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Abstract Background Whereas the antimicrobial peptides hBD-2 and -3 are related to inflammation, the constitutively expressed hBD-1 might function as 8p tumour suppressor gene and thus play a key role in control of transcription and induction of apoptosis in malignant epithelial tumours. Therefore this study was conducted to characterise proteins involved in cell cycle control and host defence in different benign and malignant salivary gland tumours in comparison with healthy salivary gland tissue. Methods 21 paraffin-embedded tissue samples of benign (n = 7), and malignant (n = 7) salivary gland tumours as well as healthy (n = 7) salivary glands were examined immunohistochemically for the expression of p53, bcl-2, and hBD-1, -2, -3. Results HBD-1 was distributed in the cytoplasm of healthy salivary glands and benign salivary gland tumours but seems to migrate into the nucleus of malignant salivary gland tumours. Pleomorphic adenomas showed cytoplasmic as well as weak nuclear hBD-1 staining. Conclusion HBD-1, 2 and 3 are traceable in healthy salivary gland tissue as well as in benign and malignant salivary gland tumours. As hBD-1 is shifted from the cytoplasm to the nucleus in malignant salivary gland tumours, we hypothesize that it might play a role in the oncogenesis of these tumours. In pleomorphic adenomas hBD-1 might be connected to their biologic behaviour of recurrence and malignant transformation.

We have previously proposed a low cost, versatile process for stabilizing azodye photo-alignment layers for liquid crystal devices by utilizing a surface localized reactive mesogen (RM) layer. The RM is applied by dissolving the monomer in a liquid crystal material prior to filling the cell. In this paper, we show the significant effect of azodye layer thickness on the long term stability of these alignment layers when exposed to polarized light. We demonstrate, surprisingly, that thin azodye layers (~3 nm) provide improved stability over thicker (~40 nm) layers. Using this process, we show cells which have been stable to exposure with polarized light through one month. Additionally, we demonstrate the use of a photo-alignment layer to align the liquid crystals that afterwards can be rendered insensitive to polarized light. This was accomplished by using the process described above with the additional step of eliminating the photosensitivity of the azodye layer through photo-bleaching; the result is an RM alignment layer that will be stable when exposed to polarized light in the dye absorption band. Published by AIP Publishing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spatial variation of productivity across farm fields can be classified by delineating site-specific management zones. Since productivity is influenced by soil characteristics, the spatial pattern of productivity could be caused by a corresponding variation in certain soil properties. Determining the source of variation in productivity can help achieve more effective site-specific management. The objectives of this study were (i) to characterize the spatial variability of soil physical properties across irrigated corn (Zea Mays L.) production fields and (ii) to determine if soil physical properties could explain the variability in productivity between site-specific management zones. The study was conducted over three study sites in northeastern Colorado. The soil properties measured were bulk density, cone index, surface soil color, organic C, texture, sorptivity, and surface water content. A multi-response permutation procedure was used to lest for significant differences among soil properties between management zones. Box plots of soil physical properties were created for each management zone within each study site to determine if trends in soil physical properties corresponded to the productivity potential of the management zones. Overall, this study showed that soil physical properties exhibited significant spatial variability across production fields. The trends observed for the measured soil physical properties corresponded to the productivity potential of the management zones. Utilizing site-specific management zones could help manage the in-field variability of yield-limiting soil physical properties.