Mean Lag Research Articles

Climate policy uncertainty and economic growth, a moderating role of crude oil price changes: evidence from the Asian economies

Purpose This study aims to inspect the impact of US climate policy uncertainty (CPU) on the economic growth of Asian countries with the moderating role of crude oil price (COP) changes. Design/methodology/approach The Im-Pesaran Sin and Fisher-type tests are used for stationarity check, while Kao and Pedroni tests are used for cointegration analysis. The Hausman test is applied for model selection, where pooled mean group autoregressive distributed lag (PMG/ARDL) has been selected and applied. Besides, the fully modified ordinary least squares is also used for robustness analysis. Additionally, the literature review and descriptive statistics have been used. Findings The main findings disclosed that US CPU negatively impacted the economic growth of Asian economies with high significance in the long run whereas insignificant in the short run. The results further concluded that COP positively affected economic growth both in the short and long run. Furthermore, the results also revealed that COP significantly and positively moderates the relationship between CPU and COP in the long and short run. Originality/value The study is the first of its kind to examine the impact of the US CPU on the economic growth of Asian economies. Second, it further revealed the moderating role of COP between US CPU and economic growth. Third, a large panel of data from Asian countries has been considered. Fourth, the study adds to the current literature by using the PMG/ARDL model to determine the impact of US CPU on economic growth. Additionally, this study focuses on the US CPU because it is a developed country playing a significant role in energy and climate issues, and has been very uncertain.

Trends in Presentation and Management of Endogenous Hyperinsulinaemic Hypoglycaemia Over the Last Three Decades at a Tertiary Care Centre (1992-2022).

Endogenous hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia (EHH) is characterized by inappropriate insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells despite low blood glucose concentrations. We aimed to evaluate the secular changes in presentation and management of EHH due to insulinoma/non-insulinoma pancreatogenous hypoglycaemia syndrome (NIPHS) at our centre. This was a single-centre ambispective study (2014-2022). The clinical, biochemical, hormonal and radiological parameters (n = 63) collected as part of this study were compared with our earlier studies (1992-2005, n = 31; and 2006-2013, n = 35) and with other centres across the world. A total of 63 patients (39 males) with a preoperative diagnosis of EHH (insulinoma, n = 58; and NIPHS, n = 5) and a mean age of 40.7 years were studied. The mean lag time from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis decreased from 4.6 years during the first study period to 1.9 years during this study period. However, the majority presented with fasting hypoglycaemia of 98.4%, and both fasting and postprandial hypoglycaemia of 32%. Exclusive postprandial hypoglycaemia was present in 1.7% of insulinoma. A histopathological diagnosis of insulinoma was made in 52 patients and nesidioblastosis in two patients. Intraoperative ultrasonography (IOUS) and intraoperative palpation (IOP) yielded 100% sensitivity, while endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and 68Ga-DOTA-Exendin-4 positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) yielded sensitivity of 86% and 85%, respectively, for localizing insulinoma. Resolution of hypoglycaemia was noted in 53 of 57 (93%) patients who underwent surgery with a preoperative diagnosis of insulinoma. We observed a trend towards earlier diagnosis of EHH, increased patient numbers and availability of nuclear imaging techniques for preoperative localization in the last decade compared to earlier.

Induction into viable but non culturable state and outgrowth heterogeneity of Listeria monocytogenes is affected by stress history and type of growth

Exposure to sublethal stresses related to food-processing may induce a heterogenous mixture of cells that co-exist, comprising healthy, sublethally injured, dormant and dead cells. Heterogeneity in survival capacity and dormancy of single cells may impede the detection of foodborne pathogens. In this study, we exposed Listeria monocytogenes Scott A strain, to peracetic acid (PAA; 20–40 ppm) and to acidic conditions (hydrochloric (HCl) and acetic (AA) acid, adjusted to pH 2.7–3.0, to evaluate the resuscitation capacity and outgrowth kinetics of metabolically active cells in two different media. Injury and the viable-but-non-culturable (VBNC) status of cells were assessed by flow cytometry using CFDA (metabolically active) and PI (dead) staining. Stressed CFDA+PI− cells were sorted on Tryptic Soy (TS) Agar or in TS broth, both supplemented with 0.6 % Yeast Extract (TSAYE or TSBYE), to evaluate culturability. Resuscitation capacity of CFDA+PI−sorted cells (10 events/well) was monitored by visual inspection on TSAYE and by optical density measurement in TSBYE for 5 days. Sorting of L. monocytogenes viable cells (CFDA+PI−) in Ringer's solution on TSAYE and TSBYE showed 100 % recovery in both media (control condition), while the mean lag time in TSBYE was 9.6 h. Treatment with 20 ppm PAA for 90 and 180 min resulted in 74.79 % and 85.82 % of non-culturable cells in TSBYE and increased the average lag time to 41.7 h and 43.8 h, respectively, compared to the control (9.6 h). The longest average lag time (79.5 h) was detected after treatment with 30 ppm PAA for 90 min, while at the same condition sorting of CFDA+PI− cells resulted in 95.05 % and 93.94 % non-culturable cells on TSAYE and TSBYE, respectively. The highest percentage of wells with non-culturable cells (96.17 %) was detected on TSAYE after treatment with 40 ppm PAA for 30 min. Fractions of VBNC cells were detected in TSBYE after treatment with HCl pH 3.0 for 60 and 240 min, and in TSAYE and TSBYE after exposure to AA pH 2.7. Treatment with AA pH 2.7 for 150–300 min increased the range of recorded lag time values compared to 60 min, from 8.6 h up to 13.3 h, as well as the mean lag times in TSBYE. Modelling of the outgrowth kinetics comparing the two types of stress (oxidative vs acid) and the two systems of growth (colonial vs planktonic) revealed that low starting concentrations hindered the detection of viable L. monocytogenes cells, either due to VBNC induction or cell heterogeneity.

Diurnal pattern and characteristic of soil respiration and net ecosystem carbon exchange in alpine meadow ecosystem on the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Analyzing the diurnal pattern of soil respiration is essential for understanding the potential mechanisms of carbon cycle. Additionally, long-term and high temporal frequency soil respiration observations are crucial and valuable at different time scales, particularly in alpine regions. Therefore, it is critical to conduct research on the diurnal pattern of soil respiration in areas sensitive to global warming. Here, four group (including soil respiration, heterotrophic respiration, net ecosystem carbon exchange, and net ecosystem carbon exchange under warming condition) of experiments were designed with a total 12 chambers, and data collected during growing season in 2023 (April to September) obtained by automatic observation system at hour-scale and four-parameter Gaussian equation were used to investigate the diurnal pattern of soil respiration and net ecosystem carbon exchange in alpine meadow ecosystem on the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The results indicated that: 1) the soil temperature was crucial factor for the variations in diurnal pattern of soil respiration and net ecosystem carbon exchange in four experiments. The response of the heterotrophic components to the diurnal variation in soil temperature induced diurnal lag between soil respiration and soil temperature, with mean lag time of 1.7 h. 2) The diurnal peak time of net ecosystem carbon exchange was 1–3 h earlier than respiration, and the diurnal variation of soil tempiration was one of the main driving forces. 3) Additionally, warming advanced the diurnal peak time of net ecosystem carbon exchange by 1.2–2 h through explaining the parameters of the Gaussian function. It also promoted microbial resistance, thereby limiting the increase in soil respiration during nighttime. The study suggested that temperature varied soil microenvironment and biochemical processes in alpine meadow ecosystem, thus affecting the diurnal pattern. Indeed, this study focused solely on traditional factors, and further investigations were needed, particularly from a biotic perspective, to validate these conclusions.

The first involved joints and associated factors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

This study aimed to investigate the first involved joints and associated factors in Turkish patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This retrospective cross-sectional study included 300 newly diagnosed and disease-modifying antirheumatic drug-naïve RA patients (240 females, 60 males; mean age: 54±1.2 years; range, 18 to 82 years). Baseline demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were evaluated between January 2022 and December 2022. The patients were divided into four groups according to autoantibody profile: antibody-negative patients (Group 1; both RF and anti-CCP were negative in this group of patients), RF-positive patients (Group 2), anti-CCP-positive patients (Group 3), and patients with dual seropositivity with RF and antiCCP (Group 4). The patients were also divided into two groups according to the size of the first affected joint: patients with SJI at diagnosis and patients without SJI involvement at diagnosis. Rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibody positivity rates were 40.3% and 35.6%, respectively. The mean lag time to diagnosis was 25±36 months. At the disease onset, 20% of patients did not have small joint involvement (SJI). Seronegative patients tended to be female (p=0.001), had longer lag time (p=0.001), and had lower levels of C-reactive protein (p=0.025), white blood count (p=0.005), and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (p=0.001) compared to the dual seropositive group. Patients presenting with SJI had a younger age (p=0.002), tended to be female (p=0.001), and had lower RF (p=0.034) and anti-CCP (p=0.031) positivity. Only age (p=0.005) and dual seronegativity (RF and anti-CCP; p=0.035) were the independent predictors of SJI in multivariate analysis. The decreasing age and seronegative status were defined as independent risk factors of SJI at the onset of RA. Population-based, prospective studies are needed for earlier diagnosis.

Short-Term Nitrogen Dioxide Exposure and Emergency Hospital Admissions for Asthma in Children: A Case-Crossover Analysis in England.

There is an increasing body of evidence associating short-term ambient nitrogen dioxide (NO2) exposure with asthma-related hospital admissions in children. However, most studies have relied on temporally resolved exposure information, potentially ignoring the spatial variability of NO2. We aimed to investigate how daily NO2 estimates from a highly resolved spatio-temporal model are associated with the risk of emergency hospital admission for asthma in children in England. We conducted a time-stratified case-crossover study including 111,766 emergency hospital admissions for asthma in children (aged 0-14 years) between 1st January 2011 and 31st December 2015 in England. Daily NO2 levels were predicted at the patients' place of residence using spatio-temporal models by combining land use data and chemical transport model estimates. Conditional logistic regression models were used to obtain the odds ratios (OR) and confidence intervals (CI) after adjusting for temperature, relative humidity, bank holidays, and influenza rates. The effect modifications by age, sex, season, area-level income deprivation, and region were explored in stratified analyses. For each 10 µg/m³ increase in NO2 exposure, we observed an 8% increase in asthma-related emergency admissions using a five-day moving NO2 average (mean lag 0-4) (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.06-1.10). In the stratified analysis, we found larger effect sizes for male (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.07-1.12) and during the cold season (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.08-1.12). The effect estimates varied slightly by age group, area-level income deprivation, and region. Short-term exposure to NO2 was significantly associated with an increased risk of asthma emergency admissions among children in England. Future guidance and policies need to consider reflecting certain proven modifications, such as using season-specific countermeasures for air pollution control, to protect the at-risk population.

Evolutionary relationship between antimitochondrial antibody positivity and primary biliary cholangitis in Taiwan: a 16-year hospital cohort study.

How antimitochondrial antibody (AMA)-positive patients evolve to have primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) in viral hepatitis-endemic areas is unknown. We aimed to investigate this evolution in Taiwan. A 16-year medical center-based cohort study of 2,095,628 subjects was conducted in Taiwan, an Asian country endemic to viral hepatitis. AMA-positive subjects were those with positive AMA with alkaline phosphatase (ALP) ⩽1.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN), and PBC was defined as positive AMA with ALP >1.5 × ULN. AMA-positive subjects had a lower average age- and sex-adjusted prevalence than PBC patients (4.68/105 versus 11.61/105, p = 0.0002), but their incidence was comparable (0.99/105 versus 1.12/105, p = 0.36). The former group had a borderline significantly lower mean age (56.59 years versus 58.10 years, p = 0.06) and a lower female-to-male ratio (2.85:1 versus 5.44:1, p < 0.0001). Both AMA-positive subjects (prevalence change: 20.0%, p < 0.01; incidence change: -9.2%, p < 0.01) and PBC patients (prevalence change: 14.6%, p < 0.01; incidence change: -4.7%, p < 0.01) prevalence rate increased but the incidence rate decreased. Among the 423 AMA-positive subjects, 77 (18.2%) developed PBC, for a mean duration of 1.757 years. Compared with AMA-positive subjects, PBC patients had similar concurrent chronic hepatitis B (CHB) rates (2.7% versus 4.3%, p = 0.197) but lower chronic hepatitis C (CHC) rates (3.69% versus 15.60%, p < 0.01). PBC was more prevalent than AMA-positive subjects, and PBC patients had a higher female-to-male ratio than AMA-positive subjects, of whom 18.2% developed PBC (mean lag: 1.757 years). Upward trends in prevalence rates and downward trends in incidence rates were noted for both AMA-positive subjects and PBC. CHB was rare, CHC was more prevalent among PBC patients than the general population, and CHC was less prevalent among PBC than among AMA-positive subjects.

Spatial Coherence Approaches to Distinguish Suspicious Mass Contents in Fundamental and Harmonic Breast Ultrasound Images.

When compared to fundamental B-mode imaging, coherence-based beamforming, and harmonic imaging are independently known to reduce acoustic clutter, distinguish solid from fluid content in indeterminate breast masses, and thereby reduce unnecessary biopsies during a breast cancer diagnosis. However, a systematic investigation of independent and combined coherence beamforming and harmonic imaging approaches is necessary for the clinical deployment of the most optimal approach. Therefore, we compare the performance of fundamental and harmonic images created with short-lag spatial coherence (SLSC), M-weighted SLSC (M-SLSC), SLSC combined with robust principal component analysis with no M-weighting (r-SLSC), and r-SLSC with M-weighting (R-SLSC), relative to traditional fundamental and harmonic B-mode images, when distinguishing solid from fluid breast masses. Raw channel data acquired from 40 total breast masses (28 solid, 7 fluid, 5 mixed) were beamformed and analyzed. The contrast of fluid masses was better with fundamental rather than harmonic coherence imaging, due to the lower spatial coherence within the fluid masses in the fundamental coherence images. Relative to SLSC imaging, M-SLSC, r-SLSC, and R-SLSC imaging provided similar contrast across multiple masses (with the exception of clinically challenging complicated cysts) and minimized the range of generalized contrast-to-noise ratios (gCNRs) of fluid masses, yet required additional computational resources. Among the eight coherence imaging modes compared, fundamental SLSC imaging best identified fluid versus solid breast mass contents, outperforming fundamental and harmonic B-mode imaging. With fundamental SLSC images, the specificity and sensitivity to identify fluid masses using the reader-independent metrics of contrast difference, mean lag one coherence (LOC), and gCNR were 0.86 and 1, 1 and 0.89, and 1 and 1, respectively. Results demonstrate that fundamental SLSC imaging and gCNR (or LOC if no coherence image or background region of interest is introduced) have the greatest potential to impact clinical decisions and improve the diagnostic certainty of breast mass contents. These observations are additionally anticipated to extend to masses in other organs.

Estimation of building project completion duration using a natural gradient boosting ensemble model and legal and institutional variables

Estimation of building project completion duration using a natural gradient boosting ensemble model and legal and institutional variables

Incidence of Acute Kidney Injury in 1 - 14 years old Critically ill Children in a Tertiary care Center

Introduction:Acute Kidney injury (AKI) is associated with poor outcomes in critically ill hospitalized children. There are very few studies on incidence of AKI based on urine output criteria of KDIGO (Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcome) and time lag between the fall in urine output and rise in serum creatinine. This study was therefore aimed at determining the same.&#x0D; Methods: A prospective study was conducted in the Department of Paediatrics of a tertiary care hospital. 171 critically ill children between one to 14 years who were admitted in PICU were enrolled. Hourly urine output and eight hourly serum creatinine levels were measured and incidence of AKI was calculated along with lag time between fall in urine output and rise in serum creatinine. Outcome of children with AKI was also studied. Data analysis was done using SPSS software version 25.0 and Microsoft excel 2007.&#x0D; Results: The mean age + SD of children in the study was 5.5 years ± 3.76 with a range of one to 14 years, with 62.6 % of them being boys. The incidence of AKI in the study population was 14.62%. The mean lag time between fall in urine output and rise in serum creatinine was found to be 13.21 hours. AKI had a significant association with mortality, use of nephrotoxic drugs, inotropes and mechanical ventilation.&#x0D; Conclusions: A significant number of critically ill children develop AKI and its occurrence portends a poor outcome. Utilization of the KDIGO reduced urine output criteria as a marker of AKI allows for early detection and intervention

Short-term exposure to ultrafine particles and mortality and hospital admissions due to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases in Copenhagen, Denmark

Ultrafine particles (UFP; particulate matter <0.1 μm in diameter) may be more harmful to human health than larger particles, but epidemiological evidence on their health effects is still limited. In this study, we examined the association between short-term exposure to UFP and mortality and hospital admissions in Copenhagen, Denmark. Daily concentrations of UFP (measured as particle number concentration in a size range 11–700 nm) and meteorological variables were monitored at an urban background station in central Copenhagen during 2002–2018. Daily counts of deaths from all non-accidental causes, as well as deaths and hospital admissions from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases were obtained from Danish registers. Mortality and hospital admissions associated with an interquartile range (IQR) increase in UFP exposure on a concurrent day and up to six preceding days prior to the death or admission were examined in a case-crossover study design. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) per one IQR increase in UFP were estimated after adjusting for temperature and relative humidity. We observed 140,079 deaths in total, 236,003 respiratory and 342,074 cardiovascular hospital admissions between 2002 and 2018. Hospital admissions due to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases were significantly positively associated with one IQR increase in UFP (OR: 1.04 [95% CI: 1.01, 1.07], lag 0–4, and 1.02 [1.00, 1.04], lag 0–1, respectively). Among the specific causes, the strongest associations were found for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) mortality and asthma hospital admissions and two-day means (lag 0–1) of UFP (OR: 1.13 [1.01, 1.26] and 1.08 [1.00, 1.16], respectively, per one IQR increase in UFP). Based on 17 years of UFP monitoring data, we present novel findings showing that short-term exposure to UFP can trigger respiratory and cardiovascular diseases mortality and morbidity in Copenhagen, Denmark. The strongest associations with UFP were observed with COPD mortality and asthma hospital admissions.

Impact of lag time on lung function impairment in pulmonary tuberculosis sequelae patients – A cross-sectional study

Background: Treatment completed pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients are often left with permanent pulmonary function impairment. Lag time remains a major factor in determining the severity of the sequelae. Aims and Objectives: This study aims to assess the impact of lag time on PTB sequelae. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during July 2019–December 2020. A total of 85 patients presenting with clinicoradiological features of PTB sequelae were recruited for the study and spirometry and diffusion capacity of lungs (DLCO) were done. They were divided into study groups based on lag time. The lag time (in days) was considered as primary explanatory variable. One-way ANOVA and Chi-square tests were used. coGuide V.1.0 was used for statistical analysis. Results: The mean lag time was 52.94 days in the study population. The mean duration of after treatment was 15.45 years in the study population. There was a statistically significant difference across study groups (classified based on the lag time) in lung function such as FVC%, FEV1, FEVI/FVC, MEF, DLCO, and duration of after treatment (P&lt;0.05). Conclusion: The lag time from the development of symptom to the diagnosis of the disease has a significant impact on lung function impairment in PTB sequelae patients since the increase in lag time increases the severity of lung function impairment. Early identification and treatment may help in reducing the progression of lung function impairment.

The journey of patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis

IntroductionTo describe the journey of patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and psoriasis (PsO) with special emphasis on diagnosis and treatment delays. Materials and methodsAll patients with PsA registered between 2000 and 2016 were included. Mean lag time between first musculoskeletal symptom and diagnosis of PsA, between first musculoskeletal symptom and first physician encounter, mean lag time to first DMARD and mean lag time between PsO diagnosis and PsA diagnosis were calculated. Descriptive statistics are reported. Variables associated with a delay in PsA diagnosis >1 year were analyzed in multivariable analysis. ResultsOne hundred and eighty nine patients were included (139 PsA and 50 PsO), mean age 60.8 years (SD: 16.3), 57% were males. Mean lag time between first musculoskeletal symptom and diagnosis of PsA was 1.9 (SD: 4.7) years. In 90 patients (97%), the diagnosis of PsO preceded the diagnosis of PsA, a mean time of 14.3 years (SD: 13.9). Forty-nine patients (35%) had a delay of PsA diagnosis ≥1 year. Of the PsA patients, 84.7% received cDMARDs as first line therapy. The mean lag time between PsA diagnosis and initiation of DMARDs was 2 years (SD: 7.6). In logistic regression analysis no variable was independently associated with a delay equal or greater than 1 year in PsA diagnosis. ConclusionsA significant delay in consultation and diagnosis of PsA was evident in this single center study in a third of patients. None of the variables studied was associated with a delay in diagnosis greater than one year.

Effectiveness of mRNA and inactivated COVID-19 vaccines: A test-negative study in an infection-naïve Hong Kong population

Assess real-world effectiveness of vaccines against COVID-19. A test-negative study was conducted in January-May 2022 during an Omicron BA.2 wave in Hong Kong. COVID-19 was identified by RT-PCR. 1 to 1 case-control matching was based on propensity score with vaccine effectiveness adjusted for confounders. Altogether, 1781 cases and 1737 controls aged 3-105 years were analysed. The mean lag time from the last dose of vaccination to testing for SARS-CoV-2 was 133.9 (SD: 84.4) days. Two doses of either vaccine within 180 days offered a low effectiveness against COVID-19 of all severity combined (VEadj [95% CI] for BNT162b2: 27.0% [4.2 to 44.5], CoronaVac: 22.9% [1.3 to 39.7]), and further decreased after 180 days. Two doses of CoronaVac was poorly protective 39.5% [4.9 to 62.5] against severe diseases for age ≥60 years, but the effectiveness increased substantially after the third dose (79.1% [25.7 to 96.7]). Two doses of BNT162b2 protected age ≥60 years against severe diseases (79.3% [47.2, 93.9]); however, the uptake was not high enough to assess three doses. The current real-world analysis indicates a high vaccine effectiveness of three doses of inactivated virus (CoronaVac) vaccines against Omicron variant, whereas the effectiveness of two doses is suboptimal.

The journey of patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis

IntroductionTo describe the journey of patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and psoriasis (PsO) with special emphasis on diagnosis and treatment delays. Materials and methodsAll patients with PsA registered between 2000 and 2016 were included. Mean lag time between first musculoskeletal symptom and diagnosis of PsA, between first musculoskeletal symptom and first physician encounter, mean lag time to first DMARD and mean lag time between PsO diagnosis and PsA diagnosis were calculated. Descriptive statistics are reported. Variables associated with a delay in PsA diagnosis >1 year were analyzed in multivariable analysis. ResultsOne hundred and eighty nine patients were included (139 PsA and 50 PsO), mean age 60.8 years (SD: 16.3), 57% were males. Mean lag time between first musculoskeletal symptom and diagnosis of PsA was 1.9 (SD: 4.7) years. In 90 patients (97%), the diagnosis of PsO preceded the diagnosis of PsA, a mean time of 14.3 years (SD: 13.9). Forty-nine patients (35%) had a delay of PsA diagnosis ≥1 year. Of the PsA patients, 84.7% received cDMARDs as first line therapy. The mean lag time between PsA diagnosis and initiation of DMARDs was 2 years (SD: 7.6). In logistic regression analysis no variable was independently associated with a delay equal or greater than 1 year in PsA diagnosis. ConclusionsA significant delay in consultation and diagnosis of PsA was evident in this single center study in a third of patients. None of the variables studied was associated with a delay in diagnosis greater than one year.

PET/CT Fluoroscopy during PET/CT-Guided Interventions: Initial Experience

This study assessed the feasibility and functionality of the use of a high-speed image fusion technology to generate and display positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) fluoroscopic images during PET/CT-guided tumor ablation procedures. Thirteen patients underwent 14 PET/CT-guided ablations for the treatment of 20 tumors. A Food and Drug Administration–cleared multimodal image fusion platform received images pushed from a scanner, followed by near–real-time, nonrigid image registration. The most recent intraprocedural PET dataset was fused to each single-rotation CT fluoroscopy dataset as it arrived, and the fused images were displayed on an in-room monitor. PET/CT fluoroscopic images were generated and displayed in all procedures and enabled more confident targeting in 3 procedures. The mean lag time from CT fluoroscopic image acquisition to the in-room display of the fused PET/CT fluoroscopic image was 21 seconds ± 8. The registration accuracy was visually satisfactory in 13 of 14 procedures. In conclusion, PET/CT fluoroscopy was feasible and may have the potential to facilitate PET/CT-guided procedures.

Faith development as change in religious types: Results from three-wave longitudinal data with faith development interviews.

Faith, as a way of how people understand God and the world and make or discover meaning in their life, is characterized by individual differences and changes over the lifetime. Our research investigates these changes over the life span in terms of hierarchically ordered types that are the elements in our developmental model, which is a critical advancement and modification of Fowler’s theory of faith development. This study is the first to investigate whether there is development in faith over the adult life span and to identify predictors of developmental change. Our mixed-method design used three-wave longitudinal data (mean lag time 10.47 years from Wave 1 to Wave 3). A sample of N = 75 participants were interviewed with the faith development interview three times and each time answered comprehensive questionnaires. Results evidenced faith development over the life span: a majority in our data moved to a higher type, while change to a lower type did occur. Openness to experience and the religious schema truth of text and teachings were potential antecedents for faith development. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)

Modeling Lake Recovery Lag Times Following Influent Phosphorus Loading Reduction.

Internal feedback of nutrients may impede timely improvement in lake water quality. We describe a parsimonious, mechanistic framework for modeling lag times to recovery of phosphorus-enriched lakes, given decreases in external loading. The approach assumes first-order kinetics in a two-compartment system taking account of phosphorus storage in and loading from benthic sediments. Bayesian parameter modeling, published sediment phosphorus release rates, and a prior dynamic calibration for one lake are used to derive estimates of key parameters. Applications are developed for an example lake, as are maps displaying estimated times to attainment of a phosphorus criterion in lakes across a midwestern state, and lag time estimates for fractional water column concentration decrease averaged over HUC-8s. Mean lag times to 50 and 75% declines in water column phosphorus concentration were estimated as 13.1 and 39.0 years respectively, across more than 70,000 lentic water bodies in the continental United States.

Navigating the Impact of Renewable Energy, Trade Openness, Income, and Globalization on Load Capacity Factor: The Case of Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) Countries

Considering relatively high but recently decreasing environmental quality in the LAC countries with regard to the world, this study uncovers the progress of environmental quality, which is proxied by load capacity factor (LCF). In this context, the study considers renewable energy, trade openness, income, and globalization as explanatory indicators; uses data from 1990 to 2018; applies pooled mean group autoregressive distributed lag (PMG-ARDL) approach as the main model; and performs panel Toda-Yamamoto (PTY) causality test as robustness model. This is important because the LAC countries have ecological reserves, whereas many countries have an ecological deficit. For this reason, the investigation of the LAC countries has significance for the environmental quality in the world. Also, this study has novelty in terms of examining LAC countries and using the LCF as the environmental quality. The results present that (i) renewable energy has an improving impact on the LCF in both the short run and the long run; (ii) trade openness has a stimulating impact on the LCF in the long run; (iii) however, globalization and economic growth have a degrading impact on the LCF in the long run. Hence, it can be drawn from the results that renewable energy and trade openness have a critical impact on preserving and developing environmental quality. In line with the empirical findings, it can be proposed that LAC countries should utilize renewable energy effectively, improve trade volume through trade openness, increase renewable energy technology import, and expand the use of renewable energy in foreign trade activities. Thus, effective renewable energy and foreign trade policies can promote the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs) in the LAC countries.

An NLP-assisted Bayesian time-series analysis for prevalence of Twitter cyberbullying during the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 has brought about many changes in social dynamics. Stay-at-home orders and disruptions in school teaching can influence bullying behavior in-person and online, both of which leading to negative outcomes in victims. To study cyberbullying specifically, 1 million tweets containing keywords associated with abuse were collected from the beginning of 2019 to the end of 2021 with the Twitter API search endpoint. A natural language processing model pre-trained on a Twitter corpus generated probabilities for the tweets being offensive and hateful. To overcome limitations of sampling, data were also collected using the count endpoint. The fraction of tweets from a given daily sample marked as abusive is multiplied to the number reported by the count endpoint. Once these adjusted counts are assembled, a Bayesian autoregressive Poisson model allows one to study the mean trend and lag functions of the data and how they vary over time. The results reveal strong weekly and yearly seasonality in hateful speech but with slight differences across years that may be attributed to COVID-19.