122 research outputs found
Performance analysis of an offline digital Euro prototype
No full textRecent years have seen an increasing interest in stablecoins from major corporate and governmental parties. The European Central Bank is investigating the possibility of introducing its own Central Bank Digital Currency. The desired features of such a currency are under discussion. One such feature is offline spending: the ability to use the currency without an internet connection, like cash. This thesis describes a token-based transaction prototype and its implementation on the Kotlin-IPv8 protocol stack. The prototype allows funds to be spent in an offline setting and provides retroactive fraud detection. The prototype is not intended for deployment but instead serves as a trial for building digital currencies on Kotlin-IPv8. The included performance analysis demonstrates that various facets of Kotlin-IPv8 perform suboptimally, of which most notably its UDP data throughput.Computer Scienc
HLA-identical umbilical cord blood transplantation from a sibling donor in juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia.
No full textImpact of increased phenol loading rate on the phenol removal of an anaerobic membrane bioreactor operated at high sodium concentration
No full textCertain industrial wastewaters have posed a big challenge to biological water treatment systems because of their high toxic organic compounds concentration (e.g. phenol) and high salinity. The maximum biomass specific phenol bioconversion rate (PhCR) of a mesophilic (35 °C) anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) under high sodium concentration [18.6 g Na+/L] condition was studied by an increase in the biomass specific phenol loading rate (PhLR) through hydraulic retention time (HRT) decrease. The maximum PhCR achieved in our research was 73 mg Ph-COD/gVSS-COD.d, with acetate as co-substrate [2g AC-COD/L]. This result was lower than that reported by the previous study of Bioxtreme (193 mg Ph-COD/gVSS-COD.d) at lower sodium concentration [8.0 g Na+/L]. On the other hand, a simplified ADM1 model was used to model the conversion of acetate to methane in batch experiments, among which, the inhibition of substrate (acetate or phenol) on microbial growth rate was described by Haldane equation. The kinetic parameters for acetate degradation were Ks,AC=300 mg COD/L, KI,AC=821mg COD/L, km,AC I =0.246 mg COD/mg COD.h without phenol addition and Ks,AC=300 mg COD/L, KI,AC=806 mg COD/L, km,AC I=0.236 mg COD/mgCOD.h with the addition of 714 mg Ph-COD/L (300 mg Ph/L) at sodium concentration of 18.6 g Na+/L, while it was Ks,AC=6.7 10-9 mg COD/L, KI,AC=5670 mg COD/L, km,AC I=0.043 mg COD/mgCOD.h at lower sodium concentration [8.0 g Na+/L] without phenol addition.The kinetic parameters estimated for the batch experiments were applied in a mathematical model describing a dynamic experiment carried out in the AnMBR1 and validated with different HRTs. In the model, the conversion from phenol to acetate was considered and the kinetic parameters estimated for phenol degradation were Ks,Ph=20 mg COD/L, KI,Ph=300 mg COD/L, km,Ph I=0.008 mg COD/mgCOD.h. It was proved that the simplified ADM1 model could well predict the phenol and acetate concentrations in the reactor at different PhLRs. This research has provided an experimental and modeling approach for the maximum PhCR determination and could contribute to the understanding of the inhibition effect of sodium and phenol on PhCR in the treatment process of saline phenolic wastewater.Bioxtrem
Outcome of Non-hematological Autoimmunity After Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation in Children with Primary Immunodeficiency
No full textPurpose: Knowledge of post-hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) non-hematological autoimmune disease (AD) is far from satisfactory.
Method: This multicenter retrospective study focuses on incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of post-HCT AD in 596 children with primary immunodeficiency (PID) who were transplanted from 2009 to 2018.
Results: The indications of HCT were severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID, n = 158, 27%) and non-SCID PID (n = 438, 73%). The median age at HCT was 2.3 years (range, 0.04 to 18.3 years). The 5-year overall survival for the entire cohort was 79% (95% cumulative incidence (CIN), 74-83%). The median follow-up of surviving patients was 4.3 years (0.08 to 14.7 years). The CIN of post-HCT AD was 3% (2-5%) at 1 year post-HCT, 7% (5-11%) at 5 years post-HCT, and 11% (7-17%) at 8 years post-HCT. The median onset of post-HCT AD was 2.2 years (0.12 to 9.6 years). Autoimmune thyroid disorder (n = 19, 62%) was the most common post-HCT AD, followed by neuromuscular disorders (n = 7, 22%) and rheumatological manifestations (n = 5, 16%). All patients but one required treatment for post-HCT AD. After multivariate analysis, age at transplant (p = 0.01) and T cell-depleted graft (p < 0.001) were significant predictors of post-HCT AD. None of the T cell-depleted graft recipients developed post-HCT AD. Patients with a lower CD3+ count at 6 months post-HCT had a significant higher incidence of post-HCT AD compared to disease controls. Graft-versus-host disease, viral infection, and donor chimerism had no association with post-HCT AD.
Conclusion: Post-HCT AD occurred in 11% at 8 years post-HCT and its occurrence was associated with older age at HCT and unmanipulated graft
Evaluation of a zinc chelate on clinical swine dysentery under field conditions
No full textBackground Brachyspira hyodysenteriae is the primary cause of swine dysentery, characterized by bloody to mucoid diarrhea due to mucohaemorhagic colitis in pigs and primarily affects pigs during the grow/finishing stage. Control and prevention of B. hyodysenteriae consists of administration of antimicrobial drugs, besides management and adapted feeding strategies. A worldwide re-emergence of the disease has recently been reported with an increasing number of isolates demonstrating decreased susceptibility to several crucially important antimicrobials in the control of swine dysentery. A novel non-antibiotic zinc chelate has been reported to demonstrate positive effects on fecal quality and consistency, general clinical signs, average daily weight gain and B. hyodysenteriae excretion during and after a 6-day oral treatment. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the zinc chelate (Intra Dysovinol(R) 499 mg/ml (ID); Elanco) on naturally occurring swine dysentery due to B. hyodysenteriae under field conditions in the Netherlands. Results Oral administration of zinc chelate resulted in improvement of general clinical signs from 3 days onwards in the ID-treated group combined with a significantly better total fecal score at 14 days post-treatment. Overall, average daily weight gain was better in the ID-treated group over the entire study period (0-14 days) and during the 8 days following the end of ID-treatment. A significant reduction (4.48 vs. 0.63 log(10) cfu/g feces; ID-treated vs. control) in B. hyodysenteriae excretion was observed during the 6-day treatment period with a high percentage of animals (58.3 vs. 12.3%; ID-treated vs. control) with no excretion of B. hyodysenteriae from their feces. No additional antimicrobial treatment was needed in the ID-treated group, whereas 35% of the pigs in the control group were treated with an antibiotic at least once. No mortality occurred in both groups. No adverse events were reported during and following the ID-treatment. Conclusions Zinc chelate - administered as a Zn-Na-2-EDTA complex - is a non-antibiotic treatment for swine dysentery that reduces B. hyodysenteriae shedding with 4.48 log(10) cfu/g feces within its 6-day treatment while improving general clinical signs (90.0 vs. 73.6% animals with normal score) and total fecal score within 2-4 days following administration in naturally infected pigs. The positive effects of ID treatment remain for at least 8 days after cessation of oral ID therapy. Pigs remaining in a highly contaminated environment may be re-infected following the end of ID treatment, however, this is not different to standard antimicrobial therapy. Therefore, control of swine dysentery should combine an efficacious treatment with additional management practices to reduce the environmental infection pressure in order to limit re-infection as much as possible. The ID treatment resulted in a higher growth rate and improved general health, whereas no mortality was observed and no additional therapeutic treatments were necessary in contrast to the control pigs.The study was funded by Elanco Animal Health, which facilitated the conduct of the field trial.Vangroenweghe, F (reprint author), Elanco, BU Food Anim, Plantijn Moretuslei 1-3rd Floor, B-2018 Antwerp, Belgium.
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The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein is required for iNKT cell maturation and function
No full textThe Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) protein (WASp) is a regulator of actin cytoskeleton in hematopoietic cells. Mutations of the WASp gene cause WAS. Although WASp is involved in various immune cell functions, its role in invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells has never been investigated. Defects of iNKT cells could indeed contribute to several WAS features, such as recurrent infections and high tumor incidence. We found a profound reduction of circulating iNKT cells in WAS patients, directly correlating with the severity of clinical phenotype. To better characterize iNKT cell defect in the absence of WASp, we analyzed was(-/-) mice. iNKT cell numbers were significantly reduced in the thymus and periphery of was(-/-) mice as compared with wild-type controls. Moreover analysis of was(-/-) iNKT cell maturation revealed a complete arrest at the CD44(+) NK1.1(-) intermediate stage. Notably, generation of BM chimeras demonstrated a was(-/-) iNKT cell-autonomous developmental defect. was(-/-) iNKT cells were also functionally impaired, as suggested by the reduced secretion of interleukin 4 and interferon gamma upon in vivo activation. Altogether, these results demonstrate the relevance of WASp in integrating signals critical for development and functional differentiation of iNKT cells and suggest that defects in these cells may play a role in WAS pathology
Riccardia innovans Pagan
No full text<i>Riccardia innovans</i> (Steph.) Pagán (Figs 2 -4) <p> <i>The Bryologist</i> 45: 80 (1942). <i>—</i> Basionym: <i>Aneura innovans</i> Steph., in Urban, <i>Symbolae Antillarum</i> 2: 470 (1901). — Type: Guadeloupe, Savane-à-Mulets, «Sur les arbrisseaux », 1901, <i>Duss</i></p> <p> <i>484,</i> ex hb. Urban (lecto-, designated here, G[G00066662!], <i>c</i>. gyn.; isolecto-, NY n.v., fide Pagán 1942).</p> <i>Description</i> <p> The outstanding characters of <i>R. innovans</i> are the very delicate, 2-pinnate plants with a very narrow (150-250 µm in diameter), biconvex, almost wingless axis and numerous long and narrow, linear to subulate branches. The branches are only little narrower than the axis, plano-convex, obliquely to widely spreading, usually tapering to narrow tips, and narrowly winged by 1-2 cell wide wings. The presence of small scales on the calyptra, made up of large cells, may be a further characteristic of the species. The plants are dioicous; gemmae have not been observed.</p> <i>Remarks</i> <p> <i>Riccardia innovans</i> approaches <i>R. regnellii</i> (Ångstr.) K.G.Hell, but the latter is a larger plant with a flat axis (not biconvex) and with broader, frequently tongue-shaped branches. In the type material, some <i>R. regnellii</i> plants are growing mixed in the dense mat of <i>R. innovans</i> and are immediately recognized by their much larger size. <i>Riccardia innovans</i> is thus far only</p> <p> known from the type. A field search by the second author in the type locality and elsewhere has not revealed further populations of the species. The taxonomic relationships of the species will be dealt with in a comprehensive study on the genus <i>Riccardia</i> in Guadeloupe (Lavocat Bernard & Reeb in prep.).</p>Published as part of <i>Gradstein, S. Robbert & Bernard, Elisabeth Lavocat, 2020, An evaluation of the endemic bryophyte flora of Guadeloupe, pp. 205-214 in Cryptogamie, Bryologie 20 (15)</i> on pages 206-207, DOI: 10.5252/cryptogamie-bryologie2020v41a15, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/7822144">http://zenodo.org/record/7822144</a>
HLA-identical umbilical cord blood transplantation from a sibling donor in juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia
No full textN/
Determinants of the relationship between cytokine production in pregnant women and their infants.
No full textExposure to environmental factors during fetal life and infancy is thought to play an important role in the early development of innate and adaptive immunity. The immunological relationship between mother and infant and the effect that environmental exposures have during pregnancy and early childhood have not been studied extensively. Here the production of cytokines was measured in 146 pairs of mothers and their 2- month-old infants. The effect of place of residence, socio-economic variables, parasitic infections as well as maternal and child characteristics on measured cytokine production was determined. Mothers producing high levels of IL-10, IFN-gamma and IL-5 were more likely to have infants who also produced high levels of these cytokines either spontaneously (OR 2.6(95%CI 1.2-5.4), OR 2.9(CI 1.3-6.6), OR 11.2(CI 4.6-27.2), respectively) or in response to PHA (IL-10: OR 3.0(CI 1.4-6.6), IFN-gamma: OR 2.0(CI 1.0-4.2), respectively) even after adjustment for potential confounding variables. This was not the case for TNF-alpha. In response to LPS, place of residence was a strong determinant of infant IL-10 (OR 0.2(CI 0.1-0.9)) and TNF-alpha (OR 0.3(CI 0.1-0.9)) production. Maternal protozoan infections was independently associated with reduced infant IL10 in response to PHA and to LPS as well as reduced TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma in response to PHA. These results indicate strong relationship between maternal and infant's cellular immune responses even after taking into account many environmental influences that could affect infant's response directly or indirectly through uterine microenvironment. However, place of residence and intestinal infections may still directly affect the immune responses of the infant. Taken together, the study provides evidence for imprinted cytokine responses of an infant which may have implications for their reaction to incoming antigens, warranting further investigation into the role that genetics or epigenetics play in shaping the cytokine response by an infant to self or external antigens
How to ensure control of cooperative vehicle and truck platoons using meaningful human control
No full textVehicle cooperation, not vehicle automation, will yield the greatest benefits on road traffic. However, satisfactory human control over platoons of cooperative vehicles still has a large number of uncertainties and issues to be addressed. This paper aims to address these broader issues of control over a cooperative vehicle platoon by focussing on a truck platooning system as a case example, and taking the perspective of Meaningful Human Control (MHC) as control concept. MHC goes further than mere operational control as it addresses issues that exist in current system designs, and proposes improvements based on a novel and more encompassing set of conditions for control. These issues are addressed in regard to the vehicles and their Operational Design Domains (ODD), the role and ability of the drivers (both leading and following) and how these exist in regard to their road environment. We conclude that current advances are making progress, but that from a MHC perspective, issues still remain for the operational and tactical implementation of truck platoons and cooperative driving that need to be addressed in regard to ODDs and drivers. Furthermore, consideration of responsibility and liability aspects is required that stretches beyond nominal appointment thereof, as this does not satisfy important ethical and societal standards. This is demonstrated in the paper through two hypothetical cases focussing on issues on a system level and one further analysis which is focussed on the role of the driver in the platooning system
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