Stability and photochemistry of ClO dimers formed at low temperature in the gas phase

The recent observations of elevated concentrations of the ClO radical in the austral spring over Antarctica have implicated catalytic destruction by chlorine in the large depletions seen in the total ozone column. One of the chemical theories consistent with an elevated concentration of the ClO is a cycle involving the formation of the ClO dimer through the association reaction: ClO + ClO = Cl2O2 and the photolysis of the dimer to give the active Cl species necessary for O3 depletion. Here, researchers report experimental studies designed to characterize the dimer of ClO formed by the association reaction at low temperatures. ClO was produced by static photolysis of several different precursor systems: Cl sub 2 + O sub 3; Cl sub 2 O sub 2; OClO + Cl sub 2 O spectroscopy in the U.V. region, which allowed the time dependence of Cl sub 2, Cl sub 2 O, ClO, OClO, O sub 3 and other absorbing molecules to be determined

Botanical Plant Patent Law

The Townsend-Purnell Plant Patent Act of 19301 was the first attempt anywhere in the world to legally recognize the plant breeder as an inventor entitled to the protection of patent laws. Plant patents and plant patent applications so seldom have been the subject of judicial consideration throughout the intervening years that plant patent law is still in need of clarification in a great many areas

The role of lipid laden macrophages in airways disease

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airway and is often associated with Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux (GOR). Lipid laden macrophages (LLM) in the airway have previously been reported indicative of aspiration secondary to GOR. We hypothesised that lipid droplets from undigested or partially digested food may be aspirated into the airway and accumulate in scavenging macrophages thus generating an activated population that interact with other immune cells to induce an asthma-like state of disease.Using a lipid laden alveolar macrophage index, we collected 29 bronchoalveolarlavage (BAL) samples from patients with a variety of respiratory disorders, todetermine the use of this test in GOR diagnosis. We investigated the mode of uptake of unmodified lipid and other alternative sources of lipid. We attempted to generate polarised activated macrophages and to determine the activation status of LLM. We also characterised a new macrophage cell line, and compared these to PMA differentiated THP-1 macrophages.We have shown that the LLAMI is incapable of diagnosing GOR. We showed that macrophages are capable of direct dietary lipid uptake, independently of actin or CD36. Lipid accumulation also results from the phagocytic clearance of apoptotic epithelial cells, which may account for the lack of LLAMI specificity for GOR. Our attempts to generate and distinguish polarised macrophages were unsuccessful and as a result, we were not able to determine the activation status of LLM. We demonstrated heterogeneity among primary macrophage cells isolated from BAL fluid collected from patients with varying pathologies. Particularly interesting was the finding that macrophages isolated from a patient with GOR showed distinctly greater CD36 expression. Daisy cells are novel cells which appear to be macrophage-like morphologically, functionally and phenotypically. Daisy cells have potential utility with the ability to spontaneously replicate and differentiate an advantage over THP-1 cells which require PMA stimulation

The Vicious Cycle of Mass Polarization and Fear: A Pilot Program Using Comedy and Dialogue to Leverage Political Polarities

United States polarization has shifted from simple Congressional stalemate to a state of political warfare. While there is debate in the literature as to whether this attitude polarization is mirrored among the general public, the research is clear that American perceptions of their political opposition is marked by fear and animosity (Pew Research Center, 2016). The Impolitic program aims to intervene in this cycle using comedy to reduce anxiety and encourage participation, and dialogue to build understanding and shift relationships among politically divergent participants. This paper details the system of polarization in which Impolitic seeks to intervene, the guiding leadership philosophy that informs this work, and the results of the September 2016 pilot event. Impolitic events consist of an improvised comedy show based around political storytelling coupled with facilitated dialogue among audience participants. The goal of the program is to model a third-way for political conversations (beyond debate or discussion) and invite participants to bring this mode of engagement into conversations with individuals with whom they are close, but ‘don’t bother talking about politics’ due to disagreement

Botanical Plant Patent Law

The Townsend-Purnell Plant Patent Act of 19301 was the first attempt anywhere in the world to legally recognize the plant breeder as an inventor entitled to the protection of patent laws. Plant patents and plant patent applications so seldom have been the subject of judicial consideration throughout the intervening years that plant patent law is still in need of clarification in a great many areas

Ebola Virus Antibodies in Fruit Bats, Ghana, West Africa

10.3201/eid1807.111654Emerging Infectious Diseases1871207-120

Floxed-Cassette Allelic Exchange Mutagenesis Enables Markerless Gene Deletion in \u3cem\u3eChlamydia trachomatis\u3c/em\u3e and Can Reverse Cassette-Induced Polar Effects

As obligate intracellular bacteria, Chlamydia spp. have evolved numerous, likely intricate, mechanisms to create and maintain a privileged intracellular niche. Recent progress in elucidating and characterizing these processes has been bolstered by the development of techniques enabling basic genetic tractability. Florescence-reported allelic exchange mutagenesis (FRAEM) couples chromosomal gene deletion with the insertion of a selection cassette encoding antibiotic resistance and green fluorescent protein (GFP). Similar to other bacteria, many chlamydial genes exist within polycistronic operons, raising the possibility of polar effects mediated by insertion cassettes. Indeed, FRAEM-mediated deletion of Chlamydia trachomatis tmeA negatively impacts the expression of tmeB. We have adapted FRAEM technology by employing a gfp-bla cassette flanked by loxP sites. Conditional expression of Cre recombinase in Chlamydia tmeA containing a floxed cassette resulted in deletion of the marker and restoration of tmeB expression

Fever of Unknown Origin: An Unusual Case

Recurrent episodic fever of unknown origin (FUO) arising from tumour of the gastrointestinal tract is rare. We report an otherwise healthy 62-year-old man with recurrent circumscribed bouts of fever and raised CRP for 3 years who has remained well and fever-free 2 years after the removal of a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma of the colon. Occult colonic neoplasm should be considered and sought when routine investigations for FUO are negative