Cell surface proteins that bind to the Fc part of immunoglobulin (Ig) A and/or IgG are expressed by many strains of the group A Streptococcus, an important human pathogen. Two extensively characterized proteins in this group of molecules are protein Arp that preferentially binds IgA and protein H that binds IgG. In addition, recent work has shown that many group A streptococcal strains express a n

In an attempt to define the clinical utility of immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) gene rearrangement identification for tumour cell detection in multiple myeloma, we investigated 36 consecutive newly diagnosed patients intended for high-dose chemotherapy in a study protocol. After identification of the IgH rearrangement, an allele specific oligonucleotide (ASO) was constructed and used in a semiqua

An improved design of fuel cells stacks arrangement has been suggested before for MCFC where reactant streams are ducted such that they are fed and recycled among multiple MCFC stacks in series. By networking fuel cell stacks, increased efficiency, improved thermal balance, and higher total reactant utilisation can be achieved. In this study, a combination of networked solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC)

AFM measurements in the force volume mode were performed over the total penetration depth for different positions on casein aggregates adsorbed to a graphite surface in a liquid cell. The stiffness of the force curves was correlated to indentation depths, layer depth and lateral position within the aggregates with the aim of arriving at a credible explanation for the shapes of the force curves. Th

The objective of the study was to describe 20 matched pairs of children born to psychosocial risk mothers who have been followed from early pregnancy through their first 16 years of life. Interviews and standardized behavior measurements with a focus on the children's development were used. When considering the overall data from the different measurements done over the 16-year study period, the st

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 on a multicylinder paper dryer. The results revealed critical sections where low web strength and maximum gas pressure occur. Measurements of the oute

The macula of the human retina contains high amounts of the xanthophyll carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin [a mixture of (3R,3′R)-zeaxanthin and (3R,3′S-meso)-zeaxanthin]. Recently, it was shown that the uptake and the stabilization of zeaxanthin and lutein into the retina are likely to be mediated by specific xanthophyll-binding proteins (XBP). Here, we have used femtosecond pump–probe spectroscop

Tissue levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein were studied using enzyme immunoassay in different forebrain regions in the ipsi- and contralateral hemispheres of rats housed under enriched or standard conditions after the middle cerebral artery ligation. BDNF levels in the ipsilateral to ligation side was significantly higher only in the frontal cortex of standard as compared to

Fibroblast growth factors and receptors are intimately connected to the extracellular matrix by their affinity to heparan sulfate proteoglycans. They mediate multiple processes during embryonic development and adult life. In this study, embryonic stem cell-derived embryoid bodies were used to model fibroblast growth factor signaling during early epithelial morphogenesis. To avoid redundancy caused

A waterworks with an average production rate of 1.3 m3 s(-1), providing several large cities in the province of Scania with drinking water has been studied regarding its capacity to remove several natural and anthropogenic radionuclides. The raw water is surface water from lake Bolmen which is transported through an 80 km long tunnel in the bedrock before it enters the waterworks. The method used

Nuclear DNA is a well characterized target for many low molecular metal-based drugs, with cisplatin and related antineoplastic compounds as typical examples. Much less is known concerning to what extent targeting of RNA may influence the activity spectrum of these types of drugs. In a preliminary communication by us (Papsai et al., Dalton Trans., 2006, 3515) we were able to show that the folded, t

1. We examined the temporal and spatial heterogeneity of zooplankton in lake surface waters during the spring of 3 years in Lake Washington, U.S.A., a large lake with a high production of sockeye salmon fry. 2. We show large within-season and among-year variation in the horizontal distribution of temperature, chlorophyll a concentration, and zooplankton in the lake. The main pattern, a delay in zo

The understanding of post-Fordist societies as learning economies, in which learning organizations such as learning firms and learning regions play a strategic role, has lately received some criticism. The critique has partly pointed at the structural limits to learning in a capitalist global economy, and partly argued that firms in capitalist societies have always been learning, referring especia

Background/Aims: Clinical short-term trails have shown positive effects of donepezil treatment in patients with Alzheimer's disease. The outcome of continuous long-term treatment in the routine clinical settings remains to be investigated. Methods: The Swedish Alzheimer Treatment Study (SATS) is a descriptive, prospective, longitudinal, multicentre study. Four hundred and thirty-five outpatients w

We study different classes of Jensen measures for plurisubharmonic functions, in particular the relation between Jensen measures for continuous functions and Jensen measures for upper bounded functions. We prove an approximation theorem for plurisubharmonic functions inB-regular domain. This theorem implies that the two classes of Jensen measures coincide inB-regular domains. Conversely we show th

BACKGROUND: Angiogenic activity defined by microvessel density or measurement of vascular endothelial growth factor is a key process under physiological and malignant conditions in steroid hormone responding organs. The aim of this study was to relate microvessel density (MVD) in primary breast cancer to reproductive data and use of exogenous hormones. MATERIAL AND METHODS: MVD was calculated retr

Necessary and sufficient conditions are given for a Lorentz space L8phi,q) to have a trivial conjugat space. Analogous results are derived for quasi-normed spaces

Background: HIV-1 infection is associated with an increased incidence of and mortality from tuberculosis. Few community studies have examined the effect of HIV-2 on tuberculosis. Methods: We investigated the association between HIV-1, HIV-2 and active tuberculosis in four districts (population 42 709) in Bissau, capital of Guinea-Bissau, with the highest known seroprevalence of HIV-2 infection in