MYC activation cooperates with Vhl and Ink4a/Arf loss to induce clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Functional Genomics of Systemic Disorder

A method for comparing multiple imputation techniques: A case study on the U.S. national COVID cohort collaborative

Healthcare datasets obtained from Electronic Health Records have proven to be extremely useful for assessing associations between patients’ predictors and outcomes of interest. However, these datasets often suffer from missing values in a high proportion of cases, whose removal may introduce severe bias. Several multiple imputation algorithms have been proposed to attempt to recover the missing information under an assumed missingness mechanism. Each algorithm presents strengths and weaknesses, and there is currently no consensus on which multiple imputation algorithm works best in a given scenario. Furthermore, the selection of each algorithm's parameters and data-related modeling choices are also both crucial and challenging. In this paper we propose a novel framework to numerically evaluate strategies for handling missing data in the context of statistical analysis, with a particular focus on multiple imputation techniques. We demonstrate the feasibility of our approach on a large cohort of type-2 diabetes patients provided by the National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C) Enclave, where we explored the influence of various patient characteristics on outcomes related to COVID-19. Our analysis included classic multiple imputation techniques as well as simple complete-case Inverse Probability Weighted models. Extensive experiments show that our approach can effectively highlight the most promising and performant missing-data handling strategy for our case study. Moreover, our methodology allowed a better understanding of the behavior of the different models and of how it changed as we modified their parameters. Our method is general and can be applied to different research fields and on datasets containing heterogeneous types

Predicting growth curves of early childhood externalizing problems: Differential susceptibility of children with difficult temperament

Using an accelerated longitudinal design, the development of externalizing problems from age 2 to 5 years was investigated in relation to maternal psychopathology, maternal parenting, gender, child temperament, and the presence of siblings. The sample consisted of 150 children selected at age 2-3 years for having high levels of externalizing problems. Parenting was measured using observational methods, and maternal reports were used for the other variables. Overall, mean levels of externalizing problems decreased over time, and higher initial levels (intercept) were related to a stronger decrease (negative slope) in externalizing problems. Results showed that higher levels of maternal psychopathology were related to less decrease in early childhood externalizing problems. Parental sensitive behavior predicted a stronger decrease in externalizing problems, but only for children with difficult temperaments. A stronger decrease of externalizing problems in children with older siblings also pertained only to children with difficult temperaments. Thus, temperamentally difficult children appear to be more susceptible to environmental influences on the development of externalizing behaviors. Our results indicate that the role of siblings in early childhood externalizing problems deserves more research attention, and that intervention efforts need to take into account temperamental differences in children's susceptibility to environmental influences. © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

Apprendre du passé pour prédire le futur : réponses des poissons migrateurs amphihalins européens au changement climatique

International audienceClimate change can have an effect on species distributions. The 1900 distribution and potential future distribution of diadromous fish in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East were explored using generalized additive models (GAMs) and selected habitat characteristics of 196 basins. Robust presenceabsence models were built for 20 of the 28 diadromous species in the study area using longitude, annual temperature, drainage surface area, annual precipitation, and source elevation as explanatory variables. Inspection of the relationship between each variable and species presenceabsence revealed that the GAMs were generally interpretable and plausible. Given the predicted rise in annual temperature in climate models ranging between 18C and 78C by 2100, the fish species were classified according to those losing suitable basins, those gaining suitable basins, and those showing little or no change. It was found that the climate envelopes based on temperature and precipitation for diadromous species would, in general, be shifted farther northeastwards by 2100, and these shifting ranges were comparable with those assessed in other studies. The uncertain future of some species was highlighted, and it was concluded that conservation policy and management plans will need to be revised in the face of climate change

Identification of diadromous fish species on which to focus river restoration: an example using an eco-anthropological approach (the Seine basin, France)

International audienceThe Seine River, like other large and developed European river basins, has lost most of its native diadromous fish populations since the Industrial Revolution. A restoration program has been planned to recover water quality and fish biodiversity in the Seine basin. In this prospective study, we used a dual approach (ecological and anthropological)to prioritize the 11 historic diadromous fish species for restoration. Using generalized additive models and geographic information systems, we assessed which species would have the highest probability of recovery and drew maps of their potential favorable habitats. Three fish appear to be good candidates as flagship species for a recovery plan: smelt Osmerus eperlanus, which has came back into the lower part of the basin; Allis shad Alosa alosa, a few individuals of which have recently been observed upstream from Paris, France; and brown trout Salmo trutta, which is limited to estuarine tributaries. Our anthropological survey revealed that for most citizens polled, these species have no particular significance. These citizens are not in favor of these fish species' recovery because it would lead to changes (e.g., to restore the upstreamdownstream connectivity) and new constraints (e.g., rules of management). To address this potential conflict, we studied a conciliation process with the human inhabitants from one subbasin