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Soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition in response to global change represents a critical uncertainty in coupled carbon (C) cycle-climate models. Much of this uncertainty arises from our limited mechanistic knowledge of the effects of organic C input frequency on SOM decomposition. Based on a three-source-partitioning isotopic approach (14C glucose addition to soil continuously labeled by C4 plan
Background: The use of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in multiple sclerosis (MS) has been associated with reduced relapse rates and accumulation of disability. However, studies examining impact of DMT on risk of transition to secondary progressive MS (SPMS) leveraging population-based nationwide data are still rare. Here, we determine the population incidence of conversion to SPMS using two co
Background: Urinary retention is common in elderly patients undergoing acute hip fracture surgery. Avoiding overfilling the urinary bladder is important to avoid detrusor muscle damage and associated motility problems. The aim of this study was to analyse associations between the co-creation of a nurse-driven urinary catheterisation protocol and the incidence of bladder distension in patients unde
Background: Sexual harassment (SH) in the workplace is prevalent and associated with poor health. Universities are large workplaces with complex formal and informal power relations, which may influence the prevalence of SH. Although employees and students share the university context, few studies on SH have included both groups. The overall aim of the study was to investigate SH among employees an
BACKGROUND: Home health care is an important part of primary health care. How delivery of home health care is organised is probably important for sustainability of the healthcare system as a whole. More than 50 % of individuals over 65 years old have multimorbidity, which increases with higher age, also influencing the needs of home health care. Our aim was to study the proportion of the populatio
Background: Numerous gene loci are related to single measures of body weight and shape. We investigated if 55 SNPs previously associated with BMI or waist measures, modify the effects of fat intake on weight loss and waist reduction under energy restriction. Methods and Findings: Randomized controlled trial of 771 obese adults. (Registration: ISRCTN25867281.) One SNP was selected for replication i
Background: Embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) identifies patients with cryptogenic ischemic stroke presumed due to embolism from several unidentified sources. Among patients with recent ESUS, we sought to determine independent predictors of recurrent ischemic stroke during treatment with aspirin or rivaroxaban and to assess the relative effects of these treatments according to risk. Met
BACKGROUND: Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), with or without targeted biopsy, is an alternative to standard transrectal ultrasonography-guided biopsy for prostate-cancer detection in men with a raised prostate-specific antigen level who have not undergone biopsy. However, comparative evidence is limited. METHODS: In a multicenter, randomized, noninferiority trial, we assigned men
Background/objectives: Excess gestational weight gain (GWG) is a risk factor for maternal postpartum weight retention and excessive neonatal adiposity, especially in women with overweight or obesity. Whether lifestyle interventions to reduce excess GWG also reduce 12-month maternal postpartum weight retention and infant weight-for-length z score is unknown. Randomized controlled trials from the LI
OBJECTIVE: This study examined the prevalence and correlates of physical violence and rape among female sex workers (FSWs) in Ethiopia.DESIGN: A cross-sectional study using respondent-driven sampling technique.SETTING: Eleven major towns in Ethiopia.PARTICIPANTS: 4900 FSWs.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The prevalence of experiences of physical beating and rape.RESULTS: Among FSWs, 17.5% reported physical
BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing is critical for early linkage to treatment and care services. However, there is a substantial gap in HIV testing, particularly in resource limited settings due to low accessibility of HIV testing sites, inconvenient testing hours, and concerns about loss of confidentiality. Thus, adopting new strategies such as HIV self-testing (HIVST) could o
Background: Early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF) lowers the risk for all-cause mortality in babies, including those with low birth weight. However, rates of neonatal mortality and delayed initiation of breastfeeding remain high in most low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to assess the trends and factors associated with EIBF in Namibia from 2000 to 2013. Methods: An analysis of E
The alternating between dry and wet seasons and the consecutive microbial responses to soil water content in semiarid ecosystems has significant consequences on nitrogen exchanges with the atmosphere. Three field campaigns were carried out in a semi arid sahelian rangeland in Dahra (Ferlo, Senegal), two at the beginning of the wet season in July 2012 and July 2013, and the third one in November 20
Background: Current EU directives demand increased use of renewable fuels in the transportation sector but restrict governmental support for production of biofuels produced from crops. The use of intercropped lucerne and wheat may comply with the directives. In the current study, the combination of ensiled lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) and wheat straw as substrate for hydrogen and methane productio
Background: High-circulating level of parathyroid hormone (PTH) is associated with elevated mortality in dialysis patients. The Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy guideline suggests a lower PTH target than other international guidelines; thus, PTH control may differ in Japan compared with other regions, and be associated with mortality. Methods: We analyzed data from hemodialysis patients with
Hairdressers are exposed to high levels of chemicals, including possible carcinogens. For dermal exposure, the skin protects against the uptake of chemicals and the protein filaggrin (encoded by FLG) has a key role in skin barrier function. This study investigated if variants of FLG previously linked to impaired skin barrier function, i.e. null mutations and copy number variation (CNV) alleles (CN
Cross flow heat exchangers made from aluminum are common as radiators in vehicles. However, due to the increasing power requirement and the limited available space in vehicles, it is extremely difficult to increase the size of heat exchangers (HEXs) placed in the front of vehicles. Placing the heat exchanger on the roof or at the underbody of vehicles might offer opportunity to increase the size o
BACKGROUND: In clinical practice there is need for a simple and reliable test for determination of impaired renal function. With reductions in GFR, the plasma cystatin C concentration (C, mg/l) will increase earlier than serum creatinine, and it is generally agreed that plasma cystatin C is only little affected by body weight, age or sex. However, some reports indicate that cystatin C may be influ
Background: The link between colorectal cancer (CRC) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) has been extensively studied. Although it is commonly accepted that T2D is a risk factor for CRC, the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. Research Design and Methods:Given that the genetic background contributes to both traits, it is conceivable that genetic variants associated with T2D may also
