CHARACTERIZATION OF SPLENIC LYMPHOID CELLS IN FETAL AND NEWBORN MICE

In order to clarify the cellular events that precede the onset of immunological competence in the mouse, we have characterized and quantitated the lymphoid cells of the spleen as a function of age. Our results show that T cells and B cells both appeared in the spleens of Swiss-L mice as early as the 15th-16th day of gestation. Antigen-binding cells specific for each of three different antigens were also first detected during this same 24 h interval. The B cells and three varieties of antigen-binding cells increased in number rapidly and in parallel until about 1 wk after birth. The T cells, which were more numerous than B cells at first, increased in number somewhat more slowly. Coincident with the onset of response to antigen, there was a further increase in B cell numbers and a decrease in the T cell to B cell ratio. The capacity to respond to antigen by cellular proliferation and synthesis of antibody did not arise until about 2 wk after birth although there were no quantitative changes in the total numbers of T cells, B cells, and antigen-binding cells between 1 and 2 wk of age. Some qualitative change, such as the functional maturation of an antigen-reactive cell, may be required during this interval for the onset of this immunological response. Although the numbers of antigen-binding cells present in fetuses and young animals were smaller than in adults, we have as yet been unable to detect any restriction in the variety of specificities that can be expressed in fetuses, either in the kinds of antigens bound or in the range of avidities with which a single antigen is bound

SUPPRESSION OF IDIOTYPIC SPECIFICITIES IN ADULT MICE BY ADMINISTRATION OF ANTIIDIOTYPIC ANTIBODY

It has previously been shown that there are extensive idiotypic cross-reactions among antiphenylarsonate antibodies of A/J mice. The present work indicates that administration, into normal, adult A/J mice, of rabbit antiidiotypic antibody directed to A/J antiphenylarsonate antibody suppresses almost completely the subsequent production of antibody of the corresponding idiotype. No effect was noted on the formation of antibodies to the protein carrier or of antiphenylarsonate antibody of a different idiotype. The data are consistent with central suppression of production of the idiotypic antibody mediated through interaction with immunoglobulin receptors on lymphocytes

Near Collisions for the Compress Function of Hamsi-256 Found by Genetic Algorithm

Hamsi is one of 14 remaining candidates in NIST\u27s Hash Competition for the future hash standard SHA-3 and Hamsi-256 is one of four kinds of Hamsi. In this paper we present a genetic algorithm to search near collisions for the compress function of Hamsi-256 , give a near collision on (256 − 20) bits and a near collision on (256 − 21) bits with four differences in the chaining value, and obtain a differential path for three rounds of Hamsi-256 with probability 1/2^24, 1/2^23 respectively, which are better than previous work reported about near collisions

Simulation of CO2 Capture Process in Flue Gas from Oxy-Fuel Combustion Plant and Effects of Properties of Absorbent

Oxy-fuel combustion technology is an effective way to reduce CO2 emissions. An ionic liquid [emim][Tf2N] was used to capture the CO2 in flue gas from oxy-fuel combustion plant. The process of the CO2 capture was simulated using Aspen Plus. The results show that when the liquid– gas ratio is 1.55, the volume fraction of CO2 in the exhaust gas is controlled to about 2%. When the desorption pressure is 0.01 MPa, desorption efficiency is 98.2%. Additionally, based on the designability of ionic liquids, a hypothesis on the physical properties of ionic liquids is proposed to evaluate their influence on the absorption process and heat exchanger design. The process evaluation results show that an ionic liquid having a large density, a large thermal conductivity, and a high heat capacity at constant pressure is advantageous. This paper shows that from capture energy consumption and lean circulation, oxy-fuel combustion is a more economical method. Furthermore, it provides a feasible path for the treatment of CO2 in the waste gas of oxy-fuel combustion. Meanwhile, Aspen simulation helps speed up the application of ionic liquids and oxy-fuel combustion. Process evaluation helps in equipment design and selection

New process development and process evaluation for capturing CO2 in flue gas from power plants using ionic liquid [emim][Tf2N]

Using the ionic liquid [emim][Tf2N] as a physical solvent, it was found by aspen plus simulation that it was possible to attempt to capture CO2 from the flue gas discharged from the coal-fired unit of the power plant. Using the combination of model calculation and experimental determination, the density, isostatic heat capacity, viscosity, vapor pressure, thermal conductivity, surface tension and solubility of [emim][Tf2N] were obtained. Based on the NRTL model, the Henry coefficient and NRTL binary interaction parameters of CO2 dissolved in [emim][Tf2N] were obtained by correlating [emim][Tf2N] with the gas–liquid equilibrium data of CO2. Firstly, the calculated relevant data is imported into Aspen plus, and the whole process model of the ionic liquid absorption process is established. Then the absorption process is optimized according to the temperature distribution in the absorption tower to obtain a new absorption process. Finally, the density, constant pressure heat capacity, surface tension, thermal conductivity, viscosity of [emim][Tf2N] were changed to investigate the effect of ionic liquid properties on process energy consumption, solvent circulation and heat exchanger design.The results showed that based on the composition of the inlet gas stream to the absorbers, CO2 with a capture rate of 90% and a mass purity higher than 99.5% was captured; These results indicate that the [emim][Tf2N] could be used as a physical solvent for CO2 capture from coal-fired units.In addition,The results will provide a theoretical basis for the design of new ionic liquids for CO2 capture

Enhanced Root and Stem Growth and Physiological Changes in Pinus bungeana Zucc. Seedlings by Microbial Inoculant Application

Background and Objectives: As an extensively used tree species in landscaping and afforestation in China, lacebark pine (Pinus bungeana Zucc.) seedlings are in high demand. However, the small number of fine roots and the low growth rate of lacebark pine seedlings increase the risks encountered during transplant and extend the nursery time for outplanting. We aimed to find out whether a microbial inoculant would promote root growth and accordingly, shorten the nursery cultivation time. Materials and Methods: One-year-old lacebark pine seedlings were treated with the inoculant Bacillus subtilis 8–32 six times from June to September. At each application time, five treatments of undiluted microbial inoculants (UM), 30 times diluted microbial inoculants (30 DM), 40 times diluted microbial inoculants (40 DM), 50 times diluted microbial inoculants (50 DM), and distilled water as a control (CTRL) were administered to the seedlings. In the end, all the seedlings were harvested to measure the root growth, aboveground growth, and the physiological indices. Results: Root and stem growth was enhanced by the inoculants in terms of the increased number of root tips, the length and surface area of the roots, the biomass of the roots and stems, as well as the increase in height and basal stem diameter. The chlorophyll a/b of the needles was increased, in spite of the fact that the total chlorophyll content was decreased by the microbial inoculant treatments at the end of the growth phase. Meanwhile, the maximum photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) of the needles was increased by the inoculant treatments. The soluble sugar content was additionally translocated into the stems in the UM treatment, suggesting the change in carbon allocation. The content of available potassium, phosphorus, and ammonium nitrogen in the potting soil was increased in the 30 DM group, and the content of soil organic matter was increased in all the inoculant treatments. Conclusions: The microbial inoculant Bacillus subtilis 8–32, in appropriate concentrations, could be applied to promote root and shoot growth and improve the seedling quality of the lacebark pine during cultivation

Diagnosis and microecological characteristics of aerobic vaginitis in outpatients based on preformed enzymes

AbstractObjectiveAerobic vaginitis (AV) is a recently proposed term for genital tract infection in women. The diagnosis of AV is mainly based on descriptive diagnostic criteria proposed by Donders and co-workers. The objective of this study is to report AV prevalence in southwest China using an objective assay kit based on preformed enzymes and also to determine its characteristics.Materials and methodsA total of 1948 outpatients were enrolled and tested by a commercial diagnostic kit to investigate the AV prevalence and characteristics in southwestern China. The study mainly examined the vaginal ecosystem, age distribution, Lactobacillus amount, and changes in pH. Differences within groups were analyzed by Wilcoxon two-sample test.ResultsThe AV detection rate is 15.40%. The AV patients were usually seen in the sexually active age group of 20–30 years, followed by those in the age group of 30–40 years. The vaginal ecosystems of all the patients studied were absolutely abnormal, and diagnosed to have a combined infection [aerobic vaginitis (AV) + bacterial vaginitis (BV) 61.33%; 184/300]. Aerobic bacteria, especially Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, were predominantly found in the vaginal samples of these women.ConclusionAV is a common type of genital infection in southwestern China and is characterized by sexually active age and combined infection predominated by the AV and BV type

Development of clinically relevant orthotopic xenograft mouse model of metastatic lung cancer and glioblastoma through surgical tumor tissues injection with trocar

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>Orthotopic models are important in cancer research. Here we developed orthotopic xenograft mouse model of metastatic lung cancer and glioblastoma with a specially designed system.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Tiny fragments of surgical tumors were implanted into the mice brain with a trocar system. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect brain tumor stem cells among glioblastoma tissues, including both the original and resulting ones with monoclonal antibody against CD133.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Besides the constant high take rates in both models; brain transplants perfectly resembled their original tumors in biological behaviors. The brain tumor stem cells, positively stained with CD133 were found, though not frequently, in both original and resulting glioblastoma tissues.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Orthotopic model established with a trocar system is effective and injection of tumor tissues containing stem cells promise the forming of new tumor mass when grafted.</p

Characterization of a set of chromosome single-segment substitution lines derived from two sequenced elite maize inbred lines

Chromosome single-segment substitution lines (SSSLs) are powerful tools for detecting and precisely mapping quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and evaluating the action of genes as single Mendelian factors. In this study, 108 SSSLs, which included 46 uniquely substituted segments, were developed from an advanced backcross proce¬dure with the marker-assisted selection of 146 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers using the elite maize inbred line Zheng58 as the recipient and Chang7-2 as the donor. Each SSSL contained a single substituted chromosome segment that was derived from donor strain Chang7-2 in the genetic background of the recipient Zheng58 strain. The 46 substituted segments were unevenly distributed on ten maize chromosomes, and the substituted segment length ranged from 2.7 centimorgan (cM) to 283.5 cM with an average of 66.0 cM. The total length of the 46 substi¬tution segments was 3,035.2 cM, which covered 2,142.6 cM (31.47%) of the entire maize genome. To evaluate the potential application of these SSSLs for QTL detection, 44 SSSLs were used for the phenotypic characterization of plant height in three field trials. Twenty-nine QTLs of plant height were identified, and the percentages of additive effects varied from -8.45% to 12.86%. The results demonstrated that these SSSLs possesses large genetic varia¬tions and are excellent tools for genetically dissecting complex traits over several environments

A whole genome scan for quantitative trait loci for leg weakness and its related traits in a large F2 intercross population between White Duroc and Erhualian

To detect QTL for leg weakness and its related traits in pigs, a total of 1,484 F2 pigs were recorded for leg (at 76 and 213 d) and gait scores (at 153 and 223 d) in a White Duroc × Erhualian intercross. The length and weight of the biceps brachii muscle were measured after slaughter at 240 d. A genome scan was performed with 183 microsatellite markers in the population. A total of 42 QTL were detected, including 16 at the 1% genome-wide significant level and 6 at the 5% genome-wide significant level. Thirty-eight of the 42 QTL showed significant additive effects, and 14 had significant dominance effects. At least 2 QTL were detected for each trait except for leg score at 76 d, for which no QTL was identified. Some of the QTL for leg and gait scores confirmed previous findings. Eighteen QTL were detected for weight and length of the biceps brachii muscle. To our knowledge, this was the first report about QTL for weight and length of the biceps brachii muscle in pigs. Two chromosome regions each on SSC4 and SSC7 showed significant and multiple associations with both leg weakness and growth of the biceps brachii muscle, which are worthwhile for further investigation