| 1. |
- Schael, S, et al.
(författare)
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Precision electroweak measurements on the Z resonance
- 2006
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Ingår i: Physics Reports. - : Elsevier BV. - 0370-1573 .- 1873-6270. ; 427:5-6, s. 257-454
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- We report on the final electroweak measurements performed with data taken at the Z resonance by the experiments operating at the electron-positron colliders SLC and LEP. The data consist of 17 million Z decays accumulated by the ALEPH, DELPHI, L3 and OPAL experiments at LEP, and 600 thousand Z decays by the SLID experiment using a polarised beam at SLC. The measurements include cross-sections, forward-backward asymmetries and polarised asymmetries. The mass and width of the Z boson, m(Z) and Gamma(Z), and its couplings to fermions, for example the p parameter and the effective electroweak mixing angle for leptons, are precisely measured: m(Z) = 91.1875 +/- 0.0021 GeV, Gamma(Z) = 2.4952 +/- 0.0023 GeV, rho(l) = 1.0050 +/- 0.0010, sin(2)theta(eff)(lept) = 0.23153 +/- 0.00016. The number of light neutrino species is determined to be 2.9840 +/- 0.0082, in agreement with the three observed generations of fundamental fermions. The results are compared to the predictions of the Standard Model (SM). At the Z-pole, electroweak radiative corrections beyond the running of the QED and QCD coupling constants are observed with a significance of five standard deviations, and in agreement with the Standard Model. Of the many Z-pole measurements, the forward-backward asymmetry in b-quark production shows the largest difference with respect to its SM expectation, at the level of 2.8 standard deviations. Through radiative corrections evaluated in the framework of the Standard Model, the Z-pole data are also used to predict the mass of the top quark, m(t) = 173(+10)(+13) GeV, and the mass of the W boson, m(W) = 80.363 +/- 0.032 GeV. These indirect constraints are compared to the direct measurements, providing a stringent test of the SM. Using in addition the direct measurements of m(t) and m(W), the mass of the as yet unobserved SM Higgs boson is predicted with a relative uncertainty of about 50% and found to be less than 285 GeV at 95% confidence level. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 2. |
- Aguilar, J A, et al.
(författare)
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Study of large hemispherical photomultiplier tubes for the ANTARES neutrino telescope
- 2005
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Ingår i: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A. - : Elsevier. - 0168-9002 .- 1872-9576. ; 555:1-2, s. 132-141
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The ANTARES neutrino telescope, to be immersed depth in the Mediterranean Sea, will consist of a three-dimensional matrix of 900 large area photomultiplier tubes housed in pressure-resistant glass spheres. The selection of the optimal photomultiplier was a critical step for the project and required an intensive phase of tests and developments carried out in close collaboration with the main manufacturers worldwide. This paper provides an overview of the tests performed by the collaboration and describes in detail the features of the photomultiplier tube chosen for ANTARES. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- Carninci, P, et al.
(författare)
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The transcriptional landscape of the mammalian genome
- 2005
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Ingår i: Science (New York, N.Y.). - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 1095-9203 .- 0036-8075. ; 309:5740, s. 1559-1563
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study describes comprehensive polling of transcription start and termination sites and analysis of previously unidentified full-length complementary DNAs derived from the mouse genome. We identify the 5′ and 3′ boundaries of 181,047 transcripts with extensive variation in transcripts arising from alternative promoter usage, splicing, and polyadenylation. There are 16,247 new mouse protein-coding transcripts, including 5154 encoding previously unidentified proteins. Genomic mapping of the transcriptome reveals transcriptional forests, with overlapping transcription on both strands, separated by deserts in which few transcripts are observed. The data provide a comprehensive platform for the comparative analysis of mammalian transcriptional regulation in differentiation and development.
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| 5. |
- Aguilar, J A, et al.
(författare)
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Transmission of light in deep sea water at the site of the ANTARES neutrino telescope
- 2005
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Ingår i: Astroparticle physics. - : Elsevier. - 0927-6505 .- 1873-2852. ; 23:1, s. 131-155
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The ANTARES neutrino telescope is a large photomultiplier array designed to detect neutrino-induced upward-going muons by their Cherenkov radiation. Understanding the absorption and scattering of light in the deep Mediterranean is fundamental to optimising the design and performance of the detector. This paper presents measurements of blue and UV light transmission at the ANTARES site taken between 1997 and 2000. The derived values for the scattering length and the angular distribution of particulate scattering were found to be highly correlated, and results are therefore presented in terms of an absorption length;,ab, and an effective scattering length lambda(sct)(eff). The values for blue (UV) light are found to be lambda(abs) similar or equal to 60(26) m, lambda(sct)(eff similar or equal to) 265(122) m, with significant (similar to15%) time variability. Finally, the results of ANTARES simulations showing the effect of these water properties on the anticipated performance of the detector are presented. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 6. |
- Wade, C. M., et al.
(författare)
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Genome Sequence, Comparative Analysis, and Population Genetics of the Domestic Horse
- 2009
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Ingår i: Science. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 0036-8075 .- 1095-9203. ; 326:5954, s. 865-867
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We report a high-quality draft sequence of the genome of the horse ( Equus caballus). The genome is relatively repetitive but has little segmental duplication. Chromosomes appear to have undergone few historical rearrangements: 53% of equine chromosomes show conserved synteny to a single human chromosome. Equine chromosome 11 is shown to have an evolutionary new centromere devoid of centromeric satellite DNA, suggesting that centromeric function may arise before satellite repeat accumulation. Linkage disequilibrium, showing the influences of early domestication of large herds of female horses, is intermediate in length between dog and human, and there is long-range haplotype sharing among breeds.
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| 7. |
- Szatmari, Peter, et al.
(författare)
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Mapping autism risk loci using genetic linkage and chromosomal rearrangements.
- 2007
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Ingår i: Nature Genetics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1061-4036 .- 1546-1718. ; 39:3, s. 319-328
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are common, heritable neurodevelopmental conditions. The genetic architecture of ASDs is complex, requiring large samples to overcome heterogeneity. Here we broaden coverage and sample size relative to other studies of ASDs by using Affymetrix 10K SNP arrays and 1,168 families with at least two affected individuals, performing the largest linkage scan to date while also analyzing copy number variation in these families. Linkage and copy number variation analyses implicate chromosome 11p12-p13 and neurexins, respectively, among other candidate loci. Neurexins team with previously implicated neuroligins for glutamatergic synaptogenesis, highlighting glutamate-related genes as promising candidates for contributing to ASDs.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
- Collén, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Protein production and induction of the unfolded protein response in Trichoderma reesei strain rut-c30 and its transformant expressing endoglucanase I with a hydrophobic tag
- 2005
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Ingår i: Biotechnology and Bioengineering. - : Wiley. - 1097-0290 .- 0006-3592. ; 89:3, s. 335-344
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The effect of induction of protein production was studied in bioreactor cultures of T. reesei strain Rut-C30 and its transformant expressing endoglucanase I core domain (EGI, Cel7B) fused with a hydrophobic peptide tag. The tag was previously designed for efficient purification of the fusion protein in aqueous two-phase separation. The fungi were first grown on glucose-containing minimal medium after which rich medium with lactose as a carbon source was added to induce cellulase production. Production of extracellular protein and cellulase activity and the transcript levels of the major cellulase genes were analyzed during the cultivations. Induction of the cellulase genes followed a similar temporal pattern in both strains, The first phase of induction took place after addition of lactose as soon as glucose was depleted, and the second phase after lactose was consumed. Western analysis showed that a decreased amount of fusion protein was produced in the culture medium compared with the endogenous EGI, although the strain harbors several copies of the recombinant gene under the strong cbh1 promoter. The fusion protein appeared to accumulate within the cells, indicating impaired secretion of the protein. The mRNA levels of the UPR (unfolded protein response) target genes, bip1 and pdi1, and the level of the active form of hac1 transcript encoding the UPR transcription factor increased concurrently with induction of the cellulase genes in both strains, indicating increased requirement of the folding machinery under these conditions. However, only a minor increase in bip1 and pdi1 transcript level was observed in the transformant compared with the parental strain.
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| 11. |
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| 12. |
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| 13. |
- Fiorentino, M., et al.
(författare)
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Immunohistochemical Expression of BRCA1 in Prostate Cancer
- 2009
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Ingår i: Laboratory Investigation. - : Nature Publishing Group. - 0023-6837 .- 1530-0307. ; 22, s. 169A-169A
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: BRCA1 is a multifunctional protein involved in DNA repair, gene transcription and the regulation of cell-cycle check-points. While germline mutations of BRCA1 are rare in prostate cancer and seem to play a limited role in tumor susceptibility, BRCA1 expression has not been investigated to date.Design: We analyzed the immunohistochemical expression of BRCA1 in paraffin embedded samples from 524 men with prostate cancer belonging to the Physicians’ Health Study and the Swedish Watchful Waiting cohorts of prostate cancer patients. High density tissue micro-arrays (TMA) including at least three tumor cores for each case were utilized for the immunohistochemical staining with the monoclonal MS110 antibody specific for the N-terminus of the 220 kDa BRCA1 protein. Cases were scored as negative or positive for BRCA1 immunostaining. The Ki67 proliferation index was also assessed on the same TMAs and evaluated by quantitative image analysis.Results: A positive nuclear immunostaining for BRCA1 was revealed in 62 of 524 (11.9%) patients while normal prostate control cores were all negative. BRCA1 positive tumors were associated with 4 times greater proliferation rate compared to BRCA1 negative tumors (p ∼ 0.0003). In addition, we found a linear trend such that tumors with greater number of TMA cores expressing BRCA1 had stronger extent of proliferation. Men with BRCA1 positive tumors had a slightly higher Gleason’s score (mean 7.5) compared to those negative for BRCA1 (mean 7) No significant correlation was found between BRCA1 staining and cancer-specific death.Conclusions: BRCA1 protein is expressed in a small subset of prostate cancers characterized by high proliferation index but not in normal prostate tissue. Expression of BRCA1 might be acquired in selected tumors to prevent DNA damage in actively replicating cells. A different role independent of germline mutations might be disclosed for BRCA1 as cell cycle regulator in prostate cancer.
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| 14. |
- Homer, Natalie Z M, et al.
(författare)
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Quantitative analysis of RU38486 (mifepristone) by HPLC triple quadrupole mass spectrometry
- 2009
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Ingår i: Journal of chromatography. B. - : Elsevier BV. - 1570-0232 .- 1873-376X. ; 877:5-6, s. 497-501
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A sensitive liquid chromatography-mass spectrometric method was validated for the quantification of RU38486 (mifepristone) in human and murine plasma. The analyte and internal standard (alfaxolone) were extracted by liquid-liquid extraction with diethyl ether, resolved on a C18 column using gradient elution with methanol and ammonium acetate and detected after positive electrospray ionization (m/z 430-->372; m/z 333-->297, respectively). Quantification was linear over the range 0.5-500ng (r(2)>0.997), precise and accurate (intra-assay RSD
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| 15. |
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| 16. |
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| 17. |
- Bailey, Richard, et al.
(författare)
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Host Niches and Defensive Extended Phenotypes Structure Parasitoid Wasp Communities
- 2009
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Ingår i: PLoS biology. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1544-9173 .- 1545-7885. ; 7:8, s. e1000179-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Oak galls are spectacular extended phenotypes of gallwasp genes in host oak tissues and have evolved complex morphologies that serve, in part, to exclude parasitoid natural enemies. Parasitoids and their insect herbivore hosts have coevolved to produce diverse communities comprising about a third of all animal species. The factors structuring these communities, however, remain poorly understood. An emerging theme in community ecology is the need to consider the effects of host traits, shaped by both natural selection and phylogenetic history, on associated communities of natural enemies. Here we examine the impact of host traits and phylogenetic relatedness on 48 ecologically closed and species-rich communities of parasitoids attacking gall-inducing wasps on oaks. Gallwasps induce the development of spectacular and structurally complex galls whose species- and generation-specific morphologies are the extended phenotypes of gallwasp genes. All the associated natural enemies attack their concealed hosts through gall tissues, and several structural gall traits have been shown to enhance defence against parasitoid attack. Here we explore the significance of these and other host traits in predicting variation in parasitoid community structure across gallwasp species. In particular, we test the "Enemy Hypothesis,'' which predicts that galls with similar morphology will exclude similar sets of parasitoids and therefore have similar parasitoid communities. Having controlled for phylogenetic patterning in host traits and communities, we found significant correlations between parasitoid community structure and several gall structural traits (toughness, hairiness, stickiness), supporting the Enemy Hypothesis. Parasitoid community structure was also consistently predicted by components of the hosts' spatiotemporal niche, particularly host oak taxonomy and gall location (e.g., leaf versus bud versus seed). The combined explanatory power of structural and spatiotemporal traits on community structure can be high, reaching 62% in one analysis. The observed patterns derive mainly from partial niche specialisation of highly generalist parasitoids with broad host ranges (>20 hosts), rather than strict separation of enemies with narrower host ranges, and so may contribute to maintenance of the richness of generalist parasitoids in gallwasp communities. Though evolutionary escape from parasitoids might most effectively be achieved via changes in host oak taxon, extreme conservatism in this trait for gallwasps suggests that selection is more likely to have acted on gall morphology and location. Any escape from parasitoids associated with evolutionary shifts in these traits has probably only been transient, however, due to subsequent recruitment of parasitoid species already attacking other host galls with similar trait combinations.
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| 18. |
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| 19. |
- Dall'Era, Marc A., et al.
(författare)
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Active surveillance for early-stage prostate cancer : review of the current literature
- 2008
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Ingår i: Cancer. - : Wiley. - 0008-543X .- 1097-0142. ; 112:8, s. 1650-9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The natural history of prostate cancer is remarkably heterogeneous and, at this time, not completely understood. The widespread adoption and application of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening has led to a dramatic shift toward the diagnosis of low-volume, nonpalpable, early-stage tumors. Autopsy and early observational studies have shown that approximately 1 in 3 men aged >50 years has histologic evidence of prostate cancer, with a significant portion of tumors being small and possibly clinically insignificant. Utilizing the power of improved contemporary risk stratification schema to better identify patients with a low risk of cancer progression, several centers are gaining considerable experience with active surveillance and delayed, selective, and curative therapy. A literature review was performed to evaluate the rationale behind active surveillance for prostate cancer and to describe the early experiences from surveillance protocols. It appears that a limited number of men on active surveillance have required treatment, with the majority of such men having good outcomes after delayed selective intervention for progressive disease. The best candidates for active surveillance are being defined, as are predictors of active treatment. The psychosocial ramifications of surveillance for prostate cancer can be profound and future needs and unmet goals will be discussed.
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| 20. |
- Gossner, Martin M., et al.
(författare)
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Native Fauna on Exotic Trees : Phylogenetic Conservatism and Geographic Contingency in Two Lineages of Phytophages on Two Lineages of Trees
- 2009
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Ingår i: American Naturalist. - : University of Chicago Press. - 0003-0147 .- 1537-5323. ; 173:5, s. 599-614
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The relative roles of evolutionary history and geographical and ecological contingency for community assembly remain unknown. Plant species, for instance, share more phytophages with closer relatives (phylogenetic conservatism), but for exotic plants introduced to another continent, this may be overlaid by geographically contingent evolution or immigration from locally abundant plant species (mass effects). We assessed within local forests to what extent exotic trees (Douglas-fir, red oak) recruit phytophages (Coleoptera, Heteroptera) from more closely or more distantly related native plants. We found that exotics shared more phytophages with natives from the same major plant lineage (angiosperms vs. gymnosperms) than with natives from the other lineage. This was particularly true for Heteroptera, and it emphasizes the role of host specialization in phylogenetic conservatism of host use. However, for Coleoptera on Douglas-fir, mass effects were important: immigration from beech increased with increasing beech abundance. Within a plant phylum, phylogenetic proximity of exotics and natives increased phytophage similarity, primarily in younger Coleoptera clades on angiosperms, emphasizing a role of past codiversification of hosts and phytophages. Overall, phylogenetic conservatism can shape the assembly of local phytophage communities on exotic trees. Whether it outweighs geographic contingency and mass effects depends on the interplay of phylogenetic scale, local abundance of native tree species, and the biology and evolutionary history of the phytophage taxon.
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| 21. |
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| 22. |
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| 23. |
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| 24. |
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| 25. |
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| 26. |
- Milasinovic, G, et al.
(författare)
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Reduction of RV pacing by continuous optimization of the AV interval
- 2006
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Ingår i: PACE. - : Wiley. - 1540-8159. ; 29:4, s. 406-412
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: In patients requiring permanent pacing, preservation of intrinsic ventricular activation is preferred whenever possible. The Search AV+ (SAV+) algorithm in Medtronic EnPulse(TM) dual-chamber pacemakers can increase atrioventricular (AV) intervals to 320 ms in patients with intact or intermittent AV conduction. This prospective, multicenter study compared the percentage of ventricular pacing with and without AV interval extension. Methods: Among 197 patients enrolled in the study, the percentage of ventricular-paced beats was evaluated via device diagnostics at the 1-month follow-up. Patient cohorts were defined by clinician assessment of conduction via a 1:1 AV conduction test at the 2-week follow-up. The observed percentage of ventricular pacing with SAV + ON and the predicted percentage of ventricular pacing with SAV + OFF were determined from the SAV + histogram data for the period between the 2-week and 1-month follow-up visits. Results: Of 197 patients, 110 (55.8%) had intact 1:1 AV conduction, of which 109 had 1-month data. SAV + remained ON in 991109 patients; 10 patients had intrinsic A-V conduction intervals beyond SAV + nominal and therefore SAV + disabled. The mean percentage of ventricular pacing in the 109 patients was SAV+ ON = 23.1% (median 3.7%) versus SAV + OFF = 97.2% (median 99.7%). In 87 patients without 1:1 AV conduction, SAV + was programmed OFF in 6, automatically disabled in 52, and remained ON in 29. In 8 of these patients, 80-100% reduction in ventricular pacing was observed with SAV + ON. Conclusion: The Search AV+ algorithm in the EnPulse pacemaker effectively promotes intrinsic ventricular activation and substantially reduces unnecessary ventricular pacing.
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| 27. |
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| 28. |
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| 29. |
- Sperzel, J, et al.
(författare)
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Automatic measurement of atrial pacing thresholds in dual-chamber pacemakers: Clinical experience with atrial capture management
- 2005
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Ingår i: Heart Rhythm. - : Elsevier BV. - 1547-5271. ; 2:11, s. 1203-1210
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND The Medtronic EnPulse (TM) pacemaker incorporates the new atrial capture management (ACM) algorithm to automatically measure atrial capture thresholds and subsequently manage atrial pacing outputs. OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical performance of ACM. METHODS Two hundred patients with an indication for a dual-chamber pacemaker underwent implantation. ACM thresholds and manually measured atrial pacing thresholds were assessed at follow-up visits. Clinical equivalence was defined as the ACM-measured threshold being within -0.25 V to +0.5 V of the manually measured threshold. The clinician analyzed all ACM measurements performed in-office for evidence of proarrhythmia. RESULTS All 200 implanted patients had a 1-month visit, and validated manual and in-office ACM threshold data were available for 123 patients. The ACM threshold was 0.595 +/- 0.252 V, and the manual threshold was 0.584 +/- 0.233 V. The mean difference was 0.010 V with a 95% confidence interval of (-0.001, 0.021). The mean difference over all visits was 0.011 V. For all patients, the individual threshold differences were within the range of clinical equivalence at all visits. No atrial arrhythmias were observed during 892 ACM tests in 193 patients. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that the ACM algorithm is safe, accurate, and reliable over time. ACM was demonstrated to be clinically equivalent to the manual atrial threshold test in all patients at 1 month and over the entire follow-up period of up to 6 months. ACM ensures atrial capture, may save time during follow-up, and can be used to manage atrial pacing outputs.
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| 30. |
- van Elsas, Jan Dirk, et al.
(författare)
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The metagenomics of disease-suppressive soils - experiences from the METACONTROL project
- 2008
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Ingår i: Trends in Biotechnology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0167-7799 .- 1879-3096. ; 26:11, s. 591-601
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Soil teems with microbial genetic information that can be exploited for biotechnological innovation. Because only a fraction of the soil microbiota is cultivable, our ability to unlock this genetic complement has been hampered. Recently developed molecular tools, which make it possible to utilize genomic DNA from soil, can bypass cultivation and provide information on the collective soil metagenome with the aim to explore genes that encode functions of key interest to biotechnology. The metagenome of disease-suppressive soils is of particular interest given the expected prevalence of antibiotic biosynthetic clusters. However, owing to the complexity of soil microbial communities, deciphering this key genetic information is challenging. Here, we examine crucial issues and challenges that so far have hindered the metagenomic exploration of soil by drawing on experience from a trans-European project on disease-suppressive soils denoted METACONTROL.
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