Triple check for antigen specificity of B cells during germinal centre reactions

Somatic hypermutation of the immunoglobulin variable genes during germinal reactions might permit the expansion of B-cell clones with unwanted (e.g. autoreactive) specificity. Here, Ernst Lindhout and colleagues propose three antigen-specific checkpoints that ensure the appropriate antigen specificity of activated B cells is maintained by regulating the activation, selection and further differentiation of B cells.     

The effects of betamethasone derivatives on endotoxin-induced uveitis in guinea pigs

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: We reported previously that the betamethasone derivative betamethasone dipropionate behaves as an anti-glucocorticoid in rat endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU). In the present study, we produced EIU in guinea pigs and investigated the effects of betamethasone dipropionate on the EIU. MATERIAL: Male Hartley guinea pigs were used. TREATMENT: Glucocorticoids were instilled into the eye. METHOD: To elicit EIU, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was injected into the anterior chamber of the eye. Cell numbers in the aqueous humor after LPS injection were determined by flow cytometry. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production after LPS injection into the anterior chamber was also examined. RESULTS: Intracameral injection of LPS (1 microgram/eye) induced cell infiltration into the anterior chamber and PGE2 production. Betamethasone dipropionate inhibited cell infiltration and PGE2 production more strongly than betamethasone. These results suggest that betamethasone dipropionate is a potent glucocorticoid in guinea pigs. CONCLUSIONS: Structure-activity relationships of glucocorticoids in the guinea pig EIL model may differ from those in the rat EIU model.     

Calcitonin versus etidronate for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis: a meta-analysis of published clinical trials

DNA double-strand breaks are very genotoxic lesions that can result in chromosome aberrations. The current view is that DNA double-strand breaks are repaired most efficiently through homologous recombination in yeast and simple end-joining in mammalian cells. However, recent experiments reveal that both repair pathways are conserved from yeast to mammals, including humans. The challenge ahead is to put the different pieces of the jigsaw together into coherent mechanisms for both pathways and to determine their relative contributions to ionizing-radiation resistance and to the prevention of genetic instability and carcinogenesis.     

地面油管漏失定量测试方法探讨

对油管漏失进行定量测试的方法确定具体漏失位置。方法运用双频道回声探仪探测动液面的原理和工作方法，根据油管漏失形成的死油坏在测试曲线上出现特殊波位置判断油管漏失位置。结果：经过７０多井次的现场试验，该方法具有较高的准确性和可靠性。结论：利用特殊波可以有效监测油管漏失，并具有推广使用价值。     

Soft commutation in capacitive idling converters

The capacitive idling converters derived from the Cuk, SEPIC, Zeta, and flyback topologies allow soft commutation of power switches without the need for additional circuitry, making it possible to increase the switching frequency while maintaining high efficiency     

移动式宽频带高产额中子发生器

多用途中子发生器有着广阔的市场和应用领域 ,文章对移动式宽频带高产额中子发生器 ,在设计制造过程中所涉及到的技术难点 :绝缘尺寸小、频率适应范围宽、为中子管提供靶压的高压负载特性好等作了技术分析 ,使多用途中子发生器在更广阔的范围内应用 ,提供了广阔前景。