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We have developed a phenomenological effective quantum-field theoretical model describing the "hadron gas" of the lightest pseudoscalar mesons, scalar σ-meson and σ-vacuum, i.e. the expectation value of the σ-field, at finite temperatures. The corresponding thermodynamic approach was formulated in terms of the generating functional derived from the effective Lagrangian providing the basic thermody
Based on recent advances in control theory, we propose the notion of jitter margin for periodic control tasks. The jitter margin isdefined as a function of the amount of constant delay in the controlloop, and it describes how much additional time-varying delay can betolerated before the loop goes unstable. Combined with schedulingtheory, the jitter margin can be used to guarantee the stability and
An electrochemiluminescence technique was used to develop versatile and sensitive assay strategies for determination of seroreactivities against biologically important cytomegalovirus neutralization epitopes expressed on glycoprotein B. Indirect binding assays showed wide linear assay ranges and revealed that serum samples diluted in parallel with a monoclonal antibody-based standard, simplifying
Immunization strategies against commensal bacterial pathogens have long focused on eradicating asymptomatic carriage as well as disease, resulting in changes in the colonizing microflora with unknown future consequences. Additionally, current vaccines are not easily adaptable to sequence diversity and immune evasion. Here, we present a "smart" vaccine that leverages our current understanding of di
A technique for extracorporeal immunoadsorption of circulating specific antibodies from the plasma of rats is described. Catheterization of rats was performed using the carotid and the jugular blood vessels. The rats were treated non-anaesthetized. Blood was pumped continuously through a hollow-fibre plasma filter at a rate of 1.5 ml/min and plasma was separated and passed through an adsorbent col
A strategy for generating potential galectin inhibitors was devised based on derivatization at the C-3′ atom in 3′-amino-N-acetyllactosamine by using structural knowledge of the galectin carbohydrate recognition site. A collection of 12 compounds was prepared by N-acylations or N-sulfonylations. Hydrophobic tagging of the O-3 atom in the N-acetylglucosamine residue with a stearic ester allowed rap
Pheomelanins, the epidermal pigments of red-haired people responsible for their enhanced UV susceptibility, contain 1,4-benzothiazines and 1,3-benzothiazole as main structural components. Despite the major role played in pheomelanin phototoxicity, the photoreactivity of these species has so far remained unexplored. Static and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy was used to identify excited-sta
Chlorosomes are light-harvesting antennae that enable exceptionally efficient light energy capture and excitation transfer. They are found in certain photosynthetic bacteria, some of which live in extremely low-light environments. In this work, chlorosomes from the green sulfur bacterium Chlorobaculum tepidum were studied by coherent electronic two-dimensional (2D) spectroscopy. Previously unchara
HAMLET is a protein-lipid complex that selectively kills tumor cells. In this thesis, we identified new mechanisms, whereby HAMLET initiates and executes tumor cell death. HAMLET targets several cellular compartments ranging from the plasma membrane to the nucleus. HAMLET rapidly binds to the plasma membrane of tumor cells and the resulting changes in membrane shape and lipid composition activate
Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the outcomes of antiretroviral therapy (ART) between hospital and health center levels in Ethiopia. METHODS: Medical records of 1709 ART patients followed for 24 months at 2 hospitals and 3 health centers in the Oromia region of Ethiopia were reviewed. Noted outcomes of ART were currently alive and on treatment; lost to follow-up (LTFU); transf
Importance Active perinatal care increases survival of extremely preterm infants; however, improved survival might be associated with increased disability among survivors. Objective To determine neurodevelopmental outcome in extremely preterm children at 2.5 years (corrected age). Design, Setting, and Participants Population-based prospective cohort of consecutive extremely preterm infants born be
The photophysical properties of conjugated polymers (CPs) largely depend on the interactions between the CP and its environment. We present a study of two polymers with identical conjugated backbones, bare and insulated, that showed different fluorescence excitation modulation depth histograms. However, the polarization differences are not related to differences in conformation, as commonly believ
Ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) is a novel procedure designed to rapidly assess and recondition unusable donor lungs for transplantation (LTx). EVLP may reduce graft immunogenicity and allorecognition via removal of passenger leukocytes. We aimed to explore this hypothesis using human EVLP and in vitro analysis.
In the upper airway, the production of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) protects against bacteria, viruses and fungi. Previous investigations have revealed downregulated expression of AMPs in different manifestations of allergic disease. In this study, we examined the expression of LL-37, RNase7 and LEAP-2 in tonsillar tissue and studied a possible relation to seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR).
