Genetic rescue has now been attempted in several threatened species, but the contribution of genetics per se to any increase in population health can be hard to identify. Rescue is expected to be ...particularly useful when individuals are introduced into small isolated populations with low levels of genetic variation. Here we consider such a situation by documenting genetic rescue in the mountain pygmy possum, Burramys parvus. Rapid population recovery occurred in the target population after the introduction of a small number of males from a large genetically diverged population. Initial hybrid fitness was more than two-fold higher than non-hybrids; hybrid animals had a larger body size, and female hybrids produced more pouch young and lived longer. Genetic rescue likely contributed to the largest population size ever being recorded at this site. These data point to genetic rescue as being a potentially useful option for the recovery of small threatened populations.
Orphan medicinal product (OMP) prices are considered by some to be a challenge to the sustainability of healthcare expenditure. These concerns are compounded by the increasing number of OMPs ...receiving marketing authorisation (MA) annually. The aim of this study was to explore the sustainability of OMP expenditure within the context of total European pharmaceutical expenditure.
Using historical IQVIA data, an analysis was conducted on total pharmaceutical and OMP expenditure in eight countries (using values / volumes) in the branded, non-branded and overall pharmaceutical market. Country level and aggregated data was considered for EU5 countries, Austria, Belgium and Ireland. Three key analyses were conducted: 1.The OMP share of total pharmaceutical expenditure was calculated from 2000 to 2017, to assess its evolution over time.2.The results of this analysis were compared with a 2011 forecast of OMP budget impact.3.The evolution of the total pharmaceutical market and its different segments (branded OMPs, non-OMP branded and unbranded) were assessed by estimating the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) and percentage of pharmaceutical expenditure for each market segment from 2010 to 2017.
Across countries, OMP share of total pharmaceutical expenditure has increased each year since 2000, rising to 7.2% of total pharmaceutical expenditure in 2017. OMP expenditure has increased at a CAGR of 16% since 2010. The number of OMPs receiving MA each year showed a CAGR of 11% since 2001, four percentage points greater than the CAGR for all medicines receiving MA over the same period. OMP share of total pharmaceutical expenditure is higher than forecasted in 2011 due to slower than expected growth in the non-OMP market. OMP growth has been offset by reduced expenditure in the general market and increased use of generics and biosimilars.
Relative spending on OMPs has increased over the last 20 years, but this has been largely compensated for within the current allocation of total pharmaceutical spending by flat expenditure for non-OMPs and increased volumes of (lower-priced) generics/biosimilars, reflecting a shift towards expenditure in higher cost, lower volume patient populations and a shift in drug development towards more specialised targeting of diseases.
To relate neurophysiologic changes after mild/moderate traumatic brain injury to cognitive deficit in a longitudinal diffusion tensor imaging investigation.
Fifty-three patients were scanned an ...average of 6 days postinjury (range = 1-14 days). Twenty-three patients were rescanned 1 year later. Thirty-three matched control subjects were recruited. At the time of scanning, participants completed cognitive testing. Tract-Based Spatial Statistics was used to conduct voxel-wise analysis on diffusion changes and to explore regressions between diffusion metrics and cognitive performance.
Acutely, increased axial diffusivity drove a fractional anisotropy (FA) increase, while decreased radial diffusivity drove a negative regression between FA and Verbal Letter Fluency across widespread white matter regions, but particularly in the ascending fibers of the corpus callosum. Raised FA is hypothesized to be caused by astrogliosis and compaction of axonal neurofilament, which would also affect cognitive functioning. Chronically, FA was decreased, suggesting myelin sheath disintegration, but still regressed negatively with Verbal Letter Fluency in the anterior forceps.
Acute mild/moderate traumatic brain injury is characterized by increased tissue FA, which represents a clear neurobiological link between cognitive dysfunction and white matter injury after mild/moderate injury.
We describe the successes and challenges faced by federal and local government agencies in the United States as they have attempted in recent years to connect public and environmental health, ...housing, community development, and building design with environmental, housing, and building laws, codes, and policies. These policies can either contribute to or adversely affect human physical and mental health, with important implications for economic viability, research, policy development, and overall social stability and progress. Policy impediments include tension between housing affordability and health investment that causes inefficient cost-shifting, privacy issues, unclear statutory authority, and resulting gaps in responsibility for housing, indoor air, and the built environment. We contrast this with other environmental frameworks such as ambient air and water quality statutes where the concept of "shared commons" and the "polluter pays" is more robust. The U.S. experiences in childhood lead poisoning prevention, indoor air, and mold provide useful policy insights. Local programs can effectively build healthy homes capacity through local laws and housing codes. The experience of coordinating remediation for mold, asthma triggers, weatherization, and other healthy housing improvements in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, is highlighted. The U.S. experience shows that policymakers should adopt a prevention-oriented, comprehensive multidisciplinary approach at all levels of government to prevent unhealthy buildings, houses, and communities.
We prove that if G is a graph and f(v)≤1/(d(v)+1/2) for each v∈V(G), then either G has an independent set of size at least ∑v∈V(G)f(v) or G contains a clique K such that ∑v∈Kf(v)>1. This result ...implies that for any σ≤1/2, if G is a graph and every clique K⊆V(G) has at most (1−σ)(|K|−σ) simplicial vertices, then α(G)≥∑v∈V(G)1/(d(v)+1−σ). Letting σ=0 implies the famous Caro–Wei Theorem, and letting σ=1/2 implies that if fewer than half of the vertices in each clique of G are simplicial, then α(G)≥∑v∈V(G)1/(d(v)+1/2), which is tight for the 5-cycle. When applied to the complement of a graph, this result implies the following new Turán stability result. If G is a Kr+1-free graph with more than (1−1/r)n2/2−n/4 edges, then G contains an independent set I such that at least half of the vertices in I are complete to G−I. Applying this stability result iteratively provides a new proof of the stability version of Turán’s Theorem in which Kr+1-free graphs with close to the extremal number of edges are r-partite.
This paper explores the question of assisted dying from both a legal and psychological perspective within the legal parameters in place at the time of writing of this paper. Links are made between ...Kohut’s notion of an acceptance of the finiteness of existence and of transience as one of several indicators of the maturation and transformation of archaic narcissism, and Jung’s notion of the readiness and ability to ‘die with life’ as the goal of the second half of life. The author raises awareness of the importance of the need for clarity with regard to these issues on the part of therapists who may be required to provide an evaluation of a patient’s admissibility to a service of assisted dying.
Cet article explore le sujet de l’aide à la mort, à la fois du point de vue légal et psychologique, dans les paramètres légaux en place au moment de son écriture. L’article fait des liens entre la notion de Kohut ‐ l’acceptation de l’aspect fini de l’existence et de son caractère éphémère comme l’un des indicateurs de la maturation et de la transformation du narcissisme archaïque ‐ et l’idée de Jung selon laquelle le but de la seconde moitié de la vie est de développer sa capacité à « mourir avec la vie ». L’auteur attire l’attention sur l’importance du besoin de clarté concernant ces questions chez les thérapeutes auxquels on pourrait demander de fournir une évaluation de l’admissibilité d’un patient dans un service d’aide à la mort.
Dieser Beitrag untersucht die Frage der Sterbehilfe sowohl aus rechtlicher als auch aus psychologischer Sicht innerhalb der zum Zeitpunkt der Abfassung dieses Beitrags bestehenden rechtlichen Rahmenbedingungen. Es werden Verbindungen hergestellt zwischen Kohuts Vorstellung von der Akzeptanz der Endlichkeit des Daseins und der Vergänglichkeit als einem von mehreren Indikatoren für die Reifung und Transformation des archaischen Narzißmus und Jungs Vorstellung von der Bereitschaft und Fähigkeit, 'mit dem Leben zu sterben' als Ziel der zweite Lebenshälfte. Der Autor sensibilisiert für die Notwendigkeit der Klärung dieser Fragen seitens der Therapeuten, die möglicherweise eine Beurteilung der Zulässigkeit eines Patienten zu einer Sterbehilfe abgeben müssen.
Questo articolo esplora la questione della morte assistita sia da una prospettiva legale che psicologica all’interno dei parametri legali in vigore al momento della stesura di questo articolo. Vengono creati collegamenti tra la nozione di Kohut di accettazione della finitezza dell’esistenza e della transitorietà come uno dei numerosi indicatori della maturazione e trasformazione del narcisismo arcaico, e la nozione di Jung della disponibilità e capacità di ‘morire con la vita’ come obiettivo della seconda metà della vita. L’Autore sensibilizza sulla necessità di chiarezza rispetto a queste problematiche da parte dei terapeuti che possono essere chiamati a fornire una valutazione sull’ammissibilità di un paziente ad un servizio di morte assistita.
В данной статье рассматривается вопрос об эвтаназии как с правовой, так и с психологической точки зрения в рамках правовых параметров, действующих на момент написания этой статьи. Проводятся параллели между представлением Кохута о принятии конечности существования и быстротечности как одного из нескольких индикаторов созревания и трансформации архаического нарциссизма и представлением Юнга о готовности и способности «умереть вместе с жизнью» как цели второй половины жизни. Автор обращает внимание на необходимость ясности в отношении этих вопросов у терапевтов, от которых может потребоваться оценка допустимости эвтаназии у конкретного пациента.
El presente trabajo explora el tema del acompañar el proceso de morir desde una perspectiva legal y psicológica en el marco de los parámetros legales existentes al momento de escribir el trabajo. Se plantean conexiones entre la noción de Kohut, de aceptación de la finitud de la existencia y la de transitoriedad como uno de los muchos indicadores de maduración y transformación del narcisismo primitivo, y la noción de Jung de disponibilidad y habilidad para ‘morir con vida’ como meta en la segunda mitad de la vida. El autor trae a la consciencia la importancia de la necesidad de claridad con respecto a estas cuestiones por parte de terapeutas quienes pueden ser requeridos para dar una evaluación sobre la admisibilidad de un paciente a un servicio de muerte asistida.
安乐死:在心理历程上的反思
作者在安乐死合法化的时期写下这篇文章, 来探索关于安乐死的法律和心理层面。文章把一些观念进行了联系, 它们是科胡特接纳有限的存在的观点、把接纳无常作为一种成熟和从原始自恋中转化的指征、以及荣格的准备好和有能力“向死而生”作为后半生目标的观念。作者提示人们需要重视这一点, 即当治疗师被要求评估病人接受安乐死服务的适用性时, 我们需要从这些层面的议题去进行辨析。
Este artigo explora a questão da morte assistida de uma perspectiva jurídica e psicológica dentro dos parâmetros legais em vigor no momento da redação deste artigo. São feitas ligações entre a noção de Kohut de aceitação da finitude da existência e da transitoriedade como um dos vários indicadores da maturação e transformação do narcisismo arcaico, e a noção de Jung da prontidão e capacidade de "morrer com vida" como o objetivo da segunda metade da vida. O autor conscientiza sobre a importância da necessidade de clareza em relação a essas questões por parte dos terapeutas que podem ser obrigados a fornecer uma avaliação da admissibilidade de um paciente a um serviço de morte assistida.
Seamless Satellite‐image Synthesis Zhu, Jialin; Kelly, Tom
Computer graphics forum,
October 2021, 2021-10-00, 20211001, Volume:
40, Issue:
7
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
We introduce Seamless Satellite‐image Synthesis (SSS), a novel neural architecture to create scale‐and‐space continuous satellite textures from cartographic data. While 2D map data is cheap and ...easily synthesized, accurate satellite imagery is expensive and often unavailable or out of date. Our approach generates seamless textures over arbitrarily large spatial extents which are consistent through scale‐space. To overcome tile size limitations in image‐to‐image translation approaches, SSS learns to remove seams between tiled images in a semantically meaningful manner. Scale‐space continuity is achieved by a hierarchy of networks conditioned on style and cartographic data. Our qualitative and quantitative evaluations show that our system improves over the state‐of‐the‐art in several key areas. We show applications to texturing procedurally generation maps and interactive satellite image manipulation.
Gyárfás and Sárközy conjectured that every n×n$$ n\times n $$ Latin square has a “cycle‐free” partial transversal of size n−2$$ n-2 $$. We confirm this conjecture in a strong sense for almost all ...Latin squares, by showing that as n→∞$$ n\to \infty $$, all but a vanishing proportion of n×n$$ n\times n $$ Latin squares have a Hamilton transversal, that is, a full transversal for which any proper subset is cycle‐free. In fact, we prove a counting result that in almost all Latin squares, the number of Hamilton transversals is essentially that of Taranenko's upper bound on the number of full transversals. This result strengthens a result of Kwan (which in turn implies that almost all Latin squares also satisfy the famous Ryser–Brualdi–Stein conjecture).
Birds as carriers of propagules are major agents in the dispersal of plants, animals, fungi and microbes. However, there is a lack of empirical data in relation to bird-mediated, epizoochorous ...dispersal. The microclimate found within the plumage likely plays a pivotal role in survival during flight conditions. To investigate the potential of epizoochory, we have analysed the microclimatic conditions within the plumage of mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos). Under similar ambient conditions of humidity and temperature, a sample of mallards showed a consistent microclimatic regime with variation across the body surface. The highest (mean) temperature and specific humidity occurred between feathers of the postpatagium. The lowest humidity was found between feathers of the centre back and the lowest temperature in the crissum. Observed differences in plumage depth and density, and distance from the skin, are all likely to be determining factors of microclimate condition. Specific humidity found within the plumage was on average 1.8–3.5 times greater than ambient specific humidity. Thus, the plumage can supply a microclimate buffered from that of the exterior environment. Extrapolating survival data for Lemna minor desiccation at various temperature and humidity levels to the measured plumage microclimatic conditions of living birds, survival for up to 6 h can be anticipated, especially in crissum, crural and breast plumage. The results are discussed in the context of potential long distance epizoochorous dispersal by A. platyrhynchos and similar species.
•The microclimatic conditions within the plumage of mallard ducks were analysed.•The plumage creates a microclimate buffered from the exterior environment.•Specific humidity within plumage was 1.8–3.5 times greater than ambient levels.•Desiccation survival for Lemna minor was evaluated.•L. minor survival for up to 6 h can be anticipated within mallard plumage.
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