Non-parametric estimation of reference adjusted, standardised probabilities of all-cause death and death due to cancer for population group comparisons

Background Ensuring fair comparisons of cancer survival statistics across population groups requires careful consideration of differential competing mortality due to other causes, and adjusting for imbalances over groups in other prognostic covariates (e.g. age). This has typically been achieved using comparisons of age-standardised net survival, with age standardisation addressing covariate imbalance, and the net estimates removing differences in competing mortality from other causes. However, these estimates lack ease of interpretability. In this paper, we motivate an alternative non-parametric approach that uses a common rate of other cause mortality across groups to give reference-adjusted estimates of the all-cause and cause-specific crude probability of death in contrast to solely reporting net survival estimates. Methods We develop the methodology for a non-parametric equivalent of standardised and reference adjusted crude probabilities of death, building on the estimation of non-parametric crude probabilities of death. We illustrate the approach using regional comparisons of survival following a diagnosis of rectal cancer for men in England. We standardise to the covariate distribution and other cause mortality of England as a whole to offer comparability, but with close approximation to the observed all-cause region-specific mortality. Results The approach gives comparable estimates to observed crude probabilities of death, but allows direct comparison across population groups with different covariate profiles and competing mortality patterns. In our illustrative example, we show that regional variations in survival following a diagnosis of rectal cancer persist even after accounting for the variation in deprivation, age at diagnosis and other cause mortality. Conclusions The methodological approach of using standardised and reference adjusted metrics offers an appealing approach for future cancer survival comparison studies and routinely published cancer statistics. Our non-parametric estimation approach through the use of weighting offers the ability to estimate comparable survival estimates without the need for statistical modelling.

Multi-Level Monitoring of Vaccination Adherence of Various Population Groups in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Problematic Issues

Relevance. Despite significant progress in the prevention of many infectious diseases, a number of organizational issues remain in the area of special attention. One of them is to ensure the timeliness and completeness of vaccination coverage in the decreed age groups, which is possible only with a high level of public commitment to vaccination. During the pandemic of the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19), achieving a high level of vaccination coverage of the National Calendar of Preventive vaccinations is of particular relevance. Aim. Using state-of-the-art online resources, assess population vaccination adherence to develop effective communication risk management technologies for immunoprophylaxis in the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and methods. To assess the commitment of various population groups and professional contingents of a large industrial city to vaccine prevention, a survey of 965 parents was conducted at the initial stage, and subsequently a survey of 2,632 employees of medical organizations, including 1,422 people in the period before the COVID - 19 pandemic, 572 people in the «first wave» of the pandemic and 638 people in the «second wave». Instagram Facebook, Instagram, and VKontakte social networks were used to quickly obtain the necessary information (Google forms, corporate e-mails, WhatsApp, Telegram messengers, etc.). The work uses epidemiological, sociological and statistical methods of research. Results and discussion. When assessing the attitude of parents to vaccination, it was found that 78.8% of respondents were positive about vaccinations, 14.6% doubted their effectiveness and safety, and 6.6% denied their need. The main source of information that forms the attitude to vaccinations of parents was the opinion of medical professionals. In a survey of 1,422 employees, 190 people (13.3%) were identified, mainly from among the trained specialists, who themselves had a negative attitude to vaccination. When assessing the commitment of employees of medical organizations to the vaccination of a new coronavirus infection, the attitude to vaccination was ambiguous, especially in the group of secondary medical personnel and female employees of non-medical specialties, who are a potential risk group for forming a negative attitude to vaccinations and can act as «opinion leaders» on this issue for other categories of the population. Insufficient adherence to COVID-19 vaccine prevention has also been observed in other countries among various population groups, which is a serious problem on a global scale, hindering the fight against the pandemic of a new disease, which requires corrective measures. Conclusion. In this study, using modern online resources, a rapid assessment of the vaccination adherence of various population groups (parents and medical professionals) was carried out. It is shown that the use of modern technologies and software tools makes it possible to analyze a large array of data to solve problems of overcoming communication risks. The results obtained point to the need for prompt corrective measures in terms of the introduction of educational programs to increase adherence to vaccination, especially in groups at potential risk of the disease, including medical professionals, which is a priority for health care in all countries.

Health Literacy and Ethnic Minority Populations

This chapter will show how optimizing health literacy can benefit the delivery of healthcare to the population in a way that materially addresses the inequalities in the National Health Service (NHS). These inequalities adversely impact different population groups in different ways, for various reasons. However, ethnic minority populations are especially vulnerable to inequalities having an adverse effect on the delivery of healthcare to the population, thereby adversely affecting their access, engagement, and healthcare benefits and consequently their general health, wellbeing, and life expectancy. Optimizing health literacy in these populations will enable increased engagement and participation, thereby delivering healthcare more effectively to the population by tailoring it to their needs and addressing current inequalities.

“The Development of the Ideas of Scholars of Previous Generations Will Be the Best Monument for Them”: In Memory of Leonid Teodorovich Yablonsky (1950–2016)

Research objectives: To consider the creative path and main views of L.T. Yablonsky, as well as his influence on ideas about the ethnic history of the Golden Horde population and theoretical problems of ethnogenesis. Research materials: The authors of the article were based on numerous publications by L.T. Yablonsky, as well as personal impressions from meetings with the researcher on expeditions and at academic conferences. Results and novelty of the research: The authors consider the formation of L.T. Yablonsky as a unique specialist who combined archaeological training and professional study of physical anthropology. This allowed him to draw important conclusions about the formation of the Golden Horde population. Later, he resorted to this method to study the early nomads of the Aral Sea region and the South Urals. His works became an event in the research field, since they positively differed from others not only by an interdisciplinary approach to the problem under study – at the junction of archaeology and ethnogenetics – but also by the wide use of anthropological materials. Prior to these works, all information about the population of the Jochid ulus was fragmentary and unsystematic, and he was the very researcher who first connected the data of paleoanthropology and the analysis of the burial rite in medieval burial grounds. He proved the fact that the Golden Horde population consisted of mixed population groups, and identified those population groups that, in his opinion, came from Central Asia. L.T. Yablonsky attached great importance to the methodology of research on ethnogenesis and ethnic history. He advocated an integrated scientific approach to their study and emphasized the huge role of paleoanthropology and archaeology in solving ethnogenetic problems. In his opinion, the rapid divergence of various scientific disciplines – ethnology, archaeology, physical anthropology, and genetics – was the main problem that hindered the development of scientific ethnogenetic research. L.T. Yablonsky, therefore, believed that expanding comprehensive research would help solve this problem.

CURRENT STRATEGIES OF USING MAJOR NON-ANTIBODY IMMUNITY SYSTEMS AGAINST DISEASES ACCOMPANYING COVID-19

The main dominated factors and strategies of non-antibody immunity (the human innate and others, microbial probiotic) aimed at maintaining and strengthening health in connection with the pandemic disease COVID-19 are considered and currently systematized. An integrated current evaluation of the non-antibody immunity is given and preventive and therapeutic approaches to its use for combating diseases accompanying COVID-19 (or on the it’s background) are indicated. Innate immunity is considered as the basic and deep support for the antibody level immunity as the higher and super-structure. The concept of increasing sensitivity to be infected with COVID-19 in population groups depending on the presence and/or the progress of spectrum pathologies and diseases and in connection with the waves of the pandemic COVID-19 is proposed.

Promoting Resilient and Healthy Cities for Everyone in an Urban Planning Context by Assessing Green Area Accessibility

Rapid economic development and population growth has led to urban densification and massive land use changes, putting pressure on both ecosystems, and people. In this context, public health issues have become crucial for cities to address to ensure they remain livable and healthy for everyone. Since the health challenges of cities tend to manifest themselves differently among different population groups—e.g., groups of higher socioeconomic status tend to be correlated with better health than groups of low socioeconomic status—closing the health gap has become a priority for creating healthy cities for everyone. More greenness close to where people live and better accessibility to green areas has been shown to be useful for improving human health and for tackling health inequalities. This paper aims at developing a method for supporting urban planners and policymakers on where to geographically prioritize investments in green infrastructure to contribute to closing the health gap and promote community resilience through improving public health. Using the City of Stockholm as a pilot, we apply a GIS analysis to identify vulnerable population groups in relation to geotagged empirical human health- and socio-economic data. By then assessing vulnerable populations in relation to population numbers and accessibility to urban green areas, an Urban Green Opportunity Map (UGOM) was created, identifying focus areas where investment in green infrastructure will contribute most to closing the health gap and building community resilience.

Genetic diversity in the IZUMO1-JUNO protein-receptor pair involved in human reproduction

Fertilization in mammals begins with the union of egg and sperm, an event that starts a cascade of cellular processes. The molecular-level understanding of these processes can guide the development of new strategies for controlling and/or promoting fertilization, and inform researchers and medical professional on the best choice of interventions. The proteins encoded by the IZUMO1 and JUNO genes form a ligand-receptor protein pair involved in the recognition of sperm and egg. Due to their role in the fertilization process, these proteins are potential targets for the development of novel anti-contraceptive, as well as infertility treatments. Here we present a comprehensive analysis of these gene sequences, with the objective of identifying evolutionary patterns that may support their relevance as targets for preventing or improving fertility among humans. JUNO and IZUMO1 gene sequences were identified within the genomes of over 2,000 humans sequenced in the 1000 Genomes Project. The human sequences were subjected to analyses of nucleotide diversity, deviation from neutrality of genetic variation, population-based differentiation (FST), haplotype inference, and whole chromosome scanning for signals of positive or of balancing selection. Derived alleles were determined by comparison to archaic hominin and other primate genomes. The potential effect of common non-synonymous variants on protein-protein interaction was also assessed. IZUMO1 displays higher variability among human individuals than JUNO. Genetic differentiation between continental population pairs was within whole-genome estimates for all but the JUNO gene in the African population group with respect to the other 4 population groups (American, East Asian, South Asian, and European). Tajima’s D values demonstrated deviation from neutrality for both genes in comparison to a group of genes identified in the literature as under balancing or positive selection. Tajima’s D for IZUMO1 aligns with values calculated for genes presumed to be under balancing selection, whereas JUNO’s value aligned with genes presumed to be under positive selection. These inferences on selection are both supported by SNP density, nucleotide diversity and haplotype analysis. A JUNO haplotype carrying 3 derived alleles out of 5, one of which is a missense mutation implicated in polyspermy, was found to be significant in a population of African ancestry. Polyspermy has a disadvantageous impact on fertility and its presence in approximately 30% of the population of African ancestry may be associated to a potentially beneficial role of this haplotype. This role has not been established and may be related to a non-reproductive role of JUNO. The high degree of conservation of the JUNO sequence combined with a dominant haplotype across multiple population groups supports JUNO as a potential target for the development of contraceptive treatments. In addition to providing a detailed account of human genetic diversity across these 2 important and related genes, this study also provides a framework for large population-based studies investigating protein-protein interactions at the genome level.

«ONE CRAFTSMAN’S» VESSELS FROM THE CERAMIC ASSEMBLAGE OF THE BALANOVO CEMETERY

Статья посвящена дальнейшей разработке методических приемов выделения посуды, изготовленной условно «одним мастером». Используя методику выделения посуды «одного мастера» по формам-моделям, апробированную на посуде из Волосово-Даниловского могильника фатьяновской культуры, автор выявил по керамическому комплексу Балановского могильника эпохи бронзы 15 гончаров, делавших горшки, трех мастеров, изготовлявших амфоровидные сосуды, и одного, производившего миски. Предполагается, что в рамках одного поколения работали 4-5 мастеров. По изученным материалам реконструируется глубоко зашедший в результате устойчивых брачных контактов процесс смешения двух разных по происхождению родовых коллективов - балановского и атликасинского. Дуализм социальной структуры изучаемого общества проявлялся в том, что покойному приносили посуду родственники, различные по своей культурной принадлежности. Но оба коллектива продолжали частично сохранять культурную обособленность. Тот факт, что один и тот же мастер мог делать сосуды, соответствующие разным культурным традициям (и балановским, и атликасинским), а также число гончаров указывает на то, что в данном случае мы имеем дело с ремесленным на заказ гончарным производством. The paper deals with further development of methodological techniques of identifying «one craftsman’s» vessels. With the use of the methodology of identifying «one craftsman’s» vessels based on model forms which was piloted with the use of vessels from the Volosovo-Danilovo cemetery ascribed to the Fatyanovo culture, analyzing the Balanovo ceramic assemblage, the author singled out 15 potters who made pots, three craftsmen who produced amphora-like vessels and one potter who made bowls. The paper suggests that from 4 to 5 craftsmen worked in one generation. The examined materials help reconstruct the mixing process of two population groups of different origin, i.e. the Balanovo population and the Atlikasy population, which was quite deep due to sustainable marriage contacts. The dualism of the studied society’s social structure manifested itself in vessels brought for the deceased by relatives belonging to different cultures. However, both population groups continued to maintain their cultural specifics. The very fact that the same craftsman would make vessels according to different cultural traditions (both the Balanovo and the Atlikasy traditions) as well as the number of potters demonstrate that we deal with custom-tailored pottery production.

When Linda meets Preeti: The Validation of Behavioral Biases in India

This paper presents results from an experiment testing 10 of the core biases from the behavioral economics literature amongst two distinct ‘non-WEIRD’ (Western Educated Industrialized Rich and Democratic) population groups: low-income Indians, and university students from an elite Indian university. The study tests for both the existence of the ‘behavioral bias’ for each measure with our ‘non-WEIRD’ sample and tests for heterogeneity across the socioeconomically distinct sub-samples. We find that both sub-samples display significant 'bias' in the majority of tests and across different categories of bias, suggesting that behavioral biases are not peculiar to Western samples. We further find that the patterns of bias are the same for each sub-sample for most measures, but that there are notable exceptions for a small subset of measures. In most of these cases, the student sample, closer to typical samples for this type of research, shows stronger bias than the low-income sample.