Publications

Objective Many confirmed genetic loci for obesity are expressed in regions of the brain that regulate energy intake and reward‐seeking behavior. Whether these loci contribute to the development of specific eating behaviors has not been investigated. The relationship between a genetic susceptibility to obesity and cognitive restraint, uncontrolled and emotional eating was examined. Methods Eating behavior and body mass index (BMI) were determined by questionnaires for 1471 men and 2381 women from two US cohorts. Genotypes were extracted from genome‐wide scans and a genetic‐risk score (GRS) derived from 32 obesity‐loci was calculated. Results The GRS was positively associated with emotional and uncontrolled eating ( P <0.002). In exploratory analysis, BMI‐increasing variants of MTCH2 , TNNI3K , and ZC3H4 were positively associated with emotional eating and those of TNNI3K and ZC3H4 were positively associated with uncontrolled eating. The BMI‐increasing variant of FTO was positively and those of LRP1B and TFAP2B were inversely associated with cognitive restraint. These associations for single SNPs were independent of BMI but were not significant after multiple‐testing correction. Conclusions An overall genetic susceptibility to obesity may also extend to eating behaviors. The link between specific loci and obesity may be mediated by eating behavior but larger studies are warranted to confirm these results.

Altered maternal haemoglobin levels during pregnancy are associated with pre-clinical and clinical conditions affecting the fetus. Evidence from animal models suggests that these associations may be partially explained by differential DNA methylation in the newborn with possible long-term consequences. To test this in humans, we meta-analyzed the epigenome-wide associations of maternal haemoglobin levels during pregnancy with offspring DNA methylation in 3,967 newborn cord blood and 1,534 children and 1,962 adolescent whole-blood samples derived from 10 cohorts. DNA methylation was measured using Illumina Infinium Methylation 450K or MethylationEPIC arrays covering 450,000 and 850,000 methylation sites, respectively. There was no statistical support for the association of maternal haemoglobin levels with offspring DNA methylation either at individual methylation sites or clustered in regions. For most participants, maternal haemoglobin levels were within the normal range in the current study, whereas adverse perinatal outcomes often arise at the extremes. Thus, this study does not rule out the possibility that associations with offspring DNA methylation might be seen in studies with more extreme maternal haemoglobin levels.

Abstract Background/Objective This observational study dissects the complex temporal associations between body-mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR) and circulating metabolomics using a combination of longitudinal and cross-sectional population-based datasets and new systems epidemiology tools. Subjects/Methods Firstly, a data-driven subgrouping algorithm was employed to simplify high-dimensional metabolic profiling data into a single categorical variable: a self-organizing map (SOM) was created from 174 metabolic measures from cross-sectional surveys (FINRISK, n = 9708, ages 25–74) and a birth cohort (NFBC1966, n = 3117, age 31 at baseline, age 46 at follow-up) and an expert committee defined four subgroups of individuals based on visual inspection of the SOM. Secondly, the subgroups were compared regarding BMI and WHR trajectories in an independent longitudinal dataset: participants of the Young Finns Study (YFS, n = 1286, ages 24–39 at baseline, 10 years follow-up, three visits) were categorized into the four subgroups and subgroup-specific age-dependent trajectories of BMI, WHR and metabolic measures were modelled by linear regression. Results The four subgroups were characterised at age 39 by high BMI, WHR and dyslipidemia (designated TG-rich); low BMI, WHR and favourable lipids (TG-poor); low lipids in general (Low lipid) and high low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (High LDL-C). Trajectory modelling of the YFS dataset revealed a dynamic BMI divergence pattern: despite overlapping starting points at age 24, the subgroups diverged in BMI, fasting insulin (three-fold difference at age 49 between TG-rich and TG-poor) and insulin-associated measures such as triglyceride-cholesterol ratio. Trajectories also revealed a WHR progression pattern: despite different starting points at the age of 24 in WHR, LDL-C and cholesterol-associated measures, all subgroups exhibited similar rates of change in these measures, i.e. WHR progression was uniform regardless of the cross-sectional metabolic profile. Conclusions Age-associated weight variation in adults between 24 and 49 manifests as temporal divergence in BMI and uniform progression of WHR across metabolic health strata.

We report optically pumped room-temperature lasing in GaN nanowires grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). Electron microscopy images reveal that the nanowires grow along a nonpolar ⟨11-20⟩ direction, have single-crystal structures and triangular cross sections. The nanowires function as free-standing Fabry–Pérot cavities with cavity mode spacings that depend inversely on length. Optical excitation studies demonstrate thresholds for stimulated emission of 22kW∕cm2 that are substantially lower than other previously reported GaN nanowires. Key contributions to low threshold lasing in these MOCVD GaN nanowire cavities and the development of electrically pumped GaN nanowire lasers are discussed.

'Plasmonics for Photovoltaics' published in 'Encyclopedia of Nanotechnology'

Pressure-driven flows over grooved surfaces are shown to develop transverse components. This induces helical recirculation in channels or capillaries with grooved walls, and more generally permits the design of 3D flows with simple patterns of grooved regions. This strategy is easy to implement with standard methods of microfabrication, and permits for example the realization of a low Reynolds number chaotic mixer.

Dislocation-free decoration images containing up to 80 000 vortices have been obtained on high quality ${\mathrm{Bi}}_{2}{\mathrm{Sr}}_{2}{\mathrm{CaCu}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{8+x}$ superconducting single crystals. The observed flux line lattices are in the random manifold regime with a roughening exponent of 0.44 for length scales up to 80--100 lattice constants. At larger length scales, the data exhibit nonequilibrium features that persist for different cooling rates and field histories.

Abstract Background Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) reflects atherogenesis and is a strong predictor of cardiovascular diseases. Although cardiovascular diseases have been shown to originate in foetal life and childhood, the information on the contribution of early growth to CIMT in adulthood remains limited. Purpose To assess the influence of early growth patterns on CIMT in midlife. Methods A subpopulation of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 took part in follow-up, including CIMT evaluation by ultrasound (n=1155) at the age of 46 years. Maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) was self-reported and birth weight and gestational age were measured after delivery. BMI growth curves were modelled based on frequent anthropometric measurements in infancy and childhood. Peak weight and height velocity in infancy (0–2 years of age, n=637) as well as age and BMI at adiposity peak (AP, mean age 9 months, n=461) and at adiposity rebound (AR, mean age 5.8 years, n=562) were established. Results are reported as unstandardized beta (β) with 95% confidence intervals for one standard deviation increase in early growth variable. Associations were adjusted for sex, birth weight, maternal pre-pregnancy BMI as well as adult weight, height, systolic blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, physical activity, diabetes, heart diseases and antihypertensive medication. Results Infant peak weight velocity (β=0.018 (0.011, 0.025), p<0.001) was associated with a higher CIMT in midlife, independently of adjustments for sex, early life factors and adult cardiometabolic factors (β=0.011 (0.003, 0.019), p=0.010). Infant peak height velocity was also associated with adult CIMT, but only in females (β=0.012 (0.004, 0.021), p=0.004) and the association was attenuated after adjustments (β=0.010 (0.0, 0.021), p=0.055). Birth weight and gestational age were not associated with adult CIMT. BMI at AP (β=0.011 (0.003, 0.019), p=0.007) and BMI at AR (β=0.010 (0.003, 0.018), p=0.005) were directly associated with CIMT in midlife in univariate analysis, but not independently of adult cardiometabolic factors. Timing of AP and AR were not related to adult CIMT. Finally, maternal pre-pregnancy BMI (β=0.005 (0.0, 0.011), p=0.066) also tended to be associated with a higher CIMT in midlife. Conclusions Rapid growth in infancy was the most important early growth-related factor associating with CIMT in midlife, and this relationship was not fully mediated by adult anthropometrics, cardiometabolic risk factors and morbidity. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Foundation. Main funding source(s): Yrjö Jahnsson Foundation, Aarne Koskelo Foundation

The aim of our study was to compare apolipoprotein B (apoB), non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (nonHDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and other lipid markers as predictors of coronary heart disease (CHD) in Chinese. Overall, 122 individuals developed CHD during a median 13.6 years of follow-up in 3,568 adult participants from a community-based cohort. The multivariate relative risk of CHD in the highest quintile compared with the lowest quintile was 2.74 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.45-5.19] for apoB, 1.98 (95% CI, 1.00-3.92) for nonHDL-C, and 1.86 (95% CI, 1.00-3.49) for LDL-C (all tests for trend, P < 0.05). ApoB also had the highest receiver operator characteristic curve area (0.63; 95% CI, 0.58-0.68) in predicting CHD. When apoB and nonHDL-C were mutually adjusted, only apoB was predictive; the relative risk was 2.80 (95% CI, 1.31-5.96; P = 0.001) compared with 1.09 (95% CI, 0.49-2.40; P = 0.75) for nonHDL-C. Compared with the lowest risk, participants with the highest apoB and total cholesterol/HDL-C had a 3-fold increased risk of developing CHD (relative risk = 3.21; 95% CI, 1.45-7.14). These data provide strong evidence that apoB concentration was a better predictor of CHD than other lipid markers in Chinese.

Background&#13;\n&#13;\nVitamin D may play a pivotal role in regulating insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity. However, the impact of vitamin D intake either from diet or from supplements on the development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) remains unknown. We prospectively examined the association of pre-pregnancy habitual intake of vitamin D from diet and supplements with risk of incident GDM in a well-established cohort.&#13;\nMethods&#13;\n&#13;\nWe included 21,356 singleton pregnancies from 15,225 women in the Nurses' Health Study II cohort. Diet information, including vitamin D intakes from food sources and supplements, was assessed in 1991 and every four years thereafter by validated food frequency questionnaires. We used log-binomial models with generalized estimating equations to estimate the relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).&#13;\nResults&#13;\n&#13;\nWe documented 865 incident GDM cases during 10 years of follow-up. After adjustment for age, parity, race/ethnicity, family history of diabetes, dietary and lifestyle factors, and body mass index, the RRs (95% CIs) of GDM risk associated with supplemental vitamin D intake of 0, 1–399, ≥ 400 IU/d were 1.00 (reference), 0.80 (0.67-0.96), and 0.71 (0.56-0.90), respectively (P for trend = 0.002). Dietary and total vitamin D intakes were also inversely associated with GDM risk, but the associations were not statistically significant.&#13;\nConclusions&#13;\n&#13;\nPre-pregnancy supplemental vitamin D intake was significantly and inversely associated with risk of GDM. Our study indicates potential benefits of increasing vitamin D intake from supplements in the prevention of GDM in women of reproductive age.

The merger of nanoscale building blocks with flexible and/or low cost substrates could enable the development of high-performance electronic and photonic devices with the potential to impact a broad spectrum of applications. Here we demonstrate that high-quality, single-crystal nanowires can be assembled onto inexpensive glass and flexible plastic substrates to create basic transistor and light-emitting diode devices. In our approach, the high-temperature synthesis of single-crystal nanowires is separated from ambient-temperature solution-based assembly to enable the fabrication of single-crystal-like devices on virtually any substrate. Silicon nanowire field-effect transistors were assembled on glass and plastic substrates and display device parameters rivaling those of single-crystal silicon and exceeding those of state-of-the-art amorphous silicon and organic transistors currently used for flexible electronics on plastic substrates. Nanowire transistor devices have been configured as low-threshold logic elements with gain; moreover, the high-performance characteristics are relatively unaffected by operation in a bent configuration or by repeated bending. The generality of this approach is further illustrated with the assembly of gallium nitride nanowire UV-light-emitting diodes on flexible plastic substrates. These results suggest that nanowires could serve as high-performance building blocks for the next of generation lightweight display, mobile computing, and information storage applications.

Although people with a higher BMI can have lower risk of premature mortality if they also have at least one low risk lifestyle factor, the lowest risk of premature mortality is in people in the 18.5-22.4 BMI range with high score on the alternate healthy eating index, high level of physical activity, moderate alcohol drinking, and who do not smoke. It is important to consider diet and lifestyle factors in the evaluation of the association between BMI and mortality.