Adventitial Tertiary Lymphoid Organs as Potential Source of MicroRNA Biomarkers for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is an inflammatory disease associated with marked changes in the cellular composition of the aortic wall. This study aims to identify microRNA (miRNA) expression in aneurysmal inflammatory cells isolated by laser microdissection from human tissue samples. The distribution of inflammatory cells (neutrophils, B and T lymphocytes, mast cells) was evaluated in human AAA biopsies. We observed in half of the samples that adventitial tertiary lymphoid organs (ATLOs) with a thickness from 0.5 to 2 mm were located exclusively in the adventitia. Out of the 850 miRNA that were screened by microarray in isolated ATLOs (n = 2), 164 miRNAs were detected in ATLOs. The three miRNAs (miR-15a-3p, miR-30a-5p and miR-489-3p) with the highest expression levels were chosen and their expression quantified by RT-PCR in isolated ATLOs (n = 4), M1 (n = 2) and M2 macrophages (n = 2) and entire aneurysmal biopsies (n = 3). Except for the miR-30a-5p, a similar modulation was found in ATLOs and the two subtypes of macrophages. The modulated miRNAs were then evaluated in the plasma of AAA patients for their potential as AAA biomarkers. Our data emphasize the potential of miR-15a-3p and miR-30a-5p as biomarkers of AAA but also as triggers of ATLO evolution. Further investigations will be required to evaluate their targets in order to better understand AAA pathophysiology.     

The Crosstalk of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells (ADSC), Oxidative Stress,and Inflammation in Protective and Adaptive Responses

The potential use of stem cell-based therapies for the repair and regeneration of various tissues and organs is a major goal in repair medicine. Stem cells are classified by their potential to differentiate into functional cells. Compared with other sources, adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) have the advantage of being abundant and easy to obtain. ADSCs are considered to be tools for replacing, repairing, and regenerating dead or damaged cells. The capacity of ADSCs to maintain their properties depends on the balance of complex signals in their microenvironment. Their properties and the associated outcomes are in part regulated by reactive oxygen species, which mediate the oxidation-reduction state of cells as a secondary messenger. ADSC therapy has demonstrated beneficial effects, suggesting that secreted factors may provide protection. There is evidence that ADSCs secrete a number of cytokines, growth factors, and antioxidant factors into their microenvironment, thus regulating intracellular signaling pathways in neighboring cells. In this review, we introduce the roles of ADSCs in the protection of cells by modulating inflammation and immunity, and we develop their potential therapeutic properties.     

A smart process controller framework for Industry 4.0 settings

This paper presents a smart supervisory framework for a single process controller, designed for Industry 4.0 shop floors. This digitization of a full supervisory suite for a single process controller enables self-awareness, self-diagnosis, self-prognosis, and self-healing (by definition, these "self" elements are missing from other supervisory frameworks diagnosing numerous controllers in parallel). The proposed framework is aligned with the concept of a Cyber Physical System (CPS), since its implementation generates a rich cyber physical entity of the controlled process. This CPS entity can either be considered as the process digital twin, or can provide a solid basis for generating it. Finally, the framework includes the main characteristics of Industry 4.0, such as advanced use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and big data analysis. The framework is based on four modules: (1) Control and Awareness module—performing both continuous process control and adjustments, as well as machine learning (ML) and statistical process control (SPC) for identifying abnormalities that require further diagnosis; (2) Process -diagnosis module—performing continual (recurrent) analysis of the process state and trends; (3) Prognosis and Healing module—performing prognosis and automated intervention via parameter changes, re-configurations, and automated maintenance; (4) External Interaction Platform—an interactive module for interfacing with experts, presenting them with the process analysis information and obtaining feedback from them as part of a learning process. Using an implementation showcase to illustrate the methodological framework’s applicability, we demonstrate its real-world potential. The proposed framework could serve as a guide for implementing smart process control and maintenance systems in Industry 4.0 shop floors. It could also provide a firm basis for comparison with future suggested frameworks. Future research directions could include pursuing improvements to the proposed process control framework and validating the framework by case studies of its implementation.

     

The factorial structure of the Dutch translation of the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems: A test of the long and short versions.

In this article, the authors study the factorial structure of 2 versions (64 items and 32 items) of the Dutch translation of the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP; L. M. Horowitz, L. E. Alden, J. S. Wiggins, & A. L. Pincus, 2000) in both a clinical sample (n = 382) and a student sample (n = 287). First, the authors test whether both inventories are constituted by correlated uni-dimensional subscales, and they conclude that this is true only for the short version. Second, the authors study whether the correlations between the subscales follow a circumplex pattern. This proves to be true for both versions. Coefficients alpha and correlations between the IIP-64 and IIP-32 subscales are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effect of Freezer Programs on Real-Time Storage Results of Dissolution Profiles

Carstensen and Rhodes¹ have suggested that when, in stability programs, assays cannot be performed immediately after the protocol-designated storage time, then freezing them until such a time when assays can be performed would be a reasonable manner to retain the protocol schedule. They caution, however, that such a procedure may not be valid for dissolution data. The article to follow deals with real-time data showing that such a process is feasible for Nalidixic Acid tablets (and presumably for other tablets as well), and that, furthermore, the dissolution pattern would seem to be “frozen” as well.     

Modeling of precipitation hardening in Mg-based alloys

This work deals with the development of Mg-based alloys with enhanced properties at elevated temperatures. This is achieved by precipitation of binary phases such as MgZn₂ and Mg₂Sn during the aging of these alloys. The aim of the present work is to develop and calibrate a model for precipitation hardening in Mg-based alloys, as different types of precipitates form simultaneously. The modified Langer-Schwartz approach, while taking into account nucleation, growth and coarsening of the new phase precipitations, was used for the analysis of precipitates’ evolution and precipitation hardening during aging of Mg-based alloys. Two strengthening mechanisms associated with particle-dislocation interaction (shearing and bypassing) were considered to be operating simultaneously due to particle size-distribution. Parameters of the model, R _N i and k _{σ i} , were found by fitting of calculated densities and average sizes of precipitates with ones estimated from experiments. The effective diffusion coefficients of phase formation processes, which determine the strengthening kinetics, were estimated from the hardness maximum positions on the aging curves.     

High affinity presentation of an autoantigenic peptide in type I diabetes by an HLA class II protein encoded in a haplotype protecting from disease

Tissue composition and the distribution of body mass are described for four genera of East African Bovidae (Madoqua, Gazella, Damaliscus, Hippotragus) with supporting data from four others (Neotragus, Oryx, Tragelaphus, Connochaetes). These species are high in muscle mass, an adaptation convergent with other high-speed terrestrial cursors, bounders, and saltators. The segments below the elbow/cubitus and knee/stifle/genu joints in small bovids are both lighter in percent of total body mass (8.6% TBM) and less heavily muscled (10-15% of total limb musculature) than those segments in macaques (13.6% TBM, 20-25% of the limb musculature). Bovid species differ from one another in the regional distribution of muscle mass. Madoqua kirkii (4-5 kg) concentrates muscle in the lumbar extensors and hindlimbs; large species such as Damaliscus doreas (50-60 kg) and Hippotragus niger (160-220 kg) distribute it more evenly between the lumbar and cervical regions and between the hindlimbs and forelimbs. Gazella dorcas (10-20 kg) is quantitatively intermediate in those characteristics. The redistribution of muscle mass with increasing size correlates with the loss of axial bending of the vertebral column: in small, hindlimb dominant, 'dorsomobile' species such as Madoqua sagittal mobility increases stride length through 'extended' suspension; in large 'dorsostable' species such as Damaliscus and Hippotragus the vertebral column resists bending, consequently abbreviating or omitting this non-contact phase of the gait cycle. Locomotor adaptation as it is reflected in size, shape, and musculoskeletal structure is the key to habitat choice, dietary specialization, social structure, and male agonistic behavior and, therefore, central to the fabric of behavioral ecology.     

Generalization of the Gram-Charlier/Edgeworth Series and Application to Time-Frequency Analysis

We derive a general equation relating probability densities and as special cases we the obtain Gram-Charlier and Edgeworth series. This allows us to generalize these methods and clarify a number of issues pertaining to both probability theory and time-frequency analysis. In particular we show how the Gram-Charlier and Edgeworth series are related to the kernel method of time-frequency analysis. The approach allows us to construct densities that satisfy given constraints such as joint moments or conditional moments. Also, we show that the kernel has to be signal dependent and that to obtain a proper distribution it should be the ratio of two characteristic functions.     

Managing network security — Part 6: Computer games and network security management

Over the last few years, computing has changed to an almost purely networked environment, but the technical aspects of information protection have not kept up. As a result, the success of information security programmes has increasingly become a function of our ability to make prudent management decisions about organizational activities. This series of articles takes a management view of protection and seeks to reconcile the need for security with the limitations of technology.