RELEVANCE OF MOLECULAR TESTS FOR HTLV-1 INFECTION AS CONFIRMATORY TESTS AFTER THE FIRST SERO-SCREENING

The diagnosis of human T-cell leukemia virus type-1 (HTLV-1) infection has been widely examined by serologics. In the first screening tests, serological false negative and positive samples have been reduced thanks to advances in assay techniques that apply new emission agents and sensors. On the other hand, western blot (WB) remains problematic. For example, WB analysis yields many samples equivalent to antibody positive ones. To reduce the need for WB, an alternative testing strategy is required to detect HTLV-1 infection. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the HTLV-1 provirus has recently been recommended for a final diagnosis of infection. However, although PCR is thought to be one element, the validation of detection performance for HTLV-1 infection between serological and molecular testing is not always clear. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the accuracy and test the validity of an improved methodology for serological detection of HTLV-infection, as well as that of PCR. In conclusion, the high values of kappa-statistics are expected to deliver high quality in chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay (or chemiluminescent immunoassay), while the problems with WB assays remain to be elucidated. As an alternative to WB, a combination of real-time qPCR and nested PCR is proposed as a suitable confirmatory test

Paleomagnetic of basalts from the Kerguelen Plateau

Paleomagnetic measurements were performed on 106 basalt samples collected from Holes 747C, 748C, 749C, and 750B. Basalt samples were recovered from the southern portion of the Kerguelen Plateau and the transitional zone between the northern and southern plateau in the south central Indian Ocean. The ages of basalts range from 100 to 115 Ma. In addition to the preliminary shipboard measurements (Schlich, Wise, et al., 1989, doi:10.2973/odp.proc.ir.120.1989), characteristic inclinations of the magnetization were obtained using mainly stepwise thermal demagnetization of the samples. Reliable paleomagnetic results were obtained from three sites (Sites 747, 748, and 749). The paleomagnetic inclinations of Sites 747, 748, and 749 are -51°, -63°, and -62°, respectively. The considerable differences between the paleomagnetic and present inclinations of about 70° at Sites 747, 748, and 749 indicate that displacement in the direction of the geomagnetic meridian has taken place since formation of the basalt. Shallower paleomagnetic inclinations than the present inclinations at each site imply a southward movement of the sites with respect to the geomagnetic pole. By comparing the apparent polar wander path of Antarctica with the virtual geomagnetic pole (VGP) of the Southern Kerguelen Plateau, we have concluded that no major tectonic movement has taken place between the Kerguelen Plateau and Antarctica since formation of the basalt (i.e., 100-115 Ma). The angular dispersion of the VGP for the Kerguelen Plateau is calculated as 17°

THE GRAPHITE INTERCALATION COMPOUNDS I : THE CONDUCTIVITY OF GRAPHITE-ALKALIMETAL-HYDROGEN TERNARY SYSTEMS (Superconductivity・Intercalation)

The effect of hydrogen on the basal-plane electrical resistivity was studied for C_8K, C_K, C_8Cs and C_Cs intercalation compounds. The admission of hydrogen onto cooled C_8K and C_K induced a reversible change in the resistivity below 200 K, and an irreversible increase in the resistivity at room temperature

PALEOMAGNETIC STUDY OF THE DEEP-SEA CORE (ODP LEG 120) FROM THE KERGUELEN PLATEAU, SOUTH-CENTRAL INDIAN OCEAN

The magnetostratigraphy of Sites 747,748,749,750 and 751 of ODP Leg 120 at the Kerguelen Plateau, South-Central Indian Ocean which had been established by shipboard measurements, was extended and confirmed. About 840 sediment cubes were stepwise demagnetized with alternating fields to determine their characteristic direction of natural remanent magnetization. We obtained rather complete magnetostratigraphy from the middle Eocene to the Pliocene at high southern latitude. Paleomagnetic measurements were carried out for 106 basalt samples collected from Holes 120-747C, -748C, -749C and 750B. Characteristic inclinations of the magnetization of the samples were obtained mainly using stepwise thermal demagnetization method. Reliable paleomagnetic results were obtained from three sites (Sites 747,748 and 749). Paleomagnetic inclinations of Sites 747,748 and 750 are -54°, -63° and -62°, respectively. Considerable difference between the paleomagnetic and the present inclinations of Sites 747,748 and 749 indicates that displacement in the direction of the geomagnetic meridian has taken place since formation of the basalt. Shallower paleomagnetic inclinations than the present inclinations at each site suggest a southward movement of the sites with respect to the geomagnetic pole. By comparing the APWP with Antarctica with VGP of the South Kerguelen Plateau, it is concluded that no major tectonic movement has taken place between the Kerguelen Plateau and Antarctica since formation of the basalts, i. e., 100 to 115Ma. Angular dispersion of the VGP is calculated as 17°