Methodological Issues in Multistage Genome-Wide Association Studies

Because of the high cost of commercial genotyping chip technologies, many investigations have used a two-stage design for genome-wide association studies, using part of the sample for an initial discovery of ``promising'' SNPs at a less stringent significance level and the remainder in a joint analysis of just these SNPs using custom genotyping. Typical cost savings of about 50% are possible with this design to obtain comparable levels of overall type I error and power by using about half the sample for stage I and carrying about 0.1% of SNPs forward to the second stage, the optimal design depending primarily upon the ratio of costs per genotype for stages I and II. However, with the rapidly declining costs of the commercial panels, the generally low observed ORs of current studies, and many studies aiming to test multiple hypotheses and multiple endpoints, many investigators are abandoning the two-stage design in favor of simply genotyping all available subjects using a standard high-density panel. Concern is sometimes raised about the absence of a ``replication'' panel in this approach, as required by some high-profile journals, but it must be appreciated that the two-stage design is not a discovery/replication design but simply a more efficient design for discovery using a joint analysis of the data from both stages. Once a subset of highly-significant associations has been discovered, a truly independent ``exact replication'' study is needed in a similar population of the same promising SNPs using similar methods.Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/09-STS288 the Statistical Science (http://www.imstat.org/sts/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

Proceedings of the CUNY Games Conference 6.0

The CUNY Games Network is an organization dedicated to encouraging research, scholarship and teaching in the developing field of games-based learning. We connect educators from every campus and discipline at CUNY and beyond who are interested in digital and non-digital games, simulations, and other forms of interactive teaching and inquiry-based learning. These proceedings summarize the CUNY Games Conference 6.0, where scholars shared research findings at a three-day event to promote and discuss game-based pedagogy in higher education. Presenters could share findings in oral presentations, posters, demos, or play testing sessions. The conference also included workshops on how to modify existing games for the classroom, how to incorporate elements of play into simulations and critical thinking activities, math games, and how to create computer games

Proceedings of the CUNY Games Conference 5.0

The CUNY Games Network is an organization dedicated to encouraging research, scholarship and teaching in the developing field of games-based learning. We connect educators from every campus and discipline at CUNY and beyond who are interested in digital and non-digital games, simulations, and other forms of interactive teaching and inquiry-based learning. The CUNY Games Conference distills its best cutting-edge interactive presentations into a two-day event to promote and discuss game-based pedagogies in higher education, focusing particularly on non-digital learning activities that faculty can use in the classroom every day. The conference will include workshops lead by CUNY Games Organizers on how to modify existing games for the classroom, how to incorporate elements of play into simulations and critical thinking activities, as well as poster sessions, play testing, and game play. For the digitally minded, we will also offer a workshop in creating computer games in Unity

Empowering peer outreach workers in an HIV prevention and care program for Kenyan gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men: challenges and opportunities in the Anza Mapema Study

Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) are at high risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. In rights-constrained settings with pervasive stigma, peer outreach workers play a key role in recruitment and retention of MSM in HIV research, prevention, and treatment programs. We explored factors affecting the empowerment of peers in an HIV prevention and care study for MSM in Kisumu, Kenya, with the goal of improving program services and supporting good participatory practice. The Anza Mapema study, conducted from 8/2015-10/2017, aimed to enroll 700 MSM in a comprehensive package of find, test, link and retain in HIV prevention and care interventions, with quarterly follow-up over 12 months. Seventeen mostly heterosexual salaried staff implemented the clinical and research components of the study, while 13 gay and bisexual peers facilitated recruitment, retention, and participant education, supported by a monthly stipend. A community advisory board provided feedback on program methods and performance. In-depth interviews with peers and staff at two timepoints were used to obtain feedback and make program improvements. Thematic analysis was conducted, and results were presented to peers and staff for discussion and triangulation. Despite mutual appreciation of peers’ contributions to the project, peers and staff had different goals and vision for Anza Mapema. While staff focused on implementing the study protocol, peers envisioned broader programming including community-building activities, advocacy, mental health and substance use services, and economic empowerment. From the outset, power disparities and power struggles between peers and staff favored the staff, as peers were younger, less educated, and had lower compensation for their time. While peers appreciated the opportunity to help their community and the free health services provided by the project, they voiced concerns about stigmatizing attitudes from some staff, insufficient training, exclusion from decision-making, minimal representation on the study team, and lack of opportunities for advancement. Staff were supportive of peer’s requests but felt constrained by limited funding and rigid study timelines. Peers’ concerns were addressed at least in part through monthly team meetings with program leadership, weekly meetings with outreach coordinators, additional training, the promotion of one peer to a salaried position, and the development of community-building activities and a support group for participants who struggled with alcohol and drugs. Integration of gay and bisexual peers into HIV research and programming is critical in rights-constrained settings but challenged by disparities in power between peers and staff. Empowerment of peers is an important component of good participatory practice, and requires attention to training, inclusion in decision-making, opportunities for advancement, and support for community-building. Future studies that rely on peers for participant recruitment and retention should address these issues and make peer empowerment an overt component of the program.&nbsp

Empowering peer outreach workers in an HIV prevention and care program for Kenyan gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men: challenges and opportunities in the Anza Mapema Study

Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) are at high risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. In rights-constrained settings with pervasive stigma, peer outreach workers play a key role in recruitment and retention of MSM in HIV research, prevention, and treatment programs. We explored factors affecting the empowerment of peers in an HIV prevention and care study for MSM in Kisumu, Kenya, with the goal of improving program services and supporting good participatory practice. The Anza Mapema study, conducted from 8/2015-10/2017, aimed to enroll 700 MSM in a comprehensive package of find, test, link and retain in HIV prevention and care interventions, with quarterly follow-up over 12 months. Seventeen mostly heterosexual salaried staff implemented the clinical and research components of the study, while 13 gay and bisexual peers facilitated recruitment, retention, and participant education, supported by a monthly stipend. A community advisory board provided feedback on program methods and performance. In-depth interviews with peers and staff at two timepoints were used to obtain feedback and make program improvements. Thematic analysis was conducted, and results were presented to peers and staff for discussion and triangulation. Despite mutual appreciation of peers’ contributions to the project, peers and staff had different goals and vision for Anza Mapema. While staff focused on implementing the study protocol, peers envisioned broader programming including community-building activities, advocacy, mental health and substance use services, and economic empowerment. From the outset, power disparities and power struggles between peers and staff favored the staff, as peers were younger, less educated, and had lower compensation for their time. While peers appreciated the opportunity to help their community and the free health services provided by the project, they voiced concerns about stigmatizing attitudes from some staff, insufficient training, exclusion from decision-making, minimal representation on the study team, and lack of opportunities for advancement. Staff were supportive of peer’s requests but felt constrained by limited funding and rigid study timelines. Peers’ concerns were addressed at least in part through monthly team meetings with program leadership, weekly meetings with outreach coordinators, additional training, the promotion of one peer to a salaried position, and the development of community-building activities and a support group for participants who struggled with alcohol and drugs. Integration of gay and bisexual peers into HIV research and programming is critical in rights-constrained settings but challenged by disparities in power between peers and staff. Empowerment of peers is an important component of good participatory practice, and requires attention to training, inclusion in decision-making, opportunities for advancement, and support for community-building. Future studies that rely on peers for participant recruitment and retention should address these issues and make peer empowerment an overt component of the program.&nbsp

Heart rate variability and direct current measurement characteristics in professional mixed martial arts athletes

This study’s purpose was to examine heart rate variability (HRV) and direct current potential (DC) measures’ sensitivity and correlations between changes in the acute recovery and stress scale (ARSS) and the previous day’s training load. Training load, HRV, DC and ARSS data were collected from fourteen professional mixed martial arts athletes (32.6 ± 5.3 years, 174.8 ± 8.8 cm, 79.2 ± 17.5 kg) the following morning after hard, easy and rest days. Sensitivity was expressed as a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR, inter-day typical error (TE) or coefficient of variation (%CV) divided by intra-day TE or %CV). Correlations between HRV, DC and ARSS with training load were also examined. The SNRs for the various HRV and DC measures were acceptable to good (1.02–2.85). There was a 23.1% CV average increase between measures taken between different locations versus the same location. Training load changes were not correlated with HRV/DC but were correlated with ARSS stress variables. Practitioners should be aware of HRV/DC variability; however the daily training signal was greater than the test-retest error in this investigation. Upon awakening, HRV/DC measures appear superior for standardization and planning. HRV and DC measures were less sensitive to the previous day’s training load than ARSS measures

Rehabilitation Therapy in Older Acute Heart Failure Patients (REHAB-HF) trial: Design and rationale.

BACKGROUND: Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is a leading cause of hospitalization in older persons in the United States. Reduced physical function and frailty are major determinants of adverse outcomes in older patients with hospitalized ADHF. However, these are not addressed by current heart failure (HF) management strategies and there has been little study of exercise training in older, frail HF patients with recent ADHF. HYPOTHESIS: Targeting physical frailty with a multi-domain structured physical rehabilitation intervention will improve physical function and reduce adverse outcomes among older patients experiencing a HF hospitalization. STUDY DESIGN: REHAB-HF is a multi-center clinical trial in which 360 patients ≥60 years hospitalized with ADHF will be randomized either to a novel 12-week multi-domain physical rehabilitation intervention or to attention control. The goal of the intervention is to improve balance, mobility, strength and endurance utilizing reproducible, targeted exercises administered by a multi-disciplinary team with specific milestones for progression. The primary study aim is to assess the efficacy of the REHAB-HF intervention on physical function measured by total Short Physical Performance Battery score. The secondary outcome is 6-month all-cause rehospitalization. Additional outcome measures include quality of life and costs. CONCLUSIONS: REHAB-HF is the first randomized trial of a physical function intervention in older patients with hospitalized ADHF designed to determine if addressing deficits in balance, mobility, strength and endurance improves physical function and reduces rehospitalizations. It will address key evidence gaps concerning the role of physical rehabilitation in the care of older patients, those with ADHF, frailty, and multiple comorbidities

Proceedings of the CUNY Games Conference 4.0: The Interactive Course

Proceedings of the CUNY Games Conference, held from January 22-23, 2018, at the CUNY Graduate Center and Borough of Manhattan Community College. Critical Play with History (Panel) - Composition & Storytelling - Health & Cognitive Sciences - Gaming Anthropology: Teaching Culture and Power Through Games and Design (Panel) - Twine & Writing Games - Easy Ideas II - STEM Games - Global Games for Change Catalog (Panel) - Comics & Active Learning - Fact Checking & Research - Computer Science & Game Design - SimGlobal: Building a Serious Roleplay Course for the Social Sciences (Panel) - Role Playing Games, Narrative, & Story - Course Review Through Games - Business & Finance Games - Game Design and Programming in Unity - What’s Your Game Plan? - The Allure of Play in the Classroo

Photoionization of ultracold and Bose-Einstein condensed Rb atoms

Photoionization of a cold atomic sample offers intriguing possibilities to observe collective effects at extremely low temperatures. Irradiation of a rubidium condensate and of cold rubidium atoms within a magneto-optical trap with laser pulses ionizing through 1-photon and 2-photon absorption processes has been performed. Losses and modifications in the density profile of the remaining trapped cold cloud or the remaining condensate sample have been examined as function of the ionizing laser parameters. Ionization cross-sections were measured for atoms in a MOT, while in magnetic traps losses larger than those expected for ionization process were measured.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure