EXPANSION OF THE DISTURBING FUNCTION FOR HIGH ECCENTRICITY AND LARGE-AMPLITUDE OF LIBRATION

Following some ideas, developed by Woltjer (1928), Message (1989), Yokoyama (1988, 1989) and Duriez (1990) an expansion of the disturbing function is given for high values of the eccentricity and large amplitude of libration. The classical expansion can be obtained as a particular case of the present model. Several asteroids with high eccentricity and large amplitude of libration are tested and the results are much better than those obtained from the classical theory.

The high-eccentricity asymmetric expansion of the disturbing function for non-planar resonant problems

In this paper we present an extension to the nonplanar case of the asymmetric expansion of the averaged resonant disturbing function of Ferraz-Mello & Sato (1989, A&A 225, 541-547). Comparions with the exact averaged disturbing function are also presented. The expansion gives a good approximation of the exact function in a wide region around the center of expansion.

Third body perturbation using a single averaged model considering elliptic orbits for the disturbing body

In the present work, we expanded the study done by Solorzanol(1) including the eccentricity of the perturbing body. The assumptions used to develop the single-averaged analytical model are the same ones of the restricted elliptic three-body problem. The disturbing function was expanded in Legendre polynomials up to fourth-order. After that, the equations of motion are obtained from the planetary equations and we performed a set of numerical simulations. Different initial eccentricities for the perturbing and perturbed body are considered. The results obtained perform an analysis of the stability of a near-circular orbits and investigate under which conditions this orbit remain near-circular.

Human leukocyte antigen-G expression after kidney transplantation is associated with a reduced incidence of rejection

HLA-G is a non-classic Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA-G) Class I of low polymorphism and restricted tissue distribution that displays tolerogenic functions. In heart transplantation and in combined liver/renal allograft transplantation, the expression of HLA-G has been associated with a lower incidence of acute graft rejection episodes and absence of chronic dysfunction. Since the expression of HLA-G in renal biopsies has been investigated only in few patients who received a combined kidney and liver transplant, in this study we performed a cross-sectional study, systematically comparing the expression of HLA-G in post-transplanted renal grafts, stratifying patients according to the presence or absence of rejection.Patients and Methods: Seventy-three renal specimens (10 with acute rejection and 13 with chronic allograft nephropathy, and 50 with no signs of rejection) were immunohistochemically evaluated for HLA-G expression.Results: In the group as a whole, HLA-G molecules were detected in 40 cases (54.8%). Among specimens that presented HLA-G expression, 2 out of 40 (5%) exhibited acute rejection, 2 (5%) exhibited chronic allograft nephropathy, and the remaining 36 (90%) exhibited no signs of rejection. The comparison between patients with rejection and those without rejection showed that the expression of HLA-G was significantly increased in specimens exhibiting no signs of rejection (p<0.0001). Considering only patients with acute rejection, 8 out of 10 patients showed no HLA-G expression in their kidney biopsies when compared to patients exhibiting no signs of rejection and absence of HLA-G was observed in 14 out of 50 (p=0.0032). Similarly, considering only patients with chronic allograft nephropathy, absence of HLA-G expression was observed in I I out of 13 specimens, whereas in patients without rejection absence of HLA-G was observed in 14 out of 50 (p=0.003). Therapy with tacrolimus was significantly associated with the expression of HLA-G and a better graft prognosis. Conclusions: Our results suggest that HLA-G expression in the kidney allograft and the use of tacrolimus are associated with a lower frequency of acute renal rejection and chronic allograft nephropathy. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Synchronous machines parameters identification using load rejection test data

This work shows a computational methodology for the determination of synchronous machines parameters using load rejection test data. The quadrature axis parameters are obtained with a rejection under an arbitrary reference, reducing the present difficulties.

Identification of synchronous machine parameters using load rejection test data

This work shows a computational methodology for the determination of synchronous machines parameters using load rejection test data. By machine modeling one can obtain the quadrature parameters through a load rejection under an arbitrary reference, reducing the present difficulties. The proposed method is applied to a real machine.

In situ expression of mononuclear cell markers and interleukin-2 receptor in renal allograft biopsies of acute rejection and borderline cases

The correct diagnosis of renal allograft rejection may be difficult using only clinical and/or histopathological criteria. Immunological assays should be considered in order to evaluate the phenotype of inflammatory infiltrate in renal allograft biopsies. Immunohistochemical studies were performed to detect mononuclear cells, CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, macrophages, null cells, and positive cells for interleukin-2 receptors. A total of 41 allograft biopsies classified into three groups were studied: acute cellular rejection (28 biopsies/22 patients), borderline (7 biopsies/5 patients) and control (6 biopsies/6 patients). In the rejection group (RG), increased cellularity was found mainly at the tubulo-interstitial level. Expression of CD8 positive cells was higher in RG when compared to borderline (BG) and control (CG) groups, respectively (0.9 vs. 0.0 vs. 0.35 cells/mm2; p < 0.001). Expression of macrophages was not statistically significant among the three groups (RG = 0.6 vs. BG = 0.2 vs. CG = 0.0 cells/mm2; p < 0.02). In the BG, CD4 + cells predominated (BG = 0.2 vs. RG = 0.05 vs. CG = 0.0 cells/mm2; p < 0.05). Clinically these patients were treated as cases of acute rejection. The numbers and different types of infiltrating cells did not correlate with patient's clinical outcome. Copyright © Informa Healthcare.

Third-body perturbation in the case of elliptic orbits for the disturbing body

In the present work it is presented a semi-analytical and a numerical study of the perturbation caused in a spacecraft by a third body using a double averaged analytical model with the disturbing function expanded in Legendre polynomials up to the second-order. The important reason for this procedure is to eliminate the terms due to the short time periodic motion of the spacecraft and to show smooth curves for the evolution of the mean orbital elements for a long time period. The aim of this study is to calculate the effect of lunar perturbations on the orbits of spacecrafts that are traveling around the Earth. It is presented an analysis of the stability of a near-circular orbit and a study to know under which conditions this orbit remains near-circular. A study of the equatorial orbits is also performed.

Acute antibody-mediated rejection of renal transplant associated with cellular crescents: First case report

Acute antibody-mediated rejection is characterized by histological abnormalities such as glomerulitis, capillaritis, or thrombosis associated with presence of C4d and specific anti-donor antibodies. Reports on the association of glomerular injuries with cellular crescents in antibody-mediated rejection are not found in the literature. We report a unique case of antibody-mediated rejection associated with cellular crescents and suggest that such histological abnormality should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute antibody-mediated rejection. © 2011 Elsevier Inc.

Mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate and microcirculation injury in acute rejection: Role in renal allograft survival

This study aimed at investigating associations between monocytes/ macrophages (Mo) infiltration and three important criteria associated with acute antibody-mediated rejection: C4d staining, microcirculation injury, and graft survival time. By quantitative analysis, Mo were counted in peritubular capillaries and in the interstitial compartment (peritubular/interstitial Mo), and they were also identified in glomeruli (glomerular Mo). The study included 47 patients who received renal allograft between 1991 and 2009. Capillaritis and glomerulitis were classified by the Banff scoring system, and C4d and Mo were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. In the quantitative analysis, the mean values of 50 Mo per 10 high-power fields (HPF) and 4 Mo per glomerulus were used as cut-off points for the peritubular/interstitial and glomerular compartments, respectively. Positive C4d cases were associated with the groups of biopsies with a mean value ≥50 Mo per 10 HPF (p = 0.01) and ≥4 Mo per glomerulus (p = 0.02). The group with a mean value ≥4 Mo per glomerulus also showed association with the presence of glomerulitis (p = 0.02). Peritubular/ interstitial Mo did not associate with glomerulitis. Capillaritis did not show association with peritubular/interstitial or glomerular Mo. As regards graft survival, the infiltration of Mo in glomeruli interfered with allograft survival (p = 0.01). The group with a mean value of ≥4 glomerular Mo presented worse survival at the time of the 1-year follow-up. According to the literature, our data showed that infiltration of mononuclear cells was associated with C4d staining, microcirculation injury, and glomerulitis, in particular, and that glomerular macrophages could influence renal allograft survival. Copyright © 2013 Informa Healthcare USA, Inc.

Methods of Analysis for Peritubular Capillaritis and Glomerulitis in Acute Renal Rejection: Capillaritis in Management of Routine Diagnosis

Glomerulitis and peritubular capillaritis have been recognized as important lesions in acute renal rejection (AR). We studied glomerulitis and peritubular capillaritis in AR by 2 methods and investigated associations with C4d, type/grade of AR, and allograft survival time. Glomerulitis was measured according to Banff scores (glomerulitis by Banff Method [gBM]) and by counting the number of intraglomerular inflammatory cells (glomerulitis by Quantitative Method [gQM]). Capillaritis was classified by the Banff scoring system (peritubular capillaritis by Banff Method [ptcBM]) and by counting the number of cells in peritubular capillaries in 10 high-power fields (hpf; peritubular capillaritis by Quantitative Method [ptcQM]). These quantitative analyses were performed in an attempt to improve our understanding of the role played by glomerulitis and capillaritis in AR. The g0 + g1 group (gBM) associated with negative C4d (P = .02). In peritubular capillaritis, a larger number of cells per 10 hpf in peritubular capillaries (ptcQM) were observed in positive C4d cases (P = .03). The group g2 + g3 (gBM) correlated with graft loss (P = .01). Peritubular capillaritis was not significantly related to graft survival time. Our study showed that the Banff scoring system is the best method to study glomerulitis and observed that the evaluation of capillaritis in routine biopsies is difficult and additional studies are required for a better understanding of its meaning in AR biopsy specimens of renal allografts.

The imbalance between Treg and Th17 cells caused by FTY720 treatment in skin allograft rejection

OBJECTIVES: FTY720 modulates CD4(+)T cells by the augmentation of regulatory T cell activity, secretion of suppressive cytokines and suppression of IL-17 secretion by Th17 cells. To further understand the process of graft rejection/acceptance, we evaluated skin allograft survival and associated events after FTY720 treatment. METHODS: F1 mice (C57BL/6xBALB/c) and C57BL/6 mice were used as donors for and recipients of skin transplantation, respectively. The recipients were transplanted and either not treated or treated with FTY720 by gavage for 21 days to evaluate the allograft survival. In another set of experiments, the immunological evaluation was performed five days post-transplantation. The spleens, axillary lymph nodes and skin allografts of the recipient mice were harvested for phenotyping (flow cytometry), gene expression (real-time PCR) and cytokine (Bio-Plex) analysis. RESULTS: The FTY720 treatment significantly increased skin allograft survival, reduced the number of cells in the lymph nodes and decreased the percentage of Tregs at this site in the C57BL/6 recipients. Moreover, the treatment reduced the number of graft-infiltrating cells and the percentage of CD4(+) graft-infiltrating cells. The cytokine analysis (splenocytes) showed decreased levels of IL-10, IL-6 and IL-17 in the FTY720-treated mice. We also observed a decrease in the IL-10, IL-6 and IL-23 mRNA levels, as well as an increase in the IL-27 mRNA levels, in the splenocytes of the treated group. The FTY720-treated mice exhibited increased mRNA levels of IL-10, IL-27 and IL-23 in the skin graft. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrated prolonged but not indefinite skin allograft survival by FTY720 treatment. This finding indicates that the drug did not prevent the imbalance between Tr1 and Th17 cells in the graft that led to rejection.

Immunoglobulin G profile in hyperacute rejection after multivisceral xenotransplantation

Galvao FHF, Soler W, Pompeu E, Waisberg DR, Mello ES, Costa ACL, Teodoro W, Velosa AP, Capelozzi VL, Antonangelo L, Catanozi S, Martins A, Malbouisson LMS, Cruz RJ, Figueira ER, Filho JAR, Chaib E, D'Albuquerque LAC. Immunoglobulin G profile in hyperacute rejection after multivisceral xenotransplantation. Xenotransplantation 2012; 19: 298304. (c) 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Abstract: Introduction: Xenotransplantation is a potential solution for the high mortality of patients on the waiting list for multivisceral transplantation; nevertheless, hyperacute rejection (HAR) hampers this practice and motivates innovative research. In this report, we describe a model of multivisceral xenotransplantation in which we observed immunoglobulin G (IgG) involvement in HAR. Methods: We recovered en bloc multivisceral grafts (distal esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, liver, pancreas, and kidneys) from rabbits (n = 20) and implanted them in the swine (n = 15) or rabbits (n = 5, control). Three hours after graft reperfusion, we collected samples from all graft organs for histological study and to assess IgG fixation by immunofluorescence. Histopathologic findings were graded according to previously described methods. Results: No histopathological features of rejection were seen in the rabbit allografts. In the swine-to-rabbit grafts, features of HAR were moderate in the liver and severe in esophagus, stomach, intestines, spleen, pancreas, and kidney. Xenograft vessels were the central target of HAR. The main lesions included edema, hemorrhage, thrombosis, myosites, fibrinoid degeneration, and necrosis. IgG deposition was intense on cell membranes, mainly in the vascular endothelium. Conclusions: Rabbit-to-swine multivisceral xenotransplants undergo moderate HAR in the liver and severe HAR in the other organs. Moderate HAR in the liver suggests a degree of resistance to the humoral immune response in this organ. Strong IgG fixation in cell membranes, including vascular endothelium, confirms HAR characterized by a primary humoral immune response. This model allows appraisal of HAR in multiple organs and investigation of the livers relative resistance to this immune response.

NLGA based Active Control in Aerospace: fault tolerability, disturbance rejection, and parameter estimation

A new control scheme has been presented in this thesis. Based on the NonLinear Geometric Approach, the proposed Active Control System represents a new way to see the reconfigurable controllers for aerospace applications. The presence of the Diagnosis module (providing the estimation of generic signals which, based on the case, can be faults, disturbances or system parameters), mean feature of the depicted Active Control System, is a characteristic shared by three well known control systems: the Active Fault Tolerant Controls, the Indirect Adaptive Controls and the Active Disturbance Rejection Controls. The standard NonLinear Geometric Approach (NLGA) has been accurately investigated and than improved to extend its applicability to more complex models. The standard NLGA procedure has been modified to take account of feasible and estimable sets of unknown signals. Furthermore the application of the Singular Perturbations approximation has led to the solution of Detection and Isolation problems in scenarios too complex to be solved by the standard NLGA. Also the estimation process has been improved, where multiple redundant measuremtent are available, by the introduction of a new algorithm, here called "Least Squares - Sliding Mode". It guarantees optimality, in the sense of the least squares, and finite estimation time, in the sense of the sliding mode. The Active Control System concept has been formalized in two controller: a nonlinear backstepping controller and a nonlinear composite controller. Particularly interesting is the integration, in the controller design, of the estimations coming from the Diagnosis module. Stability proofs are provided for both the control schemes. Finally, different applications in aerospace have been provided to show the applicability and the effectiveness of the proposed NLGA-based Active Control System.