Homogeneous Population Research Articles

Improved estimation of the effective reproduction number with heterogeneous transmission rates and reporting delays.

In the face of an infectious disease, a key epidemiological measure is the basic reproduction number, which quantifies the average secondary infections caused by a single case in a susceptible population. In practice, the effective reproduction number, denoted as , is widely used to assess the transmissibility of the disease at a given time t. Real-time estimating this metric is vital for understanding and managing disease outbreaks. Traditional statistical inference often relies on two assumptions. One is that samples are assumed to be drawn from a homogeneous population distribution, neglecting significant variations in individual transmission rates. The other is the ideal case reporting assumption, disregarding time delays between infection and reporting. In this paper, we thoroughly investigate these critical factors and assess their impact on estimating . We first introduce negative binomial and Weibull distributions to characterize transmission rates and reporting delays, respectively, based on which observation and state equations are formulated. Then, we employ a Bayesian filtering for estimating . Finally, validation using synthetic and empirical data demonstrates a significant improvement in estimation accuracy compared to conventional methods that ignore these factors.

The psychology of life's most important decisions.

Research on judgment and decision making typically studies "small worlds"-highly simplified and stylized tasks such as monetary gambles-among homogenous populations rather than big real-life decisions made by people around the globe. These transformative life decisions (e.g., whether or not to emigrate or flee a country, disclose one's sexual orientation, get divorced, or report a sexual assault) can shape lives. This article argues that rather than reducing such consequential decisions to fit small-world models, researchers need to analyze their real-world properties. Drawing on principles of bounded and ecological rationality, it proposes a framework that identifies five dimensions of transformative life decisions: conflicting cues, change of self, uncertain experiential value, irreversibility, and risk. The framework also specifies simple, versatile choice strategies that address these dimensions by, for instance, breaking down a decision into steps, avoiding trade-offs between present and future selves, or sampling others' experiences. Finally, it suggests benchmarks for assessing the rationality of transformative life decisions. Methodologically, this framework adapts a long tradition of mainly lab-based judgment and decision-making research to a text-based approach, thereby setting the stage for empirical work that analyzes real-world decisions using natural-language processing. Only by understanding decisions with the potential to transform life trajectories-and people in the process-will it be possible to develop encompassing and inclusive theories of human decision making. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Analysis of genotype effects and inter-individual variability in iPSC-derived trisomy 21 neural progenitor cells.

Trisomy of human chromosome 21 (T21) gives rise to Down syndrome (DS), the most frequent live-born autosomal aneuploidy. T21 triggers genome-wide transcriptomic alterations that result in multiple atypical phenotypes with highly variable penetrance and expressivity in individuals with DS. Many of these phenotypes, including atypical neurodevelopment, emerge prenatally. To enable in vitro analyses of the cellular and molecular mechanisms leading to the neurological alterations associated with T21, we created and characterized a panel of genomically diverse T21 and euploid induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). We subsequently differentiated these iPSCs to generate a panel of neural progenitor cells (NPCs). Alongside characterizing genotype effects from T21, we found that T21 NPCs showed inter-individual variability in growth rates, oxidative stress, senescence characteristics, and gene and protein expression. Pathway enrichment analyses of T21 NPCs identified vesicular transport, DNA repair, and cellular response to stress pathways. These results demonstrate T21-associated variability at the cellular level and suggest that cell lines from individuals with DS should not solely be analyzed as a homogenous population. Examining large cohorts of genetically diverse samples may more fully reveal the effects of aneuploidy on transcriptomic and phenotypic characteristics in T21 cell types. A panel of genomically diverse T21 and euploid induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) were created and subsequently differentiated into neural progenitor cells (NPCs). T21 NPCs showed reduced growth, increased oxidative stress, and inter-individual variability in gene and protein expression. This inter-individual variability suggests that studies with large cohorts of genetically diverse T21 samples may more fully reveal the effects of aneuploidy.

Abstract 4119327: Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor and Their Cardiotoxic Profile in the African American Population at a Community Safety Net Hospital

Intro: Tyrosine Kinase inhibitors (TKI) have been an effective treatment option for multiple cancer types. Unfortunately, TKIs have shown to have off-target Kinase binding to cardiac tissue. The examination of these cardiotoxic side effects have not been sufficiently explored in minority populations and studies such as DASISION and ENESTnd with high NAA homogeneous demographics reflect this issue. AA tend to have higher rates of HTN and HF at baseline, so further evaluation of TKI cardiotoxicity in this population is warranted. Methods: A total of 181 patients (pts) charts were reviewed in this study, who were exposed to either Ibrutinib, Imatinib and Sorafenib. First, Patients’ demographic data, such as age, gender, race, malignancy type were obtained along with their corresponding exposure to TKIs discussed above. Next, each patient (pt) chart was examined for any cardiotoxic etiologies after starting a TKI, such as arrhythmias, new- onset heart failure (nOHF) , cardiac arrest (CA), and Myocardial infarction (MI). Echocardiography reports were examined for Ejection fraction ( EF). In summary, this is an observational study looking at Cardiotoxicity secondary to TKI use in the AA population. Results: This study's demographics consisted of 149 AA and 32 NAA (non- african american), with the average age of 64.2, and had 128 males and 53 females. A total of 89 pts were on imatinib, 57 on Ibrutinib, 35 on sorafenib. In our population, 64 pts received cardiac echography while on TKIs, with 9 of them demonstrating nOHF. In terms of cardiac arrhythmias, a total of 67 pts experienced this while on TKI, with about 34% (51/149) of AA compared to 50% (16/32) of NAA. A total of 18 pts in the study required hospital management as a sequelae of their cardiotoxicity. Conclusion: There were a few trends that diverged from most studies regarding cardiotoxicity associated with TKIs in our study. When looking at individual items, such as rate of Atrial Fibrillation (AF), seen commonly in patients on Ibrutinib, our rate seen is 4.6% which is lower compared to earlier pooled homogenous population studies (6-7%). Earlier clinical trials of Sorafenib had a 2 % rate of HF in mostly homogenous NAA populations, and our study had 0% rate in total. Overall, several cardiotoxicity trends seen with the TKIs in this observational study warrant need for future studies to enable improved cardiac surveillance strategies post treatment in heterogeneous populations.

DISP-02. SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS INFLUENCE OVERALL SURVIVAL IN CHEMORADIATION-TREATED NEWLY DIAGNOSED WHO GRADE 4 GLIOBLASTOMA

Abstract Social determinants of health are known to influence health outcomes, yet the interactive effects of patient-specific socioeconomic variables on overall survival remain poorly characterized in patients with glioblastoma (GBM). We aimed to assess socioeconomic factors associated with overall survival in a clinically homogenous GBM population. Patients with newly diagnosed isocitrate dehydrogenase wild-type glioblastoma, who underwent maximal safe resection of contrast-enhanced (CE) and non-contrast enhanced tissue (NC) tissue with adjuvant chemoradiation from 1997-2017 were selected for inclusion. Socioeconomic factors were collected through retrospective chart review. Variables associated with overall survival on univariate cox proportional hazards models (p<0.05) were selected for multivariate analysis. 272 patients (42.6% female, 14.3% minority) were included. On univariate logistic regression, older age (HR: 1.23, p<0.001), greater residual CE tissue (HR: 3.95, p<0.001), were associated with reduced survival. Greater extent of resection NCE tissue (HR 0.94, p=0.028), higher postoperative KPS (HR 0.89, p=0.034), and unemployment (HR: 0.67, p=0.022), were associated with longer overall survival. On multivariate analysis, age was associated with reduced survival (HR: 1.31, p<0.001), while unemployment (HR:0.69, p=0.049) was associated with longer overall survival. Subgroup multivariate analyses was performed dividing patients into those <65 (n=185, 45% female, 11.9% minority, 48% employed) and those ≥65 (n=87, 37% female, 14% minority, 20% employed). In the <65 cohort, protective factors included retirement (HR: 0.49 p=0.004), and unemployment (HR:.57, p=0.006). Older age (HR: 1.03, p=0.004), and greater residual CE tissue (HR: 1.16, p=0.03) continued to be associated with poorer survival. No variables correlated with outcomes in the ≥65 cohort. Active employment was associated with reduced survival in GBM patients treated with standard care, potentially serving as a proxy for access to subsequent treatment.

Evaluating N-acetylcysteine as a Protective Agent Against Chemotherapy-induced Neuropathy in Breast Cancer: A Triple-blind, Randomized Clinical Trial.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a significant clinical issue that affects patients' quality of life and can limit the dosing of chemotherapeutic agents. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has been proposed as a potential chemoprotective agent against CIPN due to its antioxidant properties. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of oral NAC in preventing and controlling taxane-induced neuropathy in patients with breast cancer. This randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial included 80 breast cancer patients undergoing taxane-based chemotherapy. Participants were divided into 2 groups: an intervention group receiving 1200mg of oral NAC in divided doses per day and a placebo group. Patients were evaluated for neuropathy grade and functional status at 1 and 12 weeks postintervention. Our analysis revealed no significant difference in the incidence and severity of neuropathy between the intervention and placebo groups at 1 (P=0.328) and 12 weeks (P=0.569) postchemotherapy. Baseline characteristics such as age, number of treatment cycles, and disease stage were similar between groups, indicating a homogeneous population. Oral NAC at a dose of 1200mg per day did not significantly reduce the incidence or severity of taxane-induced neuropathy. These findings suggest that the oral bioavailability of NAC may be insufficient to exert a protective effect and that future studies should consider alternative dosing strategies or routes of administration. The need for further research to optimize NAC's chemoprotective role in CIPN remains evident.

The process supporting the emergence of the environmental innovation capabilities within small businesses: An empirical investigation

AbstractFor several years, companies have made strategic changes to align with sustainable development principles by developing eco‐innovations. While research consistently highlights the positive impact of eco‐innovations on organisational performance, the factors driving these initiatives—particularly within small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs)—remain less clear. This inconsistency is due to the heterogeneity of SMEs and their high sensitivity to external contexts. To address this issue, our study delves into the role of competencies, technological factors and networking in shaping the environmental innovation capabilities of a homogeneous SME population in terms of sector, age, size, legal status, geographical location and orientation towards innovation. Using the partial least squares approach, we find that competencies and technological factors are the key drivers of eco‐innovation, while networking shows no significant effect. These findings contribute to the existing literature by underlining the fundamental importance of internal skills and technological adoption for fostering eco‐innovation. They also suggest that networking becomes essential in environments lacking robust public and private support mechanisms for SME growth. Considering the rapid and turbulent changes, driven by the dual needs of sustainability and competitiveness, our results offer useful and critical advice for policymakers to define more appropriate and effective policies.

A diverse hidradenitis suppurativa cohort: a retrospective cross-sectional study of 13,130 patients from a large US healthcare system database from 1995-2022

BackgroundMost epidemiological studies of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) have described homogeneous patient populations. ObjectiveTo characterize demographics, modifiable health behaviors, and comorbidities of HS patients within a diverse cohort. MethodsA retrospective cross-sectional study of 13,130 HS patients within a healthcare system was conducted. ResultsA female sex bias of ∼3:1 in all racial/ethnic subgroups was observed. Black/African American (AA) patients had a lower age at HS diagnosis than White patients (37.1 years vs 39.4 years, P<0.001). A higher proportion of Black/AA females than White females with HS had BMI in the obese range (69.9% vs 56.5%; P=0.03). In contrast, fewer Black/African American males with HS had a BMI in the obese range compared to White males (51.4% vs. 61.0%; P<0.001). More Black/AA patients than White patients with HS had congestive heart failure (OR=2.10, CI=1.19-3.78; P<0.05), chronic pulmonary disease (OR=1.34; CI=1.02-1.78; P<0.05), diabetes with chronic complication (OR=1.73; CI=1.16-2.60; P<0.05), renal disease (OR=2.66; CI=1.67-4.34; P<0.05), and Charlson Comorbidity Index score ≥4 (OR=1.67; CI=1.09-2.58; P<0.05). Furthermore, male patients were more likely than female patients to have renal disease (OR=2.62; CI 1.66-4.14; P<0.05). LimitationsA single-center study. ConclusionSubgroups of HS patients had significant differences in demographics, risk factors, and comorbid conditions.

Diagnostic performance of deep learning for infectious keratitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Infectious keratitis (IK) is the leading cause of corneal blindness globally. Deep learning (DL) is an emerging tool for medical diagnosis, though its value in IK is unclear. We aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of DL for IK and its comparative accuracy with ophthalmologists. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched EMBASE, MEDLINE, and clinical registries for studies related to DL for IK published between 1974 and July 16, 2024. We performed meta-analyses using bivariate models to estimate summary sensitivities and specificities. This systematic review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022348596). Of 963 studies identified, 35 studies (136,401 corneal images from >56,011 patients) were included. Most studies had low risk of bias (68.6%) and low applicability concern (91.4%) in all domains of QUADAS-2, except the index test domain. Against the reference standard of expert consensus and/or microbiological results (seven external validation studies; 10,675 images), the summary estimates (95% CI) for sensitivity and specificity of DL for IK were 86.2% (71.6-93.9) and 96.3% (91.5-98.5). From 28 internal validation studies (16,059 images), summary estimates for sensitivity and specificity were 91.6% (86.8-94.8) and 90.7% (84.8-94.5). Based on seven studies (4007 images), DL and ophthalmologists had comparable summary sensitivity [89.2% (82.2-93.6) versus 82.2% (71.5-89.5); P=0.20] and specificity [(93.2% (85.5-97.0) versus 89.6% (78.8-95.2); P=0.45]. DL models may have good diagnostic accuracy for IK and comparable performance to ophthalmologists. These findings should be interpreted with caution due to the image-based analysis that did not account for potential correlation within individuals, relatively homogeneous population studies, lack of pre-specification of DL thresholds, and limited external validation. Future studies should improve their reporting, data diversity, external validation, transparency, and explainability to increase the reliability and generalisability of DL models for clinical deployment. NIH, Wellcome Trust, MRC, Fight for Sight, BHP, and ESCRS.

One fresh cleavage-stage single embryo transfer (SET) plus one frozen-thawed blastocyst-stage SET or one fresh cleavage-stage double embryo transfer? A retrospective matched cohort study.

Are there significant differences in fertility outcomes between transferring two cleavage-stage embryos in a single fresh cycle and transferring one cleavage-stage embryo in a fresh cycle and one blastocyst-stage embryo in the subsequent frozen-thawed cycle? In women aged <38 years with two embryos available, transferring one cleavage-stage embryo in a fresh cycle and one blastocyst-stage embryo in the subsequent frozen-thawed cycle increased live birth rates and decreased multiple live birth rates compared to transferring two cleavage-stage embryos in a single fresh cycle. The strategy of repeated single embryo transfer (SET) has emerged as a solution to address the reduced live birth rates associated with SET per cycle. There is substantial evidence indicating that the cumulative live birth rate after repeated SET is comparable to that of double embryo transfer (DET), while significantly reducing the incidence of multiple pregnancies. Evidence regarding the outcomes of transferring two cleavage-stage embryos in a single fresh cycle versus transferring one cleavage-stage embryo in one fresh cycle and one blastocyst-stage embryo in the subsequent frozen-thawed cycle is scarce. This study is a retrospective matched cohort study, where data were gathered from the clinical database of women who underwent IVF treatment at the Reproductive Center of Peking University Third Hospital between January 2011 and December 2019, with follow-up extending until December 2021. The study group included cycles with a fresh cleavage-stage SET and a subsequent frozen-thawed blastocyst-stage SET (2xSET, N = 976). Fresh cleavage-stage DET was the control group (DET, N = 976). Included cycles were divided into subgroups based on age (≥38 years vs <38 years) and total number of utilizable (transferred or cryopreserved) embryos (=2 vs >2). The duration of infertility, prevalence of unexplained infertility, and controlled ovarian stimulation regimes differed significantly between the two groups and were adjusted for in the further analysis. We observed a significant increase in clinical pregnancies (55.5% vs 42%, adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.87 [1.55-2.26]) and live births (44.8% vs 34.5%, adjusted OR 1.63 [1.35-1.97]) in favor of the 2xSET group. The preterm birth rate was lower in the study group (adjusted OR 0.64 [0.42-0.96]). Neonatal birth weight of singletons was similar between the two groups (adjusted B 4.94 g [-84.5 to 94.4]). The beneficial effect on the live birth rate disappeared in cases where aged 38 years and older or when only two embryos were utilizable. This study is limited by differences in baseline characteristics of the two groups. Analyzing two consecutive SETs at the cleavage stage was not feasible. Additionally, the homogeneous population limits generalizability to other ethnic groups, which should be considered when interpreting the results broadly. We recommend a combination strategy for women under 38 years old and with more than two embryos available: transfer one cleavage-stage embryo in the fresh cycle, followed by one blastocyst-stage embryo in the subsequent frozen-thawed cycle. This strategy reduces the risk of blastocyst culture failure while maintaining a high success rate. It offers hope to families seeking additional children and avoids unnecessary embryo disposal. B.W.M. had received grants from NHMRC, Ferring, Merck, and Guerbet, consulting fees and stock options from ObsEva, is on the advisory board of ObsEva, and reports consultancy for Guerbet, none of which are in relation to the present manuscript. All other authors have no conflict of interest to declare. N/A.

Sequencing and characterization of complete mitogenome DNA of worldwide turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) populations

The history of turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) domestication can be traced back to the period between 700 and 200 BC in Mexico. This process involved multiple contributors and resulted in the development of modern local turkey breeds. This research investigates the complete mitochondrial diversity across a diverse range of local turkeys. Seventy-three turkeys were sampled from various populations, including autochthonous Italian breeds, an American breed (Narragansett), as well as wild turkeys from the USA and Mexico. The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was employed as a powerful tool for biodiversity and breed phylogeny investigation. An analysis of the entire mtDNA was conducted to identify breed-specific unique traits, mitochondrial-specific characteristics, and the phylogenetic relationship among turkey populations. A total of 44 polymorphic sites were identified. Brianzolo and Narragansett birds were characterized as genetically homogeneous populations. Thirty-two different haplotypes were identified when our samples were compared with mtDNA D-loop of 96 online available turkeys from various geographical countries. H1 and H2, differing for one mutation, were the most abundant, comprising 132 of the 185 sequences. H1 included samples coming from every region, while H2 was predominantly characterized by Italian samples. USA and Mexican samples appear to be more variable in their mtDNA than the other populations.

Metabolic Risk Factors and Survival in Patients with Glioblastoma.

Metabolic syndrome increases the risk of developing various systemic cancers. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients is unknown. Further, there have been contradictory reports about how metabolic syndrome affects clinical outcomes. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that metabolic syndrome is associated with an increased prevalence of glioblastoma and worsened survival outcomes. This retrospective cohort study examines seventy-three patients with isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-wild-type glioblastoma as it provides a relatively homogeneous population to examine. Patient characteristics, vital signs, lab results, tumor molecular markers, and overall survival were analyzed. Patients with metabolic syndrome and individual risk factors were identified, and survival outcomes were examined. Our results demonstrate that there is a higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome in our cohort of patients with glioblastoma than in the general population (41% vs. 33%), though this effect is confounded by older age. We also demonstrate that after correction for confounding variables, metabolic syndrome is not significantly associated with overall survival (p = 0.1). When analyzing individual metabolic risk factors, we demonstrate that there is a significant association between the accumulation of metabolic risk factors and decreased survival (p = 0.03), and hyperglycemia emerges as a significant independent risk factor for decreased survival (p = 0.05). These results suggest that metabolic risk factors can affect survival in patients with glioblastoma, which can have significant implications for clinical practice. These findings need to be further explored through further clinical and mechanistic studies.

Ribosomal A site binding pattern differs between Arm methyltransferases from clinical pathogens and a natural producer of aminoglycosides

The extensive use of aminoglycosides to treat bacterial infections has led to significant resistance, posing a global health threat. Recent clinical reports highlight high levels of aminoglycoside resistance due to Arm/Kam methyltransferases, which methylate specific nucleotides in 16S rRNA, preventing antibiotic binding to the ribosome. This study compared the ribosomal A site binding patterns of Arm methyltransferases from clinical pathogens (ArmA, RmtB, RmtC, and RmtD) with those of the Sgm methyltransferase from a natural aminoglycoside producer. We introduced single mutations near the G1405 nucleotide in helix 44 of 16S rRNA to assess their impact on the methylation ability of Arm methyltransferases in E. coli cells with homogeneous mutant ribosomes. We evaluated how these mutations affected bacterial viability in cells with mixed and homogeneous ribosome populations and determined the minimal inhibitory concentration of kanamycin to assess their impact on Arm enzyme activity. Notably, Sgm methyltransferase exhibited a distinct methylation pattern compared to Arm methyltransferases from clinical strains. Structural comparisons of Sgm, RmtB, and RmtC revealed different spatial orientations of key amino acids involved in ribosomal binding, highlighting evolutionary differences. This research enhances understanding of Arm methyltransferases and lays the groundwork for designing inhibitors to combat this potent form of antibiotic resistance.

Clinical and Epidemiological Study of Multiple Sclerosis in Svoge and Troyan

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory, autoimmune, demyelinating and neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system. It is characterized by various symptoms depending on the area affected – brain, spinal cord or optic nerves. Multiple sclerosis typically presents at age 20–40 years and affects women more often than men. It is the most frequent nontraumatic disease causing neurologic deficit among young people. According to the 3rd edition of Atlas of MS, published by The Multiple Sclerosis International Federation in 2020, there are 2.8 million people living with the disease around the world. The last study on the epidemiology of multiple sclerosis in Bulgaria was published in 1999. It estimated prevalence of 44.5/100 000 and incidence 1.03/100 000. We present an epidemiological study conducted between January 2016 and December 2020 in two small areas in Bulgaria with homogenous and stable population – Svoge and Troyan. The estimated prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Troyan was 116.5/100 000 with incidence of 28.2/100 000. The prevalence and incidence of multiple sclerosis in Svoge were 117.7/100 000 and 24.5/100 000, respectively. The reason for the higher prevalence and incidence rates in our study may be explained by the better diagnosis of the disease according to well defined diagnostic criteria, the longer survival of the affected individuals and the availability of various disease modifying therapies.

Targeted isolation of extracellular vesicles from cell culture supernatant using immuno-affinity chromatography

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as promising therapeutics with broad clinical applications as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic drug delivery systems. Yet, these biopharmaceuticals pose a challenge in terms of manufacturing due to their complexity and heterogeneity. Despite advancements in the field, current purification technologies lack scalability and/or selectivity. Affinity chromatography (AC) − coupling unmatched specificity and scalability − could be used to simplify purification processing and generate clinical-grade EVs with higher titers and purity.In the present work, we report the implementation of an immuno-AC resin to capture and purify EVs directly from clarified cellular feedstocks. Firstly, to guide and support marker selection, vesicle phenotype characterization was conducted using single particle interferometric reflectance image sensing (SP-IRIS) coupled with immunofluorescence. CD81 was the marker which shown to be more present and more likely to have the other markers (CD63 and CD9). Thus, anti-CD81 VHH ligand was generated and evaluated towards recombinant CD81 protein and CD81 bearing EV particles using surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Different chromatographic studies with Anti-CD81 ligand immobilized onto agarose beads resin were conducted to optimize the process parameters (residence time, dynamic binding capacity and impurity clearance). At residence time of 2 min, on average 40 % of pure triple tetraspanin-positive EV fraction was recovered. The enrichment in EV particles herein obtained, based on scale-up calculations, it would be possible to produce 1 × 1013 EVs from a 1L cell culture, while meeting impurity requirements in a single-step purification process (impurity removal over 2 log reduction value). A single-step purification process is possible, enabling the successful isolation of homogeneous EVs population, counting with a final HCP titer of 60 ng/mL and 9 ng/mL of dsDNA impurities. EV’s morphological integrity and internalization ability were also demonstrated, showcasing elution’s efficiency under mild conditions.Overall, this work contributes to the development of a novel, highly specific, AC technology using a camelid-derived affinity ligand which, bridging the scalability requirements demanded of large-scale production, could potentiate the advent of EV-based therapies.

The simple analytics of the environmental Kuznets curve: a reformulation

PurposeThis paper aims to review the relationship between per capita income and aggregate emission in an economy populated by rational agents. According to the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis, pollution–income relationship is an inverted U-shaped curve. This paper aims to derive that relationship in an endogenous way and extends the relevant literature in an important way.Design/methodology/approachThis paper formulated a general equilibrium model of homogenous population with identical tastes and preferences. Production side is modelled with firms operating in a monopolistically competitive environment. The approach is modelling the economy in an analytical way so that closed form solutions can be achieved. Model simulations have also been performed to get a clear view of results.FindingsThis study shows that increasing returns to scale in abatement technology ceases to be a sufficient condition for the generation of the EKC hypothesis. The general equilibrium structure of the model allows studying the endogenous evolution of income, emissions and prices of the abatement goods in a unified setting.Originality/valueThe paper is novel and original in nature. The results are new in the literature. These results extend and generalise the previous research work in this area in an important way. The sufficient condition that is obtained in this study limits the applicability of EKC in an otherwise identical economy as used in previous literature. Therefore, this paper adds value to the ongoing research related to EKC.

Real-Life Comparative Analysis of Robotic-Assisted Versus Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy in a Single Centre Experience.

Background: The advantage of a robotic-assisted (RARP) over a laparoscopic (LRP) approach in radical prostatectomy (RP) remains to be demonstrated. Aim: The aim of the study is to use a homogeneous population in real life and single primary surgeon surgery to analyze the oncological and functional results based on the type of surgical approach and pathological features. Methods: This is a prospective trial on non-metastatic prostate cancer (PCa) patients considered after a multidisciplinary decision to conduct a RP, using a RARP or LRP approach. A real-life setting was analyzed at our Urological Departments using homogeneous criteria for the management of PCa cases and a single surgeon experience on 444 cases (284 LRP and 160 RARP). Results: Mean operating time was significantly lower in RARP (153.21 ± 25.1 min) than in LRP (173.33 ± 44.3 min) (p < 0.001). In cases submitted to an extended lymph node dissection (eLND), the mean number of lymph nodes removed was 15.16 ± 7.83 and 19.83 ± 4.78, respectively, in LRP and RARP procedures (p < 0.001), but positive lymph nodes (pN1) were similarly found in 15.8% of LRP patients and 13.6% of RARP patients (p = 0.430). Surgical margins (SM) positivity was not significantly higher in the RARP group (20.0%) when compared to the LRP group (15.9%) (p = 0.145). During the postoperative follow-up, a biochemical recurrence (BCR) was detected in 14.4% and 7.5% of cases in the LRP and RARP group, respectively, (p = 0.014). Better results of PAD tests at 3-month intervals using the RARP approach (mean pad weight 75.57 ± 122 g and 14 ± 42 g, respectively, in LRP and RARP (p < 0.01)) were described. Conclusions: In the comparison between the RARP and LRP approach, a clear advantage of the robotic approach is a significant reduction in operating times, days of hospitalization, and postoperative catheterization compared to laparoscopic surgery. It is not possible to describe any certain oncological advantage both in terms of surgical margins and pathological lymph nodes removed. In RARP cases a reduction to the limit of significance is described in terms of biochemical recurrence. RARP produces a more rapid recovery of urinary continence at 3 months postoperatively without significant advantages in terms of erective potency recovery.

Inbreeding accelerates reproductive senescence, but not survival senescence, in a precocial bird.

Inbreeding depression is predicted to increase with age, because natural selection is less efficient at purging deleterious alleles that are only expressed later in life. However, empirical results are scarce, and equivocal between studies. Here we performed controlled matings between related and unrelated individuals of domesticated Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica), and monitored the performance of their offspring for all fitness components over their complete life course. We found rapid senescence in adult survival and egg laying performance, and inbreeding depression at all life stages (reduced embryo viability, increased age at maturity, as well as reduced adult survival and reproduction). Inbreeding depression did not increase at later ages for survival, but did so for egg laying, thereby accelerating reproductive senescence. Moreover, the effect of inbreeding on egg laying persisted after correcting for lifespan, indicating that both survival and reproduction were independently affected by inbreeding. We suggest that in heterogeneous populations intra-generational purging may at earlier ages already select out the individuals that are homozygous for the specific alleles responsible for depressed survival, preventing the appearance of increased inbreeding depression in survival with age. Given that inbreeding affects reproduction independent of survival this should not apply to reproductive senescence or homogeneous populations, which may explain equivocal results between traits and studies.

Determining an Applicable Sample Size in Research Studies

Determining a proper sample size is a critical aspect of research design as it influences the reliability and validity of study findings. The key objective of writing this article is to suggest some rudimentary formulae, easy software tools and a general sample size table to determine an applicable sample size to be used in research studies. To attain this objective, relevant books and journal articles have been taken as the sources of secondary data. After a comprehensive overview of the literature regarding the sample size, this article concludes that the confidence level, the margin of error, the population size, and the population proportion statistically determine the sample size in quantitative research studies. Similarly, the nature of population, and types of research studies are the vital factors that confer us the basic idea about the sample size before computing the ideal or required sample size that homogeneous population and qualitative research studies generally require a smaller sample size, whereas heterogeneous population and quantitative research studies necessitate a larger sample size. Researchers, practitioners, and students will find this article valuable in guiding their decisions on sample size determination for robust and meaningful research outcomes.

Microcavity-assisted cloning (MAC) of hard-to-clone HepG2 cell lines: cloning made easy

Cloning is a key molecular biology procedure for obtaining a genetically homogenous population of organisms or cell lines. It requires the expansion of new cell populations starting from single genetically modified cells. Despite the technical progress, cloning of many cell lines remains difficult. Cloning often fails either due to the strenuous conditions associated with manipulating cells or because many cells don’t tolerate a single-cell state. Here we describe a new cloning method utilizing low adhesion microcavity plates. This new technique, named microcavity-assisted cloning (MAC) was developed to clone difficult-to-clone HepG2 cells. The clones were produced following CRISPR/Cas9 knockout of the GSTA1 gene by a random distribution of 200, 400, and 800 cells into 550 microcavities of a 24-well low adhesion plate originally designed for the culture of spheroids. The knockout of GSTA1 was verified at the protein level using Western blotting. The advantages of the MAC method are its low cost, ease of the procedure, and the possibility of scaling up the throughput and automatization.