Direct Factor Analysis With Discrete X-Ray Diffraction Patterns

In this paper,we put forward a method of direct factor analysis with discrete X-ray diffraction patterns, which was supported by the experimental measurement with the mixture containing 2,3,4,5 phases respectively. The detailed discussion was also given to its principles,errors and criterion.     

STATE VARIABLE METHOD FOR DYNAMIC SIMULATION OF HVDC SYSTEMS

A flexible mathematical model used for dynamic simulation studies of HVDC systems which is based on the stale variable method is presented, and the correspongding computer program has been implemented. Generality, easy to use, and suitable to run on microcomputers are the main features of the model and the computer program. Therefore the model is easy to be extended for application. An example is given in the paper to verily the coneclness of the model and the program.     

LABORATORY INVESTIGATION OF ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS PARAMETERS FOR THE INDUCED-NOZZLE DEVICE

The standoff of a submerged jet is smaller than a non-submerged jet in general. In order to increase the standoff of a submerged jet, the induced-nozzle device is presented with its inducing mechanism analysed in this paper. Under the various inducing medium, the effect of the ratio d2/d1 upon the device's properties is measured. Some reasonable parameters are given. When d2/d1=2.0, approximate straight region of the curve of the jet center line stagnation pressure varying with the standoff is L/d1= l0~12 for inducing air. The induced-nozzle device is compared with the conventional nozzle for shotting some samples. Several applied possibilities of the device are discussed.     

STUDY OF DETERMINING THE DEGREE OF GRAPHITIZING OF COKE WITH X-RAY DIFFRACTION METHOD

In the paper, the process of determining the degree of graphiti-zing of metallurgy coke with X-ray diffraction method was discussed. The extrapolation was used in order to obtain the interplanar distance. of (002) crystaloface of metallurgy coke. The finding showed that the dmax. wasn''t 3.44A, butO4.31A. A rational formula which could be used to characterize the degree of gra-phitizing of metallurgy coke was found.     

Protective effects of oral microencapsulated Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae vaccine prepared by co-spray drying method

The efficacy of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae oral vaccine was investigated in microsphere dosage form. A co-spray drying process was used to apply an encapsulating material, Eudragit L30 D-55, to microspheres containing Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae antigens. The microspheres were generally effective (>93%) with protein release at pH 7.4, but almost none were released at pH 1.2, for 3 hr in an in vitro dissolution test. An SPF-swine model was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the microspheres as an oral vaccine, and the related immune responses. The serum's systemic IgG against M. hyopneumoniae was evoked by ELISA analysis, after a 2nd immunization of all pigs. The vaccinated groups' mean lesion score was significantly lower after the Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae challenge than that of the nonvaccinated/challenged groups (P<0.05). This study strongly suggests that the oral microspheres vaccine prepared by a co-spray drying method can provide effective protection against M. hyopneumoniae infection in pigs.     

Oral immunization using formalin-inactivated Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae antigens entrapped in microspheres with aqueous dispersion polymers prepared using a co-spray drying process

Oral-vaccine microspheres based on formalin-inactivated Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 1 (AP-1) antigens and enteric-coated polymers were prepared using a co-spray drying process. We evaluated using this for a peroral vaccine. We measured specific-antibody titers and protection from challenge in mouse and pig models. In mice (24 per group), a subcutaneous aluminum-adjuvant vaccine or oral vaccination with three doses of AQ6-AP microspheres provided similar protection against intranasal challenge with 5 x 10(8) colony-formation units (cfu) of AP-1 bacterial culture broth. Two weeks after four oral vaccinations with 600 mg of AQ6-AP microsphere acetate solution (containing formalin-inactivated AP-1 antigens of 1.0 x 10(10) cfu bacterial broth), pigs (9 per group) were challenged intranasally with 1 ml of AP-1 bacterial culture broth (5 x 10(9) cfu). The clinical signs, percentage of pig survival ratio, lung lesion areas, and microscopic examinations indicated that the oral AQ6-AP vaccine provided more protection than vaccinating pigs intramuscularly with AP-1 aluminum vaccine.     

In vivo and in vitro comparisons of spray-drying and solvent- evaporation preparation of microencapsulated Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae for use as an orally administered vaccine for pigs

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of an orally administered vaccine of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae that was prepared by spray drying or solvent evaporation. ANIMALS: Thirty 6-week-old, crossbred, specific-pathogen-free (SPF) pigs. PROCEDURE: Pigs were randomly allocated into 5 groups and housed in an SPF facility. Pigs in 2 groups (groups AQ and CAP) were fed M hyopneumoniae enteric-coated vaccine on days 0, 10, and 20. A third group (group IM) received an IM injection of M hyopneumoniae vaccine with aluminium hydroxide as an adjuvant on days 0, 10, and 20. The last 2 groups (non-vaccinated-challenged [NV-C] and nonchallenged [NC]) were fed a sham treatment. All 24 pigs in groups AQ, CAFP IM, and NV-C were challenge exposed with 5 ml of a 10% pneumonic lung suspension administered on day 40 via intubation of the trachea. All pigs were slaughtered and the lungs removed and examined for lesions on day 68. RESULTS: In vitro studies indicated that these 2 microencapsulation techniques formed an effective shell and protected mycoplasmal antigen from gastric acid. Results of inoculation and challenge tests indicated that microencapsulated M hyopneumoniae were sufficiently potent to induce an immune response and provide good protection. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Orally administered microencapsulated M hyopneumoniae vaccines induced an immune response and reduced the severity of lung lesions in challenge-exposed pigs. Results suggest that this novel method can be applied to other antigens, because the spray-drying process yielded an orally administered M hyopneumoniae vaccine that induced a good immune response.     

Effect of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes on the expression of MHC molecules in canine transmissible venereal tumor cells

Canine transmissible venereal tumor (CTVT) can be allo-transplanted across major histocompatibility complex barriers. The expression of MHC molecules is usually low in the progression (P) stage and then greatly increases during tumor regression (R). We investigated the effects of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) on the expression of MHC molecules of CTVT cells. Isolated, viable CTVT cells were inoculated at each of 12 sites (1 x 10(8) CTVT cells per site) on the back of six, mixed-breed dogs. Tumor masses were collected every 2-3 weeks and prepared for histopathologic, immunocytochemistry, flow cytometry and immunoblotting studies. The level of MHC expression on tumor cells from different stages of growth was measured. Initially, expression of MHC I and II molecules in P phase CTVT was low. Twelve weeks post-inoculation (PI), expression increased dramatically and it continued to increase during R phase. Tumor growth slowed after 12 weeks PI and tumors entered R phase around 17 weeks PI. We hypothesize that CTVT evades host immunosurveillance and grows progressively for 12 weeks, when it becomes vulnerable and subject to the host's anti-tumor immune responses. We further demonstrated that R phase, but not P phase, TIL were closely associated with the over-expression of MHC I and II molecules by CTVT cells. The number and proportion of TIL were higher in R phase tumors. Supernatants, from R phase co-cultures (CTVT+TIL) and TIL only, promoted MHC I and II expression on P phase CTVT cells. After culturing alone for 1 month, expression of MHC classes I and II molecules in R phase CTVT cells decreased to the level of P phase CTVT cells. However, the above-mentioned supernatants restored their expression of MHC I and II molecules. In contrast, supernatants from P phase TIL or CTVT cells increased expression slightly or had no effect. Therefore, TIL, not CTVT cells, produce the effective substance (s) to promote the expression of MHC molecules by the tumor cells. Heat treated supernatant was unable to promote the expression of MHC I and II molecules by CTVT cells. In conclusion, TIL isolated from R phase CTVT secreted a heat-sensitive, soluble substance(s) that triggered over-expression of MHC I and II after 12 weeks PI. This caused the tumor to enter R phase and helped stop CTVT growth. Our findings will facilitate the understanding and further investigation of the mechanisms that initiate host immune surveillance against tumors.     

Individual and combined antioxidant effects of seven phenolic agents in human erythrocyte membrane ghosts and phosphatidylcholine liposome systems: importance of the partition coefficient

Antioxidant activities of seven phenolic agents against Fe(2+)-induced lipid oxidation were compared with alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene, and vitamin C in human erythrocyte membrane ghosts and liposome systems. The antioxidant activity of five test flavonoids followed the order catechin > epicatechin > rutin > quercetin > myricetin in both systems (p < 0.05), which was negatively correlated with their partition coefficients. The antioxidant interaction of these phenolic agents with alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene, or vitamin C in inhibiting Fe(2+)-induced lipid oxidation was examined. Synergistic effects were present in the combinations of alpha-tocopherol plus caffeic acid, catechin, or epicatechin as well as in all combinations of vitamin C plus phenolic antioxidants. On the basis of the stronger individual and combined effects present in caffeic acid, catechin, and epicatechin, the application of these three phenolic agents with or without alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene, and vitamin C may provide stronger protective benefits against lipid oxidation, which may be helpful for oxidation-related diseases prevention.