Efficient generation of a reshaped human mAb specific for the {alpha} toxin of Clostridium perfringens

We have used the technique of antibody reshaping to producea humanized antibody specific for the a toxin of Clostridiumperfringens. The starting antibody was from a mouse hybridomafrom which variable (V) region nucleo-tide sequences were determined.The complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) from these Vregions were then inserted into human heavy and light chainV region genes with human constant region gene fragments subsequentlyadded. The insertion of CDRs alone into human frameworks didnot produce a functional reshaped antibody and modificationsto the V region framework were required. With minor frameworkmodifications, the affinity of the original murine mAb was restoredand even exceeded. Where affinity was increased, an alteredbinding profile to overlapping peptides was observed. Computermodelling of the reshaped heavy chain V regions suggested thatamino acids adjacent to CDRs can either contribute to, or distort,CDR loop conformation and must be adjusted to achieve high bindingaffinity.     

CBF beta-SMMHC, expressed in M4Eo AML, reduced CBF DNA-binding and inhibited the G1 to S cell cycle transition at the restriction point in myeloid and lymphoid cells

CBF beta-SMMHC is expressed from the inv(16) chromosome in M4Eo AML. Mice lacking CBF subunits or expressing the CBF beta-SMMHC or AML1-ETO oncoproteins failed to develop definitive hematopoiesis. To investigate these effects on hematopoiesis, we expressed CBF beta-SMMHC from the metallothionein promoter, in both 32D cl3 myeloid cells and Ba/F3 B-lymphoid cells. Addition of zinc increased CBF beta-SMMHC levels more than tenfold, with higher levels evident in Ba/F3 lines. Levels obtained in 32D cl3 cells were similar to those of endogenous CBF beta. Indirect immunofluorescence revealed zinc-inducible speckled, nuclear staining in Ba/F3 cells and diffuse nuclear staining in 32D cl3 cells. CBF beta-SMMHC reduced endogenous CBF DNA-binding fivefold in both cell types, increased cell generation time 1.9-fold, on average, in 32D cl3 cells and 1.5-fold in Ba/ F3 cells and decreased tritiated thymidine incorporation into DNA correspondingly. CBF beta-SMMHC increased the proportion of cells in G1 1.7-fold, on average, in 32D cl3 and Ba/F3 cells, and decreased the proportion of cells in S phase by a similar degree. CBF beta-SMMHC induced a marked increase in hypophosphorylated Rb, but did not alter IL-3 Receptor alpha or beta subunit levels. Neither apoptosis nor 32D differentiation was induced by zinc in IL-3 in these lines. Induction of CBF beta-SMMHC in 32D cl3 cells did not inhibit their differentiation to neutrophils or their expression of myeloperoxidase mRNA in G-CSF, and did not produce an eosinophilic phenotype. Additional, proliferative genetic changes in M4eo AMLs might potentiate inhibition of differentiation by CBF beta-SMMHC by allowing its increased expression.     

Characterization of Flow in Intravenous Catheters

The pressure-flow (P-F) relationship in intravenous catheters is shown to be represented by the predictive model P = RLF + RTF2. The pressure loss due to F, calculated from experimental data, was found to equal the expected Poiseuille laminar flow loss. Pressure loss due to F2 was found to be the sum of turbulent P losses due to entrance length flow disturbance, kinetic energy at the outflow, and minor shape change losses. Analysis of the flow capabilities of intravenous catheters can be used to evaluate suitability for specific intravenous infusion needs.     

Survival of rotavirus SA-11 on vegetables

Survival of rotavirus on lettuce, radishes, and carrots was studied to evaluate the potential of rotavirus transmission by vegetables irrigated with wastewater. The vegetables were contaminated with rotavirus SA-11 and stored at 4°C and room temperature in covered and uncovered containers to simulate post harvest conditions. Virus decay rates were greater on radishes and carrots than lettuce. Decay rates of rotavirus on lettuce, radish, and carrot ranged from ?0·057 to ?0·479 (log₁₀ pfu/day). Rotavirus SA-11 survived on lettuce, radish, and carrot for 25 to 30 days at 4°C but at room temperature survival was very different for the various vegetables varying from 5 to 25 days. Greatest survival was always observed on the lettuce. These data suggest that rotaviruses can survive long enough on contaminated vegetables as to be transmitted by this vehicle.     

A self-interpretive behavior analysis.

Although it rejects self-awareness as psychological bedrock, behavior-analytic theory can be stated self-inclusively, keeping the theorist within view. Its principles of discrimination and generalization have been elaborated to include concepts and higher order conditionalities, including those of logic and of awareness. Its violating a cultural bias that is called the "fundamental attribution error" may be a primary source of controversies. Its other disagreements with mainstream psychologies hinge more on contiguous vs remote causation than on mentalism vs antimentalism, which Skinner emphasized. The nonmediational, Skinnerian theorist is a participation in the world rather than an isolated self. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A century of psychology in the Ozarks.

Describes the history and evolution of the Department of Psychology at the Fayetteville campus of the University of Arkansas and discusses the contributions of the persons influential in the evolution. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Typical intellectual engagement and personality: Reply to Rocklin (1994).

T. Rocklin (see record 1994-29650-001) examined the relations between M. Goff and P. L. Ackerman's (see record 1993-13529-001) measure of typical intellectual engagement (TIE) and a personality test measure of Openness. Rocklin's arguments are examined in the context of 3 themes: philosophical issues, TIE and Openness from a facet perspective, and the bandwidth-fidelity dilemma. Although Rocklin raised important issues about these constructs, it is demonstrated that measures of TIE and Openness, although significantly related, are theoretically and empirically distinguishable. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Spatiotemporal boundary formation: Boundary, form, and motion perception from transformations of surface elements.

Continuous surface boundaries, object shape, and global motion can be perceived from information that is fragmentary in both space and time. The authors report investigations indicating that accretion and deletion of texture is only 1 member of a broader class of element transformations that produce boundaries, shape, and motion, through spatiotemporal boundary formation (SBF). Four experiments exploring SBF are reported. The 1st 3 examine the class of transformations producing SBF, indicating that local element changes in color, orientation, or location are all effective. A 4th experiment examines temporal constraints on SBF. Integration of local element changes to produce boundaries, form, and global motion appears to be confined to a 165-msec window. Two classes of spatiotemporal integration models are considered; the relation between SBF and other cases of boundary interpolation are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Judgments of social justice: Compromises between equality and efficiency.

Political economists agree that a trade-off exists between equality and efficiency. Using a hypothetical society paradigm, the mean income (representing efficiency) and income variability (representing equality) of distributions of wealth and the correlation between wealth and effort within a society were manipulated. Ss made all pairwise comparisons of distributions within societies of differing meritocracy. A "maximin" principle best described trade-off resolution strategies when effort and outcome were weakly linked: People maximized the minimum standard of living within a society. A compromise principle best described preferences when income was tightly linked to effort: People rejected distributions in which some citizens fell below the "poverty line" but maximized efficiency above this constraint. Ideological polarization was pronounced under moderate meritocracy; here liberals could focus on the role of chance and conservatives on the role of effort and ability. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)