Years Of Data Research Articles

Mental health in children with and without ADHD: the role of physical activity and parental nativity

BackgroundPhysical activity (PA) can improve mental health, including anxiety/depression, in individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with minimal side effects, unlike pharmacotherapy that can result in significant side effects. However, the influence of PA on mental health among children with ADHD is understudied. Also, immigrants tend to have better mental health, but the influence of parental nativity on children’s mental health is unknown. We examined the relationship between PA, parental nativity, and current anxiety/depression among U.S. children with and without ADHD. We also analyzed whether ADHD diagnosis status moderates the relationship between anxiety/depression and PA or parental nativity.MethodsWe used national annual cross-sectional data from the 2016 to 2021 National Survey of Children’s Health to conduct weighted multivariable logistic regression and moderation analyses, with current anxiety/depression status as the outcome variable. The sampling involves selecting households with children and rostering children in the household from each state and the District of Columbia. A parent or caregiver of the selected child completes the surveys. We restricted the analysis to children aged 6–17 years (N = 140,977).ResultsThe prevalence of current anxiety/depression was higher in children with ADHD diagnosis (37.34%) than those without ADHD diagnosis (7.42%). Children with ADHD (versus no ADHD) had higher odds of anxiety/depression. Engaging in PA (versus no PA) and having immigrant parents (versus non-immigrant parents) were associated with lower anxiety/depression odds. ADHD diagnosis status significantly moderated the association between anxiety/depression and PA or parental nativity. However, the three-way interaction between ADHD status, parental nativity, and physical activity was not statistically significant. Stratified by ADHD diagnosis status, those who engaged in PA (versus did not) for 1 to 3 days, 4 to 6 days, and daily were less often diagnosed with anxiety/depression disorder among those with or without ADHD, especially children without ADHD. The odds were also lower for children with or without ADHD whose parents were immigrants than children with non-immigrant parents, particularly children without ADHD who had immigrant parents. Parental nativity did not significantly moderate the association between PA and anxiety/depression among children with and without ADHD.ConclusionsPhysical activity was associated with lower risks of diagnosed with anxiety/depression disorder among children, especially children without ADHD and those with immigrant parents. Considering parental nativity and incorporating personalized PA in ADHD and anxiety/depression management can improve mental illness and ADHD symptoms among children.

Deep neural network and transfer learning for annual wetland vegetation mapping using sentinel-2 time-series data in the heterogeneous lake floodplain environment

ABSTRACT The lake-floodplain wetlands are characterized by high biodiversity, difficult access, and significant environmental changes. Traditional remote sensing mapping methods struggle to generate consistent time-series data on wetland vegetation communities. Current research has endeavoured to address this issue through the application of deep learning methodologies. However, a significant limitation of these models is their reliance on a substantial volume of training samples, which contradicts the difficulty and high cost of obtaining samples from the lake-floodplain wetlands. Whether it is possible to construct a transferable deep learning model under small sample conditions and apply it to the mapping of lake-floodplain wetlands is an urgent issue that needs to be addressed. To solve this problem, this study first constructed a deep neural network (DNN) designed specifically for mapping complex lake-floodplain wetland vegetation under conditions of limited sample size. Subsequently, using 2021 as a reference year, a novel histogram threshold method was proposed to identify the unchanged samples for the target transfer years of 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023. Finally, annual wetland vegetation mapping was performed in Poyang Lake using DNN and sample transfer learning (STL). The results showed that high-quality annual time-series data of wetland vegetation can be generated using the constructed DNN and STL, with all overall accuracies exceeding 80%. The histogram threshold method, which combines SAD and NDVI indicators of key phenological period, can effectively solve the problem of difficulty in determining the unchanged samples in transfer learning for heterogeneous lake wetlands. Furthermore, the performance of STL based on the constructed DNN model was significantly superior to those based on support vector machine and random forest algorithms for mapping annual wetland vegetation communities using limited training samples. This study demonstrates that the effective application of DNN and STL will be highly beneficial for long-term monitoring of vegetation in lake-floodplain wetlands, particularly where sample availability is limited.

Post-hoc analysis of the tofogliflozin post-marketing surveillance study (J-STEP/LT): Tofogliflozin improves liver function in type 2 diabetes patients regardless of BMI.

Patients with type 2 diabetes are at high risk of developing steatotic liver disease (SLD). Weight loss has proven effective in treating metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in obese patients with type 2 diabetes, with sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors showing promising results. However, lean MASLD is more prevalent in Japan, necessitating alternative approaches to body weight reduction. We used the J-STEP/LT dataset including up to 3-year treatment data to analyze the effects of the SGLT2 inhibitor tofogliflozin on liver function and treatment safety and conducted a subgroup analysis based on body mass index (BMI; kg/m2, <20, 20-<23, 23-<25, 25-<30, and ≥30). This study included 4,208 participants. Tofogliflozin significantly reduced alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in participants with baseline ALT levels >30 U/L across all BMI groups, with median changes of -12, -16, -13, -15, and -15 U/L, respectively (P = 0.9291 for trends). However, median changes in body weight with tofogliflozin were -2.00, -2.75, -2.00, -3.00, and -3.80 kg, respectively (P < 0.0001 for trends), with no significant weight loss observed in the BMI <20 group. ALT levels were also significantly decreased in participants who did not lose weight. Safety assessments according to BMI and age categories revealed no clear differences in the frequency of adverse events. Tofogliflozin reduced ALT levels without substantial body weight reduction among lean participants. These findings suggest that SGLT2 inhibitors may be a viable treatment option for non-obese patients with type 2 diabetes and SLD.

How Does Inward FDI Lead to Trade Performance and Sustainable Growth In India?

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to examines the relationship between Foreign Direct Investment and trade performance (Export and Import) in India from 1991-2022. The purpose of the study is Causality analysis also, between FDI and trade with other considered variables. Methods: This study utilizes annual data from 1991 to 2022 from the World Bank (2022) and the Reserve Bank of India (2022). Data on GDP, Export, Inflation and interest rate, and FDI are collected from the World Bank. Autoregressive Distributive lag Model procedure has been used for the study in order to establish relationship between trade performance and FDI. Results and discussion: The Auto-regressive distributive lag-bound-co-integration (ARDL) method confirms a long-run association between FDI and export. Coefficient indicates significant and negative relation establishes between FDI and Export but the coefficient between FDI and import represent weak relation. Causality analysis reveals unidirectional relation between FDI and Export, and the direction of causality is from export to FDI. It means export causes FDI, FDI does not causes Export. A negative coefficient indicates that there is a need for efficiency-seeking and export-oriented FDI but negative relations support that Foreign Direct investors prefer market seeking FDI and they focused more on the domestic market opportunity of India. Research Implication: This result supports the market-seeking approach and FDI trade substitute theorem which confirms that the inflow of FDI in India is only for utilizing domestic market opportunity instead of exporting goods to other countries. Therefore, there is a need for efficiency-seeking or export-oriented FDI. The government should facilitate and accordingly create their policy to increase export-oriented FDI to improve technology and productivity of India as well as increases foreign exchange and infrastructure dvelopment in order to sustain growth of india. Originality: India’s FDI situation is presently seeing a growth with liberalized reforms over the recent two decades, several changes like ease of doing, infrastructural development, increased the limit of FDI in several sectors create alluring investment atmosphere having a beneficial outcome of the inflows. Result contributed towards trade and FDI relation that FDI comes from the other countries in india to capture our market potenials so government should try to enhance export oriented FDI in order to know the techniques and improves the export potential as well. Investment and export both simultaneously create a path for sustainable development.

Prognostic significance of the Questionnaire for Medical Checkup of Old-Old for the incidence of functional disability: The Shizuoka Kokuho Database study.

In the Japanese health checkup system for older adults aged ≥75 years, the Questionnaire for Medical Checkup of Old-Old (QMCOO) was adopted after 2020. However, the prognostic significance of this questionnaire for the incidence of functional disability is uncertain. The current study aimed to validate the prognostic significance of the QMCOO, and to develop a simple risk score for functional disability by analyzing health insurance claims data including annual health checkup data. This study included 111 282 older adults aged 75-90 years who did not receive long-term care services at baseline. The study period was between the earliest day of participation in the health checkup after April 2020 and September 2022. The participants who were certified as care level 2 and higher during this period were considered as incident cases of functional disability. Within a mean follow-up duration of 1.7 years (191 085 person-years), 4578 functional disability cases were identified. In addition to the basic covariates, among the 15 items in the QMCOO, nine were identified as independent determinants. The probability of developing functional disability that was calculated using the model was associated with older age, male sex, underweight and poor responses to the QMCOO items. According to the weighted score based on the model, the participants was classified as functional disability probability of <1% to >45%. The nine items in the QMCOO were associated with the incidence of functional disability. The weighted scoring system could be helpful for the use of the QMCOO. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2025; ••: ••-••.

Prognostic Impact of 1-Year Changes in Creatinine- and Cystatin C-Based Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate After Stroke on 5-Year Outcomes: Insights From the Third China National Stroke Registry.

The impact of long-term renal function change on stroke outcomes remains unclear. This study used the CNSR-III (Third China National Stroke Registry) cohort to determine whether changes in estimated glomerular filtration rate based on creatinine and cystatin C (eGFRCr+CysC) during the first year post stroke were associated with 5-year stroke outcomes. We included 4270 patients with centrally tested serum creatinine and cystatin C at admission and 1 year post admission and evaluated 5-year follow-up data. Patients were stratified into quintiles based on the 1-year changes in eGFR. The primary outcomes included all-cause mortality, stroke disability, and stroke recurrence. In patients with acute ischemic stroke, the mean baseline eGFRCr+CysC was 88.6±22.6 mL/min per 1.73 m2, which decreased by 5.6% to 83.6±20.7 mL/min per 1.73 m2 at 1 year. Compared with patients with relatively stable eGFRCr+CysC (Q3), those with decreased eGFRCr+CysC (Q1) exhibited significantly increased adjusted risk of death (hazard ratio [HR], 1.96 [95% CI, 1.27-3.04], P=0.003) and those with increased eGFRCr+CysC (Q5) exhibited borderline significance (HR, 1.51 [95% CI, 0.94-2.42], P=0.09), after adjusting for confounders, including baseline eGFRCr+CysC and albumin-to-creatinine ratio. Patients with a significant decrease (odds ratio [OR], 1.74 [95% CI, 1.25-2.42], P=0.001) or increase (OR, 1.51 [95% CI, 1.06-2.15], P=0.02) in eGFRCr+CysC also experienced a higher risk of disability. Both the decline and increase in eGFRCr+CysC levels in the first year post stroke were independently associated with all-cause mortality and stroke disability. These findings indicate that monitoring eGFRCr+CysC changes could be important for predicting long-term outcomes and informing poststroke care strategies.

Comparison of life expectancy determinants among gulf cooperation council members

BackgroundUnderstanding the determinants of life expectancy (LE) is essential for effective policy planning and enhancing public health in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. This study aims to elucidate the complex interactions among sociodemographic (SD), macroeconomic (ME), and health resource (HR) factors that influence LE among the GCC countries.MethodsWe employed a Meta-Analytic Structural Equation Modeling to develop a comparative model across six GCC countries using annual data from 1990 to 2020. The pairwise comparison utilized Partial Least Squares Multi-Group Analysis, allowing us to examine the differences of SD, ME, and HR influences on LE among the GCC countries.ResultsOur analysis highlighted that HR and ME factors directly impact LE across all GCC countries examined. We observed significant mediation effects where SD factors influenced ME or HR, affecting LE. Notably, the final pairwise comparisons revealed that the impact of SD on LE was particularly significant, with effect sizes ranging from 0.2679 (p = 0.0018) in the Oman-Kuwait comparison to 0.6686 (p < 0.0001) in the Emirate-Saudi comparison. Furthermore, while HR and ME factors consistently influenced LE in each model, the differences in their impacts across the six countries did not show significant variations between each pairing.ConclusionsGenerally, the findings highlight the critical need for GCC countries to strengthen the integrated framework of SD, ME, and HR factors rather than relying solely on HR improvements. Specifically, the findings highlight the importance of tailoring health policies to address specific sociodemographic contexts within the GCC to enhance LE effectively. The insights gained from our model could significantly inform targeted health policy initiatives and provide a valuable reference for future research in similar settings.

A satellite-based analysis of semi-direct effects of biomass burning aerosols on fog and low-cloud dissipation in the Namib Desert

Abstract. In the Namib Desert, fog is the only regular water input and, thus, is a crucial water source for its fauna and flora. Each year, between June and October, absorbing biomass burning aerosols (BBAs) overlie the stratocumulus clouds in the adjacent Southeast Atlantic. In some synoptic settings, this layer of BBAs reaches Namibia and its desert, where it interacts with coastal fog and low clouds (FLCs). In this study, a novel 15-year data set of geostationary satellite observations of FLC dissipation time in the Namib Desert is used, along with reanalysis data, to better understand the potential semi-direct effects of BBAs on FLC dissipation in the Namib Desert, i.e., through adjustments of atmospheric stability and thermodynamics via the interaction of aerosols with radiation. This is done by investigating both the time of day when FLCs dissolve and the synoptic-scale meteorology depending on BBA loading. It is found that FLC dissipation time is significantly later on high-BBA-loading days. BBAs are transported to the Namib along moist free-tropospheric air by a large-scale anticyclonic recirculation pattern. At the surface, the associated longwave heating strengthens a continental heat low, which modifies the circulation and boundary layer moisture along the coastline, complicating the attribution of BBA effects. During high-BBA days, the vertical profiles of the temporal development of air temperatures highlight contrasting daytime and nighttime processes modifying the local inversion. These processes are thought to be driven by greenhouse warming as a result of the moisture in the BBA plumes and BBA absorption (only during the daytime). A statistical learning framework is used to quantify meteorological and BBA influences on FLC dissipation time. The statistical model is able to reproduce the observed differences in FLC dissipation time between high- and low-BBA days and attributes these differences mainly to differences in circulation, boundary layer moisture and near-surface air temperature along the coastline. However, the model is prone to underfitting and is not able to reproduce the majority of the FLC dissipation variability. While the model does not suggest that BBA patterns are important for FLC dissipation, the findings show how the moist BBA plumes modify local thermodynamics, to which FLC dissipation is shown to be sensitive. The findings highlight the challenges of disentangling meteorological and aerosol effects on cloud development using observations and invite detailed modeling analyses of the underlying processes, for example, with large-eddy simulations.

Higher 3-year recurrence-free survival rate in patients with complete pathological remission following neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus immunotherapy for esophageal cancer: a two-center, propensity score matching study

BackgroundNeoadjuvant therapy is preferentially recommended for resectable locally advanced esophageal malignancies, with patients who achieve pathological complete response (PCR) anticipated to have longer survival rates. The aim of this study was to compare 3-year follow-up data for patients with esophageal malignancy who achieved PCR through neoadjuvant chemotherapy (nCRT) and to compare the findings with those of neoadjuvant immunotherapy plus chemotherapy (nICT).MethodsThis retrospective study included 85 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent surgical resection following nCRT (n=47) or nICT (n=38) between January 1, 2016 and January 1, 2020 at Fujian Medical University Union Hospital and Gaozhou People’s Hospital. Propensity score matching was used to match baseline data and reduce bias between the patient groups. Data during the neoadjuvant treatment and perioperative periods were compared, and follow-up was performed to evaluate differences in 3-year survival rate and recurrence-free survival.ResultsAfter propensity score matching, 28 nCRT patients and 38 nICT patients were included. During neoadjuvant therapy, the nCRT group had higher incidences of leukopenia and neutropenia than did the nICT group. No significant differences were observed in the incidences of hemoglobin decrease, platelet decrease, liver function damage, elevated serum creatinine, diarrhea, radioactive pneumonia or immunotherapy-related pneumonia, and esophageal perforation. The nCRT group had fewer lymph node dissections and lymph node stations. Postoperative lung infection (50.00%) was significantly higher in the nICT group than in the nCRT group (25.00%). The 3-year survival rates were 97.37% and 85.71% in the nICT and nCRT groups, respectively; the 3-year recurrence-free survival rate was significantly lower in the nCRT group (82.14%) than in the nICT group (97.37%, P=0.02).ConclusionsThese findings suggest that patients with esophageal cancer who achieve PCR after nICT treatment may have lower rates of disease recurrence.

Multidimensional well-being and income inequality in Central and Eastern Europe: A comparative analysis of CEE North and CEE Continental countries.

Central Eastern European countries (CEEc) are characterized both by huge diversity in income inequality and, on average, by lower levels of well-being than in the other European Union (EU) countries. Given that income inequality may affect well-being negatively, the present study aims to explore the links between income inequalities and different dimensions of well-being in the eight CEEc, i.e. Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. The analysis is conducted in the two groups of CEEc regarding low and high inequality in income distribution, namely CEE Continental group and CEE North group (corresponding to post-socialist corporatist and post-socialist liberal, respectively). The multidimensional concept of well-being is applied, enabling deep exploration of its links with income inequalities in the following dimensions: subjective well-being (happiness) and objective well-being (material, health, educational, and environmental dimensions). We estimate the vector autoregression (VAR) models based on annual data disaggregated into quarterly data covering 2004 to 2020. The empirical results of Granger causality testing, which was used to investigate the links between income inequality and multidimensional well-being, indicated that not only are there differences between the groups in the studied patterns of interconnectedness, but also the groups of CEE North and CEE Continental countries are not homogeneous in those links.

Analysis of the evolution in the number of manufacturing companies in Portugal between 2009 and 2021 to understand growth and decline trends

This project analyzes the evolution of the manufacturing sector in Portugal from 2009 to 2021, focusing on the variations in the number of active companies across various subcategories, such as food, textiles, and metal product industries. The goal of this analysis is to understand the dynamics of growth and contraction within each sector, providing insights for companies to adjust their market and operational strategies. Key objectives include analyzing the overall evolution in the number of companies, identifying subcategories with notable changes, and providing a comprehensive analysis of observed trends and patterns. The study is based on data from PORDATA 2024, and the research employs temporal trend analysis, linear and quadratic regression, and the Pareto representation to identify patterns of growth and decline. By comparing annual data, the project uncovers periods of growth and decline, allowing for a deeper understanding of the sector’s dynamics. The findings also highlight variations in periods of economic crises and during the Covid-19 pandemic, and recommendations for action are presented to support businesses resilience and continuity. These results are valuable for companies within the manufacturing sectors analyzed and policy makers, guiding strategic decisions to navigate the complexities of the market dynamics and to ensuring long-term organizational sustainable success.

Analysis of borehole strain anomalies before the 2017 Jiuzhaigou Ms 7.0 earthquake based on a graph neural network

Abstract. On 8 August 2017, a strong earthquake of magnitude 7.0 occurred in Jiuzhaigou, Sichuan Province, China. To assess pre-earthquake anomalies, we utilized variational mode decomposition to preprocess borehole strain observation data and combined them with a graph WaveNet neural network model to process data from multiple stations. We obtained 1-year data from four stations near the epicenter as the training dataset and data from 1 January to 10 August 2017 as the test dataset. For the prediction results of the variational mode decomposition–graph WaveNet model, the anomalous days were extracted using statistical methods, and the results of anomalous-day accumulation at multiple stations showed that an increase in the number of anomalous days occurred 15–32 d before the earthquake. The acceleration effect of anomalous accumulation was most obvious 20 d before the earthquake, and an increase in the number of anomalous days also occurred in the 1 to 3 d post-earthquake. We tentatively deduce that the pre-earthquake anomalies are caused by the diffusion of strain energy near the epicenter during the accumulation process, which can be used as a signal of pre-seismic anomalies, whereas the post-earthquake anomalies are caused by the frequent occurrence of aftershocks.

Effect of foreign direct investment on income inequality in Ghana

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) on income inequality in Ghana, by examining the effect of FDI flow, FDI stock and FDI per capita on income inequality in Ghana. The study adopted the quantitative and descriptive research design to analyse annual time series data on the dependent and independent variables spanning twenty-seven (27) years from 1996 to 2022. The ordinary least square and seemingly unrelated regression techniques were used for data analysis. The study revealed that FDI flow, FDI stock and FDI per capita had a statistically significant positive effect on income inequality. The study thus recommended that the government of Ghana should intensify its efforts to carefully develop and implement progressive and attractive policies that can induce more investment from foreign multinationals, thereby increasing the stock of external capital inflows that can be channeled into the most value generating sectors of the country to eliminate production inefficiencies and boost domestic output that can increase income inequality. Additionally, the government of Ghana through the appropriate agencies can improve the enforcement of its regulatory policies to ensure that multinational firms and the general activities of foreign investors consistently provide fair and commensurate wages to Ghanaian workers, in order to promote the beneficial effects that FDI has on reducing income inequality in Ghana. MNCs must therefore provide the same value of remuneration for the same level of skills-quality and demand that workers in other economies would receive. This will eliminate wage differentials, transition low-wage earners into higher income status and thus reduce income inequality.

Internal control, financing constraints, and R&amp;D investment: Evidence from Chinese pharmaceutical manufacturing industry

The pharmaceutical industry contributes significantly to global healthcare by researching, developing, and producing medicines, therapies, and treatments that enhance and prolong human life. This research utilizes the annual data of 327 listed pharmaceutical manufacturing companies in China from 2015 to 2022 and conducted an empirical analysis on the impact of internal control on R&amp;D investment and considered the mediating effect of financing constraints. The research results of listed pharmaceutical companies in China are as follows: (1) High-quality internal control can effectively promote R&amp;D investments. (2) A more significant boost in R&amp;D investment can be achieved by implementing internal controls that meet strategic and asset safety objectives. (3) Effective internal controls can alleviate financing constraints and promote research and development investment. (4) Large companies can significantly reduce financing constraints and promote R&amp;D investment through high-quality internal control compared to small- and medium-sized companies. (5) With further research, high-quality internal controls can drive R&amp;D investment by promoting profitability and maintaining good leverage levels. According to the empirical results, this research gives the relevant discussion and suggestions from the aspect of internal control key objectives.

Mepolizumab real-world effectiveness in severe asthma with an eosinophilic phenotype and overlapping severe allergic asthma.

Some patients with severe asthma have overlapping allergic and eosinophilic phenotypes and may be eligible for anti-eosinophilic or anti-IgE biologics. This post hoc sub-analysis assessed real-world mepolizumab effectiveness in patients with overlapping allergic and eosinophilic phenotypes, using 1-year data from the international, prospective REALITI-A study. The clinically significant asthma exacerbation (CSE) rate was assessed 1 year prior to (pre-treatment) and following (follow-up) mepolizumab treatment, stratified by baseline total IgE levels (tIgE; <60, 60-<190, 190-<550, and ≥550 kU/L), atopic status (yes/no/unknown), prior omalizumab use (yes/no), geographic baseline omalizumab eligibility (eligible/non-eligible), and baseline tIgE level and blood eosinophil count (BEC) threshold combinations (<81 or ≥81 kU/L and <300 or ≥300 cells/µL). Overall, 822 patients were included. CSEs occurred in 760 (93%) patients pre-treatment and 398 (49%) during follow-up. CSE rate (RR[95% CI]) was reduced in follow-up across all tIgE subgroups (<60 [n=173]: 0.31[0.25, 0.37]; 60-<190 [n=176]: 0.30[0.25, 0.36]; 190-<550 [n=170]: 0.26[0.20, 0.33]; ≥550 kU/L [n=155]: 0.28[0.23, 0.35]) and irrespective of atopic status (yes [n=422]: 0.29[0.26, 0.33]; no [n=52]: 0.33[0.23, 0.47]; unknown [n=348]: 0.28[0.24, 0.32]), prior omalizumab use (yes [n=151]: 0.37[0.30, 0.45]; no [n=671]: 0.27[0.24, 0.30]) or eligibility (eligible (n=349): 0.29[0.25, 0.34]; non-eligible [n=191]: 0.32[0.27, 0.38]). Furthermore, the CSE rate was reduced across all tIgE (kU/L) and BEC (cells/µL) combinations (<81/<300 [n=53]: 0.34[0.24, 0.47], <81/≥300 [n=103]: 0.33[0.26, 0.41], ≥81/<300 [n=98]: 0.36[0.28, 0.47], ≥81/≥300 [n=249]: 0.26[0.22, 0.31]). Mepolizumab demonstrates real-world effectiveness in reducing exacerbations in patients with severe asthma and an eosinophilic phenotype, regardless of any overlapping allergic phenotype.

Recycled used cooking oil (UCO) as a rejuvenator in high content reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) mixes: A life cycle assessment (LCA).

This study investigates the primary data collected at a used cooking oil (UCO) recycling facility to quantify its environmental impact when used as a rejuvenator in high content reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) mixes. Annual energy consumption data sets on transportation, storage, filtration, machinery, and purification are assessed using the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology with the LCA software Simapro 9.4 to evaluate the influential parameters and processes in reducing emissions. Pearson correlations of the production process show a higher association of carbon footprint with two dominant recycling factors: (1) electricity consumption (r=0.89) and (2) fuel consumption for transportation (r=0.37). A comprehensive LCA conducted on asphalt pavements with various RAP contents shows that a 28.81% reduction of carbon emissions can be achieved during the construction phase by adding 60% rejuvenated RAP. However, the relative uncertainty around RAP moisture content at the time of usage and faster pavement deterioration over the service life when high RAP content is incorporated into asphalt mixes might hinder the environmental advantage of adding RAP during the maintenance phase. Non-properly treated, blended, and rejuvenated RAP can be susceptible to early cracking, thus resulting in increased periodic maintenance. Moreover, the break-even point of economic appraisal suggest over 50% RAP content is beneficiary even at the higher discount rates (12%). Conducted LCA and sensitivity analyses emphasise the importance of collecting primary data from recycling facilities and considering both the construction and maintenance phases for implementing effective sustainable strategies.

Accounting for differential exclusions in the NordICC trial discloses stronger-than-reported effects of screening colonoscopy.

Recently, results on colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality reduction by the offer of screening colonoscopy were reported for the first time from a randomized controlled trial (RCT), the Nordic-European Initiative on Colorectal Cancer (NordICC) trial. Despite randomization, there was a substantially lower proportion of post-randomization exclusions of CRC cases due to cancer registry-recorded date of diagnosis before recruitment in the invited group than in the usual-care group. We aimed to evaluate the impact of such differential exclusions on the trial's effect estimates on CRC risk. We compared reported post-randomization exclusions of CRC cases due to cancer registry-recorded date of diagnosis, and we derived adjusted effect estimates on CRC risk accounting for the reported differential post-randomization exclusion of CRC cases in the invited group and the usual-care group. Reported post-randomization exclusion proportions of CRC cases were originally reported as 52/31,472 (0.17%) and 159/63,133 (0.25%) in the invited and usual-care group (p<0.005) in an analysis including participants from all four NordICC study countries, and as 52/28,277 (0.20%) and 164/56,529 (0.29%) in the recent analysis of 10-year follow-up data from three of the countries (p=0.018). Accounting for the differential exclusion proportions increased the estimated CRC risk reduction (95% CI) from originally reported 18% (7-30%) to 25% (95% CI 13-35%) in intention-to-screen analysis. Estimated reduction of CRC risk among screening attenders increased from originally reported 31% (17-45%) to 50% (25-69%) in adjusted per-protocol analysis. Accounting for differential post-randomization exclusions of CRC cases leads to stronger-than-reported effect estimates in the so far only RCT on long-term effects of screening colonoscopy.

1-year data on patient-reported outcome is enough after surgery for degenerative cervical myelopathy: a cohort study from the Swedish Spine register.

Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is the most common cause of spinal cord dysfunction in adults. Repeated follow-ups after surgery are resource consuming. The aim was to examine whether patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) change after the first year. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether it is necessary to obtain follow-up data from patients more than 1 year after surgery for DCM. We included individuals treated surgically for DCM in the Swedish Spine registry (Swespine), with available preoperative, 1-, and 2-year PROMs, primarily the European Myelopathy Scale (EMS) and secondarily the Neck Disability Index (NDI), and the European Quality of life Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS). A tertiary analysis included available 5-year data. Median, interquartile range (IQR), and Bland-Altman plots were used to compare PROM data at different follow-up time points. 642 individuals had baseline, 1-, and 2-year follow-up data, of whom 347 also had 5-year data. EMS was 14 (12-16) preoperative, 15 (12-17) at the 1-year follow-up, and 15 (12-17) at the 2-year follow-up. Corresponding data for NDI was 38 (24-50), 25 (12-42), and 26 (12-42) and for EQ-VAS 50 (30-60), 60 (42-77), and 60 (40-75). Similar findings were seen in individuals who also had 5-year data. Bland-Altman plots indicated good agreement between 1- and 2-year data, and between 1- and 5-year data and were without proportional bias. In individuals treated for DCM no clinically meaningful change in PROMs occurred after the 1-year follow-up.

Age-Related Vulnerability to Malnutrition-Related Mortality: Younger Patients are at Risk.

Malnutrition among older adults continues to be a prevalent health concern. While literature has highlighted an increased risk of malnutrition mortality for adults older than 65y, the age threshold at which malnutrition effects survival and mortality remains unexplored. Annual crude and age-adjusted malnutrition-related mortality data from 2009 to 2018 was extracted from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research database. We compared crude rates by year, 10-y age groups (15 to 85+ y), and disposition among age groups 65+ y using analysis of variance. We examined crude rates, year, and 10-y age groups (15 to 85+ y) using multiple linear regression. A Welch two sample t-test was used to compare the 10-y age groups 55-64 and 65-74 by crude rate. From 2009 to 2018, there were 275,282 older adult malnutrition-related mortalities. The differences in crude rates by year from 2009 to 2018 (P<0.001) and all 10-y age groups were significant (P=0.028). Differences in crude rates by disposition among age groups 65+ were not significant (P=0.062). A multiple linear regression between crude rates between years 2009 and 2018 by all 10-y age groups showed a significant association (β=0.06, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.09, P<0.001). The difference between the annual crude rate for 10-y age groups 55-64y and 65-74y was significant (95% CI=7.49, 13.41, P value <0.001). Increasing age correlates with higher rates of malnutrition mortality. While nourishment should be a priority for all patients, preventing malnutrition must be a priority for all care with the goal of survival and future research.

Carbon Emission Analysis and Carbon Reduction Strategy of Small and Medium-scale Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants in Cities and Towns

The carbon emissions of three typical processes （AAO, MSBR, and oxidation ditch） were systematically analyzed from the perspective of the whole wastewater treatment process based on the annual data of eleven urban small and medium-scale WWTPs in the year 2022, and the effects of different influent characteristics （TP, TN, BOD5, COD, influent volume, and COD/TN） on the carbon emissions were studied by using the partial least squares structural equation modeling （PLS-SEM） method. The results showed that indirect carbon emissions dominated the total carbon emissions of small and medium-scale WWTPs （69.5%）, and carbon emissions from electricity consumption were the largest source （43.1%）； the evaluated carbon emission intensity of the MSBR process [（0.363±0.007） kg·m-3] was lower than that of the AAO process [（0.439±0.099） kg·m-3] and oxidation ditch process [（0.396±0.025） kg·m-3], which had a superior level of low-carbon operation. The carbon intensity of the various components of small and medium-scale WWTPs was as follows： biological treatment （58.7%） &gt; sludge dewatering+deodorisation （17.9%） &gt; deep treatment （17.3%） &gt; pre-treatment （6.1%）； the biological part accounted for 51.5%, 53.9%, and 73.1% of the total carbon intensity of the three processes, respectively. In addition, the influent COD concentration and COD/TN had significantly positive （path coefficients of 0.584 and 0.5） and negative （path coefficient of -0.416） impacts on the direct carbon emissions （N2O and CH4, respectively）, and the influent concentrations of TN, BOD5, and TP had significantly positive effects on the indirect carbon emissions （electricity consumption） and indirect carbon emissions （material consumption）, with path coefficients of 0.078, 0.537, and 0.5, respectively. Carbon reduction in small and medium-scale WWTPs can be carried out by reducing carbon intensity, decreasing carbon operation levels, and strengthening government management.