Teaching functional patterns through robotic applications

We present our approach to teaching functional programming to First Year Computer Science stu- dents at Middlesex University through projects in robotics. A holistic approach is taken to the cur- riculum, emphasising the connections between different subject areas. A key part of the students’ learning is through practical projects that draw upon and integrate the taught material. To support these, we developed the Middlesex Robotic plaTfOrm (MIRTO), an open-source platform built using Raspberry Pi, Arduino, HUB-ee wheels and running Racket (a LISP dialect). In this paper we present the motivations for our choices and explain how a number of concepts of functional programming may be employed when programming robotic applications. We present some students’ work with robotics projects: we consider the use of robotics projects to have been a success, both for their value in reinforcing students’ understanding of programming concepts and for their value in motivating the students

Von Willebrand factor and ADAMTS13 activity in relation to risk of dementia

Low ADAMTS13 activity is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, which is generally attributed to its proteolytic effects on Von Willebrand factor (VWF). Cardiovascular health is an important determinant of cognitive decline, but the association of either VWF or ADAMTS13 with risk of dementia is unknown. Between 1997-2002, we measured VWF antigen and ADAMTS13 activity in 6055 participants of the population-based Rotterdam Study (mean age 69.3 years, 57.2% women). At baseline, 85 participants had dementia, and during 15 years of follow-up 821 developed dementia. Higher VWF was associated with prevalence and risk of dementia, unaffected by concurrent ADAMTS13 activity, but estimates strongly attenuated over time and were no longer statistically significant at 4 years of follow-up (relative risks [95% CI] per standard deviation increase- cross-sectional: 1.37 [1.06-1.77], and longitudinal: 1.05 [0.97-1.14]). In contrast, low ADAMTS13 was associated with increased risk of dementia throughout follow-up (hazard ratio per SD decrease- 1.16 [1.06-1.28]), which alike for ischaemic stroke, was modified by the presence of diabetes (P-interaction = 0.003). In conclusion, higher VWF and low ADAMTS13 activity are associated with increased risk of dementia, but differences in time-course and lack of synergistic effects may indicate in part independent underlying mechanisms

ADAMTS-13 and bleeding phenotype in von Willebrand disease

Background: The bleeding phenotype of von Willebrand disease (VWD) varies highly between patients and can only partly be explained by von Willebrand factor (VWF) parameters. By cleaving large VWF multimers into smaller, less active multimers, ADAMTS-13 is an important regulator of VWF activity. However, it is unknown what the role of ADAMTS-13 is in individuals with VWD. Objectives: We therefore studied how ADAMTS-13 activity is associated with the laboratory and bleeding phenotype in individuals with VWD. Methods: We measured ADAMTS-13 activity using the fluorescence resonance energy transfer substrate VWF 73 assay in 638 individuals with VWD in the nationwide cross-sectional Willebrand in the Netherlands study and in 36 healthy controls. The bleeding phenotype was assessed using the Tosetto bleeding score. Results: ADAMTS-13 activity was similar in individuals with VWD (109% ± 20.6%) and controls (110% ± 19.7%). ADAMTS-13 activity was higher in individuals with VWD with type 3 than those with type 1 (mean difference, 11.8%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.9%-20.8%) or type 2 (mean difference, 16.1%; 95% CI, 7.1%-25.1%). ADAMTS-13 activity was not associated with the Tosetto bleeding score (0.1 Tosetto bleeding score increase per 10% ADAMTS-13 increase, 95% CI, −0.2 to 0.3). Furthermore, ADAMTS-13 activity did not differ between individuals with and without a bleeding event during the year preceding blood sampling (mean difference, 1.4%; 95% CI, −2.1% to 4.9%). Conclusion: ADAMTS-13 activity was highest in individuals with type 3 VWD, but it had only minor associations with VWF parameters. ADAMTS-13 activity does not influence the bleeding phenotype in individuals with VWD

Low VWF: An established mild bleeding disorder?

In this issue of Blood, Lavin et al report their study of 126 patients who presented at the Irish Reference Center for Bleeding Disorders with bleeding symptoms and von Willebrand factor (VWF) levels between 30 and 50 IU/dL, often referred to as “low VWF.”

von Willebrand Factor, ADAMTS13 Activity, and Decline in Kidney Function: A Population-Based Cohort Study

Background Altered levels of von Willebrand factor (vWF) and ADAMTS13 can promote thrombosis and disturb blood flow in kidney microcirculations. We investigated the association of serum vWF:ADAMTS13 ratio in relation to decline in kidney function. Study Design Prospective cohort study. Setting & Participants 2,479 individuals (mean age, 65.1 ± 5.9 [SD] years; 43% men) from the population-based Rotterdam Study. Predictors vWF, ADAMTS13, and vWF:ADAMTS13 ratio. Outcomes & Measurements Annual decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), halving of eGFR, and new-onset eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 were assessed. Results During a median follow-up of 11 (range, 7.81-13.57) years, 500 cases of new-onset eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 occurred. The population had a mean eGFR decline of 0.96 ± 0.92 mL/min/1.73 m2 per year. Higher vWF:ADAMTS13 ratio was associated with steeper annual decline in eGFR (difference, −0.06 [95% CI, −0.09 to −0.02] mL/min/1.73 m2 per year) and higher risk for new-onset eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.01-1.27). Likewise, higher vWF:ADAMTS13 ratio was associated with higher risk for halving of eGFR (OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.02-1.93). After adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors and blood group, effect estimates remained the same. Limitations No data available for albuminuria. Participants were classified based on a single measurement of vWF and ADAMTS13. Conclusions In this population-based study, we showed that higher vWF:ADAMTS13 ratio is associated with decline in kidney function, suggesting a role of elevated prothrombotic factors in the development and progression of kidney disease