A robust fault detection method using a zonotopic Kaucher set-membership approach

This paper presents a robust fault detection method using a zonotopic Kaucher set-membership method. The fault detection approach is based on checking the consistency between the model and the data. Consistency is given if there is an intersection between the feasible parameter set and the nominal parameter set. To allow efficient computation the feasible set is approximated by a zonotope. Due to the usage of Kaucher interval arithmetic the results are mathematically guaranteed. The proposed approach is assessed using an illustrative application based on a well-known four-tank case study. The study shows that it is possible to detect even small errors in a noisy settingPeer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Neurosteroids Mediate Neuroprotection in an In Vitro Model of Hypoxic/Hypoglycaemic Excitotoxicity via δ-GABAA_{A} Receptors without Affecting Synaptic Plasticity

Neurosteroids and benzodiazepines are modulators of the GABA$_{A}$ receptors, thereby causing anxiolysis. Furthermore, benzodiazepines such as midazolam are known to cause adverse side-effects on cognition upon administration. We previously found that midazolam at nanomolar concentrations (10 nM) blocked long-term potentiation (LTP). Here, we aim to study the effect of neurosteroids and their synthesis using XBD173, which is a synthetic compound that promotes neurosteroidogenesis by binding to the translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO), since they might provide anxiolytic activity with a favourable side-effect profile. By means of electrophysiological measurements and the use of mice with targeted genetic mutations, we revealed that XBD173, a selective ligand of the translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO), induced neurosteroidogenesis. In addition, the exogenous application of potentially synthesised neurosteroids (THDOC and allopregnanolone) did not depress hippocampal CA1-LTP, the cellular correlate of learning and memory. This phenomenon was observed at the same concentrations that neurosteroids conferred neuroprotection in a model of ischaemia-induced hippocampal excitotoxicity. In conclusion, our results indicate that TSPO ligands are promising candidates for post-ischaemic recovery exerting neuroprotection, in contrast to midazolam, without detrimental effects on synaptic plasticity

Inactivation of Ppp1r15a minimises weight gain and insulin resistance during caloric excess in female mice.

Phosphorylation of the translation initiation factor eIF2α within the mediobasal hypothalamus is known to suppress food intake, but the role of the eIF2α phosphatases in regulating body weight is poorly understood. Mice deficient in active PPP1R15A, a stress-inducible eIF2α phosphatase, are healthy and more resistant to endoplasmic reticulum stress than wild type controls. We report that when female Ppp1r15a mutant mice are fed a high fat diet they gain less weight than wild type littermates owing to reduced food intake. This results in healthy leaner Ppp1r15a mutant animals with reduced hepatic steatosis and improved insulin sensitivity, albeit with a possible modest defect in insulin secretion. By contrast, no weight differences are observed between wild type and Ppp1r15a deficient mice fed a standard diet. We conclude that female mice lacking the C-terminal PP1-binding domain of PPP1R15A show reduced dietary intake and preserved glucose tolerance. Our data indicate that this results in reduced weight gain and protection from diet-induced obesity.The work was also supported by Diabetes UK and the MRC [G1002610]. VP held an Arthur and Sadie Pethybridge PhD Studentship from Diabetes UK. The CIMR microscopy core facility is supported by a Wellcome Trust Strategic Award [100140] and a Wellcome Trust equipment grant [093026]

Expression of DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR on human sinusoidal endothelium: a role for capturing hepatitis C virus particles.

Hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells are unique among endothelial cells in their ability to internalize and process a diverse range of antigens. DC-SIGNR, a type 2 C-type lectin expressed on liver sinusoids, has been shown to bind with high affinity to hepatitis C virus (HCV) E2 glycoprotein. DC-SIGN is a closely related homologue reported to be expressed only on dendritic cells and a subset of macrophages and has similar binding affinity to HCV E2 glycoprotein. These receptors function as adhesion and antigen presentation molecules. We report distinct patterns of DC-SIGNR and DC-SIGN expression in human liver tissue and show for the first time that both C-type lectins are expressed on sinusoidal endothelial cells. We confirmed that these receptors are functional by demonstrating their ability to bind HCV E2 glycoproteins. Although these lectins on primary sinusoidal cells support HCV E2 binding, they are unable to support HCV entry. These data support a model where DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR on sinusoidal endothelium provide a mechanism for high affinity binding of circulating HCV within the liver sinusoids allowing subsequent transfer of the virus to underlying hepatocytes, in a manner analogous to DC-SIGN presentation of human immunodeficiency virus on dendritic cells

Recensiones [Revista de Historia Económica Año XIX Otoño-Invierno 2001 n. 3 pp. 707-751]

Editada en la Fundación Empresa PúblicaTortella, G. La revolución del siglo XX (Por Jordi Palafox Gámir).-- Marichal, C. La bancarrota del virreinato. Nueva España y las finanzas del imperio español, 1780-1810 (Por Pedro Pérez Herrero).-- Eicnengreen, B. La globalización del capital. Historia del Sistema Monetario Internacional (Por Ana Fernández-Ardavín).-- Hayes, P. Industry and Ideology. IG Farben in the Nazi Era (Por Nuria Puig Raposo).-- Sáez García, M. A. Álava en la siderurgia moderna española. San Pedro de Araya (1847-1935) (Por Stefan Houpt).-- Brincas Gutiérrez, M. A. La productividad de los factores en la agricultura española, 1752-1935 (Por Esteban Nicolini).-- Madrazo, S. Estado débil y ladrones poderosos en la España del siglo XVIII. Historia de un peculado en el reinado de Felipe V (Por Juan Zafra).-- Jurado Sánchez, J. El gasto de la Casa Real, su financiación y sus repercusiones hacendísticas y económicas (Por Luis María Bilbao).-- Ángulo Morales, A. Del éxito en los negocios al fracaso del Consulado. La formación de la burguesía mercantil de Vitoria (1670-1840) (Por Miguel Ángel Melón Jiménez).-- Marcos Martín, A. España en los siglos XVI,XVII y XVIII. Economía y Sociedad (Por Enrique Llopis Agelán).-- Tortella, T. Una guía de fuentes sobre inversiones extranjeras en España (1780-1914) (Por Pablo Martín Aceña)Publicad

Comparative Effectiveness of Biologics Across Subgroups of Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Plaque Psoriasis: Results at Week 12 from the PSoHO Study in a Real-World Setting

Introduction: In routine clinical care, important treatment outcomes among patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis (PsO) have been shown to vary according to patient demographics and disease characteristics. This study aimed to provide direct comparative effectiveness data at week 12 between anti-interleukin (IL)-17A biologics relative to other approved biologics for the treatment of PsO across seven clinically relevant patient subgroups in the real-world setting. Methods: From the international, non-interventional Psoriasis Study of Health Outcomes (PSoHO), 1981 patients with moderate-to-severe PsO were grouped a priori according to seven clinically relevant demographic and disease variables with binary categories, which were sex (male or female), age ( 30 kg/m2), race (White or Asian), PsO disease duration (< 15 or ≥ 15 years), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) comorbidity (present or absent), and prior biologic use (never or ≥ 1). Across these subgroups, effectiveness was compared between the anti-IL-17A cohort (ixekizumab, secukinumab) versus all other approved biologics and ixekizumab versus five individual biologics. The proportion of patients in each subgroup who achieved 90% improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI90) and/or static Physician Global Assessment (sPGA) 0/1, PASI100, or PASI90 at week 12 were assessed. Comparative analyses were conducted using frequentist model averaging (FMA). Missing data were imputed using non-responder imputation. Results: Patients in each of the seven subgroups achieved similar response rates to those of the overall treatment cohort, apart from patients with PsA treated with other biologics who had 7-10% lower response rates. Consequently, patients with comorbid PsA had significantly higher odds of achieving skin clearance at week 12 with anti-IL-17A biologics compared to other biologics. Patients in all subgroups had significantly higher odds of achieving PASI90 and/or sPGA (0,1), PASI100, and PASI90 in the anti-IL-17A cohort relative to the other biologics cohort, except for the Asian subgroup. No sex- or age-specific differences in treatment effectiveness after 12 weeks were identified, neither between the treatment cohorts nor between the individual treatment comparisons. Conclusions: Despite relative consistency of comparative treatment effectiveness across subgroups, the presence of comorbid PsA may affect a patient's clinical response to some treatments. Keywords: Biologic; Comorbidity; Demographic; Effectiveness; Psoriasis; Real-world; Subgroup; Treatment

Semaphorin 4B is an ADAM17-cleaved adipokine that inhibits adipocyte differentiation and thermogenesis

Objective: The metalloprotease ADAM17 (also called TACE) plays fundamental roles in homeostasis by shedding key signaling molecules from the cell surface. Although its importance for the immune system and epithelial tissues is well-documented, little is known about the role of ADAM17 in metabolic homeostasis. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of ADAM17 expression, specifically in adipose tissues, on metabolic homeostasis.Methods: We used histopathology, molecular, proteomic, transcriptomic, in vivo integrative physiological and ex vivo biochemical approaches to determine the impact of adipose tissue-specific deletion of ADAM17 upon adipocyte and whole organism metabolic physiology.Results: ADAM17adipoq-creD/D mice exhibited a hypermetabolic phenotype characterized by elevated energy consumption and increased levels of adipocyte thermogenic gene expression. On a high fat diet, these mice were more thermogenic, while exhibiting elevated expression levels of genes associated with lipid oxidation and lipolysis. This hypermetabolic phenotype protected mutant mice from obesogenic challenge, limiting weight gain, hepatosteatosis and insulin resistance. Activation of beta-adrenoceptors by the neurotransmitter norepinephrine, a key regulator of adipocyte physiology, triggered the shedding of ADAM17 substrates, and regulated ADAM17 expression at the mRNA and protein levels, hence identifying a functional connection between thermogenic licensing and the regulation of ADAM17. Proteomic studies identified Semaphorin 4B (SEMA4B), as a novel ADAM17-shed adipokine, whose expression is regulated by physiological thermogenic cues, that acts to inhibit adipocyte differentiation and dampen thermogenic responses in adipocytes. Transcriptomic data showed that cleaved SEMA4B acts in an autocrine manner in brown adipocytes to repress the expression of genes involved in adipogenesis, thermogenesis, and lipid uptake, storage and catabolism.Conclusions: Our findings identify a novel ADAM17-dependent axis, regulated by beta-adrenoceptors and mediated by the ADAM17-cleaved form of SEMA4B, that modulates energy balance in adipocytes by inhibiting adipocyte differentiation, thermogenesis and lipid catabolism.(c) 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier GmbH. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)