Effect of the glass substrate on the efficiency of the different orders that propagate in a transmission sinusoidal diffraction grating

In this work we study the effect of the glass substrate on the efficiencies of the different orders that propagate inside a transmission sinusoidal diffraction grating. Holographic optical elements are usually recorded on a photosensitive medium deposited on to a glass substrate. Therefore, the study of the entire system, namely the holographic element plus the glass substrate, is necessary. In this work we study the entire system by using the rigorous coupled-wave theory. As will be demonstrated, the effect of the glass is to generate an oscillatory pattern of the efficiency of the different orders around the average. The effect of the glass substrate is therefore sufficiently significant, and care must be taken in order to choose the appropriate thickness of the glass if maximum diffraction efficiency is to be achieved.     

Boundary integral equation for tangential derivative of flux in Laplace and Helmholtz equations

In this paper, the boundary integral equations (BIEs) for the tangential derivative of flux in Laplace and Helmholtz equations are presented. These integral representations can be used in order to solve several problems in the boundary element method (BEM): cubic solutions including degrees of freedom in flux's tangential derivative value (Hermitian interpolation), nodal sensitivity, analytic gradients in optimization problems, or tangential derivative evaluation in problems that require the computation of such variable (elasticity problems in BEM). The analysis has been developed for 2D formulation. Kernels for tangential derivative of flux lead to high‐order singularities (O(1/r³)). The limit to the boundary analysis has been carried out. Based on this analysis, regularization formulae have been obtained in order to use such BIE in numerical codes. A set of numerical benchmarks have been carried out in order to validate theoretical and practical aspects, by considering known analytic solutions for the test problems. The results show that the tangential BIEs have been properly developed and implemented. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

High IGKC-Expressing Intratumoral Plasma Cells Predict Response to Immune Checkpoint Blockade

Resistance to Immune Checkpoint Blockade (ICB) constitutes the current limiting factor for the optimal implementation of this novel therapy, which otherwise demonstrates durable responses with acceptable toxicity scores. This limitation is exacerbated by a lack of robust biomarkers. In this study, we have dissected the basal TME composition at the gene expression and cellular levels that predict response to Nivolumab and prognosis. BCR, TCR and HLA profiling were employed for further characterization of the molecular variables associated with response. The findings were validated using a single-cell RNA-seq data of metastatic melanoma patients treated with ICB, and by multispectral immunofluorescence. Finally, machine learning was employed to construct a prediction algorithm that was validated across eight metastatic melanoma cohorts treated with ICB. Using this strategy, we have unmasked a major role played by basal intratumoral Plasma cells expressing high levels of IGKC in efficacy. IGKC, differentially expressed in good responders, was also identified within the Top response-related BCR clonotypes, together with IGK variants. These results were validated at gene, cellular and protein levels; CD138+ Plasma-like and Plasma cells were more abundant in good responders and correlated with the same RNA-seq-defined fraction. Finally, we generated a 15-gene prediction model that outperformed the current reference score in eight ICB-treated metastatic melanoma cohorts. The evidenced major contribution of basal intratumoral IGKC and Plasma cells in good response and outcome in ICB in metastatic melanoma is a groundbreaking finding in the field beyond the role of T lymphocytes.     

Extended E-pulse technique for discrimination of conducting spheres

The study presented is on the influence of forced-E-pulse duration in the discrimination capacity of the E-pulse technique, applied to spherical targets. This analysis allows three ranges of E-pulse durations to be considered and an optimum duration of the forced E-pulse to be obtained. The results obtained allow the discrimination technique to be extended in order to determine if the radius of an “unknown” sphere is longer or shorter than the radius of the “expected” one     

Fiber morphometry of the external intercostal muscle. Comparison of dominant and nondominant sides in patients with severe COPD]

OBJECTIVES: Contribution of cellular immunity to the onset and perpetuation of alcohol-induced liver damage remains controversial. The aim of this work was to know whether T-cells participate in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver injury by measuring the serum levels of sIL-2R in alcoholic patients with different degree of hepatic damage. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty two patients and eighteen healthy subjects (Control group) were included. All patients were active drinkers of at least 100 grams/day of ethanol over a ten-years period. Serum sIL-2R was determined by ELISA. Liver biopsy was performed in all patients and liver function tests, serum immunoglobulins and complement proteins C3 and C4 were measured in all participants. The relationship between the sIL-2R and the severity of liver disease was studied. RESULTS: Circulating sIL-2R was higher in the group of patients than in the control (2.388 +/- 275.7 U/ml vs. 795.7 +/- 48.7 IU/mL; p < 0.001). There were not increased circulating sIL2R in those patients with alcoholic hepatitis. However, patients with cirrhosis showed increased serum sIL-2R regardless of the presence of alcoholic hepatitis. Furthermore, serum levels of sIL-2R inversely correlated with hepatic function test (r = -0.69; p < 0.001 for serum albumin; and r = -0.73; p < 0.001 for the prothrombin time) and were highest in those patients of the Child-Turcotte's class C. CONCLUSIONS: Circulating sIL-2R increases in alcoholic cirrhosis. However, our data do not support a contributory role of the cellular immunity, as assessed by circulating sIL-2R levels to the alcoholic liver damage. The increased serum sIL-2R in cirrhosis may result from defective heptic clearance of this molecule.     

Kaposi''s sarcoma with an intense parasitization by Leishmania

Horse riding is a dangerous pastime with more accidents occurring per hour than during motor-cycling. Since a prospective survey of horse-related injuries conducted at a major centre in 1971-1972, equestrian groups and the medical profession have encouraged improvements in training and protective riding wear. By conducting a similar study at the same centre 20 years later we hoped to assess the effects of these measures on the pattern of injuries resulting from contact with horses. Patient and injury details were recorded prospectively for all those presenting to the Accident Service at Oxford during the whole of 1991. Total admissions fell by 46 per cent on average. Most of the decrease was due to a near fivefold fall in those admitted with head injuries (P < 0.001). A reduction in the severity of such injuries was associated with an increased use of riding helmets. However, the most commonly injured group remained amateur young female riders suggesting the need for increasing awareness and training of this group. In seven cases, severe digital injuries were caused by the habit of entwining reins around the fingers. This practice should be discouraged. Up to 12 per cent of all injuries might have been prevented if adequate footwear had been worn.     

Hypersingular quarter-point boundary elements for crack problems

The present paper deals with the study and effective implementation for Stress Intensity Factor computation of a mixed boundary element approach based on the standard displacement integral equation and the hypersingular traction integral equation. Expressions for the evaluation of the hypersingular integrals along general curved quadratic line elements are presented. The integration is carried out by transformation of the hypersingular integrals into regular integrals, which are evaluated by standard quadratures, and simple singular integrals, which are integrated analytically. The generality of the method allows for the modelling of curved cracks and the use of straight line quarter-point elements. The Stress Intensity Factors can be computed very accurately from the Crack Opening Displacement at collocation points extremely close to the crack tip. Several examples with different crack geometries are analyzed. The computed results show that the proposed approach for Stress Intensity Factors evaluation is simple, produces very accurate solutions and has little dependence on the size of the elements near the crack tip.     

Acute myocardial infarction secondary to Wegener''s granulomatosis]

Previous experiments discovered high rates of chromosomal rearrangements in the progeny of males containing a telomeric segment of Drosophila koepferae in a D. buzzatii genetic background (segmental males). We have performed similar experiments, designed to test whether this chromosomal instability could be explained by a phenomenon similar to P-M hybrid dysgenesis or, alternatively, by a generalized telomeric effect. However, the results obtained have not allowed us to fully characterize this process, because we have not observed chromosomal rearrangements in the progeny of the putative unstable males. Our results suggest that chromosomal instability is independent of the introgressed fragment. A reasonable hypothesis to explain these results is that mutator factors are occasionally introduced by the hybridization. The effect of sampling, caused by the fact that only a small region is introgressed in a particular line, may explain why only some hybridizations lead to instability.