Response Analysis Research Articles

Ideas for Management of Dementia Cafés: Secondary Analysis of Open-ended Responses from the Yokohama City Dementia Café Fact-Finding Survey in 2019

Ideas for Management of Dementia Cafés: Secondary Analysis of Open-ended Responses from the Yokohama City Dementia Café Fact-Finding Survey in 2019

Exploratory analysis of the variable response to an intensive lifestyle change program for metabolic syndrome

BackgroundSubstantial variability in response to lifestyle interventions has been recognized for many years, and researchers have begun to disentangle sources of error from inherent differences in individual responsiveness. The objective of this secondary analysis of an intensive lifestyle intervention (diet and exercise) for metabolic syndrome (MetS) was to identify potentially important differences among study completers grouped by treatment response as measured by change in a continuous metabolic syndrome score (Gurka/MetS).MethodsAll study completers from a 12-month primary care study were categorized into one of five groups according to change in the Gurka/MetS score. A change of 0.4 in z-score defined clinically relevant change in line with results of previous studies. Repeated measures analysis of variance was used to examine cardiovascular disease risk and individual clinical indicators of MetS over 12 months, looking for differences in response over time by the five groups.ResultsOf 176 participants, 50% (n = 88) had stable scores, 10% (n = 18) had relevant change scores in the first 3 months only and reverted toward baseline, 20% (n = 35) achieved meaningful change over the whole study, 11% (n = 20) had a delayed response at 3–12 months, and 9% (n = 15) demonstrated worsening scores. Significant differential patterns were noted for groups over the duration of the intervention (p < .001). Improvement in diet quality and fitness scores were similar across all groups. Other available variables were tested and did not account for the differences.ConclusionWork is needed to identify key factors that account for differences in responses to lifestyle interventions that can be used to guide treatment decisions for intensive lifestyle interventions for this common condition.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01616563; first registered June 12, 2012.

Nonlinear geometrically exact dynamics of hyperelastic pipes conveying fluid: comparative study of different hyperelastic models

This work presents a comparative analysis of the nonlinear dynamic responses of fluid-conveying pipes modelled by four different phenomenological hyperelastic constitutive models, namely the Mooney-Rivlin model, the neo-Hookean model, the Yeoh model, and the Ogden model. Based on the strain energy density functions and the exact geometric relation, the geometrically exact dynamic models corresponding to different hyperelastic contitutive models are established. Then the Galerkin's truncation is adopted to transfer the obtained nonlinear integral-partial differential equations into the nonlinear ordinary differential equations. Subsequently, linear dynamic study and finite difference method are taken to explore the natural frequencies and stabilities and nonlinear dynamic responses of the pipe, respectively. And the fitting coefficients for various models obtained from Treloar's experiment data are utilized in the numerical calculation. It is found the Hopf bifurcation and the limit cycle oscillations in the post-flutter status are influenced by the choice of the hyperelastic models, particularly under large flow velocity. However, hyperelastic constitutive models do not exert a significantly extreme influence on the results, which can be attributed to the relatively small strains even though large deformations occur in the pipe. Mathematically, it is proven that the symmetry observed in the pipe's displacement response stems from the symmetry of its cross-section and the inextensibility assumption of the centerline, with hyperelasticity having no effect on this symmetry.

Multi-omics analysis of the molecular response to glucocorticoids - insights into shared genetic risk from psychiatric to medical disorders

BackgroundAlterations in the effects of glucocorticoids have been implicated in mediating some of the negative health effects associated with chronic stress, including increased risk for psychiatric disorders as well as cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. This study investigates how genetic variants influence gene expression and DNA methylation (DNAm) in response to glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-activation, and their association with disease risk. MethodsWe measured DNAm (n=199) and gene expression (n=297) in peripheral blood before and after GR-activation with dexamethasone, with matched genotype data available for all samples. A comprehensive molecular quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis was conducted, mapping GR-response methylation (me)QTLs, GR-response expression (e)QTLs, and GR-response expression quantitative trait methylation (eQTM). A multi-level network analysis was employed to map the complex relationships between the transcriptome, epigenome, and genetic variation. ResultsWe identified 3,772 GR-response meCpGs corresponding to 104,828 local GR-response meQTLs that did not strongly overlap with baseline meQTLs. eQTM and eQTL analyses revealed distinct genetic influences on gene expression and DNAm. Multi-level network analysis uncovered GR-response network trio QTLs, characterized by SNP-CpG-transcript combinations where meQTLs act as both eQTLs and eQTMs. GR-response trio variants were enriched in GWAS for psychiatric, respiratory, autoimmune and cardiovascular diseases and conferred a higher relative heritability per SNP than GR-response meQTL and baseline QTL SNP. ConclusionsGenetic variants modulating the molecular effects of glucocorticoids are associated with psychiatric as well as medical diseases and not uncovered in baseline QTL analyses.

Composition, divergence and variability: A comprehensive analysis of fish trait responses to connectivity

Connectivity, a fundamental concept in ecology, refers to the extent to which different habitats or ecosystems are interconnected through the movement of organisms, nutrients, and energy. Lateral hydrological connectivity (LHC) plays an especially critical role in shaping aquatic community organization in river-floodplain systems. However, a comprehensive understanding of various trait responses to LHC remains elusive. We characterized how attributes of fish community traits, specifically composition, divergence, and temporal variability respond to LHC in the Austrian-Hungarian floodplains of the Danube River using environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding. Trait composition was quantified by community-level weighted means (CWM) as the degree of changes in trait responses along the LHC gradient from isolated oxbows to the main river. Divergence was measured using Rao’s quadratic functional diversity index and a null model approach to calculate standardized effect sizes (SES), with larger SES values indicating greater divergence and smaller values indicating convergence. Temporal variability, representing the degree of instability in community traits over time, was calculated using a functional beta diversity measure for multiple communities. Our findings revealed apparent compositional changes for many trait variables, highlighting the significance of LHC in shaping community functional diversity. Divergence patterns indicated that isolated habitats foster trait convergence presumably due to habitat filtering, whereas more connected areas promote trait divergence due to higher species richness and habitat availability. Temporal variability of traits associated with flow preference exhibited a hump-shaped relationship with LHC, suggesting intermediate connectivity zones are hotspots of ecological dynamism. The study suggests that examining composition, divergence, and temporal variability together provides a more complete understanding of trait responses to connectivity, stressing the importance of maintaining diverse connectivity levels in river-floodplain systems for effective conservation and ecosystem management.

Pupillary responses to directional uncertainty while intercepting a moving target.

Pupillary responses serve as sensitive indicators of cognitive processes, attentional shifts and decision-making dynamics. Our study investigates how directional uncertainty and target speed (V T) influence pupillary responses in a foveal tracking task involving the interception of a moving dot. Directional uncertainty, reflecting the unpredictability of the target's direction changes, was manipulated by altering the angular range (AR) from which random directions for the moving dot were extracted. Higher AR values were associated with reduced pupillary diameters, indicating that heightened uncertainty led to smaller pupil sizes. Additionally, an inverse U-shaped relationship between V T and pupillary responses suggested maximal diameters at intermediate speeds. Analysis of saccade-triggered responses showed a negative correlation between pupil diameter and directional uncertainty. Dynamic linear modelling revealed the influence of past successful collisions and other behavioural parameters on pupillary responses, emphasizing the intricate interaction between task variables and cognitive processing. Our results highlight the dynamic interplay between the directional uncertainty of a single moving target, V T and pupillary responses, with implications for understanding attentional mechanisms, decision-making processes and potential applications in emerging technologies.

Physiological and differential protein expression analyses of the calcium stress response in the Drynaria roosii rhizome

High concentration Ca2+ in karst soil is harmful to agriculture. Some dominant plants can adapt well to karst soil, but how Ca2+ affect plant is unknown. Drynaria roosii is a Ca2+-tolerant fern and its dry rhizome is a common Chinese medicine of Miao nationality in Guizhou, China. This study analyzed the physiological and proteomic characteristics of the rhizome of D. roosii under calcium stress. Physiological results indicated that calcium stress may lead to osmotic stress. Proteomic results showed that 147 differentially expressed proteins (96 increased, 51decreased) were identified under calcium stress, and these proteins involved in signal transduction, protein translation, material transport, antioxidant defense and secondary metabolism. This study will lay a foundation for studying the calcium adaptation mechanism of D. roosii at the molecular level.

Seismic response and correlation analysis of a pile-supported wharf to near-fault pulse-like ground motions

Seismic response and correlation analysis of a pile-supported wharf to near-fault pulse-like ground motions

Genotoxicity of beauvericin

Abstract The European Commission (EC) asked EFSA to assess the genotoxicity of beauvericin (BEA). Relevant information, including that which has become available since the 2014 Scientific Opinion on the risks to human and animal health related to the presence of BEA and enniatins in food and feed, was reviewed. In the previous Opinion the Panel concluded that in vitro genotoxicity data were equivocal and there were no in vivo genotoxicity data available. New in vitro studies in mammalian cell lines provided no convincing evidence for induction of chromosomal damage by BEA as measured by micronucleus and chromosome aberration tests or an increase of DNA strand breaks as assessed by the Comet assay. In these studies, no concentration‐dependent effects or potential for interference from associated cytotoxicity were observed. In addition, DNA double‐strand breaks as measured by γ‐H2AX analysis were only observed following exposure to highly cytotoxic BEA concentrations. In vivo studies (Comet and Pig‐a assays, micronucleus test) with BEA were negative. In vitro gene expression studies showed no indication of a DNA damage response and (quantitative) structure activity relationship analysis was also not indicative of genotoxic potential. Some effects of BEA might play an indirect role in the formation of DNA strand breaks. These include increased reactive oxygen species, induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, associated with interference in mitochondrial function and cell signalling. There was no compelling evidence of inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects. Taken together, the available data indicate that BEA is devoid of genotoxic potential.

Current summer heat waves impair rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) spermatogenesis: Implications for future fish farming management practices in South Europe

Freshwater environments provide different ecosystem services for human well-being, and are one of the most important natural sources of healthy animal protein. Climate change and extreme temperature events, among other factors, represent a growing concern for their sustainable use. In contrast to the research effort to elucidate how global warming affects these aquatic environments, few studies pay attention to the potential effects of heat waves, a current phenomenon with direct effects on contemporaneous organisms. Here, the potential effects of a single heat wave event on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) males, mimicking a recorded environmental event, have been evaluated by means of biometric, redox and stress response, plasma testosterone, histopathology and transcriptomic analyses. Environmental monitoring showed how, during the last 4 years, mean water temperature increased (2–4 °C; from April to October), heat wave duration progressively increased (from 15 to 100 days), and mean intensities ranged 1.7–3.8 °C with a maximum of 8.0 °C. An experimentally recreated heat wave lasting only 16 days, with mean and maximum intensities of 2.7 and 6.7 °C, induced a decrease in body weight and total antioxidant status, but increased blood plasma cortisol levels and redox enzyme activity. The induced heat wave decreased testosterone plasma levels and sperm quality, arrested spermatocyte type I and II differentiation and increased spermatozoa apoptosis. These effects were correlated with a differential expression of 1156 genes (116 up- and 1040 down-regulated genes) in exposed fish when compared to Control fish, reflecting an alteration in cell apoptosis and spermatozoa maturation processes. These results not only increase concern about current heat wave events, recreating a real scenario, but also unveil for the first time the particular molecular mechanisms of subsequent spermatogenesis disruption, opening new avenues for designing urgent and necessary strategies to mitigate the effects of extreme climate change conditions on freshwater aquaculture.

Efficiency-aware machine-learning driven design of solar harvester for renewable energy application

Although MIM structures have been studied for solar thermal applications for decades, the multilayer MI-MIM structure is the subject of this study's investigation for batter absorption. In order to identify an effective solar absorber, two configurations Gold-MgF2-Gold (GMGSA) and Gold-MgF2-Gold-MgF2-Gold (GMGMGSA) are examined in this work. By using machine learning approaches, this research was able to get an MSE of 2.8091 x 10-5 and an R2 value of 0.998836. The optical response and parameter optimization analysis have been examined in this work in the wavelength range of 0.4 μm to 1.6 μm. When exposed to AM 1.5 spectrum radiation, the GMGMGSA absorbs 93.10% of the radiation, compared to 88.30% for the single-layer GMGSA. Furthermore, both structures show steady absorption that is independent of polarization up to a 70° incidence angle. The aforementioned discoveries render the structure a plausible contender for solar thermal uses, including battery-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV), commercial solar power (CSP), and solar water heating. This might lead to a future where energy is more sustainably produced.

Matched Comparison Examining the Effect of Obesity on Clinical, Economic, and Humanistic Outcomes in Patients with BipolarI Disorder.

BipolarI disorder (BD-I) is associated with an increased risk of obesity, but few studies have evaluated the real-world clinical, humanistic, and economic effects associated with obesity in people with BD-I. This was a retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of responses to the 2016 and 2020 National Health and Wellness surveys. Respondents (18-64years) with a self-reported physician diagnosis of BD-I were matched to controls without BD-I based on demographic and health characteristics. Respondents were categorized by body mass index as underweight/normal weight (< 25kg/m2), overweight (25 to < 30kg/m2), or obese (≥ 30kg/m2). Multivariable regression models were used to compare obesity-related comorbidities, healthcare resource utilization (HCRU), health-related quality of life (HRQoL), work productivity, and indirect and direct costs. Before matching, the BD-I cohort was younger than the non-BD-I cohort and included more female and white respondents and a greater proportion covered by Medicaid or Medicare. After matching, the BD-I and non-BD-I cohorts had similar characteristics. A total of 5418 respondents (BD-I, n = 1806; matched controls, n = 3612) were analyzed. Obese respondents with BD-I reported the highest adjusted prevalences of high blood pressure (50%), high cholesterol (35%), sleep apnea (27%), osteoarthritis (17%), type2 diabetes (12%), and liver disease (4%). Obesity in respondents with BD-I was associated with the lowest HRQoL scores. Measures of work impairment were highest in respondents with BD-I and obesity, as was HCRU. Respondents with BD-I and obesity had the highest associated total indirect and direct medical costs ($25,849 and $44,482, respectively). Obese respondents with BD-I had greater frequencies of obesity-related comorbidities, higher HCRU, lower HRQoL, greater work impairments, and higher indirect and direct medical costs. These findings highlight the real-world burden of obesity in people with BD-I and the importance of considering treatments that may reduce this burden.

Smeared fixed crack model for quasi-static and dynamic biaxial flexural response analysis of aluminosilicate glass plates

Glass materials are extensively used in load-bearing structures and impact-resistant components because of their distinctive physical and chemical properties. Accurate predictions and assessment of the mechanical responses of glass structures are crucial for structural design and reliability analysis. In this study, quasi-static and dynamic ball-on-ring (BOR) biaxial flexural tests are conducted on aluminosilicate glass. The smeared fixed crack model is calibrated for deformation and failure analyses. First, the model parameters are calibrated carefully, particularly for different failure criteria. Both the deformation field and fracture modes agree well with the experimental observations during the quasi-static tests. For the low-velocity impact biaxial flexural loading condition, three different numerical techniques, namely the initial scaling tensile strength criterion, non-local approach with energy criterion, and rate-dependent failure stress criterion, are implemented in the numerical models for dynamic failure analysis. Finally, the proposed smeared fixed crack model is compared with the widely used Johnson Holmquist Ⅱ (JH-2) model and demonstrates advantages for low-velocity impact response analysis of glass structures.

Seismic response of deep soft soil sites with varying shear wave velocities

The variations in seismic response between deep soft soil sites with different shear wave velocities were not fully understood. This study focuses on the seismic response of deep soft soil sites in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, China. A nonlinear dynamic finite element model was developed for two representative deep soft soil sites with borehole profiles and the shear wave velocity tested by the single borehole method. Two nonlinear cyclic constitutive models are used and thus compared through the site seismic response. To accurately calibrate the nonlinear cyclic model parameters, resonant column tests were conducted on 21 soil samples collected from the two boreholes. The results show that the peak ground acceleration (PGA) under low-frequency (Liuan) input motion was higher for soft soil sites compared to that under medium- and high-frequency (Kobe and Nahanni) input motions. The PGA amplification factor for deep soft soil sites under different input motions can be approximated by an exponential function. The peak ground acceleration tends to be lower as the equivalent shear wave velocity (Vse) decreases. The shapes of the spectral acceleration were similar for the two sites, despite a substantial difference in the Vse between them. Additionally, a crossover point was observed in the spectral acceleration for the two sites. The period corresponding to this crossover point increased with increasing intensity of input motions, indicating that the sites became softer with higher intensity and thus generally exhibited a longer characteristic period of the spectral acceleration. This paper also highlights the significance of selecting nonlinear constitutive models and the precise calibration of model parameters in the seismic response analysis of deep soft soil sites, providing a scientific basis for future similar site analyses.

A new discrepancy for sample generation in stochastic response analyses of aerospace problems with uncertain parameters

Good distribution of samples and weights can improve the computational accuracy and efficiency in the stochastic response analyses of aerospace problems with uncertain parameters. This work proposes a new generalized L2 discrepancy based on a general point (GL2D-GP) for generating samples and their corresponding weights. The proposed GL2D-GP is an extension of the existing discrepancy by introducing the non-same weights and a smaller box to measure probability errors. Minimizing the GL2D-GP can yield a weight optimization formula that generates a set of optimal non-identical weights for a given sample set. Through minimizing the GL2D-GP assigned to the set of optimal non-same weights, a new sample and weight generation method is developed. In the proposed method, the samples can be easily generated in terms of the generalized Halton formula with a series of optimal permutation vectors which are found by the intelligent evolutionary algorithm. Once the sample set is obtained, the optimal weights can be generated in terms of the weight optimization formula. Five numerical examples are presented to verify the high accuracy, efficiency, and strong robustness of the proposed sample generation method based on GL2D-GP.

The dependence structures between geopolitical risks and energy prices: New evidence from regional heterogeneity and quantile-on-quantile perspective

We construct GPR indices for six major regions and select three categories of energy markets. Utilizing a quantile-on-quantile connectedness approach and impulse response analysis, we investigate the changing patterns of connectedness between these variables under different levels of GPRs and various energy market conditions. Furthermore, we explore the intensity, direction, and duration of GPRs impacts on energy markets. Our findings reveal that the total connectedness tends to be minimal at intermediate quantiles (50 %)—approximately 20%—increasing significantly toward both higher (95 %) and lower quantiles (5 %), with an enhancement of approximately 125 %–250 %. The maximum total connectedness between GPRs and Oil, Coal, and Gas is 87.2 %, 90.9 %, and 86.5 %, respectively. Connectedness during periods of extremely high GPRs percentile (95 %) is 30 % greater compared to low quantiles (5 %). The impact of GPRs on Oil typically lasts about 3–5 months, with a shorter duration of around 3 months for Gas and a longer duration of approximately 5 months for Coal, which can be prolonged by major events. Our conclusions underscore the importance for policymakers and traders to monitor the evolving patterns of connectedness between GPRs and energy markets under changing conditions, ensuring comprehensive risk awareness and robust trading decisions.

Dynamic Response Analyses and Experimental Research into Deep-Sea Mining Systems Based on Flexible Risers

Dynamic Response Analyses and Experimental Research into Deep-Sea Mining Systems Based on Flexible Risers

Analysis of Biological Stress Response as the Impact of Workplace Bullying on Performance Perception

This study aims to determine the extent to which workplace bullying is related to employees' performance perception at health centers and its impact on biological stress. The research was conducted on all employees at eight health centers in Regency X, randomly selected. Workplace bullying was measured using the Negative Acts Questionnaire Revised (NAQ-R), translated into Indonesian. Performance perception was measured using the Performance Perception Questionnaire. Biological stress was assessed through cortisol levels in saliva. Among the 240 participants, the majority (60%) rarely experienced workplace bullying, with an average score of 41.00 (SD=6.532). Most participants (67.1%) had a high perception of performance, with an average score of 67.12 (SD=9.747). Pearson's test results showed a value of 0.038 with a coefficient of -0.207, indicating a significant correlation between workplace bullying and performance perception. The findings also indicate that biological stress levels, measured through cortisol, correlate with lower performance perceptions. Workplace bullying contributes 4.285% to performance perception. This study provides preliminary evidence that workplace bullying can affect employee performance through biological stress mechanisms, highlighting the importance of interventions to reduce workplace bullying to improve employee well-being and performance

Pan-genome analysis of GT64 gene family and expression response to Verticillium wilt in cotton

BackgroundThe GT64 subfamily, belonging to the glycosyltransferase family, plays a critical function in plant adaptation to stress conditions and the modulation of plant growth, development, and organogenesis processes. However, a comprehensive identification and systematic analysis of GT64 in cotton are still lacking.ResultsThis study used bioinformatics techniques to conduct a detailed investigation on the GT64 gene family members of eight cotton species for the first time. A total of 39 GT64 genes were detected, which could be classified into five subfamilies according to the phylogenetic tree. Among them, six genes were found in upland cotton. Furthermore, investigated the precise chromosomal positions of these genes and visually represented their gene structure details. Moreover, forecasted cis-regulatory elements in GhGT64s and ascertained the duplication type of the GT64 in the eight cotton species. Evaluation of the Ka/Ks ratio for similar gene pairs among the eight cotton species provided insights into the selective pressures acting on these homologous genes. Additionally, analyzed the expression profiles of the GT64 gene family. Overexpressing GhGT64_4 in tobacco improved its disease resistance. Subsequently, VIGS experiments conducted in cotton demonstrated reduced disease resistance upon silencing of the GhGT64_4, may indicate its involvement in affecting lignin and jasmonic acid biosynthesis pathways, thus impacting cotton resistance. Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) revealed an early immune response against Verticillium dahliae in G. barbadense compared to G. hirsutum. Quantitative Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis indicated that some GT64 genes might play a role under various biotic and abiotic stress conditions.ConclusionsThese discoveries enhance our knowledge of GT64 family members and lay the groundwork for future investigations into the disease resistance mechanisms of this gene in cotton.

Comparative Analysis of Kinetic Responses and Injury Risk During Landing from 45 cm Height: A Study of Barefoot vs. Sports Shoes Conditions

Jumping and landing biomechanics are closely related to the risk of acute injury due to prolonged exposure to high-ground reaction forces in basketball-like sports, which can lead to lower-limb musculoskeletal injuries in the hip, knee, and ankle. Footwear greatly impacts jumping mechanics, but going barefoot provides a unique perspective on how the human body interacts with the ground. This study aims to find out the kinetic responses during drop landing from 45 cm height with and without sports shoe conditions. Twenty-five healthy young adults were volunteers for this study. Kinetic parameters were recorded and processed by using Quattro Jump force plat and Mars Quarter performance analysis software. Data were presented as mean ± SD values and statistical analysis was performed using statistical software package SPSS-26. The drop landing data of with and without shoe shows scattered parameters with maximum forces of 4706.12N and 5393.04N at 45 cm height, indicating a 66% and 75% risk of metatarsal injury. The stabilization force was 632.64N and 623.64N at 45 cm, reached at 0.58s and 0.66s respectively. Time from Max Force to MFBS Regression analysis indicated a low R-squared value and a random fit plot. In barefoot (without shoe) conditions, the initial contact force, and maximum force were 85.71% and 13.60% higher (250N and 5393.04N respectively) compared to landing with shoes (100N and 4706.12N). However, the stabilization force was higher (632.64N) when landing with shoes compared to landing barefoot (623.64N). As a result, the risk of musculoskeletal injuries and joint stress was higher when landing barefoot due to the higher initial contact force and maximum force. On the other hand, landing with shoes enhances balance and stability due to the higher stabilization force.