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Gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALT) serve as key priming sites for intestinal adaptive immune responses. Most of our understanding of GALT function and development arises from studies in mice. However, the diversity, structure and cellular composition of GALT differs markedly between mammalian species and the developmental window in which distinct GALT structures develop in large mammals remain
Basic materials are traded globally and responsible for roughly 22 % of global carbon emissions. It is technically possible for the energy intensive industries (EIIs) that produce these materials to reach zero emission, but at a cost. So far, the fear of carbon leakage has been a barrier for implementing ambitious domestic climate policies that targets theses globally traded commodities. The intr
This book analyses and discusses the use of Islamic terms and symbols in the political party Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC). It is based on interviews with the leading members of the party and on analyses of the party’s official documents. It describes the history of Muslims in Sri Lanka, presents the analytical framework used, and discusses the official documents and narratives of party members
Foot-and-mouth disease viruses from serotypes O, A and C have been crystallized. The particular strains studied include O1K, A1061, A22 Iraq 24/64, A24 Cruzeiro and C-S8c1. In addition, crystals have been grown of G67, a monoclonal antibody neutralization escape mutant derived from O1K, and of virus R100, recovered after the establishment of a persistent infection in baby hamster kidney cells with
The mechanisms underlying M. fortuitum-induced pathogenesis remains elusive. Using headkidney macrophages (HKM) from Clarias gariepinus, we report that TLR-2-mediated internalization of M. fortuitum is imperative to the induction of pathogenic effects. Inhibiting TLR-2 signalling alleviated HKM apoptosis, thereby favouring bacterial survival. Additionally, TLR-2-mediated cytosolic calcium (Ca2+)c
Identifying optimal inspection and repair strategies for offshore jacket structures is a challenging task. We present an approach, which is based on recent developments in the field of risk-based operation and maintenance planning at the structural system level. The approach utilizes heuristics to define inspection and repair strategies at the system level and to reduce the search space of possibl
Over the last decade, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have been used for monitoring construction and operation of civil infrastructure, as well as industrial facilities and power plants. Their operational simplicity along with time-and-cost-related benefits have already rendered them attractive for structural surveying. Nevertheless, the field of UAV research currently lacks a targeted employment
Prototypes of wind turbines of the megawatt class are to be built and tested until 2008 within a German offshore wind energy test field in the North Sea (ALPHA VENTUS). To ensure a high operational reliability of offshore wind turbines with economically acceptable repair and maintenance efforts, comprehensive diagnosis and supervision concepts are required. Automatic monitoring systems will be an
Autoimmune hepatitis (AH) and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) are autoimmune diseases (AIDs) targeting cellular components of the liver. Being rare diseases, limited data are available about familial risks among these AIDs (concordant) or between them and other AIDs (discordant). We aimed to carry out an unbiased study on these AIDs based on medically diagnosed patients. We collected data on patie
The β-catenin/Wnt signaling pathway plays an important role in all stages of T cell development. Nemo-like kinase (NLK) is an evolutionary conserved serine/threonine kinase and a negative regulator of the Wnt signaling pathway. NLK can directly phosphorylate histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1), as well as T cell factor/lymphoid enhancer-binding factor (TCF/LEF), causing subsequent repression of target g
Platelets are the primary cellular mediators of hemostasis and this function firmly acquaints them with a variety of inflammatory processes. For example, platelets can act as circulating sentinels by expressing Toll-like receptors (TLR) that bind pathogens and this allows platelets to effectively kill them or present them to cells of the immune system. Furthermore, activated platelets secrete and
Twenty-four strains of Mobiluncus mulieris and 27 strains of Mobiluncus curtisii were tested with respect to 6 different biochemical characteristics: arginin-decarboxylase activity, beta-galactosidase activity, synergistic hemolysis with Staphylococcus aureus, hydrolysis of hippurate, migration through soft agar and reduction of nitrate. Antigens of the same strains, prepared by ultrasonication, w
Handwriting is an important component of academic curricula and grapho-motor skills (GMS) support learning, reading, memory and self-confidence. Teachers and clinicians report increase in children experiencing problems with acquiring fluid and legible handwriting. To date gold-standard tests evaluating children's GMS, mostly rely on pen and paper tests, requiring extensive coding time and subject
This chapter provides conceptual and empirical foundations for smart specialization, a policy approach of far-reaching importance in the European context. We interpret the very notion as “diversified” specialization into areas of existing or potential competitive advantage, which differentiates a region/nation from others. “Smart” relates to the identification of these areas through a process of e
We describe a novel assay for detection of point mutations. The method combines the specificity and sensitivity of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and allele-specific oligonucleotides (ASO) with highly sensitive time- resolved fluorometry. ASO probes differing by a single base substitution and labeled with europium (Eu) chelates were hybridized in solution simultaneously with a biotinylated ol
