Interplay between Humoral and CLA+ T Cell Response against Candida albicans in Psoriasis

Candida albicans (CA) infections have been associated with psoriasis onset or disease flares. However, the integrated immune response against this fungus is still poorly characterized in psoriasis. We studied specific immunoglobulins in plasma and the CA response in cocultures of circulating memory CD45RA⁻ cutaneous lymphocyte antigen (CLA)^+/− T cell with autologous epidermal cells from plaque and guttate psoriasis patients (cohort 1, n = 52), and also healthy individuals (n = 17). A complete proteomic profile was also evaluated in plaque psoriasis patients (cohort 2, n = 114) regarding their anti-CA IgA levels. Increased anti-CA IgA and IgG levels are present in the plasma from plaque but not guttate psoriasis compared to healthy controls. CA cellular response is confined to CLA⁺ T cells and is primarily Th17. The levels of anti-CA IgA are directly associated with CLA⁺ Th17 response in plaque psoriasis. Proteomic analysis revealed distinct profiles in psoriasis patients with high anti-CA IgA. C-C motif chemokine ligand 18, chitinase-3-like protein 1 and azurocidin were significantly elevated in the plasma from plaque psoriasis patients with high anti-CA levels and severe disease. Our results indicate a mechanism by which Candida albicans exposure can trigger a clinically relevant IL-17 response in psoriasis. Assessing anti-CA IgA levels may be useful in order to evaluate chronic psoriasis patients.     

Scandinavian Thins on Top of Cake: New and Improved Algorithms for Stacking and Packing

We show how to compute the smallest rectangle that can enclose any polygon, from a given set of polygons, in nearly linear time; we also present a PTAS for the problem, as well as a linear-time algorithm for the case when the polygons are rectangles themselves. We prove that finding a smallest convex polygon that encloses any of the given polygons is NP-hard, and give a PTAS for minimizing the perimeter of the convex enclosure. We also give efficient algorithms to find the smallest rectangle simultaneously enclosing a given pair of convex polygons.     

Assessment of crowdsourcing and gamification loss in user-assisted object segmentation

There has been a growing interest in applying human computation – particularly crowdsourcing techniques – to assist in the solution of multimedia, image processing, and computer vision problems which are still too difficult to solve using fully automatic algorithms, and yet relatively easy for humans. In this paper we focus on a specific problem – object segmentation within color images – and compare different solutions which combine color image segmentation algorithms with human efforts, either in the form of an explicit interactive segmentation task or through an implicit collection of valuable human traces with a game. We use Click’n’Cut, a friendly, web-based, interactive segmentation tool that allows segmentation tasks to be assigned to many users, and Ask’nSeek, a game with a purpose designed for object detection and segmentation. The two main contributions of this paper are: (i) We use the results of Click’n’Cut campaigns with different groups of users to examine and quantify the crowdsourcing loss incurred when an interactive segmentation task is assigned to paid crowd-workers, comparing their results to the ones obtained when computer vision experts are asked to perform the same tasks. (ii) Since interactive segmentation tasks are inherently tedious and prone to fatigue, we compare the quality of the results obtained with Click’n’Cut with the ones obtained using a (fun, interactive, and potentially less tedious) game designed for the same purpose. We call this contribution the assessment of the gamification loss, since it refers to how much quality of segmentation results may be lost when we switch to a game-based approach to the same task. We demonstrate that the crowdsourcing loss is significant when using all the data points from workers, but decreases substantially (and becomes comparable to the quality of expert users performing similar tasks) after performing a modest amount of data analysis and filtering out of users whose data are clearly not useful. We also show that – on the other hand – the gamification loss is significantly more severe: the quality of the results drops roughly by half when switching from a focused (yet tedious) task to a more fun and relaxed game environment.     

Generic Self-calibration of Central Cameras from Two Rotational Flows

We address the self-calibration of a smooth generic central camera from only two dense rotational flows produced by rotations of the camera about two unknown linearly independent axes passing through the camera centre. We give a closed-form theoretical solution to this problem, and we prove that it can be solved exactly up to a linear orthogonal transformation ambiguity. Using the theoretical results, we propose an algorithm for the self-calibration of a generic central camera from two rotational flows.     

3D posture estimation using geodesic distance maps

This paper presents a novel technique for three-dimensional (3D) human motion capture using a set of two non-calibrated cameras. The user’s five extremities (head, hands and feet) are extracted, labeled and tracked after silhouette segmentation. As they are the minimal number of points that can be used in order to enable whole body gestural interaction, we will henceforth refer to these features as crucial points. Features are subsequently labelled using 3D triangulation and inter-image tracking. The crucial point candidates are defined as the local maxima of the geodesic distance with respect to the center of gravity of the actor region that lie on the silhouette boundary. Due to its low computational complexity, the system can run at real-time paces on standard personal computers, with an average error rate range between 4% and 9% in realistic situations, depending on the context and segmentation quality.

Numerical modelling of void inclusions in porous media

Numerical modelling of porous flow in a low‐permeability matrix with high‐permeability inclusions is a challenging task because the large ratio of permeabilities ill‐conditions the finite element system of equations. We propose a coupled model where Darcy flow is used for the porous matrix and potential flow is used for the inclusions. We discuss appropriate interface conditions in detail and show that the head drop in the inclusions can be prescribed in a very simple way. Algorithmic aspects are treated in full detail. Numerical examples show that this coupled approach precludes ill‐conditioning and is more efficient than heterogeneous Darcy flow. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Peculiar Structure of Acetobacter pasteurianus CIP103108 LPS Core Oligosaccharide

Acetobacter pasteurianus, a member of the Alphaproteobacteria, is an acetic acid-producing bacterium present on sugar-rich substrates such as such as fruits, flowers and vegetables and traditionally used in the production of fermented food. The preferred living habitat associated with acid conditions makes the structure of the bacterial cell wall interesting to study, due to expected uncommon features. We have used a combination of chemical, analytical and NMR spectroscopy approaches to define the complete structure of the core oligosaccharide from A. pasteurianus CIP103108 LPS. Interestingly, the core oligosaccharide displays a high concentration of negatively charged groups, structural features that might contribute to reinforcing the bacterial membrane.     

A good practice for making training accessible to university faculty members through ICTs: syllabus planning support training

Universal Access in the Information Society - This study focuses on a case study developed at a higher education institution, which comprises developing a new virtual teaching unit (VTU) aimed at...     

Some conceptual difficulties regarding ‘net’ multipliers

Multipliers are routinely used for impact evaluation of private projects and public policies at the national and subnational levels. Oosterhaven and Stelder (J Reg Sci 42(3), 533–543, 2002) correctly pointed out the misuse of standard ‘gross’ multipliers and proposed the concept of ‘net’ multiplier as a solution to this bad practice. We prove their proposal is not well founded. We do so by showing that supporting theorems are faulty in enunciation and demonstration. The proofs are flawed due to an analytical error, but the theorems themselves cannot be salvaged as generic, non-curiosum counterexamples demonstrate. We also provide a general analytical framework for multipliers and, using it, we show that standard ‘gross’ multipliers are all that are needed within the interindustry model since they follow the causal logic of the economic model, are well-defined and independent of exogenous shocks, and are interpretable as predictors for change.     

Trading properties after the earthquake: the rebuilding of eighteenth‐century Lisbon

This paper introduces the innovative system used in the reconstruction of Lisbon after the 1755 earthquake. Its findings are based on original documents that offer a detailed picture of the principles and methods established to convert the land and properties of the old city into the new and standardized gridded Plan. Implemented in the mid‐eighteenth century, the methodical system outlined was, undoubtedly, an important point of reference for the large‐scale urban improvement and redevelopment operations that would follow in nineteenth‐century Europe.