Comments on Austronesian nominalism: A Mayan perspective

In the conclusion of his article on Austronesian voice and extraction, Kaufman suggests the possibility of extending his analysis of extraction facts in Tagalog to other ‘‘syntactically ergative’’ languages (i.e. languages in which ergative arguments are unable to undergo extraction), such as those in the Mayan family. In this commentary I do not attempt to evaluate Kaufman’s claims for Tagalog, but instead explore some of the interesting parallels – as well as important di¤erences–between languages of the Mayan family, and Austronesian languages as analyzed by Kaufman. I discuss ergative-genitive syncretism, nominalization, parallels between the clause and the DP, and extraction facts more generally

Factorial Mendelian randomization: using genetic variants to assess interactions.

BACKGROUND: Factorial Mendelian randomization is the use of genetic variants to answer questions about interactions. Although the approach has been used in applied investigations, little methodological advice is available on how to design or perform a factorial Mendelian randomization analysis. Previous analyses have employed a 2 × 2 approach, using dichotomized genetic scores to divide the population into four subgroups as in a factorial randomized trial. METHODS: We describe two distinct contexts for factorial Mendelian randomization: investigating interactions between risk factors, and investigating interactions between pharmacological interventions on risk factors. We propose two-stage least squares methods using all available genetic variants and their interactions as instrumental variables, and using continuous genetic scores as instrumental variables rather than dichotomized scores. We illustrate our methods using data from UK Biobank to investigate the interaction between body mass index and alcohol consumption on systolic blood pressure. RESULTS: Simulated and real data show that efficiency is maximized using the full set of interactions between genetic variants as instruments. In the applied example, between 4- and 10-fold improvement in efficiency is demonstrated over the 2 × 2 approach. Analyses using continuous genetic scores are more efficient than those using dichotomized scores. Efficiency is improved by finding genetic variants that divide the population at a natural break in the distribution of the risk factor, or else divide the population into more equal-sized groups. CONCLUSIONS: Previous factorial Mendelian randomization analyses may have been underpowered. Efficiency can be improved by using all genetic variants and their interactions as instrumental variables, rather than the 2 × 2 approach

How Fundraisers Solve Moral Dilemmas: The Role of Implicit Moral Identity, Moral Emotions and Moral Intuition

This study explores the mediating affect of moral emotions on the relationship of implicit moral identity and moral intuition amongst fundraisers. The existing literature highlights the importance of ethical fundraising, as evidenced by criticism in the media (Hill, 2019). In many cases, fundraisers must make moral decisions under intense time pressure. These situations require quick, on-the-spot decisions, which often comes from instinct. The Moral Foundations Theory explains that moral intuition works automatically through innate processes during such situations (Graham et al., 2013; Haidt & Joseph, 2007). It also suggests that moral emotions influence intuitions. Additionally, how much an individual identifies as moral will influence their moral actions (Aquino & Reed, 2002). Within the moral psychology literature there are very few published studies that test the propositions of the Moral Foundations Theory or incorporate moral identity to explain intuition. This study integrated multiple concepts within moral psychology specifically in the context of fundraising. The research comprises two phases, which are exploratory semi-structured interviews and a large-scale questionnaire. The key finding is that neither implicit moral identity nor moral emotions effected moral intuition. Therefore the assumptions made by the Moral Foundations Theory may not necessarily be true across a broad range of circumstances. Additionally, other constructs might influence automatic decision-making amongst fundraisers. The study presents opportunities for further research in these areas

Nephrotoxicity During Vancomycin Therapy in Combination with Piperacillin-Tazobactam or Cefepime

Recent reports have demonstrated that vancomycin (VAN) may lead to an increase in the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) when it is combined with antipseudomonal beta-lactams. This study compared the incidence of AKI associated with VAN plus piperacillin-tazobactam (TZP) or cefepime (FEP). This was a retrospective, matched cohort study that was conducted at an academic medical center between September 2010 and September 2014 and that included adult patients without severe chronic or structural kidney disease, dialysis, pregnancy, cystic fibrosis, or a hospital transfer receiving TZP-VAN or FEP-VAN for at least 48 h. The primary outcome was the difference in the AKI incidence between the TZP-VAN and FEP-VAN groups, evaluated using the risk, injury, failure, loss of kidney function, and end-stage kidney disease (RIFLE) criteria. Patients in the two groups were matched on the basis of age, sex, severity of illness, baseline creatinine clearance, hypotension, number of nephrotoxicity risk factors, and intravenous contrast exposure. In total, 4,193 patients met all inclusion criteria (3,605 received TZP-VAN and 588 received FEP-VAN). The unadjusted AKI incidence was 21.4% in patients receiving TZP-VAN, whereas it was 12.6% in patients receiving FEP-VAN (P \u3c 0.001). After the patients were matched, 1,633 patients receiving TZP-VAN and 578 patients receiving FEP-VAN were evaluated. The AKI incidence remained higher in patients receiving TZP-VAN than in those receiving FEP-VAN (21.4% versus 12.5%, P \u3c 0.0001). This trend remained true for all classifications of the RIFLE criteria. After controlling for remaining confounders, TZP-VAN therapy was associated with 2.18 times the odds of AKI than FEP-VAN therapy (95% confidence interval, 1.64 to 2.94 times) in logistic regression. AKI was significantly more common in patients receiving vancomycin in combination with piperacillin-tazobactam than in those receiving vancomycin in combination with cefepime. This finding reinforces the need for the judicious use of combination empirical antimicrobial therapy

Robust methods in Mendelian randomization via penalization of heterogeneous causal estimates.

Methods have been developed for Mendelian randomization that can obtain consistent causal estimates under weaker assumptions than the standard instrumental variable assumptions. The median-based estimator and MR-Egger are examples of such methods. However, these methods can be sensitive to genetic variants with heterogeneous causal estimates. Such heterogeneity may arise from over-dispersion in the causal estimates, or specific variants with outlying causal estimates. In this paper, we develop three extensions to robust methods for Mendelian randomization with summarized data: 1) robust regression (MM-estimation); 2) penalized weights; and 3) Lasso penalization. Methods using these approaches are considered in two applied examples: one where there is evidence of over-dispersion in the causal estimates (the causal effect of body mass index on schizophrenia risk), and the other containing outliers (the causal effect of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol on Alzheimer's disease risk). Through an extensive simulation study, we demonstrate that robust regression applied to the inverse-variance weighted method with penalized weights is a worthwhile additional sensitivity analysis for Mendelian randomization to provide robustness to variants with outlying causal estimates. The results from the applied examples and simulation study highlight the importance of using methods that make different assumptions to assess the robustness of findings from Mendelian randomization investigations with multiple genetic variants

Aboriginal people's perceptions of patient-reported outcome measures in the assessment of diabetes health-related quality of life

Background: Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) provide clinicians and consumers a platform to inform and improve healthcare planning and management. Aboriginal people experience disproportionately high rates of chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes. Treatment and management require holistic approaches that draw on culturally relevant resources and assessment tools. This study explored perceptions of Aboriginal people about two diabetes management-related PROMs (PROMIS-29, PAID Scale). Methods: Twenty-nine Aboriginal people living with diabetes in the Shoalhaven discussed two PROMs in one of four focus groups or at an individual interview. Preliminary data coding was conducted by clinician researchers, with thematic analysis overseen by Aboriginal co-researchers. Subsequent individual interviews with participants were undertaken to seek further feedback and articulate what is needed to improve methods of evaluating Aboriginal people's self-reported quality of life and diabetes management. Results: The PROMs did not capture information or knowledge that Aboriginal people considered relevant to their diabetes-related health care. Participants' recommendations included adapting survey materials to be more culturally sensitive; for example, by improving the alignment of measures with common day-to-day activities. This study also describes a genuine collaborative, Aboriginal community-guided approach to evaluate 'fit-for-purpose' diabetes management tools. Conclusions: Appropriate evaluation methods are paramount to address the disproportionate burden of diabetes experienced by Aboriginal peoples and overcome inverse diabetes care. Our learnings will contribute to development of tools, resources or methods that capture culturally tailored outcome measures. Study findings are relevant to clinicians and researchers using and/or developing Patient Reported Measures, particularly in relation to the practicality of tools for First Nations peoples

Using behavioural insights to improve the healthiness of children’s packed lunches.

Background Childhood obesity continues to rise in the UK from 9.3% in children aged 4-5 years to 19.8% by age 10-11. Only 1 in 100 school packed lunches meet national recommendations for school meals in England with 82% containing unhealthy snacks and 61% sugar sweetened drinks. Encouraging parents to identify healthier choices could reduce added sugar content and improve the healthiness of school lunches. Methods A cluster randomised controlled trial was implemented in 17 primary schools (8 intervention, 9 control) in England. The intervention comprised of 3 packs of materials delivered to parents who make children lunches (7-11 years). Materials were designed using behavioural-insights to raise awareness of added sugar and offer healthier options. The materials were delivered over a 4-week period in intervention schools. Photographs of the contents of the packed lunches were taken at 3 time points; 1719 pre-intervention, 1745 post-intervention & 1725 at 3 month follow-up. Visible items in each photograph were coded for nutritional content. A parental survey was conducted at post follow up to explore parental knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about healthier packed lunches. Results The coding and analysis is underway and findings will be presented in November. Presented data will describe group differences pre-intervention, post-intervention and follow up from the >5000 lunch boxes for 1) the number lunch boxes that contain surgery food; 2) the average number of sugary food items; 3) the average grams of sugar in lunch boxes; and 4) the proportion of lunch boxes that contain fruit or vegetables. Conclusions This study was funded by Public Health England to explore whether low cost, low intensive interventions can have a significant impact on changing health behaviours. There is a lack of evidence on improving the nutritional quality of packed lunches and if improvements are identified there are potential implications for child health, nutrition and obesity rates. Key messages: •The study aims to ascertain the effectiveness of a behavioural-insight informed intervention in changing the healthiness of packed lunches provided by parents of primary school aged children. •This low cost, low intensity intervention has the potential to improve the healthiness of primary school age children’s diets.Public Health Englan

The Firebreak Problem

Suppose we have a network that is represented by a graph $G$. Potentially a fire (or other type of contagion) might erupt at some vertex of $G$. We are able to respond to this outbreak by establishing a firebreak at $k$ other vertices of $G$, so that the fire cannot pass through these fortified vertices. The question that now arises is which $k$ vertices will result in the greatest number of vertices being saved from the fire, assuming that the fire will spread to every vertex that is not fully behind the $k$ vertices of the firebreak. This is the essence of the {\sc Firebreak} decision problem, which is the focus of this paper. We establish that the problem is intractable on the class of split graphs as well as on the class of bipartite graphs, but can be solved in linear time when restricted to graphs having constant-bounded treewidth, or in polynomial time when restricted to intersection graphs. We also consider some closely related problems

A genomic analysis and transcriptomic atlas of gene expression in Psoroptes ovis reveals feeding- and stage-specific patterns of allergen expression

Background: Psoroptic mange, caused by infestation with the ectoparasitic mite, Psoroptes ovis, is highly contagious, resulting in intense pruritus and represents a major welfare and economic concern for the livestock industry Worldwide. Control relies on injectable endectocides and organophosphate dips, but concerns over residues, environmental contamination, and the development of resistance threaten the sustainability of this approach, highlighting interest in alternative control methods. However, development of vaccines and identification of chemotherapeutic targets is hampered by the lack of P. ovis transcriptomic and genomic resources. Results: Building on the recent publication of the P. ovis draft genome, here we present a genomic analysis and transcriptomic atlas of gene expression in P. ovis revealing feeding- and stage-specific patterns of gene expression, including novel multigene families and allergens. Network-based clustering revealed 14 gene clusters demonstrating either single- or multi-stage specific gene expression patterns, with 3075 female-specific, 890 male-specific and 112, 217 and 526 transcripts showing larval, protonymph and tritonymph specific-expression, respectively. Detailed analysis of P. ovis allergens revealed stage-specific patterns of allergen gene expression, many of which were also enriched in "fed" mites and tritonymphs, highlighting an important feeding-related allergenicity in this developmental stage. Pair-wise analysis of differential expression between life-cycle stages identified patterns of sex-biased gene expression and also identified novel P. ovis multigene families including known allergens and novel genes with high levels of stage-specific expression. Conclusions: The genomic and transcriptomic atlas described here represents a unique resource for the acarid-research community, whilst the OrcAE platform makes this freely available, facilitating further community-led curation of the draft P. ovis genome