bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Element Free Galerkin (EFG) sensitivity study in structural analysis
Authors: Martinez T J A , Arrieta O E W
Published: May 2019

The present study shows a parametric analysis of the meshfree method, Element Free Galerkin (EFG), on the elastic analysis of a cantilever beam. This study allows us to determine the best convergence conditions of the solutions varying characteristic. EFG is based on the construction of Moving Least Squares (MLS) approximations using the weighted residual method on the weak formulation, with MLS form functions as the same weighting functions. We consider the parameters of the method such as the order of the basic functions of MLS functions, the size of the support domain of the local MLS functions and the density of Gauss points against errors calculated according to the L
2 norm and processing time. It is shown that by increasing the order of basic functions it is possible to obtain more precise results, however, a larger support diameter and Gauss points higher density are required in order to stabilize the solution, considerably increasing processing times. Therefore, it is only advisable to use high-order base functions when the precision in the results is the priority and a high computational resource is available.
Enhanced RDX Detection Studies on Various Types of Substrates via Tunable Quantum Cascade Laser Spectrometer Coupled with Grazing Angle Probe
Authors: Ruiz-Caballero J L , Blanco-Riveiro L A , Ramirez-Marrero I A , Perez-Almodovar L A , Colon-Mercado A M , Castro-Suarez J R , Pacheco-Londoño L C , Hernandez-Rivera S P
Published: May 2019

Owing to scientific advances in the field of materials sciences and engineering, researchers have developed new energy sources used for spectroscopic applications and measurements of properties resulting from the interaction of matter and electromagnetic radiation in the mid-infrared (MIR) region. MIR lasers, such as quantum cascade lasers (QCLs), used for spectroscopy have quickly found numerous applications in a wide cadre of IR techniques. This provides the opportunity to study properties of highly energetic materials (HEM), among many other applications. MIR laser spectroscopy based detection experiments of HEMs were carried out using a QCL optically coupled to compact grazing angle probe mount (QCL-GAP) enabling reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS) measurements of thin films of HEMs. A saturated solution of RDX in acetone was prepared, and aliquots of subsequent dilutions of the stock solutions were transferred to test surfaces for QCL-GAP back-reflectance measurements. RDX reflectance signals were monitored as function as the decreasing surface concentration until the signal/noise was ∼ 3. Stainless steel (SS) plates were used as reflective substrates, and anodized aluminum (AN-Al), cardboard, and Teflon were used as non-reflective (matte) substrates. Using generated calibration curves a low limit of detection (LOD) of 1.7 ng/cm2 for RDX/SS and 95 μg/cm2 for RDX/AN-Al were found. Based on the area of laser spot (0.3 cm2) we conclude the minimum masses detected were 490 pg (RDX/SS) and 28 μg (RDX/AN-Al).
Identification of EMG activity with machine learning in patients with amputation of upper limbs for the development of mechanical prostheses
Authors: Zuleta J N , Ferro M , Murillo C , Franco-Luna R A
Published: May 2019

A study of electromyographic signals (EMG) in subjects with partial hand amputation using machine learning techniques (ML) is presented in this document. The EMG were analyzed for five hand poses. We used the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), and Wavelet transform as descriptors for the feature extraction, the identification and classification system was implemented based on Vector Support Machines (VSM). Percentages of accuracy greater than 90% were obtained in the cases of close hand, left hand, right hand and relax hand, while open hand obtained an acceptable performance with accuracy percentages lower than 90%.
Position control module of myoelectric prostheses for people with upper limb loss at forearm level
Authors: Arenas C A , Monterroza R E , Marrugo A J , Rojas L
Published: May 2019

This project emerges as a solution to the problem present in the Colombian population with upper limb movement disability, related to access to prostheses that provide them with a better performance in their daily and work activities, thus offering them a better quality of life. The objective of this project will be to build prostheses with state-of-the-art technology at relatively lower costs than similar versions in other countries, as well as strategies for people with limited resources to access them easily.

The scope of the project is limited to the construction of a control module, that will be divided into two phases, the first phase covers the design of the EMG signal acquisition system; this will focus on the establishment of the design criteria necessary for the acquisition of the myoelectric signal, model for obtaining the characteristics of the EMGs signal in the time domain and, parameters for the identification of the movements. And a second phase, where the acquisition module is developed, for performing functional tests with EMGs signals in real time, in order to be able to calculate the percentage of error between the expected value and the real value.
SafeWalk App, mobile application in health for people living in motor disabilities
Authors: Osorio E A , Osorio J D , García D A
Published: May 2019

The research had the objective of develop a mobile application in health for people with motor disabilities oriented to be multiplatform and will allow integrate different accessibility functionalities. The exploratory method was used to aproach reality and as instrument, information search was carried out in government sources, main mass media of the country, observation in public places and semi-structured interviews to health area professionals. With that information was possible identify the need of this population in term of mobility issues, either because of its near or far enviroment. The application will gather information of the places available to serve this population and will be used to accessibility to their interest places. Users will be able to part of a community of people with similar conditions, interact with them and share information. Also they will have the possibility of communicate with tutors that can provide various kinds of help and contact them through a button available across the interfaces of the applications. It will generate information that will can be rated by users to estimate if the registered places are really accessibles and have good rating from those who have already been there.
Architecture for the management of a remote practical learning platform for engineering education
Authors: Segura-Torres D A , Forero-García E F
Published: May 2019

In the Scientific, Technological and Academic environment in which the world of today is developed, it is important to permanently update the instruments, platforms and elements with which educational requirements are met. In this sense, engineering is one of the disciplines with the greatest changes, emergencies and innovations per unit of time. Learning tools therefore require constant evolution to facilitate the appropriation of knowledge in an easy and continuously available way for students and teachers. So far it is clear that the intervention of laboratory practices as learning strategies, guarantee a solid education for students in engineering. These practices are the scenarios where the student verifies the theoretical knowledge and validates with real results the application of mathematical and statistical models, which are set around a specific learning in engineering. Continue the development of these activities not only in a traditional way, but including innovations that the same engineering allows from the use of different technologies is a challenge, which can be assumed with the application of the same discipline and be projected to other fields of the education, to facilitate personalized and asynchronous learning. This paper presents the design and architecture for the implementation and management of a new educational platform for the development of Remote Practical Learning experiences for electrical machine laboratories. This platform integrates the possibility of remote interaction with the machine and its connection, as well as obtaining test parameters through measurement interfaces and real-time visualization. In this way engineering and technology at the service of Engineering Education is used, which will increase access to higher education to a greater number of people and will make the educational experience much more pleasant
Use of Augmented Reality for the Simulation of Basic Mechanical Physics Phenomena
Authors: Morales A D , Sanchez S A , Pineda C M , Romero H J
Published: May 2019

The augmented reality (AR), has been cataloged like the technology that will have greater penetration in the education sector in the second decade of the XXI century. According to the report horizon 2016, the first research of AR in education point out a positive impact, in collaborative learning and autonomous learning; because it allows potentiating reality with virtual information that can be supported in curricular contents. The present article exposes the development of a prototype with AR technology that simulates the uniform rectilinear movement and free fall of the subject of mechanical physics. The research is of technological development type. Included in three phases: Initially the functional and non-functional requirements were determined, then the architecture was designed using UML diagrams and finally the prototype was developed. As a result, we obtained a mobile prototype with AR with two functions, the first one allows to simulate the movement of a vehicle at a constant speed, the second allows to simulate the fall of objects that are being attracted by gravity. A technical feasibility study was carried out in which the prototype was installed in different mobile devices, without errors. It is concluded that AR has several characteristics that can be applied to educational environments to increase students’ motivation and make them live experiences that are limited access in classrooms.
Overview of Data Governance in Business Contexts
Authors: Jimenez L M , Polo J A , Duarte N A
Published: May 2019

Taking into account the amount of information that is currently handled in business contexts, it is mandatory to develop a good data governance program. It guarantees that all the information is available to the company when it needs it, as it needs it and where it needs it. Through this data governance, the main goal is to increase profits, decrease costs, improve knowledge management and interact with customers, suppliers, employees and processes. Besides, this type of programs are not only part of a section in the company, but also they must have a transversal collaboration to all the technology and business teams. During the first stage of this research, it seeks to perform a review of the state of the art on the data governance. It allows to unify criteria through a reference item later, to provide a tool that helps companies to support the information necessities through the development of data governance projects that respond to business needs and strategic decision making.
Information Systems as Support for Competency-Based Assessment Process
Authors: Contreras M S
Published: May 2019

Possessing enough and timely information about a process or product and being able to organize and display it efficiently, is a determining factor for decision making in organizations. Educational institutions are not alien to this principle and use different strategies to manage it. Nowadays, the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) are commonly used to support the evaluation process by competences, to identify strengths and weaknesses and to analyze and reports the results, in order to monitor student performance and apply improvement plans.

This paper shows an analysis of some influential factors in the development of academic reports for basic education institutions, through the implementation of an Information System that provides global and sectional statistics, extracts relevant information on the individual and group performance, simplifies reading and analysis of the data provided, allows the presentation of data in numerical, qualitative and graphical form, highlights the points that move away from the average, among other useful functions.
Photolytic deposition of tungsten hexacarbonyl: CVD of W-based films with the assistant of UV beam in ultra-high vacuum condition
Authors: Xiao Changyong , Liu Boping , He Xuelian
Published: May 2019

This article has been removed for legal reasons, as it violates an agreement with the author's industrial partner.
Spatio-temporal structure of a petawatt femtosecond laser beam
Authors: Jeandet Antoine , Borot Antonin , Nakamura Kei , Jolly Spencer W , Gonsalves Anthony J , Tóth Csaba , Mao Hann-Shin , Leemans Wim P , Quéré Fabien
Published: May 2019

The development of optical metrology suited to ultrafast lasers has played a key role in the progress of these light sources in the last few decades. Measurement techniques providing the complete E-field of ultrashort laser beams in both time and space are now being developed. Yet, they had so far not been applied to the most powerful ultrashort lasers, which reach the PetaWatt range by pushing the chirped pulse amplification (CPA) scheme to its present technical limits. This situation left doubts on their actual performance, and in particular on the peak intensity they can reach at focus. In this article we present the first complete spatio-temporal characterization of a PetaWatt femtosecond laser operating at full intensity, the BELLA laser, using two recently-developed independent measurement techniques. Our results demonstrate that, with adequate optimization, the CPA technique is still suitable at these extreme scales, i.e. it is not inherently limited by spatio-temporal couplings. We also show how these measurements provide unprecedented insight into the physics and operation regime of such laser systems.
Augmented Interval List: a novel data structure for efficient genomic interval search
Authors: Feng Jianglin , Ratan Aakrosh , Sheffield Nathan C
Published: May 2019

Motivation

Genomic data is frequently stored as segments or intervals. Because this data type is so common, interval-based comparisons are fundamental to genomic analysis. As the volume of available genomic data grows, developing efficient and scalable methods for searching interval data is necessary.

Results

We present a new data structure, the Augmented Interval List (AIList), to enumerate intersections between a query interval q and an interval set R. An AIList is constructed by first sorting R as a list by the interval start coordinate, then decomposing it into a few approximately flattened components (sublists), and then augmenting each sublist with the running maximum interval end. The query time for AIList is O(log2N+n+m), where n is the number of overlaps between R and q, N is the number of intervals in the set R and m is the average number of extra comparisons required to find the n overlaps. Tested on real genomic interval datasets, AIList code runs 5–18 times faster than standard high-performance code based on augmented interval-trees, nested containment lists or R-trees (BEDTools). For large datasets, the memory-usage for AIList is 4–60% of other methods. The AIList data structure, therefore, provides a significantly improved fundamental operation for highly scalable genomic data analysis.

Availability and implementation

An implementation of the AIList data structure with both construction and search algorithms is available at http://ailist.databio.org.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
RBPSponge: genome-wide identification of lncRNAs that sponge RBPs
Authors: HafezQorani Saber , Houdjedj Aissa , Arici Mehmet , Said Abdesselam , Kazan Hilal
Published: May 2019

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) can act as molecular sponge or decoys for an RNA-binding protein (RBP) through their RBP-binding sites, thereby modulating the expression of all target genes of the corresponding RBP of interest. Here, we present a web tool named RBPSponge to explore lncRNAs based on their potential to act as a sponge for an RBP of interest. RBPSponge identifies the occurrences of RBP-binding sites and CLIP peaks on lncRNAs, and enables users to run statistical analyses to investigate the regulatory network between lncRNAs, RBPs and targets of RBPs.

Availability and implementation

The web server is available at https://www.RBPSponge.com.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Temporal trends in test utilization and prevalence of ischaemia with positron emission tomography myocardial perfusion imaging
Authors: Al Badarin Firas J , Chan Paul S , Spertus John A , Thompson Randall C , Patel Krishna K , Kennedy Kevin F , Bateman Timothy M
Published: May 2019

Aims

To examine whether test utilization and prevalence of ischemia with positron emission tomography (PET) myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) follow the previously described trends with single photon computed tomography (SPECT).

Methods and results

MPI studies performed between January 2003 and December 2017 were identified. Number of PET and SPECT MPI studies performed per year was determined. Trends in the proportion of studies showing any ischaemia (>0%) with both modalities were compared before and after adjusting for baseline differences in patient characteristics using propensity scores. Interaction between imaging modality and year of testing was examined using modified Poisson regression. A total of 156 244 MPI studies were performed (30% PET and 70% SPECT). Between 2003 and 2017, the number of PET studies increased from 18 to 61 studies/1000 patient encounters, while SPECT volumes declined from 169 to 34/1000 patient encounters (P < 0.001 for within-group comparisons). The prevalence of any ischaemia in SPECT-tested patients declined from 53.9% to 28.3% between 2003 and 2017, whereas ischaemia prevalence in PET-tested patients declined from 57.2% to 38.2% (P < 0.001 for within-modality comparisons), with more PET studies showing ischaemia compared to SPECT [relative risk (RR) 1.44, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.42–1.47; P < 0.001]. After propensity score matching of 26 066 patients tested with SPECT with 26 066 patients tested with PET, the between-modality difference in ischaemia prevalence was significantly attenuated, with a slightly higher overall likelihood of detecting ischaemia with PET compared to SPECT (RR 1.08, 95% CI 1.05–1.11; P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Utilization of PET MPI at a large-volume referral centre increased significantly between 2003 and 2017. Despite a significant decrease in the prevalence of ischaemia with SPECT and PET during the same period, the decline was less with PET, perhaps related to baseline risk of tested patients.
Prescribing of proton-pump inhibitors: auditing the management and reasons for prescribing in Danish general practice
Authors: Jarbøl Dorte E , Lykkegaard Jesper , Hansen Jane M , Munck Anders , Haastrup Peter F
Published: May 2019

Background

Prescribing of proton-pump inhibitors has substantially increased. Information from clinical settings is warranted to gain insight into reasons for prescribing.

Aim

To investigate Danish General Practitioners’ management and reasons for prescribing of proton-pump inhibitors and to identify areas for quality improvement.

Methods

All general practitioners in the Region of Southern Denmark and their staff were invited to participate in a 4-week audit on all contacts with patients prescribed proton-pump inhibitors. For each contact, patient characteristics, treatment duration, dose and causes of treatment, previous gastroscopy, Helicobacter pylori test, and decision about future treatment were recorded.

Results

A total of 51 general practitioners and 47 staff members sampled information about 1101 and 741 patients, respectively. Proton-pump inhibitors had been taken for more than 2 years in 58% of the cases, and 64% of the patients used it daily. Treatment was based on an appropriate reason in three of the four patients, most often due to acid-related symptoms. No gastroscopy had been performed in 46% of the patients, and one of four had had a consultation with the general practitioner regarding proton-pump inhibitor within the last year.

Conclusion

Most patients treated with proton-pump inhibitors are treated daily, on a long-term basis, and due to symptoms. Few consultations led to alterations in treatment, and only 25% of patients had a consultation regarding proton-pump inhibitor treatment with their general practitioner within the last year. Substantial variability between general practitioners with regard to management was detected.
Generational, Biographical and Life-Course Approaches to the History of the German Labour Movement in the Nineteenth Century*
Authors: Schmidt Jürgen
Published: May 2019

While generational and biographical approaches are well-established methods in historical scholarship, life-course approaches are less prominent. This article seeks to bridge that gap by applying all these methods to an examination of the early membership of the German labour movement in the 1860s and 1870s. It considers whether we can interpret the rise of the labour movement in the nineteenth century as a generational phenomenon and explain it in light of (work) experiences that were life-phase specific. We see that while life-course experiences were more decisive than generational factors for the making of the movement, the retrospective identification of a founding generation was significant for the creation of the identity of a united labour movement in the years of the Kaiserreich.
A low power data transfer and fusion algorithm for building energy consumption monitoring
Authors: Li Cuimin , Shen Dandan , Wang Lei
Published: May 2019

Building Energy Internet of Things could collect and analyse various types of building energy consumption data in real time by means of low-energy consumption and high-precision sensing technology. In this paper, a low-energy consumption data transmission and fusion algorithm SMART-RR (Slice Mix Agg RegaTe-Repeatablibity Reduction) is proposed. Taking advantage of the periodic repeatability and data redundancy of building energy consumption data, a data fusion strategy with unequal long time intervals and adding repeatability reduction factor is proposed. The simulation results show that SMART-RR algorithm is a low-energy data transmission and fusion algorithm with small data traffic, high privacy protection and high accuracy.
On Automorphisms of Moduli Spaces of Parabolic Vector Bundles
Authors: Araujo Carolina , Fassarella Thiago , Kaur Inder , Massarenti Alex
Published: May 2019

Fix $n\geq 5$ general points $p_1, \dots , p_n\in{\mathbb{P}}^1$ and a weight vector ${\mathcal{A}} = (a_{1}, \dots , a_{n})$ of real numbers $0 \leq a_{i} \leq 1$. Consider the moduli space $\mathcal{M}_{{\mathcal{A}}}$ parametrizing rank two parabolic vector bundles with trivial determinant on $\big ({\mathbb{P}}^1, p_1,\dots , p_n\big )$ that are semistable with respect to ${\mathcal{A}}$. Under some conditions on the weights, we determine and give a modular interpretation for the automorphism group of the moduli space $\mathcal{M}_{{\mathcal{A}}}$. It is isomorphic to $\left (\frac{\mathbb{Z}}{2\mathbb{Z}}\right )^{k}$ for some $k\in \{0,\dots , n-1\}$ and is generated by admissible elementary transformations of parabolic vector bundles. The largest of these automorphism groups, with $k=n-1$, occurs for the central weight ${\mathcal{A}}_{F}= \left (\frac{1}{2},\dots ,\frac{1}{2}\right )$. The corresponding moduli space ${\mathcal M}_{{\mathcal{A}}_F}$ is a Fano variety of dimension $n-3$, which is smooth if $n$ is odd, and has isolated singularities if $n$ is even.
Spectrum of Diversity in Today’s Infectious Diseases Workforce: It’s Much Broader and Brighter Than You Think
Authors: Gil Raul Macias , Hardy W David
Published: May 2019

The spectrum of inclusion, diversity, access, and equity among the Infectious Diseases (ID) workforce is ever-growing, ever-evolving, and continuously benefiting from the contributions made by the unique differences among our workforce which make us stronger, smarter, and better prepared to respond to whatever emerging ID challenge we will encounter next.
Combined targeting of PI3K and MEK effector pathways via CED for DIPG therapy
Authors: Chang Raymond , Tosi Umberto , Voronina Julia , Adeuyan Oluwaseyi , Wu Linda Y , Schweitzer Melanie E , Pisapia David J , Becher Oren J , Souweidane Mark M , Maachani Uday B
Published: May 2019

Background

Midline gliomas like diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) carry poor prognosis and lack effective treatment options. Studies have implicated amplifications in the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway in tumorigenesis; compensatory activation of parallel pathways (eg, mitogen-activated protein kinase [MEK]) may underlie the resistance to PI3K inhibition observed in the clinic.

Methods

Three patient-derived cell lines (SU-DIPG-IV, SU-DIPG-XIII, and SF8628) and a mouse-derived brainstem glioma cell line were treated with PI3K (ZSTK474) and MEK (trametinib) inhibitors, alone or in combination. Synergy was analyzed using Chou-Talalay combination index (CI). These agents were also used alone or in combination in a subcutaneous SU-DIPG-XIII tumor model and in an intracranial genetic mouse model of DIPG, given via convection-enhanced delivery (CED).

Results

We found that these agents abrogate cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Combination treatments were found to be synergistic (CI < 1) across cell lines tested. They also showed significant tumor suppression when given systemically against a subcutaneous DIPG model (alone or in combination) or when given via direct intracranial injection (CED) in a intracranial DIPG mouse model (combination only, median survival 47 vs 35 days post-induction, P = .038). No significant short- or long-term neurotoxicity of ZSTK474 and trametinib delivered via CED was observed.

Conclusions

Our data indicate that ZSTK474 and trametinib combinatorial treatment inhibits malignant growth of DIPG cells in vitro and in vivo, prolonging survival. These results suggest a promising new combinatorial approach using CED for DIPG therapy, which warrants further investigation.
Rapid intraoperative molecular genetic classification of gliomas using Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Livermore Laurent James , Isabelle Martin , Bell Ian Mac , Scott Connor , Walsby-Tickle John , Gannon Joan , Plaha Puneet , Vallance Claire , Ansorge Olaf
Published: May 2019

Background

The molecular genetic classification of gliomas, particularly the identification of isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutations, is critical for clinical and surgical decision-making. Raman spectroscopy probes the unique molecular vibrations of a sample to accurately characterize its molecular composition. No sample processing is required allowing for rapid analysis of tissue. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of Raman spectroscopy to rapidly identify the common molecular genetic subtypes of diffuse glioma in the neurosurgical setting using fresh biopsy tissue. In addition, classification models were built using cryosections, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) sections and LN-18 (IDH-mutated and wild-type parental cell) glioma cell lines.

Methods

Fresh tissue, straight from neurosurgical theatres, underwent Raman analysis and classification into astrocytoma, IDH-wild-type; astrocytoma, IDH-mutant; or oligodendroglioma. The genetic subtype was confirmed on a parallel section using immunohistochemistry and targeted genetic sequencing.

Results

Fresh tissue samples from 62 patients were collected (36 astrocytoma, IDH-wild-type; 21 astrocytoma, IDH-mutated; 5 oligodendroglioma). A principal component analysis fed linear discriminant analysis classification model demonstrated 79%–94% sensitivity and 90%–100% specificity for predicting the 3 glioma genetic subtypes. For the prediction of IDH mutation alone, the model gave 91% sensitivity and 95% specificity. Seventy-nine cryosections, 120 FFPE samples, and LN18 cells were also successfully classified. Meantime for Raman data collection was 9.5 min in the fresh tissue samples, with the process from intraoperative biopsy to genetic classification taking under 15 min.

Conclusion

These data demonstrate that Raman spectroscopy can be used for the rapid, intraoperative, classification of gliomas into common genetic subtypes.
Midday napping in children: associations between nap frequency and duration across cognitive, positive psychological well-being, behavioral, and metabolic health outcomes
Authors: Liu Jianghong , Feng Rui , Ji Xiaopeng , Cui Naixue , Raine Adrian , Mednick Sara C
Published: May 2019

Study Objectives

Poor sleep and daytime sleepiness in children and adolescents have short- and long-term consequences on various aspects of health. Midday napping may be a useful strategy to reduce such negative impacts. The effect of habitual napping on a wide spectrum of cognitive, behavioral, psychological, and metabolic outcomes has not been systematically investigated.

Methods

This study characterized midday napping habits in 3819 elementary school children from the China Jintan Cohort Study. In 2011, weekly nap frequency and average duration were collected once from students at grades 4–6. Prior to their completion of elementary school at grade 6 (in 2011–2013 respective to each grade), the following outcomes were collected once: behavioral and academic achievement evaluated by teachers, and self-reported positive psychology measures including grit, self-control, and happiness. IQ tests were conducted on a subgroup. Metabolic indices, including body mass index and fasting glucose concentration, were measured through physical exams. For the whole sample, we assessed associations between napping and each outcome, adjusted for sex, grade, school location, parental education, and time in bed at night. We also conducted stratified analyses on grade 6 (cross-sectional), grade 4 (2-year gap), and grade 5 (1-year gap) data.

Results

Overall, napping was significantly associated with higher happiness, grit, and self-control, reduced internalizing behavior problem, higher verbal IQs, and better academic achievement, although specific patterns varied across frequency and duration for different outcomes. More limited significant associations were found for decreased externalizing behavior problems, compared to non-nappers, while no significant associations were found for performance IQ and metabolic outcomes.

Conclusions

Results indicate benefits of regular napping across a wide range of adolescent outcomes, including better cognition, better psychological wellness, and reduced emotional/behavioral problems. The current study underscores the need for further large-scale intervention studies to establish causal effects.
The interplay between sleeplessness and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein on risk of chronic musculoskeletal pain: longitudinal data from the Tromsø Study
Authors: Skarpsno Eivind Schjelderup , Mork Paul Jarle , Nilsen Tom Ivar Lund , Steingrímsdóttir Ólöf Anna , Zwart John Anker , Nilsen Kristian Bernhard
Published: May 2019

Study Objectives

To examine independent associations of sleeplessness and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) with risk of chronic musculoskeletal pain, and to explore the joint effect of sleeplessness and hsCRP on risk of chronic musculoskeletal pain.

Methods

A population-based prospective study of 3214 women and 3142 men (mean age: 55.4, range: 32–87) without severe chronic musculoskeletal pain and with hsCRP ≤ 10 mg/L at baseline in 2007–2008. Modified Poisson regression was used to calculate adjusted risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for any chronic musculoskeletal pain and chronic widespread pain (CWP) at follow-up in 2015–2016 associated with self-reported sleeplessness and hsCRP at baseline.

Results

Compared with persons without sleeplessness, women and men reporting often/or always sleeplessness had RRs of CWP of 2.53 (95% CI: 1.94–3.29) and 2.48 (95% CI: 1.63–3.77), respectively. There was no clear association between hsCRP and risk of any chronic musculoskeletal pain or CWP. Joint effect analyses using persons without sleeplessness and with a hsCRP < 1.00 mg/L as the reference gave RRs for chronic musculoskeletal pain of 1.73 (95% CI: 1.26–2.37) for those with often/always sleeplessness and hsCRP < 1.00 mg/L; 1.01 (95% CI: 0.78–1.32) for those without sleeplessness and hsCRP ≥3.00 mg/L; and 2.47 (95% CI: 1.79–3.40) if they had both often/always sleeplessness and hsCRP ≥ 3.00 mg/L. The corresponding RRs for CWP were 1.89 (95% CI: 1.27–2.83), 0.96 (95% CI: 0.68–1.37), and 2.83 (95% CI: 1.91–4.20), respectively.

Conclusions

These results suggest that there is an interplay between sleeplessness and hsCRP on risk of any chronic musculoskeletal pain and CWP.
Factors Driving Unique Urination Phenotypes of Male and Female 9-week-old C57BL/6J Mice
Authors: Ruetten Hannah , Wegner Kyle A. , Zhang Helen L. , Wang Peiqing , Sandhu Jaskiran , Sandhu Simran , Mueller Brett , Wang Zunyi , Macoska Jill , Peterson Richard E. , Bjorling Dale E. , Ricke William A. , Marker Paul C. , Vezina Chad M.
Published: May 2019

Laboratory mice are used to identify causes of urinary dysfunction including prostate-related mechanisms of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS). Effective use of mice for this purpose requires a clear understanding of molecular, cellular, anatomical, and endocrine contributions to voiding function. Whether the prostate influences baseline voiding function has not been specifically evaluated, in part because most methods that alter prostate mass also change circulating testosterone concentrations. We performed void spot assay and cystometry to establish a multi-parameter “baseline” of voiding function in intact male and female 9-week-old (adult) C57BL/6J mice. We then compared voiding function in intact male mice to that of castrate males, males (and females) treated with the steroid five alpha reductase inhibitor finasteride, or males harboring alleles (Pbsn4cre/+;R26RDta/+) that significantly reduce prostate lobe mass by depleting prostatic luminal epithelial cells. We evaluated aging-related changes in male urinary voiding. We also treated intact male, castrate male, and female mice with exogenous testosterone to determine the influence of androgen on voiding function. The three methods used to reduce prostate mass (castration, finasteride,Pbsn4cre/+;R26RDta/+) changed voiding function from baseline but in a nonuniform manner. Castration feminized some aspects of male urinary physiology (making them more like intact female) while exogenous testosterone masculinized some aspects of female urinary physiology (making them more like intact male). Our results provide evidence that circulating testosterone is responsible in part for baseline sex differences in C57BL/6J mouse voiding function while prostate lobe mass in young, healthy adult mice has a lesser influence.
Impact of rare and common genetic variants on diabetes diagnosis by hemoglobin A1c in multi-ancestry cohorts: The Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine Program
Authors: Sarnowski Chloé , Leong Aaron , Raffield Laura M , Wu Peitao , de Vries Paul S , DiCorpo Daniel , Guo Xiuqing , Xu Huichun , Liu Yongmei , Zheng Xiuwen , Hu Yao , Brody Jennifer A , Goodarzi Mark O , Hidalgo Bertha A , Highland Heather M , Jain Deepti , Liu Ching-Ti , Naik Rakhi P , Perry James A , Porneala Bianca C , Selvin Elizabeth , Wessel Jennifer , Psaty Bruce M , Curran Joanne E , Peralta Juan M , Blangero John , Kooperberg Charles , Mathias Rasika , Johnson Andrew D , Reiner Alexander P , Mitchell Braxton D , Cupples L Adrienne , Vasan Ramachandran S , Correa Adolfo , Morrison Alanna C , Boerwinkle Eric , Rotter Jerome I , Rich Stephen S , Manning Alisa K , Dupuis Josée , Meigs James B ,   on behalf of the Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) Diabetes and TOPMed Hematology and Hemostasis working groups and the NHLBI TOPMed Consortium
Published: May 2019

Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is widely used to diagnose diabetes and assess glycemic control in patients with diabetes. However, nonglycemic determinants, including genetic variation, may influence how accurately HbA1c reflects underlying glycemia. Analyzing the NHLBI Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) sequence data in 10,338 individuals from five studies and four ancestries (6,158 Europeans, 3,123 African-Americans, 650 Hispanics and 407 East Asians), we confirmed five regions associated with HbA1c (GCK in Europeans and African-Americans, HK1 in Europeans and Hispanics, FN3K/FN3KRP in Europeans and G6PD in African-Americans and Hispanics) and discovered a new African-ancestry specific low-frequency variant (rs1039215 in HBG2/HBE1, minor allele frequency (MAF)=0.03). The most associated G6PD variant (p.Val98Met, rs1050828-T, MAF=12% in African-Americans, MAF=2% in Hispanics) lowered HbA1c (−0.88% in hemizygous males, −0.34% in heterozygous females) and explained 23% of HbA1c variance in African-Americans and 4% in Hispanics. Additionally, we identified a rare distinct G6PD coding variant (rs76723693 - p.Leu353Pro, MAF=0.5%; −0.98% in hemizygous males, −0.46% in heterozygous females) and detected significant association with HbA1c when aggregating rare missense variants in G6PD. We observed similar magnitude and direction of effects for rs1039215 (HBG2) and rs76723693 (G6PD) in the two largest TOPMed African-American cohorts and replicated the rs76723693 association in the UK Biobank African-ancestry participants. These variants in G6PD and HBG2 were monomorphic in the European and Asian samples. African or Hispanic ancestry individuals carrying G6PD variants may be underdiagnosed for diabetes when screened with HbA1c. Thus, assessment of these variants should be considered for incorporation into precision medicine approaches for diabetes diagnosis.
A Bayesian account of generalist and specialist formation under the Active Inference framework
Authors: Chen Anthony Guanxun , Benrimoh David , Parr Thomas , Friston Karl J.
Published: May 2019

This paper offers a formal account of policy learning, or habitual behavioural optimisation, under the framework of Active Inference. In this setting, habit formation becomes an autodidactic, experience-dependent process, based upon what the agent sees itself doing. We focus on the effect of environmental volatility on habit formation by simulating artificial agents operating in a partially observable Markov decision process. Specifically, we used a ‘two-step’ maze paradigm, in which the agent has to decide whether to go left or right to secure a reward. We observe that in volatile environments with numerous reward locations, the agents learn to adopt a generalist strategy, never forming a strong habitual behaviour for any preferred maze direction. Conversely, in conservative or static environments, agents adopt a specialist strategy; forming strong preferences for policies that result in approach to a small number of previously-observed reward locations. The pros and cons of the two strategies are tested and discussed. In general, specialization offers greater benefits, but only when contingencies are conserved over time. We consider the implications of this formal (Active Inference) account of policy learning for understanding the relationship between specialisation and habit formation.

Author Summary

Active inference is a theoretical framework that formalizes the behaviour of any organism in terms of a single imperative – to minimize surprise. Starting from this principle, we can construct simulations of simple “agents” (artificial organisms) that show the ability to infer causal relationships and learn. Here, we expand upon currently-existing implementations of Active Inference by enabling synthetic agents to optimise the space of behavioural policies that they can pursue. Our results show that by adapting the probabilities of certain action sequences (which may correspond biologically to the phenomenon of synaptic plasticity), and by rejecting improbable sequences (synaptic pruning), the agents can begin to form habits. Furthermore, we have shown our agent’s habit formation to be environment-dependent. Some agents become specialised to a constant environment, while other adopt a more general strategy, each with sensible pros and cons. This work has potential applications in computational psychiatry, including in behavioural phenotyping to better understand disorders.
A single light-responsive sizer can control multiple-fission cycles inChlamydomonas
Authors: Heldt Frank S. , Tyson John J. , Cross Frederick R. , Novák Béla
Published: May 2019

Proliferating cells need to coordinate cell division and growth to maintain size homeostasis. Any systematic deviation from a balance between growth and division results in progressive changes of cell size over subsequent generations. While most eukaryotic cells execute binary division after a mass doubling, the photosynthetic green algaChlamydomonascan grow more than eight-fold during daytime before undergoing rapid cycles of DNA replication, mitosis and cell division at night, which produce up to 16 daughter cells. Here, we propose a mechanistic model for multiple fission and size control inChlamydomonas. The model comprises a light-sensitive and size-dependent biochemical toggle switch that acts as a sizer and guards transitions into and exit from a phase of cell-division cycle oscillations. We show that this simple ‘sizer-oscillator’ arrangement reproduces the experimentally observed features of multiple-fission cycles and the response ofChlamydomonascells to different light-dark regimes. Our model also makes testable predictions about the dynamical properties of the biochemical network that controls these features and about the network’s makeup. Collectively, these results provide a new perspective on the concept of a ‘commitment point’ during the growth ofChlamydomonascells and hint at an intriguing continuity of cell-size control in different eukaryotic lineages.

Graphical abstract

G1-sizer and S/M-oscillator can give rise to multiple-fission cycles inChlamydomonas

Light-responsive bistable switch may guard transition between G1 and S/M-cycles

Illumination increases S/M-entry threshold, causing multiple-fission cycles

Dark shift lowers S/M-entry threshold, allowing small cells to commit to fewer divisions
Prediction performance of a cardiovascular risk assessment tool using Stanford EHR data repository
Authors: Rezaee Mehrdad , Takeh Arsia , Putrenko Igor , Ganna Andrea , Ingelsson Erik
Published: May 2019

Background

Stratification of individuals for their risk to develop cardiovascular diseases can be used for effective prevention and intervention. A significant amount of information for risk assessment can be obtained through repurposing electronic health records (EHR). The objective of this study is to derive and assess the performance of prediction models for cardiovascular outcomes by using EHR-derived data.

Methods

We used the Stanford Medicine Research Data Repository (STARR) data from 2000-2017, containing over 2.1 million patients. A subset of 762,372 individuals with complete International Classification of Diseases (ICD) data was used to fit Cox proportional hazard models for prediction of six cardiovascular-related diseases and type 2 diabetes.

Results

The derived prediction models indicated consistent high discrimination performance (C-index) for all diseases examined: coronary artery disease (0.85), hypertension (0.82), type 2 diabetes (0.77), stroke (0.76), atrial fibrillation (0.82) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (0.77). Lower prediction abilities were observed for deep vein thrombosis (0.67). These results were consistent across age groups and maintained good prediction abilities among individuals with pre-existing diabetes or hypertension. Assessment of model calibration is ongoing.

Conclusions

We proposed new prediction models for the seven diseases using ICD codes derived from EHR data. EHR data can be used for health risk assessment, but challenges related to data quality and model generalizability and calibration remain to be solved.
Application of Pharmacogenomics and Bioinformatics to Exemplify the Utility of Human ex vivo Organoculture Models in the Field of Precision Medicine
Authors: Cowan K , Macluskie G , Finch M , Palmer C.N.A , Hair J , Bylesjo M , Lynagh S , Brankin P , McNeil M , Low C , Mallinson D , Gourlay EM , Child H , Cheyne L , Bunton DC
Published: May 2019

Here we describe a collaboration between industry, the National Health Service (NHS) and academia that sought to demonstrate how early understanding of both pharmacology and genomics can improve strategies for the development of precision medicines. Diseased tissue ethically acquired from patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), was used to investigate inter-patient variability in drug efficacy using ex vivo organocultures of fresh lung tissue as the test system. The reduction in inflammatory cytokines in the presence of various test drugs was used as the measure of drug efficacy and the individual patient responses were then matched against genotype and microRNA profiles in an attempt to identify unique predictors of drug responsiveness. Our findings suggest that genetic variation in CYP2E1 and SMAD3 genes may partly explain the observed variation in drug response.
Predictive analysis of patient recovery from cardiac-respiratory arrest
Authors: Floyrac A. , Doumergue A. , Kubis N. , Holcman D.
Published: May 2019

The severity of neuronal damages in comatose patients following anoxic brain injury can be probed by evoked auditory responses. However, it remains challenging to predict the return to full consciousness of post-anoxic coma of hospitalized patients. We presented here a method to predict the return to consciousness based on the analysis of periodic responses to auditory stimulations, recorded from surface cranial electrodes. The input data are event-related potentials (ERPs), recorded non-invasively with electro-encephalography (EEG). We extracted several novel features from the time series responses in a window of few hundreds of milliseconds from deviant and non-deviant auditory stimulations. We use these features to construct two-dimensional statistical maps, that show two separated clusters for recovered (conscience) and deceased patients, leading to a high classification success as tested by a cross-validation procedure. Finally, using Gaussian, K-neighborhood and SVM classifiers, we construct probabilistic maps to predict the outcome of post-anoxic coma. To conclude, statistics of deviant and non-deviant responses considered separately provide complementary and confirmatory predictions for the outcome of anoxic coma.