Background: Early menarche and late menopause are important risk factors for breast cancer, but their effects on breast cancer risk in BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers are unknown. Methods: We assessed breast cancer risk in a large series of 1,187 BRCA1 and 414 BRCA2 carriers from the International BRCA1/2 Carrier Cohort Study. Rate ratios were estimated using a weighted Cox-regression approach. Results:

Analyses of intraspecific genetic structure can promote the conservation of genetic diversity of rare or declining plant species by enabling identification of proper management units. Here we investigate the genetic structure of the annual hemiparasitic herb Rhinanthus angustifolius to evaluate the genetic distinctness of two currently described subspecies and three habitat-related groups of popul

Populations intermediate between the diploid and sexual Sorbus aucuparia and the tetraploid and facultative apomictic Sorbus hybrida are scattered in coastal regions of southern Scandinavia. Our aims were to investigate whether these populations were of local and independent origins, whether they were morphologically and molecularly distinct from each other and whether they could give rise to cons

Purpose: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) or astrocytoma grade IV is the most common type of primary brain tumor in adults. In the present study, we investigate the role of the complement system in the glioblastoma situation in an experimental model, since we have previously been able to show a blockade of this system in the glioblastoma setting. Technique and results: A GFP-positive glioblastoma cel

A nonlinear autotuning regulator algorithm is obtained via a direct combination of the Åström-Hägglund algorithm for the linear case [1] with the sinusoidal-input describing function (SIDEF) approach to nonlinear compensator synthesis of Taylor and Strobel [2]. The basic approach for linear autotuning proceeds as follows: a. install a relay with hysteresis in series with the unknown plant to be co

Background Exercise training is recommended to patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, the level of evidence is still low. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) compared two different and self-administered exercise training programs in a representative CKD population. Methods This single centre RCT included 151 non-dialysis dependent CKD patients, irrespective of age and comorbidity.

Objectives: To investigate: (i) changes in sick-leave benefits from 1 year prior to multimodal rehabilitation to 1 and 2 years after rehabilitation; (ii) sex differences in sick leave; and (iii) the impact of policy changes on sick leave. Methods: All patients undergoing multimodal rehabilitation registered in a national pain database for 2007–11 (n?=?7,297) were linked to the Swedish Social I

A self-tuning algorithm is proposed for the control of the air-fuel ratio in internal combustion engines. Such a controller can overcome problems connected with unknown bias of the engine dynamics, slowly varying engine parameters and excess oxygen sensor characteristics. The simulation study has focused on near-steady-state situations and shows the feasibility of self-tuners in comparison with co

Encapsulation with edible films is a promising approach that may solve the disadvantages associated with the use of bioactive compounds as food additives. This is particularly relevant in the case of probiotics, since their stability in food matrices and in the gastrointestinal tract may be rather poor. Therefore, new cellulose-based edible films have been successfully developed and characterized.

Diffusing wave spectroscopy (DWS) is a powerful optical technique suitable to investigate turbid samples in a nondestructive and reproducible way, providing information on the static and dynamic properties of the system. This includes the relative displacement of emulsion droplets over time and changes in the viscoelastic properties. Here, novel and promising cellulose-based oil-in-water (O/W) emu

Probiotics are increasingly gaining popularity in vast food applications due to their recognized health benefits to the host. However, their passage through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is not smooth and a significant number of physiological barriers (e.g. low pH, bile salts, enzymes, peristaltic movements, etc.) may considerably affect their viability. The entrapment of probiotics in protectiv