HLA-Associated viral mutations are common in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 elite controllers

Elite controllers (EC) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HTV-1) maintain viremia below the limit of detection without antiretroviral treatment. Virus-specific cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocytes are believed to play a crucial role in viral containment, but the degree of immune imprinting and compensatory mutations in EC is unclear. We obtained plasma gag, pol, and nef sequences from HLA-diverse subjects and found that 30 to 40% of the predefined HLA-associated polymorphic sites show evidence of immune selection pressure in EC., compared to approximately 50% of the sites in chronic progressors. These data indicate ongoing viral replication and escape from cytotoxic T lymphocytes are present even in strictly controlled HTV-1 infection

A viral CTL escape mutation leading to immunoglobulin-like transcript 4-mediated functional inhibition of myelomonocytic cells

Viral mutational escape can reduce or abrogate recognition by the T cell receptor (TCR) of virus-specific CD8+ T cells. However, very little is known about the impact of cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitope mutations on interactions between peptide–major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I complexes and MHC class I receptors expressed on other cell types. Here, we analyzed a variant of the immunodominant human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B2705–restricted HIV-1 Gag KK10 epitope (KRWIILGLNK) with an L to M amino acid substitution at position 6 (L6M), which arises as a CTL escape variant after primary infection but is sufficiently immunogenic to elicit a secondary, de novo HIV-1–specific CD8+ T cell response with an alternative TCR repertoire in chronic infection. In addition to altering recognition by HIV-1–specific CD8+ T cells, the HLA-B2705–KK10 L6M complex also exhibits substantially increased binding to the immunoglobulin-like transcript (ILT) receptor 4, an inhibitory MHC class I–specific receptor expressed on myelomonocytic cells. Binding of the B2705–KK10 L6M complex to ILT4 leads to a tolerogenic phenotype of myelomonocytic cells with lower surface expression of dendritic cell (DC) maturation markers and co-stimulatory molecules. These data suggest a link between CTL-driven mutational escape, altered recognition by innate MHC class I receptors on myelomonocytic cells, and functional impairment of DCs, and thus provide important new insight into biological consequences of viral sequence diversificatio

On performance of thin-film meso-structured perovskite solar cell through experimental analysis and device simulation

In the last few years there is an unprecedented progress in the increase of the power conversion efficiency of perovskite solar cells. Evidently, further advances of the efficiency of these devices will depend on the constraints imposed by the optical and electronic properties of their constituents. Quite apparently that during the manufacturing process of a solar cell, there is an inevitable variation in the thicknesses of various functional layers, which affects the optoelectronic characteristics of the final sample. In this work a possible strategy of the analysis of the solar cell performance is suggested, based on statistically averaging procedure of experimental data. We present a case study, in which the optoelectronic properties of the meso-structured perovskite solar cell (with a mesoporous TiO$_2$ layer) are analysed within the method providing a deeper understanding of the device operation. This method enables an assessment of the overall quality of the device, pointing pathways towards the maximum efficiency design of a perovskite solar cell by material properties tuning.Comment: 13 pages, 10 figure

Random-Matrix Theory of Quantum Size Effects on Nuclear Magnetic Resonance in Metal Particles

The distribution function of the local density of states is computed exactly for the Wigner-Dyson ensemble of random Hamiltonians. In the absence of time-reversal symmetry, precise agreement is obtained with the "supersymmetry" theory by Efetov and Prigodin of the NMR lineshape in disordered metal particles. Upon breaking time-reversal symmetry, the variance of the Knight shift in the smallest particles is reduced by a universal factor of 2/3. ***To be published in Physical Review B.****Comment: 4 pages, REVTeX-3.0, 1 postscript figure, INLO-PUB-940819; [2017: figure included in text

Aporte al estudio de la cultura, clima organizacional y la salud en el empleo público

Uno de los Proyectos de Investigación que la Cátedra de Psicología Laboral lleva adelante, es el denominado “Cultura y Clima Laboral en Organizaciones Públicas” (2014-2015). Se presenta en esta oportunidad, como resultado del trabajo que el equipo viene realizando, el cuestionario elaborado para ser aplicado en entrevistas a informantes claves, que son los referentes de la entidad sindical que representa a los empleados públicos, y a profesionales vinculados al campo del trabajo (psicólogo, abogado, medico, etc.). La Guía de preguntas se orienta a conocer características de la organización pública, el trabajador público, sus problemáticas de salud y reclamos más frecuentes, con la novedad del aporte que terceros directamente vinculados, como son los representantes gremiales, y la perspectiva de la experiencia profesional de quienes trabajan sobre problemáticas laborales de empleados públicos. La riqueza que aportan las técnicas e instrumentos de investigación de tipo cualitativo permitirá esclarecer relaciones entre los conceptos investigados: cultura, clima laboral, factores psicosociales del trabajo, violencia laboral, salud psicofísica, resiliencia.One of the projects of research professor of work psychology later, is the so-called "culture and climate working in organizations public" (2014-2015). It is presented on this occasion, as a result of the work that the team has been carrying, elaborated questionnaire to be applied in interviews with key informants, including as referents of the Trade Union body representing public employees, and professionals linked to the field of work (psychologist, lawyer, doctor, etc). Questions guide focuses on characteristics of the public organization, public worker, problems of health and frequent complaints, with the novelty of the contribution that directly linked third parties, such as trade union representatives, and the perspective of the professional experience to those that work on issues he works on labour problems of public employees. Wealth contributing techniques and tools of qualitative research will allow to clarify relationships between the investigated concepts: culture, work environment, work, workplace violence, psycho-physical health psychosocial factors, resilience.Trabajos libres: Psicología laboral y organizacionalFacultad de Psicologí

Aporte al estudio de la cultura, clima organizacional y la salud en el empleo público

Uno de los Proyectos de Investigación que la Cátedra de Psicología Laboral lleva adelante, es el denominado “Cultura y Clima Laboral en Organizaciones Públicas” (2014-2015). Se presenta en esta oportunidad, como resultado del trabajo que el equipo viene realizando, el cuestionario elaborado para ser aplicado en entrevistas a informantes claves, que son los referentes de la entidad sindical que representa a los empleados públicos, y a profesionales vinculados al campo del trabajo (psicólogo, abogado, medico, etc.). La Guía de preguntas se orienta a conocer características de la organización pública, el trabajador público, sus problemáticas de salud y reclamos más frecuentes, con la novedad del aporte que terceros directamente vinculados, como son los representantes gremiales, y la perspectiva de la experiencia profesional de quienes trabajan sobre problemáticas laborales de empleados públicos. La riqueza que aportan las técnicas e instrumentos de investigación de tipo cualitativo permitirá esclarecer relaciones entre los conceptos investigados: cultura, clima laboral, factores psicosociales del trabajo, violencia laboral, salud psicofísica, resiliencia.One of the projects of research professor of work psychology later, is the so-called "culture and climate working in organizations public" (2014-2015). It is presented on this occasion, as a result of the work that the team has been carrying, elaborated questionnaire to be applied in interviews with key informants, including as referents of the Trade Union body representing public employees, and professionals linked to the field of work (psychologist, lawyer, doctor, etc). Questions guide focuses on characteristics of the public organization, public worker, problems of health and frequent complaints, with the novelty of the contribution that directly linked third parties, such as trade union representatives, and the perspective of the professional experience to those that work on issues he works on labour problems of public employees. Wealth contributing techniques and tools of qualitative research will allow to clarify relationships between the investigated concepts: culture, work environment, work, workplace violence, psycho-physical health psychosocial factors, resilience.Trabajos libres: Psicología laboral y organizacionalFacultad de Psicologí

How Phase-Breaking Affects Quantum Transport Through Chaotic Cavities

We investigate the effects of phase-breaking events on electronic transport through ballistic chaotic cavities. We simulate phase-breaking by a fictitious lead connecting the cavity to a phase-randomizing reservoir and introduce a statistical description for the total scattering matrix, including the additional lead. For strong phase-breaking, the average and variance of the conductance are calculated analytically. Combining these results with those in the absence of phase-breaking, we propose an interpolation formula, show that it is an excellent description of random-matrix numerical calculations, and obtain good agreement with several recent experiments.Comment: 4 pages, revtex, 3 figures: uuencoded tar-compressed postscrip

Multivisceral intestinal transplantation: Surgical pathology

We report the diagnostic surgical pathology of two children who underwent multivisceral abdominal transplantation and survived for 1 month and 6 months. There is little relevant literature, and diagnostic criteria for the various clinical possibilities are not established; this is made more complicated by the simultaneous occurrence of more than one process. We based our interpretations on conventional histology, augmented with immunohistology, including HLA staining that distinguished graft from host cells in situ. In some instances functional analysis of T cells propagated from the same biopsies was available and was used to corroborate morphological interpretations. A wide spectrum of changes was encountered. Graft-versus-host disease, a prime concern before surgery, was not seen. Rejection was severe in 1 patient, not present in the other, and both had evidence of lymphoproliferative disease, which was related to Epstein-Barr virus. Bacterial translocation through the gut wall was also a feature in both children. This paper documents and illustrates the various diagnostic possibilities.. © 1989 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted

Profile and professional expectations of medical students from 11 Latin American countries: the Red-LIRHUS project

Background Latin America is undergoing a human resource crisis in health care in terms of labor shortage, misdistribution and poor orientation to primary care. Workforce data are needed to inform the planning of long-term strategies to address this problem. This study aimed to evaluate the academic and motivational profile, as well as the professional expectations, of Latin American medical students. Results We conducted an observational, cross-sectional, multi-country study evaluating medical students from 11 Spanish-speaking countries in 2011–2012. Motivations to study medicine, migration intentions, intent to enter postgraduate programs, and perceptions regarding primary care were evaluated via a self-administered questionnaire. Outcomes were measured with pilot-tested questions and previously validated scales. A total of 11,072 valid surveys from 63 medical schools were gathered and analyzed. Conclusions This study describes the profile and expectations of the future workforce being trained in Latin America. The obtained information will be useful for governments and universities in planning strategies to improve their current state of affairs regarding human resources for health care professions

Non-perturbative calculation of the probability distribution of plane-wave transmission through a disordered waveguide

A non-perturbative random-matrix theory is applied to the transmission of a monochromatic scalar wave through a disordered waveguide. The probability distributions of the transmittances T_{mn} and T_n=\sum_m T_{mn} of an incident mode n are calculated in the thick-waveguide limit, for broken time-reversal symmetry. A crossover occurs from Rayleigh or Gaussian statistics in the diffusive regime to lognormal statistics in the localized regime. A qualitatively different crossover occurs if the disordered region is replaced by a chaotic cavity. ***Submitted to Physical Review E.***Comment: 7 pages, REVTeX-3.0, 5 postscript figures appended as self-extracting archive. A complete postscript file with figures and text (4 pages) is available from http://rulgm4.LeidenUniv.nl/preprints.htm