Most group A streptococcal strains are able to bind immunoglobulin (Ig) in a non-immune manner, and the majority of these strains bind both IgA and IgG. Using molecular cloning and immunochemical techniques, we have purified and characterized the Ig Fc-receptors expressed by four such strains. Two of the strains express a novel type of receptor, designated protein Sir, which binds IgA and IgG of a

Surface modification of polyurethane (PUR) surfaces was carried out by using three different amphiphilic polymers. Two of the polymers were graft copolymers, having backbones consisting of poly(methyl methacrylate-co-ethylhexyl acrylate) and poly(styrene-co-acrylamide), respectively, and poly(ethylene oxide) PEO 2000 grafts. The third polymer was a commercially available poly(ethylene oxide-b-prop

Background: Few studies have described how neurohormonal activation is influenced by treatment with beta-receptor antagonists in patients with heart failure after acute myocardial infarction. The aims were to describe neurohormonal activity in relation to other variables and to investigate treatment effects of a beta, receptor-antagonist compared to a partial beta, receptor-agonist. Methods: Doubl

We have undertaken the study of the Li-like spectrum of doubly ionized boron, B III. The spectroscopic data have been obtained with beam-foil spectroscopy and high-resolution spark spectroscopy. The experimental work was combined with theoretical calculations using ab initio and semi-empirical techniques. About 50 new transitions have been observed, and most of the previously known lines have been

Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is a useful technique for quantitative measurements of intact tablets, but it suffers from limitations due to the fact that changes in the physical properties of a sample strongly affect the recorded spectrum. In this work, time-resolved transmission NIR spectroscopy was utilized to conduct quantitative measurements of intact tablets. The technique enables separati

Phospholipase C-gamma (PLC-gamma) isoforms are thought to be activated by both tyrosine phosphorylation and phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5 trisphosphate (PtdIns 3,4,5 P(3)), the product of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PtdIns 3-kinase). In this study, we show that stimulation of mouse macrophages with either zymosan beads or bacteria (Prevotella intermedia) induced tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC-gam

This study evaluated the structural reliability, construct-related validity, and cultural validity generalization of the Hare Psychopathy Checklist: Screening Version (PCL:SV) in a sample of more than 560 male and female Swedish forensic psychiatric treatment patients, forensic evaluation patients, and criminal offenders. Structural reliability was excellent for most indices. PCL:SV scores were hi

Motivating people is an importnt issue for physiotherapists working with health promotion aiming at maintaining and strengthening resources for health.The aim of this literature review is to describe the theoretical foundations for how to improve work motivation and from that suggest strategies that can be used by physiotherapists in health promotion. The databases Medline and Psychlit were search

In the present study, experimental studies are carried out to investigate the heat transfer and friction characteristics in a square duct roughened by various-shaped ribs on one wall. The ribs are oriented transversely to the main stream in a periodic arrangement. Liquid crystal thermography is employed to measure the local and average heat transfer coefficient on the ribbed surface. The rib heigh

Chromosome aberrations, in particular translocations and their corresponding gene fusions, have an important role in the initial steps of tumorigenesis; at present, 358 gene fusions involving 337 different genes have been identified. An increasing number of gene fusions are being recognized as important diagnostic and prognostic parameters in malignant haematological disorders and childhood sarcom

Background: Ambulatory electrocardiogram monitoring (Holter) with ST-analysis as a measure of myocardial ichemia has in populations with coronary heart disease been shown to predict major coronary events: death, myocardial infarction or coronary revascularization. There has, however, been conflicting evidence regarding the usefulness of this technique in identification of healthy subjects with inc

[1] The timing of magmatic events forming Jurassic basaltic rocks in Dronning Maud Land (DML), Antarctica, and hydrothermal activity that affected them is addressed with detailed Ar-40/Ar-39 incremental heating dating of feldspars. Plagioclase from an Utpostane gabbro and from a Kirwanveggen dolerite dike yield indistinguishable plateau ages at 177 +/- 1.8 Ma. Because of geologic controls, this es

The dual retina of humans and most vertebrates consists of multiple types of cone for colour vision in bright light and one single type of rod, leaving these animals colour-blind at night. Instead of comparing the signals from different spectral types of photoreceptors, they use one highly sensitive receptor, thus improving the signal-to-noise ratio. However, nocturnal moths and geckos can discrim

It is possible that the low levels of production of exopolysaccharides (EPSs) by lactic acid bacteria could be improved by altering the levels of enzymes in the central metabolism that influence the production of precursor nucleotide sugars. To test this hypothesis, we identified and cloned the galU gene, which codes for UDP glucose pyrophosphorylase (GalU) in Streptococcus thermophilus LY03. Homo

In a variable air volume (VAV) system with 100% outdoor air, the cooling need in the building is satisfied with a certain air flow at a certain supply air temperature. To minimize the system energy use, an optimal supply air temperature can be set dependent on the load, specific fan power (SFP), chiller coefficient of performance, outdoor temperature and the outdoor relative humidity. The theory f

Saccharomyces cerevisiae is able to ferment xylose, when engineered with the enzymes xylose reductase (XYL1) and xylitol dehydrogenase (XYL2). However, xylose fermentation is one to two orders of magnitude slower than glucose fermentation. S. cerevisiae has been proposed to have an insufficient capacity of the non-oxidative pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) for rapid xylose fermentation. Strains ove

The Met Office Cloud Resolving Model (CRM) and the UMIST Explicit Microphysics Model (EMM) have been employed in the analysis of data from airborne studies of a multi-thermal cumulus cloud which developed over New Mexico in the summer of 1987. The principal goal was to establish a quantitative understanding of the observed development of glaciation of this cloud. The EMM was utilized in a series o

Excited states of neutron deficient nuclei close to Sn-100 were investigated in an in-beam spectroscopic experiment using the NORDBALL detector array. Excited states in Cd-99 were identified for the first time. The measured half-life of an isomeric state in Cd-99 indicates that the stability with respect to quadrupole shape changes is as large in Sn-100 as for other heavy doubly magic nuclei.