Acquisition of pneumococci specific effector and regulatory Cd4+ T cells localising within human upper respiratory-tract mucosal lymphoid tissue

The upper respiratory tract mucosa is the location for commensal Streptococcus (S.) pneumoniae colonization and therefore represents a major site of contact between host and bacteria. The CD4(+) T cell response to pneumococcus is increasingly recognised as an important mediator of immunity that protects against invasive disease, with data suggesting a critical role for Th17 cells in mucosal clearance. By assessing CD4 T cell proliferative responses we demonstrate age-related sequestration of Th1 and Th17 CD4(+) T cells reactive to pneumococcal protein antigens within mucosal lymphoid tissue. CD25(hi) T cell depletion and utilisation of pneumococcal specific MHCII tetramers revealed the presence of antigen specific Tregs that utilised CTLA-4 and PDL-1 surface molecules to suppress these responses. The balance between mucosal effector and regulatory CD4(+) T cell immunity is likely to be critical to pneumococcal commensalism and the prevention of unwanted pathology associated with carriage. However, if dysregulated, such responses may render the host more susceptible to invasive pneumococcal infection and adversely affect the successful implementation of both polysaccharide-conjugate and novel protein-based pneumococcal vaccines

Collaborative Gaze Channelling for Improved Cooperation During Robotic Assisted Surgery

The use of multiple robots for performing complex tasks is becoming a common practice for many robot applications. When different operators are involved, effective cooperation with anticipated manoeuvres is important for seamless, synergistic control of all the end-effectors. In this paper, the concept of Collaborative Gaze Channelling (CGC) is presented for improved control of surgical robots for a shared task. Through eye tracking, the fixations of each operator are monitored and presented in a shared surgical workspace. CGC permits remote or physically separated collaborators to share their intention by visualising the eye gaze of their counterparts, and thus recovers, to a certain extent, the information of mutual intent that we rely upon in a vis-à-vis working setting. In this study, the efficiency of surgical manipulation with and without CGC for controlling a pair of bimanual surgical robots is evaluated by analysing the level of coordination of two independent operators. Fitts' law is used to compare the quality of movement with or without CGC. A total of 40 subjects have been recruited for this study and the results show that the proposed CGC framework exhibits significant improvement (p<0.05) on all the motion indices used for quality assessment. This study demonstrates that visual guidance is an implicit yet effective way of communication during collaborative tasks for robotic surgery. Detailed experimental validation results demonstrate the potential clinical value of the proposed CGC framework. © 2012 Biomedical Engineering Society.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Effects of deletion of the Streptococcus pneumoniae lipoprotein diacylglyceryl transferase gene lgt on ABC transporter function and on growth in vivo

Lipoproteins are an important class of surface associated proteins that have diverse roles and frequently are involved in the virulence of bacterial pathogens. As prolipoproteins are attached to the cell membrane by a single enzyme, prolipoprotein diacylglyceryl transferase (Lgt), deletion of the corresponding gene potentially allows the characterisation of the overall importance of lipoproteins for specific bacterial functions. We have used a Δlgt mutant strain of Streptococcus pneumoniae to investigate the effects of loss of lipoprotein attachment on cation acquisition, growth in media containing specific carbon sources, and virulence in different infection models. Immunoblots of triton X-114 extracts, flow cytometry and immuno-fluorescence microscopy confirmed the Δlgt mutant had markedly reduced lipoprotein expression on the cell surface. The Δlgt mutant had reduced growth in cation depleted medium, increased sensitivity to oxidative stress, reduced zinc uptake, and reduced intracellular levels of several cations. Doubling time of the Δlgt mutant was also increased slightly when grown in medium with glucose, raffinose and maltotriose as sole carbon sources. These multiple defects in cation and sugar ABC transporter function for the Δlgt mutant were associated with only slightly delayed growth in complete medium. However the Δlgt mutant had significantly reduced growth in blood or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and a marked impairment in virulence in mouse models of nasopharyngeal colonisation, sepsis and pneumonia. These data suggest that for S. pneumoniae loss of surface localisation of lipoproteins has widespread effects on ABC transporter functions that collectively prevent the Δlgt mutant from establishing invasive infection

Markedly Divergent Tree Assemblage Responses to Tropical Forest Loss and Fragmentation across a Strong Seasonality Gradient

We examine the effects of forest fragmentation on the structure and composition of tree assemblages within three seasonal and aseasonal forest types of southern Brazil, including evergreen, Araucaria, and deciduous forests. We sampled three southernmost Atlantic Forest landscapes, including the largest continuous forest protected areas within each forest type. Tree assemblages in each forest type were sampled within 10 plots of 0.1 ha in both continuous forests and 10 adjacent forest fragments. All trees within each plot were assigned to trait categories describing their regeneration strategy, vertical stratification, seed-dispersal mode, seed size, and wood density. We detected differences among both forest types and landscape contexts in terms of overall tree species richness, and the density and species richness of different functional groups in terms of regeneration strategy, seed dispersal mode and woody density. Overall, evergreen forest fragments exhibited the largest deviations from continuous forest plots in assemblage structure. Evergreen, Araucaria and deciduous forests diverge in the functional composition of tree floras, particularly in relation to regeneration strategy and stress tolerance. By supporting a more diversified light-demanding and stress-tolerant flora with reduced richness and abundance of shade-tolerant, old-growth species, both deciduous and Araucaria forest tree assemblages are more intrinsically resilient to contemporary human-disturbances, including fragmentation-induced edge effects, in terms of species erosion and functional shifts. We suggest that these intrinsic differences in the direction and magnitude of responses to changes in landscape structure between forest types should guide a wide range of conservation strategies in restoring fragmented tropical forest landscapes worldwide

Evaluation of the Influence of Different Grades of Reinforcing Steel on the Seismic Performance of Concrete reinforced Frame Structures with Nonlinear Static Analysis

In this investigation, the elasto-plastic behavior and the seismic performance of concrete reinforced frame structures reinforced are evaluated by applying the Pushover method. This evaluation is done on several cases: with high ductility steel (Grade 40), conventional steel (Grade 60) and high strength steel (Grade 75). For the previous, the capacity curve graph obtained from the displacement coefficient method was used to measure the capacity of the structure. In addition, the performance of the structure for different levels of seismic design are evaluated with the resulting values of ductility and rigidity of each case. The results showed that reinforcing a structure with a Grade 40 reinforcing steel increases the energy dissipation capacity, and if reinforced with a Grade 75 reinforcing steel increases the strength capacity in the structure. Finally, the comparative result of the various cases are presented to demonstrate the influence of reinforcing steel on the plastic behavior of concrete reinforced frame structures

Analysis of seismic bidirectionality on response of reinforced concrete structures with irregularities of l-shaped plan and soft story

The seismic design of buildings is usually performed using one-way analysis for each of main axes independently. However, seismic events have fairly random behaviour and impose bidirectional solicitations on structures. In this work, the study of the response in structures subjects to earthquake loads with irregularity of l-shaped plan and soft story is carried out. For this, the linear time-story analysis (LTHA) of these has been carried out imposing seismic solicitations in two orthogonal directions. Thus, the structural response with incidence angle variations of 10 is obtained and compared with the response derived from the unidirectional analysis. Variations of up to 50% and 72% are obtained for model structures with l-shaped plan and soft story respectively

Acoustic characteristics of vocalisations emitted by the domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) during copula ejaculation and electro-ejaculation with or without anaesthesia

[EN] Vocalisations can be used as reliable indicators of pain, but little information is available in rabbits, where acoustic tools for farming environments can be used for welfare judgements. The aim of this study was to compare vocalisations produced during copula ejaculation and electro-ejaculation (EE), with or without general anaesthesia, in domestic rabbits. Vocalisations of nine New Zealand white adult males were digitally recorded. The number of males vocalising and vocal characteristics including high, low, maximum and fundamental frequencies and duration of the vocalisations were analysed. There were no differences in the number of males vocalising or any vocalisation parameter between the 1st and 2nd ejaculation while copulating, even though the fundamental frequency increased in all males in the 2nd ejaculation (P=0.008). More males vocalised while mating than while being electro-ejaculated (P=0.03), and all vocalisation parameters were greater during EE than while mating (P=0.004). The use or not of anaesthesia during EE did not modify any of the parameters evaluated. It was concluded that: 1) more males vocalised during copula ejaculation than while being electro-ejaculated; 2) bio-acoustic analysis allowed us to identify aversive utterance vocalisations, which are characterised with higher frequencies, that those from non-aversive stimulus; and 3) at least with the anaesthetic combination and the responses studied, anaesthesia had no effect on the acoustic characteristics of the vocalisation emitted during EE in rabbits.Orihuela, A.; Ungerfeld, R. (2019). Acoustic characteristics of vocalisations emitted by the domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) during copula ejaculation and electro-ejaculation with or without anaesthesia. World Rabbit Science. 27(3):157-162. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2019.10809SWORD157162273Abril-Sánchez S., Freitas-de-Melo A., Damián, J.P., Giriboni J., Villagrá-García A., Ungerfeld R. 2017. Ejaculation does not contribute to the stress response to electroejaculation in sheep. Reprod. Domest. Anim., 52: 403-408. https://doi.org/10.1111/rda.12922Abril-Sánchez S., Crosignani N., Freitas-de-Melo A., Terrazas A., Damián J.P., Beracochea R., Silveira P., Ungerfeld R. 2018. Sedation or anaesthesia decrease the stress response to eletroejacuation and improve the quality of the collected semen in goat bucks. Animal, 12: 2598-2608. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1751731118000320Aguirre F.V., Vázquez R.R., Hallal C.C., Orihuela A., Flores S.M., Flores P.I. 2015. Stress induced by electro-ejaculation in domestic rabbits. XXIV Congress of the Latin American Association of Animal Production. November 9-13. Puerto Varas, Chile. pp. 271.Cools R., Roberts A.C., Robbins T.W. 2008. Serotoninergic regulation of emotional and behavioural control processes. Trends Cogn. Sci., 12: 31-40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2007.10.011da Silva Cordeiro A., Näs I.D., Oliveira S., Violaro F., Almeida A.D., Neves D. 2013. Understanding vocalization might help to assess stressful conditions in piglets. Animals, 3: 923-934. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani3030923Damián J.P., Ungerfeld R. 2011. The stress response of frequently electroejaculated rams to electroejaculation: hormonal, physiological, biochemical, haematological and behavioural parameters. Reprod. Domest. Anim., 46: 646-650. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0531.2010.01722.xDamián J.P., Ungerfeld R. 2010. Vocalizations are reliable indicators of pain during electroejaculation in rams. In Proc.: 44th Congress of the International Society for Applied Ethology, 4-7, August, Uppsala, Sweden, pp.184.Dawkins M.S. 1998. Evolution and animal welfare. Q. Rev. Biol., 73: 305-328.Donovan J., Brown P. 1998. Anesthesia. Curr. Protoc. Immunol., 27: 141-145.Fumagalli F., Damián J.P., Ungerfeld R. 2015. Vocalizations during electroejaculation in anaesthetized adult and young Pampas Deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus) males. Reprod. Domest. Anim., 50: 321-326. https://doi.org/10.1111/rda.12494Giuliano F., Allard J. 2001. Dopamine and Male Sexual Function. Eur. Urol., 40: 601-608. https://doi.org/10.1159/000049844Hull E.M., Muschamp J.W., Sato S. 2004. Dopamine and serotonin: influences on male sexual behavior. Physiol. Behav., 83: 291-307. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0031-9384(04)00357-9Jürgens U. 1979. Vocalization as an emotional indicator a Neuroethological Study in the Squirrel Monkey. Behaviour, 69: 88-117.Manteuffel G., Puppe B., Schön P.C. 2004. Vocalization of farm animals as a measure of welfare. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci., 88: 163-182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2004.02.012Morton E.S. 1977. On the occurrence and significance of motivation-structural rules in some birds and mammals sound. Am. Nat., 111: 855-869. https://doi.org/10.1086/283219Ohl, D.A., 1993. Electroejaculation. Urol. Clin. North Am., 20: 181-188.Orihuela A., Aguirre V., Hernández C., Flores-Pérez I., Vázquez R. 2009a. Effect of Anesthesia on Welfare Aspects of Hair Sheep (Ovis aries) During Electro-Ejaculation. J. Anim. Vet. Adv., 8: 305-308.Orihuela A., Aguirre V., Hernández C., Flores-Pérez I., Vázquez R. 2009b. Ejaculation on the Serum Cortisol Response, Heart and Respiratory Rates in Hair Sheep (Ovis aries). J. Anim. Vet. Adv., 8: 1968-1972.Seyfart R.M., Cheney D.L. 2003. Meaning and emotion in animal vocalizations. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1000: 32-55.Watts J.M., Stookey J.M. 1999. Effects of restraint and branding on rates and acoustic parameters of vocalization in beef cattle. Appl. Anim. Sci., 62: 125-135. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0168-1591(98)00222-6Watts J.M., Stookey J.M. 2000. Vocal behaviour in cattle: the animal's commentary on its biological processes and welfare. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci., 67: 15-33. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0168-1591(99)00108-2White R.G., DeShazer J.A., Tressler C.J., Borcher G.M., Davey S., Waninge A., Parkhurst A.M., Milanuk M.J., Clemens E.T. 1995. Vocalization and physiological response of pigs during castration with or without a local anesthetic. J. Anim. Sci., 73: 381-386. https://doi.org/10.2527/1995.732381

Estimating genuine investment for the Peruvian mining sector during 1992-2005

This two-page policy brief evaluates the sustainability of the Peruvian mining sector during the period 1992-2005. It concludes that without adequate mineral revenue allocation into other types of capital within the sector, mining activity will not be sustainable

An optimal control L-2-gain disturbance rejection design for networked control systems

This paper proposes an optimal control solution for the L2-gain disturbance rejection problem for networked control systems. The problem, usually referred as mixed H2/H∞, aims at designing a linear stabilizing controller minimizing a given cost function subject to a L2-gain disturbance rejec tion constraint. The problem is formulated assuming network induced time-varying delays and/or packet losses. An LMI-based minimization problem is derived based on a Lyapunov-Krasovskii approach, considering a polytopic covering of the time-delay range. Simulation results are provided to verify the performance of the methodology