CGDSNPdb: a database resource for error-checked and imputed mouse SNPs

The Center for Genome Dynamics Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Database (CGDSNPdb) is an open-source value-added database with more than nine million mouse single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), drawn from multiple sources, with genotypes assigned to multiple inbred strains of laboratory mice. All SNPs are checked for accuracy and annotated for properties specific to the SNP as well as those implied by changes to overlapping protein-coding genes. CGDSNPdb serves as the primary interface to two unique data sets, the ‘imputed genotype resource’ in which a Hidden Markov Model was used to assess local haplotypes and the most probable base assignment at several million genomic loci in tens of strains of mice, and the Affymetrix Mouse Diversity Genotyping Array, a high density microarray with over 600 000 SNPs and over 900 000 invariant genomic probes. CGDSNPdb is accessible online through either a web-based query tool or a MySQL public login

Cost-effectiveness of a patient-centred approach to managing multimorbidity in primary care:a pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial

Objective Patients with multiple chronic health conditions are often managed in a disjointed fashion in primary care, with annual review clinic appointments offered separately for each condition. This study aimed to determine the cost-effectiveness of the 3D intervention, which was developed to improve the system of care. Design Economic evaluation conducted alongside a pragmatic cluster-randomised trial. Setting General practices in three centres in England and Scotland. Participants 797 adults with three or more chronic conditions were randomised to the 3D intervention, while 749 participants were randomised to receive usual care. Intervention The 3D approach: comprehensive 6-monthly general practitioner consultations, supported by medication reviews and nurse appointments. Primary and secondary outcome measures The primary economic evaluation assessed the cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained from the perspective of the National Health Service (NHS) and personal social services (PSS). Costs were related to changes in a range of secondary outcomes (QALYs accrued by both participants and carers, and deaths) in a cost-consequences analysis from the perspectives of the NHS/PSS, patients/carers and productivity losses. Results Very small increases were found in both QALYs (adjusted mean difference 0.007 (-0.009 to 0.023)) and costs (adjusted mean difference 126 pound (-739 pound to 991)) pound in the intervention arm compared with usual care after 15 months. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was 18 pound 499, with a 50.8% chance of being cost-effective at a willingness-to-pay threshold of 20 pound 000 per QALY (55.8% at 30 pound 000 per QALY). Conclusions The small differences in costs and outcomes were consistent with chance, and the uncertainty was substantial; therefore, the evidence for the cost-effectiveness of the 3D approach from the NHS/PSS perspective should be considered equivocal

Halibut mitogenomics : a study of the complete mitochondrial genome sequences of Atlantic, Pacific and Greenland halibut

Mastergradsoppgave i havbruk - Høgskolen i Bodø, 2006The complete mitochondrial DNA sequence was determined in four individuals of Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus), Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) and Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) respectively. Thirteen protein-coding genes, twentytwo tRNA genes, two rRNA genes and a large non-coding control region were identified, and the conserved vertebrate gene order was confirmed. Extensive length variation of the mtDNA genome was observed, due to variations in copy number of a 61 bp heteroplasmic repeated motif in the control region. Furthermore, 800 bp from the mtDNA genes ND2, COI and control region respectively was sequenced in 30 individuals from the Atlantic halibut broodstock at Mørkvedbukta Reseach Station. In addition, approximately 13420 bp from Common sole (Solea vulgaris), 15012 bp from European plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) and 7678 bp from Turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) were determined. The overall genetic variation based on the number of nucleotide substitutions was greatest in Greenland halibut, followed by Pacific halibut and Atlantic halibut. The control region and some of the ND genes had the highest nucleotide diversity, while the rRNA genes and ATP8 (Pacific and Greenland halibut) were most conserved. Four amino acid substitutions between the three halibut species in ND5, with a negative mutation matrix score suggest that these substitutions could have an impact on functional and structional properties of the gene. Phylogenetic investigations based on the complete mtDNA genome revealed that Atlantic halibut and Pacific halibut are closely related species, potentially separated at the sub-species level. Of all other available mtDNA genomes Greenland halibut is the closest relative to the Hippoglossus genus. Furthermore, Atlantic- and Pacific halibut was estimated to have separated 2 Ma, while divergence between Greenland halibut and the Hippoglossus genus took place approximately 6 million years ago

How to improve parameter estimates in GLM-based fMRI data analysis: cross-validated Bayesian model averaging

In functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), model quality of general linear models (GLMs) for first-level analysis is rarely assessed. In recent work (Soch et al., 2016: “How to avoid mismodelling in GLM-based fMRI data analysis: cross-validated Bayesian model selection”, NeuroImage, vol. 141, pp. 469–489; http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.07.047), we have introduced cross-validated Bayesian model selection (cvBMS) to infer the best model for a group of subjects and use it to guide second-level analysis. While this is the optimal approach given that the same GLM has to be used for all subjects, there is a much more efficient procedure when model selection only addresses nuisance variables and regressors of interest are included in all candidate models. In this work, we propose cross-validated Bayesian model averaging (cvBMA) to improve parameter estimates for these regressors of interest by combining information from all models using their posterior probabilities. This is particularly useful as different models can lead to different conclusions regarding experimental effects and the most complex model is not necessarily the best choice. We find that cvBMS can prevent not detecting established effects and that cvBMA can be more sensitive to experimental effects than just using even the best model in each subject or the model which is best in a group of subjects

Justifying a New Beginning: The Case of An Urban, Jewish Congregation in the 1970s

This research applies C. Wright Mills’ theory of vocabularies of motive to reveal the collective narratives, which were used to justify the atypical founding of an urban Jewish congregation in the 1970s. Prior to and during this period, US Jewish communities were migrating out of city centers into their surrounding suburbs. Most Jewish congregations followed their congregants and moved into the suburbs. This study identifies the collective justifications within the Hatchala Chadasha community, which are the accepted reasons for the organization’s atypical urban location and organizational structure. The findings of this research are based in the examination of interviews with individuals who were community members during the earliest years of Hatchala Chadasha’s existence. Patterns of similar accounts across the interviews revealed the collective narratives that defended four of the congregation’s fundamental decisions: why the congregation was founded, where the congregation chose to locate, how the congregation acted politically, and what organizational structure the congregation employed. These justifications are further examined, in relation to the behavior and values common within the broader Jewish community and other contextual components, to theorize why certain accounts became the accepted narrative within Hatchala Chadasha. Fundamentally, this research examines informants’ motive statements to discern and analyze the collective narratives formed in a community, which justify the community’s atypical behavior in the context of a predominant, external culture

NASA Tech Briefs Index, 1977, volume 2, numbers 1-4

Announcements of new technology derived from the research and development activities of NASA are presented. Abstracts, and indexes for subject, personal author, originating center, and Tech Brief number are presented for 1977

MACS - a new SPM toolbox for model assessment, comparison and selection

Background: In cognitive neuroscience, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data are widely analyzed using general linear models (GLMs). However, model quality of GLMs for fMRI is rarely assessed, in part due to the lack of formal measures for statistical model inference. New Method: We introduce a new SPM toolbox for model assessment, comparison and selection (MACS) of GLMs applied to fMRI data. MACS includes classical, information-theoretic and Bayesian methods of model assessment previously applied to GLMs for fMRI as well as recent methodological developments of model selection and model averaging in fMRI data analysis. Results: The toolbox - which is freely available from GitHub - directly builds on the Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) software package and is easy-to-use, general-purpose, modular, readable and extendable. We validate the toolbox by reproducing model selection and model averaging results from earlier publications. Comparison with Existing Methods: A previous toolbox for model diagnosis in fMRI has been discontinued and other approaches to model comparison between GLMs have not been translated into reusable computational resources in the past. Conclusions: Increased attention on model quality will lead to lower false-positive rates in cognitive neuroscience and increased application of the MACS toolbox will increase the reproducibility of GLM analyses and is likely to increase the replicability of fMRI studies

Aeronautical Engineering: A special bibliography with indexes, supplement 67, February 1976

This bibliography lists 341 reports, articles, and other documents introduced into the NASA scientific and technical information system in January 1976

Project for the analysis of technology transfer - The initial year Annual report, 13 Nov. 1967 - 12 Nov. 1968

Program description and data analyses of transfer of NASA and AEC generated technology to secondary use

PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER ATTITUDES TOWARDS ADOPTION OF EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE: INDICATORS OF ACCEPTANCE TOWARDS BIBLIOTHERAPY

The rising prevalence of depression is straining the skeletal mental health systems in rural communities, resulting in a majority of patients receiving management for their depression solely by their primary care providers. However, providers need to be empowered with evidence-based resources to provide adequate care beyond pharmacotherapy exclusively. Bibliotherapy, or the prescription of books for the treatment of disease, is readily used by psychologists but less incorporated into the traditional medical model of patient care. This small pilot study provided primary care providers in a rural area complimentary copies of the self-help text Feeling Good (Burns, 2009) to incorporate into their care of mild to moderately depressed patients as they saw fit. Texts were provided with brief education. This scholarly project evaluated the self-reported prescribing practices and utilized the Evidence-based Practice Attitude Scale (EBPAS) tool developed by Gregory Aarons. There was no correlation found in EBPAS pre intervention scores and use of bibliotherapy, or the use of bibliotherapy and post intervention EBPAS scores. Sex, age range, years in practice, educational background, and number of depressed patients/month have the largest effect on EBPAS scores and bibliotherapy use. Findings were limited due to small sample size. Future studies with a larger sample size can yield more robust results of statistical significance that can better elucidate how provider attitudes influence the adoption of bibliotherapy