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Accessible and easy-to-use standardized bioinformatics workflows are necessary to advance microbiome research from observational studies to large-scale, data-driven approaches. Standardized multi-omics data enables comparative studies, data reuse, and applications of machine learning to model biological processes. To advance broad accessibility of standardized multi-omics bioinformatics workflows, the National Microbiome Data Collaborative (NMDC) has developed the Empowering the Development of Genomics Expertise (NMDC EDGE) resource, a user-friendly, open-source web application (https://nmdc-edge.org). Here, we describe the design and main functionality of the NMDC EDGE resource for processing metagenome, metatranscriptome, natural organic matter, and metaproteome data. The architecture relies on three main layers (web application, orchestration, and execution) to ensure flexibility and expansion to future workflows. The orchestration and execution layers leverage best practices in software containers and accommodate high-performance computing and cloud computing services. Further, we have adopted a robust user research process to collect feedback for continuous improvement of the resource. NMDC EDGE provides an accessible interface for researchers to process multi-omics microbiome data using production-quality workflows to facilitate improved data standardization and interoperability.

Comparative analysis of (meta)genomes necessitates aggregation, integration, and synthesis of well-annotated data using standards. The Genomic Standards Consortium (GSC) collaborates with the research community to develop and maintain the Minimum Information about any (x) Sequence (MIxS) reporting standard for genomic data. To facilitate the use of the GSC's MIxS reporting standard, we provide a description of the structure and terminology, how to navigate ontologies for required terms in MIxS, and demonstrate practical usage through a soil metagenome example.

Aim was to investigate to what extent cognitive functioning differs by three socioeconomic conditions: low income, being without employment, and living alone. A total of N = 158,144 participants of the population-based German National Cohort (NAKO) provided data on socioeconomic conditions and completed cognitive tests. Multivariable confounder-adjusted regression analyses indicated that cognitive functioning was lower in those with low income (b = −0.21) compared to not having low income, living alone (b = −0.04) compared to not living alone, and being without employment (b = −0.09) compared to being employed. An interaction with age indicated that the difference in cognitive functioning was getting larger with age between the income groups and living alone status groups. Accordingly, the three conditions appear independently associated with poorer cognitive functioning. Pathways of how cognitive health in this population group can be improved need to be explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the associations of asthma status or age at asthma diagnosis with cognition using the Telephone Survey of Cognitive Status from a large population-based sample. Further, we investigated the possibility that asthma treatment mediates these associations. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study from the Indonesian Family Life Survey Fifth Wave (IFLS-5) collected in 2014–2015. A weighted linear regression model was used to examine the associations between asthma and cognitive functioning scores in adults aged 50 years or older. Of the 6660 total samples included in this study, 176 participants had asthma (2.6%). We controlled for age, sex, and urbanicity with further adjustments for adult covariates or childhood covariates, as appropriate. Results: There was no association between overall asthma status and cognitive functioning scores. However, asthma diagnosed at 0–19 years was associated with significantly higher cognitive functioning scores (Beta coefficient = 2.24, 95% CI: 0.62 – 0.87), compared to those without asthma. In the analysis involving current treatment status (restricted analysis), the significant association disappeared among those under current asthma treatment status, indicating that asthma treatment may mediate the association. Conclusion: Asthma might not be a risk factor for cognitive impairment. Observations of a significant association of pediatric asthma with higher cognitive scores need further investigation. Understanding cognitive functioning among older adults with asthma may improve the surveillance of cognitive decline inthis age group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Previous studies have shown that socioeconomically deprived groups exhibit higher lesion load of the white matter (WM) in aging. The aim of this study was to (i) investigate to what extent education and income may contribute to differences in white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) and (ii) identify risk profiles related to a higher prevalence of age-associated WMH. Design and Setting: Population-based adult study of the Leipzig Research Centre for Civilization Diseases (LIFE) in Leipzig, Germany. Participants: Dementia-free sample aged 40–80 years (n = 1,185) derived from the population registry. Measurements: Information was obtained in standardized interviews. WMH (including the derived Fazekas scores) were assessed using automated segmentation of high-resolution T1-weighted anatomical and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) MRI acquired at 3T. Results: Despite a significant association between income and WMH in univariate analyses, results from adjusted models (age, gender, arterial hypertension, heart disease, and APOE e4 allele) indicated no association between income and WMH. Education was associated with Fazekas scores, but not with WMH and not after Bonferroni correction. Prevalence of some health-related risk factors was significantly higher among low-income/education groups. After combining risk factors in a factor analysis, results from adjusted models indicated significant associations between higher distress and more WMH as well as between obesity and more deep WMH. Conclusions: Previously observed differences in WMH between socioeconomically deprived groups might stem from differences in health-related risk factors. These risk factors should be targeted in prevention programs tailored to socioeconomically deprived individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Non-pharmacological interventions show promising positive effects on dementia symptoms. Since the majority of dementia care activities are performed by family caregivers, it is important to know how they perceive and implement such approaches. We aimed to investigate the extent to which non-pharmacological interventions are considered by family caregivers in dementia care and the barriers they encounter in implementing them. Methods: A total of 30 family caregivers (mean age: 63.07 years, female: 70%) living inside (30%) and outside the homes (70%) of people with dementia participated. Descriptive data analysis was used to determine the frequency of non-pharmacological interventions implemented, perceived effects, lacking resources, and barriers, while inferential statistics were used to examine whether funding source varied between interventions with high versus low frequency. Results: The most frequently implemented non-pharmacological interventions were initiating/maintaining social contact, cognitively stimulating and rehabilitative activities, and time in nature. In general, enjoyment was the most commonly perceived effect of non-pharmacological interventions. Additional effects were reported with respect to well-being, cognitive decline, autobiographical memory, perception of competence, and other symptoms. Major barriers were organizational burden, accessibility, and a lack of funding. Further, lacking resources included a lack of services (e.g., therapies, transport, group activities) and information on possible interventions. Discussion: This study highlighted that family caregivers frequently implement non-pharmacological interventions in dementia care. Given the perceived positive effects on dementia symptoms, health care interventions are needed that address barriers and provide resources to foster the implementation of non-pharmacological interventions by family caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: People with dementia experience severe problems in their daily lives. However, little is known about self‐perceived problems in the course of dementia. The aim of our study was to assess self‐perceived problems with daily activities as well as individually developed strategies of older people of different cognitive status. Methods: Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 25 participants (mean age 67.6 years, 56% female, 24% healthy, 28% mild dementia, 48% severe dementia). Questions addressed problems in daily activities, their occurrence and the behaviour toward them, and their developed strategies. Information was summarized quantitatively and evaluated using the chi‐squared and Kruskal–Wallis tests. Results: Self‐perceived problems included awareness of physical and cognitive deficits in managing daily life, disturbing factors, and lost autonomy. Increased cognitive impairment was associated with more problems in daily life, even though people with severe dementia seemed not to recognize them. The most frequently reported strategies included orderliness, doing things immediately, and the use of external aids. While healthy people and those with mild dementia developed strategies, those with severe dementia reported only few strategies. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that self‐perceived problems in daily life and strategy development are strongest in mild dementia, while people with more severe dementia tend to perceive no problems at all while correctly reflecting their current state of dependency. Importantly, despite memory loss during early stages of dementia, strategies are still being developed. Accordingly, strategies for daily living should be taught in early dementia to sustain an independent lifestyle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]