Search results for "Statistics as topic"
showing 10 items of 188 documents
Analyzing big datasets of genomic sequences: fast and scalable collection of k-mer statistics
2019
Abstract Background Distributed approaches based on the MapReduce programming paradigm have started to be proposed in the Bioinformatics domain, due to the large amount of data produced by the next-generation sequencing techniques. However, the use of MapReduce and related Big Data technologies and frameworks (e.g., Apache Hadoop and Spark) does not necessarily produce satisfactory results, in terms of both efficiency and effectiveness. We discuss how the development of distributed and Big Data management technologies has affected the analysis of large datasets of biological sequences. Moreover, we show how the choice of different parameter configurations and the careful engineering of the …
Analysis of multi-source metabolomic data using joint and individual variation explained (JIVE).
2015
Metabolic profiling is increasingly being used for understanding biological processes but there is no single analytical technique that provides a complete quantitative or qualitative profiling of the metabolome. Data fusion (i.e. joint analysis of data from multiple sources) has the potential to circumvent this issue facilitating knowledge discovery and reliable biomarker identification. Another field of application of data fusion is the simultaneous analysis of metabolomic changes through several biofluids or tissues. However, metabolomics typically deals with large datasets, with hundreds to thousands of variables and the identification of shared and individual factors or structures acros…
Heart rate variability and self-control—A meta-analysis
2015
Heart rate variability (HRV) has been suggested as a biological correlate of self-control. Whereas many studies found a relationship between HRV at rest and self-control, effect sizes vary substantially across studies in magnitude and direction. This meta-analysis evaluated the association between HRV at rest and self-control in laboratory tasks, with a particular focus on the identification of moderating factors (task characteristics, methodological aspects of HRV assessment, demographics). Overall, 24 articles with 26 studies and 132 effects (n=2317, mean age=22.44, range 18.4-57.8) were integrated (random effects model with robust variance estimation). We found a positive average effect …
Anaemia in advanced chronic fasciolosis
2008
Abstract The association between fasciolosis-induced anaemia and related factors has been quantified in a rodent model. Haematological parameters were analysed in Wistar rats at 20 and 60 weeks post-infection (p.i.). Pigment stones and bile specimens were collected. Serum IgG1, IgG2a and IgE were determined in rat serum samples. Cytokine levels have been correlated with haematological parameters. The screening for gastrointestinal bleeding was carried out. Bacteriological bile cultures revealed viable bacteria in 53.8% of specimens at 60 weeks p.i. The results show that the type of anaemia in fasciolosis might be considered a biomarker of the chronicity period of the disease, changing from …
Does the VP1 gene of foot-and-mouth disease virus behave as a molecular clock?
1992
We have carried out a phylogenetic study of the evolution of the VP1 gene sequence from different serological types and subtypes of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV). The maximum-likelihood method developed by Hasegawa and co-workers (Hasegawa et al. 1985) for the estimation of evolutionary parameters and branching dates has been used to decide between alternative models of evolution: constant versus variable rates. The results obtained indicate that a constant rate model, i.e., a molecular clock, seems to be the most plausible one. However, additional information suggests the possibility that the appearance of serotype CS has been accompanied by an episode of rapid evolution (Villaverde …
Some notes on the geographical distribution of the human red cell acid phosphatase phenotypes
1972
Basing on the data of 65 populations the geographical variability of the human red cell acid phosphatase phenotypes resp. alleles was studied. We found a marked distribution gradient: The frequency of pB-alleles increases with the increase of the mean annual temperature of the various biotops, whereas the pA-allele frequencies show a clear decrease. For this allele we calculated a significant negative correlation between its frequency and the mean annual temperature: r=-0.71; P<0.001. We suppose that the pB-allele is in some way adaptive under the climatic conditions of tropical biotops. The possible reasons are discussed.
Combined associations of body weight and lifestyle factors with all cause and cause specific mortality in men and women: prospective cohort study
2016
Objective To evaluate the combined associations of diet, physical activity, moderate alcohol consumption, and smoking with body weight on risk of all cause and cause specific mortality. Design Longitudinal study with up to 32 years of follow-up. Setting Nurses’ Health Study (1980-2012) and Health Professionals Follow-up Study (1986-2012). Participants 74 582 women from the Nurses’ Health Study and 39 284 men from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study who were free from cardiovascular disease and cancer at baseline. Main outcome measures Exposures included body mass index (BMI), score on the alternate healthy eating index, level of physical activity, smoking habits, and alcohol drink…
Associations between sports participation, cardiorespiratory fitness, and adiposity in young adult twins.
2011
Exercise behavior, cardiorespiratory fitness, and obesity are strongly influenced by genetic factors. By studying young adult twins, we examined to what extent these interrelated traits have shared genetic and environmental etiologies. We studied 304 twin individuals selected from the population-based FinnTwin16 study. Physical activity was assessed with the Baecke questionnaire, yielding three indexes: sport index, leisure-time index, and work index. In this study, we focused on sport index, which describes sports participation. Body composition was determined using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and cardiorespiratory fitness using a bicycle ergometer exercise test with gas exchange ana…
Job strain in the public sector and hospital in-patient care use in old age : a 28-year prospective follow-up
2014
Background: high job strain increases the risk of health decline, but little is known about the specific consequences and long-term effects of job strain on old age health. Objectives: purpose was to investigate whether physical and mental job strain in midlife was associated with hospital care use in old age. Methods: study population included 5,625 Finnish public sector employees aged 44–58 years who worked in blue- and white-collar professions in 1981. The number of in-patient hospital care days was collected from the Finnish Hospital Discharge Register for the 28-year follow-up period. Results: rates of hospital care days per 1,000 person-years for men were 7.78 (95% confidence interval…
Spatial analysis of the relationship between mortality from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease and drinking water hardness
2004
Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Reproduced with permission from Environmental Health Perspectives. Previously published scientific papers have reported a negative correlation between drinking water hardness and cardiovascular mortality. Some ecologic and case-control studies suggest the protective effect of calcium and magnesium concentration in drinking water. In this article we present an analysis of this protective relationship in 538 municipalities of Comunidad Valenciana (Spain) from 1991-1998. We used the Spanish version of the Rapid Inquiry Facility (RIF) developed under the European Environment and Health Information System (EUROHEIS) research project. The strateg…