Detergent-resistant membranes and the protein composition of lipid rafts

The plasma membrane of eukaryotic cells contains lipid rafts with protein and lipid compositions differing from the bulk plasma membrane. Several recent proteomic studies have addressed the composition of lipid rafts, but the different definitions used for lipid rafts need scrutinizing before results can be evaluated

Fronthaul evolution: From CPRI to Ethernet

It is proposed that using Ethernet in the fronthaul, between base station baseband unit (BBU) pools and remote radio heads (RRHs), can bring a number of advantages, from use of lower-cost equipment, shared use of infrastructure with fixed access networks, to obtaining statistical multiplexing and optimised performance through probe-based monitoring and software-defined networking. However, a number of challenges exist: ultra-high-bit-rate requirements from the transport of increased bandwidth radio streams for multiple antennas in future mobile networks, and low latency and jitter to meet delay requirements and the demands of joint processing. A new fronthaul functional division is proposed which can alleviate the most demanding bit-rate requirements by transport of baseband signals instead of sampled radio waveforms, and enable statistical multiplexing gains. Delay and synchronisation issues remain to be solved

Aggregation of Lipid Rafts Accompanies Signaling via the T Cell Antigen Receptor

The role of lipid rafts in T cell antigen receptor (TCR) signaling was investigated using fluorescence microscopy. Lipid rafts labeled with cholera toxin B subunit (CT-B) and cross-linked into patches displayed characteristics of rafts isolated biochemically, including detergent resistance and colocalization with raft-associated proteins. LCK, LAT, and the TCR all colocalized with lipid patches, although TCR association was sensitive to nonionic detergent. Aggregation of the TCR by anti-CD3 mAb cross-linking also caused coaggregation of raft-associated proteins. However, the protein tyrosine phosphatase CD45 did not colocalize to either CT-B or CD3 patches. Cross-linking of either CD3 or CT-B strongly induced tyrosine phosphorylation and recruitment of a ZAP-70(SH2)2–green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion protein to the lipid patches. Also, CT-B patching induced signaling events analagous to TCR stimulation, with the same dependence on expression of key TCR signaling molecules. Targeting of LCK to rafts was necessary for these events, as a nonraft- associated transmembrane LCK chimera, which did not colocalize with TCR patches, could not reconstitute CT-B–induced signaling. Thus, our results indicate a mechanism whereby TCR engagement promotes aggregation of lipid rafts, which facilitates colocalization of LCK, LAT, and the TCR whilst excluding CD45, thereby triggering protein tyrosine phosphorylation

Phylogenetic placement and generic re-circumscriptions of the multilocular genera Arenifera, Octopoma and Schlechteranthus (Aizoaceae: Ruschieae): Evidence from anatomical, morphological and plastid DNA data

"Ruschieae is the largest tribe in the highly speciose subfamily Ruschioideae (Aizoaceae). A generic-level phylogeny for the tribe was recently produced, providing new insights into relationships between the taxa. Octopoma and Arenifera are woody shrubs with multilocular capsules and are distributed across the Succulent Karoo. Octopoma was shown to be polyphyletic in the tribal phylogeny, but comprehensive sampling is required to confirm its polyphyly. Arenifera has not previously been sampled and therefore its phylogenetic placement in the tribe is uncertain. In this study, phylogenetic sampling for nine plastid regions (atpB-rbcL, matK, psbJ-petA, rpl16, rps16, trnD-trnT, trnL-F, trnQUUG-rps16, trnS-trnG) was expanded to include all species of Octopoma and Arenifera, to assess phylogenetic placement and relationships of these genera. Three phylogenetic analyses were carried out, maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference. Leaf anatomical sections were studied to further inform generic circumscriptions. The phylogenies showed Octopoma to be polyphyletic, with the type, O. octojuge, and the related O. nanum, resolved as sister to Zeuktophyllum and Smicrostigma, while the other species were placed in the Conophytum-clade. Arenifera was also shown to be polyphyletic, with the type, A. pillansii, placed in the xeromorphic-clade, and the remainder of the species recovered among the Octopoma species in the Conophytum-clade (forming the Octopoma subglobosum-Arenifera spinescens subclade). Generic affinities of the O. subglobosum-A. spinescens subclade were assessed in relation to the sister taxon Schlechteranthus. The leaf anatomy was found to be informative within the study group. Bladder cells were observed in Arenifera pillansii, a hypodermis in Little Karoo Octopoma (O. octojuge, O. nanum, O. quadrisepalum) and epidermal cells forming blunt papillae in Schlechteranthus and the O. subglobosum-A. spinescens subclade. Upon assessment of the anatomical, morphological and phylogenetic data, Schlechteranthus is here expanded to include the species in the O. subglobosum-A. spinescens subclade. Eight new combinations are made in Schlechteranthus. As a result, Arenifera is again monotypic and the circumscription of Octopoma is refined to include three species restricted to the Little Karoo. Two subgenera within Schlechteranthus s.l. (subg. Schlechteranthus, subg. Microphyllus) are erected to accommodate differences in leaf size, capsule size, closing body size and locule number."Web of Scienc

Expression of Distinct Desmocollin Isoforms in Human Epidermis

Previous evidence suggested the presence of two distinct desmocollin isoforms in human epidermis. These isoforms have now been distinguished at the protein level using monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against N-terminal fragments of desmosomal glycoprotein (DG) IV/V isolated from plantar callus and antibodies against a fusion protein containing the extracellular domain of DGII/III. Immune blotting of glycoprotein fractions from whole epidermis, plantar callus, psoriatic scales and cultured keratinocytes showed that intact DGIV/V and its proteolytic fragments consistently migrated faster than DGII/III during SDS-PAGE. The apparent Mr difference between the two isoforms was in the range 2-5 kD. DGIV/V was the predominant species in epidermal tissue but was much less prominent in cultured cells by immune-blotting and immune precipitation. This is consistent with the differentiation-related expression of desmocollins revealed by immunofluorescence. DGIV/V was strongly expressed in the upper spinous/granular layer of the epidermis whereas DGII/III was more prominent in the basal layers of he tissue. The DGIV/V monoclonal (LH50) recognized an N-terminal, Ca++-sensitive epitope, because its staining of unfixed epidermal tissue was makedly influenced by Ca++ levels. Ca++ inhibition was observed at concentrations as low as 50 μM, suggesting its possible physiologic significance. Ca++ inhibition of LH50 binding was also observed in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay system using denatured glycoproteins although higher concentrations were required. It remains to be seen whether direct effects of Ca++ on desmocollin conformation are involved in the regulations of keratinization by extracellular Ca++

Tropical cyclone perceptions, impacts and adaptation in the Southwest Pacific: an urban perspective from Fiji, Vanuatu and Tonga

The destruction caused by tropical cyclone (TC) Pam in March 2015 is considered one of the worst natural disasters in the history of Vanuatu. It has highlighted the need for a better understanding of TC impacts and adaptation in the Southwest Pacific (SWP) region. Therefore, the key aims of this study are to (i) understand local perceptions of TC activity, (ii) investigate impacts of TC activity and (iii) uncover adaptation strategies used to offset the impacts of TCs. To address these aims, a survey (with 130 participants from urban areas) was conducted across three SWP small island states (SISs): Fiji, Vanuatu and Tonga (FVT). It was found that respondents generally had a high level of risk perception and awareness of TCs and the associated physical impacts, but lacked an understanding of the underlying weather conditions. Responses highlighted that current methods of adaptation generally occur at the local level, immediately prior to a TC event (preparation of property, gathering of food, finding a safe place to shelter). However higher level adaptation measures (such as the modification to building structures) may reduce vulnerability further. Finally, we discuss the potential of utilising weather-related traditional knowledge and non-traditional knowledge of empirical and climate-model-based weather forecasts to improve TC outlooks, which would ultimately reduce vulnerability and increase adaptive capacity. Importantly, lessons learned from this study may result in the modification and/or development of existing adaptation strategies

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Neuroendocrine Tumors: A Single Institution Experience With Review of Literature

This unique case series and review of literature suggests that immune checkpoint inhibitors may have clinical activity in neuroendocrine tumors. Objective: Summarize advances of immuno-oncology in neuroendocrine tumors with the help of a case series. Design: Case series and review of literature. Intervention or Exposure: The patients were treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (pembrolizumab or nivolumab). Main Outcome(s) and Measures(s): Life expectancy, quality of life, disease progression. Results: Maximum durable response of 16 months in one of the patients so far. All patients showed improvement in quality of life before disease progression. Two out of four are still on therapy. None of the patients experienced immune checkpoint inhibitor associated side-effects. All patients had failed standard of care therapy prior to the initiation of immune checkpoint inhibitors and were on the verge of hospice. Conclusions: Immune checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized cancer management and the last 5 years have seen a rapid expansion in the indications for this class of drug. Neuroendocrine tumors, unfortunately, have been slow to catch on to the immuno-oncology, partly due to difficulties in establishing relevant preclinical neuroendocrine tumors models for immune-oncology studies. In this manuscript, we review the current status of immunotherapy in neuroendocrine tumors

A taxonomic revision of chamaecrista (caesalpinioideae, cassieae, cassiinae) in Southern Africa

The southern African species of Chamaecrista were all treated under Cassia in Gordon-Gray’s treatment for the Flora of Southern Africa. However, given the subsequent generic recircumscriptions in the subtribe Cassiinae, and the expanded collections of these taxa, there is a need to revisit the taxonomy of the group. The present study aimed to conduct a detailed taxonomic revision of the species of Chamaecrista indigenous to the flora of southern Africa region. Extensive fieldwork was carried out to study the taxa in their natural environment and morphological characters were additionally studied using herbarium material. The revision presented here includes comprehensive descriptions, a key to the species, nomenclature, typifications, diagnostic characters with illustrations, and geographical distribution maps of all recognised taxa. Eleven species of Chamaecrista are recognised for the flora of southern Africa, two of which are described as new, i.e. Chamaecrista grandiglandulata and C. gordon-grayei. In addition, one new subspecies is described, namely C. gordon-grayei subsp. longipedicellata, while Chamaecrista comosa var. capriconia is raised to the rank of subspecies, viz. Chamaecrista comosa subsp. capriconia. The typifications published here include lectotypes designated for Chamaecrista plumosa and C. stricta, neotypes designated for C. capensis var. flavescens, C. comosa, and C. plumosa var. diffusa, and an isolectotype designated for C. stricta

Felicia douglasii (Asteraceae-Astereae), a distinctive new species from the Cape Floristic Region, South Africa

Felicia Cass. (Asteraceae) is the largest of the African members of tribe Astereae, and comprises ±90 species from southern and tropical Africa to Arabia. As currently circumscribed, it is rather weakly diagnosed by the herbaceous or shrubby habit, mostly radiate capitula with epaleate receptacle, ± concolorous rays, mostly bisexual disc florets, and eglandular cypselas with several scabrid or barbellate pappus bristles (Grau, 1973; Herman et al., 2000; Manning and Goldblatt, 2012)