Browse Articles

Water-soluble gadolinium fullerenes Gd@C82-TEGs as a potential magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent

The water-soluble gadolinium fullerenes Gd@C 82 -TEGs nanoparticles as a novel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent were fabricated by the metal fullerenes Gd@C 82 assembled with tetraethylene glycol (TEG). The loading Gd amount in Gd@C 82 -TEGs nanoparticles was 8.0 wt%. The average particle size of water-soluble Gd@C 82 -TEGs nanoparticles was 97 nm and the nanoparticles were uniformly spherical shape and had good dispersibility and no aggregation. The 97 nm spherical shape of Gd@C 82 -TEG nanoparticles ensured high relaxivity. The proton relaxivity ( r 1 ) and transverse relaxivity ( r 2 ) were high up to 37.1 mM −1 ·s −1 and 64.9 mM −1 ·s −1 , which greater than that of commercial Magnevist under the same conditions. The Gd@C 82 -TEGs nanoparticles exhibited pronounced T 1 -weighted MRI in vitro . The MRI signal-enhancing efficiency of Gd@C 82 -TEGs nanoparticles was superior to that of gadolinium diethylenetriamine pentaacetate Gd-DTPA (Magnevist). The Gd@C 82 -TEGs nanoparticles had no significant effect on cell metabolism and structure, and the survival rate of cells was more than 80%, which indicated that the as-prepared Gd@C 82 -TEGs nanoparticles were no cytotoxicity.

Applying machine learning and natural language processing to patient safety event reports: Identifying patterns of cardiovascular diagnostic errors

Objective To explore the utility of natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning (ML) techniques to identify unsafe conditions leading to cardiovascular diagnostic errors using patient safety event (PSE) reports data. Methods PSE reports from January 2016 to August 2021 from a multi-hospital healthcare system in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States were included in this study. To have the true cardiovascular diagnostic errors labels for PSE reports, each individual PSE report was manually reviewed to find clinician-reported narratives describing current definitions of cardiovascular diagnostic errors. The PSE reports which contained cardiovascular diagnostic errors-related narratives were labeled as one and zero otherwise. Four binary ML models were employed to identify cardiovascular diagnostic errors narratives and common features from annotated PSE reports data: (1) simple logistic regression, (2) elastic net, (3) XGBoost, and (4) deep neural networks. Results XGBoost outperformed the rest of the models in identifying cardiovascular diagnostic errors -related reports and achieved high performance metrics on the testing data (AUROC = 0.914, specificity = 0.982, PPV = 0.866, accuracy = 0.929, F-1 score = 0.738, and AUPRC = 0.783). Pacemaker emerged as a significant signal for cardiovascular diagnostic errors in our PSE reports. Our analysis demonstrated that ordering MRI for patients with pacemaker was a frequent theme among cardiovascular diagnostic errors-related PSE reports containing the word pacemaker. Order, EKG, cardiac, and chest were the five most important features in identifying cardiovascular diagnostic errors events. These words were utilized in explaining heart conditions, associated care process, and related safety incidents. Conclusions Findings from our study demonstrates the feasibility of ML and NLP techniques in identifying cardiovascular diagnostic errors-related reports among the existing PSE data sources. However, validation in external healthcare systems is needed before broader application.

Lightweight blockchain facilitated BIM data management for smart city operation and maintenance

Building Information Modelling (BIM) project operation and maintenance information management in smart cities currently faces challenges like data redundancy, a large number of management and maintenance personnel, and complex processes. Blockchain technology, with its decentralized and non-tamperable characteristics, offers a potential solution to these challenges. However, its direct application is not a panacea, as its complex deployment and cumbersome approval processes can introduce new challenges. Therefore, this paper proposes a lightweight blockchain-based BIM project O&M information management framework. A Design Science Research (DSR) methodology was used to construct this framework, aiming to optimize the information management process and ensure its efficient application. First, a one-to-many mapping tool was developed to allow a single blockchain node to register multiple users, thus simplifying the deployment process and enabling a lightweight blockchain. An InterPlanetary File System (IPFS)-based tool was also built for generating digital fingerprints to enhance data security and traceability. Secondly, to deal with the complex BIM collaboration process, multiple types of smart contracts were designed and developed to automate the coordination and management of various interactions and transactions in BIM projects, thereby improving the efficiency and accuracy of the entire collaboration process. Finally, this study validates the effectiveness of the proposed BIM information management approach using Hyperledger Fabric. The validation results show that the proposed approach is not only technically feasible in the field of BIM information management, but also effectively addresses key storage and efficiency challenges prevalent in smart city BIM applications in terms of performance metrics, including response latency and data processing throughput.

In foreign pastures: Livestock mobility at Hazor and the permeability of Iron Age geopolitical borders in the Southern Levant

Southern Levantine societies during the Iron Age II (10 th –8 th centuries BCE) witnessed the formation of competing territorial polities and urban revival following a period of settlement ruralization and dwindling regional exchange economies associated with the collapse of Late Bronze Age Canaanite city-states around 1200 BCE. Recent work has revealed diverse expressions of complex political organization, state-sponsored cultic activity, and inter-polity conflicts within the region during the Iron Age II, but the impact of regular military confrontations and ensuing territorial reconfiguration on agro-pastoralist economic systems that supported these polities is unknown. Here we explore inter-polity border dynamics between the Israelite and Aramean states during periods of conflict (Iron Age IIA) and concord (Iron Age IIB) by establishing landscape-use strategies involving the most mobile element of Iron Age subsistence and production systems – domesticated sheep and goats, at Tel Hazor located in the Hula Valley, a place of direct contact between Aram and ancient Israel. Multi-stable isotopic analyses of bovid livestock teeth indicate agro-pastoralist herders grazed their animals in well-watered pastures locally near Hazor and also further afield in the Golan Heights. The continuous use of spatially diverse pasturing regimes throughout the Iron Age II suggests household-based agro-pastoralist land use transcended regional political discord. Everyday movement of herders and their flocks to distant pastures was not restricted despite conflict between the military and ruling elites of the Israelite and Aramean states, suggesting that borderlands between states were permeable.

Endometriosis treatment pathways in the largest private health insurance in Brazil: A real-world data study

Introduction Endometriosis is a prevalent chronic gynecological condition affecting women of reproductive age, characterized by ectopic endometrial-like tissue growth. Despite its significant impact on quality of life, fertility, and healthcare utilization, data on real-world treatment pathways in Brazil remain scarce. Objective This study explores the clinical and demographic characteristics, diagnostic timelines, and treatment outcomes for women undergoing surgical treatment for endometriosis within Brazil’s largest healthcare database. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from over 8.8 million lives within the Hapvida NotreDame portfolio. Women undergoing their first surgical procedure for endometriosis between 2006 and 2024 were included. Data on clinical characteristics, healthcare utilization, symptoms, and costs were analyzed. Results The cohort included 5,740 women, with a median surgical age of 37 years. We found that patients with deep endometriosis took longer to undergo surgery than those with superficial endometriosis. Following surgery, there was an increase in the number of normal deliveries and cesarean sections, along with a decrease in the number of emergency gynecological consultations. The median hospital stay for surgery was 1 day and only 66 (1.1%) patients required postoperative ICU care. Additionally, 93 (1.6%) of the patients needed early reoperation, and 239 (4.1%) experienced disease recurrence and required further surgery. The surgery for patients with deep endometriosis was 40% more expensive than for those with superficial endometriosis, and the cost of diagnostic exams for the disease was equivalent to 69% of the cost of the first surgery for endometriosis. Conclusions This study provides critical insights into the real-world burden of endometriosis, emphasizing the importance of timely diagnosis and surgical intervention. The findings underline the potential for improved quality of life and healthcare utilization through optimized care pathways and resource allocation.

The impact of water management and nitrification inhibitors on methane emissions from paddy soil

Methane (CH₄) is a potent greenhouse gas, and rice paddies are a major source of agricultural CH₄ emissions. Water management and nitrification inhibitors can significantly affect CH 4 emissions, but their coupled effects on rhizospheric CH₄ emissions remain unclear. This study employed a rhizobox experiment to investigate the effects of three water management practices—continuous flooding irrigation (C), wetting irrigation (W), and alternate wetting and drying irrigation (A)—and the nitrification inhibitor DMPP (3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate) on CH₄ emissions from rice paddies. The results revealed that the rhizosphere was the primary zone for CH₄ emissions, with fluxes up to eight times greater than those from the bulk soil. In all the treatments, peak CH₄ emissions consistently occurred during the rice maturity stage. This peak is attributed to increased carbon availability from root senescence, coupled with soil redox conditions primarily dictated by the respective water management regime. Water management emerged as the primary driver of emission reduction. Compared with C, A significantly reduced cumulative CH₄ emissions by approximately 83.0% in the bulk soil and by 96.9% in the rhizosphere. The application of DMPP further enhanced this mitigation effect, particularly under W and C conditions, leading to an additional 23.06% to 35.94% reduction in bulk soil CH₄ emissions. The observed mechanisms of DMPP addition likely extend beyond its traditional role as a nitrification inhibitor. In conclusion, alternating wetting and drying irrigation with DMPP addition most effectively suppressed CH₄ emissions by synergistically regulating water–carbon–nitrogen coupling processes. This study highlights the central role of rhizospheric processes in reducing emissions, providing a deeper theoretical foundation for developing targeted low-carbon management strategies for rice paddy cultivation.

Network pharmacology and integrative bioinformatics analyses identify PDE1A as a key target of pirfenidone in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Pirfenidone, an antifibrotic agent, has been shown to be effective in the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). However, the exact mechanism of action and clinical efficacy require further investigation and validation. This study commenced by identifying pathogenic genes associated with IPF through the GeneCards database. Potential targets of pirfenidone were subsequently screened through PubChem and Swiss TargetPrediction, and overlapping targets were identified through Venn diagram analysis. Enrichment analysis of potential target genes was performed to identify the key biological processes and pathways involved in the action of pirfenidone. The main target genes were subsequently identified through the GSE10667 and GSE110147 datasets. The affinity of PDE1A to pirfenidone was predicted by molecular docking and MicroScale Thermophoresis (MST). Finally, the expression and antifibrotic effects of pirfenidone on PDE1A were validated through data from the GSE226249 dataset. PDE1A, identified by GeneCards and Swiss TargetPrediction, was found to be an important mediator of the antifibrotic effect of pirfenidone. The enrichment analysis revealed biological processes such as cyclic nucleotide-mediated signaling and cAMP-mediated signaling. KEGG pathway analysis further linked pirfenidone activity to pathways involved in calcium signaling, taste transduction, morphine dependence, renin secretion and purine metabolism. Molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and MST results revealed a strong binding affinity between pirfenidone and PDE1A. MD simulations showed the stability of the complex. It was observed that the RMSD analysis of the complex stabilized between 0.6 to 0.8 nm throughout the simulation, however RMSF showed minimal fluctuation. Data from the GSE226249 dataset confirmed that upregulation of PDE1A promotes fibrosis, whereas pirfenidone downregulates PDE1A, thereby exerting its antifibrotic effect. The inhibition of IPF progression by pirfenidone is mediated by PDE1A, providing insights into its therapeutic mechanism.

Topology-aware design of spiking neural networks via modular graph architectures

Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs) offer a biologically plausible and energy-efficient alternative to traditional artificial neural networks (ANNs), yet their design remains constrained by limited architectural flexibility and slow training dynamics. In this work, we introduce a novel SNN framework that leverages modular graph-based topologies and explicit synaptic delays to significantly enhance both training efficiency and classification performance. Our architecture, TANet-Tiny, incorporates structured graph stages with up to 32 nodes and diverse community-driven connectivity patterns derived from KMeans clustering, Louvain modularity, and Watts–Strogatz small-world models. We integrate these topologies into a topology-aware search space and explore them via a Spatio-Temporal Topology Sampling (STTS) approach, enabling the discovery of high-performing networks without exhaustive search. Experimental results on MNIST, CIFAR-10, and CIFAR-100 demonstrate that our modular designs achieve state-of-the-art accuracy while requiring 6–10 × fewer training epochs, with top-1 accuracy reaching 99.57% on MNIST and over 92% on CIFAR-10, all with reduced parameter counts. We introduce an accuracy-per-epoch metric to quantify training efficiency and show that modularity, rather than network size, is the critical driver of performance. This work lays the groundwork for scalable, interpretable, and low-latency SNN architectures suitable for deployment in neuromorphic and edge computing environments.

Prevalence and risk factors for AMS: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) is a high-altitude-specific condition with variable prevalence and poorly defined risk factors. Despite growing global exposure to high-altitude environments, no systematic review has comprehensively synthesized AMS epidemiology. Objectives To assess the prevalence of AMS and critically evaluate evidence on risk factors associated with increased susceptibility. Design A systematic review and meta-analysis following the Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) guidelines. Data sources PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CINAHL Plus, China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database (CNKI), Wanfang Database, Chinese Biomedical Database (CBM), and Weipu Database (VIP) were comprehensively searched for observational studies investigating the prevalence and risk factors of AMS from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2024. Review methods Original journal articles were included which met the inclusion criteria. The quality of the included studies was evaluated independently by two investigators. Meta-analysis was conducted using R software (v4.2.2), with estimates of AMS from pooled using a random-effects model. Results Fifty-eight studies (n = 2,705) were included. The pooled AMS prevalence was 48.25% (95% CI: 42.58–53.96%), with substantial heterogeneity (I² = 82.3%). Significant risk factors included extreme altitude (>5500 m; RR = 1.89), rapid ascent (<6 h; RR = 1.60), marked heart rate increase (>20 bpm; RR = 2.35), and oxygen saturation decline (>10%; RR = 2.02). Prior AMS history (RR = 1.36) and male sex (RR = 1.15) were also associated with higher risk, while older age (>50 years) was protective (RR = 0.78). Conclusion AMS affects nearly half of high-altitude visitors. Altitude, ascent rate, cardiopulmonary response, and prior AMS history are key risk determinants. These findings support pre-exposure risk stratification, staged ascent protocols, and real-time physiological monitoring. PROSPERO CRD42024595365.

Maternal sleep quality during pregnancy and neonatal outcomes: A study from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Background Poor sleep quality during pregnancy has been increasingly associated with adverse neonatal outcomes and heightened maternal psychological distress. However, evidence from Middle Eastern populations remains limited, particularly in Saudi Arabia where cultural and environmental factors may influence sleep during pregnancy. Aim To examine the association between maternal sleep quality during pregnancy and adverse neonatal outcomes (ANO), including preterm birth, low Apgar scores, and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission, among postpartum women in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods This cross-sectional study recruited 223 postpartum women via online platforms; 145 met inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis. Sleep quality was assessed using a culturally adapted 10-item Arabic Maternal Sleep Quality (MSQ) scale, a culturally adapted 10-item Arabic Maternal Sleep Quality (MSQ) scale that underwent expert review and demonstrated strong internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.88). Maternal psychological well-being and neonatal outcomes were self-reported. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to identify predictors of ANO, adjusting for confounders. Results Approximately 38.1% of women reported poor sleep quality, and 18.0% experienced at least one adverse neonatal outcome. Poor maternal sleep quality was associated with higher odds of ANO (adjusted OR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.18–2.59, p = 0.005). A strong positive correlation was found between poor sleep and postpartum psychological distress (r = 0.52, p < .001). Conclusions Poor maternal sleep quality is significantly associated with adverse neonatal outcomes and increased maternal psychological burden. These findings support consideration of routine sleep screening and culturally sensitive sleep-health counseling within antenatal nursing care in Saudi Arabia.

Large Scale Food Fortification (LSFF) in East, Central, and Southern Africa: Gaps, opportunities and the way forward

Background Micronutrient deficiencies affect 2 billion people globally, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, where iron, vitamin A, iodine, zinc, calcium, selenium, folate, and vitamin B12 deficiencies are common. Large Scale Food Fortification (LSFF) – addition of micronutrients to commonly consumed, industrially processed foods and condiments – can improve micronutrient intake at population level. Progress across East Central Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC) and the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) regarding fortification of wheat and maize flour, edible oils, and sugar has been uneven. This paper discusses the current status of LSFF, challenges and opportunities to inform future LSFF programming. Methods Qualitative situation analysis comprised of 19 key informant interviews (KIIs) with global, regional, and country stakeholders. KIIs were analyzed by themes and subthemes using Dedoose software. Results Findings reveal wide variation in LSFF progress across ECSA-HC and SADC countries, with better institutionalized legislation, coordination, and monitoring in ECSA-HC countries than SADC countries. Key challenges are: weak enforcement of mandatory food fortification standards, little data on market reach and coverage of fortified foods and limited country capacity for monitoring LSFF programs. Opportunities to strengthen LSFF program implementation, measured by compliance and coverage of fortified foods, center on raising awareness of public health benefits of LSFF via targeting governments and consumers, engaging private sector to improve compliance with fortification standards, and incorporating small-scale producers into LSFF. Conclusion Moving forward, investment on LSFF programming by country governments, and private sector should prioritize integrating reach and coverage indicators into existing national health surveys. Supporting public education campaigns to raise awareness of fortified foods’ health benefits, improving collaboration between government regulators and industry quality assurance personnel (i.e., small millers) through targeted fiscal policies and/or incentives as well capacity strengthening for compliance to fortification standards to attain intended nutrition outcomes for LSFF programming is sorely needed.

Trust and Innovation Within the Firm: Evidence from Matched CEO-Firm Data

Abstract This article shows that a CEO’s trust enhances innovation within a firm, providing a novel micro-foundation for the well-known trust-growth relationship. I build a new matched CEO-firm-patent data set covering 5,753 CEOs in 3,598 U.S. public firms and 700,000 patents during 2000–2011. I exploit variation in generalized trust across CEO ethnic origins, inferred from their last names using deanonymized historical censuses. Following CEO turnovers, a one standard deviation increase in a CEO’s generalized trust is associated with 6% more future patents and 4%–6% higher average patent quality, driven entirely by higher-quality patents. Text analysis of employee reviews shows that the CEO’s trust enhances a firm’s trust culture. These results are consistent with insights from qualitative interviews suggesting that the CEO's trust and the firm’s trust culture encourage researchers to undertake high-risk explorative research and development. In addition, changes in the CEO’s bilateral trust toward inventors in different countries have comparable effects on inventors’ patenting, controlling for CEO and other fixed effects.

Association between hypertension and impaired lung function among adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Impaired lung function and hypertension are both significant global public health concerns, and their potential association has recently drawn considerable interest. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to investigate the association between impaired lung function and hypertension, and vice versa. Methods We searched CINAHL (EBSCOhost), MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus and Web of Science up to 22 nd July 2025 for observational studies involving adults (≥ 18 years) reporting hypertension and impaired lung function. Grey literature was also searched, and data extraction was verified independently. The review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023427631). Random effects models estimated pooled ORs with 95% CIs. Subgroup analysis and meta-regression were performed to identify potential sources of heterogeneity. Quality assessment was conducted using Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and JBI checklist and publication bias were appraised. Results This systematic review included 28 articles, of which 26 articles were selected for the meta-analysis. Of these, 17 studies (n = 134823) examined impaired lung function as the exposure, while 9 studies (n = 12522) investigated hypertension as the exposure. Our findings revealed that the pooled unadjusted effect of lung function impairment on hypertension was 1.70 (95% CI: [1.53–1.88]), while the pooled adjusted effect was lower at 1.40 (95% CI: [1.31–1.49]). In contrast, the pooled unadjusted effect of hypertension on lung impairment was 3.00 (95% CI: [1.86–4.82]), but the pooled adjusted effect decreased to 1.94 (95% CI: [1.51–2.50]). The findings indicate that obstructive, restrictive and mixed lung function impairments are significantly associated with hypertension. Restrictive lung impairment consistently shows a stronger association with hypertension compared to obstructive impairment when impaired lung function is the exposure. Conclusion This study concludes that there is a significant positive association between impaired lung function and hypertension in both directions, with stronger temporal evidence suggesting that impaired lung function may precede hypertension, while the reverse causal direction lacks such evidence.

Complete Pass-Through in Levels

Abstract Empirical studies find that the pass-through of input cost changes to prices is incomplete: a 10% increase in costs causes downstream prices to rise less than 10%, even at long horizons. Using microdata from gas stations, food products, and manufacturing industries, I find that incomplete pass-through in percentages often disguises complete pass-through in levels: a $1/unit increase in input costs leads to $1/unit higher downstream prices. Pass-through appears incomplete in percentages due to a gap between prices and costs. Complete pass-through in levels contrasts with workhorse macroeconomic models that feature homothetic industry demand systems. I identify an alternative class of demand systems that yields pass-through in levels and highlight four implications. First, measuring pass-through in percentages can lead to spurious evidence of asymmetry and size dependence. Second, pass-through in levels leads to systematic fluctuations in relative price and markup dispersion that are not associated with changes in allocative efficiency. Third, pass-through in levels can explain dynamics of industry gross margins, operating profits, and entry in the data that are at odds with workhorse models. Finally, incorporating pass-through in levels into an input-output model of the U.S. economy better matches the volatility of consumer price inflation and the response of inflation to identified shocks.

Environmental health literacy competencies and teaching methods for students and health professionals in Primary Health Care: A scoping review

Environmental determinants play an increasingly important role in shaping population health, highlighting Environmental Health Literacy (EHL) as a critical competency for Primary Health Care (PHC). Despite growing attention to environmental health education, evidence addressing EHL in PHC remains fragmented and inconsistently conceptualized. This scoping review aimed to systematically map existing evidence on environmental health literacy among health professions students and practicing professionals in PHC settings, with a focus on identifying core competency domains and educational interventions relevant to PHC practice. A scoping review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Searches were performed across seven electronic databases, complemented by additional searches in Google Scholar and grey literature sources. Empirical and theoretical studies examining EHL or closely related environmental health constructs in PHC or PHC-relevant contexts were included. Twenty-nine studies met the inclusion criteria, comprising 24 empirical studies and five theoretical contributions. This review represents the first synthesis explicitly framed within the EHL context for PHC. Across studies, five core EHL domains consistently emerged: environmental health knowledge, clinical skills, risk communication, equity-oriented attitudes, and systems-based advocacy. Building on this synthesis, the review proposes a consolidated set of global competencies for EHL in PHC and systematically maps educational and practice-based interventions aimed at developing these competencies, particularly multimodal and technology-enhanced approaches. While several interventions demonstrated improvements in knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy, evidence of sustained integration into routine PHC practice remained limited. Overall, the findings demonstrate that EHL is a multidimensional and foundational competency for PHC but is most often addressed implicitly rather than explicitly. Bridging the gap between education and clinical application will require sustained curricular integration, institutional support, and system-level alignment to ensure that PHC professionals are equipped to address environmental determinants of health in an increasingly complex global context.

Monetary Policy and Sovereign Risk in Emerging Economies (NK-Default)

Abstract This article develops a New Keynesian model with sovereign default risk. Inflation is set by forward-looking firms, monetary policy is an interest rate rule, and the fiscal government borrows externally, long-term, with an option to default. In this framework, default risk creates inflation pressures through an expectations channel, and tight monetary policy disincentivizes fiscal overborrowing. The model sheds light on temporary inflation events in emerging-market data: short-lived spikes in inflation, spreads, and domestic policy rates. As spreads rise, firms increase their prices in expectation of higher future inflation and low consumption during default. Monetary policy tightens, which reduces inflation and helps bring spreads down by disciplining government borrowing. These monetary-fiscal interactions imply that delivering the flexible-prices allocation may not be optimal for monetary policy.

Adsorption of methylene blue onto clay: experiments and statistical physics interpretation

Association of visceral fat and plasmacytoid dendritic cell-derived interferon alpha with SARS-CoV-2 infection

Type I interferon (IFN-I: IFNα/β) production by plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) is critical for controlling viral infections. Visceral fat obesity is associated with severe outcomes in viral infections, but its effect on pDC-mediated IFN-I production in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection remains unclear. This cross-sectional study evaluated cytokine production by blood pDCs in response to TLR7/8 stimulation and analyzed its association with visceral fat area (VFA). IFN-I production was exclusively observed in pDCs following TLR7/8 stimulation. The proportion of IFNα-positive pDCs (pDC-IFNα) was significantly lower in individuals with high VFA (above the median) and negatively correlated with VFA (r = −0.27, P < 0.001). Logistic regression revealed that high VFA or low pDC-IFNα levels (below the median) were independently associated with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Moreover, individuals with both high VFA and low pDC-IFNα levels had significantly higher odds of infection compared to those with low VFA and high pDC-IFNα levels. These findings suggest a potential relationship between VFA and impaired pDC function, which may influence susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Managing VFA and enhancing pDC responses might represent strategies to reduce infection risk in individuals with visceral fat obesity.

The Macroeconomic Impact of Climate Change: Global Versus Local Temperature

Abstract This article estimates that the macroeconomic damages from climate change are an order of magnitude larger than previously thought. Exploiting natural global temperature variability, we find that 1ºC warming reduces world GDP by over 20% in the long run. Global temperature correlates strongly with extreme climatic events, unlike country-level temperature used in previous work, explaining our larger estimate. We use this evidence to estimate damage functions in a neoclassical growth model. Business-as-usual warming implies a present welfare loss of more than 30%, and a social cost of carbon in excess of $1,200 per ton. These impacts suggest that unilateral decarbonization policy is cost-effective for large countries such as the United States.

CFD-based investigation of the aerodynamic characteristics of an aircraft emergency vertical tail