Hydrostatic and Physiologic Contributions to Intraocular Pressure Change During Postural Change

Many studies have observed that intraocular pressure (IOP) is dependent on tilt angle () during postural change. In this work, we aggregated 36 independent datasets from 30 published articles, representing 821 subjects, which reported data on IOP during postural change. From this data, we developed a generalized quantitative relationship between IOP and . We then compared the experimentally derived results to simulated predictions generated by our lumped parameter model of the eye, LPEye, considering only hydrostatic effects. The difference between the analytical and simulated values of IOP can be used to quantify the physiologic regulatory contribution

Precision medicine in cancer: Challenges and recommendations from an EU-funded cervical cancer biobanking study

Background:Cervical cancer (CC) remains a leading cause of gynaecological cancer-related mortality worldwide. CC pathogenesis is triggered when human papillomavirus (HPV) inserts into the genome, resulting in tumour suppressor gene inactivation and oncogene activation. Collecting tumour and blood samples is critical for identifying these genetic alterations.Methods:BIO-RAIDs is the first prospective molecular profiling clinical study to include a substantial biobanking effort that used uniform high-quality standards and control of samples. In this European Union (EU)-funded study, we identified the challenges that were impeding the effective implementation of such a systematic and comprehensive biobanking effort.Results:The challenges included a lack of uniform international legal and ethical standards, complexities in clinical and molecular data management, and difficulties in determining the best technical platforms and data analysis techniques. Some difficulties were encountered by all investigators, while others affected only certain institutions, regions, or countries.Conclusions:The results of the BIO-RAIDs programme highlight the need to facilitate and standardise regulatory procedures, and we feel that there is also a need for international working groups that make recommendations to regulatory bodies, governmental funding agencies, and academic institutions to achieve a proficient biobanking programme throughout EU countries. This represents the first step in precision medicine

Variety of Methodological Approach in Economics

It has been argued by some that the distinction between orthodox economics and heterodox economics does not fit the growing variety in economic theory, unified by a common methodological approach. On the other hand, it remains a central characteristic of heterodox economics that it does not share this methodological approach, but rather represents a range of alternative methodological approaches. The paper explores the evidence, and arguments, for variety in economics at different levels, and a range of issues which arise. This requires in turn a discussion of the meaning of variety in economics at the different levels of reality, methodology, method and theory. It is concluded that there is scope for more, rather than less, variety in economic methodologies, as well as within methodologies. Further, if variety is not to take the form of “anything goes”, then critical discussion by economists of different approaches to economics, and of variety itself, is required

Differential pathogenicity of Metarhizium anisopliae and the control of the sugarcane root spittlebug Mahanarva fimbriolata

In order to assess the effectiveness of Metarhizium anisopliae var. anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin isolates in controlling the sugarcane root spittlebug Mahanarva fimbriolata (Stal) (Hemiptera: Cercopidae), nine isolates obtained from a single geographical region were studied. 'Confirmed cumulative' and 'corrected cumulative' spittlebug mortality rates were measured for each of the isolates. Based on the confirmed mortality curve, the isolates URM5946, URM5951 and URM6033 were considered to be potentially the most effective in a biological control program for M. fimbriolata