Manufacturing Dendritic Cells for Immunotherapy: Monocyte Enrichment

Dendritic cells play a key role in activation of the immune system as potent antigen-presenting cells. This pivotal position, along with the ability to generate dendritic cells from monocytes and ready uptake of antigen, makes them an intriguing vehicle for immunotherapy for a variety of indications. Since the first reported trial using dendritic cells in 1995, they have been used in trials all over the world for a plethora of indications. Monocyte-derived dendritic cells are generated from whole blood or apheresis products by culturing enriched monocytes in the presence of interleukin (IL)-4 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). A variety of methods can be used for enrichment of monocytes for generation of clinical-grade dendritic cells and are summarized herein

Introduction: the city without qualities

The introduction outlines the salient themes and considerations for the journal issue titled The Urban Thing. In it various considerations of thing theory are outlined and related to urban conditions as they emerge historically in the West

Anomalous dielectric response of very small quantities of virgin, aged and failed silicone oil

A technique is described for making dielectric spectroscopy measurements of very small quantities (<1μl) of oil. The technique utilises surface tension to hold the oil between the plates of a capacitor, the inter-electrode distance being controlled by a micrometer. Breakdown strength can also be estimated using this technique. Three samples of silicone oil, used in cable sealing ends, were tested: virgin, used and failed. A major component in the frequency dependent impedance had the form Z(ω)=B(1-b)(iω)/sup.1-p/). This component was interpreted in terms of a fractal percolation model, and the anomalous thickness dependence predicted by the model verified by varying the inter-electrode distance. The difference observed for the three different samples indicate that conducting contaminants are responsible for the percolation system

Improving added value and small medium enterprises capacity in the utilisation of plantation timber for furniture production in Jepara region

Improving added value and Small Medium Enterprises capacity in the utilisation of plantation timber for furniture production in Jepara region of Indonesia: improving recovery, design, manufacturing, R&D and training capacities

Purification of Mg2+-dependent phosphatidate phosphohydrolase from rat liver: new steps and aspects

A new procedure for the partial purification of Mg2+-dependent, N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive phosphatidate phosphohydrolase (Mg2+-PAP; EC 3.1.3.4) from rat liver cytosol is described, using protein precipitation with MgCl2, gel filtration on Sephacryl S-400, chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and affinity chromatography on calmodulin-agarose. From the parallel change in staining intensity and in the level of the specific activity of enzyme fractions, a relationship between a 90-kDa SDS gel band, identified as the beta-isoform of the 90-kDa heat shock protein, and Mg2+-PAP could be detected

Sawing Recovery of Several Sawmills in Jepara

In the situation of wood material shortage, it is important to furniture manufacturers to efficiently utilize the wood. Increasing efficiency for improving value added of small medium enterprises of wood furniture industries in Jepara should be carried out from the first stage in wood processing: sawing that will convert logs into sawn timber. A study has been carried out on improving sawing recovery of sawntimber by live-sawing pattern to make loseware lumber for furniture material in Jepara region. This study was done by investigating the current sawing recovery data as determined during one full day's processing at each of the four bandsaw mill facilities and one chainsaw/carving facility. The results indicate that the current recovery rate of sawmilling services companies in Jepara reached 70 - 80 %. These recoveries are relatively high due to the live sawing pattern used and the fact that sawn boards were not edged or resawn into square pieces at the mill. Compared to existing rules and the Government standard for calculating the recovery rate, sawmilling service companies in Jepara have practiced efficient processing in sawing

The wood properties of subtropical and tropical hardwood plantation timber grown for high-value products in Australia

Wood quality and properties of plantation grown trees differ from those from mature, natural grown trees and this has implications for processing, manufacturing and product performance. The wood properties of genetically improved and syliculturally managed plantation trees are affected by their faster growth rates younger harvest age. This report summarises the key wood properties of species that are the primary candidates for plantation forestry in the subtropical to tropical region of eastern Australia. The planned end uses for these trees vary from short-rotation pulp to high-value products such as poles, sawn timber for appearance products and engineered wood products including structural plywood and laminated veneer lumber (LVL)