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Toxoplasma gondii infection can lead to life-threatening systemic disease in the immunocompromised individual and in the developing fetus. Despite intensive investigation in animal models of toxoplasmosis, the processes leading to systemic dissemination remain poorly characterized. In the present study, in vivo bioluminescence imaging (BLI) was applied to the Toxoplasma mouse model to study the dy

Disturbed haemostasis is a central finding in severe Streptococcus pyogenes infection. In particular, microthrombi are found both at the local site of infection and at distant sites. Platelets are responsible for maintaining vascular function and haemostasis. We report here that M1 protein of S. pyogenes triggers immune-mediated platelet activation and thrombus formation. M1 protein is released fr

A study of local thermal insulation materials in Algeria. The materials studied were foamed concrete and woodwool slabs.

Measures of the proliferative activity of tumor cells have prognostic value in patients with node-negative breast cancer. We studied 367 women in southern Sweden who had undergone surgical resection for such cancer. Tumor specimens were analyzed with DNA flow cytometry in order to estimate both the DNA content (ploidy) and the fraction of cells in the synthetic phase of the cell cycle (S phase). T

We investigate properties of commutative subrings and ideals in non-commutative algebraic crossed products for actions by arbitrary groups. A description of the commutant of the coefficient subring in the crossed product ring is given. Conditions for commutativity and maximal commutativity of the commutant of the coefficient subring are provided in terms of the action as well as in terms of the in

The visualization of surface reactions on the atomic scale provides direct insight into the microscopic reaction steps taking place in a catalytic reaction at a (model) catalyst's surface. Employing the technique of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), we investigated the CO oxidation reaction over the RuO2(110) and RuO2(100) surfaces. For both surfaces the protruding bridging O atoms are imaged i

In the molecular interplay between pathogenic microorganisms and their host, proteolytic mechanisms are believed to play a crucial role. Here we find that the important human pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes (group A Streptococcus) expresses a surface protein with high affinity (Ka = 2.0 x 10(8) M-1) for alpha2-macroglobulin (alpha2M), the dominating proteinase inhibitor of human plasma. The immuno

Lipolysis is an important metabolic pathway controlling energy homeostasis through degradation of triglycerides stored in lipid droplets and release of fatty acids. Lipid droplets of mammalian cells are coated with one or more members of the PAT protein family, which serve important functions in regulating lipolysis. In this study, we investigate the mechanisms by which PAT family members, perilip

A general, dynamic model describing the drying mechanisms of paper has been developed. The model includes shrinkage and predicts temperature, moisture, and pressure profiles. It has been evaluated against steady-state as well as dynamic measurements oil a multicylinder paper dryer. The results revealed critical sections where low web strength and maximum gas pressure Occur. Measurements of the out

Recent research has emphasized the importance of terrestrial ecosystems in the global biogeochemical cycle of silica (Si). The production, retention, and dissolution of amorphous silica of biological origin in soils and vegetation effectively control terrestrial Si fluxes. However, surprisingly little is known about the role of wetlands in these processes. Wetlands are known hotspots for both nitr

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different perfusion pressures on edema formation during cold flush perfusion with the 2 most commonly used preservation solutions in clinical lung transplantation: Euro-Collins and Perfadex solutions. Methods: Isolated rat and porcine lungs were perfused for 3 minutes at 4 degrees C to 8 degrees C at a pressure of either 10, 15 or

For a class of unbounded operators, a deformation of a Bott projection is used to construct an integer-valued invariant measuring deviation of the non-commutative deformations from the commutative originals, and its interpretation in terms of K-theory of C*-algebras is given. Calculation of this invariant for specific important classes of unbounded operators is also presented.

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is an autosomal dominant disorder, caused by an expansion of a CTG triplet repeat in the DMPK gene. The aims of the present study were to classify a cohort of children with DM1, to describe their neuropsychiatric problems and cognitive level, to estimate the size of the CTG expansion, and to correlate the molecular findings with the neuropsychiatric problems. Fifty-

To measure the onset of mass transfer in eccentric binaries, we have developed a two-phase smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) technique. Mass transfer is important in the evolution of close binaries, and a key issue is to determine the separation at which mass transfer begins. The circular case is well understood and can be treated through the use of the Roche formalism. To treat the eccentric

Sporadic mutations in the thrombomodulin (TM) gene occur in patients with both arterial and venous thrombosis, but the effects of these mutations on expression and function are largely unexplored. Full-length wild-type TM complementary DNA (cDNA) was incorporated into vector pcDNA6 for transfection into COS-7 cells for transient expression. Mutagenesis was performed to create 7 TM mutants with nat

Size distribution measurements performed at five different stations have been investigated during a one-year period between 01 June 2000 and 31 May 2001 with focus on diurnal, seasonal and geographical differences of size distribution properties. The stations involved cover a large geographical area ranging from the Finnish Lapland (67degrees N) down to southern Sweden (56degrees N) in the order V