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Seventy five percent of the world's food crops benefit from insect pollination. Hence, there has been increased interest in how global change drivers impact this critical ecosystem service. Because standardized data on crop pollination are rarely available, we are limited in our capacity to understand the variation in pollination benefits to crop yield, as well as to anticipate changes in this ser
In this study, Zr-pillared montmorillonite clays (Zr-PILCs) were synthesized using two different precursor materials: raw montmorillonite (CM) and sodium ion-saturated montmorillonite (Na-CM) at different Zr/clay ratios (2.5, 5 and 10 mmol/g). To study the effect of Zr concentration and clay pre-treatment with NaCl on pillaring, the modified clay samples were characterized in detail using X-ray di
Introduction: We aimed to assess cognitive function in women with preeclampsia stratified by severity, before and after onset of disease. Material and methods: Prospective study performed at a referral hospital in Cape Town, South Africa. Pregnant women between 20 and 42 weeks of gestation with eclampsia, pulmonary edema and preeclampsia without severe features, and a normotensive pregnancy were a
The atrio-ventricular (AV) node is the primary regulator of ventricular rhythm during atrial fibrillation (AF). Hence, ECG based characterization of AV node properties can be an important tool for monitoring and predicting the effect of rate control drugs. In this work we present a network model of the AV node, and an associated workflow for robust estimation of the model parameters from ECG. The
Wastewater sludge represents an important resource for reuse in agriculture. However, potentially harmful pathogens are a main threat in this context. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine the presence of helminth ova and protozoan cysts in dried sewage sludge samples collected from ten wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) located in eight governorates in Tunisia. Based on morphological criter
Clinical outcome data of patients discharged after Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are limited and no study has evaluated predictors of cardiovascular prognosis in this setting. Our aim was to assess short-term mortality and cardiovascular outcome after hospitalization for COVID-19. A prospective cohort of 296 consecutive patients discharged after COVID-19 from two Italian institutions during
Environmental exposures to a myriad of chemicals are associated with adverse health effects in humans, while good nutrition is associated with improved health. Single chemical in vivo and in vitro studies demonstrate causal links between the chemicals and outcomes, but such studies do not represent human exposure to environmental mixtures. One way of summarizing the effect of the joint action of c
Background: Neuroinflammation is implicated in the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease (PD) and related conditions, yet prior clinical biomarker data report mixed findings. Objectives: The aim was to measure a panel of neuroinflammatory acute phase response (APR) proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of participants with PD and related disorders. Methods: Eleven APR proteins were measured i
BACKGROUND: Tailored and culturally appropriate latent tuberculosis (TB) infection screening and treatment programs, including interventions against TB stigma, are needed to reduce TB incidence in low TB incidence countries. However, we lack insights in stigma related to latent TB infection (LTBI) among target groups, such as asylum seekers and refugees. We therefore studied knowledge, attitudes,
Background: Familial cancer can be defined through the occurrence of the same cancer in two or more family members. We describe a nationwide landscape of familial cancer, including its frequency and the risk that it conveys, by using the largest family database in the world with complete family structures and medically confirmed cancers. Patients/methods: We employed standardized incidence ratios
Aim: Impaired regulation of glucose metabolism in childhood adversely affects bone health. We assessed the effect of fasting hyperglycemia and insulin resistance on bone turnover markers in prepubertal children with normal glycemia (<100 mg/dL) and fasting hyperglycemia (100-125 mg/dL). Methods: Glucose, hemoglobin A1c, IGF-I (insulin-like growth factor I), iP1NP (N-terminal propeptide of type I p
Background: Allergic contact dermatitis from glucose sensors may interfere with their ongoing application. Objective: To evaluate a series of Spanish patients with contact dermatitis to glucose sensors regarding former sources of contact allergens, patch test results, and outcomes from the ongoing use of the device. Methods: A series of patients with contact dermatitis from glucose sensors was inv
Objective: To study the relationship between sociodemographic factors and pyelonephritis. Methods: A nationwide open cohort study consisting of 2,052,873 women (76.2% Swedish-born) aged 15-50 years was conducted (1997-2018). The outcome was the first event of acute uncomplicated pyelonephritis diagnosed in primary healthcare settings in relation to the sociodemographic factors. Cox regression mode
The molecular form and immunochemical properties of the J chain populations released on reduction and carboxymethylation of normal human plasma, milk, saliva and of plasma containing IgA or IgM M-components were investigated. A procedure was devised to release the entire J chain population from these various sources and to produce immunochemically identical J chain populations containing only J ch
The major inhibitor of the cysteine class of proteinases found in human body fluids, such as spinal fluid, milk, and seminal plasma, is cystatin C. In this study we show that human bronchoalveolar fluid also contains cystatin C and examine cystatin C expression by alveolar macrophages in vitro. Immunoprecipitation of extracts of metabolically labeled cells and immunoblotting of cellular extracts a
Cystatin C, a 13 kDa-protein, is produced by most nucleated cells and is catabolized by the renal tubular cells after passing the glomerular filter. It belongs to the family 2 of the cystatin superfamily of proteins. The function of cystatin C is to regulate the activity of cysteine proteinases and cystatin C seems to be the main cysteine proteinase inhibitor of most investigated human biological
