Transverse beam instabilities are a major cause of emittance dilution and beam losses in high intensity hadron accelerators. This paper presents an overview of the system that has been developed for ...automatic detection of transverse beam instabilities in the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. It relies on the detection of very small transverse beam oscillations using a high sensitivity tune measurement system. These oscillations are then processed online in a field programmable gate array to monitor the growth of any instabilities. When an instability is detected, the acquisition of intrabunch beam position data with a multi-gigahertz bandwidth is triggered. This data allows identification of unstable bunches within bunch trains and provides information on the temporal signature of the instability. The design of these systems and the different algorithms for instability detection that have been tested with beam will be presented along with a detailed description of their performance.
For studies on matrix mineralization in osteoarthritis (OA), a clear analytical approach is necessary to identify and to quantify mineralization in the articular cartilage. The aim of this study is ...to develop an effective algorithm to quantify and to identify cartilage mineralization in the experimental setting. Four patients with OA of the knee undergoing total knee replacement and four control patients were included. Cartilage calcification was studied by digital contact radiography (DCR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) X-ray element analysis and Raman spectroscopy (RS). DCR revealed mineralization in all OA cartilage specimens. No mineralization was observed in the control cartilage. Patient I showed rhomboid shaped crystals with a mean Ca:P molar ratio of 1.04 indicated the presence of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) crystals, while Patients II, III and IV presented carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite (HA). RS also showed the presence of CPPD crystals in Patient I while Patients II, III and IV revealed spectra confirming the presence of HA crystals. In the corresponding chondrocyte cell culture analyzed with SEM, the presence of CPPD crystals in the culture of Patient I and HA crystals in the culture of Patient II, III and IV was confirmed. No mineralization was found in the cell culture of the controls. The differentiation between BCP and CPPD crystals plays an important role, and the techniques presented here provide an accurate differentiation of these two types of crystals. For quantification of articular cartilage mineralization, DCR is a simple and accurate method.
The Energetic Particle Detector Rodríguez-Pacheco, J.; Wimmer-Schweingruber, R. F.; Mason, G. M. ...
Astronomy and astrophysics (Berlin),
10/2020, Letnik:
642
Journal Article
Recenzirano
After decades of observations of solar energetic particles from space-based observatories, relevant questions on particle injection, transport, and acceleration remain open. To address these ...scientific topics, accurate measurements of the particle properties in the inner heliosphere are needed. In this paper we describe the Energetic Particle Detector (EPD), an instrument suite that is part of the scientific payload aboard the Solar Orbiter mission. Solar Orbiter will approach the Sun as close as 0.28 au and will provide extra-ecliptic measurements beyond ∼30° heliographic latitude during the later stages of the mission. The EPD will measure electrons, protons, and heavy ions with high temporal resolution over a wide energy range, from suprathermal energies up to several hundreds of megaelectronvolts/nucleons. For this purpose, EPD is composed of four units: the SupraThermal Electrons and Protons (STEP), the Electron Proton Telescope (EPT), the Suprathermal Ion Spectrograph (SIS), and the High-Energy Telescope (HET) plus the Instrument Control Unit that serves as power and data interface with the spacecraft. The low-energy population of electrons and ions will be covered by STEP and EPT, while the high-energy range will be measured by HET. Elemental and isotopic ion composition measurements will be performed by SIS and HET, allowing full particle identification from a few kiloelectronvolts up to several hundreds of megaelectronvolts/nucleons. Angular information will be provided by the separate look directions from different sensor heads, on the ecliptic plane along the Parker spiral magnetic field both forward and backwards, and out of the ecliptic plane observing both northern and southern hemispheres. The unparalleled observations of EPD will provide key insights into long-open and crucial questions about the processes that govern energetic particles in the inner heliosphere.
Abstract Objective To investigate the interactions of chondrocyte metabolism by synovial cells and synovial supernatants in a new perfusion co-culture system. Methods Chondrocytes and synovial ...fibroblasts were obtained from knee joints of slaughtered adult cattle. For experimental studies chondrocytes and synovial fibroblasts were placed together into a perfusion chamber (co-culture) or were placed into two different perfusion culture containers, which were connected by a silicone tube (culturing of chondrocytes with synovial supernatants). A control setup was used without synovial cells. Chondrocyte proliferation was shown by measurement of DNA content. The proteoglycan synthesis was quantified using35 SO42− -labelling and the dimethylmethylene blue assay.3 H-proline incorporation was used to estimate the protein biosynthesis. Type II collagen synthesis was measured by ELISA, furthermore extracellular matrix deposition was monitored immunohistochemically (collagen types I/II). Regarding to the role of reactive oxygen species LDH release before and after stimulation with hydrogen peroxide was measured. Results The proliferation of chondrocytes shows an increase in monoculture as well as in co-culture or in culture with synovial supernatants more than fivefold within 12 days.3 H-proline incorporation as a marker for chondrocytes biosynthetic activity decreases in co-culture system and in culture with synovial supernatants. A similar effect is seen measuring total proteoglycan content as well as the35 SO42− incorporation in chondrocytes. Co-culturing and culturing with synovial supernatants lead to a significant decrease of proteoglycan release and content. Quantification of collagen type II by ELISA shows significant lower amounts of native collagen type II in the extracellular matrix of co-cultured chondrocytes as well as in culture with synovial supernatants. The membrane damage of chondrocytes by hydrogen peroxide is reduced when chondrocytes are co-cultured with synovial fibroblasts. Conclusion The co-culture perfusion system is a new tool to investigate interactions of different cell types with less artificial interferences. Our results suggest that synovial supernatants and synovial fibroblasts modulate the biosynthetic activity and the matrix deposition of chondrocytes as well as the susceptibility to radical attack of reactive oxygen species.
Objective
Hypertrophic chondrocyte differentiation is a key step in endochondral ossification that produces basic calcium phosphates (BCPs). Although chondrocyte hypertrophy has been associated with ...osteoarthritis (OA), chondrocalcinosis has been considered an irregular event and linked mainly to calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) deposition. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and composition of calcium crystals in human OA and analyze their relationship to disease severity and markers of chondrocyte hypertrophy.
Methods
One hundred twenty patients with end‐stage OA undergoing total knee replacement were prospectively evaluated. Cartilage calcification was studied by conventional x‐ray radiography, digital‐contact radiography (DCR), field‐emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM), and synovial fluid analysis. Cartilage calcification findings were correlated with scores of knee function as well as histologic changes and chondrocyte hypertrophy as analyzed in vitro.
Results
DCR revealed mineralization in all cartilage specimens. Its extent correlated significantly with the Hospital for Special Surgery knee score but not with age. FE‐SEM analysis showed that BCPs, rather than CPPD, were the prominent minerals. On histologic analysis, it was observed that mineralization correlated with the expression of type X collagen, a marker of chondrocyte hypertrophy. Moreover, there was a strong correlation between the extent of mineralization in vivo and the ability of chondrocytes to produce BCPs in vitro. The induction of hypertrophy in healthy human chondrocytes resulted in a prominent mineralization of the extracellular matrix.
Conclusion
These results indicate that mineralization of articular cartilage by BCP is an indissociable process of OA and does not characterize a specific subset of the disease, which has important consequences in the development of therapeutic strategies for patients with OA.
Perichondrial transplantation was performed in 29 patients suffering from a deep chondral lesion with different etiologies. Only those patients with a cartilage lesion in the knee joint were ...included. Patients were initially and postoperatively examined using the Lysholm- and HSS-Score. In most of the patients (20/29) trauma and the recurrence of osteochondrosis dissecans (6/29) were the cause of the cartilage lesion. Most often the medial femoral condyle (19/29) and, secondly, the lateral femoral condyle (5/29) were involved. In six patients additional therapeutic measures (ACL-plasty, n = 2; high tibial osteotomy because of varus mal-alignment, n = 4) had to be adopted. Follow-up examination was possible in 26/29 patients after a minimum postoperative period of 12 months. All patients exhibited a distinct and significant increase in both the Lysholm and the HSS-score. A follow-up after a minimum of 24 months was possible in 13/29 patients. Even these patients exhibited a distinct and significant improvement. Multiple follow-up examinations in 9/29 patients demonstrated maintenance of the first postoperative results obtained after one postoperative year for a maximum of 49 months in most of the patients. Only in one female patient, implantation of a semi-constrained total knee replacement was necessary because of osteoarthrosis resulting from crystal arthropathy (chondrocalcinosis). It was possible to obtain biopsies from three patients at the time osteosynthetic material was removed. In all cases hyaline-like cartilage was histologically observed. In the treatment of selected patients suffering from a circumscript cartilaginous lesion resulting from trauma or the recurrence of osteochondritis dissecans with a concomitant cartilage lesion but without major signs of osteoarthritis, perichondrial grafting can achieve acceptable clinical results, after a short follow-up period. In order to achieve satisfying results a good selection of patients and additional treatment of other articular disorders, such as ACL-instability or axial mal-alignment, is necessary. Further studies have to be undertaken to evaluate the durability of these results over a longer period of time to see if osteoarthrosis can be avoided.
We examined the influence of various alginates on the redifferentiation of dedifferentiated articular chondrocytes in alginate bead culture under low (5%) and (21%) high oxygen supply. Isolated ...bovine articular chondrocytes were dedifferentiated and multiplied by 2-week monolayer culture under 21% oxygen. They were subcultured at a density of 10(7) cells/mL in six different commercially available sodium alginates (1.2%, w/v) and held under 21 or 5% oxygen for 3 weeks. Proliferation (DNA measurement on days 0 and 21 of culture), collagen type II production (immunocytochemistry and Western blotting), and (3)Hproline and (35)Ssulfate incorporation were monitored. Collagen type II production was significantly stronger under 5% oxygen compared with 21% oxygen in two alginates (three other alginates nearly reached the significance level). However, alginate-based differences proved not to be significant. (3)HProline incorporation was not influenced by alginate but showed strong oxygen dependency (up to 3-fold higher under 5% oxygen). For (35)Ssulfate incorporation oxygen dependency was even stronger (up to 8-fold higher under 5% oxygen) and significant alginate-dependent differences were found for several alginates. The effects of the different alginates did not correlate with their pH, viscosity, or guluronic:mannuronic acid ratio. Thus, the type of alginate and even more, the oxygen supply, influence the redifferentiation and matrix production of dedifferentiated bovine articular chondrocytes.
The Energetic Particle Detector Rodríguez-Pacheco, J; Wimmer-Schweingruber, R F; Mason, G M ...
Astronomy & astrophysics,
10/2020, Letnik:
642
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
After decades of observations of solar energetic particles from space-based observatories, relevant questions on particle injection, transport, and acceleration remain open. To address these ...scientific topics, accurate measurements of the particle properties in the inner heliosphere are needed. In this paper we describe the Energetic Particle Detector (EPD), an instrument suite that is part of the scientific payload aboard the Solar Orbiter mission. Solar Orbiter will approach the Sun as close as 0.28 au and will provide extra-ecliptic measurements beyond ∼30° heliographic latitude during the later stages of the mission. The EPD will measure electrons, protons, and heavy ions with high temporal resolution over a wide energy range, from suprathermal energies up to several hundreds of megaelectronvolts/nucleons. For this purpose, EPD is composed of four units: the SupraThermal Electrons and Protons (STEP), the Electron Proton Telescope (EPT), the Suprathermal Ion Spectrograph (SIS), and the High-Energy Telescope (HET) plus the Instrument Control Unit that serves as power and data interface with the spacecraft. The low-energy population of electrons and ions will be covered by STEP and EPT, while the high-energy range will be measured by HET. Elemental and isotopic ion composition measurements will be performed by SIS and HET, allowing full particle identification from a few kiloelectronvolts up to several hundreds of megaelectronvolts/nucleons. Angular information will be provided by the separate look directions from different sensor heads, on the ecliptic plane along the Parker spiral magnetic field both forward and backwards, and out of the ecliptic plane observing both northern and southern hemispheres. The unparalleled observations of EPD will provide key insights into long-open and crucial questions about the processes that govern energetic particles in the inner heliosphere.
The urgency of spinal procedures for rheumatoid inflammatory disease is presented in three typical spinal involvements. Characteristic connections between rheumatoid arthritis and the cervical spine, ...spinal fractures in ankylosing spondylitis and the occurrence of bacterial spondylodiscitis as a side effect of immunosuppression are discussed.
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