Gene induction during differentiation of human monocytes into dendritic cells: an integrated study at the RNA and protein levels

Changes in gene expression occurring during differentiation of human monocytes into dendritic cells were studied at the RNA and protein levels. These studies showed the induction of several gene classes corresponding to various biological functions. These functions encompass antigen processing and presentation, cytoskeleton, cell signalling and signal transduction, but also an increase in mitochondrial function and in the protein synthesis machinery, including some, but not all, chaperones. These changes put in perspective the events occurring during this differentiation process. On a more technical point, it appears that the studies carried out at the RNA and protein levels are highly complementary.Comment: website publisher: http://www.springerlink.com/content/ha0d2c351qhjhjdm

Development and full system testing of novel co-impregnated La0.20Sr0.25Ca0.45TiO3 anodes for commercial combined heat and power units

Funding: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. Grant Numbers: EP/J016454/1, EP/P024807/1; HEXIS AG.Over the past decade, the University of St Andrews and HEXIS AG have engaged in a highly successful collaborative project aiming to develop and upscale La0.20Sr0.25Ca0.45TiO3 (LSCTA-) anode “backbone” microstructures, impregnated with Ce0.80Gd0.20O1.90 (CG20) and metallic electrocatalysts, providing direct benefits in terms of performance and stability over the current state-of-the-art (SoA) Ni-based cermet solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) anodes. Here, we present a brief overview of previous work performed in this research project, including short-term, durability, and poison testing of small-scale (1 cm2 area) SOFCs and upscaling to full-sized HEXIS SOFCs (100 cm2 area) in short stacks. Subsequently, recent results from short stack testing of SOFCs containing LSCTA- anodes with a variety of metallic catalyst components (Fe, Mn, Ni, Pd, Pt, Rh, or Ru) will be presented, indicating that only SOFCs containing the Rh catalyst provide comparable degradation rates to the SoA Ni/cerium gadolinium oxide anode, as well as tolerance to harsh overload conditions (which is not exhibited by SoA anodes). Finally, results from full system testing (60 cells within a 1.5 kW electrical power output HEXIS Leonardo FC40A micro-combined heat and power unit), will be outlined, demonstrating the robust and durable nature of these novel oxide electrodes, in addition to their potential for commercialization.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Phenotypic Studies of Natural Killer Cell Subsets in Human Transporter Associated with Antigen Processing Deficiency

Peripheral blood natural killer (NK) cells from patients with transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) deficiency are hyporesponsive. The mechanism of this defect is unknown, but the phenotype of TAP-deficient NK cells is almost normal. However, we noticed a high percentage of CD56bright cells among total NK cells from two patients. We further investigated TAP-deficient NK cells in these patients and compared them to NK cells from two other TAP-deficient patients with no clinical symptoms and to individuals with chronic inflammatory diseases other than TAP deficiency (chronic lung diseases or vasculitis). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from venous blood were stained with fluorochrome-conjugated antibodies and the phenotype of NK cells was analyzed by flow cytometry. In addition, 51Chromium release assays were performed to assess the cytotoxic activity of NK cells. In the symptomatic patients, CD56bright NK cells represented 28% and 45%, respectively, of all NK cells (higher than in healthy donors). The patients also displayed a higher percentage of CD56dimCD16− NK cells than controls. Interestingly, this unusual NK cell subtype distribution was not found in the two asymptomatic TAP-deficient cases, but was instead present in several of the other patients. Over-expression of the inhibitory receptor CD94/NKG2A by TAP-deficient NK cells was confirmed and extended to the inhibitory receptor ILT2 (CD85j). These inhibitory receptors were not involved in regulating the cytotoxicity of TAP-deficient NK cells. We conclude that expansion of the CD56bright NK cell subtype in peripheral blood is not a hallmark of TAP deficiency, but can be found in other diseases as well. This might reflect a reaction of the immune system to pathologic conditions. It could be interesting to investigate the relative distribution of NK cell subsets in various respiratory and autoimmune diseases

Non-media-centric media studies: A Cross-generational conversation

On the face of it, the notion of non-media-centric media studies appears to be a contradiction in terms. Surely those who are working in media studies will put media at the centre of their investigations and explanations of social life? In the following conversation, three advocates of a non-media-centric approach discuss their ways into the field of media studies at different points in its development, and together they explore their overlapping empirical research interests as well as their theoretical, methodological and pedagogical concerns. Topics that feature in this exchange include the linked mobilities of information, people and commodities, the articulation of material and virtual geographies, and the meaningfulness of everyday, embodied practices. Out of the dialogue emerges a renewed call for media studies that acknowledge the particularities of media, but which are about more than simply studying media and which seek to recover the field’s early spirit of interdisciplinary adventure

Development and full system testing of novel co-impregnated La_0.20Sr_0.25Ca_0.45TiO₃ anodes for commercial combined heat and power units

Over the past decade, the University of St Andrews and HEXIS AG have engaged in a highly successful collaborative project aiming to develop and upscale La0.20Sr0.25Ca0.45TiO3 (LSCTA-) anode “backbone” microstructures, impregnated with Ce0.80Gd0.20O1.90 (CG20) and metallic electrocatalysts, providing direct benefits in terms of performance and stability over the current state-of-the-art (SoA) Ni-based cermet solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) anodes.Here, we present a brief overview of previous work performed in this research project, including short-term, durability, and poison testing of small-scale (1 cm2 area) SOFCs and upscaling to full-sized HEXIS SOFCs (100 cm2 area) in short stacks. Subsequently, recent results from short stack testing of SOFCs containing LSCTA- anodes with a variety of metallic catalyst components (Fe, Mn, Ni, Pd, Pt, Rh, or Ru) will be presented, indicating that only SOFCs containing the Rh catalyst provide comparable degradation rates to the SoA Ni/cerium gadolinium oxide anode, as well as tolerance to harsh overload conditions (which is not exhibited by SoA anodes). Finally, results from full system testing (60 cells within a 1.5 kW electrical power output HEXIS Leonardo FC40A micro-combined heat and power unit), will be outlined, demonstrating the robust and durable nature of these novel oxide electrodes, in addition to their potential for commercialization