Updates in metabolomics tools and resources: 2014-2015

Data processing and interpretation represent the most challenging and time-consuming steps in high-throughput metabolomic experiments, regardless of the analytical platforms (MS or NMR spectroscopy based) used for data acquisition. Improved machinery in metabolomics generates increasingly complex datasets that create the need for more and better processing and analysis software and in silico approaches to understand the resulting data. However, a comprehensive source of information describing the utility of the most recently developed and released metabolomics resources—in the form of tools, software, and databases—is currently lacking. Thus, here we provide an overview of freely-available, and open-source, tools, algorithms, and frameworks to make both upcoming and established metabolomics researchers aware of the recent developments in an attempt to advance and facilitate data processing workflows in their metabolomics research. The major topics include tools and researches for data processing, data annotation, and data visualization in MS and NMR-based metabolomics. Most in this review described tools are dedicated to untargeted metabolomics workflows; however, some more specialist tools are described as well. All tools and resources described including their analytical and computational platform dependencies are summarized in an overview Table

Adverse Consequences of Drug Use in the Elderly

Although drug therapy often results in beneficial effects and improves functional status, adverse consequences of pharmacotherapy are a major patient safety concern, especially in the growing older population '.In the well-known report 'To err is human: building a safer health care system'', it was brought forward that a substantial number of patients is harmed by adverse drug events in medical care. This report placed patient safety and drug safety on the international agend

The mass of X-Ray Nova Scorpii 1994 (=GRO J1655--40)]

We have obtained high and intermediate resolution optical spectra of the black-hole candidate Nova Sco 1994 in May/June 1998, when the source was in complete (X-ray) quiescence. We measure the radial velocity curve of the secondary star and obtain a semi-amplitude of K_2=215.5+/-2.4 km/s, which is 6 per cent lower than the only previously determined value. This new value for K_2 thus reduces the binary mass function to f(M) = 2.73+/-0.09 Mo. Using only the high resolution spectra we constrain the rotational broadening of the secondary star, vsini, to lie in the range 82.9-94.9 km/s (95 per cent confidence) and thus constrain the binary mass ratio to lie in the range 0.337--0.436 (95 per cent confidence). We can also combine our results with published limits for the binary inclination to constrain the mass of the compact object and secondary star to the ranges 5.5 -- 7.9 and 1.7 -- 3.3 Mo respectively (95 per cent confidence). Finally, we report on the detection of the Lithium resonance line at 6707.8 A, with an equivalent width of 55+/-8 mA.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, accepted by MNRA

Adaptive neural network control of fes-induced cyclical lower leg movements

As a first step to the control of paraplegic gait by functional electrical stimulation (FES), the control of the swinging lower leg is being studied. This paper deals with a neural control system, that has been developed for this case. The control system has been tested for a model of the swinging lower leg using computer simulations. The neural controller was trained by supervised learning (SL) and by backpropagation through time (BTT). The performance of the controller with random initial weights was poor after training with BTT and fair after SL. BTT training of the neural controller with weights, which had been initialized by SL, resulted in good control. Training with BTT thus improved the performance of the controller that initially had been trained by SL. An adaptive neural control system based on BTT has been proposed and partially tested. The controller adapted relatively fast to the change of an important model parameter

Construct validity of multi-source performance ratings: An examination of the relationship of self-, supervisor-, and peer-ratings with cognitive and personality measures

Although more and more organizations prefer using multi-source performance ratings or 3601 feedback over traditional performance appraisals, researchers have been rather skeptical regarding the reliability and validity of such ratings. The present study examined the validity of self-, supervisor-, and peer-ratings of 195 employees in a Dutch public organization, using scores on an In-Basket exercise, an intelligence test, and a personality questionnaire as external criterion measures. Interrater agreement ranged from .28 to .38. Variance in the ratings was explained by both method and content factors. Support for the external construct validity was rather weak. Supervisor-ratings were not found to be superior to self- and peer-ratings in predicting the scores on the external measures