Capturing functional connectomics using Riemannian partial least squares.

For neurological disorders and diseases, functional and anatomical connectomes of the human brain can be used to better inform targeted interventions and treatment strategies. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a non-invasive neuroimaging technique that captures spatio-temporal brain function through change in blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signals over time. FMRI can be used to study the functional connectome through the functional connectivity matrix; that is, Pearson's correlation matrix between time series from the regions of interest of an fMRI image.

A comparison of survival models for prediction of eight-year revision risk following total knee and hip arthroplasty.

Background: There is increasing interest in the development and use of clinical prediction models, but a lack of evidence-supported guidance on the merits of different modelling approaches. This is especially true for time-to-event outcomes, where limited studies have compared the vast number of modelling approaches available. This study compares prediction accuracy and variable importance measures for four modelling approaches in prediction of time-to-revision surgery following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA).

What Is the Effect of Using a Competing-risks Estimator when Predicting Survivorship After Joint Arthroplasty: A Comparison of Approaches to Survivorship Estimation in a Large Registry.

Background: There is increasing interest in the development of statistical models that can be used to estimate risk of adverse patient outcomes after joint arthroplasty. Competing risk approaches have been recommended to estimate risk of longer-term revision, which is often likely to be precluded by the competing risk of death. However, a common approach is to ignore the competing risk by treating death as a censoring event and using standard survival models such as Cox regression.

Performance of methods for estimating the effect of covariates on group membership probabilities in group-based trajectory models.

One purpose of a longitudinal study is to gain insight of how characteristics at earlier points in time can impact on subsequent outcomes. Typically, the outcome variable varies over time and the data for each individual can be used to form a discrete path of measurements, that is a trajectory. Group-based trajectory modelling methods seek to identify subgroups of individuals within a population with trajectories that are more similar to each other than to trajectories in distinct groups.

The impact of covariance misspecification in group-based trajectory models for longitudinal data with non-stationary covariance structure.

One purpose of a longitudinal study is to gain a better understanding of how an outcome of interest changes among a given population over time. In what follows, a trajectory will be taken to mean the series of measurements of the outcome variable for an individual. Group-based trajectory modelling methods seek to identify subgroups of trajectories within a population, such that trajectories that are grouped together are more similar to each other than to trajectories in distinct groups.

Genome-wide identification of human FOXP3 target genes in natural regulatory T cells.

The transcription factor FOXP3 is essential for the formation and function of regulatory T cells (Tregs), and Tregs are essential for maintaining immune homeostasis and tolerance. This is demonstrated by a lethal autoimmune defect in mice lacking Foxp3 and in immunodysregulation polyendocrinopathy enteropathy X-linked syndrome patients. However, little is known about the molecular basis of human FOXP3 function or the relationship between direct and indirect targets of FOXP3 in human Tregs.

Lower age at menarche affects survival in older Australian women: results from the Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing.

Background: While menarche indicates the beginning of a woman's reproductive life, relatively little is known about the association between age at menarche and subsequent morbidity and mortality. We aimed to examine the effect of lower age at menarche on all-cause mortality in older Australian women over 15 years of follow-up.

Methods: Data were drawn from the Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing (n = 1,031 women aged 65-103 years).

Do social networks affect the use of residential aged care among older Australians?

Background: Older people's social networks with family and friends can affect residential aged care use. It remains unclear if there are differences in the effects of specific (with children, other relatives, friends and confidants) and total social networks upon use of low-level residential care and nursing homes.

Methods: Data were drawn from the Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing.

Incidence, impact on the family and cost of gastroenteritis among 4 to 6-year-old children in South Australia.

Background: Gastroenteritis is an important cause of morbidity in both adults and children worldwide. Although the burden of morbidity and mortality is highest in developing countries, gastroenteritis is still a significant cause of morbidity in Australia, particularly in young children. The aims of the present study were to determine the incidence of gastroenteritis among 4-6-year-old children in South Australia, to describe the impact on daily activities of the child and caregiver and estimate the cost of gastroenteritis in this population.

Genetic regulators of myelopoiesis and leukemic signaling identified by gene profiling and linear modeling.

Mechanisms controlling the balance between proliferation and self-renewal versus growth suppression and differentiation during normal and leukemic myelopoiesis are not understood. We have used the bi-potent FDB1 myeloid cell line model, which is responsive to myelopoietic cytokines and activated mutants of the granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) receptor, having differential signaling and leukemogenic activity. This model is suited to large-scale gene-profiling, and we have used a factorial time-course design to generate a substantial and powerful data set.

Effect of social networks on 10 year survival in very old Australians: the Australian longitudinal study of aging.

Study Objectives: To examine if social networks with children, relatives, friends, and confidants predict survival in older Australians over 10 years after controlling for a range of demographic, health, and lifestyle variables.

Design: Prospective longitudinal cohort study (the Australian longitudinal study of aging)

Setting: Adelaide, South Australia.

Participants: 1477 persons aged 70 years or more living in the community and residential care facilities.

The effects of social networks on disability in older Australians.

Objective: To investigate the effects of total social networks and specific social networks with children, relatives, friends, and confidants on disability in mobility and Nagi functional tasks.

Methods: Six waves of data from the Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing were used. Data came from 1,477 participants aged 70 years or older.