Reframing the Paradigms of Inner Bodies

Awareness of our environments both external and internal are in continuous flux and highly mediated by technologies we have created. The research project we shall discuss is situated at the pivotal point of reframing our perception and consciousness in the context of the current in silico culture. More to the point, we shall refer to inroads into the bi-modal computer-generated simulations of blood flow patterns, in the pathological situation of a brain aneurysm, leading not only to the understanding of the phenomenon but also to the optimal communication of its complexity. This new approach, removed from both in vivo as well as in vitro, brings together visual and sound artists, computer engineers, designers and cognitive scientists with the essential goal of restructuring and re-configuring our understanding of self. This being said, the need to create ways that allow remodeling and reframing our perceptions through easily interactive tools that are also increasingly autonomous is at the core of the research we shall be presenting. Through novel approaches and complex technological mediation, the accompanying conscious experiences co-evolve and develop in complexity. The aim is for this project to serve as an example and starting point for stimulating debate

Acceleration of phenological advance and warming with latitude over the past century.

In the Northern Hemisphere, springtime events are frequently reported as advancing more rapidly at higher latitudes, presumably due to an acceleration of warming with latitude. However, this assumption has not been investigated in an analytical framework that simultaneously examines acceleration of warming with latitude while accounting for variation in phenological time series characteristics that might also co-vary with latitude. We analyzed 743 phenological trend estimates spanning 86 years and 42.6 degrees of latitude in the Northern Hemisphere, as well as rates of Northern Hemisphere warming over the same period and latitudinal range. We detected significant patterns of co-variation in phenological time series characteristics that may confound estimates of the magnitude of variation in trends with latitude. Notably, shorter and more recent time series tended to produce the strongest phenological trends, and these also tended to be from higher latitude studies. However, accounting for such variation only slightly modified the relationship between rates of phenological advance and latitude, which was highly significant. Furthermore, warming has increased non-linearly with latitude over the past several decades, most strongly since 1998 and northward of 59°N latitude. The acceleration of warming with latitude has likely contributed to an acceleration of phenological advance along the same gradient

Multiple organ failure - death of consumer protection?

The enormously profitable complementary medicines, dietary supplements and traditional medicines markets are largely unregulated internationally and South Africa. Attempts to ensure that consumers are not exposed to harmful or ineffective products have met with varying success around the world

THE INTERACTION OF PARTICULATE HORSERADISH PEROXIDASE (HRP)-ANTI HRP IMMUNE COMPLEXES WITH MOUSE PERITONEAL MACROPHAGES IN VITRO

The uptake, distribution, and fate of particulate horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-anti HRP aggregates has been studied in homogeneous monolayers of mouse macrophages in vitro. Macrophages rapidly interiorize the immune complexes after binding to the cell surface. The rate of interiorization is maximal for complexes formed in a broad zone of 4-fold antibody excess to equivalence and corresponds to a rate of 10% of the administered load/106 cells per hour. This rate is 4000-fold greater than the uptake of soluble HRP. The binding and endocytosis of HRP-anti HRP by macrophages is mediated by the trypsin insensitive Fc receptor. Cytochemically, intracellular HRP is localized within membrane bound vacuoles. After uptake of HRP, the enzymatic activity is degraded exponentially with a half-life of 14–18 hr until enzyme is no longer detectable. This half-life is twice as long as that previously observed for soluble uncomplexed HRP and is related to the combination of HRP with anti-HRP rather than the absolute amounts of enzyme or antibody ingested. The half-life of HRP-125I was 30 hr. Exocytosis of cell associated enzyme or TCA precipitable counts was not detected, nor were persistent surface complexes demonstrable. The extensive capacity of macrophages to interiorize and destroy large amounts of antigen after the formation of antibody illustrates a role of this cell in the efferent limb of the immune response

The endoeytie activity of dendritic cells

[No abstract available

THE INTERACTION OF SOLUBLE HORSERADISH PEROXIDASE WITH MOUSE PERITONEAL MACROPHAGES IN VITRO

The in vitro interaction of soluble horseradish peroxidase (HRP) with homogeneous mono layers of mouse macrophages has been studied using sensitive biochemical and cytochemical techniques. The compartmentalization of HRP in extracellular and intracellular sites has been quantitatively evaluated. A significant fraction is bound to a serum-derived layer, which coats the surface of culture vessels and may be removed by appropriate washes. Macrophages interiorize HRP as a solute in pinocytic vesicles without appreciable binding of the glycoprotein to the plasma membrane. Uptake is directly proportional to the concentration of HRP in the culture medium. 1 x 106 cells ingest 0.0025% of the administered load per hr over a wide range of concentrations. Cytochemically, all demonstrable HRP is sequestered within the endocytic vesicles and secondary lysosomes of the vacuolar apparatus. After uptake, the enzymatic activity of HRP is inactivated exponentially with a half-life of 7–9 hr, until enzyme is no longer detectable. When macrophages have pinocytosed trace-labeled HRP-125I, cell-associated isotope disappears with a t ½ of 20–30 hr and they release monoiodotyrosine-125I into the culture medium. We were unable to obtain evidence that significant amounts of HRP (>2%) can be exocytosed after uptake, can exist intact on the cell surface, or can be digested extracellularly. It is difficult to reconcile these observations with several of the postulated mechanisms whereby macrophages are thought to play a prominent role in the induction of an immune response

IDENTIFICATION OF A NOVEL CELL TYPE IN PERIPHERAL LYMPHOID ORGANS OF MICE : I. MORPHOLOGY, QUANTITATION, TISSUE DISTRIBUTION

A novel cell type has been identified in adherent cell populations prepared from mouse peripheral lymphoid organs (spleen, lymph node, Peyer's patch). Though present in small numbers (0.1–1.6% of the total nucleated cells) the cells have distinct morphological features. The nucleus is large, retractile, contorted in shape, and contains small nucleoli (usually two). The abundant cytoplasm is arranged in processes of varying length and width and contains many large spherical mitochondria. In the living state, the cells undergo characteristic movements, and unlike macrophages, do not appear to engage in active endocytosis. The term, dendritic cell, is proposed for this novel cell type

Identification of a novel cell type in peripheral lymphoid organs of mice. II. Functional properties in vitro

Steinman, R.M., and Cohn, Z.A. Identification of a novel cell type in peripheral lymphoid organs of mice. II. Functional properties in vitro. J. Exp. Med. 139: 380-397, 1974https://digitalcommons.rockefeller.edu/historical-scientific-reports/1001/thumbnail.jp

The immunological and infectious sequelae of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome

In spite of much ongoing experimentation, the consensus view is that a vaccine will be difficult to achieve. New strategies of chemo- and immunotherapy may bear more rapid results