Background: We examined the associations between muscular strength, markers of overall and central adiposity, and cancer mortality
in men.
Methods: A prospective cohort study including 8,677 men ages ...20 to 82 years followed from 1980 to 2003. Participants were
enrolled in The Aerobics Centre Longitudinal Study, the Cooper Institute in Dallas, Texas. Muscular strength was quantified
by combining 1-repetition maximal measures for leg and bench presses. Adiposity was assessed by body mass index (BMI), percent
body fat, and waist circumference.
Results: Cancer death rates per 10,000 person-years adjusted for age and examination year were 17.5, 11.0, and 10.3 across
incremental thirds of muscular strength ( P = 0.001); 10.9, 13.4, and 20.1 across BMI groups of 18.5-24.9, 25.0-29.9, and ≥30 kg/m 2 , respectively ( P = 0.008); 11.6 and 17.5 for normal (<25%) and high percent body fat (≥25%), respectively ( P = 0.006); and 12.2 and 16.7 for normal (≤102 cm) and high waist circumference (>102 cm), respectively ( P = 0.06). After adjusting for additional potential confounders, hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 1.00 (reference),
0.65 (0.47-0.90), and 0.61 (0.44-0.85) across incremental thirds of muscular strength, respectively ( P = 0.003 for linear trend). Further adjustment for BMI, percent body fat, waist circumference, or cardiorespiratory fitness
had little effect on the association. The associations of BMI, percent body fat, or waist circumference with cancer mortality
did not persist after further adjusting for muscular strength (all P ≥ 0.1).
Conclusions: Higher levels of muscular strength are associated with lower cancer mortality risk in men, independent of clinically
established measures of overall and central adiposity, and other potential confounders. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev
2009;18(5):1468–76)
ABSTRACT We present a study of white-light flares from the active M5.5 dwarf Proxima Centauri using the Canadian microsatellite Microvariability and Oscillations of STars. Using 37.6 days of ...monitoring data from 2014 to 2015, we have detected 66 individual flare events, the largest number of white-light flares observed to date on Proxima Cen. Flare energies in our sample range from 1029 to 1031.5 erg. The flare rate is lower than that of other classic flare stars of a similar spectral type, such as UV Ceti, which may indicate Proxima Cen had a higher flare rate in its youth. Proxima Cen does have an unusually high flare rate given its slow rotation period, however. Extending the observed power-law occurrence distribution down to 1028 erg, we show that flares with flux amplitudes of 0.5% occur 63 times per day, while superflares with energies of 1033 erg occur ∼8 times per year. Small flares may therefore pose a great difficulty in searches for transits from the recently announced 1.27 M⊕ Proxima b, while frequent large flares could have significant impact on the planetary atmosphere.
Genetic risk factors for Alzheimer's disease imply that inflammation plays a causal role in development of the disease. Experimental studies suggest that microglia, as the brain macrophages, have ...diverse functions, with their main role in health being to survey the brain parenchyma through highly motile processes.
Using the Medical Research Council Cognitive Function and Ageing Studies resources, we have immunophenotyped microglia to investigate their role in dementia with Alzheimer's pathology. Cerebral cortex obtained at post-mortem from 299 participants was analysed by immunohistochemistry for cluster of differentiation (CD)68 (phagocytosis), human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR (antigen-presenting function), ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule (Iba1) (microglial motility), macrophage scavenger receptor (MSR)-A (plaque-related phagocytosis) and CD64 (immunoglobulin Fcγ receptor I).
The presence of dementia was associated positively with CD68 (P < 0.001), MSR-A (P = 0.010) and CD64 (P = 0.007) and negatively with Iba1 (P < 0.001). Among participants without dementia, the cognitive function according to the Mini-Mental State Examination was associated positively with Iba1 (P < 0.001) and negatively with CD68 (P = 0.033), and in participants with dementia and Alzheimer's pathology, positively with all microglial markers except Iba1. Overall, in participants without dementia, the relationship with Alzheimer's pathology was negative or not significant, and positive in participants with dementia and Alzheimer's pathology. Apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε2 allele was associated with expression of Iba1 (P = 0.001) and MSR-A (P < 0.001) and APOE ε4 with CD68, HLA-DR and CD64 (P < 0.001).
Our findings raise the possibility that in dementia with Alzheimer's pathology, microglia lose motility (Iba-1) necessary to support neurons. Conversely, other microglial proteins (CD68, MSR-A), the role of which is clearance of damaged cellular material, are positively associated with Alzheimer's pathology and impaired cognitive function. In addition, our data imply that microglia may respond differently to Aβ and tau in participants with and without dementia so that the microglial activity could potentially influence the likelihood of developing dementia, as supported by genetic studies, highlighting the complexity and diversity of microglial responses.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Polymer semiconductors (PSCs) are a desirable class of materials for next-generation electronics. However, the conformational complexity associated with macromolecules, as well as the presence of ...unique inter- and intrachain interactions, make it challenging to control the morphology of PSCs. Previously, it has been reported that beyond a certain molecular weight, thin-film charge carrier mobility typically drops due to reduced crystallinity and increased entanglement. Here, the use of an insulating secondary matrix polymer, polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene-ran-butylene)-block-polystyrene (SEBS), is shown to induce molecular ordering of PSCs across multiple length scales. Aggregation-induced molecular ordering in SEBS/PSC hybrid films is strongly correlated to the molecular weight of the semiconducting component. The higher the molecular weight of PSC used to blend with SEBS, the greater the observed improvement in polymer aggregation and orientation. This leads to a 5-fold increase of charge carrier mobility, from 0.3 to 1.5 cm2 V–1 s–1 (P-97k), in field-effect transistors (FETs) with only 30 wt % of the semiconducting polymer in SEBS. Moreover, mobility can be further elevated to 2 cm2 V–1 s–1 using an extensional flow-driven solution shearing deposition method. The findings here on using a secondary polymer matrix to dramatically improve the molecular organization and charge transport of a high-molecular-weight PSC are a useful morphological control strategy. It can also be carried out using nonhalogenated solvents, such as p-xylene, which are more environmentally benign and industrially relevant than commonly used chlorinated solvents.
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Although higher levels of physical activity are inversely associated with risk of colon cancer, few prospective studies have
evaluated overall digestive system cancer mortality in relation to ...cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). The authors examined this
association among 38,801 men ages 20 to 88 years who performed a maximal treadmill exercise test at baseline in the Aerobics
Center Longitudinal Study (Dallas, TX) during 1974 to 2003. Mortality was assessed over 29 years of follow-up (1974-2003).
Two hundred eighty-three digestive system cancer deaths occurred during a mean 17 years of observation. Age-adjusted mortality
rates per 10,000 person-years according to low, moderate, and high CRF groups were 6.8, 4.0, and 3.3 for digestive system
cancer ( P trend < 0.001). After adjustment for age, examination year, body mass index, smoking, drinking, family history of cancer, personal
history of diabetes, hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for overall digestive cancer deaths for those in the middle
and upper 40% of the distribution of CRF relative to those in the lowest 20% were 0.66 (0.49-0.88) and 0.56 (0.40-0.80), respectively.
Being fit (the upper 80% of CRF) was associated with a lower risk of mortality from colon 0.61 (0.37-1.00), colorectal 0.58
(0.37-0.92), and liver cancer 0.28 (0.11-0.72) compared with being unfit (the lowest 20% of CRF). These findings support
a protective role of CRF against total digestive tract, colorectal, and liver cancer deaths in men. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers
Prev 2009;18(4):1111–7)
Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and localized surface plasmon resonance sensing (LSPR) have been applied for a detailed analysis of lipid bilayers at the surface of gold nanorods. The ...spatial dependence of surface enhancement and the optical effects of the lipid phase transition confirm the presence of a bilayer membrane structure. Deuterated lipids exchanged rapidly between the nanorod surface and lipid vesicles in solution, suggesting a loosely bound, natural membrane structure. However, at a low solution concentration of lipid vesicles, the lipids on the gold nanorod surface convert to a nonbilayer structure, which could impact biological applications of these nanomaterials.
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Stretchable polymer semiconductors (PSCs) have seen great advancements alongside the development of soft electronics. But it remains a challenge to simultaneously achieve high charge carrier mobility ...and stretchability. Herein, we report the finding that stretchable PSC thin films (<100-nm-thick) with high stretchability tend to exhibit multi-modal energy dissipation mechanisms and have a large relative stretchability (rS) defined by the ratio of the entropic energy dissipation to the enthalpic energy dissipation under strain. They effectively recovered the original molecular ordering, as well as electrical performance, after strain was released. The highest rS value with a model polymer (P4) exhibited an average charge carrier mobility of 0.2 cm
V
s
under 100% biaxial strain, while PSCs with low rS values showed irreversible morphology changes and rapid degradation of electrical performance under strain. These results suggest rS can be used as a parameter to compare the reliability and reversibility of stretchable PSC thin films.
Compassion is a prosocial motivation that is critical to the development and survival of the human species. Cultivating compassion involves developing deep wisdom, insight, and understanding into the ...nature and causes of human suffering; and wisdom and commitment to take positive action to alleviate suffering. This perspective piece discusses how compassion relates to the context of modern technology, which has developed at a rapid pace in recent decades. While advances in digital technology build on humankind’s vast capacity to develop practical tools that promise to enrich our lives and improve our social connections, in reality the effects are often far from benign. The motives underlying the development of many contemporary digital platforms seem rooted in competitiveness and capitalism; while modern social media and online platforms are having a profound and pervasive impact on the mental health and wellbeing of humans around the globe. Nonetheless, digital technology holds considerable potential to promote compassionate insight, wisdom, and prosocial behavior. We reflect on the current state of technology within human society and examine the notion of
compassionate technologies
; discuss how contemporary paradigm shifts such as the inclusive design movement may be harnessed to build tools and platforms that promote collective good and increase prosocial behavior; and highlight examples of initiatives that are harnessing modern technology to advance democracy, collective knowledge, and personal freedoms and agency.
Using non‐chlorinated solvents for polymer device fabrication is highly desirable to avoid the negative environmental and health effects of chlorinated solvents. Here, a non‐chlorinated mixed solvent ...system, composed by a mixture of tetrahydronaphthalene and p‐xylene, is described for processing a high mobility donor‐acceptor fused thiophene‐diketopyrrolopyrrole copolymer (PTDPPTFT4) in thin film transistors. The effects of the use of a mixed solvent system on the device performance, e.g., charge transport, morphology, and molecular packing, are investigated. p‐Xylene is chosen to promote polymer aggregation in solution, while a higher boiling point solvent, tetrahydronaphthalene, is used to allow a longer evaporation time and better solubility, which further facilitates morphological tuning. By optimizing the ratio of the two solvents, the charge transport characteristics of the polymer semiconductor device are observed to significantly improve for polymer devices deposited by spin coating and solution shearing. Average charge carrier mobilities of 3.13 cm2 V−1 s−1 and a maximum value as high as 3.94 cm2 V−1 s−1 are obtained by solution shearing. The combination of non‐chlorinated mixed solvents and the solution shearing film deposition provide a practical and environmentally‐friendly approach to achieve high performance polymer transistor devices.
A non‐chlorinated mixed solvent system, composed by tetrahydronaphthalene and p‐xylene, is demonstrated for high mobility thin film transistors. By optimizing the ratio of the two solvents, charge transport characteristics are significantly improved for polymer devices deposited by spin coating and solution shearing. The non‐chlorinated mixed solvents provide a practical and environmentally‐friendly approach to achieve high performance polymer transistor devices.
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Blending conjugated polymers with insulating matrices is often utilized for engineering extrinsic properties in organic electronics. Semiconductor/insulator blends are typically processed to form a ...uniformly distributed network of conductive domains within the insulating matrix, marrying electronic and physical properties from individual components. Understanding of polymer–polymer interactions in such systems is thus crucial for property co-optimization. One of the commonly overlooked parameters is the structural configuration of the insulator on the resulting properties, especially the electronic properties. This study investigated how the tacticity of the matrix polymer, among other relevant parameters in play, impacts solid state crystallization in semiconductor/matrix blends and hence the resulting charge transport properties. We found an intricate dependence of the film morphology, aggregation behavior, electronic charge transport, and mixed ionic–electronic coupling properties on the insulator’s tacticity. Our experimentally iterative approach shows that for a given application, when selecting semiconductor/insulator combinations, the tacticity of the matrix can be leveraged to optimize performance and vary solid-state structure.
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