Immune system components differ in their functions and costs, and immune defense profiles are likely to vary among species with differing ecologies. We compared adaptive immune defenses in two closely related species that have contrasting inflammatory immune responses, the widespread and abundant house sparrow (Passer domesticus) and the less abundant tree sparrow (Passer montanus). We found that

In order to explain recent photofragmentation experiments of hydrogen peroxide, the vertical excitation energies, potential-energy curves and surfaces, harmonic vibrational frequencies, and transition moments for a number of low lying excited states were calculated. The accessibility of different photodissociation channels for different excitation wavelengths was discussed, on the basis of the cal

We examined the association between self-reported consumption of fruits and vegetables and prostate cancer risk in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). Data on food consumption and complete follow-up for cancer incidence were available for 130,544 men in 7 countries recruited into EPIC between 1993 and 1999. After an average of 4.8 years of follow-up, there were

Aim: The femoral artery blood flow response to submaximal, one-legged, dynamic, knee-extensor exercise was determined in acute and chronic hypoxia to investigate the hypotheses that with adaptation to chronic hypoxia blood haemoglobin increases, allowing preservation of blood flow as in normoxia. Methods: Sixteen Danish lowlanders participated, in groups of six to eight, in the experiments at sea

SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) images are distorted by photon attenuation. The effect is complex in the thoracic region due to different tissue densities. This study compares the effect on the image homogeneity of two different methods of attenuation correction in lung SPECT; one pre-processing and one post-processing method. This study also investigates the impact of attenuati

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection causes cervical cancer and genital warts. Young women (1106) were randomized to receive one of three formulations of a quadrivalent HPV (Types 6/11/16/18) L1 virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine or one of two placebo formulations. The goal was to assess vaccine safety and immunogenicity in baseline HPV 6/11/16 or 18-naive and previously infected subjects. All thre

Socket migration and rotation in the Charnley total hip replacement were evaluated by roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis in 23 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 23 patients with osteoarthritis. The two groups were matched with regard to age and sex. The follow-up time was two years. In the rheumatoid patients socket migration was most prominent in the proximal direction and averaged 0.6

An apparent wave is a part of the sea record observed between two successive upcrossings of the still water level integral formulas are given for intensities of encountered waves that overtake a ship sailing in directional sea with constant velocity. The formulas can be evaluated exactly in the case when the directional spectrum is known and the sea is assumed to be Gaussian, i.e. is a sum of noni

Studies on ethanol-exposed animals have revealed changes in anionic phospholipids in brain membranes. The intention of this study was to investigate whether there was a similar effect on man. Assuming platelets to be an adequate model for CNS synaptosomes, concentration and fatty acid composition of anionic phospholipids, phosphatidylserine (PS) and phosphatidylositol (PI) in the platelet membrane

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to identify factors of significance in the development of acute confusional state (ACS) and the differences between patients who developed ACS and those who did not. METHOD AND RESULTS: Assessment, observations and interviews with 505 patients admitted to an orthopaedic clinic revealed that 51 patients developed ACS during their in-hospital stay. Patients ad

The Great reed warbler (GRW) and the Seychelles warbler (SW) are congeners with markedly different demographic histories. The GRW is a normal outbred bird species while the SW population remains isolated and inbred after undergoing a severe population bottleneck. We examined variation at Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class I exon 3 using restriction fragment length polymorphism, denaturin

Hexahydrophthalic anhydride (HHPA) is a highly sensitizing industrial chemical that is known to covalently bind to endogenous proteins. The aim of this study was to determine the binding sites of HHPA to human serum albumin (HSA). Conjugates between HSA and HHPA, at two different molar ratios, were synthesized under physiological conditions. The conjugates were digested with trypsin and Pronase E

The theme of this monograph of Informing Science is a dialectic we perceive to exist between meaningful use and reflection upon use. This dialectic between use and reflection on use (or thinking, and thinking about thinking) may be considered in the following way. Each of these elements is subject to change. As reflection triggers change in use, and such change triggers further reflection, a spira

Excited states in Cd-98, two proton holes from Sn-100, were identified and studied for the first time, using in-beam spectroscopy with highly selective ancillary detectors. The structure of the (pi g(9/2))(-2) two-proton-hole spectrum below a T-1/2 = 0.48(16) mu s isomer is deduced and compared to shell-model predictions. A tentative I-pi = (8(+)) assignment, as suggested by systematics, yields a

Objective. Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a progressive, debilitating disease with complex symptoms, unclear etiology and pathogenesis, and difficult diagnosis. Current imaging methods are useful in diagnosing AS and other spondyloarthropathies, and are frequently used in investigations of sacroiliitis. The radiographic diagnosis of sacroiliitis has large interobserver variations. Computed tomogra