bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Collaboration and development of radio-astronomy in Australasia and the South-Pacific region: New Zealand perspectives
Authors: Gulyaev Sergei A. , Natusch Tim J. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractAs a result of collective efforts of an Australian–New Zealand VLBI team, the first New Zealand VLBI system was developed, and a series of test observations between New Zealand and Australia conducted. The equipment and techniques used to conduct New Zealand's first VLBI observations are discussed and results of work in Australia and New Zealand to obtain fringes and the image of the source (PKS1921-231) are presented. The road map for New Zealand radio-astronomy as well as New Zealand involvement in the SKA is discussed.
The astronomical observatory “Khurel Togoot” of Mongolia
Authors: Batmunkh Damdin 
Published: August 2007

AbstractIn this paper the basic researches, telescopes and devices of the Khurel Togoot astronomical observatory, which was founded during the International Geophysical Year, are briefly described. Our astronomical observatory is located on Bogd Mountain near the capital city Ulaanbaatar. Almost 50 years of scientific work has been carried out there. In particular, astrometric researches, GPS, solar researches and observations of minor planets are conducted. Now these scientific researches basically are maintained and extended, with the introduction of modern technology. As an example of the data received by our solar telescope ‘Coronagraph’, some solar images will be shown. Recently we equipped this telescope with a CCD camera. Because of the transformation of the economy in Mongolia, there are at present difficulties with the preparation of young professional astronomers and with the purchase of new astronomical equipment.
Astronomical education in Armenia
Authors: Harutyunian Hayk A. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractAstronomy pupils in Armenia get their first ideas on astronomy at elementary schools. Astronomy as a distinct subject is taught at all secondary schools in the country. Teaching is conducted according to a unified program elaborated jointly by professional astronomers and astronomy teachers. Unfortunately only one hour per week is allotted for teaching astronomy, which obviously is not enough workload to hire specialized astronomy teachers at every school, and at many schools this subject is tutored by non-specialists. Many schools partly compensate this lack of teachers by organizing visits to the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO) for pupils, where they also attend short lectures on astronomy. In some schools optional training in astronomy is organized by amateurs, for the purpose of a deeper understanding in astronomy.During recent years annual competitions for revealing gifted pupils in astronomy have been organized. These competitions have three rounds, namely, in schools, in districts and the final round is, as a rule, held at BAO. The national winners successfully participate in and win prestigious prizes at international astronomical Olympiads as well.At Yerevan State University (YSU) there is a department for astrophysics, which was set up in 1946 and is operating to date. This department trains specialists for a career in astrophysics. Only one or two students graduate from this department yearly at present, while in the 1980s a dozen specialists were trained every year. BAO serves as the scientific base for the students of YSU as well, and a number of staff members from BAO conduct special courses for YSU students. YSU provides a Master's degree in astrophysics, and BAO is granting a Doctor's (PhD) degree since the 1970s.
Projects of the Teaching and Popularization section of LIADA
Authors: Bretones Paulo Sergio , de Oliveira Vladimir C. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractThe goal of this work is to present an analysis of the observational projects developed by the Teaching and Popularization Section of the Liga Ibero-Americana de Astronomía (LIADA). The Section is based in Brazil and counts on the support of 16 volunteer coordinators from most Latin-American countries. The observational projects are described on the home page of LIADA and aim to attract the attention of the general public, teachers and students to encourage their active participation in observational astronomy. The strategy is to circulate support material and open a discussion forum about each of the astronomical phenomena to enhance their consideration by and visibility to the public. Participants' reports are posted on the Internet forum and the web page of LIADA. We have analyzed the records of these activities and present an evaluation of the difficulties with written reports, the need of a dynamic maintenance of the home page, the establishment of a useful communications network and the visibility of the activities of LIADA.
Modern facilities in astronomy education
Authors: Harutyunian Hayk , Mickaelian Areg 
Published: August 2007

AbstractAstronomical education is entering a new stage of development which is closely connected with the development of new technologies for communication, computing and data visualization. We discuss this evolution in the context of astronomy education in Armenia. As students spend only a short time in Byurakan Observatory for training in observations, they are not able to carry out systematic astronomical observations. Hence their training places emphasis on the use of astronomical archives and analysis of observational data obtained previously with the Byurakan telescopes and other ground-based and space telescopes. Thus, one of the aims of the Armenian Virtual Observatory is to support the training of students in this modern context.
The United Nations Basic Space Science Initiative: the TRIPOD concept
Authors: Kitamura Masatoshi , Wentzel Don , Henden Arne , Bennett Jeffrey , Al-Naimiy H.M.K. , Mathai A.M. , Gopalswamy Nat , Davila Joseph , Thompson Barbara , Webb David , Haubold Hans 
Published: August 2007

AbstractSince 1990, the United Nations has held an annual workshop on basic space science for the benefit of the worldwide development of astronomy. Additional to the scientific benefits of the workshops and the strengthening of international cooperation, the workshops lead to the establishment of astronomical telescope facilities through the Official Development Assistance (ODA) of Japan. Teaching material, hands-on astrophysics material, and variable star observing programmes had been developed for the operation of such astronomical telescope facilities in the university environment. This approach to astronomical telescope facility, observing programme, and teaching astronomy has become known as the basic space science TRIPOD concept. Currently, a similar TRIPOD concept is being developed for the International Heliophysical Year 2007, consisting of an instrument array, data taking and analysis, and teaching space science.
The United Nations Basic Space Science Initiative for IHY 2007
Authors: Gopalswamy Nat , Davila Joseph , Thompson Barbara , Haubold Hans 
Published: August 2007

AbstractThe United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs and the International Heliophysical Year (IHY) community have joined hands to deploy arrays of small, inexpensive instruments such as magnetometers, radio telescopes, GPS receivers, all-sky cameras, and particle detectors around the world to provide global measurements of ionospheric, magnetospheric and heliospheric phenomena. The small instrument programme is envisioned as a partnership between instrument providers, and instrument hosts in developing countries as one of United Nations Basic Space Science (UNBSS) activity. The lead scientist will provide the instruments (or fabrication plans for instruments) in the array; the host country will provide manpower, facilities, and operational support to obtain data with the instrument, located typically at a local university. This paper provides an overview of the IHY/UNBSS programme, its achievements and future plans.
The Space Weather Monitor Project: bringing hands-on science to students of the developing world for the IHY2007
Authors: Scherrer Deborah , Rabello-Soares M. Cristina , Morrow Cherilynn 
Published: August 2007

AbstractStanford's Solar Center, Electrical Engineering Department, and local educators have developed inexpensive Space Weather Monitors that students around the world can use to track solar- and lightning-induced changes to the Earth's ionosphere. Through the United Nations Basic Space Science Initiative (UNBSSI) and the International Heliophysical Year (IHY) Education and Public Outreach programme, our Monitors are being deployed to 191 countries. In partnership with Chabot Space and Science Center, we are designing and developing classroom and educator support materials to accompany the distribution. Materials will be culturally sensitive and will be translated into the six official languages of the United Nations (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish). Monitors will be provided free of charge to developing nations and can be set up anywhere there is access to power.
IMMUNOGENICITY OF RNA‐PROTEIN FRACTION ISOLATED FROM AXENIC ENTAMOEBA HISTOLYTICA (NIH:200)
Authors: Sharma GL , Naik SR , Vinayak VK 
Published: August 2007

SummaryThe immunogenicity of Entamoeba histolytica RNA (EhRNA) was studied in guinea‐pigs. Animals immunized with a single dose of EhRNA and Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) showed a high level of cell‐mediated immune response (CMIR) as assessed by percent leucocyte migration inhibition (74·8 ± 2·9) after 1 week of immunization. This response faded away gradually and by week 5 after immunization the percent leucocyte migration inhibition was 27·1 ± 8·27, which is quite close to control values. The immunogenic activity of EhRNA was found to be specific, since yeast RNA failed to elicit immunological responses, and was RNase‐sensitive. The CMIR could be maintained at its high level by giving boosters or multiple doses. Anti‐EhRNA antibodies (haemagglutinins or precipitins) could not be demonstrated at any stage.
IN VITRO TRANSLATION OF PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUM PROTEINS
Authors: Upcroft Jacqueline , Chiu Suying , Kidson Chev 
Published: August 2007

SummaryRNA was prepared from cultured Plasmodium falciparum using ribonucleoside‐vanadyl ribonuclease inhibitors and assayed in a rabbit reticulocyte, cell‐free lysate translation system. Discrete proteins, ranging from <10,000 to >200,000 daltons, were synthesized. Some of these proteins were precipitated by immune serum and were similar to those metabolically synthesized. Purified poly [A] mRNA was also translated and differences between the fractions which either bind or pass through a poly [U] Sepharose column are described.
VACCINATION AGAINST CUTANEOUS LEISHMANIASIS IN MICE USING NONPATHOGENIC CLONED PROMASTIGOTES OF LEISHMANIA MAJOR AND IMPORTANCE OF ROUTE OF INJECTION
Authors: Mitchell Graham F , Handman Emanuela , Spithill Terry W 
Published: August 2007

SummaryIn vaccination studies, mice have been injected by different routes with living promastigotes of nonpathogenic leishmania followed by cutaneous challenge with pathogenic promastigotes. Parasites used for vaccination have been promastigotes of the cloned parasite lines A12 and A52 derived from Leishmania major isolate L137, or long‐term cultured promastigotes of the leishmaniasis recidiva isolate, L32 (L.t.tropica). None of these protozoa causes lesions after cutaneous injection to mice. Disease in previously injected mice has been monitored after cutaneous challenge with promastigotes of a virulent cloned line, V121, derived from isolate L137. Mice used were C57BL/6 (genetically resistant), BALB/c and BALB/c.H‐2b (genetically susceptible) and BALB/c.H‐2k (also genetically susceptible but sometimes less so than BALB/c). C57BL/6 mice were almost completely resistant to subsequent cutaneous disease when challenged after intra‐peritoneal injection of viable nonpathogenic cloned promastigotes. In contrast, BALB/c, BALB/c.H‐2b and BALB/c.H‐2k mice challenged after intravenous or intraperitoneal injection were only protected partially against cutaneous leishmaniasis. These vaccinated mice generally showed persistent low grade cutaneous disease for many months after challenge. High doses of viable L32 promastigotes injected intraperitoneally were also able to induce a degree of resistance to subsequent cutaneous leishmaniasis. Using any protocol, subcutaneous injections have been totally without protective effects as have been killed promastigotes injected by any route to mice. Subcutaneous injections appeal to be ineffective rather than counterproductive in that mice injected by both the intravenous and subcutaneous routes with nonpathogenic living cloned promastigotes resemble mice injected by the intravenous route in their disease status following challenge
TICK‐PARALYSIS TOXOID: AN EFFECTIVE IMMUNIZING AGENT AGAINST THE TOXIN OF IXODES HOLOCYCLUS
Authors: Stone BF , Neish AL 
Published: August 2007

SummaryGlutaraldehyde treatment of the toxin of the Australian paralysis tick Ixodes holocyclus produced a potent, immunogenic toxoid. Three subcutaneous injections (2 to 4 weeks apart) into rabbits produced very high antitoxin titres in their serum, although circulating antitoxin titres declined in the absence of stimulation. Twenty weeks later, immunized rabbits were unaffected by lethal doses of toxin injected subcutaneously.
ACQUIRED PATERNAL INFLUENCE IN MICE. ALTERED SERUM ANTIBODY RESPONSE IN THE PROGENY POPULATION OF IMMUNIZED CBA/H MALES
Authors: Steele EJ 
Published: August 2007

SummaryFirst generation offspring derived from CBA/H males immunized in adult life against rat blood cell antigens displayed altered immune reactivity to rat erythrocytes (RE) as assayed at a single lime point after challenge, For the low antigen challenge doses employed (106 to 107 RE i.p.) the population of test offspring showed a significant enhancement of serum antibody response relative to the control population of progeny of unimmunized males; at higher antigen challenge doses (108 RE i.p.) the response in the test progeny population was suppressed.
A SIMPLIFIED METHOD FOR ESTIMATING 5‐PHOSPHORIBOSYL 1‐PYROPHOSPHATE IN MOUSE LIVER AND SPLEEN
Authors: Chalmers AH 
Published: August 2007

SummaryA simplified method for the estimation of 5‐phosphoribosyl 1‐pyrophosphate (PRPP) in mouse liver and spleen is described. The method uses the enzymic conversion of [8‐14C] hypoxanthine to [8‐14C] inosine 5′‐monophosphate in the presence of PRPP and has the advantage over previously published methods in that the enzyme used in this assay, hypoxanthine‐guanine phosphoribosyl‐transferase (HG‐PRTase), is present in the tissue being analyzed and does not require preparation. In addition, each assay uses as its internal standard PRPP, thus overcoming the problem of the chemical instability inherent in this molecule. The two‐minute heal treatment used in the method was found to destroy most interfering enzymes and resulted in average recovery of PRPP of 56% and 85% for the liver and spleen, respectively. The counts obtained in the assay were about ten‐fold above background (80 c.p.m) and allowed accurate measurement of the phosphoribose sugar. The levels of PRPP (± standard deviation) found for liver and spleen in twelve (12) separate Bath/C male mice were 6·3 ± 1·8 and 10·8 ± 5·0 nmoles/g wet weight tissue, respectively, and agree with the tissue concentrations already reported for this metabolite. A further advantage of this assay is that it gives an index of the HG‐PRTase activity in the tissues.
INTERSPECIFIC CHIMERISM—THE CHARACTERIZATION AND IMMUNOLOGICAL RESPONSIVENESS OF BOS TAURUSBOS INDICUS HAEMOPOIETIC CHIMERAS PRODUCED BY EMBRYO TRANSFER
Authors: Summers PM , Shelton JN , Morris Bede , Bell K 
Published: August 2007

SummaryBos taurus‐Bos indicus twin calves were produced by embryo transfer and their degree of haemopoietic chimerism and immune responsiveness examined. All 10 pairs of Friesian‐Brahman twins were chimeric compared with only 6 out of 12 pairs of Jersey‐Brahman twins. In the Friesian‐Brahman twins, Friesian lymphocytes predominated in all calves while in the Jersey‐Brahman twins there was no uniform dominance of one cell type over another. All calves that had chimeric lymphocyte populations were also erythrocyte chimeras, although in two pairs of twins the genotype of the erythrocytes was different from the genotype of the lymphocytes. The lymphocytes of all chimeric calves failed to respond in mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) tests to the lymphocytes of their co‐twins but gave vigorous responses to cells from other calves.Primary and secondary immune responses to keyhole limpet haemocyanin (KLH) antigen were studied in the efferent prefemoral lymph in normal Jersey, Friesian and Brahman calves, in 1 set of Jersey‐Brahman twins and in 5 sets of Friesian‐Brahman twins. The immune responses of chimeric twins with genetically identical lymphocyte populations were quite dissimilar and were characteristic of the somatic genotype of the calf and not of the genotype of the lymphocyte population. The chimeric status of the cell population in the lymph did not change significantly during the response. These results suggest that cither the genetic capacity of a population of lymphocytes to recognize and respond to antigens can be modified during ontogeny in an alien genetic environment or that a crucial determinant of the final outcome of an immune response is not the immunocompetent cell itself but the physiological and anatomical environment in which it exists.
LUMINOL‐DEPENDENT CHEMILUMINESCENCE PRODUCED BY NEUTROPHILS STIMULATED BY IMMUNE COMPLEXES
Authors: Cheung Kee , Archibald Anna C , Robinson Michael F 
Published: August 2007

SummaryThe origin of luminol‐dependent chemiluminescence (CL) in neutrophils stimulated by immune complexes (IC) was investigated. It was found that CL induced by soluble IC and aggregated human gamma globulin (AHG) was glucose‐independent, while insoluble IC‐induced CL was diminished in the absence of glucose, AHG‐induced CL was not inhibited by superoxide dismutase, catalase or 2,5‐dimethyl furan, but was suppressed in the presence of phenol, sodium benzoate, sodium formate and mannitol. The CL was also inhibited by inhibitors of arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism including 5,8,11,14‐eicosate‐traynoic acid, nordihydroguaiaretic acid, quinacrine, indomethacin and aspirin, and by prostaglandins E1 and E2, theophylline and dibutyryl cyclic AMP. Luminol‐dependent CL was also studied in cell‐free systems including AA plus soybean lipoxygenase, hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid plus peroxidase and xanthine oxidase plus xanthine. Our results indicate that, in neutrophils exposed to soluble IC and AHG, CL is produced and this is closely linked to the formation of free radicals during the metabolism of AA. The radical(s) involved is likely to include the hydroxyl radical. In neutrophils stimulated by large aggregates of IC or micro‐organisms, superoxide anion, H2O2 and singlet oxygen are also produced as a result of activation of NAD(P)H oxidase. These oxygen species function as oxidizing agents for AA metabolism and amplify the production of hydroxyl radical along the lipoxygenase (and possibly cyclooxygenase) pathway(s).
PROMOTING EFFECT OF BEER AND ETHANOL ON ANTI‐TUMOUR CYTOTOXICITY: UNAFFECTED GROWTH OF A TRANSPLANTABLE RAT TUMOUR
Authors: Autelitano Dominic J , Howarth Andrew E , Pihl Eric 
Published: August 2007

SummaryThe effects of beer and alcohol (4·8% ethanol v/v) were studied on (i) the growth of a syngeneic colonic carcinoma transplantable in male D/A rats, (ii) levels of blood B and T‐lymphocyte classes, (iii) antibody‐dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), and (iv) direct lymphocyte anti‐tumour cytotoxicity. Beer and alcohol had no effect on tumour growth, but led to significant increases in non‐specific anti‐tumour cytotoxicity in the levels of blood lymphocytes labelled by the monoclonal antibody OX/8 (cytotoxic/suppressor cells) and in the levels of total T‐lymphocytes; ADCC was not affected. It is concluded that alcohol stimulates non‐specific cell‐mediated immunity (CMI) but that it either does not affect tumour growth or that the increased CMI is compensatory for a tumour‐growth stimulatory effect of alcohol.
THE EFFECTS OF AMICON AND MILLIPORE MEMBRANES UPON THE LYMPHOKINE TITRES OF CULTURE SUPERNATANTS
Authors: Attridge SR , Kotlarski Ieva 
Published: August 2007

SummaryAntigen‐ and Concanavalin A‐induced culture supernatant have been reported to contain inhibitors of interleukin 2 (IL2) activity which necessitate concentration of samples over Amicon membranes prior to lymphokine assay. However, since we found this to be unnecessary, we have re‐evaluated the effects of Amicon and millipore membranes upon the lymphokine litres of such supernatants. Our findings do not support the notion of an IL2 inhibitor, but indicate that lymphokine levels can be dramatically reduced as a consequence of millipore filtration.
BABESIA MICROTI IN MICE. SUBPOPULATIONS OF CELLS INVOLVED IN THE ADOPTIVE TRANSFER OF IMMUNITY WITH IMMUNE SPLEEN CELLS
Authors: Meeusen E , Lloyd S , Soulsby EJL 
Published: August 2007

SummaryProtection against a primary Babesia microti infection in mice, induced by the adoptive transfer of immune spleen cells, was abolished when the immune spleen cells were treated with mitomycin C prior to transfer. Since mitomycin C treatment prevents the replication of lymphocytes without affecting other cell functions, these results would suggest that the transferred cells required proliferation in the recipient mice before they could exert their protective effect, and this excludes the already differentiated antibody‐forming cells (AFC's), macrophages and sensitised helper T cells. This was partly supported by the finding that Sephadex G‐10 non‐adherent immune cells, depleted of macrophages and AFC's, still conferred a strong protection after transfer. However, the Sephadex G‐10 adherent cells, on a cell to cell basis, initially conferred a better protection against B. microti than did the non‐adherent cells or unfractionated immune spleen cells. The possibility of the retention of an intermediate B memory cell type on the Sephadex G‐10 columns and the suppression of antibody production are discussed in view of these results.
ANTIGEN‐SPECIFIC RESPONSE AMONG T LYMPHOCYTES FOLLOWING INTESTINAL ADMINISTRATION OF ALLOANTIGENS
Authors: Husband AJ , Dunkley ML , Cripps AW , Clancy RL 
Published: August 2007

SummaryThe kinetics of T lymphocyte responses to mucosally presented antigen and the appearance of antigen‐reactive T cells in mucosal and systemic tissues have been investigated by measuring secondary mixed lymphocyte culture reactivity after intestinal administration of alloantigens. The data indicate that T lymphocytes in the intestine are able to respond to mucosally presented alloantigens, and that following immunisation the T cell reactivity occurs first in Peyer's patches then sequentially in mesenteric lymph nodes, thoracic duct lymph, gut lamina propria and distant mucosal sites. The response was mucosally restricted and the ultimate location of antigen‐reactive cells is influenced by site of antigen administration. Evidence is also presented for the existence of systemic non‐reactivity to mucosally presented antigens.