The evolution of basement membranes (BMs) played an essential role in the organization of animal cells into tissues and diversification of body plans. The archetypal BM is a compact extracellular ...matrix polymer containing laminin, nidogen, collagen IV and perlecan (LNCP matrix) tightly packed into a homogenously thin planar layer. Contrasting this clear-cut morphological and compositional definition, there are numerous examples of LNCP matrices with unusual characteristics that deviate from this planar organization. Furthermore, BM components are found in non-planar matrices that are difficult to categorize as BMs at all. In this Review, I discuss examples of atypical BM organization. First, I highlight atypical BM structures in human tissues before describing the functional dissection of a plethora of BMs and BM-related structures in their tissue contexts in the fruit fly
To conclude, I summarize our incipient understanding of the mechanisms that provide morphological, compositional and functional diversity to BMs. It is becoming increasingly clear that atypical BMs are quite prevalent, and that even typical planar BMs harbor a lot of diversity that we do not yet comprehend.
Basement membranes (BMs) are thin sheet-like specialized extracellular matrices found at the basal surface of epithelia and endothelial tissues. They have been conserved across evolution and are ...required for proper tissue growth, organization, differentiation and maintenance. The major constituents of BMs are two independent networks of Laminin and Type IV Collagen in addition to the proteoglycan Perlecan and the glycoprotein Nidogen/entactin (Ndg). The ability of Ndg to bind in vitro Collagen IV and Laminin, both with key functions during embryogenesis, anticipated an essential role for Ndg in morphogenesis linking the Laminin and Collagen IV networks. This was supported by results from cultured embryonic tissue experiments. However, the fact that elimination of Ndg in C. elegans and mice did not affect survival strongly questioned this proposed linking role. Here, we have isolated mutations in the only Ndg gene present in Drosophila. We find that while, similar to C.elegans and mice, Ndg is not essential for overall organogenesis or viability, it is required for appropriate fertility. We also find, alike in mice, tissue-specific requirements of Ndg for proper assembly and maintenance of certain BMs, namely those of the adipose tissue and flight muscles. In addition, we have performed a thorough functional analysis of the different Ndg domains in vivo. Our results support an essential requirement of the G3 domain for Ndg function and unravel a new key role for the Rod domain in regulating Ndg incorporation into BMs. Furthermore, uncoupling of the Laminin and Collagen IV networks is clearly observed in the larval adipose tissue in the absence of Ndg, indeed supporting a linking role. In light of our findings, we propose that BM assembly and/or maintenance is tissue-specific, which could explain the diverse requirements of a ubiquitous conserved BM component like Nidogen.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Vehicle battery systems are usually designed with a high number of cells connected in parallel to meet the stringent requirements of power and energy. The self-balancing characteristic of parallel ...cells allows a battery management system (BMS) to approximate the cells as one equivalent cell with a single state of health (SoH) value, estimated either as capacity fade (SoHE) or resistance increase (SoHP). A single SoH value is however not applicable if the initial SoH of each cell is different, which can occur when cell properties change due to inconsistent manufacturing processes or in-homogeneous operating environments. As such this work quantifies the convergence of SoHE and SoHP due to initial differences in cell SoH and examines the convergence factors. Four 3 Ah 18650 cells connected in parallel at 25 °C are aged by charging and discharging for 500 cycles. For an initial SoHE difference of 40% and SoHP difference of 45%, SoHE converge to 10% and SoHP to 30% by the end of the experiment. From this, a strong linear correlation between ΔSoHE and ΔSoHP is also observed. The results therefore imply that a BMS should consider a calibration strategy to accurately estimate the SoH of parallel cells until convergence is reached.
•Experimental evaluation of SoH within parallel connected cells aged differently.•Current, SoC and cell temperature drive SoH cell-to-cell convergence.•An initial 45% difference in cell-to-cell SoH (resistance) converges to 30%.•An initial 40% difference in cell-to-cell SoH (capacity) converges to 10%.•A linear correlation between capacity fade and resistance increase is observed.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Experience with debridement and prosthesis retention in early prosthetic joint infections (PJI) due to Staphylococcus aureus is scarce. The present study aimed to evaluate the outcome and predictors ...of failure. Patients prospectively registered with an early PJI due to S. aureus and 2 years of follow-up were reviewed. Demographics, co-morbidity, type of implant, clinical manifestations, surgical treatment, antimicrobial therapy and outcome were recorded. Remission was defined when the patient had no symptoms of infection, the prosthesis was retained and C-reactive protein (CRP) was ≤1 mg/dL. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed. Fifty-three patients with a mean ± SD age of 70 ± 10.8 years were reviewed. Thirty-five infections were on knee prosthesis and 18 were on hip prosthesis. The mean ± SD duration of intravenous and oral antibiotics was 10.6 ± 6.7 and 88 ± 45.9 days, respectively. After 2 years of follow-up, 40 (75.5%) patients were in remission. Variables independently associated with failure were the need for a second debridement (OR 20.4, 95% CI 2.3–166.6, p 0.006) and a CRP > 22 mg/dL (OR 9.8, 95% CI 1.5–62.5, p 0.01). The onset of the infection within the 25 days after joint arthroplasty was at the limit of significance (OR 8.3, 95% CI 0.8–85.6, p 0.07). Debridement followed by a short period of antibiotics is a reasonable treatment option in early PJI due to S. aureus. Predictors of failure were the need for a second debridement to control the infection a CRP > 22 mg/dL and the infection onset within the first 25 days after joint arthroplasty.
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BFBNIB, DOBA, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Salivary cortisol, α-amylase (sAA), secretory IgA (sIgA), testosterone, and soluble fraction of receptor II of TNFα (sTNFαRII) could serve as objective pain measures, but the normal variability of ...these potential biomarkers is unknown.
Saliva was collected with the passive secretion method from 34, pain-free subjects in two single samples at least 24 hours apart. Biomarker variation and intersession reliability were assessed with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Also, we calculated the within-subject standard deviation (Sw) and the reproducibility (2.77 × Sw) of intersession measures.
Salivary cortisol, sAA, sIgA, testosterone, and sTNFαRII yielded the following ICCs: 0.53, 0.003, 0.88, 0.42 and 0.83, respectively. We found no statistically significant systematic differences between sessions in any biomarker except for testosterone, which showed a decrease on the second day (p<0.001). The reproducibility for salivary cortisol, sAA, sIgA, testosterone, and sTNFαRII were 0.46 ng/ml, 12.88 U/ml, 11.7 μg/ml, 14.54 pg/ml and 18.29 pg/ml, respectively. Cortisol, testosterone and TNFαRII measurement variability showed a positive correlation with the magnitude (p<0.002), but no relationship was found for sAA and sIgA.
Salivary sIgA and sTNFαRII show a remarkable good reproducibility and, therefore, could be useful as pain biomarkers. When using the passive secretion method, intersession variations in salivary sIgA of more than 11.7 μg/ml may reflect true biomarker change. In the case of sTNFαRII this will depend of the magnitude. The estimates herein provided should help investigators and clinicians differentiate actual biomarker modification from measurement variability.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Sheet-forming Collagen IV is the main component of basement membranes, which are planar polymers of extracellular matrix underlying epithelia and surrounding organs in all animals. Adipocytes in both ...insects and mammals are mesodermal in origin and often classified as mesenchymal. However, they form true tissues where cells remain compactly associated. Neither the mechanisms providing this tissue-level organization nor its functional significance are known. Here we show that discrete Collagen IV intercellular concentrations (CIVICs), distinct from basement membranes and thicker in section, mediate inter-adipocyte adhesion in Drosophila. Loss of these Collagen-IV-containing structures in the larval fat body caused intercellular gaps and disrupted continuity of the adipose tissue layer. We also found that Integrin and Syndecan matrix receptors attach adipocytes to CIVICs and direct their formation. Finally, we show that Integrin-mediated adhesion to CIVICs promotes normal adipocyte growth and prevents autophagy through Src-Pi3K-Akt signaling. Our results evidence a surprising non-basement membrane role of Collagen IV in non-epithelial tissue morphogenesis while demonstrating adhesion and signaling functions for these structures.
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•Collagen IV intercellular concentrations (CIVICs) exist in Drosophila fat tissue•CIVICs mediate inter-adipocyte adhesion•CIVIC formation requires Integrin and Syndecan receptors•Src-Pi3K-Akt signaling from CIVICs prevents adipocyte autophagy
Collagen IV is widely considered an exclusive component of the matrix basement membranes underlying animal tissues. Dai et al., however, show that the fat tissue of flies contains many discrete Collagen IV intercellular concentrations with roles in mutual cell adhesion and signaling for cell viability.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
•Low speed AEB technology led to a 38% reduction in real-world rear-end crashes.•There was no significant difference between urban and rural crash benefits.•Meta-analysis was an effective method for ...combining data from various countries.•Low speed AEB technology needs widespread fitment for maximum benefits.
This study set out to evaluate the effectiveness of low speed autonomous emergency braking (AEB) technology in current model passenger vehicles, based on real-world crash experience. The validating vehicle safety through meta-analysis (VVSMA) group comprising a collaboration of government, industry consumer organisations and researchers, pooled data from a number of countries using a standard analysis format and the established MUND approach. Induced exposure methods were adopted to control for any extraneous effects. The findings showed a 38 percent overall reduction in rear-end crashes for vehicles fitted with AEB compared to a comparison sample of similar vehicles. There was no statistical evidence of any difference in effect between urban (≤60km/h) and rural (>60km/h) speed zones. Areas requiring further research were identified and widespread fitment through the vehicle fleet is recommended.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Psychosocial work environment has been related to many negative health outcomes in different workforces. However, evidence in this regard is still limited in the case of transport workers, and most ...of the tools used in research, often excessively generic, do not fully consider the specific key stressors, and adverse issues present in the psychosocial environment of professional driving.
Thus, the purpose of this study was to obtain a complete description of the validation of measurement applied to psychosocial factors at work in professional drivers, using the Enterprise version (2018) of COPSOQ-III.
The data was collected from 726 Spanish professional drivers, and the analyses were conducted using the competitive Confirmatory Factor Analysis or CFA, obtaining basic psychometric properties and an optimized structure for the instrument applied to active transport workers.
The results suggest a clear factorial structure, high factorial weights, internal consistency, and an improved adjustment to the psychosocial conditions of this group, excluding a set of items with low psychometrical adjustment and keeping the five-factor structure of the questionnaire: demands, influence and development, interpersonal relationships and leadership, job insecurity, and strain-effects and outcomes.
Overall, what was found in this study supports the hypothesis that the validated version of COPSOQ in professional drivers, together with complementary information sources specific for their work environment, may have a relevant research value and some important practical implications for the improvement of the occupational safety, and health within the typically vulnerable industry of transportation.
Background
Identifying the etiologic microorganism is essential to guide antimicrobial therapy in prosthetic joint infection.
Questions/purpose
We (1) compared the frequency of positive cultures with ...synovial fluid inoculated in blood culture flasks (SF) with those of periprosthetic tissues or swabs in traditional cultures from patients with acute and chronic prosthetic joint infections (PJI) and (2) determined the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of the three methods.
Patients and Methods
We retrospectively reviewed 87 patients with PJIs (54 knees, 33 hips) and 63 patients with aseptic loosening (34 knees, 29 hips). Two SF, periprosthetic tissue, and swab samples were taken for culture in all 150 patients except for 14 in whom only one SF fluid sample was obtained. Synovial fluid was inoculated in blood culture flasks and periprosthetic tissue and swab samples in standard media. Positive cultures were identified with standard biochemical procedures.
Results
SF samples were positive in 78 of 87 infected cases (90%), periprosthetic tissue samples were positive in 71 (82%), and swab samples were positive in 59 (68%). SF, periprosthetic tissue, and swab samples were positive more frequently in acute than in chronic infections (96% versus 82% for SF, 87% versus 74% for periprosthetic tissue, and 87% versus 44% for swabs). The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of SF were 91, 100, 100, and 93 for acute infections and 79, 100, 100, and 88 for chronic infections, respectively.
Conclusions
SF samples cultured in flasks had higher sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for diagnosis of PJI when compared with standard tissue and swab samples. The usefulness of all samples was less in chronic than in acute infections.
Level of Evidence
Level II, diagnostic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
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