Transfection of Vitamin D3-Induced Tolerogenic Dendritic Cells for the Silencing of Potential Tolerogenic Genes. Identification of CSF1R-CSF1 Signaling as a Glycolytic Regulator

The use of autologous tolerogenic dendritic cells (tolDC) has become a promising strategy to re-establish immune tolerance in autoimmune diseases. Among the different strategies available, the use of vitamin D3 for the generation of tolDC (VitD3-tolDC) has been widely tested because of their immune regulatory properties. To identify molecules and pathways involved in the generation of VitD3-tolDC, we established an easy and fast gene silencing method based on the use of Viromer blue to introduce siRNA into monocytes on day 1 of culture differentiation. The analysis of the effect of CD209 (DC-SIGN) and CD115 (CSF1R) down-modulation on the phenotype and functionality of transfected VitD3-tolDC revealed a partial role of CD115 in their tolerogenicity. Further investigations showed that CSF1R-CSF1 signaling is involved in the induction of cell metabolic reprogramming, triggering glycolysis to produce high amounts of lactate, a novel suppressive mechanism of T cell proliferation, recently found in autologous tolerogenic dendritic cells (ATDCs).     

Changes in trace elements of cerebrospinal fluid after subarachnoid hemorrhage, and effects of trace elements on vasospasm

Various causal factors have been proposed for cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), such as serotonin, acetylcholine, angiotensin, thrombin and thromboxane A2. However, none of them explain the whole pathomechanism of vasospasm. To evaluate the role of trace elements on vasospasm, we have examined these sequential changes in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) after SAH by PIXE, and have investigated the relation between trace elements and vasospasm. We obtained the CSF samples from cisternal drainage in patients with SAH who underwent radical surgery within 48 h from the onset. The drainage was placed into basal cisterns at the end of the operation. Three sampling times (3–5, 7–9 and 12–14 days from the onset) has been scheduled because vasospasm is likely to occur from day 4 to day 14 after the onset. In this study, we focused on the levels of Mg, Ca, Mn, Al, Zn, P, Pb, Sr, Br, Co, Cu, Si, Ti, Mn,Co, Cu, Zn, Br, Sr, Mo and Pb, and we found a significantly lower level of Mg in the CSF of patients with vasospasm on days 7–9 after the onset. These results suggest that Mg in the CSF may ameliorate vasoconstriction due to Ca in the pathomechanism of vasospasm.     

小波域中CSF频率与方向加权的图像质量评价方法

为解决结构相似度算法的图像质量评价缺陷,提出一种在小波域中,根据CSF的频率与方向加权的图像质量评价方法.该方法将图像的小波域多分辨率特性与CSF的带通特性有机的相结合,得到一种基于结构相似度的评价新方法.算法首先将频率归一化的CSF曲线按照1倍频程分解成5份,然后进行5级CDF 9/7双正交小波分解与重构,得到一个低频子带LL和多个中高频子带HH_i、HL_i及LH_i,根据不同的频率,不同的方向分配不同的权重,分别与相应的子频带SSIM值相乘,然后累加运算,得到小波域的加权图像结构相似度WWSSIM.实验表明,WWSSIM方法的单调性、一致性、准确性评价指标较高,更接近人类主观视觉感受.     

The demand for energy in Greece: assessing the effects of the Community Support Framework 1994–1999

The paper estimates the demand for energy in Greece in the tradable and non-tradable sectors and for the three main types of energy, namely oil, electricity and solid fuel. Using the estimated demand functions, forecasts of the demand for energy until the year 2010 are derived by incorporating the system of demand and energy price equations into a fully-fledged annual macroeconometric model. The model is subsequently used to forecast the demand for energy and the shares of various forms under alternative assumptions about the effects of the Community Support Framework (CSF). It is found that the demand for energy will be significantly affected by the presence of externalities in the implementation of CSF that give rise to positive supply-side effects and boost growth. In the absence of supply-side externalities, total energy demand rises by 1.4% above the benchmark non-CSF scenario. With growth-inducing externalities, total demand will increase at year 2010 by 6.0% above baseline.     

一种基于改进量化表的 JPEG 图像压缩算法

目的结合人眼视觉特性,研究一种基于改进量化表的JPEG图像压缩算法(JPEG-HVS)。方法利用人眼亮度对比度敏感函数(CSF)生成一种新的量化表,来代替传统JPEG标准推荐的亮度量化表,并通过Matlab7.0对不同种类图像进行了仿真实验。通过计算不同种类图像的压缩质量评价指标,将提出的压缩算法与传统JPEG压缩算法及JPEG区域法进行对比。结果 JPEG-HVS实现的压缩比比JPEG实现的压缩比平均高出53.56%,比JPEG区域法平均高出18.75%。3种压缩方法的峰值信噪比(PSNR)波动不大,JPEG的PSNR值最大,JPEG-HVS次之,平均结构相似度(MSSIM)从大到小排列依次为JPEGJPEG-HVSJPEG区域法。JPEG-HVS编解码所需时间要明显少于JPEG。同时依靠主观评价可以发现,经JPEG-HVS解压的重构图像仍具有良好的视觉特性。结论在保证了压缩质量的同时,提出的JPEG-HVS压缩算法相比于传统JPEG压缩算法、JPEG区域法,可以实现更大的压缩比和更快的编解码速度,更有利于图像的存储与传输。     

彩色成像系统最小可分辨色差测量方法研究

最小可分辨色差通常使用基于人眼观测的主观方法测量,精度不高。为了提高测量精度,利用人眼敏感度函数Barten模型建立起来一种客观测量模型。即彩色四杆靶图案被成像系统接收,经色彩空间变换、傅里叶变换、人眼敏感函数处理,当测试图案敏感度值与由人眼敏感度函数决定的人眼敏感度阈值相匹配时,将此时的图片转换到CIELAB颜色空间并计算色差,记录不同空间频率四杆靶的测试结果并与主观测量结果相比较。结果表明:基于人眼视觉模型的客观测量方法与主观测量方法所得结果相一致,即所提出的客观测量方法是可行的。     

炭砂滤池在松花江污染应急处理中的应用特性研究

以哈尔滨制水三厂应急改造的炭砂滤池为对象,研究其在恢复供水期间的除污染效能和反冲洗工艺条件对滤池性能的影响.结果表明:炭砂滤池将活性炭吸附、石英砂物理拦截作用有机结合,能有效去除水中的硝基苯类污染物、胶体颗粒和各种有机物,试验中炭砂滤池出水硝基苯浓度始终接近检测限;出水浊度始终＜1 NTU,与普通无烟煤/石英砂滤池相比无明显差别;对CODMn、UV254、TOC的去除率分别在35%、25%和25%以上,效果显著.采用水冲强度4.2 L/(s·m2),水冲时间10 min的反冲洗工艺条件,能够满足炭砂滤池的反冲洗要求;炭砂滤池10 min初滤水不排入后续消毒工艺,作为反冲洗水储存备用,或输送到前端工艺进行再处理.     

一种结合感知与融合的视频质量评价新方法

提出了一种结合人眼视觉特性(HVS)和信息融合的视频质量评价新方法.该方法是在结构相似(SSIM)方法基础之上,融合了人眼几个主要视觉特性,如对比敏感度、多通道、视觉掩盖、视觉非线性等.新方法具有SSIM算法简单、高效等特性,同时又满足人眼视觉特性,更好地反映了人的主观感受.通过VQEG Phase I测试数据集的实验结果证明,该方法在非线性回归后相关系数、斯皮尔曼相关系数、线外率等指标均优于传统的其他视频质量评价算法,有效地提高了视频质量评价的主客观一致性.     

Identification of Leukocyte Surface P2X7 as a Biomarker Associated with Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has shown altered immune responses in the periphery. We studied P2X7 (a proinflammatory receptor and a scavenger receptor) and two integrins, CD11b and CD11c, on the surface of circulating leukocytes and analysed their associations with Aβ-PET, brain atrophy, neuropsychological assessments, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers. Total 287 age-matched, sex-balanced participants were recruited in a discovery cohort and two validation cohorts through the AIBL study and studied using tri-colour flow cytometry. Our results demonstrated reduced expressions of P2X7, CD11b, and CD11c on leukocytes, particularly monocytes, in Aβ +ve cases compared with Aβ −ve controls. P2X7 and integrin downregulation was observed at pre-clinical stage of AD and stayed low throughout disease course. We further constructed a polygenic risk score (PRS) model based on 12 P2RX7 risk alleles to assess the genetic impact on P2X7 function in AIBL and ADNI cohorts. No significant association was identified between the P2RX7 gene and AD, indicating that P2X7 downregulation in AD is likely caused by environmental changes rather than genetic factors. In conclusion, the downregulation of P2X7 and integrins at pre-clinical stage of AD indicates altered pro-inflammatory responses, phagocytic functions, and migrating capabilities of circulating monocytes in early AD pathogenesis. Our study not only improves our understanding of peripheral immune involvement in early stage of AD but also provides more insights into novel biomarker development, diagnosis, and prognosis of AD.     

一种顾及地形特征的布料模拟滤波改进方法

为了提高激光点云滤波算法在地形复杂区域的精度、效率以及自适应性，基于布料模拟滤波算法，提出了一种面向大范围复杂场景的顾及地形特征的点云滤波方法。该方法首先采用基于坡度的动态格网分割方法，对剔除粗差后的点云建立格网索引；其次利用每个格网的邻域格网中的最低点建立曲面方程拟合高程值，通过计算真实高程与拟合高程差值实现高程归一化；然后使用布料模拟算法模拟布料下降过程得到地形布料的最终形态，进而通过阈值限定实现地面点提取。在地形复杂的测试区使用相同滤波参数进行算法改进前后对比测试，结果表明：改进算法的正确率由原CSF算法的88.9%提高到改进后算法的95.19%；I类误差、II类误差分别由9.71%、1.39%下降到4.57%、0.24%，且滤波时长由164 s缩减至60.9 s。本文提出的改进算法在保证大范围复杂场景区域滤波正确率的基础上，对不同地形具有较强的自适应性，且提高了滤波计算效率。