Surface proteins of Streptococcus pyogenes are important virulence factors. Here we describe a novel collagen-like surface protein, designated SclA (streptococcal collagen-like surface protein). The sclA gene was identified in silico using the Streptococcal Genome Sequencing Project with the recently identified protein GRAB as the probe. SclA has a signal sequence and a cell wall attachment region

Postural control ensures stability during both static posture and locomotion by initiating corrective adjustments in body movement. This is particularly important when the conditions of the support surface change. We investigated the effects of standing on a compliant foam surface using 12 normal subjects (mean age 26 years) in terms of: linear movements at the head, shoulder, hip and knee; EMG ac

Orientation can be difficult for nocturnal bird migrants at high northern latitudes because of the large changes of magnetic declinations, rapid longitudinal time-shifts experienced during a long-distance flight and the invisibility of stars during the polar summer. Both sunset cues as well as geomagnetic cues have been shown to be of great importance in the orientation system of Savannah sparrows

Background. Primary care doctors see patients from diverse cultural backgrounds and communication plays an important role in diagnosis and treatment. Communication problems can arise when patient and doctor do not share the same cultural background. Objective. The aim of this study was to examine how consultations with immigrant patients are understood by GPs and how GPs manage these consultation

Insect damage is a general problem that disturbs the growth of forests, causing economic losses and affecting carbon sequestration. Coarse-resolution data from satellites are potentially useful for national and regional mapping of forest damage, but the accuracy of these methods has not been fully examined. In this study, a method was tested for the mapping of defoliation in Scots pine [Pinus silv

The band alignment of ultrathin ZrO2 films of different thickness formed on Si(100) have been monitored with synchrotron radiation photoelectron spectroscopy and x-ray absorption spectroscopy. The films were deposited sequentially by way of metal-organic chemical-vapor deposition in ultrahigh vacuum. A significant decrease in the conduction band offset is found for increasing film thickness. It is

A new work organization was introduced in administrative surveying work in Sweden during 1998. The new work organization implied a transition to a client-centred team-based organization and required a change in competence from specialist to generalist knowledge as well as a transition to a new information technology, implying a greater integration within the company. The aim of this study was to f

Aims/hypothesis: The genetic architecture of model- derived parameters of beta cell function has never been assessed. Therefore, we estimated heritability (h(2)) for model- derived phenotypes of insulin secretion in twins. Methods: Thirty-three monozygotic (MZ) and 23 dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs from the Finnish Twin Cohort Study underwent OGTT (plasma glucose/C-peptide at 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min)

The probability distribution of the height of global maximum for a Gaussian random field evolving in time is studied. In particular, the effect of spreading is studied and the role of the wave kinematics is discussed. It is observed that taking into account time dynamics of spatial characteristics results in distributions different from those obtained for the static case. The results are illustrat

Post-operative hyperglycaemia is important with regard to outcomes of surgical operations. It affects postoperative morbidity, length of hospital stay, and mortality. Poor peri-operative blood glucose control leads to a higher risk of post-operative complication. Insulin resistance as a cause of post-operative hyperglycaemia has been blamed for some time. Nitric Oxide (NO) is produced by nitric ox

Objective: A method study of the mfVEP technique to establish a standardised way to identify stable response components from small areas in all parts of the visual field and a test-retest reliability study. Methods: MfVEP was recorded from 26 healthy volunteers. Results: Two response components could be clearly identified. The latencies corresponded to those of the traditional VEP response (N75 an

Aqueous aerosols produced by nebulizers used in clinical situations can rapidly change size as the patient inhales. This is caused by air with a relative humidity (RH) lower than inside the nebulizer being entrained and mixed with nebulized aerosol during the inhalation maneuver. A way to assess the change in size is to measure the aerosol in a test method that reflects the clinical situation. The

Background Several studies among dermatological patients have shown a link between various chronic dermatological diseases and mental morbidity. Objectives To explore the association between self-reported skin morbidity and psychosocial factors in the general population. Methods This population-based cross-sectional study is part of the Oslo Health Study conducted during 2000–2001. All individua

Sand steppe is a rare vegetation type on sandy soils in southeastern Sweden with Koeleria glauca and Dianthus arenarius as the most characteristic plant species. The sand steppe areas ill eastern Skane were surveyed during 2004 and 2005. The vegetation composition was monitored and related to die pH and lime content Many sand steppes are close to acidification as indicated by low lime content ill

Aqueous extract of Clinopodium vulgare L. showed strong antitumour activity when tested in vitro on A2058 (human metastatic melanoma), HEp-2 (epidermoid carcinoma, larynx, human) and L5178Y (mouse lymphoma) cell lines-6 h after treatment disintegration of the nuclei and cell lysis started. Applied at a concentration of 80 microg/ml it reduced the cell survival to 1.0, 5.6 and 6.6%, respectively. T