Trivalent M-related protein as a component of next generation group A streptococcal vaccines

Harry S. Courtney,Shannon E. Niedermeyer,Thomas A. Penfound,Claudia M. Hohn,Adam Greeley,James B. Dale 대한백신학회 2017 Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research Vol.6 No.1

Purpose: There is a need to broaden protective coverage of M protein–based vaccines against group A streptococci (GAS) because coverage of the current 30-valent M protein vaccine does not extend to all emm types. An additional GAS antigen and virulence factor that could potentially extend vaccine coverage is M-related protein (Mrp). Previous work indicated that there are three structurally related families of Mrp (MrpI, MrpII, and MrpIII) and peptides of all three elicited bactericidal antibodies against multiple emm types. The purpose of this study was to determine if a recombinant form containing Mrp from the three families would evoke bactericidal antiserum and to determine if this antiserum could enhance the effectiveness of antisera to the 30-valent M protein vaccine. Materials and Methods: A trivalent recombinant Mrp (trMrp) protein containing N-terminal fragments from the three families (trMrp) was constructed, purified and used to immunize rabbits. Anti-trMrp sera contained high titers of antibodies against the trMrp immunogen and recombinant forms representing MrpI, MrpII, and MrpIII. Results: The antisera opsonized emm types of GAS representing each Mrp family and also opsonized emm types not covered by the 30-valent M protein–based vaccine. Importantly, a combination of trMrp and 30-valent M protein antiserum resulted in higher levels of opsonization of GAS than either antiserum alone. Conclusion: These findings suggest that trMrp may be an effective addition to future constructs of GAS vaccines.

Characteristics of total gaseous mercury (TGM) concentrations in an industrial complex in South Korea: impacts from local sources

Seo, Yong-Seok,Jeong, Seung-Pyo,Holsen, Thomas M.,Han, Young-Ji,Choi, Eunhwa,Park, Eun Ha,Kim, Tae Young,Eum, Hee-Sang,Park, Dae Gun,Kim, Eunhye,Kim, Soontae,Kim, Jeong-Hun,Choi, Jaewon,Yi, Seung-Muk Copernicus GmbH 2016 Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Vol.16 No.15

<P>Abstract. Total gaseous mercury (TGM) concentrations were measured every 5 min in Pohang, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea, during summer (17-23 August 2012), fall (9-17 October 2012), winter (22-29 January 2013), and spring (26 March-3 April 2013) to (1) characterize the hourly and seasonal variations of atmospheric TGM concentrations; (2) identify the relationships between TGM and co-pollutants; and (3) identify likely source directions and locations of TGM using the conditional probability function (CPF), conditional bivariate probability function (CBPF) and total potential source contribution function (TPSCF). The TGM concentration was statistically significantly highest in fall (6.7 ± 6.4 ng m−3), followed by spring (4.8 ± 4.0 ng m−3), winter (4.5 ± 3.2 ng m−3) and summer (3.8 ± 3.9 ng m−3). There was a weak but statistically significant negative correlation between the TGM concentration and ambient air temperature (r = −0.08, p<0.05). Although the daytime temperature (14.7 ± 10.0 °C) was statistically significantly higher than that in the nighttime (13.0 ± 9.8 °C) (p<0.05), the daytime TGM concentration (5.3 ± 4.7 ng m−3) was statistically significantly higher than that in the nighttime (4.7 ± 4.7 ng m−3) (p<0.01), possibly due to local emissions related to industrial activities and activation of local surface emission sources. The observed ΔTGM ∕ ΔCO was significantly lower than that of Asian long-range transport, but similar to that of local sources in Korea and in US industrial events, suggesting that local sources are more important than those of long-range transport. CPF, CBPF and TPSCF indicated that the main sources of TGM were iron and manufacturing facilities, the hazardous waste incinerators and the coastal areas. </P>

Effectiveness of Sodium Azide Alone Compared to Sodium Azide in Combination with Methyl Nitrosurea for Rice Mutagenesis

( Thomas H. Tai ),( Areum Chun ),( Isabelle M. Henry ),( Kathie J. Ngo ),( Diana Burkart-waco ) 한국육종학회 2016 Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Vol.4 No.4

Rice seeds of the temperate japonica cultivar Kitaake were mutagenized with sodium azide alone and in combination with methyl nitrosourea. Using the reduced representation sequencing method Restriction Enzyme Sequence Comparative Analysis (RESCAN), the mutation densities, types and local sequence context were determined in the resulting M2 generation mutants. The results indicate that sodium azide is as effective alone as in combination with methyl nitrosourea in generating mutations in rice. In both cases, GC>AT transitions were the predominant mutation type and similar local sequence contexts were observed (5`-G-G-R-3` for sodium azide, 5`-R-G-R-3` for sodium azide plus methyl nitrosourea). Differences in local sequence context with those reported for another common chemical mutagen, ethyl methanesulfonate, suggests that rice mutant populations developed by combining mutants derived independently from sodium azide and ethyl methanesulfonate may exhibit a broader spectrum of mutations and mutant phenotypes.

Differential Rapid Screening of Phytochemicals by Leaf Spray Mass Spectrometry

Thomas Müller,R. Graham Cooks 대한화학회 2014 Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society Vol.35 No.3

Ambient ionization can be achieved by generating an electrospray directly from plant tissue (“leaf spray”). The resulting mass spectra are characteristic of ionizable phytochemicals in the plant material. By subtracting the leaf spray spectra recorded from the petals of two hibiscus species H. moscheutos and H. syriacus one gains rapid access to the metabolites that differ most in the two petals. One such compound was identified as the sambubioside of quercitin (or delphinidin) while others are known flavones. Major interest centered on a C19H29NO5 compound that occurs only in the large H. moscheutos bloom. Attempts were made to characterize this compound by mass spectrometry alone as a test of such an approach. This showed that the compound is an alkaloid, assigned to the polyhydroxylated pyrrolidine class, and bound via a C3 hydrocarbon unit to a monoterpene.

Bone remodeling and implant migration of uncemented femoral and cemented asymmetrical tibial components in total knee arthroplasty - DXA and RSA evaluation with 2-year follow up

( Müjgan Yilmaz ),( Christina Enciso Holm ),( Thomas Lind ),( Gunnar Flivik ),( Anders Odgaard ),( Michael Mørk Petersen ) 대한슬관절학회 2021 대한슬관절학회지 Vol.33 No.-

Background: Aseptic loosening is one of the major reasons for late revision in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The risk of aseptic loosening can be detected using radiostereometric analysis (RSA), whereby micromovements (migration) can be measured, and thus RSA is recommended in the phased introduction of orthopedic implants. Decrease in bone mineral density (BMD), as measured by dual-energy x ray absorptiometry (DXA), is related to the breaking strength of the bone, which is measured concurrently by RSA. The aim of the study was to evaluate bone remodeling and implant migration with cemented asymmetrical tibial and uncemented femoral components after TKA with a follow up period of 2 years. Methods: This was a prospective longitudinal cohort study of 29 patients (number of female/male patients 17/12, mean age 65.2 years), received a hybrid Persona® TKA (Zimmer Biomet, Warsaw, IN, USA) consisting of a cemented tibial, an all-polyethylene patella, and uncemented trabecular metal femoral components. Follow up: preoperative, 1 week, and 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after surgery, and double examinations for RSA and DXA were performed at 12 months. RSA results were presented as maximal total point of motion (MTPM) and segmental motion (translation and rotation), and DXA results were presented as changes in BMD in different regions of interest (ROI). Results: MTPM at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months was 0.65 mm, 0.84 mm, 0.92 mm, and 0.96mm for the femoral component and 0.54 mm, 0.60 mm, 0.64 mm, and 0.68 mm, respectively, for the tibial component. The highest MTPM occurred within the first 3 months. Afterwards most of the curves flattened and stabilized. Between 12 and 24 months after surgery, 16% of femoral components had migrated by more than 0.10mm and 15% of tibial components had migrated by more than 0.2 mm. Percentage change in BMD in each ROI for distal femur was as follows: ROI I 26.7%, ROI II 9.2% and ROI III 3.3%. BMD and at the proximal tibia: ROI I 8.2%, ROI II 8.6% and ROI III 7.0% after 2 years compared with 1 week postoperative results. There was no significant correlation between maximal percentwise change in BMD and MTPM after 2 years. Conclusion: Migration patterns and changes in BMD related to femoral components after TKA in our study correspond well with previous studies; we observed marginally greater migration with the tibial component.

In vitro response of THP-1 derived macrophages to antimicrobially effective PHMB-coated Ti6Al4V alloy implant material with and without contamination with S. epidermidis and P. aeruginosa

Paula Zwicker,Thomas Schmidt,Melanie Hornschuh,Holger Lode,Axel Kramer,Gerald Müller 한국생체재료학회 2022 생체재료학회지 Vol.26 No.1

Aim: Periprosthetic joint infections are a devastating complication after arthroplasty, leading to rejection of the prosthesis. The prevention of septic loosening may be possible by an antimicrobial coating of the implant surface. Poly (hexamethylene) biguanide hydrochloride [PHMB] seems to be a suitable antiseptic agent for this purpose since previous studies revealed a low cytotoxicity and a long-lasting microbicidal effect of Ti6Al4V alloy coated with PHMB. To preclude an excessive activation of the immune system, possible inflammatory effects on macrophages upon contact with PHMB-coated surfaces alone and after killing of S. epidermidis and P. aeruginosa are analyzed. Methods: THP-1 monocytes were differentiated to M0 macrophages by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and seeded onto Ti6Al4V surfaces coated with various amounts of PHMB. Next to microscopic immunofluorescence analysis of labeled macrophages after adhesion on the coated surface, measurement of intracellular reactive oxygen species and analysis of cytokine secretion at different time points without and with previous bacterial contamination were conducted. Results: No influence on morphology of macrophages and only slight increases in iROS generation were detected. The cytokine secretion pattern depends on the surface treatment procedure and the amount of adsorbed PHMB. The PHMB coating resulted in a high reduction of viable bacteria, resulting in no significant differences in cytokine secretion as reaction to coated surfaces with and without bacterial burden. Conclusion: Ti6Al4V specimens after alkaline treatment followed by coating with 5–7 μg PHMB and specimens treated with H2O2 before PHMB-coating (4 μg) had the smallest influence on the macrophage phienotype and thus are considered as the surface with the best cytocompatibility to macrophages tested in the present study.

Silent Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Patients Randomized to Stenting or Endarterectomy for Symptomatic Carotid Stenosis

Mandy D. Müller,Lisa M. Jongen,Aysun Altinbas,Kristine A. Blackham,Paul J. Nederkoorn,Sumaira Macdonald,Rolf Jäger,Thomas Wolff,Philippe A. Lyrer,L. Jaap Kappelle,Stephan G. Wetzel,Toby Richards,Jeroe 대한뇌졸중학회 2019 Journal of stroke Vol.21 No.1

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Virtual Reality for Digital Heritage

Meehae Song,Thomas Elias,Wolfgang Müller-Wittig,Tony K.Y. Chan 한국HCI학회 2003 한국HCI학회 학술대회 Vol.2003 No.2

Galaxy Zoo: a sample of blue early-type galaxies at low redshift^★

Schawinski, Kevin,Lintott, Chris,Thomas, Daniel,Sarzi, Marc,Andreescu, Dan,Bamford, Steven P.,Kaviraj, Sugata,Khochfar, Sadegh,Land, Kate,Murray, Phil,Nichol, Robert C.,Raddick, M. Jordan,Slosar, An&# Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2009 Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Vol.396 No.2

<P>ABSTRACT</P><P>We report the discovery of a population of nearby, blue early-type galaxies with high star formation rates (0.5 < SFR < 50 M<SUB>⊙</SUB> yr<SUP>−1</SUP>). They are identified by their visual morphology as provided by Galaxy Zoo for Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 6 and their <I>u</I>−<I>r</I> colour. We select a volume-limited sample in the redshift range 0.02 < <I>z</I> < 0.05, corresponding to luminosities of approximately <I>L</I>* and above and with <I>u</I>−<I>r</I> colours significantly bluer than the red sequence. We confirm the early-type morphology of the objects in this sample and investigate their environmental dependence and star formation properties. Blue early-type galaxies tend to live in lower density environments than ‘normal’ red sequence early-types and make up 5.7 ± 0.4 per cent of the low-redshift early-type galaxy population. We find that such blue early-type galaxies are virtually absent at high velocity dispersions above 200 km s<SUP>−1</SUP>. Our analysis uses emission line diagnostic diagrams and we find that ∼25 per cent of them are actively star forming, while another ∼25 per cent host both star formation and an active galactic nucleus (AGN). Another ∼12 per cent are AGN. The remaining 38 per cent show no strong emission lines. When present and uncontaminated by an AGN contribution, the star formation is generally intense. We consider star formation rates derived from Hα, <I>u</I> band and infrared luminosities, and radial colour profiles, and conclude that the star formation is spatially extended. Of those objects that are not currently undergoing star formation must have ceased doing so recently in order to account for their blue optical colours. The gas-phase metallicity of the actively star-forming blue early-types galaxies is supersolar in all cases. We discuss the place of these objects in the context of galaxy formation. A catalogue of all 204 blue early-type galaxies in our sample, including star formation rates, emission line classification is provided.</P>

Refinement of temperature determination in cutting zones

Michael Storchak,Valerii Kushner,Hans-Christian Möhring,Thomas Stehle 대한기계학회 2021 JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.35 No.8

A methodology for temperatures calculating in different cutting zones is proposed, taking the peculiarities of heat distribution for moving sources into account. For this, the correlation was established between the heat flow densities and temperatures in the chip forming area, in the stagnation zone as well as in the zone of plastic contact between the chip and the tool. The method for temperature calculation was based on the joint solution of the heat conduction equation and the constitutive equation of the machined material. A significant simplification of the temperature calculation was achieved without sacrificing accuracy by considering the features of the heat propagation from fast-moving sources. Taking into account material softening, the temperature and heat flow density distributions along the tool rake and clearance faces and in the stagnation zone were numerically calculated. The developed models were confirmed by experiment. The comparison showed good agreement between theoretical and experimental results.