Human infection by genetically diverse SIVSM-related HIV-2 in west Africa.

Our understanding of the biology and origins of human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) derives from studies of cultured isolates from urban populations experiencing epidemic infection and disease. To test the hypothesis that such isolates might represent only a subset of a larger, genetically more diverse group of viruses, we used nested polymerase chain reactions to characterize HIV-2 sequences in uncultured mononuclear blood cells of two healthy Liberian agricultural workers, from whom virus isolation was repeatedly unsuccessful, and from a culture-positive symptomatic urban dweller. Analysis of pol, env and long terminal repeat regions revealed the presence of three highly divergent HIV-2 strains, one of which (from one of the healthy subjects) was significantly more closely related to simian immunodeficiency viruses infecting sooty mangabeys and rhesus macaques (SIVSM/SIVMAC) than to any virus of human derivation. This subject also harboured multiply defective viral genotypes that resulted from hypermutation of G to A bases. Our results indicate that HIV-2, SIVSM and SIVMAC comprise a single, highly diverse group of lentiviruses which cannot be separated into distinct phylogenetic lineages according to species of origin.     

Mixed micelles in drug delivery.

Large disk-like mixed micelles composed of a drug and biological lipid are thermodynamically stable and represent a novel drug delivery system. Their unique physical properties are reflected in a significantly improved therapeutic index.     

热力系统的熵分析

根据热力学第二定律,应用熵平衡法对热力系统进行分析和设计。作为实例,应用此方法分析以溴化锂—水为工质的单级制冷系统和单级热转换器系统。结果表明,熵平衡法不仅可以获得如能量法和(火用)分析法相同的结果,而且还可清晰地揭示系统中各个过程的不可逆性,对系统性能系数和效率的影响。该系数和效率仅取决于过程的性质而与环境条件无关。     

Spectral analysis of phylogenetic data

The spectral analysis of sequence and distance data is a new approach to phylogenetic analysis. For two-state character sequences, the character values at a given site split the set of taxa into two subsets, a bipartition of the taxa set. The vector which counts the relative numbers of each of these bipartitions over all sites is called a sequence spectrum. Applying a transformation called a Hadamard conjugation, the sequence spectrum is transformed to the conjugate spectrum. This conjugation corrects for unobserved changes in the data, independently from the choice of phylogenetic tree. For any given phylogenetic tree with edge weights (probabilities of state change), we define a corresponding tree spectrum. The selection of a weighted phylogenetic tree from the given sequence data is made by matching the conjugate spectrum with a tree spectrum. We develop an optimality selection procedure using a least squares best fit, to find the phylogenetic tree whose tree spectrum most closely matches the conjugate spectrum. An inferred sequence spectrum can be derived from the selected tree spectrum using the inverse Hadamard conjugation to allow a comparison with the original sequence spectrum. A possible adaptation for the analysis of four-state character sequences with unequal frequencies is considered. A corresponding spectral analysis for distance data is also introduced. These analyses are illustrated with biological examples for both distance and sequence data. Spectral analysis using the Fast Hadamard transform allows optimal trees to be found for at least 20 taxa and perhaps for up to 30 taxa. The development presented here is self contained, although some mathematical proofs available elsewhere have been omitted. The analysis of sequence data is based on methods reported earlier, but the terminology and the application to distance data are new.     

Protein aggregation as primary and characteristic cell reaction to various stresses

Ehrlich carcinoma and EL-4 thymoma ascites cells were subjected in vitro to heat shock, ATP depletion, oxidative stress, Ca²⁺ overlading and iodoacetamide treatment. After the transient stresses, Triton (X-100)-insoluble TIS) fractions were isolated from the cells and analysed by electrophoresis and immunoblotting. All stresses used caused rapid aggregation of cell proteins. This was manifested in a signficant rise in protein content in the TIS fractions. The protein increase was mostly due to and increase in the insolubility of actin, 57 kDa protein of intermediate filaments, 70 kDa heat shock protein (HSP 70), and some specific proteins whose insolubilization was a characteristic sign for each type of cell injury. Different survival rates in the cell lines after either stress corrlated well with differences in their TIS protein accretion. Possible mechanisms for stress-induced protein aggregation and its relationship with cell viability are suggested.     

Effects of corpora cardiaca extract,furosemide and ion substitution on sodium and chloride flux in perfused Malpighian tubules ofLocusta

Treatment with the co-transport inhibitor, furosemide decreased³⁶Cl^– flux across perfused Malpighian tubules ofLocusta. However, exclusion of³⁶Cl^– from the bathing medium had not effect on²²Na⁺ flux whereas substitution of bathing medium Na⁺ by K⁺ increased³⁶Cl^– flux. Diuretic extract of corpora cardiaca increased²²Na⁺ (by 106%) and³⁶Cl^– (by 335%) fluxes differentially.     

The effect of scale changes on repetitive patterns: Influence of 6-aminonicotinamide on feather germ number

There are many examples of patterned developing systems which are size invariant: if the total size of the system is reduced, then the pattern responds by changing its scale in such a way that the number of pattern elements remains constant. This phenomenon is one of the bases which underaly the formulation of the concept of positional information, one of the great unifying ideas in developmental biology. However, there are less common examples of patterns which are size dependent. In these, alterations of overall size lead to a reduction in pattern elements. Such size-dependent patterns are therefore of theoretical interest. Here we describe how the number of feather germs along the wing bud of the developing chick embryo responds to shortening of the limb, and consider the implications of these observations.     

Photoreceptor damage following exposure to excess riboflavin

Flavins generate oxidants during metabolism and when exposed to light. Here we report that the photoreceptor layer of retinas from black-eyed rats is reduced in size by a dietary regime containing excess riboflavin. The effect of excess riboflavin was dose-dependent and was manifested by a decrease in photoreceptor length. This decrease was due in part to a reduction in the thickness of the outer nuclear layer, a structure formed from stacked photoreceptor nuclei. These changes were accompanied by an increase in photoreceptor outer segment autofluorescence following illumination at 328 nm, a wavelength that corresponds to the excitation maxima of oxidized lipopigments of the retinal pigment epithelium.     

Extraordinary levels of cadmium and zinc in a marine sponge,Tedania charcoti Topsent: inorganic chemical defense agents

The Antarctic marine spongeTedania charcoti has been shown to contain extraordinarily high natural concentrations of cadmium and zinc, which have in turn been correlated to the ability of the crude ethanol extract to modulate protein phosphorylation in chicken forebrain and to inhibit the growth of several test bacteria.     

A METHOD FOR REDUCING YARN HAIRINESS AT RING SPINNING

In order to improve the quality of yarn,a research was carried out at ring spinning.A modifiedtraveller has been used to reduce the yarn hairiness vastly.According to the statistical analysis ofthe data,it was found that the geometrical shape of travellers is the key factor affecting the yarnhairiness at ring spinning.