Factor Varieties

The universal algebraic literature is rife with generalisations of discriminator varieties, whereby several investigators have tried to preserve in more general settings as much as possible of their structure theory. Here, we modify the definition of discriminator algebra by having the switching function project onto its third coordinate in case the ordered pair of its first two coordinates belongs to a designated relation (not necessarily the diagonal relation). We call these algebras factor algebras and the varieties they generate factor varieties. Among other things, we provide an equational description of these varieties and match equational conditions involving the factor term with properties of the associated factor relation. Factor varieties include, apart from discriminator varieties, several varieties of algebras from quantum and fuzzy logics

Assuming independence in spatial latent variable models: Consequences and implications of misspecification

Multivariate spatial data, where multiple responses are simultaneously recorded across spatially indexed observational units, are routinely collected in a wide variety of disciplines. For example, the Southern Ocean Continuous Plankton Recorder survey collects records of zooplankton communities in the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean, with the aim of identifying and quantifying spatial patterns in biodiversity in response to environmental change. One increasingly popular method for modeling such data is spatial generalized linear latent variable models (GLLVMs), where the correlation across sites is captured by a spatial covariance function in the latent variables. However, little is known about the impact of misspecifying the latent variable correlation structure on inference of various parameters in such models. To address this gap in the literature, we investigate how misspecifying and assuming independence for the latent variables' correlation structure impacts estimation and inference in spatial GLLVMs. Through both theory and numerical studies, we show that performance of maximum likelihood estimation and inference on regression coefficients under misspecification depends on a combination of the response type, the magnitude of true regression coefficient, and the corresponding loadings, and, most importantly, whether the corresponding covariate is (also) spatially correlated. On the other hand, estimation and inference of truly nonzero loadings and prediction of latent variables is consistently not robust to misspecification of the latent variable correlation structure.Australian Research Council Grant/Award Numbers: DE200100435; DP18010083

The potential of naturalistic driving studies with simple data acquisition systems (DAS) for monitoring driver behaviour

This report addresses the important question regarding the potential of simple and low-cost technologies to address research questions such as the ones dealt with in UDrive. The resources and efforts associated with big naturalistic studies, such as the American SHRP II and the European UDrive, are tremendous and can not be repeated and supported frequently, or even more than once in a decade (or a life time..). Naturally, the wealth and richness of the integrated data, gathered by such substantial studies and elaborated DAS, cannot be compared to data collected via simpler, nomadic data collection technologies. The question that needs to be asked is how many Research Questions (RQs) can be addressed, at least to some extent, by other low-cost and simple technologies? This discussion is important, not only in order to replace the honourable place (and cost!) of naturalistic studies, but also to complement and enable their continuity after their completion. Technology is rapidly evolving and almost any attempt to provide a comprehensive and complete state of the art of existing technologies (as well as their features and cost) is doomed to fail. Hence, in chapter 1 of this report, we have created a framework for presentation, on which the various important parameters associated with the question at hand, are illustrated, positioned and discussed. This framework is denoted by “Framework for Naturalistic Studies” (FNS) and serves as the back bone of this report. The framework is a conceptual framework and hence, is flexible in the sense that its dimensions, categories and presentation mode are not rigid and can be adjusted to new features and new technologies as they become available. The framework is gradually built using two main dimensions: data collection technology type and sample size. The categories and features of the main dimensions are not rigidly fixed, and their values can be ordinal, quantitative or qualitative. When referring to parameters that are not numerical –even the order relation among categories is not always clear. In this way –the FNS can be, at times, viewed as a matrix rather than a figure with order relation among categories presented along its axes. On the two main dimensions of the FNS –data collection technology type and sample size –other dimensions are incorporated. These dimensions include: cost, data access, specific technologies and research questions that can be addressed by the various technologies. These other dimensions are mapped and positioned in the plot area of the FNS. Other presentations, in which the axes and the plot area are interchanged, or 3 -dimensional presentations are performed, can be incorporated to highlight specific angles of the involved dimensions. The various technologies for data collection were mapped on the FNS. The technology groups include: mobile phone location services, mobile phone applications, telematics devices, built -in data loggers, dash cameras and enhanced dash cameras, wearable technologies, compound systems, eye trackers and Mobileyetype technologies. After this detailed illustrations of analyses that can be conducted using simple low-cost technologies are described. It is demonstrated how temporal and spatial analysis can reveal important aspects on the behavioural patterns of risky drivers. Also one stand alone smartphone app can be used to monitor and evaluate smartphone us age while driving. Most of the simple systems relate to specific behaviour that is monitored (i.e. speeding , lane keeping etc.). Additionally, certain thresholds or triggers are used to single out risky situations, which are related to that behaviour. However, once those instances are detected, no information on the circumstances leading or accompanying this behaviour are available. Typically, visual information (discrete or preferably continuous) is needed in order to fully understand the circumstances. Hence, upgrading simple (single-task oriented) technologies by other technologies (most typically by cameras), can significantly improve researchers' ability to obtain information on the circumstances, which accompany the detected risky behaviour. One of the most conceptually straightforward integrated systems is a system, for which the basic technology detects the desired behaviour (e.g. harsh braking) and triggers a simple continuous dashboard camera to save the relevant information, which occurs together with that behaviour. Many RQs can be addressed using this type of combined systems

Avian oncogenesis induced by lymphoproliferative disease virus: a neglected or emerging retroviral pathogen?

Lymphoproliferative disease virus (LPDV) is an exogenous oncogenic retrovirus that induces lymphoid tumors in some galliform species of birds. Historically, outbreaks of LPDV have been reported from Europe and Israel. Although the virus has previously never been detected in North America, herein we describe the widespread distribution, genetic diversity, pathogenesis, and evolution of LPDV in the United States. Characterization of the provirus genome of the index LPDV case from North America demonstrated an 88% nucleotide identity to the Israeli prototype strain. Although phylogenetic analysis indicated that the majority of viruses fell into a single North American lineage, a small subset of viruses from South Carolina were most closely related to the Israeli prototype. These results suggest that LPDV was transferred between continents to initiate outbreaks of disease. However, the direction (New World to Old World or vice versa), mechanism, and time frame of the transcontinental spread currently remain unknown

Recommendations for a large-scale European naturalistic driving observation study. PROLOGUE Deliverable D4.1.

Naturalistic driving observation is a relatively new research method using advanced technology for in-vehicle unobtrusive recording of driver (or rider) behaviour during ordinary driving in traffic. This method yields unprecedented knowledge primarily related to road safety, but also to environmentally friendly driving/riding and to traffic management. Distraction, inattention and sleepiness are examples of important safety-related topics where naturalistic driving is expected to provide great added value compared to traditional research methods. In order to exploit the full benefits of the naturalistic driving approach it is recommended to carry out a large-scale European naturalistic driving study. The EU project PROLOGUE has investigated the feasibility and value of carrying out such a study, and the present deliverable summarises recommendations based on the PROLOGUE project

Recommendations for safety and sustainability measures of the EU FP7 Project UDRIVE

The aim of Task 5.1 is to identify and select, among the outcomes of SP4, the results that are relevant to infer recommendations for measures improving road safety and sustainability. Due to time constraint, the analyses and the recommendations have been done in less time that it was planned at the beginning of the project. The key outcomes of the SP4 work with particular reference to crash risk, unsafe driving, and eco-driving will be studied and organized in terms of relevance to safety and sustainability policies and potential actions towards road users, vehicle and road. Recommendations have been developed to propose actions to stakeholders that can be implemented in the near future to increase safety and sustainability of road transport. This work integrates several reviews of different measures implemented previously in France, Germany, Netherlands and United Kingdom in terms of road safety measures. Then, the recommendations consider possible updates of existing measures and the development of new measures. They will include four kinds of areas: • Recommendations in terms of regulation and enforcement measures; • Recommendations for awareness campaigns and training; • Recommendations for design of road infrastructure; • Recommendations for vehicle safety. Looking at road fatalities statistics, we have identified vulnerable road users as a topic which is important to create recommendations for. We have also identified factors that can have an influence on fatality occurrence like age and infrastructure. A report by the World Health Organization in 2015 (WHO, 2015) identified some area’s wherein there is a need for recommendations to improve road safety. We have selected from the by WHO recommended topics, 3 topics which could be explored by naturalistic studies: seat belt, speed, distraction. Another topic that we are looking into is critical situations. The difficulties with investigating critical situations with road fatalities data bases, is that these databases often do not provide fully detailed information about the dynamic of the accident. Naturalistic studies have the ability to explore incidents more in-depth. Another objective of UDRIVE is to improve sustainability by looking into eco-driving. We will look at recommendations for this topic in this report as well

Over-representation of specific regions of chromosome 22 in cells from human glioma correlate with resistance to 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea

BACKGROUND: Glioblastoma multiforme is the most malignant form of brain tumor. Despite treatment including surgical resection, adjuvant chemotherapy, and radiation, these tumors typically recur. The recurrent tumor is often resistant to further therapy with the same agent, suggesting that the surviving cells that repopulate the tumor mass have an intrinsic genetic advantage. We previously demonstrated that cells selected for resistance to 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) are near-diploid, with over-representation of part or all of chromosomes 7 and 22. While cells from untreated gliomas often have over-representation of chromosome 7, chromosome 22 is typically under-represented. METHODS: We have analyzed cells from primary and recurrent tumors from the same patient before and after in vitro selection for resistance to clinically relevant doses of BCNU. Karyotypic analyses were done to demonstrate the genetic makeup of these cells, and fluorescent in situ hybridization analyses have defined the region(s) of chromosome 22 retained in these BCNU-resistant cells. RESULTS: Karyotypic analyses demonstrated that cells selected for BCNU resistance were near-diploid with over-representation of chromosomes 7 and 22. In cells where whole copies of chromosome 22 were not identified, numerous fragments of this chromosome were retained and inserted into several marker and derivative chromosomes. Fluorescent in situ hybridization analyses using whole chromosome paints confirmed this finding. Additional FISH analysis using bacterial artificial chromosome probes spanning the length of chromosome 22 have allowed us to map the over-represented region to 22q12.3–13.32. CONCLUSION: Cells selected for BCNU resistance either in vivo or in vitro retain sequences mapped to chromosome 22. The specific over-representation of sequences mapped to 22q12.3–13.32 suggest the presence of a DNA sequence important to BCNU survival and/or resistance located in this region of chromosome 22

Lactation-associated macrophages exist in murine mammary tissue and human milk

Macrophages are involved in immune defense, organogenesis and tissue homeostasis. Macrophages contribute to the different phases of mammary gland remodeling during development, pregnancy and involution postlactation. Less is known about the dynamics of mammary gland macrophages in the lactation stage. Here, we describe a macrophage population present during lactation in mice. By multiparameter flow cytometry and single-cell RNA sequencing, we identified a lactation-induced CD11c$^{+}$CX3CR1$^{+}$Dectin-1$^{+}$ macrophage population (liMac) that was distinct from the two resident F4/80$^{hi}$ and F4/80$^{lo}$ macrophage subsets present pregestationally. LiMacs were predominantly monocyte-derived and expanded by proliferation in situ concomitant with nursing. LiMacs developed independently of IL-34, but required CSF-1 signaling and were partly microbiota-dependent. Locally, they resided adjacent to the basal cells of the alveoli and extravasated into the milk. We found several macrophage subsets in human milk that resembled liMacs. Collectively, these findings reveal the emergence of unique macrophages in the mammary gland and milk during lactation

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 \u27Minimal Information for Studies of Extracellular Vesicles\u27, 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