Anti-TRBC1 Antibody-Based Flow Cytometric Detection of T-Cell Clonality: Standardization of Sample Preparation and Diagnostic Implementation

A single antibody (anti-TRBC1; JOVI-1 antibody clone) against one of the two mutually exclusive T-cell receptor β-chain constant domains was identified as a potentially useful flow-cytometry (FCM) marker to assess Tαβ-cell clonality. We optimized the TRBC1-FCM approach for detecting clonal Tαβ-cells and validated the method in 211 normal, reactive and pathological samples. TRBC1 labeling significantly improved in the presence of CD3. Purified TRBC1+ and TRBC1− monoclonal and polyclonal Tαβ-cells rearranged TRBJ1 in 44/47 (94%) and TRBJ1+TRBJ2 in 48 of 48 (100%) populations, respectively, which confirmed the high specificity of this assay. Additionally, TRBC1+/TRBC1− ratios within different Tαβ-cell subsets are provided as reference for polyclonal cells, among which a bimodal pattern of TRBC1-expression profile was found for all TCRVβ families, whereas highly-variable TRBC1+/TRBC1− ratios were observed in more mature vs. naïve Tαβ-cell subsets (vs. total T-cells). In 112/117 (96%) samples containing clonal Tαβ-cells in which the approach was validated, monotypic expression of TRBC1 was confirmed. Dilutional experiments showed a level of detection for detecting clonal Tαβ-cells of ≤10−4 in seven out of eight pathological samples. These results support implementation of the optimized TRBC1-FCM approach as a fast, specific and accurate method for assessing T-cell clonality in diagnostic-FCM panels, and for minimal (residual) disease detection in mature Tαβ+ leukemia/lymphoma patients.

Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE): Explanation and Elaboration. Translation to Russian

Much medical research is observational. The reporting of observational studies is often of insufficient quality. Poor reporting hampers the assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of a study and the generalisability of its results. Taking into account empirical evidence and theoretical considerations, a group of methodologists, researchers, and editors developed the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) recommendations to improve the quality of reporting of observational studies. The STROBE Statement consists of a checklist of 22 items, which relate to the title, abstract, introduction, methods, results and discussion sections of articles. Eighteen items are common to cohort studies, case-control studies and cross-sectional studies and four are specific to each of the three study designs. The STROBE Statement provides guidance to authors about how to improve the reporting of observational studies and facilitates critical appraisal and interpretation of studies by reviewers, journal editors and readers. This explanatory and elaboration document is intended to enhance the use, understanding, and dissemination of the STROBE Statement. The meaning and rationale for each checklist item are presented. For each item, one or several published examples and, where possible, references to relevant empirical studies and methodological literature are provided. Examples of useful flow diagrams are also included. The STROBE Statement, this document, and the associated Web site (http://www. strobe-statement.org/) should be helpful resources to improve reporting of observational research. This article is the reprint with Russian translation of the original that can be observed here: Vandenbroucke JP, von Elm E, Altman DG, Gotzsche PC, Mulrow CD, et al. Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE): Explanation and Elaboration. PLoS Med 2007;4(10):e297. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0040297

RESEARCH RESULTS OF THE IMPROVED HYDRAULIC JET PUMPING UNIT

The scientific article is aimed at substantiating the classification of hydraulic jet pumping units, developing an experimental model of an improved hydraulic jet pumping unit, conducting experimental studies - determining the useful flow Qгн depending on the flow rate of the centrifugal pump used Qн for two variants of the pumping unit operating according to the traditional and alternative technology of water lifting, determination of the head losses hснi and friction coefficients ξснi in jet pumps, increasing the ejection coefficient Ke from the swirl parameter S of water supply to the intake chamber of the jet pump and laboratory tests of the hydraulic jet pumping unit for agricultural water supply and irrigation of pastures. The results of experimental studies and laboratory tests of an experimental model of an improved water-jet pumping unit, developed at NAO KazNAU, are presented. An analysis is given of the results of comparative tests of a hydraulic jet pumping unit for two variants of the technological process: an alternative and a traditional one with an increase in the effective supply of an alternative option by 2-4 times, a decrease in the required pressure by 1.5-2 times and an increase in efficiency by 1.1-2 times. The aim of the study is to obtain results to substantiate the classification of hydraulic jet pumping units, to carry out experimental studies and laboratory tests of an improved hydraulic jet pumping unit operating according to an alternative water lifting technology, which allows to reduce the required head of the pumping unit, increase the useful flow and increase the efficiency of the improved hydraulic jet pumping unit. The work used patent research with a review of works that were carried out according to existing methods: identifying close analogues, analyzing existing works and using them in development. Experimental studies were carried out to study the technological process of water rise from wells, the processes occurring in the used jet pumps - determining the useful flow depending on the flow of a centrifugal pump, determining the pressure losses and friction coefficients in jet pumps, the ejection coefficient and checking the reliability of the theoretical assumptions obtained. Based on the analysis of the work performed and patent research on technologies for lifting water from underground water sources by hydraulic jet pumping units and designs developed for them, a substantiated classification of hydraulic jet pumping units is proposed, which allows, depending on the task at hand, to correctly choose the necessary structural and technological scheme, type of jet pump and its implementation in the development of the required effective standard sizes of the hydraulic jet pumping unit. The scheme of the test bench and the experimental model of the improved hydraulic jet pumping unit with measuring equipment and instruments for conducting experimental research and laboratory tests on a bench well is presented.

Clinically useful flow cytometry approach to identify immunophenotype in acute leukemia

Objectives Acute leukemia (AL) is a highly heterogeneous malignant disease caused by hematopoietic cell abnormalities. Our study investigated the potential for immunophenotyping of leukemic cells via flow cytometry and the clinical usefulness of this approach in treatment of AL. Methods Bone marrow (BM) specimens were collected to detect antigen expression on hematopoietic cells in pre-treatment samples from patients with AL. In addition, fraction survival curves were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method to explore the effect of markers on prognosis in AL. Results Expression levels of immunophenotypic markers in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were significantly different from those in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In addition, there was a potential association between the surface marker, cluster of differentiation 2 (CD2), and fraction survival in AML. However, no similar result was found in ALL. Moreover, genetic tests showed greater positive variation of the break point cluster-Abelson tyrosine kinase ( BCR-ABL) fusion gene in samples from patients with ALL than in samples from patients with AML. Conclusions We have shown a rapid and effective flow cytometry method that enables the identification of immunophenotype in AL. Moreover, CD2 may constitute a predictive marker for prognosis in patients with AML.

Cross-cultural literary translation strategies within a Maltese bilingual context

The process of literary translation includes the source culture-specific elements that constitute an integral part of the source text. This paper aims to identify and analyse various translation strategic processes that could be adopted in translating cultural factors within the parameters of a Maltese bilingual, but not necessarily bicultural, context. Each of the suggested strategic procedures is presented in useful flow-chart formats, varying from source language/source culture to target language/target culture bias approach in order to keep cultural losses to a minimum whilst maximising cultural gains and, therefore, to make the transformation of the source text into the target text successful. Such flow-charts are aimed to provide the literary translator with a rapid means of achieving an adequate and satisfying suggested solution for a quality cross-cultural transposition of the cultural elements encountered within a bilingual context. In certain instances, it is also suggested that some strategies are used concurrently with others. To achieve this aim, an extended practical translation exercise by the author himself is used. This paper also helps to strengthen further both the level of research in narrative translation studies in general, and the research done in Maltese narrative literary translation from a cultural point of view.

3-D CFD Parametric Study of the Impact of the Fluid Properties and Delivery Conditions on Flow and Heat Transfer in Grinding

Fluids have an important role in grinding. Correct fluid application results in enhanced process stability, better work piece quality, and tool life. This paper shows that Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models can be used to simulate the fluid flow and heat transfer in a grinding process, replacing numerous experiments that are expensive, time-consuming, and have limited capabilities. The most important properties of created 3-D model are described, along with results obtained. The results show very detailed distributions of temperatures, pressures, and flow rates in and around the grinding region. The data obtained is essential in studying the influence of the grinding fluid on the grinding process, as well as in determining the best fluid composition and supply parameters for a given application. The results agree well with experimental global flow rates and temperature values and show the feasibility of 3-D CFD-based simulations in grinding applications. The parametric studies of influence of several fluid physical properties on useful flow rates and temperatures were presented as well.

High Frequency Pressure Measurements With an Uncooled Fast Insertion Probe at Turbine Exit in a Turbojet Engine

This paper concerns the development and testing of a novel high frequency pressure probe for high temperature turbomachinery flow measurements. The probe has a measurement bandwidth from DC to 100 kHz and has been demonstrated in conditions of up to 6 bar and 1900 K. The 4 mm diameter probes are uncooled whilst in the flow and employ a fast insertion traverse to limit immersion times to of the order of 0.1 seconds. The probe was calibrated against a hot wire anemometer in a known turbulent flow. Data acquired downstream of the turbine in a turbojet engine is presented. The unsteady pressure data is decomposed into periodic and random components. Power spectra, turbulence intensity and length scale are derived. Short duration gas turbine measurements using fast insertion techniques have been under development for some years at the University of Oxford. The current fast-insertion probe is more compact and robust than previous designs. The present work demonstrates that it can resolve useful flow parameters in hostile gas turbine flows. These can be difficult or impossible to obtain using other methods. The rapid probe insertion technique should add to the armoury of diagnostic tools used by the gas turbine developer.

Experimental Demonstration of Localized Flow Control in a Microchannel Using Induced-Charge Electroosmosis

In this paper we investigate the use of induced charged electroosmosis (ICEO) as a means of providing localized flow control within bulk pressure-driven flow. Conductive posts are positioned in a microchannel in such a way that an AC electric field can be applied across them. This AC field induces an electric double layer (EDL), leading to ICEO flow around the conductive object. A pressure gradient is applied across the length of the channel to drive a background flow past the ICEO region. The combination of AC and pressure-driven flow fields is expected to create recirculation regions around the posts which could be useful for trapping particles or focusing the flow, e.g. for lab-on-a-chip applications. Numerical models of ICEO flow were developed and used to provide guidance for the design of microfluidic devices. These numerical models were also used to explore the number, position and shape of the conducting posts to create useful flow patterns. However, this paper focuses on the fabrication of and experiments within a prototypical microdevice. The device was fabricated from silicon dioxide and conducting gold pillars positioned in the glass channel. Experimental results obtained from this device have demonstrated localized ICEO-based flow control. Specifically, wake regions devoid of particles are created behind the posts.