Separate Measurements Research Articles

Association between Statin use and Incident Peripheral Artery Disease According to Race, Age, and Presence of Depression in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

BackgroundPeripheral artery disease (PAD) is associated with high morbidity and mortality and has been commonly described as a coronary heart disease equivalent. Statin medications are recommended for primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) among other indications. Therefore, understanding the longitudinal relationship of incident PAD is necessary to inform future research on how to prevent disease. Depression complicates cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients’ ability to properly adhere to their medications, yet the effect of depression on the relationship between statin use and incident PAD is understudied. People with PAD have a higher incidence of depressive symptoms than people without PAD. Black American and Hispanic populations are disproportionately affected by both PAD and depression yet research on the modifying effect of either race or depression on the relationship between statin use and onset of PAD is minimal. While statin utilization is highest for ages 75–84, there is minimal evidence of favorable risk–benefit balance. Consequently, in this project, we examined the relationship between statin use and incident peripheral artery disease and whether this relationship is modified by race/ethnicity, depressive symptoms, or age. MethodsWe used data on participants from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) from visit 1 (2000) through study visit 6 (2020) who had three separate measurements of the ankle-brachial index (ABI) taken at visit 1, visit 3, and visit 5. Incident PAD was defined as 1) incident lower extremity amputation or revascularization or 2) ABI less than 0.90 coupled with ABI decrease greater than 0.15 over the follow-up period. Statin use was noted on the study visit prior to incident PAD diagnosis while depressive symptoms were measured at exam 1, visit 3, and visit 5. Propensity score matching was implemented to create balance between the participants in the two treatment groups, i.e., statin treated and statin untreated groups to reduce the problem of confounding by indication. Propensity scores were calculated using multivariate logistic regression model to estimate the probability of receiving statin treatment. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to investigate the relationship between time-dependent statin use as well as other risk factors with incident PAD, overall and stratified by 1) race,2) depression status, and 3) age ResultsA total 4,210 participants were included in the final matched analytic cohort. There were 810 (19.3%) incident cases of PAD that occurred over an average (mean) of 11.3 (SD=5.7) years of follow-up time. In the statin treated group, and with the average follow-up time of 12.5 (SD=5.6) years. there were 281 (13.4%) cases of incident PAD with the average follow-up time of 10.1 (SD=5.5), whereas in the statin untreated group, there were 531 (25.2%) cases (p<0.001). Results demonstrate a lower risk of PAD event in statin treated group compared to untreated group (hazard ratio [HR] 0.45, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.33-0.62) over the span 18.5 years. The interactions between 1) depression and 2) race with statin use for incident PAD were not significant. However other risk factors which were significant included Black American race that had approximately 30% lower hazard of PAD compared to non-Hispanic White (HR=0.70, 95% CI: 0.58-0.84); Age-stratified models were also fitted, and stain use was still a significant treatment factor for ages 45-54 (HR 0.45, 95% CI: 0.33-0.63), 55-64 (HR 0.61, 95% CI 0.46-0.79), and 65-74 years (HR 0.61, 95% CI: 0.48-0.78) but not for 75-84 years. ConclusionStatin use was associated with a decreased risk of incident PAD for those under age 75. Neither race nor depression significantly modified the relationship between statin use and incident PAD however risk of incident PAD was lower among Blacks Americans. These findings highlight that the benefit of statin may wane for those over the age 75. Findings also suggest statin use may not be compromised in those living with depression.

Measuring the psychosocial wellbeing of Rohingya mothers in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh: Psychometric properties of an MHPSS assessment battery

Background Psychosocial research in humanitarian settings has been historically dominated by a focus on distress and disorder. As such, there is a need to establish the validity of instruments for a broad range of psychosocial outcomes, particularly among highly affected and under-represented populations. The current study describes the adaptation and testing of multiple psychosocial instruments among displaced Rohingya mothers in Bangladesh. Methods We used baseline data from 600 mothers of malnourished children aged 2 and under enrolled in an intervention study in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Instruments assessed distress (items from the International Depression Symptom Scale [IDSS] and Kessler-6 [K-6]); functional impairment (World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule [WHODAS]); subjective wellbeing (global Satisfaction With Life [SWL] and Personal Wellbeing Index [PWI]; and, coping (items from the Brief COPE and locally developed coping items). Instruments were piloted and refined, then used for data collection by Bangladeshi-Rohingya interviewer pairs. We conducted exploratory factor analysis, evaluated internal consistency, examined construct validity through correlation with other scales, and used regression models to explore demographic factors associated with psychosocial health. Results Both the WHODAS and coping items fit 2-factor models; other scales were unidimensional. Cronbach’s alphas ranged from .76 to .90 for the refined scales. With the exception of coping, scale correlations supported construct validity; separate measures of the same construct were highly correlated, distress and impairment were moderately correlated, and both were inversely correlated with wellbeing. Correlates of poorer psychosocial health included relative socioeconomic disadvantage, current pregnancy, and being unmarried. Conclusions Most of the standard psychosocial assessment tools performed adequately, but they did not appear to fully capture local experiences and included items of little local relevance. Findings highlight the need for further mixed methods research to develop a rich battery of instruments with cross-cultural validity, particularly for positive outcomes such as coping which was particularly challenging to assess.

Validation of a new 3D quantitative BOLD based cerebral oxygen extraction mapping

Quantitative BOLD (qBOLD) MRI allows evaluation of oxidative metabolism of the brain based purely on an endogenous contrast mechanism. The method quantifies deoxygenated blood volume (DBV) and hemoglobin oxygen saturation level of venous blood (Yv), yielding oxygen extraction fraction (OEF), and along with a separate measurement of cerebral blood flow, cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2) maps. Here, we evaluated our recently reported 3D qBOLD method that rectifies a number of deficiencies in prior qBOLD approaches in terms of repeat reproducibility and sensitivity to hypercapnia on the metabolic parameters, and in comparison to dual-gas calibrated BOLD (cBOLD) MRI for determining resting-state oxygen metabolism. Results suggested no significant difference between test-retest qBOLD scans in either DBV and OEF. Exposure to hypercapnia yielded group averages of 38 and 28% for OEF and 151 and 146 µmol/min/100 g for CMRO2 in gray matter at baseline and hypercapnia, respectively. The decrease of OEF during hypercapnia was significant (p ≪ 0.01), whereas CMRO2 did not change significantly (p = 0.25). Finally, baseline OEF (37 vs. 39%) and CMRO2 (153 vs. 145 µmol/min/100 g) in gray matter using qBOLD and dual-gas cBOLD were found to be in good agreement with literature values, and were not significantly different from each other (p > 0.1).

Separation of photoionization and measurement-induced delays.

Photoionization of matter is one of the fastest electronic processes in nature. Experimental measurements of photoionization dynamics have become possible through attosecond metrology. However, all experiments reported to date contain a so-far unavoidable measurement-induced contribution, known as continuum-continuum (CC) or Coulomb-laser-coupling delay. In traditional attosecond metrology, this contribution is nonadditive for most systems and nontrivial to calculate. Here, we introduce the concept of mirror symmetry-broken attosecond interferometry, which enables the direct and separate measurement of both the native one-photon ionization delays and the CC delays. Our technique solves the longstanding challenge of experimentally isolating these two contributions. This advance opens the door to the next generation of accurate measurements and precision tests that will set standards for benchmarking the accuracy of electronic structure and electron-dynamics methods.

Monitoring and quantification of ultrasonic fatigue damage in copper based on internal friction measurement

Fatigue damage in metals and alloys would reduce their strength and should be identified as early as possible. However, fatigue damage is usually difficult to detect even using advanced nondestructive testing method. Here we developed an automated damping monitoring system for ultrasonic fatigue testing based on a quantitative electromechanical impedance method. During fatigue testing, the damping and resonance frequency of the Piezo actuator/horn/specimen system is measured regularly using an impedance analyzer. When the system damping suddenly increases, it implies that fatigue damage may be generated in the specimen. Separate impedance measurements on the copper specimen in a vacuum chamber show that the internal frictions of damaged specimens are much larger than the fresh specimens. Subsequent X-Ray micro-CT scanning shows that microcracks up to 0.8 mm in length were generated in those fatigued specimens with increased internal frictions. Further tensile testing shows that compared to the fresh specimen, specimens with fatigue damage exhibits reduced tensile strength and elongation at break. Furthermore, the larger the internal friction, the smaller the remaining yield strength and a nearly linear relationship between them holds. Finally, a damage variable DQ is defined based on internal friction which can act as a measure of fatigue damage in metals.

Flicker Noise in Resistive Gas Sensors-Measurement Setups and Applications for Enhanced Gas Sensing.

We discuss the implementation challenges of gas sensing systems based on low-frequency noise measurements on chemoresistive sensors. Resistance fluctuations in various gas sensing materials, in a frequency range typically up to a few kHz, can enhance gas sensing by considering its intensity and the slope of power spectral density. The issues of low-frequency noise measurements in resistive gas sensors, specifically in two-dimensional materials exhibiting gas-sensing properties, are considered. We present measurement setups and noise-processing methods for gas detection. The chemoresistive sensors show various DC resistances requiring different flicker noise measurement approaches. Separate noise measurement setups are used for resistances up to a few hundred kΩ and for resistances with much higher values. Noise measurements in highly resistive materials (e.g., MoS2, WS2, and ZrS3) are prone to external interferences but can be modulated using temperature or light irradiation for enhanced sensing. Therefore, such materials are of considerable interest for gas sensing.

Quantification of polyprenyl diphosphates in Escherichia coli cells using high-performance liquid chromatography.

Dephosphorylation of undecaprenyl diphosphate is a crucial step in the synthesis of undecaprenyl phosphate, which is essential for cell wall synthesis. We have developed a method for the quantification of intracellular polyprenyl diphosphates, which have never before been measured directly. Polyprenyl phosphates and diphosphates prepared by chemical phosphorylation of polyprenols from Staphylococcus aureus were used to establish the conditions for fractionation by ion-exchange chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). By using an elution solvent containing tetraethylammonium phosphate as an ion-pair reagent for HPLC, polyprenyl phosphate and polyprenyl diphosphate with carbon numbers from 40 to 55 could be detected as separate peaks from the reversed-phase column. This analytical method was applied to lipids extracted from Escherichia coli to determine the intracellular levels of octaprenyl phosphate, undecaprenyl phosphate, octaprenyl diphosphate, and undecaprenyl diphosphate. This is the first report of separate measurement of cellular levels of polyprenyl phosphates and polyprenyl diphosphates.

Collateral effects of COVID-19 stay-at-home orders on violence against women in the United States, January 2019 to December 2020

BackgroundThe necessary execution of non-pharmaceutical risk-mitigation (NPRM) strategies to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 has created an unprecedented natural experiment to ascertain whether pandemic-induced social-policy interventions may elevate collateral health risks. Here, we assess the effects on violence against women (VAW) of the duration of NPRM measures that were executed through jurisdictional-level orders in the United States. We expect that stay-at-home orders, by reducing mobility and disrupting non-coresident social ties, are associated with higher incident reporting of VAW.MethodsWe used aggregate data from the Murder Accountability Project from January 2019 through December 2020, to estimate count models examining the effects of the duration of jurisdictional-level (N = 51) stay-at-home orders on femicide. Additionally, we used data from the National Incident-Based Reporting System to estimate a series of count models that examined the effects of the duration of jurisdictional-level (N = 26) stay-at-home orders on non-lethal violence against women, including five separate measures of intimate partner violence (IPV) and a measure of non-partner sexual violence.ResultsResults from the count models indicated that femicide was not associated with COVID-19 mitigation strategies when adjusted for seasonal effects. However, we found certain measures of non-lethal VAW to be significantly associated in adjusted models. Specifically, reported physical and economic IPV were positively associated with stay-at-home orders while psychological IPV and non-partner sexual violence were negatively associated with stay-at-home orders. The combination measure of all forms of IPV was positively associated with the duration of stay-at-home orders, indicating a net increase in risk of IPV during lockdowns.ConclusionsThe benefits of risk-mitigation strategies to reduce the health impacts directly associated with a pandemic should be weighed against their costs with respect to women’s heightened exposure to certain forms of violence and the potentially cascading impacts of such exposure on health. The effects of COVID-19 NPRM strategies on IPV risk nationally and its immediate and long-term health sequelae should be studied, with stressors like ongoing pandemic-related economic hardship and substance misuse still unfolding. Findings should inform the development of social policies to mitigate the collateral impacts of crisis-response efforts on the risk of VAW and its cascading sequelae.

Visualizing and characterizing excited states from time-dependent density functional theory.

Time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) is the most widely-used electronic structure method for excited states, due to a favorable combination of low cost and semi-quantitative accuracy in many contexts, even if there are well recognized limitations. This Perspective describes various ways in which excited states from TD-DFT calculations can be visualized and analyzed, both qualitatively and quantitatively. This includes not just orbitals and densities but also well-defined statistical measures of electron-hole separation and of Frenkel-type exciton delocalization. Emphasis is placed on mathematical connections between methods that have often been discussed separately. Particular attention is paid to charge-transfer diagnostics, which provide indicators of when TD-DFT may not be trustworthy due to its categorical failure to describe long-range electron transfer. Measures of exciton size and charge separation that are directly connected to the underlying transition density are recommended over more ad hoc metrics for quantifying charge-transfer character.

ЛАБОРАТОРНІ ДОСЛІДЖЕННЯ ДВОВИМІРНОЇ ФІЛЬТРАЦІЇ ВОДНОГО РОЗЧИНУ ТВЕРДОГО АНТИПІРОГЕНУ «PIROCOOL» ЧЕРЕЗ ВУГІЛЛЯ

Purpose. Study of filtration parameters of an aqueous solution of solid anti-pyrogen "Pirocool" and assessment of its influence on methane migration from the coal seam to the preparatory production. Method. The research was carried out on a stand for two-dimensional filtration of liquid with anti-pyrogen "Pirocool" through a coal sample. The sample is 40x40x40 mm with a hole located in the middle of the sample. Results. The obtained dependence of the relative permeability of the aqueous solution of the antipyrogen "Pirocool" on its concentration compared to the permeability of pure water. Obtained experimental data on the relative change in gas permeability of a coal sample before hydrotreatment, after hydrotreatment with water, and after repeated treatment with an aqueous solution of the anti-pyrogen "Pirocool". Scientific novelty. It consists of obtained experimental data. In addition, the wavy character of the dependence of the relative permeability of the aqueous solution of the anti-pyrogen "Pirocool" deserves attention, which may turn into a well-founded regularity in further more advanced research. Practical meaning. The obtained results prove the possibility of combining two separate safety measures in the development of coal seams - hydro loosening to prevent sudden emissions during preparatory work, and injection of aqueous solutions of anti-pyrogens in order to prevent ignition of the seam. This allows you to reduce costs and increase the productivity of mandatory preventive measures. Key words: anti-pyrogen, coal seam, liquid filtration, solution concentration, sudden emissions.

Selective measurement of Cl2 and HCl based on dopant-assisted negative photoionization ion mobility spectrometry combined with semiconductor cooling.

This study presents an efficient approach for the precise detection of chlorine gas (Cl2) and hydrogen chloride (HCl), harmful pollutants frequently emitted from chlor-alkali and various industrial processes. These substances, even in trace amounts, pose significant health risks. Ion mobility spectrometry (IMS), known for its sensitivity in pollutant detection, traditionally struggles to differentiate between Cl2 and HCl due to the similarity of their product ions, Cl-. To overcome this limitation, we introduce a novel technique combining dopant-assisted negative photoionization ion mobility spectrometry (DANP-IMS) with an automatic semiconductor cooling system. This unique combination utilizes the differential cryogenic removal efficiencies of Cl2 and HCl to segregate these gases before analysis. By applying DANP-IMS, we achieved selective measurement of Cl- ion signal intensities under both standard and cryogenic conditions, facilitating the accurate quantification of total chlorine and Cl2 levels. We then determined HCl concentrations by deducting the Cl2 signal from the total chlorine readings. Our approach demonstrated detection limits of 2.0 parts per billion (ppb) for Cl2 and 0.8 ppb for HCl, across a linear detection range of 0-200 ppb. Moreover, our method's capability for real-time atmospheric monitoring of Cl2 and HCl near industrial sites underscores its utility for environmental monitoring, offering a robust solution for the separate and precise measurement of these pollutants.

In Situ Thermoelectric Property Characterization of Microscale Single Thermoelectric Fiber Based on Harmonic Detection

Exploring advanced thermoelectric materials, especially flexible thermoelectric fibers, is promising for wearable devices. The thermoelectric properties of these fibers are evaluated using the figure of merit ZT value. However, there is a lack of empirical research on the properties of microscale thermoelectric fibers, necessitating the development of precise measurement methods. In addition, since the properties of micro- and nanofiber materials can be affected by the microstructure, separate measurements of electrical conductivity, Seebeck coefficient, and thermal conductivity before calculating the ZT values can lead to large errors in the final calculations. In this study, Bi 2 Te 2.7 Se 0.3 thermoelectric fibers are prepared and measured by using a thermally drawn method and an in situ method, respectively. The in situ measurements are carried out using a self-developed instrument capable of measuring temperatures from room temperature up to 1,200 K, suitable for sample sizes ranging from micro- to nanoscale. The uncertainty of the measurement exhibits less than 6.36%. The results indicate that the thermal drawing process influences crystal growth, enhancing the Seebeck coefficient and reducing electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity. Moreover, the accuracy of the measurement method is verified by pure Pt wire. The integrated in situ measurement effectively reduces experimental errors due to sample differences when calculating parameters for multiple samples measured individually, and the maximum error that can be reduced is 19.5%. This research contributes a practical measurement method of thermoelectric fibers and advances the development of wearable thermoelectric devices.

Grain issue in relations between Ukraine and the EU

The paper focuses on grain issue in relations between Ukraine and the EU. The objective of the study is to reveal the reasons for the complication of relations between Ukraine and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe in the spring of 2023. To achieve the objective, the authors: 1) analyze which EU countries themselves have introduced separate restrictive meas-ures against Ukraine; 2) reveal the dynamics of the physical volumes of grain exports from Ukraine; 3) consider the legal aspect of the application of restrictive measures; 4) determine the consequences of measures, and 5) calculate Ukraine’s potential losses. It is underlined that the political step of the EU aimed at supporting the economy of Ukraine in the conditions of the war created additional pressure on the farmers of Central and Eastern European countries, because the warehouse system of these countries was not ready for a significant increase in supplies from Ukraine. The steps taken by the governments of some Central and Eastern Eu-ropean countries ran counter to their obligations as EU members and violated the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU. In addition, these steps created the preconditions for an institutional crisis in the EU. It is concluded that avoiding similar problems in the future requires a solution in the triangle Ukraine–European Commission–individual EU members.

Screen time and addictive use of gaming and social media in relation to health outcomes.

This study examined associations between screen time and addictive use (i.e., heavy involvement and negative consequences) of gaming and social media, and their independent effects on health outcomes. Survey data were collected from 2,265 participants (mean age = 21.57). Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) and Social Media Disorder (SMD) were measured with the Gaming and Social Media Questionnaire (GSMQ-9), with separate measures for heavy involvement and negative consequences. Screen time was measured by weekly hours of gaming and social media. Assessed health outcomes were psychological problems, low self-concept, social problems, sleep problems, and sleep time. Screen time and addictive use were significantly associated for both gaming and social media, with associations being stronger for symptoms of heavy involvement compared to symptoms of negative consequences. However, despite significant associations, a substantial proportion of the participants with a high screen time did not meet any or just one symptom of addiction. More importantly, it was primarily negative consequences that had independent effects on health outcomes, except for sleep. High levels of heavy involvement in gaming, were even related to lower, not higher, levels of psychological problems. The present findings study show that screen time is a poor indicator of addictive use of gaming and social media. Given that it was primarily negative consequences of gaming or social media that had effects on health outcomes, our study also emphasizes the need to distinguish between different types of addictive use and to further examine the diagnostic validity of the nine IGD symptom criteria.

Study of the f-cell ratio using plasma dilution and albumin mass kinetics

BackgroundThe f-cell ratio of 0.91 is a conversion factor between the hematocrit measured in peripheral blood and the hematocrit obtained by separate measurements of the red blood cell mass and plasma volume. The physiological background of the f-cell ratio is unclear. MethodsData were retrieved from 155 intravenous infusion experiments where 15–25 mL/kg of crystalloid fluid diluted the blood hemoglobin and plasma albumin concentrations. The hemodilution was converted to plasma dilution using the peripheral hematocrit, and the volume of distribution of exogenous albumin was calculated in 41 volunteers who received 20 % or 5 % albumin by intravenous infusion. Finally, the kinetics of plasma albumin was studied during 98 infusion experiments with 20 % albumin. ResultsPlasma dilution based on hemoglobin and albumin showed a median difference of −0.001 and a mean difference of 0.000 (N = 2184), which demonstrates that these biomarkers indicate the same expandable vascular space. In contrast, exogenous albumin occupied a volume that was 10 % larger than the plasma volume indicated by the anthropometric equations of Nadler et al. and Retzlaff et al. The kinetic analysis identified a secondary compartment that was 450 mL in size and rapidly exchanged albumin with the circulating plasma. ConclusionsThe results suggest that the f-cell ratio is due to rapid exchange of albumin between the plasma and a non-expandable compartment located outside the circulating blood (possibly the liver sinusoids). This means that the hematocrit measured in peripheral blood correctly represents the ratio between the red cell volume and the circulating plasma volume.

Osmanlı Sonu Cumhuriyet Başı Dönemde Salgınlar Dolayısıyla Mekteplerde Alınan Tedbirler

Epidemics such as plague, measles, malaria, cholera, and Spanish flu affected the Ottoman Empire in every way, and various measures were taken in various fields according to the conjuncture of the period. The reason for choosing the last period in this study is that more epidemic detections have been made and the records of this period are high. After the 1800s, different epidemics with certain processes and results were experienced in the Ottoman Empire for certain reasons. Some of them affected the state at the micro level and some at the macro level. Undoubtedly, the most affected part of the epidemics were children, especially children of education age, who both accelerated the process of being affected by the disease and became the fastest intervention group. The Ottomans took separate measures regarding education during epidemics. These measures, which include schools, teachers, students, places of residence, and parents from time to time, have had an institutional impact on the state. When we look at the archive documents, issues such as the vacation of schools, vaccination policies, dissemination of disinfection studies, raising awareness among students and their parents, arranging separate allowances for these issues, and financial and moral support of teachers in this regard have been the most mentioned issues regarding epidemic and educational measures. This study, which we will prepare with the document analysis method, mostly based on the Ottoman archive documents and the chronicles of the period, aims to reveal the measures taken by the state to prevent the disruption of education despite the epidemics of the period.

The Impact of Green Banking on Profitability (Study on Banking Sector Listed on Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) Period 2016-2022)

The objective of this study is to determine the impact of green banking on profitability of banks in Indonesia. The sample of this research is the Indonesian banking sector during the period 2016 to 2022. The data utilized in this study were obtained from secondary sources, specifically from 9 banks. In total, there were 63 observations. The measurement of profitability ratio is conducted through the utilization of Return on Asset (ROA). The study using data panel analysis resulting green banking using 21 reported items of Green Banking Disclosure Index positively have impact on profitability of banks. It implies that the increasing green banking practices will increase the profitability of banks, highlighting the use of the separate green banking index measurements outside of the total green banking index might be considered by future researchers

Alanine aminotransferase cutoffs for the pediatric fatty liver disease: Major impact of the reference population.

The often-recommended alanine aminotransferase (ALT) cutoffs (girls 21 U/l, boys 25 U/l) are based on a NHANES cohort. A novel concept of metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) emphasizes the role of ALT. We tested the prevalence of increased ALT and MASLD in children with overweight or obesity applying population-based and NHANES-based cut-offs. Six- to seventeen-year-old children underwent data collection in a prospective Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children (PANIC) study. ALT 95th percentiles were calculated from 1167 separate measurements considering various confounders. Test cohort comprised 1044 children with overweight/obesity. ALT values increased at puberty onset (p = 0.031) and correlated negatively with age in girls (r = -0.222, p < 0.001). Particularly overall and central obesity increased ALT, whereas underweight or metabolic abnormalities had smaller effect. After applying the tested exclusions, the age-related ALT 95th percentiles were 24-29 U/l for girls and 29-32 U/l for boys. In 6-8-year-old children with overweight/obesity, the prevalence of increased ALT and MASLD were 21.6% and 2.4% with age-specific PANIC cutoffs. In older children, when NHANES-based cutoffs were used, there was a trend for higher prevalence of increased ALT and MASLD in all age groups for both sexes, reaching significance for increased ALT in 12-16-year-old boys (NHANES 63.5%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 56.4%-70.0% vs. PANIC 47.1%, 95% CI [40.1%-54.2%]) and 9-11-year-old girls (60.0% [49.4%-69.8%] vs. 31.8% [22.8%-42.3%]), respectively. Increased ALT/MASLD were more common in boys than in girls, and in boys these increased with age, whereas in girls these peaked at age 9-12 years. A reference population impacts on the prevalence of increased ALT and MASLD. Considering this help optimizing screening while avoiding unnecessary investigations and surveillance. The prospective part of this study is registered in clinicaltrials.gov; identifier NCT01803776.

Selection and validation of release sites for conservation translocations of temperate-zone snakes

Poor habitat quality is one of the most important reasons for reintroduction failure of reptiles; therefore, release site suitability ought to be evaluated prior to conducting conservation translocations. In temperate zone snakes, translocations have failed due to high overwinter mortality, so practitioners have recommended that release sites be located near suitable hibernacula. The presence of a Life Zone (LZ), the underground space above the groundwater table and below the frost line, may indicate the presence of suitable hibernation habitat. Identification and validation of sites with LZ, however, is challenged by the dynamic nature of groundwater and frost levels, coupled with the secretive nature of hibernating snakes. In this study, our goals were to 1) identify potential reintroduction sites for the globally imperiled Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) in southern Canada based on the presence of a LZ, 2) to validate the suitability of those reintroduction sites by hibernating a surrogate species (Eastern Gartersnake, Thamnophis sirtalis) in constructed hibernacula, and, 3) to determine if two separate measures of LZ were associated with the survival of individual gartersnakes to the end of hibernation. Four 1-ha study grids, each consisting of multiple groundwater and frost monitoring stations, were surveyed from 2015 to 19. Release sites were identified in each grid where a LZ of ≥ 10 cm was observed consistently for at least 2 full winters, and gartersnakes were successfully hibernated therein and at 2 reference sites over 3 winters. Overall, survival of subadult/adult snakes was very high (100 %; n = 20), regardless of site, whereas juvenile survival was lower (78 %; n = 93). A Kaplan-Meier test indicated that juvenile survival differed significantly among sites, and ranged from 60 % to 100 %. GLMM analysis indicated that mass at ingress had a significant positive effect on snake survival during hibernation. The temporary loss of a LZ did not impact snake survival. Contrary to our expectations, snake survival in hibernacula was negatively associated with both minimum LZ size and LZ frequency (i.e., the % of sampling occasions when LZ size ≥ 10 cm). Hibernating snakes can tolerate periods with a very small or non-existent LZ, but a large LZ may become unsuitable to juveniles, possibly due to a lack of moisture. Our results will guide the selection of release sites for Massasauga reintroductions, and for the development of a rigorous release site selection process for temperate zone snakes.

An economy-wide impacts of multiple mitigation pathways toward carbon neutrality in China: A CGE-based analysis

The realisation of China's 2060 carbon neutrality will generate a fundamental transformation in the country's energy structure, or even economic structure. Thus, it is necessary to systematically assess different paths to carbon neutrality in China from an economy-wide perspective. Therefore, using a computable general equilibrium model, this study portrays a detailed electricity technology module to assess the macro-economic and environmental impacts of four abatement ways for achieving carbon neutrality. Results show that, first, subsidising renewable energy and carbon pricing is the relatively optimal way to achieve carbon neutrality. This approach only requires the lowest carbon price and causes the most negligible loss to GDP and household welfare. Moreover, it can also significantly improve the shares for renewable energy as well as electrification, and provides the best co-benefits of abated SO2 and NOX. Second, subsidising CCS combined with carbon pricing is the least advantageous way, with the largest GDP and household welfare loss; furthermore, it has relatively weak promotion effects on energy and environment indicators. Third, if adopting subsidised renewable energy and carbon pricing could eliminate the need for separate abatement measures for SO2 and NOX; and if CCS subsidies and carbon pricing are combined, policy efforts for pollutants can be significantly weakened.