A total of 53 alleles at five highly polymorphic swine leucocyte antigen (SLA) loci (SLA-1, SLA-3, SLA-2, SLA-DRB1, and SLA-DQB1) were identified in eight commercially available porcine cell lines (ESK-4, LLC-PK1, MPK, PK13, PK15, PT-K75, SK-RST, and ST). This information is essential for the use of these cell lines to understand the role of SLA genes and proteins in swine models of transplantation, xenotransplantation, and in swine immune responses to infectious diseases and vaccines. The ready availability of these cell lines also makes them a good source of reference DNA for SLA allele typing.

Eight swine leucocyte antigen (SLA) gene (SLA-1, SLA-2, SLA-3, SLA-6, DRA, DRB1, DQA, DQB1) alleles were identified using sequence-based typing method in three Korean native pigs used for breeding at the National Institute of Animal Science in Korea. Six new alleles in class I genes and three new alleles in class II genes have been identified in this breed and can give valuable information for xenotransplantation and disease resistance.

Aluminothermic reduction of K 2 TiF 6 in the presence of C, B, or N 2 was investigated as a low exothermic combustion process for synthesizing nanoparticles of titanium ceramics such as TiC, TiB 2 , and TiN. Sample pellets were prepared by mixing powders of K 2 TiF 6 , Al, and non-metal (C, B) powders in stoichiometric ratios. Experiments were conducted at room temperature under either an Ar or N 2 atmosphere. The combustion parameters were estimated from the temperature-time profiles, measured in the combustion wave using thermocouples. The reaction drastically proceeds within seconds, raising the temperature to 890-1170 C. The size of TiC, TiB 2 , and TiN nanoparticles prepared by the developed approach were, respectively, 5-30 nm, 10-60 nm, and 70-100 nm.

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