Chemotactic activity from rabbit peritoneal neutrophils. Lack of identity with N-acetyl-DL-phenylalanine beta-napthyl esterase

The chemotactic and N-acetyl-DL-phenylalanine beta-naphthyl esterase activities of rabbit peritoneal neutrophils are separable from each other by both DEAE cellulose and Sephadex G-100 column chromatography. Partially purified esterase obtained from DEAE-cellulose chromatography had molecular weight of 70 000. However, the partially purified fraction contained chemotactic activities with major activity in molecular weight of 28000 and minor activities in the molecular weights of 45000, 21900, 14500 and 10500. Esterase activity is inhibited by 10(-7) M p-nitrophenylethyl-5-chloropentylphosphonate but chemotactic activity is not.     

Studies on translocation of immunoglobulins across intestinal epithelium. II. Immunoelectron-microscopic localization of immunoglobulins and secretory component in human intestinal mucosa

To define mechanisms involved in the transport of immunoglobulins into intestinal fluids, we localized IgM, IgA, IgG, and secretory component (SC) in human intestinal mucosa by the peroxidase-labeled antibody technique. At the light microscopic level, immunocytes containing IgA, IgM, or IgG were found in the lamina propria. IgA, IgM, and SC were prominent in the epithelium of gland crypts; IgG was limited to a few cells at tips of villi. At the electron-microscopic level, SC was localized to perinuclear spaces, endoplasmic reticulum, saccules associated with Golgi complexes, cytoplasmic vesicles, and lateral and basal plasma membranes of columnar epithelial cells. IgA and IgM, but not IgG, also were localized to plasma membranes and cytoplasmic vesicles of these cells. Neither the immunoglobulins nor SC was found within other types of epithelial cells (Paneth, goblet, endocrine). The findings provide evidence that (1) the site of SC synthesis in intestinal epithelium is secretory columnar cells, principally those in gland crypts; (2) the polymeric immunoglobulins IgM and IgA are translocated through such SC-containing cells by a process that involves formation of cytoplasmic vesicles; (3) IgM and IgA could combine with SC during transcellular transport (likely sites are lateral or basal plasma membranes or supranuclear cytoplasm); (4) the monomeric immunoglobulin IgG does not share the transepithelial cell route involved in IgM and IgA transport.     

Spectral observation of power network signals for digital signal processing

A fast digital signal processing algorithm with a view to digital protection of power networks using a dead-beat spectral observer is presented. The spectral observer computes the discrete Fourier transform of a sampled-data band-limited periodic signal (like the differential currents in power transformers and voltages, and currents in power transmission lines) recursively to produce high-speed fault detection. Further progressive incorporation of new samples, discarding the old ones as in running Fourier transforms, requires a single iteration. The scheme is suitable for microprocessor-based realtime application and has been implemented on line with a 16-bit LS1-11/23 microcomputer with signals from a power transformer.     

A short study on the success of the Gene Ontology

While most ontologies have been used only by the groups who created them and for their initially defined purposes, the Gene Ontology (GO), an evolving structured controlled vocabulary of nearly 16,000 terms in the domain of biological functionality, has been widely used for annotation of biological-database entries and in biomedical research. As a set of learned lessons offered to other ontology developers, we list and briefly discuss the characteristics of GO that we believe are most responsible for its success: community involvement; clear goals; limited scope; simple, intuitive structure; continuous evolution; active curation; and early use.     

Integrating large-scale group projects and software engineering approaches for early computer science courses

The utilization of large-scale group projects in early computer science courses has been readily accepted in academia. In these types of projects, students are given a specific portion of a large programming problem to design and develop. Ultimately, the consolidation of all of the independent student projects integrates to form the solution for the large-scale project. Although many studies report on the experience of executing a semester-long course of this nature, course experience at Georgetown University, Washington, DC, shows the benefits of embedding a large-scale project that comprises just a segment of the course (three to four weeks). The success of these types of courses requires an effective process for creating the specific large-scale project. An effective process for large-scale group project course development is applied to the second computer science course at Georgetown University.     

A study of the acute electrophysiological and cardiovascular action of disopyramide in man

The mercury content of 236 species of wild mushrooms was determined by flameless atomic absorption spectroscopy. Of each species several samples--altogether 616--were tested. The mercury content was between 0.04 and 21.60 mg/kg dry weight, equivalent to 0.002 and 3.090 mg/kg fresh weight. The mercury content was clearly species-dependent. Mercury-rich species particularly were found in Tricholomataceae, Agaricaceae and Lycoperdaceae, whereas in Boletaceae, Amanitaceae and Russulaceae mercury-rich species were rather rare. There was a considerable variability within species, too; hence, other factors, yet unknown, must also determine the mercury content. Geographical influences were not demonstrable. All mushrooms grown on wood had a very low mercury content. Storing over several years did not diminish the mercury content of dried mushrooms. The highest mercury content was found in a poisonous mushroom, but on the average, poisonous mushrooms contained less mercury than edible ones.