Specific recognition of HLA-E, but not classical, HLA class I molecules by soluble CD94/NKG2A and NK cells

The CD94/NKG2 receptors expressed by subpopulations of NK cells and T cells have been implicated as receptors for a broad range of both classical and nonclassical HLA class I molecules. To examine the ligand specificity of CD94/NKG2 proteins, a soluble heterodimeric form of the receptor was produced and used in direct binding studies with cells expressing defined HLA class I/peptide complexes. We confirm that CD94/NKG2A specifically interacts with HLA-E and demonstrate that this interaction is dependent on the association of HLA-E with peptide. Moreover, no interaction between CD94/NKG2A and classical HLA class I molecules was observed, as assayed by direct binding of the soluble receptor or by functional assays using CD94/NKG2A+ NK cells. The role of the peptide associated with HLA-E in the interaction between HLA-E and CD94/NKG2A was also assessed. All class I leader sequence peptides tested bound to HLA-E and were recognized by CD94/NKG2A. However, amino acid variations in class I leader sequences affected the stability of HLA-E. Additionally, not all HLA-E/peptide complexes examined were recognized by CD94/NKG2A. Thus CD94/NKG2A recognition of HLA-E is controlled by peptide at two levels; first, peptide must stabilize HLA-E and promote cell surface expression, and second, the HLA-E/peptide complex must form the ligand for CD94/NKG2A.     

Triggering steam explosions of single drops of a molten ferrosilicon alloy with a simple encapsulated mechanical impactor

We have developed a simple and inexpensive encapsulated mechanical impactor that can be operated under water. The unit reproducibly generates upward-directed pressure transients in the water with peaks of approximately 0.13 MPa measured 100 mm above its surface. These pulses have been used to trigger steam explosions of drops of a molten ferrosilicon alloy when they are either just above the unit in free fall through the water or shortly after they land on its surface. The impactor is study, reliable, safe, and environmentally neutral and resets for reuse within seconds. Compared to other triggering techniques, the impactor does not generate light, bubbles, or strong water motion that obscure or appreciably affect the initiation or early stages of the steam explosions. This permits good imaging and measurements at essentially all times during the triggering and subsequent development of the explosions.     

PD pattern analysis during induced test of large power transformers

The partial discharge (PD) measurements on power transformers are studied with a view toward discrimination and classification of different discharge sources. For this purpose digital analysis is applied to power transformers and reactors going through acceptance testing. Furthermore, based on these measurements, PD databases have been developed to support the discharge evaluation during induced voltage tests of transformers. Using this technique, a clear distinction is possible between transformers showing different discharge behavior     

A calorimetric examination of coal surfaces

This communication reports the results of some exploratory experiments to examine the surface of coal by (i) flow microcalorimetry (FM) and (ii) vapour sorption calorimetry (VSC). Excepting differential scanning calorimetry, calorimetric methods have not been widely-exploited in coal structure research. The intent of this short communication is to demonstrate that hitherto neglected calorimetric methods are very rewarding when applied to the study of coal surfaces.     

Further evidence of the intricacy of memory span.

Memory span was measured for lists of verbal items constructed such that the items in the 1st half of the list were of one category and those of the 2nd half were of another. In Exp 1, the lists consisted of digits and words (e.g., 2, 8, 77, horse, cow, sheep or horse, cow, sheep, 2, 8, 7); in Exp 2, they consisted of words from the same semantic domain and words from different semantic domains; in Exps 3 and 4, they consisted of words that rhymed and words that did not rhyme. A category-order effect occurred in each experiment: Span was larger when the digits, same-domain words, or rhyming words occurred in the 1st half of the list than when they occurred in the 2nd half. These findings suggest that memory span is more complex than is generally assumed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Fallibility of plasma urea and creatinine as indices of renal function in diarrhoeic calves treated with conventional or nutritional oral rehydration solutions

The prevalence and severity of gingival overgrowth in organ-transplant patients medicated with cyclosporin are greater in patients concomitantly medicated with nifedipine; however, no relationship between the gingival overgrowth and any of the nifedipine pharmacological variables has been demonstrated. The study examined the effect of five nifedipine pharmacological variables (nifedipine dosage, plasma concentration and gingival crevicular fluid concentration, M1 metabolite plasma concentration and the nifedipine: M1 ratio). The effect of the nifedipine variables on the gingival overgrowth score were examined using univariate and multivariate regression analysis. Adjustment for the effect of other risk factors was made by adding the distribution of each of the nifedipine variables in turn to a stepwise regression model containing previously identified risk factors for this condition. Despite the high levels of nifedipine sequestered in the GCF, only the plasma concentration of nifedipine was identified as a risk factor for the severity of gingival overgrowth in these patients (P = 0.01) once adjusted for other known risk factors (R2 for the model = 55%).     

Physical property measurements for the mathematical modeling of fluid flow in solidification processes

Measurement methods are being developed to provide values for the density, viscosity, heat capacity, enthalpy, fraction solid, surface tension, and thermal diffusivity and conductivity of commercial alloys in the liquid and mushy states. These data are needed for the mathematical modeling of heat and fluid flow in solidification processes. This paper briefly describes the present state of development of apparatus for the measurement of density by the levitated drop and hydrostatic probe methods and viscosity by the oscillating viscometer in our laboratory. Paper presented at the Fourth Asian Thermophysical Properties Conference, September 5–8, 1995, Tokyo, Japan.     

String sorting technique for microcomputers

This paper reports the development of a sorting algorithm, called a ‘pocket sort.’ It is primarily directed to sorting of character data. The algorithm is strictly of order O(n); sorting time is directly proportional to the number of data elements to be sorted. Further, through the use of pointer - linked list data structures, no internal movement of the records containing the sort field is required. The algorithm has been implemented in Turbo Pascal. Data are presented comparing this pocket sort to other sorting techniques.