A Role for Human Renal Tubular Epithelial Cells in Direct Allo-Recognition by CD4+ T-Cells and the Effect of Ischemia-Reperfusion

Direct allorecognition is the earliest and most potent immune response against a kidney allograft. Currently, it is thought that passenger donor professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs) are responsible. Further, many studies support that graft ischemia-reperfusion injury increases the probability of acute rejection. We evaluated the possible role of primary human proximal renal tubular epithelial cells (RPTECs) in direct allorecognition by CD4+ T-cells and the effect of anoxia-reoxygenation. In cell culture, we detected that RPTECs express all the required molecules for CD4+ T-cell activation (HLA-DR, CD80, and ICAM-1). Anoxia-reoxygenation decreased HLA-DR and CD80 but increased ICAM-1. Following this, RPTECs were co-cultured with alloreactive CD4+ T-cells. In T-cells, zeta chain phosphorylation and c-Myc increased, indicating activation of T-cell receptor and co-stimulation signal transduction pathways, respectively. T-cell proliferation assessed with bromodeoxyuridine assay and with the marker Ki-67 increased. Previous culture of RPTECs under anoxia raised all the above parameters in T-cells. FOXP3 remained unaffected in all cases, signifying that proliferating T-cells were not differentiated towards a regulatory phenotype. Our results support that direct allorecognition may be mediated by RPTECs even in the absence of donor-derived professional APCs. Also, ischemia-reperfusion injury of the graft may enhance the above capacity of RPTECs, increasing the possibility of acute rejection.     

Fatigue crack growth simulation in adhesively bonded composite joints

A numerical model has been developed for simulating fatigue crack growth (debonding) in adhesively bonded composite joints subjected to mode‐I, mode‐II, and mixed‐mode I + II loading conditions. The model employs a cohesive zone model described by a modified bilinear traction‐separation law. Fatigue damage in the composite adherends is not considered in the model. To account for crack divergence and reduce sensitivity of numerical results on mesh density, a crack front detection algorithm based on the effective element's length was employed. The model is implemented as a user‐defined subroutine (UMAT) in the commercial FE code LS‐DYNA. The model's input parameters, in the form of a modified Paris law, and the validation data were obtained from experimental tests conducted by the authors. It was found that the model is able to successfully simulate crack growth in the regime of the experimental data.     

Functional stability of goats' milk yoghurt supplemented with Pistacia atlantica resin extracts and Saccharomyces boulardii

The present study describes the development of a functional goats' milk yoghurt, using Pistacia atlantica resin extracts and Saccharomyces boulardii, in an attempt to combine the beneficial effects of the milk, extract and probiotic microorganisms. Results demonstrated that Pistacia extracts promoted the survival of lactic acid bacteria and NMR spectra additionally revealed that the functional fatty acids can be retained during the shelf life of yoghurts, alongside with the other bioactive compounds. The organoleptic assessment revealed that there were no significant differences in flavour, body, texture and appearance between the different yoghurts.     

A general class of nonparametric control charts

In this article, we introduce a new general class of nonparametric Shewhart‐type control charts using the lengths of runs of test sample observations between successive observations of a reference sample. Several control charts that have appeared in the literature are members of the new family. In addition, 3 new nonparametric control charts that belong to the class are introduced and studied. Numerical results depict that the proposed charts attain competitive in‐control and out‐of‐control performance as compared with existing nonparametric charts.     

Sign boundary and hand articulation feature recognition in Sign Language videos

Machine Translation - In this paper we present a recommendation system for (semi-)automatic annotation of sign language videos exploiting deep learning techniques, which handle handshape...     

Cracking of Electrolytic Tough Pitch Copper Plates During Hot Rolling

Journal of Failure Analysis and Prevention - Failure analysis is performed in electrolytic tough pitch copper plates that have been severely fractured during the initial hot rolling passes. A...