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Vitamin D and Cataract Risk: A Mendelian Randomisation Study
Get PDFData Availability Statement: All publicly available data used in analyses is listed within the manuscript, alongside where the data can be located. UKBB data used in this study is subject to the following licenses/restrictions: UK Biobank data is accessible to all bona fide researchers for healthrelated research that serves the public interest. Requests for access to these datasets should be directed to https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/enable-your-research/apply-for-accessSupplementary Material is available online at: https://ndownloader.figstatic.com/articles/29617868/versions/1 .Background: Previous observational studies have suggested an association between vitamin D levels and the risk of cataracts. Whilst this correlation has been well reported, there is a lack of causal evidence. Methods: We first conducted an observational study using UK Biobank (UKBB) data to explore the correlation between vitamin D levels and deficiency with incident cataract. To assess causality, we then performed both one-sample and two-sample Mendelian Randomisation (MR) analyses. The one-sample MR used genetic risk scores (GRS) reflecting a genetic predisposition to higher vitamin D levels and vitamin D deficiency, examining its association with incident cataract. The two-sample MR, publicly available summary statistics for vitamin D levels and deficiency were used to investigate their relationship with cataract. Sensitivity analyses using a UKBB meta-analysis for vitamin D in a two-sample MR and a gene-focused analysis using variants in genes with a known role in vitamin D metabolism. Results: The observational analysis showed a statistically significant relationship between both vitamin D levels (OR = 0.998, ln(OR)SE = 3.23x10-4, p = 6.72x10-14) and deficiency (OR = 1.237, ln(OR)SE = 0.022, p = 9.05x10-23) with incident cataract risk. However, there was insufficient evidence to suggest an association between vitamin D supplementation and cataract risk (OR = 0.971, ln(OR)SE = 0.016, p = 0.057). Furthermore, no evidence was found in our one-sample MR analysis to suggest a causal relationship between vitamin D levels (OR = 1.001, ln(OR)SE = 0.002, p = 0.541) or vitamin D deficiency (OR = 1.095, ln(OR)SE = 0.145, p = 0.534) and incident cataract. The inverse variance weighted two-sample MR analysis also showed no evidence to suggest a causal association between vitamin D levels (IVW: OR = 1.122, 95% CI: 0.968-1.301, p = 0.125) or deficiency (IVW: OR= 0.987, 95% CI: 0.959-1.015, p = 0.344) and cataract risk, with consistent results observed using a multi-ethnic cataract cohort. Some evidence was observed between vitamin D levels and increasing cataract risk (Weighted median OR = 1.076, 95% CI: 1.002–1.156, p = 0.045), however, due to sample overlap between the exposure and outcome, datasets should be interpreted with caution. Conclusion: Whilst we identified a correlative association between vitamin D levels and cataract, we found no robust evidence to support a causal relationship between vitamin D levels and deficiency with cataract risk.The authors declare no funding sources.
Proteomic analyses identify targets, pathways, and cellular consequences of oncogenic KRAS signaling
Get PDFData and materials availability: The raw MS proteomic data, protein and peptide identification (search engine and SIMSI transfer outputs), Swiss-Prot reference database and quantification results, and concentration-response curves from CurveCurator or internal analysis pipelines used for Kinobeads analysis have been deposited with the ProteomeXchange Consortium via the MassIVE partner repository (https://massive.ucsd.edu/) with the dataset identifier PXD063604 (MassIVE identifier: MSV000097797). From these data, all analysis presented in this study can be reproduced. In addition, all concentration-response datasets including parameter TOML files, fitted curves saved as .txt files, and interactive dashboards can be viewed on Zenodo. Parts of the analysis can also be found on Zenodo (https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13380481). The data are additionally also available in ProteomicsDB (www.proteomicsdb.org) (20). The MS data and Skyline files for the PRM assays have been deposited to ProteomeXchange Consortium and the Panorama Public website (https://panoramaweb.org/2024_Kabella_KRAS.url; ProteomeXchange identifier PXD054509) (83). All other data needed to evaluate the conclusions in the paper are present in the paper or the Supplementary Materials. There are no restrictions on materials other than those imposed by the commercial availability of cell lines, antibodies, drugs, and other reagents used in this study.Mutations that activate the small GTPase KRAS are a frequent genetic alteration in cancer, and drug discovery efforts have led to inhibitors that block KRAS activity. We sought to better understand oncogenic KRAS signaling and the cytostatic effects of drugs that target this system. We performed proteomic analyses to investigate changes in protein abundance and posttranslational modifications in inhibitor-treated human KRAS-mutant pancreatic (KRAS G12C and G12D) and lung cancer (KRAS G12C) cells. The inhibitors used target these mutant forms of KRAS, the downstream effectors MEK and ERK, and the upstream regulators SHP2 and SOS1. Comparisons of phosphoproteomes between cell lines revealed a core KRAS signaling signature and cell line–specific signaling networks. In all cell lines, phosphoproteomes were dominated by different degrees of autonomous, oncogenic KRAS activity. Comparison of phosphoproteomes after short and long drug exposures revealed the temporal dynamics of KRAS-MEK-ERK axis inhibition that resulted in cell cycle exit. This transition to a quiescent state occurred in the absence of substantial proteome remodeling but included broad changes in protein phosphorylation and ubiquitylation. The collective data reveal insights into oncogenic KRAS signaling, place many additional proteins into this functional context, and implicate cell cycle exit as a mechanism by which cells evade death upon KRAS signaling inhibition.This project has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement no. 833710). Work performed by the Kuster group was also supported by grants from the German Science Foundation (SFB1309 and SFB1321) and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF; grant number 031L0305A). The Kuster and Bassermann labs are supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research foundation)–TRR 387/1-514894665. The Vagnarelli lab is supported by a Wellcome Trust Investigator award 210742/Z/18/Z to P.V. K.S. was supported by a CHMLS Ph.D. scholarship (Brunel University London)
International financial integration, economic growth and threshold effects: some panel evidence for Europe
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C33; F36.This paper applies the Seo and Shin (2016) method for estimating dynamic panels with endogenous threshold effects to obtain new, robust evidence on nonlinearities in the relationship between international financial integration (IFI) and economic growth. This approach is based on a first-differenced GMM estimator which allows both the threshold variable and the regressors to be endogenous. More specifically, the present study analyses yearly data for 40 European countries from 1996 to 2021, this European focus yielding novel insights into a region with a diverse economic landscape. The IFI–growth nexus is examined using various IFI measures and thresholds reflecting country-specific characteristics, and then the analysis is extended by comparing the impact of the 2007–2009 global financial crisis (GFC) and of the Covid-19 pandemic respectively on the relationship of interest. The results provide clear evidence of nonlinearities and suggest that the effects of financial integration on economic growth vary depending on factors such as the level of financial development, trade openness, institutional quality, political and economic uncertainty, initial income, and financial openness. Further, the 2007–2009 GFC appears to have had a more significant impact than the Covid-19 pandemic
Trade secrecy in automated decisions: against the myth of irreconcilability and the imposition of patents
Get PDF• Trade secrecy has been widely recognised as an obstacle to transparency in automated decision-making. In multiple cases involving automated decisions impacting individuals, the disclosure of decision-making processes has been restricted to safeguard proprietary information.
• This limitation to transparency has prompted scholars to question the appropriateness of trade secrecy in the age of algorithms including calling for the complete removal of trade secret protection for algorithms in some cases. While some scholars have proposed an unconditional disclosure of the data used in automated decision systems as well as of their source code, others have favoured the use of patents for certain software programmes.
• In this article, based on extensive analysis of existing law including judicial decisions, we discuss how to achieve a balance between these two conflicting positions. Furthermore, we contend that neither abolishing trade secrecy nor mandating patent-based protection for algorithms is necessary or justifiable. Lastly, we assert that, although patenting software and artificial intelligence (AI) is possible, businesses are likely to prefer trade secret protection over patents for their inventions due to the practical challenges of obtaining patents for AI systems
3D DIC Operational Modal Analysis for an Acoustic Levitation System
Get PDF.........The research reported in this paper is supported by the Peter Jost Foundation grant "Contactless Technology for Conveying Light and Fragile Objects"
Aerothermal Investigation of the Effect of Endwall Structures on Radial Turbine Heat Losses
Get PDFThis paper presents a detailed numerical investigation of the effect of hub-mounted riblets on the thermal and aerodynamic performance of a radial turbine rotor. While prior studies have shown that riblets reduce wall shear stress and improve aerodynamic efficiency, their influence on heat transfer and thermal losses remains underexplored. Using numerical simulations, this study examines the heat transfer characteristics within the rotor passage, comparing ribbed and smooth hub configurations under the same operating conditions. Results reveal that although riblets reduce frictional drag, they also enhance convective heat transfer—leading to a 6% increase in the heat transfer coefficient at the hub and 2.8% at the blade surfaces. This intensification of heat transfer results in a 4.3% rise in overall thermal losses, counteracting some of the aerodynamic gains. The findings provide new insights into the thermofluidic implications of surface modifications in turbomachinery and emphasise the importance of considering surface finish not only for aerodynamic optimisation but also for thermal efficiency. These results can inform future turbine design and manufacturing practices aimed at controlling surface roughness to minimise heat loss.This research received no external funding
Evaluation of the economic and energy performance of advanced biofuels from OFMSW in a demonstration-scale biorefinery
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Data will be made available on request.Supplementary data are available online at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0961953425006907?via%3Dihub#appsec1 .This study presents a comprehensive economic and energy performance assessment of a demonstration scale, energy driven biorefinery plant, highlighting the innovative valorization of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste as a feedstock for advanced liquid biofuel production. A gate-to-gate mass and energy balance were conducted, leading to both a cost assessment and an Energy Return on Investment (EROI) analysis. The results for this specific plant underline the drying process as the most energy intensive stage, contributing 80 % and 49 % to the total energy demand for bio-oils and bioethanol production, respectively. By employing a high-efficiency dryer, characterized by specific energy consumption equal to 0.25 kWh per kilogram of water evaporated, bio-oils and bioethanol production costs decreased significantly, reaching 0.44 and 0.86 €/kg. For the best-case scenario, EROI values of 1.76 for bio-oil and 0.8 for bioethanol were estimated, with biogas contribution leading to a final biorefinery EROI of 1.36, indicating energy viability (as total EROI >1). The integration of a high efficiency distillation process could further increase the plant EROI to almost 2. This study reveals the significant dual role of the system as both an energy production plant and a waste treatment solution. The integration of such biorefinery plants with existing industries where waste heat is available is suggested as a critical strategy to secure both economic and energy viability. As a real data driven assessment, this study provides reliable and useful insights that can enforce the current literature about the feasibility of advanced liquid biofuel production.This work was supported by the EU LIFE project “CIRCforBIO” (LIFE Ref. No: LIFE18 CCM/GR/001180)
A form-stable wood-based phase change material via double cross-linking esterification after removal of lignin for thermal energy storage
No full textSupplementary data are available online at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148125017781?via%3Dihub#appsec1 .This study developed a form-stable wood-based phase change material (FWPCM) via double cross-linking esterification (DCLE) to prevent PCM leakage and volume expansion. The mixture of polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a PCM and 1,2,3,4-butane tetracarboxylic acid (BTCA) as a cross-linking agent was vacuum-impregnated into delignified wood. Lignin removal was carried out using traditional alkali treatment (Na2SO3/NaOH) and deep eutectic solvent (DES) treatment, with the former removing most lignin and hemicellulose from the wood. The comparison revealed that DES-delignified wood (DW) avoids chemical hydrolysis of cellulose, effectively preserving the lignocellulosic skeleton. The exposed hydroxyl groups in cellulose promoted DCLE, which was confirmed by FTIR and XPS. A small amount of BTCA was added to create ester bonds with cellulose to stabilize PEG in the DW, resulting in the FWPCM that demonstrated excellent leakage resistance and a higher encapsulation rate of 84.75 %. The phase change exhibited a maximum enthalpy of 150.1 J·g-1 at 58.5 °C. FWPCM showed anisotropic heat transfer characteristic (radial 0.14 W/(m·K), longitudinal 0.19 W/(m·K)), high thermal stability (283 °C), and excellent cycling durability (200 cycles). This study provides a reliable, cost-effective and eco-friendly thermal energy storage material for building energy conservation.The work of this paper is sponsored by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2022YFC3802704) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.52108097)
Synergistic effects of ionic liquid and redox species for improved aqueous-based Zn-ion capacitor
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Lahiri, Abhishek (2025). Zn ion capacitors in aprotic ionic liquids. Brunel University London. Dataset. https://brunel.figshare.com/articles/dataset/_/30157126 .Supplementary data are available online at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352152X25045426#s0075 .As the demand for high-performance energy storage devices grow, aqueous zinc-ion hybrid capacitors (ZICs) have gained significant attention for their ability to combine the high energy density of zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) with the high-power density of supercapacitors (SCs). However, their application is limited by poor stability caused by zinc dendrite growth from uneven Zn deposition/stripping. Ionic liquids (ILs) and redox species in ZICs are an emerging area of research focused on improving the performance and efficiency of energy storage devices. The combination of IL and redox species can enhance the charge storage capacity, stability, and cycling performance of ZICs, potentially providing high energy and power densities with long-term durability. Herein, synergistic effects of 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazoliumtriflate (EMImTfO) and 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide (EMImI) were investigated on aqueous electrolyte of Zn(TfO)2. The Zn/graphene ZIC delivers capacities of 82 and 96 mAh g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 in Zn(TfO)2 and Zn(TfO)2/ EMImTfO electrolytes, respectively, while the redox additive of EMImI boosts the capacity to 182 mAh g−1 under the same conditions. Moreover, even at a high current density of 5 A g−1, the capacity was found to be 100 mAh g−1, indicating improved rate capability. These findings offer a promising strategy for the development of redox-active electrolytes tailored for next-generation sustainable energy storage systems.This research was funded, in whole by EPSRC, EP/W015129/1. Emine Kapancik Ulker thanks the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) for the support (Project No: 1059B192301430)
Embodied learning in teacher education: Investigating student-teachers' experiences in engaging with embodied cognition theories
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The authors do not have permission to share data.This study examines how integrating perceptual, sensorimotor, and reflective processes supports the learning of enactive cognition theory, demonstrating how student-teachers develop competencies for engaging with theory through lived, embodied experiences. We employed between-methods data triangulation, combining the PRISMA method, microgenetic, and thematic analysis of video and text data, revealing students' experiences. Findings describe how concepts of enactive theory become part of student-teachers' bodily experiences and reveal that reflective awareness of these bodily connections coupled with shared dialogue is pivotal for deep learning. This study's approach is a compelling demonstration of how enactive cognition can be operationalized in educational practice.Seed for Education Innovation Funding Programme at Brunel University London and Tampere University
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