C4b-binding protein (C4BP) is a potent inhibitor of the classical pathway of the complement system. This large plasma glycoprotein consists of seven identical a- chains and a unique b-chain held together by disulphide bridges. Both types of subunits are composed almost exclusively of complement control protein domains (CCPs). Using homology-based computer modelling and mutagenesis of recombinant p

We propose that a radiative cycle operates in atoms and ions located ina rarefied gas in the vicinity of a hot star. Besides spontaneoustransitions the cycle includes a stimulated transition in one very weakintermediate channel. This radiative bottleneck creates apopulation inversion, which for an appropriate column density results inamplification and stimulated radiation in the weak transition. T

Methane production from llama and cow manures from the Bolivian high plateau (The "Altiplano") was studied using a parallel reactor set-up consisting of 10 lab-scale biogasifiers. The effects of pressure (495 and 760 mmHg), temperature (11 and 35 degrees C), hydraulic retention time (20 and 50 days), and manure content in the slurry (10%, 20% and 50%) were evaluated with respect to productivity an

In this work, we studied the influence of fusion affinity tags containing both hydrophobic and histidines residues on the partitioning of the green fluorescent protein, GFPuv, in aqueous two-phase system. The tags were fused to the N-terminal of GFPuv and tested by immobilized metal affinity partitioning, in a PEG/salt system. The presence of both types of residues in the tag increased the partiti

Increased mucin expression is a feature of nasal polyposis. Corticosteroids reduce polyp size and symptoms, but their effect on mucin production remains unknown. In this study, the effects of intranasal corticosteroids on MUC5AC mucin expression, nasal resistance, eosinophil and neutrophil infiltration, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), interleukin (IL)-8, and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-a

Diatom data of 192 surface sediment samples from the marginal seas in the western Pacific together with modern summer and winter sea surface temperature and salinity data were analyzed. The results of canonical correspondence analysis show that summer sea-surface salinity (SSS) is highly positively correlated with winter SSS and so is summer sea-surface temperature (SST) with winter SST. The corre

In the presence of high concentrations of inert macromolecules, the self-association of proteins is strongly enhanced through an entropic, excluded-volume effect variously called macromolecular crowding or depletion attraction. Despite the predicted large magnitude of this universal effect and its far-reaching biological implications, few experimental studies of macromolecular crowding have been r

We investigated the structural validity of an inventory from the International Personality Item Pool (Goldberg et al., 2006) that is based on the Abridged Five Factor Circumplex (AB5C) model. In a Swedish sample of 1,080 subjects using confirmatory factor analysis, we found that the majority of investigated facets had a primary loading on 1 of the 5 personality factors and a secondary loading on a

This study focuses on the mechanisms and pathways of energy transfer in two carotenoid-pyropheophorbide dyads serving as an artificial light-harvesting antenna. The dyads contain carbonyl carotenoids peridinin (dyad 1) and fucoxanthin ( dyad 2). Studies of these carotenoids in solution showed a pronounced dependence of the excited-state lifetime on solvent polarity. This dependence was attributed

Review of Anne Gjelsvik's doctoral thesis Fiksjonsvoldens etiske betydninger. En studie av vurderingar av vold i amerikansk fiksjonsfilm. Trondheim: NTNU, 2004.

The spleen is generally not considered a challenge to the radiologist. Most often it poses a problem by anomalies or an irregular but normal contrast enhancement; however, a variety of inflammatory, infectious and neoplastic diseases may involve the spleen. CT and ultrasonography are screening modalities for the spleen. For problem solving, MR imaging can be helpful, especially due to its free cho

Objective. To compare choice of actions and justifying reasons among the general public, GPs and oncologists. Design. A postal questionnaire using four vignettes: a healthy patient reluctant to quit smoking and one demanding an X-ray, a pulmonary cancer patient reluctant to quit smoking and one demanding immunotherapy. Subjects. A random sample of the general public (n=1000), GPs (n=200), and onco

A refined formulation of an existing polymer density functional theory is presented, wherein an intrachain stiffness is introduced via a bending potential. Comparisons with Metropolis Monte Carlo simulations in a slit geometry shows that this leads to a considerable improvement of the predicted density profile for a hard sphere polymer melt, at low density. We also show how the corresponding surfa

Two randomized controlled trials (RCT) on intrapartum fetal monitoring with cardiotocography (CTG) only versus CTG combined with automatic ST segment waveform analysis of the fetal ECG have been performed. In altogether 6826 randomized cases, the odds ratio for operative delivery for fetal distress (ODFD) was 0.65 (95% confidence interval 0.53-0.78) and for metabolic acidosis at birth 0.39 (0.21-0

Level-set G-equation and stationary flamelet chemistry are used in large eddy simulation of a propane/air premixed turbulent flame stabilized by a bluff body. The aim was to study the interaction between the flame front and turbulent eddies, and in particular to examine the effect of sub-grid scale (SGS) eddies on the wrinkling of the flame surface. The results indicated that the two types of turb

Surveys of prescribing patterns in both hospitals and primary care have usually shown delays in translating the evidence from clinical trials of pharmacological agents into clinical practice, thereby denying patients with heart failure (HF) the benefits of drug treatments proven to improve well-being and prolong life. This may be due to unfamiliarity with the evidence-base for these therapies, the

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of two different fresh gas flows on inspired and end-tidal sevoflurane concentration for a given vaporizer setting in a low-flow anesthesia system.DESIGN: Prospective clinical study.SETTING: Department of Anesthesiology of a university teaching hospital.PATIENTS: 56 ASA physical status I and II patients without systemic diseases, having elective surgery w