The transcription factor CREM drives an inflammatory phenotype of T cells in oligoarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Background: Inflammatory effector T cells trigger inflammation despite increased numbers of Treg cells in the synovial joint of patients suffering from juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). The cAMP response element (CREM)α is known to play a major role in regulation of T cells in SLE, colitis, and EAE. However, its role in regulation of effector T cells within the inflammatory joint is unknown.

BI 1002494, a Novel Potent and Selective Oral Spleen Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor, Displays Differential Potency in Human Basophils and B Cells.

BI 1002494 [(R)-4-{(R)-1-[7-(3,4,5-trimethoxy-phenyl)-[1,6]napthyridin-5-yloxy]-ethyl}pyrrolidin-2-one] is a novel, potent, and selective spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) inhibitor with sustained plasma exposure after oral administration in rats, which qualifies this molecule as a good in vitro and in vivo tool compound. BI 1002494 exhibits higher potency in inhibiting high-affinity IgE receptor-mediated mast cell and basophil degranulation (IC50 = 115 nM) compared with B-cell receptor-mediated activation of B cells (IC50 = 810 nM). This may be explained by lower kinase potency when the physiologic ligand B-cell linker was used, suggesting that SYK inhibitors may exhibit differential potency depending on the cell type and the respective signal transduction ligand.

New leafhopper species of Jikradia from Mesoamerica with new records, revised key to species, distribution, origin, and checklist (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Coelidiinae: Teruliini).

The following four new species of leafhoppers are described and illustrated: Jikradia dentata n. sp. and J.

The global distribution of diet breadth in insect herbivores.

Understanding variation in resource specialization is important for progress on issues that include coevolution, community assembly, ecosystem processes, and the latitudinal gradient of species richness. Herbivorous insects are useful models for studying resource specialization, and the interaction between plants and herbivorous insects is one of the most common and consequential ecological associations on the planet. However, uncertainty persists regarding fundamental features of herbivore diet breadth, including its relationship to latitude and plant species richness.

Synthesis, antiproliferative activity and inhibition of tubulin polymerization by 1,5- and 1,8-disubstituted 10H-anthracen-9-ones bearing a 10-benzylidene or 10-(2-oxo-2-phenylethylidene) moiety.

A novel series of 1,5- and 1,8-disubstituted 10-benzylidene-10H-anthracen-9-ones and 10-(2-oxo-2-phenylethylidene)-10H-anthracen-9-ones was synthesized to assess the substituent effects on biological activity. The 3-hydroxy-2,4-dimethoxy-benzylidene analogue 16 h displayed strong antiproliferative activity against several tumor cell lines, including multi-drug resistant phenotypes. Flow cytometric studies showed that KB/HeLa cells treated by elected compounds were arrested in the G2/M phases of the cell cycle.

Plantibody-mediated inhibition of the Potato leafroll virus P1 protein reduces virus accumulation.

The P1 protein of Potato leafroll virus (PLRV) is thought to play a major role in the replication cycle by promoting the maturation of the genome-linked virion protein VPg. To study the relevance of P1 and its autoproteolytic derivative P1-C25 in the viral life cycle, the V H and V L domains of monoclonal antibody mAbP1-1, raised against the C-terminus of P1, were used to develop a single chain variable fragment antibody scFvP1-1 for expression in plants. The transient expression of scFvP1-1 in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) strongly reduced virus accumulation, while transgenic potato (Solanum tuberosum) plants expressing scFvP1-1 showed high levels of resistance following PLRV inoculation by viruliferous aphids.

Analysis of corrosion layers on protective coatings and high temperature materials in simulated service environments of modern power plants using SNMS, SIMS, SEM, TEM, RBS and X-ray diffraction studies.

In three different examples, the effects of the oxidation behaviour as well as the microstructural stability of high temperature materials and protective coatings was determined by combining the results of kinetic studies with extensive analytical investigations using, among other techniques, SNMS, SIMS, SEM, TEM, Rutherford back scattering (RBS) as well as X-ray diffraction. 1). The effect of water vapour on the oxidation behaviour of 9% Cr steels in simulated combustion gases has been determined.

Internal transitions of negatively charged magnetoexcitons and many body effects in a two-dimensional electron gas.

Internal transitions of quasi-two-dimensional, negatively charged magnetoexcitons ( X-) and their evolution with excess electron density have been studied in GaAs/AlGaAs quantum wells. In the dilute electron limit, due to magnetic translational invariance, the optically detected resonance spectra are dominated by bound-to-continuum bands in contrast to the negatively charged donor system D-, which exhibits strictly bound-to-bound transitions. With increasing excess electron density Landau-level filling factors nu<2 the X--like transitions are blueshifted; they are absent for nu>2.

Local optical emission spectroscopy of excited species effused from an evaporation cell and a sputter source into dense plasmas - Basic studies for the deposition of thin gradient films.

Space resolved optical emission spectroscopy has been applied to determine the distribution of excited species in dense plasmas which are used for the deposition of thin coatings. Typical electron densities and electron temperatures in the plasma facility PETRA ( Plasma Engineering and Technology Research Assembly) are in the range of n(e) = 10(12) cm(-3) and T(e) = 10 eV. During the deposition process material (Al) is evaporated from a vapour cell under controlled conditions.

Optical emission spectroscopy in reactive hollow cathode arc discharge plasmas - Local distribution of active species during the deposition of hard carbon films.

A low pressure arc plasma discharge from a hollow LaB(6)-cathode with up to 100 A discharge current is used to create plasmas of high density. Typical values for the electron density and temperature in PETRA ( Plasma Engineering and Technology Research Assembly) are n(e)=10(12)-10(13) cm(-3) and T(e)=5-20 eV. The ionization ratio is typically 1-10%.

Stress measurement in alumina scales on high temperature alloys using X-ray stress evaluation and laser Raman spectroscopy.

The effect of silicon and titanium on the spallation resistance of alumina scales grown on NiCrAlY-type alloys has been investigated using model alloys with different additions of Si or Ti. For this purpose cyclic oxidation experiments have been carried out at temperatures between 950 and 1100 degrees C. After various times stresses in selected Si-doped samples have been determined by X-ray stress evaluation (XSE) at ambient temperature.

TEM and SNMS studies of protective alumina scales on NiCrAlY-alloys.

The effect of Si addition on the oxidation behaviour of NiCrAlY alloys in the temperature range 950 bis 1100 degrees C has been investigated. During isothermal oxidation oxide growth rates were practically independent of the Si-content. However during cyclic oxidation Si additions were beneficial.

Analysis of chemical interactions between stabilized zirconia and perovskites.

LaMnO(3)-based perovskites are used as cathode materials in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). A major aspect for their applicability is their chemical inertness in connection with the electrolyte material YSZ (Zr(0.85)Y(0.

Trace and surface analysis of ceramic layers of solid oxide fuel cells by mass spectrometry.

For the trace analysis of impurities in thick ceramic layers of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) sensitive solid-state mass spectrometric methods, such as laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) and radiofrequency glow discharge mass spectrometry (rf-GDMS) have been developed and used. In order to quantify the analytical results of LA-ICP-MS, the relative sensitivity coefficients of elements in a La(0.6)Sr(0.

Determination of lattice and grain boundary diffusion coefficients in protective alumina scales on high temperature alloys using SEM, TEM and SIMS.

Grain and grain boundary diffusion coefficients in alumina scales on FeCrAl-based ODS alloys have been determined. The boundary diffusion-coefficients have been derived by combining gravimetrically determined growth rate data with SEM and TEM analyses of the oxide scale microstructure. The diffusion coefficients determined have been used as input parameters for a computer model describing the oxygen isotope exchange between grain and grain boundary in the alumina scale which forms during a two-stage oxidation using (18)O-tracers.