Partial Correlation Analysis Research Articles

Association between monocyte to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio and telomere length: based on NHANES 1999–2002

BackgroundTelomere length is closely associated with the occurrence and development of cardiovascular and other diseases. Monocyte to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (MHR) is a novel indicator of inflammation, oxidative stress, and metabolic syndrome, with some predictive ability for related disease risks in clinical practice. However, there is no research on the correlation between these two factors.MethodsUsing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2002, we conducted analysis and research on the correlation between MHR and telomere length using the Kruskal-Wallis H test, Spearman rank correlation analysis, and partial correlation analysis. Weighted linear regression analysis assessed the strength of the association between the two variables, while restricted cubic spline regression (RCS) explored potential nonlinear relationships between them.ResultsThe results of correlation analysis showed that MHR levels were negatively correlated with telomere length (ρ=-0.083, P < 0.001), and this relationship remained statistically significant after controlling for other covariates (P all < 0.001). Weighted linear regression analysis showed that after adjusting for all covariates, MHR remained negatively associated with telomere length (β = -0.020; 95% CI: -0.039 to -0.002; P = 0.037). Subgroup analysis shows that the negative association between MHR and telomere length appeared more striking among females (\U0001d6fd = -0.024; 95%CI: -0.050 to 0.001; P = 0.058), the Non-Hispanic White (\U0001d6fd = -0.022; 95%CI: -0.045 to 0.002; P = 0.066), and other race (\U0001d6fd = -0.067; 95%CI: -0.134 to -0.000; P = 0.049). Using RCS explored potential nonlinear relationships between MHR and telomere length, revealing no nonlinear relationship between the two (P = 0.102).ConclusionsThis study suggests a negative correlation between MHR levels and telomere length in American adults. More comprehensive research is needed to confirm these findings in the future.

Evaluation of Glymphatic System Development in Neonatal Brain via Diffusion Analysis along the Perivascular Space Index.

Glymphatic system is a recently discovered macroscopic waste clearance system associated with numerous neurological diseases. However, little is known about glymphatic system development in neonates. We sought to evaluate diffusion along the perivascular space (ALPS) index, a proxy for glymphatic system function, in neonates and investigate its potential associations with maturation, sex, and preterm birth. Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data in 418 neonates, including 92 preterm neonates (57 males) and 326 term neonates (175 males), from the Developing Human Connectome Project were used for evaluating ALPS index. Linear regression modeling was performed to assess group differences in the ALPS index according to preterm birth and sex. Pearson's and partial correlation analysis were performed to assess the association between the ALPS index and gestational age (GA) as well as postmenstrual age (PMA) at MRI. Moderation analysis was performed to assess the moderation effect of preterm birth on the relationship between the ALPS index and PMA. Compared to term neonates, preterm neonates exhibited lower ALPS indices (p < 0.001). The ALPS index positively correlated with PMA (p = 0.004) and GA (p < 0.001). Preterm birth (p = 0.013) had a significant moderation effect on the relationship between the ALPS index and PMA. Sex had no significant direct effect (p = 0.639) or moderation effect (p = 0.333) on ALPS index. Glymphatic system development is a dynamic process in neonates, which can be moderated by preterm birth, the ALPS index could serve as a sensitive biomarker for monitoring this process. ANN NEUROL 2024;96:970-980.

An improved framework for quantifying the contribution of climatic and anthropogenic factors to vegetation dynamics - A case study of China

Accurately quantifying the impact of climatic and anthropogenic factors on vegetation change is critical for developing and evaluating ecological management strategies. However, most presented studies typically ignore the climate temporal effects and assume that all pixels are affected by both climate change (CC) and human activities (HA), which often introduce uncertainties. In this study, Leaf area index (LAI), temperature, precipitation, solar radiation, and land cover data from 1982 to 2020 were used to detect and attribute vegetation dynamics in China. We used partial correlation analysis, generalize linear model, trend analysis, and improved RESTREND to analyze the spatiotemporal variation characteristics of vegetation LAI from 1982 to 2020 and to quantify the effects of CC and HA on vegetation dynamics since the implementation of the Grain for Green Project (GGP). The results indicate that significant vegetation greening appeared in most areas (66.2%) between 2000 and 2020. Both CC and HA have positive effects on vegetation greening. In arid and semi-arid regions, precipitation was the primary driver of vegetation change, while in high-latitude areas of southern and southwestern China, temperature was the primary determinant. After considering the temporal effects, the explanatory power of climate variables for vegetation dynamics increased by 4.0% compared to ignoring the temporal effects, accounting for 72.81%. After dividing the pixels into those affected by CC and those affected by both CC and HA, the contribution of HA was decreased from 31.19% to 25.96%. Although the contribution of HA is lower than that of CC, ecological engineering has effectively promoted vegetation greening. These research findings provide scientific data and theoretical basis for ecological environment protection and natural resource management.

Plasma proteomics-based organ-specific aging for all-cause mortality and cause-specific mortality: a prospective cohort study.

Individual's aging rates vary across organs. However, there are few methods for assessing aging at organ levels and whether they contribute differently to mortalities remains unknown. We analyzed data from 45,821 adults in the UK Biobank, using plasma proteomics and machine learning to estimate biological ages for 12 major organs. The differences between biological age and chronological age, referred to as "age gaps," were calculated for each organ. Partial correlation analyses were used to assess the association between age gaps and modifiable factors. Adjusted multivariable Cox regression models were applied to examine the association of age gaps with all-cause mortality, cause-specific mortalities, and cancer-specific mortalities. We reveal a complex network of varied associations between multi-organ aging and modifiable factors. All age gaps increase the risk of all-cause mortality by 6-60%. The risk of death varied from 5.54 to 29.18 times depending on the number of aging organs. Cause-specific mortalities are associated with certain organs' aging. For mental diseases mortality, and nervous system mortality, only brain aging exhibited a significant increased risk of HR 2.38 (per SD, 95% CI: 2.06-2.74) and 1.99 (per SD, 95% CI: 1.84-2.16), respectively. Age gaps of stomach were also a specific indicator for gastric cancer. Eventually, we find that an organ's biological age selectively influences the aging of other organ systems. Our study demonstrates that accelerated aging in specific organs increases the risk of mortality from various causes. This provides a potential tool for early identification of at-risk populations, offering a relatively objective method for precision medicine.

Vector of glycated hemoglobin in the formation of dysglycemia in postmenopause: Emphasis on early diagnosis and therapy

Introduction. The close relationship of postmenopause with insulin resistance (IR) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) marks a high cardiometabolic risk of dysglycemia, determining the need for its early diagnosis and therapy. Pathogenetically substantiated criteria for the diagnosis of prediabetes and the nature of early drug therapy for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are debated. Information on the relationship between glucose homeostasis parameters and menopausal MetS is fragmentary.Aim. To evaluate the associations of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels with indices of IR, β-cell function and MetS character- istics in a cohort of postmenopausal women with different carbohydrate metabolic states.Materials and methods. In 94 Caucasian postmenopausal women 58.0 (53.0; 63.0) years old the following were determined: HbA1c, fasting glycemia (FG), TyG and HOMA2 indices, C-peptid, BMI, waist circumference (WC), blood pressure (BP), triglycerides (TG), HDL-C levels. When classifying women by HbA1c (ADA criteria), 15 had normoglycemia, 24 prediabetes, 55 T2DM. ME (25–75%) was assessed using SPSS (version 17); intergroup differences according to the Mann – Whitney test; Spearman and partial correlation analysis were performed.Results. HbA1c age independently correlated with IR parameters: TyG (R = 0.590; p &lt; 0.001), HOMA2-IR (R = 0.318; p &lt; 0.05) and beta cell function: HOMA2-B (R = -0.355; p &lt; 0.001); with lipid markers of MetS (TG, HDL-C, respectively R = 0.382; -0.448; p &lt; 0.001), anthropometric and blood pressure levels.Conclusion. Associations of HbA1c in postmenopausal women with a spectrum of glucose homeostasis parameters and MetS mark it as a vector of formation and progression of dysglycemia due to a close connection with the functional state of β-cells and the importance of lipoglucotoxicity in the dynamics of postmenopausal IR. The obtained data pathogenetically determine the use of HbA1c in the verification of dysglycemia and the early administration of combined antihyperglycemic therapy aimed at preserving β-cell function. The potential of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors in slowing the progression of type 2 diabetes mellitus is considered

Cortical Alterations Associated with Executive Function Deficits in Youth with a Congenital Heart Defect

Abstract Adolescents and young adults born with a complex congenital heart defect (CHD) are at risk for executive function (ExF) impairments, which contribute to the psychological and everyday burden of CHD. Cortical dysmaturation has been well described in fetuses and neonates with CHD and early evidence suggests that cortical alterations in thickness, surface area, and gyrification index are non-transient and can be observed in adolescents with CHD. However, cortical alterations have yet to be correlated with ExF deficits in youth with CHD. This study aims to use a data-driven approach to identify the most important cortical features associated with ExF deficits in adolescents and young adults with CHD. To do so, we combined two comparable datasets acquired at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre and the University Children’s Hospital Zurich each including both youth with CHD and healthy controls. For each participant, a high-resolution T1-weighted magnetic resonance image, a self-reported ExF assessment (the Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Function— Adult Scale), and their clinical and demographic characteristics were available. Corticometric Iterative Vertex-Based Estimation of Thickness (CIVET) was used to extract cortical thickness, cortical surface area, and local gyrification index measures. Using orthogonal projective non-negative matrix factorization (OPNMF), we identified non-overlapping spatial components that integrate cortical thickness, cortical surface area, and local gyrification index and capture structural covariance across these features. Behavioural partial least squares correlation (bPLS) analysis was then used to compute correlations between the individual variability in the OPNMF covariance patterns and ExF outcomes for each subject. A total of 56 youth with CHD who underwent cardiopulmonary bypass surgery before three years of age and 56 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included in our analyses. Cortical grey matter volume, cortical thickness, and cortical surface area were found to be significantly reduced in CHD patients compared to controls. OPNMF identified 12 stable cortex-wide components summarizing the inter-subject variability in cortical thickness, cortical surface area, and local gyrification index. bPLS revealed two significant latent variables (LV) accounting for a total of 82.8% of the variance in the sample, each describing distinct patterns between the brain and cognitive data. LV1 summarized a pattern of belonging to the CHD group, worse scores on most BRIEF-A scales, younger age at MRI, and female sex. This pattern was associated with increased cortical thickness, local gyrification index, and decreased cortical surface area in several OPNMF components. Finally, we identified a positive relationship between the LV1 brain-behaviour pattern and total aortic cross-clamp time in the CHD group, indicating that longer aortic cross-clamp time was associated with worse neurodevelopmental outcomes. In this study, we uncover novel multivariate relationships between ExF and alterations in cortical thickness, surface area, and local gyrification index in adolescents and young adults with CHD using a data-driven approach. Although our findings highlight the important role played by the cortex in higher order cognitive processes, future studies are needed to elucidate the individual contribution of individual and clinical attributes into the deficits observed in this population.

Mediating effect of oxidative stress on blood pressure elevation in workers exposed to low concentrations of benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX).

To investigate the mediating effect of oxidative stress on the relationships between low-concentration benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX) exposure and blood pressure in workers. A cross-sectional study involving 841 workers from a petroleum refining enterprise in Hainan, China, was conducted. Among the workers, 615 workers were exposed to low-concentration BTX, and 216 workers were in the control group. S-phenylmercapturic acid (S-PMA), hippuric acid (HA), and methyl hippuric acid (MHA, including the three isomers 2-MHA, 3-MHA, and 4-MHA) were measured in the urine of workers via high-performance liquid chromatography‒tandem triple quadrupole mass spectrometry to assess the internal BTX burden. Oxidative stress markers, blood pressure, and their correlations were analysed in both the exposed and control groups of workers. Mediation analysis was used to investigate the potential role of oxidative stress in the relationship between BTX exposure and blood pressure. The concentrations of BTX at the sampling points in the enterprise were all below the limits stipulated in China's national occupational health criteria: occupational exposure limits for hazardous agents. With respect to the internal burden of BTX, the concentrations of the benzene metabolite S-PMA, the toluene metabolite HA, and the xylene metabolites 3-MHA and 4-MHA in the urine samples in the exposure group were greater than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The correlation analysis results revealed that the concentration of the benzene metabolite S-PMA in workers' urine was positively correlated with diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (r = 0.265, P < 0.05). Compared with those in the control group, DBP was greater (β = 1.363, 95% CI 0.088 -2.639), serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was lower (β = - 0.037, 95% CI - 0.060 to - 0.013), and the serum malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration was greater (β = 0.066, 95% CI 0.022-0.110) in the exposure group. Partial correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between DBP and MDA (rs = 0.115, P < 0.01). The results of the mediation analysis indicated that MDA was a complete mediator between low BTX exposure and DBP (P < 0.05). Occupational exposure to low concentrations of BTX elevates blood pressure and oxidative stress among workers. A positive correlation between DBP and MDA was observed, with MDA acting as a complete mediator between low-concentration BTX exposure and DBP elevation.

The Association Between Urinary Incontinence With Pelvic Pain and Sensory-Motor Function in Older Women With Stroke.

The study aimed to investigate the association between urinary incontinence (UI) severity, pelvic pain, and sensory-motor function in older women with stroke. A cross-sectional prospective study was carried out with 102 older women individuals with stroke. Barthel Index (BI), Incontinence Impact Questionnaire Short Form (IIQ-7), Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6), Pelvic Pain Impact Questionnaire (PPIQ), Somatosensory Amplification Scale (SASS), and Somatic Sensitivity Scale (SeSS) were used for clinical measurements. Partial correlational analyses with age, stroke duration, and BMI as covariates revealed a moderate positive correlation between SASS and IIQ-7 (r = 0.315, p < 0.001) and UDI-6 (r = 0.376, p < 0.001). On the other hand, there was a strong positive correlation between SASS and PPIQ (r = 0.522, p < 0.001). SeSS had a low positive correlation with IIQ-7 (r = 0.198, p < 0.05) and UDI-6 (r = 0.203, p < 0.05). In addition, there was a positive and moderate correlation between SeSS and PPIQ (r = 0.384, p < 0.001). Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed causality of SASS (R2 = 0.381, p < 0.001) and SeSS (R2 = 0.167, p < 0.001) with PPIQ. Increased abnormal sensory sensitivity is associated with increased pelvic pain levels in women with stroke. Clinicians should consider sensory abnormalities, especially pain, within the scope of UI in women with stroke. Our results provide preliminary essential data for sensory and pain awareness during pelvic rehabilitation in stroke patients.

Asymmetric effects of diurnal warming on carbon allocation to leaves of marsh wetlands on the Tibetan Plateau

ABSTRACT Using MODIS leaf area index and meteorological data from 2000 to 2020, this study analyzed the variations in carbon allocation to leaves (C leaf) of marsh during the leaf green-up period and their response to climate change across the TP based on partial correlation and linear regression analysis methods. The regionally averaged C leaf of marsh showed an increasing trend during the leaf green-up period from 2000 to 2020. Diurnal warming has asymmetric effects on C leaf of marsh during different stages of the leaf green-up period. During the early leaf green-up period, warming preseason daytime temperature significantly reduced C leaf in the southwestern region, while warming preseason daytime and night-time temperatures increased C leaf in the central region. During the late leaf green-up period, preseason temperatures exerted significantly positive and negative effects on C leaf in the southwestern and central regions, respectively. During the early leaf green-up period, preseason precipitation increases significantly enhanced C leaf in the southwestern region, but decreased C leaf in the central region. This study highlights the distinct impacts of climatic change on C leaf during different stages of the leaf green-up period and indicates that the asymmetric effects of diurnal warming should be considered in simulations of marsh carbon allocation in the future.

How have breeders adapted rice flowering to the growing region?

Flowering time is a crucial rice trait that influences its adaptation to various environments, cropping schedules, and agronomic characteristics. Rice breeders have exploited spontaneous mutations in heading date genes to regulate the flowering time. In the present study, we investigated how breeders in Fukui Prefecture regulated days to heading while developing promising rice varieties. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified Hd1, Hd16, and Hd18 as the major genes controlling days to heading in the population. However, we suspected that this highly bred population might exhibit genomic stratification, which could lead to spurious or false correlations in the GWAS. Thus, we also conducted correlation and partial correlation analyses, which uncovered another key heading date gene, Hd17, that GWAS failed to detect because of its linkage disequilibrium with the major effect gene Hd16. Examination of haplotype frequencies across different breeding periods revealed that the early-heading Hd16 (Hd16(E)) and late-heading Hd17 (Hd17(L)) were increasingly co-selected in the Hd1 functional population. Varieties carrying this Hd16(E)/Hd17(L) combination exhibited days to heading in the range of 70-80, which corresponds to the peak temperature and sunshine period and is also optimal for grain quality and yield components in the Fukui environment. The present study highlights that it is imperative to remain vigilant for Type I (false positives) and Type II (false negatives) errors when performing GWAS on highly bred populations and to implement appropriate countermeasures by accounting for gene-by-gene interactions established through the breeding process. We also discuss the effectiveness of Hd16(E), which is not used outside Japan for subtle days to heading control but is widely used in Japan at certain latitudes.

Specific Associations in the Alpha Frequency Between the Subcomponents of Rumination and the Subsystems of the Default Mode Network Among Bipolar I Disorder Patients.

Introduction: Rumination in bipolar disorder (BD) is well documented. Recent neuroimaging studies highlight the role of the default mode network (DMN) in rumination, while few studies have evaluated the DMN activity in BD rumination, particularly the underlying neuroelectrophysiology. Methods: A total of 44 patients with depressed bipolar I disorder (BD-I) and 46 healthy controls underwent resting-state magnetoencephalography. Two core hubs of the DMN, the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), and anterior medial prefrontal cortex, together with the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) and the medial temporal lobe (MTL) subsystems, were identified as the regions of interest. The power envelope method was used to determine the alpha band's cross-subsystem functional connectivity (FC). After comparing the rumination and DMN FC between the groups, Spearman partial correlation analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between aberrant FC and rumination in BD-I patients. Results: BD-I patients demonstrated more global rumination, including higher subcomponent scores of brooding and reflection. In addition, the alpha frequency FC of the PCC-dmPFC and dmPFC-MTL subsystems within the DMN was dramatically increased in the BD-I group. The former was strongly associated with reflection, whereas the latter was related to brooding. Conclusion: The findings suggest that the reflection and brooding components of rumination are selectively related to the alpha frequency FC of the PCC-dmPFC and dmPFC-MTL subsystems, respectively. These associations highlight the significance of DMN activities in rumination among BD-I patients and have implications for future rumination interventions.

Leveraging Network Insights into Positive Emotions and Resilience for Better Life Satisfaction

Introduction/Objective Within a network analysis framework, this study explored the relationships between positive emotions, resilience, and life satisfaction. Positive emotions and resilience are critical to enhancing psychological well-being, but their complex interplay requires further investigation, particularly in a Greek adult population. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study with 1,230 Greek adults (67.6% females, 32.4% males), using a network analysis to assess the relationships among positive emotions, resilience, and life satisfaction. Data were collected through the Scale of Positive and Negative Experience (SPANE-8), the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Network structures were constructed using the graphical LASSO technique for partial correlation analysis, and Bayesian networks were applied to generate Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs) to identify directional pathways. Centrality metrics were used to determine critical variables in the network. Results Happiness, pleasure, and contentment are examples of positive emotions that are central nodes in the network that are highly correlated with higher levels of life satisfaction. Resilience, primarily as a recovery mechanism from stress, showed weaker direct associations with life satisfaction. The DAG revealed that positive emotions significantly influenced life satisfaction, suggesting their pivotal role in improving well-being. Conclusion The findings underscore the importance of positive emotions in enhancing life satisfaction, suggesting that interventions targeting emotional well-being may be more effective than those focused solely on resilience. These insights offer a foundation for developing psychological interventions to improve life satisfaction.

Elevated peripheral inflammation is associated with choroid plexus enlargement in independent sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis cohorts

BackgroundUsing neuroimaging techniques, growing evidence has suggested that the choroid plexus (CP) volume is enlarged in multiple neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Notably, the CP has been suggested to play an important role in inflammation-induced CNS damage under disease conditions. However, to our knowledge, no study has investigated the relationships between peripheral inflammation and CP volume in sporadic ALS patients. Thus, in this study, we aimed to verify CP enlargement and explore its association with peripheral inflammation in vivo in independent ALS cohorts.MethodsBased on structural MRI data, CP volume was measured using Gaussian mixture models and further manually corrected in two independent cohorts of sporadic ALS patients and healthy controls (HCs). Serum inflammatory protein levels were measured using a novel high-sensitivity Olink proximity extension assay (PEA) technique. Xtreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) was used to explore the contribution of peripheral inflammatory factors to CP enlargement. Then, partial correlation analyses were performed.ResultsCP volumes were significantly higher in ALS patients than in HCs in the independent cohorts. Compared with HCs, serum levels of CRP, IL-6, CXCL10, and 35 other inflammatory factors were significantly increased in ALS patients. Using the XGBoost approach, we established a model-based importance of features, and the top three predictors of CP volume in ALS patients were CRP, IL-6, and CXCL10 (with gains of 0.24, 0.18, and 0.15, respectively). Correlation analyses revealed that CRP, IL-6, and CXCL10 were significantly associated with CP volume in ALS patients (r = 0.462 ∼ 0.636, p < 0.001).ConclusionOur study is the first to reveal a consistent and replicable contribution of peripheral inflammation to CP enlargement in vivo in sporadic ALS patients. Given that CP enlargement has been recently detected in other brain diseases, these findings should consider extending to other disease conditions with a peripheral inflammatory component.

Interoception mediates the association between social support and sociability in patients with major depressive disorder.

Interoception dysfunction has an important impact on the onset and development of major depressive disorder (MDD). Social support serves as a protective factor against MDD, and sociability also plays a significant role in this condition. These interconnected constructs-social support and sociability-play pivotal roles in MDD. However, no research on the mechanisms underlying the associations between social support and sociability, particularly the potential role of interoception, have been reported. To investigate the mediating effect of interoception between social support and social ability and to explore the independent role of social support in sociability. The participants included 292 patients with MDD and 257 healthy controls (HCs). The patient health questionnaire 9, the multidimensional assessment of interoception awareness, version 2 (MAIA-2), the social support rating scale (SSRS), and the Texas social behavior inventory (TSBI) were used to assess depression, interoception, social support, and sociability, respectively. A mediation analysis model for the eight dimensions of interoception (noticing, not distracting, not worrying, attention regulation, emotional awareness, self-regulation, body listening, and trust), social support, and sociability were established to evaluate the mediating effects. A partial correlation analysis of eight dimensions of the MAIA-2, SSRS, and TSBI scores, with demographic data as control variables, revealed pairwise correlations between the SSRS score and both the MAIA-2 score and TSBI score. In the major depression (MD) group, the SSRS score had a positive direct effect on the TSBI score, while the scores for body listening, emotional awareness, self-regulation, and trust in the MAIA-2C had indirect effects on the TSBI score. In the HC group, the SSRS score had a positive direct effect on the TSBI score, and the scores for attention regulation, emotional awareness, self-regulation, and trust in the MAIA-2C had indirect effects on the TSBI score. The proportion of mediators in the MD group was lower than that in the HC group. Interoceptive awareness is a mediating factor in the association between social support and sociability in both HCs and depressed patients. Training in interoceptive awareness might not only help improve emotional regulation in depressed patients but also enhance their social skills and support networks.

Online Health Information Seeking, eHealth Literacy, and Health Behaviors Among Chinese Internet Users: Cross-Sectional Survey Study.

The internet has become an increasingly vital platform for health-related information, especially in upper-middle-income countries such as China. While previous research has suggested that online health information seeking (OHIS) can significantly impact individuals' engagement in health behaviors, most research focused on patient-centered health communication. This study aims to examine how OHIS influences health behavior engagement among Chinese internet users, focusing on the role of eHealth literacy and perceived information quality in influencing relationships. An online cross-sectional survey was conducted in November 2021 among 10,000 Chinese internet users, using quota sampling based on sex, age, and urban and rural residence, in line with the 48th Statistical Report on Internet Development of China. Nonparametric tests were used to examine the differences in eHealth literacy across sociodemographic groups. Partial correlation analysis and stepwise linear regression were conducted to test the associations between key variables. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were conducted to test the hypotheses. Our study identified significant disparities in functional and critical eHealth literacy between urban and rural residents across age groups, income levels, education backgrounds, and health conditions (all P<.001). In terms of sex and regional differences, we found higher functional literacy among female users than male users, and critical literacy varied significantly across different regions. The proposed structural model showed excellent fit (χ2404=4183.6, χ2404=10.4,P<.001; root mean square error of approximation value of 0.031, 95% CI 0.030-.031; standardized root mean square residual value of 0.029; and comparative fit index value of 0.955), highlighting reciprocal associations between 2 types of eHealth literacy and OHIS. Participants' functional eHealth literacy, critical eHealth literacy, and OHIS have positive impacts on their health behavioral engagement. Perceived information quality was found to mediate the influence of OHIS on health behavior (b=0.003, 95% CI 0.002-0.003; P<.001). The study revealed the pathways linking sociodemographic factors, eHealth literacy, OHIS, and perceived information quality and how they together influenced health outcomes. The findings underscore the significance of enhancing eHealth literacy and improving information quality to promote better health outcomes among Chinese internet users.

Outdoor Air Pollution Relates to Amygdala Subregion Volume and Apportionment in Early Adolescents.

Outdoor air pollution is associated with an increased risk for psychopathology. Although the neural mechanisms remain unclear, air pollutants may impact mental health by altering limbic brain regions, such as the amygdala. Here, we examine the association between ambient air pollution exposure and amygdala subregion volumes in 9-10-year-olds. Cross-sectional Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development SM (ABCD) Study ® data from 4,473 participants (55.4% male) were leveraged. Air pollution was estimated for each participant's primary residential address. Using the probabilistic CIT168 atlas, we quantified total amygdala and 9 distinct subregion volumes from T1- and T2-weighted images. First, we examined how criteria pollutants (i.e., fine particulate matter [PM 2.5 ], nitrogen dioxide, ground-level ozone) and 15 PM 2.5 components related with total amygdala volumes using linear mixed-effect (LME) regression. Next, partial least squares correlation (PLSC) analyses were implemented to identify relationships between co-exposure to criteria pollutants as well as PM 2.5 components and amygdala subregion volumes. We also conducted complementary analyses to assess subregion apportionment using amygdala relative volume fractions (RVFs). No significant associations were detected between pollutants and total amygdala volumes. Using PLSC, one latent dimension (LD) (52% variance explained) captured a positive association between calcium and several basolateral subregions. LDs were also identified for amygdala RVFs (ranging from 30% to 82% variance explained), with PM 2.5 and component co-exposure associated with increases in lateral, but decreases in medial and central, RVFs. Fine particulate and its components are linked with distinct amygdala differences, potentially playing a role in risk for adolescent mental health problems.

How to evaluate the reduction effect of the park on PM2.5? Exploratory application of the maximum and cumulative perspective

Urban parks have been widely proved to be effective in reducing particulate matter pollution, but there is still a knowledge gap in quantitatively evaluating their reduction effects. The purpose of this study is to develop a new method to quantify the reduction effect of PM2.5 in urban parks through high-precision spatio-temporal monitoring experiments in 22 typical urban parks in Shenyang, China, so as to fill this gap. In this study, the cubic polynomial function model was used for the first time to establish the relationship curve between PM2.5 concentration inside and outside the park at different distances. The results showed that the park PM2.5 reduction magnitude and distance were about 5.04–10.14 ug/m3 and 149.47–150.19 m, respectively. Partial correlation analysis revealed that the relationship between the reduction evaluation indexes and the environmental factors had time heterogeneity. The park's internal characteristics and surrounding building environment was the key factor affecting the park PM2.5 reduction effect. In addition, parks smaller than 4.71 hm2 demonstrated better PM2.5 reduction efficiency. In conclusion, this study provides a new quantitative approach to evaluating the park PM2.5 reduction effect and offers data-driven insights for optimizing park planning to enhance the permeability of these effects beyond park boundaries.

N-Methyl-d-Aspartate Receptor Antibody and Sensory Gating Deficits in Non-smoking, Minimal Antipsychotic Medication Exposure, and First-Episode Patients With Schizophrenia.

Sensory gating deficit is considered a pathophysiological feature of schizophrenia, which has been linked to N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) hypofunction as one of the potential underlying mechanisms. Here, we hypothesize that higher levels of NMDAR antibody (Ab) may contribute to the sensory gating deficits in schizophrenia. We enrolled 72 non-smoking inpatients with first-episode schizophrenia (FES), most of them with only a relatively short duration of exposure to antipsychotic medications, and 51 non-smoking healthy controls (HC). Sensory gating was measured by P50 evoked potentials ratio and the difference between the two stimuli in an auditory paired-stimuli paradigm and serum NMDAR Ab levels were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The FES group showed higher serum NMDAR Ab levels [(9.23 ± 4.15) ng/mL vs. (7.08 ± 2.83) ng/mL; P = .002], higher P50 ratio (P = .002), and less P50 difference (P = .001) than HC. In partial correlation analysis, serum NMDAR Ab levels were positively correlated with the P50 ratio (r = 0.36, P = .003) and negatively with the P50 difference (r = -0.39, P = .001) in the FES group. The NMDAR Ab levels mediated the diagnosis of schizophrenia and P50 sensory gating deficits (P50 ratio and P50 difference). Autoimmunity targeting NMDAR is a crucial intermediate mechanism in impaired sensory gating in patients with schizophrenia. The findings support early intervention targeting NMDAR for patients with schizophrenia.

Network efficiency of functional brain connectomes altered in type 2 diabetes patients with and without mild cognitive impairment

AimTo explore the topological organization alterations of functional connectomes in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients with and without mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and compare these with structural connectomes changes.MethodsTwenty-six T2DM patients with MCI (DM-MCI), 26 without cognitive impairment (DM-NC), and 28 healthy controls were included. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and resting-state functional MRI images were acquired. Networks were constructed and graph-theory based network measurements were calculated. The global network parameters and nodal efficiencies were compared across the three groups using one-way ANOVA and a false-discovery rate correction was applied for multiple comparisons. Partial correlation analyses were performed to investigate relationships between network parameters, cognitive performance and clinical variables.ResultsIn the structural connectome, the DM-MCI group exhibited significantly decreased global efficiency (Eglob) and local efficiency (Eloc) compared to the DM-NC and control groups. In the functional connectome, the DM-MCI group exhibited increased Eloc and clustering coefficient (Cp) compared to the controls. No significant differences were found in Eglob, Eloc, or Cp between the DM-NC and the control group, both in structural and functional connectomes. Nodal efficiencies decreased in some brain regions of structural and functional networks in the DM-MCI and DM-NC groups, but increased in five regions in functional network, some of which were involved in the default-mode network.ConclusionUnlike the consistently decreased global properties and nodal efficiencies in the structural connectome of T2DM patients, increases in Eloc, Cp, and nodal efficiencies in the functional connectome may be viewed as a compensatory mechanism due to functional plasticity and reorganization. Altered nodal efficiency can hint at cognitive decrements at an early stage in T2DM patients.

Investigating Tire Ground Contact Mechanics Under Partial Hydroplaning Conditions: A Multivariate Analysis Approach

Tire hydroplaning is one of the main causes of traffic accidents on slippery roads. In order to study the ground contact mechanical characteristics of tires under partial hydroplaning conditions, 205/55the R16 passenger car tire was taken as the research object, a tire hydroplaning CEL simulation model was established, and the test plan was created using the orthogonal experimental design method. Through range analysis, partial correlation analysis and multivariate linear regression analysis, a tire side slip UA model suitable for different working conditions on slippery roads was established. Comparative analysis shows that the model can accurately predict the tire ground contact mechanical characteristics on slippery roads, and provide a theoretical reference for studying the tire multi-condition hydroplaning performance.