Reconsidering the reasons for heightened inflammation in major depressive disorder

Background Increased circulating pro-inflammatory markers have repeatedly been associated with major depressive disorder (MDD). However, it remains unclear whether inflammation represents a causal mechanism for MDD, or whether the association is influenced by confounding factors such as body mass index (BMI). Methods To better understand this complex relationship, we generated polygenic risk scores (PRS) for MDD and BMI in a population cohort and attempted to isolate the impact these potential risk factors have on adulthood inflammation. Peripheral blood samples were collected as part of the South East London Community Health study, where we generated individualized PRS for MDD and BMI and quantified inflammatory markers using multiplex ELISA-based technology. We performed linear regressions to investigate the effects of PRS for MDD and BMI on inflammatory marker levels. Results Out of 35 inflammatory markers, we found a nominal effect of PRS for MDD on interleukin-10. We also found a significant positive effect of BMI on nine inflammatory markers, of which the two most strongly affected markers, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP), were also nominally predicted by BMI PRS. Limitations The study utilized a cross-sectional design with a moderately sized sample. Conclusions Our findings suggest there may not be a shared genetic mechanism contributing to MDD and higher inflammatory marker levels. However, there may be shared genetic etiology between BMI and adulthood levels of CRP and IL-6. Therefore, polygenic risk scores for BMI may represent a useful indicator for heightened levels of inflammation in adulthood

Is U.S. health care an appropriate system? A strategic perspective from systems science

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Context</p> <p>Systems science provides organizational principles supported by biologic findings that can be applied to any organization; any incongruence indicates an incomplete or an already failing system. U.S. health care is commonly referred to as a system that consumes an ever- increasing percentage of the gross domestic product and delivers seemingly diminishing value.</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>To perform a comparative study of U.S. health care with the principles of systems science and, if feasible, propose solutions.</p> <p>Design</p> <p>General systems theory provides the theoretical foundation for this observational research.</p> <p>Main Outcome Measures</p> <p>A degree of compliance of U.S. health care with systems principles and its space-time functional location within the dynamic systems model.</p> <p>Results of comparative analysis</p> <p>U.S. health care is an incomplete system further threatened by the fact that it functions in the zone of chaos within the dynamic systems model.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Complying with systems science principles and the congruence of pertinent cycles, U.S. health care would likely dramatically improve its value creation for all of society as well as its resiliency and long-term sustainability.</p> <p>Immediate corrective steps could be taken: Prioritize and incentivize <it>health </it>over <it>care</it>; restore fiscal soundness by combining health and life insurance for the benefit of the insured and the payer; rebalance horizontal/providers and vertical/government hierarchies.</p

Measurement of the inclusive and dijet cross-sections of b-jets in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV with the ATLAS detector

The inclusive and dijet production cross-sections have been measured for jets containing b-hadrons (b-jets) in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of sqrt(s) = 7 TeV, using the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The measurements use data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 34 pb^-1. The b-jets are identified using either a lifetime-based method, where secondary decay vertices of b-hadrons in jets are reconstructed using information from the tracking detectors, or a muon-based method where the presence of a muon is used to identify semileptonic decays of b-hadrons inside jets. The inclusive b-jet cross-section is measured as a function of transverse momentum in the range 20 < pT < 400 GeV and rapidity in the range |y| < 2.1. The bbbar-dijet cross-section is measured as a function of the dijet invariant mass in the range 110 < m_jj < 760 GeV, the azimuthal angle difference between the two jets and the angular variable chi in two dijet mass regions. The results are compared with next-to-leading-order QCD predictions. Good agreement is observed between the measured cross-sections and the predictions obtained using POWHEG + Pythia. MC@NLO + Herwig shows good agreement with the measured bbbar-dijet cross-section. However, it does not reproduce the measured inclusive cross-section well, particularly for central b-jets with large transverse momenta.Comment: 10 pages plus author list (21 pages total), 8 figures, 1 table, final version published in European Physical Journal

Strategisches Handeln von Startups im Kontext der Mediatisierung

Junge Gründer und Start-ups müssen sich in einer schnell wandelnden und mediatisierten Wettbewerbsumwelt behaupten. Ihr Handeln wird geprägt von sozialen Netzwerkmedien wie Facebook, LinkedIn oder Instagram. Um auf diesen Medien-plattformen erfolgreich zu sein, müssen Markenführung und Markenkommunikation strategisch verankert sein. Der Aufsatz präsentiert daher eine qualitative Analyse empirischer Daten aus dem Kontext des Start-up-Incubator neudeli der Bauhaus-Universität Weimar und verdeutlicht, dass die Mediatisierung grundlegend in die strategische Entwicklung der Marke von jungen Gründern und Start-ups eingreift. Die Studie verdeutlicht das Verständnis strategischer Markenführung in mediatisierten Kontexten und zeigt, dass drei idealtypische Praktiken zur Markenführung und strategischen Entwicklung beitragen: 1) Bürokratische Medienarbeit, 2) Mediale Kreativarbeit, 3) Netzwerkarbeit durch Medien

Frugal innovation: doing more with less for more

The global economy will face significant challenges over the next few decades. On the one hand, it must meet the needs of 7 billion consumers (growing to 9 billion by 2050), including the currently unmet basic needs of large numbers in developing countries in areas such as food, energy, housing and health. On the other hand, it must achieve this growth without exceeding the resources available on the planet or causing environmental devastation. This paper argues that such change is possible through a systemic shift to a frugal economy that involves radical, frugal innovation across sectors. Such a transformation will involve the participation of large and small firms, consumers and governments alike. The paper introduces the notion of frugal innovation—the creation of faster, better and cheaper solutions for more people that employ minimal resources—and discusses strategies and examples of such change already taking place in core sectors like manufacturing, food, automotive and energy in developing and developed economies. It also outlines the role of the interaction between large and small firms as well as between firms and consumers in making change possible, as well as the role of governments in driving change where market mechanisms alone will not suffice. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Material demand reduction’

Identification and characterization of antibacterial compound(s) of cockroaches (Periplaneta americana)

Infectious diseases remain a significant threat to human health, contributing to more than 17 million deaths, annually. With the worsening trends of drug resistance, there is a need for newer and more powerful antimicrobial agents. We hypothesized that animals living in polluted environments are potential source of antimicrobials. Under polluted milieus, organisms such as cockroaches encounter different types of microbes, including superbugs. Such creatures survive the onslaught of superbugs and are able to ward off disease by producing antimicrobial substances. Here, we characterized antibacterial properties in extracts of various body organs of cockroaches (Periplaneta americana) and showed potent antibacterial activity in crude brain extract against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and neuropathogenic E. coli K1. The size-exclusion spin columns revealed that the active compound(s) are less than 10 kDa in molecular mass. Using cytotoxicity assays, it was observed that pre-treatment of bacteria with lysates inhibited bacteria-mediated host cell cytotoxicity. Using spectra obtained with LC-MS on Agilent 1290 infinity liquid chromatograph, coupled with an Agilent 6460 triple quadruple mass spectrometer, tissues lysates were analyzed. Among hundreds of compounds, only a few homologous compounds were identified that contained isoquinoline group, chromene derivatives, thiazine groups, imidazoles, pyrrole containing analogs, sulfonamides, furanones, flavanones, and known to possess broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties, and possess anti-inflammatory, anti-tumour, and analgesic properties. Further identification, characterization and functional studies using individual compounds can act as a breakthrough in developing novel therapeutics against various pathogens including superbugs

Fossil herbivore stable isotopes reveal middle Pleistocene hominin palaeoenvironment in ‘Green Arabia’

Despite its largely hyper-arid and inhospitable climate today, the Arabian Peninsula is emerging as an important area for investigating Pleistocene hominin dispersals. Recently, a member of our own species was found in northern Arabia dating to c. 90 ka, while stone tools and fossil finds have hinted at an earlier, Middle Pleistocene, hominin presence. However, there remain few direct insights into Pleistocene environments, and associated hominin adaptations, that accompanied the movement of populations into this region. Here, we apply stable carbon and oxygen isotope analysis to fossil mammal tooth enamel (n=21) from the Middle Pleistocene locality of Ti’s al Ghadah in Saudi Arabia associated with newly-discovered lithics and probable cutmarks. The results demonstrate productive grasslands in the interior of the Arabian Peninsula c. 300-500 ka, as well as aridity levels similar to those found in open savanna settings in eastern Africa today. The association between this palaeoenvironmental information and the earliest traces for hominin activity in this part of the world lead us to argue that Middle Pleistocene hominin dispersal into the interior of the Arabian Peninsula required no major novel adaptation