was 10.4–17.1 mm (7.3–17.3 mm), suggesting either population or measurement differences. Detailed measurement technique descriptions for reproducibility were lacking. Recommendations on MRI-based MUL measurement were formulated by using anatomical landmarks and detailed descriptions and illustrations. Conclusions: In order to improve on measurement variability, a literature-based measuring method of the MUL was proposed, supported by several illustrative case studies, in an attempt to standardize MRI-based MUL measurements for appropriate urinary incontinence risk preoperatively. Clinical relevance statement: Implementation of MUL measurements into clinical practise for personalized post-prostatectomy continence prediction is hampered by lack of standardization and suboptimal interobserver agreement. Our proposed standardized MUL measurement aims to facilitate standardization and to improve the interobserver agreement. Key Points: • Variable approaches for membranous urethral length measurement are being used, without detailed description and with substantial differences in length of the membranous urethra, hampering standardization. • Limited interobserver agreement for membranous urethral length measurement was observed in several studies, while preoperative incontinence risk assessment necessitates high interobserver agreement. • Literature-based recommendations are proposed to standardize MRI-based membranous urethral length measurement for increasing interobserver agreement and improving preoperative incontinence risk assessment, using anatomical landmarks on sagittal T2-weighted images.</p

VITAL, Monitoring and Control for Virus Safe Pork

VITAL is an ongoing (2008-2011) EU funded project on monitoring and control of food-borne viruses. The concept of VITAL is the integrated risk assessment and management of contamination of the European farm to market food chain by pathogenic viruses, such as norovirus and hepatitis E virus. The project’s focus is on the production and processing phase, moving away from the concept of endpoint monitoring towards input monitoring

Action Opportunities to Pursue Responsible Digital Care for People With Intellectual Disabilities: Qualitative Study

Background: Responsible digital care refers to any intentional systematic effort designed to increase the likelihood of a digital care technology developed through ethical decision-making, being socially responsible and aligned with the values and well-being of those impacted by it. Objective: We aimed to present examples of action opportunities for (1) designing “technology”; (2) shaping the “context” of use; and (3) adjusting the behavior of “users” to guide responsible digital care for people with intellectual disabilities. Methods: Three cases were considered: (1) design of a web application to support the preparation of meals for groups of people with intellectual disabilities, (2) implementation of an app to help people with intellectual disabilities regulate their stress independently, and (3) implementation of a social robot to stimulate interaction and physical activity among people with intellectual disabilities. Overall, 26 stakeholders participated in 3 multistakeholder workshops (case 1: 10/26, 38%; case 2: 10/26, 38%; case 3: 6/26, 23%) based on the “guidance ethics approach.” We identified stakeholders’ values based on bottom-up exploration of experienced and expected effects of using the technology, and we formulated action opportunities for these values in the specific context of use. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Results: Overall, 232 effects, 33 values, and 156 action opportunities were collected. General and case-specific themes were identified. Important stakeholder values included quality of care, autonomy, efficiency, health, enjoyment, reliability, and privacy. Both positive and negative effects could underlie stakeholders’ values and influence the development of action opportunities. Action opportunities comprised the following: (1) technology: development of the technology (eg, user experience and customization), technology input (eg, recipes for meals, intervention options for reducing stress, and activities), and technology output (eg, storage and use of data); (2) context: guidelines, training and support, policy or agreements, and adjusting the physical environment in which the technology is used; and (3) users: integrating the technology into daily care practice, by diminishing (eg, “letting go” to increase the autonomy of people with intellectual disabilities), retaining (eg, face-to-face contact), and adding (eg, evaluation moments) certain behaviors of care professionals. Conclusions: This is the first study to provide insight into responsible digital care for people with intellectual disabilities by means of bottom-up exploration of action opportunities to take account of stakeholders’ values in designing technology, shaping the context of use, and adjusting the behavior of users. Although part of the findings may be generalized, case-specific insights and a complementary top-down approach (eg, predefined ethical frameworks) are essential. The findings represent a part of an ethical discourse that requires follow-up to meet the dynamism of stakeholders’ values and further develop and implement action opportunities to achieve socially desirable, ethically acceptable, and sustainable digital care that improves the lives of people with intellectual disabilities

Hepatitis E Virus in Pork Liver Sausage, France

We investigated viability of hepatitis E virus (HEV) identified in contaminated pork liver sausages obtained from France. HEV replication was demonstrated in 1 of 4 samples by using a 3-dimensional cell culture system. The risk for human infection with HEV by consumption of these sausages should be considered to be high