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Black carbon (BC), a major component of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), has been implicated in adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes, including autism spectrum disorders (ASD). While PM2.5 has been associated with increased ASD risk, the specific role of BC remains uncertain. This study aimed to assess prenatal exposure to BC and risk for ASD development in a low exposure setting, using a large, hi
Viruses are the most abundant and genetically diverse entities on Earth, yet the functions and evolution of most viral proteins remain poorly understood. Their rapid evolution often obscures evolutionary relationships, limiting the ability to assign functions using sequence-based methods. Although the conservation of protein fold can reveal deep homologies, viral proteins remain underrepresented i
Effective governance and management of ecosystem functions to promote human well-being and social equity require a clear understanding of supply and demand dynamics. While this is widely acknowledged in assessments of ecosystem services, it remains largely neglected for ecosystem disservices, despite many ecosystem functions generating both services (benefits) and disservices (costs) depending on
Huntington's disease (HD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the HTT gene. This leads to progressive loss of striatal neurons and motor-cognitive decline. While current gene-targeting approaches aiming at reducing somatic instability show promise – especially in case of early treatment – they cannot restore the already compromised neuronal circuitry at advanc
In this study we investigate risk management trade-offs by evaluating how key persons at workplaces with a potential for exposure to hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) reason about what is practically possible in terms of exposure reduction. While the included companies (N = 14) represented different types of processes and work-tasks, interviewees all identified that many types of hazards compete for at
Nearly 40 % of individuals will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, translating to an estimated 20 million new cases annually. Despite remarkable therapeutic advances, only 15–20 % of patients achieve durable responses to immunotherapy, and the high cost of treatment (illustrated by immune checkpoint inhibitors like pembrolizumab and nivolumab, totaling roughly $191,000 per year) remains a
Three different semiconductor nanowires are combined into a single optoelectronic artificial neuron. Our device provides a path towards low power computations with significantly reduced circuit footprint, thus addressing critical limitations in neuromorphic photonics. The false-coloured scanning electron micrograph shown in Figure 1a depicts the fabricated nanowire neuron. Two pin-doped InP nanowi
The green transition relies on metals, requiring increased metal recovery from waste. However, exposure risks among metal recycling workers are poorly understood. We conducted a cross-sectional study to assess dust and metal exposure among 139 recycling workers from 13 Swedish metal recycling companies and 90 controls. We documented work practices through observations and questionnaires and assess
Photonics-based approaches to neuromorphic hardware offer advantages in speed and connectivity but often suffer from large device footprints.[1] Here, we present an ultra-compact artificial neuron built from semiconductor nanowires. A scanning electron micrograph of the nanowire device is presented in Figure 1a. Inside the dashed box, we show the neuron built from three III-V nanowires - two InP p
Abstract: The breast cancer long-term survival rate has improved; early detection of local recurrence and second primary cancers has been crucial to this success. Mammography is the standard imaging technique for follow-up, but its sensitivity is affected by breast density and post-treatment changes. This article discusses the role of mammography in the follow-up of women after breast cancer treat
Epithelial tissue fusion requires coordinated molecular events at the ends of two epithelial structures. Regulatory mechanisms controlling these events remain largely elusive. In the Drosophila reproductive system (RS), this fusion unites the gonad and the genital disc-derived tissues, into a continuous tube. This study unveils the pivotal role of Hamlet (Ham), a Drosophila PR domain containin
Current advancements in molecular techniques for identifying multiple species from bulked soil samples have expanded our capacity for large-scale soil biodiversity assessments. However, these methods often lack validation and contextualization. Recent cross-European studies based on environmental DNA (eDNA) have reported unexpectedly high biodiversity in intensively managed agricultural soils comp
Background: Islet autoantibodies form the foundation for type 1 diabetes (T1D) diagnosis and staging, but heterogeneity exists in T1D development and presentation. We hypothesized that autoantibodies can identify heterogeneity before, at, and after T1D diagnosis, and in response to disease-modifying therapies. Methods: We systematically reviewed PubMed and EMBASE databases (6/14/2022) assessing 10
Background: The objective of this systematic review is to identify prognostic factors among women and their offspring affected by gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), focusing on endpoints of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) for women, and cardiometabolic profile for offspring. Methods: This review included studies published in English language from January 1st, 1990, through
Human–nature relationships are often framed positively, but research rarely addresses biophobia, the aversion to nature. However, negative relationships with nature are likely to become more widespread following societal and environmental changes, with serious implications for public health and conservation efforts. Here, we performed a systematic review of 196 studies on biophobia, revealing a fr
The medical profession plays a crucial role in tackling the health impacts of climate change and in promoting a green transition of society and the health sector. Despite this, opportunities for action are still quite unknown within the profession, and no mandatory education is required in interns' or residents' education. Medical schools, on the contrary, both in Sweden (due to legislation) and a
Background: Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the most potent ligand to the androgen receptor, is synthesised from testosterone (T) by 5α-reductase type 1 and 2. While type 1 is expressed in several non-reproductive tissues in both sexes, men also express high levels of the high-affinity type 2 isoform in reproductive tissues; yet women have a higher circulating DHT to T (DHT/T) ratio than men. We hypoth
In Acoustofluidics, sound pressure waves can cause a force field on the liquid in a microfluidic channel. The forces depend on density and compressibility of the medium as well as the pressure and velocity amplitude of the sound. The forces lead to a steady flow in the bulk of the fluid, namely acoustic streaming. If a localized change in temperature introduces a gradient in compressibility and de
The role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in early mammalian embryogenesis remains unclear due to the complexity of the regulatory mechanisms involving lncRNAs and the limited availability of embryo samples. Stem cell-based models, such as mouse gastruloids, provide new ways to address these challenges. Here, we investigate the function of ultra-conserved lncRNA T-UCstem1 in mammalian body plan f
The Unified Glare Rating (UGR) method defined by the International Commission on Illumination is practically the only one used for evaluation of discomfort glare in the lighting design process. However, it is unclear if this method aligns with subjective discomfort glare measures using subjective glare indexes (SGIs). We compared calculated UGR values with commonly used subjective discomfort glare
