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Background/Objectives: The location and distribution of excess fat, rather than overall adiposity, are stronger predictors of cardiometabolic risk and are commonly assessed using the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). Fat distribution in women has a heritable component, yet the genetic factors that influence it remain poorly understood. We aim to assess the association between obesity-related polymorphisms with WHR and cardiometabolic risk in overweight and obese women. Methods: A cohort study was conducted in 512 women (56.1 ± 6.4 years; body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m2). WHR was calculated, and participants were classified into android (WHR > 0.85) or gynoid (WHR ≤ 0.85) obesity groups. We genotyped 15 SNPs previously associated with obesity using TaqMan real-time PCR. Different genetic models (dominant, recessive, and allelic) were analysed, and bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to compare the fat distribution groups. Results: Of the 15 SNPs studied, only 3 presented a significant association with WHR > 0.85. PSRC1 rs599839 in a dominant model (AA + GA vs. GG) with OR = 3.18 (p = 0.041), SLC30A8 rs1326634 in a recessive model (CC vs. TC + TT) (OR = 2.38; p = 0.004), both showing increased susceptibility to central obesity. KIF6 rs20455 offers protection in a recessive model (CC vs. TC + TT) with an OR of 0.47 (p = 0.043). After adjusted multivariate analysis, only SLC30A8 and diabetes remained independently associated with an increased risk of android obesity (OR = 2.50; p = 0.003 and OR = 3.63; p = 0.004, respectively). Conclusions: The SLC30A8 variant was significantly associated with android fat distribution and high cardiometabolic risk in overweight/obese women. Identifying genetic factors that influence fat distribution may help specify targeted lifestyle changes or pharmacological interventions to reduce risk.

Currently, there is considerable interest in developing advanced rechargeable batteries that boast efficient distribution of electricity and economic feasibility for use in large-scale energy storage systems. Rechargeable aqueous zinc batteries are promising alternatives to lithium-ion batteries in terms of rate performance, cost, and safety. In this investigation, we employ Cu 3 (HHTP) 2 , a two-dimensional (2D) conductive metal-organic framework (MOF) with large one-dimensional channels, as a zinc battery cathode. Owing to its unique structure, hydrated Zn 2+ ions which are inserted directly into the host structure, Cu 3 (HHTP) 2 , allow high diffusion rate and low interfacial resistance which enable the Cu 3 (HHTP) 2 cathode to follow the intercalation pseudocapacitance mechanism. Cu 3 (HHTP) 2 exhibits a high reversible capacity of 228 mAh g −1 at 50 mA g −1 . At a high current density of 4000 mA g −1 (~18 C), 75.0% of the initial capacity is maintained after 500 cycles. These results provide key insights into high-performance, 2D conductive MOF designs for battery electrodes. Aqueous zinc batteries are promising candidates for large scale energy storage systems but development of the cathode material remains a challenge. Here, the authors show a conductive 2D metal-organic framework involving intercalation pseudocapacitance mechanism for enhanced rate capability.

To evaluate outcomes of resident-performed cataract surgeries in different training levels in a retrospective case series. A total of 730 surgeries performed by residents were evaluated into three groups: surgeries performed during residents' first semester of training in phacoemulsification (Level 1 - L1), surgeries performed during the second semester (Level 2 - L2), and surgeries performed during the third semester (Level 3 - L3). The primary outcome was the incidence of intraoperative complications in each group. Secondary outcomes were the comparisons between initial and final corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), endothelial cell density (ECD), and central corneal thickness (CCT) in each group. Descriptive statistical analyses were employed in the presentation of the results using central tendency and variance measurements. The rate of complications within six weeks of follow-up was 24 out of 102 eyes (23.53%) in the L1 group, 63 out of 301 eyes (20.93%) in the L2 group, and 37 out of 327 (11.31%) in the L3 group ( =0.001). Posterior capsule rupture (PCR) was the most frequent intercurrence observed in all three semesters: it occurred in 12.7% of the surgeries in the first semester (13/102), 16.9% of surgeries in the second semester (51/301), and 9.5% of surgeries in the third semester (31/327). There was no significant difference in CDVA ( =0.298), ECD ( =0.067), IOP ( =0.217), or CCT ( =0.807) between the groups. When measured by rates of complications and by the aforementioned parameters, surgical competency was found to improve as surgical experience and frequency increased. Therefore, this study identified some patterns of skill development that can be applied to teaching strategies and better assist surgeons in training.

Ultrathin ferroelectric materials could potentially enable low-power logic and nonvolatile memories 1 , 2 . As ferroelectric materials are made thinner, however, the ferroelectricity is usually suppressed. Size effects in ferroelectrics have been thoroughly investigated in perovskite oxides—the archetypal ferroelectric system 3 . Perovskites, however, have so far proved unsuitable for thickness scaling and integration with modern semiconductor processes 4 . Here we report ferroelectricity in ultrathin doped hafnium oxide (HfO 2 ), a fluorite-structure oxide grown by atomic layer deposition on silicon. We demonstrate the persistence of inversion symmetry breaking and spontaneous, switchable polarization down to a thickness of one nanometre. Our results indicate not only the absence of a ferroelectric critical thickness but also enhanced polar distortions as film thickness is reduced, unlike in perovskite ferroelectrics. This approach to enhancing ferroelectricity in ultrathin layers could provide a route towards polarization-driven memories and ferroelectric-based advanced transistors. This work shifts the search for the fundamental limits of ferroelectricity to simpler transition-metal oxide systems—that is, from perovskite-derived complex oxides to fluorite-structure binary oxides—in which ‘reverse’ size effects counterintuitively stabilize polar symmetry in the ultrathin regime. Enhanced switchable ferroelectric polarization is achieved in doped hafnium oxide films grown directly onto silicon using low-temperature atomic layer deposition, even at thicknesses of just one nanometre.