Estimates Of Populations Research Articles

GPS-tracking reveals winter short-stopping and large differences in individual migratory distance among Greylag Geese (Anser anser) breeding in Denmark

The exponential increase in the ‘NW/SW European Greylag Goose population’ (NGGP) has created demands for more precise estimates of the national breeding populations and improved understanding of their movements to support its effective management. Increased NGGP abundance has been associated with a northeast-ward shift in wintering centre of gravity, suggesting major changes in migratory and wintering patterns. Greater numbers of wintering Greylag Geese wintering numbers in Denmark could originate from increases in the Danish breeding population showing a more sedentary habit and/or from a higher incidence of “winter short-stopping” by birds from elsewhere. Data from the first 16 Greylag Goose deployed with GPS/GSM tracking collars in 2021 and 2022 were used to test the hypothesis that birds in newly colonised Danish breeding areas were more sedentary than the long-distance migratory geese in traditional nesting areas. Contemporary migration patterns showed that some Danish breeders (including examples from newly colonized breeding areas) still migrate to their traditional wintering quarters in southern Spain, but most tagged Greylag Geese stayed in Denmark throughout the annual cycle. These data also provided the first evidence of the occurrence of winter short-stopping among individual Danish Greylag Geese, which after one winter in Spain subsequently wintered in Denmark and the Netherlands, indicating that some individuals can shift between new wintering areas every autumn. Overall, these results show that while most Danish summering Greylag Geese are now largely resident within Denmark, some move to Germany and the Netherlands and a few still undertake the traditional long migration to southern Spain, making assignment of breeding provenance to migrating birds challenging.

An Effective Method for Estimating the Population Mean That Utilizes Dual Auxiliary Information

To improve the effectiveness of population estimators, researchers have recently implemented dual supplementary information. They employed traditional rankings, the empirical cumulative distribution function, and indicator functions as supplementary sources of information in their analysis. An improved family of population mean estimators is introduced in this article, which utilizes the relative ranks of the auxiliary information’s configurations to incorporate the relevant information. A first-order approximation is employed to derive the mathematical expressions for the bias and the mean-squared error (MSE) of the proposed family of estimators. The empirical analysis is investigated to demonstrate the practicality of the proposed estimators in real-world scenarios. Additionally, the theoretical conclusions are effectively validated by the Monte Carlo simulation integration. Our results unequivocally indicate that the proposed family of estimators surpasses their current counterparts.

Sex estimation by discriminant function analysis of long bones in prehistoric Southeast Asian populations

AbstractBiological sex estimation is an integral part of reconstructing the biological profile of an individual in forensic anthropological and bioarchaeological contexts. Formulating population specific discriminant function equations for metric variables is vital for reconstructing biological sex of fragmentary skeletal remains. This study aimed to develop multivariable and univariable sectioning point sex estimation equations from long bones of prehistoric Thailand and Cambodia people dated from 4700 to 1450 BP. A total of 481 individuals (236 females and 245 males) with 997 long bone measurements were analyzed. Discriminant function analysis was used to analyze sexually dimorphic measurements from long bones of humeri (177 females and 183 males), femora (169 females and 178 males), and tibiae (139 females and 151 males). Stepwise and direct multivariable functions offered the highest accuracies of 97.3% for humeri, 97% for femora, and 96.7% for tibiae. Univariable functions indicated that the recommended measurements for use in sex estimations with high cross‐validation accuracies are the humeral epicondylar breadth (89.1%), femoral maximum head diameter (87.1%), and tibial midshaft circumference (88.3%). These equations are applicable for use in sex estimation for the specific prehistoric Southeast Asian populations to improve our understanding of the prehistoric demography. Further evaluation and validation of the equations are required to test whether these equations can also be applied to estimate biological sex of contemporary Southeast Asian populations.

Somatropin therapy in Italy during 2019-2022: prevalence and incidence rates estimated by data from the national register and regional health sources.

The availability of epidemiological data relating to the therapy with somatropin (recombinant Growth Hormone, rGH) is scarce and mostly limited to specific clinical conditions. In Italy, the National Register of rGH users (Registro nazionale degli assuntori dell'ormone della crescita - Rnaoc) has been established since 2004 as recommended by the Italian medicine agency (Aifa). However, prevalence (P) and incidence (I) estimates in the Italian population are lacking. Data from the Rnaoc and a questionnaire submitted to all the Italian regions have been used to calculate P and I rates of rGH treatment exposure in the Italian paediatric (0-17 years) and adult (≥18 years) population during 2019-2022; P and I rates of growth hormone deficiency (GHD) in paediatric patients have been estimated as well. Results from the two data sources have been compared. In 2019-2022, the estimated P rate in the paediatric population was 13,4/10.000, in adults 0,7/10.000 inhabitants; the I rate was 2,3/10.000 and 0,06/10.000 inhabitants, correspondingly. The estimated P rate of paediatric GHD was 8,9/10.000, the I rate was 1,5/10.000 inhabitants, respectively. Study results showed a better reliability of data collected via questionnaire because more consistent with Italian regional resident populations.

The Prevalence of Autistic Traits in a Sample of Young Adults Referred to a Generalized Mental Health Outpatient Clinic.

The diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is undergoing significant revisions, impacting prevalence estimates in the general population. Moreover, the rise of a dimensional perspective on psychopathology has broadened our understanding of autism, recognizing that subthreshold autistic features extend throughout the general population. However, there remains a limited understanding of the prevalence of ASD traits in individuals with psychiatric disorders, particularly in young adults, who are at an age where several mental health conditions emerge. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of ASD traits in a sample of young adults (18-24 years old) attending a generalized mental health outpatient clinic. A total of 259 young adult patients completed the self-report screening questionnaires Autism Quotient (AQ) and Ritvo Autism and Asperger Diagnostic Scale-Revised (RAADS-R). A total of 16.2% of our sample scored above the cut-off in both scales; this percentage decreased to 13.13% when restricting the RAADS-R cut-off to >119, as suggested for clinical samples. The association with sociodemographic features is discussed. We argue that screening for autistic traits should be integrated into the assessment of young adults presenting with nonspecific psychiatric symptoms or psychological distress. Although there is ongoing debate over the use of self-report screening tools, a positive result on both the AQ and RAADS-R should prompt clinicians to pursue a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation using structured or semi-structured interviews.

Questionnaire surveys to investigate marine mammal fisheries bycatch: systematic review and best practice

Bycatch is the most significant threat to marine mammals globally. There are increasing requirements for national governments to fulfil their obligations to international agreements and treaties to assess fisheries catch and bycatch of non-target species. Questionnaire surveys represent one low-cost method to collect data to estimate fisheries catch and bycatch of vulnerable species including marine mammals. Questionnaire surveys can be particularly advantageous when bycatch is being investigated on large spatial and temporal scales, or in data-poor areas. This review aims to provide the necessary guidance required to design and conduct questionnaire studies investigating marine mammal bycatch. To do so, a systematic review was conducted of the methods used in 91 peer-reviewed or grey literature questionnaire studies from 1990 to 2023 investigating marine mammal bycatch. Literature was searched, screened, and analysed following the RepOrting standards for Systematic Evidence Syntheses (ROSES) protocols. A narrative synthesis and critical evaluation of the methods used were conducted and best practice recommendations are proposed. The recommendations include suggestions for how to generate representative samples, the steps that should be followed when designing a questionnaire instrument, how to collect reliable data, how to reduce under-reporting and interviewer bias, and how weighting or model-based bycatch estimation techniques can be used to reduce sampling bias. The review’s guidance and best practice recommendations provide much-needed resources to develop and employ questionnaire studies that produce robust bycatch estimates for marine mammal populations where they are currently missing. Recommendations can be used by scientists and decision-makers across the globe. Whilst the focus of this review is on using questionnaires to investigate marine mammal bycatch, the information and recommendations will also be useful for those investigating bycatch of any other non-target species.

Differences in cardiovascular risk in the general population of low and high altitude residents in Peru. HIGH Altitude CArdiovascular REsearch Latin America Population Study (HIGHCARE-LAPS)

Abstract Introduction Living at high altitude (HA) is associated with profound changes in cardiovascular physiology, mostly caused by chronic hypoxia. Available data from high income countries (Switzerland, Austria) suggest beneficial effects of moderate altitude residence in terms of cardiovascular risk. Little is known, however, about cardiovascular risk profile in long-term residents of higher altitudes from low-income countries. Aim To compare cardiovascular risk estimated with validated score in population-based samples of permanent residents of low and high-altitude communities in Peru. Methods Study participants (adults permanently residing at either low or high altitude) were recruited by sex- and age-stratified random multistage cluster sampling from the general population of urban areas at different altitudes in Peru (lowlanders: <500 m above sea level, highlanders: cities at 3287 m, 3824 m and 4330 m). For all participants questionnaire-based information, conventional blood pressure (BP; 3 seated measurements with a validated oscillometric device) and laboratory variables were obtained. Based on the collected data atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk was estimated according to Pooled Cohort Equations (PCE, previously calibrated in South American population). Participants below 40 years of age, with ASVCD history, with LDL-C≥190 mg/dL or on LDL-C lowering therapy were excluded from this analysis. Results The analysis included 146 lowlanders and 373 highlanders, most of whom had low 10-year ASVCD risk, with the median estimated risk being significantly higher among lowlanders. Comparisons between the groups in terms of principal variables of interest are reported in the Table. The highlanders were slightly younger, had lower BMI, conventional BP, HDL cholesterol, lower prevalence of antihypertensive medication and of diabetes, and higher heart rate. In a multivariable model the difference in ASCVD risk between lowlanders and highlanders was significant (p=0.0009) after adjusting for BMI and socio-economic variables but not after systolic BP was included in the model (p=0.800). Conclusions Residence at HA is associated with a lower estimated ASCVD risk in the general population of Peru, mainly because of lower BP levels. Considering that the prognostic value of cardiovascular risk estimates in highland populations is unknown, longitudinal cohort studies would be required to assess whether this finding is associated with a lower rate of cardiovascular events.

Abundant genetic variation is retained in many laboratory schistosome populations.

Schistosomes are obligately sexual blood flukes that can be maintained in the laboratory using freshwater snails as intermediate and rodents as definitive hosts. The genetic composition of laboratory schistosome populations is poorly understood: whether genetic variation has been purged due to serial inbreeding or retained is unclear. We sequenced 19 - 24 parasites from each of five laboratory Schistosoma mansoni populations and compared their genomes with published exome data from four S. mansoni field populations. We found abundant genomic variation (0.897 - 1.22 million variants) within laboratory populations: these retained on average 49% (π = 3.27e-04 - 8.94e-04) of the nucleotide diversity observed in the four field parasite populations (π = 1.08e-03 - 2.2e-03). However, the pattern of variation was very different in laboratory and field populations. Tajima's D was positive in all laboratory populations except SmBRE, indicative of recent population bottlenecks, but negative in all field populations. Current effective population size estimates of laboratory populations were lower (2 - 258) compared to field populations (3,174 - infinity). The distance between markers at which linkage disequilibrium (LD) decayed to 0.5 was longer in laboratory populations (59 bp - 180 kb) compared to field populations (9 bp - 9.5 kb). SmBRE was the least variable; this parasite also shows low fitness across the lifecycle, consistent with inbreeding depression. The abundant genetic variation present in most laboratory schistosome populations has several important implications: (i) measurement of parasite phenotypes, such as drug resistance, using laboratory parasite populations will determine average values and underestimate trait variation; (ii) genome-wide association studies (GWAS) can be conducted in laboratory schistosome populations by measuring phenotypes and genotypes of individual worms; (iii) genetic drift may lead to divergence in schistosome populations maintained in different laboratories. We conclude that the abundant genetic variation retained within many laboratory schistosome populations can provide valuable, untapped opportunities for schistosome research.

Parity-specific differences in spatial genetics and dispersal in the common lizard.

Dispersal is a key demographic parameter that plays an important role in determining spatial population dynamic and genetic structure. Linking differences in dispersal patterns to key life-history traits is often confounded by inconsistent environmental pressures experienced by different populations. To explore the link between dispersal and life history, we focus on a site where oviparous and viviparous lineages of the common lizard (Zootoca vivipara) are found adjacent to each other. We take advantage of this shared environment to investigate parity-specific dispersal patterns using high resolution, individual-level spatial genetic autocorrelation and population genomic approaches (11,726 SNPs; 293 oviparous and 310 viviparous individuals). We found isolation-by-distance patterns to be present in both the oviparous and viviparous populations. Density was 2.5 times higher in the viviparous population than the oviparous one, though heterozygosity and genetic diversity measures were similar in the two populations. We found marked differences in the extent of genetic neighbourhoods between the lineages, with the viviparous population showing both dispersal (σ) and spatial genetic autocorrelation (Moran's I) at two-fold greater geographic distances than the oviparous population. We found clear evidence of male-biased dispersal from genetic estimates in the viviparous population. In the oviparous population, evidence of male-biased dispersal is weak or absent. These differences are likely to be closely linked to specific requirements of the alternative reproductive strategies and may be the demographic consequences of mother-offspring interactions. Fine-scale geographic and individual-level measures are key to understanding parity mode differences at microevolutionary scales and to better identifying their ecological and evolutionary impacts.

FDXR gene expression and micronucleus frequency in Type 2 diabetes mellitus patients and their importance in case of radiation exposures

Analysis of gene expression (e.g. Ferredoxin Reductase: FDXR) changes in the blood samples have shown potential as predictive markers of disease, prognosis for therapy as well as triage and dose estimation in radiation-exposed populations. Similarly, quantification of micronuclei (MN) formation has been presented as a rapid cytogenetic marker for those applications. It was cautioned that the reliable utilization of these markers for prediction of disease, therapy prognosis, and dose estimation depends upon the information on known variables that affect these markers. Literature suggests that advanced glycation end products/oxidative stress in diabetic conditions can alter the levels of DNA damage and gene expression, and impact the segregation of the exposed from unexposed during nuclear disasters. Therefore, we investigated the influence of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on baseline expression of the FDXR and frequency of MN. Peripheral blood samples were collected from healthy volunteers (HV) (n = 60; 43 males and 17 females) and T2DM patients (n = 60; 32 males and 28 females), and performed real-time quantification of FDXR gene expression and analysis of MN frequency using microscopy. The basal level of FDXR gene expression (2.55 folds) (p < 0.01) and the frequency of MN is significantly (p < 0.01) higher (4 folds) in T2DM patients when compared to HV. Further, subgroup analysis found that gender, alcohol, smoking, duration of T2DM, complications, and medications increased both the expression of the FDXR gene and frequency of MN in T2DM; nevertheless, the increase was not significant, except for gender (p < 0.05) and medication (p < 0.05) on the frequency of MN. Overall results indicate that the T2DM patients showed a higher basal level expression of the FDXR gene and MN frequency when compared to HV and suggest an altered metabolic condition in T2DM is a confounding factor that impacts the levels of those markers. The increased levels of these markers might need to be considered to monitor medical radiation exposures and reliable biodosimetry during large-scale radiological accidents.

Survival outcomes of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation in Germany: real-world evidence from an administrative database between 2010 and 2019.

Limited real-world evidence is available for patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who received an autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in Germany. This study aims to describe the real-world survival outcomes of patients with DLBCL who received ASCT in Germany after diagnosis. This study is a retrospective database analysis covering the period between 2010 and 2019. Unadjusted overall survival (OS) was plotted using the Kaplan-Meier estimator for the overall population and stratified by relapse status. A Cox regression was run to identify factors that influence OS. A total of 112 patients received an ASCT, with the average time from first-line treatment to ASCT being 11.7 months. The median OS estimated by Kaplan-Meier was 83.4 months for the entire cohort. The only variable that significantly reduced the OS was the presence of subsequent treatment after ASCT in a time-dependent model. OS after ASCT for DLBCL patients in Germany is higher than previously reported and may still be considered a valid option for carefully selected patients with relapsed/refractory DLBCL.

Estimating the Effective Size of European Wolf Populations.

Molecular methods are routinely used to estimate the effective size of populations (N e). However, underlying model assumptions are frequently violated to an unknown extent. Although simulations can detect sources of bias and help to adjust sampling strategies and analyses methods, additional information from empirical data can also be used to calibrate methods and improve molecular N e estimation methods. Here, we take advantage of long-term genetic and ecological monitoring data of the grey wolf (Canis lupus) in Germany, and detailed population genetic studies in Poland, Spain and Portugal to improve N e estimation strategies in this species, and species with similar life history traits. We first calculated N e from average lifetime reproductive success and detailed census data from the German population, which served as a baseline to compare to molecular estimates based on linkage disequilibrium and sibship frequency. This yielded a robust N e/N c estimation that we used to calibrate molecular estimates of German, Polish and Iberian wolf populations. The linkage disequilibrium method was strongly influenced by spatial genetic structure, much more than the sibship frequency method. When N e was estimated in local neighbourhoods, both methods yielded comparable results. Estimates of the metapopulation effective size seemed to correspond generally well with the sum of the estimates of local neighbourhoods. Overall, we found that the number of packs is a good proxy of the effective population size. Using this as a rule of thumb, we evaluated for all European wolf populations the N e 500 indicator and concluded that half of the European wolf populations do not yet fulfil this criterion.

Linear measurements of the mandible on panoramic radiograph for sex estimation in populations in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

BackgroundIdentification is one of the main aspects of forensics. Sex estimation is an essential part of identification because it can simplify the whole process. Mandible is the largest, strongest, and sexually dimorphic bone and is part of the orofacial structure, which has the second highest level of dimorphism after the pelvic bone. Sex estimation using the mandible can be performed by conducting various linear measurements on a panoramic radiograph, including right minimum ramus width (RMiRW), left minimum ramus width (LMiRW), right projective height of ramus (RPHR), left projective height of ramus (LPHR), right maximum ramus width (RMxRW), left maximum ramus width (LMxRW), right coronoid height (RCH), left coronoid height (LCH), symphysis height (SH), right mandibular corpus height (RMCH), and left mandibular corpus height (LMCH). This study aimed to analyze how linear measurements in panoramic radiographs differ between men and women and to estimate sex by utilizing these parameters.ResultsIn this study, 195 panoramic radiographs from 95 men and 100 women aged 20–40 years obtained from our dental hospital were used as a training data. Meanwhile, 61 panoramic radiographs from 29 men and 32 women outside the training data with same characteristics were used as the testing data. The linear measurements of the mandible using panoramic radiographs were taken with EzDent-i Vatech software. Independent t-test showed significant difference (p < 0.05) in some linear measurements of the mandible between adult men and women. These significantly different linear measurements were then subjected to discriminant function analysis to produce sex estimation equations. The equation accuracy percentage ranged between 63.6 and 94.4% for the training sample and 59.5% and 85% for the testing sample.ConclusionThe linear measurements of the mandible using diagnostically acceptable panoramic radiographs taken from a patient with standardized head positioning can serve as an alternative method for sex estimation. The accuracy of discriminant analysis for sex estimation varies depending on the parameter used in the estimation.

An optimal estimation approach in non-response under simple random sampling utilizing dual auxiliary variable for finite distribution function

Auxiliary data needs to be incorporated into survey sampling in order to create a precise population parameter estimator. This study investigates improving the efficiency of these estimators, the researchers use study variable [cumulative distribution function, (CDF)] and auxiliary variable (CDF, mean and ranks) to achieve this goal in the condition of non-response. The researchers suggest two ideal families of exponential estimators to obtain an enhanced population (CDF) estimators in simple random sampling under non-response, by utilizing the data from dual auxiliary variable. The first-order approximation is used for the bias, mean squared error (MSE), and minimal mean squared error of the new and existing estimators. Using dual auxiliary information, the new families of exponential estimators turn out to be precise and efficient while estimating the distribution function, whenever non-response is contained within three Situation such as (Situation-I when non-response occurs in both study and auxiliary variables, next to it Situation-II when non-response occurs only in study variable and Situation-III when non-response occurs only in auxiliary variable). We employ a single population to assess the effectiveness and suitability of the suggested family estimators; varying values of k = 2 and 3 produce varying mean square error and percentage relative efficiency values. The suggested families of estimators have lower (MSE) and higher (PRE) values for the population which showed in tables 2–13 The percentage relative efficiency (PRE) of proposed families of estimators when k = 2 for all the three situation of non-response is 183.52715, 189.78448, 184.82791, 185.49885, and 223.06144 and when k = 3 for all the three situation of non-response is 223.06144, 119.32556, 165.89993, 166.29598, 112.90767 and 113.25086.

Population Heterogeneity and Selection of Coronary Artery Disease Polygenic Scores.

The identification of coronary artery disease (CAD) high-risk individuals is a major clinical need for timely diagnosis and intervention. Many different polygenic scores (PGSs) for CAD risk are available today to estimate the genetic risk. It is necessary to carefully choose the score to use, in particular for studies on populations, which are not adequately represented in the large datasets of European biobanks, such as the Italian one. This work aimed to analyze which PGS had the best performance within the Italian population. We used two Italian independent cohorts: the EPICOR case-control study (576 individuals) and the Atherosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology (ATVB) Italian study (3359 individuals). We evaluated 266 PGS for cardiovascular disease risk from the PGS Catalog, selecting 51 for CAD. Distributions between patients and controls were significantly different for 49 scores (p-value < 0.01). Only five PGS have been trained and tested for the European population specifically. PGS003727 demonstrated to be the most accurate when evaluated independently (EPICOR AUC = 0.68; ATVB AUC = 0.80). Taking into account the conventional CAD risk factors further enhanced the performance of the model, particularly in the ATVB study (p-value = 0.0003). European CAD PGS could have different risk estimates in peculiar populations, such as the Italian one, as well as in various geographical macro areas. Therefore, further evaluation is recommended for clinical applicability.

Daily Diversity Flows: Racial and Ethnic Context Between Home and Work.

The racial and ethnic diversification of the U.S. population has transformed the demographic makeup of communities and rapidly increased exposure to diversity in American neighborhoods. Although diversity exposure occurs throughout people's daily lives, the conventional approach to describing diversity only at places of residence potentially understates the full extent of this phenomenon. In this study, we explore short-term, within-day changes in the diversity of different neighborhoods by considering U.S. workers' work and residential locations. Using estimates for daytime and nighttime populations among metropolitan census tracts, our empirical analyses investigate the extent to which the process of daytime mobility for work relates to changes in the racial and ethnic diversity of different spaces. Our results indicate widespread daily shifts toward diversity for most neighborhood types, especially those with residential (nighttime) populations that are predominantly Black, Latino, or Asian. We find that patterns of intraday diversification experienced minor declines across recent decades but are present in most metropolitan areas. Our findings also show that intraday changes in racial and ethnic diversity overlap with nonracial forms of daily diversity change. Further, average within-day changes in diversity are more pronounced in areas with greater residential segregation.

Stature estimation in male and female populations of India and Nigeria depending on other anthropometric parameters using multiple regression analysis

In cases of mass disasters, accidents, or criminal investigations where the identity of victims is unknown certain basic anthropological parameters are helpful in ascertaining these like race, sex, age and stature. Estimating stature using multiple body measurements such as shoulder breadth, foot length, thigh length, and knee height is a common approach in anthropometry and forensic anthropology. The presence of sex and population differences in anthropometric indicators allows these measurements to be used not only to estimate the stature of an individual, but also to determine sex, different races or populations based on skeletal remains. The purpose of the study is to develop and practically verify the work of regression equations for estimating stature depending on other anthropometric indicators of men and women of two ethnically diverse populations. For this study, anthropometric data were gathered from two distinct population groups: Indian (n=102) and Nigerian (n=205). Basic demographic details along with measurements of shoulder breadth, sitting shoulder height, sitting foot length, sitting knee height, and sitting thigh length were obtained using standardized techniques as per the established anthropometric protocols. Statistical analysis was performed using appropriate software packages such as SPSS, R, or SAS. The multiple regression method was used to estimate body length depending on other anthropometric indicators. As a result of the conducted multiple linear regression analysis, reliable relationships between stature and specific anthropometric measurements in Nigerian and Indian men and women were established. It was found that stature is highly likely to depend on knee height in a sitting position in Nigerian women (R2=0.531, p&lt;0.001), as well as hip length, foot length, and shoulder height in a sitting position in Indian men (R2=0.725, p &lt;0.001). Stature in Indian women reliably depends on hip length and foot length in a sitting position, and in Nigerian men - on hip length, foot length, shoulder width and shoulder height in a sitting position, but the regression equations have a coefficient of determination less than 0.5 (respectively, R2=0.463, p&lt;0.001 and R2=0.405, p&lt;0.001) and therefore do not have much significance for forensic purposes. Additional groups (30 people for each category) were used to test the obtained regression equations. The high correlation coefficients (0.6&lt;r&lt;0.75) observed in both test groups indicate the reliability of the regression models and the suitability of the selected anthropometric measurements for the estimation of stature in these populations. The obtained data emphasize the importance of taking into account factors specific to the population when developing regression equations for the estimation of stature and emphasize the usefulness of anthropometric measurements in predicting this indicator for different gender and demographic groups of the population, although their further verification on larger and more diverse samples is necessary.

Design-Based Predictive Inference

Design-based inference from probability samples is valid by construction for target parameters that are descriptive summaries of finite populations. We develop a novel approach of design-based predictive inference for finite populations, where the individual-level predictor is learned from a probability sample using any models or algorithms for incorporating the relevant auxiliary information, and the uncertainty of estimation is evaluated with respect to the known probability design while the outcome and auxiliary values for modeling are treated as constants. Unlike the existing theory of design-based model-assisted estimation for finite populations, design-based predictive inference is as well suited for individual-level prediction in addition to producing population-level estimates.

Age estimation from median palatine suture using computed tomography reconstructed 3D images: a comparison of Northern and Southwestern Chinese populations.

To investigate the potential of computed tomography (CT) images of median palatine suture (MP) for adult age estimation in the Northern and Southwestern Chinese populations. A total of 1110 cranial CT scans from individuals aged 10-79years, including 557 northern Chinese and 553 southwestern Chinese, were collected for analysis. After volume reformation and multiplanar reconstruction, a total of 20 slices of median palatine suture were selected from each individual. The closure of sutures was analyzed into four stages, and the cumulative scores of 20 slices were recorded as the suture closure score (SCS). The correlations between SCS and age were compared among the two Chinese populations residing in diverse geographic regions. Regression models were established for age estimation. The estimation accuracy was evaluated based on the test set. The mean absolute error (MAE) and the correlation between predicted age and chronological age were calculated to evaluate estimation accuracy. The SCS of MP exhibited a significant correlation with age (0.613, northern male; 0.678, southwestern male; 0.730, northern female; 0.704, Southwestern female; 0.662, total). Furthermore, there were statistically significant differences in SCS among different regions and sex groups (p < 0.001). The cubic regression model had the highest R2 value in all subjects, especially among Northern females and Southwestern males, while the power and quadratic regression models showed the highest R2 value in Northern males and Southwestern females, respectively. In the test set, the Northern cohort demonstrated a lower MAE (9.06 ± 7.32years, males; 9.17 ± 5.28years, females) compared to the Southwestern cohort (9.19 ± 7.49years, male; 10.61 ± 6.83years, female). Additionally, it was observed that males exhibited a lower MAE than females in both regional groups. This study demonstrated the potential utility of CT images of the MP for age estimation in Chinese populations, emphasizing the significance of incorporating regional and sex factors within this context.

Knowledge and Awareness of Risk Factors for HIV Infection and about HIV Testing among Medical Students in Warsaw.

The number of late diagnoses of HIV remains very high in Poland, leading to a high proportion of patients developing and dying of HIV-related diseases. The main reason for this is the very low utilization of HIV testing. Our analyses aimed to investigate knowledge about the indications for HIV testing among medical university students, as well as identify their own HIV testing experiences. A cross-sectional survey study was designed to collect information on the students' demographics and their experiences of HIV testing, as well as their knowledge of virus transmission and the indications for testing. Data were collected as part of the HIV_week@WUM project conducted at the Medical University of Warsaw in parallel with the 18th European AIDS Conference, which took place in Warsaw between 18 and 21 October 2023. In total, 545 questionnaires were collected. The median age of the study participants was 20 (interquartile range (IQR): 19-22 years). The majority of respondents were as follows: women (67.5%), born in Poland (97.8%), and were attending the medical faculty (56.7%). Only 114 (21.43%) participants had ever been tested for HIV. For all modes of HIV transmission, most of the respondents overestimated the risk of acquiring HIV, but, at the same time, they had never been tested for HIV. Only one in five health sciences students has ever had a test for HIV, which is less than estimates for the general population of Warsaw. There is an ongoing need to popularize testing among future health care providers in order to address both the indications for testing for individuals and the better use of HIV testing in clinical practice.