It is known that host cells can produce type I IFNs (IFN-alpha beta) after exposure to conserved bacterial products, but the functional consequences of such responses on the outcome of bacterial infections are incompletely understood. We show in this study that IFN-alpha beta signaling is crucial for host defenses against different bacteria, including group B streptococci (GBS), pneumococci, and E

The endogenous NPY system in the brain is centrally involved in seizure regulation. The present paper reviews the evidence that exogenously applied NPY receptor ligands can inhibit epileptic seizures in various rodent in vitro and in vivo models. Agonists at Y2 and/or Y5 receptors and antagonists at Y1 receptors appear to inhibit seizures, depending on the seizure model studied. Although progress

We present here a tribute to Hemming Ivar Virgin (October 19, 1918-October 19, 2005), a pioneer in Swedish plant photobiology, developer of a University, and an outstanding educator.

The type of chemical reaction between hapten and carrier protein in the formation of a complete antigen in vivo giving rise to an allergic contact dermatitis (ACD, type IV allergy) is essentially unknown. About 4,000 low-molecular organic compounds are known to have allergenic properties. ,-Unsaturated carbonyl structures are frequently present among these compounds. Haptens giving rise to antibod

Cellulose, a polysaccharide consisting of beta-1,4-linked glucose, is the major component of plant cell walls and consequently one of the most abundant biopolymers on earth. Carbohydrate polymers such as cellulose are molecules with vast diversity in structure and function, and a multiplicity of hydrolases operating in concert are required for depolymerisation. The bacterium Rhodothermus marinus,

Progesterone in saliva was monitored using a new method called magnetic particle-based immuno supported liquid membrane assay (m-ISLMA) in a sequential injection (SI) setup, allowing automatic sample cleanup, analyte enrichment, and detection in a single analysis unit. Progesterone (Ag) diffuses from a continuous flowing sample - the donor - into a supported organic liquid membrane (SLM), based on

An extensive literature is available on browsing preference for certain tree species. However, useful predictive tools for estimating the impact of deer on forests production and biodiversity can still be improved. A step in that direction is not only to rank preference among tree species but also to quantify the relative risk of being browsed. The foraging selectivity of moose was evaluated using

A foraging animal is often confronted with uncertainty of resource abundance. A Bayesian model provides the optimal forgaing policy when food occurrence is patchy. The solution of the Bayesian foraging policy requires elaborate calculations and it is unclear to what extent the policy could be implemented in a neural system. Here we suggest a network architecture of three neurones that approximatel

Non-targeted effect of BCG: Several recent studies suggest that BCG has beneficial non-targeted effects on general child survival in low-income countries. Studies of the effect of BCG on morbidity in humans are scarce; some found a positive effect of BCG and others show no effect. Non-targeted effects of vaccines-possible bias and confounding: The major argument against comparing vaccinated and un

In this paper an MMSE estimator of the complex shortime spectrum is considered for optimum noise reduction of speech. The correlation between frequency components is exploited to improve the estimation, especially of those components with low local SNR. Furthermore, by making use of both spectral envelope and time envelope, the estimator is able to suppress noise power infrequency domain and lime

ABSTRACT. This paper addresses the question of whether ‘main clause infinitival datives’ in Russian should be analyzed as oblique or ‘quirky’ subjects, in contrast to another type of subject-like datives in Russian, ‘I-nominals’. In particular, it examines a claim to this effect made by Moore and Perlmutter in a paper in Natural Language and Linguistic Theory (2000). By comparing the datives in qu

[abstract missing]

OBJECTIVES: Sleep deprivation has experimentally been shown to adversely influence glucose metabolism, endocrine function and sympathovagal balance in young men without known serious disease. We investigated the impact of sleep problems and resting heart rate in a large sample of self-reported, healthy middle-aged men and women on long-term mortality. METHODS: In all 22,444 men and 10,902 women pa