bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Implementing an education and outreach programme for the Gemini Observatory in Chile
Authors: Ureta M. Antonieta García
Published: August 2007

Beginning in 2001, the Gemini Observatory began the development of an innovative and aggressive education and outreach programme at its southern hemisphere site in northern Chile. A principal focus of this effort is centered on local education and outreach to communities surrounding the observatory and its base facility in La Serena, Chile. Programmes are now established with local schools using two portable StarLab planetaria, an internet-based teacher exchange called StarTeachers and multiple partnerships with local educational institutions. Other elements include a CD-ROM-based virtual tour that allows students, teachers and the public to experience the observatory's sites in Chile and Hawaii. This virtual environment allows interaction using a variety of immersive scenarios such as a simulated observation using real data from Gemini. Pilot projects like “Live from Gemini” are currently being developed which use internet video-conferencing technologies to bring the observatory's facilities into classrooms at universities and remote institutions. Lessons learned from the implementation of these and other programmes will be introduced and the challenges of developing educational programming in a developing country will be shared.
Astronomy in the cultural heritage of African societies
Authors: Baki Paul
Published: August 2007

The African perspectives of astronomy are explored from the point of view of using indigenous knowledge of the night sky for purposes of addressing local challenges such as food insecurity and periodic natural weather phenomena such as droughts and floods. The local ethnic groups use stellar positions, and plant and animal behaviour changes for purposes of forecasting the weather and climate for the coming seasons. These traditional indicators give rise to an interdisciplinary discourse that could benefit the community in environmental protection measures and boost the tourism industry in some countries in Africa.
Astronomy in Asia
Authors: Soonthornthum Boonrucksar
Published: August 2007

Astronomy in Asia has continuously developed. Local wisdom in many Asian countries reflects their interest in astronomy since the historical period. However, the astronomical development in each country is different which depends on their cultures, politics and economics. Astronomy in some Asian developing countries such as China and India are well-developed while some other countries especially in south-east Asia, with some supports such as telescopes, training, experts etc. from some developed countries, are trying to promote relevant research in astronomy as well as use astronomy as a tool to promote scientific awareness and understanding for the public. Recently, a new national research institute in astronomy, called the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT), with a 2.4-metre reflecting telescope has been established in Thailand. One of the major objectives of this research-emphasis institute would aim at a collaborative network among South-East Asian countries so as to be able to contribute new knowledge and research to the astronomical community.
Mutual collaboration between Institute of Technology Bandung, Indonesia and Gunma Astronomical Observatory, Japan
Authors: Hashimoto Osamu , Malasan Hakim L. , Taguchi H. , Kinugasa K. , Dermawan B. , Indradjaja B. , Kozai Y.
Published: August 2007

Institute of Technology Bandung (ITB), Indonesia and Gunma Astronomical Observatory (GAO), Japan have been proceeding with several programmes of mutual collaboration in the fields of astronomical research and education since 2002. ITB with Bosscha observatory has a great interest in education of astronomy for public people as well as in the university education and research of their own, and GAO is a public observatory operated by Gunma prefecture local government equipped with a 150-cm reflector and some smaller telescopes, which are capable of scientific research of high grade. We will report some of our cooperative activities including the remote accessing of the telescopes of each observatory by each other, which can provide opportunities for astronomical experiences of the opposite hemisphere for various people of each country. Some scientific collaboration works such as common instruments and data analysis systems developed on both sites are also reported.
Astronomy in Iran
Authors: Sobouti Yousef
Published: August 2007

This paper summarizes the present situation concerning astronomy in Iran. Shiraz University introduced astronomy in the mid-1960s and established the Biruni Observatory. Astronomy is also carried out at Tabriz University and in Meshed, Zanjan, Tehran, Babol and other places. The Astronomical Society of Iran is flourishing, and is about 30 years old. Site-testing is underway for a National Observatory of Iran, which will be equipped with a 2-m class optical telescope. Iran publishes Nojum, the only astronomical monthly magazine of the Middle East, which is presently in its fifteenth year.
Relativistic astrophysics and cosmology in Uzbekistan
Authors: Ahmedov Bobomurat J. , Zalaletdinov Roustam M. , Turakulov Zafar Ya. , Nuritdinov Salakhutdin N. , Mirtadjieva Karomat T.
Published: August 2007

The theoretical results obtained in Uzbekistan in the field of relativistic astrophysics and cosmology are presented. In particular electrostatic plasma modes along the open field lines of a rotating neutron star and Goldreich-Julian charge density in general relativity are analyzed for the rotating and oscillating magnetized neutron stars. The impact that stellar oscillations of different type (radial, toroidal and spheroidal ones) have on electric and magnetic fields external to a relativistic magnetized star has been investigated. A study of the dynamical evolution and the number of stellar encounters in globular clusters with a central black hole is presented. Perturbation features and instabilities of the large-scale oscillations on the background of the non-linearly pulsating isotropic and isotropic Ω-models are studied. The non-stationary dispersion equation of the sectorial perturbations for the general case and the results of certain oscillation mode analysis are given. The model composed as the linear superposition of two other models was constructed and the stability of this model is studied. In a cosmological setting the theory of macroscopic gravity as a large-distance scale generalization of general relativity has been developed. Exact cosmological solutions to the equations of macroscopic gravity for a flat spatially homogeneous, isotropic space-time are found. The gravitational correlation terms in the averaged Einstein equations have the form of spatial curvature, dark matter and dark energy (cosmological constant) with particular equations of state for each correlation regime. Interpretation of these cosmological models to explain the observed large-scale structure of the accelerating Universe with a significant amount of the nonluminous (dark) matter is discussed.
IHY: Meteor astronomy and the New Independent States (NIS) of the Former Soviet Union
Authors: Kolomiyets Svetlana V. , Sidorov Vladimir V.
Published: August 2007

The purpose: to emphasize, that there are some specific features of the development of science in the New Independent States (NIS) of the Former Soviet Union. These features demand enhanced attention of the organizers of the IHY. It is necessary to create effective mechanisms for the stimulation of the connection to world science of the dormant part of fundamental scientific knowledge of these countries, which has been saved up for fifty of years. Probably, the IHY is the last opportunity of rescuing the dormant part of this knowledge from full oblivion.

The method adopted is to discuss and analyse the general tendencies in science in the NIS by reference to individual cases, in particular for meteor astronomy.

Results: The features and history of the development of meteor astronomy during the existence of the Soviet Union and the subsequent period give a key to understanding of the problem. Meteor astronomy can be assumed to be a young science. It is an example of a cross-disciplinary science. It is an example of a science having a sharp rise, due to the project of the IGY and to subsequent geophysical projects. Meteor astronomy is a science directly connected with the launching of the first space satellite of the Earth and the evaluation of problems of meteoroid danger to space missions.

Commission 22 (Division III) of the IAU coordinated the development of meteor astronomy during the IGY. The known Soviet researcher of meteors V. Fedynskiy headed this Commission during four years since 1958. In the USSR numerous meteor centres were created and activated. The general management was concentrated in Moscow. Despite the close interaction under global projects of the Soviet Union with other countries, there still existed a language barrier. The language barrier, together with other reasons, has led to the creation in the USSR of a powerful meteor science, but only in the Russian language.

After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the meteor centres have remained, but without ordinary central management. The scientific results have remained but as an isolated, inaccessible science published in English.

Conclusion: Reunification of the scientific achievements of the last few years in the NIS with international science should become the task of the IHY. Revival of the activity of the some of the centres will be useful.
Astronomy and astrophysics in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Authors: Andic Aleksandra
Published: August 2007

In Bosnia and Herzegovina astronomy teaching is almost nonexistent. There are only several courses within universities and they are usually given by physicists who themselves have had only elementary courses in astrophysics. When educational outreach is in question, the situation is even more grim. On the other hand, there is a huge interest for astrophysics in the student population. There are several solutions and possibilities which I will present, together with a discussion of the main obstacles which need to be overcome.
Distance education at university level: opportunities and pitfalls
Authors: Jones Barrie
Published: August 2007

This paper presents an overview of distance education at university level and some of the associated challenges and pitfalls.
How to look for planetary transits using small telescopes and commercial CCDs in developing countries
Authors: Martioli Eder , Jablonski F.
Published: August 2007

The main goal of this work is to have a better understanding of the problems and characteristics of photometric surveys with small-sized affordable equipment, like the one available at the Astrophysics Division/INPE, in São José dos Campos, Brazil. The use of low-cost instruments is appealing in the context of the detection of Extrasolar Planets (ESP), in the sense that many observers are available for survey and follow-up programmes. It could also make possible the inclusion of many developing countries in the search for planetary transits. We describe the data collection and analysis procedure for differential photometry of the transit of HD 209458 b, using a small telescope and a commercial CCD camera. According to the HST observations of Brown et al. (2001), the transit produces a box-shaped light curve with 2% depth and 184-min duration. The orbital period is ∼ 3.5 days. The equipment consists of a f/10, 11” Schmidt-Cassegrain Celestron telescope equipped with a SBIG ST7E CCD camera. Since the seeing at the campus is quite poor, we used a focal reducer to produce an effective focal ratio of about f/5, still keeping a good sampling of the PSF but with a larger field of view. The larger field of view allows the simultaneous observation of a relatively bright nearby star, suitable for differential photometry. We discuss the IRAF reduction procedures for the large number of images collected and present the results obtained in the transit of September 8, 2004
Basic astronomy as part of a general higher education in the developing world
Authors: Baruch John , Hedges Dan , Machell James , Norris K. , Tallon Chris
Published: August 2007

This paper describes a new initiative in support of the aim of Commission 46 of the IAU to develop and improve astronomy education at all levels throughout the world. This paper discusses the ideal specification of a facility to support basic astronomy within education programmes which are delivered to students who have access to the Internet. The available robotic telescopes are discussed against this specification and it is argued that the Bradford Robotic Telescope, uniquely, can support many thousands of users in the area of basic astronomy education, and the resource is free.

Access to the Internet is growing in the developing world and this is true in education programmes. This paper discusses the serious problems of delivering to large numbers of students a web based astronomy education programme supported by a robotic telescope as part of a general education. It examines the problems of this form of teaching for teachers who have little experience of working with IT and little knowledge of basic astronomy and proposes how such teachers can be supported.

The current system (http://www.telescope.org/) delivers astronomy education in the language, culture and traditions of England. The paper discusses the need to extend this to other languages, cultures and traditions, although for trainee teachers and undergraduates, it is argued that the current system provides a unique and valuable resource.
The role of voluntary organizations in astronomy popularization: a case study of Khagol Mandal
Authors: Sule Aniket , Joshi S. , Joglekar H. , Deshpande A. , Naik M. , Deshpande S.
Published: August 2007

We present a case study of “Khagol Mandal,” a voluntary organization primarily based in Mumbai, India. In the 20 years since its inception, Khagol Mandal has given more than 1000 public outreach programmes. The volunteers strive to go beyond amateur level by means of various study tours, astronomical experiments and workshops. These activities have inspired a number of students to take professional astronomy careers. With a volunteer force, probably largest in India or even south Asia, Khagol Mandal is well poised to take advantage of the archival data of large telescopes. With a little guidance from senior researchers, organizations like Khagol Mandal can provide a solution to the ever-increasing need for manpower for ancillary science from these large-scale facilities.
Improving the ease of use and efficiency of software tools
Authors: Lin Ganghua , Su Jiangtao , Deng Yuanyong
Published: August 2007

For developing countries it is very important to derive maximum use of data obtained from their own telescopes. This is not only related to maximizing science returns on capital investment, but also to maximizing science output. In this paper we describe how we are utilizing software tools to realize this goal. This paper discusses the design and main features of our software tools, and planned future developments. The primary vehicle for general data interpretation is through various interactive techniques of data visualization. Our software employs an object oriented approach which facilitates data processing for experienced users as well as being easier to learn for novice users. This leads to greatly increased efficiency in every phase of data analysis. For developing countries the kind of software we are developing and the virtual observatory concept holds out the hope of advancing capability and efficiency in scientific research.
Bimodal size distributions of various organic acids and fatty acids in the marine atmosphere: Influence of anthropogenic aerosols, Asian dusts, and sea spray off the coast of East Asia
Authors: Mochida Michihiro , Umemoto Nobuhiko , Kawamura Kimitaka , Lim Ho‐Jin , Turpin Barbara J.
Published: August 2007

Size‐segregated (11 stages) marine aerosol samples were collected off the coast of East Asia during the ACE‐Asia campaign in 2001 and were analyzed for homologous series of dicarboxylic acids (C2–C12), ω‐oxocarboxylic acids (C2–C4), and n‐fatty acids (C16–C30), as well as organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon, and major inorganic ions. Concentrations of OC and major diacids and oxoacids in continental polluted air masses showed predominantly submicron maxima. However, during dusty haze events, supermicron maxima were observed, suggesting a size shift due to the secondary accumulation of these components on dust as well as sea salt particles. Supermicron maxima were also found for palmitic acid (C16 fatty acid) and other lower‐molecular‐weight fatty acids (LFAs, C16–C19) that are emitted from a microlayer of the ocean surface. In contrast, higher‐molecular‐weight fatty acids (HFAs, C20–C30) were mainly detected in the submicron mode, presumably due to a substantial contribution of biomass burning aerosols. This study demonstrates a high‐variability in the size distributions of organic components (i.e., between submicron and supermicron modes) in the coastal regions off East Asia. Such variations in the physical properties of the marine aerosols may be important in relation to their cloud‐condensation‐nuclei and light extinction activities.
Seasonal variation of the mesospheric inversion layer, thunderstorms, and mesospheric ozone over India
Authors: Fadnavis S. , Siingh Devendraa , Beig G. , Singh R. P.
Published: August 2007

Temperature and ozone volume mixing ratio profiles obtained from the Halogen Occultation Experiment (HALOE) aboard the Upper Atmospheric Research Satellite (UARS) over India and over the open ocean to the south during the period 1991–2001 are analyzed to study the characteristic features of the Mesospheric Inversion Layer (MIL) at 70 to 85 km altitude and its relation with the ozone mixing ratio at this altitude. We have also analyzed both the number of lightning flashes measured by the Optical Transient Detector (OTD) on board the MicroLab‐1 satellite for the period April 1995 to March 2000 and ground‐based thunderstorm data collected from 78 widespread Indian observatories for the same period to show that the MIL amplitude and thunderstorm activity are correlated. All the data sets examined exhibit a semiannual variation. The seasonal variation of MIL amplitude and the frequency of occurrence of the temperature inversion indicate a fairly good correlation with the seasonal variation of thunderstorms and the average ozone volume mixing ratio across the inversion layer. The observed correlation between local thunderstorm activity, MIL amplitude and mesospheric ozone volume mixing ratio are explained by the generation, upward propagation and mesospheric absorption of gravity waves produced by thunderstorms.
Warm upwelling regions in the Pliocene warm period
Authors: Dekens Petra S. , Ravelo Ana Christina , McCarthy Matthew D.
Published: August 2007

Given the importance of upwelling processes to coastal productivity and regional climate, it is critical to study the role of upwelling regions within the context of global climate change. We generated sea surface temperature (SST) records for the last 5 million years in three important upwelling regions: the eastern equatorial Pacific, the California margin, and the Peru margin. Prior to ∼3.0 Ma, SSTs at all sites were significantly warmer than today (by 3–9°C), indicating that cold upwelling regions that characterize the modern Pacific Ocean did not exist in the early Pliocene warm period (4.6 to 3.1 Ma), Earth's most recent period of sustained global warmth. Alkenone, phosphorus, and organic carbon mass accumulation rate records indicate that changes in productivity and SST were decoupled and that upwelling of nutrient enriched water occurred even when SSTs were warm during the early Pliocene. Thus the long‐term trends in SST are likely explained by changes in the temperature of upwelled water rather than in the strength of upwelling‐favorable winds alone. The fact that gradual cooling of upwelling regions began before the onset of significant Northern Hemisphere glaciation provides further evidence that the growth of ice sheets and their influence on atmospheric winds alone can not explain the cooling of upwelling regions. Our results suggest that the long‐term average SSTs of upwelling regions are influenced by global changes in the depth and/or temperature of the ventilated thermocline.
THE ABILITY OF IgA TO INHIBIT COMPLEMENT CONSUMPTION BY COMPLEMENT‐FIXING ANTIGENS AND ANTIGEN‐ANTIBODY COMPLEXES
Authors: Russell‐Jones GJ , Ey PL , Reynolds BL
Published: August 2007

The polymeric and monomeric (7S) forms of the nitrophenyl‐specific MOPC‐315 murine IgA myeloma protein were examined for their capacity to inhibit the consumption of guinea‐pig complement (C) by the C‐activating protein DNP46BSA and by antigen‐antibody (Ag‐Ab) complexes. On a molar basis. 13S IgA was slightly (2–3 fold) more efficient than 7S IgA in inhibiting C consumption by DNP‐BSA. When mixed with IgG antibodies prior to incubation with a non‐complement‐fixing antigen (TNP‐KLH). 13S IgA was considerably more effective than 7S IgA in preventing the formation of Ag‐Ab complexes able to fix C. The degree of inhibition observed was related to the concentration of C used in the assay, being greater at lower C concentrations.
CHARACTERIZATION OF NUGGET VIRUS, A SEROTYPE OF THE KEMEROVO GROUP OF ORBIVIRUSES
Authors: Gorman BM , Taylor Jill , Morton Heather C , Melzer AJ , Young PR
Published: August 2007

The genome of Nugget virus, a serotype of the Kemerovo group of orbiviruses, consists of 10 segments of double‐stranded RNA. The properties of the virus are consistent with its classification as an orbivirus, but the unusual patterns of separation of viral RNA and polypeptides compared with that reported for most other orbiviruses suggests the possibility of heterogeneity within the genus Orbivirus.
ERYTHROCYTE MEMBRANE‐BOUND ENZYMES IN MASTOMYS NATALENSIS DURING PLASMODIUM BERGHEI INFECTION
Authors: Khare S , Saxena JK , Sen AB , Ghatak S
Published: August 2007

The pattern of activity of certain membrane‐associated enzymes was followed in the erythrocytes of Plasmodium berghei‐infected Mastomys natalensis. Parasitized erythrocytes were separated from non‐parasitized populations by percoll‐density gradient centrifugation. The activity of adenylate cyclase was markedly increased while those of ATPase, acid phosphatase, β‐glucuronidase and N‐acetyl‐β‐D‐glucosaminidase were considerably decreased in the membrane preparations of parasitized erythrocytes as compared to normal erythrocytes. There was a decrease in the activity of ATPase and an increase of adenylate cyclase in the membrane preparations of non‐parasitized erythrocytes. However, other enzymes did not alter to a significant extent in non‐parasitized erythrocytes. Chloroquine (in vitro) stimulated adenylate cyclase, Na+ K+‐ATPase and Ca++Mg++‐ATPase while acetylcholinesterase was significantly inhibited.
ACQUIRED PATERNAL INFLUENCE IN MICE. IMPROVED REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF CBA/H MALES IMMUNIZED WITH RAT BLOOD CELLS
Authors: Steele EJ
Published: August 2007

Adult male CBA/H mice immunized against rat blood cells displayed a significant improvement in reproductive efficiency of 50% and 26% in two breeding programmes in relation to control male breeders exposed to phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS). (Both types of male were mated to normal CBA/H females.) The improvement was reflected in the significant increase in successful mating frequency and size of litters produced. The unknown mechanism of this phenomenon is discussed in relation to the known reproductive consequences of conventional genetic crosses.
MODULATION OF NATURAL AND ACQUIRED IMMUNITY OF RATS TO TUMOUR ISOGRAFTS
Authors: Inoue Y , Nelson DS
Published: August 2007

Syngeneic tumour cell suspensions were injected into the foot or intravenously in normal rats or rats bearing subcutaneous tumours. Resistance was assessed by measuring the swelling of the foot due to the growth of the tumours or by counting Sung colonies or metastases. The tumours included two methyl‐cholanthrene‐induced fibrosarcomas (D7, D8), a metastatic variant of D8 (D8M) and a spontaneous adenocarcinoma (ST‐2). D8, D8M and ST‐2 induced concomitant immunity to challenge in the foot. D8 and ST‐2, but not D8M, induced concomitant immunity in the lung. Concomitant immunity was, in each case tested, non‐specific and could be expressed against a tumour which itself failed to induce concomitant immunity.

Irradiation significantly enhanced the growth of D7, D8 and ST‐2 in the feet of non‐immune rats. Irradiation, carrageenan and silica significantly reduced the growth of D8M in the feet of non‐immune rats. Irradiation increased the growth of D8 and D8M and carrageenan increased the growth of D8 in the feet of concomitantly immune rats (i.e., depressed resistance). Carrageenan decreased lung colony formation by D8 in normal and concomitantly immune rats and silica decreased colony formation by D8 in concomitantly immune rats (i.e., increased resistance). Thymus‐deprived rats allowed greater growth of D8 in the feet but still expressed concomitant immunity.

It is concluded that: (1) both natural and acquired tumour immunity may be modulated non‐specifically in rats; (2) concomitant immunity, which has a large non‐specific component, may contribute to the suppression of metastases but may also have site specificity; (3) the exact nature of the rat host‐tumour relationship differs from tumour to tumour.
IMMUNOFLUORESCENCE LOCALIZATION OF PANCREATIC POLYPEPTIDE HORMONE IN THE PANCREAS OF FOETAL AND ADULT SHEEP
Authors: Reddy S , Elliott RB
Published: August 2007

Pancreatic polypeptide (PP) immunoreactive cells were demonstrated in the pancreas of foetal and adult sheep by immunofluorescence histochemistry. These observations provide evidence that in the sheep the pancreas is a major site of production of the hormone and that PP may be physiologically important in foetal life.
TRYPANOSOMA LEWISI: THE EFFECT OF THYMECTOMY ON THE PRODUCTION OF ABLASTIN AND THE TERMINATION OF THE PARASITAEMIA IN INFECTED RATS
Authors: Drew PA , Jenkin CR
Published: August 2007

This study investigated the effect of the depletion of T lymphocytes on the production of ablastin and the termination of the parasitaemias in Porton strain rats infected with Trypanosoma lewisi. Weanling rats were thymectomised or sham‐thymectomised and then X‐irradiated. After allowing 96 days for recovery from these procedures the rats were infected with T. lewisi. The rats were considered to be T lymphocyte depleted if they were unable to mount an antibody response to sheep red blood cells before the infection, a delayed type hypersensitivity response to trypanosomal antigen after they had cleared the infection, and if they succumbed to subsequent challenge with an intracellular bacterial parasite, Salmonella typhimurium C5. The T lymphocyte depleted rats were found to have no macroscopic thymus remnants visible at autopsy. The sham‐thymectomised and unoperated control rats retained all the T lymphocyte functions tested for. There was no difference between the control and the T lymphocyte depleted rats in the ability to eliminate the parasite following infection with T. lewisi. Ablastin titres in the serum, measured by a sensitive in vitro assay, were round to be the same in each of the groups of rats tested, regardless of their T lymphocyte status. It is concluded that T lymphocytes are not essential for rats to eliminate a T. lewisi infection, nor for the production of ablastin.
THE EFFECT OF PURINE AND PYRIMIDINE BASES ON SPLENIC PLAQUE‐FORMING CELLS AND CELLULAR IMMUNITY
Authors: Chalmers AH , Rao Mohan M , Marshall Villis R
Published: August 2007

The effects of a variety of purine and pyrimidine bases on splenic plaque‐forming cells and cellular immunity in mice are presented. The antibody‐forming plaque cells were measured in spleens of female C57/B1 mice by the Jerne plaque method using sheep red blood cells as the antigen. Bases were given on days 0 and 1 at doses varying from 2 to 200 μmoles per mouse and the antigen was given on day 0; the antibody response was measured on day 4. Cell‐mediated immunity was measured by the survival of 1 cm2 skin allografts transplanted across an H‐2 histocompatibility barrier in female mice from C57/B1 donors to Balb/c recipients. For the plaque assay, adenine given at 25 and 50 μmoles/mouse and adenosine at 100 μmoles/mouse, resulted in significant 7 to 14‐fold immunosuppression. Adenosine at 25 and 50 μmoles/mouse and guanosine and hypoxanthine at 100 μmoles/mouse resulted in an approximate 2‐fold immunoenhancement. 2'‐Deoxyadenosine, inosine, guanine, 2'‐deoxyguanosine and the pyrimidines cytosine, cytidine, 2'‐deoxycytidine, 2'‐deoxythymidine and uridine all given at 100 μmoles/mouse and orotic acid given at 25 μmoles/mouse had no significant effects on the plaque response; orotic acid at a dose of 50 μmoles/mouse was lethally toxic to mice.

In the primary immune response adenine was immunosuppressive at day 4, but significantly immunoenhancing at days 7 and 11. In the secondary response, adenine was immunosuppressive up to day 3 of the IgG and IgM responses; however, immunoenhancement occurred at day 4 (IgM) and day 5 (IgG). In the cell‐mediated immune response, adenine at doses of 25 and 50 μmoles/mouse resulted in a significant 40% increase in the survival of skin allografts across an H‐2 histocompatibility barrier.
MICROSOMAL PROTEIN SYNTHESIS AND INDUCTION OF CYTOCHROME P‐450 IN CIRRHOTIC RAT LIVER
Authors: Farrell Geoffrey C , Zaluzny Louise
Published: August 2007

In order to determine whether non‐specific defects of protein synthesis account for reduced levels of cytochrome P‐450 in cirrhotic liver, total microsomal protein synthesis and response to microsomal enzyme‐inducing agents have been examined in rats. Cirrhosis was produced by administration of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and phenobarbitone for 10 weeks. Ten days after stopping these agents, cytochrome P‐450 levels were 30% lower in cirrhotic liver than in controls (p<0·0001). However, total microsomal protein synthesis, determined in vivo by administration of [3H]‐leucine, was similar in cirrhotic (1347 ± 420 dpm/mg protein) and control (1317 ± 303 dpm/mg protein) liver. Three separate types of microsomal enzyme‐inducing agents, phenobarbitone, β‐naphthoflavone, and pregnenolone 16α‐carbonitrile, were administered to cirrhotic and normal rats. In both groups of animals increases of total cytochrome P‐450 and selective changes of cytochrome P‐450 isoenzymes (assessed by mixed function oxidase activity towards four substrates) were qualitatively and quantitatively similar. It is concluded that (1) hepalocytes of cirrhotic rat liver synthesize microsomal protein at a normal rate but less of it is cytochrome P‐450, and (2) the entire process of enzyme induction is intact. Thus, it appears likely that altered regulation of basal levels of cytochrome P‐450 rather than an altered response of the liver is responsible for the lowered cytochrome P‐450 content of cirrhotic rat liver.
THE CONTRIBUTION OF INOSITOL EXCHANGE TO AGONIST‐STIMULATED BREAKDOWN OF MYO‐ [2‐3H] INOSITOL‐LABELLED PHOSPHATIDYLINOSITOL IN MOUSE EXOCRINE PANCREAS
Authors: Tennes KA , Roberts ML
Published: August 2007

Agonists stimulate the release of myo‐inositol from phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) labelled in vivo with myo‐[2‐3H] inositol. In the presence of lithium, which inhibits myo‐inositol‐1‐phosphatase, the compound which accumulates following the breakdown of pre‐labelled PtdIns is inositol‐1‐phosphate. This indicates that the agonist‐stimulated release of the head group from this lipid is not the result of inositol exchange and is due to phosphodiesterase activity. The total amount of 3H‐labelled compounds released from PtdIns in the presence and absence of lithium is the same, which indicates the labelled compounds which are released are not re‐incorporated. Agonist‐induced release of myo‐[2‐3H] inositol can be used as a reliable indication of PtdIns breakdown in the exocrine pancreas.
ON THE POSSIBLE ROLE OF PROSTAGLANDIN E2 IN INTESTINAL STASIS IN THE GASTRIC BROODING FROG RHEOBATRACHUS SILUS
Authors: De La Lande IS , O'Brien PE , Shearman DJC , Taylor P , Tyler MJ
Published: August 2007

Responses of isolated intestinal preparations from the anurans Bufo marinus and Limnodynastes tasmaniensis to various agents have been studied, as models for the intestinal stasis reported in the rare gastric brooding frog, Rheobatrachus silus. It is inferred from the responses that the preparations possessed excitatory muscarinic and histamine receptors and inhibitory adrenergic receptors, conforming to the typical vertebrate pattern. The circular muscle was unresponsive to prostaglandin E2, whereas longitudinal muscle relaxed to prostaglandin E2.

Some of the longitudinal preparations exhibited a biphasic response to arachidonic acid, i.e. contraction followed by relaxation. Indomethacin prevented the relaxation phase, indicating that the intestine synthesised a prostaglandin E‐like substance from arachidonic acid.

These results draw attention lo the possibility that PGE2 may be responsible for the intestinal stasis associated with gastric brooding in the gastric brooding frog.
THE EFFECT OF EXPERIMENTAL CONCUSSION ON SOMATOSENSORY EVOKED POTENTIALS
Authors: Shaw NA , Cant BR
Published: August 2007

Cortical somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) were recorded following experimental acceleration concussion in the rat. Immediately after head injury there was a general reduction in the amplitude of the SEP, and all its components were either temporarily abolished or increased in latency. The early components of the SEP recovered much more rapidly than did the amplitude and latencies of the later potentials. The purpose of the study was to investigate the relative effects of concussion on the lemniscal system (whose activity is reflected by the discrete early component of the SEP) and the reticular activating system (whose activity is reflected by the diffuse high amplitude late component of the SEP). Contrary to a widely accepted theory, there was a delay in transmission of somatosensory information through the lemniscal pathways as well as through the reticular system following head injury. Such an observation is consistent with recent studies of SEPs recorded from humans comatose after head trauma. As the changes in the morphology of the waveform of the SEP following concussion can be simulated by simply recording evoked potentials at high rates of stimulation, this suggests that the delays are caused by a failure or malfunction of synaptic transmission, but the level at which this is occurring remains to be determined.
LY 2 POSITIVE CYTOTOXIC T LYMPHOCYTES, WHETHER SPECIFIC OR NON‐SPECIFIC IN LYTIC ACTIVITY, MAY EXPRESS A LARGE, GRANULAR, VACUOLATED LYMPHOCYTE MORPHOLOGY
Authors: Wilson Anne , Scollay Roland , Abbot Andrew P , Shortman Ken
Published: August 2007

Cytotoxic clones consisting entirely of large, vacuolated granular lymphocytes (LGL) are produced with high frequency when individual purified mature Ly 2+ T cells are cultured at limit dilution in the presence of concanavalin A and irradiated spleen filler cells. Similar cells are produced in cultures of Ly 2− T cells but in lower proportion, the level of granular lymphocytes amongst the largely non‐cytotoxic, Ly 2− L3T4+ product cells being only 20%. A proportion (15%) of LGL are also found in conventional mixed lymphocyte cultures. In the limit‐dilution cultures of Ly 2+ T cells the LGL originate from the single precursor cell and not from the irradiated filler cells. They bear the markers expected of active cytotoxic T lymphocytes (Thy 1++; PNA++; Ly 1+; Ly 2++; L3T4−). Their DNA and chromosome complement appear normal. The granules within the cells are heterogeneous in form, and some resemble in ultrastructure those described in certain cytotoxic, suppressor and NK‐cell lines. The granules do not show mast cell staining characteristics. The LGL are not phagocytic. Although LGL are associated with nonspecific cytotoxicity fate in culture, the first granular cells appear early (day 3) and dominate in the clones at times when cytolysis is specific. LGL appear to be the normal morphological form of cytotoxic T lymphocytes when grown under these conditions.
TICK RESISTANCE AND THE MAJOR HISTOCOMPATIBILITY SYSTEM
Authors: Stear MJ , Newman MJ , Nicholas FW , Brown SC , Holroyd RG
Published: August 2007

199 3/4 Brahman 1/4 Shorthorn cattle, whose resistance to the cattle tick Boophilus microplus had been determined by clinical trial, were tested for 19 bovine lymphocyte antigens. Of eleven antigens detected at a frequency greater than 5%, two were found to be associated with tick resistance and a third was associated with susceptibility to ticks. However, none of these antigens accounts for more than 2·1% of the variance, indicating that these associations are not strong.
MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES SPECIFIC FOR BLOOD GROUPS A AND B
Authors: Fletcher A , Harbour C , Zwart R
Published: August 2007

Monoclonal antibodies have been produced with specificity for human blood group A following the immunization of mice with group A1 cells. The antibodies produced were of low titre and poor avidity and were therefore unsuitable as manual grouping reagents. However, in 6,524 automated tests on the Technicon BG15 monoclonal anti‐A performed, as well as the standard human anti‐A reagent. Monoclonal anti‐B antibodies were produced from a BALB/c mouse immunized with a combination of group B cells and B substance. One antibody, B/C9/F7, performed well in screening tests with avidity reactions <10 seconds with all B, A1B and A2B cells tested. This antibody performed with 100% accuracy in an automated test trial involving 1,018 samples. The suitability of these antibodies as blood grouping reagents is discussed.
AUTOANTIBODY‐SPECIFIC SUPPRESSOR CELLS ARE ELICITED BY MEMBRANE COMPONENTS OF RAT RBC INDEPENDENTLY OF CIRCULATING AUTOANTIBODIES BUT TNP‐SPECIFIC SUPPRESSORS ARE NOT ELICITED BY TNP‐RAT RBC
Authors: Howles Anne , Cox KO
Published: August 2007

Erythrocyte autoantibodies and autoantibody‐specific suppressor cells are elicited in mice injected with rat erythrocytes. Here it is shown, first, that modified rat erythrocytes elicit suppressor cells independently of autoantibody production. Haemoglobin‐free membranes of rat erythrocytes, but not soluble lysates of rat erythrocytes, elicited autoantibodies and suppressor cells. Solubilization of these rat erythrocyte membranes with solutions of Triton‐X‐114 produced membrane fractions which induced autoantibody‐specific suppression in the absence of detectable autoantibody production. These results are compatible with the view that the activation of suppressor cells in this model involves recognition of structures on the rat erythrocytes. Secondly, trinitrophenyl (TNP) was attached to rat erythrocytes in various doses in attempts to make the immunogenicity of TNP similar to that of the cross‐reactive determinants on rat and mouse erythrocytes, to determine whether TNP‐specific suppressor cells were produced. The results show that at various doses of TNP, including those at which antibody production to TNP could not be detected, rat erythrocytes coated with TNP induced autoantibody‐specific suppressor cells but not suppressor cells with specificity for antibodies to TNP.
EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES ON THE PATHOGENICITY OF VIBRIO MIMICUS STRAINS ISOLATED IN BANGLADESH
Authors: Sanyal Suhas C , Huq Mohammad I , Neogy Prodyut KB , Alam Khorshed , Kabir Mohammad I , Rahaman Abu SMH
Published: August 2007

Vibrio mimicus, a newly described species of the genus Vibrio has been isolated from stools of 14 patients with diarrhoea. Live cells of all the 14 strains tested caused accumulation of fluid in rabbit gut loops and diarrhoea in infant rabbits. Culture filtrates of all the strains caused increased capillary permeability in rabbit skin; however, five of the filtrates resembled cholera toxin in that they gave positive reactions in rabbit loops, chinese hamster ovarian and mouse adrenal cell monolayers and GM1 ELISA tests and were neutralized by cholera antitoxin. None of the strains produced heat‐stable toxin or possessed invasive capability as determined by Sereny's test. Thus, V. mimicus strains were divided into a group which produced a toxin immunobiologically similar to cholera toxin and the rest producing a heat‐labile toxin unrelated to that of V. cholerae.
IMMUNIZATION WITH NEMATOSPIROIDES DUBIUS ADULT WORMS PLUS PERTUSSIGEN HAS DIFFERENT CONSEQUENCES IN MICE OF VARIOUS GENOTYPES
Authors: Mitchell Graham F , Cruise Kathy M
Published: August 2007

In the Nematospiroides dubius/mouse model of intestinal nematodiasis, young C57BL/6 male mice are highly susceptible in that they remain chronically infected after repeated oral administrations of infective third‐stage larvae (L3). It was shown previously that a parenteral injection of small numbers of living adult worms, or their aqueous extracts, was highly effective at sensitizing these mice for accelerated rejection of adult worms but only when the mice were additionally injected with pertussigen from Bordetella pertussis. ‘Host protective antigens’ appear to be soluble proteins. This method of vaccination is largely ineffective in male mice of strains CBA/H and C3H/He and can actually be counterproductive in BALB/c mice. Thus, adult worms injected subcutaneously into male BALB/c mice will sensitize them for accelerated rejection and this effect is neutralized by simultaneous injection of such mice with pertussigen. The data highlight the known complexity of host‐parasite relationships in intestinal parasitism and suggest that several different defects underlie the genetically based inability of some mice to reject N. dubius worms from the intestines following exposure to N. dubius antigens.
IMMUNOSUPPRESSION BY HUMAN SKIN CANCERS
Authors: McCabe M , Nowak M , Maguire D , Robertson P
Published: August 2007

Biopsy samples from normal skin (12 samples) and skin lesions diagnosed as either basal cell (17 cases) or squamous cell carcinoma (5 cases) were frozen, disrupted and extracted with aqueous buffer. The sterilised extract was added to an in vitro system of cultured bovine lymphocytes. The response of the lymphocytes to PHA was measured by tritialed thymidine uptake. Extracts of both basal cell and squamous cell cancers inhibited normal PHA stimulation of lymphocyte mitogenesis. Blastogenesis was reduced by more than 50% by all of the cancer extracts tested. In contrast, similar extracts from normal skin showed less than 40% inhibition.
BABESIA MICROTI IN MICE. ADOPTIVE TRANSFER OF IMMUNITY WITH SERUM AND CELLS
Authors: Meeusen E , Lloyd S , Soulsby EJL
Published: August 2007

Protection against infection with Babesia microti in mice was passively transferred with either serum or cells. Immune spleen cells were more effective than were immune mesenteric lymph node (MLN) cells in reducing parasitaemias in recipient mice, and the level of protection correlated with the donor to recipient ratio rather than with the number of cells transferred. Protection against primary infection in recipient mice was adoptively transferred by nylon wool adherent, B cell enriched subpopulations of spleen cells. In contrast, higher peak parasitaemias were apparent in mice which received nylon wool non‐adherent, T enriched spleen cells in comparison with the control mice. However, if the recipient mice were reinfected, control of this second infection was greatest in the recipients of the T enriched cell subpopulation. Treatment of the protective nylon wool adherent, B cell subpopulation with anti‐θ serum and complement abolished both the protective effect and the anamnestic antibody response in the recipient mice. This suggested that primed T cells controlled the expression of the protective antibody response by primed B cells.
ABSCESS INDUCTION IN BEIGE (bg/bg) MUTANT MICE
Authors: Finlay‐Jones JJ , Shellam GR , Boyden AN , Hart PH , Spencer LK , Skinner JM , McDonald PJ
Published: August 2007

Humans with Chediak‐Higashi Syndrome (CHS) and several animal species with similar defects have been reported to have increased susceptibility to infection, including abscess formation, associated with granulocyte abnormalities. Those defects were investigated by comparing mice of the SB/Le strain, homozygous for the beige mutation, with their heterozygous littermates and with normal BALB/c mice with respect to the ability to form intraabdominal abscesses. Mice were autopsied 7 days after the intraperitoneal inoculation of a mixture of Bacteroides fragilis, Escherichia coli and an abscess‐potentiating agent, bran. Although homozygous beige mice formed more numerous abscesses than controls, the total abscess sizes and bacterial contents were not significantly different. Histopathologically, the abscesses resembled those in normal mice. Phagocytic killing assays using granulocytes from beige mice of the SB/Le and C57BL/6J strains showed no significant differences between homozygous beige mice and controls. Within the context of these experiments in which neutrophil function in vivo and in vitro was examined with respect to anaerobic and facultative Gram‐negative bacteria, it is concluded that beige mice can respond adequately to an infectious bacterial challenge. The increased susceptibility to an infection seen in various species with CHS‐like disease may relate to virulence factors of the infecting organisms and defects in host defences documented by others but not manifest in these experiments.
EPIGENETIC EFFECTS OF THE METHYLATING AGENT 5‐(3‐METHYL‐1‐TRIAZENO) IMIDAZOLE‐4‐CARBOXAMIDE IN HUMAN MELANOMA CELLS
Authors: Hayward IP , Parsons PG
Published: August 2007

The anti‐tumour methylating agent 5‐(3‐methyl‐1‐triazeno)imidazole‐4‐carboxamide (MTIC) increased the thymidine and deoxycytidine pools but not the deoxyguanosine pool in human melanoma cells. Incorporation of deoxyguanosine and deoxyadenosine was strongly inhibited by MTIC due to formation of the decomposition product 5‐aminoimidazole‐4‐carboxamide (AIC). Theophylline, natural nucleosides and sulphydryl compounds did not affect the toxicity of MTIC in either MTIC‐sensitive (Mer−) or autologous‐resistant (Mer+) melanoma cells. 3‐Aminobenzamide (3 mM for 48 h), an inhibitor of ADP‐ribosyl transferase, greatly enhanced MTIC toxicity in the resistant compared with the sensitive cell line.
METABOLISM OF BABESIA PARASITES IN VITRO. CHANGE IN ADENYLATE ENERGY CHARGE AND INFECTIVITY OF BABESIA RODHAINI‐INFECTED ERYTHROCYTES
Authors: Barry DN
Published: August 2007

Studies were undertaken to investigate a possible correlation between the change, during experimental in vitro treatments, in adenylate energy charge (AEC) of B. rodhaini‐infected erythrocytes and the infectivity of the parasites for mice.

When the AEC and infectivity of B. rodhaini‐infected erythrocytes were modified by incubation in basal salts media containing various substrates, parasite infectivity correlated significantly (r2 = 0·83, p<0·01) with change in AEC. However, B. rodhaini frozen with and without cryoprotectant demonstrated large changes in infectivity but relatively small changes in AEC. The final AEC values were similar to those of unfrozen organisms, although infectivity was greatly depressed.

The results suggest that, when in vitro treatment changed the adenine nucleotide pool (ATP + ADP + AMP) of infected erythrocytes, change in AEC correlated with infectivity. When the adenylate pool was unchanged, no such correlation was evident. Thus, the AEC can be a useful index of parasite infectivity in some, but not necessarily in all, in vitro systems.

Data on the relative utilization by B. rodhaini of various substrates, obtained when AEC and infectivity of infected erythrocytes were modified, are also reported and discussed.