Group G streptococci (GGS) are important bacterial pathogens in humans. Here we investigate the interactions between GGS and the contact system, a pro-coagulant and pro-inflammatory proteolytic cascade, which upon activation also generates antibacterial peptides. Two surface proteins of GGS, protein FOG and protein G (PG), were found to bind contact system proteins. Experiments utilizing contact p

A beta-decaying high-spin isomer in Cd-96, with a half-life T-1/2 = 0.29(-0.10)(+0.11) s, has been established in a stopped beam rare isotope spectroscopic investigations at GSI (RISING) experiment. The nuclei were produced using the fragmentation of a primary beam of Xe-124 on a Be-9 target. From the half-life and the observed gamma decays in the daughter nucleus, Ag-96, we conclude that the beta

Morphologic evaluation of samples from fine-needle aspiration (FNA) and core needle (CN) biopsies is an important part of the pretreatment diagnosis of bone and soft tissue tumors. Because most such tumors have characteristic, sometimes even specific, chromosomal rearrangements, ancillary genetic analyses could provide important diagnostic information. Whereas directed analyses, such as fluorescen

Objective. To assess work productivity and associated factors in patients with SpA.Methods. This cross-sectional postal survey included 1773 patients with SpA identified in a regional health care register. Items on presenteeism (reduced productivity at work, 0-100%, 0 = no reduction) were answered by 1447 individuals. Absenteeism was defined as register-based sick leave using data from a national

Chemically fashioned zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowalls on aluminum wire have been characterized and utilized to fabricate a potentiometric cholesterol biosensor by an electrostatic conjugation with cholesterol oxidase. The sensitivity, specificity, reusability, and stability of the conjugated surface of ZnO nanowalls with thickness of similar to 80 nm have been investigated over a wide logarithmic concen

Background and Aims: Saliva contamination has been suggested to be a major contributor to levels of cysteinyl leukotrienes in exhaled breath condensate (EBC). The aim of this study was to compare the levels of cysteinyl-leukotrienes (CysLT) and alpha-amylase activity in EBC to induced sputum and saliva collected from the same subjects (asthmatics and control). We thereby aimed to find out whether

This paper looks at the asset correlation bias resulting from firms’ assets and liabilities being denominated in different currencies. It focuses on the time-variation in the bias and on the dependency of the bias on currency movements. Overall, we find that the asset correlation bias for the average pair of firms in the Dow Jones Industrial Average index is significant. The bias fluctuates widely

Aims/hypothesis We reassessed the validity of previously reported incidence rates for type 1 diabetes in 0-34 year olds in Sweden. We estimated new incidence rates through three nationwide registers. Methods We used capture-recapture methods to assess ascertainment in the Diabetes Incidence Study in Sweden (DISS) and estimated incidence rates in the 20-34 year age group for 2007-2009. We examined

The assembly of a discrete hydrogen-bonded molecular tube from eight small identical monomers is reported. Tube assembly was accomplished by means of selective heterodimerization between isocytosine and ureidopyrimidinone hydrogen-bonding motifs embedded in an enantiopure bicyclic building block, leading to the selective formation of an octameric supramolecular tube. Upon introduction of a fullere

The Rom legal culture and applied normative orders vary between different Rom communities, and are often divided into two main practices, i.e. tribunals and private solutions. The main form of tribunals is the so-called Kris, while the foremost private solution is the feud. In practice, Gypsy law can be seen as pragmatic, where any means suitable is used to resolve a conflict or to address an unwa

Abstract in UndeterminedVertical InAs nanowires (NWs) wrapped by a thin high-kappa dielectric layer may be a key to the next generation of high-speed metal-oxide-semiconductor devices. Here, we have investigated the structure and chemical composition of the interface between InAs NWs and 2 nm thick Al(2)O(3) and HfO(2) films. The native oxide on the NWs is significantly reduced upon high-kappa dep

The increase of CD14(+) lamina propria macrophages in active Crohn's disease is due to a subset discriminated by HLA-DR, likely from CD16(-) blood monocytes. Intestinal M phi play an important role in maintaining gut homeostasis. However, little is known about these cells, their precursors, and their role in intestinal inflammation. Here, we characterize the CD14(+) mononuclear cell populations in

To validate common low-risk variants predisposing for breast cancer (BC) in a large set of BRCA1/2 negative familial or genetically enriched cases from Germany, we genotyped 1,415 cases and 1,830 healthy women by MALDI-TOF in 105 candidate SNPs. Significantly higher ORs than previously reported for heterozygous unselected cases were found for the minor allele in FGFR2 (OR = 1.43, 95% Cl 1.30-1.59,

We report a dual phase boron nitride (BN) material composed of 50% cubic and 50% wurtzite phases that has the same level of hardness as polycrystalline diamond. The dual phase BN material was initially synthesized from high pressure and high temperature consolidation of powder materials and subsequently, a laser/waterjet heat treatment (LWH) was applied to the material surface. The LWH process con

We present a detailed study of the evolution of the size, structure and stability of casein micelles upon acidification of skim milk typically applied in yogurt-making processes using a combination of time-resolved light and small-angle X-ray scattering experiments. While most of the available light scattering studies on casein acidification have been restricted to transparent and therefore highly

Hydrolysis is usually the rate-limited step for methane production from lignocellulosic substrate. Two bioaugmentation strategies, using the cellulolytic anaerobic bacteria Clostridium cellulolyticum, were adopted to enhance the hydrolysis of wheat straw with the purpose of improving the biochemical methane potential (BMP). Namely, the 24-h-incubated seed (C24S) with cellobiose as carbon source an

. Zia E, Melander O, Bjorkbacka H, Hedblad B, Engstrom G (Lund University, Malmo; Institute of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Malmo; Skane University Hospital, Malmo; and Astra Zeneca R&D, Malmo, Sweden). Total and differential leucocyte counts in relation to incidence of stroke subtypes and mortality: a prospective cohort study. J Intern Med 2012; 272: 298304. Objectives. Elevated levels

Sphenothallus, a Palaeozoic genus of uncertain affinity, possibly a hydrozoan, is reported from the Furongian (Cambrian) of Scandinavia. This is the only known occurrence of the genus in Cambrian rocks outside of China, western North America and Bohemia, and also the first report of Sphenothallus in the Cambrian-Ordovician of Baltica. The material is from the upper Furongian (upper Protopeltura an

Replacement therapy with factor VIII (FVIII) concentrates has become the mainstay of treatment for hemophilia, but about 30% of patients with a severe disease develop neutralizing antibodies against FVIII, which can lead to treatment resistance and an increased risk of bleeding. Immune tolerance induction (ITI) overcomes the immune response to FVIII concentrates in the majority of patients. Severa

Lipid-based liquid crystalline compositions of phospholipids and diglycerides have unique bioadhesive properties with several medical applications, as exemplified by a lipid-based medical device indicated for management and relief of intraoral pain. The present paper describes the relation between self-assembly properties of phosphatidyl choline (PC) and glycerol dioleate (GDO) mixtures in the pre