P. Martin

Prediction of fetal D status from maternal plasma: introduction of a new noninvasive fetal RHD genotyping service.

BACKGROUND : Invasive procedures to obtain fetal DNA for prenatal blood grouping present a risk to the fetus. During pregnancy, cell‐free fetal DNA is present in maternal blood. The detection of RHD sequences in maternal plasma has been used to predict fetal D status, based on the assumption that RHD is absent in D– genomes.

Effect of endoglycosidase F-peptidyl N-glycosidase F preparations on the surface components of the human erythrocyte

Endo-N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase F-Peptidyl N-glycosidase F preparations (abbreviated Endo F) and endo-beta-D-galactosidase were used to study the major human erythrocyte membrane glycoproteins and the components carrying the blood group A, B, Rhesus (D), and Duffy (Fya) antigens. The results are consistent with the known presence of an N-glycosyl-linked oligosaccharide on sialoglycoprotein alpha and the absence of such an oligosaccharide from sialoglycoprotein delta. Under the conditions used, only a portion of the N-glycosyl-linked oligosaccharides on band 3 molecules were cleaved by Endo F alone or by Endo F in combination with endo-beta-D-galactosidase. Immunoblotting experiments showed that treatment of red cells with Endo F alone had little effect on the components carrying blood group A and B antigen activity. However, Endo F used in combination with endo-beta-D-galactosidase caused a substantial reduction in the binding of monoclonal anti-A and anti-B antibodies. The results clearly show that sialoglycoproteins alpha and delta carry little or no blood group A or B activity. Endo F alone, or in combination with endo-beta-D-galactosidase, had no effect on the electrophoretic mobility of the Rh(D) polypeptide, supporting previous suggestions that this membrane polypeptide is unusual in not being glycosylated. Endo F had a dramatic effect on the electrophoretic mobility of the component(s) carrying blood group Fya activity. The diffuse Fya component of Mr 38,500-90,000 was sharpened to a band of Mr 26,000. Either endo-beta-D-galactosidase or neuraminidase treatment reduced the Mr of the Fya component(s) but did not significantly sharpen the bands, suggesting that the Fya component contains between 40-50% by mass of N-glycosyl-linked oligosaccharides.

The use of unmanned aerial systems for the mapping of legacy uranium mines

Historical mining of uranium mineral veins within Cornwall, England, has resulted in a significant amount of legacy radiological contamination spread across numerous long disused mining sites. Factors including the poorly documented and aged condition of these sites as well as the highly localised nature of radioactivity limit the success of traditional survey methods. A newly developed terrain-independent unmanned aerial system [UAS] carrying an integrated gamma radiation mapping unit was used for the radiological characterisation of a single legacy mining site. Using this instrument to produce high-spatial-resolution maps, it was possible to determine the radiologically contaminated land areas and to rapidly identify and quantify the degree of contamination and its isotopic nature. The instrument was demonstrated to be a viable tool for the characterisation of similar sites worldwide.

A KEL gene encoding serine at position 193 of the Kell glycoprotein results in expression of KEL1 antigen

BACKGROUND: The KEL2/KEL1 (k/K) blood group polymorphism represents 578C>T in the KEL gene and Thr193Met in the Kell glycoprotein. Anti‐KEL1 can cause severe hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn. Molecular genotyping for KEL*1 is routinely used for assessing whether a fetus is at risk. Red blood cells (RBCs) from a KEL:1 blood donor (D1) were found to have abnormal KEL1 expression during evaluation of anti‐KEL1 reagents.

Multiwavelength Observations of Short-Timescale Variability in NGC 4151. I. Ultraviolet Observations

We present the results of an intensive ultraviolet monitoring campaign on the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 4151, as part of an effort to study its short time-scale variability over a broad range in wavelength. The nucleus of NGC 4151 was observed continuously with the {it International Ultraviolet Explorer} (IUE) for 9.3 days, yielding a pair of LWP and SWP spectra every

Low altitude unmanned aerial vehicle for characterising remediation effectiveness following the FDNPP accident

sim

Influence of stoichiometry on the optical properties of lead tungstate crystals

70 minutes, and during four-hour periods for 4 days prior to and 5 days after the continuous monitoring period. The sampling frequency of the observations is an order of magnitude higher than that of any previous UV monitoring campaign on a Seyfert galaxy. The continuum fluxes in bands from 1275 AA to 2688 AA went through four significant and well-defined ``events of duration 2 -- 3 days during the continuous monitoring period. We find that the amplitudes of the continuum variations decrease with increasing wavelength, which extends a general trend for this and other Seyfert galaxies to smaller time scales (i.e., a few days). The continuum variations in all of the UV bands are {it simultaneous} to within an accuracy of about 0.15 days, providing a strict constraint on continuum models. The emission-line light curves show only one major event during the continuous monitoring (a slow rise followed by a shallow dip), and do not correlate well with continuum light curves over the (short) duration of the campaign, because the time scale for continuum variations is apparently smaller than the response times of the emission lines.Presents the results of an intensive ultraviolet monitoring campaign on the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 4151, as part of an effort to study its short-timescale variability over a broad range in wavelength. The nucleus of NGC 4151 was observed continuously with the International Ultraviolet Explorer for 9.3 days, yielding a pair of LWP and SWP spectra every ~70 minutes, and during 4 hr periods for 4 days prior to and 5 days after the continuous-monitoring period. The sampling frequency of the observations is an order of magnitude higher than that of any previous UV monitoring campaign on a Seyfert galaxy. The continuum fluxes in bands from 1275 to 2688 Aring went through four significant and well-defined ldquoeventsrdquo of duration 2-3 days during the continuous-monitoring period. The authors find that the amplitudes of the continuum variations decrease with increasing wavelength, which extends a general trend for this and other Seyfert galaxies to smaller timescales (i.e., a few days). The continuum variations in all the UV bands are simultaneous to within an accuracy of ~0.15 days, providing a strict constraint on continuum models. The emission-line light curves show only one major event during the continuous monitoring (a slow rise followed by a shallow dip) and do not correlate well with continuum light curves over the short duration of the campaign, because the timescale for continuum variations is apparently smaller than the response times of the emission lines

The eyes of Tullimonstrum reveal a vertebrate affinity

On the 12th of March 2011, The Great Tōhoku Earthquake occurred 70xa0km off the eastern coast of Japan, generating a large 14xa0m high tsunami. The ensuing catalogue of events over the succeeding 12xa0d resulted in the release of considerable quantities of radioactive material into the environment. Important to the large-scale remediation of the affected areas is the accurate and high spatial resolution characterisation of contamination, including the verification of decontaminated areas. To enable this, a low altitude unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with a lightweight gamma-spectrometer and height normalisation system was used to produce sub-meter resolution maps of contamination. This system provided a valuable method to examine both contaminated and remediated areas rapidly, whilst greatly reducing the dose received by the operator, typically in localities formerly inaccessible to ground-based survey methods. The characterisation of three sites within Fukushima Prefecture is presented; one remediated (and a site of much previous attention), one un-remediated and a third having been subjected to an alternative method to reduce emitted radiation dose.

3D unmanned aerial vehicle radiation mapping for assessing contaminant distribution and mobility

Abstract A series of PbWO 4 crystals, grown consistently from one melt, were studied under excitation by VUV and X-ray synchrotron radiation. We observed a systematic change in the spectroscopic data (emission spectra, luminescence decay, thermoluminescence, radiation hardness) from the first grown to the last. In the reflectivity spectrum, the intensity in the 4–6 eV absorption region, which is assigned to the Pb 2+ 6s–6p transitions, decreases relative to the intensity in the 7–10 eV region which is due to (WO 4 ) 2− absorption. We connect these changes with the variation in stoichiometry of the melt during crystal growth.

Airborne radiation mapping: overview and application of current and future aerial systems

Tullimonstrum gregarium is an iconic soft-bodied fossil from the Carboniferous Mazon Creek Lagerstätte (Illinois, USA). Despite a large number of specimens and distinct anatomy, various analyses over the past five decades have failed to determine the phylogenetic affinities of the ‘Tully monster’, and although it has been allied to such disparate phyla as the Mollusca, Annelida or Chordata, it remains enigmatic. The nature and phylogenetic affinities of Tullimonstrum have defied confident systematic placement because none of its preserved anatomy provides unequivocal evidence of homology, without which comparative analysis fails. Here we show that the eyes of Tullimonstrum possess ultrastructural details indicating homology with vertebrate eyes. Anatomical analysis using scanning electron microscopy reveals that the eyes of Tullimonstrum preserve a retina defined by a thick sheet comprising distinct layers of spheroidal and cylindrical melanosomes. Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry and multivariate statistics provide further evidence that these microbodies are melanosomes. A range of animals have melanin in their eyes, but the possession of melanosomes of two distinct morphologies arranged in layers, forming retinal pigment epithelium, is a synapomorphy of vertebrates. Our analysis indicates that in addition to evidence of colour patterning, ecology and thermoregulation, fossil melanosomes can also carry a phylogenetic signal. Identification in Tullimonstrum of spheroidal and cylindrical melanosomes forming the remains of retinal pigment epithelium indicates that it is a vertebrate; considering its body parts in this new light suggests it was an anatomically unusual member of total group Vertebrata.