Identifying common and rare variants in migraine genetic predisposition

Migraine is an episodic brain disorder that is characterized by recurrent pain. Etiology of migraine is extremely complex; most likely caused by combination of genetic and environmental risk factors. The aim of the thesis is to examine the role of MTHFR polymorphisms rs1801131 and rs1801133 as risk factors for pediatric migraine; also in migraine subtypes – migraine with aura (MA) and without aura (MO). Second part involved exome sequencing of two family trios to discover novel genetic risk factors for migraine. Candidate gene study of MTHFR did not reveal any statistically significant results. Exome sequencing revealed three novel variants that could precipitate migraine. PDLIM5, PRKCE and SCN9A all affect voltage-gated channels. Mutations in those genes could increase neuronal hyperexcitability and neurotransmitter release, which in turn has been associated with pain and visual aura

Supporting the Social Embeddedness of LGBT Older Adults : Initiatives, Projects, and Services – A Survey

As LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) individuals age, they face a variety of challenges that their heterosexual peers do not. These challenges have an influence on their social inclusion and thus partly on their successful ageing. The main objective of this thesis was to analyse how different projects and initiatives are supporting the social inclusion of ageing LGBTs, in Europe and Finland. We hoped to gain insights about the various mechanisms and means of enhancing the social inclusion of LGBT older adults. This thesis was written in collaboration with the national human rights non-governmental organisation Seta – LGBTI Rights in Finland. As for the methodology, based on the available data, a narrative literature review was chosen, and the research can be classified as a qualitative approach, building a narrative out of a heterogeneous data to a continuous event, also giving a historical background on the subject. Our research question and the chosen concepts (LGBT, Older Adults, Social Inclusion, Cultural Competence) defined the systematic search and use of our source material. LGBT older adults often have the same concerns and questions about (present or future) care, support, and housing options as their heterosexual peers. Similarly, their expectations for services in old age have also much in common: recognising and supporting LGBT older adults’ own networks endorsing their social embeddedness, the wish for LGBT-specific initiatives in housing and care, and cultural competence in elderly services. Our study showed that interest in ageing LGBTs as well as their increasing need of various services is still quite limited, but nevertheless growing. The invisibility of LGBT older adults is decreasing, partly because the LGBT communities are becoming more vocal on matters related to elderly services, more local practical incentives are being implemented, and emphasis in culturally competent services has gained support. Clearly, there have been positive developments regarding the inclusion of the ageing LGBT minority during the last decade or so, internationally and in Finland. However, LGBT advocacy organisations, groups, or community members should continue actively pursuing co-operation possibilities with mainstream elderly service providers, who have the resources to provide to the whole spectrum of our ageing population. Additionally, research about gender minorities is almost non-existent, and therefore shedding light on the life of ageing gender minorities would be extremely valuable and could possibly even help to create new practical initiatives. Discussions on diversity issues should be actively pursued. Without the knowledge of the realities in LGBT ageing, there can be no real understanding of the needs of this heterogeneous group of older adults

Human Respiration Rate Measurement with High-Speed Digital Fringe Projection Technique

This paper proposes a non-contact continuous respiration monitoring method based on Fringe Projection Profilometry (FPP). This method aims to overcome the limitations of traditional intrusive techniques by providing continuous monitoring without interfering with normal breathing. The FPP sensor captures three-dimensional (3D) respiratory motion from the chest wall and abdomen, and the analysis algorithms extract respiratory parameters. The system achieved a high Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) of 37 dB with an ideal sinusoidal respiration signal. Experimental results demonstrated that a mean correlation of 0.95 and a mean Root-Mean-Square Error (RMSE) of 0.11 breaths per minute (bpm) were achieved when comparing to a reference signal obtained from a spirometer

AIOps for a Cloud Object Storage Service

With the growing reliance on the ubiquitous availability of IT systems and services, these systems become more global, scaled, and complex to operate. To maintain business viability, IT service providers must put in place reliable and cost efficient operations support. Artificial Intelligence for IT Operations (AIOps) is a promising technology for alleviating operational complexity of IT systems and services. AIOps platforms utilize big data, machine learning and other advanced analytics technologies to enhance IT operations with proactive actionable dynamic insight. In this paper we share our experience applying the AIOps approach to a production cloud object storage service to get actionable insights into system's behavior and health. We describe a real-life production cloud scale service and its operational data, present the AIOps platform we have created, and show how it has helped us resolving operational pain points.Comment: 5 page

A nonlinear structured population model: Global existence and structural stability of measure-valued solutions

This paper is devoted to the study of the global existence and structural stability of measure-valued solutions to a nonlinear structured population model given in the form of a nonlocal first-order hyperbolic problem on positive real numbers. In distinction to previous studies, where the L^1 norm was used, we apply the flat metric, similar to the Wasserstein W^1 distance. We argue that stability using this metric, in addition to mathematical advantages, is consistent with intuitive understanding of empirical data. Structural stability and the uniqueness of the weak solutions are shown under the assumption about the Lipschitz continuity of the kinetic functions. The stability result is based on the duality formula and the Gronwall-type argument. Using a framework of mutational equations, existence of solutions to the equations of the model is also shown under weaker assumptions, i.e., without assuming Lipschitz continuity of the kinetic functions

Bedürfnisse von Junglandwirten und ihre Wünsche an die Jugendarbeit der ökologischen Anbauverbände

Organic producer organisations are recruiting new members. On important target group are young farmers who at some point in their careers will consider membership. The objective of this study was to analyse i) the needs of young farmers, ii) which services would make membership attractive, and iii) which services producer organisations currently offer young farmers, for producer organisations to derive new ideas on specific services for this target group. Young farmer’s most important demands for services are advice in the process of setting up a business, job placement and networking among young farmers and with experienced farmers, e.g. by specific arrangement such as young farmer’s days, field trips etc. The current offers of producer organisations, if they exist, are rarely communicated as such. Addressing young farmers early in their careers with specific offers is therefore highly recommended

Poisson-Furstenberg boundary and growth of groups

We study the Poisson-Furstenberg boundary of random walks on permutational wreath products. We give a sufficient condition for a group to admit a symmetric measure of finite first moment with non-trivial boundary, and show that this criterion is useful to establish exponential word growth of groups. We construct groups of exponential growth such that all finitely supported (not necessarily symmetric, possibly degenerate) random walks on these groups have trivial boundary. This gives a negative answer to a question of Kaimanovich and Vershik.Comment: 24 page