We control hPSC differentiation into synthetic or contractile phenotypes by using appropriate concentrations of relevant factors. Deriving Con-vSMCs from an integration-free hiPSC line may prove useful for regenerative therapy involving blood vessel differentiation and stabilization.

Chemokine receptors play an important role in the trafficking of various immune cell types to sites of inflammation. Several chemokine receptors are differentially expressed in Th1 and Th2 effector populations. Th2 cells selectively express CCR3, CCR4, and CCR8, which could direct their trafficking to sites of allergic inflammation. Additionally, increased expression of the CCR8 ligand, TCA-3, has been detected in affected lungs in a mouse model of asthma. In this study, CCR8-deficient mice were generated to address the biological role of CCR8 in a model of allergic airway disease. Using two different protocols of allergen challenge, we demonstrate that absence of CCR8 does not affect the development of pulmonary eosinophilia and Th2 cytokine responses. In addition, administration of anti-TCA-3-neutralizing Ab during allergen sensitization and rechallenge failed to inhibit airway allergic inflammation. These results suggest that CCR8 does not play an essential role in the pathogenesis of inflammation in this mouse model of allergic airway disease.

No abstract

At the recent ASA Second Sonic Boom Symposium, Wanner described French field tests that document the extremely high magnifications of boom overpressures that may be expected at a super focus, i.e., the cusp of a caustic or an arête. In the present paper, the theory of sonic booms near such cusps is developed, with emphasis on the estimate of the peak overpressure that may be expected in given circumstances. The parameters of importance in the analysis are (1) the minimum radius of curvature R of the shock front some time before it reaches the cusp, (2) the second derivative R″ of the curvature radius with respect to transverse distance along the front, (3) the peak overpressure Δp0 at the point where R and R″ are measured, and (4) the risetime τ. The linear theory predicts that the maximum overpressure at the cusp is of the order of (Δp) (R/cτ)12, which, for realistic values, predicts magnifications much larger than observed. A similitude theory incorporating nonlinear effects, similar to that previously used by Hayes (NASA SP-180), gives (Δp)max as equal to p0F(ξ), where F(ξ) is a universal function of the parameter ξ, given by (Δp/p0)/[RR″]12. Exploratory experiments to measure F(ξ) are described which suggest that F(ξ) may be approximated by 20ξ.