Genotypic variability enhances the reproducibility of an ecological study

Many scientific disciplines are currently experiencing a “reproducibility crisis” because numerous scientific findings cannot be repeated consistently. A novel but controversial hypothesis postulates that stringent levels of environmental and biotic standardization in experimental studies reduces reproducibility by amplifying impacts of lab-specific environmental factors not accounted for in study designs. A corollary to this hypothesis is that a deliberate introduction of controlled systematic variability (CSV) in experimental designs may lead to increased reproducibility. We tested this hypothesis using a multi-laboratory microcosm study in which the same ecological experiment was repeated in 14 laboratories across Europe. Each laboratory introduced environmental and genotypic CSV within and among replicated microcosms established in either growth chambers (with stringent control of environmental conditions) or glasshouses (with more variable environmental conditions). The introduction of genotypic CSV led to lower among-laboratory variability in growth chambers, indicating increased reproducibility, but had no significant effect in glasshouses where reproducibility was generally lower. Environmental CSV had little effect on reproducibility. Although there are multiple causes for the “reproducibility crisis”, deliberately including genetic variation may be a simple solution for increasing the reproducibility of ecological studies performed in controlled environments

Effects of the high-density lipoprotein mimetic agent CER-001 on coronary atherosclerosis in patients with acute coronary syndromes: a randomized trial†

Aim High-density lipoproteins (HDLs) have several potentially protective vascular effects. Most clinical studies of therapies targeting HDL have failed to show benefits vs. placebo. Objective To investigate the effects of an HDL-mimetic agent on atherosclerosis by intravascular ultrasonography (IVUS) and quantitative coronary angiography (QCA). Design and setting A prospective, double-blinded, randomized trial was conducted at 51 centres in the USA, the Netherlands, Canada, and France. Intravascular ultrasonography and QCA were performed to assess coronary atherosclerosis at baseline and 3 (2-5) weeks after the last study infusion. Patients Five hundred and seven patients were randomized; 417 and 461 had paired IVUS and QCA measurements, respectively. Intervention Patients were randomized to receive 6 weekly infusions of placebo, 3 mg/kg, 6 mg/kg, or 12 mg/kg CER-001. Main outcome measures The primary efficacy parameter was the nominal change in the total atheroma volume. Nominal changes in per cent atheroma volume on IVUS and coronary scores on QCA were also pre-specified endpoints. Results The nominal change in the total atheroma volume (adjusted means) was −2.71, −3.13, −1.50, and −3.05 mm3 with placebo, CER-001 3 mg/kg, 6 mg/kg, and 12 mg/kg, respectively (primary analysis of 12 mg/kg vs. placebo: P = 0.81). There was also no difference among groups for the nominal change in per cent atheroma volume (0.02, −0.02, 0.01, and 0.19%; nominal P = 0.53 for 12 mg/kg vs. placebo). Change in the coronary artery score was −0.022, −0.036, −0.022, and −0.015 mm (nominal P = 0.25, 0.99, 0.55), and change in the cumulative coronary stenosis score was −0.51, 2.65, 0.71, and −0.77% (compared with placebo, nominal P = 0.85 for 12 mg/kg and nominal P = 0.01 for 3 mg/kg). The number of patients with major cardiovascular events was 10 (8.3%), 16 (13.3%), 17 (13.7%), and 12 (9.8%) in the four groups. Conclusion CER-001 infusions did not reduce coronary atherosclerosis on IVUS and QCA when compared with placebo. Whether CER-001 administered in other regimens or to other populations could favourably affect atherosclerosis must await further study. Name of the trial registry: Clinicaltrials.gov; Registry's URL: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01201837?term=cer-001&rank=2; Trial registration number: NCT0120183

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Van Laar (Albert). Geschiedenis van het Openbaar Onderwijs te Antwerpen sedert 1872. I. Antwerpen « De Sikkel », 1937

Gessler Jan Fr. Van Laar (Albert). Geschiedenis van het Openbaar Onderwijs te Antwerpen sedert 1872. I. Antwerpen « De Sikkel », 1937. In: Revue belge de philologie et d'histoire, tome 17, fasc. 3-4, 1938. pp. 992-994

Dronckers (Emma). Verzameling F. G. Waller. Catalogus van Nederlandsche en Vlaamsche Populaire Boeken

Gessler Jean. Dronckers (Emma). Verzameling F. G. Waller. Catalogus van Nederlandsche en Vlaamsche Populaire Boeken. In: Revue belge de philologie et d'histoire, tome 17, fasc. 1-2, 1938. pp. 280-282

Höfler (Otto). Kultische Geheimbünde der Germanen. I

Gessler Jean. Höfler (Otto). Kultische Geheimbünde der Germanen. I. In: Revue belge de philologie et d'histoire, tome 17, fasc. 1-2, 1938. pp. 404-405

Counson (A). La Civilisation. Action de la science sur la loi.

Gessler Jean. Counson (A). La Civilisation. Action de la science sur la loi.. In: Revue belge de philologie et d'histoire, tome 8, fasc. 4, 1929. pp. 1291-1292

Notes lexicograpliiques latino-médiévales (à suivre)

Gessler Jan. Notes lexicograpliiques latino-médiévales (à suivre). In: L'antiquité classique, Tome 10, fasc. 1, 1941. pp. 95-113

Schnürer (G.) und Ritz (J. M.). Sankt Kümmernis und Volto Santo. Studien und Bilder

Gessler Jean. Schnürer (G.) und Ritz (J. M.). Sankt Kümmernis und Volto Santo. Studien und Bilder. In: Revue belge de philologie et d'histoire, tome 14, fasc. 2, 1935. pp. 505-510

Paul Couissin. Les Armes Romaines. Essai sur les Origines et l'Evolution des Armes individuelles du Légionnaire romain

Gessler Jean. Paul Couissin. Les Armes Romaines. Essai sur les Origines et l'Evolution des Armes individuelles du Légionnaire romain. In: Revue belge de philologie et d'histoire, tome 6, fasc. 1-2, 1927. pp. 371-373