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High‐Rate and Selective Conversion of Low‐Concentration Carbon Dioxide to Carbon Monoxide Using a Carbon Nanotube‐Supported Molecular Electrocatalyst
Get PDFElectrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (e-CO2RR), powered by renewable electricity, is a compelling strategy to valorize CO2 into valuable chemicals and fuels. Herein, we report on MWCNT|CuPc-CoPc-modified gas-diffusion electrodes (GDEs) featuring molecular-level dispersion of cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) and copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) on the multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) support. The introduction of CuPc effectively mitigates CoPc aggregation, enabling tunable loading and fractional accessibility of electrochemically active CoPc sites, alongside improved CO2 adsorption capacity. Besides, the synergistic electronic interactions among CoPc, MWCNT, CuPc, and H2Pc, formed in situ via CuPc demetallization during electrolysis, optimized CO2 affinity, as evidenced by density functional theory calculations. With these promising attributes, the MWCNT|CuPc-CoPc-modified GDE with optimized CuPc content exhibits promising e-CO2RR performance across a wide CO2 concentration range (20%–98%). Notably, an efficient single-pass conversion of CO2 to CO is achieved, yielding a high CO yield of 65.7 ± 2.3% and an energy efficiency of 54.8 ± 1.9% using 20% CO2 at an ampere-level current (0.625 A). Furthermore, the developed electrode demonstrated robust stability, maintaining FECO above 80.4% over 72-h electrolysis under a simulated biogas atmosphere (40% CO2/60% CH4). These findings underscore the strong promise of molecularly engineered catalyst systems for efficient and selective CO production from low-concentration CO2 emission sources
How do clinician and parent-reported data differ? An analysis of similarity and difference in the datasets from a cross-syndrome genetics cohort study (GenROC)
Get PDFBackground Parent/patient-reported (PRD) datasets provide ready access to phenotypic data for monogenic neurodevelopmental disorders, yet their concordance with clinical data is unclear.
Methods In the GenROC study, 547 children (mean age 7.6 years, balanced sex ratio) had parallel parent-reported web questionnaires and clinician-reported (CRD) Human Phenotype Ontology proformas. We compared the two sources per participant by system, gene and gene group and overall for quantity, detail and similarity.
Results 547 probands were analysed ranging in age from infancy to 16 years (mean 7.6) with similar gender distribution. PRD provided more terms for dental, gastroenterology, immunology and respiratory systems and for vision (p<0.001 for all) and to a lesser degree for cardiac (p=0.0012). CRD provides more detail than PRD for most gene subgroups, combined systems and for neurology (p<0.001). Similarity scores were low overall per participant (mean 0.38 for combined). Similarity scores were highest for cardiac (mean 0.74) and lowest for Ear/Nose/Throat(ENT) (mean 0.34). There was minimal difference in similarity scores across gene groups or between the top 10 genes—scaffold adaptor gene groups had the highest (mean 0.43) as did STXBP1 (mean 0.5) and CACNA1A (0.49). CRD is more similar to published syndrome phenotypes for syndromic genes.
Conclusions Parents reported more common childhood phenotypes, such as asthma and dental issues, while clinicians provided clinical phenotype descriptors, such as brain morphology and seizure semiology. It is important to understand the differences when designing studies and using datasets to appreciate their strengths and limitations
Identifying Local Priorities for Research with Linked Routine Data:An Online Workshop Method
Get PDFAbstract Introduction Priority setting with patients, public and professionals is essential for research utilising routinely collected data, as this ensures data are being used in the public interest. However, it is challenging to identify research priorities that are relevant to a wide range of local stakeholders and can be addressed with routinely collected data. Objectives To describe and present the results of a priority setting exercise aiming to identify research priorities for Born in Bradford for All (BiB4All), a routine data linkage cohort of mothers and babies born in Bradford, a city in the north of England. Methods We developed a two-hour online workshop to engage a range of stakeholders across Bradford, including parents, early years practitioners, commissioners, and service providers. The workshop method combined elements of existing priority setting approaches to ensure priorities were identified in an inclusive, timely and deliberative way, and supported stakeholders to develop their understanding of using linked routine data for research. Results The workshop identified seventeen important and urgent research priorities around child and maternal health for research with locally linked routine data. Key topic areas included maternal and infant mental health, the long-term impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on maternal and child health outcomes, inequalities in access to services, and infant feeding experiences. Conclusions The identified research priorities have been shared widely amongst interested networks and have shaped the BiB4All research agenda, demonstrating the feasibility of the stakeholder engagement method. They also have important implications for policy and practice. For policy, they provide an understanding of the key issues faced by local communities, which can steer policy priorities and investment in evidence generation. For practice, involvement in the workshop has generated a greater understanding of how local service data can be used for research and to inform improvements to service delivery
Comparison of safety and efficacy of liberal versus restrictive red blood cell transfusion thresholds on the quality of life in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Get PDFMyelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are clonal stem cell disorders managed by risk stratification: lower-risk disease receives erythropoiesis-stimulating agents; higher-risk disease receives azacitidine. Red blood cell (RBC) transfusions manage symptomatic anaemia and improve quality of life (QoL) but carry risks of iron overload and alloimmunisation. No standardised transfusion strategy exists, requiring systematic evidence synthesis comparing liberal versus restrictive haemoglobin (Hb) thresholds for their effects on quality of life and transfusion-related complications. We performed a systematic review evaluating liberal versus restrictive RBC transfusion thresholds in adults with MDS not undergoing curative treatment such as stem cell transplantation. Primary outcome was health-related QoL measured by validated instruments. Secondary outcomes included mortality, transfusion reaction, iron overload, RBC utilisation and rise in ferritin level. Of 4,295 records screened, 212 articles underwent full-text review, with three RCTs meeting inclusion criteria. Liberal transfusion strategies were associated with improved QoL compared to restrictive approaches, with pooled standardised mean difference (Hedges g) of 0.54 (95% CI 0.06–1.02; p = 0.33; I²=9.7%). Subgroup analysis of EQ‑5D outcomes across studies revealed minimal but statistically significant difference between strategies (pooled mean difference 0.084; 95% CI: 0.033 to 0.134). Mortality (hazard ratio 0.913; 95% CI 0.167–4.98) and transfusion reactions (risk difference − 0.01; 95% CI-0.10 to 0.09) did not differ. Notably, liberal thresholds required average of 4 additional RBC units per patient (95% CI 1.43–6.79), raising concerns about iron overload (rise in ferritin; mean difference 868 µg/L; 95% CI 482–1255). Limited evidence suggests that liberal transfusion strategies in MDS may improve short-term QoL but at the cost of increased transfusion burden, with no clear impact on survival or safety. A patient-centred, multidisciplinary approach remains essential when tailoring transfusion thresholds
The impact of motor neurone disease on oral health: a scoping review
No full textObjective: To identify current evidence on oral health-related quality of life in people with Motor Neurone Disease (MND), as well as identify barriers to oral health and care, and establish priorities for future research.
Methods: A scoping review was conducted. Electronic databases and grey literature sources were searched from 2000 to 2024. Articles discussing oral health in adults with MND were included. Findings were supplemented by stakeholder consultation with people with MND, caregivers, clinicians, and researchers.
Results: Fourteen articles met inclusion criteria, comprising eight cross-sectional studies, one prospective quality improvement project, one single center observational and four review articles. Five key themes emerged: dental status and oral hygiene activities, orofacial function, secretion management, service delivery and Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). Studies indicated that MND negatively impacts oral health through impaired ability to perform oral hygiene and altered orofacial functioning. Only one study examined oral health-related quality of life. Stakeholder consultation highlighted additional concerns including challenges with service access, the impact of MND on oral health, and difficulties maintaining oral hygiene due to physical limitations.
Conclusions: Oral health remains an under-researched area in MND care despite its potential impact on quality of life and overall wellbeing. Future research priorities should include investigating relationships between oral health and MND outcomes, improving service delivery models, and increasing dental professional awareness. Active involvement of people with MND in research design and implementation is essential for developing effective interventions
14th Report - Scrutiny of international agreements: UK-India Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement
Get PDFExploiting Unsupervised Free-Living Data for Cardiorespiratory Fitness Estimation: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Get PDFBackground:
Current methods of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) assessment may discriminate against frail individuals who are challenged to perform a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test. CRF estimations from free-living wearable data, captured over extended time periods, may offer a more representative assessment and increase usability in clinical settings.
Objective:
This study aimed to review current evidence behind this novel concept and evaluate the performance and quality of models developed to estimate CRF from free-living, unsupervised data.
Methods:
Following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, we systematically searched 4 databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and arXiv) for studies reporting the development of models to estimate CRF from continuous free-living wearable data. Studies conducted entirely under controlled laboratory conditions were excluded. Performance metrics were combined in a meta-correlation analysis using a random-effects model and Fisher Z transformation.
Results:
Of 1848 papers screened, 18 met the eligibility criteria, with a total of 31,072 participants. The weighted mean age was 46.9 (SD 1.46) years. Multiple computational techniques were used, with 8 studies employing more advanced machine learning models. The meta-correlation analysis revealed a pooled overall estimate of 0.83 with a 95% CI 0.77‐0.88. The I² test indicated high heterogeneity at 97%. Risk of bias assessment found most concerns in the data analysis domain, with studies often lacking clarity around the data handling process.
Conclusions:
A promising preliminary agreement between CRF predictions and measured values was noted. However, no definite conclusions can be drawn for clinical implementation due to high heterogeneity among the included studies and lack of external validation. Nonetheless, continuous data streams appear to be a valuable resource that could lead to a step change in how we measure and monitor CRF.
Trial Registration:
PROSPERO CRD42024593878; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD4202459387
Germline HLA heterozygosity is associated with decreased lung cancer risk
Get PDFHeterozygosity at human leukocyte antigen (HLA) loci may improve lung cancer immunosurveillance by increasing recognition of the tumor by the immune system. Previous studies utilizing data from population-level biobanks, such as the United Kingdom Biobank and FinnGen, have identified an association between germline HLA class II (HLA-II) heterozygosity and reduced lung cancer risk in smokers. In the present study, we evaluate the association between HLA heterozygosity and lung cancer in a large case-control study (15,302 cases and 14,580 controls) with imputed HLA allele-type information, comparing differences in HLA heterozygosity between smokers and non-smokers, among lung cancer subtypes, and at 2- and 4-digit HLA allele resolution. We identify a strong protective association of HLA-II heterozygosity in smokers compared to non-smokers, particularly at the HLA-DPB1 and HLA-DPA1 loci, and provide subtype-specific resolution. Finally, analysis of the additive effects of HLA allele heterozygosity in smokers identified significant associations with several 4-digit HLA alleles, including HLA-B∗08:01, HLA-A∗01:01, HLA-C∗07:01, HLA-DQA1∗05:01, HLA-DRB1∗03:01, and HLA-C∗03:04. Our study provides additional evidence, with added histologic subtype information, that germline HLA-II heterozygosity is inversely associated with lung cancer risk
Ambient machines: synthesis in the domestic sphere
No full textThe article undertakes an original reframing of the significance of modular synthesisers by attending critically to their audiovisual presentation alongside houseplants and other signifiers of domesticity. This visual framing—all too easily dismissed as decorative superficiality—is shown to be concomitant with a domestic imaginary and concerns for portability evident in the development of early North American synthesisers. Analysis of historical artefacts and interviews identifies the importance of portability to the realisation of a domestic imaginary in early synthesiser development. The contemporary emergence and audiovisual documentation of ‘ambient machines’ as recognisable configurations of modular instruments for the automatic production of ambient music is shown to develop these concerns towards the realisation of synthesiser as domestic appliance. Through the symbolic and functional pairing of plants and synthesisers in domestic settings the modular synthesiser comes to be associated with ideas of nurturing and care
Uplift and sea level constraints on 3-D upper mantle viscosity in Northern Europe
Get PDFNorthern Europe experiences vertical land motion and sea level changes as a consequence of past changes in ice sheet cover in Fennoscandia and the British Isles. The process, called glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA), is controlled by the subsurface structure. Numerical models of GIA can be compared to observations of uplift or past sea level changes to constrain the subsurface structure, and such models can also be used to correct present-day sea level observations to reveal sea level changes due to climate change. GIA models for northern Europe usually adopt a homogeneous upper mantle viscosity even though seismic studies indicate contrasting elastic lithosphere thickness and upper mantle structure between Northwestern Europe and Eastern Europe. This raises the question whether the effect of lateral variations in structure (3-D viscosity) can be detected in observations of GIA and whether including such variations can improve GIA model predictions. In this study, we compare model output from a finite element GIA model with 3-D viscosity to observations of paleo sea level and current vertical land motion. We use two different methods to derive 3-D viscosities, based on seismic velocity anomalies and upper mantle temperature estimates. We use three different reconstructions of the Eurasian ice sheet, one based on an inversion using a 1-D viscosity model, and two others based on glacial geology and modelling. When we use these two reconstructions, we find that the data are fit better using 3-D viscosity models. Models with two separate 1-D viscosities for Fennoscandia and for the British Isles cannot replicate a 3-D model because a 3-D model redistributes GIA-induced stresses differently from a combination of models with 1-D viscosities. The fit to data across Fennoscandia is improved when, as indicated by seismic models, the upper mantle viscosity is higher than for the rest of Northern Europe. The best fit is obtained with a model with dry olivine rheology, in agreement with other evidence from Fennoscandia
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