Photon emission of phagocytes in relation to stress and disease.

Phagocytes, the first-line cells of the body's defence mechanisms against invading pathogens, kill microorganisms by means of lysosomal degradative enzymes and highly toxic reactive oxygen intermediates. The reactive oxygen compounds are produced, in a process called the 'respiratory burst', by the NADPH oxidase complex in plasma membranes, and by myeloperoxidase in phagolysosomes after degranulation. These processes generate electronically excited states which, on relaxation, emit photons, giving rise to phagocyte chemiluminescence (CL). This paper describes the conditions for the measurement of CL, and reviews the activity of phagocytes from individuals undergoing stress or disease. The capability of phagocytes to emit photons reflects remarkably well the pathophysiological state of the host. In many cases even the magnitude of the stress, the presence of a pathogen in the body, or the activity of the disease can be estimated. Physiological changes, e.g. in the reproductive cycle, can also be predicted.     

高油玉米三种遗传效应综合利用模式研究

高油玉米三个遗传效应的综合利用生产模式是未来高油玉米生产的一种重要方式，而高油玉米雄性不育化研究又是实现三利用生产模式的关键技术环节，采用不育型高油玉米杂交种X超高油玉米杂交种的生产模式，可有效地提高高油玉米的含油量。     

A propos d'antibiotiques insolubles

Summary The authors show the antibiotic activity of water-insoluble salts of hydrosoluble antibiotics in the case of penicillin G (salts of iron, copper, silver, gold, and uranium) and streptomycin (oleate).     

New Membranes Based on Polybenzimidazole for Polymer Fuel Cells

1 Results Acid-doped polybenzimidazoles[1] are particularly appealing because of high proton conductivity with no or low humidification and promising fuel cells performances. PBI, in fact, contains basic functional groups which can easily interact with strong oxo-acids, such as H3PO4 and H2SO4. The acid partially protonates the polymer and partially is freely dispersed in the polymer backbone, so allowing proton migration via Grotthuss mechanism along the anionic chains[2]. Anyway, a technological limit...