New insights into the genetic etiology of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias

Characterization of the genetic landscape of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related dementias (ADD) provides a unique opportunity for a better understanding of the associated pathophysiological processes. We performed a two-stage genome-wide association study totaling 111,326 clinically diagnosed/'proxy' AD cases and 677,663 controls. We found 75 risk loci, of which 42 were new at the time of analysis. Pathway enrichment analyses confirmed the involvement of amyloid/tau pathways and highlighted microglia implication. Gene prioritization in the new loci identified 31 genes that were suggestive of new genetically associated processes, including the tumor necrosis factor alpha pathway through the linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex. We also built a new genetic risk score associated with the risk of future AD/dementia or progression from mild cognitive impairment to AD/dementia. The improvement in prediction led to a 1.6- to 1.9-fold increase in AD risk from the lowest to the highest decile, in addition to effects of age and the APOE ε4 allele

Using on-board driver feedback systems to encourage safe, ecological and efficient driving: the Foot-LITE Project

In response to increasing political and individual awareness of the need to address the social and environmental costs of unsafe, inefficient and highly polluting driving styles, the Foot-LITE research project seeks to deliver innovative driver/vehicle interface systems and services to encourage and hopefully persuade sustained changes to driving styles and wider travel behaviour. Stakeholders’ requirements help to define the functionalities of the system being developed in the context of a rapidly evolving market with many products potentially competing for Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) application or retrofitting to vehicle

Revisão do gênero Neotropical Myiotabanus Lutz (Diptera, Tabanidae) com descrição de uma espécie nova Revision of the Neotropical genus Myiotabanus Lutz (Diptera, Tabanidae) with description of a new species

O gênero Myiotabanus Lutz, 1928 é revisado. M. barrettoi Fairchild, 1969 e M. muscoideus (Hine, 1907) são redescritas de lectótipos (presente designação) e M. sarcophagoides Lutz, 1928 é redescrita do holótipo. M. amazonicus sp. nov. é descrita da bacia amazônica e do pantanal, Brasil, a partir da exuvia pupal e de quatro fêmeas adultas.<br>Three previously described and one new species are treated. M. amazonicus sp. nov. from the Brazilian Amazon Basin and the Pantanal is described from pupal exuvia and four adult females. M. barrettoi Fairchild, 1969 and M. muscoideus (Hine, 1907) are redescribed from lectotypes, here designated, and M. sarcophagoides Lutz, 1928 is redescribed from holotype. An illustrated key for female adults and for known pupae species are provided

Assessing strategic alignment to improve IT effectiveness

A long running challenge in both large and small organizations has been aligning information systems services with business needs. Good alignment is assumed to lead to good business results, but there is a need for good instruments to assess strategic alignment and business success in practice. Based on existing information management theories, we develop the I-Fit model and the I-Fit tool. The model assumes causal relationships between four main areas: ‘IT governance’, ‘Strategic Alignment, ‘Information Quality’, and ‘Business Performance’. The tool consists of 40 questions that are used to quick scan alignment. We apply the iFit tool in nine organizations in the Netherlands in order to validate the instrument. Further steps of the project are discussed, including tools for drilling down into the four main areas with greater depth