366 research outputs found
A Sucrose Solution Application to the Study of Model Biological Membranes
The small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering, time resolved X-ray small-angle
and wide-angle diffraction coupled with differential scanning calorimetry have
been applied to the investigation of unilamellar and multilamellar
dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) vesicles in sucrose buffers with sucrose
concentrations from 0 to 60%. Sucrose buffer decreased vesicle size and
polydispersity and increased an X-ray contrast between phospholipid membrane
and bulk solvent sufficiently. No influence of sucrose on the membrane
thickness or mutual packing of hydrocarbon chains has been detected. The region
of sucrose concentrations 30%-40% created the best experimental conditions for
X-ray small-angle experiments with phospholipid vesicles.Comment: PDF: 10 pages, 6 figures. MS Word sours
Simple Viscous Flows: from Boundary Layers to the Renormalization Group
The seemingly simple problem of determining the drag on a body moving through
a very viscous fluid has, for over 150 years, been a source of theoretical
confusion, mathematical paradoxes, and experimental artifacts, primarily
arising from the complex boundary layer structure of the flow near the body and
at infinity. We review the extensive experimental and theoretical literature on
this problem, with special emphasis on the logical relationship between
different approaches. The survey begins with the developments of matched
asymptotic expansions, and concludes with a discussion of perturbative
renormalization group techniques, adapted from quantum field theory to
differential equations. The renormalization group calculations lead to a new
prediction for the drag coefficient, one which can both reproduce and surpass
the results of matched asymptotics
Longitudinal development of antibody responses in COVID-19 patients of different severity with ELISA, peptide, and glycan arrays : an immunological case series
The current COVID-19 pandemic is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). A better understanding of its immunogenicity can be important for the development of improved diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines. Here, we report the longitudinal analysis of three COVID-19 patients with moderate (1) and mild disease (2 and 3). Antibody serum responses were analyzed using spike glycoprotein enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), full-proteome peptide, and glycan microarrays. ELISA immunoglobulin A, G, and M (IgA, IgG, and IgM) signals increased over time for individuals 1 and 2, whereas 3 only showed no clear positive IgG and IgM result. In contrast, peptide microarrays showed increasing IgA/G signal intensity and epitope spread only in the moderate patient 1 over time, whereas early but transient IgA and stable IgG responses were observed in the two mild cases 2 and 3. Glycan arrays showed an interaction of antibodies to fragments of high-mannose and core N-glycans, present on the viral shield. In contrast to protein ELISA, microarrays allow for a deeper understanding of IgA, IgG, and IgM antibody responses to specific epitopes of the whole proteome and glycans of SARS-CoV-2 in parallel. In the future, this may help to better understand and to monitor vaccination programs and monoclonal antibodies as therapeutics
Towards a taxonomy of process quality characteristics for assessment
Previous assessment of process quality have focused on process capability (i.e. the ability of a process to meet its stated goals). This paper proposes a taxonomy of alternative process quality characteristics based on intrinsic and extrinsic quality attributes. The ultimate goal of this taxonomy is to provide a framework to conduct process assessments using different process quality aspects. Such a framework would considerably broaden process quality perspectives beyond the primary measure of process capability. It would also allow practitioners to identify and evaluate relevant quality characteristics for processes based on specific contexts and implications. For the process assessment model developers, it offers a list of process quality characteristics that could be used to develop relevant process measurement frameworks
Kinetic modelling of competition and depletion of shared miRNAs by competing endogenous RNAs
Non-conding RNAs play a key role in the post-transcriptional regulation of
mRNA translation and turnover in eukaryotes. miRNAs, in particular, interact
with their target RNAs through protein-mediated, sequence-specific binding,
giving rise to extended and highly heterogeneous miRNA-RNA interaction
networks. Within such networks, competition to bind miRNAs can generate an
effective positive coupling between their targets. Competing endogenous RNAs
(ceRNAs) can in turn regulate each other through miRNA-mediated crosstalk.
Albeit potentially weak, ceRNA interactions can occur both dynamically,
affecting e.g. the regulatory clock, and at stationarity, in which case ceRNA
networks as a whole can be implicated in the composition of the cell's
proteome. Many features of ceRNA interactions, including the conditions under
which they become significant, can be unraveled by mathematical and in silico
models. We review the understanding of the ceRNA effect obtained within such
frameworks, focusing on the methods employed to quantify it, its role in the
processing of gene expression noise, and how network topology can determine its
reach.Comment: review article, 29 pages, 7 figure
Concept Study of a fast VTOL-UAV Technology-Demonstrator for MUM-T
The Manned Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) of rotorcraft offers the potential to increase the effectivity and survivability of the combined tactical unit. Currently, commercially available Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) with Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) capability are not specifically designed for fast forward flight and would slow down the entire tactical unit. This study presents the first results of the development of a technology-demonstrator with a maximum airspeed of at least 180 kt. The investigation of different VTOL-UAV concepts, the selection of a thrust-compound configuration and the first details of the predesign are described. Furthermore, the flight performance is analyzed with focus on maximum airspeed, power, endurance and range. The results show, that the proposed design of the VTOL-UAV is expected to fulfill the requirements
Neutralization of (NK-cell-derived) B-cell activating factor by Belimumab restores sensitivity of chronic lymphoid leukemia cells to direct and Rituximab-induced NK lysis.
Natural killer (NK) cells are cytotoxic lymphocytes that substantially contribute to the therapeutic benefit of antitumor antibodies like Rituximab, a crucial component in the treatment of B-cell malignancies. In chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), the ability of NK cells to lyse the malignant cells and to mediate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity upon Fc receptor stimulation is compromised, but the underlying mechanisms are largely unclear. We report here that NK-cells activation-dependently produce the tumor necrosis factor family member 'B-cell activating factor' (BAFF) in soluble form with no detectable surface expression, also in response to Fc receptor triggering by therapeutic CD20-antibodies. BAFF in turn enhanced the metabolic activity of primary CLL cells and impaired direct and Rituximab-induced lysis of CLL cells without affecting NK reactivity per se. The neutralizing BAFF antibody Belimumab, which is approved for treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus, prevented the effects of BAFF on the metabolism of CLL cells and restored their susceptibility to direct and Rituximab-induced NK-cell killing in allogeneic and autologous experimental systems. Our findings unravel the involvement of BAFF in the resistance of CLL cells to NK-cell antitumor immunity and Rituximab treatment and point to a benefit of combinatory approaches employing BAFF-neutralizing drugs in B-cell malignancies
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