scholarly journals Spatially Explicit Models to Investigate Geographic Patterns in the Distribution of Forensic STRs

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Messina ◽  
Andrea Finocchio ◽  
Nejat Akar ◽  
Aphrodite Loutradis ◽  
Emmanuel I. Michalodimitrakis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Population ◽  
Population Sample ◽  
Individual Identification ◽  
Spatially Explicit ◽  
Gene Pools ◽  
Clinal Variation ◽  
Full Dataset ◽  
Coalescent Simulations ◽  
Fast Pace ◽  
Spatial Pca

ABSTRACTHuman forensic STRs are used for individual identification but have been reported to have little power for inter-population analyses. Several methods have been developed which incorporate information on the spatial distribution of individuals to arrive at a description of the arrangement of diversity. We genotyped at 16 forensic STRs a large population sample obtained from many locations in Italy, Greece and Turkey, i.e. three countries seldom represented together in previous studies. Using spatial PCA on the full dataset, we detected patterns of population affinities in the area similar to those of genome-wide SNP and STR studies. Additionally, we devised objective criteria to reduce the overall complexity into reduced datasets. Independent spatially explicit methods applied to these latter datasets converged in showing that the extraction of information on long-to medium-range geographical trends and structuring from the overall diversity is possible. All analyses returned the picture of a background clinal variation, with regional discontinuities captured by each of the reduced datasets. These coincided with the main bodies of water, i.e. the Adriatic/Ionian and the Aegean Seas. High levels of gene flow were inferred within the main continental areas by coalescent simulations. These results are promising in a microevolutionary perspective, in view of the fast pace at which forensic data are being accumulated for many locales. It is foreseeable that this will allow the exploitation of an invaluable genotypic resource, assembled for other (forensic) purposes, to clarify important aspects in the formation of local gene pools.

scholarly journals Cardiometabolic disease and features of depression and bipolar disorder: Population-based, cross-sectional study

2016 ◽  
Vol 208 (4) ◽  
pp. 343-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel J. Martin ◽  
Zia Ul-Haq ◽  
Barbara I. Nicholl ◽  
Breda Cullen ◽  
Jonathan Evans ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Mood Disorder ◽  
Psychotropic Medication ◽  
Large Population ◽  
Population Sample ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cardiometabolic Disease ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional

BackgroundThe relative contribution of demographic, lifestyle and medication factors to the association between affective disorders and cardiometabolic diseases is poorly understood.AimsTo assess the relationship between cardiometabolic disease and features of depresion and bipolar disorder within a large population sample.MethodCross-sectional study of 145 991 UK Biobank participants: multivariate analyses of associations between features of depression or bipolar disorder and five cardiometabolic outcomes, adjusting for confounding factors.ResultsThere were significant associations between mood disorder features and ‘any cardiovascular disease’ (depression odds ratio (OR) = 1.15, 95% CI 1.12–1.19; bipolar OR = 1.28, 95% CI 1.14–1.43) and with hypertension (depression OR = 1.15, 95% CI 1.13–1.18; bipolar OR = 1.26, 95% CI 1.12–1.42). Individuals with features of mood disorder taking psychotropic medication were significantly more likely than controls not on psychotropics to report myocardial infarction (depression OR = 1.47, 95% CI 1.24–1.73; bipolar OR = 2.23, 95% CI 1.53–3.57) and stroke (depression OR = 2.46, 95% CI 2.10–2.80; bipolar OR = 2.31, 95% CI 1.39–3.85).ConclusionsAssociations between features of depression or bipolar disorder and cardiovascular disease outcomes were statistically independent of demographic, lifestyle and medication confounders. Psychotropic medication may also be a risk factor for cardiometabolic disease in individuals without a clear history of mood disorder.

scholarly journals Email Vs. Instagram Recruitment Strategies For Online Survey Research

2021 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-77
Author(s):  
Rafael R. Moraes ◽  
Marcos B. Correa ◽  
Ândrea Daneris ◽  
Ana B. Queiroz ◽  
João P. Lopes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Survey Research ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Large Population ◽  
Population Sample ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Recruitment Strategies ◽  
The Public ◽  
Conversion Rates ◽  
Methodological Aspects ◽  
E Mail

Abstract In this study, we describe a method for reaching a target population (i.e., dentists practicing in Brazil) to engage in survey research using traditional e-mail invites and recruitment campaigns created on Instagram. This study addresses methodological aspects and compares respondents reached by different methods. A pre-tested questionnaire was used and participants were recruited for 10 days via a source list of email addresses and two discrete Instagram organic open campaigns. A total of 3,122 responses were collected: 509 participants were recruited by email (2.1% response rate) and 2,613 by the two Instagram campaigns (20.7% and 11.7% conversion rates), respectively. Response/min collection rates in the first 24 h ranged between 0.23 (email) and 1.09 (first campaign). In total, 98.8% of all responses were received in the first 48 h for the different recruitment strategies. There were significant differences for all demographic variables (p< 0.001) between email and Instagram respondents, except for sex (p=0.37). Instagram respondents were slightly older, had more professional experience (years in practice), and a higher graduate education level than email respondents. Moreover, most email and Instagram respondents worked in the public sector and private practice, respectively. Although both strategies could collect responses from all Brazilian regions, email responses were slightly better distributed across the five territorial areas compared to Instagram. This study provides evidence that survey recruitment of a diverse, large population sample using Instagram is feasible. However, combination of email and Instagram recruitment led to a more diverse population and improved response rates.

scholarly journals The Current Demographic Scenario

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-115
Author(s):  
Isidro Fierro Ulloa
Keyword(s):  
Large Population ◽  
Public Health Education ◽  
International Organization ◽  
Capital City ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Birth Rates ◽  
The World ◽  
Fast Pace ◽  
And Migration ◽  
Demographic Impact

This research paper is aimed at thinking about the problem that the current demographic scenario means for mankind because of the excessive increase on the birth rates in poorest social class in the globe. This overpopulation is consuming the global resources at a fast pace and it is taking the world to its limits. This paper focuses on the increase of the population in India country 1.350 million inhabitants and more specifically on New Dahli its capital city whose large population is expected to be larger than China population by 2030. This study used the inductive approach to research to analyze the globe cities and its many problems which must become business and migration centers from populations focused on single cities which are making economic poverty, public health, education system and jobs a problem difficult to cope with. This approach allows to be in line with the current demographic scenario which uses the international organization data to monitor the global overpopulation. The results showed that a timely control over birth rates and the citizen´s education might minimize the demographic impact that the world currently experiences. In short, this situation should be regarded as the problem of the century one due to the negative consequences that should be efficiently treated in the ethics, social, politics and human.

scholarly journals Cognitive Abilities in the Wild: Population-scale game-based cognitive assessment

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mads Kock Pedersen ◽  
Carlos Mauricio Castaño Díaz ◽  
Mario Alejandro Alba-Marrugo ◽  
Ali Amidi ◽  
Rajiv Vaid Basaiwmoit ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Wild Population ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Large Population ◽  
Population Sample ◽  
The Social ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Large Population Sample ◽  
Key Questions ◽  
Unique Dataset

Psychology and the social sciences are undergoing a revolution: It has become increasingly clear that traditional lab-based experiments fail to capture the full range of differences in cognitive abilities and behaviours across the general population. Some progress has been made toward devising measures that can be applied at scale across individuals and populations. What has been missing is a broad battery of validated tasks that can be easily deployed, used across different age ranges and social backgrounds, and employed in practical, clinical, and research contexts. Here, we present Skill Lab, a game-based approach allowing the efficient assessment of a suite of cognitive abilities. Skill Lab has been validated outside the lab in a crowdsourced population-size sample recruited in collaboration with the Danish Broadcast Company (Danmarks Radio, DR). Our game-based measures are five times faster to complete than the equivalent traditional measures and replicate previous findings on the decline of cognitive abilities with age in a large population sample. Furthermore, by combining the game data with an in-game survey, we demonstrate that this unique dataset has implication for key questions in social science, challenging the Jack-of-all-Trades theory of entrepreneurship and provide evidence for risk preference being independent of executive functioning.

scholarly journals Visual impairment and blindness in the Xingu Indigenous Park – Brazil

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur Gustavo Fernandes ◽  
Monica Alves ◽  
Roberta Andrade e Nascimento ◽  
Natalia Yumi Valdrighi ◽  
Rafael Cunha de Almeida ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visual Impairment ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
Large Population ◽  
Population Sample ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Indigenous Populations ◽  
Refractive Errors ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Corrected Visual Acuity ◽  
Large Population Sample

Abstract Background Most estimates of visual impairment and blindness worldwide do not include data from specific minority groups as indigenous populations. We aimed to evaluate frequencies and causes of visual impairment and blindness in a large population sample from the Xingu Indigenous Park. Methods Cross-sectional study performed at Xingu Indigenous Park, Brazil, from 2016 to 2017. Residents from 16 selected villages were invited to participate and underwent a detailed ocular examination, including uncorrected (UVA) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). The main cause of UVA < 20/32 per eye was determined. Results A total of 2,099 individuals were evaluated. Overall, the frequency of visual impairment and blindness was 10.00% (95% CI: 8.72–11.29%) when considering UVA, decreasing to 7.15% (95% CI: 6.04–8.25%) when considering BCVA. For each increasing year on age, the risk  of being in the visually impaired or blind category increased by 9% (p < 0.001). Cataracts (39.1%) and uncorrected refractive errors (29.1%) were the most frequent causes of visual impairment and blindness in this population. The main causes among those aged 45 years and more were cataracts (54.5%) while refractive errors were the main cause in adults aged 18 to 45 years (50.0%) and children up to 18 years old (37.1%). Conclusions A higher frequency of visual impairment and blindness was observed in the indigenous population when compared to worldwide estimates with most of the causes being preventable and/or treatable. Blindness prevention programs should focus on accessibility to eye exam, cataract surgeries and eyeglass distribution.

scholarly journals Population-Based Estimates of Physical Activity for Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: A Cautionary Tale of Potential Confounding by Weight Status

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald C. Plotnikoff ◽  
Steven T. Johnson ◽  
Constantinos A. Loucaides ◽  
Adrian E. Bauman ◽  
Nandini D. Karunamuni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Large Population ◽  
Population Sample ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Healthy Weight ◽  
Physical Activity Levels

At a population level, the method used to determine those meeting physical activity guidelines has important implications, as estimating “sufficient” physical activity might be confounded by weight status. The objective of this study was to test the difference between three methods in estimating the prevalence of “sufficient activity” among Canadian adults with type 2 diabetes in a large population sample (N=1614) while considering the role of weight status as a potential confounder. Our results revealed that estimates of physical activity levels vary by BMI categories, depending on the methods examined. Although physical activity levels were lower in the obese, their energy expenditure estimates were not different from those who were overweight or of a healthy weight. The implications of these findings are that biased estimates of physical activity at a population level may result in inappropriate classification of adults with type 2 diabetes as “sufficiently active” and that the inclusion of body weight in estimating physical activity prevalence should be approached with caution.

Abstract 13626: Human Leukocyte Antigen A*30 is Associated With Congenital Heart Disease

Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Horacio G Carvajal ◽  
Fei Wan ◽  
Anoop K Brar ◽  
Chang Liu ◽  
Pirooz Eghtesady
Keyword(s):  
Congenital Heart Disease ◽  
Heart Disease ◽  
Congenital Heart ◽  
Large Population ◽  
Population Sample ◽  
Hla Antigens ◽  
Human Leukocyte ◽  
Hla Typing ◽  
Race And Gender ◽  
And Gender

Introduction: Congenital heart disease (CHD) arises from many etiologies, ranging from genetic to environmental exposures, such as viral infections. The human leukocyte antigens (HLA) play an important role in the immune response to pathogens. HLA has been extensively explored and linked with several diseases; no such investigations, however, have been done in context of CHD. Hypothesis: We sought to identify potential HLA associations with CHD in a large population sample with molecular-based HLA typing. Methods: Available data on race, gender, HLA-A, B, and DRB1 typing (1-field, antigen level) was collected from the 2,349 patients in the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database undergoing heart transplant due to CHD between 2005 and 2017. These were compared to all 80,893 deceased kidney donors in the same period. Nominal variables were compared with Pearson’s chi-square, and logistic regression was used to compare all HLA antigens between groups, adjusting for race and gender. The false discovery rate was used to control for multiple comparisons, with adjusted p-values <0.05 considered significant. Results: There were 14 HLA-A, 25 HLA-B, and 14 HLA-DRB1 antigens with an overall frequency of 1% or higher. The frequency of HLA-A*30, B*44, and DRB1*08 differed significantly between groups (Table 1). Unconditional regression showed significantly increased odds of CHD in patients with HLA-A*30 and HLA-DRB1*08, as well as significantly lower odds in those with HLA-B*44 (Table 1). The demographics between groups were comparable, with the exception of fewer Caucasians in the cases (CHD 60.7% vs controls 65.6%, p=0.026). When adjusted for race and gender, only HLA-A*30 remained statistically significant. Conclusions: HLA-A*30 appears to be linked with CHD independent of race. Further analyses with detailed CHD diagnoses and high-resolution HLA typing data are needed to explore potential associations between specific cardiac defects and HLA at the allele level.

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