A case study of soil nematode populations under intensive cucumber monoculture in Hungary.

A 25-year-old intensive monoculture of cucumber ( 'Monolit F1') has been chosen for monitoring the effect of continuous fertilization, drip irrigation and various soil disinfection on free-living nematodes in soil. Densities, relative abundance of nematode genera, trophic groups and c-p classes, in addition, numerous nematological indices were determined besides certain soil properties. Concerning the nematological indices, all the values proved a stressed, depleted and unstable environment with degraded food web condition.

Investigation of Ripple Formation on Surface of Silicon by Low-Energy Gallium Ion Bombardment.

Regular wave patterns were created by a 2 kV gallium ion on Si(111) monocrystals at incidence angles between 60° and 80° with respect to the surface normal. The characteristic wavelength and surface roughness of the structured surfaces were determined to be between 35-75 nm and 0.5-2.

Large-Scale mRNA Transfection of Dendritic Cells by Electroporation in Continuous Flow Systems.

Electroporation is well established for transient mRNA transfection of many mammalian cells, including immune cells such as dendritic cells used in cancer immunotherapy. Therapeutic application requires methods to efficiently electroporate and transfect millions of immune cells in a fast process with high cell survival. Continuous flow of suspended dendritic cells through a channel incorporating spatially separated microporous meshes with a synchronized electrical pulsing sequence can yield dendritic cell transfection rates of >75 % with survival rates of >90 %.

Human cytomegalovirus chemokine receptor US28 induces migration of cells on a CX3CL1-presenting surface.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-encoded G protein-coupled-receptor US28 is believed to participate in virus dissemination through modulation of cell migration and immune evasion. US28 binds different CC chemokines and the CX3C chemokine CX3CL1. Membrane-anchored CX3CL1 is expressed by immune-activated endothelial cells, causing redirection of CX3CR1-expressing leukocytes in the blood to sites of infection.