A framework for agent-based models of human needs and ecological limits

Unidad de excelencia María de Maeztu CEX2019-000940-MThe social and ecological challenges of our time require a better understanding of the complex interactions between the multiple dimensions of human well-being and environmental impacts. This article introduces the Needs and Limits (N&L) framework, a theoretical and computational foundation for agent-based simulations of heterogeneous individuals who try to increase their quality of life through the satisfaction of human needs. Based on psychological research, human needs are described as satiable, adaptive, and interdependent with the social and bio-physical environment. The N&L framework represents a generic foundation that can be applied to a broad range of socio-economic and ecological scenarios. A comparison is provided with classical utility approaches. The framework is illustrated for the topics of income inequality and climate policy

Genetic heterogeneity in Italian families with IgA nephropathy: suggestive linkage for two novel IgA nephropathy loci.

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common glomerulonephritis worldwide, but its etiologic mechanisms are still poorly understood. Different prevalences among ethnic groups and familial aggregation, together with an increased familial risk, suggest important genetic influences on its pathogenesis. A locus for familial IgAN, called "IGAN1," on chromosome 6q22-23 has been described, without the identification of any responsible gene. The partners of the European IgAN Consortium organized a second genomewide scan in 22 new informative Italian multiplex families. A total of 186 subjects (59 affected and 127 unaffected) were genotyped and were included in a two-stage genomewide linkage analysis. The regions 4q26-31 and 17q12-22 exhibited the strongest evidence of linkage by nonparametric analysis (best P=.0025 and .0045, respectively). These localizations were also supported by multipoint parametric analysis, in which peak LOD scores of 1.83 ( alpha =0.50) and 2.56 ( alpha =0.65) were obtained using the affected-only dominant model, and by allowance for the presence of genetic heterogeneity. Our results provide further evidence for genetic heterogeneity among families with IgAN. Evidence of linkage to multiple chromosomal regions is consistent with both an oligo/polygenic and a multiple-susceptibility-gene model for familial IgAN, with small or moderate effects in determining the pathological phenotype. Although we identified new candidate regions, replication studies are required to confirm the genetic contribution to familial IgA

Preventive strategies for acute kidney injury in cancer patients

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication of cancer that occurs in up to 50% of neoplastic patients during the natural history of their disease; furthermore, it has a huge impact on key outcomes such as overall prognosis, length of hospitalization and costs. AKI in cancer patients has different causes, either patient-, tumour- or treatment-related. Patient-related risk factors for AKI are the same as in the general population, whereas tumour-related risk factors are represented by compression, obstruction, direct kidney infiltration from the tumour as well by precipitation, aggregation, crystallization or misfolding of paraprotein (as in the case of multiple myeloma). Finally, treatment-related risk factors are the most common observed in clinical practice and may present also with the feature of tumour lysis syndrome or thrombotic microangiopathies. In the absence of validated biomarkers, a multidisciplinary clinical approach that incorporates adequate assessment, use of appropriate preventive measures and early intervention is essential to reduce the incidence of this life-threatening condition in cancer patients

Designing an effective climate-policy mix: accounting for instrument synergy

We assess evidence from theoretical-modelling, empirical and experimental studieson how interactions between instruments of climate policy affect overall emissionsreduction. Such interactions take the form of negative, zero or positive synergisticeffects. The considered instruments comprise performance and technical standards,carbon pricing, adoption subsidies, innovation support, and information provision.Based on the findings, we formulate climate-policy packages that avoid negativeand employ positive synergies, and compare their strengths and weaknesses onother criteria. We note that the international context of climate policy has beenneglected in assessments of policy mixes, and argue that transparency andharmonization of national policies may be key to a politically feasible path to meetglobal emissio