Antiretroviral Non-Adherence is Associated With a Retrieval Profile of Deficits in Verbal Episodic Memory.

HIV-associated deficits in verbal episodic memory are commonly associated with antiretroviral non-adherence; however, the specific aspects of memory functioning (e.g., encoding, consolidation, or retrieval) that underlie this established relationship are not well understood. This study evaluated verbal memory profiles of 202 HIV+ participants who underwent a 30-day electronic monitoring of antiretroviral adherence. At the group level, non-adherence was significantly associated with lower scores on immediate and delayed passage recall and word list learning. Retention and recognition of passages and word lists were not related to adherence. Participants were then classified as having either a normal verbal memory profile, a "subcortical" retrieval profile (i.e., impaired free recall with relatively spared recognition), or a "cortical" encoding profile (e.g., cued recall intrusions) based on the Massman et al. ( 1990 ) algorithm for the California Verbal Learning Test. HIV+ participants with a classic retrieval deficit had significantly greater odds of being non-adherent than participants with a normal or encoding profile. These findings suggest that adherence to prescribed antiretroviral regimens may be particularly vulnerable to disruption in HIV+ individuals due to deficits in the complex process of efficiently accessing verbal episodic information with minimal cues. A stronger relationship between non-adherence and passage (vs. word list) recall was also found and may reflect the importance of contextual features in remembering to take medications. Targeted interventions for enhancing and supporting episodic memory retrieval processes may improve antiretroviral adherence and overall health outcomes among persons living with HIV

State of Play in Western New York: Analysis and Recommendations

This report offers an independent assessment of the state of play for kids and sports in the eight-county region comprising Western New York-Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming counties. It is anchored in the notion that all stakeholders will benefit if all children in the region, regardless of zip code or ability, are provided access to a quality sport experience. The Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program research team produced this State of Play report, analyzing sport programs and facilities in the region through the eight strategic filters ( plays ) highlighted in the Aspen Institute\u27s seminal 2015 report, Sport for All, Play for Life: A Playbook to Get Every Kid in the Game. Supporting Aspen were the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, and a task force consisting of youth sport and other leaders from across the regio

Mirror formation control in the vicinity of an asteroid

Two strategies are presented for the positioning and control of a spacecraft formation designed to focus sunlight onto a point on the surface of asteroid, thereby sublimating the material and ejecting debris creating thrust. In the first approach, the formation is located at artficial equilibrium points around the asteroid and controlled using the force from the solar radiation pressure. The second approach determines the optimal periodic formation orbits, subject to the gravitational perturbations from the asteroid, the solar radiation pressure and the control acceleration derived from a control law

Polynomial functors and combinatorial Dyson-Schwinger equations

We present a general abstract framework for combinatorial Dyson-Schwinger equations, in which combinatorial identities are lifted to explicit bijections of sets, and more generally equivalences of groupoids. Key features of combinatorial Dyson-Schwinger equations are revealed to follow from general categorical constructions and universal properties. Rather than beginning with an equation inside a given Hopf algebra and referring to given Hochschild $1$-cocycles, our starting point is an abstract fixpoint equation in groupoids, shown canonically to generate all the algebraic structure. Precisely, for any finitary polynomial endofunctor $P$ defined over groupoids, the system of combinatorial Dyson-Schwinger equations $X=1+P(X)$ has a universal solution, namely the groupoid of $P$-trees. The isoclasses of $P$-trees generate naturally a Connes-Kreimer-like bialgebra, in which the abstract Dyson-Schwinger equation can be internalised in terms of canonical $B_+$-operators. The solution to this equation is a series (the Green function) which always enjoys a Fa\`a di Bruno formula, and hence generates a sub-bialgebra isomorphic to the Fa\`a di Bruno bialgebra. Varying $P$ yields different bialgebras, and cartesian natural transformations between various $P$ yield bialgebra homomorphisms and sub-bialgebras, corresponding for example to truncation of Dyson-Schwinger equations. Finally, all constructions can be pushed inside the classical Connes-Kreimer Hopf algebra of trees by the operation of taking core of $P$-trees. A byproduct of the theory is an interpretation of combinatorial Green functions as inductive data types in the sense of Martin-L\"of Type Theory (expounded elsewhere).Comment: v4: minor adjustments, 49pp, final version to appear in J. Math. Phy

BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation predictions using the BOADICEA and BRCAPRO models and penetrance estimation in high-risk French-Canadian families.

INTRODUCTION: Several genetic risk models for breast and ovarian cancer have been developed, but their applicability to specific populations has not been evaluated. We used data from French-Canadian families to evaluate the mutation predictions given by the BRCAPRO and BOADICEA models. We also used this data set to estimate the age-specific risks for breast and ovarian cancer in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers. METHODS: A total of 195 families with multiple affected individuals with breast or ovarian cancer were recruited through the INHERIT (INterdisciplinary HEalth Research International Team on BReast CAncer susceptibility) BRCAs research program. Observed BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation status was compared with predicted carrier probabilities under the BOADICEA and BRCAPRO models. The models were assessed using Brier scores, attributes diagrams and receiver operating characteristic curves. Log relative risks for breast and ovarian cancer in mutation carriers versus population risks were estimated by maximum likelihood, using a modified segregation analysis implemented in the computer program MENDEL. Twenty-five families were eligible for inclusion in the BRCA1 penetrance analysis and 27 families were eligible for the BRCA2 penetrance analysis. RESULTS: The BOADICEA model predicted accurately the number of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations for the various groups of families, and was found to discriminate well at the individual level between carriers and noncarriers. BRCAPRO over-predicted the number of mutations in almost all groups of families, in particular the number of BRCA1 mutations. It significantly overestimated the carrier frequency for high predicted probabilities. However, it discriminated well between carriers and noncarriers. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves indicate similar sensitivity and specificity for BRCAPRO and BOADICEA. The estimated risks for breast and ovarian cancer in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers were consistent with previously published estimates. CONCLUSION: The BOADICEA model predicts accurately the carrier probabilities in French-Canadian families and may be used for counselling in this population. None of the penetrance estimates was significantly different from previous estimates, suggesting that previous estimates may be appropriate for counselling in this population.RIGHTS : This article is licensed under the BioMed Central licence at http://www.biomedcentral.com/about/license which is similar to the 'Creative Commons Attribution Licence'. In brief you may : copy, distribute, and display the work; make derivative works; or make commercial use of the work - under the following conditions: the original author must be given credit; for any reuse or distribution, it must be made clear to others what the license terms of this work are

Univalent Foundations and the UniMath Library

We give a concise presentation of the Univalent Foundations of mathematics outlining the main ideas, followed by a discussion of the UniMath library of formalized mathematics implementing the ideas of the Univalent Foundations (section 1), and the challenges one faces in attempting to design a large-scale library of formalized mathematics (section 2). This leads us to a general discussion about the links between architecture and mathematics where a meeting of minds is revealed between architects and mathematicians (section 3). On the way our odyssey from the foundations to the "horizon" of mathematics will lead us to meet the mathematicians David Hilbert and Nicolas Bourbaki as well as the architect Christopher Alexander

Información agro-climática local, confiable y oportuna, una necesidad de los agricultores colombianos

Conocer información climática relevante hacia el futuro a través de las predicciones climáticas, no es suficiente para apoyar la toma de decisiones de los agricultores. Es necesario buscar alternativas de manejo agrícola para adaptarse a las condiciones climáticas e implementar mecanismos eficaces y sostenibles, bajo un marco de comunicación efectiva con el agricultor (Jones, 2003; Pulwarty et al., 2003). En América Latina son pocas las iniciativas relacionadas con predicción agroclimática. Por lo anterior, el proyecto “Servicios agroclimáticos e información de seguridad alimentaria para una mejor toma de decisiones – AgroClimas” busca apoyar a los actores del sector privado y público de Colombia, Guatemala y Honduras para implementar y usar herramientas de gestión del riesgo agro-climático, validadas y ajustadas a las necesidades de los usuarios finales. Esta nota presenta los resultados del mapeo de actores y necesidades de información agroclimática en cultivos de seguridad alimentaria (maíz y frijol arbustivo), en sitios piloto del proyecto en Colombia. El trabajo se basa en el supuesto que, mapeando los actores que transmiten información de clima, de precios, financiera y agronómica a los agricultores, conociendo la confianza en la información proporcionada, identificando las necesidades de información y los formatos preferidos para recibir información que apoye la toma de decisiones productivas, se pueden proponer soluciones útiles, relevantes, confiables, sostenibles y aplicables

Three-year tracking of fatty acid composition of plasma phospholipids in healthy children

Objectives: The fatty acid composition of plasma phospholipids reflects the dietary fatty acid intake as well as endogenous turnover. We aimed at investigating the potential tracking of plasma phospholipid fatty acid composition in children that participated in a prospective cohort study. Methods: 26 healthy children participated in a longitudinal study on health risks and had been enrolled after birth. All children were born at term with birth weights appropriate for gestational age. Follow-up took place at ages 24, 36 and 60 months. At each time point a 24-hour dietary recall was obtained, anthropometric parameters were measured and a blood sample for phospholipid fatty acid analysis was taken. Results: Dietary intake of saturated (SFA), monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated (PUFA) fatty acids at the three time points were not correlated. We found lower values for plasma MUFA and the MUFA/SFA ratio at 60 months compared to 24 months. In contrast, total PUFA, total n-6 and n-6 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) were higher at 60 months. Significant averaged correlation coefficients (average of Pearson's R for 24 versus 36 months and 36 versus 60 months) were found for n-6 LC-PUFA (r = 0.67), n-6/n-3 LC-PUFA ratio (r = 0.59) and arachidonic acid/linoleic acid ratio (r = 0.64). Partial tracking was found for the docosahexaenoic acid/alpha-linolenic acid ratio (r = 0.33). Body mass index and sum of skinfolds Z-scores were similar in the three evaluations. Conclusions: A significant tracking of n-6 LC-PUFA, n-6 LC-PUFA/n-3 LC-PUFA ratio, arachidonic acid/ linoleic acid ratio and docosahexaenoic acid/alpha-linolenic acid ratio may reflect an influence of individual endogenous fatty acid metabolism on plasma concentrations of some, but not all, fatty acids. Copyright (c) 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel