Approaches to the definition of potentially exposed groups and potentially exposed populations of biota in the context of solid radioactive waste.

A methodology for addressing the biosphere in safety assessments for solid radioactive waste disposal was developed through theme 1 of the IAEA coordinated research project on BIOsphere Modelling and ASSessment (BIOMASS) that ran from 1996 to 2001. This methodology provided guidance on how the biosphere can be addressed in safety assessments for disposal of solid radioactive waste. Since the methodology was developed, it has proven useful and has been widely referenced in assessments in a diversity of contexts encompassing both near-surface and deep geological disposal of solid radioactive waste.

Safety assessments undertaken using the BIOMASS methodology: lessons learnt and methodological enhancements.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has coordinated an international project addressing enhancements of methods for modelling in post-closure safety assessments of solid radioactive waste disposal. The project used earlier published work from the IAEA biosphere modelling and assessment (BIOMASS) project to further develop methods and techniques. The task was supported by a parallel on-going project within the BIOPROTA forum.

Advances in flavivirus vaccine development.

Flaviviruses comprise a diverse family of viruses that are cumulatively responsible for hundreds of millions of cases of infection annually. The Flavivirus genus includes both insect-vectored viruses, such as yellow fever and dengue, and non-vectored viruses such as HCV; the viruses have a broad range of disease presentation and geographic distribution. No specific antiviral therapies are currently available for the diseases caused by insect-vectored flaviviruses.

Functional characterization of human C3/cobra venom factor hybrid proteins for therapeutic complement depletion.

Cobra venom factor (CVF) is a structural and functional analog of complement C3 isolated from cobra venom. Both CVF and C3b can bind factor B and subsequently form the bimolecular C3/C5 convertases CVF,Bb or C3b,Bb, respectively. The two homologous enzymes exhibit several differences of which the difference in physico-chemical stability is most important, allowing continuous activation of C3 and C5 by CVF,Bb, leading to serum complement depletion.

Making Good Decisions on Dry Cow Management to Improve Udder Health - Synthesising Evidence in a Bayesian Framework.

The dry period is now recognised as a critical time for the control of clinical and sub-clinical mastitis in dairy cattle. Infections that occur, or that are not cured, during the dry period often result in clinical mastitis or raised somatic cell counts in early lactation. There is known to be large variability between herds in the patterns of dry period intramammary infections (IMI) and yet, until recently, there has been no information on farm determinants of the risk of IMI, other than in relation to dry cow treatments.

Key role for p27Kip1, retinoblastoma protein Rb, and MYCN in polyamine inhibitor-induced G1 cell cycle arrest in MYCN-amplified human neuroblastoma cells.

Alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) inhibits the proto-oncogene ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and is known to induce cell cycle arrest. However, the effect of DFMO on human neuroblastoma (NB) cells and the exact mechanism of DFMO-induced cell death are largely unknown. Treatment with DFMO in combination with SAM486A, an S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (AdoMetDC) inhibitor, has been shown to enhance polyamine pool depletion.

Recombinant cobra venom factor.

Cobra venom factor (CVF) is the complement-activating protein from cobra venom. CVF is a three-chain protein that functionally resembles C3b, the activated form of complement component C3. Like C3b, CVF forms a C3/C5 convertase with factor B in the presence of factor D and Mg(2+).