Semipartial Correlation Research Articles

Exploring the Relationships Among Social Support, Patient Activation, and Pain-Related Outcomes.

Social support has been linked to more effective pain adaptation. The relationship between social support and other relevant constructs is less well understood. Chief among these is patient activation, which has robust links to effective self-management, yet has not been well studied in chronic pain. We sought to better understand these relationships in an effort to inform future intervention strategies for patients with chronic pain. Using baseline data from a clinical trial with patients with chronic pain (N = 213), we analyzed the relationships among perceived social support and patient activation, depression, anxiety, general health perceptions, pain centrality, pain catastrophizing, and pain intensity and interference. Multiple linear regression was used to examine the effect of social support on outcomes. Patient activation was explored as a mediator of the effect of social support on outcomes. Social support was significantly associated with all outcomes except pain. Social support explained the greatest variance in patient activation (squared semi-partial correlation = 0.081), followed by depression (0.073) and general health perceptions (0.072). Patient activation was not found to be a significant mediator of the effect of social support on pain-related outcomes. These findings provide insight into the roles of patient activation and social support in chronic pain management. Although patient activation did not mediate the relationship between social support and outcomes, this study is an important step toward gaining a more complete understanding of constructs thought to be related to pain self-management and points to the need to advance theory in this area to guide future research. Such work is needed to optimize interventions for patients with chronic pain.

Effects of Euterpe edulis Martius on inflammatory responses to high-intensity intermittent exercise: Crossover randomized trial

ObjectiveHigh-intensity intermittent exercise (HIIE) may enhance the antiinflammatory status. The juçara fruit juice (JFJ) has well-established antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties. This study investigated the effect of JFJ consumption on the inflammatory response to HIIE in physically active subjects. MethodsIn a randomized crossover design, 15 men were assigned to drink 250 mL of either JFJ or water (control) 1 h before a cycling HIIE session (seven sets of 60 s at 100% peak power output; 75 s recovery between sets). Blood samples were obtained before and at 0, 30, and 60 min post-HIIE, and the serum was analyzed for interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, IL-8, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor–α, and cortisol. ResultsAfter HIIE, the IL-6 levels were higher than baseline (percent change) at 30 min (P = 0.041) and 60 min (P = 0.038) for the control, but were unaffected by JFJ. IL-10 was higher in the JFJ group than in the control at 30 min (d = ‒0.63). Tumor necrosis factor–α was lower than baseline at 30 min for the control (d = ‒0.71) and at 60 min for the JFJ group (d = ‒0.60). For control, cortisol increased to higher than the baseline at 30 and 60 min (d = 0.54 and d = 0.76, respectively). For the JFJ group, the cortisol levels were significantly higher than the baseline at 30 min (P = 0.022). Performance during sprints was higher in the JFJ group than in the control (P = 0.002). In the control group, performance was with both IL-6 (semipartial correlation; sr = −0.59, large effect size) and cortisol at 0 h (sr = −0.52, large effect size). ConclusionsJFJ intake attenuated the antiinflammatory response to HIIE, possibly resulting from a lower degree of muscle stress.

Predictors of change in BMI over 10 years among midlife and older adults: Associations with gender, CVD risk status, depressive symptoms, and social support

RationaleChange in BMI is recognized as a key health indicator among midlife and older adults, though predictors of BMI change in this group have received little attention. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to examine relations between hypothesized predictors (i.e., gender, cardiovascular disease [CVD] risk status, depressive symptoms, social support) and BMI change over 10 years, among midlife and older adults. MethodsParticipants were adults ages 50–74 at baseline (N = 5,688, 64% women) who completed four assessments over 10 years. Gender, CVD risk status (i.e., diagnosis of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, or both), depressive symptoms, and perceived social support were assessed at baseline, and BMI was calculated from height and weight reports at all assessments. Multilevel models tested for concurrent and prospective relations between predictors and BMI change (effect size estimates as semipartial correlation coefficients, sr), as well as whether observed relations were further moderated by baseline BMI category (underweight, healthy weight, overweight, or obese). ResultsBaseline BMI was higher among those with (vs. without) CVD risk, higher (vs. lower) depressive symptoms, and lower (vs. higher) social support; all of these relations were moderated by gender (ps < 0.05, srs 0.03–0.32). Moreover, BMI showed significant change over 10 years, and BMI variability during this time was higher among women (vs. men) and those with (vs. without) CVD risk (ps < 0.0001). BMI change also differed by CVD risk status, and this relation was moderated by gender, baseline depressive symptoms, and baseline BMI category (ps < 0.05, srs 0.03–0.08). ConclusionsAlthough the predictors of interest were not associated with steady BMI decreases (which are associated with long term health risks for older adults), findings reveal unique patterns of change in BMI among subgroups of midlife and older adults, and may allow for early identification of those with noteworthy BMI changes after age 50.

Yeni Sosyal Baskınlık Yönelimi Ölçeği’nin (SBY7 ) Türkçeye Uyarlanması

Social dominance orientation (SDO) represents an individual tendency to support already existing hierarchical social structures. Recent research has indicated that this phenomenon has a two-factor structure: SDO-Dominance (SDO-D) and SDO-Egalitarianism (SDO-E). The aim of this study is to adapt the New Social Dominance Orientation Scale (SDO7 ), developed by Ho et al. (2015), to measure the two-factor structure of SDO for the Turkish context. For this purpose, SDO7 was applied to 730 participants (222 men, 507 women and one missing) from two different samples. Additionally, an Ambivalent Sexism Scale, General System Justification Scale (sample-1), Gender Related System Justification Scale (sample-2) and a Short Question Form (which was created to determine participants’ levels of support for social welfare, income justice, and war) were also applied. Results of confirmatory factor analysis support a four-factor structure that contains both substantive and methodological items. The results for construct validity showed that SDO, SDO-D, and SDO-E were positively correlated with benevolent and hostile sexism and general system justification (sample-1), and gender related system justification (sample-2). Furthermore, in order to test construct validity the semi-partial correlations between SDO-D and criterion variables and those between SDO-E and criterion variables were compared. Results indicated that, only 3 of the 12 different semi-partial correlation comparisons were significant. These results implied that SDO-D and SDO-E were not consistently different in terms of their relations with the criterion variables measured for this study. Therefore, the results of this study indicate that SDO7 has a four-factor structure that contains both substantive and methodological dimensions of social dominance orientation in Turkey. However, theoretically SDO-E and SDO-D are not clearly separated from one another. Thus, SDO7 can be used as a one-factor scale which includes different aspects of social dominance orientation in Turkey.

A simplified approach to bias estimation for correlations

Abstract Objectives We introduce a simple and unified methodology to estimate the bias of Pearson correlation coefficients, partial correlation coefficients, and semi-partial correlation coefficients. Methods Our methodology features non-parametric bootstrapping and can accommodate small sample data without making any distributional assumptions. Results Two examples with R code are provided to illustrate the computation. Conclusions The computation strategy is easy to implement and remains the same, be it Pearson correlation or partial or semi-partial correlation.

Cross-regional variations of Covid-19 mortality in Italy: an ecological study.

BackgroundDisparities in cross-regional coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) mortality remain poorly understood. The association between pre-epidemic health and epidemic mortality can inform a policy response to future outbreaks.MethodWe conducted an ecological study of the association between the cumulative deaths attributed to Covid-19 epidemic in the 20 Italian regions and nine determinants of population health derived from a systematic review of the literature. We used a multiple least square regression to predict the cross-regional variation in mortality observed from the onset of the epidemic to 23 September 2020.ResultsFour independent variables best explained the cross-regional differences in the number of deaths attributed to Covid-19: the force of infection, population density, number of elderly living in assisted facilities and the standard rate of diabetes. The semi-partial correlation coefficients suggest that the force of infection and the number of elderly residents in nursing homes were the dominant predictors of the number of deaths attributed to Covid-19. Statistical controls and validation confirmed the generalizability of the predictive model.ConclusionsOur findings indicate that a significant reduction of social contacts in main metropolitan areas and the timely isolation of elderly and diabetic residents could significantly reduce the death toll of the next wave of Covid-19 infection in Italy.

Body mass and hibernation microclimate may predict bat susceptibility to white-nose syndrome.

In multihost disease systems, differences in mortality between species may reflect variation in host physiology, morphology, and behavior. In systems where the pathogen can persist in the environment, microclimate conditions, and the adaptation of the host to these conditions, may also impact mortality. White‐nose syndrome (WNS) is an emerging disease of hibernating bats caused by an environmentally persistent fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans. We assessed the effects of body mass, torpid metabolic rate, evaporative water loss, and hibernaculum temperature and water vapor deficit on predicted overwinter survival of bats infected by P. destructans. We used a hibernation energetics model in an individual‐based model framework to predict the probability of survival of nine bat species at eight sampling sites across North America. The model predicts time until fat exhaustion as a function of species‐specific host characteristics, hibernaculum microclimate, and fungal growth. We fit a linear model to determine relationships with each variable and predicted survival and semipartial correlation coefficients to determine the major drivers in variation in bat survival. We found host body mass and hibernaculum water vapor deficit explained over half of the variation in survival with WNS across species. As previous work on the interplay between host and pathogen physiology and the environment has focused on species with narrow microclimate preferences, our view on this relationship is limited. Our results highlight some key predictors of interspecific survival among western bat species and provide a framework to assess impacts of WNS as the fungus continues to spread into western North America.

The relationship between personality facets and burnout

Orientation: Many studies have investigated the relationship between the five-factor model of personality and burnout. However, relationships between the facets of these five factors and burnout remain relatively unexplored. Research purpose: This study set out to investigate the relationship between the five-factor facets and burnout using more appropriate variance decomposition than simply using zero-order correlation coefficients. Motivation for the study: Investigating the relationship between personality facets and burnout can provide a complete understanding of the role of personality in possible development of burnout. Most studies that have investigated these relationships have relied on zero-order correlation coefficients. Research approach/design and method: A cross-sectional survey research design was used. The Basic Traits Inventory and Maslach Burnout Inventory – General Survey were administered to a sample of 127 working adults. Zero-order correlation coefficients, semi-partial correlation coefficients and bifactor modelling were used to investigate the relationship. Main findings: Several of the personality facets showed statistically significant correlations with burnout over and above their respective factors. In some instances, these correlation coefficients were in opposite directions to their factor. Practical/managerial implications: Our results provide a more complete investigation of the relationship between personality and burnout. They suggest that there might be value to consider both the five-factor personality factors and their respective facets in burnout interventions and preventative measures, as well as for a better understanding of the relationship between personality and burnout. Contribution/value-add: The results add some support to the argument that personality facets should be interpreted in addition to their respective factor scores. There might also be value to add personality facets as possible antecedents in models on the development of burnout.

A Decade of Social Media Influence on Foot and Ankle Literature

Category:Ankle; Ankle Arthritis; Arthroscopy; Basic Sciences/Biologics; Bunion; Diabetes; Hindfoot; Lesser Toes; Midfoot/Forefoot; Sports; Trauma; OtherIntroduction/Purpose:The topics, articles and discussions that arise within Foot and Ankle Orthopaedic literature are increasingly determined by their presence on social media outlets. The influence of social media mentions on Foot and Ankle Orthopaedic literature has not yet been investigated. The primary purpose of this study is to identify the social media outlets that were most associated with the Altmetric attention score (AAS). The secondary aim is to characterize the top 100 most highly cited articles within Foot and Ankle literature with the top 100 scoring Altmetric articles.Methods:We conducted a query of the Altmetric database for all journal titles containing the words ‘Foot’ and ‘Ankle.’ In accordance with other investigations, articles were only included after 2010, since this was beginning of academic social media participation. We assessed the frequency and percent of articles by journal, collecting variables including impact factor, AAS, along with average mentions within news, blogs, policy, patents, Twitter, peer review, Weibo, Facebook, Wikipedia, Google+, LinkedIn, Reddit, Pinterest, F1000, Q&A, online video, Syllabi, and traditional metrics such as number of Mendeley readers and citations (Table 1). We used a Spearman, semi-partial, and partial correlation test to detect the association between AAS and media outlet mentions, Mendeley readers or Dimensions citations. Finally, we ranked one article list with the 100 most popular articles on social media and one with the 100 most cited articles. Articles were examined for overlap, topic, article type, and level of evidence.Results:Our search returned 4,365 articles. Foot and Ankle International had the highest frequency of articles, though the Journal of Foot and Ankle Research had the highest AAS (Table 1). News and Twitter mentions had the greatest association with AAS. The top study designs for the AAS articles were prospective (n=35), retrospective (n=25), and systematic reviews (n=17), compared to the most highly cited articles which had retrospective (n=32), review (n=31), and observational studies (n=26) (p<0.001). When examining the top 100 highest AAS scoring articles with the 100 most cited, there was only one article in both groups. Compared to the most highly cited articles, the highest ranked AAS articles had a better average level of evidence (Cited: 3.4 vs. AAS: 2.9, p=0.001).Conclusion:Twitter and mentions within news are the most correlated with AAS. Although traditional metrics for article influence often reference an article’s citation count, attaining social media relevance is becoming more important than before. There is currently very little overlap among the most highly cited and the most mentioned articles on social media. Future research is needed to address whether citation counts or social media presence have more influence on actual clinical practice.

Ocular Biometric Determinants of Anterior Chamber Angle Width in Chinese Americans: The Chinese American Eye Study

We sought to investigate anatomic mechanisms of angle narrowing by assessing ocular biometric determinants of anterior chamber angle width. Population-based cross-sectional study. Subjects ≥50 years of age from the Chinese American Eye Study underwent a comprehensive ocular examination, including anterior segment optical coherence tomography imaging and ultrasound A-scan. Independent variables, including anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens vault (LV), iris curvature (IC), anterior chamber width, lens thickness, vitreous cavity depth, and axial length, and dependent variables, including angle opening distance, were measured in 1 randomly selected eye per subject. Univariable and multivariable regression models with standardized regression coefficients (SRCs) and semipartial correlation coefficients squares (SPCC2) were used to assess relative and unique contributions by independent variables to angle width. Two thousand two hundred twenty-five subjects (1433 women and 834 men) were included in the analysis. All biometric parameters except lens thickness differed between men and women (age-adjusted P < .001). In model 1A (R2= 0.66), which included ACD, lens thickness, and vitreous cavity depth, ACD (SRC= 0.64, SPCC2= 0.19) and IC (SRC=-0.26, SPCC2= 0.041) were the strongest determinants of angle opening distance. In model 1B (R2= 0.58), which included LV and axial length, LV (SRC=-0.46, SPCC2= 0.1) and IC (SRC=-0.3, SPCC2= 0.047) were the strongest determinants of angle opening distance. Determinants of angle width were similar in separate multivariable models for men and women. ACD, LV, and IC are the strongest determinants of angle width in Chinese Americans. Sex-related differences in angle width are explained by differences among biometric measurements. These results provide insights into anatomic mechanisms of angle narrowing and have important implications for quantitative assessments of angle closure eyes.

Expanded Demographic Norms for Version 3 of the Alzheimer Disease Centers' Neuropsychological Test Battery in the Uniform Data Set.

Norms for the Uniform Data Set Version 3 Neuropsychological Battery are available for cognitively normal individuals based on age, education, and sex; however, these norms do not include race. We provide expanded norms for African Americans and whites. Data from 32 Alzheimer's Disease Centers (ADCs) and ADC affiliated cohorts with global Clinical Dementia Rating Scale (CDR) Dementia Staging Instrument scores of 0 were included. Descriptive statistics for each test were calculated by age, sex, race, and education. Multiple linear regressions were conducted to estimate the effect of each demographic variable; squared semipartial correlation coefficients measured the relative importance of variables. There were 8313 participants (16% African American) with complete demographic information, ranging from 6600 to 7885 depending on the test. Lower scores were found for older and less educated groups, and African Americans versus whites. Education was the strongest predictor for most tests, followed in order by age, race, and sex. Quadratic terms were significant for age and education, indicating some nonlinearity, but did not substantially increase R. Although race-based norms represent incomplete proxies for other sociocultural variables, the appropriate application of these norms is important given the potential to improve diagnostic accuracy and to reduce misclassification bias in cognitive disorders of aging such as Alzheimer disease.

Suppression and enhancement in multiple linear regression: A viewpoint from the perspective of a semipartial correlation coefficient

For a linear regression model with two-predictor variables, the effects of the correlation between the two predictors on estimated standardized regression coefficients and have been well studied. However, the role the correlation plays may sometimes be overstated, such that confusion and misconceptions may arise. In this article, we revisit the issue from the perspective of a semipartial correlation coefficient. We find that by taking this perspective we are not only able to reach the same conclusions while avoiding those misunderstandings, we are also able to gain more insight. In addition, we also take a geometrical approach to illustrate how estimated standardized regression coefficients and behave as the correlation varies. Geometrical displays provide readers with a way to visualize the behavior changes and to understand the reasons behind those changes more easily. Although we focus mainly on two predictors in this article, the conclusions can be easily extended to a general k-predictor case.

Pounding Analysis of Isolated Girder Bridge under Nonpulse and Pulse-Like Earthquakes

Pounding damages are frequently encountered in concrete continuous girder bridges during strong earthquakes. In the evaluation of pounding responses, the simplified lumped mass model with the contact element are usually adopted. However, the pounding responses calculated based on the simplified model are often significantly different from the real results, because the simplified model fails to consider the details of pounding processes and ignores concrete damage. In addition, the seismic parameters (e.g., peak ground acceleration, peak ground velocity) affects the pounding responses greatly. To further enhance the aforementioned considerations, this study presents the longitudinal pounding analysis of an isolated continuous girder bridge subjected to the unidirectional ground motions based on a multiscale simulation scheme. The pounding between the bridge and side abutments was simulated with a contact algorithm, and the concrete damages were considered. Thirty-three nonpulse and thirty-three pulse-like real ground motions were selected as seismic excitations to investigate the effects of seismic properties on pounding responses. Two pounding patterns were recognized and found to be related to the V-shaped velocity segment of the seismic input. Correlation coefficient and semipartial correlation coefficient were used to analyze the relationship between the seismic parameters and corresponding pounding responses.

Periodontal inflamed surface area in patients on haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis: a Croatian cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe decision to initiate dialysis treatment via haemodialysis (HD) or peritoneal dialysis (PD) often involves the consideration of complex factors and remains a matter of debate. The purpose of this study was to quantify the inflammatory burden that periodontitis causes in dialysis patients and to examine whether patients on PD and HD differ in terms of the periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA), which can be helpful for selecting the most appropriate dialysis modality.MethodsA cross-sectional study was performed on 58 consecutive patients on HD and 31 consecutive patients on PD. PISA was calculated using measurements of the clinical attachment level, recession and bleeding on probing. We performed the primary analysis using multivariable robust regression.ResultsPatients on PD had a 746 mm2 (93%) lower mean PISA than patients on HD after adjustment for 20 possible confounders, including the duration of dialysis. The type of dialysis was independently correlated with the PISA (semipartial correlation: − 0.50; p = 0.017; false discovery rate < 5%). After adjusting for confounding factors, the correlation between the duration and type of dialysis was not significant (F (2,44) = 0.01; p = 0.994; η2 = 0.00). Differences in the PISA between patients who had undergone dialysis for less than a year, 2–3 years or ≥ 3 years were not significantly different in either of the two dialysis groups.ConclusionsPISA levels in Croatian patients on dialysis indicate a high need for periodontal treatment. PD is associated with a smaller PISA independent of many sociodemographic, lifestyle, laboratory and clinical factors. The duration of dialysis does not influence PISA levels.Trial registrationISRCTN17887630.A clinical study to investigate gum infection in patients undergoing kidney dialysis.

Maternal Pregnancy Diet Quality Is Directly Associated with Autonomic Nervous System Function in 6-Month-Old Offspring

Many pregnant women are consuming diets of poor overall quality. Although many studies have linked poor prenatal diet quality to an increased risk of specific diseases in offspring, it is not known if exposure to poor prenatal diet affects core neurophysiological regulatory systems in offspring known to lie upstream of multiple diseases. We aimed to examine the association between prenatal diet quality and autonomic nervous system (ANS) function in infants at 6 mo of age. Data from 400 women (aged >18 y, with uncomplicated pregnancies) and their infants participating in the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals-Infant Development cohort were used to investigate links between prenatal diet quality and infant ANS function at 6 mo of age. Prenatal diet quality was assessed using the Healthy Eating Index (2010), calculated from a validated FFQ completed by women during the first trimester. Infant ANS function was measured using 2 assessments of heart rate variability (HRV) including root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) and SD of N-N intervals (SDNN). Associations were analyzed before and after adjustment for socioeconomic status, maternal depression symptoms, maternal cardiometabolic dysfunction, breastfeeding, and prenatal smoking. Poorer prenatal diet quality was associated with lower infant HRV assessed using RMSSD (B: 0.07; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.13; R2=0.013) and SDNN (B: 0.18; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.35; R2=0.011). These associations remained significant after adjustment for confounding variables [RMSSD: B: 0.09; 95% CI: 0.003, 0.18; squared semipartial correlation (sp2)=0.14 and SDNN B: 0.24; 95% CI: 0.0, 0.49; sp2=0.13]. In a large cohort study, poorer prenatal diet quality was associated with lower offspring HRV, a marker of decreased capacity of the ANS to respond adaptively to challenge. Therefore, poor prenatal diet may play a significant role in the programming of multiple organ systems and could increase general susceptibility to disease in offspring.

Relating anthropometric indicators to brain structure in 2-month-old Bangladeshi infants growing up in poverty: A pilot study

Anthropometric indicators, including stunting, underweight, and wasting, have previously been associated with poor neurocognitive outcomes. This link may exist because malnutrition and infection, which are known to affect height and weight, also impact brain structure according to animal models. However, a relationship between anthropometric indicators and brain structural measures has not been tested yet, perhaps because stunting, underweight, and wasting are uncommon in higher-resource settings. Further, with diminished anthropometric growth prevalent in low-resource settings, where biological and psychosocial hazards are most severe, one might expect additional links between measures of poverty, anthropometry, and brain structure. To begin to examine these relationships, we conducted an MRI study in 2-3-month-old infants growing up in the extremely impoverished urban setting of Dhaka, Bangladesh. The sample size was relatively small because the challenges of investigating infant brain structure in a low-resource setting needed to be realized and resolved before introducing a larger cohort. Initially, fifty-four infants underwent T1 sequences using 3T MRI, and resulting structural images were segmented into gray and white matter maps, which were carefully evaluated for accurate tissue labeling by a pediatric neuroradiologist. Gray and white matter volumes from 29 infants (79 ​± ​10 days-of-age; F/M ​= ​12/17), whose segmentations were of relatively high quality, were submitted to semi-partial correlation analyses with stunting, underweight, and wasting, which were measured using height-for-age (HAZ), weight-for-age (WAZ), and weight-for-height (WHZ) scores. Positive semi-partial correlations (after adjusting for chronological age and sex and correcting for multiple comparisons) were observed between white matter volume and HAZ and WAZ; however, WHZ was not correlated with any measure of brain volume. No associations were observed between income-to-needs or maternal education and brain volumetric measures, suggesting that measures of poverty were not associated with total brain tissue volume in this sample. Overall, these results provide the first link between diminished anthropometric growth and white matter volume in infancy. Challenges of conducting a developmental neuroimaging study in a low-resource country are also described.

The basics of determining the coefficients of a linear correlation

The aim of the paper is to present the basic measures related to the analysis of relationships between quantitative variables used in econometric modelling and their selected applications. The following measures are discussed: the Pearson correlation coefficient, the multivariate correlation coefficient, coefficient of determination, partial correlation coefficient and semi-partial correlation coefficient. A homogeneous approach is applied to the measures presented. Each is defined as a linear correlation coefficient of relevant vectors derived from regression equations. Additionally, mutual relations between the coefficients are described. Bordered matrices have been applied to the calculations, which significantly simplified the process, while the Statistica 13.3 PL program was used to verify the correctness of the calculations. The issue is illustrated in the model of regression of salary growth in Poland in the years 2001–2019 with four covariates, estimated using the least squares method.

Performance of Ratio of Standardized Regression Slope to Semi-Partial Correlation in Identifying Ill-Conditioned Model

Performance of Ratio of Standardized Regression Slope to Semi-Partial Correlation in Identifying Ill-Conditioned Model

Artificial structure density predicts fouling community diversity on settlement panels

Invasions of fouling organisms that colonize artificial structures are modifying coastal environments. Our goal was to assess harbor conditions including dissolved copper pollution, position in relation to open coast, temperature, and artificial structure density (substrate for fouling) as determinants of macroinvertebrate recruitment. Settlement panels were deployed over a gradient of human coastal modification (28 sites in California and 2 in southern Australia). Non-indigenous macroinvertebrates dominated panel cover (overall by six-fold compared to indigenous taxa). Marinas and sites of heavy shipping showed high macroinvertebrate diversity, contrasting with open-coast sites of lower human impact [Santa Catalina Island (SCI) and one mainland coastal site] where there was low macroinvertebrate fouling. At two SCI sites with low vessel traffic, invertebrates that were rare on exposed panels were more common in a protected space between plastic strips indicating larvae amount does not completely explain low invertebrate diversity, suggesting a contributing role of predators or larval recruitment pattern. While dissolved copper levels correlated strongly with artificial structure measured at the water surface, the pollution gradient was not supported as a driver of macroinvertebrate diversity in semi-partial analysis. Density of artificial structure was supported as a better predictor of macroinvertebrate diversity, including separately analyzed non-indigenous and indigenous groups, than dissolved copper, distance from open coast or temperature variation in semi-partial correlation analysis. An artificial structure density measure may therefore increase power in predicting abundance of fouling organisms and could be useful in moderating the influence of non-indigenous species.

The Relationship between Macular Vessel Density and Thickness with Light Sensitivity in Myopic Eyes

ABSTRACTPurpose: To investigate vasculature-function and structure-function relationship in healthy myopic eyes using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A), optical coherence tomography (OCT) and microperimetry (MAIA).Methods: A total of 370 eyes from 190 participants were enrolled in this study. Subjects divided into three groups based on refractive status: low myopia (LM) (−3.00D ≤ spherical equivalent, SE ≤ −0.50D), moderate myopia (MM) (−6.00D ≤ SE < −3.00D) and high myopia (HM) (SE < −6.00D). The vessel density (VD), retinal thickness (RT) and light sensitivity (LS) were evaluated using OCT-A, OCT and MAIA. The global and regional vasculature-function and structure-function relationship were evaluated by the semi-partial correlation analysis according to ETDRS grid. The uni- and multivariate linear regression models were performed using LS as the dependent variable and covariates, included age, gender, intraocular pressure (IOP), axial length (AL), SE, ganglion cell complex thickness (GCCT), superficial (SVD) and deep vessel density (DVD) and RT as independent variables.Results: The LS negatively correlated with AL and positively correlated with SE, DVD, RT and GCCT (P < .05). The DVD was associated with the corresponding LS only in temporal and nasal sectors in HM (sr: 0.182–0.195, P < .05) but SVD not at all. The RT was associated with the corresponding LS in inferior and nasal sectors in MM (sr: 0.221–0.281, P < .005) and all sectors in HM (sr: 0.187–0.229, P < .05). Lower DVD and RT were independently associated with the declined LS in myopic eyes (P < .05).Conclusions: Reduced DVD and RT were independently associated with the declined LS in healthy myopic eyes, especially in HM.