Pectic Galactan Polysaccharide-Based Gene Delivery System for Targeting Neuroinflammation

Treating neuroinflammation-related injuries and disorders through manipulation of neuroinflammation functions is being heralded as a new therapeutic strategy. In this study, a novel pectic galactan (PG) polysaccharide based gene therapy approach is developed for targeting reactive gliosis in neuroinflammation. Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a cell protein with a high affinity to β-galactoside sugars and is highly expressed in reactive gliosis. Since PG carries galactans, it can target reactive gliosis via specific carbohydrate interaction between galactan and Gal-3 on the cell membrane, and therefore can be utilized as a carrier for delivering genes to these cells. The carrier is synthesized by modifying quaternary ammonium groups on the PG. The resulting quaternized PG (QPG) is found to form complexes with plasmid DNA with a mean diameter of 100 nm and have the characteristics required for targeted gene therapy. The complexes efficiently condense large amounts of plasmid per particle and successfully bind to Gal-3. The in vivo study shows that the complexes are biocompatible and safe for administration and can selectively transfect reactive glial cells of an induced cortical lesion. The results confirm that this PG-based delivery system is a promising platform for targeting Gal-3 overexpressing neuroinflammation cells for treating neuroinflammation-related injuries and neurodegenerative diseases.     

Spatio-temporal evolution of the deformation around the Rio-Patras fault (Greece) observed by synthetic aperture radar interferometry from 1993 to 2017

We analysed the ground deformation across two blocks defined by the Rio-Patras fault from 1993 to 2017 using multi-temporal Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (InSAR) techniques. Our main objective was to contribute to the assessment of seismic hazard near the large city of Patras. Multiple data-sets were used, each one covering different temporal periods. Descending and ascending acquisitions, providing different viewing geometries contribute to fully determine the ground displacement in 3D. The data-sets used are from the European Space Agency’s (ESA) European Remote Sensing (ERS), Environmental Satellite (ENVISAT) and SENTINEL-1 as well as German Aerospace Center (DLR) ’s TERRASAR-X missions. Considering ESA’s missions covering both acquisition geometries and long periods, the southern block, showing lack of a sufficient number of scatterers does not allow the displacement characterization. In contrary, the northern block is characterized by a high number of scatterers having values of maximum likehood ranging from ?3.5 to ?4.3 mm year^?1 for ascending geometry and from ?1.6 to ?2.7 mm year^?1 for the descending one. The fact that both geometries show negative values of displacements are consistent with downlift movement and at the same time the quantitative differentiation probably indicates an horizontal component as well.     

Quantifying the limits of CAR T-cell delivery in mice and men

CAR (Chimeric Antigen Receptor) T cells have demonstrated clinical success for the treatment of multiple lymphomas and leukaemias, but not for various solid tumours, despite promising data from murine models. Lower effective CAR T-cell delivery rates to human solid tumours compared to haematological malignancies in humans and solid tumours in mice might partially explain these divergent outcomes. We used anatomical and physiological data for human and rodent circulatory systems to calculate the typical perfusion of healthy and tumour tissues, and estimated the upper limits of immune cell delivery rates across different organs, tumour types and species. Estimated maximum delivery rates were up to 10 000-fold greater in mice than humans yet reported CAR T-cell doses are typically only 10–100-fold lower in mice, suggesting that the effective delivery rates of CAR T cells into tumours in clinical trials are far lower than in corresponding mouse models. Estimated delivery rates were found to be consistent with published positron emission tomography data. Results suggest that higher effective human doses may be needed to drive efficacy comparable to mouse solid tumour models, and that lower doses should be tested in mice. We posit that quantitation of species and organ-specific delivery and homing of engineered T cells will be key to unlocking their potential for solid tumours.     

Analysis of volatiles evolved during high-temperature treatment of thermally stable polymers. I. Nitrogen-containing acetylene-terminated resin

Cured samples of a nitrogen-containing acetylene-terminated resin, N,N′-(1,3-phenylene-dimethylidene)bis(3-ethynylaniline), have been heated at 10°C/min up to 900°C in a pyroprobe attached to a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC/MS). Analysis of the volatiles evolved during heating identified both gases and higher boiling compounds. The major higher boiling compounds are benzene, toluene, xylene, aniline, benzonitrile, m-methylaniline, and m-methylbenzonitrile; the gases include ammonia, methane, and traces of carbon dioxide. Correlations between sample temperature and the evolution of each of these compounds have been made. The onset of all volatile formation occurs between 450 and 500°C. The higher boiling volatiles peak, then end by approximately 700°C, while the gases peak then fall off but are still being evolved at 900°C. Average weight loss measurements of 13.6% at 700°C and 15.7% at 900°C agree with previously published thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) data. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Should industrial/organizational psychologists be licensed?

A historical review of licensing among industrial/organizational (I/O) psychologists demonstrates that the American Psychological Association (APA) policy on such licensing is inconsistent. Arguments for and against licensure for this group are presented. Job analysis and APA data are drawn upon to show that few I/O activities may pose the personal risk that would seem to require the protection of a license. Alternatives are discussed for changes in present APA policy and state licensing requirements. (16 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On the formation and stability of dislocation patterns—I: One-dimensional considerations

By distinguishing among mobile and immobile dislocations and operating within the framework of continuum mechanics it is possible to derive a set of partial differential equations of the diffusion-reaction type for the evolution of dislocation species. On examining the competition between gradient dependent terms modelling the motion of dislocations and nonlinear terms modelling their interactions, it is shown that stable solutions are possible. The wavelength turns out to be a material property in agreement with observations. The discussion is limited to one dimension, that is to glide of straight dislocations in the slip direction, and the model corresponds physically to the ladder-like structure of persistent slip bands.     

The need for style systems in ODA

Many advanced document systems provide a formatting mechanism called ‘style sheets’ Style sheets provide a great deal of flexibility in describing a document's format, and allow easy maintenance of different house styles for a collection of documents. In this paper, we describe the basics of general style sheet systems, argue that successful document interchange must include the exchange of style sheet information, and evaluate ODA's style mechanism against this requirement.