Lymphotoxin alpha/beta and tumor necrosis factor are required for stromal cell expression of homing chemokines in B and T cell areas of the spleen

Mice deficient in the cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF) or lymphotoxin (LT) alpha/beta lack polarized B cell follicles in the spleen. Deficiency in CXC chemokine receptor 5 (CXCR5), a receptor for B lymphocyte chemoattractant (BLC), also causes loss of splenic follicles. Here we report that BLC expression by follicular stromal cells is defective in TNF-, TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1)-, LTalpha- and LTbeta-deficient mice. Treatment of adult mice with antagonists of LTalpha1beta2 also leads to decreased BLC expression. These findings indicate that LTalpha1beta2 and TNF have a role upstream of BLC/CXCR5 in the process of follicle formation. In addition to disrupted follicles, LT-deficient animals have disorganized T zones. Expression of the T cell attractant, secondary lymphoid tissue chemokine (SLC), by T zone stromal cells is found to be markedly depressed in LTalpha-, and LTbeta-deficient mice. Expression of the SLC-related chemokine, Epstein Barr virus-induced molecule 1 ligand chemokine (ELC), is also reduced. Exploring the basis for the reduced SLC expression led to identification of further disruptions in T zone stromal cells. Together these findings indicate that LTalpha1beta2 and TNF are required for the development and function of B and T zone stromal cells that make chemokines necessary for lymphocyte compartmentalization in the spleen.     

Air-assisted electrostatic sprays for postharvest control of fruitand vegetable spoilage microorganisms

Losses of foodstuffs following harvest can often exceed 10%-30%, much due to various fungal and other microorganisms which degrade the food in shipment and storage. In addition to these direct losses due to spoilage, certain microorganisms render foods unsafe for human consumption by natural toxins which they produce. To maintain quality and desired sensory attributes between farm and market, other fruits and vegetables require surface applications of waxes and water-loss barriers. This paper reports the research and development of an efficient electrostatic spray application method and processing-line prototype created specifically for postharvest protection of foodstuffs. In addition to relevant aspects of theoretical and technical design, the paper includes experimental results of extensive evaluations of electrostatically applied protective sprays onto bananas for international shipment-where both microbiological and mass-transfer data document typically 2.1-3.4 fold deposition improvements for food protection     

The role of response repetition in task switching.

When switching between tasks, participants are sometimes required to use different response sets for each task. Thus, task switch and response set switch are confounded. In 5 experiments, the authors examined transitions of response within a linear 4-finger arrangement. A random baseline condition was compared with the cuing of specific response subsets grouped by hand or by finger equivalence, and these subsets were examined in both single task and task-switching designs. Results showed that part of the task switch cost is associated with switching between response sets. Furthermore, the analysis revealed a novel effect: When task switching and repetition trials are mixed, a bias towards switching the response and/or hand is found in task repetition trials. Response repetition is hindered when a task switch is expected, even for those trials when a switch of task does not occur. The results demonstrate executive processes involved in task set configuration closely depend on the motoric processing of the response set. The results are also important for current theories of task set control. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparing time series using wavelet-based semblance analysis

Similarity measures are becoming increasingly commonly used in comparison of multiple datasets from various sources. Semblance filtering compares two datasets on the basis of their phase, as a function of frequency. Semblance analysis based on the Fourier transform suffers from problems associated with that transform, in particular its assumption that the frequency content of the data must not change with time (for time-series data) or location (for data measured as a function of position). To overcome these problems, semblance is calculated here using the continuous wavelet transform. When calculated in this way, semblance analysis allows the local phase relationships between the two datasets to be studied as a function of both scale (or wavelength) and time. Semblance analysis is demonstrated on synthetic datasets and on gravity and aeromagnetic data from the Vredefort Dome, South Africa. Matlab source code is available from the IAMG server at www.iamg.org.     

Telerehabilitation: Expanding access to rehabilitation expertise

The potential of modern telecommunications and computing technologies as tools in the delivery and evaluation of assistive technology (AT) has been discussed and has been termed telerehabilitation. The problems of providing AT in rural areas parallels the delivery of health care to rural areas where the proportion of people with chronic illnesses is higher and the means to pay for them is reduced. Large distances mean long travel times, increasing costs associated with any service delivery, and consuming valuable time skilled professionals could be using to provide services elsewhere. The technology available for practising telerehabilitation is significant and expanding at a rapid rate. Currently, plain old telephone systems (POTS) and broad-band videoconferencing equipment, Internet and World Wide Web, and embedded processor systems are most widely available. These technologies continue to evolve as well as emerging technologies such as wearable sensors that will have telehabilitation applications. Issues of payment, safety liability, and licensure need to be resolved, as legislation lags the development of new technologies     

Effect of long-term treatment with salmeterol on asthma control: a double blind, randomised crossover study

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of adding salmeterol 50 micrograms twice daily for six months to current treatment in subjects with asthma who control their inhaled corticosteroid dose according to a management plan. DESIGN: A double blind, randomised crossover study. SETTING: Nottingham. SUBJECTS: 101 subjects with mild or moderate asthma taking at least 200 micrograms twice daily of beclomethasone dipropionate or budesonide. INTERVENTIONS: Salmeterol 50 micrograms twice daily and placebo for six months each, with a one month washout. Subjects adjusted inhaled steroid dose according to guidelines. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Reduction in inhaled steroid use, exacerbations of asthma, and use of oral steroids. RESULTS: Data were available for 87 subjects. When compared with placebo salmeterol treatment was associated with a 17% reduction in inhaled steroid use (95% confidence interval 12% to 22%) with no significant difference in the number of subjects who had an exacerbation (placebo 25%, salmeterol 16%) or use of oral steroids. For secondary end points salmeterol treatment was associated with higher morning and evening peak expiratory flow and forced expiratory volume in one second; a reduction in symptoms, bronchodilator use and airway responsiveness to methacholine; and no effect on serum potassium concentration, 24 hour heart rate, or the final forced expiratory volume in one second achieved during a salbutamol dose-response study. CONCLUSIONS: In subjects who adjusted their inhaled steroid treatment according to guidelines the addition of salmeterol 50 micrograms twice daily was associated with a reduction in inhaled steroid use and improved lung function and symptom control.     

Pattern-based adaptive process control

A controller that has an adaptation strategy based on the patterns exhibited in the recent history of the controller error and manipulated input variable is detailed. The method of approach is to analyze all controller error transients to extract features including overshoot and damping. The deviation of these features from desired values is then used to update the parameters of an internal controller model. When the error transient is caused by a disturbance, the patterns exhibited in the manipulated input variable are also considered to determine whether the disturbance has actually changed the character of the process, or if the error patterns are simply reflecting the nature of the disturbance itself. The strategy is general to a number of model-based controllers and is demonstrated here using both a long range predictive controller and a PI controller with Smith predictor. Details of the strategy are presented along with a demonstration of the method on process simulations constructed to present challenging applications.