| 1. |
- Beal, Jacob, et al.
(författare)
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Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density
- 2020
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Ingår i: Communications Biology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2399-3642. ; 3:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data.
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| 2. |
- Kanoni, Stavroula, et al.
(författare)
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Implicating genes, pleiotropy, and sexual dimorphism at blood lipid loci through multi-ancestry meta-analysis.
- 2022
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Ingår i: Genome biology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1474-760X .- 1465-6906 .- 1474-7596. ; 23:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Genetic variants within nearly 1000 loci are known to contribute to modulation of blood lipid levels. However, the biological pathways underlying these associations are frequently unknown, limiting understanding of these findings and hindering downstream translational efforts such as drug target discovery.To expand our understanding of the underlying biological pathways and mechanisms controlling blood lipid levels, we leverage a large multi-ancestry meta-analysis (N=1,654,960) of blood lipids to prioritize putative causal genes for 2286 lipid associations using six gene prediction approaches. Using phenome-wide association (PheWAS) scans, we identify relationships of genetically predicted lipid levels to other diseases and conditions. We confirm known pleiotropic associations with cardiovascular phenotypes and determine novel associations, notably with cholelithiasis risk. We perform sex-stratified GWAS meta-analysis of lipid levels and show that 3-5% of autosomal lipid-associated loci demonstrate sex-biased effects. Finally, we report 21 novel lipid loci identified on the X chromosome. Many of the sex-biased autosomal and X chromosome lipid loci show pleiotropic associations with sex hormones, emphasizing the role of hormone regulation in lipid metabolism.Taken together, our findings provide insights into the biological mechanisms through which associated variants lead to altered lipid levels and potentially cardiovascular disease risk.
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| 3. |
- Bao, Helen X. H., et al.
(författare)
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Light at the end of the tunnel : The impacts of expected major transport improvements on residential property prices
- 2020
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Ingår i: Urban Studies. - : Sage Publications. - 0042-0980 .- 1360-063X.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Properties near public transportation systems are usually sold at a premium owing to the willingness of firms and people to pay for access to workplace and leisure. However, the economic impact of major infrastructure investments remains an empirical question plagued by identification issues. We investigate the economic impacts of a major transportation development project currently under construction in Hong Kong: the Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok tunnel, namely the effects on property prices of the expansion of the regional road network in the Greater Bay Area. We identify a significant accessibility premium well before the tunnel is completed. There is also a change in market structure of increased preference for residential property in areas closer to the tunnel, reflected by higher price appreciation. The findings help guide urban planning and public investment decisions, as well as the design and implementation of land value capture policy.
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| 4. |
- de las Fuentes, Lisa, et al.
(författare)
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Gene-educational attainment interactions in a multi-ancestry genome-wide meta-analysis identify novel blood pressure loci
- 2021
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Ingår i: Molecular Psychiatry. - : Springer Nature. - 1359-4184 .- 1476-5578. ; 26:6, s. 2111-2125
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Educational attainment is widely used as a surrogate for socioeconomic status (SES). Low SES is a risk factor for hypertension and high blood pressure (BP). To identify novel BP loci, we performed multi-ancestry meta-analyses accounting for gene-educational attainment interactions using two variables, “Some College” (yes/no) and “Graduated College” (yes/no). Interactions were evaluated using both a 1 degree of freedom (DF) interaction term and a 2DF joint test of genetic and interaction effects. Analyses were performed for systolic BP, diastolic BP, mean arterial pressure, and pulse pressure. We pursued genome-wide interrogation in Stage 1 studies (N = 117 438) and follow-up on promising variants in Stage 2 studies (N = 293 787) in five ancestry groups. Through combined meta-analyses of Stages 1 and 2, we identified 84 known and 18 novel BP loci at genome-wide significance level (P < 5 × 10-8). Two novel loci were identified based on the 1DF test of interaction with educational attainment, while the remaining 16 loci were identified through the 2DF joint test of genetic and interaction effects. Ten novel loci were identified in individuals of African ancestry. Several novel loci show strong biological plausibility since they involve physiologic systems implicated in BP regulation. They include genes involved in the central nervous system-adrenal signaling axis (ZDHHC17, CADPS, PIK3C2G), vascular structure and function (GNB3, CDON), and renal function (HAS2 and HAS2-AS1, SLIT3). Collectively, these findings suggest a role of educational attainment or SES in further dissection of the genetic architecture of BP.
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| 5. |
- Glas, Gerie J., et al.
(författare)
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Ventilation practices in burn patients-an international prospective observational cohort study
- 2021
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Ingår i: BURNS & TRAUMA. - : Oxford University Press. - 2321-3868 .- 2321-3876. ; 9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: It is unknown whether lung-protective ventilation is applied in burn patients and whether they benefit from it. This study aimed to determine ventilation practices in burn intensive care units (ICUs) and investigate the association between lung-protective ventilation and the number of ventilator-free days and alive at day 28 (VFD-28). Methods: This is an international prospective observational cohort study including adult burn patients requiring mechanical ventilation. Low tidal volume (V-T) was defined as V-T <= 8 mL/kg predicted body weight (PBW). Levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and maximum airway pressures were collected. The association between V-T and VFD-28 was analyzed using a competing risk model. Ventilation settings were presented for all patients, focusing on the first day of ventilation. We also compared ventilation settings between patients with and without inhalation trauma. Results: A total of 160 patients from 28 ICUs in 16 countries were included. Low V-T was used in 74% of patients, median V-T size was 7.3 [interquartile range (IQR) 6.2-8.3] mL/kg PBW and did not differ between patients with and without inhalation trauma (p= 0.58). Median VFD-28 was 17 (IQR 0-26), without a difference between ventilation with low or high V-T (p= 0.98). All patients were ventilated with PEEP levels >= 5 cmH(2)O; 80% of patients had maximum airway pressures <30 cmH(2)O. Conclusion: In this international cohort study we found that lung-protective ventilation is used in the majority of burn patients, irrespective of the presence of inhalation trauma. Use of low V-T was not associated with a reduction in VFD-28.
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| 6. |
- Wong, Brian Li Han, et al.
(författare)
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From polycrisis to metacrisis : Harnessing windows of opportunity for renewed political leadership in global health diplomacy
- 2024
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Ingår i: BMJ Global Health. - : BMJ Publishing Group. - 2059-7908 .- 2059-7908. ; 9:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Summary box Effective global health diplomacy necessitates multidisciplinary leaders skilled in navigating today’s complex health political landscape through innovative strategies and collaboration. The future of global and regional health advancement hinges on the investment in a new generation of leaders based on dynamic mentoring and learning methodologies. Historical achievements, underscored by strong political leadership, serve as a blueprint for overcoming major public health challenges through concerted action and political commitment. The COVID-19 pandemic has underlined the global vulnerability to infectious diseases, highlighting the imperative for international collaboration in health preparedness and response. To address global health challenges, leaders must engage across sectors, combining public health evidence and private sector perspectives with insights into various disciplines to effectively communicate and negotiate within the political sphere.
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