Stages Of Decline Research Articles

КОНЦЕПТУАЛЬНІ ЗАСАДИ ТЕХНОЛОГІЧНОГО МЕНЕДЖМЕНТУ ТА ЙОГО ЗНАЧЕННЯ В УПРАВЛІННІ СУЧАСНИМИ ПІДПРИЄМСТВАМИ

The article substantiates the conceptual foundations of technological management and its importance in the management of modern enterprises. It is investigated that technological management provides management of the technological development of the enterprise. To solve the goals and objectives of technological management, it is necessary to form an external environment with state support, technological innovative development of the enterprise, the introduction of innovation, investment, technological policy of the state, as well as the formation of a favorable scientific and investment environment. It was revealed that at the level of each individual enterprise, technological management requires the formation, adoption and phased implementation of the technological development strategy of the enterprise, with the development of an appropriate management system to achieve all the goals and objectives of technological development at the strategic, tactical and operational level of the enterprise. It is determined that the company has three main levels of technological management: strategic, tactical and operational, integrated into a single system of technological management. It is determined that technological management should be applied continuously, at all stages of the life cycle of an enterprise, since the change in technology determines, forms and directs the life cycle. It was revealed that technology management makes it possible to ensure continuous development and avoidance of stages of decline in financial economic activity and the development of crisis phenomena. It is generalized that technological management involves the active development, creation, introduction of innovations, the creation of new and improvement of existing technologies and the decision to abandon outdated technologies, and thus will ensure the technological renewal of products and technologies for its release, which will ensure high competitiveness of the company's products in the market, its effective implementation and profitability and will ensure dynamic technological and economic development of the enterprise in the future.

Does energy information disclosure really improve investment efficiency? A cross-exploration based on company life cycle and unexpected expenditure

Energy is important for environmental improvement and company development, and is displayed by information disclosure which plays a critical role in investment efficiency. This study re-explored the effect of energy information disclosure on investment efficiency in heavy pollution industry from the cross-perspective of company life cycle and expected expenditure. Specifically, this study divided companies into three groups: growth, maturity, decline stages, and in these groups, companies were sub-divided into two sub-groups: over-investment and under-investment. Collecting data from the listed companies in China, the results show that energy information disclosure significantly improves investment efficiency in growth and maturity stages when companies over-invest. However, this relationship is not obvious for over-invested companies in decline stage. Furthermore, when the investment is insufficient, the disclosure of energy information also has a positive effect on investment efficiency in growth and decline stages. While this relationship is inverted U-shaped in mature companies. This work provides suggestions for managing companies in heavy pollution to improve investment efficiency, and improve environmental improvement.

Patterns of sleep disturbances across stages of cognitive decline.

The purpose of this study was to investigate insomnia symptoms and excessive sleep/sluggishness across stages of cognitive decline (cognitively normal [CN], Cognitively Impairment, Not Demented [CIND], dementia) in a large, racially/ethnically diverse sample of older adults (70+) in the US. We also examined whether sleep disturbances at baseline predicted conversion to CIND or dementia at follow-up. In this secondary analysis of the Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study (ADAMS) supplement of the Health Retirement Study, we analyzed patterns of informant-reported insomnia and excessive sleep symptoms among three groups of older adults (n=846): CN, CIND, and dementia. CIND adults were significantly more likely to have informant-reported insomnia symptoms than those in the CN group (p=0.013). This was driven by a significant race/ethnicity-by-insomnia interaction with diagnostic status (p=0.029), such that CIND Black and Hispanic older adults had increased insomnia symptom rates compared to CN, whereas White adults had similar insomnia symptoms across diagnostic status. Across all racial/ethnic groups, the prevalence of excessive sleep symptoms increased stepwise from CN to CIND to dementia (p<0.001). Overall, insomnia symptoms at baseline predicted conversion from CN to CIND (p<0.001, OR=0.288; 95% CI: 0.143-0.580) at 4-year (approximate) follow-up; there was no relationship between baseline insomnia or excessive sleep/sluggishness symptoms and conversion from CIND to dementia. This study provides evidence for the increased risk of insomnia symptoms among Hispanic and Black older adults with CIND, and indicates that insomnia symptoms may be associated with increased risk for development of cognitive impairment.

METACOGNITION AND EMOTIONS IN OLDER AFRICAN AMERICAN ADULTS

Abstract Older adults in the earliest stages of cognitive decline often present with subjective cognitive complaints which may not be fully reflected in objective measures of cognition. Previous research suggests that a relationship exists between negative emotions, stress and metacognition, but these relationships have not yet been examined in the context of COVID-19. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of stress and emotions in perceived cognition in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Telephone screenings were administered to 206 older African Americans (aged 64–94 years). Objective cognition (Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status [TICS]), subjective cognition (Cognitive Change Questionnaire [CCQ]), perceived stress scale 4 (PSS-4), and survey questions about affective responses to COVID-19 experiences were measured. Objective TICS scores predicted subjective CCQ executive function scores (F(1, 197)=4.37, p=.038, R2=.022). Discrepancy scores were calculated as the standardized residual variance between objective and subjective measures. Survey items describing emotional states were summarized with emodiversity scores following Quoidbach and colleagues’ (2014) formula. Discrepancy scores were correlated with perceived stress, as well as global and negative emodiversity (Spearman r=.294, .279, .318, p&amp;lt;.001). In conclusion, we have shown that objective and subjective measures of cognition are related, but discrepancies exist between objectively-measured and self-perceived cognition. Increased stress and greater negative emotions are associated with greater overestimation of cognitive difficulties relative to one’s objective level of cognition. As stress and negative emotions have increased for many during the pandemic, individuals may also have depreciated their self-appraisal of cognitive abilities in the present climate.

What Happened to Ethiopian Youth during the Covid-19 Pandemic?

Abstract The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate Ethiopian urban youth’s changing risk beliefs, contributing factors, and global south lessons in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers conducted in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with urban youth in Ethiopia’s East-Gojjam district. The findings revealed three major stages in the youth’s risk perception: the high perceived risk stage associated with early pandemic outbreaks, the steady decline stage associated with economic stress that outweighed perceived health risk, and the zero risk stage when all safety measures appear to have been completely abandoned. The government’s self-contradictory rhetoric and practice, the contradiction between religious teachings and scientific messages, and misinformation in social media are factors for the evolved risk beliefs. A major lesson from the global south is the active participation of key stakeholders in bridging the gap between government and society.

Airport terminal passenger forecast under the impact of COVID-19 outbreaks: A case study from China

Passengers significantly affect airport terminal energy consumption and indoor environmental quality. Accurate passenger forecasting provides important insights for airport terminals to optimize their operation and management. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly increased the uncertainty in airport passenger since 2020. There are insufficient studies to investigate which pandemic-related variables should be considered in forecasting airport passenger trends under the impact of COVID-19 outbreaks. In this study, the interrelationship between COVID-19 pandemic trends and passenger traffic at a major airport terminal in China was analyzed on a day-by-day basis. During COVID-19 outbreaks, three stages of passenger change were identified and characterized, i.e., the decline stage, the stabilization stage, and the recovery stage. A typical “sudden drop and slow recovery” pattern of passenger traffic was identified. A LightGBM model including pandemic variables was developed to forecast short-term daily passenger traffic at the airport terminal. The SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) values was used to quantify the contribution of input pandemic variables. Results indicated the inclusion of pandemic variables reduced the model error by 27.7% compared to a baseline model. The cumulative numbers of COVID-19 cases in previous weeks were found to be stronger predictors of future passenger traffic than daily COVID-19 cases in the most recent week. In addition, the impact of pandemic control policies and passengers' travel behavior was discussed. Our empirical findings provide important implications for airport terminal operations in response to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic.

Life cycle identification of China's regional innovation systems based on entropy weight disturbing attribute model

Regional innovation systems (RISs) characterized periodical and is suitable for analyzing the Chinese economy which has entered the new normal. However, few scholars analyze and identify the stage of RISs from the perspective of life cycle. This paper divides the life cycle of RISs into four stages: initial stage, growth stage, maturity stage, and decline stage. Based on the analysis of the characteristics in every stage of the life cycle in the RISs, this paper constructs entropy weight disturbing attribute model to identify the stage of 31 provincial innovation systems in China. The research results show that all the RISs in maturity stage belong to the eastern developed regions, and innovation achievement capacity is significant. The RISs are widely distributed which are in the growth stage. The innovation efficiency capacity, innovation growth capacity and innovation network capacity of RISs which are in growth stage are in a high level. The provinces with the innovation system in the initial stage are mainly in the backward areas of the west, and the innovation growth capacity is better than other innovation capacities. Mastering the evolutionary stage of the RISs is helpful to promote the implementation of innovation-driven development strategies.

The Effect of Sales Growth, Profitability, Leverage and Liquidity on Financial Distress Conditions at Transportation Sub-Sector Companies Listed in Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX)

Financial distress is a condition that shows the stages of decline in the company's financial condition that occurred prior to the bankruptcy or liquidation. The purpose of this research is conducted to examine: (1) The effect of sales growth on financial distress conditions in transportation sub-sector companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). (2) The effect of profitability on financial distress conditions in transportation sub-sector companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). (3) The effect of leverage on financial distress conditions in transportation sub-sector companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). (4) The effect of liquidity on financial distress conditions in transportation sub-sector companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). The populations in this research are 45 transportation companies listed on the IDX for the 2013-2017 period. Sampling using purposive sampling method (based on criteria). Companies that meet the criteria to be sampled in this study amounted to 12 companies. The type of data used is secondary data obtained from the Indonesian Stock Exchange (IDX). The data analysis technique used is panel data regression with a common effect model. The results of the analysis of this study state that sales growth and profitability do not have a significant effect on financial distress conditions. While the results of leverage and liquidity show a significant influence on financial distress conditions. The type of data used is secondary data obtained from the Indonesian Stock Exchange (IDX). The data analysis technique used is panel data regression with a common effect model. The results of the analysis of this study state that sales growth and profitability do not have a significant effect on financial distress conditions. While the results of leverage and liquidity show a significant influence on financial distress conditions. The type of data used is secondary data obtained from the Indonesian Stock Exchange (IDX). The data analysis technique used is panel data regression with a common effect model. The results of the analysis of this study state that sales growth and profitability do not have a significant effect on financial distress conditions. While the results of leverage and liquidity show a significant influence on financial distress conditions.

Cyclic Supercritical Multi-Thermal Fluid Stimulation Process: A Novel Improved-Oil-Recovery Technique for Offshore Heavy Oil Reservoir

Cyclic supercritical multi-thermal fluid stimulation (CSMTFS) is a novel technology that can efficiently recover heavy oil, while the heating effect, production and heat loss characteristics of CSMTFS have not been discussed. In this study, a physical simulation experiment of CSMTFS is conducted with a three-dimensional experimental system. The results of the study indicate that the whole process of CSMTFS can be divided into four stages, namely, the preheating stage, production increase stage, production stable stage and production decline stage, of which the production stable stage is the main oil production stage, and the production decline stage is the secondary oil production stage. In the first two stages of the CSMTFS process, there is no supercritical multi-thermal fluid chamber, and only a relatively small supercritical multi-thermal fluid chamber is formed in the last stage of the CSMTFS process. Out of the supercritical multi-thermal fluid chamber, supercritical water in the thermal fluids condensates to hot water and flows downward to heat the subjacent oil layer. At the same time, the non-condensate gas in the thermal fluids accumulates to the upper part of the oil layer and reduces heat loss. The analysis of heat loss shows that the heat loss rate gradually increases at first and then tends to be stable. Compared with conventional thermal fluid, the CSMTFS can more effectively reduce heat loss. The enthalpy value of supercritical multi-thermal fluid is significantly increased compared with that of multi-thermal fluid, which effectively solves the problem of insufficient heat carrying capacity of multi-thermal fluid. Overall, cyclic supercritical multi-thermal fluid stimulation can effectively solve the problems of conventional heavy oil thermal recovery technology in offshore heavy oil recovery; it is indeed a new improved-oil-recovery technique for offshore heavy oil. The findings of this study can help in better understanding the cyclic supercritical multi-thermal fluid stimulation process. This study is significant and helpful for application of CSMTFS technology in heavy oil recovery.

The Role of Corporate Governance in Investment Efficiency and Financial Information Disclosure Risk in Companies Listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange

This study’s primary purpose is to investigate corporate governance’s role in investment efficiency and financial information disclosure risk in companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange. A multivariate linear regression model based on the panel data model was used to test the research hypotheses. The results of the survey of 140 companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange from 2015 to 2021 indicate that investment efficiency has increased by increasing the quality of corporate governance. In addition, research findings show that improving the quality of corporate governance reduces the risk of financial information disclosure. The life cycle and firm size were used to evaluate the robustness of the results obtained in this study. It was observed that improving corporate governance in companies in the stages of growth and maturity increases investment efficiency and reduces the financial information disclosure risk. In contrast, in companies that are in the decline stage, it reduces investment efficiency and increases the risk of financial information disclosure. In terms of firm size, it was also observed that, in small firms, as corporate governance increases, investment efficiency decreases, and the risk of financial information disclosure increases. However, investment efficiency and financial information disclosure reduce risk by improving large companies’ corporate governance.

The influence of cognitive status on perivascular space enlargement trajectories in a longitudinal aging cohort

AbstractBackgroundPerivascular space (PVS) enlargement is associated with dysfunctional waste clearance and can hinder the removal of toxic metabolic substrates, such as amyloid beta (Aβ). Increased PVS visibility in white matter has been observed in cross‐sectional studies of patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (AD). However, the utility of PVS morphology as a diagnostic biomarker for AD pathology is hindered by the lack of knowledge regarding the time course of PVS alterations across diagnostic groups. In the present study, we characterize the relationship between cognitive status and PVS morphological trajectories with age in a longitudinal cohort. Findings from this study will provide insight into the role of waste clearance processes in AD disease pathogenesis.MethodLongitudinal neuroimaging data from 500 cognitively normal (CN) subjects, patients with stable MCI (sMCI), and patients with MCI that later convert to AD (cMCI) were obtained from ADNI3. White matter PVS morphological features were automatically defined according to the methods described in (4) using optimally thresholded vesselness maps on high resolution T1w scans. The influence of class membership on the rate of PVS alterations over time were assessed with a linear mixed effects models with REML after controlling for baseline age, gender, years of education and total white matter volume.ResultWe found a significant interaction between cognitive status and time on mean PVS cross‐sectional diameter in the white matter, where the rate of change of PVS enlargement in patients with cMCI was greater compared to CN controls (B=‐.22, t(491)=‐2.06, p=.039) and patients with sMCI (B=‐.21, t(491)=‐2.03, p=.043). No significant differences in the age‐related change to PVS count or volume were observed between groups.ConclusionOur findings show patients with MCI that later progress to AD show accelerated PVS enlargement compared to patients that remain in the preclinical stages of cognitive decline. Our results support the growing body of research that demonstrates a relationship between pathological PVS enlargement and neurodegenerative disorders characterized by dysfunctional waste clearance. Parenchymal PVS caliber may therefore provide an informative biomarker to aid in the early diagnosis of AD and other amyloidopathies prior to the formal onset of deleterious symptoms.

Microstructural changes in the white matter tracts of the brain due to mild cognitive impairment

AbstractBackgroundMild cognitive impairment (MCI) is an early stage of memory loss or cognitive decline and progresses to Alzheimer’s disease at a rate of about 15% per year. It is important to study the effects of MCI on the brain. Here we present a novel along‐tract analysis of microstructural brain metrics computed from diffusion MRI. We extract, map, and visualize the profile of microstructural abnormalities on 3D models of fiber tracts, yielding fine‐scale maps of the effects of MCI.MethodsWe analyzed multi‐shell diffusion‐weighted MRI data with 127 volumes from 131 ADNI3 participants (age: 55‐91years, 74F,57M). Participants included 44 with MCI and 87 cognitively normal controls (CN). Pre‐processed using the ADNI3 dMRI protocol. We applied multi‐shell‐multi‐tissue CSD and a probabilistic particle‐filtering‐tracking to generate whole‐brain tractograms. We applied DIPY’s BUAN tractometry pipeline to extract 30 white matter tracts from all subjects and evaluate the effects of MCI on 4 DTI measures (FA, MD, RD, and AD) along the length of the tracts. BUAN applies Linear‐Mixed‐Models with DTI measures set as the response variable, group mean modeled as fixed effects term, and subject‐specific mean as random effects term.ResultsWe report significant group differences between MCI and CN in 6 bundles with p‐values&lt;0.01 and &lt;0.001 (Fig.1). In Fig.1 and Fig2, the columns and rows show results from six bundles for four DTI measures (see Fig.2 for keywords). Fig.2 highlights areas with significant differences on the tracts with black color where for MD, p‐values&lt;0.001 and for the rest of the 3 measures, p‐values&lt;0.01. Fig.3 reports significant effects of MCI on the rest of the tracts and measures with p‐values&lt;0.001. We find lower mean FA and higher mean MD, AD, and RD in the MCI, compared to the control group.ConclusionWe applied the BUAN tractometry pipeline to map and visualize the effects of MCI on the white matter tracts of the brain. We found significant microstructural group differences in tracts where FA decreases and diffusivity measures increase in MCI participants.

Metacognition in older African American adults during the COVID‐19 pandemic

AbstractBackgroundThere is a critical need to identify older adults in the earliest stages of cognitive decline for targeted dementia reduction interventions. Subjective memory concerns often drive older adults to seek objective memory assessments. However, there is often poor agreement between subjective complaints and objective measures. Previous research suggests that self‐appraised memory decline may be more sensitive to mild cognitive impairment than objective measures, but factors influencing the relationship between self‐perceived and actual functioning are unclear. Subjective memory appraisal may be susceptible to negative affective perceptions such as anxiety. Anxiety has increased substantially during the pandemic, suggesting the heightened potential for it to distort subjective perceptions, thereby increasing demands for cognitive assessments. This study investigated whether the discrepancy between subjective cognitive concerns and objective cognitive performance is related to anxiety in a sample of older African American adults.MethodTelephone screenings were administered to 206 older African Americans (aged 64‐94 years) during the first year of the pandemic as part of a more extensive study. Demographic data, objective memory (Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status [TICS]), subjective memory (Cognitive Change Questionnaire [CCQ]), and anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder‐7 [GAD‐7]) were measured, along with survey questions about affective and stress responses to COVID‐19 experiences.ResultObjective TICS scores were predictive of subjective CCQ executive function scores (F(1, 197) = 4.37, p = .038, R2 = .022). Discrepancy scores were calculated as the standardized residual variance between objective and subjective measures. Discrepancy scores were correlated with anxiety (r = .396, p&lt;.001), indicating that higher anxiety was related to an overestimation of cognitive difficulty relative to the level of objective cognitive resources.ConclusionObjective and subjective measures of cognition are related. However, discrepancies exist between objectively‐measured and self‐perceived cognition. Elevation in anxiety level is associated with greater overestimation of cognitive difficulties relative to one’s objective level of cognition. As pandemic‐related stressors have worsened anxiety for some, individuals with higher anxiety may also have depreciated their self‐appraisal of cognitive abilities in the present climate. Clinicians should consider anxiety as a possible contributing factor when assessing subjective cognitive difficulties.

Affective and ergogenic effects of beat‐accented synchronous music on acute exercise training in older adults with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia

AbstractBackgroundGiven the increasing dementia population and that no cure for dementia is available, exercise may be important for older adults in the early stages of cognitive decline (ESCD) to delay the progression of cognitive deterioration. However, functional limitations are prevalent in older adults, which often hinder their exercise participation. Exercising with music is a novel approach to facilitate exercise and maximize health benefits because humans like to move in synchrony with music and because both music and exercise can help improve cognitive health. As part of a proof‐of‐concept study, we tested the acute effects of beat‐accented synchronous music (BSM) on affective and psychophysiological responses to exercise in older adults with ESCD.MethodWe developed a chair‐based group exercise program consisting of 30 min of aerobic, strength, and balance training for older adults with functional limitations. A BSM playlist at 85 beats/min was created by imposing 4/4 drumbeats on top of instrumental country music that matched participants’ exercise pace and music preference. Nine older adults with ESCD (M age = 80.9±15.1 years; 2 females; Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores ranged 11‐24) exercised with and without BSM (twice each, counterbalanced) and provided their ratings of feelings (FS) and perceived exertion (RPE) immediately before, midway through, and immediately after each exercise session. Data were analyzed by Friedman tests.ResultWe found significant effects of BSM on FS [χ 2(1) = 4, p&lt;0.05] and RPE [χ 2(1) = 4.5, p&lt;0.05] during exercise. Participants reported more positive feelings (9.78±0.22 &gt; 8.56±0.56) and higher exertion (6±0.96 &gt; 3.94±0.49) during BSM‐based exercise compared with no‐BSM exercise. No effects of BSM on FS and RPE were found before or after exercise (p’s&gt;0.5).ConclusionCognitive and functional decline restrains exercise participation in older adults, which exacerbates the cognitive and functional decline, creating a vicious cycle. Our findings suggest that BSM can make exercise more pleasurable while increasing perceived exercise intensity from ‘somewhat hard’ to above ‘hard’ in older adults with ESCD. These are important findings because positive affect during an acute bout of exercise is associated with future exercise participation. Future research needs to test the efficacy of a long‐term BSM‐based exercise intervention for older adults.

Hippocampal grading is sensitive to changes in cognition in early MCI

AbstractBackgroundIncreased age and cognitive decline are both associated with changes in the hippocampus. These associations are often measured using hippocampal volume measurements and changes in episodic memory. Some studies have also observed a relationship between hippocampal volume and global cognition. However, these studies often only find associations in progressed stages of cognitive decline. This study examined (1) if hippocampal grading is associated with global cognition in cognitively normal controls (NC), early MCI (eMCI), late (lMCI), and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and (2) whether these associations differ across diagnostic cohorts.MethodsParticipants for this study were selected from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. They were included if they completed baseline MRI scans and the Alzheimer’s disease Assessment Scale (ADAS‐13) and Clinical Dementia Rating – Sum of Boxes (CDR‐SB) cognitive tests. A total of 1620 older adults met the inclusion criteria and were included (495 CN, 262 eMCI, 545 lMCI, and 318 AD). Linear regressions examined the association between hippocampal grading and cognitive scores.ResultsLower global cognition (measured by increased ADAS‐13 scores) was associated with hippocampal grading scores in in NC, eMCI, lMCI and AD cohorts. Lower global cognition (measured by increased CDR‐SB scores) was associated with hippocampal grading scores in lMCI and AD, but not in eMCI or NC groups.ConclusionHippocampal grading was associated with changes in global cognition in healthy controls and in disease cohorts when there is sufficient dynamic range in the cognitive test. No correlation between CDR‐SB and NC was found because the NC group only had CDR‐SB scores of 0 and 1. Hippocampal grading may, thus, be a useful measure that is sensitive to progressive changes early in the disease course. Future research should determine if this method is associated with longitudinal changes in cognition.

Assessment of mitochondrial respiratory capacity in relation to cardiac contractile performance in patients with normal to mildly decreased cardiac systolic function.

Chronic heart failure (CHF) with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is associated with remodeling of cardiac energy metabolism; however, experimental data from human hearts that are still in early stages of contractile decline are very sparse. In the current study, we probed the association between LV contractility and myocardial capacity for fatty acid and carbohydrate oxidation in patients having normal-to-mildly decreased systolic function. In patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (n=40, EF ≥40%), a sample of left ventricular myocardium was obtained by subepicardial needle biopsy. Mitochondrial respiratory capacity, as well as oxidation of individual fatty acid and carbohydrate substrates (palmitoyl-carnitine and pyruvate, respectively), were assessed by measuring the rate of oxygen consumption. Also, expression of key mitochondrial metabolic factors and tissue accumulation of ceramide were evaluated, and correlation analysis was performed. Maximal mitochondrial respiration, and expression of mitochondrial biogenesis and remodeling factors (PGC-1α and mitofusin-2) were positively correlated with LVEF (r=0.37-0.50; P<0.05). Although there was no relationship between LVEF and respiration driven by individual metabolic substrates, LVEF was positively correlated with expression of key β-oxidation enzymes. Finally, LVEF was inversely correlated with accumulation of cardiotoxic ceramide (r=0.89, P<0.05). In patients with coronary artery disease exhibiting normal-to-mildly decreased LVEF, cardiac systolic function is associated with mitochondrial respiratory capacity and levels of fatty acid oxidation enzymes, pointing to them as factors involved in early phases of myocardial pathological remodeling.

Effect of hypothermal storage on motility, viability, acrosome integrity and intracellular zinc of boar sperm

Boar semen is commonly stored at 17°C to preserve sperm quality to be used for insemination within 3 d. However, the first stages of decline of sperm quality occurs as sublethal damage, but eventually result in sperm death and loss of fertility potential. Alternatively, hypothermal (5°C) storage is useful to control bacterial growth but limiting due to the high sensitivity of boar sperm to chilling injuries. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effect of hypothermal storage on sperm quality and intracellular Zinc2+ as indicative of capacitation status. Semen from commercial boars (n=15) was collected, extended in Androstar®Plus (Minitube) at 3 ×109 sperm/75 ml and shipped (17°C) overnight. Paired-samples were stored at 17 and 5°C. Motility (IVOS II, Hamilton Thorne) and flow cytometric assessment of viability, acrosome integrity [100 nM SYBR®14, 10 µm propidium iodide (PI), 5.6 µg/ml PNA Alexa- FluorTM647; Molecular Probes] and intracellular Zinc2+ [8 µg/mL Hoecsht-33342, 1 µM FluoZin™-3-AM (FluoZin), 10 µM PI] were performed at Days -1, -4 and -7 after collection. Results were analyzed by 2-factor mixed model for repeated measure and Tukey-adjusted pairwise comparisons and expressed in percentages (mean±SEM). Total motility was higher (P<0.05) at Day -1 (85.9±3.1) compared to Day -4 (17°C: 78.9±3.1; 5°C: 73.7±3.1) or Day -7 (17°C: 71.8±3.1; 5°C: 73.5±3.1), with no differences between and within temperatures. Progressive motility remained similar (P>0.05) during 17°C-storage (Day -1: 47.5±4.1; Day - 4: 48.1±4.1; Day 7: 53.8±4.1), but it was reduced (P<0.05) at Day -4 (36.9±4.1) compared to Day -7 (47.4±4.1) at 5°C and to samples held at 17°C. For live sperm with intact acrosome (SYBR+/PI−/PNA−), percentages of 17°C (Day -4: 85.3±2.1; Day -7: 82.8±2.1) or 5°C-storage (Day -4: 78.9±2.1; Day -7: 81.3±2.1) did not differ compared to Day -1 (84.3±2). However, live sperm with intact acrosome at Day -4 was higher (P<0.05) at 17°C than at 5°C. Samples stored at 17°C had reduced (P<0.05) intracellular Zinc2+ and plasma membrane integrity (FluoZin+/PI–) at Day -4 and Day -7 (62.2±4.3; 67.4±4.3) than Day -1 (77.6±4.3), but they did not differ from samples kept at 5°C (Day -4: 61.5±4.3; Day -7:67.9±4.3). We concluded that storing boar sperm either at 5 or 17°C reduced motility and plasma membrane integrity, but live sperm subpopulation maintain high intracellular Zinc2+, indicative of non-capacitated status, further than 4 d of storage.

Mobile value chain collaboration for product diffusion: Role of the lifecycle

To succeed in a competitive market, mobile value chains (MVC) must respond to dynamic demand timely. To offer effective collaboration mechanisms in MVC for mobile service diffusion over the lifecycle, we propose a three-stage integrated simulation model: (i) a system dynamics model to depict mobile service diffusion which drives the evolution of MVC; (ii) a cooperative game model to examine the profit allocation between mobile operators and providers; (iii) an evolution game model to explore the collaboration in the mobile alliance of providers. Then we design an agent-based system to replicate the evolution process of MVC under various settings, and further validate it by comparison with a real-world case. We find that an MVC would need different strategies at different lifecycle stages. Advertising and the connection degree of mobile operators contribute significantly to MVC performance at the growth stage. In contrast, word-of-mouth (WOM) and the penalty is more effective at the mature stage; penalty can extend the mature stage. Finally, we find the scale and the components ratio of a mobile alliance positively affect MVC throughout its lifecycle and decline stage, respectively. Thus, management should select fitting mechanisms over the lifecycle to improve its performance.

Examining Voting Capacity in Older Adults with and without Cognitive Decline.

Nowadays, controversy exists regarding the stage of cognitive decline and/or dementia where voting capacity is diminished. To evaluate whether general cognitive status in advancing age predicts voting capacity in its specific aspects. The study sample comprised 391 people: 88 cognitively healthy older adults (CH), 150 people with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), and 153 people with Alzheimer's disease dementia (ADD). The assessment included CAT-V for the voting capacity and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) for general cognitive ability. ANOVAs and ROC curves were the tools of statistical analysis towards (a) indicating under which MMSE rate participants are incapable of voting and (b) whether the CAT-V total score can discriminate people with dementia (PwADD) from people without dementia (PwtD). Out of the six CAT-V questions, one question was associated with a low MMSE cutoff score (19.50), having excellent sensitivity (92.5%) and specificity (77.20%), whilst the other five questions presented a higher MMSE cutoff score, with a good sensitivity (78.4% to 87.6%) and specificity (75.3% to 81.7%), indicating that voting difficulties are associated with cognitive status. Secondarily, the total CAT-V score discriminates PwADD from PwtD of 51-65 years (sensitivity 93.2%/specificity 100%-excellent), PwADD from PwtD of 66-75 years (sensitivity 73.3%/specificity 97.1%-good), PwADD from PwtD of 76-85 years (sensitivity 92.2%/specificity 64.7%-good), whilst for 86-95 years, a cutoff of 9.5 resulted in perfect sensitivity and specificity (100%). According to MMSE, PwADD have no full voting competence, whilst PwtD seem to have intact voting capacity. The calculated cut-off scores indicate that only people who score more than 28 points on the MMSE have voting capacity.

Association of Klotho Protein Levels and KL-VS Heterozygosity With Alzheimer Disease and Amyloid and Tau Burden

Identification of proteins and genetic factors that reduce Alzheimer disease (AD) pathology is of importance when searching for novel AD treatments. Heterozygosity of the KL-VS haplotype has been associated with reduced amyloid and tau burden. Whether this association is mediated by the Klotho protein remains unclear. To assess concentrations of Klotho in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma among cognitively healthy controls and patients with AD and to correlate these findings with KL-VS heterozygosity status and amyloid and tau burden. This case-control study combined 2 independent case-control AD cohorts consisting of 243 referred patients with AD and volunteer controls recruited from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2018. Klotho levels were measured in CSF and plasma and correlated with KL-VS heterozygosity status and levels of CSF amyloid-β 42 (Aβ42), total tau, and phosphorylated tau. Statistical analysis was performed from January 1, 2021, to March 1, 2022. Associations of Klotho levels in CSF and plasma with levels of CSF biomarkers were analyzed using linear regression. Association analyses were stratified separately by clinical groups, APOE4 status, and KL-VS heterozygosity. Pearson correlation was used to assess the correlation between CSF and plasma Klotho levels. A total of 243 participants were included: 117 controls (45 men [38.5%]; median age, 65 years [range, 41-84 years]), 102 patients with mild cognitive impairment due to AD (AD-MCI; 59 men [57.8%]; median age, 66 years [range, 46-80 years]), and 24 patients with dementia due to AD (AD-dementia; 12 men [50.0%]; median age, 64.5 years [range, 54-75 years]). Median CSF Klotho levels were higher in controls (1236.4 pg/mL [range, 20.4-1726.3 pg/mL]; β = 0.103; 95% CI, 0.023-0.183; P = .01) and patients with AD-MCI (1188.1 pg/mL [range, 756.3-1810.3 pg/mL]; β = 0.095; 95% CI, 0.018-0.172; P = .02) compared with patients with AD-dementia (1073.3 pg/mL [range, 698.2-1661.4 pg/mL]). Higher levels of CSF Klotho were associated with lower CSF Aβ42 burden (β = 0.519; 95% CI, 0.201-0.836; P < .001) and tau burden (CSF total tau levels: β = -0.884; 95% CI, 0.223 to -0.395; P < .001; CSF phosphorylated tau levels: β = -0.672; 95% CI, -1.022 to -0.321; P < .001) independent of clinical, KL-VS heterozygosity, or APOE4 status. There was a weak correlation between Klotho CSF and plasma levels among the entire cohort (Pearson correlation r = 0.377; P < .001). The findings of this case-control study suggest that Klotho protein levels were associated with clinical stages of AD, cognitive decline, and amyloid and tau burden and that these outcomes were more clearly mediated by the protein directly rather than the KL-VS heterozygosity variant. When selecting individuals at risk for clinical trials, the Klotho protein level and not only the genetic profile should be considered.