42 research outputs found
Netosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
The article presents the data on assessment of functional features of neutrophils in 34 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Development of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) was evaluated in cell cultures incubated in vitro for 30 and 150 minutes (basal levels, NETBAS30 and NETBAS150, respectively), and in the presence of heat-inactivated S. аureus (strain ATCC 25923, 108 CFU/ml) (stimulated levels, NETST30 and NETST150, respectively). NET looks like thin free-lying extracellular fibrillar structures, 2-3 times exceeding the size of unchanged granulocyte. The result was expressed as percentage and relative amount of extracellular traps per 100 counted leukocytes. Phagocytic activity of neutrophils was evaluated as phagocytosis of S. аureus by counting the percentage of neutrophils that engulfed phagocytic index of microbial particles (PI); the average number of phagocytosed objects per neutrophil phagocytic number (PC). ROS-producing activity was determined in the reduction of Nitroblue Tetrazolium tested in spontaneous and stimulated S. аureus variants (NBTBAS and NBTST, respectively). The result was expressed as the percentage of formazan-positive cells per 100 white blood cells. Nitroxide-producing properties were determined using the Crow (1999) method in spontaneous and stimulated samples for the accumulation of the nitrated amino acid tyrosine (3-nitrothyrosine, 3-NTBAS, and 3-NTST, respectively). We revealed a decrease in ROS production, phagocytosis and NO-forming activity of neutrophils associated with increased netosis. Activation of the netosis was observed in cell cultures without stimulation, indicating the in vivo formation of networks in SLE. The NET increase is most pronounced in the patients with lupus nephritis (p < 0.05), and in remission of the disease (p < 0.05). We have revealed a correlation of NET formation parameters with duration and degree of SLE activity (rs = -0.6; p = 0.001, and rs = 0.39; p = 0.02, respectively); autoantibody titers (anti-dsDNA and ANA) (rs = 0.67; р = 0.047 and rs = 0.59; р = 0.034, respectively); prothrombin complex activity (rs = 0.6; p = 0.036), as well and urea and creatinine levels (rs = 0.47; p = 0.037 and rs = 0.39; p = 0.048, respectively). The parameters of NETs can be considered a promising biomarker for verifying the diagnosis of SLE, evaluation of clinical activity, disease severity, and predicting the development of complications
The ATLAS Transition Radiation Tracker (TRT) proportional drift tube: design and performance
A straw proportional counter is the basic element of the ATLAS Transition Radiation Tracker (TRT). Its detailed properties as well as the main properties of a few TRT operating gas mixtures are described. Particular attention is paid to straw tube performance in high radiation conditions and to its operational stability
The ATLAS TRT electronics
The ATLAS inner detector consists of three sub-systems: the pixel detector spanning the radius range 4cm-20cm, the semiconductor tracker at radii from 30 to 52 cm, and the transition radiation tracker (TRT), tracking from 56 to 107 cm. The TRT provides a combination of continuous tracking with many projective measurements based on individual drift tubes (or straws) and of electron identification based on transition radiation from fibres or foils interleaved between the straws themselves. This paper describes the on and off detector electronics for the TRT as well as the TRT portion of the data acquisition (DAQ) system
Expected Performance of the ATLAS Experiment - Detector, Trigger and Physics
A detailed study is presented of the expected performance of the ATLAS
detector. The reconstruction of tracks, leptons, photons, missing energy and
jets is investigated, together with the performance of b-tagging and the
trigger. The physics potential for a variety of interesting physics processes,
within the Standard Model and beyond, is examined. The study comprises a series
of notes based on simulations of the detector and physics processes, with
particular emphasis given to the data expected from the first years of
operation of the LHC at CERN
Ancient Nursery Area for the Extinct Giant Shark Megalodon from the Miocene of Panama
BACKGROUND: As we know from modern species, nursery areas are essential shark habitats for vulnerable young. Nurseries are typically highly productive, shallow-water habitats that are characterized by the presence of juveniles and neonates. It has been suggested that in these areas, sharks can find ample food resources and protection from predators. Based on the fossil record, we know that the extinct Carcharocles megalodon was the biggest shark that ever lived. Previous proposed paleo-nursery areas for this species were based on the anecdotal presence of juvenile fossil teeth accompanied by fossil marine mammals. We now present the first definitive evidence of ancient nurseries for C. megalodon from the late Miocene of Panama, about 10 million years ago. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We collected and measured fossil shark teeth of C. megalodon, within the highly productive, shallow marine Gatun Formation from the Miocene of Panama. Surprisingly, and in contrast to other fossil accumulations, the majority of the teeth from Gatun are very small. Here we compare the tooth sizes from the Gatun with specimens from different, but analogous localities. In addition we calculate the total length of the individuals found in Gatun. These comparisons and estimates suggest that the small size of Gatun's C. megalodon is neither related to a small population of this species nor the tooth position within the jaw. Thus, the individuals from Gatun were mostly juveniles and neonates, with estimated body lengths between 2 and 10.5 meters. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: We propose that the Miocene Gatun Formation represents the first documented paleo-nursery area for C. megalodon from the Neotropics, and one of the few recorded in the fossil record for an extinct selachian. We therefore show that sharks have used nursery areas at least for 10 millions of years as an adaptive strategy during their life histories
Alignment of the Pixel and SCT Modules for the 2004 ATLAS Combined Test Beam
A small set of final prototypes of the ATLAS Inner Detector silicon tracker
(Pixel and SCT) were used to take data during the 2004 Combined Test Beam. Data
were collected from runs with beams of different flavour (electrons, pions,
muons and photons) with a momentum range of 2 to 180 GeV/c. Four independent
methods were used to align the silicon modules. The corrections obtained were
validated using the known momenta of the beam particles and were shown to yield
consistent results among the different alignment approaches. From the residual
distributions, it is concluded that the precision attained in the alignment of
the silicon modules is of the order of 5 micrometers in their most precise
coordinate.Comment: 22 pages, submitted to JINST, 129 author
Drons col·laboratius
La robòtica col·laborativa és senzillament robots dissenyats per dur a terme treballs de col·laboració amb els humans. Els robots col·laboratius o cobots són cada cop més utilitzats a les indústries. La robòtica col·laborativa és un dels àmbits d'actualitat en aquests moments. Però també és un dels més interessants en més d'un sentit. Com es comuniquen dos drons autònoms que col·laboren per fer una tasca? Com són aquests missatges que s'envien? Que poden fer que no podrien fer sols? Aquestes són algunes de les preguntes que ens volem respondre en aquest projecte. En aquest treball es presenta un disseny i implementació de dos drons terrestres que es comuniquen per col·laborar entre ells per resoldre una tasca.Collaborative robotics is simply robots designed to perform collaborative work with humans. Collaborative robots or cobots are increasingly used in industries. Collaborative robotics is one of the current topics now. But it is also one of the most interesting in more ways than one. How do two autonomous drones that collaborate to perform a task communicate? How are these messages sent? What can they do that they could not do alone? These are some of the questions we want to answer in this project. This work presents a design and implementation of two ground drones that communicate to collaborate with each other to solve a task.La robótica colaborativa es sencillamente robots diseñados para llevar a cabo trabajos de colaboración con los humanos. Los robots colaborativos o cobots son cada vez más utilizados en las industrias. La robótica colaborativa es uno de los ámbitos de actualidad. Pero también es uno de los más interesantes en más de un sentido. ¿Cómo se comunican drones autónomos que colaboran para hacer una tarea? ¿Cómo son estos mensajes que es envían? ¿Qué pueden hacer que no lo podrían hacer solos? Estas son algunas de las preguntas que queremos responder con este proyecto. En este trabajo se presenta un diseño e implementación de dos drones terrestres que se comunican para colaborar entre ellos para resolver una tarea
The analysis of the influence of the information society’s development on the economic performance in regions of belarus
This article presents the results of the analysis of the relationship between
the information society development and the economic performance. The analy-
sis was carried out using the regional indices of the Republic of Belarus in 2011
(Minsk excluded). The study considered 16 indicators which were grouped into
three main factors. Only the first factor was found to have a significant rela-
tionship with the gross regional product according to the Spearman correlation
coefficient
The analysis of the influence of the information society’s development on the economic performance in regions of belarus
This article presents the results of the analysis of the relationship between
the information society development and the economic performance. The analy-
sis was carried out using the regional indices of the Republic of Belarus in 2011
(Minsk excluded). The study considered 16 indicators which were grouped into
three main factors. Only the first factor was found to have a significant rela-
tionship with the gross regional product according to the Spearman correlation
coefficient
Multi-Agent Systems for E-Commerce
The article focuses on multi-agent systems
(MAS) and domains that can benefit from multi-agent technology. In the last few years, the agent based modeling (ABM) community has developed several
practical agent based modeling toolkits that enable individuals to develop agent-based applications. The comparison of agent-based modeling toolkits is given.
Multi-agent systems are designed to handle changing and dynamic business processes. Any organization with complex and distributed business processes can benefit from multi-agent technology.
The model of the E-commerce Platform targeted at online trading and auction systems, e-markets and private
trading exchanges is presented