tstrait: a quantitative trait simulator for ancestral recombination graphs

Summary: Ancestral recombination graphs (ARGs) encode the ensemble of correlated genealogical trees arising from recombination in a compact and efficient structure and are of fundamental importance in population and statistical genetics. Recent breakthroughs have made it possible to simulate and infer ARGs at biobank scale, and there is now intense interest in using ARG-based methods across a broad range of applications, particularly in genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Sophisticated methods exist to simulate ARGs using population genetics models, but there is currently no software to simulate quantitative traits directly from these ARGs. To apply existing quantitative trait simulators users must export genotype data, losing important information about ancestral processes and producing prohibitively large files when applied to the biobank-scale datasets currently of interest in GWAS. We present tstrait, an open-source Python library to simulate quantitative traits on ARGs, and show how this user-friendly software can quickly simulate phenotypes for biobank-scale datasets on a laptop computer. Availability and implementation: tstrait is available for download on the Python Package Index. Full documentation with examples and workflow templates is available on https://tskit.dev/tstrait/docs/, and the development version is maintained on GitHub (https://github.com/tskit-dev/tstrait)

Reclaiming our spirits: Development and pilot testing of a health promotion intervention for indigenous women who have experienced intimate partner violence

Indigenous women are subjected to high rates of multiple forms of violence, including intimate partner violence (IPV), in the context of ongoing colonization and neo-colonization. Health promotion interventions for women who experience violence have not been tailored specifically for Indigenous women. Reclaiming Our Spirits (ROS) is a health promotion intervention designed for Indigenous women living in an urban context in Canada. In this paper, we describe the development of the intervention, results of a pilot study, and the revised subsequent intervention. Building on a theory-based health promotion intervention (iHEAL) showing promising results in feasibility studies, ROS was developed using a series of related approaches including (a) guidance from Indigenous women with research expertise specific to IPV and Indigenous women’s experiences; (b) articulation of an Indigenous lens, including using Cree (one of the largest Indigenous language groups in North America) concepts to identify key aspects; and (c) interviews with Elders (n10) living in the study setting. Offered over 6-8 months, ROS consists of a Circle, led by an Indigenous Elder, and 1:1 visits with a Registered Nurse, focused on six areas for health promotion derived from previous research. Pilot testing with Indigenous women (n21) produced signs of improvement in most measures of health from pre- to post-intervention. Women found the pilot intervention acceptable and helpful but also offered valuable suggestions for improvement. A revised intervention, with greater structure within the Circle and nurses with stronger knowledge of Indigenous women’s experience and community health, is currently undergoing testing

Reclaiming our spirits: development and pilot testing of a health promotion intervention for Indigenous women who have experienced intimate partner violence

Indigenous women are subjected to high rates of multiple forms of violence, including intimate partner violence (IPV), in the context of ongoing colonization and neo‐colonization. Health promotion interventions for women who experience violence have not been tailored specifically for Indigenous women. Reclaiming Our Spirits (ROS) is a health promotion intervention designed for Indigenous women living in an urban context in Canada. In this paper, we describe the development of the intervention, results of a pilot study, and the revised subsequent intervention. Building on a theory‐based health promotion intervention (iHEAL) showing promising results in feasibility studies, ROS was developed using a series of related approaches including (a) guidance from Indigenous women with research expertise specific to IPV and Indigenous women's experiences; (b) articulation of an Indigenous lens, including using Cree (one of the largest Indigenous language groups in North America) concepts to identify key aspects; and (c) interviews with Elders (n = 10) living in the study setting. Offered over 6–8 months, ROS consists of a Circle, led by an Indigenous Elder, and 1:1 visits with a Registered Nurse, focused on six areas for health promotion derived from previous research. Pilot testing with Indigenous women (n = 21) produced signs of improvement in most measures of health from pre‐ to post‐intervention. Women found the pilot intervention acceptable and helpful but also offered valuable suggestions for improvement. A revised intervention, with greater structure within the Circle and nurses with stronger knowledge of Indigenous women's experience and community health, is currently undergoing testing.Final article published.visitationabuseviolencenursing interventionsPeer reviewe

Complementary responses to mean and variance modulations in the perfect integrate-and-fire model

In the perfect integrate-and-fire model (PIF), the membrane voltage is proportional to the integral of the input current since the time of the previous spike. It has been shown that the firing rate within a noise free ensemble of PIF neurons responds instantaneously to dynamic changes in the input current, whereas in the presence of white noise, model neurons preferentially pass low frequency modulations of the mean current. Here, we prove that when the input variance is perturbed while holding the mean current constant, the PIF responds preferentially to high frequency modulations. Moreover, the linear filters for mean and variance modulations are complementary, adding exactly to one. Since changes in the rate of Poisson distributed inputs lead to proportional changes in the mean and variance, these results imply that an ensemble of PIF neurons transmits a perfect replica of the time-varying input rate for Poisson distributed input. A more general argument shows that this property holds for any signal leading to proportional changes in the mean and variance of the input current

Associations between child maltreatment, PTSD, and internet addiction among Taiwanese students

AbstractThis study examines (1) the associations between multiple types of child maltreatment and Internet addiction, and (2) the mediating effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on these associations. We collected data from a national proportionately stratified random sample of 6233 fourth-grade students in Taiwan in 2014. We conducted bivariate correlations and sets of multiple regression analyses to examine the associations between multiple types of maltreatment (5 types in total) and Internet addiction, and to identify the mediating role of PTSD. The results reveal that being male and experiencing abuse (psychological neglect, physical neglect, paternal physical violence, sexual violence) were associated with increased risk among children of developing PTSD and Internet addiction. Moreover, PTSD mediated the associations between multiple types of maltreatment (except maternal physical violence) and Internet addiction. This study demonstrates (1) the effects of multiple types of maltreatment on the PTSD and Internet addiction of children and (2) the importance of early prevention and intervention in addressing related public-health concerns

Differential response and traditional protection investigation: a comparison of two child welfare investigation streams

INTRODUCTION Determining an appropriate threshold for which children and families should receive child welfare services has been widely debated in literature. Workers are faced with multiple child welfare orientations when determining the appropriate level of intrusiveness during child maltreatment investigations [3]. Parental rights, family preservation, and safety of the child are some of the competing tensions in the child welfare model that investigating workers must balance [2,9]. Differential Response (DR) model is a flexible approach to child maltreatment investigations developed to provide a range of customized investigative streams incorporating family-centered, and strengths-based practices [4]. This model is a less intrusive approach to investigations for low-risk cases that do not present imminent risk to the child, compared to Traditional Protection Investigations (INV) [5,7]. There is a high degree of jurisdictional variation in screening, intake and administration of DR models resulting in a disparity of findings throughout child welfare research [4]. In 2002, the Alberta Response Model was created to allow child welfare agencies to provide flexible investigative streams to families based on the type and severity of child maltreatment [1,8]. The Family Enhancement Program works as part of the Alberta Response Model to provide children and families with a DR investigation stream [1]. High-risk cases are streamed to INV while lower risk families who are willing are streamed to the Family Enhancement Program [1]. This article will inform practitioners’ understandings of DR model by providing a provincial profile of DR streamed investigations while comparing child, household, maltreatment characteristics and case factor associated with each child welfare investigative stream based on the Alberta Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect 2008 (AIS-2008) [6].     METHODS This analysis is based on secondary analysis of the AIS-2008 dataset. The AIS-2008 is the second cycle of a provincial study that examines incidences of reported child abuse and neglect in Alberta for children 17 years and younger. This paper reports on findings based on a total weighted number of 26,957 child investigations that were noted as either DR streamed investigations, or INV streamed investigations. A total of 6,666 child investigations noted use of DR model, while an additional 20,291 child investigations noted use of INV model. Select comparisons of child, household, case and maltreatment factors from two child welfare investigation streams are presented in this analysis. Bivariate analyses and Pearson’s chi-squared test were used to compare each investigative stream and associated factors. For further information on methodology of the AIS-2008 refer to Chapter 2 of the full report [7].   RESULTS Figure 1 shows primary categories of all reported child maltreatment incidents and risk investigations streamed to DR and INV. Significant differences in child investigations were noted for younger children. Eleven percent of DR streamed investigations involved children who were less than 1 year old, and 8% of INV streamed investigations. Caseworkers were asked to report on nine caregiver risk factors, such as alcohol and/or drug abuse, cognitive impairment, and/or victim of intimate partner violence (IPV) [7]. While differences between the two investigative streams for caregiver risk factors would be expected, there were little differences noted. A risk investigation refers to situations where a specific incident of maltreatment has not yet occurred, however circumstances indicate that there is a significant future risk of maltreatment [7]. DR child investigations more frequently noted risk investigations than INV child investigations. For DR investigations, neglect was noted most frequently (38%), followed by exposure to intimate partner violence (23%), physical abuse (10%), and emotional maltreatment (9%). Ten percent of DR investigations noted emotional harm requiring treatment, compared to 16% of INV investigations. One percent of DR investigations noted physical harm severe enough to require medical attention, and 2% of INV investigations. The percentage of DR child investigations resulting in a formal child welfare placement was significantly less (5%) than INV child investigations (10%). Twenty-five percent of DR investigations remained open for ongoing services compared to 32% of INV investigations. DR investigations less often resulted an application to child welfare court (4%), than INV streamed investigations (13%). Figure 1. Primary Categories of All Reported Child Maltreatment Incidents and Risk Investigations in Alberta in 2008 by Child Welfare Investigation Streams. Percentages of type of maltreatment includes total number of child investigations (n=26,957) streamed to differential response (n=6,666), and traditional protection investigation (n=20,291). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS This secondary data analysis examined 26,957 child maltreatment investigations from the AIS-2008 dataset. The increased flexibility of DR model enables workers to balance some of the competing tensions in child welfare. DR model allows child welfare agencies to provide less intrusive approach to investigations for low-risk investigations, compared to INV model which is intended for investigations presenting greater severity of harm. This exploratory analysis examined differences in characteristics between children and families of child maltreatment investigations streamed to DR approach and INV approach. Future research should examine long term outcomes of investigations streamed to DR and INV. Exploring long term outcomes will provide greater insight into the effectiveness of DR model child maltreatment investigations.   LIMITATIONS While the AIS-2008 dataset provides a unique opportunity to examine the child welfare response to reported maltreatment in Alberta, a number of considerations for this secondary analysis must be made when interpreting these findings. The AIS-2008 dataset; 1) only tracked reports investigated by child intervention services and did not include reports that were screened out, only investigated by police, and never reported; 2) is based on the assessments provided by the investigating child intervention workers and could not be independently verified; 3) is weighted using annual estimates which included counts of children investigated more than once during the year, therefore the unit of analysis for the weighted estimates was a child investigation; 4) as weighted estimates provided some instances where sample sizes were too small to derive publishable estimates [7].

Search for charged Higgs bosons in e+e- collisions at energies up to sqrt(s) = 209GeV

A search for charged Higgs bosons produced in pairs is performed with data collected at centre-of-mass energies ranging from 189 to 209 GeV by ALEPH at LEP, corresponding to a total luminosity of 629 invpb. The three final states taunutaunu, taunucs and cscs are considered. No evidence for a signal is found and lower limits are set on the mass M_H+ as a function of the branching fraction B(H to taunu). In the framework of a two-Higgs-doublet model, and assuming B(H+ to taunu + B(H+ to cs) = 1 charged Higgs bosons with masses below 79.3 Gev/c2 are excluded at 95% confidence level independently of the branching ratios