Pathophysiological landmarks of depressive disorders are chronic low-grade inflammation and elevated glucocorticoid output. Both can potentially interfere with cytoskeleton organization, cell membrane bending and cell function, suggesting altered cell morpho-rheological properties like cell deformability and other cell mechanical features in depressive disorders. We performed a cross-sectional case-control study using the image-based morpho-rheological characterization of unmanipulated blood samples facilitating real-time deformability cytometry (RT-DC). Sixty-nine pre-screened individuals at high risk for depressive disorders and 70 matched healthy controls were included and clinically evaluated by Composite International Diagnostic Interview leading to lifetime and 12-month diagnoses. Facilitating deep learning on blood cell images, major blood cell types were classified and morpho-rheological parameters such as cell size and cell deformability of every individual cell was quantified. We found peripheral blood cells to be more deformable in patients with depressive disorders compared to controls, while cell size was not affected. Lifetime persistent depressive disorder was associated with increased cell deformability in monocytes and neutrophils, while in 12-month persistent depressive disorder erythrocytes deformed more. Lymphocytes were more deformable in 12-month major depressive disorder, while for lifetime major depressive disorder no differences could be identified. After correction for multiple testing, only associations for lifetime persistent depressive disorder remained significant. This is the first study analyzing morpho-rheological properties of entire blood cells and highlighting depressive disorders and in particular persistent depressive disorders to be associated with increased blood cell deformability. While all major blood cells tend to be more deformable, lymphocytes, monocytes, and neutrophils are mostly affected. This indicates that immune cell mechanical changes occur in depressive disorders, which might be predictive of persistent immune response.

Severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with hyperinflammation, hypercoagulability and hypoxia. Red blood cells (RBCs) play a key role in microcirculation and hypoxemia and are therefore of special interest in COVID-19 pathophysiology. While this novel disease has claimed the lives of many older patients, it often goes unnoticed or with mild symptoms in children. This study aimed to investigate morphological and mechanical characteristics of RBCs after SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and adolescents by real-time deformability-cytometry (RT-DC), to investigate the relationship between alterations of RBCs and clinical course of COVID-19. Full blood of 121 students from secondary schools in Saxony, Germany, was analyzed. SARS-CoV-2-serostatus was acquired at the same time. Median RBC deformation was significantly increased in SARS-CoV-2-seropositive compared to seronegative children and adolescents, but no difference could be detected when the infection dated back more than 6 months. Median RBC area was the same in seropositive and seronegative adolescents. Our findings of increased median RBC deformation in SARS-CoV-2 seropositive children and adolescents until 6 months post COVID-19 could potentially serve as a progression parameter in the clinical course of the disease with an increased RBC deformation pointing towards a mild course of COVID-19.

Blue force tracking represents an essential task in the field of military applications. A blue force tracking system provides the location information of their own forces on a map to commanders. For the command post, this results in more efficient operation control with increasing safety. In underground structures (e.g., tunnels or subways), the localisation is challenging due to the lack of GNSS signals. This paper presents a localisation system for military or emergency forces tailored to usage in complex underground structures. In a particle filter, position changes from a dual foot-mounted INS are fused with opportunistic UWB ranges and data from a 3D tunnel model to derive position information. A concept to deal with the absence of UWB infrastructure or 3D tunnel models is illustrated. Recurrent neural network methodologies are applied to cope with different motion types of the operators. The evaluation of the positioning algorithm took place in a street tunnel. If a fully installed infrastructure was available, positioning errors under one metre were reached. The results also showed that the INS can bridge UWB outages. A particle-filter-based approach to UWB anchor mapping is presented, and the first simulation results showed its viability.

Complex subsurface operations are characterized by a life‐threatening environment, a skilled and initiative opponent, and the absence of predictability of the events due to a high level of interdependencies. The reduction of complexity by provision of essential information is crucial for decision‐making and rapid integration and visualization of heterogeneous data is essential for successful mission accomplishment. Currently, only standalone applications are available for the underground operational environment, and collaborative planning and working spaces in command and control are missing. The RApid Data Integration and Visualization (RADIV) process addresses exactly this challenge and ensures the lateral continuity of visualization systems across the entire reality‐virtuality continuum (2D ⇔ 3D ⇔ mixed reality). It provides a comprehensive command and control system for subterranean operations by processing and visualizing data in different views for different purposes. Integration of these data within the Subsurface Operations Mission Tool (SOMT) will increase the decision quality by improved perception and collaboration. Close cooperation and information exchange between operators and action forces is a prerequisite for success by displaying the relevant information within the truly comprehensive common operational picture, thereby enabling more accurate and precise action reducing own losses and collateral damage.

BackgroundCell deformability of all major blood cell types is increased in depressive disorders (DD). Furthermore, impaired glucocorticoid secretion is causally related to DD. Nevertheless, there are no longitudinal studies examining changes in glucocorticoid output and depressive symptoms regarding cell deformability in DD.AimTo investigate, whether changes in depressive symptoms or hair glucocorticoids predict cell deformability in DD.MethodsIn 136 individuals, depressive symptoms (PHQ-9) and hair glucocorticoids (cortisol and cortisone) were measured at timepoint one (T1), while one year later (T2) depressive symptoms and hair glucocorticoids were remeasured and additionally cell deformability of peripheral blood cells was assessed and DD status was determined by clinical interview.ResultsDepression severity at T1 predicted higher cell deformability in monocytes and lymphocytes over the entire sample. Subjects with continuously high depressive symptoms at T1 and T2 showed elevated monocyte deformability as compared to subjects with low depressive symptoms. Depression severity at T1 of subjects with a lifetime persistent depressive disorder (PDD) was associated with elevated monocyte, neutrophil, and granulo-monocyte deformability. Depression severity at T1 of subjects with a 12-month PDD was positively associated with monocyte deformability. Furthermore, increases in glucocorticoid concentrations from T1 to T2 tended to be associated with higher immune cell deformability, while strongest associations emerged for the increase in cortisone with elevated neutrophil and granulo-monocyte deformability in the 12-month PDD group.ConclusionContinuously elevated depressive symptomatology as well as an increase in glucocorticoid levels over one year are associated with higher immune cell deformability, particularly in PDD. These findings suggest, that persistent depressive symptomatology associated with increased glucocorticoid secretion may lead to increased immune cell deformability thereby compromising immune cell function and likely contributing to the perpetuation of PDD.