Regional differences in prediction models of lung function in Germany

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Little is known about the influencing potential of specific characteristics on lung function in different populations. The aim of this analysis was to determine whether lung function determinants differ between subpopulations within Germany and whether prediction equations developed for one subpopulation are also adequate for another subpopulation.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Within three studies (KORA C, SHIP-I, ECRHS-I) in different areas of Germany 4059 adults performed lung function tests. The available data consisted of forced expiratory volume in one second, forced vital capacity and peak expiratory flow rate. For each study multivariate regression models were developed to predict lung function and Bland-Altman plots were established to evaluate the agreement between predicted and measured values.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The final regression equations for FEV₁and FVC showed adjusted r-square values between 0.65 and 0.75, and for PEF they were between 0.46 and 0.61. In all studies gender, age, height and pack-years were significant determinants, each with a similar effect size. Regarding other predictors there were some, although not statistically significant, differences between the studies. Bland-Altman plots indicated that the regression models for each individual study adequately predict medium (i.e. normal) but not extremely high or low lung function values in the whole study population.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Simple models with gender, age and height explain a substantial part of lung function variance whereas further determinants add less than 5% to the total explained r-squared, at least for FEV1 and FVC. Thus, for different adult subpopulations of Germany one simple model for each lung function measures is still sufficient.</p

The Rotterdam Study: 2010 objectives and design update

The Rotterdam Study is a prospective cohort study ongoing since 1990 in the city of Rotterdam in The Netherlands. The study targets cardiovascular, endocrine, hepatic, neurological, ophthalmic, psychiatric and respiratory diseases. As of 2008, 14,926 subjects aged 45 years or over comprise the Rotterdam Study cohort. The findings of the Rotterdam Study have been presented in close to a 1,000 research articles and reports (see www.epib.nl/rotterdamstudy). This article gives the rationale of the study and its design. It also presents a summary of the major findings and an update of the objectives and methods

The Generation R Study: design and cohort update 2010

The Generation R Study is a population-based prospective cohort study from fetal life until young adulthood. The study is designed to identify early environmental and genetic causes of normal and abnormal growth, development and health during fetal life, childhood and adulthood. The study focuses on four primary areas of research: (1) growth and physical development; (2) behavioural and cognitive development; (3) diseases in childhood; and (4) health and healthcare for pregnant women and children. In total, 9,778 mothers with a delivery date from April 2002 until January 2006 were enrolled in the study. General follow-up rates until the age of 4 years exceed 75%. Data collection in mothers, fathers and preschool children included questionnaires, detailed physical and ultrasound examinations, behavioural observations, and biological samples. A genome wide association screen is available in the participating children. Regular detailed hands on assessment are performed from the age of 5 years onwards. Eventually, results forthcoming from the Generation R Study have to contribute to the development of strategies for optimizing health and healthcare for pregnant women and children

The Rotterdam Study: 2012 objectives and design update

The Rotterdam Study is a prospective cohort study ongoing since 1990 in the city of Rotterdam in The Netherlands. The study targets cardiovascular, endocrine, hepatic, neurological, ophthalmic, psychiatric, dermatological, oncological, and respiratory diseases. As of 2008, 14,926 subjects aged 45 years or over comprise the Rotterdam Study cohort. The findings of the Rotterdam Study have been presented in over a 1,000 research articles and reports (see www.erasmus-epidemiology.nl/rotterdamstudy). This article gives the rationale of the study and its design. It also presents a summary of the major findings and an update of the objectives and methods

Smartphones As Ressources For Blockchain Based Cloud Services

Mit der steigenden Berühmtheit von Bitcoin ist der Begriff Blockchain immer bekannter geworden. Auf einer Blockchain werden Transaktionen gespeichert, die von dem Netzwerk validiert werden. Als Währungsersatz ist Bitcoin daher sehr erfolgreich, doch kann diese Technologie noch mehr als nur Geld versenden, und welche Rolle können Smartphones darin spielen? In dieser Arbeit werden daher die zwei große Blochchain-Modelle, verteilte Datenspeicherung und verteiltes Berechnen besprochen und es wird analysiert, wie sinnvoll diese für Smartphones sind. Als Erstes zeigt diese Arbeit, in einer Untersuchung, welchen Formen es diese Cloud-Dienste bereits gibt. Es werden Crowd Computing Lösungen mit Smartphones und Crowd Computing Lösungen mit Blockchainbasis analysiert und mit einer Fallstudie ein Ausblick auf die Kombination beider Methoden gegeben. Weiters wird ein verteilter Blockchain Cloudspeicher erläutert, der es ermöglicht, überflüssigen Speicherplatz zu vermieten. Eine Android App wurde, im Zuge dieser Arbeit erweitert, um es Smartphones zu ermöglichen, deren Speicher dem System zur Verfügung zu stellen. Es stellt sich heraus, dass Smartphones unter bestimmten Voraussetzungen einen großen Nutzen für Blockchain Technologien und die Dezentralisierung von Anwendungen haben.With the growing popularity of Bitcoin, the term blockchain is getting a lot of attention. A blockchain stores a list of transactions that are validated by the network. This allows Bitcoin to send coins between users without a central authority. But the blockchain can do much more than just send coins and this paper will therefore present two other usages for the blockchain technology; These are a decentralized cloud storage and a decentralized cloud computer. This thesis will, through evaluation of literature, see if smartphones have potential to contribute resources to these cloud services. Cloud computing, without a blockchain, has already implementations and research with smartphones as hardware resource. A distributed storage system made of smartphones however has no research and for good reasons. Limitations on mobile phones like battery life, connection issues and limited mobile data show a much greater impact when hosting storage space. During this thesis, a mobile app calles sia-mobile was enhanced to provide the ability to host the storage space on your smartphone. It shows that smartphones can have use for blockchain technologies under the right conditions