Pathogenic microbes acquire human complement inhibitors to circumvent the innate immune system. In this study, we identify two novel host-pathogen interactions, factor H (FH) and factor H-like protein 1 (FHL-1), the inhibitors of the alternative pathway that binds to Hib. A collection of clinical Haemophilus influenzae isolates was tested and the majority of encapsulated and unencapsulated bound F

Graphics processing units supporting tessellation of curved surfaces with displacement mapping exist today. Still, to our knowledge, culling only occurs after tessellation, that is, after the base primitives have been tessellated into triangles. We introduce an algorithm for automatically computing tight positional and normal bounds on the fly for a base primitive. These bounds are derived from an

A two-dimensional numerical model of nearshore waves, currents, and sediment transport was developed. The multi-directional random wave transformation model formulated by Mase [Mase, H., 2001. Multidirectional random wave transformation model based on energy balance equation. Coastal Engineering Jounnal 43(4), 317-337.] based on an energy balance equation was employed with an improved description

The majority of motorcycle accident fatalities in Malaysia occur on primary roads, especially at access points situated along straight road sections. To explore the behavioral factors that may contribute to motorcyclists being involved in hazardous situations at these locations and to develop working hypotheses for a consecutive quantitative study, a qualitative observational study was carried out

Recently, the performance of many-light algorithms, where thousands of light sources are used to compute the lighting in a scene, has improved so much that they have reached the realm of real-time rendering. In general, the algorithm that is considered “best” is the one that is the fastest in terms of time per frame. Given that power efficiency may become or already is one of the most important op

Pollen accumulation rates (PARs) provide a potential proxy for quantitative tree volume (m3 ha-1) reconstruction with reliable absolute pollen productivity estimates (APPEs). We obtained APPEs for pine, spruce and birch at their range limits in northern Finland under two temperature periods (warm and cold) based on long-term pollen trap and tree volume records within a 14-km radius of each trap. A

Drying of screeded floor slabs is an important issue for the building industry. However, virtually no attention is paid in prediction models to the hysteresis of sorption isotherms, mainly because of lack of data. Disregarding the hysteresis in prediction models will generate inaccurate predictions of future moisture distribution and remaining drying time. This paper presents a method for fast det

Selected reaction monitoring mass spectrometry (SRM-MS) is a targeted proteomics technology used to identify and quantify proteins with high sensitivity, specificity and high reproducibility. Execution of SRM-MS relies on protein-specific SRM assays, a set of experimental parameters that requires considerable effort to develop. Here we present a proteome-wide SRM assay repository for the gram-posi

Symptoms of fecal incontinence and constipation are common in the general population. These can, however, be unreliably reported and are poorly discriminatory for underlying pathophysiology. Furthermore, both symptoms may coexist. In the elderly, fecal impaction always must be excluded. For patients with constipation, colon transit studies, anorectal manometry and defecography may help to identify

A small assemblage of shelly fossils, dominated by the brachiopod Treptotreta jucunda and the bradoriid arthropod Mongolitubulus aspermachaera new species is described from a Furongian limestone of Vastergotland, south-central Sweden. Mongolitubulus aspermachaera is represented in the assemblage by individual valves and numerous, ornamented spines. Valves and spines share identical ornament and mi

Popular Abstract in Swedish Epilepsi är en allvarlig kronisk neurologisk sjukdom, som drabbar ungefär 1% av befolkningen. Sjukdomen yttrar sig genom plötsliga återkommande krampanfall, som beror på en obalans i hjärnan mellan hämmande (inhibitoriska) och stimulerande (excitatoriska) nervimpulser. När de stimulerande impulserna tar överhand leder detta till överstimulering, också kallad för hyperexEpilepsy is a severe chronic neurological disorder, affecting about 1% of the population. The disease is manifested by spontaneous recurrent seizures, caused by hypersynchronized neuronal activity due to imbalance in the brain between the inhibition and excitation. Symptoms are treated with anti-epileptic drugs, but unfortunately, 30-40% of patients respond poorly to current treatment. Therefore,

Impaired olfaction is an early pre-motor symptom of Parkinson's disease. The neuropathology underlying olfactory dysfunction in Parkinson's disease is unknown, however α-synuclein accumulation/aggregation and altered neurogenesis might play a role. We characterized olfactory deficits in a transgenic mouse model of Parkinson's disease expressing human wild-type α-synuclein under the control of the

En krönika över flera generationer av missionärer från samma släkt och från Svenska kyrkan, som från missionsfältet i Indien skriver till sina barn, som togs om hand av släktingar i Sverige. Tidsperioden sträcker sig från mitten av 1800-talet till mitten av 1900-talet.

Ectoedemia argyropeza (Zeller, 1839) possesses a compound eye that exhibits features of both apposition and superposition type eyes. Like apposition eyes, the eye of E. argyropeza lacks a clear-zone, which in superposition eyes separates the distal dioptric from the proximal light-perceiving structures. On the other hand, a tracheal layer around the proximal ends of the rhabdom as well as a well-d

The concept of a digital cavity is presented. The functionality of a tunable radio-frequency/microwave cavity with unrestricted Q-factor is implemented. The theoretical aspects of the cavity and its potential applications in high resolution spectroscopy and synchronization of clocks together with examples in signal processing and data acquisition are discussed.

A central tenet of signal transduction in eukaryotic cells is that extra-cellular ligands activate specific cell surface receptors, which orchestrate downstream responses. This ''protein-centric" view is increasingly challenged by evidence for the involvement of specialized membrane domains in signal transduction. Here, we propose that membrane perturbation may serve as an alternative mechanism to

To assess the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of the Fc-inactivated anti-β amyloid (Aβ) monoclonal antibody (mAb) GSK933776 in patients with mild Alzheimer's disease (AD) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

The PHENIX experiment at RHIC has measured and ω meson production in p+p, d+Au and Au+Au collisions for GeV at mid-rapidity. Systematic measurements of light vector mesons for several decay channels provide information about properties of the strongly interacting matter produced in relativistic heavy-ion collisions. We present transverse momentum spectra and nuclear modification factors for and ω

Clays are of paramount importance for soil stability, but also in applications ranging from oil recovery to composites and hydrogels. Generically, clays are divided into two subclasses: macroscopically swelling, ‘active’ clays that have the capacity for taking up large amounts of water to form stable gels, and ‘passive’ or non-swelling clays; the former stabilize soils whereas the latter are known