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Early-onset type 2 diabetes:the next major diabetes transition
Get PDFThe incidence of early-onset type 2 diabetes appears to be increasing, with a growing number of cases now occurring in children, adolescents, and young adults. This transition is primarily driven by the rising prevalence of obesity in younger populations, especially in high-income countries. However, the relationship between obesity and early-onset type 2 diabetes varies across ethnic groups, with some populations exhibiting a higher risk at lower BMI thresholds, likely due to differences in insulin resistance and beta-cell function. Socioeconomic factors further shape disease patterns, with early-onset type 2 diabetes disproportionately affecting lower-income populations in high-income settings, whereas in low- and middle-income countries, economic development and urbanisation have contributed to increasing incidence among more affluent groups. The consequences of this transition to early-onset type 2 diabetes are severe, with accelerated disease progression, heightened risks of microvascular and macrovascular complications, and significant societal and healthcare burdens. Given the continuing rise in childhood and adolescent obesity, the incidence of early-onset type 2 diabetes is expected to increase further, placing mounting pressure on healthcare systems worldwide. In this first of three review articles, we examine global trends in the incidence and prevalence of early-onset type 2 diabetes, identifying key drivers of this transition to diagnosis at younger ages and review the evidence for risk factors both at population and individual level
Ocean acidification at the Toarcian Anoxic Event captured by boron isotopes in the lime mud record
Get PDFThe Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event (ca. 183 million years ago) marks a global mass extinction coincident with dramatic changes in climate and ocean circulation, likely driven by large igneous province emplacement. Rapid carbon dioxide release may have induced global warming, widespread ocean deoxygenation, and ocean acidification. To constrain the magnitude of ocean acidification, we present boron isotope data from three different carbonate components, lime mud (micrite), brachiopods, and bivalves, from two marine sections in SW Europe. Only data from micrite shows a temporary decrease in boron isotope composition during the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event, recording an ocean acidification event, which we reproduce using a coupled biogeochemical model. The contrasting stability of boron isotope values shown by bivalves and brachiopods suggests that the investigated taxa may have been able to physiologically buffer changes in ocean pH, and are therefore poor targets for the interrogation of pH changes in Earth history
Religiosity, political tolerance, and willingness to reconcile in post-conflict contexts:Evidence from Colombia
Get PDFThis article examines the role of religiosity in shaping people’s willingness to reconcile with ex-combatants in post-conflict societies, using Colombia as a case study. Drawing on LAPOP survey data from 2014 to 2018, the study employs linear and logistic regression models to reveal that individuals tend to be less willing to reconcile when they have high levels of religiosity (LAPOP 2004–2021). However, this relation can be mitigated by an individual’s level of political tolerance, which fosters greater openness to support reconciliation despite strong religious convictions
Tipula larval populations affected by soil edaphic and microbiological properties: Insights from Ireland and Scotland
Get PDFHerbivorous soil-dwelling pests cause damage in agriculture through decreases in root and shoot biomass, which can affect both plant and economic yield. Having a greater understanding of the soil environment of these pests could identify potential avenues for mitigation/control strategies. Leatherjackets (Tipula larvae) are pests of grasslands and cereals across Europe and North America, for which there are no known effective or economical non-chemical control options. Within this study, the soil habitats of Tipula paludosa in grassland and cereal sites were examined across Ireland and Scotland, to assess the impact of edaphic properties on their occurrence. Significant correlations were observed between leatherjacket populations and silt content, positively in cereal sites and negatively in grasslands. Larval populations were positively correlated with Na, Al and Zn, and negatively correlated with Fe, Mn and K. As grasslands were more vulnerable to high T. paludosa infestations, their soil microbiomes were also examined from a prokaryotic and fungal community structure context. Microbial community structure was linked to leatherjacket occurrence and abundance, and specific microbial genera were associated with the absence or high prevalence of larvae. Plant growth promoting bacteria (Flavobacterium) and fungi (Mortierellaceae) were significantly more abundant in soils where larvae were absent. Where there were larval populations above the economic threshold for crop damage, significantly higher abundances of anaerobic bacteria (Anaerolineaceae) were present. Studies of pest related soil microbiomes and environments could hold promise for future pest suppression strategies via management and biocontrol opportunities
Motivations for pet ownership among adolescents and emerging adults in China:A theory of planned behavior study
Get PDFGiven the rapid shift in attitudes toward animals and the swift growth of pet ownership in China since the end of the urban pet ownership ban in 1992, particularly among younger generations, understanding the motivations behind pet ownership in this demographic is crucial. This study aimed to investigate sociodemographic and animal-type variations in pet ownership among young people in China and to apply the Theory of Planned Behavior to understand the motivations for pet ownership within this cultural context. A total of 988 participants, aged 16–29 years (M = 23.17, SD = 3.08), completed a survey assessing demographic characteristics, pet ownership, and motivations for keeping pets. Of the participants, 36.3% were pet owners, with cats being the most commonly owned pet, followed by dogs. Among the young adults, females, those of older age, those with full-time jobs, and those living with others were more likely to own pets. A variety of sociodemographic differences were also found in the ownership of different types of pets. In terms of the Theory of Planned Behavior, multiple linear regression analysis found that the intention to keep pets was predicted by personal attitudes and subjective norms. Those with more positive attitudes toward pets and higher levels of subjective norms regarding pet keeping were more motivated to own pets. In addition, participants with higher intention (b = 0.92, p < 0.001; OR = 2.501) and greater behavior control (b = 0.09, p < 0.001; OR = 1.094) were more likely to own pets. This lends support to the use of the Theory of Planned Behavior in understanding people’s decision to own pets.</p
Development and characterization of monoclonal antibodies specific for bovine IP-10
Get PDFResearch on chemokines in cattle is hampered by the relative lack of validated reagents. Bovine IP-10 is an important inflammatory chemokine and a promising diagnostic biomarker for an economically important disease (bovine tuberculosis) caused by infection of cattle with Mycobacterium bovis. Currently no monoclonal antibodies are available for bovine IP-10. The goal of this study was to generate novel mAbs for detection of bovine IP-10 using hybridoma technology. Five mAbs were developed and cross clone inhibition analyses showed a high degree of self-inhibition among the mAbs. One mAb (7C2) was used in conjugation with a commercial polyclonal antibody to develop a sandwich ELISA. Upon testing with recombinant bovine IP-10, this ELISA showed an enhanced linear range compared to the currently available polyclonal antibody-based ELISA. The ELISA using 7C2 was shown to detect native antigen-specific bovine IP-10 in samples from M. bovis infected animals. The 7C2 mAb could also detect intracytoplasmic IP-10. These novel mAbs will be useful in elucidating roles for IP-10 in bovine immune studies in health, disease and vaccination contexts.</p
The secret lives of children’s money:Exploring children’s financial interactions in transitions from cash to digital monies
Get PDFThe nature of money is undergoing significant transformation, becoming more diverse, digital, data-driven and at times, less visible. Nonetheless, there is limited research addressing how children experience, and learn about contemporary forms of digital money. This presents a challenge for the banking sector, and from a Child-Computer Interaction (CCI) research perspective, as it is important to explore how children engage with and learn about money in an increasingly digitised financial landscape. This study explores children’s (aged 7-12) experiences with money using a Cultural Probes approach, inviting children to play as detectives, while also engaging their parents in semi-structured interviews. Findings reveal the ongoing importance of cash in children’s lives, while recognising the need for increasing digital interactions, highlighting key thresholds in their transition from cash to digital financial interactions. Parents particularly express concerns about fostering financial autonomy in a digital landscape, while limiting or mediating independent use of digital devices
Structure of lymphostatin, a large multi-functional virulence factor of pathogenic Escherichia coli
Get PDFLymphostatin is a key virulence factor of enteropathogenic and enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli, playing roles in bacterial colonisation of the gut and in the inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation and proinflammatory responses. The protein's glycosyltransferase and cysteine protease motifs are required for activity against lymphocytes, but high-resolution structural information has proven elusive. Here, we describe the structure of lymphostatin from enteropathogenic E. coli O127:H6, determined by electron cryo-microscopy at different pH values. We observe three conformations of a highly complex molecule with two glycosyltransferase domains, one PaToxP-like protease domain, an ADP-ribosyltransferase domain, a vertex domain and a delivery domain. Long linkers hold these domains together and occlude the catalytic sites of the N-terminal glycosyltransferase and protease domains. Lymphostatin binds to bovine T-lymphocytes and HEK-293T cells, forming clusters at the plasma membrane that are internalized. With six distinct domains, lymphostatin can be regarded as a multitool of pathogenic Escherichia coli, enabling complex interactions with host cells.</p
The association between disordered eating and sleep in non-clinical population:A systematic review and meta-analysis
Get PDFSleep and disordered eating behaviours may be linked through physiological and psychological mechanisms; yet, no review has systematically investigated the relationship between different sleep indicators and disordered eating behaviours and cognitions outside a clinical context. The present systematic review and meta-analysis addressed this research gap to gain a better understanding of associations in non-clinical populations to potentially inform future prevention and early intervention approaches in the context of both sleep and disordered eating. All studies published from 2003 onwards were included if they assessed a relationship between disordered eating and sleep in a non-clinical population. In total, 89 studies were included, of which 33 met eligibility criteria for the meta-analyses. General eating pathology, loss of control eating, and excessive exercise were most consistently significantly associated with poorer sleep quality and higher insomnia symptoms, while evening chronotypes were most consistently associated with bulimia symptoms, night eating, and body image concerns. Likely due to the limited evidence available, findings relating to restrictive eating behaviours and bulimia symptoms were largely mixed. Primarily small and non-significant effects were found for associations between disordered eating and sleep duration measures. Overall, this review identified a need for more longitudinal research, the use of validated assessment methods, and studies focusing on restrictive eating, bulimia-related behaviours, and excessive exercise. Despite the heterogeneity of study populations and designs, this review highlights sleep problems (e.g., insomnia symptoms, impaired sleep quality) as a transdiagnostic correlate of disordered eating concerns
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