To Be or Not to Be Electronic Money, That's the Question

The European Electronic Money Directive contains a definition of electronic money. However, determining which systems involving the use of electronic value fall under its scope can be more complicated than one might think. This issue is explored in this article through consideration of the question of whether prepaid mobile phone credits qualify as electronic money—a question that is currently being debated by telecommunications operators and regulators.     

The absolute number of trans-rearrangements between the TCRG and TCRB loci is predictive of lymphoma risk: a severe combined immune deficiency (SCID) murine model

Pilot studies in human populations have demonstrated a correlation between the level of antigen receptor trans-rearrangements and risk (at the population level) of lymphoid malignancy. Irradiation of newborn severe combined immune deficiency mice results in an increased risk of subsequent development of thymic lymphoma (100% of mice so irradiated are dead of thymic lymphoma by 20 weeks of age). We, therefore, assayed the occurrence of trans-rearrangements in this well-controlled mouse mutant system and found a 50-100-fold increase in the absolute number of TCRGV-TCRBJ trans-rearrangements compared to unirradiated littermates (and a comparable fold increase over age-matched BALB/c mice) at 2 weeks following irradiation. We also found a marked disproportion in generating trans-rearrangements versus intralocus rearrangements in the severe combined immune deficiency system compared to BALB/c, independent of irradiation. The trans-rearrangements noted were polyclonal in nature. These data, again, suggest that the absolute level of antigen receptor trans-rearrangements may serve as a biomarker of lymphoma risk.     

A broadly cross-protective monoclonal antibody binding to Escherichia coli and Salmonella lipopolysaccharides

During the last decade, episodes of sepsis have increased and Escherichia coli has remained the most frequent clinical isolate. Lipopolysaccharides (LPS; endotoxin) are the major toxic and antigenic components of gram-negative bacteria and qualify as targets for therapeutic interventions. Molecules that neutralize the toxic effects of LPS are actively investigated. In this paper, we describe a murine monoclonal antibody (MAb; WN1 222-5), broadly cross-reactive and cross-protective for smooth (S)-form and rough (R)-form LPS. As shown in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the passive hemolysis assay, WN1 222-5 binds to the five known E. coli core chemotypes, to Salmonella core, and to S-form LPS having these core structures. In immunoblots, it is shown to react with both the nonsubstituted core LPS and with LPS carrying O-side chains, indicating the exposure of the epitope in both S-form and R-form LPS. This MAb of the immunoglobulin G2a class is not lipid A reactive but binds to E. coli J5, an RcP+ mutant which carries an inner core structure common to many members of the family Enterobacteriaceae. Phosphate groups present in the inner core contribute to the epitope but are not essential for the binding of WN1 222-5 to complete core LPS. Cross-reactivity for clinical bacterial isolates is broad. WN1 222-5 binds to all E. coli clinical isolates tested so far (79 blood isolates, 80 urinary isolates, and 21 fecal isolates) and to some Citrobacter, Enterobacter, and Klebsiella isolates. This pattern of reactivity indicates that its binding epitope is widespread among members of the Enterobacteriaceae. WN1 222-5 exhibits biologically relevant activities. In vitro, it inhibits the Limulus amoebocyte lysate assay activity of S-form and R-form LPS in a dose-dependent manner and it neutralizes the LPS-induced release of clinically relevant monokines (interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor). In vivo, WN1 222-5 blocks endotoxin-induced pyrogenicity in rabbits and lethality in galactosamine-sensitized mice. The discovery of WN1 222-5 settles the long-lasting controversy over the existence of anti-core LPS MAbs with both cross-reactive and cross-protective activity, opening new possibilities for the immunotherapy of sepsis caused by gram-negative bacteria.     

Synthesis and cytotoxicity of potential tumor-inhibitory analogues of trimelamol (2,4,6-tris[(hydroxymethyl)methylamino]-1,3,5-triazine) having electron-withdrawing groups in place of methyl

In exploring the structural features which determine the antitumor activity of 2,4,6-tris-[(hydroxymethyl)methylamino]-1,3,5-triazine (trimelamol, 1), we have synthesized analogues in which the methyl groups have been replaced by the electron-withdrawing substituents 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl (5), propargyl (13), and cyanomethyl (15) via the respective tris(alkylamino)triazines 3, 12, and 14. Three mono[(hydroxymethyl)amino]triazines (4, 7, and 10) were also prepared. All the new tris(hydroxymethyl) derivatives showed cytotoxicities toward a variety of experimental rodent and human ovarian tumor cell lines similar to those shown by 1, the cyanomethyl analogue (15) having the most favorable profile. Mono(hydroxymethyl) derivatives (4 and 7) were ca. one-third as toxic. The new tris(hydroxymethyl) analogues were more stable to aqueous hydrolysis than was 1. Half-life (pH 7.5) values were, for 1, 120 min, for 5, 690 min, for 13, 450 min, and for 15, 275 min, but at pH 2.0, 15 (t1/2 350 min) was the most stable. This cyanomethyl analogue was also the most water-soluble, being comparable to 1 whereas 5 and 13 were poorly soluble.     

Hydrogen Permeability of Borosilicate Glasses

Borosilicate glass-forming compositions R₂O – B₂O₃ – SiO₂ – R_aO_b (R — Li, Na, K; R_a — Zn, PbO) are investigated. A correlation-regression analysis of the criteria (the silicate modulus, the oxygen number, the structure cohesion factor, the relative molar volumes of the components) affecting the hydrogen permeability of glasses is carried out. The tendency for permeability variations depending on the component composition and the above specified criteria is identified.     

Video monitoring of pulverized coal injection in the blast furnace

A novel approach to monitoring and control of the coal powder injection in a blast furnace is presented and discussed. Image analysis of video recordings is used as a means to estimate the instantaneous coal flow. Initial experiments at blast furnace number 3 of SSAB Tunnplat AB, Lulea, Sweden, are reported and firsthand results on modeling and control of a single injection line are given     

A method of determining the levels of deoxynivalenol (vomitoxin) and its metabolites]

A method has been developed for assay of deoxynivalenol (DON) and its metabolite desepoxideoxynivalenol (DOM-1) in animal excrements with the use of reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with UV-detection (218 nm). The method includes purification in the mini-column with activated carbon and aluminium oxide. The detection limit was 50 ng/g, relative standard deviation--0.05-0.1, the degree of toxin isolation--76-89%. DON isolated from Fusarium macroceras, strain 579a, cultivated in rice under laboratory conditions, and DOM-1 obtained as a result of DON incubation with the contents of the beef first stomach, were used in the study. The structure of toxins isolated has been proved by the mass-spectrometry method. The method developed by the authors was used in the study of DON metabolism in vivo in monkeys.