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Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has infected millions of people worldwide and continues to be a major global health problem. Scientists required a small animal model to study HIV pathogenesis and immune responses. To this end, humanized mice were created by transplanting human cells and/or tissues into immunodeficient mice to reconstitute a human immune system. Thus, humanized mice have become a critical animal model for HIV researchers, but with some limitations. Current conventional humanized mice are prone to death by graft versus host disease induced by the mouse signal regulatory protein α and CD47 signaling pathway. In addition, commonly used humanized mice generate low levels of human cytokines required for robust myeloid and natural killer cell development and function. Here, we describe recent advances in humanization procedures and transgenic and knock-in immunodeficient mice to address these limitations.

Dielectric energy storage capacitors are promising avenues for high power density and fast charge/discharge applications. This study focused on the deposition of Bi 3.25 La 0.75 Ti 3 O 12 (BLT) films onto Pt/Ti/SiO 2 /Si substrates by a sol-gel technology. Through the synergistic strategy of interface engineering and the preferred orientation of BLT film, the residual polarization was minimized, and the breakdown field strength was enhanced. As a result, the recoverable energy density (U rec) was significantly improved to 62.97 J/cm3 with a high energy storage efficiency (η) of 85.88 %. Notably, the synthesized BLT film exhibited excellent temperature (25–150 °C) and frequency (100 Hz-10 kHz) stability of U rec (>30 J/cm3) and η (>75 %) at ∼2200 kV/cm. The finding demonstrates the potential of BLT thin film as a lead-free material for the next generation of pulse power capacitors. Overall, the synergistic approach of interface engineering and preferred orientation proves to be an effective way to improve the performance of dielectric energy storage capacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Millions of people throughout the world suffer from the common and fatal respiratory disorder known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Lung transplantation gives hope to individuals with end-stage COPD, with both bilateral lung transplantation and single lung transplantation being effective procedures. The complexity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is underscored by various factors influencing transplant outcomes, including patient characteristics, donor features, and complications post-transplantation. Methodology This narrative review explores recent studies on bilateral and single lung transplantation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients, focusing on research published after 2020. Databases like PubMed and Google Scholar were used with keywords such as “COPD,” “lung transplantation,” “bilateral lung transplantation,” and “single lung transplantation” guided the research, emphasizing survival rates, quality of life, and post-transplant complications. Five selected articles encompassing 63,426 patients were examined, evaluating methodological variations among the studies. Results The selected studies showed no unanimous agreement on whether bilateral or single lung transplantation is superior for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. Bilateral lung transplantation exhibited higher mid- and long-term survival rates, influenced significantly by age, comorbidities, and disease profiles. Improved quality of life was observed with bilateral transplantation, but this outcome depended on external circumstances. Post-transplant complications emphasized the need for rigorous post-transplant care. Conclusions Individualized assessments are crucial when choosing between bilateral and single lung transplantation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. Despite varying research results, bilateral transplantation generally offers better survival and quality of life. Informed decisions require personalized post-transplant care, standardized reporting, and consistent research methods. Emphasizing donor management, preventing chronic lung allograft dysfunction, and prioritizing patient-centered care is vital. Collaborative efforts and patient-focused strategies are essential for improving long-term outcomes in these patients undergoing lung transplantation.

Background: Millions of people throughout the world suffer from the common and fatal respiratory disorder known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Lung transplantation gives hope to individuals with end-stage COPD, with both bilateral lung transplantation and single lung transplantation being effective procedures. The complexity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is underscored by various factors influencing transplant outcomes, including patient characteristics, donor features, and complications post-transplantation. Methodology: This narrative review explores recent studies on bilateral and single lung transplantation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients, focusing on research published after 2020. Databases like PubMed and Google Scholar were used with keywords such as "COPD," "lung transplantation," "bilateral lung transplantation," and "single lung transplantation" guided the research, emphasizing survival rates, quality of life, and post-transplant complications. Five selected articles encompassing 63,426 patients were examined, evaluating methodological variations among the studies. Results: The selected studies showed no unanimous agreement on whether bilateral or single lung transplantation is superior for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. Bilateral lung transplantation exhibited higher mid- and long-term survival rates, influenced significantly by age, comorbidities, and disease profiles. Improved quality of life was observed with bilateral transplantation, but this outcome depended on external circumstances. Post-transplant complications emphasized the need for rigorous post-transplant care. Conclusions: Individualized assessments are crucial when choosing between bilateral and single lung transplantation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. Despite varying research results, bilateral transplantation generally offers better survival and quality of life. Informed decisions require personalized post-transplant care, standardized reporting, and consistent research methods. Emphasizing donor management, preventing chronic lung allograft dysfunction, and prioritizing patient-centered care is vital. Collaborative efforts and patient-focused strategies are essential for improving long-term outcomes in these patients undergoing lung transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aims to develop a new method for the design of hybrid multivariable automatic control systems. We determine a hybrid control system as a system that includes two different types of parallel operating controllers. The paper's aim is achieved by solving the following tasks. The first task is to develop a method for the design of hybrid control systems. Investigated systems include PI controllers and a linear-quadratic controller. The second task is to investigate the resulting control system. The investigation is based on direct quality indicators, robustness, and fragility analyses. The most significant result of the paper is the development of a method for the tuning of a linear-quadratic controller, which should work with the decentralized control system in parallel. BLT (Biggest Log Modulus) method is used for decentralized control system tuning. BLT is a well-known method of PI controller detuning. The idea of BLT is to ensure the robustness of multivariable control systems tuned by Ziegler Nichols's rules. The proposed method for the design of the control system is not complicated. The possibility of correcting the tunings of decentralized controllers remains. Design of the new hybrid automatic control system for the distillation plant made using the developed method. The analysis of the dynamic properties of the designed control system showed that the use of a parallel linear-quadratic controller provides a small percentage of overshoot in the control by the reference and high accuracy of stabilizing the values of controlled variables at the largest disturbances. At the same time, the robustness does not decrease and the control system remains fragile, i.e., it is possible to change the settings of the controllers without significant loss of robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlight Research: • The bullet tuna (Auxis rochei) was identified and analysed. • The length at first maturity (Lm) of bullet tuna (Auxis rochei) was analyzed • The eligibility status of bullet tuna (Auxis rochei) has been analyzed and estimated • The LWR curve can be used to estimate age groups of fish compared to the sigmoid curve • The CF cannot be automatically used to estimate fish worth selling Abstract The bullet tuna (Auxis rochei), BLT or tongkol lisong (Indonesian) is a species of neritic tuna which is one of the target fish for small scale fishers. The problem of bullet tuna fisheries was that it has reached overexploitation and the immature bullet tuna are still caught. This study aimed to assess the population dynamics of the BLT and its size composition caught by small scale fishers in the Indian Ocean, West Nusa Tenggara area was carried out in Bangko-Bangko (West Lombok), Cemplung Beach (South Sumbawa) and Tanjung Luar Fishing Port (East Lombok) between July 2019 and June 2020. The data was derived from the measurement and weighing results of 1,217 BLT collected from the respective collector traders at each sampling location. The growth pattern of BLT was isometric () which meant the ideal body shape (mesomorph) and length at first maturity (FLm) was 31.11 cm. The length-weight relationship curve showed that BLT was in an immature age group (adolescent fish). Meanwhile, the composition of BLT is worth selling (Condition Factor > 1.00), fit for catch (FLc / FLm > 1.00) and worthy of maturity (FLc > FLm), respectively 99.92%, 0.82% and 0.00%. The BLT fish composition indicates that the stocks of resources and populations do not support current sustainable fisheries management.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has infected millions of people worldwide and continues to be a major global health problem. Scientists required a small animal model to study HIV pathogenesis and immune responses. To this end, humanized mice were created by transplanting human cells and/or tissues into immunodeficient mice to reconstitute a human immune system. Thus, humanized mice have become a critical animal model for HIV researchers, but with some limitations. Current conventional humanized mice are prone to death by graft versus host disease induced by the mouse signal regulatory protein α and CD47 signaling pathway. In addition, commonly used humanized mice generate low levels of human cytokines required for robust myeloid and natural killer cell development and function. Here, we describe recent advances in humanization procedures and transgenic and knock-in immunodeficient mice to address these limitations.

Abstract Piezoelectric nanogenerators (PNGs) have been studied as renewable energy sources. PNGs consisting of organic piezoelectric materials such as poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) containing oxide complex powder have attracted much attention for their stretchable and high-performance energy conversion. In this study, we prepared a PNG combined with PVDF and lanthanum-modified bismuth titanate (Bi4−XLaXTi3O12, BLT) ceramics as representative ferroelectric materials. The inserted BLT powder was treated by high-speed ball milling and its particle size reduced to the nanoscale. We also investigated the effect of particle size on the energy-harvesting performance of PNG without polling. As a result, nano-sized powder has a much larger surface area than micro-sized powder and is uniformly distributed inside the PNG. Moreover, nano-sized powder-mixed PNG generated higher power energy (> 4 times) than the PNG inserted micro-sized powder.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains a significant source of morbidity and mortality worldwide. No effective vaccine is available to prevent HIV transmission, and although antiretroviral therapy can prevent disease progression, it does not cure HIV infection. Substantial effort is therefore currently directed toward basic research on HIV pathogenesis and persistence and developing methods to stop the spread of the HIV epidemic and cure those individuals already infected with HIV. Humanized mice are versatile tools for the study of HIV and its interaction with the human immune system. These models generally consist of immunodeficient mice transplanted with human cells or reconstituted with a near-complete human immune system. Here, we describe the major humanized mouse models currently in use, and some recent advances that have been made in HIV research/therapeutics using these models.

Highlight • Bullet tuna (Auxis rochei Risso 1810) has been identified (measured, weighed) and analyzed. • The resource status of bullet tuna has been estimated based on body shape and age group. • LWR curve is implemented to describe and express the age group of bullet tuna (immature, adult/mature, old) • This study has resulted the composition and ratio of bullet tuna that is suitable to be caught, fit for consumption and worthy of maturation Abstract Bullet tuna (Auxis rochei Risso 1810) or tongkol lisong (Indonesian) is important for human consumption and health as well as an income source for fishers and coastal communities. Its utilization problems are over exploitation, catch domination by immature groups, and the threatened stock security of the bullet tuna (BLT). This research aimed to determine the status of the prospective parent of bullet tuna caught in the Lesser Sunda region, particularly from the Alas Strait to the Indian Ocean, West Nusa Tenggara (WNT). Meanwhile, the data were collected from July to September 2020 (2nd transitional season) at the Tanjung Luar Fishing Port, East Lombok and a dependent survey method was adopted with sampling, interview, observation, and documentation techniques. Fork length and body weight data were used to estimate the length and weight relationship, growth pattern, condition factor, fish age group, and catch worth. The primary and secondary data were processed quantitatively using several equations. The growth pattern of bullet tuna was minor allometric (b = 2.875), worth selling (K > 1.00), and the majority was adult fish or mature group. The LWR model is . This condition indicates the bullet tuna is worth catching and worth spawning, so that it is eligible to be a potential broodstock candidate to support a sustainable management of BLT fisheries. Furthermore, fishers have applied the code of conduct for responsible fisheries (CCRF) in supporting the sustainable development goals.

Background: Chronotherapeutic treatments for depression, such as bright light therapy (BLT), are non-invasive and produce almost no side effects. However, study evidence for reliable neurobiological changes associated with treatment response is still rare. Several studies using EEG-vigilance indicate higher arousal and a later decline during resting state in adult depressive patients compared to healthy controls. To our knowledge, there are no study reports on EEG-vigilance in depressive youth to date. Methods: A total of 11 adolescents with depression receiving BLT were compared to 11 age and gender-matched patients with depression receiving treatment as usual (TAU). The BLT was administered in the morning for 2 weeks on five consecutive days per week. The depressive symptomatology was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and the resting state electroencephalogram (EEG) of 20 min was recorded. EEG and BDI-II were assessed before and after 10 days of treatment. Vigilance level and vigilance decline were estimated using the VIGALL toolbox. Results: Brain arousal increased after 10 days of bright light therapy in adolescents with depression. Severe depressive symptoms were associated with higher brain arousal levels; the BDI-II sum score correlated negatively with the amount of drowsiness. Limitations: The sample size was small and participants' brain arousal at baseline was not matched and differed between BLT and TAU groups. Conclusion: The BLT might have an additional effect on brain arousal. EEG-vigilance seems to be a reliable and valid marker for neurobiological changes that are probably associated with depression and its treatment and, therefore, might be of clinical relevance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundChronotherapeutic treatments for depression, such as bright light therapy (BLT), are non-invasive and produce almost no side effects. However, study evidence for reliable neurobiological changes associated with treatment response is still rare. Several studies using EEG-vigilance indicate higher arousal and a later decline during resting state in adult depressive patients compared to healthy controls. To our knowledge, there are no study reports on EEG-vigilance in depressive youth to date.MethodsA total of 11 adolescents with depression receiving BLT were compared to 11 age and gender-matched patients with depression receiving treatment as usual (TAU). The BLT was administered in the morning for 2 weeks on five consecutive days per week. The depressive symptomatology was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and the resting state electroencephalogram (EEG) of 20 min was recorded. EEG and BDI-II were assessed before and after 10 days of treatment. Vigilance level and vigilance decline were estimated using the VIGALL toolbox.ResultsBrain arousal increased after 10 days of bright light therapy in adolescents with depression. Severe depressive symptoms were associated with higher brain arousal levels; the BDI-II sum score correlated negatively with the amount of drowsiness.LimitationsThe sample size was small and participants’ brain arousal at baseline was not matched and differed between BLT and TAU groups.ConclusionThe BLT might have an additional effect on brain arousal. EEG-vigilance seems to be a reliable and valid marker for neurobiological changes that are probably associated with depression and its treatment and, therefore, might be of clinical relevance.

Piezoelectric nanogenerators (PNGs) have been studied as renewable energy sources. PNGs consisting of organic piezoelectric materials such as poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) containing oxide complex powder have attracted much attention for their stretchable and high-performance energy conversion. In this study, we prepared a PNG combined with PVDF and lanthanum-modified bismuth titanate (Bi4−XLaXTi3O12, BLT) ceramics as representative ferroelectric materials. The inserted BLT powder was treated by high-speed ball milling and its particle size reduced to the nanoscale. We also investigated the effect of particle size on the energy-harvesting performance of PNG without polling. As a result, nano-sized powder has a much larger surface area than micro-sized powder and is uniformly distributed inside the PNG. Moreover, nano-sized powder-mixed PNG generated higher power energy (> 4 times) than the PNG inserted micro-sized powder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humanized bone marrow-liver-thymus (HuBLT) mice are a revolutionary small-animal model that has facilitated the study of human immune function and human-restricted pathogens, including human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). These mice recapitulate many aspects of acute and chronic HIV-1 infection, but exhibit weak and variable T-cell responses when challenged with HIV-1, hindering our ability to confidently detect HIV-1–specific responses or vaccine effects. To identify the cause of this, we comprehensively analyzed T-cell development, diversity, and function in HuBLT mice. We found that virtually all HuBLT were well-reconstituted with T cells and had intact TCRβ sequence diversity, thymic development, and differentiation to memory and effector cells. However, there was poor CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responsiveness to physiologic stimuli and decreased TH1 polarization that correlated with deficient reconstitution of innate immune cells, in particular monocytes. HIV-1 infection of HuBLT mice showed that mice with higher monocyte reconstitution exhibited greater CD8+ T cells responses and HIV-1 viral evolution within predicted HLA-restricted epitopes. Thus, T-cell responses to immune challenges are blunted in HuBLT mice due to a deficiency of innate immune cells, and future efforts to improve the model for HIV-1 immune response and vaccine studies need to be aimed at restoring innate immune reconstitution.

With the discovery of antiretroviral therapy, HIV-1 infection has transitioned into a manageable but chronic illness, which requires lifelong treatment. Nevertheless, complete eradication of the virus has still eluded us. This is partly due to the virus’s ability to remain in a dormant state in tissue reservoirs, ‘hidden’ from the host’s immune system. Also, the high mutation rate of HIV-1 results in escape mutations in response to many therapeutics. Regardless, the development of novel cures for HIV-1 continues to move forward with a range of approaches from immunotherapy to gene editing. However, to evaluate in vivo pathogenesis and the efficacy and safety of therapeutic approaches, a suitable animal model is necessary. To this end, the humanized mouse was developed by McCune in 1988 and has continued to be improved on over the past 30 years. Here, we review the variety of humanized mouse models that have been utilized through the years and describe their specific contribution in translating HIV-1 cure strategies to the clinic.

Humanized bone marrow-liver-thymus (HuBLT) mice are a revolutionary small-animal model that has facilitated the study of human immune function and human-restricted pathogens, including human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). These mice recapitulate many aspects of acute and chronic HIV-1 infection, but exhibit weak and variable T-cell responses when challenged with HIV-1, hindering our ability to confidently detect HIV-1–specific responses or vaccine effects. To identify the cause of this, we comprehensively analyzed T-cell development, diversity, and function in HuBLT mice. We found that virtually all HuBLT were well-reconstituted with T cells and had intact TCRβ sequence diversity, thymic development, and differentiation to memory and effector cells. However, there was poor CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responsiveness to physiologic stimuli and decreased TH1 polarization that correlated with deficient reconstitution of innate immune cells, in particular monocytes. HIV-1 infection of HuBLT mice showed that mice with higher monocyte reconstitution exhibited greater CD8+ T cells responses and HIV-1 viral evolution within predicted HLA-restricted epitopes. Thus, T-cell responses to immune challenges are blunted in HuBLT mice due to a deficiency of innate immune cells, and future efforts to improve the model for HIV-1 immune response and vaccine studies need to be aimed at restoring innate immune reconstitution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the discovery of antiretroviral therapy, HIV-1 infection has transitioned into a manageable but chronic illness, which requires lifelong treatment. Nevertheless, complete eradication of the virus has still eluded us. This is partly due to the virus's ability to remain in a dormant state in tissue reservoirs, 'hidden' from the host's immune system. Also, the high mutation rate of HIV-1 results in escape mutations in response to many therapeutics. Regardless, the development of novel cures for HIV-1 continues to move forward with a range of approaches from immunotherapy to gene editing. However, to evaluate in vivo pathogenesis and the efficacy and safety of therapeutic approaches, a suitable animal model is necessary. To this end, the humanized mouse was developed by McCune in 1988 and has continued to be improved on over the past 30 years. Here, we review the variety of humanized mouse models that have been utilized through the years and describe their specific contribution in translating HIV-1 cure strategies to the clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) in older patients appears to be a different disease compared with younger patients with historically lower survival rates. This is related to a variety of factors, including increased treatment‐related toxicity, the presence of comorbidities, and biologic differences. In order to better assess the clinical characteristics, treatment strategies, and outcome of this particular population, we conducted a population‐based, retrospective analysis including 269 patients with HL older than 60 years (median age 71 years, range 60–94), treated between 2000 and 2017 in 15 referral centers across Switzerland. Primary endpoints were overall survival (OS), progression‐free survival (PFS), and cause‐specific survival (CSS). The vast majority of patients were treated with curative intent, either with a combined modality approach (chemotherapy followed by radiation therapy) or with systemic therapy. At a median follow‐up of 6.6 years (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.0–7.6), 5‐year PFS was 52.2% (95% CI, 46.0–59.2), 5‐year OS was 62.5% (95% CI, 56.4–69.2), and 5‐year CSS was 85.1.8% (95% CI, 80.3–90.1) for the entire cohort. A significant difference in terms of CSS was observed for patients older than 71 years in comparison to patients aged 60–70 years (hazard ratio 2.6, 1.3–5.0, p = 0.005). Bleomycin‐induced lung toxicity (BLT) was documented in 26 patients (17.7%) out of the 147 patients exposed to this compound and was more frequent in patients older than 71 years (15/60, 25%). Outcome of HL pts older than 71 years appeared to decrease substantially in comparison to the younger counterpart. Treatment‐related toxicities appeared to be relevant, in particular, BLT. New, potentially less toxic strategies need to be investigated in prospective clinical trials in this particular frail population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While considerable effort has been made to investigate the neural mechanisms of pain, much less effort has been devoted to itch, at least until recently. However, itch is now gaining increasing recognition as a widespread and costly medical and socioeconomic issue. This is accompanied by increasing interest in the underlying neural mechanisms of itch, which has become a vibrant and rapidly-advancing field of research. The goal of the present forefront review is to describe the recent progress that has been made in our understanding of itch mechanisms.

Multiferroic solid solutions of Ba1−xLaxTi1−x/4O3 and iron (BLFT) were synthesized using the conventional mixed oxide method. The dependence of the piezoelectric coefficients on Fe content in BLFT ceramics was determined by the quasi-static and resonance method. The results indicate that 0.3 mol% addition of Fe3+ ions to the ceramic structure increased the value of the piezoelectric parameter d33 to the maximum of 159 pC/N. This puts BLFT ceramics among other good-quality and lead-free piezoelectric ceramics. A major enhancement of dielectric properties related to the manipulation of Fe content in the barium lanthanum titanate (BLT) ceramics system is reported as well.

Background: Rapid increase in demand for fast, effective and painless cosmetic procedures has inspired the pursue for the ideal method of anesthesia. The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of different types of topical anesthetics most commonly utilized in dermatological procedures: EMLA cream, BLT cream, infraorbital nerve blocks with 2% lidocaine with epinephrine. Material and Methods: The study involved 12 patients with scheduled painful dermatological procedures intended to improve their facial and neck skin. Pain intensity was measured using 0-10 numeric scale (10 being the worst imaginable pain and 0 no pain). Patients were asked to assess their pain levels during fractionated CO2 laser treatment of the face. Results: Results demonstrated that patients subjected to treatment with the use of anesthetic EMLA and BLT creams still feel a considerable level of pain during the performed dermocosmetic procedures. Similar pain level concerned the group anesthetized with the infraorbital nerve block injection. Conclusion: Finding the ideal topical anesthetic is one of the greatest challenges of present-day cosmetic dermatology. The most desired method of anesthesia in this context would have to be easy to apply, display high clinical effectiveness over a short time period, be able to exert numbing effect on intact skin without systemic effects, cause nominal pain or discomfort during treatment with minimal to no side effects. According to the results of the reported study, the most effective method of anesthesia was proved to be the triple anesthesia involving of a combination of a painkiller drug, EMLA cream and infraorbital nerve block.

Significant advances in the treatment of HIV infection have been made in the last three decades. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is now potent enough to prevent virus replication and stop disease progression. However, ART alone does not cure the infection, primarily because HIV can persist in stable long-term reservoir cells including latently-infected CD4 + T cells. A central goal of the HIV research field is to devise strategies to eliminate these reservoirs and thereby develop a cure for HIV. This requires robust in vivo model systems to facilitate both the further characterization of persistent HIV reservoirs and evaluation of methods for eliminating latent virus. Humanized mice have proven to be versatile experimental models for studying many basic aspects of HIV biology. These models consist of immunodeficient mice transplanted with human cells or tissues, which allows development of a human immune system that supports robust infection with HIV. There are many potential applications for new generations of humanized mouse models in investigating HIV reservoirs and latency, but these models also involve caveats that are important to consider in experimental design and interpretation. This review briefly discusses some of the key strengths and limitations of humanized mouse models in HIV persistence studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes a method and algorithm to automatically generate the propagation supermatrix (PSM) and scattering supermatrix (SSM) from a desired topology network in order to calculate the Baum–Liu–Tesche (BLT) equation. Specific forms of the PSM, SSM, and analytical environment based on the definitions adapted by the standard electromagnetic (EM) topology (EMT) methods are proposed. The model is suitable for the EMT analysis with S-parameters and other various values for propagation and scattering situations. The EMT technique is implemented using variables and concepts such as the topology network matrix (TNM) and junction relation matrix (JRM). Additional required parameters are also defined and described. The flow of the whole algorithm and details are illustrated on a simple example for which S-parameters are calculated with the CST-MWS software. A validation of the proposed network formulation is compared to a network resolution made by the Agilent ADS circuit software. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is a proposal to encode the Tai Viet script in the international character encoding standard Unicode. The script was published in Unicode Standard version 5.2 in October 2009. Tai Viet is used by three Tai languages: Tai Dam, Tai Dón, and Thai Song. The Tai languages that use this script are based main in northwestern Vietnam, northern Laos, and central Thailand. The script is currently used by the Tai people in Vietnam.

Objectives: We performed a randomized single-blinded study to assess the superiority of the combination strategy of repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) and Bright Light Therapy (BLT) over rTMS treatment alone in reducing depressive symptoms in treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Methods: We enrolled 80 inpatients with a diagnosis of TRD. All patients were randomly assigned into two groups: group A was treated with rTMS, compared to group B treated with a combination of rTMS and BLT. Depressive symptoms were weekly assessed (T0, T1, T2, T3) through the 17-item Hamilton depression rating scale (HDRS-17). Results: rANOVA (F=2.766, p=0.043) and post-hoc in HDRS-17 showed significant better scores in favour of group B every week (p<0.025, T1: 22.075 vs 17.200; T2: 16.100 vs 12.775; T3: 12.225 vs 8.900). Conclusions: The antidepressant effect of rTMS was enhanced and accelerated by its combination with BLT in treating resistant depression. Almost one third of depressed patients does not respond to antidepressants; emerging neuromodulation and chronobiological techniques are effective antidepressant augmentation treatments. The aim of this study was to assess the superiority of the combination strategy of Light Therapy and TMS over TMS treatment alone in a group of treatment resistant depressed patients. The implication of this study in clinical practice is that a safe, low risk and cost-effective treatment, as Light Therapy, improves and accelerates the antidepressant effect of TMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of La3+ admixture in barium lanthanum titanate (BLT) ceramics system with colossal permittivity on performance of prospective piezoelectric cold plasma application were studied. Usage of cold atmospheric pressure plasma appears promising in terms of industrial and healthcare applications. Performed investigation provide consistent evaluation of doping lanthanum amount on piezoelectric coefficients values with simultaneous capability of charge accumulation for effective plasma generation. Modification of ferroelectric materials with heterovalent ions, however with the lower radii than the original atoms, significantly affects their domain mobility and consequently electromechanical properties. To determine the piezoelectric coefficients, the resonance-antiresonance method was implemented, and values of piezoelectric and dielectric parameters were recorded. Finally the results indicated that addition of 0.4 mol.% of La3+ ions to the ceramic structure maximally increased the values of piezoelectric coefficient to d33 = 20 pC/N and to huge dielectric constant to ε33T = 29277.

Abstract Beauty leaf tree (BLT) has been ranked as a valuable 2nd generation feedstock for biodiesel production. This tree is suitable for growing on marginal land to avoid food vs fuel debate. However, at present little is known about its tolerance to marginal soil conditions such as salinity. Thus, a sand culture experiment was conducted, and the seedlings of BLT were exposed to 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 mM NaCl for up to 245 days. Plant growth and physiological measurements were recorded and the whole leaf and powdered stem were scanned using FTIR-ATR to test if these spectra can be used to delineate differences between the control and the NaCl-treated plants. Results showed that the chlorophyll content and leaf expansion rate were little affected at 25 and 50 mM NaCl, as compared to the control, and they declined at higher NaCl concentrations. The tissue Na and Cl concentrations increased with NaCl increment. The differences between the control and the NaCl-treated plants were distinct at certain FTIR-ATR spectra showing that the plants that were exposed to NaCl had synthesised certain organic compounds to maintain osmotic gradient between the tissues and soil solution. This study found that the biochemical changes that occur in the functional groups of NaCl–treated plants can be detected by the FTIR-ATR spectroscopy, thus showing the potential of this technology to screen large number of genotypes in plant breeding trials. This technology is particularly suited to tree crops that have slow growth rate in the seedling stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biggest log modulus tuning (BLT) method is extended to unstable systems. The method is modified to design (i) decentralized Proportional-Integral (PI) controllers and (ii) centralized PI controllers for two-input two-output (TITO) systems. A method is given to specify the value for The internal model controller using Tanttu and Lieslehto method is applied for centralized controller design. The detuning parameter (F) is selected for both the schemes (centralized controller and decentralized controller) to get the value of BLT as +12 dB. Simulation studies are carried out for two TITO systems to evaluate the performance of both the proposed schemes. The centralized controllers produce superior performances and decreased interactions over the decentralized PI controllers. The present method gives robust performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human immune system (HIS) mice are a subset of humanized mice that are generated by xenoengraftment of human immune cells or tissues and/or their progenitors into immunodeficient mice. Viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) cause severe disease in humans, typically with high case fatality rates. HIS mouse studies have been performed to investigate the pathogenesis and immune responses to VHFs that must be handled in high-containment laboratory facilities. Here, we summarize studies on filoviruses, nairoviruses, phenuiviruses, and hantaviruses, and discuss the knowledge gained from using various HIS mouse models. Furthermore, we discuss the complexities of designing and interpreting studies utilizing HIS mice while highlighting additional questions about VHFs that can still be addressed using HIS mouse models.

The Madden-Julian oscillation (MJO) is the dominant driver of intraseasonal variability across the equatorial domain of the global ocean with alternating wet and dry bands that propagate eastward primarily between 5°N and 5°S. Past research has shown that MJOs impact the surface and subsurface variability of the Seychelles-Chagos thermocline ridge (SCTR) (55°E-65°E, 5°S-12°S) located in the southwest tropical Indian Ocean (SWTIO), but investigations of how SWTIO internal dynamics may play an important role in producing MJO events remain limited. This study uses Argo, in conjunction with several remote sensing and reanalysis products, to demonstrate that SWTIO oceanic dynamics, particularly barrier layer formation and near surface heat buildup, may be associated with MJO genesis between August and December of most years between 2005 and 2013. A total of eight SWTIO specific MJO events are observed, all occurring between August and December. Four of the eight events are correlated with positive SWTIO total heat content (THC) and barrier layer thickness (BLT) interannual anomalies. Two others formed over the SWTIO during times when only one of the variables was at or above their seasonal average, while two additional events occurred when both variables experienced negative interannual anomalies. Lacking complete 1:1 correlation between the hypothesized oceanic state and the identified SWTIO MJO events, we conclude that additional work is required to better understand when variability in key oceanic variables plays a primary role in regional MJO genesis or when other factors, such as atmospheric variability, are the dominate drivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rapid increase in demand for fast, effective and painless cosmetic procedures has inspired the pursue for the ideal method of anesthesia. The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of different types of topical anesthetics most commonly utilized in dermatological procedures: EMLA cream, BLT cream, infraorbital nerve blocks with 2% lidocaine with epinephrine. Material and Methods: The study involved 12 patients with scheduled painful dermatological procedures intended to improve their facial and neck skin. Pain intensity was measured using 0-10 numeric scale (10 being the worst imaginable pain and 0 no pain). Patients were asked to assess their pain levels during fractionated CO2 laser treatment of the face. Results: Results demonstrated that patients subjected to treatment with the use of anesthetic EMLA and BLT creams still feel a considerable level of pain during the performed dermocosmetic procedures. Similar pain level concerned the group anesthetized with the infraorbital nerve block injection. Conclusion: Finding the ideal topical anesthetic is one of the greatest challenges of present-day cosmetic dermatology. The most desired method of anesthesia in this context would have to be easy to apply, display high clinical effectiveness over a short time period, be able to exert numbing effect on intact skin without systemic effects, cause nominal pain or discomfort during treatment with minimal to no side effects. According to the results of the reported study, the most effective method of anesthesia was proved to be the triple anesthesia involving of a combination of a painkiller drug, EMLA cream and infraorbital nerve block. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, the lack of a suitable small animal model has hindered our understanding of Human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV)-1 chronic infection and associated neuropathogenesis defined as HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). The host immune response plays a critical role in the outcome of HTLV-1 infection, which could be better tested in the context of humanized (hu) mice. Thus, we employ here the Balb/c-Rag1γc or Rag1 as well as Bone marrow-Liver-Thymic (BLT) mouse models for engraftment of human CD34 hematopoietic stem cells. Flow cytometry and histological analyses confirmed reconstitution of Rag1 and BLT mice with human immune cells. Following HTLV-1 infection, proviral load (PVL) was detected in the blood of Rag-1 and BLT hu-mice as early as 2 weeks post-infection (wpi) with sustained elevation in the subsequent weeks followed by Tax expression. Additionally, infection was compared between adult and neonatal Rag1 mice with both PVL and Tax expression considerably higher in the adult Rag1 mice as compared to the neonates. Establishment of peripheral infection led to lymphocytic infiltration with concomitant Tax expression and resulting myelin disruption within the central nervous system of infected mice. In addition, up-regulation in the expression of several immune checkpoint mediators such as programmed cell death-1 (PD-1), T-cell Ig and ITIM domain (TIGIT), and T cell Ig and mucin domain-3 protein (Tim-3) were observed on CD8 T cells in various organs including the CNS of infected hu-mice. Collectively, these studies represent the first attempt to establish HTLV-1 neuropathogenesis in the context of Rag-1 and BLT hu-mice as potential novel tools for understanding HTLV-1 neuropathogenesis and testing of novel therapies such as immune checkpoint blockade in the amelioration of chronic HTLV-1 infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the emission properties of Bi 3.25 La 0.75 Ti 3 O 12 polycrystals and (K 0.5 Na 0.5 )(Mn 0.005 Nb 0.995 )O 3 thin films with strong gamma (γ)-ray irradiation by using temperature dependent photoluminescence spectroscopy. At the lowest temperatures, sizable visible emissions were identified for the γ-ray irradiated samples as well as un-irradiated ones. In both kinds of compounds, the visible emission intensity tended to be increased without changing the spectral shape, as the γ-ray dose increased. This indicates that the γ-ray irradiation should increase all kinds of already-existing defects evenly, without preferring the formation of some particular type of defect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of La3+ admixture in barium lanthanum titanate (BLT) ceramics system with colossal permittivity on performance of prospective piezoelectric cold plasma application were studied. Usage of cold atmospheric pressure plasma appears promising in terms of industrial and healthcare applications. Performed investigation provide consistent evaluation of doping lanthanum amount on piezoelectric coefficients values with simultaneous capability of charge accumulation for effective plasma generation. Modification of ferroelectric materials with heterovalent ions, however with the lower radii than the original atoms, significantly affects their domain mobility and consequently electromechanical properties. To determine the piezoelectric coefficients, the resonanceantiresonance method was implemented, and values of piezoelectric and dielectric parameters were recorded. Finally the results indicated that addition of 0.4 mol.% of La3+ ions to the ceramic structure maximally increased the values of piezoelectric coefficient to d33 = 20 pC/N and to huge dielectric constant to ε33 T = 29277. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a process, variables can be classified into controlled and manipulated variables. Most of these variables are attached, as in the case of a distillation unit. To resolve this type of models, it is necessary to uncouple the process variables and to design multiple monovariable drivers. When interactions cannot be avoided, the multivariable process must be considered. This article presents the design of a proportional, integral and derivative multivariable controller, using the Biggest Log Modulus Tunning (BLT) algorithm. Considering the detaching structure, the validation of the Multi-Input Multi-Output (MIMO) system, and the binary distillation column used to separate methanol and water, which identifies the model in state space used for the design of the controller are presented. This paper seeks to contribute by proposing a generic model for estimating the desired behavior of the controlled model, based on mathematical foundations and reinforcing a method for calculating the controller as the Biggest Log Modulus Tunning (BLT) algorithm. The results are obtained in simulation for various studied cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lanthanum barium titanate (BLT) ceramics with the ABO3perovskite-type structure has been investigated, and the optimum technology for preparation of BLT ceramics exhibiting high density and high dielectric constant has been developed. By means of conventional technology and sol-gel method ferroelectric ceramic Ba1-xLaxTi1-x/4O3, forx= 0.005, was obtained. After a solid-phase synthesis, the obtained powders were sintered using one of three ways: free sintering, hot pressing followed by free sintering, and free sintering followed by hot pressing. The ceramic samples were characterized in terms of their microstructure and dielectric properties. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Sol–gel derived BaTiO 3 and Ba 0.95 La 0.05 TiO 3 powders were calcined at 700 °C for 40 min and sintered at 1100 °C for 1 h in a microwave furnace to obtain single-phase perovskite ceramic samples. About 98% of the theoretical density was obtained in the sintered BT ceramic samples. Room temperature (RT) dielectric constant ( ε r ) and dielectric loss (tan δ ) at 1 kHz frequency of the BLT ceramic samples were found to be ~2220 and 0.005, respectively. High value of ε r , low value of tan δ and negligible temperature coefficient of capacitance from RT to 60 °C suggested the suitability of BLT ceramic samples for multi-layer capacitor applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The latent reservoir in resting CD4+ T cells presents a major barrier to HIV cure. Latency-reversing agents are therefore being developed with the ultimate goal of disrupting the latent state, resulting in induction of HIV expression and clearance of infected cells. Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) have received a significant amount of attention for their potential as latency-reversing agents. Results: Here, we have investigated the in vitro and systemic in vivo effect of panobinostat, a clinically relevant HDACi, on HIV latency. We showed that panobinostat induces histone acetylation in human PBMCs. Further, we showed that panobinostat induced HIV RNA expression and allowed the outgrowth of replication-competent virus ex vivo from resting CD4+ T cells of HIV-infected patients on suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART). Next, we demonstrated that panobinostat induced systemic histone acetylation in vivo in the tissues of BLT humanized mice. Finally, in HIV-infected, ART-suppressed BLT mice, we evaluated the effect of panobinostat on systemic cell-associated HIV RNA and DNA levels and the total frequency of latently infected resting CD4+ T cells. Our data indicate that panobinostat treatment resulted in systemic increases in cellular levels of histone acetylation, a key biomarker for in vivo activity. However, panobinostat did not affect the levels of cell-associated HIV RNA, HIV DNA, or latently infected resting CD4+ T cells. Conclusion: We have demonstrated robust levels of systemic histone acetylation after panobinostat treatment of BLT humanized mice; and we did not observe a detectable change in the levels of cell-associated HIV RNA, HIV DNA, or latently infected resting CD4+ T cells in HIV-infected, ART-suppressed BLT mice. These results are consistent with the modest effects noted in vitro and suggest that combination therapies may be necessary to reverse latency and enable clearance. Animal models will contribute to the progress towards an HIV cure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present preclinical in vivo study was to evaluate whether a modified “drill-only” protocol, involving slight underpreparation of the implant site, may have an effect on aspects of osseointegration of a novel bone-level tapered implant, compared with the “standard drilling” protocol involving taping and profiling of the marginal aspect of the implant socket. In each side of the edentulated and completely healed mandible of 11 minipigs, 2 tapered implants (8 mm long × 4.1 mm Ø, BLT; Institut Straumann AG, Basel, Switzerland) were installed either with the drill-only or the standard drilling protocol. Significantly lower average insertion torque values were recorded for the standard drilling protocol group (52 ± 29 Ncm) compared with the drill-only group (70 ± 27 Ncm) (t test, P ≤ 0.05); no significant difference was observed between the 2 groups regarding implant stability, by means of resonance frequency analysis (75 ± 8 vs. 75 ± 6, respectively). Half of the implants were immediately loaded and the rest were submerged, providing observation times of 8 or 4 wk, respectively. Non-decalcified histological and histomorphometric analysis of the implants with surrounding tissues showed no significant differences between the 2 drilling protocols regarding the distance from the implant platform to the first coronal bone-to-implant contact (f-BIC), the total bone-to-implant contact (BIC) as a percentage of the total implant perimeter, and the bone density in an area extending 1 mm laterally from the implant (BATA) within 2 rectangular regions of interest (ROIs) 4 mm in height, representing the coronal (parallel-walled) and apical (tapered) aspect of the implant (ROI 1 and ROI 2, respectively) in non-submerged implants. In general, marginal peri-implant bone levels were at or slightly apical to the implant platform, and large amounts of bone-to-implant contact were observed. In contrast, immediately loaded implants placed with the drill-only protocol showed statistically significantly lower BIC values (66% ± 13.7%) compared with those installed with the standard drilling protocol (74.8% ± 11.2%) (P = 0.018). In addition, although marginal bone levels were in most of the immediately loaded implants at or slightly apical to the implant platform, some of the implants installed with the drill-only protocol showed marginal bone loss and crater formation. Thus, in this model system, even slight underpreparation of the implant socket appeared to compromise osseointegration of immediately loaded bone-level tapered implants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: humanized mice; BLT; DRAG; HIV-1 infection; viral latency; latency reversal; immunotherapy; gene therapy EN humanized mice BLT DRAG HIV-1 infection viral latency latency reversal immunotherapy gene therapy 1 2 2 12/08/21 20211206 NES 211206 In the original article, there was a mistake in B Table 1 b as published. Humanized mice, BLT, HIV-1 infection, immunotherapy, gene therapy, DRAG, viral latency, latency reversal. [Extracted from the article]