Generation of neutralizing antibodies and divergence of SIVmac239 in cynomolgus macaques following short-term early antiretroviral therapy.

Neutralizing antibodies (NAb) able to react to heterologous viruses are generated during natural HIV-1 infection in some individuals. Further knowledge is required in order to understand the factors contributing to induction of cross-reactive NAb responses. Here a well-established model of experimental pathogenic infection in cynomolgus macaques, which reproduces long-lasting HIV-1 infection, was used to study the NAb response as well as the viral evolution of the highly neutralization-resistant SIVmac239. Twelve animals were infected intravenously with SIVmac239. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) was initiated ten days post-inoculation and administered daily for four months. Viral load, CD4(+) T-cell counts, total IgG levels, and breadth as well as strength of NAb in plasma were compared simultaneously over 14 months. In addition, envs from plasma samples were sequenced at three time points in all animals in order to assess viral evolution. We report here that seven of the 12 animals controlled viremia to below 10(4) copies/ml of plasma after discontinuation of ART and that this control was associated with a low level of evolutionary divergence. Macaques that controlled viral load developed broader NAb responses early on. Furthermore, escape mutations, such as V67M and R751G, were identified in virus sequenced from all animals with uncontrolled viremia. Bayesian estimation of ancestral population genetic diversity (PGD) showed an increase in this value in non-controlling or transient-controlling animals during the first 5.5 months of infection, in contrast to virus-controlling animals. Similarly, non- or transient controllers displayed more positively-selected amino-acid substitutions. An early increase in PGD, resulting in the generation of positively-selected amino-acid substitutions, greater divergence and relative high viral load after ART withdrawal, may have contributed to the generation of potent NAb in several animals after SIVmac239 infection. However, early broad NAb responses correlated with relatively preserved CD4(+) T-cell numbers, low viral load and limited viral divergence

Adaptive Optimal Feedback Control with Learned Internal Dynamics Models

Optimal Feedback Control (OFC) has been proposed as an attractive movement generation strategy in goal reaching tasks for anthropomorphic manipulator systems. Recent developments, such as the Iterative Linear Quadratic Gaussian (ILQG) algorithm, have focused on the case of non-linear, but still analytically available, dynamics. For realistic control systems, however, the dynamics may often be unknown, difficult to estimate, or subject to frequent systematic changes. In this chapter, we combine the ILQG framework with learning the forward dynamics for simulated arms, which exhibit large redundancies, both, in kinematics and in the actuation. We demonstrate how our approach can compensate for complex dynamic perturbations in an online fashion. The specific adaptive framework introduced lends itself to a computationally more efficient implementation of the ILQG optimisation without sacrificing control accuracy – allowing the method to scale to large DoF systems

Urticaria and infections

Urticaria is a group of diseases that share a distinct skin reaction pattern. Triggering of urticaria by infections has been discussed for many years but the exact role and pathogenesis of mast cell activation by infectious processes is unclear. In spontaneous acute urticaria there is no doubt for a causal relationship to infections and all chronic urticaria must have started as acute. Whereas in physical or distinct urticaria subtypes the evidence for infections is sparse, remission of annoying spontaneous chronic urticaria has been reported after successful treatment of persistent infections. Current summarizing available studies that evaluated the course of the chronic urticaria after proven Helicobacter eradication demonstrate a statistically significant benefit compared to untreated patients or Helicobacter-negative controls without urticaria (p < 0.001). Since infections can be easily treated some diagnostic procedures should be included in the routine work-up, especially the search for Helicobacter pylori. This review will update the reader regarding the role of infections in different urticaria subtypes

Ismail Gaspirah and his Kiraat-i Turkî [Ismail Gaspirali'Nin Kiraat-I Türkî Adli Eseri]

The political, conceptual and social movements in Europe during the eighteenth century affected the Russian and the Ottoman Empires so deeply that both countries started to modernize their various institutions. One of these modernization processes took place in the field of education. Upon the influence of the Europeon education system on the Ottomans, the Russian Muslims. being affected by the Ottoman modernization in education, also attempted for similar educational activities. In the new education system introduced among the Russian Muslims, Ismail Gaspirah had great contributions in evolving the "usul-i cedit" movement systematically. His works like "Hoca-i Sibyan". "Kiraat-i Türkî", "Rehber-i Muallimîn", and "Usul-i Cedit Nedir" became very important course materials for the Russian Muslims. Although Gaspirali's theories on the education are well-known. most of his works have never been analysed in a detailed way until today. In this article, his book Kiraat-i Türki, which he wrote for primary school children, is analyzed

Favus corporis- Scutula formation due to fungal infestation of glabrous skin with Microsporum nanum Korperfavus-Skutulose Pilzerkrankung der vellusbehaarten Haut durch Mikrosporum nanum

An otherwise healthy 11-year-old Turkish girl from a rural area is presented with favus-like lesions with scutula formation restricted only to her glabrous skin. Mycological examination and fungal cultures revealed Microsporum nanum as the causative agent. Favus is a clinical term to describe lesions with characteristic scutula formation. Although it is primarily caused by Trichophyton schoenleinii, some other dermatophytes are also known to form scutula and therefore they should also be regarded as favus causative organisms. This is the first case to present Microsporum nanum, the known causative agent of tinea corporis and kerion celci in human, as a dermatophyte giving rise to the clinical picture of favus of the glabrous skin, namely, favus corporis

Effect of retail-size modified atmosphere packaging bags on postharvest storage and shelf-life quality of '0900 Ziraat' sweet cherry

Uludag University;Ataturk Central Horticultural Research Institute of Turkey;International Society for Horticultural Science;Turkish Society for Horticultural Science;Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey5th International Cherry Symposium --6 June 2005 through 10 June 2005 -- Bursa --The effects of retail-size modified atmosphere packaging bags on postharvest quality and physiology of '0900 Ziraat' sweet cherries (Prunus avium L.) were investigated. Fruit were harvested at an ideal harvest maturity (18.8% SSC, hue° 63.06) in Ulukisla. Within a few hours after harvest, the cherries were immediately transported to Narpak Packinghouse in Mersin. Upon arrival, they were hydrocooled to a 2°C pit temperature, then dumped onto a GP Grader packing line to be sorted and sized. Cherries were packed in Xtend CH-49 modified atmosphere packaging bags. In the experiments, three retail-size MAP bags were used (500 g, 700 g and 1000 g). MAP bags were compared to polyethylene bags of the same sizes. All cherries were stored at 0°C for 7, 10, 14 and 21 days to simulate market conditions. After these storage periods at 0°C, half of the cherries were analyzed immediately and the other half was transferred to 20°C (shelf-life) for 3 d. Cherries were analyzed for fruit elasticity (shore), SSC (%), titratable acidity, color (hue angle), respiration, weight loss (%), stem chlorophyll content and waste (%). Cherries from all three types of retail-size MAP bags benefited from modified atmospheres, especially in terms of firmness, color and taste. MAP drastically increased fruit shelf-life and appearance compared to the control. '0900 Ziraat' cherries can be packed in retail-type Xtend MAP bags, stored up to 21 days and still maintain their quality, even after additional 3 d shelf-life at 20°C

Effect of exercise intensity on cerebrospinal fluid interleukin-6 concentration during recovery from exhaustive exercise in rats

The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible role of moderate and strenuous swimming training on plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) IL-6 (interleukin-6) levels during recovery from exhaustive exercise in rats. Wistar rats were divided into three groups: sedentary control (C), moderately trained (MT) and strenuously trained (ST). MT rats underwent swimming exercise for one hour/day and 5 days/week for 8 weeks. Animals in the ST group began swimming with 1 h/day and swimming duration was progressively increased by 30 min/wk, reaching 2.5 h/day by week 4 and stayed constant for an additional 4 weeks. After all animals underwent an acute exhaustive swimming exercise, animals were divided into 3 groups, and decapitated immediately, 24 and 48 hours after exhaustion to obtain tissue samples. Muscle citrate synthase activity, plasma and CSF IL-6 levels were determined. The citrate synthase activity was found to be higher in MT and ST groups compared to the C group. Although plasma IL-6 levels were found unaltered among all groups, the CSF IL-6 concentration was found to be increased 24 hours after exhaustive exercise of the ST group. We conclude that exercise training intensity is an important factor determining cerebrospinal IL-6 concentration after exhaustive exercise

A compound heterozygous EARS2 mutation associated with mild leukoencephalopathy with thalamus and brainstem involvement and high lactate (LTBL)

PubMedID: 27117034Mitochondrial glutamyl-tRNA synthetase is a major component of protein biosynthesis that loads tRNAs with cognate amino acids. Mutations in the gene encoding this enzyme have been associated with a variety of disorders related to oxidative phosphorylation. Here, we present a case of leukoencephalopathy with thalamus and brainstem involvement and high lactate (LTBL) presenting a biphasic clinical course characterized by delayed psychomotor development and seizure. High-throughput sequencing revealed a novel compound heterozygous mutation in mitochondrial glutamyl-tRNA synthetase 2 (EARS2), which appears to be causative of disease symptoms. © 2016 The Japanese Society of Child Neurolog