The effect of CD40 ligation on infection by HIV-1 primary isolates with different R5 phenotypes was evaluated with a novel set of anti-CD40 monoclonal antibodies originating from a human phage display library. Five human monoclonal anti-CD40 antibodies of IgG1 subtype characterized by the ability to activate B cells via CD40 were tested for induction of the CC-chemokines RANTES and MIP-1alpha and

A coalescent-based method was used to investigate the origins of the allotetraploid Arabidopsis suecica, using 52 nuclear microsatellite loci typed in eight individuals of A. suecica and 14 individuals of its maternal parent Arabidopsis thaliana, and four short fragments of genomic DNA sequenced in a sample of four individuals of A. suecica and in both its parental species A. thaliana and Arabidop

We construct a nodal method for a two-dimensional absorption-diffusion problem. The method gives rise to a seven point stencil for which the truncation error analysis shows an accuracy of at least O(Δ2), where Δ is a uniform mesh parameter. We devise a numerical method which constructs a matrix whose entries are amplified according to contributions from each of the nodes in a rectangular domain. N

The Kyoto target for Romania was to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 8 % from the 1989 levels. The 1989 emissions were around 260 million tones. In 2000 the net CO2 emission - some 125 million tones - were 54% of the net CO2 emission in the reference year -1989, leaving some 115 million tones as a reserve or as a tradable resource to other countries that can not met their Kyoto targets. Assu

In a simulation model we investigated how much of the initial genetic variation that is retained in a population after a dominant mutation has brought apomixis to fixation in it. A marker allele associated with the apomixis mutation is generally retained after the fixation of apomixis, particularly if the two alleles are closely linked. The spread of asexuality, however, normally leads to almost n

We review and analyze the possible advantages and disadvantages of plant-stress-related metabolic and structural changes on applications in the fruit and vegetable processing industry. Knowledge of the cellular and tissue transformations that result from environmental conditions or industrial manipulation is a powerful means for food engineers to gain a better understanding of biological systems i

BACKGROUND. Leiomyosarcoma of nonvisceral soft tissues is an uncommon malignant tumor; thus, only small numbers of cases have been reported. This study was based on a large series of patients from the Scandinavian Sarcoma Group Register acquired during a 15-year period (from 1986 to 2001). Follow-up information was available for all patients. METHODS. The authors analyzed the clinical features of

The local ground geomagnetic field fluctuations (AB) are dominated by high frequencies and 83% of the power is located at periods of 32 min or less. By forming 10-min root-mean-square (RMS) of A B a major part of this variation is captured. Using measured geomagnetic induced currents (GIC), from a power grid transformer in Southern Sweden, it is shown that the 10-min standard deviation GIC may be

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to establish reference data representative of normal findings at transvaginal color and spectral Doppler ultrasonographic examination of the uteroplacental and luteal circulation in the first trimester and to relate the Doppler findings to morphologic data. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was performed of 64 uncomplicated pregnancies of 5 to 11 completed gestationa

Although previous research has explored associations between personality and depressive symptoms, a limited number of studies have assessed the extent to which genetic and environmental influences explain the association. This study investigated how temperament and character were associated with depressive symptoms in 131 pairs of twin and sibling women in early adulthood, as well as 326 pairs of

The effective electric and magnetic material properties of a complex (two-component) mixture are addressed. The mixture is periodic in two directions and has a finite thickness in the third direction. Specifically, the explicit problem of finding the effective electric parameters for slab that has been reinforced by a layer (or several layers) of glass fiber is investigated. The homogenization pro

BACKGROUND: Rhinorrhea is a key symptom of allergic rhinitis and this disease feature is reduced by antihistamine treatment. The nasal output of fluid in allergic rhinitis is associated with luminal appearance of bioactive molecules emanating from the microcirculation as well as the secretory apparatus. OBJECTIVE: In the present study, we examined the effects of antihistamine treatment on nasal sy