Impact of Experimentally Induced Pain on Logical Reasoning and Underlying Attention-Related Psychophysiological Mechanisms.

Background: Pain is known to negatively impact attention, but its influence on more complex cognitive abilities, such as logical reasoning, remains inconsistent. This may be due to compensatory mechanisms (e.g.

Sample container for high-resolution neutron imaging of spent nuclear fuel cladding sections.

In this work, for the first time, high-resolution neutron imaging (true spatial resolution of 13 μm) is used for irradiated nuclear fuel cladding, applying an adapted procedure for transfer, handling, and measurements of highly radioactive samples in combination with the neutron microscope detector at Paul Scherrer Institut. A sample container referred to as an active box for high-resolution neutron imaging of highly active spent nuclear fuel cladding sections was developed. Sections of unirradiated and irradiated cladding of duplex type, having a liner, with hydrogen average concentrations of 420 wppm and 450 wppm were investigated using this device.

APRIL secreted by neutrophils binds to heparan sulfate proteoglycans to create plasma cell niches in human mucosa.

The bone marrow constitutes a favorable environment for long-lived antibody-secreting plasma cells, providing blood-circulating antibody. Plasma cells are also present in mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) to mediate local frontline immunity, but how plasma cell survival there is regulated is not known. Here we report that a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) promoted survival of human upper and lower MALT plasma cells by upregulating expression of the antiapoptotic proteins bcl-2, bcl-xL, and mcl-1.

Ex vivo expansion of haematopoietic stem cells and gene therapy development.

The results of a research project on ex vivo expansion of human haematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and development of gene therapy, funded by the Swiss National Research Program 46, are summarised and discussed in the context of current progresses and difficulties in these fields. A routine method for ex vivo expansion of human HSC is not yet available. However, stem cell biology has progressed importantly in recent years; ex vivo expansion of human HSC should become possible in the near future.

Ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic stem cells and gene therapy development.

The results of a research project on ex vivo expansion of human haematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and development of gene therapy, funded by the Swiss National Research Program 46, are summarised and discussed in the context of current progresses and difficulties in these fields. A routine method for ex vivo expansion of human HSC is not yet available. However, stem cell biology has progressed importantly in recent years; ex vivo expansion of human HSC should become possible in the near future.