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The aim of this work is to estimate the seismic reliability of a simple typical two-span lifeline base-isolated bridge designed to behave essentially elastic or as per the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code, for seven localities in Quebec. Two limit states are considered for possible failure due to unacceptable damage: flexure at the pier-base and displacement within the seismic isolation systems (SIS). The main problem random variables considered and modeled are seismic hazard, temperature, pier base dimensions, and material mechanical properties. The Monte Carlo method was used to evaluate the probability of failure and the reliability of each limit state. Preliminary results reveal that notwithstanding the large temperature and seismic hazard variabilities between the seven sites in Quebec, the global bridge reliability indices are almost uniform, approximately 3.45 [+ or -] 0.02. Furthermore, the security factor (i.e., 1.25) on the SIS displacement capacity results in reliability indices for SIS displacement that are not levelled with the flexural reliability indices and requires further examination and consideration. Key words: limit states design, seismic base isolation, low temperatures, reliability-based approach, bridges. Le but de ces travaux est d'estimer la fiabilite sismique d'un simple pont a deux travees, isole a la base, concu pour se comporter essentiellement elastique ou conformement au Code canadien sur le calcul des ponts routiers, pour sept localites du Quebec. Deux etats limites sont consideres pour une defaillance possible causee par des dommages inacceptables : par flexion a la base du pilier et par deplacement a l'interieur du systeme d'isolation sismique (SIS). Les principales variables aleatoires du probleme considerees et modelisees sont: l'alea sismique, la temperature, les dimensions de la base du pilier et les proprietes mecaniques des materiaux. La methode Monte Carlo est utilisee pour evaluer la fiabilite de chaque etat limite et la probabilite de defaillance. Les resultats preliminaires revelent que malgre les grandes variations de temperature et de l'alea sismique entre les sept sites au Quebec, les indices de fiabilite globaux du pont sont presque uniformes, autour de 3,45 [+ or -] 0,02. De plus, le facteur de securite (c.-a-d. 1,25) concernant la capacite de deplacement des SIS entraine des indices de fiabilite pour le deplacement des SIS qui ne sont pas niveles par rapport aux indices de fiabilite de flexion et qui doivent faire l'objet d'un examen plus approfondi. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles: conception aux etats limites, isolation sismique de la base, basses temperatures, approche fondee sur la fiabilite, ponts., 1. Introduction The seismic isolation (SI) of bridges is an earthquake protection method that aims to reduce seismic forces by decoupling the structures of the bridge from ground accelerations during [...]

Background: HLA-G is a non-classical class I gene of the human Major Histocompatibility encoding molecules with immune-modulatory properties. Expression of HLA-G is being largely studied in pathological conditions, such as tumors, viral infections, inflammation, and autoimmune diseases, grafted tissues, among others. HLA-G +3142C/G (rs1063320: dbSNP database) polymorphism is located in 3' UTR of HAL-G and plays a key role in determining the magnitude of gene and protein expression. The detection of HLA-G +3142C/G polymorphism in the most published report is done through polymerase chain reaction followed by enzymatic digestion. Therefore, it is so interesting to develop a rapid and sensitive assay to genotype HLA-G +3142C/G polymorphism. High-resolution melt analysis (HRM) is a technology that is based on the analysis of the melting profile of PCR products through gradual temperature increase. The aim of this work is to apply high-resolution melt method for genotyping the HLA-G +3142C/G polymorphism., Methods: DNA from 118 individuals was extracted from whole blood with QIAamp ® DNA blood mini kit (Qiagen, Germany). Primer couple was designed using Primer 3 online tools so as to have only one SNP in the target sequence for high HRM efficiency. Positive Controls were identified using DNA sequencing and used as reference when assigning genotypes for trial samples., Results: We were able to recognize the three genotypes with similar accuracy than DNA sequencing using high resolution melting method. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium test shows that our population is in equilibrium for the studied SNP. Genotypes frequencies of +3142C/G polymorphism in Tunisian general population are 0.475 for heterozygote G/C, 0.186 for homozygote G/G and 0.339 for homozygote C/C., Conclusion: HRM is a cost-effective method suitable for SNP genotyping., (© 2021 The Authors. Molecular Genetics & Genomic Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

The post-partum is a high risk period for the development of acute psychotic disorders. The frequence of post-partum psychoses is evaluated at 1 to 2 per 1,000 births. Post-partum psychosis include major affective disorders which is the most frequent diagnosis. The clinical pictures have specific characteristics: rapid change of symptomatology, liability of mood, and frequent confusional signs. The short-term prognosis is generally good but the risk of recurrence of the mental disorder, in or outside puerperal context, is high. At clinical, evolutive and genetic levels, the studies do not provide arguments for nosological autonomy of post-partum psychosis. At therapeutic level, the ECT is particularly efficient in this indication.

We have used the gibbon ape leukemia cell line MLA-144 and its corticoid-sensitive subclone MLA-E7T to analyze the mechanisms whereby interleukin-2 (IL-2) can protect T cells against dexamethasone-induced apoptosis. MLA cells are characterized by the constitutive expression of intermediate affinity receptors for IL-2, together with IL-4 receptors. MLA-144 cells secrete IL-2 and are insensitive to dexamethasone, whereas MLA-E7T cells do not constitutively produce significant amounts of IL-2 and undergo apoptotic cell death in the presence of dexamethasone. Exogenous IL-2 was shown to protect MLA-E7T cells against the apoptotic effect of dexamethasone and to increase both the DNA binding and transactivating functions of activator protein-1 (AP-1). The functional relationship between AP-1 and glucocorticoid receptors transcriptional activities was further investigated using transient expression of reporter gene constructs whose transcriptions are regulated by promoters containing TPA-responsive elements or glucocorticoid-responsive elements. The data reported here demonstrate that in MLA-144 cells, IL-2 or PMA stimulation antagonizes the glucocorticoid receptor, whereas in MLA-E7T, synergistic effects are observed between dexamethasone and IL-2 or PMA for transactivation of MMTV-CAT. Taken together with the finding that IL-2 but not PMA protects MLA-E7T from dexamethasone-induced apoptosis, our results indicate that IL-2 does not induce such a protection by repressing the transcriptional activity of the glucocorticoid receptor.

In this study, we have analyzed the expression and regulation of receptors for IL-2 (alpha and beta chains) and IL-4 in four lymphoid cell lines established from leukemic cells. The gibbon ape cell line MLA 144 was the only one to express constitutively the IL-2R beta chain and IL-4R, whereas the NK-like YT cells express only IL-2R beta. The two other cell lines in this study, PEER and HSB2, are derived from T lymphocytes, and express neither IL-4R, IL-2R beta, nor IL-2R alpha unless stimulated. We report here that those receptors that are constitutively expressed, i.e., IL-2R beta on YT cells and IL-2R beta or IL-4R on MLA cells, are down-regulated by stimulation with PHA + PMA. In contrast, RNase protection experiments showed that PHA + PMA stimulation of T cell lines induces mRNA for all three receptors in PEER cells, and only IL-2R alpha and IL-4R in HSB-2. Thus each of these three receptors is subjected to a different regulation, which in addition varies depending on the lineage (or differentiation stage) of the cells. This was further supported by the finding that IL-1 alpha or TNF-alpha regulates these receptors differently. These two cytokines have no effect on IL-2R beta and IL-4R in MLA and YT, but induce IL-2R alpha in YT. In contrast, they do not induce either chains of the IL-2R in the T cell lines PEER or HSB-2, but TNF induces IL-4R mRNA in HSB2 cells, and IL-1 does so in both cell lines.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The effects of cAMP upon cell proliferation, cytotoxic activity, and regulation of IL-2R expression was investigated in normal human, IL-2-dependent natural killer (NK) cell clones. We report here that addition to the cultures of Bt2cAMP, a cell permeant analogue of cAMP, results in inhibition of IL-2-dependent proliferation, as assessed by [3H]Thymidine incorporation, in both NK and T cell clones. In addition, Bt2cAMP was shown to block the cytotoxic activity of NK cell clones at the level of the lytic phase. Contrasting with these inhibitory effects, cAMP induces an upregulation of the membrane expression of the IL-2R alpha chain (p55, Tac) in normal NK cell clones, which correlates with an accumulation of Tac mRNA. This is clearly at variance with T cell clones in which no such effect of cAMP alone is observed. In both cell types however, cAMP appears to synergize with IL-2 to increase IL-2R alpha mRNA expression. In addition, we demonstrate, using a cDNA probe to the IL-2R beta, that expression of this second component of the high affinity IL-2R, does not appear to be co-regulated together with IL-2R alpha in response to cAMP or/and IL-2 in cultured NK cells. Thus the effects of cAMP on human NK cell clones are complex. cAMP is inhibitory of proliferation and cytolytic function, whereas it is stimulatory of IL-2R alpha expression in these cells.