Localization to chromosome 11 of a gene encoding a human minor histocompatibility antigen

The graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) seen in human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched sibling bone marrow transplants is by definition due to the "minor" histocompatibility antigens (mHAs) encoded outside the HLA region of human chromosome 6. Few of these antigens have been characterized in humans, and in general the locations of the encoding loci are unknown. Genetic experiments performed in mice have identified many mHAs, but only a few genes have been identified. Using T lymphocyte clones reactive with specific mHAs, combined with genetic linkage analysis, we identified two distinct loci in a single patient, each locus encoding an antigen presented to a T cell clone by HLA-B7. The technique used in this study should allow a rough enumeration of the number of mHAs in humans that are capable of eliciting T cell responses in vivo. Whether these T cell responses correlate with clinical GVHD is not yet clear.     

Study of self-propagating high-temperature synthesis of aluminium nitride using a laser monitor

This study focused on the synthesis of aluminium nitride (AlN) by combusting aluminium nanopowder in air. To investigate the combustion of aluminium nanopowder, a copper bromide laser monitor was used. The optical system equipped with brightness amplification allowed the elimination of the background lighting effect and enabled the high time-resolved recording of the process. In particular, the laser monitor enabled us to detect changes in the morphology and optical properties of the surface of the aluminium nanopowder sample as well as to observe the propagation of the combustion waves in spite of the intense background lighting during combustion. The main time parameters of the combustion of aluminium nanopowder in air were determined. To improve and facilitate the processing of laser monitored high-speed video recordings, we proposed to analyse the time dependence of the intensity of the output signal of the laser monitor. The dependence was used to successfully detect the occurrences of all combustion waves and describe their dynamics. The time dependence also favourably represented the evolution of the reflection coefficient of the combustion products of aluminium nanopowder. This is the first time that this property of aluminium nanopowder has been investigated. The reflection coefficient evolution coupled with video recordings of the sample surface development during the combustion of nanopowder could be used to control the combustion process.     

Conformational and hydrodynamic parameters of hyperbranched pyridylphenylene polymers

Hydrodynamic and optical methods were applied to study conformational and physical properties of hyperbranched pyridylphenylene polymers in dilute solutions. The samples were synthesized using Diels–Alder polycyclocondensation. It was demonstrated that hydrodynamic properties of the studied macromolecules were typical for compact non‐percolated spheres. Optical and electro‐optical methods revealed information regarding the shape and asymmetry of the macromolecules (p ≈ 1.4). The contributions of optical shape effect to the observed flow birefringence of polypyridylphenylene solutions and intrinsic anisotropy of polarizability were evaluated and analysed. It was shown that varying the polymer composition (i.e. the degree of branching) caused considerable changes in the anisotropy of optical polarizability of the polymers. Dramatic difference of the electro‐optical properties in non‐polar (toluene) and polar (tetrachloroethane) solvents was found; this difference was related to the orientational correlation of polar solvent molecules with respect to the macromolecules. Dynamic properties were studied by non‐equilibrium electric birefringence which had a reasonable agreement with the dimensions estimated from hydrodynamic data. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry