The Identity and Chemistry of C7H7 Radicals Observed during Soot Formation.

We used aerosol mass spectrometry coupled with tunable synchrotron photoionization to measure radical and closed-shell species associated with particle formation in premixed flames and during pyrolysis of butane, ethylene, and methane. We analyzed photoionization (PI) spectra for the C7H7 radical to identify the isomers present during particle formation. For the combustion and pyrolysis of all three fuels, the PI spectra can be fit reasonably well with contributions from four radical isomers: benzyl, tropyl, vinylcyclopentadienyl, and o-tolyl. Although there are significant experimental uncertainties in the isomeric speciation of C7H7, the results clearly demonstrate that the isomeric composition of C7H7 strongly depends on the combustion or pyrolysis conditions and the fuel or precursors. Fits to the PI spectra using reference curves for these isomers suggest that all of these isomers may contribute to m/z 91 in butane and methane flames, but only benzyl and vinylcyclopentadienyl contribute to the C7H7 isomer signal in the ethylene flame. Only tropyl and benzyl appear to play a role during pyrolytic particle formation from ethylene, and only tropyl, vinylcyclopentadienyl, and o-tolyl appear to participate during particle formation from butane pyrolysis. There also seems to be a contribution from an isomer with an ionization energy below 7.5 eV for the flames but not for the pyrolysis conditions. Kinetic models with updated and new reactions and rate coefficients for the C7H7 reaction network predict benzyl, tropyl, vinylcyclopentadienyl, and o-tolyl to be the primary C7H7 isomers and predict negligible contributions from other C7H7 isomers. These updated models provide better agreement with the measurements than the original versions of the models but, nonetheless, underpredict the relative concentrations of tropyl, vinylcyclopentadienyl, and o-tolyl in both flames and pyrolysis and overpredict benzyl in pyrolysis. Our results suggest that there are additional important formation pathways for the vinylcyclopentadienyl, tropyl, and o-tolyl radicals and/or loss pathways for the benzyl radical that are currently unaccounted for in the present models.

Distinguishing Gas-Phase and Nanoparticle Contributions to Small-Angle X-ray Scattering in Reacting Aerosol Flows.

We have developed a strategy for distinguishing between small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) from gas-phase species and newly formed nanoparticles in mixed gas- and particle-phase reacting flows. This methodology explicitly accounts for temperature-dependent scattering from gases. We measured SAXS in situ in a sooting linear laminar partially premixed co-flow ethylene/air diffusion flame. The scattering signal demonstrates a downward curvature as a function of the momentum transfer (q) at q values of 0.2-0.57 Å-1. The q-dependent curvature is consistent with the Debye equation and the independent-atom model for gas-phase scattering. This behavior can also be modeled using the Guinier approximation and could be characterized as a Guinier knee for gas-phase scattering. The Guinier functional form can be fit to the scattering signal in this q range without a priori knowledge of the gas-phase composition, enabling estimation of the gas-phase contribution to the scattering signal while accounting for changes in the gas-phase composition and temperature. We coupled the SAXS measurements with in situ temperature measurements using coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy. This approach to characterizing the gas-phase SAXS signal provides a physical basis for distinguishing among the contributions to the scattering signal from the instrument function, flame gases, and nanoparticles. The results are particularly important for the analysis of the SAXS signal in the q range associated with particles in the size range of 1-6 nm.

Risk of pre-eclampsia after gastric bypass: a matched cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether gastric bypass before pregnancy is associated with reduced risk of pre-eclampsia. DESIGN: Nationwide matched cohort study. SETTING: Swedish national health care. POPULATION: A total of 843 667 singleton pregnancies without pre-pregnancy hypertension were identified in the Swedish Medical Birth Register between 2007 and 2014, of which 2930 had a history of gastric bypass and a pre-surgery weight available from the Scandinavian Obesity Surgery Registry. Two matched control groups (pre-surgery and early-pregnancy body mass index [BMI]) were propensity score matched separately for nulliparous and parous births, to post-gastric bypass pregnancies (npre-surgery-BMI = 2634:2634/nearly-pregnancy-BMI = 2766:2766) on pre-surgery/early-pregnancy BMI, diabetes status (pre-surgery/pre-conception), maternal age, early-pregnancy smoking status, educational level, height, country of birth, delivery year and history of pre-eclampsia. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pre-eclampsia categorised into any, preterm onset (<37+0 weeks) and term onset (≥37+0 weeks). RESULTS: In post-gastric bypass pregnancies, mean pre-surgery BMI was 42.9 kg/m2 and mean BMI loss between surgery and early pregnancy was 14.0 kg/m2 (39 kg). Post-gastric bypass pregnancies had lower risk of pre-eclampsia compared with pre-surgery BMI-matched controls (1.7 versus 9.7 per 100 pregnancies; hazard ratio [HR] 0.21, 95% CI 0.15-0.28) and early-pregnancy BMI-matched controls (1.9 versus 5.0 per 100 pregnancies; HR 0.44, 95% CI 0.33-0.60). Although relative risks for pre-eclampsia for post-gastric bypass pregnancies versus pre-surgery matched controls was similar, absolute risk differences (RD) were significantly greater for nulliparous women (RD -13.6 per 100 pregnancies, 95% CI -16.1 to -11.2) versus parous women (RD -4.4 per 100 pregnancies, 95% CI -5.7 to -3.1). CONCLUSION: We found that gastric bypass was associated with lower risk of pre-eclampsia, with the largest absolute risk reduction among nulliparous women. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: In this large study including two comparison groups matched for pre-surgery or early-pregnancy BMI, gastric bypass was associated with lower risk of pre-eclampsia.

A historical account of the role of exercise in the prevention and treatment of cancer-related lymphedema.

In the absence of guidance from scientific evidence, a range of lymphedema prevention and management, guidelines were developed by relevant organizations around the world. These became publicly available, promoted and endorsed, particularly to women with breast cancer. The recommendations advised avoidance of any activity that could overload or restrict the lymphatic system and need for caution when participating in specific physical activities. However, over the past 20 years evidence has accumulated which has significantly challenged the safety of these recommendations, in particular for those with cancer. There now exists consistent and compelling evidence in support of exercise following a diagnosis of cancer. Participating in exercise during and following cancer treatment improves function and quality of life, reduces treatment-related morbidity, and may improve survival. Further, exercise, including resistance exercise at moderate or high load, is considered safe for those at risk- or with lymphedema. That is, exercise has not been shown to cause or worsen cancer-related lymphedema. This article provides a historical account of the advice given to patients in the prevention and management of lymphedema and how this advice has evolved.

Dual energy 4D-CT of parathyroid adenomas not clearly localized by sestamibi scintigraphy and ultrasonography - a retrospective study.

PURPOSE: At present, the gold standard for diagnosing PAs includes ultrasonography of the neck and sestamibi scans of the parathyroid. The objective of this study was to evaluate scans performed in 4D-DECT (4D-dual-energy mode) at three different time points, in order to analyze spectral information from PAs, lymph nodes (LNs), and thyroid gland (Thy). METHOD: Fifteen patients (mean age: 57 ± 18.9 years) with primary hyperparathyroidism, in which previous ultrasound and sestamibi scanning proved to be negative or equivocal, underwent 4D-DECT in three different phases. Hounsfield units (HU), dual-energy information (electron density [Rho], atomic number [Z], dual-energy index [DEI]), and spectral information (keV) were determined. RESULTS: For all energies, PAs exhibited significantly lower HU-values than the Thy in non-contrast images, and higher HU-values than LNs in the arterial phase (p < 0.05). All three tissues differed significantly in HU in the venous phase at 90 kV, 150 kV, and mixed 0.8 images; the Thy showed significantly higher HU-values than PAs or LNs in non-contrast images at 90 kV, 150 kV, mixed 0.8 images, and [Rho] (p < 0.05). LNs exhibited significantly lower HU-values than PAs and Thy in the arterial phase at 90 kV, 150 kV, mixed 0.8, Rho, Z, and DEI (p < 0.05). With regards to spectral information, lower energies showed greater HU differences between the three tissues. During the venous phase, there were significant differences between all three tissues up to 100 keV (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We identified significant differences in HU-values and spectral information between PAs, LNs, and Thy at different energies and contrast phases.

Impact of salivary contamination during placement of implants with simultaneous bony augmentation in iliac bone in sheep.

Our aim was to investigate the possible impact of contamination with saliva on osseointegration during placement of implants with simultaneous bone augmentation. Six hemispheric shape bone defects (8mm in diameter×4mm deep) were prepared in each iliac bone of six sheep. A dental implant (2.9mm in diameter×10mm long) was placed in the centre of each defect, and then pairs of defects were filled with one of the following bone augmentation materials: autogenous bone, autogenous bone plus bovine bone, or resorbable biphasic ceramic bone substitute. One site in each augmentation group was impregnated with saliva (contaminated group), while the other was not (non-contaminated group). Bone-to-implant contact (BIC) and bone area fraction occupancy (BAFO) within implant threads were measured after a healing period of five weeks, both in respect of the implant inserted in the augmented bone and in that inserted in the residual bone. Overall results showed that there was a significant difference between the contaminated and non-contaminated group for BIC in the augmented implant (p=0.028), while there were no significant differences in the implant in residual bone (p=0.722). For BAFO, there were no significant differences between the contaminated and non-contaminated groups among the different augmentation materials. The results showed that contamination with saliva during placement of an implant with simultaneous bone augmentation had a serious deleterious effect on osseointegration of the aspect of the implant within the augmented defect. Contamination with saliva during placement of an implant with simultaneous bone augmentation should therefore be avoided.

Maternal and infant pregnancy outcomes in women with psoriatic arthritis: a Swedish nationwide cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Studies on pregnancy outcomes in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are scarce and typically of small size. Available studies have reported conflicting results. The aim of this study was to describe maternal and infant pregnancy outcomes among women with PsA compared with women without PsA. DESIGN: Nationwide cohort study. SETTING: Nationwide Swedish registers. POPULATION: A total of 41 485 singleton pregnancies in 1997-2014, of which 541 pregnancies were identified with PsA exposure and 40 944 pregnancies were unexposed. METHODS: By linkage of national health and population register data, we obtained information on individual pregnancies and compared outcomes among pregnancies with PsA and non-PsA pregnancies. Relative risks were estimated by odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs using a generalised linear regression model with generalised estimating equations. Adjustments were made for maternal factors and calendar year of birth. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Maternal and infant pregnancy outcomes. RESULTS: Pregnancies to women with PsA had increased risks of preterm birth (adjusted OR 1.63; 95% CI 1.17-2.28), elective and emergency caesarean deliveries (adjusted OR 1.47; 95% CI 1.10-1.97 and adjusted OR 1.43; 95% CI 1.08-1.88, respectively) compared with non-PsA pregnancies. No increased risks were observed for pre-eclampsia, stillbirth or other infant outcomes apart from preterm birth. CONCLUSION: The majority of women with PsA have uneventful pregnancies with respect to adverse outcomes. In the present study, we found increased risks of preterm birth and caesarean delivery compared with non-PsA pregnancies. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Women with psoriatic arthritis have uneventful pregnancies but are at increased risk of preterm birth and caesarean delivery.

Impact of surface contamination of implants with saliva during placement in augmented bone defects in sheep calvaria.

Our aim was to try and find out whether contamination with saliva during insertion of dental implants affects osseointegration in bone that has been augmented with different grafts. Six bony defects were created in each of the calvaria of six sheep, and then augmented with three different materials (autogenous bone, bovine bone, and resorbable biphasic ceramic bone substitute) After five weeks of healing, three implants contaminated with saliva (contaminated group) and three not contaminated (uncontaminated group) were placed in the centre of the augmented areas. For histomorphometric analysis, bone implant contact, bone area fraction occupancy, bone and material area, and bony area were measured after a healing period of five weeks. There was a significant difference between the contaminated and uncontaminated groups (p=0.036) for bone implant contact only in the augmented areas, but there were no significant differences in bone area fraction occupancy, bone and material area, and bony area. We conclude that contamination with saliva during placement of dental implants can significantly compromise bone implant contact in augmented areas, but had no significant effect on the formation of bone in areas more distant from the surface of the implant. We suggest that salivary contamination should be avoided during placement of dental implants in augmented areas.

Resonance-stabilized hydrocarbon-radical chain reactions may explain soot inception and growth.

Mystery surrounds the transition from gas-phase hydrocarbon precursors to terrestrial soot and interstellar dust, which are carbonaceous particles formed under similar conditions. Although polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are known precursors to high-temperature carbonaceous-particle formation, the molecular pathways that initiate particle formation are unknown. We present experimental and theoretical evidence for rapid molecular clustering-reaction pathways involving radicals with extended conjugation. These radicals react with other hydrocarbon species to form covalently bound complexes that promote further growth and clustering by regenerating resonance-stabilized radicals through low-barrier hydrogen-abstraction and hydrogen-ejection reactions. Such radical-chain reaction pathways may lead to covalently bound clusters of PAHs and other hydrocarbons that would otherwise be too small to condense at high temperatures, thus providing the key mechanistic steps for rapid particle formation and surface growth by hydrocarbon chemisorption.

Pregnancy weight gain by gestational age and stillbirth: a population-based cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To study the association between total and early pregnancy (<22 completed weeks) weight gain and risk of stillbirth, stratified by early-pregnancy body mass index (BMI). DESIGN: Population-based cohort study. SETTING: Stockholm-Gotland Region, Sweden. POPULATION: Pregnant women with singleton births (n = 160 560). METHODS: Pregnancy weight gain was standardised into gestational age-specific z-scores. For analyses of total pregnancy weight gain, a matched design with an incidence density sampling approach was used. Findings were also contrasted with current Institute of Medicine (IOM) weight gain recommendations. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Stillbirth defined as fetal death at ≥22 completed weeks of gestation. RESULTS: For all BMI categories, there was no statistical association between total or early pregnancy weight gain and stillbirth within the range of a weight gain z-score of -2.0 SD to +2.0 SD. Among normal-weight women, the adjusted odds ratio of stillbirth for lower (-2.0 to -1.0 SD) and higher (+1.0 to +1.9 SD) total weight gain was 0.85 (95% CI; 0.48-1.49) and 1.03 (0.60-1.77), respectively, as compared with the reference category. Further, there were no associations between total or early pregnancy weight gain and stillbirth within the range of weight gain currently recommended by the IOM. For the majority of the BMI categories, the point estimates at the extremes of weight gain values (<-2.0SD and ≥2.0 SD) suggested protective effects of low weight gain and increased risks of high weight gain, but estimates were imprecise and not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: We found no associations between total or early pregnancy weight gain and stillbirth across the range of weight gain experienced by most women. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: There was no association between weight gain during pregnancy and stillbirth among most women.

Critical Assessment of Photoionization Efficiency Measurements for Characterization of Soot-Precursor Species.

We present a critical evaluation of photoionization efficiency (PIE) measurements coupled with aerosol mass spectrometry for the identification of condensed soot-precursor species extracted from a premixed atmospheric-pressure ethylene/oxygen/nitrogen flame. Definitive identification of isomers by any means is complicated by the large number of potential isomers at masses likely to comprise particles at flame temperatures. This problem is compounded using PIE measurements by the similarity in ionization energies and PIE-curve shapes among many of these isomers. Nevertheless, PIE analysis can provide important chemical information. For example, our PIE curves show that neither pyrene nor fluoranthene alone can describe the signal from C16H10 isomers and that coronene alone cannot describe the PIE signal from C24H12 species. A linear combination of the reference PIE curves for pyrene and fluoranthene yields good agreement with flame-PIE curves measured at 202 u, which is consistent with pyrene and fluoranthene being the two major C16H10 isomers in the flame samples, but does not provide definite proof. The suggested ratio between fluoranthene and pyrene depends on the sampling conditions. We calculated the values of the adiabatic-ionization energy (AIE) of 24 C16H10 isomers. Despite the small number of isomers considered, the calculations show that the differences in AIEs between several of the isomers can be smaller than the average thermal energy at room temperature. The calculations also show that PIE analysis can sometimes be used to separate hydrocarbon species into those that contain mainly aromatic rings and those that contain significant aliphatic content for species sizes investigated in this study. Our calculations suggest an inverse relationship between AIE and the number of aromatic rings. We have demonstrated that further characterization of precursors can be facilitated by measurements that test species volatility.

Photoionization Efficiencies of Five Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons.

We have measured photoionization-efficiency curves for pyrene, fluoranthene, chrysene, perylene, and coronene in the photon energy range of 7.5-10.2 eV and derived their photoionization cross-section curves in this energy range. All measurements were performed using tunable vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) radiation generated at the Advanced Light Source synchrotron at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The VUV radiation was used for photoionization, and detection was performed using a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. We measured the photoionization efficiency of 2,5-dimethylfuran simultaneously with those of pyrene, fluoranthene, chrysene, perylene, and coronene to obtain references of the photon flux during each measurement from the known photoionization cross-section curve of 2,5-dimethylfuran.

Hemostatic effects of the ticagrelor antidote MEDI2452 in pigs treated with ticagrelor on a background of aspirin.

Essentials MEDI2452 is a specific antidote of the platelet P2Y12 receptor antagonist ticagrelor. Hemostatic effects of MEDI2452 were evaluated in pigs treated with ticagrelor and aspirin. MEDI2452 eliminated free ticagrelor within 5 min and gradually normalized platelet aggregation. Improvements in blood pressure (significant) and in blood-loss and survival (non-significant) were observed. SUMMARY: Background Ticagrelor, a P2Y12 antagonist, is approved for the prevention of thromboembolic events. However, antiplatelet therapies carry a risk of bleeding. Objective To explore the hemostatic effects of MEDI2452, an antidote for ticagrelor. Methods Pigs, pre-treated with aspirin, were given an intravenous infusion of ticagrelor or vehicle. At the end of the infusion, a piece of a liver lobe was cut off and a bolus of MEDI2452 or vehicle was administered intravenously. Blood was collected to monitor blood loss, mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) was recorded and survival time was observed over 4 h. Blood samples for drug plasma exposures and platelet aggregation were collected. Results MEDI2452 eliminated the free concentrations of ticagrelor and its active metabolite AR-C124910XX within 5 min. ADP-induced platelet aggregation was close to normal at 60 min, which was not significantly different from aspirin alone. MEDI2452 numerically reduced ticagrelor-mediated effects: body-weight-adjusted blood loss in the 15- to 90-min interval, 12 (confidence interval [CI] 95% 7-28] vs. 17 (CI 95% 5-31) (ticagrelor and aspirin) vs. 5 (CI 95% 3-9) mL kg-1 (aspirin alone), survival 70% (CI 95% 47-100) vs. 45% (CI 95% 21-92) (ticagrelor and aspirin) vs. 100% (CI 95% 100-100) (aspirin alone), and median survival time, 240 (CI 95% 180-240) vs. 169 (CI 95% 64-240) (ticagrelor and aspirin) vs. 240 (CI 95% 240-240) min (aspirin alone). Finally, MEDI2452 significantly attenuated the decline in MAP, 0.08 (CI 95% 0.07-0.09) vs. 0.141 (CI 95% 0.135-0.148) (ticagrelor and aspirin) vs. 0.04 (CI 95% 0.03-0.05) mmHg per min (aspirin alone) and maintained MAP at a significantly higher level, 73 (CI 95% 51-95) vs. 48 (CI 95% 25-70) (ticagrelor and aspirin) vs. 115 (CI 95% 94-136) mmHg (aspirin alone). Conclusion MEDI2452 eliminated free ticagrelor and AR-C124910XX within 5 min. This translated into a gradual normalization of ADP-induced platelet aggregation and significant improvement in blood pressure and numerical but non-significant improvements in blood-loss and survival.

Genetic trends for fertility, udder health and protein yield in Swedish red cattle estimated with different models.

The aim of this study was to estimate and compare genetic trends in Swedish Red cattle using a full multiple-trait (MT) model and trait-group-wise models for female fertility, udder health and protein yield. Field data for maiden heifers from 1989 and cows with a first and second lactation between 1990 and 2007 were included. (Co)variance components were estimated prior to prediction of breeding values. The estimated genetic trends were clearly favourable for protein yield and udder conformation, and in most cases neutral to favourable for clinical mastitis and calving to first insemination. In maiden heifers, the trends were neutral for number of inseminations per service period. Unfavourable genetic trends were estimated for number of inseminations in the first two lactations, but the trends seemed less unfavourable from evaluations within trait groups compared with when using the full MT model. Excluding maiden heifer data affected genetic trends less than using trait-group-wise analyses instead of a full MT model. Unfavourable genetic trends in functional traits may be missed unless the traits are evaluated in a MT model including traits under strong selection.

Altered miR-155 Expression in Allergic Asthmatic Airways.

We and others have previously identified microRNAs (miRNAs) with pathological roles in animal models of asthma, where miR-146a and miR-155 have been described to play important roles in inflammatory responses. To date, few studies have investigated miRNA expression in human asthmatics. In the current study, significantly lower levels of miR-155 were detected in cell-free sputum from allergic asthmatics compared to healthy controls. Induced sputum isolated from allergic asthmatics in and out of pollen season revealed that miR-155 expression, but not miR-146a, is reduced in lymphocytes in season compared to post-season. In contrast, miR-155 was found to increase, whereas miR-146a decreased in PBMCs and cell-free PBMC culture media upon T cell receptor stimulation via αCD3/CD28 in both allergic asthmatics and healthy controls. Our findings suggest that miR-155 is differentially expressed ex vivo in airways of allergic asthmatics compared to healthy controls, which may have implications in the local immune response in allergic asthma.

A small porous-plug burner for studies of combustion chemistry and soot formation.

We have developed and built a small porous-plug burner based on the original McKenna burner design. The new burner generates a laminar premixed flat flame for use in studies of combustion chemistry and soot formation. The size is particularly relevant for space-constrained, synchrotron-based X-ray diagnostics. In this paper, we present details of the design, construction, operation, and supporting infrastructure for this burner, including engineering attributes that enable its small size. We also present data for charactering the flames produced by this burner. These data include temperature profiles for three premixed sooting ethylene/air flames (equivalence ratios of 1.5, 1.8, and 2.1); temperatures were recorded using direct one-dimensional coherent Raman imaging. We include calculated temperature profiles, and, for one of these ethylene/air flames, we show the carbon and hydrogen content of heavy hydrocarbon species measured using an aerosol mass spectrometer coupled with vacuum ultraviolet photoionization (VUV-AMS) and soot-volume-fraction measurements obtained using laser-induced incandescence. In addition, we provide calculated mole-fraction profiles of selected gas-phase species and characteristic profiles for seven mass peaks from AMS measurements. Using these experimental and calculated results, we discuss the differences between standard McKenna burners and the new miniature porous-plug burner introduced here.

Design and characterization of a linear Hencken-type burner.

We have designed and constructed a Hencken-type burner that produces a 38-mm-long linear laminar partially premixed co-flow diffusion flame. This burner was designed to produce a linear flame for studies of soot chemistry, combining the benefit of the conventional Hencken burner's laminar flames with the advantage of the slot burner's geometry for optical measurements requiring a long interaction distance. It is suitable for measurements using optical imaging diagnostics, line-of-sight optical techniques, or off-axis optical-scattering methods requiring either a long or short path length through the flame. This paper presents details of the design and operation of this new burner. We also provide characterization information for flames produced by this burner, including relative flow-field velocities obtained using hot-wire anemometry, temperatures along the centerline extracted using direct one-dimensional coherent Raman imaging, soot volume fractions along the centerline obtained using laser-induced incandescence and laser extinction, and transmission electron microscopy images of soot thermophoretically sampled from the flame.

Formation and emission of large furans and oxygenated hydrocarbons from flames.

Many oxygenated hydrocarbon species formed during combustion, such as furans, are highly toxic and detrimental to human health and the environment. These species may also increase the hygroscopicity of soot and strongly influence the effects of soot on regional and global climate. However, large furans and associated oxygenated species have not previously been observed in flames, and their formation mechanism and interplay with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are poorly understood. We report on a synergistic computational and experimental effort that elucidates the formation of oxygen-embedded compounds, such as furans and other oxygenated hydrocarbons, during the combustion of hydrocarbon fuels. We used ab initio and probabilistic computational techniques to identify low-barrier reaction mechanisms for the formation of large furans and other oxygenated hydrocarbons. We used vacuum-UV photoionization aerosol mass spectrometry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to confirm these predictions. We show that furans are produced in the high-temperature regions of hydrocarbon flames, where they remarkably survive and become the main functional group of oxygenates that incorporate into incipient soot. In controlled flame studies, we discovered ∼100 oxygenated species previously unaccounted for. We found that large alcohols and enols act as precursors to furans, leading to incorporation of oxygen into the carbon skeletons of PAHs. Our results depart dramatically from the crude chemistry of carbon- and oxygen-containing molecules previously considered in hydrocarbon formation and oxidation models and spearhead the emerging understanding of the oxidation chemistry that is critical, for example, to control emissions of toxic and carcinogenic combustion by-products, which also greatly affect global warming.

Weight Gain Alters Adiponectin Receptor 1 Expression on Adipose Tissue-Resident Helios+ Regulatory T Cells.

Adipose tissue produces multiple mediators that modulate the immune response. Adiponectin is an adipocyte-derived cytokine that exhibits metabolic and anti-inflammatory effects. Adiponectin acts through binding to adiponectin receptor 1 and 2 (AdipoR1/AdipoR2). AdipoR1 is ubiquitously expressed, whereas AdipoR2 is restricted to skeletal muscle and liver. AdipoR1 expression has been reported on a small percentage of T cells; nevertheless, it is still unknown whether Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) express AdipoR1. Recently, it has been shown that Tregs accumulate in adipose tissue and that they play a potential role in modulating adipose tissue inflammation. Our aim was to evaluate AdipoR1 expression in adipose tissue-resident Tregs and to evaluate the effect of weight gain on this expression. Male C57BL/6 mice were fed with a high-fat diet for 14 weeks (to develop overweight) or 21 weeks (to develop obesity). Mice on a standard diet were used as age-matched controls. Helios expression was evaluated as a marker to discriminate thymic-derived from peripherally induced Tregs. The majority of Tregs in both adipose tissue and the spleen expressed Helios. Adipose tissue Tregs expressed higher levels of AdipoR1 than Tregs in the spleen. AdipoR1 expression on adipose tissue Helios(+) Tregs was negatively correlated with epididymal fat. Overall, we show that AdipoR1 is expressed on adipose tissue-resident Tregs, mainly Helios(+) Tregs, and that this expression is dependent on weight and fat accumulation. Because both adiponectin and Tregs play roles in anti-inflammatory mechanisms, our data propose a new mechanism through which weight gain might alter immunoregulation.

Housing for ageing LGBTQ people in Sweden: a descriptive study of needs, preferences, and concerns.

BACKGROUND/AIM: With an increasing number of ageing people who identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ), there is a risk that traditional housing for older people fails to meet the needs of these people. The aim of this study was to describe LGBTQ people's needs, preferences, and concerns according to ageing and housing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Based on a survey (n = 487), and six focus-group discussions (n = 30), with LGBTQ persons, quantitative and qualitative approaches were used to analyse the findings. RESULTS: When comparing the ranking of preferences (in terms of activity options, environmental features, and staff competence) in a senior housing setting between the LGBTQ people (n = 200) and heterosexual matched controls (n = 198), only minor differences were detected. The findings from the focus groups included: (1) a dilemma between segregation and openness, (2) the importance of safety associated with ageing together with persons with similar experiences, and (3) networks of persons at different ages connected through close friendship supported participation in activities in LGBTQ-profiled senior housing. CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE: The findings provide knowledge to improve awareness of sexual orientation when it comes to needs and preferences in relation to ageing and housing in a Swedish context.