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Although extensive research has demonstrated host-retrovirus microevolutionary dynamics, it has been difficult to gain a deeper understanding of the macroevolutionary patterns of host-retrovirus interactions. Here we use recent technological advances to infer broad patterns in retroviral diversity, evolution, and host-virus relationships by using a large-scale phylogenomic approach using endogenou

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the association between structural changes in human atria, age, and history of atrial fibrillation (AF). BACKGROUND: Development of fibrosis in atrial walls is associated with deterioration of atrial conduction and predisposes to AF in experiment. Human data, however, are scarce, and whether fibrosis is a cause or consequence of AF is not known.

The four largest Swedish lakes, Vanern, Vattern, Malaren, Hjalmaren, host important commercial fisheries for char, salmon, trout, whitefish, vendace (cisco), perch, pike-perch, pike and eel, i.e. highly diverse biological resources. Case studies illustrate physical, chemical and biological impacts on some of these commercial species caused by constructions of dams and ship canals, eutrophication,

Gelatin, derived from the collagen triple helix, is the most widely used functional biopolymer and a prototype for studies of physical gels. Gelatin gels have also served as models for soft biological tissue in efforts to elucidate the molecular basis of the magnetic relaxation phenomena that govern magnetic resonance image contrast. Yet, the microstructure, hydration, and magnetic relaxation beha

We show that the relation of second order stochastic dominance, which has found widespread use in models of economic behavior under uncertainty, may be described in terms of conditional expectation. If a distribution G second order stochastically dominates another distribution F, then there are random variables g and f with distributions G and F, respectively, such that g can be obtained from f by

Cross-linking of polyelectrolytes such as DNA gives gels that are osmotically highly swollen but contract upon addition of electrolytes and, in particular, upon association of oppositely charged cosolutes with the polyelectrolyte chain. The deswelling behavior of cross-linked DNA gels thus reflects the DNA-cosolute interactions and provides a basis for the development of responsive DNA formulation

Recently, several polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods for detection and genetic identification of haemosporidian parasites in avian blood have been developed. Most of these have considerably higher sensitivity compared with traditional microscope-based examinations of blood smears. These new methods have already had a strong impact on several aspects of research on avian blood parasites.

We report the isolation and partial genetic characterization of two equine strains of granulocytic Ehrlichia of the genogroup Ehrlichia phagocytophila. Frozen whole-blood samples from two Swedish horses with laboratory-verified granulocytic ehrlichiosis were inoculated into HL-60 cell cultures. Granulocytic Ehrlichia was isolated and propagated from both horses. DNA extracts from the respective st

Biological processes often involve the surfaces of proteins, where the structural and dynamic properties of the aqueous solvent are modified. Information about the dynamics of protein hydration can be obtained by measuring the magnetic relaxation dispersion (MRD) of the water 2 H and 17 0 nuclei or by recording the nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) between water and protein protons. Here, we use the

Synthesis of the antimicrobial protein neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) increases dramatically in bronchial epithelial cells and alveolear type II pneumocytes during lung inflammation. IL-1beta induces a >10-fold up-regulation of NGAL expression in the type II pneumocyte-derived cell line A549 cells, whereas TNF-alpha, IL-6, and LPS had no effect. Similar IL-1beta selectivity was

Abstract in UndeterminedCytomegalovirus (CMV) causes severe sequelae in congenitally infected newborns and may cause life-threatening disease in immuno-deficient patients. Recent findings demonstrate the possibility to alleviate the disease by infusing intravenous immunoglobulin G (IgG) preparations, indicating that antibodies are an effective therapeutic option. Modern molecular methodologies, li

A Nordic-Soviet programme was initiated in 1990 to evaluate the external and internal radiation exposure of the inhabitants of several villages in the Bryansk region of Russia. This area was one of the number of areas particularly affected by the nuclear accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in 1986. Measurements were carried out yearly until 1998 and after that more irregularly; in 2000,

A model of emotional conditioning is ex- tended with a cortical model where stimulus codes compete for activation. This system is combined with motivational inputs that mod- ulate both sensory and emotional processing. The extended model is able to reproduce the attentional blocking effect. It can also learn to switch between different sensory targets when the motivational state changes. The relat

Gestures—or bodily “actions that have the feature of manifest deliberate expressiveness” (Kendon, 2004, p. 15)—are an integral part of how we communicate.

Net paper readers have been shown to read deeper into articles than newspaper readers. It has also been claimed that newspaper readers rather scan than read newspapers. Do these findings mean that net paper readers read proportionally more than newspaper readers? This paper presents results showing that in fact net paper readers scan more and read less than newspaper readers. We furthermore invest

Interreligious dialogue and conversion are two intriguing components in understanding religion. A reading of George Lindbeck constitutes the starting point for a discussion in this paper. The dominant reading of Lindbeck is that he claims that traditions absorb the world. According to this reading of Lindbeck, religious traditions are isolated, and yet the one with the best capacity to assimilate