Immunity to MHC class I antigen after direct DNA transfer into skeletal muscle.

Plasmid cDNA encoding the alpha-chain of either membrane-bound (pcRT.45) or secreted (pcRQ.B3) RT1Aa MHC class I Ag were transferred to Lewis (RT1(1)) rat skeletal muscle by direct injection. Rats were challenged 7 days later with an ACI (RT1a) heterotropic heart transplant, and cardiac allograft survival, RT1Aa-specific antibody levels, and frequency of ACI-specific CTL were monitored. Graft rejection was accelerated by > or = 2 days in an Ag-specific and dose-dependent manner in pcRT.45-injected rats. The pcRQ.B3-injected rats also rejected grafts more rapidly; however, graft rejection was accelerated by only 1 day, and graft infiltrates were less pronounced than in pcRT.45-injected rats. Injection of pcRT.45 resulted in an increase in ACI-specific CTL precursor frequency 3 days post-transplant, whereas there was no significant change in rats pretreated with pcRQ.B3 injection. Compared with rats injected with a control plasmid encoding firefly luciferase, transfer of pcRT.45 resulted in an increase in RT1Aa-specific IgG and IgM antibody 3 days after heart transplantation. Transfer of pcRQ.B3 resulted in a similar mean increase in RT1Aa-specific IgG and IgM antibody after transplantation, but the variability from rat to rat was greater, with some animals exhibiting strong priming, and others showing little or no priming by gene injection. Our results suggest that skeletal muscle can express either membrane-bound or secreted MHC class I Ag after gene transfer, but that the membrane-bound form is more immunogenic than the secreted form in the high responder Lewis rat. Direct DNA transfer to skeletal muscle provides a rapid and specific approach to studying immunity to allogeneic MHC Ag

Use of donor serum to prevent passive transfer of hyperacute rejection

Organ transplantation in presensitized recipients continues to be contraindicated for heart and kidney recipients due to the risk of hyperacute rejection, which has no known treatment at this time. We tested whether donor serum, which contains soluble MHC class I antigen, is able to neutralize the effect of anti-donor antibody in the recipient and prevent hyperacute or accelerated rejection. A rat model of passive immunization was used to test the role of anti-donor antibody in hyperacute rejection. Seven of 10 recipients of hyperimmune serum (HyS), derived from Lewis rats (RT1l) following 3 ACI (RT1a) skin grafts, developed hyperacute or accelerated rejection. Intravenous injection of ACI serum prior to the HyS administration prevented hyperacute rejection in all recipients tested. When third-party (Wistar-Furth, RT1u) serum was given to Lewis rats injected with HyS, hyperacute rejection was not abrogated. When examining the mechanism of this effect, a simple antibody blocking phenomenon was found to be unlikely since flow cytometry analysis showed that ACI serum needed to be present at > or = 256-fold excess compared to HyS to block anti-ACI antibody binding to RT1.Aa+cells by 50%. We tested whether the RT1.Aa class I antigen in ACI serum had other biologic properties that resulted in the prolonged graft survival. However, removal of RT1.Aa antigen from ACI serum prior to use in the passive transfer model did not abrogate the graft prolongation observed previously. These data suggest that components of donor serum other than MHC class I antigen may be useful for preventing the antibody-mediated component of hyperacute rejection

Conditions of the Development of Logistic Centers in Poland in the Context of European States Experiences

The article is, for the most part, the aftermath of his own examinations carried out in years 2007-2010 and concerning logistic centers development conditioning.Artykuł jest w znacznej mierze pokłosiem badań własnych autora przeprowadzonych w latach: 2007-2010 dotyczących uwarunkowań rozwoju centrów logistycznych

Development of a tritium permeation barrier on F82H-mod. Sheets and on MANET tubes by hot dip aluminising and subsequent heat treatment

Entwicklung von Tritiumpermeationshemmenden Schichten auf F82H-mod. Blechen und MANET Rohren nach dem Hot-Dip Aluminierverfahren mit anschließender Wärmebehandlung In der vorliegenden Arbeit werden die Ergebnisse von tauchaluminierten Blechproben aus F82H-mod. und Rohrproben aus MANET diskutiert. Die anschließende Wärmebehandlung an den getauchten Proben (1040°C, 0.5 h / 750°C, 1 h bzw. 1075°C, 0.5 h / 750°C, 2 h) entspricht der Vergütungsvorschrift für F82H-mod. bzw. der für MANET. Das Hot-Dip Aluminierverfahren mit anschließender Wärmebehandlung eignet sich als Beschichtungsmethode sowohl für Blechproben als auch für die Innen- und Außenbeschichtung von Rohren. Die Zusammensetzung und Dicke der hergestellten Schichten ist unabhängig vom eingesetzten Stahl. Des weiteren wird gezeigt, daß die hergestellten Aluminidschichten in Pb-17Li beständig sind, der PRF genügend hoch ist und die einzelnen Prozeßschritte mit der ITM Geometrie und der Fabrikationssequenz vereinbar sind

Piezoelectric control of the magnetic anisotropy via interface strain coupling in a composite multiferroic structure

We investigate theoretically the magnetic dynamics in a ferroelectric/ferromagnetic heterostructure coupled via strain-mediated magnetoelectric interaction. We predict an electric field-induced magnetic switching in the plane perpendicular to the magneto-crystalline easy axis, and trace this effect back to the piezoelectric control of the magnetoelastic coupling. We also investigate the magnetic remanence and the electric coercivity

The effect of low-dose proteasome inhibition on pre-existing atherosclerosis in LDL receptor-deficient mice

Dysfunction of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) has been implicated in atherosclerosis development. However, the nature of UPS dysfunction has been proposed to be specific to certain stages of atherosclerosis development, which has implications for proteasome inhibition as a potential treatment option. Recently, low-dose proteasome inhibition with bortezomib has been shown to attenuate early atherosclerosis in low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient (LDLR(-/-)) mice. The present study investigates the effect of low-dose proteasome inhibition with bortezomib on pre-existing advanced atherosclerosis in LDLR(-/-) mice. We found that bortezomib treatment of LDLR(-/-) mice with pre-existing atherosclerosis does not alter lesion burden. Additionally, macrophage infiltration of aortic root plaques, total plasma cholesterol levels, and pro-inflammatory serum markers were not influenced by bortezomib. However, plaques of bortezomib-treated mice exhibited larger necrotic core areas and a significant thinning of the fibrous cap, indicating a more unstable plaque phenotype. Taking recent studies on favorable effects of proteasome inhibition in early atherogenesis into consideration, our data support the hypothesis of stage-dependent effects of proteasome inhibition in atherosclerosis

Fractal Dimensions in Perceptual Color Space: A Comparison Study Using Jackson Pollock's Art

The fractal dimensions of color-specific paint patterns in various Jackson Pollock paintings are calculated using a filtering process which models perceptual response to color differences (\Lab color space). The advantage of the \Lab space filtering method over traditional RGB spaces is that the former is a perceptually-uniform (metric) space, leading to a more consistent definition of ``perceptually different'' colors. It is determined that the RGB filtering method underestimates the perceived fractal dimension of lighter colored patterns but not of darker ones, if the same selection criteria is applied to each. Implications of the findings to Fechner's 'Principle of the Aesthetic Middle' and Berlyne's work on perception of complexity are discussed.Comment: 21 pp LaTeX; two postscript figure

Charity sport event participants and fundraising: An examination of constraints and negotiation strategies

© 2019 Sport Management Association of Australia and New Zealand Charity sport events provide participants with a meaningful event experience, and the opportunity to support a charitable cause is a critical component of this experience. This opportunity often involves fundraising, either as a requirement of event participation or as an option to supplement registration. However, fundraising as part of charity sport event participation is a difficult task. In the current research, the authors examine the challenges faced by charity sport event participants in soliciting donations, and the effort made to overcome these challenges. Constraint negotiation served as a theoretical framework to guide this examination. Semi-structured interviews (N = 27) were conducted with Triathlon Pink participants to discuss their fundraising process and their attitudes towards fundraising. Four constraints were revealed: lack of receptivity among potential donors, perceived lack of money from potential donors, discomfort in asking, and lack of time. These constraints were negotiated through three strategies: narrative, prizes and incentives, and emphasising that any bit helps. Based upon the themes uncovered, charity sport event managers can implement increased education of fundraisers and point of sale donations within the registration process

An ultra-low field SQUID magnetometer for measuring antiferromagnetic and weakly remanent magnetic materials at low temperatures

A novel setup for the measurement of magnetic fields external to certain antiferromagnets and generally weakly remanent magnetic materials is presented. The setup features a highly sensitive Super Conducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) magnetometer with a magnetic field resolution of approx. 10 fT, non-electric thermalization of the sample space for a temperature range of 1.5 - 65 K with a non-electric sample movement drive and optical position encoding. To minimize magnetic susceptibility effects, the setup components are degaussed and realized with plastic materials in sample proximity. Running the setup in magnetically shielded rooms allows for a well-defined ultra low magnetic background field well below 150 nT in situ. The setup enables studies of inherently weak magnetic materials which cannot be measured with high field susceptibility setups, optical methods or neutron scattering techniques, giving new opportunities for the research on e.g. spin-spiral multiferroics, skyrmion materials and spin ices