Correlation Analysis Research Articles

Management Control System and Organizational Performance of Manufacturing Firms in Kailali District

This study examines the relationship between management control systems and the organizational performance of manufacturing firms in Kailali District. Management control system (MCS) is a crucial tool for strategic planning, budgeting, decision-making and internal auditing for the enhancement of organizational performance. The study looks into the effects of these tools on organizational performance. The study evaluates the significance of MCS components using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis and multiple regression using primary data from 20 manufacturing organizations. The results show that internal audits, strategic planning and decision-making have positively and significantly affected organizational performance. However, budget control has a positive relationship but insignificant effect on organizational performance. Among all the management control system dimensions strategic planning has been found most important dimension to affect the organizational performance of manufacturing firms. The findings of the study will be useful to the managers of manufacturing firms for the implementation of management control dimensions. The study added an area of comparison regarding the management control system.

Analysis of Mining Equipment Procurement Plan and Logistics Path Optimization Based on QUBO Model

By analyzing the configuration and operation plan of mining equipment, this paper establishes a linear programming model and converts it into the corresponding quadratic unconstrained binary optimization (QUBO) form. Based on this, the simulated annealing solver built-in in Kaiwu SDK and CIM simulator are used to study the configuration and operation plan of mining equipment. For work one: it is required to provide a procurement plan that maximizes profits within the budget range, that is, to determine the required excavator models and corresponding quantities. This problem is based on the premise of not considering the service life of excavators, with the maximum value of the product of the four excavator models and their corresponding long-term profits and quantities as the objective function, and with the constraints of start-up capital budget and excavator type, a 0-1 integer programming model is established. By using the decision variable of the model as a 0-1 variable and the constraint as an inequality constraint, the constraint is then transformed into the corresponding Hamiltonian operator, and the penalty term coefficient P is introduced and added to the objective function, thereby transforming it into QUBO form. Due to the low complexity and linearity of the model, the Kaiwu SDK's built-in simulated annealing solver and CIM simulator were used to solve the problem and obtain the final maximum profit and procurement plan. For work two: compared to work one, the condition of equipment lifespan of 5 years has been added, and it is required to plan the model and quantity of excavators that need to be purchased, while providing the matching relationship between excavators and mining trucks. This problem requires consideration of various cost conditions, with the difference between revenue and cost within five years as the objective function, and matching constraints, quantity constraints, and budget constraints as constraints, ultimately constructing a general linear programming model. By using inequality constraint relationships, the relaxation variable s in binary expression is introduced to express the constraint term, thereby transforming it into QUBO form. Afterwards, Kaiwu SDK was used to solve the procurement plan and obtain the matching relationship between excavators and mining trucks. For work three: Based on work two, the number of devices has been increased. For the constructed linear programming model, it can be transformed into a QUBO model or even a subQUBO model. Firstly, preprocess the data and use Spearman correlation analysis to determine the degree of correlation between the data, visualizing the data. For the constructed linear programming model, compared to problem two, only parameter variables were added, and the constraint conditions were consistent with problem two. A relaxation variable s was introduced to construct a constraint term, which was then transformed into a QUBO model. Combined with classical calculations, the subQUBO method was used. Finally, the procurement plan was obtained through Kaiwu SDK and a new matching relationship between excavators and mining trucks was provided. **************** ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS**************** This work is supported by ministry of education industry-university cooperative education project (Grant No.: 231106441092432), the research and practice of integrating "curriculum thought and politics" into the whole process of graduation design of Mechanical engineering major: (Grant. No.: 30120300100-23-yb-jgkt03), research on the integration mechanism of "course-training-competition-creation-production" for innovation and entrepreneurship of mechanical engineering majors in applied local universities (Grant. No.: CXKT202405), Mechanical manufacturing equipment design school-level "gold class" construction project (Grant. No.: 30120324001).

What Factors Influence the Price of Airbnb Listings in New York City?

This paper explores what factors influence the price of Airbnb listings in New York City. As a key participant in the short-term rental business, Airbnb contributes significantly to the local economy by providing a platform for connecting property owners and tourists. The purpose of this study is to improve our understanding of the ways in which these factors impact Airbnb listings profitability and to offer suggestions for the most effective pricing tactics. This study uses a publicly available dataset from Kaggle that contains details on Airbnb listings in New York City. This dataset includes information such as room type, location, neighborhood, cleanliness, availability of bedrooms and bathrooms, accommodation capacity, available days of the year, and the number of beds, along with feedback from guests about their stays. By conducting a thorough correlation analysis, the research examines how these different factors affect nightly prices. In addition, the research studies the relation between occupancy and price using Times Square as a center point, which is calculated by Haversine formula. The findings indicate a strong relationship between these factors and Airbnbs economic performance. According to the results, properties in prominent locations, with higher cleanliness ratings, more bedrooms and baths, bigger accommodation capacity, and more available days, tend to command higher costs and higher occupancy rates. This highlights the importance of these traits in making Airbnb rentals more profitable. Additionally, the study provides helpful advice to property owners on how to improve their listings. Hosts may considerably enhance room occupancy and total revenues by modifying parameters like as pricing, location, room type, and amenities in response to the findings. This study contributes to a better knowledge of short-term rental market dynamics and provides useful advice for optimizing economic returns in the Airbnb marketplace. correlation analysis; Haversine formula.

Global, regional, and national burden of seborrheic dermatitis in individuals aged 55 and older from 1990 to 2021: a trend analysis and future projections.

Seborrheic dermatitis (SD), an inflammatory dermatosis, significantly lowers quality of life, particularly in the elderly. Although studies have focused on the burden of SD globally before, trends among people 55 and older have received less attention. Utilizing the data released in 2021 by the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) consortium, our research was conducted to evaluate the global, regional, and national burden of SD in adults over 55 between 1990 and 2021 through incidence, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) alongside advanced methods such as joinpoint regression analysis. We also performed decomposition analysis to examine the contributions of population and epidemiological changes. Correlation analysis was used to explore the assocaition between Socio-demographic Index (SDI) /climate-related parameters and SD. The global incidence of SD among adults aged 55 and older markedly rose from 1990 to 2021. The incidence grew by 120.84%, the prevalence by 125.09%, and the DALYs rose by 124.25%. Higher burdens were observed in the high and high-middle SDI regions, whereas low SDI areas displayed the highest age-standardized rates. Environmental factors, particularly global warming, were strongly connected with the incidence and prevalence of SD. Future projections suggested continued increases in SD cases through 2040. This study highlights the increasing burden of SD among older adults, emphasizing the role of demographic and environmental factors. Targeted public health interventions addressing aging populations and climate-related risks are urgent to mitigate the impact of SD globally.

The impact of the financial crisis on banking market performance

The aim of this paper is to analyze market indicators of three banks operating in United Arab Emirates during the financial crisis 2007-2008, using four market indicators, market value, earnings per share, market to book value, and share yield. Statistical tools consisting of descriptive analysis, coefficient of variation, correlation analysis and ANOVA analysis were used. Coefficient of variation analysis indicates that the Bank of Sharjah performance indicators reveal a pattern of stability over the years 2006 to 2009 relative to its counterparts. Correlation analysis reveals a strong correlation between the variables of Bank of Sharjah, whereas a weak relationship was observed between share yield and other indicators regarding other two banks. ANOVA analysis for each of market value, earnings per share and share yield indicators shows significant difference between the most of the means. Moreover, the Analysis of Market Value to Book Value indicates an insignificant difference between the means of indicators. The results of this research analyses reveal that the financial crisis affects differently the market performance of these banks. Keywords: Firm Performance, Banks, Financial Crisis, Market Performance.

Depression as a mediator between sensory processing sensitivity and prefrontal symptoms in Spanish adults

Abstract Sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) is an innate personality trait that describes how individuals perceive and capture environmental information. The extensive literature suggests that people high in SPS may present health implications, such as depressive symptoms and prefrontal symptoms. Prefrontal symptoms are related to executive functioning, especially to emotional, social, behavior control problems such as decision making or planification/organization problems, impulsivity, working memory difficulties. We recruited eight hundred Spanish adults (M = 26.66 years old, SD = 12.24) and completed the self-administer questionnaires on SPS, depression, and prefrontal symptoms. This study performed correlation and mediational analyses. Our results indicated positive associations of the depression variable with emotional (r = 0.481, p < 0.001) and behavioral (r = 0.534, p < 0.001) control problems, and also with prefrontal symptoms as a general factor (r = 0.572, p < 0.001), and SPS (r = 0.201, p < 0.001). SPS was also positively correlated with emotional (r = 0.354, p < 0.001), behavioral (r = 0.276, p < 0.001) control problems, and prefrontal symptoms as a general factor (r = 0.303, p < 0.001). Depression also showed a partial mediation between SPS and both emotional (R2 = 0.38, p < 0.001, 95% CI [0.078, 0.142]) and behavioral (R2 = 0.339, p < 0.001, 95% CI [0.097, 0.168]) control problems. Depression seems to mediate the relationship between SPS and prefrontal symptoms, being highly sensitive individuals with a tendency to depressive symptoms and problems related to emotional, social, and behavioral control.

BSQ (Bank Service Quality) and Customer Engagement in Select Banks of Greater Hyderabad.

In today's rapidly evolving financial landscape, service quality plays a crucial role in determining customer satisfaction, engagement, and loyalty. This study evaluates Bank Service Quality (BSQ) and Customer Engagement in Select Banks of Greater Hyderabad, focusing on key service dimensions such as effectiveness and assurance, access, price, tangibles, service portfolio, reliability, and customer engagement. As Greater Hyderabad emerges as a significant financial and IT hub, understanding how banks cater to the needs of a diverse and tech-savvy population is essential for sustaining long-term customer relationships. The research adopts a quantitative approach, collecting primary data through a structured questionnaire from 150 individual respondents. The study employs statistical techniques such as ANOVA, correlation, and regression analysis to examine the impact of various service quality factors on customer engagement. Furthermore, demographic variables were analysed using frequency tables to understand respondent characteristics. The findings provide valuable insights into how different aspects of banking services influence customer perceptions, satisfaction, and long-term engagement. The study highlights the importance of continuous service enhancement for banks to remain competitive in a dynamic market. It also offers strategic recommendations for banks to strengthen customer relationships by improving service reliability, accessibility, and personalization. Ultimately, this research contributes to the broader understanding of banking service quality and its implications for customer engagement in urban financial markets like Greater Hyderabad.

Effect of Financial Planning Strategies on Financial Sustainability of NGOs in Nairobi County Kenya

With diminishing donor funding or its redirection to other pressing projects, humanitarian organizations are increasingly exploring commercial ventures to reduce their reliance on shrinking financial support. The primary focus of this study was to analyze the effect of financial planning strategies on financial sustainability of non-governmental organizations in Nairobi County, Kenya. The study employed a descriptive research design, drawing on theories such as Resource-Based theory. The study focused on a population of 201 NGOs that were fully registered with the NGO coordination board and located in Nairobi County. The primary data for this study will be collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Both qualitative and quantitative data was generated through the research process. Descriptive statistics, including absolute and relative percentages, frequencies, measures of central tendency, and dispersion (mean and standard deviation), will be employed. The findings were presented in tables and figures, with explanations provided in a narrative format. Furthermore, the study utilized Karl Pearson’s coefficient of correlation and multiple regression analyses to explore the relationships between the independent variables and the dependent variables, enhancing the depth of the research and contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing the performance of local NGOs in Kenya. Findings revealed moderate agreement on the effectiveness of financial practices but significant variability, indicating inconsistent implementation. Strong financial planning was positively correlated with improved performance, while donor fund management showed no significant relationship with organizational outcomes. These insights provided a comprehensive approach to enhancing financial sustainability and organizational effectiveness within the NGO sector.

Changes and clinical significance of serum vitamin A, 25-(OH)D3, TG2, IL-4 and IL-13 levels in children with eczema.

The study aims to examine fluctuations in the levels of serum vitamin A, 25-(OH)D3, TG2, IL-4, and IL-13 in pediatric eczema patients and explore how these changes relate to the severity of the condition. This retrospective study analyzed the clinical data of 159 children with eczema admitted to the hospital from May 2023 to October 2024 as the experimental group. The patients were divided into groups according to the severity of the disease: mild group(≤ 25 points, n = 45), moderate group(25-50 points, n = 72) and severe group(>50 points, n = 42). Collect each group of serum serum vitamin A, 25- (OH) D3, TG2, IL-4, and IL-13 levels and analyze them. The improvements in serum vitamin A, 25-(OH)D3, TG2, IL-4, and IL-13 levels in each group of children after 3 months of treatment were further analyzed. As eczema severity escalated, there was a progressive decline in Vit A and 25-(OH)D3 levels, while TG2, IL-4, and IL-13 levels correspondingly rose (P < 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between serum Vit A and 25-(OH)D3 levels and the SCORAD scores in children with eczema (P < 0.05). Conversely, TG2, IL-4, and IL-13 levels exhibited positive correlations with the SCORAD scores (P < 0.05). 25-(OH)D3 had the highest AUC for diagnosing the severity of eczema, which was significantly better than serum vitamin A, TG2, IL-4, and IL - 13 ( all P < 0.05 ). After 3 months of treatment, the serum levels of vitamin A, 25-(OH)D3, TG2, IL-4, and IL-13 in all groups were significantly improved (P < 0.05). Vit A, 25-(OH)D3, TG2, IL-4, and IL-13 correlate with the severity of eczema symptoms. The severity of the disease can be evaluated clinically according to the changes in these serum indicators, and the clinical application value is high.

Impact of parathyroidectomy on inflammatory and cardiovascular risk parameters in primary hyperparathyroidism: a retrospective analysis

BackgroundParathyroidectomy has been shown to reduce cardiovascular risk factors in some studies, although findings on these parameters remain inconsistent.ObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate inflammatory and cardiovascular risk markers in patients with Primary Hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) before and one month after successful parathyroidectomy (PTX).MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed PHPT patients who visited the outpatient clinic between 2015 and 2020. Patient demographics, hemogram data, calcium, parathormone (PTH), vitamin D, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), mean platelet volume (MPV), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and monocyte-to-HDL ratio (MHR) were recorded and compared pre- and postoperatively.ResultsThe analysis revealed significant postoperative increases in platelet, MPV, HDL, PLR, and vitamin D levels (p = 0.001, p = 0.001, p = 0.001, p = 0.024, p = 0.001, respectively). Conversely, PTH, calcium, NLR, and MHR levels significantly decreased (p = 0.001, p = 0.001, p = 0.011, p = 0.019, respective-ly). Correlation analysis demonstrated a negative association between postoperative PTH and vitamin D (p = 0.010, r = -0.292**) and a positive association between postoperative PTH and both calcium (p = 0.008, r = 0.309**) and NLR (p = 0.046, r = 0.227**). Multivariable regression analysis demonstrated that postoperative PTH levels were significantly associated with calcium (B = 39.82, Beta = 0.321, p = 0.0469), NLR (B = 110.02, Beta = 0.428, p = 0.0384), baseline comorbidity scores (B = -30.54, Beta = -0.287, p = 0.0361), and preoperative inflammation levels (B = 25.69, Beta = 0.311, p = 0.0386).ConclusionOur findings highlight a potential link between PHPT and inflammatory-cardiovascular risk, with parathyroidectomy exerting a beneficial effect within the first month post-surgery. The study also suggests that these risk factors may be modifiable with timely surgical intervention.Clinical trial numberNot applicable.

Impact of the severity and extension of dental caries lesions on Turkish preschool children’s oral health-related quality of life: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundDental caries is a prevalent oral disease affecting young children, leading to significant negative impacts on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). This study aims to evaluate the relationship between extension of dental caries lesions and OHRQoL in children aged 3–6 years using the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS).MethodsThis cross-sectional study involved 300 children aged 3–6 years and their parents or caregivers. Clinical examinations were conducted using the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (dmft) Index, the pufa Index, and the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) II. The ECOHIS was administered through interviews with parents or caregivers to assess the impact of dental caries on OHRQoL. Statistical analyses, including Kruskal-Wallis and binomial logistic regression, were performed to evaluate the relationship between pufa scores and ECOHIS results.ResultsThe findings revealed a significant negative impact of dental caries on OHRQoL (p < 0.05). The mean ECOHIS score was 0.62 ± 0.552, with higher scores observed in children with a pufa Index score > 0 compared to those with a pufa Index score of 0 (p < 0.05). Significant impacts were observed in specific ECOHIS items, such as oral/dental pain (mean score 1.61 ± 1.13), difficulty eating (mean score 1.26 ± 1.26), and trouble sleeping (mean score 0.528 ± 0.942). Parental distress was also notably high, with significant scores in feeling upset (mean score 1.07 ± 1.31) and feeling guilty (mean score 0.929 ± 1.26). Binomial logistic regression analysis showed that a higher pufa score was a significant predictor of increased ECOHIS scores (adjusted OR = 1.929, p = 0.039). The dmft score also significantly predicted higher ECOHIS scores (adjusted OR = 6.597, p = 0.048). Spearman correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between pufa and ECOHIS scores (r = 0.33, p < 0.05).ConclusionsThe study demonstrates that extension of dental caries lesions, particularly when measured by the pufa Index, significantly impacts specific aspects of OHRQoL, including pain, eating difficulties, and sleep disturbances in children, as well as emotional distress in parents. Early detection and management of dental caries are crucial in improving the quality of life for affected individuals. Dental practitioners should prioritize preventive measures and parental education to mitigate the adverse effects of dental caries.

Unraveling the Rhubarb (Rheum officinale Baill.) Root and Rhizosphere Microbial Communities in Response to Pathogen Exposure.

This study investigated the microbial community composition and structure in healthy and diseased rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum) root systems, examining both root tissue and rhizosphere environments. Alpha diversity analysis revealed significantly higher microbial abundance in the rhizosphere compared to root tissues, with notable differences between healthy and diseased plants. Principal coordinate analysis demonstrated that bacterial community composition was primarily influenced by ecological niches (47.5% variation explained), whereas fungal communities segregated based on plant health status. Network analysis revealed increased bacterial community complexity in diseased plants rhizosphere (579 nodes, 13,016 edges) compared to healthy plants (542 nodes, 8700 edges), while fungal networks showed opposite trends with significant reduction in diseased conditions (147 nodes, 30 edges vs. 205 nodes, 418 edges). Correlation analysis identified significant associations between specific microbial taxa and soil properties, with notable positive correlations between certain bacteria (Oscillospirales) and fungi (Barnettozyma, Mortierella) with soil organic matter and nutrient availability. Pathogenic taxa, including Fusarium and members of Burkholderiales, showed negative correlations with beneficial microorganisms, suggesting potential antagonistic relationships. These findings provide crucial insights into the complex interactions within the rhubarb root microbiome and their implications for plant health, contributing to our understanding of root rot disease dynamics and potential management strategies.

Spatial Correlates of Dementia and Disability After Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Dementia and disability are highly prevalent after spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Previous studies categorizing ICH by large anatomic boundaries have demonstrated that lobar ICH is associated with dementia, while ICH in the basal ganglia is associated with disability. This study aims to refine our understanding of the association between ICH location and post-ICH dementia and disability at a voxel level, which could improve the prognostic accuracy of these outcomes and provide mechanistic insights into post-ICH functional outcomes. In this cohort study, we segmented the ICH lesions from the noncontrast computed tomography scans from 882 patients from the MGH-ICH (Massachusetts General Hospital ICH Study) as the discovery data set and from 146 patients from the Yale-ICH cohort as the validation data set. Using electronic health records and follow-up telephone interviews, incident dementia (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision [ICD-9] codes of dementia or modified telephone interview for cognitive status <20) and disability (modified Rankin Scale score >2) were identified. The median follow-up times of the MGH-ICH and Yale-ICH cohorts were 2.9 (interquartile range, 1.0-5.8) years and 1.0 (interquartile range, 0.6-1.0) years, respectively. Two techniques of lesion symptom mapping were applied on the ICH lesions: sparse canonical correlation analysis for neuroimaging and voxel-based lesion symptom mappings. Dementia conversion after ICH was associated with ICH in the left temporo-occipital region (mean hazard ratio [HR], 3.62 [95% CI, 2.71-4.63]) and left superior longitudinal fasciculus (mean HR, 2.91 [95% CI, 2.40-3.52]). Development of disability after ICH was linked to the right cerebral peduncle (mean HR, 3.10 [95% CI, 2.44-3.94]), right pallidum (mean HR, 2.96 [95% CI, 1.99-4.25]), and right posterior limb of the internal capsule (mean HR, 2.54 [95% CI, 1.88-3.96]). Specific distribution of ICH lesions is linked to development of dementia and disability after ICH. These insights have the potential to enhance clinical prognostic models for patients with ICH, facilitating more precise predictions of outcomes based on hemorrhage location.

Epidemiological trends and predictions of urinary tract infections in the global burden of disease study 2021

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are prevalent; however, comprehensive and current epidemiological data remain scarce. This study examined the global, national, and regional burden of UTIs by sex, age, and socio-demographic index (SDI) from 1990 to 2021. The 2021 Global Burden of Disease study included age-standardised incidence rate (ASIR), age-standardised prevalence rate (ASPR), age-standardised death rate (ASDR), and age-standardised disability-adjusted life years rate (ASDAR). The estimated annual percentage change was used to depict temporal trends, whereas Pearson correlation analysis explore its correlation with the human development index (HDI), the SDI, and age-standardised rates (ASRs). An autoregressive integrated moving average model forecasted the UTI burden trends. From 1990 to 2021, the number of UTI cases increased by 66.45%, reaching 4.49 billion cases, with an ASIR of 5,531.88 per 100,000 population. The greatest incidence of UTIs was seen in women and older adult men. Tropical Latin America and low–middle SDI regions exhibited the highest ASIR, ASPR, ASDR, and ASDAR, while East Asia showed the lowest. ASDR and ASDAR decreased with higher SDI levels. ASR and HDI were weakly positively correlated with ASDR and ASDAR. ASIR, ASPR, and ASDAR are projected to increase until 2050. The global burden of UTIs is rising and is influenced by geographical location, age, sex, and economic development, crucial for guiding medical practices and forming relevant policies.

Multivariate Cox regression analysis of prognostic genes and therapeutic mechanisms of gastric cancer

Gastric cancer (GC) is a common malignant tumor, which originated from the epithelial cells of the stomach. It has the characteristics of high incidence and poor prognosis. Therefore, it is urgent to find new prognostic markers for the diagnosis and treatment of GC. Download gene expression matrix and clinical data from TCGA database and GSE84437 dataset. Through independent prognostic analysis and clinical correlation analysis, 74 prognostic related genes (PRG) were screened out. A PPI network was established for PRG to identify four key genes (KG), namely LMOD1, CRYAB, VCL and MYL9. Survival analysis showed that patients with high expression of KG had poor prognosis. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that KG was an independent prognostic factor. TCGA database verifies the importance and significance of KG as a prognostic indicator. Functional enrichment analysis showed that KG was mainly involved in cell adhesion molecules, adhesion spots and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. KG may be a potential therapeutic target for gastric cancer.

The mediating effect of air pollution on the association between meteorological factors and influenza-like illness in China

PurposeAlthough numerous studies have explored the complex relationship between air pollution, meteorological factors and respiratory infections, evidence for a mediating effect of air pollutants being involved in the association between meteorological factors and Influenza-like illness (ILI) is limited.MethodsCorrelations among ILI cases, air pollutants and meteorological factors were examined with Pearson correlation analyses. Further, we formulated six candidate mediation models to explore the mediating effect of air pollutant on the association between meteorological factors and ILI infections.ResultsThe meteorological factors minimum temperature/maximum humidity moderated by maximum humidity/minimum temperature and pressure directly affect ILI infections, and that some of meteorological factors can also indirectly affect them through air pollutants. Increases in maximum humidity and minimum temperature can directly reduce the numbers of ILI cases, or indirectly reduce them by reducing the concentration of air pollutants.ConclusionWhen the haze with low temperature, low humidity is forecasted by the meteorological agency, the environmental protection departments can take effective control measures to reduce the concentration of air pollutants, and public health departments should advocate human behavioral changes in order to mitigate and control ILI prevalence.

Care burden and quality of life among family caregivers of children with cerebral palsy in China: the mediating roles of social support and coping styles

BackgroundChildren with cerebral palsy have substantial caregiving demands, and the overall health of their caregivers is greatly affected. The contributing variables to caregivers’ quality of life must be identified. Our attention will be paid to the impact of caregiver’s social resources such as social support and caregiver’s personal resources such as coping styles on their care situation.AimsTo explore the relationships among care burden, social support, coping styles, and QOL of caregivers for cerebral palsy children by mediation effect models.DesignA cross-sectional study design.MethodsThe purposive sampling method was used in this study to select 189 caregivers of cerebral palsy children from the rehabilitation department of a children’s hospital in western China from May 2022 to August 2023. Self-designed demographic data questionnaire, the WHO’s Quality of Life Questionnaire, the Zarit Burden Interview, the Social Support Rating Scale, and the Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire were used for conducting the investigation. Correlations analyses between variables were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. The mediating effects were explored using the Process Macro and bootstrap method.ResultsAmong the 189 caregivers, 59.26% were mothers, 64.55% had received high school or lower education. The majority of caregivers were not employed (62.96%). Care burden had a detrimental impact on both physical QOL and mental QOL. Social support and positive coping style were positively correlated with physical and mental QOL. Among the mediation analyses, significant indirect effects were found for the mediation path of social support between care burden and either physical or mental QOL. Whereas positive coping style as a mediator was not statistically significant. Additionally, social support and positive coping style formed a significant serial mediation path.ConclusionCaregivers of cerebral palsy children suffer from a certain level of caregiving burden and an unsatisfactory living quality. Social support alone or in combination with positive coping style played mediating roles in connection of care burden and QOL. Future interventional research ought to prioritize boosting social support and developing positive coping style since they may exert the synergistic effect on both physical and mental QOL of caregivers.

Validation of a Noninvasive Approach for Cerebrospinal Compliance Monitoring.

Intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring is a cornerstone of neurointensive care. However, some limitations of invasive techniques for ICP monitoring to acknowledge are the risk for complications and the lack of robust evidence supporting individualized ICP safety thresholds. Cerebrospinal compliance (CSC) may serve as a more reliable indicator of brain health than ICP alone. Previously, intracranial compliance (Ci), was described as a mathematical model from invasive ICP to assess CSC, using ICP waveform amplitudes and cerebral arterial blood volume (CaBV) waveform amplitudes via transcranial Doppler (TCD). This study aimed to compare Ci with a surrogate parameter based on CaBV waveform amplitudes and pulsatile micrometric skull waveforms (Skw) amplitudes. This noninvasive parameter was named Bcomp. Neurocritical patients undergoing ICP monitoring were evaluated using TCD and the skull micrometric deformation sensor (B4C). ICP waveform (from invasive ICP probes) and Skw (from noninvasive B4C) were analyzed to extract pulse amplitudes, whereas TCD provided cerebral blood velocities from the middle cerebral arteries for CaBV calculation. CSC was measured using the volume/pressure relationship, with CaBV amplitude serving as the volume surrogate, and ICP and B4C pulse amplitudes as surrogates for ICP values. Agreement and correlation analysis was calculated between Ci and Bcomp. Data from 71 patients were analyzed, with 68% of the sample having suffered traumatic brain injury. Maximum CaBV was significantly delayed in patients with poor CSC (p < 0.001). Ci and Bcomp showed strong agreement and linear correlation (mean difference of - 0.28 and Spearman correlation of 0.88, p < 0.001). Using CaBV, which reflects changes in arterial blood volume during the cardiac cycle and Skw pulse amplitudes, Bcomp demonstrated high agreement and correlation with Ci, defined as the product of CaBV and ICP pulse amplitude. The observed shift in CaBV among patients with poor CSC suggests that this vascular marker is influenced by intracranial resistance. These findings are promising for the real-time, noninvasive assessment of CSC in clinical settings and warrant further research.

Guiding therapy by fractional exhaled nitric oxide &amp; impulse oscillometry parameters in non-asthmatic individuals with chronic cough

Background &amp; objectives Chronic airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness are typical pathophysiological features of cough variant asthma. However, the characteristics of airway inflammation and airflow restriction in individuals with non-asthmatic chronic cough and their guiding value of clinical treatment remain to be determined. This study explored the characteristics and correlations between fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and impulse oscillometry (IOS) in non-asthmatic individuals with chronic cough. It also investigated the possibility of chronic cough developing into asthma. Methods In total, 65 study participants with negative bronchial provocation test (BPT) were included in this retrospective study. Data were extracted from chronic cough patients’ electronic medical records, including the demographics, FeNO, IOS and spirometric parameters before and after BPT. Study participants were divided into high-FeNO group (FeNO≥25 ppb) and low-FeNO group (FeNO&lt; 25 ppb) based on FeNO levels. The correlation between the markers was investigated using the Spearman rank correlation test. Results We observed that individuals with non-asthmatic chronic cough exhibited significant increases in Z5, Fres, R5 and R5-R20 after BPT compared to before BPT. In addition, the IOS values of Z5, Fres, R5, and Rc were higher in the low-FeNO group than in the high-FeNO group, but a decrease in FEV1. Correlation analysis: IOS parameters showed a negative correlation with FeNO. However, there were positive correlations of FeNO with FEV1 and PEF. Interpretation &amp; conclusions Our findings showed that individuals with non-asthmatic chronic cough may have varying levels of small airway resistance and inflammation severity. A combined use of FeNO and IOS measurements is conducive to the early clinical treatment of individuals with non-asthmatic chronic cough.

MRI Assessment of Geometric Microstructural Changes of White Matter in Infants With Periventricular White Matter Injury and Spastic Cerebral Palsy.

Periventricular white matter injury (PWMI) is a high-risk factor for spastic cerebral palsy (SCP). To investigate the geometric microstructural changes in WM in infants with PWMI-SCP using MRI which may facilitate early identification. Retrospective cohort study. Twenty-three healthy infants (aged 6.53-36 months), 25 infants with PWMI-SCP (aged 6-33 months), and 32 infants with PWMI-nonSCP (aged 6-36 months). 3.0 T, T1-weighted three-dimensional gradient-echo sequence, and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) with a single-shot gradient echo planar sequence. The brain was automatically segmented, parcellated into major regions of interest according to the Desikan-Killiany atlas and volumes extracted. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) of regions were extracted from DTI data. Director field analysis (DFA) was used to assess the geometric microstructural properties of WM. Motor dysfunction was graded from l (mild) to 5 (severe) according to the Gross Motor Function Classification System. Tests included analysis of variance, correlation analysis, mediation analysis, and receiver operating characteristic analysis. Corrected P-values <0.05 were considered significant. Mediation analysis examined whether DFA metrics mediated the relationship between brain morphological and motor dysfunction. Models were constructed to identify PWMI-SCP. The PWMI-SCP group exhibited significantly elevated all four DFA metrics (splay, bend, twist, and distortion), primarily in the corpus callosum, posterior thalamic radiata, and corona radiata, compared to the PWMI-nonSCP group, and was associated with enlarged lateral ventricles, reduced deep nuclear volumes and motor dysfunction. Mediation analysis indicated that increased splay in the corpus callosum partially mediates (mediating effect ratio: 29.74%, 22.46%) the relationship between the lateral ventricles and motor function. The results showed that DFA achieved a higher area under the curve (AUC) than the FA + MD, especially in distinguishing PWMI-nonSCP from PWMI-SCP (AUC = 0.93). Monitoring fiber-orientational alterations may provide new insights into early identification of PWMI-SCP. This study utilized directional field analysis (DFA) to systematically examine white matter microstructural changes in three groups: periventricular white matter injury with spastic cerebral palsy (PWMI-SCP), periventricular white matter injury without spastic cerebral palsy (PWMI-nonSCP), and healthy controls. The results revealed significantly abnormal increases in the white matter geometric structure within the sensorimotor circuit in the PWMI-SCP group. DFA metrics achieved an AUC of 0.93 in distinguishing PWMI-SCP from PWMI-nonSCP. These specific microstructural changes provide critical insights for the early identification of PWMI-SCP. 3 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.