DG Indschemes

We develop the notion of indscheme in the context of derived algebraic geometry, and study the categories of quasi-coherent sheaves and ind-coherent sheaves on indschemes. The main results concern the relation between classical and derived indschemes and the notion of formal smoothness

'A Better Way to Measure Choices' Discrete Choice Experiment and Conjoint Analysis Studies in Nephrology: A Literature Review

Discrete choice experiments (DCE) and conjoint analysis (CA) are increasingly used to address health policy issues. This is because the DCE and CA approaches have theoretical foundations in the characteristics theory of demand, which assumes goods, services, or healthcare provision, can be valued in terms of their characteristics (or attributes). As a result, such analysis is grounded in economic theory, lending theoretical validity to this approach. With DCEs, respondents are also assumed to act in a utility-maximising manner and make choices contingent upon the levels of attributes in DCE scenarios. Therefore, choice data can be analysed using econometric methods compatible with random utility theory (RUT) or random regret minimisation (RRM) theory. This means they have additional foundations in economic theory. In contrast, analyses described as CAs are sometimes compatible with RUT or RRM, but by definition they do not have to be. In this paper we review the CA/DCE evidence relating to nephrology. The CA/DCE approach is then compared with other approaches used to provide either quality of life information or preference information relating to nephrology. We conclude by providing an assessment of the value of undertaking CA or DCE analysis in nephrology, comparing the application of CA/DCEs in nephrology with other methodological approaches.</p

Experiential Learning for Extension Professionals: A Cross-Cultural Immersion Program

As the U.S. population becomes more diverse, Extension is called upon to modify its programming to meet the needs of its changing constituency. Georgia Extension created a professional development curriculum to assist Extension professionals in crafting effective programming for the rapidly growing Latino population. The study reported here explores qualitatively how Extension professionals in Georgia experienced their Cross-Cultural Immersion Program (CCIP). Through an interview-based study, three themes emerged from the data. Extension participants experienced: (1) diverse familial relations in Latino populations, (2) obstacles during programming, and (3) greater personal over professional gains through the CCIP

Severe impact of the 1918-19 pandemic influenza in a national military force

The impact of pandemic influenza on the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) in 1918-19 has never been studied using modern epidemiological methods. Therefore we analysed mortality and descriptive data from various sources for these military personnel. An estimated 930 NZEF personnel deaths from pandemic influenza occurred in 1918-19, making it the main cause of disease deaths, and representing 5.1% of all NZEF deaths from World War One (WW1). The epidemic curve was much more drawn out in the Northern Hemisphere compared with the Southern Hemisphere. Mortality rates varied markedly by setting (e.g. in military camps, by country and by hemisphere). Significantly higher mortality rates were found amongst NZEF personnel: aged 30-34 years, those of Māori ethnicity, those with a rural background, and those who left New Zealand for Europe in 1918. In conclusion, this work documents the heavy mortality burden from pandemic influenza amongst this national military force and highlights the large variations in mortality rates through host and environmental factors

DG Indschemes

We develop the notion of indscheme in the context of derived algebraic geometry, and study the categories of quasi-coherent sheaves and ind-coherent sheaves on indschemes. The main results concern the relation between classical and derived indschemes and the notion of formal smoothness.Mathematic

Biocompatible α‐Methylenation of Metabolic Butyraldehyde in Living Bacteria

Small molecule organocatalysts are abundant in all living organisms. However, their use as organocatalysts in cells has been underexplored. Herein, we report that organocatalytic aldol chemistry can be interfaced with living Escherichia coli to enable the α‐methylenation of cellular aldehydes using biogenic amines such as L‐Pro or phosphate. The biocompatible reaction is mild and can be interfaced with butyraldehyde generated from D‐glucose via engineered metabolism to enable the production of 2‐methylenebutanal (2‐MB) and 2‐methylbutanal (2‐MBA) by anaerobic fermentation, and 2‐methylbutanol (2‐MBO) by whole‐cell catalysis. Overall, this study demonstrates the combination of non‐enzymatic organocatalytic and metabolic reactions in vivo for the sustainable synthesis of valuable non‐natural chemicals that cannot be accessed using enzymatic chemistry alone

Butterfly abundance is determined by food availability and is mediated by species traits

1. Understanding the drivers of population abundance across species and sites is crucial for effective conservation management. At present, we lack a framework for predicting which sites are likely to support abundant butterfly communities. 2. We address this problem by exploring the determinants of abundance among 1111 populations of butterflies in the UK, spanning 27 species on 54 sites. Our general hypothesis is that the availability of food resources is a strong predictor of population abundance both within and between species, but that the relationship varies systematically with species’ traits. 3. We found strong positive correlations between butterfly abundance and the availability of food resources. Our indices of host plant and nectar are both significant predictors of butterfly population density, but the relationship is strongest for host plants, which explain up to 36% of the inter-site variance in abundance for some species. 4. Among species, the host plant–abundance relationship is mediated by butterfly species traits. It is strongest among those species with narrow diet breadths, low mobility and habitat specialists. Abundance for species with generalist diet and habitat associations is uncorrelated with our host plant index. 5. The host plant–abundance relationship is more pronounced on sites with predominantly north-facing slopes, suggesting a role for microclimate in mediating resource availability. 6. Synthesis and applications. We have shown that simple measures can be used to help understand patterns in abundance at large spatial scales. For some butterfly species, population carrying capacity on occupied sites is predictable from information about the vegetation composition. These results suggest that targeted management to increase host plant availability will translate into higher carrying capacity. Among UK butterflies, the species that would benefit most from such intervention have recently experienced steep declines in both abundance and distribution. The host plant–abundance relationship we have identified is likely to be transferrable to other systems characterized by strong interspecific interactions across trophic levels. This raises the possibility that the quality of habitat patches for specialist species is estimable from rapid assessment of the host plant resource

Mesenchymale stromale stamceltherapie voor emfyseem:Een kijkje in de toekomst

Verlies van longblaasjes bij longemfyseem is onherstelbaar. Regeneratie door stamcellen wordt als een veelbelovende toekomstige behandeling gezien voor patiënten met emfyseem. Een kenmerk van stamcellen is hun vermogen tot proliferatie en differentiatie; mesenchymale stromale stamcellen kunnen echter ook ontsteking remmen en reparatie bevorderen in hun directe omgeving. De extracellulaire matrix biedt daarbij niet alleen ruimtelijke structuur aan, maar bepaalt ook hoe mesenchymale stromale stamcellen zich gedragen en ontwikkelen. Toediening van mesenchymale stromale stamcellen aan diermodellen met emfyseem liet tekenen van weefselherstel zien, maar fundamentele vragen over de optimale dosering, herkomst, en toedieningsroute zijn tot nu toe helaas onvoldoende beantwoord. Ook het werkingsmechanisme is onduidelijk. Het fabriceren (bio-engeneering) van nieuwe longen is bij ratten gelukt door uitgenomen longen te ontdoen van cellen (decellulariseren), en de overblijvende eiwitvezelstructuur met eigen stamcellen te recellulariseren. Toediening van stamcellen aan patiënten met longemfyseem werd tot nu toe nauwelijks onderzocht. Intraveneuze toediening in kleine ‘safety studies’ bleek veilig maar klinisch niet effectief. (NED TIJDSCHR ALLERGIE &amp; ASTMA 2017;17:12-1