Search results

To meet future demands for cleaner water and comply with the revised Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD), many European wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) will need quaternary treatment to reduce emissions of organic micropollutants (OMPs). Quaternary treatment based on granular activated carbon (GAC) is a promising solution, yet long-term, full-scale operational data remain scarce. This

Objectives: This study explores the dynamics of vaccine rumors during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly those surrounding messenger RNA vaccines. By employing and developing Hallin’s communication model of credibility spheres, we analyze how controversial ideas regarding vaccine safety gained public attention and challenged established vaccine narratives. Methods: The focal point of the investig

Mobile Stroke Units (MSUs), which are specialised ambulances equipped with brain imaging devices and trained medical personnel, offer the potential for rapid on-site diagnosis and treatment, improving patient outcomes in prehospital stroke care. To fully realise their benefits, it is essential to strategically allocate. However, identifying optimal locations within a region for MSU deployment is t

The causal role of pollinators in driving the divergence of plant traits is a fundamental tenet of angiosperm evolution, providing hallmark examples of evolution in response to natural selection. However, it remains unclear how geographic variation in pollinator assemblages relates to the divergence of pollination traits in pollination-generalized plants. We characterized pollinator assemblages th

Rising populations are placing significant strain on traditional waste management, prompting the need for circular systems in urban projects to recycle valuable nutrients from wastewater. Introducing a biorefinery framework, microalgae cultivation on digestate effluents produces pigments for natural dyes, reducing nutrient release and offering eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic products. Succe

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart rhythm abnormality and is a leading cause of heart failure and stroke. This large-scale meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies increased the power to detect single-nucleotide variant associations and found more than 350 AF-associated genetic loci. We identified candidate genes related to muscle contractility, cardiac muscle development an

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a prevalent and morbid abnormality of the heart rhythm with a strong genetic component. Here, we meta-analyzed genome and exome sequencing data from 36 studies that included 52,416 AF cases and 277,762 controls. In burden tests of rare coding variation, we identified novel associations between AF and the genes MYBPC3, LMNA, PKP2, FAM189A2 and KDM5B. We further identifie

Malnutrition-Related Diabetes Mellitus (MRDM) is a subtype of diabetes associated with chronic malnutrition, primarily observed in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and impoverished populations. The disease is characterized by onset in young, lean patients with a history of chronic undernutrition, insulin deficiency, persistent insulin sensitivity, and resistance to ketosis. MRDM was recogn

Characterizing the effect of pesticides on pollinators is essential in the strive to protect biodiversity while maintaining efficient food production. Metabolomics offers detailed insight into the physiological response to pesticides. The impact of pre-dissection and dissection methodology on the metabolic response remains largely unknown, as does their possible effect on the measured metabolic re

Complement factor C3 is one of the most abundant proteins in the bloodstream and a central part of the complement system. Upon activation, C3 facilitates bacterial recognition and clearance in the extracellular environment. Initially regarded as a serum effector component, C3 is also emerging as an intracellular protein regulating basic cellular processes. Previously, we reported that intracellula

Obesity’s metabolic heterogeneity is not fully captured by body mass index (BMI). Here we show that deep multi-omics phenotyping of 1,408 individuals defines a metabolome-informed obesity metric (metBMI) that captures adipose tissue-related dysfunction across organ systems. In an external cohort (n = 466), metBMI explained 52% of BMI variance and more accurately reflected adiposity than other omic

PurposeSexual harassment in contexts of higher education is a well-documented problem with far reaching consequences for individuals and organizations. Questions remain about how sexual harassment is conceptualized and what implications these conceptualizations have for designing programmes to prevent and respond to sexual harassment in university settings. This study aimed to understand how stude

Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid derived from various medicinal plants, emerges as a potential therapeutic agent against diverse human diseases. It has particularly shown notable anticancer efficacy against breast, colorectal, lung, prostate, and liver cancer. Berberine results in inhibition of cancer cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis, and suppressing angiogenesis, positioning it as a

Background: There is still much to learn about the explanation for the often-found negative association between sibship size and different child outcomes. A plausible explanation is resource competition between siblings in larger families, as suggested by the resource dilution hypothesis. Objective: This study contributes to our understanding of these mechanisms by investigating the association be