| 1. |
- Beal, Jacob, et al.
(author)
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Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density
- 2020
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In: Communications Biology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2399-3642. ; 3:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)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. |
- Watson, Hunna J., et al.
(author)
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Common Genetic Variation and Age of Onset of Anorexia Nervosa
- 2022
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In: BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY: GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE. - : Elsevier BV. - 2667-1743. ; 2:4, s. 368-378
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Genetics and biology may influence the age of onset of anorexia nervosa (AN). The aims of this study were to determine whether common genetic variation contributes to age of onset of AN and to investigate the genetic associations between age of onset of AN and age at menarche.METHODS: A secondary analysis of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium genome-wide association study (GWAS) of AN was performed, which included 9335 cases and 31,981 screened controls, all from European ancestries. We conducted GWASs of age of onset, early-onset AN (,13 years), and typical-onset AN, and genetic correlation, genetic risk score, and Mendelian randomization analyses.RESULTS: Two loci were genome-wide significant in the typical-onset AN GWAS. Heritability estimates (single nucleotide polymorphism-h2) were 0.01-0.04 for age of onset, 0.16-0.25 for early-onset AN, and 0.17-0.25 for typical-onset AN. Early-and typical-onset AN showed distinct genetic correlation patterns with putative risk factors for AN. Specifically, early-onset AN was significantly genetically correlated with younger age at menarche, and typical-onset AN was significantly negatively genetically correlated with anthropometric traits. Genetic risk scores for age of onset and early-onset AN estimated from independent GWASs significantly predicted age of onset. Mendelian randomization analysis suggested a causal link between younger age at menarche and early -onset AN.CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide evidence consistent with a common variant genetic basis for age of onset and implicate biological pathways regulating menarche and reproduction.
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| 3. |
- Cone, David C, et al.
(author)
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Comparison of the SALT and Smart triage systems using a virtual reality simulator with paramedic students
- 2011
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In: European journal of emergency medicine. - : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. - 0969-9546 .- 1473-5695. ; 18:6, s. 314-321
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: Virtual reality systems may allow for organized study of mass casualty triage systems by allowing investigators to replicate the same mass casualty incident, with the same victims, for a large number of rescuers. The study objectives were to develop such a virtual reality system, and use it to assess the ability of trained paramedic students to triage simulated victims using two triage systems.METHODS: Investigators created 25 patient scenarios for a highway bus crash in a virtual reality simulation system. Paramedic students were trained to proficiency on the new 'Sort, Assess, Life saving interventions, Treat and Transport (SALT)' triage system, and 22 students ran the simulation, applying the SALT algorithm to each victim. After a 3-month washout period, the students were retrained on the 'Smart' triage system, and each student ran the same crash simulation using the Smart system. Data inputs were recorded by the simulation software and analyzed with the paired t-tests.RESULTS: The students had a mean triage accuracy of 70.0% with SALT versus 93.0% with Smart (P=0.0001). Mean overtriage was 6.8% with SALT versus 1.8% with Smart (P=0.0015), and mean undertriage was 23.2% with SALT versus 5.1% with Smart (P=0.0001). The average time for a student to triage the scene was 21 min 3 s for SALT versus 11 min 59 s for Smart (P=0.0001).CONCLUSION: The virtual reality platform seems to be a viable research tool for examining mass casualty triage. A small sample of trained paramedic students using the virtual reality system was able to triage simulated patients faster and with greater accuracy with 'Smart' triage than with 'SALT' triage.
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| 4. |
- Cone, David C, et al.
(author)
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Pilot Test of the SALT Mass Casualty Triage System
- 2019
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In: Prehospital Emergency Care. - : Taylor & Francis. - 1090-3127 .- 1545-0066. ; 13:4, s. 536-40
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- INTRODUCTION: No existing mass casualty triage system has been scientifically scrutinized or validated. A recent work group sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, using a combination of expert opinion and the extremely limited research data available, created the SALT (sort-assess-lifesaving interventions-treat/transport) triage system to serve as a national model. An airport crash drill was used to pilot test the SALT system.OBJECTIVE: To assess the accuracy and speed with which trained paramedics can triage victims using this new system.METHODS: Investigators created 50 patient scenarios with a wide range of injuries and severities, and two additional uninjured victims were added at the time of the drill. Students wearing moulage and coached on how to portray their injuries served as "victims." Assuming proper application of the SALT system, the patient scenarios were designed such that 16 patients would be triaged as T1/red/immediate, 12 as T2/yellow/delayed, 14 as T3/green/minimal, and 10 as T4/black/dead. Paramedics were trained to proficiency in the SALT system one week prior to the drill using a 90-minute didactic/practical session, and were given "flash cards" showing the triage algorithm to be used if needed during the drill. Observers blinded to the study purpose timed and recorded the triage process for each patient during the drill. Simple descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data.RESULTS: The two paramedics assigned to the role of triage officers applied the SALT algorithm correctly to 41 of the 52 patients (78.8% accuracy). Seven patients intended to be T2 were triaged as T1, and two patients intended to be T3 were triaged as T2, for an overtriage rate of 13.5%. Two patients intended to be T2 were triaged as T3, for an undertriage rate of 3.8%. Triage times were recorded by the observers for 42 of the 52 patients, with a mean of 15 seconds per patient (range 5-57 seconds).CONCLUSIONS: The SALT mass casualty triage system can be applied quickly in the field and appears to be safe, as measured by a low undertriage rate. There was, however, significant overtriage. Further refinement is needed, and effect on patient outcomes needs to be evaluated.
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