Background and purpose: High levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25[OH]D3) are associated with a lower risk for multiple sclerosis (MS). The bioavailability of 25(OH)D3 is regulated by its main plasma carrier, vitamin D-binding protein (DBP). Free 25(OH)D3 can be estimated by also measuring DBP concentration. In addition, DBP has immunomodulatory functions that may independently affect MS pathogenesis

Background: Working in close contacts with coworkers or the general public may be associated with transmission of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). We investigated whether crowded workplaces, sharing surfaces, and exposure to infections were factors associated with IPD. Methods: We studied 3,968 cases of IPD, and selected six controls for each case from the Swedish population registry with each

The high stability and conductivity of 3,4-disubstituted polythiophenes such as poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) make them attractive candidates for commercial applications. However, next-generation nanoelectronic devices require novel macromolecular strategies for the pre-cise synthesis of advanced polymer structures as well as their arrangement. In this report, we present a synthetic rou

Background: There are indications that early-life exposure to perfluoroalkyl infstances (PFAS) can impact neurodevelopment, but results are inconclusive. The objective was to investigate if high early-life exposure to primarily perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) increases the risk of developmental language disorder in children up to seven years of age. Met

In this study, an algae biomass gasification process using a dual fluidized bed with combined power and methanol cogeneration was developed. The gasification process was modeled using Aspen Plus and validated using experimental data of two microalgae species (Nannochloropsis oculata and Dunaliella salina) commonly found on the western coast of Saudi Arabia. The impacts of different operating condi

Treatment of melanoma with a BRAF inhibitor (BRAFi) frequently initiates development of BRAFi resistance, leading to increased tumor progression and metastasis. Previously, we showed that combined inhibition of elevated WNT5A and IL-6 signaling reduced the invasion and migration of BRAFi-resistant (BRAFi-R) melanoma cells. However, the use of a combined approach per se and the need for high inhibi

In this study, a numerical model is developed to investigate the active-pressurization performance in a liquid oxygen tank. The VOF method is used to predict the thermal behavior in the liquid oxygen tank with consideration of interface phase change. The numerical model is validated against the experimental results with relative error < 5%. The effect of the gas injection temperature on the tank t

Externally seeded schemes have offered a major leap in improving the longitudinal coherence of FELs in the EUV and soft X-ray range. The Echo Enabled Harmonic Generation (EEHG) technique creates bunching at wavelengths of a few nanometers in two stages of longitudinal phase space manipulation, each consisting of an energy modulator and a chicane. Compared to other seeding techniques, EEHG is less

Sugar beet pulp (SBP) is a by-product formed in large amounts during the production of refined sugar and is currently used as a low-cost feed for livestock. The dry SBP comprises largely three polysaccharides (75–85%), cellulose, hemicellulose and pectin, whose component sugars constitute potential valuable feedstock for producing building blocks for chemicals and materials. In the present study,

Background: Like most living organisms, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster exhibits strong and diverse behavioural reactions to light. Drosophila is a diurnal animal that displays both short- and long-term responses to light, important for, instance, in avoidance and light wavelength preference, regulation of eclosion, courtship, and activity, and provides an important model organism for unders

Peberholm is a constructed Danish island in the Øresund strait. It was primarily constructed by calcareous clay from the sea floor, and is traversed by a highway and a railway. Being constructed from material without a seed bank, Peberholm constituted a good opportunity to study primary succession in an anthropogenic context. In this study, data from a survey of the vascular plant community of Peb

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Obesity caused by overeating plays a pivotal role in the development of type 2 diabetes. However, it remains poorly understood how individual meal size differences are determined before the development of obesity. Here, we investigated the underlying mechanisms in determining spontaneous food intake in newly established Oikawa-Nagao Diabetes-Prone (ON-DP) and Diabetes-Resistant (O

Sitagliptin has been suggested as a treatment option for older adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, no randomized controlled trial has been performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of sitagliptin treatment in older Japanese patients with T2D. The STREAM study was a multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled trial. T2D outpatients aged 65-80 years with moderately controlled glycemic

Background: The number of people with a migration background and dementia is increasing in Europe. All patients with suspected dementia have the right to an appropriate cognitive assessment and correct diagnosis for optimal treatment and support. Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale (RUDAS) cognitive screening instrument is less affected by language, culture, and educational background, and

Cancers require telomere maintenance mechanisms for unlimited replicative potential. They achieve this through TERT activation or alternative telomere lengthening associated with ATRX or DAXX loss. Here, as part of the ICGC/TCGA Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) Consortium, we dissect whole-genome sequencing data of over 2500 matched tumor-control samples from 36 different tumor types a