Visualization of Cytoskeletal Elements and Associated Retroviral Antigens by Immunogold Transmission Electron Microscopy of Detergent Extracted Cells

Several investigators have reported an association between the cytoskeleton and viral antigens. In our laboratory, biochemical immunofluorescence and immuno-gold electron microscopy studies were conducted on TX-100 extracted NIH/3T3 cells infected with Moloney-murine leukemia virus. Cytochalasin B treatment causes reversible microfilament disruption and a concomitant decrease in virus production. No effect on microtubules was seen. Immuno-gold electron microscopy reveals an association between cytoskeletal action and the viral antigens gp70 and p15E. The results of these immunocytological and biochemical studies indicate that the cytoskeleton may play an integral role in transport and processing of viral gene-envelope products

Objective determination of image end-members in spectral mixture analysis of AVIRIS data

Spectral mixture analysis has been shown to be a powerful, multifaceted tool for analysis of multi- and hyper-spectral data. Applications of AVIRIS data have ranged from mapping soils and bedrock to ecosystem studies. During the first phase of the approach, a set of end-members are selected from an image cube (image end-members) that best account for its spectral variance within a constrained, linear least squares mixing model. These image end-members are usually selected using a priori knowledge and successive trial and error solutions to refine the total number and physical location of the end-members. However, in many situations a more objective method of determining these essential components is desired. We approach the problem of image end-member determination objectively by using the inherent variance of the data. Unlike purely statistical methods such as factor analysis, this approach derives solutions that conform to a physically realistic model

Radioluminescent (RL) airfield lighting system program

In 1980, the US Air Force Engineering and Services Center (AFESC) at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, requested that the Radioisotope Technology Group of Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) develop large-scale, tritium-powered, radioluminescent (RL) airfield lighting systems. The RL lighting systems possess the advantages of being portable, requiring no electrical power source, having a long shelf life, and being unaffected by environmental extremes. These characteristics make the RL system well-suited for harsh environments where the cost of electrical power production is high and traditional incandescent airfield lighting systems are difficult to maintain. RL lighting is typically a large-surface-area, low-intensity light source that operates 100% of the time. The RL light sources gradually decrease in brightness over time, so periodic replacement (every 6 to 8 years) is necessary. RL lighting functions best in low ambient light, which provides the high contrast ratios necessary for successful use of these devices. 12 figs., 8 tabs

Interactions between vaccinia virus and sensitized macrophages in vitro

The action of peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) from normal and vaccinia virus infected mice on infectious vaccinia virus particles was investigatedin vitro. PEC from immune mice showed a significantly higher infectivity titre reduction (virus clearance, VC) than normal cells. This effect could be clearly attributed to the macrophage. Vaccinia virus multiplied in PEC from normal animals while there was no virus propagation in cells from immunized mice. The release of adsorbed or engulfed virus was reduced significantly in PEC from immunized animals. Anti-vaccinia-antibodies seem to activate normal macrophages to increased virus clearance. This stimulating effect was demonstrable only in the IgG fraction of the antiserum. The activity of macrophages from mice injected three times over a period of 14 days with vaccinia virus could be entirely blocked with anti-mouse-IgG, while PEC from mice injected one time six days previously were not inhibited

Preparation and characterization of cesium-137 aluminosilicate pellets for radioactive source applications

Twenty-seven fully loaded /sup 137/Cs aluminosilicate pellets were fabricated in a hot cell by the vacuum hot pressing of a cesium carbonate/montmorillonite clay mixture at 1500/sup 0/C and 570 psig. Four pellets were selected for characterization studies which included calorimetric measurements, metallography, scanning electron microscope and electron backscattering (SEM-BSE), electron microprobe, x-ray diffraction, and cesium ion leachability measurements. Each test pellet contained 437 to 450 curies of /sup 137/Cs as determined by calorimetric measurements. Metallographic examinations revealed a two-phase system: a primary, granular, gray matrix phase containing large and small pores and small pore agglomerations, and a secondary fused phase interspersed throughout the gray matrix. SEM-BSE analyses showed that cesium and silicon were uniformly distributed throughout both phases of the pellet. This indicated that the cesium-silicon-clay reaction went to completion. Aluminum homogeneity was unconfirmed due to the high background noise associated with the inherent radioactivity of the test specimens. X-ray diffraction analyses of both radioactive and non-radioactive aluminosilicate pellets confirmed the crystal lattice structure to be pollucite. Cesium ion quasistatic leachability measurements determined the leach rates of fully loaded /sup 137/Cs sectioned pollucite pellets to date to be 4.61 to 34.4 x 10/sup -10/ kg m/sup -2/s/sup -1/, while static leach tests performed on unsectioned fully loaded pellets showed the leach rates of the cesium ion to date to be 2.25 to 3.41 x 10/sup -12/ kg m/sup -2/s/sup -1/. The cesium ion diffusion coefficients through the pollucite pellet were calculated using Fick's first and second laws of diffusion. The diffusion coefficients calculated for three tracer level /sup 137/Cs aluminosilicate pellets were 1.29 x 10/sup -16/m/sup 2/s/sup -1/, 6.88 x 10/sup -17/m/sup 2/s/sup -1/, and 1.35 x 10/sup -17/m/sup 2/s/sup -1/, respectively

EGRET Gamma-Ray Observations of the Crab P2/P1 Ratio

Recent observations of the Crab pulsar by the Energetic Gamma-Ray Experiment Telescope (EGRET) on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory show that the high-energy gamma-ray light curve has changed little over the lifetime of the instrument. Previous data collected by SAS-2 and COS-B in the years 1972-82, along with earlier EGRET data, suggested a 14 year sinusoidal variation in the flux ratio between the first and second peaks. The new data from EGRET indicate that the flux ratio is constant.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures. To be published in Ap

Child Psychosocial Adjustment and Parenting in Families Affected by Maternal HIV/AIDS

Child adjustment and parenting were examined in 23 9-through 16-year-old youth from families affected by maternal HIV infection and 20 same-age peers whose mothers were not infected. Children whose mothers were seropositive reported significantly more externalizing problems. Infected mothers reported less age-appropriate supervision/monitoring relative to non-infected mothers. Better mother-child relationship quality and less impairment in parental supervision/monitoring of age-appropriate youth behaviors were associated with fewer externalizing difficulties among the HIV-positive group only. Similarly, only among HIV-infected mothers was refraining from engaging in inconsistent disciplinary tactics associated with lower reports of internalizing and externalizing problems. These data highlight the promise of programs targeting parenting skills to prevent or ameliorate child difficulties

EGRET Spectral Index and the Low-Energy Peak Position in the Spectral Energy Distribution of EGRET-Detected Blazars

In current theoretical models of the blazar subclass of active galaxies, the broadband emission consists of two components: a low-frequency synchrotron component with a peak in the IR to X-ray band, and a high-frequency inverse Compton component with a peak in the gamma-ray band. In such models, the gamma-ray spectral index should be correlated with the location of the low-energy peak, with flatter gamma-ray spectra expected for blazars with synchrotron peaks at higher photon energies and vice versa. Using the EGRET-detected blazars as a sample, we examine this correlation and possible uncertainties in its construction.Comment: 17 pages including 1 figure, accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journa

The Kynurenine Pathway Is Upregulated by Methyl-deficient Diet and Changes Are Averted by Probiotics

Scope Probiotics exert immunomodulatory effects and may influence tryptophan metabolism in the host. Deficiency of nutrients related to C1 metabolism might stimulate inflammation by enhancing the kynurenine pathway. This study used Sprague Dawley rats to investigate whether a methyl-deficient diet (MDD) may influence tryptophan/kynurenine pathways and cytokines and whether probiotics can mitigate these effects. Methods and Results Rats are fed a control or MDD diet. Animals on the MDD diet received vehicle, probiotics (L. helveticus R0052 and B. longum R0175), choline, or probiotics + choline for 10 weeks (n = 10 per group). Concentrations of plasma kynurenine metabolites and the methylation and inflammatory markers in plasma and liver are measured. Results MDD animals (vs controls) show upregulation of plasma kynurenine, kynurenic acid, xanthurenic acid, 3-hydroxyxanthranilic acid, quinolinic acid, nicotinic acid, and nicotinamide (all p < 0.05). In the MDD rats, the probiotics (vs vehicle) cause lower anthranilic acid and a trend towards lower kynurenic acid and picolinic acid. Compared to probiotics alone, probiotics + choline is associated with a reduced enrichment of the bacterial strains in cecum. The interventions have no effect on inflammatory markers. Conclusions Probiotics counterbalance the effect of MDD diet and downregulate downstream metabolites of the kynurenine pathway.publishedVersio