Epitope-specific antibody response to HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells by mimotope immunization.

Mouse monoclonal antibody (mAb) BCD-F9, which recognizes an unknown antigen found on the surface of many tumor cells, was used to screen a phage display library expressing random peptide decamers. The phage that was selected encoded the unique sequence GRRPGGWWMR, representing the peptide capable of binding to the BCD-F9 mAb. The peptide was synthesized and found to specifically inhibit the binding of mAb to HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells. Alanine mutagenesis of the sequence encoding this peptide indicated that three residues, PXXWW, were critical for its binding to the BCD-F9 mAb. Polyclonal antibodies generated by immunization of rabbits with the synthetic peptide GRRPGGWWMR (anti-mimotope antiserum or AM-F9) bound specifically to HT-1080 cells and inhibited the binding of the BCD-F9 mAb to these cells. Using an experimental animal model in which CD-1 nude mice are inoculated i.v. with HT-1080 cells, develop lung metastasis, and die within 30 days, we have shown that AM-F9 could significantly prolong the life span of these animals. Our results suggest that a peptide mimotope can potentially be used as a novel immunotherapy to induce a beneficial antitumor response.     

Changes in physiological indices in albino rats exposed to accleration for 24 hours]

The physiological effect of prolonged accelerations of 2 and 4 g applied longitudinally and transversely to the long axis of the body of white rats was studied. The animals exposed to accelerations for 24 hours showed a decrease in the heart rate, respiration rate, rectal temperature, pO2, and pCO2 in the peripheral tissues.     

Biochemical and anatomic changes in the muscles after leg bone lengthening by the Ilizarov method]

In process of crus lengthening, following the method, given by Ilizarov G. A., with 22 adult patients have been studied the peculiarities of metabolic processes of muscle tissue of the lengthened segment as well as the muscle tissue structural changes. As the tests were used; determination of lactate dehydrogenase content and its isoenzymatic spectrum in the blood serum, the residual products of lactic and pyruvic acids glycolysis, relating to the higher indications of the internal medium of an organism; carboxylase activity detection. Energy provision of an organism was estimated according to the ATP content; anatomical state of muscles of the lengthened extremity segment and muscle tissue structure were estimated by means of contrast myography. Dynamics of biochemical indexes suggests that the sparing character of an operation, patient mobility from the first days, preservation of locomotive and supporting function contribute to prevention of metabolic disease and ensure earlier transformation of catabolic reaction to anabolic one. Carboxylase and lactate-dehydrogenase activity increase indicates the biochemical adaptation of an organism. Metabolic changes well correlate with the detected structural changes in the lengthened crus muscles.     

Relationships of parasitic triad co-members in a Tuva natural plague focus: environmental and physiological aspects (experimental studies)

Long-term experimental studies of the environmental and physiological aspects of relationships of parasitic triad co-members, performed in a Tuva natural plague, by using Citellophilus tesquorum altaicus fleas, their natural feeder--a long-tailed Siberian souslik (Citellus undulatus), and the Yersinia pestis strain I-3226 that is typical of the focus were analyzed. A complex of biotic (the environmental features of a causative agent, avector, and a carrier) and abiotic (air temperature and moisture, atmospheric pressure, and seasonal changes) factors that ensure the existence of the enzootic disease plague in this area has been shown to exert a considerable impact on the pattern of relationships of parasitic triad co-members.     

Fibonacci family of dynamical universality classes

Universality is a well-established central concept of equilibrium physics. However, in systems far away from equilibrium, a deeper understanding of its underlying principles is still lacking. Up to now, a few classes have been identified. Besides the diffusive universality class with dynamical exponent z = 2, another prominent example is the superdiffusive Kardar−Parisi−Zhang (KPZ) class with z = 3/2. It appears, e.g., in low-dimensional dynamical phenomena far from thermal equilibrium that exhibit some conservation law. Here we show that both classes are only part of an infinite discrete family of nonequilibrium universality classes. Remarkably, their dynamical exponents z_α are given by ratios of neighboring Fibonacci numbers, starting with either z₁ = 3/2 (if a KPZ mode exist) or z₁ = 2 (if a diffusive mode is present). If neither a diffusive nor a KPZ mode is present, all dynamical modes have the Golden Mean z=(1+5)/2 as dynamical exponent. The universal scaling functions of these Fibonacci modes are asymmetric Lévy distributions that are completely fixed by the macroscopic current density relation and compressibility matrix of the system and hence accessible to experimental measurement.The Golden Mean, φ=1/2+5/2≈1.61803..., also called Divine Proportion, has been an inspiring number for many centuries. It is widespread in nature; i.e., arrangements of petals of the flowers and seeds in the sunflower follow the golden rule (1). Being considered an ideal proportion, the Golden Mean appears in famous architectural ensembles such as the Parthenon in Greece, the Giza Great Pyramids in Egypt, or Notre Dame de Paris in France. Ideal proportions of the human body follow the Golden Rule.Mathematically, the beauty of the Golden Mean number is expressed in its continued fraction representation: All of the coefficients in the representation are equal to unity,φ=1+11+ 11+ 11+⋱.[1]Systematic truncation of the above continued fraction gives the so-called Kepler ratios, 1/1,2/1,3/2,5/3,8/5,..., which approximate the Golden Mean. Subsets of denominators (or numerators) of the Kepler ratios form the celebrated Fibonacci numbers, Fi=1,1,2,3,5,8,.., such that Kepler ratios are ratios of two neighboring Fibonacci numbers. As well as the Golden Mean, Fibonacci ratios and Fibonacci numbers are widespread in nature (1).The occurrence of the Golden Mean is not only interesting for aesthetic reasons but often indicates the existence of some fundamental underlying structure or symmetry. Here we demonstrate that the Divine Proportion as well as all of the truncations (Kepler ratios) of the continued fraction (Eq. 1) appear as universal numbers, namely, the dynamical exponents, in low-dimensional dynamical phenomena far from thermal equilibrium. The two well-known paradigmatic universality classes, Gaussian diffusion with dynamical exponent z = 2 (2, 3) and the Kardar−Parisi−Zhang (KPZ) universality class with z = 3/2 (4), enter the Kepler ratios hierarchy as the first two members of the family.The universal dynamical exponents in the present context characterize the self-similar space−time fluctuations of locally conserved quantities, characterizing, e.g., mass, momentum, or thermal transport in one-dimensional systems far from thermal equilibrium (5). The theory of nonlinear fluctuating hydrodynamics (NLFH) has recently emerged as a powerful and versatile tool to study space−time fluctuations, and specifically the dynamical structure function that describes the behavior of the slow relaxation modes, and from which the dynamical exponents can be extracted (6).The KPZ universality class has been shown to explain the dynamical exponent observed in interface growth processes as diverse as the propagation of flame fronts (7, 8), the growth of bacterial colonies (9), or the time evolution of droplet shapes such as coffee stains (10) where the Gaussian theory fails. For a nice introduction into the KPZ class and its relevance, we refer to ref. 11. Recent reviews (12, 13) provide a more detailed account of theoretical and experimental work on the KPZ class. The dynamical structure function originating from the one-dimensional KPZ equation has a nontrivial scaling function obtained exactly by Prähofer and Spohn from the totally asymmetric simple exclusion process (TASEP) and the polynuclear growth model (14, 15) and was beautifully observed in experiments on turbulent liquid crystals (16, 17). The theoretical treatment, both numerical and analytical, of generic model systems with Hamiltonian dynamics (18), anharmonic chains (19, 20), and lattice models for driven diffusive systems (21, 22) have demonstrated an extraordinary robust universality of fluctuations of the conserved slow modes in one-dimensional systems.Despite this apparent ubiquity, dynamical exponents different from z = 2 or z = 3/2 were observed frequently. Usually, it is not clear whether this corresponds to genuinely different dynamical critical behavior or is just a consequence of imperfections in the experimental setting. Moreover, recently, a new universality class with dynamical exponent z = 5/3 for the heat mode in Hamiltonian dynamics (18) was discovered, followed by the discovery of some more universality classes in anharmonic chains (19, 20) and lattice models for driven diffusive systems (21, 22). What is lacking, even in the conceptually simplest case of the effectively one-dimensional systems that we are considering, is the understanding of the plethora of dynamical nonequilibrium universality classes within a larger framework. Such a framework exists, e.g., for 2D critical phenomena in equilibrium systems where the spatial symmetry of conformal invariance together with internal symmetries give rise to discrete families of universality classes in which all critical exponents are simple rational numbers.It is the aim of this article to demonstrate that discrete families of universality classes with fractional critical exponents appear also far from thermal equilibrium. This turns out to be a hidden feature of the NLFH equations that we extract using mode coupling theory. It is remarkable that one finds dynamical exponents z_α, which are ratios of neighboring Fibonacci numbers {1,1,2,3,5,8,…} defined recursively as F_n = F_n?1 + F_n?2. The first two members of this family are diffusion (z = 2 = F₃/F₂) and KPZ (z = 3/2 = F₄/F₃). The corresponding universal scaling functions are computed and shown to be (in general asymmetric) z_α-stable Lévy distributions with parameters that can be computed from the macroscopic current density relation and compressibility matrix of the corresponding physical system and which thus can be obtained from experiments without detailed knowledge of the microscopic properties of the system. The theoretical predictions, obtained by mode coupling theory, are confirmed by Monte Carlo simulations of a three-lane asymmetric simple exclusion process, which is a model of driven diffusive transport of three conserved particle species.     

From the Cover: Instant immunity through chemically programmable vaccination and covalent self-assembly

The ability to instantly create a state of immunity as achieved in the passive transfer of hyperimmune globulin has had a tremendous impact on public health. Unlike passive immunization, active immunization, which is the foundation of vaccinology, is an anticipatory strategy with inherent limitations. Here we show that elements of active and passive immunization can be combined to create an effective chemistry-driven approach to vaccinology. Reactive immunization was used to create a reservoir of covalent polyclonal antibodies in 3 mouse strains that were subsequently engrafted with syngeneic CT26 colon or B16F10 melanoma tumors. Upon administration of designed integrin α_vβ₃ and α_vβ₅ adapter ligands, the induced covalent polyclonal antibodies self-assembled with the adapter ligands and the animals mounted an instant, chemically programmed, polyclonal response against the implanted tumors. Significant therapeutic responses were observed without recourse to adjuvant therapy. The chemically programmed immune responses were driven by antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and complement-directed cytotoxicity. We suggest that this type of chemistry-driven approach to vaccinology is underexplored and may provide routes to vaccines to protect against diseases that have proven intractable to biology-driven vaccine approaches.     

Theoretical and experimental aspects of detection of counterfeit and inferior quality products among pharmaceuticals produced from oilplants

On the basis of their own empiric studies, the authors substantiate principle approaches to and criteria of the detection of counterfeit and inferior quality products among pharmaceuticals and biologically active food supplements produced of oilplants with a non-specific composition of fatty acid acylglyceroles. To detect counterfeit and inferior quality products effectively, the authors offer the optimal sequence of procedures including the following steps: organoleptic analysis; measurement of the main compositional and qualitative parameters (density, refractive index, saponification number, acid number, iodine number, oxidability index, percentage of unsaponifiables, and total content of carotenes converting into beta-carotene); theoretical calculation of the composition of fatty acids and glyceroles based on the empiric compositional and qualitative values, including the calculation of average relative molecular mass of the fatty acids, and the proportion of acylglyceroles and glycerin in the objects.