The Influence of Japan and India in the Circle of Patrick Geddes

Discusses the influence of Japanese art in Evergreen contributions by E.A. Hornel and Charles Mackie, the influence of Patrick Geddes\u27s ideas in Japan, and Geddes\u27s links with the early 20th century revival of interest in Hinduism and Indian art

Expression of mRNAs encoding FMRFamide-related peptides in adult and embryo 'Helix aspersa'

The gastropod mollusc Helix aspersa is known to contain at least seven FMRFamide-related peptides (FaRPs), neuropeptides which fall into two broad classes, distinguished by their primary structure and their physiological actions. We have sought to use the techniques available to us through molecular biology to study the structure and expression of the nucleic acids (RNA and DNA) which encode these peptides in this organism. The two classes of peptide, tetra- and heptapeptides, were found by us to be apparently separated by the stage of mRNA generation: the precursor polypeptides encoded by these mRNAs were also found to have differing structures. Expression of mRNAs specific for the FaRPs were studied during embryogenesis, where there appears to be regulated expression of these mRNAs. In situ hybridization analyses of the central nervous system of adult Helix revealed expression of FaRP-specific mRNAs to be limited to a small number of discrete neurons: it was again observed that there was an apparent distinction between the tetra and extended FaRPs, no ceils being identified in our studies to express both types of mRNA. Confocal scanning microscopy indicated that the distribution of the mRNA, which appeared to be limited to the cytoplasm of cell bodies expressing the peptides, was non-uniform, probably reflecting a functional characteristic of the cells concerned

Human TLR1 Deficiency Is Associated with Impaired Mycobacterial Signaling and Protection from Leprosy Reversal Reaction

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are important regulators of the innate immune response to pathogens, including Mycobacterium leprae, which is recognized by TLR1/2 heterodimers. We previously identified a transmembrane domain polymorphism, TLR1_T1805G, that encodes an isoleucine to serine substitution and is associated with impaired signaling. We hypothesized that this TLR1 SNP regulates the innate immune response and susceptibility to leprosy. In HEK293 cells transfected with the 1805T or 1805G variant and stimulated with extracts of M. leprae, NF-κB activity was impaired in cells with the 1805G polymorphism. We next stimulated PBMCs from individuals with different genotypes for this SNP and found that 1805GG individuals had significantly reduced cytokine responses to both whole irradiated M. leprae and cell wall extracts. To investigate whether TLR1 variation is associated with clinical presentations of leprosy or leprosy immune reactions, we examined 933 Nepalese leprosy patients, including 238 with reversal reaction (RR), an immune reaction characterized by a Th1 T cell cytokine response. We found that the 1805G allele was associated with protection from RR with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.51 (95% CI 0.29–0.87, p = 0.01). Individuals with 1805 genotypes GG or TG also had a reduced risk of RR in comparison to genotype TT with an OR of 0.55 (95% CI 0.31–0.97, p = 0.04). To our knowledge, this is the first association of TLR1 with a Th1-mediated immune response. Our findings suggest that TLR1 deficiency influences adaptive immunity during leprosy infection to affect clinical manifestations such as nerve damage and disability

Concurso de premios europeos del CEMBUREAU-1982

This article deals with the five first prizes recognized in the competition organized by the CEMBUREAU, in 1982, on «Concrete in the single family dwelling and in the small dwellings of collective organisations». Apart from the technical notes of each of the works awarded, there is included the comments of the jury for each of them.En este artículo se recogen los cinco primeros premios concedidos en el concurso organizado por el CEMBUREAU, en el año 1982, sobre «El hormigón en la vivienda unifamiliar y en los pequeños edificios de vivienda colectiva». Además de las notas técnicas de cada uno de los trabajos premiados se adjunta el comentario del jurado para cada uno de ellos

Comparative genomic and phylogeographic analysis of Mycobacterium leprae

Reductive evolution and massive pseudogene formation have shaped the 3.31-Mb genome of Mycobacterium leprae, an unculturable obligate pathogen that causes leprosy in humans. The complete genome sequence of M. leprae strain Br4923 from Brazil was obtained by conventional methods (6 x coverage), and Illumina resequencing technology was used to obtain the sequences of strains Thai53 (38 x coverage) and NHDP63 (46 x coverage) from Thailand and the United States, respectively. Whole-genome comparisons with the previously sequenced TN strain from India revealed that the four strains share 99.995% sequence identity and differ only in 215 polymorphic sites, mainly SNPs, and by 5 pseudogenes. Sixteen interrelated SNP subtypes were defined by genotyping both extant and extinct strains of M. leprae from around the world. The 16 SNP subtypes showed a strong geographical association that reflects the migration patterns of early humans and trade routes, with the Silk Road linking Europe to China having contributed to the spread of leprosy