We have compared the cell phenotype and functional properties of monocyte/macrophage derived dendritic cells (DCs) obtained by culture of human adherent peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in medium containing granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) either alone (GM-CSF-DCs), or in combination with interleukin (IL)-4 (IL4-DCs) or IL-7 (IL7-DCs). The cell surface phenotype of GM-CSF-DCs and IL-7-DCs was characterized by a high expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II, CD80, CD86 and CD40. In contrast to 'classical' IL-4-DCs, these two types of DCs expressed CD14 and a CD21-like molecule detected by two out of four CD21-specific monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) tested. The same pattern of reactivity with CD21 specific antibodies was observed in freshly isolated adherent PBMCs but not in B lymphocytes. This reactivity was upregulated by IL-7 in a dose dependent manner. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment induced the upregulation of CD40, CD80, CD86 and the T-cell stimulatory capacity in IL-4-DCs and, to a lesser extent, in the IL-7-DCs whereas GM-CSF-DCs responded very poorly to such treatment. Our data indicate that, together with GM-CSF, the IL-7 drives macrophage precursors to a differentiation stage that is close to but distinct from the phenotype of IL-4-DCs. Comparison of DC development in the presence of IL-7 or IL-4 may help in dissecting signalling pathways that regulate the expression of functionally relevant DC markers.
We propose a pseudospin model for proton glasses of the Rb 1−x (NH 4 )xH 2 PO 4 (Rb 1−x (ND 4 )xD 2 PO 4 ) type, which takes into account the energy levels of hydrogens (deuterons) around the PO 4 group, long-range interactions between the hydrogen bonds, and an internal random deformational field. Within the framework of a cluster approximation and a mean field approximation over the long-range interactions, we derive a system of equations for the state parameters for the regions which are in the ferroelectric and antiferroelectric states, as well as in the proton glass state. Within the Glauber dynamics approach, we obtain a system of equations for the frequency-dependent linear responses of polarization and the proton glass order parameter. We obtain a qualitative description of the temperature behavior of dielectric permittivities of the K 1−x (ND 4 )xD 2 PO 4 and Rb 1−x (NH 4 )xH 2 AsO 4 compounds at different frequencies. The origin of low-temperature peak in the imaginary part of dielectric permittivity in proton glasses is discussed.
<div class="quote-intro">Any human power can be resisted and changed by human beings.<p class="quote-intro-author">—Ursula K. Le Guin</p></div>Le Guin is undoubtedly right about resistance in the "real" world, but in reading, only some books offer a call to resistance and the possibilities of a new reality. Among the books considered here, some come to us as "literary fiction"; others are marked as belonging to another, historically denigrated, form, "science fiction" or "fantasy." This could be a distinction without a difference: two are near-future dystopian novels about corporate capitalism in the United States (both by well-established white authors); two are collections of near-future short stories that set out to critique the human powers that structure our world (written by both established and new voices, primarily writers of color). But the books that embrace rather than evade their status as science fiction or fantasy are the ones able to imagine the resistance and change that Le Guin invokes.<p class="mrlink"><p class="mrpurchaselink"><a href="http://monthlyreview.org/index/volume-67-number-11" title="Vol. 67, No. 11: April 2016" target="_self">Click here to purchase a PDF version of this article at the <em>Monthly Review</em> website.</a></p>
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