We present a comprehensive study of the nonproportionality of NaI(Tl) scintillation detectors within the context of dark matter search experiments. Our investigation, which integrates COSINE-100 data ...with supplementary
γ
spectroscopy, measures light yields across diverse energy levels from full-energy
γ
peaks produced by the decays of various isotopes. These
γ
peaks of interest were produced by decays supported by both long and short-lived isotopes. Analyzing peaks from decays supported only by short-lived isotopes presented a unique challenge due to their limited statistics and overlapping energies, which was overcome by long-term data collection and a time-dependent analysis. A key achievement is the direct measurement of the 0.87 keV light yield, resulting from the cascade following electron capture decay of
22
Na
from internal contamination. This measurement, previously accessible only indirectly, deepens our understanding of NaI(Tl) scintillator behavior in the region of interest for dark matter searches. This study holds substantial implications for background modeling and the interpretation of dark matter signals in NaI(Tl) experiments.
Immunological changes in and after a pregnancy may influence the onset of autoimmune diseases. An increased incidence of hyperthyroidism has been observed both in early pregnancy and postpartum, but ...it remains to be studied if the incidence of hypothyroidism varies in a similar way.
Population-based cohort study using Danish nationwide registers.
All women who gave birth to a singleton live-born child in Denmark from 1999 to 2008 (n = 403 958) were identified, and data on hospital diagnosis of hypothyroidism and redeemed prescriptions of thyroid hormone were extracted. The overall incidence rate (IR) of hypothyroidism during 1997-2010 and the IR in three-month intervals before, during and after the woman's first pregnancy in the study period were calculated and compared with the IR of hyperthyroidism.
Altogether 5220 women were identified with onset of hypothyroidism from 1997 to 2010 (overall IR 92.3/100 000/year) and 1572 women developed hypothyroidism in the period from 2 years before to 2 years after birth of the first child in the study period. The incidence of hypothyroidism decreased during the pregnancy (incidence rate ratio (IRR) vs overall IR in the rest of the study period: first trimester: 0.89 (95% CI: 0.66-1.19), second trimester: 0.71 (0.52-0.97), third trimester: 0.29 (0.19-0.45)) and increased after birth with the highest level at 4-6 months postpartum (IRR 3.62 (2.85-4.60)).
These are the first population-based data on the incidence of hypothyroidism in and around pregnancy. The incidence declined during pregnancy followed by a sharp increase postpartum. Notably, hypothyroidism as opposed to hyperthyroidism showed no early pregnancy increase.
N-Acetylglucosamine-1-PO4 uridyltransferase (GlmU) is a trimeric bifunctional enzyme that catalyzes the last two sequential reactions in the de novo biosynthetic pathway for UDP-GlcNAc. The X-ray ...crystal structure of Escherichia coli GlmU in complex with UDP-GlcNAc and CoA has been determined to 2.1 Å resolution and reveals a two-domain architecture that is responsible for these two reactions. The C-terminal domain is responsible for the CoA-dependent acetylation of Glc-1-PO4 to GlcNAc-1-PO4 and displays the longest left-handed parallel β-helix observed to date. The acetyltransferase active site defined by the binding site for CoA makes use of residues from all three subunits and is positioned beneath an open cavity large enough to accommodate the Glc-1-PO4 acetyl acceptor. The N-terminal domain catalyzes uridyl transfer from UTP to GlcNAc-1-PO4 to form the final products UDP-GlcNAc and pyrophosphate. This domain is composed of a central seven-stranded β-sheet surrounded by six α-helices in a Rossmann fold-like topology. A Co2+ ion binds to just one of the two independent pyrophosphorylase active sites present in the crystals studied here, each of which nonetheless binds UDP-GlcNAc. The conformational changes of the enzyme and sugar nucleotide that accompany metal binding may provide a window into the structural dynamics that accompany catalysis.
Summary
We investigated whether repeat BMD measurements in clinical populations are useful for fracture risk assessment. We report that repeat BMD measurements are a robust predictor of fracture in ...clinical populations; this is not affected by preceding BMD change or recent osteoporosis therapy.
Introduction
In clinical practice, many patients selectively undergo repeat bone mineral density (BMD) measurements. We investigated whether repeat BMD measurements in clinical populations are useful for fracture risk assessment and whether this is affected by preceding change in BMD or recent osteoporosis therapy.
Methods
We identified women and men aged ≥50 years who had a BMD measurement during 1990–2009 from a large clinical BMD database for Manitoba, Canada (
n
= 50,215). Patient subgroups aged ≥50 years at baseline with repeat BMD measures were identified. Data were linked to an administrative data repository, from which osteoporosis therapy, fracture outcomes, and covariates were extracted. Using Cox proportional hazards models, we assessed covariate-adjusted risk for major osteoporotic fracture (MOF) and hip fracture according to BMD (total hip, lumbar spine, femoral neck) at different time points.
Results
Prevalence of osteoporosis therapy increased from 18 % at baseline to 55 % by the fourth measurement. Total hip BMD was predictive of MOF at each time point. In the patient subgroup with two repeat BMD measurements (
n
= 13,481), MOF prediction with the first and second measurements was similar: adjusted-hazard ratio (HR) per SD 1.45 (95 % CI 1.34–1.56) vs. 1.64 (95 % CI 1.48–1.81), respectively. No differences were seen when the second measurement results were stratified by preceding change in BMD or osteoporosis therapy (both
p
-interactions >0.2). Similar results were seen for hip fracture prediction and when spine and femoral neck BMD were analyzed.
Conclusion
Repeat BMD measurements are a robust predictor of fracture in clinical populations; this is not affected by preceding BMD change or recent osteoporosis therapy.
Despite the theoretical conceptualization of parental psychological control as a multidimensional construct, the majority of previous studies have examined psychological control as a unidimensional ...scale. Moreover, the conceptualization of shaming and its associations with love withdrawal and guilt induction are unclear. The current study aimed to fill these gaps by evaluating the latent factor structure underlying 18 items from Olsen et al. (2002) that were conceptually relevant to love withdrawal, guilt induction, and shaming practices in a sample of 169 mothers of Chinese-American preschoolers. A multidimensional three-factor model and bi-factor model were specified based on our formulated operational definitions for the three dimensions of psychological control. Both models were found to be superior to the unidimensional model. In addition, results from the bi-factor model and an additional second-order factor model indicated that psychological control is essentially empirically isomorphic with guilt induction. Although love withdrawal and shaming factors were also fairly strong indicators of psychological control, each exhibited important additional unique variability and mutual distinctiveness. Implications for the conceptualization of love withdrawal, guilt induction, and shaming as well as directions for future studies are discussed.
Summary
No studies have explored the relationship with maternal vitamin D (25(OH)D) in pregnancy and offspring trabecular bone score (TBS). Our data suggest that maternal 25(OH)D in early pregnancy, ...but not late, may be associated with offspring TBS in boys. These data act as hypothesis-generating findings for confirmation in larger, longer-term studies.
Introduction
Trabecular bone score (TBS), a novel tool derived from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), reflects the microarchitecture of the vertebrae. It has been shown to predict fracture independent of standard DXA parameters in adult populations. Previously, we demonstrated that maternal serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) during pregnancy is associated with offspring bone mineral content at age 11 years. However, associations with TBS have not been explored, thus we aimed to determine associations between maternal 25(OH)D and offspring TBS.
Methods
Data were collected from the Vitamin D in Pregnancy (VIP) study. Venous blood samples were taken at recruitment and at 28–32 weeks’ gestation. Maternal 25(OH)D was measured by radioimmunoassay. Offspring (
n
= 195,
n
= 181 with complete measures) underwent spine DXA (GE Lunar), at age 11 years (median = 10.9 (IQR 10.9–11.4)). TBS was calculated using TBS iNsight software.
Results
Offspring of mothers with sufficient 25(OH)D levels (≥50 nmol/L) at recruitment had a higher TBS (1.363 vs. 1.340,
p
= 0.04). In multivariable linear regression models, after adjustment for child relative lean mass, sex and pubertal stage, a 10 nmol/L increase in maternal 25(OH)D was associated with a 0.005 (95% CI 0.000, 0.010,
p
= 0.04) increase in TBS. However when stratified by sex (
p
for interaction = 0.16), the association was significant in boys, but not girls. There were no associations with TBS and maternal 25(OH)D at 28–32 weeks.
Conclusions
We speculate that maternal 25(OH)D in early pregnancy may be associated with TBS in offspring at age 11 in boys. These hypothesis-generating findings warrant confirmation with larger interventional and long-term follow-up studies.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is caused by gastric acid entering the esophagus. GERD has high prevalence and is the major risk factor for Barrett's esophagus (BE) and esophageal ...adenocarcinoma (EA). We conduct a large GERD GWAS meta-analysis (80,265 cases, 305,011 controls), identifying 25 independent genome-wide significant loci for GERD. Several of the implicated genes are existing or putative drug targets. Loci discovery is greatest with a broad GERD definition (including cases defined by self-report or medication data). Further, 91% of the GERD risk-increasing alleles also increase BE and/or EA risk, greatly expanding gene discovery for these traits. Our results map genes for GERD and related traits and uncover potential new drug targets for these conditions.
PDF
