An optical-to-electrical wavelength demultiplexing detector has been fabricated using a short length of twin-core optical fiber and an integrated bi-cell detector. The twin-core fiber splits 1325 and ...1535 nm input signals onto different output cores, thus directing each demultiplexed channel onto the spatially separated active areas of the bi-cell. We discuss the design, fabrication, and post-tuning techniques used to successfully demonstrate the wavelength demultiplexing functionality of the device and present some preliminary results from an assembled laboratory prototype.
In the first 19 months of screening, the North Western Regional Transfusion Centre (RTC) tested 224 700 consecutive blood donors for antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) by second generation ...enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Of these, 366 repeatedly reactive samples were referred for confirmatory testing at Manchester Public Health Laboratory (PHL). There, the initial EIA was repeated, together with two further EIAs. All the referred samples were subjected to a confirmatory line immunoblot (RIBA-II). Reverse transcription followed by the polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), in order to detect viral RNA, was performed on selected samples. Among the donors, 61 accepted offers for medical review and were assessed for risk factors, clinical findings and results of standard liver function tests. Of these donors, 53 proceeded to liver biopsy. The overall prevalence of confirmed positive donors was 0.04%. Main risk factors identified included intravenous drug abuse in 31 (51%) donors and prior blood transfusion in 12 (20%) but a risk factor was not apparent in 11 (18%). Viraemia, detected by RT-PCR, could be predicted with a high degree of accuracy by means of the readily available and simpler screening and confirmatory tests (EIA and RIBA-II). Established chronic hepatitis was demonstrated in 90% of the liver biopsies. A trend towards worsening histological findings accompanied increasing concentrations of serum transaminase. Even so, many donors with normal transaminase values had abnormal biopsies including those showing chronic active hepatitis (CAH). These findings indicate that a substantial proportion of previously unrecognised asymptomatic persons with established chronic liver disease exists among North Western blood donors. Confirmed positive serological tests are usually associated with viraemia and abnormal histological findings. We conclude that all such confirmed positive persons should be offered full medical assessment, including liver biopsy, so as to determine whether they warrant antiviral therapy.
Since the introduction of screening for hepatitis C virus (HCV) in donated blood, the risk of contracting posttransfusion hepatitis has been greatly reduced and the test has led to the recognition of ...asymptomatic blood donors positive for anti-HCV antibodies. Following confirmation of the HCV status with second generation RIBA testing followed by counselling, 55 patients had full investigations, including liver biopsy. These were classified by the traditional chronic hepatitis system and were graded according to the Knodell and Scheuer histological activity indices. Seven of the biopsies were normal (12%), apart from minor degrees of steatosis in two. Eleven cases (20%) were in the chronic lobular hepatitis category without portal inflammation, while 37 cases showed portal inflammation, including 20 (36%) cases where chronic persistent hepatitis was the predominant feature and 17 cases (31%) where there was chronic active hepatitis with piecemeal necrosis. Features which have previously been described in chronic HCV-associated hepatitis were noted: portal lymphoid aggregates (58%), lymphoid follicles with germinal centres (15%), bile duct damage (11%), lobular inflammation (80%), sinusoidal mononuclear cell infiltration (26%), acidophil body formation (11%), and steatosis (47%). Fibrosis was present in 46% of cases but was generally of mild degree; 9% of biopsies demonstrated bridging fibrosis but no cases of cirrhosis were present. Even though serum transaminase levels correlated well with the presence of chronic hepatitis and with the Scheuer and Knodell activity indices, a proportion of patients with significant liver damage had normal transaminase levels, and this study suggests the need for liver biopsy in the evaluation of asymptomatic HCV-positive blood donors.
A recombinant plasminogen activator with high fibrin affinity and specificity was expressed by transfecting hybridoma cells with a plasmid that combines sequence coding for low molecular mass (32 ...kDa) single-chain urokinasetype plasminogen activator scuPA(32kDa) and anti-fibrin monoclonal antibody 59D8. The expression of the recombinant molecule r-scuPA(32kDa)-59D8 was optimized by replacing the 3' untranslated region (initially that of high molecular mass scuPA) in the plasmid with the 3' untranslated region of either β-globin or mouse immunoglobulin. This modification resulted in a >100-fold improvement in the level of protein expression. The 103-kDa r-scuPA(32kDa)-59D8 protein displayed catalytic activity indistinguishable from that of high molecular mass scuPA and fibrin binding comparable to that of native antibody 59D8. r-scuPA(32kDa)-59D8 was 6 times more potent than high molecular mass scuPA in lysing a human plasma clot in vitro and was 20 times more potent than high molecular mass scuPA in the rabbit jugular vein model of thrombolysis. Molecules of this type may serve as prototypes for highly specific, antibody-targeted enzymes suitable for human use.
The STAR Collaboration reports the first observation of exclusive rho(0) photoproduction, AuAu-->AuAurho(0), and rho(0) production accompanied by mutual nuclear Coulomb excitation, ...AuAu-->Au*Au*rho(0), in ultraperipheral heavy-ion collisions. The rho(0) have low transverse momenta, consistent with coherent coupling to both nuclei. The cross sections at sqrts(NN)=130 GeV agree with theoretical predictions treating rho(0) production and Coulomb excitation as independent processes.
No abstract available. Article truncated after 150 words. History of Present Illness: A 66-year-old man had undergone an orthotopic heart transplantation on March 28th, 2015 due to end-stage ...cardiomyopathy. During a recent hospitalization from 6/26-7/2 a transbronchial lung biopsy was suggestive of subacute rejection. He was treated with: Plasmapheresis x 3; Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG); 500 mg Solu-Medrol daily; Tacrolimus held as supra-therapeutic level of 16.2; Mycophenolate decreased to 500mg BID; Prednisone at 10mg BID on discharge. On July 3rd he began having cough productive of clear sputum, nausea, vomiting, and headache. Subsequently he had body aches, subjective fever, chills, night sweats, and a poor appetite with a 4 kg weight loss over the last week. There was also a history of several falls after “losing his balance". Past Medical History: There was also a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, coronary artery disease with coronary artery bypass grafting in 2000. Physical Examination: Vital signs: T-37.1 ...
Ubiquitin is a 76-amino acid protein involved in the targeting for destruction of proteins in the cell. The protein can readily be synthesized chemically affording an extra dimension to studies of ...protein stability. Ubiquitin with various modifications to the hydrophobic core has been synthesized. In particular, two core amino acids have been replaced by aminobutyric acid (Val-26) and norvaline (for Ile-30) and the product crystallized. The refined crystal structure shows an overall contraction of the molecule and the side chain of Nva-30 rotates relative to Ile-30. However, the side chain rotation is not sufficient to compensate for the effect of the loss of the methyl group and hence a small cavity is introduced into the structure, which decreases the stability of the protein. The biological behaviour of the modified protein is unaltered. The observed changes in stability are of the magnitude expected for the removal of methyl groups from the hydrophobic core of a protein. Interestingly, the effect appears to be independent of the position of the removed methyl group. The intact structure, but not its stability, is important for recognition by the biological conjugating system.
Results on the measurement of inclusive K
s
o, Λ and Λ̄ production cross sections and rapidity distributions for antiproton interactions on lead, copper and carbon nuclear targets at beam momenta of ...5.2, 7.0 and 8.8 GeV/c are reported. Simulations employing a conventional Intra-nuclear cascade model were able to reproduce the experimental results. Hence, no compelling evidence for the formation of exotic quark-gluon states of matter was found.
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