Chain length of the polylysine in receptor-targeted gene transfer complexes affects duration of reporter gene expression both in vitro and in vivo

Complexes composed of peptide ligand for the serpin enzyme complex receptor covalently coupled to poly-L-lysine condensed by charge interaction with plasmid DNA direct gene transfer into receptor bearing cells. We compared intensity and duration of reporter gene expression in vitro and in vivo from serpin-enzyme receptor-directed gene transfer complexes prepared with poly-L-lysine of different chain lengths. When substituted with linker and ligand to comparable extents, DNA complexes containing short chain poly-L-lysine were larger and gave higher peak expression but significantly shorter duration of expression than those containing long chain poly-L-lysine. Both peak expression and duration of expression exceeded that observed with Lipofectin. Neither naked DNA nor DNA complexed with unsubstituted polylysine was effective in gene transfer. For in vivo experiments, complexes containing optimal ligand and degree of substitution (based on in vitro data, peptide C105Y, 11 ligands/plasmid DNA molecule) were prepared with either short chain or long chain polylysine and a beta-galactosidase expression plasmid. Following injection into the tail veins of mice, longer chain complexes gave significantly higher expression of reporter gene in lung and spleen that lasted for a significantly longer period of time than the shorter chain complexes. The short chain poly-L-lysine-DNA complexes were larger in diameter, as assessed by electron microscopy or atomic force microscopy, and gave less protection against DNase digestion in vitro than longer chain complexes. Thus, for gene transfer complexes directed at the serpin enzyme complex receptor, longer chain poly-L-lysine gave a much longer duration of expression both in vitro and in vivo. We speculate that this may be due to protection against degradation afforded the plasmid DNA by the tighter compaction produced by long chain poly-L-lysine.     

Recombination in Tula hantavirus evolution: analysis of genetic lineages from Slovakia

To examine the evolution of Tula hantavirus (TUL), carried by the European common vole (Microtus arvalis and M. rossiaemeridionalis), we have analyzed genetic variants from Slovakia, the country where the virus is endemic. Phylogenetic analysis (PHYLIP) based on either partial (nucleotides [nt] 441 to 898) or complete N-protein-encoding sequences divided Slovakian TUL variants into two main lineages: (i) strains from eastern Slovakia, which clustered with Russian strains, and (ii) strains from western Slovakia situated closer to those from the Czech Republic. We found genetic diversity of 19% between the two groups and 4% within the western Slovakian TUL strains. Phylogenetic analysis of the 3' noncoding region (3'-NCR), however, placed the eastern Slovakian strains closer to those from western Slovakia and the Czech Republic, with a greater distance to the Russian strains, suggesting a recombinant nature of the S segment in the eastern Slovakian TUL lineage. A bootscan search of the S-segment sequences of TUL strains revealed at least two recombination points in the S sequences of eastern Slovakian TUL strains (nt 400 to 415 and around 1200) which agreed well with the pattern of amino acid substitutions in the N protein and deletions/insertions in the 3'-NCR of the S segment. These data suggest that homologous recombination events occurred in the evolution of hantaviruses.     

Source-synchronization and timing vernier techniques for 1.2-GB/sSLDRAM interface

This paper describes a validation system for an SLDRAM interface. The SLDRAM system utilizes two techniques to achieve a high data-transfer rate with a conventional module mounting style. The first technique is a source-synchronization scheme. Since the chip that transmits data also supplies the data clock, the clock and data are completely synchronous. The second is the timing vernier technique. A wait time for output data is programmable in each SLDRAM. Therefore, the time at which data arrive at the controller from any SLDRAM can be set by the controller with a 200-ps step size. The validation chip is designed to emulate these operations. The chip is fabricated using a 0.35-μm CMOS process technology and packaged in a conventional 0.65-mm pitch thin small out-line package, mounted on a single-chip module, and put into an eight-module system. A stub series terminated logic (SSTL)-like interface is adopted for high-speed signals. From system-level measurements, the data eye width of 600 ps is obtained at a data rate of 600 Mbps. Errorless data transmission is observed in both read and write operations in a bit-error rate testing. The validation system has successfully demonstrated a data-transmission rate of 1.2 GB/s (600 Mbit/s/pin) using source-synchronization and timing vernier techniques at the supply voltage of 2.5 V     

Management of upper urinary tract calculi with ureteroscopic techniques

Frequent loss of heterozygosity on chromosome 8p in a variety of human malignancies, including head and neck cancers, has suggested the presence of a tumor suppressor gene (or genes) associated with the pathogenesis of these cancers. To test the role of genetic alterations at 8p23 in oral carcinogenesis, we studied 51 squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck and 29 oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines for allelic loss using 7 microsatellite markers spanning approximately 5 cM of chromosome band 8p23. Twenty-three of 51 tumors (45%) and 23 of 29 cell lines (79%) showed allelic loss at 1 or more loci. Three cell lines showed homozygous deletion of loci within a 3 cM region defined by the markers D8S1781 and D8S262. Our results suggest that a tumor suppressor gene (or genes) is located in 8p23 and is associated with the development and/or progression of oral carcinomas.     

Proteolysis of native proteins. Trapping of a reaction intermediate

When limited proteolysis of the mouse major urinary proteins by trypsin was stopped by rapid denaturation of the proteinase, a covalent adduct of the two proteins was observed. The formation of this complex required active trypsin, was favored at low pH, and could be reversed by the addition of covalent or non-covalent trypsin inhibitors. Electrospray mass spectrometry of the complex demonstrated that it was an acyl-enzyme complex, formed after an unusual exopeptidase attack on the C-terminal-Arg-Glu-OH sequence by trypsin. The complex could sequester over 50% of the trypsin in a digestion mixture, and as anticipated, the protein was an effective trypsin inhibitor.     

Posttraumatic elbow arthritis and arthroplasty

Elbow contractures without significant articular injury can be treated with soft-tissue procedures, such as joint capsular releases, resection of heterotropic ossification, and joint debridement. Elbows with significant intra-articular injuries or posttraumatic arthritis require some form of joint reconstruction, such as a distraction arthroplasty, interposition arthroplasty, or implant replacement arthroplasty. With a better understanding of the surgical indications for elbow arthroplasty, improvements in surgical technique, improvements in elbow implants, and increased surgical experience, the results of implant arthroplasty for the posttraumatic elbow continue to improve.     

Compound interest [President's Column]

The IEEE is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. This is certainly a noteworthy event to acknowledge the history of the world's largest professional technical association. Yes, the IEEE is the world's leading professional association for the advancement of technology. It all began with the formation of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers (AIEE) in 1884. This was followed by the formation of the Institute of Radio Engineers (IRE) in 1912. In 1963, the AIEE and IRE merged to form the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, the IEEE. Today, the organization's scope of interest has expanded into so many related fields that it is simply referred to by the letters I-E-E-E ("Eye-triple-E"). It is a global organization with almost 400,000 Members in over 160 countries. IEEE Members have access to the industry's most essential technical information, networking opportunities, career development tools, and many other exclusive benefits. And the IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society (MTT-S) is proud to be part of that heritage.     

Subjective effects of peak clipping and compression limiting in normal and hearing-impaired children and adults

Despite many advances in hearing-aid signal processing, compression limiting and peak clipping are still used. To date, perceptual studies have been conducted only with adults. The current study was designed to investigate the clarity of peak-clipped and compressed speech for both adults and children. Subjects were 30 normal-hearing and 30 hearing-impaired individuals in three age ranges (7-9, 10-12, and 16-50 years). Stimuli were processed at 60, 70, 75, and 80 dB SPL using peak clipping and at 80 dB SPL using compression limiting. Paired-comparison measures were used to assess the clarity of sentences, and a signal-to-distortion ratio (SDR) based on a measure of coherence between input and output was computed for each condition. For the peak-clipping conditions, there was a decrease in perceived clarity as the input increased from 60 to 80 dB SPL. This perceptual continuum was most apparent for the normal-hearing adults. The normal-hearing 10-12 year olds and the hearing-impaired adults showed a similar, but less pronounced, pattern. In contrast, the remaining three subject groups showed minimal differences in perceived clarity across conditions. Surprisingly, only the two oldest normal-hearing groups showed a clear preference for compression limiting over peak clipping at the highest input level, and only their results were consistent with the pattern of coherence across stimuli. Judgments of clarity by the normal-hearing subjects correlated best with the SDR in the 500-2000-Hz range, while clarity judgments of the hearing-impaired subjects correlated best with the SDR below 1000 Hz.