Characterization of neurophysiologic and neurocognitive biomarkers for use in genomic and clinical outcome studies of schizophrenia.

BackgroundEndophenotypes are quantitative, laboratory-based measures representing intermediate links in the pathways between genetic variation and the clinical expression of a disorder. Ideal endophenotypes exhibit deficits in patients, are stable over time and across shifts in psychopathology, and are suitable for repeat testing. Unfortunately, many leading candidate endophenotypes in schizophrenia have not been fully characterized simultaneously in large cohorts of patients and controls across these properties. The objectives of this study were to characterize the extent to which widely-used neurophysiological and neurocognitive endophenotypes are: 1) associated with schizophrenia, 2) stable over time, independent of state-related changes, and 3) free of potential practice/maturation or differential attrition effects in schizophrenia patients (SZ) and nonpsychiatric comparison subjects (NCS). Stability of clinical and functional measures was also assessed.MethodsParticipants (SZ n = 341; NCS n = 205) completed a battery of neurophysiological (MMN, P3a, P50 and N100 indices, PPI, startle habituation, antisaccade), neurocognitive (WRAT-3 Reading, LNS-forward, LNS-reorder, WCST-64, CVLT-II). In addition, patients were rated on clinical symptom severity as well as functional capacity and status measures (GAF, UPSA, SOF). 223 subjects (SZ n = 163; NCS n = 58) returned for retesting after 1 year.ResultsMost neurophysiological and neurocognitive measures exhibited medium-to-large deficits in schizophrenia, moderate-to-substantial stability across the retest interval, and were independent of fluctuations in clinical status. Clinical symptoms and functional measures also exhibited substantial stability. A Longitudinal Endophenotype Ranking System (LERS) was created to rank neurophysiological and neurocognitive biomarkers according to their effect sizes across endophenotype criteria.ConclusionsThe majority of neurophysiological and neurocognitive measures exhibited deficits in patients, stability over a 1-year interval and did not demonstrate practice or time effects supporting their use as endophenotypes in neural substrate and genomic studies. These measures hold promise for informing the "gene-to-phene gap" in schizophrenia research

A Boundary-Based Measure for Gerrymandering

This paper presents a new measure for quantifying legislative gerrymandering based intuitive observation that in a non-gerrymandered district a randomly placed observer should be able to walk in a straight line and only cross the boundary of the district once, when the district is exited. We make this notion precise in terms of the expected value of such crossings. The result is the Boundary Intersection Number, or BIN. Properties of the BIN score are proven and its computational properties discussed

Toward an Engineering Discipline of Warehouse Design

Warehouses today are complex dynamic engineered systems, incorporating automation, mechanization, equipment, fixtures, computers, networks, products and people, and they can support the flow of tens or hundreds of thousands of different items to enable fulfilling thousands or tens of thousands of orders daily. In that sense, they represent a design challenge that is not terribly different from the design of other complex dynamic engineered systems, such as a modern passenger airplane, an automobile, or a unique building. What is different is that the design of these other complex dynamic engineered systems typically follows some engineering design discipline. Here, we argue for the development of a corresponding engineering discipline of warehouse design

Integrating Analysis Into a Warehouse Design Workflow

Supply chain analyses, including those related to material handling systems, are typically purpose-built to answer specific questions and therefore have many different implementations depending on the question, the instance data, and the solver. The purpose-built nature of these models makes it difficult to integrate them into an iterative design workflow. Despite the myriad analysis implementations, the fundamental structure of these systems and their problem domain remains unchanged, suggesting that perhaps analyses could be automatically generated on demand, given an appropriate specification of the particular system to be analyzed. We apply model-based systems engineering (MBSE) methodologies to explore this possibility in the context of functional warehouse design

Factores críticos de éxito del World Class Manufacturing en la industria automotriz mexicana: Un análisis a través de modelos de ecuaciones estructurales

World Class Manufacturing (WCM) is an innovative system for comprehensive management of manufacturing operations, characterized by the economic monetization of manufacturing activities and the determination of holistic impact on the organization. WCM enables prioritization of actions based on the economic needs of manufacturing operations, thus directing appropriate resources directly to these needs. This research aims to characterize the critical success factors of WCM and the achievement of objectives in organizations within the automotive sector in Mexico. The study was conducted in Mexico\u27s automotive sector, identified as the country\u27s most important manufacturing industry, representing nearly 4% of the National GDP and 20.5% of the manufacturing GDP. Through literature review and interviews with WCM system experts, six Critical Success Factors (CSFs) were identified, evaluated through 30 constructs. A data collection instrument was applied, subjected to reliability and validity tests through a pilot study. Empirical verification and validation of the instrument were conducted through exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, reliability analysis, and structural equation modeling in a sample of 201 valid surveys directed at experienced WCM professionals. The results indicate that managerial commitment, comprehensive competencies, leadership type, employee involvement, and organizational culture type directly influence the increased benefits of organizations implementing WCM. By understanding the various factors affecting WCM implementation, organizations can develop actions to mitigate risks and strategically plan the necessary short-, medium-, and long-term outcomes and resources.World Class Manufacturing (WCM) es un sistema innovador de gestión integral de operaciones de manufactura, caracterizado en la monetización económica de las actividades de manufactura y la determinación del impacto holístico en la organización.  WCM permite priorizar acciones basadas en las necesidades económicas de las operaciones de manufactura y así focalizar los recursos directamente a estas necesidades. El objetivo de este trabajo es caracterizar los factores críticos de éxito del WCM en organizaciones del sector automotriz en México a través de modelos de ecuaciones estructurales. La investigación se llevó a cabo en el sector automotriz de México por caracterizarse esta como la industria más importante de las manufacturas del país. A través de la revisión de literatura y entrevistas con expertos del WCM se identificaron seis CSF, evaluándose por medio de 30 constructos. Se aplicó un instrumento de recolección de datos el cual fue sometido a pruebas de confiabilidad y validez durante una fase piloto de evaluación. Se realizó la verificación y validación del instrumento mediante análisis factorial exploratorio, y modelo de ecuaciones estructurales en una muestra de 201 encuestas a profesionales experimentados en WCM. Los resultados indican que el compromiso gerencial, las competencias integrales, el tipo de liderazgo, el involucramiento y la cultura organizacional influyen directamente en los beneficios de organizaciones que implementan el WCM. Conociendo los CSF del WCM, las organizaciones pueden desarrollar acciones para mitigar los riesgos y poder planificar estratégicamente los resultados y recursos necesarios a corto, mediano y largo plazo

Beyond the Law of Attraction

Beyond reveals evidence of three of the most sought after universal and human mysteries - the origin of the universe, the location of God's spiritual dimension, and the origin of human consciousness. Beyond unveils a highly syntactic, pragmatic paradigm, a universal, interconnecting system that places access to all pre-existing potential knowledge in the possession of humanity. Dr. Sprock reveals these three discoveries as the Occam's razor (Scientific principle: All things being equal, the simplest explanation tends to be the correct one) of explanations of how the universe was created, the location of God's spiritual dimension, and the origin of human consciousness. This new knowledge takes humanity to its final destination. We can now tap into the universal vault of information that is coded into the universal frequencies within the fabric of the universe that have their origin in the infinite, spiritual dimension of God consciousness. How the systems of the universe function are brought to Earth level and are explained as to how they work in everyday living situations. The emotional burden carried by humans, due to lack of understanding, of why situations and circumstances occur are lifted, freeing you to focus on your life without emotional upheavals that distract you from your destiny's path. Beneficiaries are empowered to choose anew rather than continually recall and repeat undesired patterns of resistance-attraction and self-sabotage. This knowledge will bring greater joy and prosperity into your life. All the dots of modern science and ancient scripture have been connected. The code has been cracked and now will shift the perception human consciousness has of reality, forever. This is a huge game changer for the consciousness of humankind. Once this knowledge is introduced, accepted, and then applied to your daily routines, you will receive the boost needed to surge beyond your 10-12% brain usage at this point in your history. The Bose-Einstein Condensation is in direct concurrence with Dr. Sprock's location of God consciousness; the wave/frequency aspect of Nature yields the mental/consciousness; the particle/matter aspect of Nature yields the material. Dr. Sprock applies this phenomenon to the God consciousness/human consciousness connection. Dr. Sprock takes the Condensate a step further and explains the location of God consciousness existing in a spiritual, infinite dimension that spatially extended Spiritual DNA consciousness through frequency (Wave), which then vibrated to form density particles (Matter), creating the three dimensions of the physical universe and the origin of human consciousness. The frequencies carry the codes of God consciousness to human consciousness via the physical brain and the subconscious mind hologram

Is There an Association between Advanced Paternal Age and Endophenotype Deficit Levels in Schizophrenia?

The children of older fathers have increased risks of developing schizophrenia spectrum disorders, and among those who develop these disorders, those with older fathers present with more severe clinical symptoms. However, the influence of advanced paternal age on other important domains related to schizophrenia, such as quantitative endophenotype deficit levels, remains unknown. This study investigated the associations between paternal age and level of endophenotypic impairment in a well-characterized family-based sample from the Consortium on the Genetics of Schizophrenia (COGS). All families included at least one affected subject and one unaffected sibling. Subjects met criteria for schizophrenia (probands; n = 293) or were unaffected first-degree siblings of those probands (n = 382). Paternal age at the time of subjects’ birth was documented. Subjects completed a comprehensive clinical assessment and a battery of tests that measured 16 endophenotypes. After controlling for covariates, potential paternal age–endophenotype associations were analyzed using one model that included probands alone and a second model that included both probands and unaffected siblings. Endophenotype deficits in the Identical Pairs version of the 4-digit Continuous Performance Test and in the Penn Computerized Neurocognitive Battery verbal memory test showed significant associations with paternal age. However, after correcting for multiple comparisons, no endophenotype was significantly associated with paternal age. These findings suggest that factors other than advanced paternal age at birth may account for endophenotypic deficit levels in schizophrenia

Evaluación del Método para el Desarrollo de Objetos de Aprendizaje, basado en Estilos de Aprendizaje: MeLOTS

El trabajo muestra el proceso de evaluación, mediante un caso de estudio, del Método para el desarrollo de Objetos de Aprendizaje basados en técnicas instruccionales, adecuadas a los estilos de aprendizaje de los estudiantes a quienes va dirigido el recurso educativo (MeLOTS). Esta evaluación fue ejecutada con el desarrollo y uso de un Objeto de Aprendizaje del tema Base de Datos Relacionales, sobre un conjunto de 450 estudiantes, de la Licenciatura en Computación de la Universidad Central de Venezuela - UCV (Venezuela), de Ingeniería en Sistemas Inteligentes e Ingeniería de Sistemas Computacionales de la Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes - UAA (México) y de Licenciatura en Informática de la Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit - UAN (México), quienes después de utilizar el Objeto de Aprendizaje, realizaron una prueba escrita, y se les determinó el estilo de aprendizaje, para luego realizar un estudio de correlación, entre el valor de sus estilos de aprendizaje, y las calificaciones obtenidas en la prueba escrita, así como con el estilo de aprendizaje y los tiempos de uso del Objetos de Aprendizaje

Evaluación del Método para el Desarrollo de Objetos de Aprendizaje, basado en Estilos de Aprendizaje: MeLOTS

El trabajo muestra el proceso de evaluación, mediante un caso de estudio, del Método para el desarrollo de Objetos de Aprendizaje basados en técnicas instruccionales, adecuadas a los estilos de aprendizaje de los estudiantes a quienes va dirigido el recurso educativo (MeLOTS). Esta evaluación fue ejecutada con el desarrollo y uso de un Objeto de Aprendizaje del tema Base de Datos Relacionales, sobre un conjunto de 450 estudiantes, de la Licenciatura en Computación de la Universidad Central de Venezuela - UCV (Venezuela), de Ingeniería en Sistemas Inteligentes e Ingeniería de Sistemas Computacionales de la Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes - UAA (México) y de Licenciatura en Informática de la Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit - UAN (México), quienes después de utilizar el Objeto de Aprendizaje, realizaron una prueba escrita, y se les determinó el estilo de aprendizaje, para luego realizar un estudio de correlación, entre el valor de sus estilos de aprendizaje, y las calificaciones obtenidas en la prueba escrita, así como con el estilo de aprendizaje y los tiempos de uso del Objetos de Aprendizaje