Reconstitution of Monocyte Subsets and PD-L1 Expression but Not T Cell PD-1 Expression in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients upon PAP Therapy

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by nocturnal breathing intermissions resulting in oxidative stress and eventually, a low-grade systemic inflammation. The study aimed to investigate the impact of positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy on the inflammatory milieu as measured by monocyte and T cell phenotypic alterations. Participants were assessed for their OSA severity before PAP therapy and about six months later, including patient-reported outcome and therapy usage by telemetry readout. The distributions of the CD14/CD16-characterized monocyte subsets as well as the CD4/CD8-characterized effector T cell subsets with regard to their PD-1 and PD-L1 expression were analyzed by flow cytometry from blood samples. Data of 25 patients revealed a significant reconstitution of the monocyte subset distribution and a decrease in PD-L1 expression on pan-monocytes and CD8⁺ T cells without an association to initial AHI and overweight. The PD-1 expression was still increased on T cell subsets, especially on CD4⁺ TH17/22 cells. We conclude that PAP therapy might have a rapid effect on the monocyte phenotype and overall PD-L1 expression levels. However, T cell immune alterations especially on TH17/22 cells persist longer, indicating an ongoing disturbance of the adaptive immune system.     

Combining Local and Global Model Checking

The verification process of reactive systems in local model checking [1,7] and in explicit state model checking is[13,15] on-the-fly. Therefore only those states of a system have to be traversed that are necessary to prove a property. In addition, if the property does not hold, than often only a small subset of the state space has to be traversed to produce a counterexample. Global model checking [6,23] and, in particular, symbolic model checking [4,22] can utilize compact representations of the state space, e.g. BDDs [3], to handle much larger designs than what is possible with local and explicit model checking. We present a new model checking algorithm for LTL that combines both approaches. In essence, it is a generalization of the tableau construction of [1] that enables the use of BDDs but still is on-the-fly.     

Experiences with large-scale operational trials of ALTO-enhanced P2P filesharing in an intra-ISP scenario

Application Layer Traffic Optimization (ALTO) has recently gained attention in the research and standardisation community as a way for a network operator to guide the peer selection process of distributed applications by providing network layer topology information. In particular P2P applications are expected to gain from ALTO, due to the many connections peers form among each other, often without taking network layer topology information into account. In this paper, we present results of an extensive intra-ISP trial with an ALTO-enhanced P2P filesharing software. In summary, our results show that—depending on the concrete setting and on the distribution of upload capacity in the network—ALTO enables an ISP to save operational costs significantly while not degrading application layer performance noticeably. In addition, based on our experience we are able to give advice to operators on how to save costs with ALTO while not sacrificing application layer performance at all.     

Einfluß des Gefüges auf die mechanischen Eigenschaften von Gußeisen mit rd. 3% C und 14% Cr für Walzen

Ermittlung der mechanischen Eigenschaften unterschiedlicher Bereiche gegossener Walzen mit 360 mm Ballendurchmesser und 200 mm Zapfendurchmesser aus drei Schmelzen eines Gußeisens mit rd. 3% C, 0,8% Si, 0,8% Mn, 0,14% P, 0,014% S, 14,2% Cr, 0,35% Mo und 0,5% Ni in zwei Wärmebehandlungszuständen. Zahlenmäßiger Zusammenhang zwischen der Biegefließgrenze und geeigneten Kennwerten für den Gefügezustand unter Bezugnahme auf die Beanspruchungsrichtung. Einfluß des Gefügezustandes auf das Formänderungsverhalten im statischen Biegeversuch.     

Doping modulation by electric currents in lithium niobate during crystal growth

The segregation coefficient of impurities being effective during crystal growth of LiNbO₃ from the melt can be influenced by electric currents through the growing interface. Examples are given for chromium dopings where the changes in concentration can easily be measured by optical methods. The effect can be used to mark the growing interface, to superimpose time markers during growth, and to generate periodic and aperiodic doping structures. Indications are given that the effect is due rather to electrochemical processes at the interface than to a change in growth rate caused by the Peltier effect.     

Einfluß der chemischen Zusammensetzung und der Abkühlungsbedingungen auf den Gefügezustand von Gußeisen mit rd. 3% C und 14% Cr für Walzen

Abguß von drei Walzenkörpern aus verschleißfestem Gußeisen mit 2,95 bis 3,16% C, rd. 0,8% Si, rd. 0,8% Mn, rd. 0,14% P, rd. 0,014% S, rd. 14% Cr, rd. 0,35% Mo und rd. 0,5% Ni. Abkühlgeschwindigkeit nach dem Abguß. Rechnerische Ermittlung der chemischen Zusammensetzung und der Mengenanteile der sich ausscheidenden Gefügebestandteile. Metallographische Gefügeuntersuchungen. Abstand der Sekundärarme der Mischkristalldendriten sowie Länge und Dicke der Carbidteilchen als Kenngrößen zur zahlenmäßigen Gefügebeschreibung. Einfluß der Abkühlungsbedingungen auf den Zustand des Primär- und des Sekundärgefüges.