Simultaneous cross-linking of CD6 and CD28 induces cell proliferation in resting T cells

In the present study, we showed that simultaneous ligation of the monoclonal antibodies (mAb) against CD6 and CD28 induces T-cell proliferation in purified resting T lymphocytes in the absence of T-cell receptor (TCR) occupancy. No cell proliferation was observed when the mAb were cross-linked alone or used simultaneously in the soluble form. T-cell proliferation mediated through CD6/CD28 is accompanied by the up-regulation of interleukin-2 (IL-2) mRNA and expression of IL-2 receptors on the cell surface. In the presence of IL-2-neutralizing mAb the proliferative response of the T cell induced through CD6/CD28 was inhibited dose dependently. Cross-linking mAb to CD6 and CD28 alone or together did not down-regulate the CD3/TCR complex. T-cell proliferation mediated through CD6/CD28 was only partially blocked by the immunosuppressive drug, cyclosporin A (CsA), whereas anti-CD28-induced T-cell proliferation in the presence of the phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), was unaffected. In sharp contrast T-cell proliferation mediated by anti-CD6 in the presence of TPA was efficiently blocked by CsA. In addition, two protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors, GF 109203X and H-7 dose-dependently inhibited T-cell proliferation mediated through CD6/CD28, suggesting that PKC activation may be involved. Furthermore, there was a marked differential dose-dependent inhibitory effect of the PKC inhibitors on T-cell proliferation mediated by the co-ligation of anti-CD6 or anti-CD28 in the presence of anti-CD3, with the former being more sensitive to PKC inhibition. Taken collectively, our results suggest that T-cell activation can occur through an antigen-independent pathway by cross-linking the accessory molecules, CD6 and CD28, and that these two cell surface antigens may have distinct signalling pathways.     

Tg/Tm for unsubstituted polymers

Polymers under discussion can be represented by [CH₂)_nR]_p where R is CH₂, CF₂, O, S or CH = CH; and where n can vary from 0 to ∞. The copolymer, P(ethylene-alt-TFE) is also included. These polymers tend to be highly crystalline with resultant confusion about their Tg and hence their Tg/Tm values and a clarification scheme is proposed in which it is considered that each such polymer has a double glass transition, Tg(L)/f(χ_c), Tg(U) = F(χc); and a sub-glass T<Tg(L) at 0.75 Tg(L), where F(χc) signifies a function of fractional crystallinity, χ_c. T<Tg(L) and Tg(L) increase linearly with Tm. The ratio, Tg(L)/Tm, is therefore, not a constant but is close to 0.5. T<Tg(L)/Tg(L) is also not a constant but is close to 0.75. Tg(U) lies within a wedge whose top and bottom sides increase with Tm. The premelting, intracrystalline transition temperature, Tα_c, is also a linear function of Tm. It is suggested that the scheme outlined above should help to resolve uncertainties in assigning transition temperatures for unsubstituted polymers. The low Tg/Tm values for these polymers is discussed in terms of their small da/dc ratios and small crosssectional areas per chain.     

Localization of Function Within the Dorsal Hippocampus: The Role of the CA3 Subregion in Paired-Associate Learning.

Computational models and electrophysiological data suggest that the CA3 subregion of the hippocampus supports the formation of arbitrary associations; however, no behavioral studies have been conducted to test this hypothesis. Rats with neurotoxin-induced lesions of dorsal dentate gyrus (DG), CA3, or CA1 were tested on object-place and odor-place paired-associate tasks to test whether the mechanism that supports paired-associate learning is localized to the CA3 subregion of the dorsal hippocampus or whether all hippocampal subregions contribute to paired-associate learning. The data indicate that rats with DG or CA1 lesions learned the tasks as well as controls; however, CA3-lesioned rats were impaired in learning the tasks. Thus, the CA3 subregion of the dorsal hippocampus contains a mechanism to support paired-associate learning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Helicobacter pylori gastric infections in children

OBJECTIVES: Numerous reports have established the association of Helicobacter pylori and recurrent abdominal pain in children. We investigated the clinical, bacteriological and therapeutic features of our patients seen over a 1 year period. METHODS: We investigated 121 children during 1992 in Hospital Saint Vincent-de-Paul, Paris. At endoscopy, biopsies were taken and sent for histology and bacteriology and urease testing. A decision regarding treatment by amoxicillin and metronidazol was made after positive results of bacteriology and/or histology. RESULTS: Heliobacter pylori was found in 47 antral biopsies after pathology examination with Giemsa staining alone 16 times, bacterial culture 9 times and both methods 22 times. Abdominal pain was the prominent symptom, occurring in 35.5% of Helicobacter pylori+patients. In 25 of the positive negative patients, a nodular gastritis was observed (53.1%) and in 27.6% of them a weight loss or a delay in weight gain. Few patients became after combined treatment with amoxicillin and metronidazol whereas eradication rates after triple therapy with amoxicillin-metronidazol and H2 antagonist or proton pump blocker were higher. CONCLUSION: Helicobacter pylori related gastritis is a common cause of abdominal complaints in children. The most common symptom is recurrent abdominal pain. Antral nodularity is a peculiar endoscopic finding in children. Two-drug therapy associating amoxicillin-metronidazol is often ineffective to eradicate the bacteria whereas eradication rates after triple therapy amoxicillin-metronidazol and H2 antagonist or proton pump blocker are higher.     

An integrated intelligent machining system for axisymmetric parts using PC-based CAD and CAM software packages

Machining process planning involves the formation of a set of directions describing the machining operations required to transform raw stock into a finished part. Conventional process planning, performed manually, relies on the knowledge and competence of an experienced process planner and tends to be time consuming and error prone. In the past two decades, much effort has been spent on improving process planning by utilizing the power of a computer to emulate the capabilities of an experienced planner. During the same period, computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software has been developed to enhance design productivity and to assist the NC code generation facets of the machining process. The entire planning process may be automated be integrating CAD and CAM using computer-aided process planing (CAPP). The research described in this paper outlines the design and development of an intelligent CAPP system integrating two commercial CAD and CAM software packages, Autocad and Mastercam.     

Is urine leukocyte esterase test a useful screening method to predict Chlamydia trachomatis infection in women?

We evaluated the use of the leukocyte esterase test (LET) on first-catch urine specimens from women as a screening test to predict infection with Chlamydia trachomatis. For diagnosis, we used Abbott's ligase chain reaction (LCR) on urine specimens and isolation by tissue culture (TC) on cervical brushes. Of 4,053 women attending sexually transmitted disease and family planning clinics, 4.3% (n = 174) were positive by TC and 5.9% (n = 239) were positive by LCR. When LET was compared to TC, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 54.0, 67.0, 6.8, and 97.0%, respectively. The corresponding performance of LET versus LCR was 53.1, 67.3, 10.1, and 95.8%. Almost half of the laboratory-confirmed chlamydial infections were negative by LET. The low specificity probably reflects multiple causes of pyuria in women and results in a low positive predictive value. LET is neither sensitive nor specific as a predictor of chlamydial infection and cannot be recommended for use as a screening test for C. trachomatis with first-catch urine samples from females from low- or moderate-prevalence populations.     

Hydrolysis of tetracalcium phosphate in H3PO4 and KH2PO4

The activity product of tetracalcium phosphate (TTCP, Ca₄(PO₄)₂O), was determined at 37°C, and the hydrolysis of TTCP was investigated in 0.01–0.1 mol l^–1 H₃PO₄ and KH₂PO₄ solutions by means of calcium and phosphorus analyses, X-ray diffraction and infrared analysis. The activity product, defined as K _sp=(Ca²⁺)⁴ (PO ₄ ^3– )² (OH^–)², was 37.36 as pK _sp, which was smaller than that previously reported (42.4). TTCP easily hydrolysed to form calcium-deficient apatite (Ca-def OHAp, Ca_5–x (HPO₄) _x (PO₄)_3–x (OH)_1–x ), or dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCPD, CaHPO₄2H₂O), depending on the initial phosphate concentration. With 0.1 mol l^–1 H₃PO₄, TTCP hydrolysed to form DCPD within several minutes. In 0.025 mol l^–1 H₃PO₄ and 0.1 mol l^–1 KH₂PO₄, TTCP hydrolysed to form Ca-def OHAp through DCPD. In the latter solution, a small amount of octacalcium phosphate (OCP, Ca₈(H₂PO₄)₂(PO₄)₄5H₂O), was detected as an intermediate product. In 0.025 mol l^–1 KH₂PO₄, TTCP hydrolysed directly to form Ca-def OHAp. In 0.01 mol l^–1 H₃PO₄, hydrolysis of TTCP was not completed, although Ca-def OHAp was only a product. Thus the final product and the degree of hydrolysis depended on the pH and the overall Ca/P ratio in the reaction system. The rate of Ca-def OHAp formation seemed to be controlled by the dissolution rate of TTCP rather than the crystallization rate of the OHAp.     

Going under to stay on top, revisited: Results of a colloquium on underground space utilization

This report summarizes the results of a three-day colloquium, held in Minnesota in July 1995, to address issues related to underground space utilization. The colloquium was convened by the Underground Space Center, with major support from the National Science Foundation, Directorate for Engineering, and the Federal Highway Administration.     

Spatial constraints on the voluntary control of attention across visual space.

Investigated the extent to which attention can be voluntarily allocated across the visual field during a single fixation. In Exp I, 20 undergraduates made a reaction time (RT) response to a stimulus occurring in a cued or a noncued location while maintaining a center fixation. In Exp II, 3 naive and 5 experienced undergraduates underwent a replication of Exp I and were monitored for horizontal eye movement during head restraint. Results from Exp I indicate that Ss were constrained to voluntarily attending to a single primary focus in space, and these findings were supported in Exp II. Data replicate those found by M. I. Posner et al (see record 1981-11809-001). (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparative hall measurements on wet- and dry-oxidized 4H-SiC MOSFETs

Hall measurements have been used to compare the properties of 4H-SiC inversion-mode MOSFETs with “wet” and “dry” gate oxides. While the field-effect mobilities were approximately 3–5 cm²/Vs, the Hall mobilities in 4H-SiC MOSFETs in the wet and dry oxide samples were approximately 70–80 cm²/Vs. The dry-oxidized metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) had a higher transconductance, improved threshold voltage, improved subthreshold slope, and a higher inversion carrier concentration compared to the wet-oxidized MOSFETs. The difference in characteristics between the wet- and the dry-oxidized MOSFETs is attributed to the larger fixed oxide charge in the dry oxide sample and a higher interface trap density in the wet oxide sample.