Level Of Inconsistency Research Articles

A framework to identify guano on photovoltaic modules in offshore floating photovoltaic power plants

Guano are an important factor affecting the cleanliness of photovoltaic modules on floating solar power plants at sea. It can lead to a decrease in photoelectric conversion efficiency, power loss, and even the occurrence of “hot spots”, thereby causing damage to the components. Therefore, the segmentation and detection of guano are crucial for visual automation in the cleaning and inspection processes. However, the composition, density, and thickness of guano naturally vary, leading to inconsistent levels of transparency and color. The uneven intensity of guano images greatly reduces the accuracy of segmentation and detection. Addressing this issue, this study proposes a segmentation algorithm based on combining different color channels to segment guano on the surface of photovoltaic modules. The mean shift method is used for adaptive segmentation to facilitate the detection of guano. Furthermore, the segmentation results obtained by this method are introduced into the input space to improve the traditional Mask RCNN. In addition, this study successfully produced a dataset of guano on the surface of photovoltaic modules using on-site data collection and with the help of a platform built in-house in the laboratory. The experimental results on the self-constructed dataset demonstrate that the enhanced Mask R-CNN model has shown an approximate increase of 5.9% and 6.0% in mAP values for object recognition and segmentation compared to the traditional Mask R-CNN model. This indicates the effectiveness of the methodology proposed in this study.

Shaking table tests on inclined collapse mechanism of RC frame structures subjected to earthquakes

Inclined collapse of structures under strong earthquakes threatens the adjacent infrastructures. The collapse mode and collapse direction should be considered with caution to curb the secondary disaster in the urban area. However, current studies on the inclined collapse mechanism are predominantly limited to the qualitative and intuitive understanding. To fill this gap, this study presents an insight into the inclined collapse mechanism of the reinforced concrete (RC) frame structures with two typical features subjected to earthquakes, i.e., the structures with slab opening on one side of the first floor and the structures with disparate axial compression ratios of the first story columns on the opposite sides. First, shaking table tests were performed on two 1/10-scale three-story RC frame structure models undergoing inclined collapse. Then the multi-scale finite element models were established, validated against the test results and used for parametric studies. In the parametric studies, two coefficients were considered to describe the typical features of the RC frame structures, i.e., the strong column-weak beam ratio η and differential rate of the axial compression ratios λ. The test and numerical results found that the inclined collapse mechanism was attributed to the different distributions and discrepant resistance deterioration of the plastic hinges among the first story columns of the RC frame structures with the two features. This causes the inconsistent damage levels among the first story columns, the dominant direction of the lateral displacement, and the inclined collapse of the structures. Finally, the collapse mode and collapse direction can be controlled by appropriately adjusting the two coefficients η and λ for the structures with the typical features concerned in this study.

An efficient dynamic migration and consolidation method of VMs based on improved K-nearest neighbor algorithm and attribute weighting

Virtual machine (VM) consolidation and migration that only consider current workload can result in excessive unnecessary migrations. To address this issue, a VM consolidation algorithm based on resource utilization prediction is proposed. An improved K-nearest neighbor (KNN) classification algorithm weighted by attribute inconsistency is proposed to predict the workload of both the host and the VMs. Firstly, two distributions are partitioned according to the neighboring relationship for comparing consistency. Then, an inconsistency evaluation function based on earth mover’s distance (EMD) is designed to measure the inconsistency between the neighboring sample set of each sample under each attribute and the equivalent partition refined by the decision attribute. Finally, the inconsistency level of the neighboring samples is transformed into the importance of the corresponding attribute to implement the attribute weighting KNN classifier. When selecting the source host and target host for VM migration, both current and predicted overloads are considered to avoid unnecessary VM migrations. Simulation tests were performed with random and realistic workloads, and the results show that the proposed method can reduce the overall energy consumption of the host, while also reducing service level agreement (SLA) violations and VM migration.

Patterns of Sleep Duration and Metabolic Biomarkers Across the Menstrual Cycle.

Along the menstrual cycle, associations between inconsistent sleep duration and levels of metabolic biomarkers are uncertain and could involve fluctuations in estrogen concentrations. To examine associations between patterns of sleep duration and metabolic biomarkers across two menstrual cycles within a cohort of premenopausal women. The BioCycle Study was conducted in New York between 2005-2007, enrolling 259 premenopausal women over two menstrual cycles. This micro-longitudinal cohort study involved intensive data collection including daily sleep diaries and biomarker assessments of leptin, insulin, and glucose at 16 key points timed to menstrual cycle phases. We considered dynamic sleep duration, as hours slept one night or as mean hours slept during the two nights prior to each biomarker assessment. Variability in habitual sleep duration, i.e., reported daily sleep duration, summarized across both menstrual cycles. Variation in habitual sleep duration was computed using L-moments, a robust version of dispersion, skewness, and kurtosis. To examine associations between patterns of sleep duration and metabolic biomarkers, we fitted a series of linear mixed models with random intercepts and inverse probability weighting. These models were adjusted for potential demographic, lifestyle, health confounders, and menstrual cycle phase. Sleep duration one night or two nights prior to clinic visits were not associated with metabolic biomarker measures we assessed. However, overall variability (dispersion) in habitual sleep duration was associated with lower mean insulin HOMA-IR levels, but not glucose. Moreover, extreme short or long bouts of sleep duration was associated with higher mean levels of leptin, insulin, and HOMA-IR. These data suggest that variation in habitual sleep duration along the menstrual cycle may be associated with metabolic function.

Pre-acquired Functional Connectivity Predicts Choice Inconsistency.

Economic choice theories usually assume that humans maximize utility in their choices. However, studies have shown that humans make inconsistent choices, leading to suboptimal behavior, even without context-dependent manipulations. Previous studies showed that activation in value and motor networks are associated with inconsistent choices at the moment of choice. Here, we investigated if the neural predispositions, measured before a choice task, can predict choice inconsistency in a later risky choice task. Using functional connectivity (FC) measures from resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI), derived before any choice was made, we aimed to predict subjects' inconsistency levels in a later-performed choice task. We hypothesized that rsfMRI FC measures extracted from value and motor brain areas would predict inconsistency. Forty subjects (21 females) completed a rsfMRI scan before performing a risky choice task. We compared models that were trained on FC that included only hypothesized value and motor regions with models trained on whole-brain FC. We found that both model types significantly predicted inconsistency levels. Moreover, even the whole-brain models relied mostly on FC between value and motor areas. For external validation, we used a neural network pretrained on FC matrices of 37,000 subjects and fine-tuned it on our data and again showed significant predictions. Together, this shows that the tendency for choice inconsistency is predicted by predispositions of the nervous system and that synchrony between the motor and value networks plays a crucial role in this tendency.

The impact of lay elitism on preference and choice inconsistency in consumption across cultures

AbstractThe present study examined the influence of lay elitism on preference and choice inconsistency in consumer choices across cultures. Four studies were conducted to understand this phenomenon. In Study 1, we showed that Mainland Chinese high in the belief in lay elitism displays more preference and choice inconsistency across product categories. In Study 2, we found the reverse effect for Caucasian Americans. In Study 3, Mainland Chinese belief in lay elitism is associated with their preference and choice inconsistency over geometric patterns and, at the same time, increased the consistency between their choice and the anticipated elites' choice of these geometric patterns. Lastly, Study 4 showed that in a cross‐cultural study, Mainland Chinese participants' endorsement of lay elitism is associated with a higher level of preference and choice inconsistency, but the reverse pattern is observed for Caucasian Americans. Furthermore, cultural values (i.e., individualism and collectivism) fail to explain the differences in preference and choice consistency across cultures. The paper offers a new perspective in using lay elitism across cultures to understand preference and choice inconsistency in consumer behavior.

Safety assessment of existing glass curtain wall based on fuzzy entropy and comprehensive cloud

The occurrence of safety incidents for existing glass curtain walls (EGCWs) pronounced menace to the security of both lives and property. Undertaking safety assessment for EGCWs carries essential practical significance. However, current fuzzy evaluation methods overlook the uncertainty of indicator weights and the intricacies of rank attribution. In response, this paper proposes a novel approach to the safety assessment of EGCWs. This research establishes a framework of evaluation indicators for EGCWs and divides the safety ranks of each indicator into four tiers: Safe, Mild risk, Moderate risk, and High risk. Quantitative and qualitative indicators are quantified via the variable fuzzy cloud algorithm and cloud model. The information cloud combination weighting method is introduced to determine the weight clouds of indicators. Finally, a two-dimensional assessment result is derived using an improved fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method and fuzzy entropy. The exemplified outcomes demonstrate that this approach captures the safety status of evaluation subjects based on risk ranks, and fuzzy entropy addresses two issues: inconsistent level attribution and the comparison of identical risk ranks. The appraisal method further unveils the safety details of EGCWs, with findings that align consistently with the actual situation.

Effects of community-based educational video interventions on nutrition, health, and use of health services in low- and middle-income countries: systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Context Health education using videos has been promoted for its potential to enhance community health by improving social and behavior change communication. Objective To provide stakeholders in maternal and child health with evidence that can inform policies and strategies integrating video education to improve maternal, newborn, and child health. Data sources Five databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and CENTRAL) were searched on January 28, 2022, and November 10, 2022 (updated search). Quantitative and qualitative studies conducted in low- and middle-income countries on the effects of video-based interventions on nutrition, health, and health service use were eligible. There was no restriction on time or language. Study selection was done in 2 stages and in duplicate. Data extraction A total of 13 710 records were imported to EndNote. Of these, 8226 records were screened by title and abstract using Rayyan, and 76 records were included for full-text evaluation. Results Twenty-nine articles (n = 12 084 participants) were included in this systematic review, and 7 were included in the meta-analysis. Video interventions improved knowledge about newborn care (n = 234; odds ratio [OR], 1.20; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04–1.40), colostrum feeding (n = 990; OR, 60.38; 95%CI, 18.25–199.78), continued breastfeeding (BF; n = 1914; OR, 3.79; 95%CI, 1.14–12.64), intention to use family planning (FP) (n = 814; OR, 1.57; 95%CI, 1.10–2.23), and use of FP (n = 864; OR, 6.55; 95%CI, 2.30–18.70). Video interventions did not result in reduced prelacteal feeding or improvement in early initiation of BF. The qualitative studies showed that video interventions were acceptable and feasible, with perceived impacts on communities. Conclusion This systematic review and meta-analysis indicated that video interventions improved knowledge of newborn care, colostrum feeding, and continuing BF, and the intention to use FP. Given the high levels of heterogeneity and inconsistency in reporting, more research with stronger designs is recommended. Systematic review registration PROSPERO registration no. CRD42022292190.

Estimating blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) connectivity and settlement capacity in mid-latitude fjord regions.

The mussel industry faces challenges such as low and inconsistent levels of larvae settlement and poor-quality spat, leading to variable production. However, mussel farming remains a vital sustainable and environmentally responsible method for producing protein, fostering ecological responsibility in the aquaculture sector. We investigate the population connectivity and larval dispersion of blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) in Scottish waters, as a case study, using a multidisciplinary approach that combined genetic data and particle modelling. This research allows us to develop a thorough understanding of blue mussel population dynamics in mid-latitude fjord regions, to infer gene-flow patterns, and to estimate population divergence. Our findings reveal a primary south-to-north particle transport direction and the presence of five genetic clusters. We discover a significant and continuous genetic material exchange among populations within the study area, with our biophysical model's outcomes aligning with our genetic observations. Additionally, our model reveals a robust connection between the southwest coast and the rest of the west coast. This study will guide the preservation of mussel farming regions, ensuring sustainable populations that contribute to marine ecosystem health and resilience.

Theorizing Islamic entrepreneurship from an Islamic governance perspective

PurposeResearch on Islamic entrepreneurship (IE) is growing but with difficulty. After reviewing six IE models, several problematic inconsistencies were identified, which can be categorized into three: sporadic objectives of IE, diverging core components and inconsistent levels of analysis. This study aims to articulate a synthesized IE model.Design/methodology/approachAn Islamic critical realist synthesis is used by combining six IE models and situating them within an Islamic system of governance. Specifically, the Islamic governance conceptual matrix is used to offer an objective template.FindingsA synthesized model of IE within an Islamic system of governance comprises the following: the objectives of IE are not to be confined to only financial sustainability, but to achieve all five Maqās.id of the Sharī’ah (i.e. preservation and promotion of faith, life, intellect, posterity and wealth); models of IE should cover the individual, group, organizational, societal, state and international levels for comprehensiveness; tawhīd is crucial to distinguish between IE and conventional entrepreneurship; halal IE activities can be further categorized into obligatory, recommended, permissible and reprehensible; Islamic values are to be differentiated from cultural values; and both Islamic and cultural values shape IE and vice versa.Research limitations/implicationsLimited number of models of IE were included in this synthesis. Although the resulting synthesized model is extensive, additional models of IE can be built to extend or even challenge it.Originality/valueA novel model of IE within an Islamic system of governance is presented.

Association between sociodemographic status and the T2DM-related risks in China: implication for reducing T2DM disease burden.

Analyzing the association between sociodemographic status and the type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)-related risks in China to reduce the disease burden of T2DM. We downloaded data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 to estimate the disease burden of T2DM in China. Secondary analyses were performed by year, age, gender, summary exposure value (SEV), and sociodemographic index (SDI). In China, it is estimated that 3.74 (3.44-4.10) million incidence, 90.0 (82.3-98.5) million prevalence, 168.4 (143.2-194.0) thousand deaths, and 9.6 (7.6-11.9) million DALYs occurred in 2019, showing an increase of 96.8, 156.7, 162.8, and 145.4% compared to 1990. An inverse U-shaped curve was observed for the correlations between T2DM-related burden and SDI. A heavier burden was found in males. The top four risk factors were high body mass index (HBMI), dietary risks, air pollution and tobacco. HBMI, as the key risk, accounted for half of the disease burden of T2DM in China. Lower degree of SEV and higher level of attributable T2DM-related burden could be found in main risks, meaning their critical role of them in the development and progression of T2DM. An inverse U-shaped curve could be found in the association between age-standardized incidence, mortality, DALYs rate, and SDI. The disease burden of T2DM has rapidly increased in China. Gender disparities, different age distributions and inconsistent socioeconomic levels all played an important role in it. The key risk was HBMI. With the improvement of socioeconomic level, the main risk factors for T2DM have changed from environmental factors to lifestyle factors. Targeted control and preventative strategies to address adjustable risk factors could put an end to this soaring burden.

Informational video on preoperative anxiety and postoperative satisfaction prior to elective cesarean delivery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Preoperative anxiety affects 60 to 80% of patients who are candidates for surgery. Reducing preoperative anxiety can improve surgical outcomes, shorten hospital stays, and minimize disruptions in lifestyle. Having information affects people ability to identify important points and improve their understanding, and lack of information causes fear and anxiety, which negatively affects decision-making. Studies have shown that the intervention of education before cesarean section has a beneficial effect on women anxiety level. Providing information before surgery can reduce patients' anxiety. This study was conducted to determine the effect of information video before elective cesarean delivery on preoperative anxiety and post-operative satisfaction. The search for relevant studies was systematically conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, SID (Persian database), and Google Scholar (search engine) until July 4, 2023, in both English and Persian languages. The revised tool for assessing the risk of bias in randomized trials (RoB 2.0) and ROBIN-I were used to evaluate the risk of bias, and heterogeneity was assessed using I². In cases of high heterogeneity, a random effects model was used instead of a fixed effects model. Subgroup analysis was performed based on the duration of the video, and the type of intervention for the primary outcome. Sensitivity analysis was conducted based on the type of study. A random-effects meta-regression analysis was conducted to identify potential sources of high heterogeneity for preoperative anxiety. The certainty of the evidence was assessed using GRADE. A total number of 557 articles were found in databases. Three hundred sixty-eight studies were screened based on their titles, abstracts, and full texts. Of these, 16 studies were assessed for eligibility, and 7 were excluded. Ultimately, nine papers were included. Meta-analysis results showed that the information video before elective cesarean delivery compared to control group may have little or no effect on preoperative anxiety, but the evidence is uncertain (SMD - 0.22, 95% CI -0.51 to 0.06, 9 trials, 1020 participants, I2 = 80%; very low-certainty evidence). Also, it probably increases the post-operative satisfaction (SMD 0.26, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.42, 5 trials, 618 participants, I2 = 0%; Moderate-certainty evidence). The random effect meta-regression analyses indicated a significant correlation between the mean age of the intervention group (β = 0.137, P < 0.001) and the mean age of the control group (β = 0.150, P = 0.0246) with effect size. This study found that watching an informational video prior to elective cesarean delivery resulted in a decrease in preoperative anxiety. However, it is important to note that the reduction was not statistically significant, and there was a high level of inconsistency among the results. Nonetheless, the intervention did lead to an improvement in women's post-operative satisfaction. To determine the optimal time duration and content type of informational videos, further studies with more appropriate methodology are necessary.

The Three Worlds of Task Complexity

Aim/Purpose: To provide a systematic approach to defining task complexity using a three worlds model previously introduced in informing science research. Background: The task complexity construct presents researchers with a quandary. While it appears useful on the surface, repeated attempts to define it rigorously have failed to gain traction in the broader research community. The level of inconsistency between definitions is shown to have changed little in the past 20 years. Methodology: Using a common framework that treats task complexity as a latent construct residing between sources and outcomes, moderated by both task familiarity and task discretion, separate models for each of the three worlds are developed. Contribution: Our paper proposes a potential path forward by showing how many issues in past task complexity research can be reconciled by framing the construct according to the three worlds model: the world we experience, the world of human artifacts, and the “real world.” Findings: The framework defines experienced complexity as occurring in the mind of the task performer while performing a single task instance, intrinsic complexity as a function of the internal characteristics of the problem space used to perform a bounded set of task instances, and extrinsic complexity as the ruggedness of the fitness landscape in which the task is performed. Recommendation for Researchers: It offers a path to convergence for definitions of task complexity. Future Research: The three worlds of task complexity can potentially be applied to many practical problems.

Связь стилей родительского воспитания c учебной мотивацией и эмоциональным состоянием подростков в условиях цифровизации

Background. The emotional state, the length of screen time and the level of educational motivation of schoolchildren are often a matter of concern for many parents. The study examines the relationship between educational motivation, the level of anger, and parenting styles from the adolescents’ point of view. Objectives. Identification and description of the specific interrelations between various aspects of parenting and the teenagers' motivation and anger in the context of global digitalization. Study Participants. The study involved 265 people (54% — female). The average age of the respondents was 13.8 years (M = 13.8, Me = 14, SD = 1.62). Methods. To study parenting styles, teenagers filled out the ad hoc questionnaire “Adolescents about parents”. The motivational and emotional components of the adolescents’ personality were examined by means of Andreeva &amp; Prikhozhan’ questionnaire “Motivation of learning and emotional attitude to learning”. The level of digital engagement of adolescents was assessed on the basis of daily statistics of the average time spent using a mobile phone. Statistical analysis was performed using the general linear model (GLM) method in the Jamovi 2.3.16.0 program. Results. According to the results of the GLM model, the adolescents’ achievement motivation is negatively related to their average screen time. The level of educational motivation of adolescents is positively associated with the positive interest and autonomy provided by their parents. The teenagers’ level of anger is positively associated with directiveness, hostility and inconsistency of parents. According to the Wilcoxon test results, parenting styles such as directiveness, hostility and autonomy are more pronounced in fathers than in mothers. Conclusions. The most favorable parenting style for achieving high academic motivation and reducing the level of anger in adolescents is a pronounced positive interest and autonomy provided by parents along with a low level of directiveness, hostility and inconsistency. Achievement motivation has a negative relationship with the length of teenagers' screen time.

Exploring the Clinical Implications of RPL3 Presence in BRCA-Associated Cancers: Unraveling the Interplay With Cancer Immunity.

Few studies have explored the expression profile of RPL3 in breast cancer (BRCA). Our research provided an in-depth analysis of RPL3 expression patterns in BRCA, highlighting its significance for therapy prediction and prognosis. RPL3 was notably elevated in malignant cells, and its expression level was closely associated with tumor size and overall survival outcomes. Our study also identified RPL3-related terms and pathways and revealed a strong correlation between RPL3 expression and breast carcinoma immunity, demonstrating inconsistent expression levels in various immune cell lines. In addition, we examined the relationship between RPL3 expression and tumor mutational burden (TMB) in BRCA. To assess the clinical implications of BRCA chemotherapy, we investigated the correlation between RPL3 expression levels and drug sensitivity. Our findings suggest that RPL3 plays a critical role in the BRCA process and is associated with immune infiltration, indicating its potential as a novel immunotherapy target in BRCA treatment. In summary, our research underscores the importance of RPL3 expression levels in tumorigenesis and its potential for guiding BRCA immunotherapy.

Organizational Capacity and Implicit Bias in Experiential Learning

Tamara Bradley directs the Big City Roadrunners (BCR), a sport-based youth development organization that provides track and field, cross-country, and road race programming at no cost to youth. Recently, alumni of BCR have shared their perspectives with Ms. Bradley. The alumni have expressed their concern with the inconsistent level of engagement of college student volunteers from BCR’s partner, Atlantic University. Ms. Bradley reaches out to the new university partnership contact, Dr. Emily Taylor, to discuss volunteer training and management. Utilizing an organizational capacity framework, the case focuses on human resource capacity while also providing an opportunity to examine financial, relationships and networks, infrastructure and process, and planning and development capacity. The case also provides the opportunity to analyze the role that implicit bias plays in the partnership between BCR and Atlantic University.

NEUROFILAMENT LIGHT CHAIN (NFL) AND COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE INCONSISTENCY IN ADULTS APPROACHING MID LIFE

Abstract Neurofilament light chain (NfL) indexes axonal integrity, where higher NfL values correlate with lower cognitive performance. However, associations of NfL with variability in performance and earlier in the lifespan are unclear. We evaluated inconsistency in trial-level performance within three speed or spatial tasks and dispersion across nine verbal, spatial, speed, and episodic memory tasks in participants from the Colorado Adoption/Twin Study of Lifespan behavioral development and cognitive aging (CATSLife1). Individuals were tested at 28-49 years (M=33.1, SD=4.9). Quanterix Simoa assays of plasma NfL (pNfL, log-transformed), cognitive test scores, and sociodemographic covariates were available for up to 1144 individuals. Multi-level regression analyses accounted for sibling relatedness and sociodemographic covariates. Above average pNfL coupled with higher age were associated with greater inconsistency across trials for the WAIS-III Digit Symbol subtest (d=.15 per 3 years of age increase, p=0.037) adjusting for performance, and with reduced performance across age (d=-.27, p=0.014). Moreover, higher pNfL was associated with higher dispersion among nine specific cognitive ability tasks across age, adjusting for general cognitive ability (GCA) factor scores (d=.156, p=0.037). Building on our earlier report of plasma NfL and GCA, higher pNfL was associated with greater dispersion in performance across a battery of tests. Moreover, higher pNfL was associated with poorer overall speed performance, which was also observed for trial level inconsistency even when adjusting for performance level. Hence, at equal levels of ability, within-task inconsistency and dispersion across tasks may be associated with plasma neurofilament light chain in early- to mid-adulthood.

Boys and Their Toys: Status Inconsistency in Non-democratic Regimes and the Import of Major Weapon Systems

Major weapon system imports are significant as they are useful for domestic and international security. However, states regularly imported weapons they want in addition to weapons they need. One explanation is that states import unnecessary weapons to gain status. We argue that states suffering from higher levels of negative status inconsistency (SI) import a greater proportion of status symbol weapons. To account for differing security motives, we also separate non-democratic regime types – strongman, junta, boss, and machine – as they vary in their international conflict propensity and domestic stability. Due to the differences across these regimes, we further argue that non-democratic personalist regimes will import more status symbol weapons. Using data covering 1965–1999, we find that negatively status inconsistent regimes import more status symbol weapons.

Israeli teachers' attitudes toward parental involvement in school: A qualitative study

The aim of this qualitative study is to gain in-depth understanding of teachers' views and attitudes toward parental involvement in school. Twenty seven Israeli elementary-school and secondary-school teachers were interviewed and asked to define parental involvement, their feelings toward it, and its challenges and benefits. Our findings revealed relatively high level of inconsistency between declared positive attitudes and perceived challenges and threat. This inconsistency manifests a need for significant progress in teacher-parent relationship in Israel. The practical implications of this study are that training programs should be constructed to improve teacher-parent collaboration, focusing on ways of reducing teachers’ tension and enhancing their understanding of the possibilities and potential outcomes of parents’ involvement.

Association between cigarette smoking and serum alpha klotho levels among US adults over 40-years-old: a cross-sectional study

Alpha klotho (α-Klotho) is an anti-aging molecule associated with aging and several diseases. Previous studies have reported inconsistent levels of α-Klotho in smokers. This study aimed to demonstrate serum α-Klotho levels in smokers among the US population. This cross-sectional study recruited 11,559 participants (aged 40–79 years; 48.2% males). All data were collected from the 2007–2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The study comprised adults with reliable Klotho and smoking questionnaire results. The relationship between smoking and serum α-klotho levels was assessed using multivariate linear regression models after adjusting for potential confounders. We also performed a stratified analysis of clinically important variables. The mean serum α-klotho level among the 11,559 participants was 843.85 pg/mL. After full adjustment, habitual smoking was significantly associated with decreased serum levels of α-klotho level (β = − 34.89; 95% CI − 54.97, − 14.81; P = 0.0013) in the total study population. Furthermore, the stratified analysis indicated that the association was insignificant in the 60–79 age group. Quitting smoking was not significantly associated with serum levels of α-klotho as expected (P = 0.1148) in the total study population. However, stratified analyses showed a significant inversed association in the male, those with chronic kidney disease, or those with cancer who quit smoking (all P < 0.05). Cigarette smoking was inversely associated with serum α-Klotho levels among US adults.