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The human neutrophil is a professional phagocyte of fundamental importance for defense against microorganisms, as witnessed by the life-threatening infections occurring in patients with neutropenia or with defects that result in decreased microbicidal activity of the neutrophil. Likewise, the skin and mucosal surfaces provide important barriers against infections. Traditionally, these major defens

In the present study, the mechanism for the antigen formation of alpha, beta-unsaturated ketones was investigated. A series of analogues of carvone ((5R)-5-isopropenyl-2-methyl-2-cyclohexenone) with altered chemical reactivity and with retained overall structure or with retained reactivity and altered three-dimensional structure were synthesized. These analogues were tested for cross-reactivity in

A method is presented for the fast and accurate solution of elliptic boundary value problems on domains with corners. The method is based on integral equations and Nyström discretization. Close to corners two representations for the solution coexist — a pointwise representation and a representation in terms of special basis functions. Mappings and kernel evaluations are constructed on a symmetric

The behavior of macroscopic long cracks in the ceramic top coat of a thermal barrier coating (TBC) system subjected to thermal shock loading and the influence of the cracks on the coating durability were investigated experimentally and numerically. Thermal shock testing was conducted until coating failure. Comparisons were made with coating samples without macroscopic cracks. The experimental resu

Several pulmonary inflammatory conditions are characterised by infiltration of neutrophils. Normally, neutrophils are silently removed by apoptosis, followed by phagocytosis. However, if phagocytosis fails, apoptotic cells undergo secondary necrosis. Recent findings of increased levels of the pan-necrosis marker lactate dehydrogenase in bronchoalveolar lavage from lipopolysaccharide-exposed mice i

This article presents new data on the Late Pleistocene giant deer, Megaloceros giganteus (Blumenbach), describing its distribution in time and space, geographical and sexual variation and general biology. Twenty-three south Scandinavian fossils found in situ in lacustrine sediments or redeposited in glaciofluvial material form the basis of this investigation. Fourteen C-14 dates show that the gian

A general model of linearized species interactions, essentially Lotka–Volterra theory, applied to questions of biodiversity has previously been shown to be a powerful tool for understanding local species–abundance patterns and community responses to environmental change for a single trophic level. Here this approach is extended to predict community composition and responses to environmental change

Background. Immunomodulation may represent a potential way to improve surgical outcome. These types of interventions should be based on detailed knowledge of the underlying mechanisms involved. The aim of the present review is to summarize some experience on the acute phase response, potential ways of intervention and experiences from critical illness and HPB disease. Discussion. Mechanisms of the

BACKGROUND: Job strain, defined as high job demands and low job control, has not previously been explored as a possible determinant of male fertility. We collected prospective data on job strain among men, and describe the associations with semen quality and probability of conceiving a clinical pregnancy during a menstrual cycle. METHODS: Danish couples (N = 399) who were trying to become pregnant

Achromatopsia is a congenital, autosomal recessively inherited disorder characterized by a lack of color discrimination, low visual acuity (<0.2), photophobia, and nystagmus. Mutations in the genes for CNGA3, CNGB3, and GNAT2 have been associated with this disorder. Here, we analyzed the spectrum and prevalence of CNGB3 gene mutations in a cohort of 341 independent patients with achromatopsia. In

As much attention has devoted to the proteome research during the last years, biomarker discovery has become an increasingly hot area, potentially enabling the development of new assays for diagnosis and prognosis of severe diseases. This is the field of research interest where efforts originating from both academic and industrial groups should jointly work on solutions. In this paper we would lik

Recent studies indicate a severely reduced coronary flow reserve (CFR) in neonates with congenital heart disease. The significance of these studies remains debatable, as the ability of the anatomically normal neonatal heart to increase coronary flow is currently unknown. This study was designed to establish normal values for CFR in newborns after administration of adenosine [pharmacologic CFR (pCF

On 30 May 2001, a new regulation on public access to EU documents was presented and was heralded in the European press as a breakthrough for transparency. We argue that a focus on institutions can cast light on the negotiation processes that led to this decision, and explain the final - for realist negotiation theory puzzling - outcome. We demonstrate the importance of institutions in EU negotiati

A method to calculate absolute values of the total nuclear binding energy in the high-spin regime is briefly described. Applications to test the position of specific orbitals are examplified on Z = 36 Kr isotopes with N = 36 - 38. Calculated binding energies of possible configurations for one dipole band in ¹⁹⁹Pb are compared with experiment

Purpose of review There is increased recognition of an excess risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with rheumatic disorders. Physical inactivity is a frequent complication of arthritis, and also common in the general population. In this review, we highlight recent findings on risk factors for cardiovascular disease in patients with rheumatic diseases, and explore the role of physical activit