For a decade, scientists have believed that plants sensed temperature mainly through specialized proteins, and mainly at night when the air is cool. New research suggests that during the day, another signal takes over. Sugar, produced in sunlight, helps plants detect heat and decide when to grow.
The study, led by Meng Chen, a University of California, Riverside professor of cell biology, shows that plants rely on multiple heat-sensing systems, and that sugar plays a central and previously unrecognized role in daytime temperature response. The findings, published in Nature Communications, reshape a long-standing view of how plants interact with their environment and could influence future strategies for climate-resilient agriculture.
“Our textbooks say that proteins like phytochrome B and early flowering 3 (ELF3) are the main thermosensors in plants,” Chen said. “But those models are based on nighttime data. We wanted to know what’s happening during the day, when light and temperature are both high because these are the conditions most plants actually experience.”
To investigate, the researchers used Arabidopsis, a small flowering plant favored in genetics labs. They exposed seedlings to a range of temperatures, from 12 to 27 degrees Celsius, under different light conditions, and tracked the elongation of their seedling stems, known as hypocotyls — a classic indicator of growth response to warmth.
They found that phytochrome B, a light-sensing protein, could only detect heat under low light. In bright conditions that mimic midday sunlight, its temperature-sensing function was effectively shut off. Yet, the plants still responded to heat, growing taller even when the thermosensing role of phytochrome B was greatly diminished. That, Chen said, pointed to the presence of other sensors.
One clue came from studies of a phytochrome B mutant lacking its thermosensing function. These mutant plants could respond to warmth only when grown in the light. When grown in the dark, without photosynthesis, they lacked chloroplasts and did not grow taller in response to warmth. But when researchers supplemented the growing medium with sugar, the temperature response returned.
“That’s when we realized sugar wasn’t just fueling growth,” Chen said. “It was acting like a signal, telling the plant that it’s warm.”
Further experiments showed that higher temperatures triggered the breakdown of starch stored in leaves, releasing sucrose. This sugar in turn stabilized a protein known as PIF4, a master regulator of growth. Without sucrose, PIF4 degraded quickly. With it, the protein accumulated but only became active when another sensor, ELF3, also responded to the heat by stepping aside.
“PIF4 needs two things,” Chen explained. “Sugar to stick around, and freedom from repression. Temperature helps provide both.”
The study reveals a nuanced, multi-layered system. During the day, when light is used as the energy source to fix carbon dioxide into sugar, plants also evolved a sugar-based mechanism to sense environmental changes. As temperatures rise, stored starch converts into sugar, which then enables key growth proteins to do their job.
The findings could have practical implications. As climate change drives temperature extremes, understanding how and when plants sense heat could help scientists breed crops that grow more predictably and more resiliently under stress.
“This changes how we think about thermosensing in plants,” Chen said. “It’s not just about proteins flipping on or off. It’s about energy, light, sugar, as well.”
The findings also underscore, once again, the quiet sophistication of the plant world. In the blur of photosynthesis and starch reserves, there’s a hidden intelligence. One that knows, sweetly and precisely, when it’s time to stretch toward the sky.
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To mark F1’s 75th anniversary celebrations, F1.com is counting down the sport’s 25 greatest races with a new feature every week. While you may not agree with the order, we hope you enjoy the stories of these epic races that have helped make this sport what it is today. You can read the introduction to the series and see the list of races here.
At No. 18, Anna Francis recalls the 2007 European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring, an event that featured everything from a backmarker leading on their debut, a dramatic Turn 1 pile-up courtesy of treacherous rain and a thrilling late-race duel that sparked quite the fallout after the chequered flag.
As this countdown of F1’s greatest races highlights, a Grand Prix can become a classic for a variety of reasons; perhaps there was a storyline-packed build-up that heightened the tension, or the weather proved unpredictable and an unexpected turn of events unfolded, or maybe the drama continued well after the chequered flag had fallen.
The 2007 European Grand Prix basically ticked off every point on this list. It was an encounter that took place in the middle of a fascinating and closely-fought season, with the Nurburgring playing host to the 10th round of a 17-race calendar – and a race that lives on in the memories of fans 18 years later.
Hamilton crashes in Qualifying
Lewis Hamilton, in his rookie campaign for McLaren, arrived into the weekend as the championship leader – and, given the points system then in play (which awarded the top eight drivers, from 10 points for the winner through to one for P8), he would leave still on top regardless of the result, having built a 12-point advantage over team mate Fernando Alonso.
However, evidently Alonso – who was equal on wins with Hamilton, the pair having taken two apiece – could still cut into Hamilton’s lead if the cards fell in his favour. Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen also remained in the mix, sitting third in the standings just six points adrift of Alonso after claiming three victories, while the other red car of Felipe Massa had won twice.
It was Hamilton and Raikkonen who set the pace during the weekend’s practice sessions, but the former’s strong run hit a snag when he suffered a heavy crash in Q3 of Qualifying, the right front tyre on his MP4-22 bursting and sending him into the wall at Turn 8. Team boss Ron Dennis blamed the incident on a faulty wheel gun failing to secure the tyre to the car.
Hamilton was airlifted to hospital for precautionary checks – after reassuringly giving a thumbs-up to the crowd – and his participation in Sunday’s race remained in doubt. Having been unable to continue in the session, the Briton’s original time put him in 10th, while Raikkonen took pole ahead of Alonso and Massa.
After the dust settled on that eventful Saturday, attentions switched to Sunday’s race. Hamilton returned to action and joined the rest of the pack as they lined up for the 60-lap encounter in initially dry conditions – but the weather forecast looked ominous…
Cars pile up as rain arrives – and a surprise leader emerges
While the dark clouds that had gathered over the Nurburgring hinted at imminent rain, the field lined up on slick tyres. Further back, however, Spyker’s Markus Winkelhock – making his F1 debut – pitted for wet tyres at the end of the formation lap, meaning that he would start the race from the pit lane.
Within just a couple of laps, that would prove to be something of a genius call by the backmarker team. Raikkonen had initially led from pole, with Massa following after getting ahead of Alonso, while Hamilton made an impressive start to climb up to sixth by the first corner.
However, a collision between the BMW Sauber cars resulted in Hamilton getting tagged and picking up a puncture, dropping the McLaren backwards. Meanwhile rain had started to fall on some parts of the circuit – prompting the majority of the field to pit at the end of Lap 1 for intermediate tyres.
Raikkonen was one of the few to remain out on track, having missed the pit entry after a mistake in the increasingly tricky conditions. While the Finn made a stop after Lap 2 along with the other cars that had stayed out, Winkelhock had found himself in the lead.
But soon the rain had become even heavier, sparking incredible scenes as car after car aquaplaned off the circuit and into the gravel at Turn 1, where something of a ‘river’ of standing water had formed.
The Safety Car was deployed as the process of recovering a total of five stricken cars began, but it was quickly decided that conditions were too dangerous to continue in, meaning that the race was red flagged.
Order changes at the restart
After around 15 minutes, the drivers prepared to take the restart – with the exception of Jenson Button (Honda), Adrian Sutil (Spyker), Nico Rosberg (Williams), Scott Speed (Toro Rosso) and Vitantonio Liuzzi (Toro Rosso), all of whom had fallen victim to the Turn 1 car park.
Hamilton, meanwhile, had been amongst those to aquaplane off the circuit but, having kept his engine running, his McLaren was hoisted back onto the track by a crane, meaning that he was able to continue on in the race under the regulations then in place.
While the Briton was a lap down at the restart, he was able to unlap himself as the Grand Prix resumed under the Safety Car, before diving into the pits to bolt on slick tyres. It was a gamble that failed to pay off as he soon had another foray off the still-wet track, though again managed to rejoin.
Winkelhock’s moment in the sun also quickly came to an end after a few laps, with the likes of Massa and Alonso soon overtaking him – and things worsened further when his Spyker suffered a hydraulic failure on Lap 15, bringing his eventful sole F1 appearance to an early end.
It soon transpired that Winkelhock would not be the only retiree following the restart, with Ralf Schumacher (Toyota) and Takuma Sato (Super Aguri) each recording a DNF a few laps later – but a ninth and final retirement would prove to be the most significant in terms of the championship fight….
Raikkonen out as Alonso snatches the lead from Massa
While his switch to slick tyres had initially backfired, Hamilton subsequently looked to have strong pace on a track that was drying out, leading other frontrunners to pit for dry tyres. One of the first to do so was Raikkonen, allowing the Finn to haul himself back up to third behind Massa and Alonso.
The Ferrari driver continued to chase down the leaders from there – yet his charge was brought to an abrupt halt when his car was struck by a mechanical issue, forcing him to retire at just over half distance in a blow to his title hopes.
It still seemed as if the Scuderia were on for victory at the Nurburgring, though, thanks to the sister car of Massa, who maintained his lead over Alonso through what had looked to be the final round of pit stops, despite the two-time World Champion slowly closing in.
But the weather gods had not quite finished their day’s work yet. The rain returned as the race entered into its final 10 laps, leading to another flurry of action in the pit lane as the majority of the field headed in for intermediate tyres – with the exception of Hamilton, taking another gamble by remaining out on the slicks.
However, with the downpour showing no signs of abating, Hamilton eventually had to stop, dropping him down to 10th place. Meanwhile, the other McLaren of Alonso was trying to find a way past Massa.
On Lap 56 the move finally came, with Alonso boldly going around the outside at Turn 5 in a sequence that saw the two cars make contact. Further back, team mate Hamilton also gained a position before the end by grabbing P9 from Renault’s Giancarlo Fisichella.
As the chequered flag fell on an action-packed afternoon at the Nurburging, Alonso crossed the line to take victory by eight seconds from Massa, while Red Bull’s Mark Webber completed the podium in third. The race might have been over, but there was still more drama to come…
A heated debate after the chequered flag
After the drivers had arrived into parc ferme, Alonso highlighted the damage that he had picked up in his scrap with Massa, directing the television cameras to zoom in on the area of his car affected as he wagged his finger.
The fallout did not end there either; any fans watching that day will doubtless recall the heated debate that ensued between Massa and Alonso before heading out onto the podium, with Massa eventually walking away from the two-time World Champion – who seemed to brush off the argument by smiling at the watching camera and victoriously pumping his fist in the air.
They then proceeded to the rostrum for a slightly tense podium ceremony, with a marked contrast between the jubilant Alonso and a still perturbed Massa – and as if that didn’t make it memorable enough, Michael Schumacher formed part of the ceremony following his retirement just a few months earlier, the seven-time World Champion tasked with handing the Teams’ trophy to former rival Ron Dennis.
Massa later said about his clash with Alonso in the post-race press conference: “I was really surprised when he came to say that I did that on purpose. I would never do something like that on purpose.”
Alonso, meanwhile, suggested he was sorry for the argument as he added: “We touched each other two times [on the track] and I apologise to him because I was so stressed when I finished the race, because we nearly didn’t finish the race.
“I apologise if I said anything to him, because it’s motor racing and it’s a fight. We finished the race, so I don’t want to talk any more about this and I want to enjoy the win.”
With Alonso having closed the gap to just two points to Hamilton in the championship standings, it marked the latest twist in a dramatic season famed for what would become an increasingly tense intra-team battle between the McLaren pair.
Glenmorangie has been named as the Official Whisky of Formula 1, with Hollywood icon Harrison Ford helping reveal the partnership ahead of the British Grand Prix this weekend.
The partnership marks the union of two icons, steeped in heritage, dedicated to taking their crafts to new heights and is part of part of the landmark 10-year deal between Formula 1 and LVMH – Glenmorangie’s parent company.
Ford, who plays himself in Glenmorangie’s humorous brand campaign Once Upon a Time in Scotland, marked the partnership in a new short film, and with the same amusing understatement he uses for Glenmorangie’s whisky, blessed the collaboration in a word: “Nice.”
Silverstone, site of the first official Formula 1 Grand Prix in 1950, will host a special Glenmorangie experience showcasing cocktails and the exclusive Eagle Speedster Jaguar E-Type, as used by Ford in the whisky’s brand film.
Emily Prazer, Chief Commercial Officer at Formula 1, said: “As part of our 10-year deal with LVMH, we are delighted to welcome Glenmorangie from the Moët Hennessy Maisons collection as the Official Whisky of Formula 1. We have both been mastering our craft for many years, and we share a commitment to refinement and perfection delivered over time.
“With our mutual respect for tradition, it is absolutely fitting that we are launching our collaboration at the Formula 1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone – the circuit that hosted our first race 75 years ago – and from there around the world for many years to come.”
Caspar MacRae, President and CEO of Glenmorangie, added: “I am thrilled to set in motion Glenmorangie’s landmark partnership with Formula 1 – the pinnacle of motor racing. We share with F1 a great pride in our heritage and an unstoppable desire to reach new heights of excellence.
“We look forward to spectacular performances and imaginative serves and hope our collaboration will inspire and excite racegoers throughout Formula 1’s 75th anniversary year – and beyond.”
Cell biology is a world of constant motion and hidden structures. Much of what we know about cells comes from decades of research using microscopes, stains, and models. Yet, even in this well-charted territory, surprises still emerge – enter the “hemifusome.”
This previously unknown organelle may help explain how cells sort, recycle, and discard their internal cargo. This function is vital to life and is often disrupted in instances of genetic disease.
The discovery of this organelle, which was made by scientists at the University of Virginia and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), offers a new lens through which to study the inner workings of the cell.
It also presents a possible turning point for understanding diseases where cellular housekeeping breaks down. Using cutting-edge imaging tools, researchers have caught this organelle in action and outlined its potential impact on health and medicine.
Introducing the hemifusome
The hemifusome is not a static component but a temporary structure that appears and disappears depending on the cell’s needs.
It consists of two vesicles joined together by a partial membrane connection called a hemifusion diaphragm.
In this configuration, the vesicles do not fully merge but maintain a shared boundary that allows them to interact without blending entirely.
“This is like discovering a new recycling center inside the cell,” said researcher Seham Ebrahim, Ph.D., of UVA’s Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics.
“We think the hemifusome helps manage how cells package and process material, and when this goes wrong, it may contribute to diseases that affect many systems in the body.”
These hemifused vesicles appear in two configurations. In the direct form, a smaller vesicle is attached to the outer side of a larger one, whereas in the flipped version, the smaller vesicle is embedded on the inner, or luminal, side.
In both cases, a dense particle called a proteolipid nanodroplet anchors the structure at the junction, possibly guiding its formation and stability.
How the hemifusome appears
To study hemifusomes, researchers turned to cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET). This imaging method freezes cells rapidly, preserving them close to their natural state.
Unlike traditional electron microscopy, which can distort or destroy delicate structures, cryo-ET allows scientists to see cellular architecture as it truly exists.
By scanning the outer edges of four mammalian cell types, COS-7, HeLa, RAT-1, and NIH/3T3, the team identified hundreds of hemifusomes. These organelles made up nearly 10 percent of all membrane-bound vesicles in those regions.
Cryo-electron tomography observation of hemifused vesicles at the leading edge of cultured cells. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Nature Communications (2025)
Their consistency across cell types suggests they are not rare anomalies but common cellular components.
“You can think of vesicles like little delivery trucks inside the cell,” said Ebrahim, of UVA’s Center for Membrane and Cell Physiology. “The hemifusome is like a loading dock where they connect and transfer cargo. It’s a step in the process we didn’t know existed.”
What makes the hemifusome unique
Hemifusomes stand out not just for their shape, but for what’s inside them. The larger vesicle usually contains granular material, similar to what is seen in endosomes and ribosome-associated vesicles.
But the smaller vesicle shows a smooth, translucent interior. This likely reflects a protein-free or dilute aqueous solution, setting it apart from other vesicles in the cell.
The hemifusion diaphragm itself is unusually large, about 160 nanometers in diameter, far bigger than the 10 nanometer diaphragms seen in standard vesicle fusion events. These extended diaphragms appear stable, not fleeting, suggesting they may be designed to last.
In some cases, the diaphragm grows large enough to engulf the entire smaller vesicle into the larger one’s bilayer, creating a lens-like shape known in simulations as dead-end hemifusion. Seeing this in actual cells challenges the idea that such formations are purely theoretical.
Anchors and architects of the organelle
One consistent feature at the heart of hemifusomes is the dense proteolipid nanodroplet, or PND. About 42 nanometers in diameter, these droplets are lodged at the rim of the hemifusion site.
Their content, lipids and proteins, suggests they may help build or stabilize the hemifused structure.
These PNDs have never been observed in such a role before. Some appear free in the cytoplasm, others are embedded in membranes. Researchers propose that PNDs may serve as scaffolds for assembling new vesicles.
As the PND integrates into a membrane, it may kickstart the formation of the smaller vesicle seen in hemifusomes.
This process, described as de novo vesiculogenesis, stands apart from classical vesicle fusion. The presence of a unique, translucent vesicle and the absence of known docking steps indicate the hemifusome may follow its own assembly path.
Given their location and size, hemifusomes resemble some endosomal structures. To investigate this further, the researchers traced the journey of gold nanoparticles, common markers used to map endocytic activity.
The particles entered known endosomes and lysosomes but never appeared inside hemifusomes. This absence suggests that hemifusomes do not belong to the classical endocytic pathway.
Instead, they may represent a separate system operating independently of the cargo sorting carried out by proteins like ESCRT. This distinction may have wide implications for how we understand vesicle traffic inside cells.
Multivesicular bodies and disease
Some hemifusomes evolve into more complex structures. The study observed compound hemifusomes that contained multiple vesicles, all partially fused.
These could be early versions of multivesicular bodies (MVBs), which cells use to break down and recycle internal material.
In the canonical model, ESCRT proteins form inward buds that eventually pinch off inside a larger vesicle. But in hemifusomes, vesicles grow inward through hemifusion and expand with the help of PNDs.
This alternative route might explain how MVBs form in ways not covered by traditional theories.
One such condition affected by these pathways is Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome. It is a genetic disorder marked by defects in pigmentation, lung function, vision, and bleeding. Cellular recycling issues are central to the disease.
Understanding the hemifusome may help explain these disruptions and lead to future treatments.
A new model for vesicle formation
The study proposes a full model where PNDs trigger the formation of translucent vesicles that partially fuse with larger ones, forming hemifusomes.
These structures may then bud inward, transforming into flipped hemifusomes. Over time, they could scission off as free vesicles inside MVBs.
In contrast to the ESCRT system, which requires tight protein coordination, this mechanism relies on structural and biophysical cues.
It also sidesteps the need for large lipid donations from other organelles, solving a long-standing puzzle in vesicle formation research.
“This is just the beginning,” Ebrahim said. “Now that we know hemifusomes exist, we can start asking how they behave in healthy cells and what happens when things go wrong. That could lead us to new strategies for treating complex genetic diseases.”
What comes next
The implications of this discovery stretch far beyond cell biology. By offering a new pathway for how cells build and manage internal compartments, the hemifusome challenges decades of assumptions.
It also invites new thinking about disease, especially conditions where cells fail to manage their waste.
Future research will focus on identifying what proteins guide hemifusome formation and how PNDs are created.
Scientists also want to know if these structures exist in other parts of the cell, not just at the periphery. Advanced imaging tools and genetic models will be key to answering these questions.
In a field where many believed the major organelles were already mapped, the hemifusome serves as a reminder. The cell still holds secrets. And some of them could lead to cures.
The study is published in the journal Nature Communications.
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The new Stellaris 16 is now available with AMD APUs. (Image source: Tuxedo)
Tuxedo is expanding its range with another powerful laptop, which comes with an APU from AMD instead of Intel. Various graphics cards up to the RTX 5090 can be installed.
The seventh-generation Tuxedo Stellaris 16, released a short while ago with Intel processors, is now also available with AMD CPUs. These include the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX and AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D processors, which can be ordered with a Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, RTX 5080 or 5090 GPU. The TGP of the two larger models is 150 watts, with Dynamic Boost of 25 watts. The TDP of the processors can be configured between 10 and 130 watts in the Tuxedo Control Center.
Up to five screens (including the laptop display) can be used simultaneously thanks to HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4 and USB 3.2 Gen 2. The 357 x 260 x 28 millimeter notebook weighs 2.8 kilograms with the mini-LED display; the LED display is 150 grams less. Both displays feature a resolution of 2,560 x 1,600, measure 16 inches and offer a maximum refresh rate of 300 Hz. The mini-LED display is said to offer HDR brightness of up to 1,000 cd/m² and better contrast. The display can be opened by around 180°. A MUX switch is installed, but G-Sync and Advanced Optimus are not yet supported, at least not yet.
Up to 96 GB of 5,600 MHz RAM can be installed in two slots, while two M.2 2280 SSDs, each with four PCIe 5.0 and PCIe 4.0 lanes, can be mounted. An M.2 2230 card enables wireless connectivity, while 2.5 Gbp Ethernet is also available. Further features include a Full HD webcam, two 2-watt speakers, a memory card reader and a connection for the Tuxedo Aquaris water cooler. Tuxedo OS is installed, and Windows is naturally also supported.
Tuxedo charges €2,184 ($2574) for the base configuration with an IPS display, Ryzen 9 9955HX, GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, 16 GB of RAM and a 500 GB SSD.
Ethernet is available, but the laptop isn’t particularly compact (Image source: Tuxedo)
The display lid sports the Tuxedo logo (Image source: Tuxedo)
I have been active as a journalist for over 10 years, most of it in the field of technology. I worked for Tom’s Hardware and ComputerBase, among others, and have been working for Notebookcheck since 2017. My current focus is particularly on mini PCs and single-board computers such as the Raspberry Pi – so in other words, compact systems with a lot of potential. In addition, I have a soft spot for all kinds of wearables, especially smartwatches. My main profession is as a laboratory engineer, which is why neither scientific contexts nor the interpretation of complex measurements are foreign to me.
Translator: Jacob Fisher – Translator – 1866 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2022
Growing up in regional Australia, I first became acquainted with computers in my early teens after a broken leg from a football (soccer) match temporarily condemned me to a predominately indoor lifestyle. Soon afterwards I was building my own systems. Now I live in Germany, having moved here in 2014, where I study philosophy and anthropology. I am particularly fascinated by how computer technology has fundamentally and dramatically reshaped human culture, and how it continues to do so.
The text of the following statement was released by the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America and the High Representative of the European Union.
Begin Text:
We the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union, met in The Hague on June 25, 2025, where we discussed recent events in the Middle East.
We reiterate our support for the ceasefire between Israel and Iran announced by U.S. President Trump, and urge all parties to avoid actions that could further destabilize the region.
We appreciate Qatar’s important role in facilitating the ceasefire and express our full solidarity to Qatar and Iraq following the recent strikes by Iran and its proxies and partners against their territory. We welcome all efforts in the region towards stabilization and de-escalation.
We reaffirm that the Islamic Republic of Iran can never have nuclear weapons, and urge Iran to refrain from reconstituting its unjustified enrichment activities. We call for the resumption of negotiations, resulting in a comprehensive, verifiable and durable agreement that addresses Iran’s nuclear program.
In order to have a sustainable and credible resolution, we call on Iran to urgently resume full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as required by its safeguards obligations and to provide the IAEA with verifiable information about all nuclear material in Iran, including by providing access to IAEA inspectors. We condemn calls in Iran for the arrest and execution of IAEA Director General Grossi.
We underscore the centrality of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime. It is essential that Iran remains party to and fully implements its obligations under the Treaty.
We reiterate our commitment to peace and stability in the Middle East. In this context, we reaffirm that Israel has a right to defend itself. We reiterate our support for the security of Israel.
A study involving 76 primary care practices in Colorado explored two different approaches to initiating continuous glucose monitor (CGM) use with their diabetic patients.
The study from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus was published in BMC Primary Care. Some practices chose a self-guided option using educational tools developed by the American Academy of Family Physicians. Others referred patients to a virtual CGM initiation service run by a team of primary care-based healthcare professionals who were part of the research team.
Practices with in-house diabetes care and education specialists, formerly known as diabetes educators, were more likely to choose the self-guided route, while those without specialists preferred the study’s virtual service. Other than this difference, the practices were largely similar.
The researchers found that practices had success with both models in boosting use of CGM. “This is great news for people with diabetes, especially those who don’t have easy access to a diabetes specialist,” said Kimberly Wiggins, M.A., M.Ed, the lead author on the study, in a statement. “It shows that novel approaches can be developed to share resources, including diabetes care and education specialists, to start patients on CGM and then transition them back to their primary care practice.”
Despite their potential benefits, fewer than half of primary care doctors in the United States have ever prescribed a CGM.
“Our goal was to find practical approaches to help primary care clinics offer CGMs to their patients,” said Tamara Oser, M.D., senior author of the study and professor, in a statement. Oser is director of the Primary Care Diabetes Lab in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. “We found that both methods worked. Even clinics without in-house diabetes experts were able to successfully offer CGM by using the remote option.”
Oser noted that this is now the standard of care for many people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, no matter where they live or what kind of clinic they go to. “This is another huge step in better treatment for the 38 million people living with diabetes in the U.S.,” she added.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Commodity Futures Trading Commission today announced the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois entered a consent order imposing permanent injunctive relief, civil monetary penalties, disgorgement, and equitable relief againstChicago commodity pool operators LJM Partners Ltd and LJM Management Ltd (collectively, LJM); former LJM chairman, owner, and registered associated person Anthony J. Caine of Colorado; and former LJM chief portfolio manager and registered AP Anish Parvataneni of Illinois.
The consent order requires Caine and Parvataneni to pay civil monetary penalties of $500,000 and $200,000, respectively. Additionally, the consent order requires LJM and Caine to pay $4,624,271 in disgorgement, jointly and severally, which includes pre-judgment interest, and Parvataneni to pay $721,093 in disgorgement, which includes pre-judgment interest. It also imposes registration bans of three years for Caine and one year for Parvataneni and enjoins them from managing or advising the trading for or on behalf of any third parties for three years and one year, respectively, except for themselves, their wives, or children. The order permanently enjoins the defendants from further violations of the Commodity Exchange Act and CFTC regulations, as charged.
Case Background
The consent order stems from a CFTC complaint filed against defendants LJM, Caine, and Parvataneni in May 2021. [See CFTC Press Release No. 8392-21].
The CFTC previously ordered former LJM Chief Risk Officer Arjuna Ariathurai to pay $247,444 in civil monetary penalties, disgorgement, and pre-judgment interest for failing to disclose certain information when speaking to prospective and existing pool participants about LJM’s risk management.
The court also entered an order resolving the Securities and Exchange Commission’s related charges against the same defendants.
The CFTC acknowledges and appreciates the cooperation and assistance of the SEC, National Futures Association, and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
The Division of Enforcement staff responsible for this action are W. Derek Shakabpa, Patrick Daly, Nicole Buseman, David Oakland, Michael Cazakoff, Elizabeth May, Jordon Grimm, Lenel Hickson, Manal Sultan, Charles Marvine, and former employee David Acevedo.
CFTC’s Commodity Pool Fraud Advisory
The CFTC has issued several customer protection fraud advisories, including the Commodity Pool Fraud Advisory, which warns customers about a type of fraud involving individuals and firms, often unregistered, offering investments in commodity pools.
The CFTC also strongly urges the public to verify a company’s registration with the CFTC at NFA BASIC before committing funds. If unregistered, a customer should be wary of providing funds to that entity.
Suspicious activities or information, such as possible violations of commodity trading laws, can be reported to the Division of Enforcement via a toll-free hotline 866-FON-CFTC (866-366-2382) or file a tip or complaint online or contact the Whistleblower Office. Whistleblowers are eligible to receive between 10 and 30 percent of the monetary sanctions collected, paid from the Customer Protection Fund financed through monetary sanctions paid to the CFTC by violators of the CEA.
