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In this paper, we simulate the effects of tax reforms aimed at encouraging healthier grain consumption. We use a rich data set on household grain consumption in 2003 from the market research institute GfK Sweden, combined with information on the nutritional content of the consumption. We estimate behavioral parameters, which are used to simulate the impact on the average household of tax reforms e
AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: We tested whether gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with HLA-DQ genotypes. METHODS: A total of 764 mothers with non-autoimmune (GAD65, insulinoma-associated protein 2 [IA-2] and insulin autoantibody-negative) GDM were ascertained between September 2000 and August 2004 in the population-based Diabetes Prediction in Skåne (DiPiS) study. HLA-DQB1 genotypes were determ
Pancreatic cancer, as a highly malignant cancer and the fourth cause of cancer-related death in world, is characterized by dismal prognosis, due to rapid disease progression, highly invasive tumour phenotype, and resistance to chemotherapy. Despite significant advances in treatment of the disease during the past decade, the survival rate is little improved. A contributory factor to the poor outcom
The aim of this paper is to consider how the notion of analyticity can be dealt with in model-theoretical terms. Standard approaches to possible-world semantics allow us to define necessity and logical truth, but analyticity is considerably more difficult to account for. To explain this difficulty, we first provide a simplified sketch of possible-world semantics. After defining necessity and logic
Ecological economics is an emerging field that offers significant room for creativity and innovation at the conceptual level on how to operationalize sustainability. It integrates economics with ecology and many elements from both the natural and social sciences to provide an integrated perspective on environment-economy interactions. A major policy dilemma that ecological economics addresses is h
BACKGROUND: Social epidemiology investigates both individuals and their collectives. While the limits that define the individual bodies are very apparent, the collective body's geographical or cultural limits (e.g., "neighbourhood") are more difficult to discern. Also, epidemiologists normally investigate causation as changes in group means. However, many variables of interest in epidemiology may
The effect of selenium supplementation of feed on the Se content in bovine milk, whey and plasma, and on the distribution of Se, Zn and Cu in whey and plasma was investigated. In a cross-over study two groups of cows were given a basal feed with 0.16 ppm selenite (approx. 3 mg Se/d) with or without 25 mg yeast Se/d for 2 weeks. In the supplemented group the Se content increased 10-fold in milk, 10
The mechanisms driving the development of immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody repertoires are a matter of debate. Alternatives to the classical view on antibody development, involving somatic mutation and antigen-driven selection of high-affinity variants in germinal centers, have been proposed. Methods: We have re-analyzed the pattern of mutations in previously isolated and characterized human clonal
Clinical experience over decades and numerous retrospective and, recently, also prospective studies clearly demonstrate that prophylactic treatment, albeit much more expensive, is superior to on-demand treatment regardless of whether the outcome is number of joint- or life-threatening bleeds or arthropathy optimal prophylactic treatment should be started early (primary prophylaxis) but various opi
We have studied the temporal coherence of high-order harmonics (up to the 15th order) produced by focusing 100 fs laser pulses into an argon gas jet. We measure the visibility of the interference fringes, produced when two spatially separated harmonic sources interfere in the far field, as a function of the time delay between the two sources. In general, we find long coherence times, comparable to
The most frequently used model to describe the exponential increase in mortality rate over age is the Gompertz equation. Logarithmically transformed, the equation conforms to a straight line, of which the slope has been interpreted as the rate of senescence. Earlier, we proposed the derivative function of the Gompertz equation as a superior descriptor of senescence rate. Here, we tested both measu
Activated coagulation factor V functions as a cofactor to factor Xa in the conversion of prothrombin to thrombin. Based on introduction of extra carbohydrate side chains in recombinant factor V, we recently proposed several regions in factor Va to be important for factor Xa binding. To further define which residues are important for factor Xa binding, we prepared fifteen recombinant factor V varia
Cerebral intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) is the most common cause of severe neurologic impairment following preterm birth in human infants. Ideally, an animal model for cerebral IVH should allow for reliable noninvasive evaluation of haemorrhagic extension and of subsequent development of posthaemorrhagic ventricular dilatation (PHVD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of high-frequ
The role of implantable neuromodulation systems and spinal cord stimulation in the management of pain is described. Recommendations of the American Society of Anesthesiologists Task Force on Chronic Pain Management and the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine as they relate to spinal cord stimulation are discussed. This feature is adapted from paineurope 2012; Issue 1, ©Haymar
BACKGROUND: Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) affects coronary flow after the operation. Surgical as compared to device closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) serves as a good model to clarify the effects of surgery with CPB on coronary flow. METHODS: Coronary flow parameters were determined by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography before and after ASD closure. Thirteen children underwent surgery on CP
BACKGROUND: Shed mediastinal blood is known to be a source of microemboli in cardiac surgery. The aim of this study was to characterize in detail the lipid particles found in this blood. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 24 patients undergoing routine cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Arterial and shed blood was analyzed using the Coulter counter technique to establish the numb
PhenCode (Phenotypes for ENCODE; http://www.bx.psu.edu/phencode) is a collaborative, exploratory project to help understand phenotypes of human mutations in the context of sequence and functional data from genome projects. Currently, it connects human phenotype and clinical data in various locus-specific databases (LSDBs) with data on genome sequences, evolutionary history, and function from the E
