No genetic evidence for involvement of Deltaretroviruses in adult patients with precursor and mature T-cell neoplasms

Background The Deltaretrovirus genus comprises viruses that infect humans (HTLV), various simian species (STLV) and cattle (BLV). HTLV-I is the main causative agent in adult T-cell leukemia in endemic areas and some of the simian T-cell lymphotropic viruses have been implicated in the induction of malignant lymphomas in their hosts. BLV causes enzootic bovine leukosis in infected cattle or sheep. During the past few years several new Deltaretrovirus isolates have been described in various primate species. Two new HTLV-like viruses in humans have recently been identified and provisionally termed HTLV-III and HTLV-IV. In order to identify a broad spectrum of Deltaretroviruses by a single PCR approach we have established a novel consensus PCR based on nucleotide sequence data obtained from 42 complete virus isolates (HTLV-I/-II, STLV-I/-II/-III, BLV). The primer sequences were based on highly interspecies-conserved virus genome regions. We used this PCR to detect Deltaretroviruses in samples from adult patients with a variety of rare T-cell neoplasms in Germany. Results: The sensitivity of the consensus PCR was at least between 10-2 and 10-3 with 100% specificity as demonstrated by serial dilutions of cell lines infected with either HTLV-I, HTLV-II or BLV. Fifty acute T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) samples and 33 samples from patients with various rare mature T-cell neoplasms (T-PLL, Sezary syndrome and other T-NHL) were subsequently investigated. There were no cases with HTLV-I, HTLV-II or any other Deltaretroviruses. Conclusions: The results rule out a significant involvement of HTLV-I or HTLV-II in these disease entities and show that other related Deltaretroviruses are not likely to be involved. The newly established Deltaretrovirus PCR may be a useful tool for identifying new Deltaretroviruses

A practical guide to loss measurements using the Fourier transform of the transmission spectrum

Analyzing the internal loss characteristics and multimodedness of (integrated) optical devices can prove difficult. One technique to recover this information is to Fourier transform the transmission spectrum of optical components. This article gives instruction on how to perform the transmission measurement, prepare the data, and interpret the Fourier spectrum. Our guide offers insights into the influence of sampling, windowing, zero padding as well as Fourier spectrum peak heights and shapes which are previously neglected in the literature but have considerable impact on the results of the method. For illustration, we apply the method to a Bragg-reflection waveguide. We find that the waveguide is multimodal with two modes having very similar group refractive indices but different optical losses

Negative-index bi-anisotropic photonic metamaterial fabricated by direct laser writing and silver shadow evaporation

We present the blueprint for a novel negative-index metamaterial. This structure is fabricated via three-dimensional two-photon direct laser writing and silver shadow evaporation. The comparison of measured linear optical spectra with theory shows good agreement and reveals a negative real part of the refractive index at around 3.85 micrometer wavelength - despite the fact that the metamaterial structure is bi-anisotropic due to the lack of inversion symmetry along its surface normal.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figure

Zur Zersplitterung des sozialen Konflikts in Westeuropa: eine Typologie nicht-normierter Kämpfe um Arbeit

Der Artikel untersucht die Protestwelle in Westeuropa seit der Finanz- und Wirtschaftskrise 2008/09. Wir vertreten die These, dass diese Auseinandersetzungen ein Anzeichen dafür sind, dass der soziale Konflikt in Westeuropa zunehmend aufsplittert; es treten vermehrt 'nicht-normierte Sozialkonflikte' auf, die in ihrer Erscheinungsform manchmal eher an vergangene Epochen wie die Hochphase der Industrialisierung im 19. Jahrhundert oder klassische Brot- und Butterkonflikte im späten 18. Jahrhundert erinnern. Als theoretische Prämisse gehen wir davon aus, dass die "Institutionalisierung des Klassenkonflikts" (Geiger), die sich in der Nachkriegsära vollzogen hatte, heute erodiert. Die nicht-normierten Sozialkonflikte, die einen engen Bezug zur Arbeitswelt haben, stellen wir anhand einer Typologie dar: (a) politische Massenproteste und -streiks, (b) wilde Betriebskonflikte und (c) städtische Unruhen. Mit Hilfe einer Datenbank zu Protestereignissen (JenaConDa, n=5521) arbeiten wir die Ausprägung dieser Konflikte in der EU im letzten Jahrzehnt heraus. Wir gehen auch darauf ein, warum es bisher zu keiner größeren Welle von nicht-normierten Protesten in Deutschland kam und schließen mit einem Plädoyer dafür, dass die Arbeitssoziologie dem Thema Konflikte wieder eine größere Aufmerksamkeit widmen sollte.The article analyzes the recent cycle of protest in Western Europe since the financial and economic crises in 2008/09. We state that these protests symbolize the increasing fragmentation of social conflicts. As a result, there is a growing number of 'non-institutionalized social conflicts', which remind on former epochs of capitalism like 19th century industrialization or food riots in late 18th century. On a theoretical level, we argue that the former "institutionalization of class struggle" (Geiger), which was established in the postwar period, erodes nowadays. The emerging non-institutionalized social conflicts are related to the working environment and classified into three categories: (a) mass protests and political strikes, (b) plant occupations and (c) urban riots. We then characterize these conflicts by using quantitative data of protest incidents (JenaConDa, n=5521) during the last decade. Additionally, we explain why there has not been a wave of non-institutionalized protests in Germany yet. Finally, we argue that social conflicts deserve greater attention in labor studies

The SARS-coronavirus-host interactome

Coronaviruses (CoVs) are important human and animal pathogens that induce fatal respiratory, gastrointestinal and neurological disease. The outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2002/2003 has demonstrated human vulnerability to (Coronavirus) CoV epidemics. Neither vaccines nor therapeutics are available against human and animal CoVs. Knowledge of host cell proteins that take part in pivotal virus-host interactions could define broad-spectrum antiviral targets. In this study, we used a systems biology approach employing a genome-wide yeast-two hybrid interaction screen to identify immunopilins (PPIA, PPIB, PPIH, PPIG, FKBP1A, FKBP1B) as interaction partners of the CoV non-structural protein 1 (Nsp1). These molecules modulate the Calcineurin/NFAT pathway that plays an important role in immune cell activation. Overexpression of NSP1 and infection with live SARS-CoV strongly increased signalling through the Calcineurin/NFAT pathway and enhanced the induction of interleukin 2, compatible with late-stage immunopathogenicity and long-term cytokine dysregulation as observed in severe SARS cases. Conversely, inhibition of cyclophilins by cyclosporine A (CspA) blocked the replication of CoVs of all genera, including SARS-CoV, human CoV-229E and -NL-63, feline CoV, as well as avian infectious bronchitis virus. Non-immunosuppressive derivatives of CspA might serve as broad-range CoV inhibitors applicable against emerging CoVs as well as ubiquitous pathogens of humans and livestock

How Does the Diversity of Divers Affect the Design of Citizen Science Projects?

Divers have widely participated in citizen science (CS) projects and are one of the main groups of marine citizen scientists. However, there is little knowledge about profiles of, and incentives for potential divers to join CS projects. To date, most studies have focused on the SCUBA diving industry; nevertheless, there is a diversity of divers, not all using SCUBA, who engage in different activities during their dives. Differences in diver profiles could affect their willingness and ability to contribute to CS. In this study, we compare the diving profile, interests, preferences and motivations to participate in CS of five diver types (artisanal fishermen, recreational divers, instructors, scientific divers, and others). All divers have strong interests in participating in CS projects, with no major differences among diver types. In general, they are interested in a wide variety of themes related to CS but they prefer simple sampling protocols. Divers are motivated to participate in CS to learn about the sea and contribute to science. Some important differences among diver types were found, with artisanal fishermen having significantly more dive experience than other diver types, but less free time during their dives and limited access to some communication channels and technologies. These characteristics make them ideal partners to contribute their local ecological knowledge (LEK) to local CS projects. In contrast, recreational divers have the least experience but most free time during their dives and good access to cameras and communications channels, making them suitable partners for large-scale CS projects that do not require a high level of species knowledge. Instructors and scientific divers are well-placed to coordinate and supervise CS activities. The results confirm that divers are not all alike and specific considerations have to be taken into account to improve the contribution of each diver type to CS. The findings provide essential information for the design of different types of CS projects. By considering the relevant incentives and opportunities for diverse diver groups, marine CS projects will make efficient gains in volunteer recruitment, retention, and collaborative generation of knowledge about the marine environment