The mannose receptor mediates uptake of pathogenic and nonpathogenic mycobacteria and bypasses bactericidal responses in human macrophages

The mannose receptor (MR) is involved in the phagocytosis of pathogenic microorganisms. Here we investigated its role in the bactericidal functions of human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs), using (i) trimannoside-bovine serum albumin (BSA)-coated latex beads and zymosan as particulate ligands of the MR, and (ii) mannan and mannose-BSA as soluble ligands. We show that phagocytosis of mannosylated latex beads did not elicit the production of O2-. Zymosan, which is composed of alpha-mannan and beta-glucan, was internalized by the MR and a beta-glucan receptor, but the production of O2- was triggered only by phagocytosis through the beta-glucan receptor. Activation and translocation of Hck, a Src family tyrosine kinase located on lysosomes, has previously been used as a marker of fusion between lysosomes and phagosomes in human neutrophils. In MDMs, Hck was activated and recruited to phagosomes containing zymosan later than LAMP-1 and CD63. Phagosomes containing mannosylated latex beads fused with LAMP-1 and CD63 vesicles but not with the Hck compartment, and the kinase was not activated. We also demonstrate that the MR was unable to distinguish between nonpathogenic and pathogenic mycobacteria, as they were internalized at similar rates by this receptor, indicating that this route of entry cannot be considered as a differential determinant of the intracellular fate of mycobacteria. In conclusion, MR-dependent phagocytosis is coupled neither to the activation of NADPH oxidase nor to the maturation of phagosomes until fusion with the Hck compartment and therefore constitutes a safe portal of entry for microorganisms.     

都汶高速公路庙子坪岷江特大桥震后5号主墩加固技术

都汶高速公路是成都通往汶川的重要的交通枢纽,为国道213和317合线。都汶高速公路庙子坪岷江特大桥(又名紫坪铺大桥)直接跨越紫坪铺水库和岷江,都江堰端接著名的董家山高瓦斯隧道,汶川端接龙洞子隧道。5.12汶川大地震对庙子坪岷江特大桥产生了不少震害,地震后大桥的加固时间紧、工作量大、技术复杂,这在中国乃至世界桥梁史上前所未有;特别是5号主墩加固异常复杂和艰难,从桥面防撞护栏顶面到5号主墩地面承台顶面之间总体落差114.488 m,5号主墩地面承台顶面到水面水深达65 m。通过对5号主墩承台顶面以上14 m加固区间(全部位于深水区域)的潜水堵孔和钢沉箱工艺进行深入细致的研究,制定了系列相应措施。     

基于SPH消力池内陡坡水跃的数值模拟

为了满足明渠水流入流的边界条件,扩展SPH方法在明渠恒定流模拟中的应用,本文建立SPH方法的出入流模型,通过设置相应的出入流边界条件,研究不同坡度下消力池内陡坡水跃特性。针对两种不同流量,对斜坡坡角θ分别在20°、30°、45°条件下的陡坡水跃进行数值模拟。模拟结果与文献中的实验结果进行对比分析,结果表明:出入流模型能为陡坡水跃的数值模拟提供稳定的水流。各陡坡不同流量下水面线的变化趋势基本相同,误差均在±10%内;相同坡角时,单宽流量为0.063 m~2/s的消能效果均大于单宽流量为0.105 m~2/s的消能效果。该方法处理出入流边界简单,合理准确,能够较好地模拟不同坡度下消力池内陡坡水跃,得到陡坡水跃特性,具有一定的可行性和可靠性。     

The DNA binding properties of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Rad51 protein

Saccharomyces cerevisiae Rad51 protein is the paradigm for eukaryotic ATP-dependent DNA strand exchange proteins. To explain some of the unique characteristics of DNA strand exchange promoted by Rad51 protein, when compared with its prokaryotic homologue the Escherichia coli RecA protein, we analyzed the DNA binding properties of the Rad51 protein. Rad51 protein binds both single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) in an ATP- and Mg2+-dependent manner, over a wide range of pH, with an apparent binding stoichiometry of approximately 1 protein monomer per 4 (+/-1) nucleotides or base pairs, respectively. Only dATP and adenosine 5'-gamma-(thiotriphosphate) (ATPgammaS) can substitute for ATP, but binding in the presence of ATPgammaS requires more than a 5-fold stoichiometric excess of protein. Without nucleotide cofactor, Rad51 protein binds both ssDNA and dsDNA but only at pH values lower than 6.8; in this case, the apparent binding stoichiometry covers the range of 1 protein monomer per 6-9 nucleotides or base pairs. Therefore, Rad51 protein displays two distinct modes of DNA binding. These binding modes are not inter-convertible; however, their initial selection is governed by ATP binding. On the basis of these DNA binding properties, we conclude that the main reason for the low efficiency of the DNA strand exchange promoted by Rad51 protein in vitro is its enhanced dsDNA-binding ability, which inhibits both the presynaptic and synaptic phases of the DNA strand exchange reaction as follows: during presynapsis, Rad51 protein interacts with and stabilizes secondary structures in ssDNA thereby inhibiting formation of a contiguous nucleoprotein filament; during synapsis, Rad51 protein inactivates the homologous dsDNA partner by directly binding to it.     

An open trial of lisinopril (''ZESTRIL'') in mild to moderate hypertension in Nigeria

The concept of transcultural nursing is relatively new to the nursing literature. It had been less than 30 years since Madeleine Leininger first began to develop a theory of transcultural nursing as part of a doctoral study in anthropology. Much has changed in that time, and nursing staff development and inservice educators need to provide educational offerings within a multicultural context in a timely manner. Cultural diversity is the standard in the mid-1990s, and those nursing staff development programs that are sensitive to this fact produce employees with advantages over those from settings that do not prepare staff for practice in a constantly changing world. This annotated bibliography about transcultural nursing details key references for staff development and inservice programs. It is not intended as an exhaustive review but rather focuses on the most relevant, timely, and useful of the ever increasing number of publications concerning this important subject. Six major books and four of the most pertinent recent journal articles are included. Conclusions and implications for nursing staff educators are offered.     

MOS器件的X射线辐照效应

研究了在10keVX射线辐照情况下，MOS器件的阈值电压随总剂量和剂量率的改变而变化的趋势。实验结果表明，辐照后，与用Co^60作为辐射源辐照所做实验结果明显不同的是，NMOS器件的阈值电压漂移幅度远大于PMOS器件的漂移幅度。文中对这种现象进行了讨论。