Germline BRCA1 mutations predispose to breast cancer. To identify genetic modifiers of this risk, we performed a genome-wide association study in 1,193 individuals with BRCA1 mutations who were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer under age 40 and 1,190 BRCA1 carriers without breast cancer diagnosis over age 35. We took forward 96 SNPs for replication in another 5,986 BRCA1 carriers (2,974 indivi

Genetic alterations underlying the development of the cancer of the nose and paranasal sinuses (sinonasal cancer, SNC), a rare cancer that can be included in the group of head and neck cancers, are still largely unknown. We recently reported that TP53 mutations are a common feature of SNC, with an overall frequency of 77%, and they show association to adenocarcinoma and wood-dust exposure [15]. In

Background: Integration of second-generation (2G) bioethanol production with existing first-generation (1G) production may facilitate commercial production of ethanol from cellulosic material. Since 2G hydrolysates have a low sugar concentration and 1G streams often have to be diluted prior to fermentation, mixing of streams is beneficial. Improved ethanol concentrations in the 2G production proce

Understanding cellulose-water interactions is important for advancing current technology, not the least in developing effective dissolution methods for wooden fibers. Here we study the effect of electronic polarization on cellulose-water interactions by all-atom computer simulations. We show that induced dipoles on both interfacial water and cellulose hydroxyl groups are significant and may influe

Carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) are discrete parts of carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes that bind specific types of carbohydrates. Ultra high-resolution X-ray crystallographic studies of CBMs have helped to decipher the basis for specificity in carbohydrate-protein interactions. However, additional studies are needed to better understand which structural determinants confer which carbohydrate-b

This review has examined research in mobile computing from a developer's perspective. The review was underpinned by the assumption that mobile computing has accentuated factors compared to stationary computing that ought to be managed to harness the possibilities of mobile computing. Applying a developer's perspective rendered a certain interest in design-oriented research, i.e. prescriptive resea

Stoichiometric and very rich flames of methane have been investigated using nonintrusive laser diagnostics. Absolute concentration profiles of HCO were measured by intracavity laser absorption spectroscopy, and temperature profiles were obtained with laser-induced fluorescence of OH. Premixed CH4 + O-2 + N-2 flames were stabilized at a pressure of 30 +/- 0.3 Torr. These new experimental data were

Prolonged exposure to hand-held vibrating tools may cause a hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS), sometimes with individual susceptibility. The neurological symptoms seen in HAVS are similar to symptoms seen in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and there is a strong relationship between CTS and the use of vibrating tools. Vibration exposure to the hand is known to induce demyelination of ne

Melanoma is currently divided on a genetic level according to mutational status. However, this classification does not optimally predict prognosis. In prior studies, we have defined gene expression phenotypes (high-immune, pigmentation, proliferative and normal-like), which are predictive of survival outcome as well as informative of biology. Herein, we employed a population-based metastatic melan

Although the frequency of extra-pair paternity (EPP) has been described for many species, the relative importance of the various contemporary and historical factors explaining EPP variation is still the subject of debate. In this study, we found 11 polymorphic microsatellite loci in the Savi's Warbler (Locustella luscinioides), and used eight loci to analyze the paternity of 392 nestlings belongin

Binding of a targeting agent in tumor tissue is influenced by many factors such as molecular weight, charge and affinity of the targeting agent and vascularization of the tumor. In this study, we analyzed tumor cell binding of three HER2-specific and radiolabeled Affibody molecules with different affinities. The Affibody molecules had affinities in the range of 0.12-3.8 nM. Cellular binding was an

Candelaria pacifica is formally described. It is currently known from North and South America and Europe. The species is characterized by a small, lobate thallus with soredia formed on the lobe tips and along the margins. It has been confused with C. concolor in Europe and North America, but differs in having 8-spored asci and in lacking a lower cortex. Candelaria vulgaris, the type species of the

Fractions rich in indigestible carbohydrates, such as fructan and arabinoxylan, are obtained as by-products when ethanol, starch, and gluten are produced from wheat flour. Today, these fractions are used as animal feed. However, these components may have positive physiological effects in humans. In this study, the content of indigestible carbohydrates in distillers' grains and process streams from

In this work process water from a thermomechanical pulp mill was divided into five fractions by filtration and membrane filtration. Suspended matter was mainly isolated in the retentate from the drum filter, extractives in the microfiltration retentate, hemicelluloses in the ultrafiltration retentate and lignin in the nanofiltration retentate. The final water fraction was of fresh water quality. F

An absolute measure of the fat content in various organs is an important part of diagnostics in obesity and diabetes. Fat quantification using MR-imaging is a non-invasive technique which provides both quantitative and spatial information on fat accumulation. However, for absolute quantification, it is necessary to address the various sources of contrast in MR-imaging. This paper summarizes basic

Here, we show that the consequences of deficient micronutrient (beta-carotene) intake during larval stages of Manduca sexta are carried across metamorphosis, affecting adult behaviour. Our manipulation of larval diet allowed us to examine how developmental plasticity impacts the interplay between visual and olfactory inputs on adult foraging behaviour. Larvae of M. sexta were reared on natural (Ni

The properties of the amyloid-beta peptide that lead to aggregation associated with Alzheimer's disease are not fully understood. This study aims at identifying conformational differences among four variants of full-length Abeta42 that are known to display very different aggregation properties. By extensive all-atom Monte Carlo simulations, we find that a variety of beta-sheet structures with dist

Drought is a recurrent natural hazard that is expected to increase in the future due to anthropogenic climate change. The Middle East region witnessed a drought period between 2007 and 2009 that has been reported to have severe consequences for the population, especially in Syria and Iraq. This study seeks to assess the spatial and temporal characteristics of the drought in the Duhok Governorate i