Search

This is a case of working by analogy to apply successful work from one field, the kinetic theory of gases, to another field, the distribution of stars in globular clusters. The origin of the analogy lies in Henri Poincaré reading a vague suggestion by Lord Kelvin and recognizing the interest and potential value of this suggestion. The result is the application of mechanics to the dynamics of clusters with very many stars. A good idea, even a very clever good idea, still takes significant work to elaborate in all its implications. Here we see assumptions that lead to partial success in providing a relation between the density of stars in a cluster and the distance from the center. Partial success motivated work using assumptions that were less restrictive. We follow the assumptions and work through 1916, when work paused for many years.

Soluble factors released from irradiated human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) may induce genetic instability in human CD34+ cells, potentially mediating hematologic disorders. Recently, we identified four key proteins in the secretome of X-ray-irradiated MSC, among them three endoplasmic reticulum proteins, the 78 kDa glucose-related protein (GRP78), calreticulin (CALR), and protein disulfide-isomerase A3 (PDIA3), as well as the glycolytic enzyme glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (GPI). Here, we demonstrate that exposition of CD34+ cells to recombinant GRP78, CALR, PDIA3 and GPI induces substantial genetic instability. Increased numbers of γH2AX foci (p < 0.0001), centrosome anomalies (p = 0.1000) and aberrant metaphases (p = 0.0022) were detected in CD34+ cells upon incubation with these factors. Specifically, γH2AX foci were found to be induced 4–5-fold in response to any individual of the four factors, and centrosome anomalies by 3–4 fold compared to control medium, which contained none of the recombinant proteins. Aberrant metaphases, not seen in the context of control medium, were detected to a similar extent than centrosome anomalies across the four factors. Notably, the strongest effects were observed when all four factors were collectively provided. In summary, our data suggest that specific components of the secretome from irradiated MSC act as mediators of genetic instability in CD34+ cells, thereby possibly contributing to the pathogenesis of radiation-induced hematologic disorders beyond direct radiation-evoked DNA strand breaks.

The Verizon Global Supply Chain organization currently manages thousands of active supplier contracts. These contracts account for several billion dollars of annualized Verizon spend. Managing thousands of suppliers, controlling spend, and achieving the best price per unit (PPU) through negotiations are costly and labor-intensive tasks handled by Verizon strategic sourcing teams. Verizon engages thousands of suppliers for many reasons—best price, diversity, short-term requirements, and so forth. Whereas managing a few larger spend suppliers can be done manually by dedicated sourcing managers, managing thousands of smaller suppliers at the tail spend is challenging, can often introduce risk, and can be expensive. At Verizon, a unique blend of descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics, as well as Verizon-specific sourcing acumen was leveraged to tackle this problem and rationalize Verizon’s tail spend suppliers. Through the creative application of operations research, machine learning, text mining, natural language processing, and artificial intelligence, Verizon reduced spend by millions of dollars and acquired the lowest PPU for the sourced products and services. Other benefits Verizon realized were centralized and transparent contract and supplier relationship management, overhead cost reduction, decreased contract execution lead time, and service quality improvement for Verizon’s strategic sourcing teams.

COVID-19 in patients with hematological diseases is associated with a high mortality. Moreover, preventive vaccination demonstrated reduced efficacy and the knowledge on influencing factors is limited. In this single-center study, antibody levels of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein were measured ≥ 2 weeks after 2nd COVID-19 vaccination with a concentration ≥ 0.8 U/mL considered positive. Between July and October 2021, in a total of 373 patients (median age 64 years, 44% women) with myeloid neoplasms (n = 214, 57%), lymphoid neoplasms (n = 124, n = 33%), and other diseases (n = 35, 10%), vaccination was performed with BNT162b2 (BioNTech), mRNA-1273 (Moderna), ChADOx1 (AstraZeneca), or a combination. A total of 229 patients (61%) were on active therapy within 3 months prior vaccination and 144 patients (39%) were previously treated or treatment naïve. Vaccination-related antibody response was negative in 56/373 patients (15%): in 39/124 patients with lymphoid neoplasms, 13/214 with myeloid neoplasms, and 4/35 with other diseases. Active treatment per se was not correlated with negative response. However, rituximab and BTK inhibitor treatment were correlated significantly with a negative vaccination response, whereas younger age and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) disease were associated with positive response. In addition, 5 of 6 patients with myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) and negative vaccination response were on active treatment with ruxolitinib. In conclusion, a remarkable percentage of patients with hematological diseases had no response after 2nd COVID-19 vaccination. Multivariable analysis revealed important factors associated with response to vaccination. The results may serve as a guide for better protection and surveillance in this vulnerable patient cohort.

Non-targeted effects (NTE) of ionizing radiation may initiate myeloid neoplasms (MN). Here, protein mediators (I) in irradiated human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) as the NTE source, (II) in MSC conditioned supernatant and (III) in human bone marrow CD34+ cells undergoing genotoxic NTE were investigated. Healthy sublethal irradiated MSC showed significantly increased levels of reactive oxygen species. These cells responded by increasing intracellular abundance of proteins involved in proteasomal degradation, protein translation, cytoskeleton dynamics, nucleocytoplasmic shuttling, and those with antioxidant activity. Among the increased proteins were THY1 and GNA11/14, which are signaling proteins with hitherto unknown functions in the radiation response and NTE. In the corresponding MSC conditioned medium, the three chaperones GRP78, CALR, and PDIA3 were increased. Together with GPI, these were the only four altered proteins, which were associated with the observed genotoxic NTE. Healthy CD34+ cells cultured in MSC conditioned medium suffered from more than a six-fold increase in γH2AX focal staining, indicative for DNA double-strand breaks, as well as numerical and structural chromosomal aberrations within three days. At this stage, five proteins were altered, among them IQGAP1, HMGB1, and PA2G4, which are involved in malign development. In summary, our data provide novel insights into three sequential steps of genotoxic signaling from irradiated MSC to CD34+ cells, implicating that induced NTE might initiate the development of MN.

In systemic mastocytosis (SM), qualitative and serial quantitative assessment of the KIT D816V mutation is of diagnostic and prognostic relevance. We investigated peripheral blood and bone marrow samples of 161 patients (indolent SM (ISM), n = 40, advanced SM, AdvSM, n = 121) at referral and during follow-up for the KIT D816V variant allele frequency (VAF) at the DNA-level and the KIT D816V expressed allele burden (EAB) at the RNA-level. A round robin test with four participating laboratories revealed an excellent correlation (r &gt, 0.99, R2 &gt, 0.98) between three different DNA-assays. VAF and EAB strongly correlated in ISM (r = 0.91, coefficient of determination, R2 = 0.84) but only to a lesser extent in AdvSM (r = 0.71, R2 = 0.5). However, as compared to an EAB/VAF ratio ≤2 (cohort A, 77/121 patients, 64%) receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis identified an EAB/VAF ratio of &gt, 2 (cohort B, 44/121 patients, 36%) as predictive for an advanced phenotype and a significantly inferior median survival (3.3 vs. 11.7 years, p = 0.005). In terms of overall survival, Cox-regression analysis was only significant for the EAB/VAF ratio &gt, 2 (p = 0.006) but not for VAF or EAB individually. This study demonstrates for the first time that the transcriptional activity of KIT D816V may play an important role in the pathophysiology of SM.

Radiation-induced bystander effects (RIBE) in human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells may initiate myeloid neoplasms (MN). Here, the occurrence of RIBE caused by genotoxic signaling from irradiated human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) on human bone marrow CD34+ cells was investigated. For this purpose, healthy MSC were irradiated in order to generate conditioned medium containing potential genotoxic signaling factors. Afterwards, healthy CD34+ cells from the same donors were grown in conditioned medium and RIBE were analyzed. Increased DNA damage and chromosomal instability were detected in CD34+ cells grown in MSC conditioned medium when compared to CD34+ cells grown in control medium. Furthermore, reactive oxygen species and distinct proteome alterations, e.g., heat-shock protein GRP78, that might be secreted into the extracellular medium, were identified as potential RIBE mediators. In summary, our data provide evidence that irradiated MSC induce genetic instability in human CD34+ cells potentially resulting in the initiation of MN. Furthermore, the identification of key bystander signals, such as GRP78, may lay the framework for the development of next-generation anti-leukemic drugs.

DNA damage and alterations in the DNA damage response (DDR) are critical sources of genetic instability that might be involved in BCR-ABL1 kinase-mediated blastic transformation of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Here, increased DNA damage is detected by γH2AX foci analysis in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of de novo untreated chronic phase (CP)-CML patients (n = 5; 2.5 γH2AX foci per PBMC ± 0.5) and blast phase (BP)-CML patients (n = 3; 4.4 γH2AX foci per PBMC ± 0.7) as well as CP-CML patients with loss of major molecular response (MMR) (n = 5; 1.8 γH2AX foci per PBMC ± 0.4) when compared to DNA damage in PBMC of healthy donors (n = 8; 1.0 γH2AX foci per PBMC ± 0.1) and CP-CML patients in deep molecular response or MMR (n = 26; 1.0 γH2AX foci per PBMC ± 0.1). Progressive activation of erroneous non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) repair mechanisms during blastic transformation in CML is indicated by abundant co-localization of γH2AX/53BP1 foci, while a decline of the DDR is suggested by defective expression of (p-)ATM and (p-)CHK2. In summary, our data provide evidence for the accumulation of DNA damage in the course of CML and suggest ongoing DNA damage, erroneous NHEJ repair mechanisms, and alterations in the DDR as critical mediators of blastic transformation in CML.

As long as we don’t leave the domain of consciousness, the concept of time is relatively clear. Not only do we easily distinguish the present sensation from the memory of past sensations or the anticipation of future sensations, but we know perfectly well what we mean to say when we affirm that, of two conscious phenomena of which we have kept a memory, one came before the other or else that, of two expected conscious phenomena, one will come before the other.

A clean, reformatted presentation of H. A. Lorentz 1904 paper, provided for the convenience of readers of the translations in this book of H. Poincare’s papers wishing to read them together.

Max Abraham, Hendrik Lorentz and Henri Poincare developed theories of electrons in the years following the discovery of electrons in cathode rays and in a component of the radiation from radioactive elements. The subjects covered in their theories include electrodynamics of moving particles, the origins of mass and implications for other fundamental forces. Highlights include electromagnetic mass, the stability of electrons, and experimental evidence for the dependence of relativistic mass on velocity.

Henri Poincare’s reputation as a mathematician is exceptional. What can we tell about his work in physics from the articles translated in Part I of this book? Here I identify some things that distinguish his work, for better or worse. His efforts to explain and clarify the work of others, find and use postulates or basic principles, and his innovation with analytical methodology is reviewed. A brief census of his predictions and missed opportunities for predictions is followed by a consideration of why he didn’t make the predictions that it appears he could have.

The article translated in this chapter is commonly known as the Palermo paper. On first consideration it seemed that the aberration of light and the optical and electrical phenomena associated with it were going to provide us a means for determining the absolute motion of the Earth or more accurately its motion, not with respect to the other stars, but with respect to the ether. Fresnel had already tried it, but he soon recognized that the motion of the Earth did not change the laws of refraction and reflection. Analogous experiments, like that of the water-filled telescope and all those where only first-order terms in the aberration were considered were to give only negative results; the explanation for this was soon found. But, Michelson, who had imagined an experiment sensitive to the terms depending on the square of the aberration, failed in turn.

Most likely it will seem strange that at a moment raised to the glory of Lorentz I return to the considerations that I previously presented as an objection to his theory. I could state that the following pages instead are of a nature to reduce this objection and not deepen it.

Poincare’s work on dynamics of the electron provides a classical theory of subatomic charged particles to accompany the experimental work done over the decade following Jean Perrin’s work in 1895. This chapter is the first of two parts that look at the discovery of the electron, the experimental work that established that electrical charge is discrete and that electrons have a mass that is small compared to hydrogen.

Between late April and early June 1905, H. Poincare wrote three letters to H. Lorentz with key observations on Lorentz’s paper from 1904. These letters provide an insight into what Poincare saw as key differences between his work in progress and the work published by Lorentz.

Note presented by Henri Poincare to the June 5, 1905 weekly session of the Academie des Sciences.

Going back over 60 years now, there has been extensive discussion of whether Poincare (and Lorentz) deserve credit for discovering special relativity. Two papers by Poincare translated in this book are cited to advance the case for giving Poincare precedence. This chapter considers the objectives set out by Poincare and Einstein at the beginning of their papers, looks at the beginning of the discussion, and concludes with a look at some recent work about the discussion.

Poincare wrote out Cartesian components as separate variables and did not use vector notation or vector differential operators such as dell and curl. This leads to less notational conciseness and may cause generations of physicists who learned from works like Jackson (Classical Electrodynamics, 1999) (or other editions) to pause and think a few minutes before recognizing what would otherwise be a familiar equation.

Background: In general, patients with hematological diseases are predisposed to develop infections. Severe COVID-19 infection associated with high mortality is more likely in these patient cohorts compared to the general population. Due to immune defects related to the primary disease and/or to immunosuppressive treatment regimes, vaccination efficacy may be reduced in patients with hematological diseases. So far, data on this area are limited. Aim: To evaluate vaccination-related antibody response to BNT162b2, mRNA-1273, and ChADOx1 in patients with hematological disorders. Patients and methods: In this interim analysis of a prospective, observational single-center study, we report antibody levels at least 2 weeks after COVID-19 vaccination. A FDA/CE approved electrochemiluminescent assay (ECLIA) (Elecsys®, Roche, Mannheim, Germany) was used to quantify antibodies, pan Ig (including IgG) against the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The assay has a measurement range of 0.4 to 250 U/mL, with a concentration ≥0.8 U/ml considered as positive. Data were analyzed for patients without detection of anti-N (nucleocapsid) SARS-CoV-2 antibody (i.e., without having passed SARS-CoV-2 infection). All tests were performed according to the manufacturer's instructions in an accredited laboratory at the University Hospital Mannheim. Results: Between February 2021 and July 2021, a total of 175 patients with hematological diseases were included in this study. The median age was 66 years (range 21-90 years), and 81 (46.3%) were female. The antibody levels were measured at least 14 days (median, 58 days) after the 2 nd vaccination. The patients were vaccinated with BNT162b2 (BioNTech, n=134), mRNA-1273 (Moderna, n=19), ChADOx1 (AstraZeneca, n=12), or got the first vaccination with BNT162b2 and the second with ChADOx1 (n=10). Overall, 145/175 (82.9%) were diagnosed with a malignant hematological disease (myeloid neoplasms, n=108; lymphoid neoplasms, n=37) and 30/175 with a non-malignant hematological disease (autoimmune disease, n=24; benign, n=6). 124 patients (70.1%) were on active therapy, and 51 patients (29.1%) were previously treated or treatment naïve. Correlation to specific therapies is ongoing and will be presented. In general, vaccination-related antibody response was positive (≥0.8 U/mL) in 148/175 (84.6%) patients with a median level of 208.6 U/mL (range 0.8-250.00) and negative ( In myeloid neoplasms, patients with classical myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) had the highest negative result for antibodies with 4/7 (57.1%) followed by myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) 2/7 (28.6%). Interestingly, all patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) had a measurable immune response. In lymphoid neoplasms, patients with low-grade non-hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) (predominately chronic lymphocytic leukemia, CLL) had the highest negative antibody result 13/16 (81.3%) followed by high-grade NHL 4/8 (50%; predominately diffuse large b-cell lymphoma, DLBCL). In non-malignant hematological diseases, only patients with autoimmune diseases had a negative result. Conclusion: A remarkable group of patients with hematological disease were measured with no or low immune response after 2 nd COVID-vaccination, especially those with low-grade NHL, MDS and autoimmune disease. It seems that the percentage of patients with MPN and low response is less critical. No problems appeared in CML patients. Further explorations are needed with focus on potential risk of COVID infections despite full vaccination: The potential of 3 rd booster vaccination should be explored within clinical trials. Disclosures Reiter: AOP Orphan Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: travel support; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel expenses, Research Funding; Celgene/BMS: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: travel support; Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel expenses; Blueprint Medicines: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel expenses; Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Deciphera: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel expenses. Kreil: Novartis: Research Funding. Hofmann: Amgen: Honoraria; BMS: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria. Jawhar: Takeda: Honoraria, Other: Travel support; Blueprint Medicines: Honoraria; Stemline: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Other: Travel support; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel support, Speakers Bureau. Saussele: Roche: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria; Incyte: Honoraria, Research Funding; BMS: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding.

Human skin is an efficient barrier that protects the organism from noxious substances. Wounds destroy this barrier. Wound healing is a phased physiological regeneration of the destroyed tissue that ideally leads to occlusion of a wound, in particular by regeneration of connective tissue and capillaries. The Wnt signaling pathway is a highly conserved signal transduction cascade across the animal kingdom that controls basic cellular interactions in multicellular organisms. Accordingly, through the Wnt signaling path many processes, e. g. as the balance between proliferation and differentiation or apoptosis, coordinated. Wnt signaling is activated by a wound and participates in each subsequent phase of the healing process, beginning with inflammatory control and programmed cell death, to the mobilization of stem cells within the wound. Endogenous Wnt signaling is an attractive therapeutic approach to assist in the repair of skin wounds, as the complex mechanisms of the Wnt signaling pathway have become increasingly understood over the years. This review summarizes current data to clarify the role of Wnt signaling in the wound healing process of the skin.Die menschliche Haut ist eine effiziente Barriere, die den Organismus vor Noxen schützt. Wunden zerstören diese Barriere. Die Wundheilung ist eine in Phasen ablaufende physiologische Regeneration des zerstörten Gewebes, die im Idealfall zum Verschluss einer Wunde, insbesondere durch Neubildung von Bindegewebe und Kapillaren, führt. Der Wnt-Signalweg ist eine im gesamten Tierreich stark konservierte Signaltransduktionskaskade, durch die grundlegende zelluläre Interaktionen in multizellulären Organismen gesteuert werden. Entsprechend werden durch den Wnt-Signalweg viele Prozesse, z. B. die Balance zwischen Proliferation und Differenzierung oder die Apoptose, koordiniert. Die Wnt-Signalisierung wird durch eine Wunde aktiviert und nimmt an jeder nachfolgenden Phase des Heilungsprozesses teil, beginnend mit der Entzündungskontrolle und des programmierten Zelltods bis zur Mobilisation von Stammzellen innerhalb der Wunde. Die endogene Wnt-Signalverstärkung stellt einen attraktiven therapeutischen Ansatz dar, um die Wiederherstellung von Hautwunden zu unterstützen, da die komplexen Mechanismen des Wnt-Signalwegs im Laufe der Jahre zunehmend verstanden wurden. In dieser Übersichtsarbeit werden die aktuellen Daten zusammengefasst, um die Rolle der Wnt-Signalgebung beim Wundheilungsprozess der Haut zu verdeutlichen.

Systemic mastocytosis (SM) is characterized by activating mutations in KIT, usually KIT D816V in >90% of patients. According to the WHO classification, detection of KIT D816V is a minor diagnostic criterion. Moreover, a reduction of the RNA-based KIT D816V expressed allele burden (EAB) of ≥25% at month 6 is a favorable marker for improved survival in midostaurin-treated advanced SM (AdvSM) patients. However, only limited data exist upon the comparison between RNA-based and DNA-based quantitative KIT D816V mutation analyses. We therefore collected peripheral blood samples from 161 SM patients (indolent SM [ISM], n=40; AdvSM, n=121) at time of referral. We applied a real time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay for assessment of the KIT D816V EAB and a chip-based digital PCR (dPCR) for the quantification of the DNA-based KIT D816V variant allele frequency (VAF, QuantStudio 3D dPCR System, ThermoFisher Scientific, Massachusetts, USA). The limit of detection (LOD) was assessed through serial dilution experiments with DNA from healthy individuals and DNA from a SM patient with a KIT D816V VAF of approximately 50%. All samples were analyzed in two independent dPCR runs. In an inital round-robin test for an inter-laboratory (n=4) comparison on 30 DNA samples (ISM, n=7; AdvSM, n=19), we found a very good correlation between 3 different chip-based digital PCR systems (dPCR; droplet-based dPCR, ddPCR, BioRad Laboratories, California, USA; quantitative real-time PCR, qPCR, California, USA; dPCR vs. ddPCR r=0.99, R2=0.99; dPCR vs. qPCR r=0.99, R2=0.98). In ISM patients, the comparison between EAB and VAF revealed a strong linear relationship with a correlation (r) of 0.91 and a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.84, which was significantly inferior (r=0.71; R2=0.5) in AdvSM patients. In 45/121 (37%) and 76/121 (63%) of AdvSM patients, the EAB/VAF ratio was ≤2 (cohort A) or >2 (cohort B). To confirm the significant disparity between EAB and VAF in individual patients, serial analyses of at least 3 samples in 12 patients revealed a stable EAB/VAF ratio during follow-up. The comparison between cohort A and cohort B revealed significant differences in terms of a higher median hemoglobin level (p=0.006), a lower percentage of patients with hemoglobin 2 present with an aggressive phenotype and adverse prognosis as compared to patients with EAB/VAF ratio ≤2. We therefore recommend to routinely determine KIT D816V EAB and VAF in AdvSM patients. Disclosures Fabarius: Novartis: Research Funding. Reiter:Blueprint: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel reimbursement; Deciphera: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel reimbursement; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel reimbursement, Research Funding.

Genotoxic bystander signals released from irradiated human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) may induce radiation-induced bystander effects (RIBEs) in human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC), potentially causing leukemic transformation. Although the source of bystander signals is evident, the identification and characterization of these signals is challenging. Here, RIBEs were analyzed in human CD34+ cells cultured in distinct molecular size fractions of medium, conditioned by 2 Gy irradiated human MSC. Specifically, γH2AX foci (as a marker of DNA double-strand breaks) and chromosomal instability were evaluated in CD34+ cells grown in approximate (I) &lt, 10 kDa, (II) 10–100 kDa and (III) &gt, 100 kDa fractions of MSC conditioned medium and un-/fractionated control medium, respectively. Hitherto, significantly increased numbers of γH2AX foci (p = 0.0286) and aberrant metaphases (p = 0.0022) were detected in CD34+ cells grown in the (II) 10–100 kDa fraction (0.67 ± 0.10 γH2AX foci per CD34+ cell ∨ 3.8 ± 0.3 aberrant metaphases per CD34+ cell sample, mean ± SEM) when compared to (I) &lt, 10 kDa (0.19 ± 0.01 ∨ 0.3 ± 0.2) or (III) &gt, 100 kDa fractions (0.23 ± 0.04 ∨ 0.4 ± 0.4) or un-/fractionated control medium (0.12 ± 0.01 ∨ 0.1 ± 0.1). Furthermore, RIBEs disappeared after heat inactivation of medium at 75 °C. Taken together, our data suggest that RIBEs are mainly mediated by the heat-sensitive (II) 10–100 kDa fraction of MSC conditioned medium. We postulate proteins as RIBE mediators and in-depth proteome analyses to identify key bystander signals, which define targets for the development of next-generation anti-leukemic drugs.

Acute rejection is a risk factor for inferior long-term kidney transplant survival. Although T cell immunity is considered the main effector in clinical acute rejection, the role of myeloid cells is less clear. Expression of S100 calcium-binding protein A8 (S100A8) and S100A9 was evaluated in 303 biopsies before and after transplantation from 190 patients. In two independent cohorts of patients with acute rejection (n = 98 and n = 11; mostly cellular rejections), high expression of S100 calcium-binding protein A8 (S100A8) and A9 (S100A9) was related to improved graft outcome. Mechanisms of action of the S100 molecules were investigated. In the graft and peripheral blood cells, S100A8 and S100A9 expression correlated with myeloid-derived suppressor markers. In line with this finding, recombinant S100A8 and S100A9 proteins inhibited maturation and the allogeneic T cell stimulatory capacity of dendritic cells. S100A9 enhanced the production of reactive oxygen species by macrophages, which suppressed T cell activity at low concentrations in the form of hydrogen peroxide. Intragraft S100A8 and S100A9 expression linked to reduced expression of T cell immunity and tissue injury markers and higher expression of immune regulatory molecules. This study sheds new light on the importance of myeloid cell subsets in directing the outcome of T cell-mediated acute rejection. The authors find an association between levels of S100 calcium-binding proteins A8 and A9 during acute kidney transplant rejection with graft outcome, and that these myeloid cell-expressed proteins have immunoregulatory effects toward T cells.

Accumulation of DNA damage and alteration of the DNA damage response (DDR) are critical features of genetic instability that is presumed to be implicated in the pathogenesis of monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis (MBL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Here, we show increased numbers of γH2AX foci, a marker of DNA double-strand breaks (DSB), in CD19+ cells of CLL patients as compared to CD19+ cells of MBL patients and healthy individuals. Furthermore, numerous γH2AX/53BP1 foci in CLL cells suggest activation of error-prone non-homologous end-joining repair mechanisms. Signatures of DDR proteins further indicate alterations of the DDR in CLL in contrast to a largely regular activation in MBL and healthy controls. In summary, our results provide evidence for the stepwise accumulation of DNA damage in the progression of MBL towards CLL and suggest increased DNA damage, error-prone DNA repair and altered DDR signaling to be critical mechanisms of clonal evolution in MBL and CLL.

Industries other than oil and gas in the Middle-East region have grown quickly over the last decades to meet the increase in demand of emerging local and international markets at competitive prices. Upgrades and modifications to these industrial processes under different international standards leads to situations in which heterogeneous and fragmented electrical systems are installed and operated without having proper electrical safety programs in place. Electrical hazards associated with high and low voltage systems are not fully understood, calculated, and mitigated for all personnel. This paper describes the process of implementing an electrical safety program for a large industrial plant in the Middle East region and cultural challenges faced in its implementation and that of similar regional industrial manufacturers. An approach to gap assessment, targeted hazard mitigation programs, electrical safety program development, and training of personnel is provided. This approach was used with the goal of establishing good foundations, capabilities, and processes to address electrical risk and sustain continuous improvement. The implementation of an Electrical Safety Program that pro-actively manages and mitigates arc flash and shock hazards and puts in place a corporate independent governance structure that includes electrical workers from different sites and production areas is described. In an effort to tackle the cultural and behavioral challenges in an established industry in a region where electrical safety has recently emerged as a serious industrial risk, the Electrical Safety Program developed integrates intensive trainings and communications to drive change in modus operandi.

This paper presents the digital control of a symmetric, piezoelectrically-transduced Coriolis Vibratory Gyro (CVG) with improved performance and design for compact ASIC implementation in terrestrial and space environments. Previously a metallic PZT transduced cylindrical resonator with simple analog control electronics resulted in a successful low noise rate gyro produced by Innalabs [1, 2] for stabilization and targeting applications and satellite pointing. This work details key benefits of applying a very low noise digital control and demodulation approach that extends InertialWave's previous work on generalized feedback control of capacitive CVG's [3]. This has been demonstrated at breadboard level to further reduce rate noise toward the very low, 60 μdeg/rt-h mechanical thermal noise (MTN) inherent in its massive 23 mm, high quality resonator and points to a clear path for achieving navigation grade performance in a mass producible CVG and compact three-axis IRU or IMU assembly.

DNA double-strand breaks (DSB) are serious DNA lesions. Analysis of the formation and repair of DSB is relevant in a broad spectrum of research areas including genome integrity, genotoxicity, radiation biology, aging, cancer, and drug development. In response to DSB, the histone H2AX is phosphorylated at Serine 139 in a region of several megabase pairs forming discrete nuclear foci detectable by immunofluorescence microscopy. In addition, 53BP1 (p53 binding protein 1) is another important DSB-responsive protein promoting repair of DSB by nonhomologous end-joining while preventing homologous recombination. According to the specific functions of γH2AX and 53BP1, the combined analysis of γH2AX and 53BP1 by immunofluorescence microscopy may be a reasonable approach for a detailed analysis of DSB. This manuscript provides a step-by-step protocol supplemented with methodical notes for performing the technique. Specifically, the influence of the cell cycle on γH2AX foci patterns is demonstrated in normal fibroblasts of the cell line NHDF. Further, the value of the γH2AX foci as a biomarker is depicted in x-ray irradiated lymphocytes of a healthy individual. Finally, genetic instability is investigated in CD34+ cells of a patient with acute myeloid leukemia by immunofluorescence microscopy of γH2AX and 53BP1.

The clinical behavior of systemic mastocytosis (SM) is strongly associated with activating mutations in KIT (D816V in >80% of cases), with the severity of the phenotype influenced by additional somatic mutations, e.g. in SRSF2, ASXL1 or RUNX1. Complex molecular profiles are frequently associated with the presence of an associated hematologic neoplasm (AHN) and an unfavorable clinical outcome. However, little is known about the incidence and prognostic impact of cytogenetic aberrations. We analyzed cytogenetic and molecular characteristics of 109 patients (KIT D816V+, n=102, 94%) with indolent (ISM, n=26) and advanced SM (n=83) with (n=73, 88%) or without AHN. An aberrant karyotype was identified in SM-AHN (16/73, 22%) patients only. In patients with an aberrant karyotype additional somatic mutations were identified in 12/16 (75%) patients. Seven of 10 (70%) patients with a poor-risk karyotype, e.g. monosomy 7 or complex karyotype, and 1/6 (17%) patients with a good-risk karyotype progressed to secondary acute myeloid leukemia (n=7) or mast cell leukemia (n=1) within a median of 40 months (range 2-190, P=0.04). In advanced SM, the median overall survival (OS) of poor-risk karyotype patients was significantly shorter than in good-risk/normal karyotype patients (4 vs. 39 months; hazard ratio 11.7, 95% CI 5.0-27.3; P

DNA double-strand breaks (DSB) are serious DNA lesions. Analysis of the formation and repair of DSB is relevant in a broad spectrum of research areas including genome integrity, genotoxicity, radiation biology, aging, cancer, and drug development. In response to DSB, the histone H2AX is phosphorylated at Serine 139 in a region of several megabase pairs forming discrete nuclear foci detectable by immunofluorescence microscopy. In addition, 53BP1 (p53 binding protein 1) is another important DSB-responsive protein promoting repair of DSB by nonhomologous end-joining while preventing homologous recombination. According to the specific functions of γH2AX and 53BP1, the combined analysis of γH2AX and 53BP1 by immunofluorescence microscopy may be a reasonable approach for a detailed analysis of DSB. This manuscript provides a step-by-step protocol supplemented with methodical notes for performing the technique. Specifically, the influence of the cell cycle on γH2AX foci patterns is demonstrated in normal fibroblasts of the cell line NHDF. Further, the value of the γH2AX foci as a biomarker is depicted in x-ray irradiated lymphocytes of a healthy individual. Finally, genetic instability is investigated in CD34+ cells of a patient with acute myeloid leukemia by immunofluorescence microscopy of γH2AX and 53BP1.

Background S100A8/A9 heterodimers are well-known alarmins that, upon release from activated or necrotic phagocytes, promote inflammation by binding to Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). These proteins are highly expressed in synovial phagocytes during arthritis and proved to be reliable biomarkers for monitoring disease activity in RA. Interestingly, we now identify a novel immune-regulatory mechanism of S100A8 in human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDCs). Objectives This study aims to analyze immune-regulatory functions of S100 proteins in human DCs. Methods MoDCs are differentiated with or without exposure to S100A8 prior to maturation with LPS. After characterization of the activation status using flow cytometry, the ability of these cells to induce autologous CD4+, CD8+, and γδ T-cell proliferation is investigated. Cytokines, secreted during development are analyzed by Luminex cytokine arrays. The metabolic state of DCs is examined by using Seahorse XFp Analyzer assays. Finally, to identify molecular mechanisms leading to an immune-regulatory phenotype, the mRNA expression of moDCs is analyzed by genome-wide gene expression arrays. Results Our results demonstrate that early exposure to S100A8 interferes with in-vitro differentiation of moDCs. Compared to controls S100A8-exposed moDCs show dramatically reduced surface expression of co-stimulatory molecules upon LPS-induced maturation. In addition, early treatment of moDCs with S100A8 alters the secretion of immune-regulatory cytokines and chemokines depending on the developmental state of moDCs. S100A8-induced effects on moDC maturation are not limited to TLR4 stimulation but rather trigger a common state of unresponsiveness. Furthermore, mitochondrial respiration and glycolytic function is diminished in S100A8-treated moDCs. As a consequence, S100A8-exposed moDCs have a reduced potential to induce autologous T-cell proliferation. We can show that these differences are mainly caused by reduced surface expression of co-stimulatory molecules on S100A8-treated moDCs. Mechanistically, genome-wide gene expression analysis reveals dramatic differences in gene expression between S100A8-exposed and conventionally differentiated moDCs. We demonstrate that S100A8 pre-treatment of moDCs significantly blocks LPS-induced gene expression during moDC activation. Interestingly, in-silico analysis of transcription factor networks predicts NFκB and C/EBPδ as master regulators of S100A8-induced effects in developing moDCs. C/EBPδ on protein level, indeed, shows reduced expression in S100A8-differentiated moDCs prior and after LPS-induced maturation when compared to conventionally differentiated moDCs. Conclusions Taken together, our results demonstrate a novel regulatory mechanism of innate immunity to prevent overwhelming immune responses. Dysregulated repression of detrimental adaptive immune responses might very well contribute to the disease phenotype in auto-immune disorders with high systemic S100A8/A9 levels. Therefore, S100A8-differentiated immune-suppressive DCs potentially represent a promising therapeutic tool to treat auto-immune diseases in the future. Disclosure of Interest None declared

Scientific Reports 6: Article number: 35181; published online: 17 October 2016; updated: 03 May 2017. The original version of this Article contained a typographical error in the Abstract. “The average ED in the first year after diagnosis was significantly different for men (59 ± 33 mSv) and women (744 ± 33 mSv)-(p

This paper describes the basic elements of a company's generic, region based electrical safety program and a new facility's experience in implementing the program during the initial system turnover and energization phases of the project. Background on the site's safety by design considerations, arc flash hazard assessment, and organizational makeup provides insight on how the facility managed to tailor the ‘generic’ program to their site needs and train the organization. Specific examples highlight the need to thoroughly commission electrical equipment and systems after construction turnover and in the face of leadership pressure regarding cost and schedule. Specific examples include the challenges of energizing equipment during ongoing construction, equipment failure, and managing contract workers performing equipment commissioning.

Malignant hematopoietic cells of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS)/chronic myelomonocytic leukemias (CMML) and acute myeloid leukemias (AML) may be particularly vulnerable to inhibition of poly(ADP ribose) polymerase 1/2 (PARP1/2) and apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1). PARP1/2 and APE1 are critical enzymes involved in single-strand break repair and base excision repair, respectively. Here, we investigated the cytotoxic efficacy of talazoparib and APE1 inhibitor III, inhibitors of PARP1/2 and APE1, as single-agents, combined with decitabine and combined with each other in CD34+ MDS/CMML cells and in CD34+ or CD34- AML cells in comparison to healthy CD34+ donor cells. The surviving fraction of CD34+ MDS/CMML cells (n = 8; 4 MDS and 4 CMML), CD34+ or CD34- AML cells (n = 18) and healthy CD34+ donor cells (n = 8) was analyzed using the CellTiter-Glo luminescent cell viability assay (Promega, Southampton, UK). Cell proliferation of untreated MDS/CMML and AML cells was determined by trypan blue exclusion assay (Merck, Darmstadt, Germany). PARP1/APE1 mRNA expression was evaluated using validated primer sets for PARP1 (Hs_PARP1_1_SG QuantiTect Primer Assay, NM_001618) and APE1 (Hs_APEX1_1_SG QuantiTect Primer Assay, ENST00000216714) (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany). Immunofluorescence microscopy of γH2AX foci was performed using a JBW301-derived mouse monoclonal anti-γH2AX antibody (Merck). Talazoparib and APE1 inhibitor III demonstrated critical anti-leukemic efficacy as single-agents in about 19-25% of MDS/CMML/AML cell samples (Figure 1A and B). Low doses of talazoparib and APE1 inhibitor III further increased the cytotoxic efficacy of decitabine in about 78-86% of MDS/CMML/AML cell samples. Moreover, low doses of APE1 inhibitor III increased the cytotoxic efficacy of talazoparib in about 68% of MDS/CMML/AML cell samples. In summary, talazoparib and APE1 inhibitor III demonstrated substantial anti-leukemic efficacy as single-agents, in combination with decitabine and combined with each other. Hence, our findings support further investigation of these agents in sophisticated clinical trials. Figure 1 Cytotoxic efficacy of talazoparib and APE1 inhibitor III in healthy CD34+ donor cells, in CD34+ myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)/chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) cells and in CD34+ or CD34- acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells after 3 days of treatment. (A) The mean IC50 of talazoparib was significantly lower (*p = 0.016) in 1 MDS (MDS#2), 1 CMML (CMML#2) and 3 AML cell samples (AML#1, AML#2, AML#3) as compared to 8 healthy donor cell samples. (B) The mean IC50 of APE1 inhibitor III was substantially lower (p = 0.059) in 1 MDS (MDS#2) and 5 AML cell samples (AML#1, AML#2, AML#3, AML#6, AML#12) as compared to 8 healthy donor cell samples. Figure 1 Disclosures Fabarius: Novartis: Research Funding.