bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DNA sequences of human papillomavirus types 11, 16 or 18 in invasive cervical carcinoma of Western Australian women
Authors: Kulski JK , Howard Megan J , Pixley EC
Published: July 2007

The presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) types 11, 16 and 18 in 77 biopsies of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (dysplasia) and carcinoma of the uterine cervix of a sample of women from Western Australia was examined using “Southern” blot hybridisation. HPV‐DNA was found in 17 of the 23 dysplasias and 43 of the 54 invasive carcinomas examined but not in the 5 biopsies obtained from areas assessed as normal by colposcopy and histology.

Five of 11 biopsies of mild to moderate dysplasias contained HPV type 11 (HPV‐11), 2 HPV‐16 and 1 HPV‐18. Of 12 severe dysplasias/carcinoma in situ, 2 contained HPV‐11, 4 HPV‐16 and 2 HPV‐18. One biopsy contained both HPV‐11 and HPV‐16.

Of 45 squamous cell carcinomas examined for HPV‐DNA, 24 contained HPV‐16, 5 HPV‐11 and 1 HPV‐18. Both HPV‐11 and HPV‐16 were found in 6 of the squamous cell carcinomas and 2 contained both HPV‐16 and HPV‐18. Of 6 adenosquamous carcinomas examined, 3 contained HPV‐DNA, 2 with HPV‐16 and I with HPV‐11. HPV types 16 or 18 were also found in 2 of 3 adenocarcinomas.

This study shows a strong association between the papillomavirus and uterine cervical cancer in a sample of women from Western Australia. HPV‐16 was more frequently associated with severe dysplasia and cancer than with mild or moderate dysplasia supporting the view that this HPV genotype may have a greater oncogenic potential than HPV‐11.
Festschrift Maternal autoimmune disease influences self‐tolerance in offspring: The role of suppressor cells and materno‐foetal cell traffic
Authors: Gibson John , Basten Antony
Published: July 2007

Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA) was induced in normal strain (CBA/Ca/T6) mice by repeated intraperitoneal injection of rat red blood cells (RRBC). Antibody production to cross‐reactive antigens on mouse red blood cells (MRBC) and foreign antigens on RRBC was measured by the direct antiglobulin test (DGAT) and serum haemagglutination, respectively. RRBC primed female or male mice and sheep red blood cell (SRBC) primed controls were mated with naive partners and their progeny immunized with RRBC in adult life. The offspring of mothers but not fathers with active autoimmune disease showed a significant reduction in antibody response to self (MRBC) antigens, whereas the response to non‐self (RRBC) was unaffected. Transfer of 30 × 106 spleen cells from the progeny of RRBC primed mothers into non‐irradiated normal recipients resulted in selective suppression of the anti‐self response following challenge with RRBC, provided that the cell donors had been boosted with RRBC 7–10 days before the transfer was performed. Thus the progeny of mothers with AIHA possessed self‐reactive memory suppressor cells (Ts) shown previously to belong to the Thy‐1+ I‐J+ Ly‐2+ T cell subset in this model. To test whether the Ts were of maternal or foetal origin the suppressor assay was repeated with spleen cells from the F1 offspring of RRBC primed B10.A(3R) (I‐Jb) mothers and normal CBA(I‐Jk) fathers. Pretreatment with anti‐I‐Jk serum plus complement completely abrogated suppression on adoptive transfer but anti‐I‐Jk scrum failed to do so, indicating that the Ts were derived from the mothers. These findings emphasize the potential importance of Ts in induction of self tolerance during early ontogeny.
Festschrift In vitro synthesis of IgE by human peripheral blood leucocytes: VI Seasonal variations in synthesis of rye pollen (Lolium perenne) specific IgE
Authors: Turner KJ , Siemensma NP , Krska KD , Cameron KJ
Published: July 2007

Fractionation by Percoll density cetrifugation of peripheral blood leucocyte cells, from atopic subjects with seasonal hay fever, unmasked IgE‐B cell populations whose individual capacities to synthesize IgE in vitro were obscured in cultures of unfractionated B cells. B cell cultures from all six subjects in the study released rye pollen‐specific IgE during the 6 days of culture, but actual synthesis was significant only in October, the pollen season. Synthesis in October occurred most frequently in cultures of mature, low density B cells, which generally responded to the addition of autologous T cells with enhanced synthesis (T‐help). T‐help was also found for high density B ceils in the mid‐winter (July) cultures. Total IgE synthesis in vitro demonstrated a less seasonal relationship, although it tended to be maximal for low density B cell cultures in October and for high density B cells in May. All B cell cultures contained preformed total and rye‐specific IgE antibody which persisted throughout the pre‐ and post‐pollen seasons, particularly in the low density B cell fractions, even in the absence of de novo synthesis. Moreover, the intracellular levels of rye pollen‐specific IgE antibody were often higher in the winter than in the peak of the pollen season. The relevance of this preformed IgE remains to be established.
Intracellular pathway of interleukin‐2 receptors studied using immunogold electron microscopy
Authors: McCrae Cameron , Maxwell Lesley , Ceredig Rhodri
Published: July 2007

The fate of internalized interleukin‐2 receptors (IL‐2R) on proliferating T cell blasts and Lyt‐2−/L3T4− thymocytes was studied by immunogold electron microscopy. Immediately following labeling. IL‐2R were found in coated pits and with lime there was sequential appearance of gold particles in smooth vesicles or endosomes, multivesicular bodies and lysosomes. Thus the IL‐2R appears to be a member of cell surface receptors internalized by endocytosis via coated pits.
Murine candidiasis: Strain dependence of host responses after immunization
Authors: Ashman RB , Papadimitriou JM
Published: July 2007

After recovery from acute infection with live Candida albicans, both CBA/H and BALB/c mice show increased resistance to colonization by the organism. However, the ‘susceptible’ CBA/H mice develop much stronger protective responses than do ‘resistant’ BALB/c mice. This is manifested particularly as a substantial amelioration of the severity of the lesions in the brain, and a very marked reduction in the number of fungal units therein. Analysis of granulocyte function in normal and immune mice of the two strains tended to exclude this as a basis for the different patterns of susceptibility and resistance.
Mg2+‐dependent adenosine triphosphatase: An enzyme marker for ovine T lymphocytes
Authors: Alders RG , Landsverk T , Shelton JN
Published: July 2007

Sheep T lymphocytes showed a cell surface magnesium‐dependent adenosine triphosphatase (Mg2+‐ATPase) reaction, which is reported to be characteristic of human B lymphocytes. In cryostat sections of lymph nodes, spleen and thymus. Mg2+‐ATPase positive regions closely matched those labelled by sheep pan T monoclonal antibodies (Moab). An Mg2+‐ATPase reaction was also found in fibroblastic recticulum cells of T cell regions in lymph nodes. Double labelling of cells from peripheral blood and peripheral lymph for Mg2+‐ATPase and the pan T marker showed that 78% of the lymphocytes were positive for both of these markers. In cell suspensions enriched for B lymphocytes the percentage of cells positively labelled was decreased to 37%. Samples of each cell population which were labelled with a pan T Moab and analysed by flow microfluorometry revealed T cell levels which were not significantly different from those obtained by histochemical or immunohistochemical techniques. Less than 1% of lymphocytes positive for heavy and light chains of immunoglobulin (Ig) G were labelled with Mg2+‐ATPase. Veiled cells in lymph and monocytes showed a cytoplasmic Mg2+‐ATPase reaction.
Electrophoretic and immunoblot analysis of Cryptosporidium oocysts
Authors: Lumb R , Lanser JA , O'Donoghue PJ
Published: July 2007

Cryptosporidium oocysts were recovered by density gradient centrifugation from diarrhoeal faeces of four human patients and one goat kid. Goat‐derived oocysts were further treated with excystation medium and the excysted oocyst walls purified by isopycnic ultracentrifugation. Soluble extracts from intact oocysts and the oocyst wall preparation were analysed by SDS‐PAGE. Fifty‐one polypeptide bands were detected in intact oocyst preparations: 48 were in the range 14 000–200 000 molecular weight (MW), two bands were less than 14 000 MW and one band was above 200 000 MW. Twenty‐one bands were detected in the oocyst wall preparation, all within the range 14 000–200 000 MW. Immunoblot analysis of Cryptosporidium polypeptides using acute or convalescent human and goat sera revealed a large number of reactive bands. Varying degrees of heterogeneity were observed within and between the two serum groups. Nine of the 10 human sera and all of the goat kid sera reacted with a 23 000 MW and 32 000 MW antigen. A 15 500 MW antigen was also detected by all the goat and four of the 10 human sera. Both serum groups reacted with various antigens above 40 000 MW. Surface labelling of three human isolates of Cryptosporidium oocysts with 125I was performed using the Bolton and Hunter reagent. The solubilized preparations were separated by SDS‐PAGE on 12% and 18% slab gels and autoradiographed. Common bands were seen at 15 500, 32 000, 47 500, 79 000 and 96 000 MW. Some variation in the molecular weight of polypeptides labelled with 125I was observed among the three isolates. These studies indicate that the 32 000 MW antigen appears to be a suitable candidate for the preparation of an antibody probe because it is common to many isolates and is located on the exterior of the oocyst wall.
Resting (IL‐2 non‐responsive) precursors of human T cell receptor γδ‐positive cells (TCR1 cells) are activated by a two signal process
Authors: Warren Hilary S
Published: July 2007

Precursors of T cells expressing the γδ‐T cell receptor (TCR1 cells) have been identified in a resting (IL‐2 non‐responsive) subpopulation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Activation of the TCR1 precursor cells into proliferating and cytotoxic cells requires two signals, viz. IL‐2 and either activated T cells (autologous or allogeneic) or malignant melanoma cells (MM‐170). The activation process is inhibited by 0.1 μg/ml cyclosporine. CD3 expression on TCR1 precursor cells was low, since the precursor cells were not always adequately depleted by OKT3 plus complement. Natural killer cells were generated from the same resting subpopulation of PBMC and by the same set of activation stimuli as were the TCR1 cells, suggesting a common pathway for activation of both cell types.
Changes in cell surface antigen expression during murine bone marrow cell regeneration in vivo and proliferation in vitro
Authors: Bertoncello I , Bartelmez SH , Bradley TR , Hodgson GS
Published: July 2007

Modulations in surface antigen expression during marrow regeneration in vivo, and proliferation in vitro in response to haemopoietic growth factors, were studied using a panel of monoclonal antibodies recognizing antigenic determinants expressed by primitive multipotential progenitor cells (Thy‐1, Qa‐m7), or lineage antigens restricted to committed progenitors and differentiated cells of the neutrophil/macrophage (7/4) and B lymphocyte (B220) lineages. These two categories of antigen exhibited differing responses to marrow perturbation and proliferation. Following administration of a cytotoxic dose of 5‐fluorouracil, or lethal irradiation and transplantation of normal donor marrow, the levels of Thy‐1 and Qa‐m7 antigen expression rapidly increase, reaching a peak at the onset of regeneration: the nadir of marrow cellularity. Expression of these antigens returns to normal as regeneration proceeds and marrow is reconstituted. 7/4 and B220 antigen expression reflect the presence or absence of maturing cells bearing these markers: antigen expression declining following perturbation, and re‐emerging during the course of regeneration. In vitro, when marrow cells taken from mice 8 days following treatment with 5‐FU are grown in liquid culture in the presence of colony‐stimulating factor‐1 plus bladder cell carcinoma cell line 5637 conditioned medium, marrow cells are stimulated to proliferate and differentiate along the neutrophil/ macrophage lineage. 7/4 antigen expression increases throughout the culture period, and B220 antigen is undetectable after the fifth day of culture. Thy‐1 antigen expression also rises and remains elevated, and Qa‐m7 antigen expression remains stable.
Proteoglycans synthesized by human polymorphonuclear leucocytes in vitro
Authors: Bartold PM , Harkin DG , Bignold LP
Published: July 2007

Polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) were assessed in vitro for their ability to synthesize and secrete proteoglycans. The PMN were isolated from human peripheral blood and were found to contain < 5% mononuclear cells. Following 24 h incubation in the presence of (35S)‐sulfate, significant quantities of 35S‐labelled macromolecules were detected both within the culture medium and cells. Although the PMN preparations contained some platelets (approximately five platelets: one PMN), culture of platelets alone did not result in the detection of any 35S‐labelled macromolecules in either the medium or platelets. 35S/3H‐labelled macromolecules from the PMN cultures were identified as proteoglycans on the basis of their degradation by papain, alkaline sodium borohydride, chondroitinase ACII, chondroitinase ABC and nitrous acid. The labelled proteoglycans isolated from the medium and cells eluted from Sepharose CL‐4B with a Kav of 0·63; this indicated a small size compared with many other proteoglycans. The glycosaminoglycans associated with the proteoglycans were identified as heparan sulfate, chondroitin sulfate and dermatan sulfate, with chondroitin sulfate being the principal component. The average molecular weight of the glycosaminoglycans was determined to be 16 000. Therefore, the data from this study demonstrate the ability of human PMN to synthesize and secrete proteoglycans in vitro which appear to differ from those synthesized by mesenchymal cells with respect to molecular size and glycosaminoglycan composition
Ontogeny, morphology and tissue distribution of a unique subset of CD4−CD8− sheep T lymphocytes
Authors: McClure SJ , Hein WR , Yamaguchi K , Dudler L , Beya M‐F , Miyasaka M
Published: July 2007

The morphology, distribution and ontogeny of the 197+ T lymphocyte subpopulation is described. Cells were identified by Immunofluorescent and immunoenzymic staining of cell suspensions and tissue sections. In the circulation, 197+ cells are small and regular, indistinguishable in size from peripheral CD4+ and CD8+ cells, with little cytoplasm and a large amount of condensed chromatin. In the post‐natal animal they are unevenly distributed, being most common in the circulatory pathways, particularly in the blood. In the thymus they chiefly localize in the regions around Hassal's corpuscles and medullary blood vessels. They are totally absent from B cell areas in all tissues. They are the last of the T cells 10 appear in ontogeny, and are first detected in the thymus. Their frequency in blood is age‐dependent with peak levels occurring perinatally. There is a post‐natal decline in the frequency of 197+ cells in ileocaecal but not in prescapular lymph nodes. We conclude that these T cells differ from the more commonly described T cells, not only in their surface expression of the CD4, CD8 and T19 antigens, but also in the time of their first appearance, their age‐related prevalence and their distribution between and within tissues.
Humoral and cell‐mediated immune responses to recombinant vaccinia viruses in mice
Authors: Andrew ME , Coupar BEH , Boyle DB
Published: July 2007

Intravenous (i.v.) immunization of mice with recombinant vaccinia viruses stimulated the highest antibody and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses when i.v., intraperitoneal (i.p). intranasal (i.n.), footpad (f.p.) and tail scarification (t.s.) routes were compared. Intraperitoneal immunization of mice resulted in high CTL activity, but low antibody responses. Antibody levels after i.n., f.p., and t.s. immunization were slightly lower than following i.v. immunization. Although very low levels of CTL primary activity were stimulated by i.n. or f.p. inoculation of recombinant vaccinia virus, levels of secondary CTL activity after in vitro restimulation of splenocytes were as high as those seen from i.v. immunized splenocytes. The effect of the thymidine kinase (TK) phenotype of the virus also was examined. Wildtype (TK positive) viruses replicated to a higher titre in vivo and stimulated higher antibody and CTL responses than a TK negative recombinant virus. A recombinant virus that expressed the TK gene from herpes simplex virus at a low level was intermediate between wildtype and TK negative virus, both in virus replication in vivo and in immunogenicity
Production and characterization of murine monoclonal antibody to human α‐lactalbumin
Authors: Thean ET , Toh B‐H
Published: July 2007

Human α‐lactalbumin (α‐LA), a milk protein normally produced by, and restricted to, functionally differentiated breast epithelial cells has been shown immunohistochemically to be a good marker for breast cancer. Antibodies with specificity only for human α‐LA have not previously been reported. The present study documents the production and characterization of an IgG1 murine monoclonal antibody with specificity restricted only to human α‐LA. This monoclonal antibody, designated ET‐1, was purified by affinity chromatography using human α‐LA. Specificity of ET‐1 for human α‐LA was established by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), absorption studies, immunoprecipitation and by immunoblotting. ET‐1 binds to human α‐LA with a KD of 7·41 × 10‐8 mol/l and does not cross‐react with bovine α‐LA. This unique reactivity of ET‐1, which is not inherently shared by polyclonal antisera, should enable the antibody to be used for the development of a sensitive immunoassay for circulating human α‐LA.
Antipsoriatic effects of avarol‐3′‐thiosalicylate are mediated by inhibition of TNF‐αgeneration and NF‐κB activation in mouse skin
Authors: Amigó M , Payá M , De Rosa S , Terencio M C
Published: July 2007

Background and purpose:

Avarol is a marine sesquiterpenoid hydroquinone with anti‐inflammatory and antipsoriatic properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate thein vitroandin vivopharmacological behaviour of the derivative avarol‐3′‐thiosalicylate (TA) on some inflammatory parameters related to the pathogenesis of psoriasis.

Experimental approach:

Human neutrophils and monocytes as well as the human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT were used to study the effect of TA on oxidative stress, the arachidonic acid pathway, tumour necrosis factor‐α(TNF‐α) release and nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) activation. All these parameters were also determinedin vivousing the zymosan induced mouse air pouch model and the 12‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbol‐13‐acetate (TPA) induced mouse epidermal hyperplasia model.

Key results:

TA showed antioxidant properties in human neutrophils and in the hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase assay. This compound reduced, in a concentration‐dependent manner, leukotriene B4, prostaglandin E2and TNF‐αproduction in activated leukocytes. Oral and intrapouch administration of TA in the mouse air pouch model produced a dose‐dependent reduction of all these inflammatory mediators. TA also inhibited secretory phospholipase A2activity and NF‐κB DNA‐binding in HaCaT keratinocytes. In TPA‐induced mouse epidermal hyperplasia, topical administration of TA reduced oedema, leukocyte infiltration, eicosanoid levels and TNF‐αin skin. In addition, interleukin (IL)‐1βand IL‐2 production were also inhibited. Finally, TA was also capable of suppressing NF‐κB nuclear translocationin vivo.

Conclusions and implications:

TA inhibited several key biomarkers up‐regulated in the inflammatory response of psoriatic skin and this compound could be a promising antipsoriatic agent.

British Journal of Pharmacology(2007)152, 353–365; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707394; published online 16 July 2007
High-performance 4H-SiC-based ultraviolet p-i-n photodetector
Authors: Chen Xiaping , Zhu Huili , Cai Jiafa , Wu Zhengyun
Published: July 2007

A high-performance 4H-SiC p-i-n photodetector for visible-blind ultraviolet (UV) applications has been designed and fabricated. The electrical and optical characteristics were measured at room temperature. The photodetector suffered from significant dark current of 2.5 pA/mm2 at reverse bias of 5 V, and the UV light photocurrent was larger than four orders of magnitude higher than the dark current. The built-in potential and the unintentional i-layer doping concentration were obtained from capacitance-voltage (C-V) measurements. The spectral peak responsivity of the detector reached 0.13 A/W at a wavelength of 270 nm, corresponding to a maximum external quantum efficiency of ∼61%. And the ratio of responsivity at 270 nm to that at 380 nm was >103. The characteristics imply that the photodetector has a great improved ultraviolet-visible rejection ratio which is needed for ultraviolet signal detection.
Surface tension dominated impact
Authors: Vella Dominic , Metcalfe Paul D.
Published: July 2007

We study the impact of a line mass onto a liquid-gas interface. At early times we find a similarity solution for the interfacial deformation and show how the resulting surface tension force slows the fall of the mass. We compute the motion beyond early times using a boundary integral method, and find conditions on the weight and impact speed of the mass that determine whether it sinks or is trapped by the interface. We find that for given impact speed there is a critical weight above which the mass sinks, and we investigate the asymptotic behavior of this critical weight in the limits of small and large impact speeds. Below this critical weight, the mass is trapped by the interface and subsequently floats. We also compare our theoretical results with some simple tabletop experiments. Finally, we discuss the implications of our work for the vertical jumps of water-walking arthropods.
Tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy study of CH3CH2OD∕D2O binary condensation in a supersonic Laval nozzle
Authors: Tanimura Shinobu , Wyslouzil Barbara E. , Zahniser Mark S. , Shorter Joanne H. , Nelson David D. , McManus J. Barry
Published: July 2007

We have developed a dual-beam tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy system to follow the cocondensation of water and ethanol in a supersonic Laval nozzle. We determine the D2O monomer concentration in the vapor phase by fitting a Voigt profile to the measured line shape but had to develop a calibration scheme to evaluate the C2H5OD monomer concentration. To measure the temperature of the gas, we seed the flow with CH4 and measure two absorption lines with different lower state energies. These data give a far more detailed picture of binary condensation than axially resolved pressure measurements. In particular, we observe that the C2H5OD monomer starts to be depleted from the gas phase well before D2O begins to condense.
Weibel instability with semirelativistic Maxwellian distribution function
Authors: Zaheer S. , Murtaza G.
Published: July 2007

A macroscopic description of the linear Weibel instability, based on semirelativistic distribution in an unmagnetized plasma is presented. In particular, analytical expressions are derived for the real and imaginary parts of the dielectric constant for the Maxwellian and semirelativistic Maxwellian distribution functions under the conditions of ξ=ωk‖θ‖≫1 and ≪1. The real frequency and the growth rate of the instability for the semirelativistic case now depends upon the factor χ generated from the relativistic term in the distribution function. The presence of χ which is always greater than unity favors the Weibel instability to occur even for the small anisotropy of temperature. As we increase the value of χ large enough that it dominates over other terms, the damping changes into growth. In the limiting case, i.e., χ=1, the results approach the Maxwellian situation.
Confinement induced critical micelle concentration shift
Authors: Zhang Xianren , Chen Guangjin , Wang Wenchuan
Published: July 2007

In this work, extensive lattice Monte Carlo simulations were performed to investigate the influence of confinement on critical micelle concentration (CMC). It is found that the CMC of surfactants in a confined space is shifted from its bulk value, and the shift is affected by the presence of the confining boundaries, which induces both the finite size effect and the wall-surfactant interaction. In general, for strongly confined system (the system with narrow pore size), the finite size effect dominates the CMC shift because the confined space cannot accommodate fully developed micelles, and the rapid increase of the entropic loss due to the decrease of the pore size results in the rapid increase of CMC. In contrast, for a weakly confined space, the CMC shift depends on the interaction between the walls and surfactants. For the systems with two weakly hydrophilic surfaces, the local density depletion of the surfactants near the walls results in lower CMCs than the bulk value, and the CMC shifts to a higher value as the pore size increases. For the systems with moderately hydrophilic surfaces, the shifts of CMCs show a similar behavior as those for weakly hydrophilic surfaces, but the CMCs are near their bulk values in the range of weak confinement. For the systems with strongly attractive wall-surfactant interactions, the strong adsorption also results in lower CMCs than their bulk value, but the CMCs decrease with the increase of pore size.
Computer simulations and theoretical aspects of the depletion interaction in protein-oligomer mixtures
Authors: Bončina M. , Reščič J. , Kalyuzhnyi Yu. V. , Vlachy V.
Published: July 2007

The depletion interaction between proteins caused by addition of either uncharged or partially charged oligomers was studied using the canonical Monte Carlo simulation technique and the integral equation theory. A protein molecule was modeled in two different ways: either as (i) a hard sphere of diameter 30.0Å with net charge 0, or +5, or (ii) as a hard sphere with discrete charges (depending on the pH of solution) of diameter 45.4Å. The oligomers were pictured as tangentially jointed, uncharged, or partially charged, hard spheres. The ions of a simple electrolyte present in solution were represented by charged hard spheres distributed in the dielectric continuum. In this study we were particularly interested in changes of the protein-protein pair-distribution function, caused by addition of the oligomer component. In agreement with previous studies we found that addition of a nonadsorbing oligomer reduces the phase stability of solution, which is reflected in the shape of the protein-protein pair-distribution function. The value of this function in protein-protein contact increases with increasing oligomer concentration, and is larger for charged oligomers. The range of the depletion interaction and its strength also depend on the length (number of monomer units) of the oligomer chain. The integral equation theory, based on the Wertheim Ornstein-Zernike approach applied in this study, was found to be in fair agreement with Monte Carlo results only for very short oligomers. The computer simulations for a model mimicking the lysozyme molecule (ii) are in qualitative agreement with small-angle neutron experiments for lysozyme-dextran mixtures.
Anomalous light-induced enhancement of photoluminescence from Si nanocrystals fabricated by thermal oxidation of amorphous Si
Authors: Kim Min Choul , Kim Sung , Choi Suk-Ho , Park Sangjin
Published: July 2007

A band of ∼1.6nm diameter Si nanocrystals (NCs) has been prepared at a depth of about 5nm within SiO2 by atomic-layer deposition of 2nm amorphous Si on 5nm SiO2 and subsequent thermal oxidation at 900°C. After 4h light exposure of 5.66W∕cm2, photoluminescence (PL) spectrum of the Si NCs is almost 60 times enhanced with its peak blueshifted by about 30nm. The enhancement rate of the PL intensity with illumination time increases as the oxidation time increases. The PL intensity and its peak wavelength are partially recovered by annealing the samples at 440K for 1h, suggesting the effect is metastable. It is proposed that the anomalous light-induced effect is originated from the defect states at the Si NCs∕SiO2 interfaces.
Ambivalent Improvements: Biography, Biopolitics, and Colonial Delhi
Authors: Legg Stephen
Published: July 2007

This paper explores the ambivalent feelings towards the Government of India produced in one of the government's own employees. In establishing the Delhi Improvement Trust in the 1930s, Arthur Parke Hume had to battle against governmental cost cutting in an attempt to secure the rehousing of slum evictees. The refusal of the government to accept this welfarist commitment to investment led to the stalling of the improvement projects and great emotional disquiet for Hume. This is traced through his personal correspondence with his parents. In interweaving these insights with the imperial archive, three biographical approaches are adopted. A traditional chronology is used to order the events, an analytical approach is used to outline the discursive regularities of Hume's observations, and a genealogical approach is used to suggest the influences on Hume's writings and the broader governmental rationalities that he had to negotiate.
A Place like This? Stories of Dementia, Home, and the Self
Authors: Varley Ann
Published: July 2007

The connections between home and the self have been the subject of debate in recent years. As a metaphor for a bounded and stable identity, the ideal of home is regarded as dangerous by theorists who oppose a politics based on nostalgic appeals to unity and privilege. Home is criticised as an exclusionary and depoliticising space. Scholars such as Iris Marion Young and Geraldine Pratt argue, however, that we should be wary of rejecting home, since the material space of home provides valuable support for individual and collective narratives of identity. In this paper I reflect on these debates in the light of my father's experience of dementia and the move from his own home into residential care. I examine alternatives to the account of identity on which critiques of home as exclusionary space are based, such as narrative identities and Jessica Benjamin's intersubjective approach to the self and the concrete other.
Subjecting Cows to Robots: Farming Technologies and the Making of Animal Subjects
Authors: Holloway Lewis
Published: July 2007

Recent representations of human–animal relationships in farming have tended to focus on human experience, and to essentialise animal subjectivity in granting them a centred subjectivity akin to that assumed to be possessed by humans. Instead, this paper develops an understanding of the coproduction of domestic livestock animal subjectivities and the technologies used in farming domestic livestock animals, based on an analysis of texts produced by agricultural scientists, farmers, and equipment manufacturers relating to the effects of introducing new robotic milking technologies into dairy farming. Drawing particularly on Foucault's conceptions of subjectivity and biopower, I explore the emergence of particular forms of bovine subjectivity associated with robotic milking. Through an analysis of a wide range of secondary sources, the paper shows that, although robotic technologies have been presented as offering cows ‘freedom’, better welfare, and a more ‘natural’ experience, other relations of domination come into effect in association with such technologies and their spatialities. These are expressed through the manipulation of animal bodies and behaviours, in expectations that cows move and act in particular ways, and through normalisation and individualisation processes. I argue that nonhuman animal subjectivities in agriculture are thus heterogeneous, fluid, and contingent on specific sets of relationships between animals, humans, and technologies and on specific agricultural microgeographies. The paper ends by acknowledging that these relationships need further empirical exploration in terms of both attempts to understand animals’ changed experiences and ways of being, and their ethical implications in particular situations.
Design of helical, oligomeric HIV-1 fusion inhibitor peptides with potent activity against enfuvirtide-resistant virus
Authors: Dwyer John J. , Wilson Karen L. , Davison Donna K. , Freel Stephanie A. , Seedorff Jennifer E. , Wring Stephen A. , Tvermoes Nicolai A. , Matthews Thomas J. , Greenberg Michael L. , Delmedico Mary K.
Published: July 2007

Enfuvirtide (ENF), the first approved fusion inhibitor (FI) for HIV, is a 36-aa peptide that acts by binding to the heptad repeat 1 (HR1) region of gp41 and preventing the interaction of the HR1 and HR2 domains, which is required for virus–cell fusion. Treatment-acquired resistance to ENF highlights the need to create FI therapeutics with activity against ENF-resistant viruses and improved durability. Using rational design, we have made a series of oligomeric HR2 peptides with increased helical structure and with exceptionally high HR1/HR2 bundle stability. The engineered peptides are found to be as much as 3,600-fold more active than ENF against viruses that are resistant to the HR2 peptides ENF, T-1249, or T-651. Passaging experiments using one of these peptides could not generate virus with decreased sensitivity, even after >70 days in culture, suggesting superior durability as compared with ENF. In addition, the pharmacokinetic properties of the engineered peptides were improved up to 100-fold. The potent antiviral activity against resistant viruses, the difficulty in generating resistant virus, and the extended half-life
in vivo
make this class of fusion inhibitor peptide attractive for further development.
Modafinil enhances thalamocortical activity by increasing neuronal electrotonic coupling
Authors: Urbano Francisco J. , Leznik Elena , Llinás Rodolfo R.
Published: July 2007

Modafinil (Provigil, Modiodal), an antinarcoleptic and mood-enhancing drug, is shown here to sharpen thalamocortical activity and to increase electrical coupling between cortical interneurons and between nerve cells in the inferior olivary nucleus. After irreversible pharmacological block of connexin permeability (i.e., by using either 18β-glycyrrhetinic derivatives or mefloquine), modafinil restored electrotonic coupling within 30 min. It was further established that this restoration is implemented through a Ca
2+
/calmodulin protein kinase II-dependent step.
Putting the Corporation in its Place
Authors: Guinnane Timothy , Harris Ron , Lamoreaux Naomi R. , Rosenthal Jean-Laurent
Published: July 2007

This article challenges the idea that the corporation is a globally superior form of business organization and that the Anglo-American common-law is more conducive to economic development than the code-based legal systems characteristic of continental Europe. Although the corporation had important advantages over the main alternative form of organization (partnerships), it also had disadvantages that limited its appeal to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). As a result, when businesses were provided with an intermediate choice, the private limited liability company (PLLC) that combined the advantages of legal personhood and joint stock with a flexible internal organizational structure, most chose not to organize as corporations. This article tracks the changes that occurred in the menu of business organizational forms in two common-law countries (the United Kingdom and the United States) and two countries governed by legal codes (France and Germany) and presents data showing the rapidity with which firms in each country responded to enabling legislation for PLLCs. We show that the PLLC was introduced first and most easily in a code country (Germany) and last and with the most difficulty in a commonlaw country (the United States). Late introduction was associated with prolonged use of the partnership form, suggesting that the disadvantages of corporations did indeed weigh heavily on SMEs.
AIDS-related opportunistic mycoses seen in a tertiary care hospital in North India
Authors: Wadhwa Anupriya , Kaur Ravinder , Agarwal Satish Kumar , Jain Shyama , Bhalla Preena
Published: July 2007

Sixty symptomatic confirmed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive adult patients, of both sexes, suspected of having a fungal infection were taken as a study population, and the clinicomycological profile was correlated with the immunological status of the patients with particular reference to CD4 counts. Relevant samples were collected and subjected to direct microscopy, fungal culture and serology. CD4 counts were determined by flow cytometry. Patients belonged to the age group of 17–65 years, with a male : female ratio of 4.8 : 1. Heterosexuality was the commonest mode of transmission. Candidiasis was the most common diagnosis (41.7 %), followed by cryptococcosis (10.0 %), and pneumocystinosis and aspergillosis (8.3 % each). Two cases of histoplasmosis were also diagnosed. A low mean CD4 count of <200 cells μl−1 was seen with most fungal infections. A total of 73 % of patients belonged to World Health Organization (WHO) stage 4, while 23.33 % belonged to stage 3. Thirty one patients (51.67 %) belonged to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stage C3. Various fungal infections correlated well with the mean CD4 counts. It was difficult to correlate statistically WHO and CDC staging because of the small sample size. However, it was possible to assess to a limited extent the possibility of using clinical diagnosis to predict the status of progression of HIV infection in a resource-poor outpatient setting.
Infectivity of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus paracasei isolates in a rat model of experimental endocarditis
Authors: Vankerckhoven Vanessa , Moreillon Philippe , Piu Stéphane , Giddey Marlyse , Huys Geert , Vancanneyt Marc , Goossens Herman , Entenza José M.
Published: July 2007

The potential pathogenicity of selected (potentially) probiotic and clinical isolates of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus paracasei was investigated in a rat model of experimental endocarditis. In addition, adhesion properties of the lactobacilli for fibrinogen, fibronectin, collagen and laminin, as well as the killing activity of the platelet-microbicidal proteins fibrinopeptide A (FP-A) and connective tissue activating peptide 3 (CTAP-3), were assessed. The 90 % infective dose (ID90) of the L. rhamnosus endocarditis isolates varied between 106 and 107 c.f.u., whereas four of the six (potentially) probiotic L. rhamnosus isolates showed an ID90 that was at least 10-fold higher (108 c.f.u.) (P<0.001). In contrast, the two other probiotic L. rhamnosus isolates exhibited an ID90 (106 and 107 c.f.u.) comparable to the ID90 of the clinical isolates of this species investigated (P>0.05). Importantly, these two probiotic isolates shared the same fluorescent amplified fragment length polymorphism cluster type as the clinical isolate showing the lowest ID90 (106 c.f.u.). L. paracasei tended to have a lower infectivity than L. rhamnosus (ID90 of 107 to ≥108 c.f.u.). All isolates had comparable bacterial counts in cardiac vegetations (P>0.05). Except for one L. paracasei strain adhering to all substrates, all tested lactobacilli adhered only weakly or not at all. The platelet peptide FP-A did not show any microbicidal activity against the tested lactobacilli, whereas CTAP-3 killed the majority of the isolates. In general, these results indicate that probiotic lactobacilli display a lower infectivity in experimental endocarditis compared with true endocarditis pathogens. However, the difference in infectivity between L. rhamnosus endocarditis and (potentially) probiotic isolates could not be explained by differences in adherence or platelet microbicidal protein susceptibility. Other disease-promoting factors may exist in these organisms and warrant further investigation.
Epigallocatechin gallate suppresses expression of receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) in Staphylococcus aureus infection in osteoblast-like NRG cells
Authors: Ishida Ikuo , Kohda Chikara , Yanagawa Yoko , Miyaoka Hideyo , Shimamura Tadakatsu
Published: July 2007

Catechin, a constituent of tea, possesses various bioactivities. In particular, the most abundant catechin in tea is epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), which has an anti-inflammatory effect. In the present study, the usability of EGCg for osteomyelitis treatment was examined. Osteomyelitis is a difficult disease to cure, partly due to bone lysis caused by infected osteoblasts. Since bone lysis is promoted by proinflammatory cytokines and the receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL), osteoblasts were infected withStaphylococcus aureusand the effect of EGCg on the production of cytokines was examined. It was found that the production of interleukin 6 and RANKL was suppressed in the osteoblasts treated with EGCg, which indicated an inflammation suppression effect of EGCg in osteomyelitis treatment.
Budvicia aquatica sepsis in an immunocompromised patient following exposure to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
Authors: Corbin Angela , Delatte Charlotte , Besson Sharee , Guidry Anne , Hoffmann Andrew H. , Monier Paul , Nathaniel Rajkumar
Published: July 2007

Budvicia aquatica has been found in surface water not associated with human faeces or sewage. The first known case is described of infection in an 85-year-old woman exposed to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, who tested positive for B. aquatica from both blood and urine samples.
Potato spindle tuber viroid: the simplicity paradox resolved?
Authors: OWENS ROBERT A.
Published: July 2007

Taxonomy:   Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) is the type species of the genus Posipiviroid, family Pospiviroidae. An absence of hammerhead ribozymes and the presence of a ‘central conserved region’ distinguish PSTVd and related viroids from members of a second viroid family, the Avsunviroidae.

Physical properties:   Viroids are small, unencapsidated, circular, single‐stranded RNA molecules which replicate autonomously when inoculated into host plants. Because viroids are non‐protein‐coding RNAs, designation of the more abundant, highly infectious polarity strand as the positive strand is arbitrary. PSTVd assumes a rod‐like, highly structured conformation that is resistant to nuclease degradation in vitro. Naturally occurring sequence variants of PSTVd range in size from 356 to 361 nt.

Hosts and symptoms:   The natural host range of PSTVd—cultivated potato, certain other Solanum spp., and avocado—appears to be quite limited. Foliar symptoms in potato are often obscure, and the severity of tuber symptoms (elongation with the appearance of prominent bud scales/eyebrows and growth cracks) depends on both temperature and length of infection. PSTVd has a broad experimental host range, especially among solanaceous species, and strains are classified as mild, intermediate or severe based upon the symptoms observed in sensitive tomato cultivars. These symptoms include shortening of internodes, petioles and mid‐ribs, severe epinasty and wrinkling of the leaves, and necrosis of mid‐ribs, petioles and stems.
MHC class II transactivator represses human IL‐4 gene transcription by interruption of promoter binding with CBP/p300, STAT6 and NFAT1 via histone hypoacetylation
Authors: Zhou Xiaorong , Jiang Yang , Lu Liming , Ding Qing , Jiao Zhijun , Zhou Yun , Xin Lijun , Chou Kuang‐Yen
Published: July 2007

In addition to its property of enhancing major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II expression, the class II transactivator (CIITA) was recently demonstrated to be involved in T helper type 1/type 2 (Th1/Th2) differentiation by regulating interleukin‐4 (IL‐4) gene transcription. There was however, controversy regarding whether CIITA promotes or suppresses IL‐4 expression in the experiments with transgenic mice. To clarify the discrepancy by using simpler experimental systems, human Jurkat T cells that express IL‐4 but not interferon‐γ, even if stimulated with phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate plus ionomycin, were used for CIITA transfection. Significant suppression of IL‐4 gene expression was demonstrated. Simultaneously, histones H3 and H4 in the IL‐4 promoter were hypoacetylated. The suppression could be totally reversed by the histone deacetylatase inhibitor trichostatin A. Furthermore, the IL‐4 expression was determined in primarily established human Th1/Th2 cells to which CIITA small interference RNA (siRNA) had been introduced. A substantially increased level of IL‐4 was recorded in the CIITA siRNA‐transfected Th1 cells, which was in parallel with significantly enhanced acetylation in histone H3 of the IL‐4 promoter. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis indicated that CIITA abrogated the binding of coactivator CBP/p300 and transcription factors STAT6/NFAT1 to IL‐4 promoter in the CIITA‐transfected cells. In conclusion, CIITA was active in the repression of transcription activation of human IL‐4 gene in both the T‐cell line and the primary human CD4 T cells by preventing transcription factors from binding to IL‐4 promoter through histone hypoacetylation. Our data confirm a potential significant role of CIITA in controlling Th1/Th2 differentiation via modulation of IL‐4 gene activation.
Impaired function of CD4+/CD25+ T regulatory lymphocytes characterizes the self‐limited hepatitis A virus infection
Authors: Perrella Alessandro , Vitiello Laura , Atripaldi Luigi , Sbreglia Costanza , Grattacaso Stella , Bellopede Pasquale , Patarino Tommaso , Morelli Giuseppe , Altamura Simona , Racioppi Luigi , Perrella Oreste
Published: July 2007

Background and Aim:  Hepatitis A virus (HAV) causes a transient illness leaving permanent protection against reinfection. Few data are available on the regulatory mechanisms involved in the CD4+ T helper activation. We aimed to investigate the frequency and function of CD3+/CD4+/CD25+ T cells with regulatory function (Tregs) during acute HAV infection.

Methods:  We enrolled 35 consecutive patients and 15 healthy donors, enumerated Tregs by flow cytometry assay and evaluated, after immunomagnetical sorting with magnetic beads, their ability to inhibit the proliferation of CD4+/CD25– T lymphocytes at different ratios (1:1, 1:10, 1:20).

Results:  All patients had the usual course of infection. Our immunological analysis showed Tregs frequency in these patients (6.5% [range, 5–8.8%]; 36 [range, 10–87] cells) did not have any statistical difference compared with healthy donors (6% [range, 5–8%]; 48 (range, 23–71) cells), while their ability to suppress CD4+/CD25– was drastically reduced at different ratios (Mann–Whitney U‐test; ratio 1:1, 93% vs 72%, z = −3.34, P < 0.0001; ratio 1:10, 86% vs 51%, z = −4.04, P < 0.001; ratio 1:20, 56% vs 30%, z = −3.43, P < 0.0001). After the seroconversion, CD4+/CD25+ frequency and function in HAV‐infected patients did not differ from healthy individuals.

Conclusion:  CD4+/CD25+ T cells seem to be impaired in their function during the HAV acute infection. This evidence might help to determine an optimal T helper cell immune network that is a predisposing factor for a self‐limiting disease.