Antigenic drift between the haemagglutinin of the Hong Kong influenza strains A/Aichi/2/68 and A/Victoria/3/75

A DNA copy of the gene coding for the influenza A/Aichi/2/68 haemagglutinin protein was cloned in the plasmid pBR322 and the complete nucleotide sequence determined. Comparison of this primary structure and the deduced amino acid sequence with the haemagglutinin gene and protein of strains belonging to the same (H3) subtype and to different subtypes, of both human (H2) and avian (Hav1) origin, documents further at the molecular level the two independent modes of antigenic variation of the virus--drift and shift.     

Effect of aluminum content on low temperature tensile properties in cryogenic Fe/Mn/AI/Nb/C steels

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A -     

Managing, Processing, and Communicating Information: What A/E/C/ Organizations Should Know

Global competition and advances in information technology (IT) are placing new demands on the management techniques used on architectural, engineering, and construction (A/E/C) projects. There are opportunities as well as challenges. The revolution under way in the fields of data sharing and transmission, information processing, and telecommunication technology is opening up new possibilities in the A/E/C industry for effectively meeting these market demands. The dynamic nature of construction processes, the interdependence of various participating entities, and the need for teamwork, flexibility, and a high degree of coordination suggest IT can be profitably employed for effective project management in the A/E/C industry. The distinctive features of A/E/C projects make the task of project management particularly appropriate for applications of IT tools.     

Anisotropic Magnetoresistance of Perovskite La_(2/3)Ca_(1/3)MnO_3/YBa_2Cu_4O_8/La_(2/3)Ca_(1/3)MnO_3 Trilayer Films

Magneticanisotropyhasbeenfoundinmanyex oticmaterials,suchasmetallicsuperlatticeswithgi antmagnetoresistanceeffectsandthehightempera turesuperconductingoxideYBa2Cu3O7 δ[1～4].The anisotropycouldfindnovelusesinnewdeviceappli cations.Agoodexampleisthehig…     

A/A/O/O工艺在包钢焦化废水处理中的应用

焦化废水处理是焦化厂环境污染治理工作中的一个难题.包钢焦化厂在酚氰废水处理站改扩建工程中采用了国内先进的A/A/O/O工艺.该工艺不但能很好地去除废水中的酚、氰、CODcr等污染物,还能有效降解氨氮浓度,使之达到国家二级排放标准.     

The NS gene--a possible determinant of apathogenicity of a cold-adapted donor of attenuation A /Leningrad/134/47/57 and its reassortants

Phenotypical properties of single-gene reassortants of attenuated cold-adapted strain A/Leningrad/135/47/57 (H2N2) and strain A/PR8/34 virulent for laboratory animals were studied. Only the group of reassortants inheriting NS gene from cold-adapted virus was fully attenuated for various animals species, similarly as reassortants with 6/2 genomic formula containing all the 6 internal protein genes from strain A/Leningrad/134/47/57. Reassortant 25A-1 single-gene for NS was temperature-sensitive (ts) on mammalian cells but formed plaques at 40 degrees C on chicken kidney cells. Reassortants with genomic formula 6/2 were temperature-sensitive in all types of cells used. Reassortant 25A-1 could synthesize normal amounts of polypeptides in MDCK cells at 39 degrees C, whereas protein synthesis of reassortants with 6/2 genomic formula was noticeably reduced at this temperature. Hence, a similar level of attenuation of both reassortant groups appears to be due to various molecular mechanisms. Possible role of NS2 gene mutation in attenuation of strain A/Leningrad/134/47/57 and its reassortants is discussed.     

Infant perception of /aba/ versus /apa/: Building a quantitative model of infant categorical discrimination.

Two experiments using a visual habituation paradigm examined 7.5 mo-old infants' categorical discrimination of the medial stop consonants /aba/ and /apa/. Infants received digitized natural speech tokens differing in the duration of consonantal closure and in the presence or absence of vocal-fold pulsing. The results provided clear evidence of infant categorical discrimination based solely on closure duration. Infants also shifted their boundary (toward shorter closure durations) if they received pulsing during habituation. A trading relation between closure duration and pulsing was also obtained. Three different quantitative models of infant speech perception were examined. A composite model incorporating categorical discrimination, the boundary shift, and the trading relation produced excellent predictions of infant performance. Application of this model to other aspects of infant speech perception was discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

粉末冶金SiCp／7075Al复合材料的断裂特性

采用扫描电子显微镜对粉末冶金法制备的ＳｉＣｐ／７０７５Ａｌ复合材料的拉伸断口及其附近区域的纵向显微组织进行了分析，并对该材料的断裂过程进行了动态原位观察。为了揭示ＳｉＣｐ／７０７５Ａｌ复合材料的断裂特性，建立了ＳｉＣｐ／７０７５Ａｌ复合材料的拉伸断裂模型。     

Leucine/isoleucine/valine-binding protein contracts upon binding of ligand

Small-angle x-ray scattering and computer modeling have been used to study the effects of ligand binding to the leucine/isoleucine/valine-binding protein, an initial component of the high-affinity active transport system for branched-chain aliphatic amino acids in Escherichia coli. Measurements were made with no ligand present and with either L-leucine or L-valine present. Upon binding of either leucine or valine, there is a decrease in the radius of gyration, from 23.2 +/- 0.2 to 22.2 +/- 0.2 A, and in the maximum particle dimension, from 82 +/- 3 to 73 +/- 3 A. The x-ray structure of the unbound form has been determined and gives a radius of gyration and a maximum dimension consistent with the values found for the solution structure in this study (Sack, J. S., Saper, M. A., and Quiocho, F. A. (1989) J. Mol. Biol. 206, 171-191). The reduction in the radius of gyration and maximum dimension upon ligand binding can be accounted for by a substrate-induced cleft closure in a combined "hinge-twist" motion. Modeling of the substrate-bound state was done by comparison of this protein with another periplasmic binding protein (L-arabinose-binding protein), which possesses a similar two-lobe structure and for which the x-ray structure is known in its ligand-bound form.     

A glutamate/glutamine/aspartate/asparagine transport operon in Rhodobacter capsulatus

A mutant of Rhodobacter capsulatus was identified in which an operon encoding a binding-protein-dependent transporter was interrupted by Tn5 transposition. Cloning and sequence analysis of the wild-type operon revealed a four-gene cluster with similarities to genes encoding periplasmic binding proteins (BztA), integral membrane proteins (BztB and BztC), and ATP-binding proteins (BztD). To assess the function of this putative binding-protein-dependent transport system, a mutant was constructed in which most of the bztABCD operon was deleted and replaced by an antibiotic-resistance marker. The deletion mutant grew more slowly than the wild type in NH4(+)-free medium supplemented by glutamate, glutamine, aspartate or asparagine; it was resistant to toxic analogues of Glu, Asp, and Asn at concentrations that inhibited growth of the wild type; and it was defective in the uptake of Glu, Gln, and Asp. A complementing plasmid containing the wildtype copy of bztABCD was able to rescue all the mutant phenotypes. Taken together, these results indicate that the proteins encoded by bztABCD are active in the uptake of Glu, Gln, Asp, and Asn. In addition, competition experiments, in which the ability of each of the four amino acids to compete for the transport of one another was examined, demonstrated that all four substrates share at least one component of this transport system.     

Human influenza virus A/HongKong/156/97 (H5N1) infection

Introduction of influenza viruses with gene segments of avian origin into the human population may result in the emergence of new pathogenic human influenza viruses. The recent infection of a 3-year-old boy with an influenza A (H5N1) virus of avian origin can be considered as an example of such an event. However, this virus, influenza A/Hong Kong/156/97 (H5N1) and the 17 additional H5N1 viruses isolated from humans by the end of 1997 lack the ability to spread efficiently amongst humans and therefore have limited pandemic potential. However, the possibility of reassortment of these viruses with currently circulating human viruses illustrates the need for pandemic preparedness.     

Index/Volume 14/1975

Abstract

A microscopic study has been made of the dissolution of lead and copper sulphides from blast furnace mattes by bioleaching.

The results of the experiments demonstrate the preferential corrosion sites and the degradation of the surface of the sulphides caused by the oxidation catalyzed by bacteria (Tiobacillus ferrooxidans). This degradation of the solid leads to its breakdown and increases the reaction surface.

In addition, it is shown that a two-stage bioleaching treatment (800 h retention time) is required to achieve at least 80% copper extraction.     

锂过量对钙钛矿型Li3/8Sr7/16Ta3/4Hf1/4O3固体电解质性能的影响

固相烧结法合成钙钛矿型Li_3/8Sr_7/16Ta_3/4Hf_1/4O₃(LSTH) 固体电解质材料,制备过程中分别加入过量的碳酸锂,质量分数分别为(0~30 %).通过XRD、SEM、ICP-OES以及EIS测试,表征不同锂过量LSTH固体电解质材料成相、显微形貌以及室温电导率的影响.实验结果表明,配料时,过量一定质量百分数的碳酸锂,能够有效减少烧结过程中因锂挥发而生成的SrTa₂O₆杂相,提高样品密度和室温电导率.样品最佳锂过量质量百分数为20 %,20 %锂过量样品1 300 ℃烧结10 h为钙钛矿纯相,密度6.5 g/cm3,室温电导率达到3.12×10-4 S/cm.      

Knowledge-Assisted Retrieval of Online Product Information in Architectural/Engineering/Construction

With a better understanding about the product market, industry practitioners can make more informed decisions for product specification, selection, and procurement. However, current approaches that support Architectural/Engineering/Construction (A/E/C) information acquisition do not provide a comprehensive market scan. While the Internet provides an ever-growing resource for product information, existing approaches have limited capabilities to make use of this virtual market. Therefore, the writers have developed a knowledge-assisted approach to specifically address the potential of the virtual market—help retrieve A/E/C product information, particularly information about different manufacturers, from the Internet. The paper introduces the building blocks of the developed approach, which includes domain knowledge utilization, information retrieval (IR) techniques, and strategies that incorporate domain knowledge into knowledge-supported IR approaches. Specifically, domain knowledge represented in the form of a thesaurus was used with query expansion strategies under the framework of an adaptation of the extended IR Boolean model. It was concluded from the prototype validation that domain knowledge can be extremely helpful when acquiring A/E/C product information from online resources using the developed approach.     

Research ethics and HIV/AIDS

The effect of 2-chloroadenosine (2CA), an adenosine receptor agonist, on the activation status of mouse natural killer (NK) cells was determined. Splenic lymphocytes incubated with 2CA exocytosed an NK cell-associated granzyme with N alpha-CBZ-L-lysine thiobenzyl ester (BLT) esterase activity in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Selective depletion of NK cells by anti-asialoGM1 antibody plus complement pretreatment confirmed that NK cells were the source of the BLT esterase activity. 2CA-induced granule exocytosis was not reduced in the presence of the nucleoside uptake blockers NBTI, dilazep, or dipyridamole, indicating the involvement of an extracellular receptor. However, adenosine or other A1, A2, or A3 cell-surface adenosine receptor agonists failed to trigger the exocytotic process. Furthermore, the nonselective adenosine receptor antagonist theophylline, as well as the selective A1 receptor antagonist DPCPX and the selective A2 receptor antagonist DMPX, did not interfere with 2CA-induced BLT esterase secretion. These data suggest that 2CA acts on NK cells via a novel (non-A1/A2/A3) cell-surface receptor. Genistein, a protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor, and calphostin C, a protein kinase C inhibitor, both interfered with 2CA-induced granule exocytosis. Pertussis toxin, an ADP-ribosylating toxin to which certain GTP-binding proteins are sensitive, also inhibited 2CA-stimulated BLT esterase release. In addition, 2CA-induced granule exocytosis was reduced in the presence of cyclosporin A, an inhibitor of Ca(2+)-dependent signaling pathways, and the Ca(2+)-chelating agent EGTA. We conclude that 2CA, acting through a novel extracellular receptor on mouse NK cells, triggers granule exocytosis via a Ca(2+)-dependent signal transduction pathway that is coupled to GTP-binding proteins and involves protein tyrosine kinase and protein kinase C activation.     

Magnetic Transition of La0.8Sr0.2Mn1-xCoxO3（x =0, 0.3, 0.5, 1.0）

A series of rare earth compound oxides with the formula of La0.8Sr0.2Mn1-xCoxO3（ were prepared by the method of citric acid. Structures, figures and magnetic properties of the x=0.0, 0.3, 0.5, 1.0） samples were analyzed by means of XRD, SEM and SQUID. Experiment results prove that all the samples are hexagonal, but their figures and magnetic properties are different. La0.8Sr0.2MnO3 is ferromagnetic. La0.8Sr0.2Mn0.7CO0.3O3 and La0.8Sr0.2Mn0.5Co0.5O3 are ferrimagnetic. La0.8Sr0.2CoO3 is antiferromagnetic. SEM results indicate that the structure of the first three are three-dimensional reticulations which are made up of some small ellipsoids which link up at the head and the end. The fourth sample looks like some dispersed small balls.     

水热法合成Ag2CO3/ZnO异质结复合光催化剂及其光催化性能

采用水热法合成了一系列不同Ag₂CO₃含量的新型Ag₂CO₃/ZnO异质结复合光催化剂, 运用X射线粉末衍射(XRD)、扫描电镜(SEM)、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)、傅里叶变换红外光谱(FT-IR)、紫外-可见漫反射吸收光谱(UV-vis DRS)等系列手段对所制备的光催化剂进行了表征, 并以紫外光(254 nm)为光源, 评价了催化剂光催化降解甲基橙的活性, 考察了不同Ag₂CO₃复合量、不同水热温度对ZnO复合光催化剂反应活性的影响.结果表明, 当Ag₂CO₃含量为2 %、水热温度为140 ℃, 复合光催化剂具有最大的光催化活性, 降解率达到86.31 %.Ag₂CO₃/ZnO异质结复合光催化剂具有更高的光催化活性主要原因是复合光催化剂对紫外光有很强的吸收能力, 适量Ag₂CO₃能提高光生电子-空穴对的分离效率, 并改善催化剂的物理性能.      

云南铜浸出—萃取—电积工艺技术的发展

叙述了铜浸出———萃取———电积工艺技术在云南的发展进程与现状,分析了该技术发展中的一些问题,展望了其对推进云南铜工业发展的前景。列举了部分湿法电铜工厂生产的情况。     

Highly nonlinear property and threshold voltage of Sc2O3 doped ZnO-Bi2O3-based varistor ceramics

A series of ZnO-Bi2O3-based varistor ceramics doped with 0-0.4 mol.% Sc2O3 were prepared by high-energy ball milling and sintered at temperatures between 1000 and 1150oC. X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were applied to characterize the phases and microstructure of the varistor ceramics. A DC parameter instrument for varistor ceramics was applied to investigate the electronic properties and V-I characteristics. The results showed that there were no changes in crystal structure with Sc2O3-doped varistor ceramics and that the average size of ZnO grain increased first and then decreased. The best electronic characteristics of the varistor ceramics prepared by high-energy ball milling were found in 0.3 mol.% Sc2O3-doped ZnO-Bi2O3 -based ceramics sintered at 1000 oC, which exhibited a threshold voltage of 821 V/mm, nonlinear coefficient of 62.1 and leakage current of 0.16 μA.     

Stringent allele/epitope requirements for MART-1/Melan A immunodominance: implications for peptide-based immunotherapy

The exclusiveness of the relationship between peptide and HLA alleles, combined with their extensive polymorphism, emphasizes the need for immunization strategies based on endogenous processing of full length proteins (containing multiple epitopic determinants) for presentation to T cells. This could allow vaccination regardless of the patient's HLA phenotype, assuming that individual molecules can be efficient T cell Ags in association with various HLA alleles. An endogenous system of Ag presentation was developed using dendritic cells infected with recombinant viral vectors expressing the melanoma-associated Ag MART-1/Melan A. CD8+ T cells from melanoma patients were activated in vitro by coincubation with infected dendritic cells and tested for recognition of HLA-A-matched melanoma targets. This allowed the analysis of T cell induction in association with any HLA-A allele of a given patient's phenotype. In this system, MART-1/Melan A could not efficiently immunize in association with HLA-A alleles other than A*0201, including the one residue variant from A*0201: HLA-A*0226. Clonal analysis of MART-1/Melan A-specific CTL confirmed that MART-1/Melan A immunodominance is strongly restricted to the AAGIGILTV/HLA-A*0201 combination. The stringent epitope/allele requirements for MART-1/Melan A/TCR interactions were not associated with limitations in the TCR repertoire. In conclusion, autologous induction of MART-1/Melan A CTL by whole Ag processing and presentation is restricted to a unique allele/ligand combination and is excluded by minimal changes in HLA structure. Thus, whole protein vaccination for small m.w. Ags may provide no further advantage over a peptide-based approach.