Leukocyte redistribution as immunological biomarker of corticosteroid resistance in severe asthma.

Background: Earlier studies have suggested that the leukocyte redistribution can be considered as an immunological marker of the clinical response to corticosteroids (CS), representing an easy measurable potential biomarker in severe asthma.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determinate the utility of the leukocyte redistribution as a biomarker of disease heterogeneity in patients with severe asthma and as a bioindicator of potential CS resistance.

Methods: We developed an unbiased clustering approach based on the clinical data and the flow cytometry results of peripheral blood leukocyte phenotypes of 142 patients with severe asthma before and after systemic CS administration.

Development of integrated wetland change detection approach: In case of Erdos Larus Relictus National Nature Reserve, China.

Wetlands are threatened by the global warming and the human exploitation pressure, and have been shrinking quickly in recent years. Timely and accurate wetland area change detection is the primary task for wetland conservation and restoration. The objective of this study is to develop an integrated change detection approach which integrates the advantages of spectral mixture analysis (SMA) and change vector analysis (CVA) for the change identification of wetland dynamics.

Human CD40 ligand-expressing type 3 innate lymphoid cells induce IL-10-producing immature transitional regulatory B cells.

Background: Type 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s) are involved in maintenance of mucosal homeostasis; however, their role in immunoregulation has been unknown. Immature transitional regulatory B (itBreg) cells are innate-like B cells with immunosuppressive properties, and the in vivo mechanisms by which they are induced have not been fully clarified.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the ILC3-B-cell interaction that probably takes place in human tonsils.

Evaluating Crop Area Mapping from MODIS Time-Series as an Assessment Tool for Zimbabwe's "Fast Track Land Reform Programme".

Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data forms the basis for numerous land use and land cover (LULC) mapping and analysis frameworks at regional scale. Compared to other satellite sensors, the spatial, temporal and spectral specifications of MODIS are considered as highly suitable for LULC classifications which support many different aspects of social, environmental and developmental research. The LULC mapping of this study was carried out in the context of the development of an evaluation approach for Zimbabwe's land reform program.