An mTRAN-mRNA interaction mediates mitochondrial translation initiation in plants

Plant mitochondria represent the largest group of respiring organelles on the planet. Plant mitochondrial messenger RNAs (mRNAs) lack Shine-Dalgarno-like ribosome-binding sites, so it is unknown how plant mitoribosomes recognize mRNA. We show that “mitochondrial translation factors” mTRAN1 and mTRAN2 are land plant–specific proteins, required for normal mitochondrial respiration chain biogenesis. Our studies suggest that mTRANs are noncanonical pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR)–like RNA binding proteins of the mitoribosomal “small” subunit. We identified conserved Adenosine (A)/Uridine (U)-rich motifs in the 5′ regions of plant mitochondrial mRNAs. mTRAN1 binds this motif, suggesting that it is a mitoribosome homing factor to identify mRNAs. We demonstrate that mTRANs are likely required for translation of all plant mitochondrial mRNAs. Plant mitochondrial translation initiation thus appears to use a protein-mRNA interaction that is divergent from bacteria or mammalian mitochondria

Versailles project on advanced materials and standards (VAMAS) interlaboratory study on measuring the number concentration of colloidal gold nanoparticles

We describe the outcome of a large international interlaboratory study of the measurement of particle number concentration of colloidal nanoparticles, project 10 of the technical working area 34, "Nanoparticle Populations" of the Versailles Project on Advanced Materials and Standards (VAMAS). A total of 50 laboratories delivered results for the number concentration of 30 nm gold colloidal nanoparticles measured using particle tracking analysis (PTA), single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (spICP-MS), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) light spectroscopy, centrifugal liquid sedimentation (CLS) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The study provides quantitative data to evaluate the repeatability of these methods and their reproducibility in the measurement of number concentration of model nanoparticle systems following a common measurement protocol. We find that the population-averaging methods of SAXS, CLS and UV-Vis have high measurement repeatability and reproducibility, with between-labs variability of 2.6%, 11% and 1.4% respectively. However, results may be significantly biased for reasons including inaccurate material properties whose values are used to compute the number concentration. Particle-counting method results are less reproducibile than population-averaging methods, with measured between-labs variability of 68% and 46% for PTA and spICP-MS respectively. This study provides the stakeholder community with important comparative data to underpin measurement reproducibility and method validation for number concentration of nanoparticles

Versailles project on advanced materials and standards (VAMAS) interlaboratory study on measuring the number concentration of colloidal gold nanoparticles

We describe the outcome of a large international interlaboratory study of the measurement of particle number concentration of colloidal nanoparticles, project 10 of the technical working area 34, "Nanoparticle Populations" of the Versailles Project on Advanced Materials and Standards (VAMAS). A total of 50 laboratories delivered results for the number concentration of 30 nm gold colloidal nanoparticles measured using particle tracking analysis (PTA), single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (spICP-MS), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) light spectroscopy, centrifugal liquid sedimentation (CLS) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The study provides quantitative data to evaluate the repeatability of these methods and their reproducibility in the measurement of number concentration of model nanoparticle systems following a common measurement protocol. We find that the population-averaging methods of SAXS, CLS and UV-Vis have high measurement repeatability and reproducibility, with between-labs variability of 2.6%, 11% and 1.4% respectively. However, results may be significantly biased for reasons including inaccurate material properties whose values are used to compute the number concentration. Particle-counting method results are less reproducibile than population-averaging methods, with measured between-labs variability of 68% and 46% for PTA and spICP-MS respectively. This study provides the stakeholder community with important comparative data to underpin measurement reproducibility and method validation for number concentration of nanoparticles

New genetic loci link adipose and insulin biology to body fat distribution.

Body fat distribution is a heritable trait and a well-established predictor of adverse metabolic outcomes, independent of overall adiposity. To increase our understanding of the genetic basis of body fat distribution and its molecular links to cardiometabolic traits, here we conduct genome-wide association meta-analyses of traits related to waist and hip circumferences in up to 224,459 individuals. We identify 49 loci (33 new) associated with waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for body mass index (BMI), and an additional 19 loci newly associated with related waist and hip circumference measures (P < 5 × 10(-8)). In total, 20 of the 49 waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for BMI loci show significant sexual dimorphism, 19 of which display a stronger effect in women. The identified loci were enriched for genes expressed in adipose tissue and for putative regulatory elements in adipocytes. Pathway analyses implicated adipogenesis, angiogenesis, transcriptional regulation and insulin resistance as processes affecting fat distribution, providing insight into potential pathophysiological mechanisms

Versailles project on advanced materials and standards (VAMAS) interlaboratory study on measuring the number concentration of colloidal gold nanoparticles

We describe the outcome of a large international interlaboratory study of the measurement of particle number concentration of colloidal nanoparticles, project 10 of the technical working area 34, "Nanoparticle Populations" of the Versailles Project on Advanced Materials and Standards (VAMAS). A total of 50 laboratories delivered results for the number concentration of 30 nm gold colloidal nanoparticles measured using particle tracking analysis (PTA), single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (spICP-MS), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) light spectroscopy, centrifugal liquid sedimentation (CLS) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The study provides quantitative data to evaluate the repeatability of these methods and their reproducibility in the measurement of number concentration of model nanoparticle systems following a common measurement protocol. We find that the population-averaging methods of SAXS, CLS and UV-Vis have high measurement repeatability and reproducibility, with between-labs variability of 2.6%, 11% and 1.4% respectively. However, results may be significantly biased for reasons including inaccurate material properties whose values are used to compute the number concentration. Particle-counting method results are less reproducibile than population-averaging methods, with measured between-labs variability of 68% and 46% for PTA and spICP-MS respectively. This study provides the stakeholder community with important comparative data to underpin measurement reproducibility and method validation for number concentration of nanoparticles

Factors Associated with Revision Surgery after Internal Fixation of Hip Fractures

Background: Femoral neck fractures are associated with high rates of revision surgery after management with internal fixation. Using data from the Fixation using Alternative Implants for the Treatment of Hip fractures (FAITH) trial evaluating methods of internal fixation in patients with femoral neck fractures, we investigated associations between baseline and surgical factors and the need for revision surgery to promote healing, relieve pain, treat infection or improve function over 24 months postsurgery. Additionally, we investigated factors associated with (1) hardware removal and (2) implant exchange from cancellous screws (CS) or sliding hip screw (SHS) to total hip arthroplasty, hemiarthroplasty, or another internal fixation device. Methods: We identified 15 potential factors a priori that may be associated with revision surgery, 7 with hardware removal, and 14 with implant exchange. We used multivariable Cox proportional hazards analyses in our investigation. Results: Factors associated with increased risk of revision surgery included: female sex, [hazard ratio (HR) 1.79, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.25-2.50; P = 0.001], higher body mass index (fo

Transition to circular flow of wood waste from construction sites

Dagens linjära materialflöde leder till att nyttjandegraden av råvaror är låg, vilket tömmer ut världens resurser och mängden avfall ökar. Samtidigt skapar den ökande världsbefolkningen och världsekonomin ett större tryck på dagens resurser vilket inte är hållbart i längden. Genom att övergå till cirkulär ekonomi betraktas genererat avfall som en resurs, vilket ökar resursutnyttjandet i samhället. Byggbranschen är den verksamhet som genererar mest avfall i Sverige och stor del av den genererade mängden är träavfall. Idag energiutvinns i stort allt trä som kasseras och samtidigt sker ett ökat intresse för användning av materialet. Syftet med denna studie är att ta reda på hur och i vilken mängd träavfall från bygg- och rivningsarbete kan materialåtervinnas före energiutvinning.  Denna studie har kartlagt innehållet av tre containrar med träavfall från olika byggskeden; stomme, inredning och rivning. Kartläggningen utfördes med en sorteringsmetod som togs fram med hjälp av litteraturstudie och samtal med företag. De fyra möjliga sorteringsalternativ som togs fram under studien var Fingerskarvning / Återanvändning, Korslimmat trä, Lamellträ och Spånplattor.  Kartläggningen visar att fördelningen av träavfall varierar stort beroende på byggskede. Vid inredning är det mycket lastpallar, träskivor och reglar, detsamma gäller för stomme dock med en färre andel skivmaterial.   Vid maximal utdelning för stomme kan 19 % av träavfallet gå till Fingerskarvning / Återanvändning, Korslimmat trä  2 %,  Lamellträ 35 % och Spånplattor 100 %. Vid rivning fanns endast treetex och råspont vilket endast kan användas till Spånplattor. För inredning kan 12 % av träavfallet gå till Fingerskarvning / Återanvändning, Korslimmat trä 3 %, Lamellträ 10 % och Spånplattor 100 %. För stomme och inredning är resultatet baserat på en accepterad sortering för grånat och smutsigt virke för de två förstnämnda alternativen. Slutsatsen blir att allt träavfall kan användas till bättre alternativ än energiutvinning. Tills problemen med Korslimmat trä och Fingerskarvning / Återanvändning har lösts bör sortering ske utefter Lamellträ och Spånplattor.Today's linear material flows leads to a low utilization of raw materials, which depletes the world's resources and the amount of waste increases. At the same time, the growing world population and world economy are creating more pressure on today's resources which is not sustainable in the long run. By converting to a circular economy, generated waste is regarded as a resource, which increases the utilization of resources in society. When it comes to generated waste, the construction industry is the biggest sector in Sweden and wood waste is a large part of the generated amount. Almost all wood waste today is combusted for energy recovery, and at the same time, there is an increased interest in using the material. The purpose of the study is to find out how, and in what amount, wood waste from construction and demolition work can be recycled before energy recovery.  This study has made a survey of the contents of three containers with wood waste from different construction stages; frame, fixing and demolition. The survey was carried out using a sorting method that was developed by studying literature and speaking with companies. The four possible sorting options that were found during the study were Finger jointed / Reuse, Cross-laminated timber, Laminated wood and Particleboard.  The survey shows that the distribution of wood waste varies greatly depending on the stage of construction. In the fixing stage, there are a lot of pallets, wooden boards and studs. The same goes for the frame stage, however, with a smaller proportion of board material. The maximum percentages for each of the sorting options for the frame stage are        19 % to Finger jointed / Reuse, Cross-laminated timber 2 %, Laminated wood 35 % and Particleboard 100 %. During demolition, there were only treetex and tongued and grooved board that can only be used for Particleboard. For the fixing stage, 12 % of the wood waste can go to Finger jointed / Reuse, Cross-laminated timber 3 %, Laminated wood 10 % and Particleboard 100 %. For the frame and fixing stage the results are based on an accepted sorting of gray and dirty wood for the two first mentioned sorting options.  The conclusion is that all wood waste can be used for better alternatives than energy recovery. Until problems with Cross-laminated timber and Finger jointed / Reuse have been solved, sorting should be based on Laminated wood and Particleboard

Causes of higher symptomatic airway load in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis

Background Chronic rhinosinusitis display a variety of different phenotypes. The symptoms of disease are characterised by various signs and symptoms such as nasal congestion, nasal discharge, pressure sensation in the face and reduced or complete loss of smell. In a patient population undergoing functional endoscopic sinonasal surgery (FESS) for chronic rhinosinusitis, we wanted to investigate the clinical features and explore if the presence of biofilm, nasal polyps or other disease characteristic could serve as predictor for the symptomatic load. A patient group undergoing septoplasty without disease of the sinuses was included as control. Methods The Sinonasal outcome test (SNOT-20), EPOS visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Lund-Mackey CT score (LM CT score) were used to examine 23 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps (CRSsNP), 30 patient with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) and 22 patients with septal deviation. Tissue samples were collected prospectively during surgery. The cohort has previously been examined for the presence of biofilm. Results Patients with CRSsNP and CRSwNP had significantly higher degree of symptoms compared to the septoplasty group (SNOT-20 scores of 39.8, 43.6 and 29.9, respectively, p = 0.034). There were no significant differences in the total SNOT-20 or VAS symptoms scores between the CRSsNP and CRSwNP subgroups. However patients with nasal polyps showed significantly higher scores of symptoms related to sinonasal discomfort such as cough, runny nose and need to blow nose (p = 0.011, p = 0.046, p = 0.001 respectively). Patients with nasal polyps showed a significantly higher LM CT score compared to patients without polyps (12.06 versus 8.00, p = 0.001). The presence of biofilm did not impact the degree of symptoms. Conclusion The presence of nasal polyp formations in CRS patients was associated with a higher symptomatic airway load as compared to patients without polyps. These findings suggest that nasal polyps could be an indicator of more substantial sinonasal disease. The presence of biofilm did not impact the degree of symptoms, however, as biofilm seem to be a common feature of chronic rhinosinusitis (89% in this cohort), it is more likely to be involved in the development of the CRS, rather than being a surrogate marker for increased symptomatic load