Background: Preterm birth remains a leading cause of neonatal mortality globally, with Nigeria bearing a disproportionately high burden. Racial disparities are well documented, with Black populations experiencing significantly higher rates than Caucasian populations. Active matrix metalloproteinase 8 (aMMP-8), a neutrophil derived collagenase, is the final effector in extracellular matrix degradation and has been implicated in membrane weakening and parturition. However, no trimester specific numeric aMMP-8 data exist for African populations, limiting cross population comparisons. Our earlier work hypothesized that elevated aMMP-8 may explain racial disparities in preterm birth, serving as a common pathway through which socioeconomic, psychosocial, infectious, genetic, and immunological risk factors operate. Methods: We conducted a single center observational study establishing baseline aMMP-8 levels in Nigerian pregnant and non pregnant women at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Study lasted from March to December, 2020. Mouthrinse samples were analyzed using the aMMP-8 Point of Care Test (Oralyzer) system. Pregnant women were sampled across all three trimesters and followed to delivery. Descriptive statistics, group comparisons (Mann-Whitney U), trimester comparisons (Wilcoxon signed rank), and subgroup analyses by education and oral hygiene status were performed. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Results: A total of 40 pregnant women had complete trimester specific aMMP-8 values, with 40 non pregnant controls. Mean aMMP-8 levels were 28.7 ng/mL (T1), 25.38 ng/mL (T2), and 25.05 ng/mL (T3), with non pregnant controls at 19.2 ng/mL. All trimesters showed higher levels than non pregnant controls, reaching statistical significance (p < 0.05). T1 was higher than both T2 and T3, reaching statistical significance (p = 0.031 and p = 0.008, respectively). No significant differences in aMMP-8 levels were observed by education level or oral hygiene status. When compared with the only existing numeric reference from the global oral synthesis—total MMP-8 in GCF at 6.25 ng/mL—our aMMP-8 values were numerically 4.6 times higher in T1. Baseline MMP-8 concentrations in amniotic fluid from control groups in intra amniotic inflammation studies are approximately 1–5 ng/mL. Our mouthrinse aMMP-8 (28.7 ng/mL in T1) is numerically 6–29 times higher than these values, despite mouthrinse being the most diluted oral compartment. This discrepancy supports a hypothesis that intrauterine aMMP-8 levels could be elevated in this population, though direct paired measurements are required to confirm this. Conclusion: Nigerian pregnant women in this cohort demonstrate aMMP-8 levels substantially higher than published Caucasian references and exceed control values from amniotic fluid studies by multiples. These findings are consistent with our earlier hypothesis that elevated aMMP-8 could represent a plausible final common pathway through which socioeconomic disadvantage, chronic stress, infection, genetic predisposition, and heightened baseline inflammation may contribute to preterm birth risk. The neglect of aMMP-8 in preterm birth disparity research may represent a missed opportunity for non invasive risk stratification, mechanistic understanding, and potential targeted intervention. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Funding Statement None received ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics and Research Committee of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria as an extension granted for the study with Protocol Number: ERC/2016/11/10, National Number: NHREC/27/02/2009a and International Number: IRB/IEC/0004553 and renewed from 2019-2020. I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable. Yes All relevant data are within the manuscript and its Supporting Information files (S1 Dataset). The raw data table includes aMMP-8 values across trimesters has been uploaded as a supplemental excel file (xls) which covers data for all participants, demographic information, education level, oral hygiene scores, and pregnancy outcomes.
Single‐crystal diamond needles (SCDNs) have emerged as promising candidates for optical and quantum sensing applications due to their unique shape, high‐quality crystalline structure, and availability for relatively simple mass production. In this study, morphology modification and luminescence features of SCDNs subjected to high‐temperature oxidation in air at 650 °C and 700 °C are investigated. Significant morphological changes, including sharpening, length reduction, and surface feature formation, are revealed as a result of oxidation with scanning electron microscopy observations. The morphology modifications are dependent on oxidation temperature. Gradual sharpening and formation of surface protrusions with (100) and (111) surfaces during oxidation at 650 °C significantly accelerate at oxidation temperature increase to 700 °C. Observed formation of the surface protrusions is explained by local variation in resistance to oxidation at diamond needle surface. Furthermore, photon correlation measurements reveal that oxidation duration may be optimized allowing obtaining of SCDNs with single nitrogen‐vacancy centers situated in their tips, and confirming the viability of these diamonds for quantum sensing. This findings highlight the superior optical properties and structural integrity of SCDNs, making them highly suitable for single‐photon emission and other quantum technological applications.
Changes in land use and climate pose major threats to biodiversity 1–5 . However, variation in species responses to climate and land use across space, time, and taxa remains poorly understood 3,6–10 , hindering our ability to predict and mitigate biodiversity change. Here, we evaluate the relative importance of concurrent changes in climate and land use in driving the occurrence and abundance patterns of 503 terrestrial animal species of various taxa over 20 years in Finland. Habitat composition proved to be the main driver of biodiversity patterns but how much and with what uncertainty it explained species distributions depended highly on the context. Specifically, habitat was the dominant driver for butterflies, birds, and small mammals, while habitat and climate were equally important for large mammals and moths. Additionally, species patterns between biogeographical regions were mainly explained by climate, while habitat was the main driver within regions. Traits, such as, body size, pace of life, habitat and diet specialization modulated the relative importance of both drivers’ impacts. Climate and habitat impact on most species were also partially correlated, highlighting the tight connection between the drivers. Our findings emphasize that land use is a major force in shaping terrestrial biodiversity, while highlighting its tight connection with climate. Considering functional and spatial contexts is thus essential for building effective management and conservation strategies for biodiversity under rampant global change.
Agency, often associated with proactivity, becomes challenging when cognitive and physical abilities decline. Therefore, in late life, agency requires reinterpretation. Building on this perspective, this study examines how Finnish older adults embody religious agency in their accounts of meaning in life. Religious agency is understood as claiming and enacting a meaningful identity. The data comprise 24 interviews with older adults aged 70–95. The results show that religious agency is exercised to 1) sustain personal faith through lifelong practice, 2) find structure and resilience through religion, 3) express generational concerns through critique of contemporary (non)religion, 4) embrace a personal religious identity by rejecting normative identities and burdening religious practice, and 5) find coherence through surrender to the divine. These findings underline that old age does not merely limit but also enables religious agency, manifesting as coping, freedom from norms and obligations, and acceptance through surrender to a higher power.
Copper(I) derivatives have emerged as a versatile class of luminescent and photoactive materials, combining earth abundance, structural adaptability, and rich excited-state dynamics that enable their application in luminescent devices, photocatalysis, and sensing technologies. Herein, we report a family of copper(I) pyridine halide complexes supported by a 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP) ligand, featuring crystallization-induced diversity of coordination motifs. The variation of halides and stoichiometry of [Cu(NCMe)4]BF4/CuX (X = Cl, Br, I) precursors enabled the selective isolation of a series of cationic/neutral mono- and multinuclear hybrid species, namely, [(DMAP)2Cu]BF4, [(DMAP)CuCl], [(DMAP)4Cu2(μ2-X)]BF4 (X = Cl, Br), [(DMAP)4Cu4(μ2-Br)2(μ3-Br)2][(DMAP)2Cu]2(BF4)2, and [(DMAP)2Cu2(μ2-I)2]2[(DMAP)2Cu]3(BF4)3. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction revealed that the bridging mode of halides is decisive in governing packing topology, nuclearity, and structural arrangement of metal/cluster centers. Photophysical studies demonstrated tunable solid-state phosphorescence spanning from sky blue (478 nm) to deep red (640 nm), with quantum yields and radiative rates reaching 0.41 and 7.3 × 104 s-1, respectively. Advanced photophysical studies combined with DFT/TD-DFT calculations facilitated the untangling of structural characteristics responsible for control over photophysical properties such as triplet formation and its (non)radiative decay or the nature of luminescent excited states, defining multiple structure-property relationships. These results establish an effective strategy to unlock new coordination motifs in copper(I) halide chemistry and to achieve broadband optical tunability in earth-abundant photoactive materials by means of crystallization tools.
