289 research outputs found
On the Semantics of "Now" in Databases
While "now" is expressed in SQL as CURRENT-TIMESTAMP within queries, this value cannot be
stored in the database. However, this notion of an ever-increasing current-time value has been
reflected in some temporal data models by inclusion of database-resident variables, such as
"now," "until-changed," "â," "@" and "-." Time variables are very desirable, but their use
also leads to a new type of database, consisting of tuples with variables, termed a variable
database.
This paper proposes a framework for defining the semantics of the variable databases of temporal
relational data models. A framework is presented because several reasonable meanings
may be given to databases that use some of the specific temporal variables that have appeared
in the literature. Using the framework, the paper defines a useful semantics for such databases.
Because situations occur where the existing time variables are inadequate, two new types of
modeling entities that address these shortcomings, timestamps which we call now-relative and
now-relative indeterminate, are introduced and defined within the framework. Moreover, the paper
provides a foundation, using algebraic bind operators, for the querying of variable databases
via existing query languages. This transition to variable databases presented here requires minimal
change to the query processor. Finally, to underline the practical feasibility of variable
databases, we show that database variables can be precisely specified and efficiently implemented
in conventional query languages, such as SQL, and in temporal query languages, such
as TSQL2.Information Systems Working Papers Serie
Machine Learning-based Brokers for Real-time Classification of the LSST Alert Stream
The unprecedented volume and rate of transient events that will be discovered
by the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) demands that the astronomical
community update its followup paradigm. Alert-brokers -- automated software
system to sift through, characterize, annotate and prioritize events for
followup -- will be critical tools for managing alert streams in the LSST era.
The Arizona-NOAO Temporal Analysis and Response to Events System (ANTARES) is
one such broker. In this work, we develop a machine learning pipeline to
characterize and classify variable and transient sources only using the
available multiband optical photometry. We describe three illustrative stages
of the pipeline, serving the three goals of early, intermediate and
retrospective classification of alerts. The first takes the form of variable vs
transient categorization, the second, a multi-class typing of the combined
variable and transient dataset, and the third, a purity-driven subtyping of a
transient class. While several similar algorithms have proven themselves in
simulations, we validate their performance on real observations for the first
time. We quantitatively evaluate our pipeline on sparse, unevenly sampled,
heteroskedastic data from various existing observational campaigns, and
demonstrate very competitive classification performance. We describe our
progress towards adapting the pipeline developed in this work into a real-time
broker working on live alert streams from time-domain surveys.Comment: 33 pages, 14 figures, submitted to ApJ
Non-Redundant Selector and Growth-Promoting Functions of Two Sister Genes, buttonhead and Sp1, in Drosophila Leg Development
The radically distinct morphologies of arthropod and tetrapod legs argue that these appendages do not share a common evolutionary origin. Yet, despite dramatic differences in morphology, it has been known for some time that transcription factors encoded by the Distalless (Dll)/Dlx gene family play a critical role in the development of both structures. Here we show that a second transcription factor family encoded by the Sp8 gene family, previously implicated in vertebrate limb development, also plays an early and fundamental role in arthropod leg development. By simultaneously removing the function of two Sp8 orthologs, buttonhead (btd) and Sp1, during Drosophila embryogenesis, we find that adult leg development is completely abolished. Remarkably, in the absence of these factors, transformations from ventral to dorsal appendage identities are observed, suggesting that adult dorsal fates become derepressed when ventral fates are eliminated. Further, we show that Sp1 plays a much more important role in ventral appendage specification than btd and that Sp1 lies genetically upstream of Dll. In addition to these selector-like gene functions, Sp1 and btd are also required during larval stages for the growth of the leg. Vertebrate Sp8 can rescue many of the functions of the Drosophila genes, arguing that these activities have been conserved, despite more than 500 million years of independent evolution. These observations suggest that an ancient Sp8/Dlx gene cassette was used in an early metazoan for primitive limb-like outgrowths and that this cassette was co-opted multiple times for appendage formation in multiple animal phyla
Data Resource Profile: The World Health Organization Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE)
Population ageing is rapidly becoming a global issue and will have a major impact on health policies and programmes. The World Health Organization's Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) aims to address the gap in reliable data and scientific knowledge on ageing and health in low- and middle-income countries. SAGE is a longitudinal study with nationally representative samples of persons aged 50+ years in China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Russia and South Africa, with a smaller sample of adults aged 18-49 years in each country for comparisons. Instruments are compatible with other large high-income country longitudinal ageing studies. Wave 1 was conducted during 2007-2010 and included a total of 34 124 respondents aged 50+ and 8340 aged 18-49. In four countries, a subsample consisting of 8160 respondents participated in Wave 1 and the 2002/04 World Health Survey (referred to as SAGE Wave 0). Wave 2 data collection will start in 2012/13, following up all Wave 1 respondents. Wave 3 is planned for 2014/15. SAGE is committed to the public release of study instruments, protocols and meta- and micro-data: access is provided upon completion of a Users Agreement available through WHO's SAGE website (www.who.int/healthinfo/systems/sage) and WHO's archive using the National Data Archive application (http://apps.who.int/healthinfo/systems/surveydata
The impact of multimorbidity on adult physical and mental health in low- and middle-income countries: what does the study on global ageing and adult health (SAGE) reveal?
BACKGROUND: Chronic diseases contribute a large share of disease burden in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Chronic diseases have a tendency to occur simultaneously and where there are two or more such conditions, this is termed as 'multimorbidity'. Multimorbidity is associated with adverse health outcomes, but limited research has been undertaken in LMICs. Therefore, this study examines the prevalence and correlates of multimorbidity as well as the associations between multimorbidity and self-rated health, activities of daily living (ADLs), quality of life, and depression across six LMICs. METHODS: Data was obtained from the WHO's Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) Wave-1 (2007/10). This was a cross-sectional population based survey performed in LMICs, namely China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Russia, and South Africa, including 42,236 adults aged 18 years and older. Multimorbidity was measured as the simultaneous presence of two or more of eight chronic conditions including angina pectoris, arthritis, asthma, chronic lung disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, stroke, and vision impairment. Associations with four health outcomes were examined, namely ADL limitation, self-rated health, depression, and a quality of life index. Random-intercept multilevel regression models were used on pooled data from the six countries. RESULTS: The prevalence of morbidity and multimorbidity was 54.2 % and 21.9 %, respectively, in the pooled sample of six countries. Russia had the highest prevalence of multimorbidity (34.7 %) whereas China had the lowest (20.3 %). The likelihood of multimorbidity was higher in older age groups and was lower in those with higher socioeconomic status. In the pooled sample, the prevalence of 1+ ADL limitation was 14 %, depression 5.7 %, self-rated poor health 11.6 %, and mean quality of life score was 54.4. Substantial cross-country variations were seen in the four health outcome measures. The prevalence of 1+ ADL limitation, poor self-rated health, and depression increased whereas quality of life declined markedly with an increase in number of diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight the challenge of multimorbidity in LMICs, particularly among the lower socioeconomic groups, and the pressing need for reorientation of health care resources considering the distribution of multimorbidity and its adverse effect on health outcomes
Ejecta Evolution Following a Planned Impact into an Asteroid: The First Five Weeks
The impact of the DART spacecraft into Dimorphos, moon of the asteroid
Didymos, changed Dimorphos' orbit substantially, largely from the ejection of
material. We present results from twelve Earth-based facilities involved in a
world-wide campaign to monitor the brightness and morphology of the ejecta in
the first 35 days after impact. After an initial brightening of ~1.4
magnitudes, we find consistent dimming rates of 0.11-0.12 magnitudes/day in the
first week, and 0.08-0.09 magnitudes/day over the entire study period. The
system returned to its pre-impact brightness 24.3-25.3 days after impact
through the primary ejecta tail remained. The dimming paused briefly eight days
after impact, near in time to the appearance of the second tail. This was
likely due to a secondary release of material after re-impact of a boulder
released in the initial impact, through movement of the primary ejecta through
the aperture likely played a role.Comment: 16 pages, 5 Figures, accepted in the Astrophysical Journal Letters
(ApJL) on October 16, 202
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