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Journal of Biopharmaceutical Statistics Nov 2023Unique challenges pertain when studying children, although many research principles are the same as those when studying adult populations. This truism extends to the use...
Unique challenges pertain when studying children, although many research principles are the same as those when studying adult populations. This truism extends to the use of real-world data (RWD). RWD are particularly relevant to pediatrics because they may potentially provide an additional source of data to inform pediatric labeling and practice patterns when clinical trials have not been or cannot be conducted. The purpose of this commentary is to provide a brief overview of the unique issues in using RWD to study the effectiveness or safety of medical therapies in children.
Topics: Child; Humans; Pediatrics; Data Analysis
PubMed: 36519238
DOI: 10.1080/10543406.2022.2152834 -
The Behavioral and Brain Sciences Oct 2023All sufficiently large functional notations (ideographic or otherwise) are composites of discrete, structured elements (e.g., phonemes, morphemes, numerals). We must...
All sufficiently large functional notations (ideographic or otherwise) are composites of discrete, structured elements (e.g., phonemes, morphemes, numerals). We must consider not only the modality but also the structure of the existing, workable ideographic/semasiographic systems we know (e.g., musical and numerical notation) to establish the cognitive limitations militating against humans memorizing and standardizing domain-general ideographies that would parallel written language.
Topics: Humans; Language; Mathematics
PubMed: 37779311
DOI: 10.1017/S0140525X23000675 -
Briefings in Bioinformatics Sep 2023Protein engineering is an emerging field in biotechnology that has the potential to revolutionize various areas, such as antibody design, drug discovery, food security,... (Review)
Review
Protein engineering is an emerging field in biotechnology that has the potential to revolutionize various areas, such as antibody design, drug discovery, food security, ecology, and more. However, the mutational space involved is too vast to be handled through experimental means alone. Leveraging accumulative protein databases, machine learning (ML) models, particularly those based on natural language processing (NLP), have considerably expedited protein engineering. Moreover, advances in topological data analysis (TDA) and artificial intelligence-based protein structure prediction, such as AlphaFold2, have made more powerful structure-based ML-assisted protein engineering strategies possible. This review aims to offer a comprehensive, systematic, and indispensable set of methodological components, including TDA and NLP, for protein engineering and to facilitate their future development.
Topics: Artificial Intelligence; Protein Engineering; Natural Language Processing; Antibodies; Data Analysis
PubMed: 37580175
DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbad289 -
The British Journal of Educational... Sep 2023Some research shows a link between sleep behaviours and school achievement in English-speaking children and adolescents.
BACKGROUND
Some research shows a link between sleep behaviours and school achievement in English-speaking children and adolescents.
AIMS
The current study aimed to examine the relationship between children's sleep behaviours and aspects of their school achievement in Mandarin-speaking children who are living in Taiwan.
SAMPLE
The present study reports on 69 second-grade children (age range = 6.84-8.4 years) recruited in Taipei City, Taiwan.
METHODS
Children's sleep behaviours were assessed through two standardized parent self-report questionnaires: the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) and the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC). Children undertook three standardized tests of word reading, reading comprehension and math.
RESULTS
Key findings include: (i) sleep disturbances are more prevalent when using the CSHQ scale than the SDSC scale, (ii) around half of second graders struggle with general sleep disturbances as observed by the CSHQ scale, (iii) children who go to bed before 22:00 and have at least 9-h sleep tend to exhibit fewer sleep disturbances, (iv) parasomnias as measured by the CSHQ are negatively correlated with reading comprehension after controlling age and nonverbal IQ, and (v) the amount of sleep (naps) during daytime is negatively correlated with Chinese character recognition, reading comprehension and math after controlling age and nonverbal IQ.
CONCLUSIONS
There is growing awareness of the value of research that spans culturally and linguistically diverse populations. Our study contributes to ongoing discussions about the relationship between sleep, and skills in reading and math in school-aged children in Taiwan.
Topics: Child; Humans; Mathematics; Reading; Self Report; Sleep; Sleep Wake Disorders; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 36760081
DOI: 10.1111/bjep.12586 -
Child Development 2023Here we introduce a Special Section of Child Development entitled "Formalizing Theories of Child Development." This Special Section features five papers that use...
Here we introduce a Special Section of Child Development entitled "Formalizing Theories of Child Development." This Special Section features five papers that use mathematical models to advance our understanding of central questions in the study of child development. This landmark collection is timely: it signifies growing awareness that rigorous empirical bricks are not enough; we need solid theory to build the house. By stating theory in mathematical terms, formal models make concepts, assumptions, and reasoning more explicit than verbal theory does. This increases falsifiability, promotes cumulative science, and enables integration with mathematical theory in allied disciplines. The Special Section contributions cover a range of topics: the developmental origins of counting, interactions between mathematics and language development, visual exploration and word learning in infancy, referent identification by toddlers, and the emergence of typical and atypical development. All are written in an accessible manner and for a broad audience.
Topics: Humans; Language Development; Problem Solving; Child Development; Verbal Learning; Mathematics
PubMed: 37814543
DOI: 10.1111/cdev.14020 -
JAMA Health Forum Aug 2023The Medicare Advantage (MA) program is rapidly growing. While previous work has found that beneficiaries with substantial health needs disenroll from plans at higher...
IMPORTANCE
The Medicare Advantage (MA) program is rapidly growing. While previous work has found that beneficiaries with substantial health needs disenroll from plans at higher rates, the long-term frequency of disenrollment is not well understood.
OBJECTIVE
To compare cumulative disenrollment trends in the MA program by beneficiary and plan characteristics.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
This retrospective, serial cross-sectional study included beneficiaries with any MA enrollment from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2020. Data analysis took place from September 2022 to March 2023.
EXPOSURES
Beneficiary characteristics, including race and ethnicity, length of Medicare enrollment, dual eligibility, and comorbidity burden, and contract characteristics, including vertical integration status, premium, and MA star rating.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
The main outcome was disenrollment from an MA contract within 5 years. Rates of cumulative disenrollment by beneficiary and contract characteristics were compared. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to assess the correlation between a contract's 1-year disenrollment and the contract's disenrollment over a longer period.
RESULTS
The sample included 82 377 917 beneficiaries (524 442 225 beneficiary-year observations; 56.7% female; mean [SD] age, 71.9 [10.3] years). After 1 year, 13.2% of nondually enrolled and 15.9% of dually enrolled beneficiaries had left their contract, increasing to 48.3% and 53.4%, respectively, after 5 years. Black enrollees disenrolled at the highest rates among race and ethnicity categories, with 14.8% disenrolling after 1 year and 52.6% disenrolling after 5 years. Contracts had a median disenrollment rate of 9.8% (IQR, 4.5%-19.0%) after 1 year and 56.1% (IQR, 23.1%-79.0%) after 5 years. Contracts rated 5 stars had substantially lower 5-year disenrollment rates (23.0% after 5 years compared with 41.2% for 4- to 4.5-star contracts and 67.2% for 3- to 3.5-star contracts). Disenrollment from a contract after 1 year was not well correlated with disenrollment after 5 years (r, 0.46).
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
This cross-sectional study found substantial cumulative rates of disenrollment from MA plans within 5 years between 2011 and 2020, with wide variation in 5-year disenrollment by contract. The findings suggest that evaluating long-term disenrollment rates in MA performance measures may capture different outcomes than single-year disenrollment alone.
Topics: Aged; United States; Female; Humans; Male; Cross-Sectional Studies; Medicare Part C; Retrospective Studies; Correlation of Data; Data Analysis
PubMed: 37624613
DOI: 10.1001/jamahealthforum.2023.2717 -
CBE Life Sciences Education Sep 2023Teaching undergraduate students to read primary scientific literature (PSL) is cited as an important goal for many science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)... (Review)
Review
Teaching undergraduate students to read primary scientific literature (PSL) is cited as an important goal for many science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) classes, given a range of cognitive and affective benefits for students who read PSL. Consequently, there are a number of approaches and curricular interventions published in the STEM education literature on how to teach students to read PSL. These approaches vary widely in their instructional methods, target student demographic, required class time, and level of assessment demonstrating the method's efficacy. In this , we conduct a systematic search to compile these approaches in an easily accessible manner for instructors, using a framework to sort the identified approaches by target level, time required, assessment population, and more. We also provide a brief review of the literature surrounding the reading of PSL in undergraduate STEM classrooms and conclude with some general recommendations for both instructors and education researchers on future areas of investigation.
Topics: Humans; Students; Reading; Technology; Engineering; Mathematics; Teaching
PubMed: 37279086
DOI: 10.1187/cbe.22-10-0211 -
STAR Protocols Jun 2024It is well-understood that the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields have unique challenges that discourage recruiting and retaining... (Review)
Review
It is well-understood that the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields have unique challenges that discourage recruiting and retaining underrepresented minorities. Research programs aimed at undergraduates have arisen as a critical mechanism for fostering innovation and addressing the challenges faced by underrepresented minorities. Here, we review various undergraduate research programs designed to provide exposure to undergraduates, with a focus on underrepresented minorities in STEM disciplines. We provide insight into selected programs' objectives, key features, potential limitations, and outcomes. We also offer recommendations for future improvements of each research program, particularly in the context of mentorship. These programs range from broad-reaching initiatives (e.g., Leadership Alliance) to more specific programs targeting underrepresented students. By offering a nuanced understanding of each program's structure, we seek to provide a brief overview of the landscape of diversity-focused STEM initiatives and a guide on how to run a research program effectively.
Topics: Humans; Minority Groups; Students; Technology; Science; Mathematics; Research; Universities; Engineering
PubMed: 38748884
DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2024.102997 -
Journal of Experimental Child Psychology Aug 2023A fundamental research question in quantitative cognition concerns the developmental relationship between nonsymbolic and symbolic quantitative abilities. This study...
A fundamental research question in quantitative cognition concerns the developmental relationship between nonsymbolic and symbolic quantitative abilities. This study examined this developmental relationship in abilities to process nonsymbolic and symbolic fractions. There were 99 6th graders (M = 11.86 years), 101 10th graders (M = 15.71 years), and 102 undergraduate and graduate students (M = 21.97 years) participating in this study, and their nonsymbolic and symbolic fraction abilities were measured with nonsymbolic and symbolic fraction comparison tasks, respectively. Nonsymbolic and symbolic fraction abilities were significantly correlated in all age groups even after controlling for the ability to process nonsymbolic absolute quantity and general cognitive abilities, including working memory and inhibitory control. Moreover, the strength of nonsymbolic-symbolic correlations was higher in 6th graders than in 10th graders and adults. These findings suggest a weakened association between nonsymbolic and symbolic fraction abilities during development, and this developmental pattern may be related with participants' increasing proficiency in symbolic fractions.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Child; Adolescent; Young Adult; Mathematics; Cognition; Memory, Short-Term
PubMed: 37043876
DOI: 10.1016/j.jecp.2023.105666 -
Current Opinion in Neurobiology Feb 2024The importance of understanding the nonlinear dynamics of neural systems, and the relation to cognitive systems more generally, has been recognised for a long time.... (Review)
Review
The importance of understanding the nonlinear dynamics of neural systems, and the relation to cognitive systems more generally, has been recognised for a long time. Approaches that analyse neural systems in terms of attractors of autonomous networks can be successful in explaining system behaviours in the input-free case. Nonetheless, a computational system usually needs inputs from its environment to effectively solve problems, and this necessitates a non-autonomous framework where typically the effects of a changing environment can be studied. In this review, we highlight a variety of network attractors that can exist in autonomous systems and can be used to aid interpretation of the dynamics in the presence of inputs. Such network attractors (that consist of heteroclinic or excitable connections between invariant sets) lend themselves to modelling discrete-state computations with continuous inputs, and can sometimes be thought of as a hybrid model between classical discrete computation and continuous-time dynamical systems. Bibliographic info here.
Topics: Nonlinear Dynamics; Neural Networks, Computer; Neurons; Nerve Net
PubMed: 38070404
DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2023.102818