Transfer of immunoglobulins through the mammary endothelium and epithelium and in the local lymph node of cows during the initial response after intramammary challenge with E. coli endotoxin

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The first hours after antigen stimulation, interactions occur influencing the outcome of the immunological reaction. Immunoglobulins originate in blood and/or are locally synthesized. The transfer of Ig isotypes (Igs) in the udder has been studied previously but without the possibility to distinguish between the endothelium and the epithelium. The purpose of this study was to map the Ig transfer through each barrier, separately, and Ig transfer in the local lymph nodes of the bovine udder during the initial innate immune response.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The content of IgG1, IgG2, IgM, IgA and albumin (BSA) was examined in peripheral/afferent mammary lymph and lymph leaving the supramammary lymph nodes, and in blood and milk before (0 h) and during 4 hours after intramammary challenge with <it>Esherichia coli </it>endotoxin in 5 cows.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Igs increased most rapidly in afferent lymph resulting in higher concentrations than in efferent lymph at postinfusion hour (PIH) 2, contrary to before challenge. Ig concentrations in milk were lower than in lymph; except for IgA at 0 h; and they increased more slowly. <it>Afferent lymph:serum </it>and <it>efferent lymph:serum </it>concentration ratios (CR) of Igs were similar to those of BSA but slightly lower. <it>Milk:afferent lymph </it>(M:A) CRs of each Ig, except for IgG2, showed strikingly different pattern than those of BSA. The M:A CR of IgG1, IgM and IgA were higher than that of BSA before challenge and the CR of IgA and IgG1 remained higher also thereafter. At PIH 2 there was a drop in Ig CRs, except for IgG2, in contrast to the BSA CR which gradually increased. The M:A CR of IgM and Ig A <it>decreased </it>from 0 h to PIH 4, in spite of increasing permeability.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The transfer of Igs through the <it>endothelium </it>appeared to be merely a result of diffusion although their large molecular size may hamper the diffusion. The transfer through the <it>epithelium </it>and the Ig concentrations in milk seemed more influenced by selective mechanisms and local sources, respectively. Our observations indicate a selective mechanism in the transfer of IgG1 through the epithelium also in lactating glands, not previously shown; a local synthesis of IgA and possibly of IgM, released primarily into milk, not into tissue fluid; that IgG2 transfer through both barriers is a result of passive diffusion only and that the content of efferent lymph is strongly influenced by IgG1, IgM and IgA in the mammary tissue, brought to the lymph node by afferent lymph.</p

Aqueous-Phase Synthesis of Silver Nanodiscs and Nanorods in Methyl Cellulose Matrix: Photophysical Study and Simulation of UV–Vis Extinction Spectra Using DDA Method

We present a very simple and effective way for the synthesis of tunable coloured silver sols having different morphologies. The procedure is based on the seed-mediated growth approach where methyl cellulose (MC) has been used as soft-template in the growth solution. Nanostructures of varying morphologies as well as colour of the silver sols are controlled by altering the concentration of citrate in the growth solution. Similar to the polymers in the solution, citrate ions also dynamically adsorbed on the growing silver nanoparticles and promote one (1-D) and two-dimensional (2-D) growth of nanoparticles. Silver nanostructures are characterized using UV–vis and HR-TEM spectroscopic study. Simulation of the UV–vis extinction spectra of our synthesized silver nanostructures has been carried out using discrete dipole approximation (DDA) method

The Ocean Sampling Day Consortium

Ocean Sampling Day was initiated by the EU-funded Micro B3 (Marine Microbial Biodiversity, Bioinformatics, Biotechnology) project to obtain a snapshot of the marine microbial biodiversity and function of the world’s oceans. It is a simultaneous global mega-sequencing campaign aiming to generate the largest standardized microbial data set in a single day. This will be achievable only through the coordinated efforts of an Ocean Sampling Day Consortium, supportive partnerships and networks between sites. This commentary outlines the establishment, function and aims of the Consortium and describes our vision for a sustainable study of marine microbial communities and their embedded functional traits

TRANSPORT JC(B,T) AND FLUX PINNING BEHAVIOR IN MELT-TEXTURED BI-SR-CA-CU-O HIGH-T(C) SUPERCONDUCTORS

The magnetic field dependence of the transport critical current densities (Jc) in the temperature range 20-70 K has been measured on melt-textured Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O samples. Jc decreased approximately exponentially with magnetic field. The characteristic magnetic field B*, determined as the magnetic field at which extrapolated Jc(B) decreased to a certain level, increased slowly with decreasing temperature in the temperature range 70-30 K but a rapid increase below 30 K was observed. Fp(B,T) and fp(b,T) dependences, with fp=F p/Fp max and b=B/B*, are presented. A scaling behaviour of fp(b,T) similar to that of conventional superconductors was found

MAGNETIC-FIELD DEPENDENCE OF THE TRANSPORT CRITICAL CURRENT-DENSITY IN MELT-TEXTURED BI-SR-CA-CU-O HIGH-TC SUPERCONDUCTORS

The transport critical current densities (Jc) in magnetic fields up to 14 T at 4.2 K have been measured on melt-textured Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O samples on MgO substrates. The samples were multiphase with partial alignment of the grains. Jc values of 1.58*104 A/cm2, 1.13*104 A/cm2 and 8.2*103 A/cm2were obtained in magnetic fields B=0 T, 1 T and 14 T, respectively. The magnetic field dependence of Jc was relatively flat in fields higher than 1 T. The flux pinning force density increased monotonically in the whole range of fields. The shape of the current-voltage characteristics has been examined and shown to follow approximately a power-law behaviour E approximately Jn in the range of E-values of 10 -4-10-1 V/m with n approximately=30. Preliminary results of Jc(B,T) measurements at higher temperatures are presented

Group Adlerian Play Therapy With Children With Off-Task Behaviors

Children who are off-task in schools struggle with completing their work and engage in disruptive behaviors. Without intervention, these behaviors tend to worsen, putting them at risk for more serious, ongoing problems throughout life. Group counseling provides opportunities for people to practice socially useful behaviors. Using a single case design, we investigated the effectiveness of Adlerian group play therapy with children identified by teachers as having problematic classroom behaviors. Results suggest that students’ on-task behaviors improve during the Adlerian group play therapy intervention. The results revealed mixed findings for the follow-up period