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Intra-rater reliability of quantitative sensory testing in individuals with knee osteoarthritis
No full textMapping the Hierarchical Environmental Transformations of Nanoscale UiO-66 Metal–organic Framework
Get PDFMetal–organic frameworks (MOFs) hold immense potential for applications from separations to catalysis, yet their long-term behavior across real-world environments remains unclear. Here we introduce a hierarchical exposure framework that tracks the structural and chemical transformations in the archetypal zirconium MOF UiO-66 across sequential compartments─atmospheric gases, air, aqueous media and a biological host─and resolves how prior exposures condition or prime subsequent transformations. Using synchrotron-based spectroscopy, we find that oxidative/reactive gases leave the Zr-carboxylate nodes essentially intact, whereas exposure to environmentally relevant aqueous media initiates partial shifts in local Zr coordination and introduces oxygen into the pores─with transformation extent governed by the chemistry of the environmental matrices. Strikingly, acute exposure (24 h) to the water flea Daphnia magna drives profound framework degradation and respeciation to Zr hydroxide species. Microfocus XRF maps show that Zr is highly localized in the animal’s digestive tract, and region-specific XANES confirms uniform speciation across its tissues. Our findings establish a paradigm shifting cross-compartment transformation hierarchy in which biological processes can dominate the fate of stable MOFs even when abiotic exposures appear benign. Thus, organism-level biotransformation should be performed as a necessary part of environmental safety assessments and materials design
(Non)religious social identity and perceptions of science
Get PDFSocial identity is important in determining our perceptions of the world and beliefs about our own and other groups. Religion and nonreligion can both provide people with social identities, which can be helpful for understanding people's perceptions of science. Using a social identity lens provides us with theoretical underpinnings which can add nuance to the use of other measures of (non)religiosity. Implications include perceptions of science and scientists, perceptions of combined (non)religious scientist identities, and the effectiveness of science communication
Towards a research agenda to better understand the role of walking for healthy ageing and wellbeing in African cities
No full textLiving in Our Shoes Revisited:Summary of Phase One Report
Get PDFThis Phase One report revisits the 2020 Living in Our Shoes review, assessing progress in supporting UK Armed Forces families. It highlights achievements in policy development but identifies persistent challenges in housing, childcare, education, partner employment, and healthcare. Recommendations call for an integrated, “Think Family” approach across Defence and government. <br/
Identification of a Non-Coding Causative Variant Underlying Warsaw Breakage Syndrome Using Long-Read Based Genomic Sequencing and Transcriptome Analysis
No full textCurrently, exome and genome sequencing achieve a diagnostic rate of 30%–50% for rare genetic diseases. With multi-modal technologies profiling the genome, transcriptome, and epigenome, interrogation of genomic elements outside of protein-coding regions shows potential to improve this as demonstrated herein. Siblings with sensorineural hearing loss, microcephaly, intellectual impairment, and growth restriction were seen in consultation. Following extensive clinical testing, long-read whole genome and cDNA-based transcriptome sequencing on the Oxford Nanopore platform identified a homozygous 1.6 kb deletion of the 5′ UTR and promoter region of DDX11, a gene associated with Warsaw breakage syndrome. The deletion included the hypomethylated CpG island regulating DDX11, led to a loss of expression of DDX11 mRNA and protein, and resulted in the characteristic “railroad chromosome.” Identifying a causal variant for this family required expanding the search space for genomic variants beyond protein-coding regions, and multi-modal data integration enabled a more holistic approach to variant prioritization and classification prior to pursuing targeted protein and functional assays. This multi-modal genome-wide approach heralds promise for patients on the diagnostic odyssey and who have exhausted standard of care testing.</p
The Anti-Fibrotic Potential of GLP-1 and GIP Receptor Agonists in Chronic Inflammatory Disorders:Mechanisms and Therapeutic Horizons
No full textFibrosis, characterised by the excessive deposition of extracellular matrix via activated fibroblasts, is a pathological feature of several chronic inflammatory disorders, which collectively contribute significantly to global morbidity and mortality. Despite this, current anti-fibrotic therapies are of limited efficacy. However, incretin-based therapies, primarily glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, are now emerging as candidate drugs for modulating fibrotic signalling pathways. This review synthesises the growing body of preclinical and clinical evidence that incretin receptor agonists exert direct and indirect anti-fibrotic effects. We detail the molecular mechanisms and survey the promising data across hepatic, cardiac, renal, lung, and joint tissues, which underscore the potential for repurposing of this drug class as a therapeutic strategy for fibro-inflammatory conditions
The global island species–area relationship for plants
No full textThe island species-area relationship (ISAR) is known to be near-ubiquitous, but its properties across the fullest span of island areas globally and how island endemism shapes the ISAR remain poorly understood. We determine the global ISAR for native (NatRich) and for single-island endemic richness (SIERich) of vascular plants, employing data for 1,262 islands, spanning 60.7S to 80.7N and ten orders of magnitude in area. Using logged species number and area, we compared the power model and four different breakpoint models. For NatRich, a simple power model (slope, z = 0.32, R2=66%) was best supported. For SIERich, a flat-steep breakpoint model outperforms the power model, with the latter producing a steeper slope (z= 0.48, R2=0.47) than for NatRich. Re-running the NatRich power model for subsets of islands of increasing endemism generates increased ISAR slope and improved prediction of continental richness values. Controlling for island area, NatRich declines with isolation, while endemism increases. Semi-log analyses show that old, tropical, mountainous continental fragments and landbridge islands, rich in SIE, drive an accelerated increase in NatRich for islands >10,000km2 in size. The global NatRich archipelago speciesarea relationship was best described by a power model (z=0.44, R2=0.62), and there is also evidence of declining richness but higher endemism with increased archipelago isolation. Our findings provide no support for the existence of an upper asymptote in the global plants ISAR, while supporting the application of the power model at a global scale, and highlighting roles for island types, endemism, and isolation as influences on ISAR form
Parameterising the effect of human occupancy and kinetic energy on indoor air pollution
Get PDFIndoor air quality (IAQ) is increasingly recognised as one of the most important aspects for public health, workplace safety and productivity. While indoor and outdoor factors both influence indoor pollutant levels, human presence and activity are key drivers of the emission of specific pollutants, including particulate matter (PM), total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) and carbon dioxide (CO2). This study investigates the relationship between occupancy, physical activity measured by kinetic energy (KE), and air pollution concentrations in a real-world office setting, by combining data from air quality and radar motion sensors. Two exemplar office spaces were investigated, comprising an open-office area and a meeting room. PM, in the PM1 and PM2.5 size fractions, were found to be highly correlated with the outdoor conditions, whereas PM10 correlates more closely with indoor occupancy (up to r = 0.65). Even higher correlations, up to r = 0.74, were found between human activity, quantified as KE, and the PM10 concentrations. The TVOCs and CO2 showed even stronger correlations with KE (up to r = 0.83), suggesting that these metrics can be used as excellent proxies for estimating certain types of indoor air pollution. Notably, the impact of additional occupants varies depending on room characteristics and usage, underscoring the need for contextualised models of IAQ. By quantifying both outdoor infiltration and indoor emissions, this study offers a framework for disentangling pollutant sources and guiding interventions to optimise IAQ. These insights support evidence-based strategies to create healthier and more productive office environments
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