An explanation of anomalous non-Hookean deformation of ionic single crystals

Anomalous non-Hookean deformation of ionic single crystal

Experimental analysis of the Fitzgerald apparatus

Experimental analysis of Fitzgerald dynamic compliance machin

Hepatitis C Virus Induces Regulatory T Cells by Naturally Occurring Viral Variants to Suppress T Cell Responses

Regulatory T cell markers are increased in chronically infected individuals with the hepatitis C virus (HCV), but to date, the induction and maintenance of Tregs in HCV infection has not been clearly defined. In this paper, we demonstrate that naturally occurring viral variants suppress T cell responses to cognate NS3358-375 in an antigen-specific manner. Of four archetypal variants, S370P induced regulatory T cell markers in comparison to NS3358-375-stimulated CD4 T cells. Further, the addition of variant-specific CD4 T cells back into a polyclonal culture in a dose-dependent manner inhibited the T cell response. These results suggest that HCV is able to induce antigen-specific regulatory T cells to suppress the antiviral T cell response in an antigen-specific manner, thus contributing to a niche within the host that could be conducive to HCV persistence

Trehalose Uptake through P2X7 Purinergic Channels Provides Dehydration Protection

The tetra-anionic form of ATP (ATP4-) is known to induce monovalent and divalent ion fluxes in cells that express purinergic P2X7 receptors (Steinberg et al., 1987; Sung et al., 1985), and with sustained application of ATP it has been shown that dyes as large as 831 daltons can permeate the cell membrane (Steinberg et al, 1987). The current study explores the kinetics of loading α,α-trehalose (342 daltons) into ATP stimulated J774.A1 cells, which are known to express the purinergic P2X7 receptor (Steinberg et al., 1987). Cells that were incubated at 37 ̊C in a 50 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) contailing 225 mM trehalose and 5 mM ATP, were shown to load trehalose linearly over time. Concentrations of ~50 mM were reached within 90 min of incubation. Cells incubated in the same solution at 4 ̊C loaded minimally, consistent with the inactivity of the receptor at low temperatures. However, extended incubation at 37 oC (\u3e60 min) resulted in zero next-day survival, with adverse effects appearing even with incubation periods as short as 30 min. By using a two-step protocol with a short time period at 37 oC to allow pore formation, followed by an extended loading period on ice, cells could be loaded with up to 50 mM trehalose while maintaining good next day recovery (49% ± 12 % by Trypan Blue exclusion, 56 ± 20% by Alamar BlueTM assay). Cells porated by this method and allowed an overnight recovery period exhibited improved dehydration tolerance suggesting a role for ATP poration in the anhydrous preservation of cells

Comparison of non-invasive NIR and Raman spectrometries for determination of alcohol content of spirits

The suitability of non-invasive NIR and Raman spectrometries for determination of % ethanol content has been investigated. Samples of whisky, vodka and sugary alcoholic drinks were analysed in 200 mL (flat) and 700 mL (round) glass bottles. The NIR spectrometer used double transmission measurements and was limited mainly to analysis of the signal produced at about 10,000 cm−1 by water and ethanol in the samples. The Raman measurements, produced using a 785 nm laser, were based on a sharp signal from ethanol at 880 cm−1. A multivariate calibration model, based on a combined PCA–PLS algorithm, was required for analysis by NIR spectrometry, whereas a univariate calibration model was suitable for Raman spectrometry. Both techniques were limited to measurements in clear glass bottles as strong absorption/fluorescence occurred with coloured glass bottles. Bottle-to-bottle variations contributed the largest uncertainty to the measurements obtained for a 20% (v/v) ethanol solution in flat bottles: 2.3% R.S.D. for NIR spectrometry and 2.2% R.S.D. for Raman spectrometry. For 700 mL round bottles, which have stricter manufacturing tolerances on glass thickness, the bottle-to-bottle variability for Raman spectrometry was 1.4% R.S.D. When spirit samples with ethanol concentrations in the range 19.9–61.7% (v/v) were analysed, the precision (average R.S.D.) was 0.4 and 0.5% for NIR (flat bottles) and Raman (round bottles) spectrometries, respectively, and the average accuracy was 2.1 and 2.9%, respectively. When a calibration model constructed from NIR data acquired on 1 day was applied to data sets collected over a 15-day period, the average error was 3.9%