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  • Open Access
    Authors: 
    Muriel Tabariés; Viviane Tchernonog;
    Publisher: CAIRN
    Countries: France, Canada

    Cet article analyse l’évolution de la participation des femmes aux structures dirigeantes des associations. Les femmes apparaissent largement en retrait des fonctions de président d’association et leur accession aux postes de dirigeants s’effectue principalement à partir des associations créées récemment et dans des types d’associations orientées vers des populations fragiles ou vulnérables. L’article montre que l’on peut imputer leur plus forte présence essentiellement aux évolutions sociétales en cours depuis les années 70 : activité croissante des femmes, hausse de leur qualification, démocratisation de la société et de la vie associative, ouverture plus grande des associations récentes aux plus jeunes et à des catégories sociales plus variées. This article examines the evolution of the participation of women in the governing bodies of nonprofit organizations. There appear to be very few women CEOs in nonprofit organizations, and women who have reached executive positions have mainly done so in recently created nonprofit organizations and those concerned with people at risk and vulnerable social groups. The article shows that the increase is essentially due to societal changes since the 1970s: growing female participation in the workforce, their higher level of education, democratization of society and nonprofit organizations, and recent nonprofit organizations more open to younger people and a broader cross-section of the population.

  • Publication . Conference object . Preprint . Article . Part of book or chapter of book . 2010
    Open Access English
    Authors: 
    Britt Reichborn-Kjennerud; Asad M. Aboobaker; Peter A. R. Ade; François Aubin; Carlo Baccigalupi; Chaoyun Bao; Julian Borrill; Christopher Cantalupo; Daniel Chapman; Joy Didier; +36 more
    Countries: United States, France, France, France, France

    EBEX is a NASA-funded balloon-borne experiment designed to measure the polarization of the cosmic microwave background (CMB). Observations will be made using 1432 transition edge sensor (TES) bolometric detectors read out with frequency multiplexed SQuIDs. EBEX will observe in three frequency bands centered at 150, 250, and 410 GHz, with 768, 384, and 280 detectors in each band, respectively. This broad frequency coverage is designed to provide valuable information about polarized foreground signals from dust. The polarized sky signals will be modulated with an achromatic half wave plate (AHWP) rotating on a superconducting magnetic bearing (SMB) and analyzed with a fixed wire grid polarizer. EBEX will observe a patch covering ~1% of the sky with 8' resolution, allowing for observation of the angular power spectrum from \ell = 20 to 1000. This will allow EBEX to search for both the primordial B-mode signal predicted by inflation and the anticipated lensing B-mode signal. Calculations to predict EBEX constraints on r using expected noise levels show that, for a likelihood centered around zero and with negligible foregrounds, 99% of the area falls below r = 0.035. This value increases by a factor of 1.6 after a process of foreground subtraction. This estimate does not include systematic uncertainties. An engineering flight was launched in June, 2009, from Ft. Sumner, NM, and the long duration science flight in Antarctica is planned for 2011. These proceedings describe the EBEX instrument and the North American engineering flight. 12 pages, 9 figures, Conference proceedings for SPIE Millimeter, Submillimeter, and Far-Infrared Detectors and Instrumentation for Astronomy V (2010)

  • Publication . Article . 2020
    Open Access English
    Authors: 
    João Pedro Ferreira; Ulrik M. Mogensen; Pardeep S. Jhund; Akshay S. Desai; Jean-Lucien Rouleau; Michael R. Zile; Patrick Rossignol; Faiez Zannad; Milton Packer; Scott D. Solomon; +1 more
    Publisher: HAL CCSD
    Country: France

    Aims: The associations between potassium level and outcomes, the effect of sacubitril–valsartan on potassium level, and whether potassium level modified the effect of sacubitril–valsartan in patients with heart failure and a reduced ejection fraction were studied in PARADIGM‐HF. Several outcomes, including cardiovascular death, sudden death, pump failure death, non‐cardiovascular death and heart failure hospitalization, were examined. Methods and results: A total of 8399 patients were randomized to either enalapril or sacubitril–valsartan. Potassium level at randomization and follow‐up was examined as a continuous and categorical variable (≤3.5, 3.6–4.0, 4.1–4.9, 5.0–5.4 and ≥5.5 mmol/L) in various statistical models. Hyperkalaemia was defined as K+ ≥5.5 mmol/L and hypokalaemia as K+ ≤3.5 mmol/L. Compared with potassium 4.1–4.9 mmol/L, both hypokalaemia [hazard ratio (HR) 2.40, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.84–3.14] and hyperkalaemia (HR 1.42, 95% CI 1.10–1.83) were associated with a higher risk for cardiovascular death. However, potassium abnormalities were similarly associated with sudden death and pump failure death, as well as non‐cardiovascular death and heart failure hospitalization. Sacubitril–valsartan had no effect on potassium overall. The benefit of sacubitril–valsartan over enalapril was consistent across the range of baseline potassium levels. Conclusions: Although both higher and lower potassium levels were independent predictors of cardiovascular death, potassium abnormalities may mainly be markers rather than mediators of risk for death.

  • Open Access
    Authors: 
    Alexander K. C. Leung; Joseph M. Lam; Kin Fon Leong;

    Background: The diagnosis of solitary cutaneous mastocytoma is mainly clinical, based on lesion morphology, the presence of a positive Darier sign, and the absence of systemic involvement. Knowledge of this condition is important so that an accurate diagnosis can be made. Objective: To familiarize physicians with the clinical manifestations, diagnosis, evaluation, and management of a solitary cutaneous mastocytoma. Methods: A PubMed search was completed in Clinical Queries using the key term "solitary cutaneous mastocytoma". The search strategy included meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, clinical trials, observational studies, and reviews. Only papers published in English language were included. The information retrieved from the above search was used in the compilation of the present article. Results: Typically, a solitary cutaneous mastocytoma presents as an indurated, erythematous, yellow- brown or reddish-brown macule, papule, plaque or nodule, usually measuring up to 5 cm in diameter. The lesion often has a peau d'orange appearance and a leathery or rubbery consistency. A solitary cutaneous mastocytoma may urticate spontaneously or when stroked or rubbed (Darier sign). Organomegaly and lymphadenopathy are characteristically absent. The majority of patients with skin lesions that erupt within the first two years of life have spontaneous resolution of the lesions before puberty. Treatment is mainly symptomatic. Reassurance and avoidance of triggering factors suffice in most cases. Conclusion: The diagnosis is mainly clinical, based on the morphology of the lesion, the presence of a positive Darier sign, and the absence of systemic involvement. A skin biopsy is usually not necessary unless the diagnosis is in doubt.

  • Open Access English
    Authors: 
    S. Hong Lee; Enda M. Byrne; Christina M. Hultman; Anna K. Kähler; Anna A. E. Vinkhuyzen; Stephan Ripke; Ole A. Andreassen; Thomas Frisell; Alexander Gusev; Xinli Hu; +134 more
    Countries: Belgium, Switzerland, Australia, Netherlands
    Project: NIH | Genetic predictors of res... (5U01GM092691-04), NHMRC | Statistical analyses of w... (1047956), NWO | Cluster computing in gene... (2300131050), NHMRC | Using New Genomic Technol... (1053639), NIH | 1/2 A Large-Scale Schizop... (5R01MH077139-05), NHMRC | Using genomics to underst... (1078901), NHMRC | Uncoupled Research Fellow... (613602)

    Background: A long-standing epidemiological puzzle is the reduced rate of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in those with schizophrenia (SZ) and vice versa. Traditional epidemiological approaches to determine if this negative association is underpinned by genetic factors would test for reduced rates of one disorder in relatives of the other, but sufficiently powered data sets are difficult to achieve. The genomics era presents an alternative paradigm for investigating the genetic relationship between two uncommon disorders. Methods: We use genome-wide common single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data from independently collected SZ and RA case-control cohorts to estimate the SNP correlation between the disorders. We test a genotype X environment (GxE) hypothesis for SZ with environment defined as winter- vs summer-born. Results: We estimate a small but significant negative SNP-genetic correlation between SZ and RA (−0.046, s.e. 0.026, P = 0.036). The negative correlation was stronger for the SNP set attributed to coding or regulatory regions (−0.174, s.e. 0.071, P = 0.0075). Our analyses led us to hypothesize a gene-environment interaction for SZ in the form of immune challenge. We used month of birth as a proxy for environmental immune challenge and estimated the genetic correlation between winter-born and non-winter born SZ to be significantly less than 1 for coding/regulatory region SNPs (0.56, s.e. 0.14, P = 0.00090). Conclusions: Our results are consistent with epidemiological observations of a negative relationship between SZ and RA reflecting, at least in part, genetic factors. Results of the month of birth analysis are consistent with pleiotropic effects of genetic variants dependent on environmental context. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

  • Publication . Other literature type . Part of book or chapter of book . Conference object . 2019
    Open Access
    Authors: 
    Ebizimoh Abodei; Alex Norta; Irene Azogu; Chibuzor Udokwu; Dirk Draheim;
    Publisher: Springer International Publishing
    Country: France

    Part 7: Digital Governance; International audience; Infrastructural development is a significant determinant of economic growth. It remains an elusive pursuit for many developing economies suffering from public infrastructural project failures. Although the causes of these failures are identifiable, they remain persistent. Government corruption has been identified as the primary cause of project failures amidst a host of other causal factors, spurred by the ambiguity in public service administration. These factors heighten capital expenditures and hence, the need for more transparent systems in public infrastructural project planning and -delivery. This research uses a case-study methodology to examine the importance of public involvement in addressing the causes of failures in public infrastructural project planning and -delivery. Using Nigeria as a case, the findings from conducted interviews and a document review support the proposition of a technologically collaborative approach in addressing the causes of public infrastructural project failures. The institutionalization of transparency-enhancing blockchain systems are vital in government and public involvement in the processes of public infrastructural project planning and -delivery.

  • Open Access English
    Authors: 
    Léandre Gagné Lemieux; Martin Simoneau; Jean Francois Tessier; Maxime Billot; Jean Blouin; Normand Teasdale;
    Publisher: HAL CCSD
    Country: France
    Project: NSERC

    When tracing a template with mirror-reversed vision (or distorted vision), the sensory information arising from the movement does not match the expected sensory consequences. In such situations, participants have to learn a new visuomotor mapping in order to trace the template with an accuracy and speed approaching that observed when tracing with direct vision. There are several suggestions that such visuomotor learning requires lowering the gain of the proprioceptive inputs. Generally, subjects learn this task in a seated condition offering a stable postural platform. Adapting to the new visuomotor relationship in a standing condition could add complexity and even hinder sensorimotor adaptation because balance control and processing of additional information typically interfere with each other. To examine this possibility, older individuals and young adults (on average, 70 and 22 years of age, respectively) were assigned to groups that trained to trace a shape with mirror-reversed vision in a seated or a standing condition for two sessions. For a third session, the seated groups (young and elderly) transferred to the standing condition while the standing groups continued to perform the tracing task while standing. This procedure allowed comparing the tracing performance of all groups (with the same amount of practice) in a standing condition. The standing groups also did a fourth session in a seated condition. Results show that older participants initially exposed to the standing condition were much slower to trace the template than all other groups (including the older group that performed the tracing task while seated). This slowness did not result from a baseline general slowness but from a genuine interference between balance control and the visuomotor conflict resulting from tracing the pattern with mirror-reversed vision. Besides, the Standing-Old participants that transferred to a seated condition in the fourth session immediately improved their tracing by reducing the total displacement covered by the pen to trace the template. Interestingly, the results did not support a transfer-appropriate practice hypothesis which suggests that training in a standing condition (at the third session) should have benefited the performance of those individuals who initially learned to trace the mirror pattern in a standing condition. This has important clinical implications: training at adapting to new sensory contexts or environmental conditions in conditions that do not challenge balance control could be necessary if one desires to attenuate the detrimental consequences on the postural or motor performances brought up by the interference between maintaining balance and the sensory reweighing processes.

  • Open Access
    Authors: 
    Darren Mylotte; Arnaud Sudre; Emmanuel Teiger; Jean-François Obadia; Marcus Lee; Mark S. Spence; Hazem Khamis; Arif Al Nooryani; Cedric Delhaye; Gilles Amr; +4 more
    Publisher: Elsevier BV
    Country: Ireland

    Abstract Objectives The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and safety of transcarotid transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Background Many candidates for TAVR have challenging vascular anatomy that precludes transfemoral access. Transcarotid arterial access may be an option for such patients. Methods The French Transcarotid TAVR Registry is a voluntary database that prospectively collected patient demographics, procedural characteristics, and clinical outcomes among patients undergoing transcarotid TAVR. Outcomes are reported according to the updated Valve Academic Research Consortium criteria. Results Among 96 patients undergoing transcarotid TAVR at 3 French sites (2009 to 2013), the mean age and Society of Thoracic Surgeons predicted risk of mortality were 79.4 ± 9.2 years and 7.1 ± 4.1%, respectively. Successful carotid artery access was achieved in all patients. The Medtronic CoreValve (Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota) (n = 89; 92.7%) and Edwards SAPIEN valves (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, California) (n = 7; 7.3%) were used. Procedural complications included: valve embolization (3.1%), requirement for a second valve (3.1%), and tamponade (4.2%). There were no major bleeds or major vascular complications related to the access site. There were 3 (3.1%) procedural deaths and 6 (6.3%) deaths at 30 days. The 1-year mortality rate was 16.7%. There were 3 (3.1%) cases of Valve Academic Research Consortium–defined in-hospital stroke (n = 0) or transient ischemic attack (TIA) (n = 3). None of these patients achieved the criteria for stroke and none manifested new ischemic lesions on cerebral computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. At 30 days, a further 3 TIAs were observed, giving an overall stroke/TIA rate of 6.3%. Conclusions Transcarotid vascular access for TAVR is feasible and is associated with encouraging short- and medium-term clinical outcomes. Prospective studies are required to ascertain if transcarotid TAVR yields equivalent results to other nonfemoral vascular access routes.

  • Publication . Article . 2010
    Open Access
    Authors: 
    Rosanna W. Peeling; Harvey Artsob; José L. Pelegrino; Philippe Buchy; Mary Jane Cardosa; Shamala Devi; Delia Enria; Jeremy Farrar; Duane J. Gubler; María G. Guzmán; +9 more
    Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

    Dengue is an arthropod-borne flavivirus that comprises four distinct serotypes (DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3 and DEN-4) that constitute an antigenic complex of the genus flavivirus, family Flaviviridae. Infection by one serotype induces life-long immunity against reinfection by the same serotype, but only transient and partial protection against infection with the other serotypes1,2. Dengue virus infections can result in a range of clinical manifestations from asymp tomatic infection to dengue fever (DF) and the severe disease dengue haemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome (DHF/ DSS). Most dengue infections are asymptomatic or cause mild symptoms, which are characterized by undifferentiated fever with or without rash. Typical DF is characterized by high fever, severe headache, myalgia, arthralgia, retro-orbital pain and maculopapular rash. Some patients show petechiae, bruising or thrombocytopenia. The clinical presentation of acute dengue infection is non-specific but 5–10% of patients progress to severe DHF/DSS, which can result in death if it is not managed appropriately. Plasma extravasation is the main pathophysiological finding of DHF/ DSS, which differentiates it from DF. DHF/ DSS is characterized by high fever, bleeding, thrombocytopenia and haemoconcentration (an increase in the concentration of blood cells as a result of fluid loss). Approximately 3–4 days after the onset of fever, patients can present with petechiae, rash, epistaxis, and gingival and gastrointestinal bleeding. Pleural effusion and ascites are common. Some patients develop circulatory failure (DSS), presenting with a weak and fast pulse, narrowing of pulse pressure or hypotension, cold and moist skin and altered mental state. Although there are no specific antiviral treatments for dengue infection, patients usually recover when the need for fluid management is identified early and electrolytes are administered3. It has been proposed that the classification of dengue disease should be simplified as severe and non-severe dengue. This simplified classification would make patient management and surveillance easier4. There is a need for specific, inexpensive dengue diagnostic tests that can be used for clinical management, surveillance and outbreak investigations and would permit early intervention to treat patients and prevent or control epidemics. Progress is being made in primary prevention, with several candidate dengue vaccines in late phases of development as well as improved vector control measures. Additionally, new techniques for the early detection of severe disease such as the use of biomarkers have the potential to decrease morbidity and

  • Open Access
    Authors: 
    Na Kyung Lee; Hideaki Sowa; Eiichi Hinoi; Mathieu Ferron; Jong Deok Ahn; Cyrille Confavreux; Romain Dacquin; Patrick J. Mee; Marc D. McKee; Dae Young Jung; +5 more
    Publisher: Elsevier BV

    The regulation of bone remodeling by an adipocyte-derived hormone implies that bone may exert a feedback control of energy homeostasis. To test this hypothesis we looked for genes expressed in osteoblasts, encoding signaling molecules and affecting energy metabolism. We show here that mice lacking the protein tyrosine phosphatase OST-PTP are hypoglycemic and are protected from obesity and glucose intolerance because of an increase in beta-cell proliferation, insulin secretion, and insulin sensitivity. In contrast, mice lacking the osteoblast-secreted molecule osteocalcin display decreased beta-cell proliferation, glucose intolerance, and insulin resistance. Removing one Osteocalcin allele from OST-PTP-deficient mice corrects their metabolic phenotype. Ex vivo, osteocalcin can stimulate CyclinD1 and Insulin expression in beta-cells and Adiponectin, an insulin-sensitizing adipokine, in adipocytes; in vivo osteocalcin can improve glucose tolerance. By revealing that the skeleton exerts an endocrine regulation of sugar homeostasis this study expands the biological importance of this organ and our understanding of energy metabolism.

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Include:
The following results are related to Canada. Are you interested to view more results? Visit OpenAIRE - Explore.
51,707 Research products, page 1 of 5,171
  • Open Access
    Authors: 
    Muriel Tabariés; Viviane Tchernonog;
    Publisher: CAIRN
    Countries: France, Canada

    Cet article analyse l’évolution de la participation des femmes aux structures dirigeantes des associations. Les femmes apparaissent largement en retrait des fonctions de président d’association et leur accession aux postes de dirigeants s’effectue principalement à partir des associations créées récemment et dans des types d’associations orientées vers des populations fragiles ou vulnérables. L’article montre que l’on peut imputer leur plus forte présence essentiellement aux évolutions sociétales en cours depuis les années 70 : activité croissante des femmes, hausse de leur qualification, démocratisation de la société et de la vie associative, ouverture plus grande des associations récentes aux plus jeunes et à des catégories sociales plus variées. This article examines the evolution of the participation of women in the governing bodies of nonprofit organizations. There appear to be very few women CEOs in nonprofit organizations, and women who have reached executive positions have mainly done so in recently created nonprofit organizations and those concerned with people at risk and vulnerable social groups. The article shows that the increase is essentially due to societal changes since the 1970s: growing female participation in the workforce, their higher level of education, democratization of society and nonprofit organizations, and recent nonprofit organizations more open to younger people and a broader cross-section of the population.

  • Publication . Conference object . Preprint . Article . Part of book or chapter of book . 2010
    Open Access English
    Authors: 
    Britt Reichborn-Kjennerud; Asad M. Aboobaker; Peter A. R. Ade; François Aubin; Carlo Baccigalupi; Chaoyun Bao; Julian Borrill; Christopher Cantalupo; Daniel Chapman; Joy Didier; +36 more
    Countries: United States, France, France, France, France

    EBEX is a NASA-funded balloon-borne experiment designed to measure the polarization of the cosmic microwave background (CMB). Observations will be made using 1432 transition edge sensor (TES) bolometric detectors read out with frequency multiplexed SQuIDs. EBEX will observe in three frequency bands centered at 150, 250, and 410 GHz, with 768, 384, and 280 detectors in each band, respectively. This broad frequency coverage is designed to provide valuable information about polarized foreground signals from dust. The polarized sky signals will be modulated with an achromatic half wave plate (AHWP) rotating on a superconducting magnetic bearing (SMB) and analyzed with a fixed wire grid polarizer. EBEX will observe a patch covering ~1% of the sky with 8' resolution, allowing for observation of the angular power spectrum from \ell = 20 to 1000. This will allow EBEX to search for both the primordial B-mode signal predicted by inflation and the anticipated lensing B-mode signal. Calculations to predict EBEX constraints on r using expected noise levels show that, for a likelihood centered around zero and with negligible foregrounds, 99% of the area falls below r = 0.035. This value increases by a factor of 1.6 after a process of foreground subtraction. This estimate does not include systematic uncertainties. An engineering flight was launched in June, 2009, from Ft. Sumner, NM, and the long duration science flight in Antarctica is planned for 2011. These proceedings describe the EBEX instrument and the North American engineering flight. 12 pages, 9 figures, Conference proceedings for SPIE Millimeter, Submillimeter, and Far-Infrared Detectors and Instrumentation for Astronomy V (2010)

  • Publication . Article . 2020
    Open Access English
    Authors: 
    João Pedro Ferreira; Ulrik M. Mogensen; Pardeep S. Jhund; Akshay S. Desai; Jean-Lucien Rouleau; Michael R. Zile; Patrick Rossignol; Faiez Zannad; Milton Packer; Scott D. Solomon; +1 more
    Publisher: HAL CCSD
    Country: France

    Aims: The associations between potassium level and outcomes, the effect of sacubitril–valsartan on potassium level, and whether potassium level modified the effect of sacubitril–valsartan in patients with heart failure and a reduced ejection fraction were studied in PARADIGM‐HF. Several outcomes, including cardiovascular death, sudden death, pump failure death, non‐cardiovascular death and heart failure hospitalization, were examined. Methods and results: A total of 8399 patients were randomized to either enalapril or sacubitril–valsartan. Potassium level at randomization and follow‐up was examined as a continuous and categorical variable (≤3.5, 3.6–4.0, 4.1–4.9, 5.0–5.4 and ≥5.5 mmol/L) in various statistical models. Hyperkalaemia was defined as K+ ≥5.5 mmol/L and hypokalaemia as K+ ≤3.5 mmol/L. Compared with potassium 4.1–4.9 mmol/L, both hypokalaemia [hazard ratio (HR) 2.40, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.84–3.14] and hyperkalaemia (HR 1.42, 95% CI 1.10–1.83) were associated with a higher risk for cardiovascular death. However, potassium abnormalities were similarly associated with sudden death and pump failure death, as well as non‐cardiovascular death and heart failure hospitalization. Sacubitril–valsartan had no effect on potassium overall. The benefit of sacubitril–valsartan over enalapril was consistent across the range of baseline potassium levels. Conclusions: Although both higher and lower potassium levels were independent predictors of cardiovascular death, potassium abnormalities may mainly be markers rather than mediators of risk for death.

  • Open Access
    Authors: 
    Alexander K. C. Leung; Joseph M. Lam; Kin Fon Leong;

    Background: The diagnosis of solitary cutaneous mastocytoma is mainly clinical, based on lesion morphology, the presence of a positive Darier sign, and the absence of systemic involvement. Knowledge of this condition is important so that an accurate diagnosis can be made. Objective: To familiarize physicians with the clinical manifestations, diagnosis, evaluation, and management of a solitary cutaneous mastocytoma. Methods: A PubMed search was completed in Clinical Queries using the key term "solitary cutaneous mastocytoma". The search strategy included meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, clinical trials, observational studies, and reviews. Only papers published in English language were included. The information retrieved from the above search was used in the compilation of the present article. Results: Typically, a solitary cutaneous mastocytoma presents as an indurated, erythematous, yellow- brown or reddish-brown macule, papule, plaque or nodule, usually measuring up to 5 cm in diameter. The lesion often has a peau d'orange appearance and a leathery or rubbery consistency. A solitary cutaneous mastocytoma may urticate spontaneously or when stroked or rubbed (Darier sign). Organomegaly and lymphadenopathy are characteristically absent. The majority of patients with skin lesions that erupt within the first two years of life have spontaneous resolution of the lesions before puberty. Treatment is mainly symptomatic. Reassurance and avoidance of triggering factors suffice in most cases. Conclusion: The diagnosis is mainly clinical, based on the morphology of the lesion, the presence of a positive Darier sign, and the absence of systemic involvement. A skin biopsy is usually not necessary unless the diagnosis is in doubt.

  • Open Access English
    Authors: 
    S. Hong Lee; Enda M. Byrne; Christina M. Hultman; Anna K. Kähler; Anna A. E. Vinkhuyzen; Stephan Ripke; Ole A. Andreassen; Thomas Frisell; Alexander Gusev; Xinli Hu; +134 more
    Countries: Belgium, Switzerland, Australia, Netherlands
    Project: NIH | Genetic predictors of res... (5U01GM092691-04), NHMRC | Statistical analyses of w... (1047956), NWO | Cluster computing in gene... (2300131050), NHMRC | Using New Genomic Technol... (1053639), NIH | 1/2 A Large-Scale Schizop... (5R01MH077139-05), NHMRC | Using genomics to underst... (1078901), NHMRC | Uncoupled Research Fellow... (613602)

    Background: A long-standing epidemiological puzzle is the reduced rate of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in those with schizophrenia (SZ) and vice versa. Traditional epidemiological approaches to determine if this negative association is underpinned by genetic factors would test for reduced rates of one disorder in relatives of the other, but sufficiently powered data sets are difficult to achieve. The genomics era presents an alternative paradigm for investigating the genetic relationship between two uncommon disorders. Methods: We use genome-wide common single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data from independently collected SZ and RA case-control cohorts to estimate the SNP correlation between the disorders. We test a genotype X environment (GxE) hypothesis for SZ with environment defined as winter- vs summer-born. Results: We estimate a small but significant negative SNP-genetic correlation between SZ and RA (−0.046, s.e. 0.026, P = 0.036). The negative correlation was stronger for the SNP set attributed to coding or regulatory regions (−0.174, s.e. 0.071, P = 0.0075). Our analyses led us to hypothesize a gene-environment interaction for SZ in the form of immune challenge. We used month of birth as a proxy for environmental immune challenge and estimated the genetic correlation between winter-born and non-winter born SZ to be significantly less than 1 for coding/regulatory region SNPs (0.56, s.e. 0.14, P = 0.00090). Conclusions: Our results are consistent with epidemiological observations of a negative relationship between SZ and RA reflecting, at least in part, genetic factors. Results of the month of birth analysis are consistent with pleiotropic effects of genetic variants dependent on environmental context. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

  • Publication . Other literature type . Part of book or chapter of book . Conference object . 2019
    Open Access
    Authors: 
    Ebizimoh Abodei; Alex Norta; Irene Azogu; Chibuzor Udokwu; Dirk Draheim;
    Publisher: Springer International Publishing
    Country: France

    Part 7: Digital Governance; International audience; Infrastructural development is a significant determinant of economic growth. It remains an elusive pursuit for many developing economies suffering from public infrastructural project failures. Although the causes of these failures are identifiable, they remain persistent. Government corruption has been identified as the primary cause of project failures amidst a host of other causal factors, spurred by the ambiguity in public service administration. These factors heighten capital expenditures and hence, the need for more transparent systems in public infrastructural project planning and -delivery. This research uses a case-study methodology to examine the importance of public involvement in addressing the causes of failures in public infrastructural project planning and -delivery. Using Nigeria as a case, the findings from conducted interviews and a document review support the proposition of a technologically collaborative approach in addressing the causes of public infrastructural project failures. The institutionalization of transparency-enhancing blockchain systems are vital in government and public involvement in the processes of public infrastructural project planning and -delivery.

  • Open Access English
    Authors: 
    Léandre Gagné Lemieux; Martin Simoneau; Jean Francois Tessier; Maxime Billot; Jean Blouin; Normand Teasdale;
    Publisher: HAL CCSD
    Country: France
    Project: NSERC

    When tracing a template with mirror-reversed vision (or distorted vision), the sensory information arising from the movement does not match the expected sensory consequences. In such situations, participants have to learn a new visuomotor mapping in order to trace the template with an accuracy and speed approaching that observed when tracing with direct vision. There are several suggestions that such visuomotor learning requires lowering the gain of the proprioceptive inputs. Generally, subjects learn this task in a seated condition offering a stable postural platform. Adapting to the new visuomotor relationship in a standing condition could add complexity and even hinder sensorimotor adaptation because balance control and processing of additional information typically interfere with each other. To examine this possibility, older individuals and young adults (on average, 70 and 22 years of age, respectively) were assigned to groups that trained to trace a shape with mirror-reversed vision in a seated or a standing condition for two sessions. For a third session, the seated groups (young and elderly) transferred to the standing condition while the standing groups continued to perform the tracing task while standing. This procedure allowed comparing the tracing performance of all groups (with the same amount of practice) in a standing condition. The standing groups also did a fourth session in a seated condition. Results show that older participants initially exposed to the standing condition were much slower to trace the template than all other groups (including the older group that performed the tracing task while seated). This slowness did not result from a baseline general slowness but from a genuine interference between balance control and the visuomotor conflict resulting from tracing the pattern with mirror-reversed vision. Besides, the Standing-Old participants that transferred to a seated condition in the fourth session immediately improved their tracing by reducing the total displacement covered by the pen to trace the template. Interestingly, the results did not support a transfer-appropriate practice hypothesis which suggests that training in a standing condition (at the third session) should have benefited the performance of those individuals who initially learned to trace the mirror pattern in a standing condition. This has important clinical implications: training at adapting to new sensory contexts or environmental conditions in conditions that do not challenge balance control could be necessary if one desires to attenuate the detrimental consequences on the postural or motor performances brought up by the interference between maintaining balance and the sensory reweighing processes.

  • Open Access
    Authors: 
    Darren Mylotte; Arnaud Sudre; Emmanuel Teiger; Jean-François Obadia; Marcus Lee; Mark S. Spence; Hazem Khamis; Arif Al Nooryani; Cedric Delhaye; Gilles Amr; +4 more
    Publisher: Elsevier BV
    Country: Ireland

    Abstract Objectives The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and safety of transcarotid transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Background Many candidates for TAVR have challenging vascular anatomy that precludes transfemoral access. Transcarotid arterial access may be an option for such patients. Methods The French Transcarotid TAVR Registry is a voluntary database that prospectively collected patient demographics, procedural characteristics, and clinical outcomes among patients undergoing transcarotid TAVR. Outcomes are reported according to the updated Valve Academic Research Consortium criteria. Results Among 96 patients undergoing transcarotid TAVR at 3 French sites (2009 to 2013), the mean age and Society of Thoracic Surgeons predicted risk of mortality were 79.4 ± 9.2 years and 7.1 ± 4.1%, respectively. Successful carotid artery access was achieved in all patients. The Medtronic CoreValve (Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota) (n = 89; 92.7%) and Edwards SAPIEN valves (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, California) (n = 7; 7.3%) were used. Procedural complications included: valve embolization (3.1%), requirement for a second valve (3.1%), and tamponade (4.2%). There were no major bleeds or major vascular complications related to the access site. There were 3 (3.1%) procedural deaths and 6 (6.3%) deaths at 30 days. The 1-year mortality rate was 16.7%. There were 3 (3.1%) cases of Valve Academic Research Consortium–defined in-hospital stroke (n = 0) or transient ischemic attack (TIA) (n = 3). None of these patients achieved the criteria for stroke and none manifested new ischemic lesions on cerebral computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. At 30 days, a further 3 TIAs were observed, giving an overall stroke/TIA rate of 6.3%. Conclusions Transcarotid vascular access for TAVR is feasible and is associated with encouraging short- and medium-term clinical outcomes. Prospective studies are required to ascertain if transcarotid TAVR yields equivalent results to other nonfemoral vascular access routes.

  • Publication . Article . 2010
    Open Access
    Authors: 
    Rosanna W. Peeling; Harvey Artsob; José L. Pelegrino; Philippe Buchy; Mary Jane Cardosa; Shamala Devi; Delia Enria; Jeremy Farrar; Duane J. Gubler; María G. Guzmán; +9 more
    Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

    Dengue is an arthropod-borne flavivirus that comprises four distinct serotypes (DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3 and DEN-4) that constitute an antigenic complex of the genus flavivirus, family Flaviviridae. Infection by one serotype induces life-long immunity against reinfection by the same serotype, but only transient and partial protection against infection with the other serotypes1,2. Dengue virus infections can result in a range of clinical manifestations from asymp tomatic infection to dengue fever (DF) and the severe disease dengue haemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome (DHF/ DSS). Most dengue infections are asymptomatic or cause mild symptoms, which are characterized by undifferentiated fever with or without rash. Typical DF is characterized by high fever, severe headache, myalgia, arthralgia, retro-orbital pain and maculopapular rash. Some patients show petechiae, bruising or thrombocytopenia. The clinical presentation of acute dengue infection is non-specific but 5–10% of patients progress to severe DHF/DSS, which can result in death if it is not managed appropriately. Plasma extravasation is the main pathophysiological finding of DHF/ DSS, which differentiates it from DF. DHF/ DSS is characterized by high fever, bleeding, thrombocytopenia and haemoconcentration (an increase in the concentration of blood cells as a result of fluid loss). Approximately 3–4 days after the onset of fever, patients can present with petechiae, rash, epistaxis, and gingival and gastrointestinal bleeding. Pleural effusion and ascites are common. Some patients develop circulatory failure (DSS), presenting with a weak and fast pulse, narrowing of pulse pressure or hypotension, cold and moist skin and altered mental state. Although there are no specific antiviral treatments for dengue infection, patients usually recover when the need for fluid management is identified early and electrolytes are administered3. It has been proposed that the classification of dengue disease should be simplified as severe and non-severe dengue. This simplified classification would make patient management and surveillance easier4. There is a need for specific, inexpensive dengue diagnostic tests that can be used for clinical management, surveillance and outbreak investigations and would permit early intervention to treat patients and prevent or control epidemics. Progress is being made in primary prevention, with several candidate dengue vaccines in late phases of development as well as improved vector control measures. Additionally, new techniques for the early detection of severe disease such as the use of biomarkers have the potential to decrease morbidity and

  • Open Access
    Authors: 
    Na Kyung Lee; Hideaki Sowa; Eiichi Hinoi; Mathieu Ferron; Jong Deok Ahn; Cyrille Confavreux; Romain Dacquin; Patrick J. Mee; Marc D. McKee; Dae Young Jung; +5 more
    Publisher: Elsevier BV

    The regulation of bone remodeling by an adipocyte-derived hormone implies that bone may exert a feedback control of energy homeostasis. To test this hypothesis we looked for genes expressed in osteoblasts, encoding signaling molecules and affecting energy metabolism. We show here that mice lacking the protein tyrosine phosphatase OST-PTP are hypoglycemic and are protected from obesity and glucose intolerance because of an increase in beta-cell proliferation, insulin secretion, and insulin sensitivity. In contrast, mice lacking the osteoblast-secreted molecule osteocalcin display decreased beta-cell proliferation, glucose intolerance, and insulin resistance. Removing one Osteocalcin allele from OST-PTP-deficient mice corrects their metabolic phenotype. Ex vivo, osteocalcin can stimulate CyclinD1 and Insulin expression in beta-cells and Adiponectin, an insulin-sensitizing adipokine, in adipocytes; in vivo osteocalcin can improve glucose tolerance. By revealing that the skeleton exerts an endocrine regulation of sugar homeostasis this study expands the biological importance of this organ and our understanding of energy metabolism.