The generally recommended skin protection regimen seems to provide effective prevention of occupational skin disease. Therefore, the compliance to follow the skin protection regimen, especially the use of skin protection, should be enhanced.

Self-tuning optical systems are of growing importance in technological applications such as mode-locked fiber lasers. Such self-tuning paradigms require intelligent algorithms capable of inferring approximate models of the underlying physics and discovering appropriate control laws in order to maintain robust performance for a given objective. In this work, we demonstrate the first integration of a deep learning (DL) architecture with model predictive control (MPC) in order to self-tune a mode-locked fiber laser. Not only can our DL-MPC algorithmic architecture approximate the unknown fiber birefringence, it also builds a dynamical model of the laser and appropriate control law for maintaining robust, high-energy pulses despite a stochastically drifting birefringence. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this method on a fiber laser which is mode-locked by nonlinear polarization rotation. The method advocated can be broadly applied to a variety of optical systems that require robust controllers. © 2017 OCIS codes: (140.4050) Mode-locked lasers; (140.3510) Lasers, fiber; (150.5758) Robotic and machine control; (120.4820) Optical systems arxiv.org

The present review gives an overview of the enormous variety of skin scores used for assessing severity in patients suffering from hand eczema. In order to evaluate the validity and practical relevance of different scoring systems according to the criteria of evidence-based medicine, in May 2009 we performed a systematic search of the literature using PubMed and the Cochrane Library. A total of 69 articles reporting on 45 different methods for quantifying hand eczema were identified. The panel of methods varied from pure subjective categories to more or less quantitative scoring systems. Furthermore, by focusing on skin scores used in clinical trials in which the results led to the licensing of a systemic or topical drug for treatment of hand eczema, a panel of different scoring systems was identified. In addition to morphological pattern, some scoring systems included subjective complaints, which might cause an individual bias by overestimation of self-reports. Inter- and intraobserver reliability was rarely reported except for three scores. Among these validated scores interobserver reliability was reported for three scores, but only one of the three included reliability within observers (repeatability). Advantages and disadvantages of the different scoring systems are critically discussed. Depending on different indications and particular settings (e.g. occupational screening vs. clinical examinations, evaluating progress of treatment in everyday clinical practice or for research purposes) scoring systems have to fulfil diverging demands. We draw the conclusion that a standardized diagnostic procedure for assessing the severity of hand eczema would facilitate the comparability of outcome of clinical trials. However, scoring systems used for occupational screening have to fulfil different demands compared with scoring systems used for licensing of drugs. This striking difference might be explained by the skin condition, which is generally supposed to be much better in subjects at medical check-ups at the workplace.

Dendritic cells (DC) of myeloid origin can be generated from mouse bone marrow (BM) using granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Immature major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II(low) DC are known to bear a high endocytosis capacity, in contrast to DC precursors and mature DC. Now we found that a subset of MHC II(low) DC in BM-DC cultures is unable to exert mannose receptor-mediated endocytosis of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran (DX) and resembles immature Langerhans cells (LC). The FITC-DX endocytosis activity of LC-like cells occurs at an earlier stage of development, where the surface MHC II expression is absent or very weak. This LC-like subset expresses higher levels of E-cadherin but lower amounts of the markers Gr-1, scavenger receptor 2F8, and CD11b, when compared with the highly endocytic DC subset. The latter myeloid DC resemble monocyte-derived DC (MoDC). The sorted LC-like population develops completely and exclusively into mature MHC IIhigh DC, and the MoDC-like cells remain immature MHC II(low) DC or develop into adherent MHC IIneg macrophages or mature into MHC IIhigh DC. The development of LC-like cells is promoted by interleukin-4. Thus, we show here that the simultaneous development of LC-like and MoDC-like DC subsets occurs in standard bulk cultures with GM-CSF, suggesting the existence of two different precursors for LC and MoDC in BM.

Background: Although they know the long-term complications of smoking, many smokers require additional motivation for entering a smoking cessation programme. At the same time, smoking is considered a possible promoting factor for various skin diseases. Objective: The present study assesses the impact of smoking on occupational hand dermatitis in a high-risk population. Material and Methods: 1,355 metal workers, 97.3% of them shift workers, took part in a standardized interview and a dermatological examination of their hands. A subgroup of 1,020 males was willing to be followed-up for 1 year. Of those, 78.3% could be included in the final assessment. Results: Compared to the general German adult population the percentage of smokers was increased (41.7% at baseline). Probably due to self-selection bias and to a higher drop-out rate, the proportion of smokers was significantly lower at follow-up. Compared to nonsmokers, smokers had significantly higher score values for both erythematous lesions and vesicles. Conclusion: The present data might give additional support for occupational physicians or dermatologists to convince workers to quit smoking.