A statistical approach to a posteriori blockmodeling for graphs is proposed. The model assumes that the vertices of the graph are partitioned into two unknown blocks and that the probability of an edge between two vertices depends only on the blocks to which they belong. Statistical procedures are derived for estimating the probabilities of edges and for predicting the block structure from observa

PDGFB is a growth factor which is vital for the completion of normal prenatal development. In this study, we report the phenotypic analysis of placentas from mouse conceptuses that lack a functional PDGFB or PDGFRbeta gene. Placentas of both types of mutant exhibit changes in the labyrinthine layer, including dilated embryonic blood vessels and reduced numbers of both pericytes and trophoblasts. T

Cerebral accumulation of amyloid-β is thought to be the starting mechanism in Alzheimer's disease. Amyloid-β can be detected by analysis of cerebrospinal fluid amyloid-β42 or amyloid positron emission tomography, but it is unknown if any of the methods can identify an abnormal amyloid accumulation prior to the other. Our aim was to determine whether cerebrospinal fluid amyloid-β42 change before am

Observational studies have shown inconsistent results for the association between blood pressure and cancer risk. We investigated the association in 7 cohorts from Norway, Austria, and Sweden. In total, 577799 adults with a mean age of 44 years were followed for, on average, 12 years. Incident cancers were 22184 in men and 14744 in women, and cancer deaths were 8724 and 4525, respectively. Cox reg

PURPOSE To improve the poor prognosis of patients with primary disseminated multifocal Ewing sarcomas (PDMES) with a dose-intense treatment concept. PATIENTS AND METHODS From 1999 to 2005, 281 patients with PDMES were enrolled onto the Euro-EWING 99 R3 study. Median age was 16.2 years (range, 0.4 to 49 years). Recommended treatment consisted of six cycles of vincristine, ifosfamide, doxorubicin, a

The fading process in high speed vehicular traffic telematic applications at 5 GHz is expected to fulfill the wide-sense stationarity uncorrelated scattering (WSSUS) assumption for very short time-intervals only. In order to test this assumption we apply the concept of a local time– and frequency–variant scattering function, which we estimate from measurements of vehicle-to-vehicle wave propagatio

The Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) has built the largest moderately high-resolution (R ≈ 22,500) spectroscopic map of the stars across the Milky Way, and including dust-obscured areas. The APOGEE Stellar Parameter and Chemical Abundances Pipeline (ASPCAP) is the software developed for the automated analysis of these spectra. ASPCAP determines atmospheric parameters

Background: Accurately quantifying the risk of osteoporotic fracture is important for directing appropriate clinical interventions. While skeletal measures such as heel quantitative speed of sound (SOS) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry bone mineral density are able to predict the risk of osteoporotic fracture, the utility of such measurements is subject to the availability of equipment and hum

PURPOSE: The first interim analysis of the phase III, randomized, placebo-controlled TITAN study showed that apalutamide significantly improved overall survival (OS) and radiographic progression-free survival in patients with metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC) receiving ongoing androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Herein, we report final efficacy and safety results after unblin

Context: Aggressive pituitary tumors (APTs) are characterized by unusually rapid growth and lack of response to standard treatment. About 1% to 2% develop metastases being classified as pituitary carcinomas (PCs). For unknown reasons, the corticotroph tumors are overrepresented among APTs and PCs. Mutations in the alpha thalassemia/mental retardation syndrome X-linked (ATRX) gene, regulating chrom

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system caused by myelin-specific autoreactive T cells. We previously demonstrated intestinal barrier disruption and signs of inflammation in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a model of MS. Fecal calprotectin is a disease activity biomarker in inflammatory bowel diseases, released by neutrophils

The emergence of antibiotic resistance is a global health concern. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of its spread is crucial for implementing evidence-based strategies to tackle resistance in the context of the One Health approach. In developing countries where sanitation systems and access to clean and safe water are still major challenges, contamination may introduce bacteria and bacterio

Several sources of DNA damage compromise the integrity and stability of the genome of every organism. Specifically, DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) can have lethal consequences for the cell. To repair this type of DNA damage, the cells employ homology-directed repair pathways or non-homologous end joining. Homology-directed repair requires the activity of the RAD52 epistasis group of genes. Rad52

This study investigates the effect of different mixers and the applicability of the mixing energy (ME) concept to dry powder formulations for inhalation. With the aim to step-wise build and expand this concept, adhesive mixtures of 2 % budesonide and lactose carrier were investigated, both with 1 % magnesium stearate (MgSt) added in a ‘coating’ step, and without, the latter referred to as ‘naked’

The concept of ‘sustainable welfare’ conceptualizes welfare and wellbeing within planetary limits. Yet there is a lack of knowledge about possible social and political carriers of corresponding social-ecological transformations. For the promotion of the changes of societal core institutions that climate scientists deem necessary in the nearer future knowledge of which parts of the population are m