Geometrical considerations in the separation of biological particles by affinity partitioning

A theoretical description of the affinity partitioning effect is presented. Experiments at reduced and zero g are discussed

Migration of Natural Killer Cells. Matrix interaction, locomotion and regulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) by IL-2 and chemokines

Activated natural killer (NK) cells are effective anti-tumour cells. In order to reach target cells in a tumour mass they need to migrate in the extravascular space. The process of tumour localisation begins when the NK cell is attracted in the blood stream, and utilisation of matrix-degrading enzymes is crucial for passing of the basal membrane (BM) and for locomotion outside the vascular bed. NK cells express several members of the family of matrix-degrading enzymes, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). The aim of this study was to gain more knowledge on the regulation of NK cell migration that affects infiltration of the extracellular matrix (ECM) equivalent Matrigel. In specific; morphologically study NK cell locomotion in a matrix environment; identify the repertoire of MMPs expressed by freshly isolated human NK cells and the human NK cell lines YT and NK-92; explore the role of MMPs in NK cell migration and investigate the effect of IL-2 and chemokine stimulation as well as matrix (Matrigel) contact on NK cells’ migratory ability and MMP expression. IL-2-activated mouse A-NK cells cultured in Matrigel revealed two different patterns of matrix disintegration depending on their time in culture, and similar differences were found between two human NK cell lines. Younger (≤ 5 days) mouse A-NK and NK-92 cells gave rise to a general widespread matrix reorganisation, interpreted to be due to direct release of soluble matrix-degrading enzymes. Older (≥ 6 days) mouse A-NK and YT cells instead produced large excavations in the Matrigel. These cavities could be explained by a release of proteoglycan-rich material with matrix-dilating properties, combined with associated matrix-degrading proteases. The IL 2 independent NK cell line YT and freshly isolated human NK cells was used to investigate the effects of IL-2 stimulation on NK cell migration and MMP expression and production. IL-2 stimulation of the YT cell line demonstrated opposing effects related to the duration of stimulation. A rapid stimulatory response at about 2-4h on MMP production, and a later negative effect on MMP expression and MMP-9 production was seen after prolonged stimulation (≥ 24h). Both responses correspondingly affected the migratory ability. In freshly isolated NK cells, migration increased MMP-dependently in response to IL-2 and MT6-MMP expression increased. MMP-13, MT3- and MT6-MMP, previously not described in NK cells, was found to be expressed by freshly isolated human NK cells. While matrix (Matrigel) contact did not affect MMP expression in either the NK-92 or YT cell line, the chemokine CX3CL1 was found to increase NK-92 cells’ MMP-9 production significantly, but had no effect on their migration. These findings increase our understanding of how NK cell migration is regulated and provide one further step in the development of strategies to achieve greater number of tumour infiltrating NK cells

Quantification of IFNγ- and IL17-producing cells after stimulation with citrullinated proteins in healthy subjects and RA patients

Antibodies against citrullinated proteins are highly specific for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and are currently used as a diagnostic marker. In this study, we wanted to quantify the numbers of T cells that react to a wide range of citrullinated proteins in a wide range of HLA-DR subtypes in order to investigate whether citrullination might create T-cell neo-epitopes and could initiate a universal T-cell response. Therefore, PBMCs from healthy volunteers and RA patients were stimulated with a citrullinated and non-citrullinated cell extract on IFN gamma-ELISpot. We found a significantly higher number of IFN gamma-secreting cells after stimulation with citrullinated proteins compared to non-citrullinated proteins in RA patients (1:14,441 cells vs. 1:32,880 cells) as well as in healthy subjects (1:6,261 reactive cells compared to 1:16,212 cells). Additionally, a higher number of IL17-secreting cells were found after stimulation with citrullinated proteins compared to their non-citrullinated counterparts. Our data indicate that citrulline-dependent T-cell response is not restricted to RA patients but that citrullination as such gives rise to a universal break in tolerance

Gaining insight from large data volumes with ease

Efficient handling of large data-volumes becomes a necessity in today's world. It is driven by the desire to get more insight from the data and to gain a better understanding of user trends which can be transformed into economic incentives (profits, cost-reduction, various optimization of data workflows, and pipelines). In this paper, we discuss how modern technologies are transforming well established patterns in HEP communities. The new data insight can be achieved by embracing Big Data tools for a variety of use-cases, from analytics and monitoring to training Machine Learning models on a terabyte scale. We provide concrete examples within context of the CMS experiment where Big Data tools are already playing or would play a significant role in daily operations

Research in Relation to SDGs

This poster describes an initiative undertaken by the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), to map their scientific output with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SLU wanted to assess its contributions to the SDGs and also to aim to understand its focus and impact on specific SDGs. Given that the SDG´s are not intended to be used for subject indexing of individual scholarly articles, but rather are politically motivated, different interpretations arise during the SDG classification of scholarly articles, leading to diverse results across approaches.SLU has adopted a customized approach, utilizing its local repository (SLUpub) to index publications with SDG data. Librarians manually screen search results, comparing article titles and abstracts with individual SDG targets, sub-targets, and indicators. The indexing process involves manual input, limited to three SDGs per publication. The resulting SDG data is showcased on a dedicated web page and integrated into SLUpub's web interface. Although the current process relies on English language articles and major commercial databases, future plans include expanding to cover Swedish articles and grey literature, with the repository as the primary source. The poster illustrates the indexing process and visualizations of SLU's contributions to the SDGs

Research of injuries of passengers in city buses as a consequence of non-collision effects

In this study, a research of injuries of passengers in city buses is presented, which are not a consequence of collision of buses with other objects. The number of injured passengers in the territory of Belgrade was registered, during three consecutive years. Most frequently injured body part was the head, while women over the age of 60 are the most vulnerable population of passengers. The most often reason for the appearance of injuries was the effect of acceleration. Also, it is pointed out to the importance of consideration of the problem of multiple injuries. These injuries are more complex than the individual ones, and they may indicate to the existence of greater omissions in the design of the interior of the bus. Proposals for certain system solutions, as well as some recommendations for designing are given, which can improve the safety of passengers who use the city bus as a means of transportation

Separation of endo-polygalacturonase using aqueous two-phase partitioning

The partitioning of endo-polygalacturonase (endo-PG) in polyethylene glycol (PEG)–polyvinyl alcohol (PVA10 000) and PEG–hydroxypropyl starch (Reppal PES100) aqueous two-phase systems was studied, and revealed the possibility of using aqueous two-phase extraction to purify and concentrate endo-PG from its clarified fermentation broth. For the PEG8000– PVA10 000 system, endo-PG presented in the fermentation broth (at concentration that is more than 40% of total protein) mainly dominates in the top phase with a partitioning coefficient of 6, while total protein concentrates in the bottom phase. A separation scheme consisting of two consecutive aqueous two-phase extraction steps was proposed: a first extraction in polyethylene glycol (PEG8000)–polyvinyl alcohol system, followed by a second extraction in PEG8000–(NH4)2SO4 system. This allowed the separation of endo-PG from polymer and the recycling of PEG polymer, since endo-PG was very strongly partitioned into the bottom phase of the PEG8000–(NH4)2SO4 system. Laboratory-scale experiments were performed to test the efficiency of this scheme. It was found that enzyme recovery was up to 91% with a total purification factor of about 1.9 and a concentration factor of more than 5. About 90% of the total PEG added into the systems can be recovered, and no reduction was obtained in the purification factor using recycled PEG.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) – PRAXIS XXI.CEC (INCO-DC) - contract number ERB IC18 CT97 0182

Atypical presentation of an oesophageal carcinoma with metastases to the left buttock: a case report

© 2009 Smyth et al; licensee Cases Network Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licens

The effects of breast cancer treatment on cognitive functions

Aims Women with breast cancer have reported difficulties with memory, attention, and concentration during or after adjuvant treatment. Whether these symptoms are side effects of treatment has not been established. The aim of this project was to determine the effects of early-stage breast cancer (BC) diagnosis and treatment on cognitive functions, quality of life, and psychological wellbeing. A secondary aim was to identify any associations between cognitive, psychosocial, somatic, and treatment factors and time to return to work (RTW) among women treated for early-stage BC. Methods From the mammography screening program at Stockholm South General Hospital, we prospectively enrolled women aged 40 to 69 years who had a positive radiographic finding. All women completed the Headminder Web-based neuropsychological battery Cognitive Stability Index for response speed, processing speed, memory, and attention before diagnosis (T1), after surgery but before adjuvant treatment (T2), 6 months after starting adjuvant treatment (T3), and after another 3 months of follow-up (T4). Women with BC were divided into those receiving chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or no adjuvant medical therapy. Women eventually determined not to have BC served as healthy controls. At each test session, depression, anxiety, and quality of life were measured using the Swedish version of the Beck Depression Inventory, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire and its BC supplementary measure. The secondary aim was addressed by comparing the above-mentioned scores from BC women who had returned to work with those who had not, at both T3 and T4. We also reviewed the medical certificates of women still on sick leave at 8, 11, and 18 months after diagnosis to determine why they had not returned to work. Results and Conclusion Of the 146 women enrolled, 77 had BC, of whom 18 received chemotherapy; 45, hormone therapy, and 14, no adjuvant medical therapy; 69 were healthy controls. At baseline, only response speed and processing speed differed significantly between groups. Our results suggest that a diagnosis of BC and subsequent surgery are not associated with substantial cognitive decline. However, the lack of improvement in attention at retest among BC patients may suggest a decline. Further, our results indicate subtle cognitive changes related to time and treatment. Chemotherapy may impair memory and response speed in women with BC, a finding consistent with those reported for BC survivors after adjuvant medical treatment. Breast cancer surgery and adjuvant treatment, irrespectively of type, reduces quality of life and psychological wellbeing, mostly related to time course. Global quality of life health status improved to baseline after 11 months from diagnosis. However, poor body image and lower subjective cognitive functions were sustained and should be addressed in long-term survivors of breast cancer to improve overall quality of life. Chemotherapy is associated with longer periods of sick leave. Cognitive functioning, objectively measured, does not predict RTW. Independently of any adjuvant therapy, most women eventually return to work in a few months. The ability to predict RTW after BC treatment should help prepare higher-risk women for delayed RTW and allow earlier interventions to restore their social relations and quality of life