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We report on the first time-resolved small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) study of the structural relaxation from a shear-induced aligned state back to the isotropic state in a system of giant wormlike reverse micelles. The micelles are formed by lecithin and small amounts of water in cyclohexane. A liquid sample with the micellar volume fraction phi = 0.3 was exposed to a steady shear of (gamma)
The lamellar mesophase formed by surfactant 1,4-bis(2-ethylhexyl) sodium sulfosuccinate (AOT) in deuterated water is mixed with poly(dimethylacrylamide) (PDMAA) polymers of low molecular weight ((M) over bar (n) = (2-20) x 10(3)). The mixtures separate into microphases (lamellar plus isotropic polymer solution). Their microstructures are studied by microscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS),
Peptidoglycan from Staphylococcus aureus mobilized CD66b in human neutrophils but did not upregulate surface activation markers in eosinophils. In addition, Toll-like receptor 2, implicated in the recognition of peptidoglycan, was detected on the surface of resting neutrophils but not on eosinophils. These findings suggest roles for neutrophils but not eosinophils in innate recognition of peptidog
The Fra a I allergen in strawberry (Fragaria ananassa) is homologous to the major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1, which has numerous isoforms differing in terms of amino acid sequence and immunological impact. To map the extent of sequence differences in the Fra a I allergen, PCR cloning and sequencing was applied. Several genomic sequences of Fra a 1, with a length of either 584, 591 or 594 nucleo
The interaction between three triblock copolymers of poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(propylene oxide), EOnPOmEOn, and the ionic surfactants sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS, and hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride, CTAC, has been studied in dilute aqueous solution using differential scanning calorimetry, DSC, and isothermal titration calorimetry. The length of the PPO block was the same in all three copo
With the human genome in a first sequence draft and several other genomes being finished this year, the existing information gap between genomics and proteomics is becoming increasingly evident. The analysis of the proteome is, however, much more complicated because the synthesis and structural requirements of functional proteins are different from the easily handled oligonucleotides for which a f
The B10.RIII mouse strain (H-2r) develops chronic experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) upon immunization with the myelin basic protein 89–101 peptide. EAE was induced and studied in a backcross between B10.RIII and the EAE-resistant RIIIS/J strain (H-2r), and a complete genome scan with microsatellite markers was performed. Five loci were significantly linked to different traits and cli
Leflunomide is a low molecular weight immunosuppressive drug which inhibits the enzymes dehydroorotate dehydrogenase and protein tyrosine kinase, both of which are important components in the immune response. As the mechanisms of action of leflunomide and tacrolimus are different, we postulated an additive or synergistic effect of the two drugs and investigated the effects of leflunomide alone, or
Dendritic cells (DC) undergo complex developmental changes during maturation. The MHC class H (MHC H) molecules of immature DC accumulate in intracellular compartments, but are expressed at high levels on the plasma membrane upon DC maturation. It has been proposed that the cysteine protease inhibitor cystatin C (CyC) plays a pivotal role in the control of this process by regulating the activity o
Flow cytometry provides accurate relative cellular quantitation (percent abundance) of cells from diverse samples, but technical limitations of most flow cytometers preclude accurate absolute quantitation. Several quantitation standards are now commercially available which, when added to samples, permit absolute quantitation of CD4+ T cells. However, these reagents are limited by their cost, techn
The thermodynamics and kinetics of formation of host-guest complexes between a series of bolaform surfactants of type C(n)Me(6)(2+)2Br(-) (n = 8, 10, and 12) and alpha-cyclodextrin and beta-cyclodextrin were studied with the aid of isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) at 298.15 and 308.20 K. The association constant, the enthalpy, and the entropy of formation were determined. The obtained thermo
Helicobacter pylon is found commonly in the gut of the human beings and animals. This bacterium is found usually when patients suffer from upper GI infections. H. pylon has been found in the patients in antral biopsies in Mumbai, India. We have found H. pylon in antral biopsies and faeces in another Study we have done. The mode of transmission of H. pylon is yet not confirmed although two routes a
Factor I (FI) is a crucial inhibitor controlling all complement pathways due to its ability to degrade activated complement proteins C3b and C4b in the presence of cofactors such as factor H, C4b-binding protein, complement receptor 1 or CD46. Complete deficiency of FI, which is synthesized mainly in the liver is rare and leads to complement consumption resulting in recurrent severe infections, gl
De novo differentiation of CD4(+) Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells (induced (i) Tregs) occurs preferentially in the gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALT). We addressed the contribution of background genetic factors in affecting the balance of iTreg, T helper type 1 (Th1), and Th17 cell differentiation in GALT in vivo following the transfer of naive CD4(+) CD45RB(high) T cells to strains of RAG2-defici
The skin is a barrier membrane that separates environments with profoundly different water contents. The barrier properties are assured by the outer layer of the skin, the stratum corneum (SC), which controls the transepidermal water loss. The SC acts as a responding membrane, since its hydration and permeability vary with the boundary condition, which is the activity of water at the outer surface
We propose an event-based account of the cognitive and linguistic representation of time and temporal relations. Human beings differ from nonhuman animals in entertaining and communicating elaborate detached (as opposed to cued) event representations and temporal relational schemas. We distinguish deictically based (D-time) from sequentially based (S-time) representations, identifying these with t
