BACKGROUND Streptococcus pneumoniae is one major cause of pneumonia in human and contains various virulence factors that contribute to pathogenesis of pneumococcal disease. This study investigated the role of pneumolysin, Ply, in facilitating S. pneumoniae invasion into the host blood stream. METHODS S. pneumoniae strains were isolated from clinical blood and sputum samples and confirmed by P...

Large amounts of rubber particles are dispersed into the environment due to tire wear. The rubber contains a wide range of chemicals, including several of environmental concern. The purpose of this thesis, which is based on six papers [I–VI], was to assess the ecotoxicological hazard and risk associated with tire wear particles, with a main focus on the aquatic environment. A method was develop...

Detection of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody to pneumolysin (PLY) in precipitated circulating immune complexes (CICs) has been used to diagnose pneumococcal pneumonia. With care to include appropriate controls, we precipitated and dissociated CICs and then assayed for IgG antibody to PLY. We detected IgG antibody to PLY in CICs that were precipitated from serum samples that were obtained at the...

Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus), the causative agent of several human diseases, possesses numerous virulence factors associated with pneumococcal infection and pathogenesis. Pneumolysin (PLY), an important virulence factor, is a member of the cholesterol-dependent cytolysin family and has cytolytic activity. Sortase A (SrtA), another crucial pneumococcal virulence determinate, contribut...

Pneumolysin (PLY), an essential virulence factor of Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus), can penetrate the physical defenses of the host and possesses inflammatory properties. The vital role PLY plays in pneumococcus pathogenesis makes this virulence factor one of the most promising targets for the treatment of pneumococcal infection. Verbascoside (VBS) is an agent that does not exhibit bac...

The viscoelastic effect of rubber material on creation of rolling resistance is responsible for 10-33% dissipation of supplied power at the tire/road interaction surface. So, evaluating this kind of loss is very essential in any analysis concerned with energy saving. The transient dynamic analysis for including the rolling effects of the tire requires long CPU time and the obtained results are ...

This work presents a single-chip sub-mm3 wireless pressure sensor suitable for tire pressure monitoring. The dynamic behavior and safety of an automobile tire is closely dependent on its inflation pressure: maintaining the manufacturerrecommended pressure is essential to prevent tire failure, provide stability, improve fuel efficiency and tire-life, and to reduce CO2 emissions [1]. Thus, Tire-P...

The first form of damage in composite laminates is often matrix microcracks that are defined as intralaminar or ply cracks across the thickness of the ply and parallel to the fibers in that ply (see reviews in [1,2]). Tensile loading, fatigue loading, environment, and thermal cycling can all lead to microcrack formation. Microcracks can form in any ply that has a significant component of the ap...

A tire and landing gear test facility has been developed and incorporated into a Convair 990 aircraft. The system can simulate tire vertical load profiles to 250,000 lb, sideslip angles to 15 degrees, and wheel braking on actual runways. Onboard computers control the preprogrammed test profiles through a feedback loop and also record three axis loads, tire slip angle, and tire condition. The ai...