Point process time–frequency analysis of dynamic respiratory patterns during meditation practice

Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) is largely mediated by the autonomic nervous system through its modulating influence on the heart beats. We propose a robust algorithm for quantifying instantaneous RSA as applied to heart beat intervals and respiratory recordings under dynamic breathing patterns. The blood volume pressure-derived heart beat series (pulse intervals, PIs) are modeled as an inverse Gaussian point process, with the instantaneous mean PI modeled as a bivariate regression incorporating both past PIs and respiration values observed at the beats. A point process maximum likelihood algorithm is used to estimate the model parameters, and instantaneous RSA is estimated via a frequency domain transfer function evaluated at instantaneous respiratory frequency where high coherence between respiration and PIs is observed. The model is statistically validated using Kolmogorov–Smirnov goodness-of-fit analysis, as well as independence tests. The algorithm is applied to subjects engaged in meditative practice, with distinctive dynamics in the respiration patterns elicited as a result. The presented analysis confirms the ability of the algorithm to track important changes in cardiorespiratory interactions elicited during meditation, otherwise not evidenced in control resting states, reporting statistically significant increase in RSA gain as measured by our paradigm.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant R01-HL084502)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant R01-DA015644)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant DP1-OD003646)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant K01-AT00694-01

An Integrative Design Framework for New Service Development

Service innovation is focused on customer value creation. At its core, customer-centric service innovation in an increasingly digital world is technology-enabled, human-centered, and process-oriented. This requires a cross-disciplinary, holistic approach to new service design and development (NSD). This paper proposes a new service strategy-aligned integrative design framework for NSD. It correlates the underlying theories and principles of disparate but interrelated aspects of service design thinking: service strategy, concept, design, experience and architecture into a coherent framework for NSD, consistent with the service brand value. Application of the framework to NSD is envisioned to be iterative and holistic, accentuated on continuous organizational and customer learning. The preliminary framework's efficacy is illustrated using a simplified telecom case example. © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2014

Mapping of the melatonin receptor 1a (MTNR1A) gene in pigs, sheep, and cattle

1 illus. 2 tables Chantier qualité spécifique "Auteurs Externes" département de Génétique animale : uniquement liaison auteur au référentiel HR-AccessInternational audienc

The association between vitamin K status and knee osteoarthritis features in older adults: The Health, Aging and Body Composition Study

BackgroundVitamin K-dependent (VKD) proteins, including the mineralization inhibitor matrix-gla protein (MGP), are found in joint tissues including cartilage and bone. Previous studies suggest low vitamin K status is associated with higher osteoarthritis (OA) prevalence and incidence.ObjectiveTo clarify what joint tissues vitamin K is relevant to in OA, we investigated the cross-sectional and longitudinal association between vitamin K status and knee OA structural features measured using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).MethodsPlasma phylloquinone (PK, vitamin K1) and dephosphorylated-uncarboxylated MGP ((dp)ucMGP) were measured in 791 older community-dwelling adults who had bilateral knee MRIs (mean ± SD age = 74 ± 3 y; 67% female). The adjusted odds ratios (and 95% confidence intervals) [OR (95%CI)] for presence and progression of knee OA features according to vitamin K status were calculated using marginal models with generalized estimating equations (GEEs), adjusted for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), triglycerides and other pertinent confounders.ResultsLongitudinally, participants with very low plasma PK (<0.2 nM) were more likely to have articular cartilage and meniscus damage progression after 3 years [OR (95% CIs): 1.7(1.0-3.0), 2.6(1.3-5.2) respectively] compared to sufficient PK (≥ 1.0 nM). Higher plasma (dp)ucMGP (reflective of lower vitamin K status) was associated with higher odds of meniscus damage, osteophytes, bone marrow lesions, and subarticular cysts cross-sectionally [ORs (95% CIs) comparing highest to lowest quartile: 1.6(1.1-2.3); 1.7(1.1-2.5); 1.9(1.3-2.8); 1.5(1.0-2.1), respectively].ConclusionCommunity-dwelling men and women with very low plasma PK were more likely to have progression of articular cartilage and meniscus damage. Plasma (dp)ucMGP was associated with presence of knee OA features but not progression. Future studies are needed to clarify mechanisms underlying vitamin Ks role in OA

The association between vitamin K status and knee osteoarthritis features in older adults: The Health, Aging and Body Composition Study

SummaryBackgroundVitamin K-dependent (VKD) proteins, including the mineralization inhibitor matrix-gla protein (MGP), are found in joint tissues including cartilage and bone. Previous studies suggest low vitamin K status is associated with higher osteoarthritis (OA) prevalence and incidence.ObjectiveTo clarify what joint tissues vitamin K is relevant to in OA, we investigated the cross-sectional and longitudinal association between vitamin K status and knee OA structural features measured using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).MethodsPlasma phylloquinone (PK, vitamin K1) and dephosphorylated-uncarboxylated MGP ((dp)ucMGP) were measured in 791 older community-dwelling adults who had bilateral knee MRIs (mean ± SD age = 74 ± 3 y; 67% female). The adjusted odds ratios (and 95% confidence intervals) [OR (95%CI)] for presence and progression of knee OA features according to vitamin K status were calculated using marginal models with generalized estimating equations (GEEs), adjusted for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), triglycerides and other pertinent confounders.ResultsLongitudinally, participants with very low plasma PK (<0.2 nM) were more likely to have articular cartilage and meniscus damage progression after 3 years [OR (95% CIs): 1.7(1.0–3.0), 2.6(1.3–5.2) respectively] compared to sufficient PK (≥1.0 nM). Higher plasma (dp)ucMGP (reflective of lower vitamin K status) was associated with higher odds of meniscus damage, osteophytes, bone marrow lesions, and subarticular cysts cross-sectionally [ORs (95% CIs) comparing highest to lowest quartile: 1.6(1.1–2.3); 1.7(1.1–2.5); 1.9(1.3–2.8); 1.5(1.0–2.1), respectively].ConclusionCommunity-dwelling men and women with very low plasma PK were more likely to have progression of articular cartilage and meniscus damage. Plasma (dp)ucMGP was associated with presence of knee OA features but not progression. Future studies are needed to clarify mechanisms underlying vitamin Ks role in OA

Lean in UK Government : internal efficiency or customer service?

This article draws on service operations and Lean management in considering the relationship between internal service processes and customer service in public sector organisations. It draws on extensive evidence from two case studies of large UK Government departments to illustrate that whilst public service organisations recognise that methodologies such as Lean improves their internal processes to date they have not linked this to value or customer service. This article presents a model which shows that public service organisations are driven towards internal operations improvement due to the efficiency agenda leading to a process focus, rather than a market driven approach focusing on the customer. This article argues that although this starting point is not necessarily bad in order to sustain improvement after initial gains there is a need to focus on both process and customer. This article therefore contributes and extends the discussion on the adaptation of Lean for a public sector context

Field-Reliability Predictions Based on Statistical System Lifecycle Models

Part 1: MAKE-Main TrackInternational audienceReliability measures the ability of a system to provide its intended level of service. It is influenced by many factors throughout a system lifecycle. A detailed understanding of their impact often remains elusive since these factors cannot be studied independently. Formulating reliability studies as a Bayesian regression problem allows to simultaneously assess their impact and to identify a predictive model of reliability metrics.The proposed method is applied to currently operational particle accelerator equipment at CERN. Relevant metrics were gathered by combining data from various organizational databases. To obtain predictive models, different supervised machine learning algorithms were applied and compared in terms of their prediction error and reliability. Results show that the identified models accurately predict the mean-time-between-failure of devices – an important reliability metric for repairable systems - and reveal factors which lead to increased dependability. These results provide valuable inputs for early development stages of highly dependable equipment for future particle accelerators

Waste types in people processing services

The globalization needs and the increased competition between all types of companies put an increased focus on service improvement. Services are mostly customized, intangible, knowledge-based, and one type of services, called here as People Processing Services (PPS), can have the direct participation of customers both as object being processed and as a co-producer. These characteristics of PPS make it difficult to standardize processes, which contribute for generating non-value added activities, classified as wastes in the Lean Thinking knowledge area. This work aims to contribute to the waste classification, proposing a clarification for the types of waste associated with People Processing Services, and further applying this classification to a particular PPS case, the Hip Surgery Production Process of a Portuguese Public Hospital. It was observed that a large number of activities do not add value to the service and waiting is the most common waste.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Servitization by sector and manufacturers' operational departments: Lessons learned

This concluding chapter summarises the previous chapters by focussing on two questions: (1) Can sector-specific environments explain differences in servitization by sector? (2) What dependencies affect the adaptation of manufacturers' operational departments to servitization? Juxtaposing the findings from the sector chapters suggests that manufacturers in sectors that are shocked by radical innovations in physical products, that serve markets with an oligopolistic customer structure and that have acquired superior knowledge in applying their own products are more likely to change their business models towards offering advanced services. In addition to the ratio of the installed base to annual sales, these three aspects have proved to be relevant for adopting servitization strategies. As the results presented in the departmental chapters indicate, mutual dependencies exist among the various decisions involved in adapting manufacturers' capabilities, processes and structures to servitized business models. Accounting practices, procurement and supplier relationships, research and development, human resource management and - first and foremost -the competitive strategies of manufacturers must be reshaped simultaneously. This final chapter concludes with a discussion of possible future trends regarding servitization in manufacturing industries