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Nanowires are promising structures for next-generation photonic devices due to their superior structural, optical, and electronic properties compared to thin films. In this study, unexpected electrostatic potential wells across the non-polar m-plane and at the core/shell interface in n-type GaN core/shell nanowires, grown via metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy, are reported. Using advanced electron
Introduction: The rapid expansion of mobile phone access has enabled low-cost SMS interventions to support adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Although text messaging improves adherence and retention in HIV care, its cost-effectiveness for enhancing quality of life remains uncertain, particularly among adolescents in resource-limited settings. This study evaluated whether SMS reminders impr
The primary regulator of testicular function is the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). This hormone is secreted in a pulsatile manner by hypothalamic neurons. GnRH stimulates the synthesis and secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) from the anterior pituitary gland. LH stimulates the synthesis of testosterone (T) after binding to specific receptors on Leyd
Susceptibility testing of clinical multidrug-resistant (MDR) and reference P. aeruginosa strains was performed using the standard twofold serial dilution method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of antiseptics were determined. MIC and MBC values were also interpreted as the bacteriostatic index of antiseptic activity (BSIAA) and the bactericid
Importance Women with adverse pregnancy outcomes have higher subsequent cardiovascular risks, but their long-term risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) and potential causality are unclear. A better understanding of such risks is needed to identify women with high risk early in life and guide interventions to prevent AF and its complications. Objective To determine long-term risks of AF associated with
Background. Adults with intellectual disability (ID) experience marked mental health inequities, yet population-wide estimates that capture both primary- and specialist-care diagnoses remain scarce. Methods. Using nationwide Swedish registries, including primary care, specialist, inpatient, prescription drug, criminal, and suspicion registers, we included all individuals born in Sweden between 195
Introduction: Postnatal pesticide exposure and its impact on executive functioning (EF) in children and adolescents remains underexplored, particularly in African agricultural contexts. This study investigated associations between urinary pesticide biomarkers and EF in the Child health Agricultural Pesticide study in South Africa (CapSA). Methods: Data from 445 participants (mean age: 10.6 years;
Background: Early-life growth adversity is important to later-life health, but precision assessment in adulthood is challenging. We evaluated whether the difference between attained and genotype-predicted adult height (“height-GaP”) would associate with prospectively ascertained early-life growth adversity and later-life all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Methods: Data were first analyzed fro
BackgroundOsteocalcin is a bone-specific protein involving many physiological processes, primarily bone turnover. Also closely related to the musculoskeletal system is the frailty syndrome.AimTo investigate if circulating osteocalcin levels and frailty are associated in the old, and in addition, if the presumed association is mediated through alterations in bone.Methods999 community-dwelling women
Aim: Assess healthcare utilization and direct costs for heart failure (HF) during the first two years post-diagnosis across HF subgroups. Methods: This retrospective population-based study included patients with HF aged 40–90 years in Region Halland. HF subgroups were defined based on echocardiographic ejection fraction, including HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), mildly reduced ejection
Introduction: The importance of measuring vascular age has been emphasized in numerous studies, highlighting its critical role in precision medicine. This cross-sectional heterogeneity exploration study examined sex- and country-specific association of serum uric acid (SUA) and inflammation, measured as high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and vascular aging across populations with divers
Background: Asthma characterization using blood eosinophil count (BEC) (among other biomarkers and clinical indices) is recommended in severe asthma (SA), but the masking effect of oral corticosteroids (OCS), makes this challenging. Aim: Our aim was to explore the effect of OCS use (both intermittent [iOCS] and long-term [LTOCS]) prior to biologic initiation on SA phenotype and biomarker profile i
Genetics as a science has roots in studying phenotypes of relatives, but molecular approaches facilitate direct measurements of genomic variation between individuals. Agricultural and human biomedical research are both emphasizing genotype-based instruments, such as polygenic scores, but unlike in agriculture, there is an emerging consensus that family variables act nearly independently of genotyp
Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous anthropogenic particles that accumulate in coastal zones, sediments, and the water column. The exposure of organisms to MPs in these habitats may depend on foraging strategies and landscape characteristics. This study compared MP contamination in the feces of waterbirds from two trophic groups: benthivores (American oystercatcher Haematopus palliatus; white-backe
Objective: Psychosocial stress increases the risk for subsequent episodes of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and drug use disorder (DUD), with most studies assessing stress exposure by questionnaire or interview methods. We developed an environmental risk score (ERS) using multiple classes of stressful life events (SLEs) obtained from national Swedish registries. Method: We assessed, in the entire adul
Background: Asthma with low levels of type 2 (T2) biomarkers is poorly understood. Objective: To characterize severe asthma phenotypes and compare changes in asthma outcomes from pre- to postbiologic treatment along a gradient of T2 involvement. Methods: This was a registry-based cohort study including data from 24 countries. Biomarker distribution (blood eosinophil count, fractional exhaled nitri
Background and purpose — Ankle arthrodesis (AA) and total ankle replacement are the 2 main surgical treatment options for advanced ankle arthritis but information is scarce on satisfaction and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) after surgery. We aimed to evaluate postoperative satisfaction, changes in PROMs from before to 2 years after AA, and factors associated with the outcome.Methods — T
Background: Research on the primary care management of back pain in children and young people (CYP) is scarce. Sociodemographic factors may influence presentation and management, potentially contributing to disparities in care and outcomes. This study aimed to describe the management of back pain in CYP and examine associations with sociodemographic characteristics. Methods: Data were extracted fr
Background: Evidence on the association between systemic glucocorticoid use and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk is limited. This study aimed to determine whether systemic glucocorticoid use is associated with an increased risk of overall CRC (diagnosed at any age) and early-onset CRC (EOCRC; diagnosed before 50 years of age). Methods: A nationwide cohort study (follow-up: 2005–2018) was conducted usi
