Immunohistochemical localization of collagen types I and VI in human skin wounds

A total of 74 human skin wounds were investigated and collagen types I and VI were localized in the wound area by immunohistochemistry. Collagen type I appeared in the form of ramifying string-like structures after approximately 5–6 days, but positive reactions in the form of a spot-like staining around isolated fibroblasts also occurred in a skin wound aged 4 days. Collagen VI was detectable after a post-infliction interval of at least 3 days showing a strongly positive reacting network associated with fibroblasts in the wound area. Both collagens appeared almost constantly after a wound age of 6–7 clays and could also be found in wounds aged a few months. Therefore, although a positive reaction for collagen type I in the form of string-like and ramifying structures around wound fibroblasts indicates a wound age of at least 5–6 days, a spot-like positive staining for collagen type I cannot exclude a wound age of at least 4 days. A positive staining for collagen type VI represents a post-infliction time of 3 days or more. The almost constant appearance of these collagen types suggests that negative results in a sufficient number of specimens indicate a wound age of less than 6–7 days, but cannot completely exclude longer post-infliction intervals. Since collagen type I and VI are also found in the granulation/scar tissue of lesions with advanced wound age, the immunohistochemical analysis of these proteins provides no further information for an age determination of older skin wounds

Исследование закономерностей развития структурно-химической неоднородности в разнородном сварном соединении трубопроводного переходника

Данная работа посвящена исследованию структурно-химической неоднородности (СХН) трубопроводного переходника из разнородных сталей, выполненного аргонодуговой сваркой (АрДС). При помощи оптического микроскопа получены фотографии СХН и ее размеры. СХН выражается в появлении прослоек (карбидной и ферритной) с разным химическим составом. Приведены графики роста ширин прослоек от времени выдержки и температуры.This paper is devoted to the comparison of the structural and chemical inhomogeneity (SCI) of adapters made of dissimilar steels, made by tungsten insert gas (TIG). By means of optical microscope, photographs of the SCI and its dimensions were obtained. SCI is expressed in the appearance of interlayers (carbide and ferritic) with different chemical composition. Graphs of the growth of the widths of the interlayers from the time of exposure and temperature are given

Wave packet dynamics in the optimal superadiabatic approximation

We explain the concept of superadiabatic approximations and show how in the context of the Born- Oppenheimer approximation they lead to an explicit formula that can be used to predict transitions at avoided crossings. Based on this formula, we present a simple method for computing wave packet dynamics across avoided crossings. Only knowledge of the adiabatic electronic energy levels near the avoided crossing is required for the computation. In particular, this means that no diabatization procedure is necessary, the adiabatic energy levels can be computed on the fly, and they only need to be computed to higher accuracy when an avoided crossing is detected. We test the quality of our method on the paradigmatic example of photo-dissociation of NaI, finding very good agreement with results of exact wave packet calculations.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figure

Complete analysis of the B-cell response to a protein antigen, from in vivo germinal centre formation to 3-D modelling of affinity maturation

Somatic hypermutation of immunoglobulin variable region genes occurs within germinal centres (GCs) and is the process responsible for affinity maturation of antibodies during an immune response. Previous studies have focused almost exclusively on the immune response to haptens, which may be unrepresentative of epitopes on protein antigens. In this study, we have exploited a model system that uses transgenic B and CD4<sup>+</sup> T cells specific for hen egg lysozyme (HEL) and a chicken ovalbumin peptide, respectively, to investigate a tightly synchronized immune response to protein antigens of widely differing affinities, thus allowing us to track many facets of the development of an antibody response at the antigen-specific B cell level in an integrated system <i>in</i> <i>vivo</i>. Somatic hypermutation of immunoglobulin variable genes was analysed in clones of transgenic B cells proliferating in individual GCs in response to HEL or the cross-reactive low-affinity antigen, duck egg lysozyme (DEL). Molecular modelling of the antibody–antigen interface demonstrates that recurring mutations in the antigen-binding site, selected in GCs, enhance interactions of the antibody with DEL. The effects of these mutations on affinity maturation are demonstrated by a shift of transgenic serum antibodies towards higher affinity for DEL in DEL-cOVA immunized mice. The results show that B cells with high affinity antigen receptors can revise their specificity by somatic hypermutation and antigen selection in response to a low-affinity, cross-reactive antigen. These observations shed further light on the nature of the immune response to pathogens and autoimmunity and demonstrate the utility of this novel model for studies of the mechanisms of somatic hypermutation

Medium Effects on Binary Collisions with the Delta Resonance

To facilitate the relativistic heavy-ion calculations based on transport equations, the binary collisions involving a $\Delta$ resonance in either the entrance channel or the exit channel are investigated within a Hamiltonian formulation of $\pi NN$ interactions. An averaging procedure is developed to define a quasi-particle $\Delta^*$ and to express the experimentally measured $NN\rightarrow \pi NN$ cross section in terms of an effective $NN\rightarrow N\Delta^\ast$ cross section. In contrast to previous works, the main feature of the present approach is that the mass and the momentum of the produced $\Delta^*$'s are calculated dynamically from the bare $\Delta \leftrightarrow \pi N$ vertex interaction of the model Hamiltonian and are constrained by the unitarity condition. The procedure is then extended to define the effective cross sections for the experimentally inaccessible $N\Delta^\ast \rightarrow NN$ and $N\Delta^\ast \rightarrow N\Delta^\ast$ reactions. The predicted cross sections are significantly different from what are commonly assumed in relativistic heavy-ion calculations. The $\Delta$ potential in nuclear matter has been calculated by using a Bruckner-Hartree-Fock approximation. By including the mean-field effects on the $\Delta$ propagation, the effective cross sections of the $NN\rightarrow N\Delta^\ast$, $N\Delta^\ast \rightarrow NN$ and $N\Delta^\ast \rightarrow N\Delta^\ast$ reactions in nuclear matter are predicted. It is demonstrated that the density dependence is most dramatic in the energy region close to the pion production threshold.Comment: 20 pages, RevTe

Preschool Teachers’ Perspectives About the Engagement of Immigrant and Non-Immigrant Parents in Their Children’s Early Education

The present study explores the perceptions of teachers about the engagement of immigrant and non-immigrant parents in preschool. Data were drawn from a larger evaluation study of a government initiative for preschools in Germany, which was designed to foster inclusive pedagogy and parent cooperation. In these analyses, teachers’ perceptions of the engagement of immigrant parents and non-immigrant parents were rated for each parent group, on a 10-item measure, to identify how teacher ratings varied for the different parent groups. Data from 1397 preschool teachers, employed across 203 preschools, were analyzed using multilevel modeling. This statistical approach takes account of the clustered nature of the data. Teacher ratings of engagement for immigrant and non-immigrant parent groups differed between preschools. Most variability in the ratings could be ascribed to preschool characteristics. In preschools, in which staff held a shared understanding of dealing with cultural diversity and in which the director of the preschool had a multicultural mindset, teachers perceived engagement of parents more positively, especially for immigrant parents. Overall, the findings identified the importance of self-efficacy for inclusion and more positive beliefs about multiculturalism among preschool teachers. Such qualities are important for working with all parents. However, unfavorable social structures, such as those found in disadvantaged areas, may present major challenges for parent cooperation and engagement

Temporary use of shape memory spinal rod in the treatment of scoliosis

NiTinol shape memory alloy is characterized by its malleability at low temperatures and its ability to return to a preconfigured shape above its activation temperature. This process can be utilized to assist in scoliosis correction. The goal of this retrospective study was to evaluate the clinical and radiographic results of intraoperative use of shape memory alloy rod in the correction of scoliosis. From May 2002 to September 2006, 38 scoliosis patients (ranging from 50° to 120°; 22 cases over 70°) who underwent shape memory alloy-assisted correction in our institute were reviewed. During the operation, a shape memory alloy rod served as a temporary correction tool. Following correction, the rod was replaced by a rigid rod. The mean blood loss at surgery was 680 ± 584 ml; the mean operative time was 278 ± 62 min. The major Cobb angle improved from an average 78.4° preoperatively to 24.3° postoperatively (total percent correction 71.4%). In 16 patients with a major curve <70° and flexibility of 52.7%, the deformity improved from 58.4° preoperatively to 12.3° postoperatively (percent correction, 78.9%). In 22 patients with a major curve >70° and flexibility of 25.6%, the deformity improved from 94.1° preoperatively to 30.1° postoperatively (percent correction, 68.1%). Only one case had a deep infection. There were no neurologic, vascular or correction-related complications such as screw pullout or metal fracture. The study shows that the intraoperative use of a shape memory rod is a safe and effective method to correct scoliosis

Photoswitchable diacylglycerols enable optical control of protein kinase C.

Increased levels of the second messenger lipid diacylglycerol (DAG) induce downstream signaling events including the translocation of C1-domain-containing proteins toward the plasma membrane. Here, we introduce three light-sensitive DAGs, termed PhoDAGs, which feature a photoswitchable acyl chain. The PhoDAGs are inactive in the dark and promote the translocation of proteins that feature C1 domains toward the plasma membrane upon a flash of UV-A light. This effect is quickly reversed after the termination of photostimulation or by irradiation with blue light, permitting the generation of oscillation patterns. Both protein kinase C and Munc13 can thus be put under optical control. PhoDAGs control vesicle release in excitable cells, such as mouse pancreatic islets and hippocampal neurons, and modulate synaptic transmission in Caenorhabditis elegans. As such, the PhoDAGs afford an unprecedented degree of spatiotemporal control and are broadly applicable tools to study DAG signaling