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AIM: Research on the effect of oral contraceptive (OC) use on the risk of depression shows inconsistent findings, especially in adult OC users. One possible reason for this inconsistency is the omission of women who discontinue OCs due to adverse mood effects, leading to healthy user bias. To address this issue, we aim to estimate the risk of depression that is associated with the initiation of OCs as well as the effect of OC use on lifetime risk of depression. METHODS: This is a population-based cohort study based on data from 264,557 women from the UK Biobank. Incidence of depression was addressed via interviews, inpatient hospital or primary care data. The hazard ratio (HR) between OC use and incident depression was estimated by multivariable Cox regression with OC use as a time-varying exposure. To validate causality, we examined familial confounding in 7,354 sibling pairs. RESULTS: We observed that the first 2 years of OC use were associated with a higher rate of depression compared to never users (HR = 1.71, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.55-1.88). Although the risk was not as pronounced beyond the first 2 years, ever OC use was still associated with an increased lifetime risk of depression (HR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01-1.09). Previous OC use were associated with a higher rate of depression compared to never users, with adolescent OC users driving the increased hazard (HR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.12-1.25). No significant association were observed among adult OC users who had previously used OCs (HR = 1.00, 95% CI: 0.95-1.04). Notably, the sibling analysis provided further evidence for a causal effect of OC use on the risk of depression. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the use of OCs, particularly during the first 2 years, increases the risk of depression. Additionally, OC use during adolescence might increase the risk of depression later in life. Our results are consistent with a causal relationship between OC use and depression, as supported by the sibling analys

This paper explores the optical properties of an exfoliated MoSe2 monolayer implanted with Cr + ions, accelerated to 25 eV. Photoluminescence of the implanted MoSe 2 reveals an emission line from Cr-related defects that is present only under weak electron doping. Unlike band-to-band transition, the Cr-introduced emission is characterized by nonzero activation energy, long lifetimes, and weak response to the magnetic field. To rationalize the experimental results and get insights into the atomic structure of the defects, we modeled the Cr-ion irradiation process using ab initio molecular dynamics simulations followed by the electronic structure calculations of the system with defects. The experimental and theoretical results suggest that the recombination of electrons on the acceptors, which could be introduced by the Cr implantation-induced defects, with the valence band holes is the most likely origin of the low-energy emission. Our results demonstrate the potential of low-energy ion implantation as a tool to tailor the properties of two-dimensional (2D) materials by doping.

As greenhouse gas emissions hit new highs, temperature records tumble and climate impacts intensify, the Emissions Gap Report 2023: Broken Record – Temperatures hit new highs, yet world fails to cut emissions (again) finds that the world is heading for a temperature rise far above the Paris Agreement goals unless countries deliver more than they have promised. The report is the 14th edition in a series that brings together many of the world’s top climate scientists to look at future trends in greenhouse gas emissions and provide potential solutions to the challenge of global warming.

Aim Research on the effect of oral contraceptive (OC) use on the risk of depression shows inconsistent findings, especially in adult OC users. One possible reason for this inconsistency is the omission of women who discontinue OCs due to adverse mood effects, leading to healthy user bias. To address this issue, we aim to estimate the risk of depression that is associated with the initiation of OCs as well as the effect of OC use on lifetime risk of depression. Methods This is a population-based cohort study based on data from 264,557 women from the UK Biobank. Incidence of depression was addressed via interviews, inpatient hospital or primary care data. The hazard ratio (HR) between OC use and incident depression was estimated by multivariable Cox regression with OC use as a time-varying exposure. To validate causality, we examined familial confounding in 7,354 sibling pairs. Results We observed that the first 2 years of OC use were associated with a higher rate of depression compared to never users (HR = 1.71, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.55–1.88). Although the risk was not as pronounced beyond the first 2 years, ever OC use was still associated with an increased lifetime risk of depression (HR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01–1.09). Previous OC use were associated with a higher rate of depression compared to never users, with adolescent OC users driving the increased hazard (HR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.12–1.25). No significant association were observed among adult OC users who had previously used OCs (HR = 1.00, 95% CI: 0.95–1.04). Notably, the sibling analysis provided further evidence for a causal effect of OC use on the risk of depression. Conclusions Our findings suggest that the use of OCs, particularly during the first 2 years, increases the risk of depression. Additionally, OC use during adolescence might increase the risk of depression later in life. Our results are consistent with a causal relationship between OC use and depress, AIM: Research on the effect of oral contraceptive (OC) use on the risk of depression shows inconsistent findings, especially in adult OC users. One possible reason for this inconsistency is the omission of women who discontinue OCs due to adverse mood effects, leading to healthy user bias. To address this issue, we aim to estimate the risk of depression that is associated with the initiation of OCs as well as the effect of OC use on lifetime risk of depression.METHODS: This is a population-based cohort study based on data from 264,557 women from the UK Biobank. Incidence of depression was addressed via interviews, inpatient hospital or primary care data. The hazard ratio (HR) between OC use and incident depression was estimated by multivariable Cox regression with OC use as a time-varying exposure. To validate causality, we examined familial confounding in 7,354 sibling pairs.RESULTS: We observed that the first 2 years of OC use were associated with a higher rate of depression compared to never users (HR = 1.71, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.55-1.88). Although the risk was not as pronounced beyond the first 2 years, ever OC use was still associated with an increased lifetime risk of depression (HR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01-1.09). Previous OC use were associated with a higher rate of depression compared to never users, with adolescent OC users driving the increased hazard (HR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.12-1.25). No significant association were observed among adult OC users who had previously used OCs (HR = 1.00, 95% CI: 0.95-1.04). Notably, the sibling analysis provided further evidence for a causal effect of OC use on the risk of depression.CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the use of OCs, particularly during the first 2 years, increases the risk of depression. Additionally, OC use during adolescence might increase the risk of depression later in life. Our results are consistent with a causal relationship between OC use and depression, as supported

BACKGROUND: Commonly applied diagnostic criteria for growing pains (GP) have evolved without determination by an authoritative representative body. GP and restless legs syndrome (RLS) share anatomical, distributional, temporal, and other clinical features and are associated in individuals over time, in families, and in population samples. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that GP, diagnosed by widely used criteria, is confounded by cases of painful restless legs syndrome (RLS-Painful). METHODS: A twin family study of genetic influence and associations of GP using questionnaires was administered by Twins Research Australia. Twins (3-18 years; monozygous 503, dizygous 513), their oldest siblings, mothers, and fathers were randomly selected from the twin registry. Family members completed the questionnaires assessing lifetime prevalence of GP by commonly applied criteria and covariates including the history of iron deficiency and pediatric pain disorders. A GP-Specific phenotype was defined as GP without urge to move the legs. We determined similarities in twin pairs for the GP and GP-Specific phenotypes, family associations, and estimated familial and individual-specific associations for each phenotype. RESULTS: Lifetime prevalence was one-third lower for GP-Specific than for GP among the twin and family members. Monozygous twin pairs were more similar than dizygous twin pairs for GP and for the derived GP-Specific phenotype by three methods, consistent with genetic influence. There were familial associations, but the essential evidence for genetic influence was the twin-cotwin data. GP was associated, in multivariable analyses, with migraine, headaches, recurrent abdominal pain, and iron deficiency, while GP-Specific associations were limited to migraine and headaches. CONCLUSIONS: GP is hybrid, one-third of cases having symptoms and associations of RLS, necessarily RLS-Painful. GP-Specific (without symptoms and associations of RLS) could have a genetic etiolog

IMPORTANCE: Newborn screening for Angelman syndrome (AS), Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), and chromosome 15 duplication syndrome (Dup15q) may lead to benefit from early diagnosis and treatment. OBJECTIVE: To examine the feasibility of newborn screening for these chromosome 15 imprinting disorders at population scale. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: In this diagnostic study, the validation data set for the first-tier SNRPN test, called methylation-specific quantitative melt analysis (MS-QMA), included 109 PWS, 48 AS, 9 Dup15q, and 1190 population control newborn blood spots (NBS) and peripheral tissue samples from participants recruited from January 2000 to December 2016. The test data set included NBS samples from 16 579 infants born in 2011. Infants with an NBS identified as positive for PWS, AS, or Dup15q by the first-tier test were referred for droplet digital polymerase chain reaction, real-time polymerase chain reaction, and low-coverage whole-genome sequencing for confirmatory testing. Data analyses were conducted between February 12, 2015, and August 15, 2020. RESULTS: In the validation data set, the median age for the 77 patients with PWS was 3.00 years (IQR, 0.01-44.50 years); for the 46 patients with AS, 2.76 years (IQR, 0.028 to 49.00 years); and for the 9 patients with Dup15q, 4.00 years (IQR, 1.00 to 28.00 years). Thirty-eight patients (51.4%) in the PWS group, 20 patients (45.5%) in the AS group, and 6 patients (66.7%) in the Dup15q group who had sex reported were male. The validation data set showed MS-QMA sensitivity of 99.0% for PWS, 93.8% for AS, and 77.8% for Dup15q; specificity of 100% for PWS, AS, and Dup15q; positive predictive and negative predictive values of 100% for PWS and AS; and a positive predictive value of 87.5% and negative predictive value of 100% for Dup15q. In the test data set of NBS samples from 16 579 infants, 92 had a positive test result using a methylation ratio cut-off of 3 standard deviations from the mean. Of these patien

In this work, we study ultra-low energy implantation into MoS2 monolayers to evaluate the potential of the technique in two-dimensional materials technology. We use 80Se+ ions at the energy of 20 eV and with fluences up to 5.0·1014 cm−2. Raman spectra of the implanted films show that the implanted ions are predominantly incorporated at the sulfur sites and MoS2−2xSe2x alloys are formed, indicating high ion retention rates, in agreement with the predictions of molecular dynamics simulations of Se ion irradiation on MoS2 monolayers. We found that the ion retention rate is improved when implantation is performed at an elevated temperature of the target monolayers. Photoluminescence spectra reveal the presence of defects, which are mostly removed by post-implantation annealing at 200 °C, suggesting that, in addition to the Se atoms in the substitutional positions, weakly bound Se adatoms are the most common defects introduced by implantation at this ion energy.

AIMS: The extent to which maternal transmission of primary dysmenorrhoea is genetically determined in adolescents and young women has yet to be determined. We aimed to assess heritability and associations relevant to primary pain syndromes using a twin family study. METHODS: Participants were young menstruating female twins, and their oldest sisters and mothers, whose families were registered with Twins Research Australia and previously participated in a twin family study of primary paediatric pain disorders. Questionnaire packs were mailed, assessing current maximum and average menstrual pain intensity, current pain interference with activities and retrospective dysmenorrhea secondary symptoms. RESULTS: The sample comprised 206 twin individuals (57 monozygous (MZ) and 46 dizygous (DZ) pairs) aged 10-22 years, eldest siblings (n = 38) aged 13-28 years and mothers (n = 101) aged 32-61 years. The estimated regression coefficient of the relationship between mother-daughter and twin-sibling dyads indicated significant associations for the measures of dysmenorrhea and supported heritability. Adjusted for age, the within twin-pair correlation for MZ twins was generally more than twice that of DZ twins. Heritability estimates were maximal pain intensity 0.67 (P = 3.8 × 10-11 ), average pain intensity 0.63 (P = 3.7 × 10-10 ), pain interference 0.57 (P = 1.8 × 10-8 ) and retrospective symptoms 0.57 (P = 1.8 × 10-8 ). Twin individuals with a lifetime (three-month) history of iron deficiency and those with painless restless legs syndrome (RLS) were significantly more likely to have more intense pain associated with menstruation. CONCLUSION: Primary dysmenorrhea in adolescents and young women was shown to be relatively strongly genetically influenced and associated especially with a history of iron deficiency and painless RLS which have potential therapeutic implications.

In this work, we study ultra-low energy implantation into MoS₂ monolayers to evaluate the potential of the technique in two-dimensional materials technology. We use 80 Se⁺ ions at the energy of 20 eV and with fluences up to 5.0 · 10¹⁴ cm⁻². Raman spectra of the implanted films show that the implanted ions are predominantly incorporated at the sulfur sites and MoS₂₋₂ₓ Se₂ₓ alloys are formed, indicating high ion retention rates, in agreement with the predictions of molecular dynamics simulations of Se ion irradiation on MoS₂ monolayers. We found that the ion retention rate is improved when implantation is performed at an elevated temperature of the target monolayers. Photoluminescence spectra reveal the presence of defects, which are mostly removed by post-implantation annealing at 200 ˚C, suggesting that, in addition to the Se atoms in the substitutional positions, weakly bound Se adatoms are the most common defects introduced by implantation at this ion energy.

Co-culture using microalgae-activated sludge in Sequencing Batch Photobioreactors (PBRs) was investigated for wastewater treatment performance. This study evaluated the effect of natural and artificial lighting conditons on treatment performance under consideration of energy consumption. The results found that the removal of nutrients and COD of natural lighting condition was only 10% and 13% lower than those of artificial lighting respectively. Generally, artificial lighting mode took an advantage in pollutants removal. However, standing at 0.294 kWh L-1, the total energy consumption of natural lighting was over two times less than that of artificial lighting. It reveals the natural lighting system played a dominant role for cutting energy costs significantly compared to artificial lighting one (∼57%). As a practical viewpoint on energy aspect and treatment performance, a natural lighting PBR system would be a sustainable option for microalgae-activated sludge co-culture system treating wastewater.