Tumour necrosis factor alpha restores granulomas and induces parasite egg-laying in schistosome-infected SCID mice.

Schistosomiasis (bilharzia) is a parasitic disease caused by several species of schistosome worms (blood flukes). The key pathogenic event in this disease is the formation of granulomas around schistosome eggs trapped in portal venules of the liver. Granulomas are a distinctive form of chronic inflammation characterized by localized aggregation of activated macrophages around an inciting stimulus. Each granuloma evolves to form a fibrous scar; in schistosomiasis, the result is widespread hepatic fibrosis and portal hypertension. To identify the specific immune signal molecules necessary for granuloma formation, we studied schistosome infections in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice, which have normal macrophages but lack functional B or T lymphocytes. Here we report that the immunoregulatory cytokine tumour necrosis factor alpha is necessary and sufficient to reconstitute granuloma formation in schistosome-infected SCID mice. Moreover, we find that the parasitic worms require tumour necrosis factor alpha for egg-laying and for excretion of eggs from the host. The implication of this latter result is that the parasite has adapted so successfully to its host that it uses a host-derived immunoregulatory protein as a signal for replication and transmission.     

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.     

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。     

锁相环直流调速系统及其稳定性分析

本文给出了一个在传统转速电流双闭环基础上增加锁相环路构成的直流调速系统。该系统具有稳定性好,稳态精度高,调速范围宽的优点。文中给出了系统的稳定性分析及参数设计方法。     

黑曲霉胞外葡萄糖淀粉酶的纯化及特性

黑曲霉（Ａｓｐｅｒｇｉｌｌｕｓｎｉｇｅｒ７２８）的粗酶液，经硫酸铵沉淀，ＳｅｐｈａｄｅｘＧ－２５柱凝胶过滤脱盐，ＤＥＡＥ－Ｔｏｙｏｐｅａｒｌ离子交换柱层析和ＳｅｐｈａｃｒｙＳ－１００凝胶层析纯化，经ＰＡＧＥ鉴定为一条带ＳＤＳ凝胶电泳测定分子量为７００００．金属离子Ｆｅ３＋对该酶有一定的抑制作用，该酶的等电点为３．７，最适ｐＨ为４，最适温度为６０℃．Ｅ２８０１％为１５．７２，Ｋｍ值为０．１１２×１０－３ｍ．     

建筑火灾综合模拟评估在大空间建筑火灾中的初步应用

运用火灾规律双重性理论，探讨建筑火灾综合模拟评估的理论框架，以影院会堂类大空间建筑为例，运用一些可调试的模拟方法、统计分析及其模型，给出在火灾评估具体环节和应用程式上的一定程度的量化描述．实现火灾综合模拟评估理论模型的可操作性，使更进一步准确和方便地估算建筑火灾对人员、财产造成危害的几率，和判断这种危害的发生具备了初步的可能．     

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.     

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.