Search

In this paper, the authors analysed the Precise Point Positioning (PPP) performance in determination of normal heights using observations from a test network consisting of ten sites. One-week observation interval was processed using standard PPP approach and Multi-Station PPP (MS-PPP) with ambiguity resolution using the NAvigation Package for Earth Observation Satellites v. 3.3.1 software. In post-processing corrections like the Earth rotation parameters, ocean loadings, antenna phase centre offsets and variations etc. needed to obtain the most accurate position were utilised. By processing the various lengths observing sessions (1 hour, 30 minutes, 15 minutes) the authors examined the degradation of the position determination precision with shortening the observation time. In the study both high-end receivers used most often at CORS, as well as commercial two-frequency receivers were utilised. Normal heights were obtained using PL–geoid–2011 model. The results of the research show that PPP is a viable alternative for Relative GNSS Positioning in the case of GNSS levelling. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study investigates the differences between position estimates obtained using individual and type-mean (igs08.atx) antenna calibration models in GPS pseudo-kinematic processing. We used 15-min observation windows to study the short-period oscillations. Continuous GPS observations from eight selected Polish EUREF Permanent Network stations with the same TRM55971.00 TZGD antenna were used. The results showed that the differences in the calibration models, directly propagate into the position domain, affecting sub-daily results and influencing periodic variations. The sub-daily variations have periods close to half a sidereal day with amplitudes of up to 10 mm in position components. It could also be demonstrated that the mean position offsets, resulting from the use of individual calibrations instead of type-mean igs08.atx calibrations, can reach up to 5 mm in the up component, while the offsets in the horizontal components generally remain below 1 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This work explores the efficiency of supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) to recover minerals, pigments, and antioxidant compounds from the spirulina microalgae. Moreover, the fatty acids and phenolic profiles of the extracts obtained were also investigated, and the effect of the extracts on SH-SY5Y cell viability was tested. The extraction of phycocyanin was improved by SFE compared to conventional extraction, from 2.838 ± 0.081 mg/g dry matter (DM) (control) to 6.438 ± 0.411 mg/g DM (SFE). SFE treatment also improved chlorophyll a and carotenoid recoveries increasing from 5.612 ± 0.547 to 8.645 ± 0.857 mg/g DM and from 0.447 ± 0.096 to 0.651 ± 0.120 mg/g DM, respectively. Regarding minerals, the SFE improved Mg recovery with 77% more than the control extraction. Moreover, palmitoleic, stearic, γ-linolenic, eicosadienoic and eicosatrienoic acids recovery was improved by SFE. Phenolic profiles were identified via triple-TOF-LC-MS-MS. Considering heavy metals, a higher rate of Pb extraction was observed for the SFE extract, while no significant differences were observed for Hg between both extractions. Finally, SFE extract improved cell viability compared to the control extract. Thus, SFE constitutes an interesting tool to sustainably extract high-added-value compounds; however, potential contaminants such as Pb need to be controlled in the resulting extracts.

In 2019, the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, in cooperation with Astri Polska, started a European Space Agency (ESA) project. The purpose of the project is the development and implementation of a field calibration procedure for a multi-frequency and multi-system global navigation satellite system (GNSS). The methodology and algorithms proposed in the project are inspired by the "Hannover" concept of absolute field receiver antenna calibration; however, some innovations are introduced. In our approach, the antenna rotation point is close to the nominal mean phase center (MPC) of the antenna, although it does not coincide with it. Additionally, a National Marine Electronics Association local time zone (NMEA ZDA) message is used to synchronize the robot with the GNSS time. We also propose some modifications in robot arm movement scenarios. Our first test results demonstrate consistent performance for the calibration strategy and calibration procedure. For the global positioning system (GPS) L1 frequency, the calibration results show good agreement with the IGS-type mean values. For high satellite elevations (20°-90°), the differences do not exceed 1.5 mm. For low elevation angles (0°-20°), the consistency of the results is worse and the differences exceed a 3 mm level in some cases.

Objectives: To assess the impact of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IL-2RA (rs2104286) and IL-2RB (rs743777 and rs3218253) genes on the risk of erosions in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients., Methods: This work is derived from 2 prospective cohorts of early RA: ESPOIR (n = 439) and RMP (n = 180). The proportions of patients with erosions at baseline and 1 year according to the genotypes of IL2RA (rs2104286) or the haplotypes constructed with the 2 SNPs of IL2RB were compared in the whole population and in ACPA positive patients. A meta-analysis assessing the risk of erosion depending on the haplotypes of the 2 SNPs of IL-2RB was performed using the Mantel-Haenszel method. A multivariate model was used to assess the independent effect of the haplotypes of IL-2RB on the risk of erosions., Results: The AC haplotype of IL-2RB carriage was significantly associated with the rate of erosions in ACPA positive patients in ESPOIR cohort (rate of erosions: AC/AC: 78% versus GC or GT/GC or GT: 44%, p = 0.001). A meta-analysis of ESPOIR and RMP cohorts confirmed that the carriage of AC haplotype was significantly associated with the rate of erosions at 1 year in the whole sample (OR[95%CI] = 1.92[1.14-3.22], p = 0.01) and in ACPA positive patients (OR[95%CI] = 3.34[1.68-6.67], p = 0.0006). A multivariate model in ESPOIR cohort demonstrated the independent effect of the carriage of the AC haplotype (6.03[1.94-18.69], p = 0.002) on the risk of erosions in ACPA+ patients., Conclusion: A haplotype constructed with 2 SNPs located on IL-2RB gene was associated with erosive status in early RA., (Copyright © 2013 Société française de rhumatologie. Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To determine the prevalence and characterize the inflammatory musculoskeletal symptoms of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), a chronic inflammatory disease of skin appendages., Methods: Patients with HS referred to 3 dermatology university hospital centers were systematically screened for peripheral arthritis, dactylitis, inflammatory back pain, or enthesitis. After careful clinical examination, patients were further classified according to clinical and imaging criteria for spondyloarthritis (SpA) using the Amor, European Spondyloarthropathy Study Group (ESSG), and ASsessment in ankylosing spondylitis (ASAS)., Results: We screened 640 patients with HS; 184 had musculoskeletal symptoms. In all, 43 (mean age 39.4 yrs, ± 8.3; 80% women) had arthritis, inflammatory back pain, or enthesitis and were investigated further. Signs of HS preceded the onset of articular symptoms in 39 patients (90%), at a mean interval of 3.6 years. A total of 18 (41%), 24 (55%), and 15 (34%) patients fulfilled the Amor, ESSG, and ASAS criteria, respectively, while synovitis, acne, pustolosis, hyperostosis, and osteitis (SAPHO) syndrome was established in 4 patients. The crude prevalence of SpA in all 640 patients with HS was 3.7% by the ESSG criteria., Conclusion: SpA may occur in patients with HS, with the prevalence in this group exceeding that in the general population. The very short time between skin and joint symptom onset in some cases suggests common pathogenic mechanisms underlying HS and SpA.

Background: BANK1 and BLK B-cell genetic markers have been reproducibly and convincingly found to contribute to susceptibility to systemic sclerosis (SSc)., Objectives: To determine whether other B-cell genetic markers including CD19, CD20, CD22 and CD24 polymorphisms affect susceptibility to SSc in the European Caucasian population., Methods: A case-control study was performed in 900 patients with SSc and 1034 healthy controls. Among the whole SSc population, 304 (34%) had the diffuse cutaneous subtype, 551 (61%) had the limited cutaneous subtype, 732 (81%) were positive for antinuclear antibodies , 331 (37%) were positive for anticentromere antibodies and 228 (25%) for the topo-isomerase I. Genotyping has been performed for CD19 rs35979293, CD19 rs2904880, CD20 rs7126354, CD20 rs3802954, CD20 rs105146, CD20 rs4939364, CD22 rs10406069, CD22 rs10413500, CD22 rs10419538, CD22 rs34826052 and CD24 ins-del polymorphisms., Results: Genotype frequencies were at the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in the control population for all the SNPs investigated and observed frequencies were very similar to those expected in the European population. Allelic and genotypic frequencies for all these tested SNPs were found to be similar in SSc patients and controls. Moreover, subphenotype analyses in particular for subgroups having the diffuse cutaneous subset or topo-isomerase I positive antibodies, which are the most associated with BANK1 variants, did not detect any difference between SSc patients and controls., Conclusions: These results obtained through a large cohort of European caucasian patients with SSc do not support the contribution of CD19, CD20, CD22, CD24 variants to the genetic susceptibility of SSc.

Objective: To investigate whether levels of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP2) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are associated with the co-occurrence of lung diseases., Methods: A total of 252 RA patients were included in a cross-sectional study. Pulmonary disease was confirmed by high-resolution chest computed tomography scan. Circulating anti-CCP2 were quantified using ELISA. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to identify independent risk factors for lung disease., Results: Male sex (OR 3.29, 95% CI 1.59-6.80) and high anti-CCP2 levels (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.25-1.78) were identified as independent risk factors for lung disease in the RA population., Conclusion: High anti-CCP2 levels are associated with lung disease in the RA population.

Background: Increased expression of type I IFN genes, also referred to as an IFN signature, has been detected in various autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Interferon regulatory factors, such as IRF5, coordinate type I IFN expression. Multiple IRF5 variants were suggested as autoimmunity susceptibility factors., Objective: As the linkage proof remains important to establish fully any genetic RA susceptibility factor, the authors took advantage of the largest reported European trio family resource dedicated to RA to test for linkage IRF5 and performed a genotype-phenotype analysis., Methods: 1140 European Caucasian individuals from 380 RA trio families were genotyped for IRF5 rs3757385, rs2004640 and rs10954213 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP)., Results: Single marker analysis provided linkage evidence for each IRF5 SNP investigated. IRF5 linked to RA with two haplotypes: the CTA risk haplotype 'R' (transmission (T)=60.6%, p=23.1×10(-5)) and the AGG protective haplotype 'P' (T=39.6%, p=0.0015). Linkage was significantly stronger in non-erosive disease for both IRF5 R and P haplotypes (T=73.9%, p=4.20×10(-5) and T=19.6%, p=3.66×10(-5), respectively). Multivariate logistic regression analysis found IRF5 linked to RA independently of the rheumatoid factor status. IRF5 RR and PP haplotypic genotypes were associated with RA, restricted to the non-erosive phenotype: p=1.68×10(-4), OR 4.80, 95% CI 2.06 to 11.19; p=0.003, OR 0.17, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.57, respectively., Conclusion: This study provides the 'association and linkage proof' establishing IRF5 as a RA susceptibility gene and the identification of a genetic factor that seems to contribute to the modulation of the erosive phenotype. Further studies are warranted to clarify the role of IRF5 in RA and its subphenotypes.

Objective: Identification of an association between IRF5 rs2004640 and systemic sclerosis (SSc) has highlighted a key role for type 1 interferon (IFN). Additional functional IRF5 variants have been identified as autoimmune susceptibility factors. Our aim was to investigate whether IRF5 haplotypes confer susceptibility to SSc, and to perform genotype haplotype-phenotype correlation analyses., Methods: We genotyped IRF5 rs377385, rs2004640, and rs10954213 in 1623 individuals of French European Caucasian origin. SSc patient subphenotypes were analyzed according to cutaneous subsets and for SSc-related pulmonary fibrosis., Results: Case-control studies of single markers revealed an association between IRF5 rs3757385, rs2004640, and rs10954213 variants and SSc. We identified an IRF5 risk haplotype "R" (p(adj) = 0.024, OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.07-1.40) and a mirrored protective haplotype "P" (p(adj) = 8.8 x 10(-3), OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.68-0.90) for SSc susceptibility. Genotype-phenotype correlation analyses failed to detect any association with a single marker. By contrast, phenotype-haplotype correlation analysis was able to detect intra-cohort association and to discriminate SSc patients with from those without the following clinical traits: "R" and/or "P" haplotypes identified diffuse cutaneous SSc (p = 0.0081) and fibrosing alveolitis (p = 0.018)., Conclusion: IRF5 haplotypes are more informative than single markers, suggesting that they could be helpful for risk stratification of SSc patients. Our study provides further evidence of a key role of IRF5 in SSc severity.

Celiac disease is an immunological disorder whose best-known manifestations are gastrointestinal symptoms. However, early joint manifestations are common and frequently overlooked features of celiac disease. We report a case in which unexplained inflammatory polyarthralgia and iron-deficiency anemia led to the diagnosis of celiac disease. Autoimmune thyroiditis was also a feature. Early diagnosis and treatment of celiac disease protect patients against complications such as digestive neoplasis. A simple and rapid tool for achieving the early diagnosis is the measurement of the serum of anti-gliadin, anti-endomysial and anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies. However, a duodenal biopsy remains the only means of making the definitive diagnosis of celiac disease.

The mechanism responsible for the regulation of intracellular Na+ and K+ concentrations in trypanosomatids is unknown. In higher eukaryotes a ouabain-sensitive Na+,K(+)-ATPase located in the plasma membrane is the main mechanism for the regulation of the intracellular concentrations of Na+ and K+, while in trypanosomatids there are conflicting evidences about the existence of this type of ATPase. By the use of a highly enriched plasma membrane fraction, we showed that an ouabain-sensitive Na+,K(+)-ATPase is present in L. mexicana. The affinity of the enzyme for Na+ and K+ is similar to that reported for the mammalian Na+,K(+)-ATPase, showing also the same kinetic parameters regarding the relative concentration of those cations that give the optimal activity. Vanadate (10 microM) fully inhibits the ATPase activity, suggesting that the enzyme belongs to the P-type family of ionic pumps. The enzyme is sensitive to ouabain and other cardiac glycosides. These cardiac glycosides do not show any appreciable effect on the higher Mg(2+)-ATPase activity present in the same preparation. By the use of [3H]ouabain, we also show in this report that the binding of the inhibitor to the enzyme was specific. Taken together, these results demonstrate that an ouabain-sensitive Na+,K(+)-ATPase is present in the plasma membrane of Leishmania mexicana. Therefore, this Na+,K(+)-ATPase should participate in the intracellular regulation of these cations in Leishmania.

It is known that two gluconokinases are inducibly expressed during the utilization of gluconate by E. coli. One is thermoresistant (activity stable for 3 h at 30 degrees C) and the other thermosensitive (losses 75% or more of its activity under the above conditions). The thermoresistant gluconokinase (EC 2.7.1.12) was isolated, purified and characterized for the first time from the E. coli mutant Ca26, a K12 derivative which lacks the thermosensitive activity. The enzyme was purified 43 fold with a recovery of 11%. The M(r) of the enzyme was 100 kDa with three equal subunits of approximately 29.5 kDa. The enzyme exhibited Michaelis-Menten kinetics and the Km values for gluconate and ATP were 0.02 mM and 0.045 mM respectively.

Neurological examination including EEG, ENG and measurement of nerve motor conduction velocity were performed in 41 male workers, exposed to enolofos. 43% of the population examined developed subjective neurological symptoms 34%--discrete lesions of CNS and in 31% polineuropathy was observed. Motor nerve conduction velocity was decreased in 10 workers (24%) in peroneus nerves and in 1 worker in ulnaris nerve. Comparison of EEG and ENG with the control group was not statistically significant.

The in vitro infection of peritoneal murine macrophages by a cultured pathogenic strain of Leishmania brasiliensis was studied. By phase contrast and light microscopy it could be observed that L. brasiliensis is rapidly endocytosed by the macrophages and localized in the cytoplasm in a vacuole inside which it multiplies. By phase contrast and electron microscopy it was observed that L. brasiliensis enters the macrophage by the anterior end through which it first attaches to the cell membrane. This penetration involves invagination of the cell membrane around the entering flagellum and parasite body. A mechanism of entry involving and active participation of the parasite membrane through receptor sites and membrane activity by the microfilament system is presented.