An accelerated,clinical-grade protocol to generate high yields of type 1-polarizing messenger RNA–loaded dendritic cells for cancer vaccination

Background

Many efforts have been devoted to improve the performance of dendritic cell (DC)–based cancer vaccines. Ideally, a DC vaccine should induce robust type 1–polarized T-cell responses and efficiently expand antigen (Ag)-specific cytotoxic T-cells, while being applicable regardless of patient human leukocyte antigen (HLA) type. Production time should be short, while maximally being good manufacturing practice (GMP)–compliant. We developed a method that caters to all of these demands and demonstrated the superiority of the resulting product compared with DCs generated using a well-established “classical” protocol.

Immunocytochemical staining of effusions; an external quality control study in The Netherlands

Immunocytochemical staining of effusions; an external quality control study in The Netherlands
In The Netherlands an external quality control study of immunocytochemical (IC) staining of effusions was initiated, consisting of three test rounds. The 12 participating laboratories received samples of malignant effusions (runs 1, 2 and 3), and five unstained control specimens prepared from the same material in runs 2 and 3. The laboratories used their own protocols to prepare and stain the samples ('in‐house' specimens). Two persons viewed and scored the slides following preset criteria concerning number and morphology of diagnostic cells, background staining and staining specificity. Better scoring results were found for control specimens, compared with 'in‐house' specimens, primarily caused by cell loss in the latter. This finding underlines the view that high quality IC needs well organized processing and staining procedures, and warrants external quality control systems.     

Carnivorous dental adaptations in tribosphenic mammals and phylogenetic reconstruction

The molar morphology and structure of seven groups of flesh-eating mammals (Deltatheroida, Borhyaenoidea, Stagodontidae, Dasyuroidea, Creodonta, Carnivora, and Prionogale ) are compared. The dental adaptations to carnivorous diet are remarkably similar in the seven groups. Derived taxa within these groups all possess a postvallum-prevallid shearing with a reduction of the paracone relative to the metacone (except in the Deltatheroida), a large postmetacrista, a reduced stylar shelf, a reduced protocone, a large blade-like paraconid and a reduced metaconid and talonid. The constancy of these features (regarded as a single functional complex) and of their evolutionary pattern in phylogenetically distant groups, is evidence of their high potential for homoplasy. Therefore these character states should be used with extreme care in reconstructing phylogeny and, when possible, associated to cranial features. Several phylogenetic interpretations using them are discussed, some of which are regarded as poorly supported.     

Copper complexation in eutrophic and humic Lake Tjeukemeer, The Netherlands

SUMMARY. 1. Copper(II) complexation in the eutrophic. humus-rich Lake Tjeukemeer was measured fortnightly for several years by copper titration (Ion Selective Electrode) and by copper solubilization. Additionally, the copper speciation during titration was followed by ultrafiltration.
2. The Tjeukemeer showed high ligand concentrations able to complex up to 8.5X10^-5 M Cu.
3. Scatchard plots and affinity spectra of the titration data allowed the discrimination of at least three different binding sites. In Scatchard plots log K values ranged from 5 to 9, in affinity spectra from 4.5 to 8.
4. The highest log K values coincided with relatively low humus concentrations and blooms of algae, mainly Cyanobacteria.
5. The ultrafiltration experiments indicated that relatively small size fractions (<10 nm) have the highest copper binding affinity.     

A new species of Festuca L.from Spain

A new species of Festuca (Festuca rivas-martinezii de la Fuente & Ortúñez) is described from the Sierra de Ayllón, Sierra de Guadarrama, Sierra de Gredos and associated chains (northcentral Spain: provinces of Avila, Guadalajara, Madrid and Segovia. Some morphological, anatomical and cytological characters of the taxon are presented.     

Effects of climate change on productivity of cereals and legumes; model evaluation of observed year-to-year variability of the CO2 response

The effect of elevated [CO₂] on the productivity of spring wheat, winter wheat and faba bean was studied in experiments in climatized crop enclosures in the Wageningen Rhizolab in 1991–93. Simulation models for crop growth were used to explore possible causes for the observed differences in the CO₂ response. Measurements of the canopy gas exchange (CO₂ and water vapour) were made continuously from emergence until harvest. At an external [CO₂] of 700 μmol mol^?1 Maximum Canopy CO₂ Exchange Rate (CCERmax) at canopy closure was stimulated by 51% for spring wheat and by 71% for faba bean. At the end of the growing season, above ground biomass increase at 700 μmol mol^?1 was 58% (faba bean), 35% (spring wheat) and 19% (winter wheat) and the harvest index did not change. For model exploration, weather data sets for the period 1975-88 and 1991–93 were used, assuming adequate water supply and [CO₂] at 350 and 700 μmol mol^?1. For spring wheat the simulated responses (35–50%) were at the upper end of the experimental results. In agreement with experiments, simulations showed smaller responses for winter wheat and larger responses for faba bean. Further model explorations showed that this differential effect in the CO₂ response may not be primarily due to fundamental physiological differences between the crops, but may be at least partly due to differences in the daily air temperatures during comparable stages of growth of these crops. Simulations also showed that variations between years in CO₂ response can be largely explained by differences in weather conditions (especially temperature) between growing seasons.