Objective
To investigate the association of maternal circulating 25‐hydroxyvitamin D3 25(OH)D3 concentration with pregnancy and birth outcomes.
Design
Prospective cohort study.
Setting
Four ...geographical areas of Spain, 2003–2008.
Population
Of 2382 mother–child pairs participating in the INfancia y Medio Ambiente (INMA) Project.
Methods
Maternal circulating 25(OH)D3 concentration was measured in pregnancy (mean SD 13.5 2.2 weeks of gestation). We tested associations of maternal 25(OH)D3 concentration with pregnancy and birth outcomes.
Main outcome measures
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), preterm delivery, caesarean section, fetal growth restriction (FGR) and small‐for‐gestational age (SGA), anthropometric birth outcomes including weight, length and head circumference (HC).
Results
Overall, 31.8% and 19.7% of women had vitamin D insufficiency 25(OH)D3 20–29.99 ng/ml and deficiency 25(OH)D3 < 20 ng/ml, respectively. After adjustment, there was no association between maternal 25(OH)D3 concentration and risk of GDM or preterm delivery. Women with sufficient vitamin D 25(OH)D3 ≥ 30 ng/ml had a decreased risk of caesarean section by obstructed labour compared with women with vitamin D deficiency relative risk (RR) = 0.60, 95% CI 0.37, 0.97). Offspring of mothers with higher circulating 25(OH)D3 concentration tended to have smaller HC coefficient (SE) per doubling concentration of 25(OH)D3, −0.10 (0.05), P = 0.038. No significant associations were found for other birth outcomes.
Conclusion
This study did not find any evidence of an association between vitamin D status in pregnancy and GDM, preterm delivery, FGR, SGA and anthropometric birth outcomes. Results suggest that sufficient circulating vitamin D concentration 25(OH)D3 ≥ 30 ng/ml in pregnancy may reduce the risk of caesarean section by obstructed labour.
Electromagnetic field localization in nanoantennas is one of the leitmotivs that drives the development of plasmonics. The near-fields in these plasmonic nanoantennas are commonly addressed ...theoretically within classical frameworks that neglect atomic-scale features. This approach is often appropriate since the irregularities produced at the atomic scale are typically hidden in far-field optical spectroscopies. However, a variety of physical and chemical processes rely on the fine distribution of the local fields at this ultraconfined scale. We use time-dependent density functional theory and perform atomistic quantum mechanical calculations of the optical response of plasmonic nanoparticles, and their dimers, characterized by the presence of crystallographic planes, facets, vertices, and steps. Using sodium clusters as an example, we show that the atomistic details of the nanoparticles morphologies determine the presence of subnanometric near-field hot spots that are further enhanced by the action of the underlying nanometric plasmonic fields. This situation is analogue to a self-similar nanoantenna cascade effect, scaled down to atomic dimensions, and it provides new insights into the limits of field enhancement and confinement, with important implications in the optical resolution of field-enhanced spectroscopies and microscopies.
We demonstrate coherent control over the photoelectron circular dichroism in randomly oriented chiral molecules, based on quantum interference between multiple photoionization pathways. To ...significantly enhance the chiral signature, we use a finite manifold of indistinguishable (1+1^{'}) resonantly enhanced multiphoton ionization pathways interfering at a common photoelectron energy but probing different intermediate states. We show that this coherent control mechanism maximizes the number of molecular states that constructively contribute to the dichroism at an optimal photoelectron energy and thus outperforms other schemes, including interference between opposite-parity pathways driven by bichromatic (ω, 2ω) fields as well as sequential pump-probe ionization.
This study analyzes the known antecedents of firm performance in emerging markets. It proposes a configurational approach for identifying the combinations of antecedents that are equifinally linked ...to high performance under different levels of institutional voids. The paper examines a sample of 200 firms based in 12 economies, focusing on the role of family management, vertical integration, firm size, internationalization and collaboration with other organizations. This study extends the research agenda on strategy and performance in emerging markets through a novel methodological approach, focusing on asymmetric and equifinal causal relationships. It examines an understudied region (Latin America) and industry (Agribusiness).
This study furthers the research agenda on Porter's generic strategies by exploring their implementation by firms that suffer from under representation in the literature. It focuses on agribusinesses ...based in emerging markets that specialize in high value added products. Relying on information collected through interviews, and a survey with 66 agribusinesses based in eight countries of Latin America, it examines the factors that distinguish firms implementing a differentiation strategy (DS). The findings provide interesting insights for scholars and practitioners alike, illustrating the strategic initiatives that DS firms use to ensure they command higher than average prices.
Introduction
Musculoskeletal disorders of the masticatory system impact the quality of life and have a high cost of diagnosis and treatment. Masseter muscle hyperactivity is a cause of pain in the ...chewing apparatus. Botulinum toxin type A (BoNTA) injection is widely used to induce paralysis of the masseter muscle, thereby decreasing impaired muscle activity. However, our laboratory has described in a preclinical model that the injection of BoNTA not only induces paralysis, but also muscle atrophy, which subsequently decreases bone quality. However, it is unknown whether apoptosis or autophagy mechanisms could contribute to muscle atrophy.
Aim
To evaluate the induction of apoptosis and autophagy in BoNTA‐injected masseter muscle of adult mice.
Methodology
Unilateral injection of BoNTA (0.2U/10µl) in the masseter muscle was performed in adult BalbC mice (approved by IACUC‐Universidad de Chile, #21446‐ODO‐UCH). Apoptosis and autophagy markers were evaluated in masseter muscles by immunoblot at 2‐7d post‐injection and immunofluorescence at 7d post‐injection. Autophagy activity was blocked by i.p injection of chloroquine. The data were evaluated with t‐test, one‐way ANOVA test, Mann‐Whitney test, or Kruskal‐Wallis test, as appropriate. The results were expressed as mean ±SEM (n=4‐8; p <0.05).
Results
Unilateral injection of BoNTA did not change the relative levels of apoptosis‐related proteins like cleaved Caspase 3, PARP, and AIF. There was a significant increase in protein levels related to autophagy, such as lipidated LC3 (1.86‐fold), non‐lipidated LC3 (1.66‐fold), and P62 (1.24‐fold) at 7 d post‐injection. Also, there was a strong punctuated stain for LC3 in histological sections of masseter muscle 7d post injection, suggesting autophagic vesicles. However, the injection of chloroquine for blocking the autophagy flux did not improve the accumulation of autophagy proteins in masseter muscle evoked by BoNTA in the induction.
Conclusions
The atrophy of masseter muscle evoked by BoNTA injection is not related to autophagy‐ or apoptosis‐induction. The increase in autophagy markers after BoNTA injection, with no further increase after autophagic flux blockade, suggests that BoNTA may be blocking autophagy in the masseter muscle, perhaps favoring a proteasomal pathway of muscle atrophy.
Single photon sources can greatly benefit from specially designed structures that modify the properties of the photon emitter. Dielectric cavities are often discussed, but they require a compromise ...between the spectral width and Purcell factor. In this Letter, we introduce plasmonic cavities as promising alternatives. We first study how the emitter couples with the modes of such structures. We then show how a patch antenna configuration simultaneously presents a large Purcell factor, collection efficiency, and spectral width.
Various studies have described the biological properties of the Leucocyte- and Platelet Rich Fibrin (L-PRF) such as the antimicrobial effect against wound bacteria, but less is known about the effect ...against periodontal pathogens. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial properties of the L-PRF membrane and L-PRF exudate against the main periopathogens cultured on agar plates and in planktonic solution. This study demonstrated the antibacterial effect of the L-PRF membrane against P. intermedia, F. nucleatum, and A. actinomycetemcomitans, but especially against P. gingivalis. The L-PRF exudate also showed a strong inhibition against P. gingivalis on agar plates. No inhibition could be observed for the other bacterial strains. Moreover, L-PRF exudate decreased the number of viable P.gingivalis in a planktonic solution in a dose-dependent way. However, A. actinomycetemcomitans showed an increased growth in planktonic solution when in contact with the L-PRF exudate.
This paper uses a configurational perspective to examine high perceived value differentiation strategies of agribusiness in Latin America. Relying on information collected through interviews and a ...survey conducted with 200 firms, we explore the elements of the differentiation strategies adopted by the firms in this empirical context. We apply fsQCA to uncover asymmetric, complex causality. The findings provide interesting insights for scholars and practitioners alike, illustrating the strategic initiatives that the surveyed firms pursue to obtain higher perceived value than their competitors.
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