Aims. One of the puzzling findings in the study of the chemical evolution of (post-)AGB stars is why very similar stars (in terms of metallicity, spectral type, infrared properties, etc. . . ) show a very different photospheric composition. We aim at extending the still limited sample of s-process enriched post-AGB stars, in order to obtain a statistically large enough sample that allows us to ...

The perovskite nanopowders of lanthanum strontium cobalt ferrite (LSCF) have been synthesized using the alginate mediated ion-exchange process. This perovskite-based material is a promising cathode for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs) due to its high electrical conductivity, low polarizability, catalytic activity oxygen reduction, enhanced chemical stability at an elev...

Opportunistic invasive fungal infections, in particular due to Aspergillus fumigatus, are an increasing problem in hospitalized, immunocompromised patients [1-3]. Patients at risk are those with hematologic malignancies [4,5], bone marrow or solid organ transplant recipients [6,7], patients with chronic granulomatous disease [8] and AIDS patients [9]. These patient groups have in common severe ...

The peripheral lymphocyte pool size is governed by homeostatic mechanisms. Thus, grafted T cells expand and replenish T cell compartments in lymphopenic hosts. Lymphopenia-driven proliferation of naive CD8 T cells depends on self-peptide/MHC class I complexes and the cytokine IL-7. Lymphopenia-driven proliferation and maintenance of memory CD8 T cells are MHC independent, but are believed to re...

Do professional forecasters distort their reported forecasts in a way that compromises accuracy? New research in the theory of forecasting suggests such a possibility. In a recent paper, Owen Lamont finds that forecasters in the Business Week survey make more radical forecasts as they gain experience. In this paper, I use forecasts from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia’s Survey of Profe...

Several gene sequences of parasitic protozoa belonging to protein kinase gene families and epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like peptides, which act via binding to receptor tyrosine kinases of the EGF receptor (EGFR) family, appear to mediate host-protozoan interactions. As a clue to EGFR protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) mediation and a novel approach for identifying anticoccidial agents, activities ...

OBJECTIVE To improve the Zambia Prisons Service's implementation of tuberculosis screening and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing. METHODS For both tuberculosis and HIV, we implemented mass screening of inmates and community-based screening of those residing in encampments adjacent to prisons. We also established routine systems – with inmates as peer educators – for the screening of ...

OBJECTIVE To assess the genetic and environmental etiology of the co-occurence of ADHD symptoms and reading difficulties using the largest sample to date, distinguishing two dimensions of ADHD and two of reading. METHOD Data were obtained from 6428 12-year old twin pairs drawn from the population-based Twins Early Development Study. ADHD symptoms (combined ADHD, inattentiveness and hyperactiv...

The differences in function, location, and migratory pattern of conventional dendritic cells (cDC) and plasmacytoid DCs (pDC) not only point to specialized roles in immune responses but also signify additive and interdependent relationships required to clear pathogens. We studied the in vivo requirement of cross-talk between cDCs and pDCs for eliciting antitumor immunity against in situ release...