1,376 research outputs found

    Datasets for transcriptomics, q-proteomics and phenotype microarrays of polyphosphate metabolism mutants from Escherichia coli

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    Indexación: Scopus.Author acknowledges Fondecyt Grants 1120209, 1121170 and Anillo ACT-1107Here, we provide the dataset associated with our research article on the polyphosphate metabolism entitled, “Multi-level evaluation of Escherichia coli polyphosphate related mutants using global transcriptomic, proteomic and phenomic analyses”. By integrating different omics levels (transcriptome, proteome and phenome), we were able to study Escherichia coli polyphosphate mutant strains (Δppk1, Δppx, and Δppk1-ppx). We have compiled here all datasets from DNA microarrys, q-proteomic (Isotope-Coded Protein Labeling, ICPL) and phenomic (Phenotype microarray) raw data we have obtained in all polyP metabolism mutants.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352340917300860?via%3Dihu

    Перспективы развития биотехнологий

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    В статье затронуты проблемы демографического кризиса. Рассмотрены вопросы развития биотехнологий, а так же существующие виды биотехнологий. Более глубоко рассмотрен такой вид биотехнологии как биомедицина, представлены существующие наработки ученых в этой сфере. При изучении был сделан вывод, что развитие биотехнологии, в честности биомедицины приведет к повышению продолжительности жизни, а вследствие решения демографической проблемы.The article touches upon the problems of the demographic crisis. The questions of development of biotechnologies, as well as existing types of biotechnologies are considered. Deeply considered this kind of biotechnology as biomedicine, presents the existing developments of scientists in this field. The study concluded that the development of biotechnology, in the honesty of biomedicine, will lead to an increase in life expectancy, and as a result of solving the demographic problem

    Simulating the Long-Term Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Sustainability of the Population-Economy-Environment Nexus

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    The COVID19 pandemic has created a massive shock, unexpectedly increasing mortality levels and generating economic recessions all around the world. In recent years, several efforts have been made to develop models that link the environment, population and the economy which may be used to estimate potential longer term effects of the pandemic. Unfortunately, many of the parameters used in these models lack appropriate empirical identification. In this study, first I estimate the parameters of "Wonderland", a system dynamics model of the population-economy-environment nexus, and posteriorly, add external GDP and mortality shocks to the model. The estimated parameters are able to closely match world data, while future simulations point, on average and regardless of the COVID19 pandemic, to a world reaching dangerous environmental levels in the following decades, in line with consensus forecasts. On the other hand, the effects of the pandemic on the economy are highly uncertain and may last for several decades

    Response of Growing Dairy Bulls to Dietary Tannin in Rations with Varying Energy Levels

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    This study was conducted to determine the effect of dietary tannin on growth performance, rumen fluid characteristics, and apparent total-tract digestibility in growing Holstein-Friesian x Sahiwal bulls fed low and high energy rations. Eighteen growing bulls with initial body weight (BW) of 162.8±12.7 kg at 15±0.80 months were used in an unbalanced randomized complete block design set-up in a 2x2 factorial arrangement. The experimental animals were blocked by their respective BW. Animals were fed with concentrates containing metabolizable energy (ME) at 2.47 and 2.72 Mcal/kg without or with 20g/kg tannin in dry matter basis. At the final week of the trial, rumen fluid and fecal samples were collected for the rumen fluid characteristics and apparent total-tract digestibility analyses. No differences (p>0.05) were observed between the growth performance, rumen gas production, volatile fatty acids as well as organic matter, crude protein, and energy digestibility. High energy concentrates had higher (p<0.05) dry matter and neutral detergent fiber digestibility than low energy concentrates. Low energy concentrates without tannin had cheaper (p<0.001) total feed cost but feed cost per kilogram BW gain was similar (p>0.05) across treatments. Feed savings costs of US$ 17.58 per animal were attained in feeding low energy concentrates without tannin. Therefore, feeding concentrates containing 2.47 Mcal/kg ME without additional tannin can still be fed economically to growing cattle without any adverse effect on growth, ruminal fermentation characteristics, and apparent total-tract digestibility

    A structural model of cooking fuel choices in developing countries

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    Access to cleaning cooking fuels and stoves is an important indicator of well-being, as this enables several improvements in quality of life. In many developing countries, a big proportion of the population still depends on biomass for cooking, and the adoption of clean cooking fuels is still limited. Here, we propose a structural model to estimate household demand and choices for cooking fuel using micro-datasets from nationally representative surveys for a subset of developing countries. We test the model by estimating the demand response to simulated changes in fuel prices and income. We find that the model provides a close approximation to the observed patterns in the data from the surveys. We also find that as long as incomes rise and the relative difference between the prices of biomass and cleaner fuels decreases, households will transition to cleaner cooking fuels. We discuss potential applications of the method for constructing and analyzing future scenarios of cooking energy transitions

    A dismal future? Towards a new model of labor market dynamics based on evolving demographic variables

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    Standard labor market models assume that individuals work between ages 15-64 and then retire. Forecasted improvements in demographic variables such as life expectancy and health level of the population question the validity of those assumptions. Here we develop a model in which individuals decide optimally their retirement age according to changes in demographic and economic variables. Under this framework, individuals should naturally delay their retirement in the following decades. This implies a very different approach to policy, since the implied support ratios may not be as worrisome as the ones coming from the standard models. However, a word of caution is necessary, as the design of the pension system may give enough incentives for people to retire before what could be optimal on an equitable pension system

    Household Energy Burdens in Europe following the Russian Incursion into Ukraine

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    Recent global events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine have worsened the already difficult situation of households at risk of energy poverty in Europe. Estimates for 2020 suggest that 43% of natural gas in the EU was supplied by Russia, a substantial share of which met household heating and cooking energy needs. Severe supply constraints and corresponding price volatility following the Russian invasion of Ukraine have substantially affected household energy affordability across Europe. In this work, we quantify how the prior dependence of European countries on gas imports from Russia affected the direct energy burdens suffered by households following the Russian offensive. We then consider how these energy burdens may evolve under different scenarios of the duration of the conflict. We use microdata from the European Household Budget Survey (HBS) from 2010 and 2015 to analyze household energy burdens, measured in terms of the share of the total household budget spent on energy, and the factors affecting these across EU countries and across income levels within countries. We also use data on national energy price trajectories from Eurostat and time series autoregressive integrative moving average (ARIMA) models to predict future energy prices under alternative scenarios of the length of the conflict. Finally, to predict changes in the energy burden of European households under these alternative scenarios, we use XGBoost (eXtreme Gradient Boosting) a state-of-the-art machine learning algorithm. We find that households that use gas tend to have a higher energy burden than those that do not. Moreover, for households that live in a country where most of the gas imports come from Russia, this is exacerbated, particularly for those at lower income levels. Under alternative scenarios of the length of the conflict, we find that that low-income households would be the most affected, with a longer war likely to raise the energy burden across all income groups. Our findings are useful to inform policies to address energy poverty, particularly households most vulnerable to energy price volatility in Europe. In the short-term, targeted transfers and assistance hold promise and are necessary to address the exacerbated energy poverty burden, particularly for low-income and vulnerable households. However, in the longer term, efforts to improve the efficiency of the European building stock and heating systems, as well as to enhance energy security will likely be needed

    A model of energy poverty and access: Estimating household electricity demand and appliance ownership

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    In countries that have a large share of population in energy poverty, appliance and electricity demand can be expected to rise. Approaches to estimate latent demand of energy poor populations often assume a constant income elasticity of demand. Here, we develop a novel simulation-based structural estimation approach to estimate responsiveness of electricity demand to income accounting for non-linearities, and considering other important drivers. We apply the model using micro-data for four developing nations to assess the implications of policy scenarios for achieving the Sustainable Development Goal SDG 7 under different socio-economic futures. We find that under scenarios that include policies to achieve universal access to electricity, total electricity demand is higher but the average per capita is lower than in no access policy futures. We also find that the level of adoption of electrical appliances varies significantly by country, appliance type, climate and income, with a high and stable share of electricity used for entertainment in all four countries and socio-economic futures. However, the share of electricity used for food preservation and preparation and clothes maintenance rises significantly with income as people are able to afford appliances that provide greater convenience. Our results confirm that as energy poor populations gain access to electricity services their demand will rise, but neglecting heterogeneity can result in biased estimates

    Factor V Leiden and prothrombin G20210A among Chilean patients with venous and arterial thrombosis

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    Iván Palomo. Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunohematología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile. Casilla 747,Talca, Chile.Factor V Leiden and G20210A mutation of prothrombin gene are two important genetic polymorphisms associated with an increased risk for thrombosis. Aim: To establish the prevalence of factor V Leiden and prothrombin G20210A mutation in the Chilean population and their association to venous and arterial thromboembolism. Material and methods: A case-control study was conducted where 149 patients with thrombosis (87 with arterial and 62 with venous thrombosis) confirmed by CAT-scan, electrocardiogram and cardiac enzymes or Doppler depending on the case, and 160 healthy blood donors were genetically analyzed for the presence of both polymorphisms. Results: Factor V Leiden mutation was found in 5.4% of patients and in 1.3% of healthy controls (p=0.04). Heterozygosity for G20210A prothrombin mutation was found in 5.4% of patients and in 2.5% of the control group (p=NS). When arterial and venous thrombosis were considered as separate entities, 4.6% of patients with arterial thrombosis and 6.5% with venous thrombosis presented factor V Leiden (p=NS). Likewise, 8.1% of patients with venous thrombosis and 3.5% of patients with arterial thrombosis had G20210A prothrombin mutation (p=NS). Conclusions: In non selected consecutive Chilean patients with arterial and venous thrombosis the frequency of factor V Leiden and prothrombin G20210A is less than we could expect from their prevalence in the general populatio

    Quantifying the impacts of clean cooking transitions on future health-age trajectories in South Africa

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    Reliance on highly polluting cooking technologies poses a significant risk for human health. This study quantifies and compares the impact of different clean cooking access scenarios on future health-age trajectories among population subgroups in South Africa. Using microdata from five waves of the South African National Income Dynamics Study, we develop a dynamic microsimulation model and a composite metric of individual health status that is used to explore how health status changes under alternative access scenarios for the period 2010–2030. We find that there are clear gains of using clean cooking technologies for population health, and that electrification alone does not improve health status, if it is not accompanied by an increase in the use of clean cooking technologies in homes. Our results imply that achieving universal access to clean cooking in South Africa can by itself improve average population health by almost 4% by 2030 compared to a scenario without clean cooking technologies, with the health of individuals of genders and races with the poorest health and well-being endowments improving the most. Thus, clean cooking can contribute to narrowing existing inequalities by improving health for the most vulnerable population groups that disproportionately depend on polluting cooking technologies
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