214 research outputs found
Diel variation in vertical distribution of an offshore ichthyoplankton community off the Oregon coast
We examined the diel ver-tical distribution, concentration, and community structure of ichthyoplank-ton from a single station 69 km off the central Oregon coast in the northeast Pacific Ocean. The 74 depth-stratified samples yielded 1571 fish larvae from 20 taxa, representing 11 families, and 128 fish eggs from 11 taxa within nine families. Dominant larval taxa were Sebastes spp. (rockfishes), Stenobra-chius leucopsarus (northern lampfish), Tarletonbeania crenularis (blue lan-ternfish), and Lyopsetta exilis (slender sole), and the dominant egg taxa were Sardinops sagax (Pacific sardine), Icichthys lockingtoni (medusafish), and Chauliodus macouni (Pacific viperfish). Larval concentrations generally increased from the surface to 50 m, then decreased with depth. Larval concentrations were higher at night than during the day, and there was evidence of larval diel vertical migration. Depth stratum was the most important factor explaining variability in larval and egg concentrations
Expert and Lay Mental Models of Ecosystems: Inferences for Risk Communication
The authors evaluate a mental modeling approach to studying differences between lay and expert comprehension of ecosystems
Biosensing with microwave debye relaxation analysis
The microwave dielectric response of biological solutions and electrolytes has
been investigated for a number of decades though applications that utilise
the response are few and far between. The dielectric features of many biological fluids are unique across the microwave spectrum and offer a wealth
of possibilities for analysis techniques. This thesis documents the development
of broadband and resonant microwave techniques that are suitable for
applications in biological fluid analysis.
Theoretical models concerning the dielectric properties and electromagnetic
interaction with polar liquids such as water are examined. The means to
conduct experimental observations of the dielectric spectrum of liquids are
reviewed and the ability to conduct measurement on small sample volumes
discussed.
Broadband spectroscopy from 0.2 to 20 GHz has been performed on the
simplest constituent of a biological fluid, water, and compared to literature
and theoretical models. Other polar liquids such as ethanol, propanol and
methanol were also examined.
The impact of ions in solution on the high frequency permittivity was studied, in particular the response of alkali metal chlorides, copper sulphate and zinc
sulphide. The temperature dependence of the metal chlorides was found to be
highly dependent on the effective hydration radius and subsequently a means
of calculating the temperature-dependent hydration radius of lithium and
sodium was developed. The respective radii at room temperature were found
to be 340 ±39 pm and 215± 21 pm. Relaxation processes from ion-association
were examined and confirmed to be present in ions with high charge density.
Comparative studies between various biological solutes in aqueous environments
demonstrated that many proteins possess unique microwave dielectric
spectral features based on bound water and protein-water exchange mechanisms.
Two techniques for the differentiation of protein solutions are outlined
based on the microwave dielectric spectrum and the relaxation processes associated
with protein water.
Broadband measurements were conducted from 0.5 to 40 GHz to analyse
the dielectric response of whole blood and serum from human and murine
donors. Based on the dielectric comparison of serum and whole blood a
method for the determination of haemoglobin concentration is presented. A
9.4 GHz dielectric resonator was developed with an integrated microfluidic
chip for the determination of haemoglobin concentration in samples as small
as 2 microlitres. This was subsequently utilised to monitor the progression of
haemoglobin levels in APCmin/+ mice with colon cancer. The results demonstrate
the first microwave device with proven haematological diagnostic value
with an accuracy that is equivalent to or better than existing commercial
techniques (comparative standard deviation 0.85 g/dL to Sysmex system -
commercial comparison >1.5 g/dL) and is non-destructive.Open Acces
Addressing Health Equity Through Action on the Social Determinants of Health: A Global Review of Policy Outcome Evaluation Methods
Background: Epidemiological evidence on the social determinants of health inequity is well-advanced, but considerably less attention has been given to evaluating the impact of public policies addressing those social determinants. Methodological challenges to produce evidence on policy outcomes present a significant barrier to mobilising policy actions for health equities. This review aims to examine methodological approaches to policy evaluation of health equity outcomes and identify promising approaches for future research.
Methods: We conducted a systematic narrative review of literature critically evaluating policy impact on health equity, synthesizing information on the methodological approaches used. We searched and screened records from five electronic databases, using pre-defined protocols resulting in a total of 50 studies included for review. We coded the
studies according to (1) type of policy analysed; (2) research design; (3) analytical techniques; (4) health outcomes; and (5) equity dimensions evaluated.
Results: We found a growing number of a wide range of policies being evaluated for health equity outcomes using a variety of research designs. The majority of studies employed an observational research design, most of which were cross-sectional, however, other approaches included experimental designs, simulation modelling, and meta-analysis. Regression techniques dominated the analytical approaches, although a number of novel techniques were used which may offer advantages over traditional regression analysis for the study of distributional impacts of policy. Few studies made intra-national or cross-national comparisons or collected primary data. Despite longstanding challenges of attribution in policy outcome evaluation, the majority of the studies attributed change in physical or mental health outcomes to the policy being evaluated.
Conclusion: Our review provides an overview of methodological approaches to health equity policy outcome evaluation, demonstrating what is most commonplace and opportunities from novel approaches. We found the number of studies evaluating the impacts of public policies on health equity are on the rise, but this area of policy evaluation still requires more attention given growing inequities.This work was supported by the NHMRC Centre of Research
Excellence on the Social Determinants of Health Equity:
Policy research on the social determinants of health equity
(APP1078046)
Creating political will for action on health equity: practical lessons for public health policy actors
Background
Despite growing evidence on the social determinants of health and health equity, political action has not been commensurate. Little is known about how political will operates to enact pro-equity policies or not. This paper examines how political will for pro-health equity policies is created through analysis of public policy in multiple sectors.
Methods
Eight case studies were undertaken of Australian policies where action was either taken or proposed on health equity or where the policy seemed contrary to such action. Telephone or face-to-face interviews were conducted with 192 state and non-state participants. Analysis of the cases was done through thematic analysis and triangulated with document analysis.
Results
Our case studies covered: trade agreements, primary healthcare (PHC), work conditions, digital access, urban planning, social welfare and Indigenous health. The extent of political will for pro-equity policies depended on the strength of path dependency, electoral concerns, political philosophy, the strength of economic and biomedical framings, whether elite interests were threatened and the success or otherwise of civil society lobbying.
Conclusion
Public health policy actors may create political will through: determining how path dependency that exacerbates health inequities can be broken, working with sympathetic political forces committed to fairness; framing policy options in a way that makes them more likely to be adopted, outlining factors to consider in challenging the interests of elites, and considering the extent to which civil society will work in favour of equitable policies. A shift in norms is required to stress equity and the right to health.This research was funded by the Australian National Health & Medical Research
Council Centre for Research Excellence Grant APP107804
Addressing Health Equity Through Action on the Social Determinants of Health: A Global Review of Policy Outcome Evaluation Methods
Abstract
Background: Epidemiological evidence on the social determinants of health inequity is well-advanced, but considerably
less attention has been given to evaluating the impact of public policies addressing those social determinants.
Methodological challenges to produce evidence on policy outcomes present a significant barrier to mobilising policy
actions for health equities. This review aims to examine methodological approaches to policy evaluation of health equity
outcomes and identify promising approaches for future research.
Methods: We conducted a systematic narrative review of literature critically evaluating policy impact on health
equity, synthesizing information on the methodological approaches used. We searched and screened records from five
electronic databases, using pre-defined protocols resulting in a total of 50 studies included for review. We coded the
studies according to (1) type of policy analysed; (2) research design; (3) analytical techniques; (4) health outcomes; and
(5) equity dimensions evaluated.
Results: We found a growing number of a wide range of policies being evaluated for health equity outcomes using a
variety of research designs. The majority of studies employed an observational research design, most of which were
cross-sectional, however, other approaches included experimental designs, simulation modelling, and meta-analysis.
Regression techniques dominated the analytical approaches, although a number of novel techniques were used which
may offer advantages over traditional regression analysis for the study of distributional impacts of policy. Few studies
made intra-national or cross-national comparisons or collected primary data. Despite longstanding challenges of
attribution in policy outcome evaluation, the majority of the studies attributed change in physical or mental health
outcomes to the policy being evaluated.
Conclusion: Our review provides an overview of methodological approaches to health equity policy outcome evaluation,
demonstrating what is most commonplace and opportunities from novel approaches. We found the number of studies
evaluating the impacts of public policies on health equity are on the rise, but this area of policy evaluation still requires
more attention given growing inequities
Macrophage Activation and Polarization: Nomenclature and Experimental Guidelines
Description of macrophage activation is currently contentious and confusing. Like the biblical Tower of Babel, macrophage activation encompasses a panoply of descriptors used in different ways. The lack of consensus on how to define macrophage activation in experiments in vitro and in vivo impedes progress in multiple ways, including the fact that many researchers still consider there to be only two types of activated macrophages, often termed M1 and M2. Here, we describe a set of standards encompassing three principlesâthe source of macrophages, definition of the activators, and a consensus collection of markers to describe macrophage activationâwith the goal of unifying experimental standards for diverse experimental scenarios. Collectively, we propose a common framework for macrophage-activation nomenclature
Gene expression profiling identifies distinct molecular subgroups of leiomyosarcoma with clinical relevance
YesBackground: Soft tissue sarcomas are heterogeneous and a major complication in their management is that the existing
classification scheme is not definitive and is still evolving. Leiomyosarcomas, a major histologic category of soft tissue sarcomas,
are malignant tumours displaying smooth muscle differentiation. Although defined as a single group, they exhibit a wide range of
clinical behaviour. We aimed to carry out molecular classification to identify new molecular subgroups with clinical relevance.
Methods: We used gene expression profiling on 20 extra-uterine leiomyosarcomas and cross-study analyses for molecular
classification of leiomyosarcomas. Clinical significance of the subgroupings was investigated.
Results: We have identified two distinct molecular subgroups of leiomyosarcomas. One group was characterised by high
expression of 26 genes that included many genes from the sub-classification gene cluster proposed by Nielsen et al. These
sub-classification genes include genes that have importance structurally, as well as in cell signalling. Notably, we found a
statistically significant association of the subgroupings with tumour grade. Further refinement led to a group of 15 genes that
could recapitulate the tumour subgroupings in our data set and in a second independent sarcoma set. Remarkably, cross-study
analyses suggested that these molecular subgroups could be found in four independent data sets, providing strong support for
their existence.
Conclusions: Our study strongly supported the existence of distinct leiomyosarcoma molecular subgroups, which have clinical
association with tumour grade. Our findings will aid in advancing the classification of leiomyosarcomas and lead to more
individualised and better management of the disease.Alexander Boag Sarcoma Fund
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