Partial Regression Coefficients Research Articles

Associations between visceral fat chronic low back pain and central sensitization in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.

Pain sensitization may be one of the mechanisms contributing to chronic low back pain (CLBP). To evaluate the association between visceral fat, CLBP, and central sensitization (CS); describe the relationship between low back pain (LBP) intensity and CS; and identify possible correlation between visceral fat and LBP intensity. Patients with CLBP were divided using their CS inventory (CSI) scores into low- (CSI < 40) and high-CSI (CSI ⩾ 40) subgroups. We compared computed tomography (CT) measurements and scores for association with pain according to the visual analogue scale (VAS) between the two groups. The low-CSI and the high-CSI groups had 47 patients (67.1%; 21 men, 26 women) and 23 patients (32.9%; 11 men and 12 women), respectively. The high-CSI group had a significantly higher mean VAS score (p< 0.01) and estimated mean visceral fat area (p< 0.05) than the low-CSI group. There was a moderate positive correlation between VAS score and visceral fat (standardised partial regression coefficient: 0.659, p< 0.01) in the high-CSI group according to multiple linear regression analysis adjusted for age and sex. Visceral fat is associated with CLBP, regardless of sex or age, and may be a potential therapeutic target for CLBP with CS.

A Retrospective Study on the Relationship Between Cognitive Function and Social Function in Patients With Schizophrenia.

BackgroundSocial dysfunction is associated with decreased activity, employment difficulties, and poor prognosis in patients with schizophrenia. Cognitive functions, such as attention and processing speed, have been implicated in the social functions of schizophrenia patients; however, the relationship between cognitive functions and social functions remains unclear. Thus, understanding the factors that influence social functioning can aid the development of therapeutic strategies for schizophrenia. Herein, we retrospectively analyzed factors that influence social functioning in patients with schizophrenia.MethodsPatient background, intelligence quotient (IQ) scores, Japanese version of the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS-J) scores, the dose of antipsychotic drugs, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) scores, and the factors influencing each subscale of the Japanese version of the Social Functioning Scale (SFS-J) were evaluated using univariate and multivariate analyses. The Bonferroni correction was applied to evaluate the correlation between each factor in the univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis, independent variables were selected using a stepwise method. In each model, considering the sample size, the maximum number of variables extracted using the stepwise method was set to three. We then calculated the standard partial regression coefficient (standard β) between the SFS-J subscale scores and each factor.ResultsData from 36 patients were analyzed. The average age, illness duration, and total length of hospitalization were 57.8 years, 34.8 years, and 196.7 months, respectively. Of the seven significant correlations with the SFS-J subscale in the univariate analysis, only three were significant in the multivariate analysis model. According to the multivariable model, BACS-J verbal fluency positively correlated with SFS-J withdrawal, interpersonal communication, and employment/occupation. Moreover, BACS-J token motor and educational history were positively correlated with SFS-J recreation and SFS-J employment/occupation, respectively. PANSS scores, IQ scores, and doses of antipsychotic drugs did not show clear associations with SFS-J scores.ConclusionsIn conclusion, there were significant correlations between BACS-J subscale scores for cognitive functioning and SFS-J subscale scores for social functioning in patients with schizophrenia.

Association between bile area in the duodenal bulb and abdominal symptoms: Quantitative analysis using blue laser imaging.

Bile acids are strongly associated with the pathogenesis of functional gastrointestinal diseases. In recent years, blue laser imaging (BLI) endoscopy has emerged as a novel image-enhanced endoscopic method, which illustrates bile as a reddish hue. The present study investigated the factors that affect the area of bile in duodenal bulbs using BLI. For this purpose, patients (356 cases) who underwent upper endoscopy with BLI between April, 2017 and December, 2019, and completed patient background and symptom questionnaires [Constipation Scoring System (CSS), Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS) and Frequency Scale for Symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (FSSG)], were retrospectively investigated. Each BLI bile score was calculated as a percentage of bile area in a field of view in the duodenal bulb using a KS400 image analysis system, and the association with abdominal symptoms was examined using multiple regression analysis. The patient characteristics included the following: Age (in years), 69.9±11.3; male/female ratio, 146/210; body mass index, 23.0±3.8; reflux esophagitis (M/A/B/C), 143/19/3/3; atrophic gastritis (C-0/C1-3/O1-3), 132/100/124; proton pump inhibitor potassium competitive acid blocker/aspirin/ursodeoxycholic acid/gall bladder stones/cholecystectomy, 105/27/18/43/18; BLI bile score, 7.10 (±14.34); CSS score, 3.55 (±3.80); BSFS score, 3.91 (±1.02); and FSSG score, 4.80 (±5.76). Correlation coefficients (P<0.05) for the BLI bile score were found for cholecystectomy (Rho=0.137) and aspirin use (Rho=0.118). In multiple regression analysis, independent predictors of the BLI bile score were cholecystectomy [standardized partial regression coefficient (β)=0.169, P=0.001] and the BSFS score (β=0.107, P=0.042). On the whole, the present study demonstrates that the duodenal bile area in BLI upper endoscopy is associated with cholecystectomy and fecal characteristics.

Foraging Time and Temperature Affected Birth Timing of Rhinolophus ferrumequinum and Predicted Year-To-Year Changes for 25 Years in a Population in West Wales, U.K.

Movements of Rhinolophus ferrumequinum in and out of the nursery roost at Stackpole (West Wales, U.K.) were monitored automatically from 1994 to 2018 with simultaneous measurements of roost and external air temperatures. Pups were counted manually in June–July and mean birth dates calculated. Maximal foraging times of the population between 16:00 h and 08:00 h and temperatures at midnight showed three types of activity. These types of activity explained why warmer springs were followed by earlier birth dates. When April was warmer the number of degree days, linked to the activity of night-flying insects, was higher so the maximal foraging times were longer. Hence, mean birth dates were earlier due to faster gestation. The indirect effect of degree days on the birth date, measured by the partial regression coefficient (ß = -0.321), was weaker than the direct effect (ß = -0.628) and the mediating effect of maximal foraging time was significant (P < 0.001). During May–June and June–July bats foraged mainly from dusk to dawn so there was little variation in the maximal foraging times of the population, and it did not significantly mediate the effect of temperature on birth date. Birth dates were later when the external temperatures in June–July were higher (ß = 0.309), but the effect was small (R2 = 9.5%). Path analysis further revealed that longer maximal foraging times of the population in April predicted the year-to-year changes in the number of births and subsequently the number of adult females. Maximal foraging times of the population in April were a major influence on birth timing and ultimately determined whether the population grew or declined.

Evaluation of feed efficiency traits in different Hereford populations and their effect on variance component estimation

Context Residual feed intake is a relevant trait for beef cattle, given the positive impact on reducing feeding costs and greenhouse gas emissions. The lack of large databases is a restriction when estimating accurate genetic parameters for dry matter intake (DMI) and residual feed intake (RFI), and combining different data sets could be an alternative to increase the amount of data and achieve better estimations. Aim The main objective was to compare Uruguayan data (URY; 780 bulls) and Canadian data (CAN; 1597 bulls), and to assess the adequacy of pooling both data sets (ALL) for the estimation of genetic parameters for DMI and RFI. Methods Feed intake and growth traits phenotypes in both data sets were measured following the same protocols established by the Beef Improvement Federation. Pedigree connections among data sets existed, but were weak. Performance data were analysed for each data set, and individual partial regression coefficients for each energy sink on DMI were obtained and compared. Univariate and multivariate variance components were estimated by the restricted maximum likelihood (REML) for DMI, RFI and their energy sinks traits (average daily gain, metabolic mid weight and back fat thickness). Key results There were some differences in phenotypic performance among data (P &lt; 0.01); however, no differences (P &gt; 0.1) were observed for phenotypic values of RFI between sets. Heritability estimates for DMI were 0.42 (URY), 0.41 (CAN) and 0.45 for ALL data, whereas heritability estimates for RFI were 0.34 (URY), 0.20 (CAN) and 0.25 for ALL data. The results obtained indicate selection on reducing RFI could lead to a decrease in DMI, without compromising other performance traits, as genetic correlations between RFI, growth and liveweight were low or close to 0 (−0.12–0.07). Conclusions As genetic parameters were similar between national data sets (URY, CAN), pooling data (ALL) provided more accurate parameter estimations, as they presented smaller standard deviations, especially in multivariate analysis. Implications Parameters estimated here may be used in international or national genetic evaluation programs.

A prediction model for sulcus-to-sulcus diameter in myopic eyes: a 1466-sample retrospective study

BackgroundTo establish and verify the accuracy and reliability of a sulcus-to-sulcus diameter (STS) prediction model.MethodsIn this retrospective study, the prediction formula was established with the data from 1466 eyes from 733 subjects from July 2020 to April 2021 and verified with the data from 278 eyes from 139 subjects between May 2021 and June 2021. Each subject was measured with a Pentacam, IOLMaster 700, OPD-Scan III, and ultrasound biomicroscope. The prediction formulas were established with multiple linear regression, and intergroup correlation coefficients (ICCs) and Bland–Altman tests were used to assess the agreement between the predicted and actual STS (actual STS was measured by UBM).ResultsThe explanatory variables relevant to the horizontal STS (STSH) were the Pentacam white-to-white diameter (WTWP; standardized partial regression coefficient [β] = 0.330; p < 0.001), the flat K value (β = -0.211; p < 0.001), and the anterior corneal diameter (ACD) (β = 0.178; p < 0.001). The corresponding multiple regression equation was : STSH (mm) = 8.061 + 0.510 × WTWP − 0.090 × Flat K value + 0.430 × ACD. The explanatory variables relevant to the vertical STS (STSV) were the WTWP (β = 0.435; p < 0.001), the steep K value (β = -0.271; p < 0.001), and the ACD (β = 0.187; p < 0.001). The corresponding multiple regression equation was : STSV (mm) = 8.540 + 0.492 × WTWP − 0.075 × Steep K value + 0.329 × ACD. The bias of the predicted to the actual STSH was − 0.021, with 95% limits of agreement (95% LoA) from − 0.499 to 0.457. The bias of the predicted to the actual STSV was 0.057, with 95% LoA from − 0.462 to 0.575. The ICC was 0.883 between the predicted and actual STSH and 0.859 between the predicted and actual STSV.ConclusionsThe Pentacam-measured WTW, the K value and the ACD are important for predicting the STS diameter. The prediction model has good accuracy and reliability.Trial registrationNot applicable.

Analysis of the relationship between the amplitude of aortic wall motion and heart function

PurposeBecause the posterior wall of the aorta and left atrium are interlocked, the amplitude of motion of the aortic wall (AMAW) may reflect cardiac and vessel functions. This study examined the relationship between cardiac and vessel functions and AMAW.MethodsPatients with cardiovascular diseases or patients undergoing health examinations who visited a participating hospital and underwent echocardiography and brachial–ankle pulse-wave velocity (baPWV) examinations were registered. The correlations between echocardiographic indices, ankle–brachial index, and baPWV and AMAW on M-mode echocardiography were analyzed.ResultsOverall, 184 patients were enrolled. Heart rate (r = − 0.1587), ejection fraction (EF; r = 0.3240), wall thickness (r = − 0.1598), peak early diastolic mitral annular velocity (E) to peak early diastolic mitral annular velocity ratio (e’; r = − 0.2463), and baPWV (r = − 0.1928) significantly correlated with AMAW. In the stratified multiple regression analysis, E/e’ (standardized partial regression coefficients = − 0.1863) and mean baPWV (standardized partial regression coefficients = − 0.1917) in patients with an EF of ≥ 60% (n = 114) significantly correlated with AMAW. In patients with an EF of < 60% (n = 70), E/e’ (standardized partial regression coefficients = − 0.2443) significantly correlated with AMAW.ConclusionBecause E/e’ correlated with AMAW in patients with an EF of < 60% or ≥ 60%, AMAW might be an indicator of left atrial pressure elevation. Moreover, because AMAW correlated with baPWV in patients with an EF of ≥ 60%, changes in the restricted left atrial volume might influence diastolic dysfunction. AMAW may be related to cardiac and vessel functions.

Prediction of the need for emergency endoscopic treatment for upper gastrointestinal bleeding and new score model: a retrospective study

BackgroundGastrointestinal bleeding is one of the major gastrointestinal diseases. In this study, our objective was to compare Glasgow-Blatchford score (GBS), AIMS65 score, MAP score, Modified GBS, and Iino score as outcome measures for upper gastrointestinal bleeding. In addition, we extracted factors associated with hemostatic procedures including endoscopy, and proposed a new robust score model.MethodsFrom January 2015 to December 2019, 675 patients with symptoms such as hematemesis who visited the National Hospital Organization Disaster Medical Center and underwent urgent upper endoscopy with diagnosis of suspected non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding were retrospectively reviewed. We evaluated the GBS, AIMS65 score, MAP score, Modified GBS, and Iino score, and assessed the outcomes of patients requiring hemostatic treatments at the subsequent emergency endoscopy. We performed logistic regression analysis of factors related to endoscopic hemostasis and upper gastrointestinal bleeding, created a new score model, and evaluated the prediction of hemostatic treatment and mortality in the new score and the existing scores.ResultsThe factors associated with endoscopic treatment were hematemesis, heart rate, HB (hemoglobin), blood pressure, blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Based on these predictors and the partial regression coefficients, a new score named H3B2 (using the initial letters of hematemesis, heart rate, HB, blood pressure, and BUN) was generated. H3B2 score was slightly more discriminatory compared to GBS and Modified GBS (area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROC): 0.73 versus 0.721 and 0.7128, respectively) in predicting hemostatic treatment in emergency endoscopy. The H3B2 score also showed satisfactory prediction accuracy for subsequent deaths (AUROC: 0.6857. P < 0.001).ConclusionsWe proposed a new score, the H3B2 score, consisting of simple and objective indices in cases of suspected upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The H3B2 score is useful in identifying high-risk patients with suspected upper gastrointestinal bleeding who require urgent hemostatic treatment including emergency endoscopy.

Variant Allele of ALDH2, rs671, Associates with Attenuated Post-Vaccination Response in Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein IgG: A Prospective Study in the Japanese General Population.

Uncovering the predictors of vaccine immunogenicity is essential for infection control. We have reported that the most prevalent polymorphism of the aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 gene (ALDH2), rs671, may be associated with an attenuated immune system. To test the inverse relationship between rs671 and antibody production after COVID-19 vaccination, the levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein S1 subunit (S1) IgG were repeatedly measured for four months before and after vaccination with BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273, in 88 Japanese workers and students (including 45 females, aged 21–56 years, with an rs671 variant allele frequency of 0.3). The mixed model including fixed effects of the vaccine type, weeks post vaccination (categorical variable), sex, age, height, smoking status, ethanol intake, exercise habit, perceived stress, steroid use, allergic diseases, and dyslipidemia, indicated an inverse association between log-transformed anti-S1 IgG levels and the number of rs671 variant alleles (partial regression coefficient = −0.15, p = 0.002). Our study indicated for the first time that the variant allele of ALDH2, rs671, is associated with the attenuated immunogenicity of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. Our finding may provide a basis for personalized disease prevention based on a genetic polymorphism that is prevalent among East Asians.

PENGARUH KINERJA KEUANGAN TERHADAP NILAI PERUSAHAAN PADA SEKTOR PERBANKAN DI BURSA EFEK INDONESIA PERODE 2018 - 2020

This study aims to determine Effect of Financial Performance on Firm Value. The Financial Performance measured by using CAR (Capital Adequacy Ratio), NPL (Non Perfoming Loan), NIM (Net Interest margin), BOPO and LDR (Loan to Deposit Ratio). Meanwhile the Firm Value measured by using (PBV) Price to Book Value. This study used secondary data with the sample comprising banking companies listed in the Indonesia Stock Exchange (BEI) in 2018-2020 by using purposive sampling method. There were 25 Commercial Banks that qualified as research samples. Analysis technique used is a classic assumption test covering normality test, mulicolinierity test, heterocedastisity test and autocorrelation test. Other tests are multiple linier regression and hypothesis test using t-statistic and test use f-statistic to test partial regression coefficient in level of significance 5%. The results of this research showed that using CAR (Capital Adequacy Ratio), NPL (Non Perfoming Loan), NIM (Net Interest margin), BOPO and LDR (Loan to Deposit Ratio) has significantly positive effects toward (PBV) Price to Book Value.

Pengaruh Good Corporate Governance Terhadap Tax Avoidance

This research was a descriptive and explanatory research, using data panel regression analysis. The software used in analyzing the data was Eviews 9. The data analysis in this study started with model testing with the approach of Common Effect Model, Fixed Effect Model and Effect Model; and the model selection testing was conducted through Chow, Hausman, and Langgage Multiplier tests. It was then followed by classic assumption test that comprised of normality test, heteroscedasticity, autocorrelation and multicollinearity tests. Then, the data panel regression test and hypothesis testing were done in form of partial regression coefficient (t test) and determination coefficient test. The populations in this research were about 90 reports of financial data, while the samples were about 30 reports with the criteria of the companies were being the participants in the Corporate Governance Perception Index (CGPI) and had annual report and sustainability continuously. The data in this study were secondary, obtained by data collection technique of documentation method and literature study. This research showed that the Managerial Ownership had positive and significant impact on the Tax Avoidance, while the Independent Commissioner and Institutional Ownership did not influence significantly on the Tax Avoidance. &#x0D; Keywords : CGPI

Imaging Characteristics for Predicting Cognitive Impairment in Patients With Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy With Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy.

ObjectivesPatients with cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) show various clinical symptoms, including migraine, recurrent stroke, and cognitive impairment. We investigated the associations between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) markers of small vessel disease and neuropsychological tests and identified the MRI characteristics for predicting cognitive impairment in patients with CADASIL.MethodsSubjects included 60 CADASIL patients diagnosed with genetic tests and registered in the Japanese CADASIL REDCap database between June 2016 and December 2020. Patient information including clinical data, modified Rankin Scale (mRS); MRI findings of small vessel disease including periventricular and deep white matter lesions (WML), lacunar infarcts, and cerebral microbleeds (CMBs); and neuropsychological tests, including the Japanese version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Japanese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-J), and the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), were evaluated.ResultsData from 44 CADASIL patients were eligible for this study, compared between patients with and without dementia. Regarding the neuroimaging findings, the Fazekas score of periventricular and deep WML was higher in patients with dementia (periventricular, p = 0.003; deep, p = 0.009). The number of lacunar infarcts was higher in patients with dementia (p = 0.001). The standardized partial regression coefficient (SPRC) in MoCA-J was 0.826 (95% CI, 0.723–0.942; p = 0.005) for the number of CMBs. The SPRC in MMSE was 0.826 (95% CI, 0.719–0.949; p = 0.007) for the number of CMBs. The SPRC for FAB decreased significantly to 0.728 (95% CI, 0.551–0.960; p = 0.024) for the number of lacunar infarcts. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for dementia showed that in the number of lacunar infarcts, a cut-off score of 5.5 showed 90.9% sensitivity and 61.1% specificity. For the number of CMBs, a cut-off score of 18.5 showed 45.5% sensitivity and 100% specificity.ConclusionThe characteristic MRI findings were that CADASIL patients with dementia had severe WML, both periventricular and deep, and a larger number of lacunar infarcts than those without dementia. The risk of dementia may be associated with ≥ 6 lacunar infarcts, ≥19 CMBs, or a Fazekas scale score of 3 in periventricular and deep WML.

Do changes in primary care service use over time differ by neighbourhood income? Population-based longitudinal study in British Columbia, Canada

BackgroundStrong primary care systems have been associated with improved health equity. Primary care system reforms in Canada may have had equity implications, but these have not been evaluated. We sought to determine if changes in primary care service use between 1999/2000 and 2017/2018 differ by neighbourhood income in British Columbia.MethodsWe used linked administrative databases to track annual primary care visits, continuity of care, emergency department (ED) visits, specialist referrals, and prescriptions dispensed over time. We use generalized estimating equations to examine differences in the magnitude of change by neighbourhood income quintile, adjusting for age, sex/gender, and comorbidity, and stratified by urban/rural location of residence. We also compared the characteristics of physicians providing care to people living in low- and high-income neighbourhoods at two points in time.ResultsBetween 1999/2000 and 2017/8 the average number of primary care visits per person, specialist referrals, and continuity of care fell in both urban and rural settings, while ED visits and prescriptions dispensed increased. Over this period in urban settings, primary care visits, continuity, and specialist referrals fell more rapidly in low vs. high income neighbourhoods (relative change in primary care visits: Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) 0.881, 95% CI: 0.872, 0.890; continuity: partial regression coefficient -0.92, 95% CI: -1.18, -0.66; specialist referrals: IRR 0.711, 95%CI: 0.696, 0.726), while ED visits increased more rapidly (IRR 1.06, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.09). The percentage of physicians who provide the majority of visits to patients in neighbourhoods in the lower two income quintiles declined from 30.6% to 26.3%.ConclusionResults raise concerns that equity in access to primary care has deteriorated in BC. Reforms to primary care that fail to attend to the multidimensional needs of low-income communities may entrench existing inequities. Policies that tailor patterns of funding and allocation of resources in accordance with population needs, and that align accountability measures with equity objectives are needed as part of further reform efforts.

Pengaruh Fasilitas Kerja Terhadap Kinerja Pegawai pada Kantor LPP RRI Ambon

This study aims to find out how the influence of work facilities on employee performance at LPP RRI Ambon. The facilities in the entire workspace at the LPP RRI Ambon office in the HR section are 8 facilities needed and 6 facilities are in good condition and 2 are in bad condition. In general, there are 17 units of facilities needed and 10 facilities in good condition and 7 facilities in bad condition. Partial regression coefficient t test was conducted to determine the effect of each independent variable. To find out whether the null hypothesis is rejected and the alternative hypothesis is accepted or vice versa is tested by comparing the tsig value &lt;α = 0.05, the independent variable has a significant effect on the dependent variable. Vice versa if tsig &gt; α = 0.05 then the independent variable has no significant effect on the dependent variable. In the Finance section there are 18 units of facilities needed with 10 units of facilities in good condition and 8 in bad condition. Program Planning and Evaluation Section (Programming) where there are 23 units of facilities needed with 15 units of facilities in good condition and 8 units in bad condition. News review and communication (news) where there are 14 required facility units with 12 facility units in good condition and 2 in bad condition. Studio and New Media Engineering with 15 units of facilities needed and 13 units of facilities in good condition and 2 units of facilities in bad condition. Broadcasting and Public Service Infrastructure Engineering with 63 units of facilities needed with 52 units of facilities in good condition and 11 units of facilities in bad condition. From the explanation above, it can be concluded that work facilities are very important for the continuity of employee performance at LPP RRI Ambon.

Multiple-trait random regression modeling of feed efficiency in US Holsteins

Residual feed intake (RFI) and feed saved (FS) are important feed efficiency traits that have been increasingly considered in genetic improvement programs. Future sustainability of these genetic evaluations will depend upon greater flexibility to accommodate sparsely recorded dry matter intake (DMI) records on many more cows, especially from commercial environments. Recent multiple-trait random regression (MTRR) modeling developments have facilitated days in milk (DIM)-specific inferences on RFI and FS, particularly in modeling the effect of change in metabolic body weight (MBW). The MTRR analyses, using daily data on the core traits of DMI, MBW, and milk energy (MilkE), were conducted separately for 2,532 primiparous and 2,379 multiparous US Holstein cows from 50 to 200 DIM. Estimated MTRR variance components were used to derive genetic RFI and FS and DIM-specific genetic partial regressions of DMI on MBW, MilkE, and change in MBW. Estimated daily heritabilities of RFI and FS varied across lactation for both primiparous (0.05-0.07 and 0.11-0.17, respectively) and multiparous (0.03-0.13 and 0.10-0.17, respectively) cows. Genetic correlations of RFI across DIM varied (>0.05) widely compared with FS (>0.54) within either parity class. Heritability estimates based on average lactation-wise measures were substantially larger than daily heritabilities, ranging from 0.17 to 0.25 for RFI and from 0.35 to 0.41 for FS. The partial genetic regression coefficients of DMI on MBW (0.11 to 0.16 kg/kg0.75 for primiparous and 0.12 to 0.14 kg/kg0.75 for multiparous cows) and of DMI on MilkE (0.45 to 0.68 kg/Mcal for primiparous and 0.36 to 0.61 kg/Mcal for multiparous cows) also varied across lactation. In spite of the computational challenges encountered with MTRR, the model potentially facilitates an efficient strategy for harnessing more data involving a wide variety of data recording scenarios for genetic evaluations on feed efficiency.

Modelling the non-linear development of Shenley Station blue cheese volatiles during ripening using untargeted volatile fingerprinting and self-organizing maps

Blue cheese flavour development derives from complex biochemical reactions that depend on numerous factors including milk source, culture/strain selection, processing, and ripening conditions. Understanding volatile compound development during blue cheese ripening will help reduce production costs and facilitate quality improvements. Volatile compounds contribute to the characteristic flavours of the cheeses but ripening time predictions based on chemical data have proven difficult. The present study employed untargeted fingerprinting combined with linear and non-linear chemometric approaches to identify key volatiles for the modelling of Shenley Station blue cheese ripening times. Self-organizing maps and entropy-based feature selection along with partial least squares regression and variable identification coefficients were used to parse the linear and non-linear development behaviours of volatiles. The blue cheese ripening times were accurately modelled by twenty-three discriminant volatiles. The present study demonstrated that volatile fingerprints can be used to effectively model blue cheese ripening times using a non-linear chemometric approach.

Impact of nurses' roles and burden on burnout during the COVID‐19 pandemic: Multicentre cross‐sectional survey

AimTo identify groups of nurses engaging in coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) care who are most in need of organizational support.BackgroundOverwhelming stress and susceptibility to burnout have been reported in nurses during the COVID‐19 pandemic.MethodsNurses working at five hospitals that accepted COVID‐19 patients answered the questionnaire. The Tokyo Metropolitan Distress Scale for Pandemic, Self‐Diagnosis Check List for Assessment of Workers' Accumulated Fatigue and Japanese Burnout Scale were evaluated. Multiple regression analysis was performed to examine the relationship between engaging in COVID‐19 care and psychosocial/physical burden.ResultsIn total, 895 questionnaires were analysed. With experience in caring for COVID‐19 patients as the independent variable, nurses caring for suspected cases had significantly higher standardized Tokyo Metropolitan Distress Scale for Pandemic scores for ‘concerns for infection’ (standardized partial regression coefficient β = .921, P = .004), Assessment of Workers' Accumulated Fatigue (β = .445, P = .022) and Japanese Burnout Scale ‘emotional exhaustion’ (β = .136, P = .021) than those caring for confirmed cases.ConclusionsNurses caring for suspected COVID‐19 patients have the highest psychological/physical burden and propensity for burnout.Implications for Nursing ManagementExtensive support systems are required for nurses caring for confirmed and suspected COVID‐19 cases.

Land use intensification affects the relative importance of climate variation and active land degradation: Convergence of six regions around the world

AbstractWe explored the relative importance of climate oscillations and human‐driven disturbances on the change in vegetation biomass in agroecosystems, and whether it is associated with land use. Our main contribution is a quantitative treatment of these factors in equivalent terms, i.e. not assuming any of them to be principal. The study was carried out in the drylands of the Iberian Peninsula, NW Maghreb, Palestinian West Bank, Mozambique, China and NE Brazil, using satellite time‐series and the corresponding climate fields, at ten‐year observation periods with spatial and temporal resolutions of 1000 m (250 m in Palestine) and one year, respectively. For each region, we separated the relative weights of climate and time by fitting multiple‐stepwise regressions to a vegetation index as the dependent variable, and annual aridity (Aridity) and year number (Time) as predictors. The relative strength of the resulting standard partial regression coefficients was then compared by the Wilcoxon signed ranks test, and their combined associations with land uses were determined using Chi‐square tests. Some points of convergence are as follows: (1) The relative weights of Aridity and Time depend on particular regional conditions and can be determined. (2) Such weights are associated with land use intensification, such that if vegetation increases over Time, Aridity increases its relative importance with intensification; if vegetation is degrading, Aridity is always more important than Time. (3) Aridity is an indicator of vulnerability to climate warming. Resilience can be improved by reducing land use intensification. 4. Vulnerability may worsen under constant climate if agriculture is intensified. These patterns enhance an integrated understanding of Sustainable Development Goals Indicator 15.3.1, particularly its land cover and productivity trend components.

"PRICE, PRODUCT QUALITY AND PROMOTION ON PURCHASE DECISIONS" (EMPIRICAL STUDY ON CONSUMERS IN AMBON CITY)

This study aims to empirically examine the influence of price factors on purchasing decisions, the influence of product quality factors on purchasing decisions and the influence of promotional factors on consumer purchasing decisions of Cap Nona Sweetened Condensed Milk in Ambon City. The type of research is empirical with the sampling technique used is purposive sampling. The analysis technique is multiple linear regression analysis, where the hypothesis test uses the t-statistical test to test the partial regression coefficients and the F-statistical test to test the effect together or simultaneously with a confidence level of 0.05 or 5%. The test results show the price variable (X1) has a positive and significant effect on the purchasing decision variable. This is evidenced by the results of statistical tests which show the coefficient value of 0.192 with a significant value of 0.01 below the 0.05 level of significance. The product quality variable (X2) has a positive and significant effect on the purchasing decision variable. This is evidenced by the results of statistical tests which show a coefficient value of 0.191 with a significant value of 0.00 below the significant level of 0.05. The promotion variable (X3) has no significant effect on the purchasing decision variable. This is evidenced by the results of statistical tests which show the coefficient value of 0.134 with a significant value of 0.28 above the significant level of 0.05.

Heterogeneous Overdispersed Count Data Regressions via Double-Penalized Estimations

Recently, the high-dimensional negative binomial regression (NBR) for count data has been widely used in many scientific fields. However, most studies assumed the dispersion parameter as a constant, which may not be satisfied in practice. This paper studies the variable selection and dispersion estimation for the heterogeneous NBR models, which model the dispersion parameter as a function. Specifically, we proposed a double regression and applied a double ℓ1-penalty to both regressions. Under the restricted eigenvalue conditions, we prove the oracle inequalities for the lasso estimators of two partial regression coefficients for the first time, using concentration inequalities of empirical processes. Furthermore, derived from the oracle inequalities, the consistency and convergence rate for the estimators are the theoretical guarantees for further statistical inference. Finally, both simulations and a real data analysis demonstrate that the new methods are effective.