Julkaisuarkisto

DNA methylation-based epigenetic clocks are reliable measures of biological age and aging rate. Chronic inflammation may contribute to aging and various diseases, but population-based studies on specific inflammatory biomarkers’ impact on epigenetic clocks are limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between 38 circulating inflammatory biomarkers, as well as a combined systemic inflammation variable, and epigenetic clocks in a middle-aged population. The cohort included 1,327 Finnish participants (aged 30–45 years, 50–55% female) from the Young Finns Study. Biomarkers were measured in 2007, and epigenetic clocks were assessed in 2011 and 2018. DunedinPACE and PCGrimAgeDev clocks were calculated using blood methylation data. Multiple linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, BMI, smoking, socioeconomic status, alcohol consumption, and physical activity were used. Results showed 11 biomarkers positively associated with DunedinPACE across both follow-ups. Seven biomarkers were positively associated with PCGrimAgeDev in the 4-year follow-up, but not in the 11-year follow-up. The combined systemic inflammation marker was positively associated with both clocks in both follow-ups. Although previous cross-sectional studies have reported associations between pro-inflammatory cytokines and epigenetic ageing, longitudinal findings remain sparse. Our results extend this literature by showing that several cytokines predict accelerated epigenetic ageing across an 11-year follow-up.

Parallel to and after publication of the WHO 2024 classification of head and neck tumors, several developments concerning known existing salivary gland tumor entities, but also proposing new evolving tumor entities have been published. This review article describes the most important new developments in salivary gland pathology published through 2022–2025, that were not included in the 5th edition of the WHO Classification of Head and Neck Tumours 2024. This review summarizes these recent developments in both the benign and the malignant tumor categories. Among the recently proposed entities are palisading adenocarcinoma, microcribriform adenocarcinoma, fenestrating adenocarcinoma and skin-analogue poroid carcinoma. Developments in existing carcinoma entities include recognition of mucoacinar carcinoma as subtype of mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MAML2-fused), mucoepidermoid carcinoma without squamous cell differentiation, metatypical adenoid cystic carcinoma, and adenoid cystic carcinoma with prominent tubular hypereosinophilia. In the benign tumor category, recognition of pleomorphic adenoma with canalicular/trabecular phenotype driven by HMGA2 fusions, triphasic basal cell adenoma with S100 protein-positive "stroma", characterized by CTNNB1 mutations, metaplastic Warthin tumor with KRAS mutations and delineation of thymus-like phenotype in non-sebaceous lymphadenoma with recurrent CYLD mutations are the main highlights. Emerging concepts include benign tumor with ductal and papillary morphology (sialadenopapillary ductal tumor). Finally, new grading schemes have been developed/ proposed for acinic cell carcinoma and secretory carcinoma.

In Finland, spent nuclear fuel assemblies are placed in copper-iron canisters that are disposed of in a deep underground disposal facility in Olkiluoto. The decisions on which fuel assemblies to assign to which disposal canisters can be determined by formulating and solving a mathematical optimization problem, which is called an assembly assignment problem. New requirements have emerged, implying new objectives, constraints, and data for the problem.

In this paper, the heuristic disposal canister loading optimization algorithm is developed further to solve the refined problem. One major advancement in the new version of the algorithm is that it takes into account the uncertainty of the decay heat power of a disposal canister. This uncertainty is due to the uncertainties in the decay heat powers of the fuel assemblies assigned to the disposal canister and possible dependencies between these uncertainties.

The other major advancement is that the new version of the algorithm manages the spent nuclear fuel interim storage efficiently according to new requirements. To get a prediction of how the disposal of all fuel assemblies for a certain fuel type can succeed, the new version of the algorithm is capable of simulating the loading of all disposal canisters with the current data by assigning fuel assemblies to the disposal canisters iteratively one batch of the encapsulation plant at a time. In Finland, the safe and cost-efficient assignment of fuel assemblies to disposal canisters is facilitated by the developed loading optimization algorithm.

Purpose

This study examines whether the use of trust-related language in the management discussion and analysis (MD&A) sections of corporate reports influences perceptions of information transparency in Iranian firms.

Design/methodology/approach

Using 1,897 firm-year observations from Iranian listed firms between 2011 and 2023, trust language (TRUSTTL) is measured by identifying and counting trust-related words in MD&A reports based on an expanded lexicon containing 98 Persian-specific keywords. Information transparency is proxied by deviations in firm value (DEVIATION).

Findings

The results show a significant negative relationship between TRUSTTL and DEVIATION, suggesting that greater use of trust-related language is associated with improved information transparency. These findings support the incremental information perspective, indicating that trust language can reduce information asymmetry between firms and investors. However, the positive effect weakens when MD&A disclosures exhibit excessive complexity or overly optimistic tone, which may undermine credibility and reduce stakeholder trust.

Originality/value

This study extends the corporate disclosure literature by examining the role of trust-related language in MD&A reports within a non-English and emerging market context. By developing a Persian-specific trust lexicon and empirically testing its effects on transparency, the research provides new insights into how linguistic features influence the informativeness of corporate communication.