Multiple Correspondence Analysis Research Articles

Patterns of Pregabalin Users from Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities: Results from the French OPPIDUM Program from 2008 to 2022.

In recent years, pregabalin has received growing attention due to its abuse liability. The aim of this study was to further characterize patterns of pregabalin users from substance abuse treatment facilities and detect changes in users profile over the study period. The data source was the Observation des Produits Psychotropes Illicites ou Détournés de leur Utilisation Médicamenteuse (OPPIDUM) program, an annual, repeated, cross-sectional, nationwide, multicenter survey that collects consumption data from patients with substance use disorders. First, we described the characteristics of pregabalin users and their consumption patterns. We compared these data between 2008 and 2018 (P1) and 2019 and 2022 (P2). Second, we conducted a multiple correspondence analysis to identify profiles of users. From 2008 to 2022, 291 pregabalin users (0.37% of all users) from 116 substance abuse treatment facilities were identified. The number of pregabalin users was lower than 15 per year in P1 (n = 89) and between 40 and 60 per year in P2 (n = 202). The number of users who reported pregabalin as the first substance leading to dependence increased significantly in P2 compared with P1 (p < 0.005). When comparing P2 with P1, there was a significant increase in precarity (p < 0.001), users in prison (p = 0.002), withdrawal symptoms (p < 0.001), dependence (p < 0.001), use of higher dose of pregabalin (p = 0.029), and acquisition by deal/street market (p < 0.001). The multiple correspondence analysis allowed for the identification of distinct profiles of pregabalin users: (i) a cluster with mainly users from P1, who presented a simple use of pregabalin, and were older (> 45 years), were involved in opioid agonist treatment (OAT), and obtained pregabalin legally; and (ii) a cluster with mainly users from P2, who presented pregabalin dependence, and were younger (< 26 years), reported pregabalin as the first substance leading to dependence, used doses higher than the market authorization, were in severe precarity, and were in prison. These data showed that the profile of pregabalin users has changed in the last years. Pregabalin use disorders also affect users without history of addiction.

Contemporary Axillary Surgical Management in Patients with Pathologically Node Positive Disease After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: A Survey of Members of the American Society of Breast Surgeons.

Axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is increasingly omitted for breast cancer patients with pathologic nodal disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). This study aimed to understand when and why surgeons consider omitting ALND after NAC. The American Society of Breast Surgeons membership was surveyed, and responses were tabulated. To identify patterns, multiple correspondence analyses followed by cluster analysis on coordinates provided by the former were performed. Chi-squared analyses determined whether cluster characteristics were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with omission of ALND. Of members, 328/2172 (15.1%) completed the survey. Most (60.7%) always offer sentinel lymph node surgery to cN1 patients who respond to NAC, and many (43.9%) sometimes omit ALND in the setting of residual nodal disease. Respondents less often consider omitting ALND with increasing volume of pathologic nodal disease after NAC and are less likely to omit ALND among patients with cN1 disease at presentation than cN0 (P < 0.05 across all volumes). Respondents cited radiation administration (74.1%) and belief that ALND would not improve locoregional (48.2%), distant recurrence or survival (47.6%) outcomes when axillary radiation is administered as reasons to omit ALND. The respondent group comprising male private practice surgeons, practicing ≥ 21 years, consider omitting ALND significantly more frequently. Surgeons sometimes consider ALND omission for patients with pathologic nodal disease after NAC but are more likely to do so in cN0 patients and patients with smaller volumes of nodal disease. These decisions are largely based on perceived lack of oncologic benefit despite absence of prospective data supporting this deescalation.

Integrated surveillance systems for antibiotic resistance in a One Health context: a scoping review

BackgroundAntibiotic resistance (ABR) has emerged as a major threat to health. Properly informed decisions to mitigate this threat require surveillance systems that integrate information on resistant bacteria and antibiotic use in humans, animals, and the environment, in line with the One Health concept. Despite a strong call for the implementation of such integrated surveillance systems, we still lack a comprehensive overview of existing organizational models for integrated surveillance of ABR. To address this gap, we conducted a scoping review to characterize existing integrated surveillance systems for ABR.MethodsThe literature review was conducted using the PRISMA guidelines. The selected integrated surveillance systems were assessed according to 39 variables related to their organization and functioning, the socio-economic and political characteristics of their implementation context, and the levels of integration reached, together with their related outcomes. We conducted two distinct, complementary analyses on the data extracted: a descriptive analysis to summarize the characteristics of the integrated surveillance systems, and a multiple-correspondence analysis (MCA) followed by a hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) to identify potential typology for surveillance systems.ResultsThe literature search identified a total of 1330 records. After the screening phase, 59 references were kept from which 14 integrated surveillance systems were identified. They all operate in high-income countries and vary in terms of integration, both at informational and structural levels. The different systems combine information from a wide range of populations and commodities -in the human, animal and environmental domains, collection points, drug-bacterium pairs, and rely on various diagnostic and surveillance strategies. A variable level of collaboration was found for the governance and/or operation of the surveillance activities. The outcomes of integration are poorly described and evidenced. The 14 surveillance systems can be grouped into four distinct clusters, characterized by integration level in the two dimensions. The level of resources and regulatory framework in place appeared to play a major role in the establishment and organization of integrated surveillance.ConclusionsThis study suggests that operationalization of integrated surveillance for ABR is still not well established at a global scale, especially in low and middle-income countries and that the surveillance scope is not broad enough to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the complex dynamics of ABR to appropriately inform mitigation measures. Further studies are needed to better characterize the various integration models for surveillance with regard to their implementation context and evaluate the outcome of these models.

Long COVID Clusters of Symptoms Persist beyond Two Years after Infection: Insights from the CARDIO COVID 20–21 Registry

Long COVID presents with diverse symptoms after COVID-19. Different clusters of symptoms have been reported; however, their persistence beyond 2 years after COVID-19 remains unclear. In this cohort study, we prospectively evaluated individuals with previous severe COVID-19 presenting with long COVID at a two-year follow-up. We characterized the included patients and performed a cluster analysis of symptoms through multiple correspondence analysis and hierarchical clustering. A total of 199 patients with long COVID were included. The median age was 58 years (48–69), 56% were male, and the median follow-up time since the COVID-19 diagnosis was 26 months (IQR: 25, 27). Three symptom clusters were identified: Cluster 1 is characterized by fatigue, myalgia/arthralgia, a low prevalence of symptoms, and a lack of specific symptoms; Cluster 2 is defined by a high prevalence of fatigue, myalgia/arthralgia, and cardiorespiratory symptoms, including palpitations, shortness of breath, cough, and chest pain; and Cluster 3 is demonstrated a high prevalence of ageusia, anosmia, fatigue, and cardiorespiratory symptoms. Our study reinforces the concept of symptom clustering in long COVID, providing evidence that these clusters may persist beyond two years after a COVID-19 diagnosis. This highlights the chronic and debilitating nature of long COVID and the importance of developing strategies to mitigate symptoms in these patients.

A global survey of the societal benefits of trophy hunting in Africa

African trophy hunting is controversial. Central to the debate on this practice is whether it may be justified by any broader provisions to African society. These typically include meat supply to poor communities, problem animal control, and the funding of conservation and community development. The societal role of African hunting is as contested as the practice itself, with proponents advocating for the benefits of hunting, while critics point to these being inadequate. Little is known about the role of location and demography in the debate on hunting benefits. Here we circulated an anonymous online survey through our international networks. We asked respondents to indicate which (if any) benefits they thought may justify the practice and whether they supported African trophy hunting, or not. We also collected data on respondent geographic location, age, gender, and employment within conservation. The 5755 responses were analysed using multiple correspondence analysis and provided strong evidence for an association between the level of support/rejection of trophy hunting and potential benefits that were perceived to justify the practice. Funding of wildlife conservation through hunting was the most frequently selected benefit, even among many respondents with a neutral or slightly negative view toward trophy hunting as a practice. Respondents strongly opposed to trophy hunting were more likely to reject all societal benefits of hunting. There was some divergence in views between Africa-based respondents, and those outside of Africa. We suggest that any policy development on African trophy hunting be required to incorporate the views of all African stakeholders.

The impact of corporate governance and corporate social responsibility on SA REITs’ performance

ABSTRACT Corporate governance (CG) is one of the most sought after areas of research globally. This paper employs a corporate governance index (CGI) formulated from the KING III and IV reports to examine the link between corporate performance and the quality of CG and corporate social responsibility (CSR) of SA REITs listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). The CGI index is created from King III and IV to measure the compliance of 33 SA REITs listed on the JSE as of January 2023. These REITs are assessed from 2013. The empirical investigation using multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) reveals that CG practices have a positive influence on firm performances measured by TSR (such as total share return). The results imply that CG’s standard principles influences the firm performance of SA REITs with a higher magnitude. The CSR index is created from the King reports, and the MCA was also used. This indicates that an SA REIT that complies with CSR regulations will improve returns.

Utilization of maternal health facilities and rural women’s well-being: towards the attainment of sustainable development goals

BackgroundThe sustenance of any household is tied to the well-being of the mother's health before, during, and after pregnancy. Maternal health care has continued a downward slope, increasing maternal mortality in rural communities in Nigeria. Presently, few empirical findings connect maternal healthcare facilities' use to mothers' well-being in Nigeria. Using maternal health facilities and the well-being of rural women is crucial in achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, and 3 (No poverty, zero hunger, good health, and well-being).ObjectiveThe objective of the study was to examine the level of maternal healthcare utilization and its effect on mothers’ well-being status among mothers in rural Nigeria.MethodsIn this study, secondary data extracted from the Nigeria’s 2018 National Demographic Health Survey was used. Data was analyzed with Multiple correspondence analysis, Fuzzy set analysis, and Extended ordered logit model.ResultsWomen in rural Nigeria were moderate users of maternal health care services and had moderate well-being indices (0.54 ± 0.2, 0.424 ± 0.2, respectively). Mothers' moderate well-being status was increased by using maternal health care facilities, having a larger household, and having mothers who worked exclusively in agriculture.ConclusionWe concluded that mothers in rural Nigeria use maternal healthcare facilities moderately, and their well-being level was improved using maternal healthcare facilities. Therefore, Nigeria’s Ministry of Health should raise awareness about the vitality of mothers using health care services before, during, and after pregnancy. In order to promote greater female participation in full-scale agricultural production, it is imperative for the Nigerian government to allocate substantial resources in the form of subsidies and incentives. The Nigerian government should source these resources from various channels, including expanded development cooperation. Additionally, policymakers should focus on designing developmental programmes specifically tailored for rural households and the health sector.

Exploring the Relationships among HRM Investment, Strategy Implementation, and Firm Performance with Multiple Correspondence Analysis

This study visually explores the relationships among human resource management (HRM) investment, strategy implementation, and firm performance for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Korea. This exploratory research focuses on the significance of strategy implementation, an often overlooked factor in the relationship between HRM and firm performance, as well as HRM investment, which can enable the development of organizational capabilities. We conducted a multiple correspondence analysis to understand the interrelationship between HRM investment, competitive strategy implementation, and firm performance. We differentiated the results by group type according to the level of HRM investment, competitive strategy implementation, and firm performance. We found that firms with high HRM investment achieve the highest performance by implementing an ambidextrous strategy that simultaneously pursues cost leadership and differentiation. Ultimately, this study’s results suggest that for firms to create a competitive advantage through the strategic capitalization of human resources, long-term and continuous investment in HRM is necessary, even if short-term visible effects are not observed while the HRM system is being built, to eventually establish the organization’s capacity to support strategy execution. This study’s potential contribution is to extend the resource-based view by establishing the role of strategy implementation in linking HRM systems as organizational capabilities to performance.

First language primacy in multilingualism and emotion research: a view from Africa

ABSTRACT The interaction between multilingualism and emotions has so far mostly been researched in Northern contexts. The findings obtained suggest that the first language is typically preferred for emotional and mental activities (i.e. ‘first language primacy’). In this article, we extend this area of investigation to Africa. We use the Bilingualism and Emotions Questionnaire to probe first language primacy in South Africa, employing a novel analytical approach – multiple correspondence analysis – that allows us to examine the relationship between particular languages and their order of acquisition. Our findings, in part, do reflect favouring of the L1, but with two important qualifications. First, English is also widely used for emotional expression in non-intimate domains. Second, L1 isiXhosa speakers prefer English for mental calculations, and isiXhosa is generally not associated with positive emotional characteristics. We explain these trends in relation to the multilingual context of South Africa, which, like many postcolonial countries, uses a former colonial language extensively in formal institutional spaces.

Multiple Correspondence Analysis for Assessment of the Socioeconomic and Social Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Gezira State, Sudan

Background COVID-19 spread in Sudan like other countries in the world. The first COVID-19 case in Sudan was confirmed on 13 March 2020. It has been shown that Sudan's economy was affected before the COVID-19 pandemic because of currency increases, high inflation, and the incapability of the authorities to propose support. Methods The study aimed to assess the economic and social influence of COVID-19 in Al Gazira State, Sudan. This study used the primary data collected from Gezira state in Sudan. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection in 2020-2021, and the sample size was 800 participants. An analysis of multiple correspondences was used to analyze the data concerning COVID-19. The study was validated by ensuring that the survey follows sound research methodologies. This includes clearly defining research questions, using appropriate data collection methods, and applying rigorous analytical techniques. Besides that, it is important to explore the impact of the socioeconomic, demographic, and geographic variables. Results The educational level distribution shows that 36.7% of urban and 26.6% of rural residents have completed secondary education. Furthermore, all participants, 100% in urban regions and 99% in rural areas, were aware of the COVID-19 epidemic. Likewise, all participants in urban areas and 99.5% in rural areas were informed about the lockdowns and measures to curb the spread of COVID-19. Concerning the decision to refrain from attending social gatherings amid COVID-19, 87.6% of participants in urban areas and 75.3% in rural regions opted to cancel such events. Similarly, 86.2% in urban areas and 73.4% in rural areas believe avoiding handshakes is necessary to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Regarding concerns about job loss during the COVID-19 lockdown period, 52.4% of rural participants did not express anxiety about potential job loss. Conversely, 55.3% of respondents in rural areas were indeed anxious about possibly losing their jobs. The results obtained from the multiple correspondence analysis revealed a relationship between the socioeconomic and demographic variables concerning COVID-19 epidemics. Conclusion This study concluded that socioeconomic, demographic, and geographic variables have a combined influence on the COVID-19 epidemic. One potential technical contribution to the assessment of the economic and social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic could be the application of sophisticated data analysis and modeling techniques to comprehend the complex interrelationships among the numerous components impacted by the pathogen. Predictive models, machine learning, data analytics, simulation studies, and geographic analysis are a few examples of similar techniques.

Engineering Information Format Utilisation Across Building Design Stages: An Exploration of BIM Applicability in China

Building Information Modelling (BIM) has been extensively advocated in the construction industry for its potential to improve design efficiency and quality. However, its application continues to encounter considerable resistance from designers because BIM is less efficient than conventional 2D and 3D data formats in some design tasks. Consequently, a flexible approach that integrates BIM into existing workflows, instead of fully replacing traditional data formats, is believed to better enhance BIM application. Given this concern, this study conducts a questionnaire survey among Chinese designers to investigate the engineering information formats used in practice and to assess the potential and applicability of this flexible approach. Analysis of the survey responses using relevance analysis, logistic regression, and multiple correspondence analysis reveals that BIM is more frequently used for coordinating multi-disciplinary data in the later stages of project development than in early design phases. Conversely, conventional 2D and 3D formats are preferred for creating and comparing design alternatives during the concept and developed design stages. A practical application for BIM emerges in the technical design stage of prefabricated construction projects. These results suggest a promising approach for BIM application: allowing the use of conventional data format in the concept and developed design stages, integrating these designs into a shared BIM model in the technical design stage, and maintaining them in the BIM model thereafter. Besides offering an in-depth analysis of engineering information format utilization, this study offers practical strategies for contractors, policymakers, and BIM developers to extend BIM application and promotion.

The institutional logics of love: the order of passion in an intimate field

AbstractWe use Multiple Correspondence Analysis to capture the institutional logics of love and intimacy among a random sample of American university students. Comparing the theoretical assumptions of field theory and the institutional logics approach we explore whether institutional logics of intimacy exist, what kinds of practices are gathered in these logics, and whether these institutional logics are shaped by the actors’ field capitals, viz. gender and social class. Using survey data collected from a random sample of 1315 students from a large Pacific university (PU) we find that institutional logics of intimacy come in multiple forms: abstinence, loving sex and hookup sex, each characterized by its specific doings, feelings, and sayings. Our analyses further suggest that the logics of intimate practice have their own internal order, or grammar, which is only weakly conditioned by persons’ class or gender positions in the social structure. Although the perduring logics of intimacy are largely autonomous from persons’ positions in the field, the effects we do find largely echo Armstrong and Hamilton’s account of college life as a class project of young privileged women whose social networks formed through the Greek party scene (Armstrong and Hamilton in Paying for the Party. How College Maintains Inequality, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, 2013). Constellations of meaningful practice, not distributions of capitals among persons, overwhelmingly organize the pathways of practice.

Flood vulnerability assessment in rural and urban informal settlements: case study of Karonga District and Lilongwe City in Malawi

AbstractFlood vulnerability assessment (FVA) informs the disaster risk reduction and preparedness process in both rural and urban areas. However, many flood-vulnerable regions like Malawi still lack FVA supporting frameworks in all phases (pre-trans-post disaster). Partly, this is attributed to lack of the evidence-based studies to inform the processes. This study was therefore aimed at assessing households’ flood vulnerability (HFV) in rural and urban informal areas of Malawi, using case studies of Traditional Authority (T/A) Kilupula of Karonga District (KD) and Mtandire Ward in Lilongwe City (LC). A household survey was used to collect data from a sample of 545 household participants. Vulnerability was explored through a combination of underlying vulnerability factors (UVFs)-physical-social-economic-environmental and cultural with vulnerability components (VCs)-exposure-susceptibility and resilience. The UVFs and VCs were agglomerated using binomial multiple logit regression model. Variance inflation factor (VIF) was used to check the multicollinearity of variables in the regression model. HFV was determined based on the flood vulnerability index (FVI). The data were analysed using Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA), artificial neural network (ANN) and STATA. The results reveal a total average score of high vulnerability (0.62) and moderate vulnerability (0.52) on MCA in T/A Kilupula of Karonga District and Mtandire Ward of Lilongwe City respectively. The FVI revealed very high vulnerability on enviroexposure factors (EEFs) ($$0.9$$ 0.9 ) in LC and$$(0.8$$ ( 0.8 ) in KD, followed by ecoresilience factors (ERFs) (0.8) in KD and$$(0.6$$ ( 0.6 ) in LC and physioexposure factors (PEFs) ($$0.5)$$ 0.5 ) in LC besides 0.6 in KD for the combined UVFs and VCs. The study concludes that the determinants of households’ flood vulnerability are place settlement, low-risk knowledge, communication accessibility, lack of early warning systems, and limited access to income of household heads. The study recommends that an FVA framework should be applied to strengthen the political, legal, social, and economic responsibilities of government for building the resilience of communities and supporting planning and decision-making processes in flood risk management.

Farmers’ Adoption, Knowledge, and Perceptions of Tick Control Measures on Dairy Farms in Subtropical Areas of Continental Ecuador

The application of tick control strategies on tropical dairy cattle strongly relies on farmers’ uptake, knowledge, and perceptions of the efficacy of control measures. This study aims to identify common and uncommon tick control practices employed by dairy farmers in subtropical areas of Ecuador and associate them with the presence of infestation and acaricide resistance. Data were collected through a cross-sectional survey and participatory meetings. Multiple correspondence analysis was used to explore the association between management variables and the level of tick infestation and resistance. It was determined that the main method of acaricide control is still chemical, mainly using spray baths. Generally, when this form of application is used, acaricides are overdosed, in contrast to the pour-on method with underdosage. Among the measures farmers adopt when chemical treatment has failed is to use overdoses of products, mix different acaricides, and use focused treatments (wipe cloth) with irritant substances. The absence of a high level of infestation was related to acaricide dips every 3–4 weeks and the use of intensive grazing. On the other hand, the high infestation was related to the use of organophosphates, wipe cloth application, and the report of tick-borne diseases (TBDs). A small group of farmers have good knowledge and seek alternatives to chemical control, experimenting with biological controls, herbal extracts, manual tick removal, and paddock control. Additionally, farmers reported the presence of TBDs (47%) and the presence of animals poisoned by acaricides (6%), which died in 75% of those cases. Farmers frequently mentioned that tick infestation induces milk drop production and weight loss and is associated with the presence of TBDs. This information is crucial to improve tick control management in Ecuador, particularly through implementing practices that mitigate resistance to acaricides and ensure long-term solutions that help maintain the efficacy of tick control treatments.

Machine Learning in Allergic Contact Dermatitis: Identifying (Dis)similarities between Polysensitized and Monosensitized Patients

Background: Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a delayed hypersensitivity reaction occurring in sensitized individuals due to exposure to allergens. Polysensitization, defined as positive reactions to multiple unrelated haptens, increases the risk of ACD development and affects patients’ quality of life. The aim of this study is to apply machine learning in order to analyze the association between ACD, polysensitization, individual susceptibility, and patients’ characteristics. Methods: Patch test results and demographics from 400 ACD patients (Study protocol Nr. 3765/2022), categorized as polysensitized or monosensitized, were analyzed. Classic statistical analysis and multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) were utilized to explore relationships among variables. Results: The findings revealed significant associations between patient characteristics and ACD patterns, with hand dermatitis showing the strongest correlation. MCA provided insights into the complex interplay of demographic and clinical factors influencing ACD prevalence. Conclusion: Overall, this study highlights the potential of machine learning in unveiling hidden patterns within dermatological data, paving the way for future advancements in the field.

Potential suicide risk among the college student population: machine learning approaches for identifying predictors and different students’ risk profiles

BackgroundSuicide is one of the leading causes of death among young people and university students. Research has identified numerous socio-demographic, relational, and clinical factors as potential predictors of suicide risk, and machine learning techniques have emerged as promising ways to improve risk assessment.ObjectiveThis cross-sectional observational study aimed at identifying predictors and college student profiles associated with suicide risk through a machine learning approach.MethodsA total of 3102 students were surveyed regarding potential suicide risk, socio-demographic characteristics, academic career, and physical/mental health and well-being. The classification tree technique and the multiple correspondence analysis were applied to define students’ profiles in terms of suicide risk and to detect the main predictors of such a risk.ResultsAmong the participating students, 7% showed high potential suicide risk and 3.8% had a history of suicide attempts. Psychological distress and use of alcohol/substance were prominent predictors of suicide risk contributing to define the profile of high risk of suicide: students with significant psychological distress, and with medium/high-risk use of alcohol and psychoactive substances. Conversely, low psychological distress and low-risk use of alcohol and substances, together with religious practice, represented the profile of students with low risk of suicide.ConclusionsMachine learning techniques could hold promise for assessing suicide risk in college students, potentially leading to the development of more effective prevention programs. These programs should address both risk and protective factors and be tailored to students’ needs and to the different categories of risk.

Understanding the futsal game moments through the eyes of futsal coaches: a comparison of expert and novice coaches

ABSTRACT Coaches rely on the information detected in the performance environment to regulate the quantity and quality of the decisions made during matches. This study used an expert-novice paradigm to describe coaches’ gaze behavior in offensive and defensive game moments of futsal. Twenty coaches (ten expert and ten novices) participated in the study. The experimental conditions contrasted their gaze behavior when watching 71 video clips of the game, both when the team was attacking and when the team was defending. The dependent variables for gaze behaviour were organized in game moments and described using biplots from multiple correspondence analysis. Overall, the results revealed a relationship between the coaches’ level of expertise and the visual information searched at each futsal game moment. Expert coaches focused more on the information related to the players without the ball and the space, while novice coaches tended to focus their attention in the ball and in the attacker with the ball. It seemed clear that the process of visual exploration is specific for each game moment and that the level of coaches’ expertise shapes the visual information searched.

EVALUACIÓN DEL CICLO FENOLÓGICO Y CARACTERIZACIÓN MORFOLÓGICA DE GENOTIPOS DE QUINUA (Chenopodium quinua Willd.)

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background:&lt;/strong&gt; Background: Morphological characterization studies and determination of the phenological cycle of quinoa in Colombia are scarce, which are necessary for the identification of new planting materials. &lt;strong&gt;Objective:&lt;/strong&gt; The aim of this study was to evaluate the phenological cycle of quinoa materials to identify early and late genotypes; study the morphological characteristics to identify discriminatory descriptors for the genetic improvement of this species in the Department of Cauca. &lt;strong&gt;Methodology:&lt;/strong&gt; Fourteen families and three commercial controls (Blanca de Jericó, Aurora, and Tunkahuan) were evaluated in two locations in the department of Cauca under a completely randomized block design with four replications. Twelve phenological stages and 20 morphological descriptors were evaluated. The data were analyzed using an Analysis of Variance and Duncan's Multiple Range Test (p&amp;lt;0.05), in addition, a Multiple Correspondence Analysis was performed. The information was analyzed with the statistical package “R” version 4.3. &lt;strong&gt;Results:&lt;/strong&gt; It was found that the Flia27 family was the earliest in Silvia and Totoró. The clustering analysis based on the 20 morphological descriptors grouped the 17 genotypes into five groups, differentiating the controls from the rest of the 14 evaluated families. The families were grouped to present an architecture with low stature and easy management, compact panicle form, and simple growth habit, in contrast to what was found in the controls which exhibited high stature, lax panicle, and branching up to the lower third. &lt;strong&gt;Implications:&lt;/strong&gt; It is necessary to study with more homogeneous materials to determine which characteristics exactly are variable depending on the genotype and which show genotypic stability. &lt;strong&gt;Conclusions:&lt;/strong&gt; Flia27 was the earliest, making it interesting to be included in a quinoa genetic improvement program. The most discriminatory descriptors were leaf shape, leaf margin, and panicle color.&lt;/p&gt;

Liver Observation Segmentation on Contrast-Enhanced MRI: SAM and MedSAM Performance in Patients With Probable or Definite Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Purpose: To evaluate factors impacting the Segment Anything Model (SAM) and variant MedSAM performance for segmenting liver observations on contrast-enhanced (CE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in high-risk patients with probable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (LR-4) and definite HCC (LR-5). Methods: A retrospective cohort of liver observations (LR-4/LR-5) on CE-MRI from 97 patients at high-risk for HCC was derived (2013-2018). Using bounding-boxes as prompts under 5-fold cross-validation, segmentation performance was evaluated at the model and liver observation-levels for: (1) model types: SAM versus MedSAM, (2) image sizes: 256 × 256 versus 512 × 512, (3) image channel composition: CE sequences at 3 phases of enhancement independently and combined, (4) liver observation size: >10 mm versus >20 mm, (5) certainty of diagnosis: LR-4 versus LR-5, and (6) contrast-agent type: hepatobiliary versus extracellular. Segmentation performance, quantified using Dice coefficient, were compared using univariate (Wilcoxon signed-rank and t-test) and multivariable analyses (multiple correspondence analysis and subsequent linear modelling). Results: MedSAM trained on 512 × 512 combined CE sequences performed best with mean Dice coefficient 0.68 (95% confidence interval 0.66, 0.69). Overall, all factors except contrast-agent type affected performance, with larger image size resulting in the highest performance improvement (512 × 512: 0.57, 256 × 256: 0.26, P < .001) at the model-level. Contrast-agents affected performance for patients with LR-4 observations using MedSAM-based models (P < .03). Larger observation size, image size, and higher certainty of diagnosis were associated with better segmentation on multivariable analysis. Conclusion: A variety of factors were found to impact SAM/MedSAM performance for segmenting liver observations in patients with probable and definite HCC on CE-MRI. Future models may be optimized by accounting for these factors.

Which support is provided in which country? Patterns among older adults in Europe

This paper proposes comparative research on support provided outside the household by older adults in Europe. In studying social support, the network perspective is widely used, investigating, in particular, the ego-centered support networks of individuals. The analysis is based on data from Wave 7 of the Survey of Health Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). It examines the characteristics of ego-support networks of individuals aged 65 and over in 12 European countries, which are grouped into a novel welfare regime typology. Through Multiple Correspondence Analysis, we jointly looked into the categorical variables describing the recipients (alters) of the support provided by older adults and the welfare regime classification. As a main result, countries grouped in “High degree of familialism by default” category specialized in supporting family-related alters, particularly with childcare or personal care. In contrast, the elders in countries belonging to “High degree of de-familialisation” typology provided a more varied but less demanding support, to non-relatives alters and less oriented to care. The analyses show that the SHARE provides a solid opportunity to face the topic.