727 research outputs found
Interaction design and emotional wellbeing
The World Health Organisation has concluded that
emotional wellbeing is fundamental to our quality of
life. It enables us to experience life as meaningful and
is an essential component of social cohesion, peace and
stability in the living environment [21]. This workshop
will bring together a diverse community to consolidate
existing knowledge and identify new opportunities for
research on technologies designed to support emotional
wellbeing. The workshop will examine uses of
technology in mental health settings, but will also
consider the importance of emotional needs in physical
healthcare and wellbeing more generally. The design of
technology to provide social support and to extend
traditional care networks will be key workshop themes
Combining isotonic regression and EM algorithm to predict genetic risk under monotonicity constraint
In certain genetic studies, clinicians and genetic counselors are interested
in estimating the cumulative risk of a disease for individuals with and without
a rare deleterious mutation. Estimating the cumulative risk is difficult,
however, when the estimates are based on family history data. Often, the
genetic mutation status in many family members is unknown; instead, only
estimated probabilities of a patient having a certain mutation status are
available. Also, ages of disease-onset are subject to right censoring. Existing
methods to estimate the cumulative risk using such family-based data only
provide estimation at individual time points, and are not guaranteed to be
monotonic or nonnegative. In this paper, we develop a novel method that
combines Expectation-Maximization and isotonic regression to estimate the
cumulative risk across the entire support. Our estimator is monotonic,
satisfies self-consistent estimating equations and has high power in detecting
differences between the cumulative risks of different populations. Application
of our estimator to a Parkinson's disease (PD) study provides the age-at-onset
distribution of PD in PARK2 mutation carriers and noncarriers, and reveals a
significant difference between the distribution in compound heterozygous
carriers compared to noncarriers, but not between heterozygous carriers and
noncarriers.Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/14-AOAS730 the Annals of
Applied Statistics (http://www.imstat.org/aoas/) by the Institute of
Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org
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Psychopathological Features in Alzheimer's Disease: Course and Relationship with Cognitive Status
OBJECTIVES: To examine the course, clinical correlates, and relationship between cognitive status and psychopathological features in patients with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD) followed over a 5-year period. DESIGN: Cohort study with follow-up of 5 years. SETTING: Patients were recruited at three sites: 91 patients at Columbia Medical Center, 84 at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and 61 at Massachusetts General Hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Patients diagnosed with probable AD (n = 236) enrolled in a longitudinal study (Predictors study). MEASUREMENTS: Wandering/agitation, physical aggression, hallucinations, and delusions were evaluated at 6-month intervals using the Columbia Scale for Psychopathology in Alzheimer's Disease. Descriptive analyses were used to provide estimates of prevalence and course of psychopathological features. General estimating equations determined the odds of having any of the four psychopathological behaviors as a function of cognitive status. Markov analyses provided 6-month transition probabilities for psychopathological behaviors given patients' cognitive status and the presence or absence of such behaviors in the previous evaluation. RESULTS: For wandering/agitation, prevalence (39-57%) and persistence increased as a function of time and decrement in cognitive status. Physical aggression was less prevalent (6-22%) and increased as a function of cognitive decline but tended to persist only in the more severely impaired patients. Delusions (34-49%) reached a peak at the second year and then declined. The odds of delusions were maximal with intermediate decline but remained persistent regardless of cognitive status. Hallucinations, despite some fluctuations, were relatively stable during the follow-up period (8-17%) and moderately persistent. CONCLUSION: Psychopathological features, particularly wandering/agitation and delusions, in AD were common throughout the disease course. The natural history and persistence of the four psychopathological features varied. These findings provide important information to clinicians and caregivers regarding the course, predictability, and possible treatment of psychopathological behaviors in patients with probable AD
Submarine Groundwater Discharge of Rare Earth Elements to a Tidally-Mixed Estuary in Southern Rhode Island
Rare earth element (REE) concentrations were analyzed in surface water and submarine groundwater within the Pettaquamscutt Estuary, located on the western edge of Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island. These water samples were collected along the salinity gradient of the estuary. Rare earth element concentrations in the majority of the groundwater samples are substantially higher than their concentrations in the surface waters. In particular, Nd concentrations in groundwater range from 0.43 nmol kg-1 up to 198 nmol kg-1 (mean ± SD = 42.1 ± 87.2 nmol kg-1), whereas Nd concentrations range between 259 pmol kg-1 and 649 pmol kg-1 (mean ± SD = 421 ± 149 pmol kg-1) in surface waters from the estuary, which is, on average, 100 fold lower than Nd in the groundwaters. Groundwater samples all exhibit broadly similar middle REE (MREE) enriched shale-normalized REE patterns, despite the wide variation in pH of these natural waters (4.87 ≤ pH ≤ 8.13). The similarity of the shale-normalized REE patterns across the observed pH range suggests that weathering of accessory minerals, such as apatite, and/or precipitation of LREE enriched secondary phosphate minerals controls groundwater REE concentrations and fractionation patterns. More specifically, geochemical mixing models suggest that the REE fractionation patterns of the surface waters may be controlled by REE phosphate mineral precipitation during the mixing of groundwater and stream water with incoming water from the Rhode Island Sound. The estimated SGD (Submarine Groundwater Discharge) of Nd to the Pettaquamscutt Estuary is 26 ± 11 mmol Nd day-1, which is in reasonable agreement with the Nd flux of the primary surface water source to the estuary, the Gilbert Stuart Stream (i.e., 36 mmol day-1), and of the same order of magnitude for a site in Florida
Fermentation of calcium-fortified soya milk does not appear to enhance acute calcium absorption in osteopenic post-menopausal women
Ageing women may choose to drink soya milk to reduce menopausal symptoms. As fermentation enriches soya milk with isoflavone aglycones, its beneficial qualities may improve. To reduce osteoporotic risk, however, soya milk must be Ca enriched, and it is not known how fermentation affects Ca bioavailability. A randomised crossover pilot study was undertaken to compare the Ca absorption of fortified soya milk with that of fermented and fortified soya milk in twelve Australian osteopenic post-menopausal women. The fortified soya milk was inoculated with Lactobacillus acidophilus American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) 4962 and fermented for 24 h at 37°C. Ca absorption from soya milk samples was measured using a single isotope radiocalcium method. Participants had a mean age of 54·8 (sd 12·3) years, with mean BMI of 26·5 (sd 5·5) kg/m2 and subnormal to normal serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (mean 62·5 (sd 19·1) nmol/l). Participants consumed 185 kBq of 45Ca in 44 mg of Ca carrier. The mean fractional Ca absorption (α) from soya milk and fermented soya milk was 0·64 (sd 0·23) and 0·71 (sd 0·29), respectively, a difference not of statistical significance (P = 0·122). Although fermentation of soya milk may provide other health benefits, fermentation had little effect on acute Ca absorption
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Predicting Time to Nursing Home Care and Death in Individuals with Alzheimer Disease
Objective. —To develop and validate an approach that uses clinical features that can be determined in a standard patient visit to estimate the length of time before an individual patient with Alzheimer disease (AD) requires care equivalent to nursing home placement or dies. Design. —Prospective cohort study of 236 patients, followed up semiannually for up to 7 years. A second validation cohort of 105 patients was also followed. Setting. —Three AD research centers. Patients. —All patients met National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke—Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association (NINCDS-ADRDA) criteria for probable AD and had mild dementia at the initial visit. Intervention. —Predictive features, ascertained at the initial visit, were sex, duration of illness, age at onset, modified Mini-Mental State Examination (mMMS) score, and the presence or absence of extrapyramidal signs or psychotic features.Main Outcome Measures. —(1) Requiring the equivalent of nursing home placement and (2) death. Results. —Prediction algorithms were constructed for the 2 outcomes based on Cox proportional hazard models. For each algorithm, a predictor index is calculated based on the status of each predictive feature at the initial visit. A table that specifies the number of months in which 25%, 50%, and 75% of patients with any specific predictor index value are likely to reach the end point is then consulted.Survival curves for time to need for care equivalent to nursing home placement and for time to death derived from the algorithms for selected predictor indexes fell within the 95% confidence bands of actual survival curves for patients.When the predictor variables from the initial visit for the validation cohort patients were entered into the algorithm, the predicted survival curves for time to death fell within the 95% confidence bands of actual survival curves for the patients. Conclusions. —The prediction algorithms are a first but promising step toward providing specific prognoses to patients, families, and practitioners. This approach also has clear implications for the design and interpretation of clinical trials in patients with AD
Recommended from our members
Predicting Time to Nursing Home Care and Death in Individuals with Alzheimer Disease
Objective. —To develop and validate an approach that uses clinical features that can be determined in a standard patient visit to estimate the length of time before an individual patient with Alzheimer disease (AD) requires care equivalent to nursing home placement or dies. Design. —Prospective cohort study of 236 patients, followed up semiannually for up to 7 years. A second validation cohort of 105 patients was also followed. Setting. —Three AD research centers. Patients. —All patients met National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke—Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association (NINCDS-ADRDA) criteria for probable AD and had mild dementia at the initial visit. Intervention. —Predictive features, ascertained at the initial visit, were sex, duration of illness, age at onset, modified Mini-Mental State Examination (mMMS) score, and the presence or absence of extrapyramidal signs or psychotic features.Main Outcome Measures. —(1) Requiring the equivalent of nursing home placement and (2) death. Results. —Prediction algorithms were constructed for the 2 outcomes based on Cox proportional hazard models. For each algorithm, a predictor index is calculated based on the status of each predictive feature at the initial visit. A table that specifies the number of months in which 25%, 50%, and 75% of patients with any specific predictor index value are likely to reach the end point is then consulted.Survival curves for time to need for care equivalent to nursing home placement and for time to death derived from the algorithms for selected predictor indexes fell within the 95% confidence bands of actual survival curves for patients.When the predictor variables from the initial visit for the validation cohort patients were entered into the algorithm, the predicted survival curves for time to death fell within the 95% confidence bands of actual survival curves for the patients. Conclusions. —The prediction algorithms are a first but promising step toward providing specific prognoses to patients, families, and practitioners. This approach also has clear implications for the design and interpretation of clinical trials in patients with AD
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A Preliminary Study of Apolipoprotein E Genotype and Psychiatric Manifestations of Alzheimer's Disease
We evaluated the frequency of depression and psychosis in 46 patients with AD and 135 control subjects with the apolipoprotein (APO) E3/3 or E3/4 genotype. Patients with AD and the APOE3/4 genotype had a more than threefold increase in the signs of depression and psychosis when compared with either patients with the APOE3/3 genotype or to control subjects. Our preliminary study suggests that the phenotype of AD associated with the epsilon 4 allele is more likely to include psychiatric manifestations
Mindfulness-based interventions in epilepsy: a systematic review
Mindfulness based interventions (MBIs) are increasingly used to help patients cope with physical and mental long-term conditions (LTCs). Epilepsy is associated with a range of mental and physical comorbidities that have a detrimental effect on quality of life (QOL), but it is not clear whether MBIs can help. We systematically reviewed the literature to determine the effectiveness of MBIs in people with epilepsy. Medline, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, CINAHL, Allied and Complimentary Medicine Database, and PsychInfo were searched in March 2016. These databases were searched using a combination of subject headings where available and keywords in the title and abstracts. We also searched the reference lists of related reviews. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration risk of bias tool. Three randomised controlled trials (RCTs) with a total of 231 participants were included. The interventions were tested in the USA (n = 171) and China (Hong Kong) (n = 60). Significant improvements were reported in depression symptoms, quality of life, anxiety, and depression knowledge and skills. Two of the included studies were assessed as being at unclear/high risk of bias - with randomisation and allocation procedures, as well as adverse events and reasons for drop-outs poorly reported. There was no reporting on intervention costs/benefits or how they affected health service utilisation. This systematic review found limited evidence for the effectiveness of MBIs in epilepsy, however preliminary evidence suggests it may lead to some improvement in anxiety, depression and quality of life. Further trials with larger sample sizes, active control groups and longer follow-ups are needed before the evidence for MBIs in epilepsy can be conclusively determined
The Vehicle, Spring 1993
Table of Contents
The Shape of Things to Come.Peter F. Essigpage 6
SaxophoneWalt Howardpage 6
Gravity BedSue Songerpage 7
UntitledJennifer Gutowskipage 8
uncertaintyWalt Howardpage 9
Ruth Ann, et. al.Susan Eisenhourpage 9
Failed IndustryScott Langenpage 10
UntitledKaren Wisspage 10
wanted:Walt Howardpage 10
Dida; 1978Diana Matijaspage 11
UntitledJennifer Gutowskipage 12
The Lesson in NovemberSue Songerpage 13
Coal MinerJames P. Tangpage 16
Christmas CrueltySue Songerpage 17
Astral ProjectionSusan Eisenhourpage 18
UntitledBen Hausmannpage 19
Into Zagreb\u27s Evening*Diana Matjaspage 20
UntitledJennifer Gutowskipage 22
The AnniversaryJennifer Moropage 23
NudeDan Trutterpage 24
death for saleWalt Howardpage 24
JudgedKevin St. Angelpage 25
Nature\u27s RefugeeScott Langenpage 25
Arrowhead Hunting at TippecanoeJennifer Moropage 26
UntitledKimberly Foxpage 27
TAINTED LOVESarah C. Patiencepage 28
cemeteryWalt Howardpage 28
Cow GameSusan Eisenhourpage 29
UntitledJennifer Gutowskipage 31
ReflectionsPeter F. Essigpage 32
Destination U.S.A.Dan Trutterpage 33
UntitledMario Letopage 33
Authors\u27 Pagepage 34https://thekeep.eiu.edu/vehicle/1061/thumbnail.jp
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