A HEV-restricted sulfotransferase is expressed in rheumatoid arthritis synovium and is induced by lymphotoxin-alpha/beta and TNF-alpha in cultured endothelial cells.

BackgroundThe recruitment of lymphocytes to secondary lymphoid organs relies on interactions of circulating cells with high endothelial venules (HEV). HEV are exclusive to these organs under physiological conditions, but they can develop in chronically-inflamed tissues. The interaction of L-selectin on lymphocytes with sulfated glycoprotein ligands on HEV results in lymphocyte rolling, which represents the initial step in lymphocyte homing. HEV expression of GlcNAc6ST-2 (also known as HEC-GlcNAc6ST, GST-3, LSST or CHST4), an HEV-restricted sulfotransferase, is essential for the elaboration of L-selectin functional ligands as well as a critical epitope recognized by MECA-79 mAb.ResultsWe examined the expression of GlcNAc6ST-2 in relationship to the MECA-79 epitope in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovial vessels. Expression of GlcNAc6ST-2 was specific to RA synovial tissues as compared to osteoarthritis synovial tissues and localized to endothelial cells of HEV-like vessels and small flat-walled vessels. Double MECA-79 and GlcNAc6ST-2 staining showed colocalization of the MECA-79 epitope and GlcNAc6ST-2. We further found that both TNF-alpha and lymphotoxin-alphabeta induced GlcNAc6ST-2 mRNA and protein in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells.ConclusionThese observations demonstrate that GlcNAc6ST-2 is induced in RA vessels and provide potential cytokine pathways for its induction. GlcNAc6ST-2 is a novel marker of activated vessels within RA ectopic lymphoid aggregates. This enzyme represents a potential therapeutic target for RA

Dielectric antenna effects in integrating line piezoelectric sensors for optoacoustic imaging

This work studies the adverse effects, as regards noise, of immersing in water an integrating line piezoelectric detector devoted to optoacoustic imaging. We found that the sensor, in conjunction with the acoustic coupling medium (water), behaves as a resonant dielectric antenna. This phenomenon limits the performance of the system because it efficiently captures unwanted electromagnetic signals. The requirement of good acoustic coupling between the water and the sensor precluded the use of a standard metallic shielding enclosure. Therefore, we resorted to a silver-paint based electrical shield deposited on the detector. This easy-to-implement and low-cost solution significantly increases the signal to noise ratio and does not degrade the acoustic performance. The noise reduction allows the use of a better transimpedance amplifier with higher gain and bandwidth; thus achieving a very sensitive, low-noise detection system.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figures, 1 table, submitted to Meas. Sci. Technol. on March 24, 202

DBI-DeLP: a framework for defeasible argumentation over databases

Nowadays Argumentation Systems in general, and DeLP in particular, build arguments based on the context of a single and xed logical program. This leads to a practical limitation regarding the volume of data in which the argumentation is supported, because integration of constantly updated external data only can be made by the "hard-coding" of facts (i.e., the explicit codi cation of facts in the program), which is inne cient for massive data. This paper introduces Database Integration for Defeasible Logic Programming (DBI-DeLP), a framework that integrates Defeasible Argumentation with Databases that may be updated by other external applications, allowing the execution of argumentation processes based on masive external sources of data.Presentado en el XII Workshop Agentes y Sistemas Inteligentes (WASI)Red de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

DBI-DeLP: a framework for defeasible argumentation over databases

Nowadays Argumentation Systems in general, and DeLP in particular, build arguments based on the context of a single and xed logical program. This leads to a practical limitation regarding the volume of data in which the argumentation is supported, because integration of constantly updated external data only can be made by the "hard-coding" of facts (i.e., the explicit codi cation of facts in the program), which is inne cient for massive data. This paper introduces Database Integration for Defeasible Logic Programming (DBI-DeLP), a framework that integrates Defeasible Argumentation with Databases that may be updated by other external applications, allowing the execution of argumentation processes based on masive external sources of data.Presentado en el XII Workshop Agentes y Sistemas Inteligentes (WASI)Red de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Compositional analysis of flatworm genomes shows strong codon usage biases across all classes

In the present work, we performed a comparative genome-wide analysis of 22 species representative of the main clades and lifestyles of the phylum Platyhelminthes. We selected a set of 700 orthologous genes conserved in all species, measuring changes in GC content, codon, and amino acid usage in orthologous positions. Values of 3rd codon position GC spanned over a wide range, allowing to discriminate two distinctive clusters within freshwater turbellarians, Cestodes and Trematodes respectively. Furthermore, a hierarchical clustering of codon usage data differs remarkably from the phylogenetic tree. Additionally, we detected a synonymous codon usage bias that was more dramatic in extreme GC-poor or GC-rich genomes, i.e., GC-poor Schistosomes preferred to use AT-rich terminated synonymous codons, while GC-rich M. lignano showed the opposite behavior. Interestingly, these biases impacted the amino acidic usage, with preferred amino acids encoded by codons following the GC content trend. These are associated with non-synonymous substitutions at orthologous positions. The detailed analysis of the synonymous and non-synonymous changes provides evidence for a two-hit mechanism where both mutation and selection forces drive the diverse coding strategies of flatworms

On the Computational Modeling and Numerical Simulation of FSW Processes

This paper deals with the computational modeling and numerical simulation of the material flow around the probe tool in a Friction Stir Welding (FSW) process. Within the paradigmatic framework of the multiscale stabilization methods, suitable subgrid scale stabilized coupled thermomechanical formulations have been developed using an Eulerian description. Norton-Hoff and Sheppard-Wright thermo-rigid-viscoplastic constitutive material models have been considered. Constitutive equations for the subgrid scale models have been proposed and an approximation of the subgrid scale variables has been given. In particular Algebraic Subgrid Scale (ASGS) and Orthogonal Subgrid Scale (OSGS) methods for P1/P1/P1 linear elements have been considered. Furthermore, it has been shown that well known classical stabilized formulations, such as the Galerkin Least-Squares (GLS) or Streamline Upwind/Petrov-Galerkin (SUPG) methods, can be recovered as particular cases of the multiscale stabilization framework considered. Within the framework of a product formula algorithm, the resulting algebraic system of equations has been solved using a staggered procedure, in which a mechanical problem, defined by the plastic strain rate incompressibility equation and the quasi-static linear momentum balance equation, is solved at a constant temperature and a thermal problem, defined by the energy balance equation, is solved keeping constant the mechanical variables. The computational model has been implemented in the in-house developed FE software COMET. An assessment of the influence of the thermal deformation in the formulation has been carried out. Results obtained show that the influence of the thermal deformation is very small and can be neglected, getting a fully incompressible formulation. Finally, the computational model implemented in COMET has been validated through a number of examples, including a 3D numerical simulation of a FSW process. Numerical results obtained have been compared with experimental results available in the literature. A good agreement on the temperature distribution has been obtained and predicted peak temperatures compare well, both in value and position, with the experimental results available

A HEV-restricted sulfotransferase is expressed in rheumatoid arthritis synovium and is induced by lymphotoxin-α/β and TNF-α in cultured endothelial cells

BACKGROUND: The recruitment of lymphocytes to secondary lymphoid organs relies on interactions of circulating cells with high endothelial venules (HEV). HEV are exclusive to these organs under physiological conditions, but they can develop in chronically-inflamed tissues. The interaction of L-selectin on lymphocytes with sulfated glycoprotein ligands on HEV results in lymphocyte rolling, which represents the initial step in lymphocyte homing. HEV expression of GlcNAc6ST-2 (also known as HEC-GlcNAc6ST, GST-3, LSST or CHST4), an HEV-restricted sulfotransferase, is essential for the elaboration of L-selectin functional ligands as well as a critical epitope recognized by MECA-79 mAb. RESULTS: We examined the expression of GlcNAc6ST-2 in relationship to the MECA-79 epitope in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovial vessels. Expression of GlcNAc6ST-2 was specific to RA synovial tissues as compared to osteoarthritis synovial tissues and localized to endothelial cells of HEV-like vessels and small flat-walled vessels. Double MECA-79 and GlcNAc6ST-2 staining showed colocalization of the MECA-79 epitope and GlcNAc6ST-2. We further found that both TNF-α and lymphotoxin-αβ induced GlcNAc6ST-2 mRNA and protein in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells. CONCLUSION: These observations demonstrate that GlcNAc6ST-2 is induced in RA vessels and provide potential cytokine pathways for its induction. GlcNAc6ST-2 is a novel marker of activated vessels within RA ectopic lymphoid aggregates. This enzyme represents a potential therapeutic target for RA

Trace gases detection by photoacoustic technique based on a lineal chirp excitation scheme

We present a new photoacoustic gas-trace measurement setup, based on a chirped optical chopper. This method combines features of the resonant and pulsed techniques. To show the advantages of this setup, we carried out a comparison with the resonant method in samples of NO2 contained in a one-dimensional acoustic resonator. The results show the chirped technique allows carrying out short-term acquisitions with good signal-to-noise ratio

Detección de gases traza por técnica fotoacústica basada en un esquema de excitación chirp lineal

We present a new photoacoustic gas-trace measurement setup, based on a chirped optical chopper. This method combines features of the resonant and pulsed techniques. To show the advantages of this setup, we carried out a comparison with the resonant method in samples of NO2 contained in a one-dimensional acoustic resonator. The results show the chirped technique allows carrying out short-term acquisitions with good signal-to-noise ratio.En este trabajo se presenta un nuevo esquema de medición para espectroscopía fotoacústica de gases traza basado en un esquema de excitación up-chirp. Esta forma combina las ventajas de los esquemas resonante y pulsado. Para mostrar el potencial de esta técnica se la comparó con un esquema de excitación resonante sobre la medición de muestras de dióxido de nitrógeno en aire contenidas en una resonador acústico de alumnio. Los resultados mostraron que la técnica chirp permite realizar mediciones de corta duración con muy buena relación señal a ruido

Estimación de la degradación por mismatch del rechazo de imagen en filtros polifásicos pasivos

Los filtros polifásicos pasivos (PPF) son sistemas empleados extensivamente en transmisores o receptores heterodinos de banda lateral única (Single Side Band, SSB) para rechazar la banda imagen. Este trabajo se centra en establecer una cota a la máxima degradación que el mismatch entre componentes puede producir en su respuesta