In vivo relevance of CD30 in atopic dermatitis

CD30 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in lesional skin biopsies of eight patients with active atopic dermatitis (AD) and three patients with allergic contact (nickel-induced) dermatitis (ACD). CD30 expression was also assessed in a large panel of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell clones generated from the skin biopsies of four patients with AD. Finally, the levels of soluble CD30 (sCD30) were measured in the serum of 41 patients with AD, 19 patients with ACD, and 60 healthy controls. In all specimens of lesional AD skin, where the great majority of infiltrating cells were CD4+ T cells, remarkable numbers of cells were CD30+, whereas virtually no CD30+ cells were found in the skin of patients with ACD. In CD4+ T-cell clones generated from the lesional AD skin, most of which produced both interleukin (IL)-4 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) (Th0-like cells) or IL-4 and IL-5, but not IFN-gamma (Th2-like cells), CD30 expression directly correlated with the ability to produce IL-4 and IL-5, but was inversely related to IFN-gamma production. High levels of sCD30 (correlated with disease activity: r = 0.618) were detected in the serum of most AD patients, whereas there was no increase of sCD30 levels in the serum of patients with ACD. These data support the view that Th0/Th2-type responses predominate in the skin of patients with AD and suggest that the presence of CD30+ T cells in tissues and/or increased levels of sCD30 in biologic fluids are indicative of Th2-dominated responses.     

Severity of airflow limitation is associated with severity of airway inflammation in smokers

To investigate the relationship between airflow limitation and airway inflammation in smokers, we examined paraffin-embedded bronchial biopsies obtained from 30 smokers: 10 with severe airflow limitation, eight with mild/moderate airflow limitation, and 12 control smokers with normal lung function. Histochemical and immunohistochemical methods were performed to assess the number of inflammatory cells in the subepithelium and the expression of CC chemokines macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1alpha and -1beta in the bronchial mucosa. Compared with control smokers, smokers with severe airflow limitation had an increased number of neutrophils (p < 0.02), macrophages (p < 0.03), and NK lymphocytes (p < 0.03) in the subepithelium, and an increased number of MIP-1alpha+ epithelial cells (p < 0.02). When all smokers were considered together, the value of FEV1 was inversely correlated with the number of neutrophils (r = -0.59, p < 0.002), macrophages (r = -047, p < 0. 012), NK-lymphocytes (r = -0.51, p < 0.006) in the subepithelium, and with the number of MIP-1alpha+ epithelial cells (r = -0.61, p < 0.003). We conclude that in smokers the severity of airflow limitation is correlated with the severity of airway inflammation and that severe airflow limitation is associated with an increased number of neutrophils, macrophages, NK lymphocytes, and MIP-1alpha+ cells in the bronchial mucosa.     

A limited-streamer tube electron detector with high rejection power against pions

The problem of detecting electrons in the 0.5–4.0 GeV energy range, in the presence of a high pion background, has been studied using a new type of electromagnetic shower detector. Its structural properties and the main parameters are given, together with the basic results in terms of energy resolution and of rejection power against pion background. The optimization of this new instrument gives a pion rejection power of ～ 6 × 10^?4 for energy ? 1.2 GeV.     

Integrating spatial statistics and remote sensing

This paper presents an integrated approach towards spatial statistics for remote sensing. Using the layer concept in Geographical Information Systems we treat successively elements of spatial statistics, scale, classification, sampling and decision support. The layer concept allows to combine continuous spatial properties with classified map units. The paper is illustrated with five case studies: one on heavy metals in groundwater at different scales, one on soil variability within seemingly homogeneous units, one on fuzzy classification for a soillandscape model, one on classification with geostatistical procedures and one on thermal images. The integrated approach offers a better understanding and quantification of uncertainties in remote sensing studies.     

The assessment of the severity of pulmonary edema by computed tomography. A comparison between high-resolution computed tomography, objective evaluation with density masks and functional tests

The results of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) were correlated with those of pulmonary function tests, chest films and CT expiratory density mask values in the evaluation of pulmonary emphysema in 33 symptomatic subjects. Emphysema was quantitated with both subjective and objective measurements. Conventional chest films were useful to diagnose severe emphysema but its actual extent was more reliably evaluated with CT scoring systems. HRCT and density mask correlated well with function tests, but the former method exhibited stronger correlation with carbon monoxide diffusion capacity. The opposite was true for hyperinflation and expiratory obstruction variables. Subjective CT estimates, which are quick and easy to perform, were seen to correspond more specifically to the pathophysiologic derangement and should therefore be used to evaluate the anatomic extent of disease. The functional severity of emphysema correlated only with the overall extent of disease and not with its regional distribution in the upper or lower lungs. Finally, in 4 cases (12.1%) with low CT scores, FEV1 was reduced but diffusion capacity values were normal. In one of these patients HRCT showed signs of bronchiolitis. In fact, small airway disease might be a more critical factor in determining functional impairment than the actual anatomical emphysema.     

Experimental analysis of a motorcycle semi-active rear suspension

The topic of this paper is the experimental analysis and development of a control system for a semi-active suspension in a 2-wheel vehicle. The control system is implemented via a semi-active electro-hydraulic damper located in the rear suspension of a motorbike. The entire design and analysis procedure is carried out: the semi-active damper is characterized; a wide range of control strategies is recalled and an innovative semi-active algorithm (Mix-1-Stroke) based on a single-sensor layout is proposed. The strategies are then implemented in the Electronic Control Unit of the motorbike. Tests, both on test-bench and on-road, are presented. The result is the comparative analysis of a wide portfolio of different suspension control strategies, which shows the effectiveness of the Mix-1-Sensor rationale.     

Experiments on the characterization of metamorphic textures from a micrograph of an amphibolite

Picture processing using generalized instrumentation with specially developed software, and image analysis by means of a Quantimet 720 image analyser with a linear correlator, were employed in the study of rock textures. The boundaries of all individual grains from a portion of a thin section of a rock were distinguished and hand-drafted for digitization and analysis. From the grey level image of boundaries of the profiles of the grains, obtained by hexagonal scanning of line drawings, binary images were produced for each phase and used for textural measurements. Ink drawings extracted from the boundary pattern were also used for the image analyser experiments. In picture processing experiments, programmed structuring elements of different shapes and two-dimensional autocorrelation functions were used to characterize morphology and spatial distribution of the different phases. Transformations of binary images were programmed at the bit level to reduce storage requirements and computing time. In Quantimet 720 experiments, linear erosion and histogram of sizes were used for computing the mean dimensions of the grains. Periodical arrangements were studied by means of the covariance function. This contribution uses simple texture measures derived from mathematical morphology and picture processing methods, in order to assess the feasibility of two different technical approaches in the analysis of the same material. The extraction of image information from the material analysed, which was not attempted before, is cumbersome and technically complex. This difficulty is partly responsible of why little is known on the quantitative characterization of metamorphic textures from thin sections.     

Analysis of local heat transfer properties of tape-cast AlN ceramics using photothermal reflectance microscopy

Photothermal reflectance microscopy was applied to the analysis of local thermal diffusivity on tape-cast AlN ceramics. The materials were obtained from three different commercial powders, two sintering temperatures (1750 and 1800 °C), and 3 wt % Y₂O₃ sintering aid. Owing to the high spatial resolution of the technique (30 m in the present case), measurements in different positions on the sample surface were carried out. In this way a study of the homogeneity of thermal properties was performed.