Minimal information for studies of extracellular vesicles (MISEV2023): From basic to advanced approaches

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), through their complex cargo, can reflect the state of their cell of origin and change the functions and phenotypes of other cells. These features indicate strong biomarker and therapeutic potential and have generated broad interest, as evidenced by the steady year-on-year increase in the numbers of scientific publications about EVs. Important advances have been made in EV metrology and in understanding and applying EV biology. However, hurdles remain to realising the potential of EVs in domains ranging from basic biology to clinical applications due to challenges in EV nomenclature, separation from non-vesicular extracellular particles, characterisation and functional studies. To address the challenges and opportunities in this rapidly evolving field, the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) updates its 'Minimal Information for Studies of Extracellular Vesicles', which was first published in 2014 and then in 2018 as MISEV2014 and MISEV2018, respectively. The goal of the current document, MISEV2023, is to provide researchers with an updated snapshot of available approaches and their advantages and limitations for production, separation and characterisation of EVs from multiple sources, including cell culture, body fluids and solid tissues. In addition to presenting the latest state of the art in basic principles of EV research, this document also covers advanced techniques and approaches that are currently expanding the boundaries of the field. MISEV2023 also includes new sections on EV release and uptake and a brief discussion of in vivo approaches to study EVs. Compiling feedback from ISEV expert task forces and more than 1000 researchers, this document conveys the current state of EV research to facilitate robust scientific discoveries and move the field forward even more rapidly

Multiband spectrum sensing for cognitive radios based on distributed compressed measurements

A wideband spectrum sensing method for cognitive radios is presented which is based on compressed measurements. The proposed detector does not require signal reconstruction from the compressed measurements. A fusion centre collects the measurements from different sensing nodes and then makes a sensing decision based on a simplified maximum likelihood criterion which does not require prior signal information. This results in an efficient and low complexity spectrum detector especially for dynamic spectrum occupancy scenarios. The performance of the proposed detector is exhibited by means of numerical simulations for probability of erroneous detection and receiver operating characteristic curves.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Implementation of a distributed compressed sensing algorithm on USRP2 platforms

info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe

Multiband maximum likelihood signal detection based on compressive measurements

Cognitive radios impose challenges on the design of efficient signal detectors, including wide bandwidth sensing and large dynamic range support. The recently considered compressed sensing theory helps in relaxing the constraints on the design of the analog front-end. The maximum likelihood method introduced here is computationally simple since it does not require a signal reconstruction, unlike most methods introduced in the current literature. Moreover, the metric is optimum, works for any modulation scheme and is independent of the emitted signal knowledge and the number of occupied bands. The results are supported with Matlab simulations, a statistical study is performed and the probabilities of misdetection and false alarm are plotted for different scenarios, proving the efficiency of the estimator in a range of plausible SNRs and subsampling factors.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

An original multiplex method to assess five different SARS-CoV-2 antibodies

Accurate SARS-CoV-2 serological assays are urgently needed to help diagnose infection, determine past exposure of populations and assess the response to future vaccines. The study aims at assessing the performance of the multiplex D-tek COVIDOT 5 IgG assay for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies (N, S1+S2, S1, S2 and RBD). Sensitivity and dynamic trend to seropositivity were evaluated in 218 samples obtained from 46 rRT-PCR confirmed COVID-19 patients. Non-SARS-CoV-2 sera (n=118) collected before the COVID-19 pandemic with a potential cross-reaction to the SARS-CoV-2 immunoassay were included in the specificity analysis. A gradual dynamic trend since symptom onset was observed for all IgG antibodies. Sensitivities before day 14 were suboptimal. At ≥21 days, sensitivities reached 100% (93.4-100%) for N, S1+S2, S2 and RBD-directed IgG and 96.3% (87.3-99.6%) for S1-directed IgG. In 42 out of 46 patients (91.3%), all five antibodies were detected at ≥14 days. The four remaining patients had between 2 and 4 positive antibodies at their respective maximal follow-up period. The specificity was 100 % for S1+S2, S2 and RBD, 98.3% for N and 92.4% (86.0-96.5%) for S1-directed IgG. The combined use of antigens increases the early sensitivity whilst enforcing high specificity. Sensitivities at ≥21 days and specificities were excellent, especially for N, S1+S2, S2 and RBD-directed IgG. Caution is however required when interpreting single S1-directed reactivities. Using a multiplex assay complies with the orthogonal testing algorithm of the CDC and allows a better and critical interpretation of the serological status of a patient.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Distributed compressed sampling architecture for maximum likelihood signal detection

Cognitive radios are a new technology introduced to resolve the spectrum scarcity problemby superimposing new services in the already allocated bands under a non-interference constraint.It has been recently demonstrated that the challenging implementation of the signal detectors canbe facilitated by using the theory of compressive sampling. In this paper, we consider a distributednetwork of secondary nodes that cooperate to detect the primary signals. Each secondary nodesamples the signal periodically at a rate much smaller than the Nyquist rate. The delays inherentto the propagation channel are used to implement a periodic non-uniform sampling detector whenthe secondary nodes combine their observations. We demonstrate that the proposed detector canefficiently detect the primary user signal, even under fading channels.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Dexamethasone Modulates the Cytokine Response but Not COVID-19-Induced Coagulopathy in Critically Ill

Severe forms of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) disease are caused by an exaggerated systemic inflammatory response and subsequent inflammation-related coagulopathy. Anti-inflammatory treatment with low dose dexamethasone has been shown to reduce mortality in COVID-19 patients requiring oxygen therapy. However, the mechanisms of action of corticosteroids have not been extensively studied in critically ill patients in the context of COVID-19. Plasma biomarkers of inflammatory and immune responses, endothelial and platelet activation, neutrophil extracellular trap formation, and coagulopathy were compared between patients treated or not by systemic dexamethasone for severe forms of COVID-19. Dexamethasone treatment significantly reduced the inflammatory and lymphoid immune response in critical COVID-19 patients but had little effect on the myeloid immune response and no effect on endothelial activation, platelet activation, neutrophil extracellular trap formation, and coagulopathy. The benefits of low dose dexamethasone on outcome in critical COVID-19 can be partially explained by a modulation of the inflammatory response but not by reduction of coagulopathy. Future studies should explore the impact of combining dexamethasone with other immunomodulatory or anticoagulant drugs in severe COVID-19

Inflammation-Induced Coagulopathy Substantially Differs Between COVID-19 and Septic Shock: A Prospective Observational Study.

Critical COVID-19, like septic shock, is related to a dysregulated systemic inflammatory reaction and is associated with a high incidence of thrombosis and microthrombosis. Improving the understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of critical COVID-19 could help in finding new therapeutic targets already explored in the treatment of septic shock. The current study prospectively compared 48 patients with septic shock and 22 patients with critical COVID-19 regarding their clinical characteristics and outcomes, as well as key plasmatic soluble biomarkers of inflammation, coagulation, endothelial activation, platelet activation, and NETosis. Forty-eight patients with matched age, gender, and co-morbidities were used as controls. Critical COVID-19 patients exhibited less organ failure but a prolonged ICU length-of-stay due to a prolonged respiratory failure. Inflammatory reaction of critical COVID-19 was distinguished by very high levels of interleukin (IL)-1β and T lymphocyte activation (including IL-7 and CD40L), whereas septic shock displays higher levels of IL-6, IL-8, and a more significant elevation of myeloid response biomarkers, including Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid cells-1 (TREM-1) and IL-1ra. Subsequent inflammation-induced coagulopathy of COVID-19 also differed from sepsis-induced coagulopathy (SIC) and was characterized by a marked increase in soluble tissue factor (TF) but less platelets, antithrombin, and fibrinogen consumption, and less fibrinolysis alteration. In conclusion, COVID-19 inflammation-induced coagulopathy substantially differs from SIC. Modulating TF release and activity should be evaluated in critical COVID-19 patients

La part esthétique de l'architecture

« Les goûts et les couleurs, ça ne se discute pas ! » Voilà une idée que cet ouvrage vient bousculer. La part esthétique de l’architecture présente une histoire de l’évolution de la pensée esthétique en Occident, de l’Antiquité à nos jours. Son corpus de références croise l’architecture avec la philosophie, l’esthétique, l’histoire et l’histoire des arts plastiques. Des liens avec l’architecture d’aujourd’hui viennent clore chaque chapitre, ouvrant aux lecteurs et lectrices la voie de leurs propres réflexions à l’égard du beau et de l’architecture. Un ouvrage concis, richement illustré, accessible à toute personne désireuse d’affiner son appréciation de l’art en général et de l’architecture, en particulier. Le livre a été pensé et rédigé pendant le confinement strict du printemps 2020 par des étudiantes et étudiants de la deuxième année de bachelier, organisée pour la formation des ingénieurs architectes à l’UCLouvain