Lagrangian coherent structure assisted path planning for transoceanic autonomous underwater vehicle missions

Transoceanic Gliders are Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) for which there is a developing and expanding range of applications in open-seas research, technology and underwater clean transport. Mature glider autonomy, operating depth (0–1000 meters) and low energy consumption without a CO₂ footprint enable evolutionary access across ocean basins. Pursuant to the first successful transatlantic glider crossing in December 2009, the Challenger Mission has opened the door to long-term, long-distance routine transoceanic AUV missions. These vehicles, which glide through the water column between 0 and 1000 meters depth, are highly sensitive to the ocean current field. Consequently, it is essential to exploit the complex space-time structure of the ocean current field in order to plan a path that optimizes scientific payoff and navigation efficiency. This letter demonstrates the capability of dynamical system theory for achieving this goal by realizing the real-time navigation strategy for the transoceanic AUV named Silbo, which is a Slocum deep-glider (0–1000 m), that crossed the North Atlantic from April 2016 to March 2017. Path planning in real time based on this approach has facilitated an impressive speed up of the AUV to unprecedented velocities resulting in major battery savings on the mission, offering the potential for routine transoceanic long duration missions.

Stratified coastal ocean interactions with tropical cyclones

Hurricane-intensity forecast improvements currently lag the progress achieved for hurricane tracks. Integrated ocean observations and simulations during hurricane Irene (2011) reveal that the wind-forced two-layer circulation of the stratified coastal ocean, and resultant shear-induced mixing, led to significant and rapid ahead-of-eye-centre cooling (at least 6 °C and up to 11 °C) over a wide swath of the continental shelf. Atmospheric simulations establish this cooling as the missing contribution required to reproduce Irene's accelerated intensity reduction. Historical buoys from 1985 to 2015 show that ahead-of-eye-centre cooling occurred beneath all 11 tropical cyclones that traversed the Mid-Atlantic Bight continental shelf during stratified summer conditions. A Yellow Sea buoy similarly revealed significant and rapid ahead-of-eye-centre cooling during Typhoon Muifa (2011). These findings establish that including realistic coastal baroclinic processes in forecasts of storm intensity and impacts will be increasingly critical to mid-latitude population centres as sea levels rise and tropical cyclone maximum intensities migrate poleward.

Accurate forecasts of hurricane intensity remain problematic. Here, using an ocean observing network to inform ocean and atmospheric model simulations, the authors show that consideration of ahead-of-eye cooling improves intensity forecasts.

Atypical hand, foot, and mouth disease associated with coxsackievirus A6 infection, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, January to February 2014

In January to February 2014, 16 hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) cases were identified in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. All presented with atypical features, with most (n=13) resembling eczema herpeticum or chickenpox. Coxsackievirus A6 (CV-A6) was identified in all the typed cases (n=11). As atypical forms of HFMD associated with CV-A6 are likely to emerge throughout Europe, clinicians should be alert to unusual clinical presentations of HFMD and virologists aware of effective diagnostic testing and enterovirus typing methods.

Pseudoporphyria and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Pseudoporphyria is characterized by erythema, blistering, and scarring on sun-exposed skin. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are implicated in the etiology of this condition. In a 1-year prospective study of children attending the pediatric rheumatology clinic in Edinburgh we found a prevalence of pseudoporphyria of 10.9% in children taking NSAIDs for juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Naproxen was the most commonly implicated NSAID, independent of dosage. Blue/gray eye color was an independent risk factor for the development of pseudoporphyria. We would advise caution in prescribing naproxen in these children to prevent disfiguring facial scarring.

Abnormal expression of epiligrin and alpha 6 beta 4 integrin in basal cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Basal cell carcinoma is characterized by local invasion, and only rarely metastasizes. The role of the containing basement membrane (BM) in this tumor is unclear. Several BM components have been shown to be absent or significantly reduced in BM surrounding infiltrating tumor.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study is to examine the expression of epiligrin, a BM-associated glycoprotein, and the integrin chains alpha 3, alpha 6, beta 1, and beta 4 in the basement membranes surrounding basal cell carcinoma.

METHODS

Samples were obtained from 20 patients with basal cell carcinomas and subjected to a standard avidin biotin complex/alkaline phosphatase immunohistochemical technique using a panel of antibodies.

RESULTS

There was a consistent abnormality of expression of epiligrin, alpha 6, and beta 4.

CONCLUSION

We propose that reduced expression of epiligrin is involved in the pathogenesis of the local invasion by tumor and that an altered integrin ratio in basal cell carcinoma enhances tumor spread.

Nicein (BM-600) in junctional epidermolysis bullosa: polyclonal antibodies provide new clues for pathogenic role

We have raised polyclonal antibodies against each of three subunits of the new basement membrane component nicein (formerly BM-600), the antigen recognized by the monoclonal antibody GB3 (Biochem Biophys Acta 942:45-56, 1988). Preparation of such antibodies was achieved from gel electrophoresis purification of nicein isolated by immuno-affinity chromatography. These antibodies were reactive with each transblotted denatured nicein subunit and recognized the native protein both in cultured keratinocytes and in all normal human basement membranes where the GB3 antigen is located. A reciprocal immuno-cross-reactivity was detected with the antibodies directed against the 100-kD and 150-kD (sometimes resolved as a 146-150-kD doublet) subunits of nicein, showing that they share some identical epitopes. In tissues and keratinocyte cultures from patients with the Herlitz form of junctional epidermolysis bullosa (H-JEB), GB3 is unable to recognize nicein, and the question arises whether this is due to an absence of synthesis or a structural abnormality of the protein. We report here that the polyclonal antibody directed against the 150-kD subunit of nicein binds its antigen in H-JEB patients (although usually less intensely than in control skin), whereas the other two antibodies either do not recognize or recognize only weakly their respective antigen subunits. These data suggest that nicein is present but structurally altered in basement membranes from H-JEB tissues. Furthermore, in non-Herlitz junctional and dystrophic types of epidermolysis bullosa, all three polyclonal antibodies recognize their antigens normally. Consequently, such antibodies should serve as potentially useful molecular tools for studying the expression of nicein in H-JEB.

Detection of a novel basement membrane antigen by GDA-J/F3 anti-human sperm fibrous sheath monoclonal antibody

Basement membrane zones (BMZ) of human epithelia were stained with GDA-J/F3 monoclonal antibody, which was originally raised against sperm cells. Using indirect immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase techniques, the antibody reacted with the BMZ of stratified squamous epithelia (skin and its appendages, tongue, lip, oesophagus and cervix). It also stained the BMZ of trachea, nasal ciliated mucosa, some mammary ducts of lactating and resting breast, amnion and ureter but failed to react with that of stomach, ileum, colon, rectum, kidney, liver, fallopian tube, lung or their blood vessels. In testes, the antibody did not react with the BMZ of the seminiferous tubules although the sperm tails were stained. Split-skin immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy localized GDA-J/F3 antigen to the inferior border of the lamina densa of the BMZ. In human foetuses, the epidermally associated antigen was detected at an estimated gestational age of 9 weeks, and in the amnion at 15 weeks. The antibody reacted with tissues from monkey but not from mouse, rat, cow or pig suggesting the late appearance of the antigen during evolution. Although the GDA-J/F3 was difficult to characterize biochemically, its tissue distribution, ontogeny and ultrastructural localization suggests that this antigen may be a type VII collagen-associated protein, whose expression is altered in recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. This disease could represent abnormalities in type VII collagen structure, assembly, transport or interaction with associated proteins.

Monoclonal antibody GB3 defines a widespread defect of several basement membranes and a keratinocyte dysfunction in patients with lethal junctional epidermolysis bullosa

An antigen expressed at the dermal-epidermal junction as well as in some other human basement membranes (BM) has been detected by the use of a monoclonal antibody termed GB3. This antigen, synthesized by cultured normal human keratinocytes, has been identified as a 600-kilodalton glycoprotein different from other known components of BM. Using indirect immunofluorescence, GB3 was found to be not reactive with the epidermal BM in patients with lethal junctional epidermolysis bullosa. The present study demonstrates (by indirect immunofluorescence) that GB3 defines a widespread defect of several BM in these patients. Furthermore, it gives evidences for an intrinsic biologic defect of lethal junctional epidermolysis bullosa epidermal keratinocytes using in vitro culture of these cells. Whether the lack of GB3 reactivity is the consequence of a true absence of the antigen or an alteration of its molecular structure is not yet known. Nevertheless, GB3 is a useful probe for both rapid and prenatal diagnosis of lethal junctional epidermolysis bullosa, which will give new insights into the molecular comprehension of this disorder.

A study of the role of house dust mite in atopic dermatitis

Subjects with positive skin-prick tests to house dust mite (HDM) solution, including those with and without atopic dermatitis, participated in a double-blind, controlled study of the role of HDM exposure in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis. HDM solution and diluent control were applied daily to mildly eczematous or clinically uninvolved skin of the antecubital or popliteal fossae, without prior abrasion, for 5 days. Responses were assessed by a clinical grading system and by measurement of area of dermatitis; pruritus was recorded on visual analogue scales. The clinical grading system showed that marked or moderate delayed local reactions developed in one third of patients with atopic dermatitis in response to HDM application to both mildly eczematous and clinically uninvolved skin. Relative to control sites, significant increases in area of dermatitis and degree of pruritus were also recorded in response to HDM application to mildly eczematous sites. Application of HDM solution to normal, unabraded skin of prick test positive subjects without a history of dermatitis, produced pruritus and immediate urticarial responses which were not seen at control sites, findings which demonstrate that HDM antigen may be rapidly absorbed in normal skin. Application of vehicle or antigen solution to which subjects were negative on prick testing, produced no significant local reactions. This study provides objective evidence for a role for cutaneous HDM exposure in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis.

Response of psoriatic lesions to multiple applications of leukotriene B4 and 12-HETE

Single topical application of the neutrophil chemoattractant arachidonic acid metabolites leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and 12-R,S-hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid [corrected] (12-HETE) to normal skin elicits a histological response similar to early psoriasis. This effect diminishes following repeated application indicating the development of local tolerance. In order to assess whether induction of tolerance could be exploited as a treatment for psoriasis we studied the clinical effects of topical application of LTB4 (n = 6) and 12-HETE (n = 3) under occlusion to small psoriatic lesions for 12 consecutive days. The area of the control lesions decreased significantly over the study period while the areas of lesions to which LTB4 and 12-HETE were applied remained unchanged. No other difference between responses of the three groups was detected. We have shown that, in the doses used, multiple applications of these substances to established stable psoriatic lesions do not produce a therapeutically useful response.