Methodological Limitations Research Articles

Expressive Arts Therapy's Impact on Trauma in Incarcerated Youth

This study examines the effectiveness of expressive arts therapy in mitigating childhood trauma in incarcerated youth, with the aim of reducing the risk of mental disorders, violence, and recidivism by identifying and treating underlying trauma. The study involves 12 participants from the incarcerated youth population, 6 in each group; however, one participant in the control group dropped out of the study during the post-test due to non-attendance. The study used a quasi-experimental design. The experimental group received four sessions over a period of one week. The study found no significant reduction in PTSD symptoms using expressive arts therapy, analyzing for time measured (p=0.700), experimental group (p=0.037), and their interaction (p=0.568). This study found that expressive arts therapy did not significantly reduce posttraumatic stress symptoms in incarcerated youth, likely due to several factors. Future studies should address methodological limitations such as nonrandomization and explore alternative therapies.

Is social disadvantage a chronic stressor? Socioeconomic position and HPA axis activity among older adults living in England

IntroductionLiving in socioeconomic disadvantage has been conceptualised as a chronic stressor, although this contradicts evidence from studies using hair cortisol and cortisone as a measure of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)11HPA axis: Hypothalamus Pituitary Adrenal axis axis activity. These studies used complete case analyses, ignoring the impact of missing data for inference, despite the high proportion of missing biomarker data. The methodological limitations of studies investigating the association between socioeconomic position (SEP)22SEP: Socio-economic Position defined as education, wealth, and social class and hair cortisol and cortisone are considered in this study by comparing three common methods to deal with missing data: (1) Complete Case Analysis (CCA),33CCA: Complete Case Analysis (2) Inverse Probability Weighting (IPW) 44IPW: Inverse Probability Weightingand (3) weighted Multiple Imputation (MI).55MI: Multiple Imputation This study examines if socioeconomic disadvantage is associated with higher levels of HPA axis activity as measured by hair cortisol and cortisone among older adults using three approaches for compensating for missing data. MethodCortisol and cortisone levels in hair samples from 4573 participants in the 6th wave (2012–2013) of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA)66ELSA: English Longitudinal Study of Ageing were examined, in relation to education, wealth, and social class. We compared linear regression models with CCA, weighted and multiple imputed weighted linear regression models. ResultsSocial groups with certain characteristics (i.e., ethnic minorities, in routine and manual occupations, physically inactive, with poorer health, and smokers) were less likely to have hair cortisol and hair cortisone data compared to the most advantaged groups. We found a consistent pattern of higher levels of hair cortisol and cortisone among the most socioeconomically disadvantaged groups compared to the most advantaged groups. Complete case approaches to missing data underestimated the levels of hair cortisol in education and social class and the levels of hair cortisone in education, wealth, and social class in the most disadvantaged groups. ConclusionThis study demonstrates that social disadvantage as measured by disadvantaged SEP is associated with increased HPA axis activity. The conceptualisation of social disadvantage as a chronic stressor may be valid and previous studies reporting no associations between SEP and hair cortisol may be biased due to their lack of consideration of missing data cases which showed the underrepresentation of disadvantaged social groups in the analyses. Future analyses using biosocial data may need to consider and adjust for missing data.

The Integration of Sleep Research Into Eating Disorders Research: Recommendations and Best Practices.

Sleep disturbance is common among individuals with eating disorders (EDs), with approximately 50% of patients with EDs reporting sleep disturbance. Sleep problems may promote, exacerbate, or maintain ED symptoms through a variety of hypothesized mechanisms, such as impaired executive function, increased negative affect, and disruptions to appetitive rhythms. Although research investigating the role of sleep in EDs is growing, the current literature suffers from methodological limitations and inconsistencies, which reduce our ability to translate findings to improve clinical practice. The purpose of this forum is to propose a coordinated approach to more seamlessly integrate sleep research into ED research with particular emphasis on best practices in the definition and assessment of sleep characteristics. In this article, we will describe the current status of sleep-related research and relevant gaps within ED research practices, define key sleep characteristics, and review common assessment strategies for these sleep characteristics. Throughout the forum, we also discuss study design considerations and recommendations for future research aiming to integrate sleep research into ED research. Given the potential role of sleep in ED maintenance and treatment, it is important to build upon preliminary findings using a rigorous and systematic approach. Moving forward as a field necessitates a common lens through which future research on sleep and EDs may be conducted, communicated, and evaluated.

A novel framework to assess haematology and oncology registration trials: The THEOREMM project.

Methodological limitations affect a significant number of oncology and haematology trials, raising concerns about the applicability of their results. For example, a suboptimal control arm or limited access to best care upon progression may skew the trial results toward a benefit in the experimental arm. Beyond the fact that such limitations do not prevent drugs reaching the market, other assessment tools, such as those developed by professional societies-ESMO-MCBS and ASCO Value Framework-do not integrate these important shortcomings. We propose creating a novel framework with the scope of assessing registration cancer clinical trials in haematology and oncology (randomized or single arm)-that is trials leading to a marketing authorization. The main steps of the methods are (1) assembling a scientific board; (2) defining the scope, goal and methods through pre-specified, pre-registered and protocolized methodology; (3) preregistration of the protocol; (4) conducting a scoping review of limitations and biases affecting oncology trials and assessing existing scores or methods; (5) developing a list of features to be included and assessed within the framework; (6) assessing each feature through a questionnaire sent to highly cited haematologists and oncologists involved in clinical trials; and (7) finalizing the first version of framework. Not applicable. Our proposal emerged in response to the lack of consideration for key limitations in current trial assessments. The goal is to create a framework specifically designed to assess single trials leading to marketing authorization in the field of oncology and haematogy.

The Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential of Cranberry, D-Mannose, and Flavonoids against Infectious Diseases: The Example of Urinary Tract Infections.

The treatment of infectious diseases typically includes the administration of anti-infectives; however, the increasing rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) have led to attempts to develop other modalities, such as antimicrobial peptides, nanotechnology, bacteriophages, and natural products. Natural products offer a viable alternative due to their potential affordability, ease of access, and diverse biological activities. Flavonoids, a class of natural polyphenols, demonstrate broad anti-infective properties against viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. Their mechanisms of action include disruption of microbial membranes, inhibition of nucleic acid synthesis, and interference with bacterial enzymes. This review explores the potential of natural compounds, such as flavonoids, as an alternative therapeutic approach to combat infectious diseases. Moreover, it discusses some commonly used natural products, such as cranberry and D-mannose, to manage urinary tract infections (UTIs). Cranberry products and D-mannose both, yet differently, inhibit the adhesion of uropathogenic bacteria to the urothelium, thus reducing the likelihood of UTI occurrence. Some studies, with methodological limitations and small patient samples, provide some encouraging results suggesting the use of these substances in the prevention of recurrent UTIs. While further research is needed to determine optimal dosages, bioavailability, and potential side effects, natural compounds hold promise as a complementary or alternative therapeutic strategy in the fight against infectious diseases.

Challenges in life cycle assessment implementation for construction environmental product declaration development: A mixed approach and global perspective

Environmental product declaration (EPD) is a valuable data source for building sustainability assessment. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a critical element of EPD development, and it strongly impacts the reliability of the overall EPD environmental data. The increasing number of published EPDs necessitates a thorough examination of the challenges associated with LCA for EPD development to improve the quality assurance of EPDs. This study applied a mixed research approach, including a systematic literature review, focus group discussion and questionnaire survey to evaluate the challenges in LCA implementation for EPD development. The questionnaire administered to experts from 43 countries globally was analysed using qualitative and quantitative analytical techniques. The analysis showed that 73 % of the respondents are highly concerned about the data quality of LCA in EPD development. The study further revealed twenty-seven (27) significant challenges classified using exploratory factor analysis into seven groups ([1] Data Paucity, [2] Resource-intensive, [3] Data and Research, [4] Knowledge, [5] Methodological Limitations and People, [6] Technology, and [7] Data Integrity). The highly ranked challenges based on mean ranking include “Problems with data availability and quality for LCA”, “Lack of transparency in some of the existing LCA database and tools”, “Lack of country-specific inventory for LCA”, “The complexity and lack of knowledge about the uncertainty of data used in LCA” and “Lack of in-depth understanding and awareness of LCA”. The study also proposed strategies to resolve the challenges and holds vital implications for stakeholders within EPD development. In conclusion, it is observed that LCA for EPD development still faces significant challenges that require a tailored approach to improve the quality of LCA in EPD development.

A prospective clinical study of the influence of oral protein intake on [18F]FET-PET uptake and test–retest repeatability in glioma

BackgroundO-(2-[18F]fluoroethyl)-l-tyrosine positron emission tomography ([18F]FET PET) scanning is used in routine clinical management and evaluation of gliomas with a recommended 4 h prior fasting. Knowledge of test–retest variation of [18F]FET PET imaging uptake metrics and the impact of accidental protein intake can be critical for interpretation. The aim of this study was to investigate the repeatability of [18F]FET-PET metrics and to assess the impact of protein-intake prior to [18F]FET PET scanning of gliomas.ResultsTest–retest variability in the non-protein group was good with absolute (and relative) upper and lower limits of agreement of + 0.15 and − 0.13 (+ 9.7% and − 9.0%) for mean tumour-to-background ratio (TBRmean), + 0.43 and − 0.28 (+ 19.6% and − 11.8%) for maximal tumour-to-background ratio (TBRmax), and + 2.14 cm3 and − 1.53 ml (+ 219.8% and − 57.3%) for biological tumour volume (BTV). Variation was lower for uptake ratios than for BTV. Protein intake was associated with a 27% increase in the total sum of plasma concentration of the l-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1) relevant amino acids and with decreased standardized uptake value (SUV) in both healthy appearing background brain tissue (mean SUV − 25%) and in tumour (maximal SUV − 14%). Oral intake of 24 g of protein 1 h prior to injection of tracer tended to increase variability, but the effects on derived tumour metrics TBRmean and TBRmax were only borderline significant, and changes generally within the variability observed in the group with no protein intake.ConclusionThe test–retest repeatability was found to be good, and better for TBRmax and TBRmean than BTV, with the methodological limitation that tumour growth may have influenced results. Oral intake of 24 g of protein one hour before a [18F]FET PET scan decreases uptake of [18F]FET in both tumour and in healthy appearing brain, with no clinically significant difference on the most commonly used tumour metrics.

Radiological and functional outcomes of Reverdin Isham osteotomy in moderate Hallux Valgus: a systematic review and meta-analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis addresses the effects of minimally invasive surgical techniques, specifically the Reverdin Isham osteotomy, on functional and radiological outcomes in patients with moderate Hallux Valgus, a common foot deformity. The review included randomized and non-randomized controlled trials, as well as case reports, assessing the osteotomy in adults with moderate to severe Hallux Valgus. Searches were conducted in electronic databases such as MEDLINE and Web of Science up until July 2023, and the Joanna Briggs Institute’s critical appraisal tool was used to assess the risk of bias. Meta-analytical analyses employed a random-effects model with small-sample correction, presenting results as standardized mean differences and mean differences with 95% confidence intervals. Seven studies involving 554 patients and 643 operated feet were included, showing significant improvements in AOFAS scores (an average improvement of 36 points from 28.61 to 45.16) and reductions in radiological angles such as the distal metatarsal angle and hallux valgus angle post-surgery (IMA improved by − 3.07° from − 4.68 to − 1.46, DMAA by − 6.12° from − 9.52 to − 2.71, and HVangle by − 15.27° from − 17.98 to − 12.57). Despite these positive outcomes, most studies exhibited risks of bias and other methodological limitations, impacting the generalizability of the results. Overall, the findings highlight the efficacy of the Reverdin Isham osteotomy in improving both functional and radiological parameters in patients with moderate Hallux Valgus, although further research is warranted to solidify these results. No specific funding was received for this study, and the protocol was registered on PROSPERO with the number CRD-42023445886.

Diversity and Structure of Khaya Senegalensis (desr.) A.Juss Habitats Along Phytogeographical Zones in Chad (Central Africa)

In Chad, the species of Khaya senegalensis is commonly used by the local communities to treat several diseases such as malaria, fever and cough. However, the species is facing the greatest threat for the survival due to its exploitation as timber. The species is on the IUCN red list with endangered status locally. Thus, this study assessed the population structure and ecological indicators of vegetation in three climatic zones dominated by Khaya senegalensis in Chad as a basis for sustainable management and conservation strategies. A total of 88 plots (30 m x 30 m) were used in three phytogeographical zones for data collection. The structural parameters (tree density, basal area) and ecological indicators (specific richness, Shannon diversity index, Pielou’s evenness index, importance value index) were assessed for all tree species and for Khaya senegalensis following a climatic gradient. A number of 300 tree species belonging to 66 families, 11 life form and 14 chorological types were inventoried. K. senegaleensis had the highest significance value index across all three climate zones. In terms of vegetation characteristic, Sudano-Guinean and Sudanian zones were similar against Sudano-Sahelian zone which was different. These results should be fundamental for the conservation and sustainable management of K. senegalensis and its habitats specially in Chad. Likely, the findings contribute to knowledge addition for the species conservation. However, the methodological limitations related to sampling should not be obscured. Therefore, the species’ abundance areas were randomly identified while plots were placed stratified.

Ultra-processed foods consumption and health-related outcomes: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

The increase in ultra-processed foods (UPFs) intake has raised concerns about its impact on public health. Prospective observational studies have reported significant associations between higher intake of UPFs and adverse health outcomes. The aim of this study is to determine whether these associations could be confirmed in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We conducted a systematic review to analyze the evidence on the effects of UPFs intake on health. A systematic search was conducted in Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, LILACS, and CENTRAL up to April 22, 2024. RCTs in English, Spanish, and Portuguese evaluating the health effects of interventions to modify UPFs intake were included. The certainty of evidence was determined using the GRADE methodology. Three educational intervention studies and one controlled feeding trial were included, evaluating the effect of reducing the consumption of UPFs (455 participants, median follow-up, 12 weeks). No significant effects were observed in 30 out of the 42 outcomes evaluated. The controlled feeding trial in adults with stable weight showed a reduction in energy intake, carbohydrates, and fat (low certainty of evidence), as well as in body weight, total cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol (moderate certainty of evidence). In the educational intervention studies, a reduction in body weight and waist circumference was observed (low certainty of evidence) in women with obesity, as well as improvement in some dimensions of quality of life (very low certainty of evidence). No significant changes were observed in children and adolescents with obesity, while in overweight pregnant women, the consumption of UPFs was not reduced, so the observed benefits could be attributed to other components of the intervention. Interventions aimed at reducing the consumption of UPFs showed benefits on some anthropometric and dietary intake outcomes, although significant effects were not observed for most of the evaluated outcomes. The limited number and significant methodological limitations of the studies prevent definitive conclusions. Further well-designed and conducted RCTs are needed to understand the effects of UPF consumption on health.Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023469984.

Neuropsychological interpretation of disorders of consciousness using data from instrumental (neurophysiological) methods for diagnosing brain activity

The relevance of the problem under consideration is determined by the need to develop and improve interdisciplinary approaches to the diagnosis and rehabilitation of disorders of consciousness in patients with brain pathology. The purpose of the article is an analytical review of the methods of neuropsychological and neurophysiological diagnostics and rehabilitation work with patients in reduced states of consciousness. It is noted that the neuropsychological content of the concept of "consciousness" is insufficiently developed and there is no unified point of view on the brain basis of consciousness, as well as on methodological and procedural limitations that arise when a neuropsychologist works with patients in a vegetative state of consciousness and in a state of minimal consciousness. The problem of consistency of the results of behavioral (neuropsychological) and instrumental (neurophysiological) methods for assessing the level of states of consciousness conducted by different specialists (neuropsychologists, neurologists, neurophysiologists) who are part of a multidisciplinary team is considered. The possibility of combining the procedure of neuropsychological examination and instrumental (neurophysiological) methods in the diagnosis of patients in a vegetative state of consciousness, in a state of minimal consciousness) and the prognosis of restoring the level of consciousness is analyzed. The possibility of an integrated approach to the diagnosis of a state of consciousness associated with a combination of behavioral (observation-based) and objective (instrumental) research methods is confirmed, and possible ways of its implementation are considered.

Predicting liver function after hemihepatectomy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma using different modalities.

In response to Dr. Yue et al's study on prognostic factors for post-hemihepatectomy outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, this critical review identifies methodological limitations and proposes enhancements for future research. While the study identifies liver stiffness measure and standard residual liver volume as potential predictors, concerns regarding small sample size, reliance on biochemical markers for safety assessment, and inadequate adjustment for confounding variables are raised. Recommendations for rigorous methodology, including robust statistical analysis, consideration of confounding factors, and selection of outcome measures with clinical components, are proposed to strengthen prognostic assessments. Furthermore, validation of novel evaluation models is crucial for enhancing clinical applicability and advancing understanding of postoperative outcomes in patients with HCC undergoing hemihepatectomy.

Vocabulary exposure to children is enhanced by using both informational and narrative picture books for read‐alouds: A comparative modelling study using data science methods

BackgroundThe language that children are exposed to in their early years is enhanced by children's picture books. It is important to better characterise this input, and recent research has begun to explore corpora of narrative picture books. However, previous research has been restricted by methodological limitations that make it difficult to develop large datasets. Further, information texts become increasingly important as children progress through school, but little is known about the language of their earliest form, namely, informational picture books. The current study investigates how informational and narrative picture book exposure might change the language environment of children in a way that supports reading development.MethodsThe study applies data science methods to build a larger language model than previously possible and investigates the lexical profile of over 2000 narrative and information picture books. Picture book vocabulary is innovatively derived from digital sources of books read‐aloud online, which pushes the field forward by providing researchers access to larger pools of data than previously possible. Detailed comparisons of informational and narrative picture books are reported regarding their lexical diversity, density, morphology, academic vocabulary and semantic clusters. Models are developed to estimate the additional word‐type exposure a child may encounter in their language environment from narrative and informational picture books.ResultsThe study demonstrates that information and narrative picture books expose children to substantially different semantic environments. It is demonstrated that information picture books provide extensive exposure to academic vocabulary, providing important input aligned with later reading needs. Further, computational models indicate that book reading once every day or second day over a year might boost unique‐word exposure by approximately 10% for some language environments.ConclusionsCombining informational and narrative picture books enhance the language environment of children more than narratives alone, providing more lexical diversity, density and complex morphology.

Long-read Ribo-STAMP simultaneously measures transcription and translation with isoform resolution.

Transcription and translation are intertwined processes where mRNA isoforms are crucial intermediaries. However, methodological limitations in analyzing translation at the mRNA isoform level have left gaps in our understanding of critical biological processes. To address these gaps, we developed an integrated computational and experimental framework called long-read Ribo-STAMP (LR-Ribo-STAMP) that capitalizes on advancements in long-read sequencing and RNA-base editing-mediated technologies to simultaneously profile translation and transcription at both gene and mRNA isoform levels. We also developed the EditsC metric to quantify editing and leverage the single-molecule, full-length transcript information provided by long-read sequencing. Here, we report concordance between gene-level translation profiles obtained with long-read and short-read Ribo-STAMP. We show that LR-Ribo-STAMP successfully profiles translation of mRNA isoforms and links regulatory features, such as upstream open reading frames (uORFs), to translation measurements. We apply LR-Ribo-STAMP to discovering translational differences at both gene and isoform levels in a triple-negative breast cancer cell line under normoxia and hypoxia and find that LR-Ribo-STAMP effectively delineates orthogonal transcriptional and translation shifts between conditions. We also discover regulatory elements that distinguish translational differences at the isoform level. We highlight GRK6, where hypoxia is observed to increase expression and translation of a shorter mRNA isoform, giving rise to a truncated protein without the AGC Kinase domain. Overall, LR-Ribo-STAMP is an important advance in our repertoire of methods that measure mRNA translation with isoform sensitivity.

Comparing traditional and causal inference methodologies for evaluating impacts of long-term air pollution exposure on hospitalization with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) present a growing public health burden in the United States. One actionable risk factor for ADRD is air pollution: multiple studies have found associations between air pollution and exacerbation of ADRD. Our study builds on previous studies by applying modern statistical causal inference methodologies-generalized propensity score (GPS) weighting and matching-on a large, longitudinal dataset. We follow 50 million Medicare enrollees to investigate impacts of three air pollutants-fine particular matter (PM${}_{2.5}$), nitrogen dioxide (NO${}_2$), and summer ozone (O${}_3$)-on elderly patients' rate of first hospitalization with ADRD diagnosis. Similar to previous studies using traditional statistical models, our results found increased hospitalization risks due to increased PM${}_{2.5}$ and NO${}_2$ exposure, with less conclusive results for O${}_3$. In particular, our GPS weighting analysis finds IQR increases in PM${}_{2.5}$, NO${}_2$, or O${}_3$ exposure results in hazard ratios of 1.108 (95% CI: 1.097-1.119), 1.058 (1.049-1.067), or 1.045 (1.036-1.054), respectively. GPS matching results are similar for PM${}_{2.5}$ and NO${}_2$ with attenuated effects for O${}_3$. Our results strengthen arguments that long-term PM${}_{2.5}$ and NO${}_2$ exposure increases risk of hospitalization with ADRD diagnosis. Additionally, we highlight strengths and limitations of causal inference methodologies in observational studies with continuous treatments. Keywords: Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, air pollution, Medicare, causal inference, generalized propensity score.

Developing survey weights to ensure representativeness in a national, matched cohort study: results from the children and young people with Long Covid (CLoCk) study

BackgroundFindings from studies assessing Long Covid in children and young people (CYP) need to be assessed in light of their methodological limitations. For example, if non-response and/or attrition over time systematically differ by sub-groups of CYP, findings could be biased and any generalisation limited. The present study aimed to (i) construct survey weights for the Children and young people with Long Covid (CLoCk) study, and (ii) apply them to published CLoCk findings showing the prevalence of shortness of breath and tiredness increased over time from baseline to 12-months post-baseline in both SARS-CoV-2 Positive and Negative CYP.MethodsLogistic regression models were fitted to compute the probability of (i) Responding given envisioned to take part, (ii) Responding timely given responded, and (iii) (Re)infection given timely response. Response, timely response and (re)infection weights were generated as the reciprocal of the corresponding probability, with an overall ‘envisioned population’ survey weight derived as the product of these weights. Survey weights were trimmed, and an interactive tool developed to re-calibrate target population survey weights to the general population using data from the 2021 UK Census.ResultsFlexible survey weights for the CLoCk study were successfully developed. In the illustrative example, re-weighted results (when accounting for selection in response, attrition, and (re)infection) were consistent with published findings.ConclusionsFlexible survey weights to address potential bias and selection issues were created for and used in the CLoCk study. Previously reported prospective findings from CLoCk are generalisable to the wider population of CYP in England. This study highlights the importance of considering selection into a sample and attrition over time when considering generalisability of findings.

Selenium Intake and Postnatal Depression-A Short Review.

Postnatal depression is a common and severe complication of childbirth. It is an important public health problem with significant implications for both mothers and children. The exact mechanisms underlying and the factors influencing the occurrence of postnatal depression remain unclear. The literature suggests that certain dietary deficiencies during pregnancy and the postnatal period may contribute to a greater risk of maternal depression. This review focuses on the role of selenium in postnatal depression. It collects evidence from published interventional and observational studies investigating the relationship between selenium intake during the antenatal and postnatal periods and the mental status of postpartum women and summarises information about biological mechanisms that may underlie the association between selenium status and postnatal depression. The review includes studies identified through electronic searches of Medline (via PubMed) and Google Scholar databases until December 2023. Despite the small number of relevant studies and their potential methodological limitations, the findings suggest that optimizing selenium status may support the prevention and treatment of postnatal depression. Further longitudinal and interventional studies are necessary to confirm the clinical significance of these effects.

Lunar Lithium-7 Sensing (δ7Li): Spectral Patterns and Artificial Intelligence Techniques.

Lithium, a critical natural resource integral to modern technology, has influenced diverse industries since its discovery in the 1950s. Of particular interest is lithium-7, the most prevalent lithium isotope on Earth, playing a vital role in applications such as batteries, metal alloys, medicine, and nuclear research. However, its extraction presents significant environmental and logistical challenges. This article explores the potential for lithium exploration on the Moon, driven by its value as a resource and the prospect of cost reduction due to the Moon's lower gravity, which holds promise for future space exploration endeavors. Additionally, the presence of lithium in the solar wind and its implications for material transport across celestial bodies are subjects of intrigue. Drawing from a limited dataset collected during the Apollo missions (Apollo 12, 15, 16, and 17) and leveraging artificial intelligence techniques and sample expansion through bootstrapping, this study develops predictive models for lithium-7 concentration based on spectral patterns. The study areas encompass the Aitken crater, Hadley Rima, and the Taurus-Littrow Valley, where higher lithium concentrations are observed in basaltic lunar regions. This research bridges lunar geology and the formation of the solar system, providing valuable insights into celestial resources and enhancing our understanding of space. The data used in this study were obtained from the imaging sensors (infrared, visible, and ultraviolet) of the Clementine satellite, which significantly contributed to the success of our research. Furthermore, the study addresses various aspects related to statistical analysis, sample quality validation, resampling, and bootstrapping. Supervised machine learning model training and validation, as well as data import and export, were explored. The analysis of data generated by the Clementine probe in the near-infrared (NIR) and ultraviolet-visible (UVVIS) spectra revealed evidence of the presence of lithium-7 (Li-7) on the lunar surface. The distribution of Li-7 on the lunar surface is non-uniform, with varying concentrations in different regions of the Moon identified, supporting the initial hypothesis associating surface Li-7 concentration with exposure to solar wind. While a direct numerical relationship between lunar topography and Li-7 concentration has not been established due to morphological diversity and methodological limitations, preliminary results suggest significant economic and technological potential in lunar lithium exploration and extraction.

Public preferences and concerns regarding automated vehicle-based transportation services: a mechanism analysis from a Kentucky survey

ABSTRACT Prior research on Automated Vehicle (AV) transportation services has largely concentrated on specific cases, leading to a narrow comprehension of wider public mobility requirements in AV deployment. Additionally, the impacts of socio-demographics on AV transportation preferences remain underexplored, hindered by limitations in current modeling methodologies. Moreover, mediating roles of safety between socio-demographics and AV transportation preferences lack quantitative validation. This study aims to uncover the reasons behind public preference for AV-based services and investigate safety’s mediating effects on these preferences. In a survey conducted in Kentucky, USA, with 673 responses, the most preferred uses for AV services were post-alcohol rides, airport shuttles, and long-distance travel. Urban areas showed a higher preference for AV services. Age, gender, urbanization, affordability, travel needs, and exposure to AV technology significantly influenced these preferences. The study underscores a high demand for AV services while validating safety concerns as a major barrier to their widespread adoption.

Socioeconomic traits and the risk of Barrett's esophagus and gastroesophageal reflux disease: A Mendelian randomization study.

Previous observational studies have shown that the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and Barrett's esophagus (BE) is associated with socioeconomic status. However, due to the methodological limitations of traditional observational studies, it is challenging to definitively establish causality. To explore the causal relationship between the prevalence of these conditions and socioeconomic status using Mendelian randomization (MR). We initially screened single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to serve as proxies for eight socioeconomic status phenotypes for univariate MR analysis. The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was used as the primary analytical method to estimate the causal relationship between the eight socioeconomic status phenotypes and the risk of GERD and BE. We then collected combinations of SNPs as composite proxies for the eight socioeconomic phenotypes to perform multivariate MR (MVMR) analyses based on the IVW MVMR model. Furthermore, a two-step MR mediation analysis was used to examine the potential mediation of the associations by body mass index, major depressive disorder (MDD), smoking, alcohol consumption, and sleep duration. The study identified three socioeconomic statuses that had a significant impact on GERD. These included household income [odds ratio (OR): 0.46; 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 0.31-0.70], education attainment (OR: 0.23; 95%CI: 0.18-0.29), and the Townsend Deprivation Index at recruitment (OR: 1.57; 95%CI: 1.04-2.37). These factors were found to independently and predominantly influence the genetic causal effect of GERD. Furthermore, the mediating effect of educational attainment on GERD was found to be mediated by MDD (proportion mediated: 10.83%). Similarly, the effect of educational attainment on BE was mediated by MDD (proportion mediated: 10.58%) and the number of cigarettes smoked per day (proportion mediated: 3.50%). Additionally, the mediating effect of household income on GERD was observed to be mediated by sleep duration (proportion mediated: 9.75%). This MR study shed light on the link between socioeconomic status and GERD or BE, providing insights for the prevention of esophageal cancer and precancerous lesions.