Significant Fixed Effect Research Articles

The Influence of Perspective on Perception: Assessing Residue Across Planes of Videofluoroscopy.

(1) To determine whether perception of pharyngeal residue severity differs by view plane on videofluoroscopy. (2) To explore whether the Bolus Clearance Ratio (BCR) can be reliably applied in the anterior-posterior (AP) plane. (3) To investigate the relationship between perception of residue severity and BCR measures across view planes. Images of the same bolus condition in lateral and AP were rated using a simple 5-point ordinal descriptive scale (none, trace, mild, moderate, severe) by 225 speech-language pathologists via electronic survey. BCR measures were obtained for the same set of images from four trained raters. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests and cumulative mixed modeling were used to compare ratings by plane. BCR reliability was calculated using intraclass correlation coefficients. Perceptual ratings were compared with BCR measures using Spearman correlations. (1) Perception of residue severity was not consistent across plane in 9/10 image pairs (p < 0.05), with a significant fixed effect of plane on severity rating (β = 0.41; z = 7.27; p < 0.001). The directionality of differences varied by case. (2) Inter-rater reliability for BCR measures was good across lateral (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.82) and AP (ICC = 0.87) planes, with superior intra-rater reliability in AP (lateral ICC = 0.85; AP ICC = 0.98). (3) There was a strong positive correlation between perceptual ratings and BCR measures in both planes. Perception of pharyngeal residue severity differs between lateral and AP planes with inconsistent directionality raising important questions about the clinical implications of single plane studies. The BCR shows good-excellent reliability and strong correlation with perception across planes, offering a promising method for cross-plane quantification. Level III, diagnostic study with a gold standard Laryngoscope, 2024.

White matter integrity and motor function: a link between cerebral myelination and longitudinal changes in gait speed in aging.

Gait speed is a robust health biomarker in older adults, correlating with the risk of physical and cognitive impairments, including dementia. Myelination plays a crucial role in neurotransmission and consequently affects various functions, yet the connection between myelination and motor functions such as gait speed is not well understood. Understanding this link could offer insights into diagnosing and treating neurodegenerative diseases that impair mobility. This study analyzed 437 longitudinal observations from 138 cognitively unimpaired adults, aged 22 to 94years, to investigate the relationship between myelin content and changes in gait speed over an average of 6.42years. Myelin content was quantified using a novel multicomponent magnetic resonance relaxometry method, and both usual and rapid gait speeds (UGS, RGS) were measured following standard protocols. Adjusting for covariates, we found a significant fixed effect of myelin content on UGS and RGS. Longitudinally, lower myelin content was linked to a greater decline in UGS, particularly in brain regions associated with motor planning. These results suggest that changes in UGS may serve as a reliable marker of neurodegeneration, particularly in cognitively unimpaired adults. Interestingly, the relationship between myelin content and changes in RGS was only observed in a limited number of brain regions, although the reason for such local susceptibility remains unknown. These findings enhance our understanding of the critical role of myelination in gait performance in unimpaired adults and provide evidence of the interconnection between myelin content and motor functionimpairment.

FACTORS AFFECTING INDONESIAN PADDY HARVEST FAILURE: A COMPARISON OF BETA REGRESSION, QUASI-BINOMIAL REGRESSION, AND BETA MIXED MODELS

The Paddy harvest failure rate is one of the key aspects in determining the total number of claims in a crop insurance policy. It is also an important factor indicating the fulfillment of targeted total production. Therefore, we proposed Beta Regression, Quasi Binomial Regression, and Beta Mixed Models which can be used to analyze significant variables affecting paddy harvest failure rates. Model selection and evaluations indicated that the Nested Beta Mixed Model is the best. Previous research has shown four significant fixed effect variables: drought, flood, pests, and disease risks. Pests and other types of risks also affect the variability of loss rate. All variables have positive effects, indicating higher values cause a higher possibility of a higher average harvest failure rate. High variability was shown for province, municipality, and farmers' random effects. Hence, to prevent a more significant loss rate, MoA should consider more intensive and innovative participatory activities in farmer groups to enhance good farming practices, especially for farmers who suffer from certain risks. These activities should also consider the local characteristics of each province or municipality. As for AUTP development and improvement, farmers with lower failure risks could be given a discounted premium to make it more appealing.

O89 POOLED, LONG-TERM ANALYSIS OF THE GLOBAL SYMPLICITY CLINICAL TRIAL PROGRAM OF RADIOFREQUENCY RENAL DENERVATION FOR THE TREATMENT OF UNCONTROLLED HYPERTENSION

Background/Objective: The Global Symplicity Clinical program is the largest investigation of radiofrequency renal denervation (RDN) to treat uncontrolled hypertension (HTN) to date. Over 4,000 patients enrolled into Spyral First-in-Man, Global SYMPLICITY Registry DEFINE, and multiple randomized, controlled and sham controlled trials including HTN-Japan, Symplicity HTN-3, SPYRAL HTN-OFF and -ON MED studies. We leveraged the entire Symplicity Global Clinical program dataset to develop a multivariate, patient-level, mixed model assessing (1) long-term BP reductions after RDN, and (2) whether specific patient characteristics correlate with future BP reductions after the procedure. Methods: Repeated BP measurements from each patient in the Global Symplicity Clinical program were analyzed using linear mixed models fitted with 24-h ambulatory systolic (S)BP and office SBP as outcome variables. Baseline SBP, baseline number of antihypertensive (AH) medications, and AH medications over time were included as fixed effects. Additional patient characteristics were included as potential significant fixed effects. To account for multiple BP measurements per patient and multiple studies, nested random effects were included using an auto-regressive correlation structure. Results: Data from 4156 patients treated with either the first-generation Symplicity Flex or the next-generation Symplicity Spyral catheter. Estimated, office and 24-h ambulatory SBP changes through 36 months, after adjusting for AH medication effects, were biphasic with a steep reduction after RDN through the first 6 months (Figure), followed by a steady reduction in SBP afterward through 36 months. Higher baseline SBP was correlated with greater BP reductions. AF history (-3.7 mmHg compared to no AF, p=0.0048) and increasing eGFR at baseline (-0.039 mmHg for every 1 ml/min increase in baseline eGFR, p=0.040) significantly correlated with lower 24-h ambulatory SBP. Conclusion: This is the most comprehensive analysis of radiofrequency RDN to date. Higher baseline SBP was strongly correlated with greater BP reductions. The results demonstrate the durability of RDN as an adjunctive therapy to treat HTN. Prospective studies need to validate whether certain patient characteristics are associated with improved response to RDN.

A Study on the Impact of Environmental Factors on Chub Mackerel Scomber japonicus Fishing Grounds Based on a Linear Mixed Model

Chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) is a commercially important fish species which are widely distributed in the North Pacific. Based on the fishery data from China’s high-sea light-purse seine fishing from 2014 to 2020 and the marine environment factors, a mixed linear model considering the actual spatiotemporal stratification of the catch per unit effort (CPUE) was established to analyze the fixed and random effects of marine environmental factors on the CPUE of chub mackerel and to investigate the relationship between the abundance of chub mackerel resources in the Northwest Pacific and two marine environmental factors: sea surface temperature (SST) and chlorophyll-a concentration (CHL). The results showed that SST had a significant fixed effect on the CPUE. In contrast, the natural logarithm of chlorophyll (logCHL) had no fixed effect on the CPUE. Based on the monthly analysis, random fluctuations were observed in the impact of logCHL on the CPUE. LogCHL and CPUE show a positive correlation during spawning and wintering periods and a negative correlation during the feeding period. The study showed that when fishery sampling data exhibit spatiotemporal stratification, linear mixed models can effectively incorporate both the fixed and random effects of environmental factors on the CPUE of chub mackerel. Linear mixed models can play an important role in analyzing the fluctuations in resource abundance and the mechanisms governing the formation of fishing grounds for chub mackerel in the Northwest Pacific.

Evaluating the Efficacy of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Symptom Relief and Cognitive Function in Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder, Substance Use Disorder, and Depression: An Insight from a Naturalistic Observational Study

The utilization of non-invasive neurostimulation techniques, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), is increasingly prevalent in psychiatry due to their efficacy and safety. Although the precise therapeutic mechanisms remain partially unclear, repetitive TMS, particularly high-frequency stimulation, may enhance cognitive functions, contributing to therapeutic benefits. This within-subjects study examined the impact of TMS on cognitive and symptomatic outcomes in patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), substance use disorder (SUD), and major depressive disorder (MDD). A total of 44 patients underwent cognitive tests and symptom assessments before and after an intensive four-week TMS treatment phase, followed by a four-week maintenance phase. Cognitive assessments included Raven’s matrices, verbal fluency, and digit span tests, while symptom severity was measured using the Italian version of the SCL-90-R. Decision-making performance was also evaluated by administering a delay discounting (DD) test. Principal component analysis was used to generate a dimensional characterization of subjects along cognitive and symptom-related axes before and after treatment. The results indicated that TMS significantly improved symptom scores, but no significant cognitive enhancement was observed. Statistical analysis based on linear mixed-effects models confirmed these findings, showing a significant fixed effect of TMS treatment on symptoms but not on cognitive performance. DD metrics remained unchanged. These findings suggest that while TMS effectively alleviates clinical symptoms, it does not produce consistent or appreciable enhancement of cognitive functions in these protocols. This study highlights the need for more personalized and combined therapeutic approaches to maximize the benefits of TMS, potentially incorporating cognitive enhancement strategies. Future studies will be useful to explore whether the results we obtained are valid for other pathologies, cognitive tests, and stimulation protocols.

In Vivo Correlation Between Macular Pigment Optical Volume and Retinal Layers Thickness.

This study aims to investigate the potential in vivo relationship between macular pigment (MP) and retinal layers thickness in healthy subjects and dry, non-advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD). An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted. Healthy subjects >40years and patients with early or intermediate AMD were recruited. Structural OCT and macular pigment optical volume (MPOV) were collected for each subject. Retinal layers parameters were calculated based on the standard early treatment diabetic retinopathy study (ETDRS) map. Additionally, MPOV within 1°, 2°, and 9° of eccentricity was assessed and associated with retinal layers thickness and volume. Linear mixed-effects models were used to test the relationship between MP and structural OCT parameters, while adjusting for known possible confounding factors. A total of 144 eyes of 91 subjects (60.4% females) were evaluated, comprising 43% normal eyes and 57% with early/intermediate AMD. Among the retinal layers, only the outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness and volume appeared to be associated to higher MP levels. Specifically, the central ONL thickness was identified as a significant predictor of the MPOV 1°(P = 0.04), while the parafoveal ONL thickness (inner ETDRS subfield) was identified as a significant fixed effect on the MPOV 9° (P = 0.037). Age and the presence of drusen or subretinal drusenoid deposits were also tested without showing significant correlations. Among the retinal layers examined, only the ONL thickness demonstrated a significant association with MPOV. Consequently, ONL thickness might serve as a potential biomarker related to MP levels.

Retrospective investigation of improvements in functional vision for adolescent students with cerebral vision impairments in a specialist residential school and college setting

Cerebral and/or cortical vision impairment (CVI) is the leading cause of childhood vision impairment in the Global North. Previous studies have demonstrated that the functional vision of children with CVI can develop over time, but evidence for the effectiveness of interventions is still in its infancy. In this study, we retrospectively reviewed student records from a specialist residential school and college in the United Kingdom that had implemented an evidence-based approach to assessment and intervention for adolescent students with CVI called the CVI Range. The outcome of CVI Range assessments were recorded annually over a 5-year period, and potential predictor variables such as measures of visual acuity and presence of conditions such as cerebral palsy and seizure disorders were recorded as part of standard practice within the service. A total of 73 annual assessments were analysed from a total of 24 students between the ages of 9 and 25 years old. We used a mixed model for repeated measures approach to reveal a significant fixed effect of time on functional vision that equated to a linear increase of 0.78, 95% CI [0.60, 0.97] in CVI Range Rating 2 for each year of participation on the programme. The mixed effects models also revealed significant interindividual differences in functional vision, which could be partly explained by a significant negative effect of acuity and by a joint positive effect of nystagmus and time, but not by age. These findings demonstrated that significant improvements in functional vision are still possible for students with CVI long after the accepted sensitive period of neuroplasticity in the visual cortex. Further studies incorporating research designs appropriate for evaluating complex interventions are required to determine which individual and contextual characteristics are valid and reliable predictors of improvements in functional vision for young people with CVI.

One minute of stair climbing and descending reduces postprandial insulin and glucose with three-minutes improving insulin resistance following a mixed meal in young adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Glycemic markers, including postprandial glucose, insulin, and insulin sensitivity, are strong predictors of morbidity and mortality in individuals with and without diabetes. Stair-climbing and -descending (SCD) at a comfortable pace for as little as 1 to 3 minutes after a sugary beverage (300 kilocalories; 100% carbohydrate) improves glucose and insulin, with insulin sensitivity improving with as little as 10 minutes. Objective: To determine if benefits to glucose, insulin, and insulin sensitivity are seen with SCD following consumption of a meal with mixed macronutrients. Hypothesis: SCD will improve to glucose, insulin, and insulin sensitivity in a dose response manner following a mixed meal. Methods: In a randomized, controlled, crossover trial, young adults (N=31) in apparent good health performed SCD for 0, 1, 3, and 10 minutes after a mixed meal (650 kilocalories; 53% carbohydrates, 33% fat, and 14% protein). Differences in glucose, insulin, and insulin sensitivity (ISI) from baseline to 30 minutes were analyzed using a mixed-effects ANOVA. Results: A significant fixed-effect was found for change in glucose [F(2.551,67.17)=4.724, p=.0071)], insulin [F(2.692,74.49)=11.28, p&lt;.0001)], and ISI [F(2.127,56.00)=5.848, p=.0042)]. Compared to control, changes in glucose (mean (95%CI)) were significantly lower after 1 min (-14 (-7 to -21) mg/dL, p=.0006), 3 min (-18 (-9 to -28) mg/dL, p=.0007), and 10 min (-10.0 (-1 to -20) mg/dL, p=.0387); changes in insulin were significantly lower after 1 min (-1.8 (-0.8 to -2.8) μIU/mL, p=.0011), 3 min (-2.8 (-1.7 to -4.0) μIU/mL, p&lt;.0001), and 10 min (-1.1 (-0.1 to -2.0) μIU/mL, p=.0329); and changes in ISI were significantly higher after 3 min (2.4 (1.2 to 3.6), p=.0003) and 10 min (1.3 (0.3 to 2.4), p=.0143) but not 1 min (1.2 (0.0 to 2.5), p=.0587). Conclusion: Postprandial glucose and insulin were improved with as little as 1 minute, and insulin resistance improved with as little as 3 minutes, of SCD at a self-selected, comfortable pace, after consumption of a mixed meal in apparently healthy young adults. None. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

POOLED, LONG-TERM ANALYSIS OF THE GLOBAL SYMPLICITY CLINICAL TRIAL PROGRAM OF RADIOFREQUENCY RENAL DENERVATION FOR THE TREATMENT OF UNCONTROLLED HYPERTENSION

Objective: The Global Symplicity Clinical program is the largest investigation of radiofrequency renal denervation (RDN) to treat uncontrolled hypertension (HTN) to date. Collectively, over 4,000 patients enrolled into Spyral First-in-Man, the Global SYMPLICITY Registry (GSR) DEFINE, and multiple randomized controlled and sham controlled trials including HTN-Japan, Symplicity HTN-3, and the SPYRAL HTN-OFF and ON MED studies. We leveraged the entire Symplicity Global Clinical program patient dataset to develop a multivariate, patient-level, mixed model assessing (1) long-term BP reductions after RDN, and (2) whether specific patient characteristics correlate with future BP reductions after the procedure. Design and method: Repeated BP measurements from each patient in the Global Symplicity Clinical program were analyzed using linear mixed models fitted with 24-h ambulatory systolic (S)BP and office SBP as outcome variables. Baseline SBP, baseline number of antihypertensive (AH) medications, and AH medications over time were included as fixed effects. Additional patient characteristics were included as potential significant fixed effects. To account for multiple BP measurements per patient and multiple studies, nested random effects were included using an auto-regressive correlation structure. Results: The mixed model included data from 4156 patients treated with either the first-generation Symplicity Flex or the next-generation Symplicity Spyral catheter. Estimated, office and 24-h ambulatory SBP changes through 36 months, after adjusting for AH medication effects, were biphasic with a steep reduction after RDN through the first 6 months (Figure), followed by a steady reduction in SBP afterward through 36 months. Higher baseline SBP was correlated with greater BP reductions. History of AF (-3.7 mmHg compared to no AF, p=0.0048) and increasing eGFR at baseline (-0.039 mmHg for every 1 ml/min increase in baseline eGFR, p=0.040) significantly correlated with lower 24-h ambulatory SBP. Conclusions: This is the most comprehensive analysis of radiofrequency RDN to date. Higher baseline SBP was strongly correlated with greater BP reductions. The results demonstrate the durability of RDN as an adjunctive therapy to treat HTN patients. Prospective studies need to validate whether certain patient characteristics are associated with improved response to RDN.

Lactation performance, feed efficiency, and blood metabolites of dairy cows treated with recombinant bovine somatotropin: A systematic review and meta-analysis

A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to assess the impact of recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST) on lactation performance, feed efficiency, and blood metabolites in dairy cows. In the systematic review, articles were selected based on the following criteria: (1) Data focusing on the influence of bovine somatotropin doses on milk production; (2) Submission of original data; (3) Articles published in journals; and (4) Articles in English or Portuguese. The analysis of variance was used with a completely randomized design and mixed models methodology. Polynomial regression was applied to significant fixed effects (rbST dose). The use of rbST resulted in increased milk yield and 4% fat-corrected milk yield, while fat, protein, and lactose contents remained unaffected. Dry matter and metabolizable energy intakes, as well as milk/feed efficiency, exhibited a linear increase, but body condition score (BCS) was negatively impacted. The administration of rbST led to higher blood concentrations of triglycerides and insulin. Cows treated with rbST showed a 23% increase in non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations compared to non-treated cows. Additionally, growth factors IGF-1 and IGF-2 displayed a linear increase with rbST treatment. In summary, rbST administration increased milk yield and fat-corrected milk yield without affecting milk components. However, despite increasing intake, it resulted in BCS losses and alterations in blood parameters such as NEFA, IGF-1, and IGF-2.

Corticospinal and spinal responses following a single session of lower limb motor skill and resistance training.

Prior studies suggest resistance exercise as a potential form of motor learning due to task-specific corticospinal responses observed in single sessions of motor skill and resistance training. While existing literature primarily focuses on upper limb muscles, revealing a task-dependent nature in eliciting corticospinal responses, our aim was to investigate such responses after a single session of lower limb motor skill and resistance training. Twelve participants engaged in a visuomotor force tracking task, self-paced knee extensions, and a control task. Corticospinal, spinal, and neuromuscular responses were measured using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS). Assessments occurred at baseline, immediately post, and at 30-min intervals over two hours. Force steadiness significantly improved in the visuomotor task (P < 0.001). Significant fixed-effects emerged between conditions for corticospinal excitability, corticospinal inhibition, and spinal excitability (all P < 0.001). Lower limb motor skill training resulted in a greater corticospinal excitability compared to resistance training (mean difference [MD] = 35%, P < 0.001) and control (MD; 37%, P < 0.001). Motor skill training resulted in a lower corticospinal inhibition compared to control (MD; - 10%, P < 0.001) and resistance training (MD; - 9%, P < 0.001). Spinal excitability was lower following motor skill training compared to control (MD; - 28%, P < 0.001). No significant fixed effect of Time or Time*Condition interactions were observed. Our findings highlight task-dependent corticospinal responses in lower limb motor skill training, offering insights for neurorehabilitation program design.

Flexible multi-step hypothesis testing of human ECoG data using cluster-based permutation tests with GLMEs

BackgroundTime series analysis is critical for understanding brain signals and their relationship to behavior and cognition. Cluster-based permutation tests (CBPT) are commonly used to analyze a variety of electrophysiological signals including EEG, MEG, ECoG, and sEEG data without a priori assumptions about specific temporal effects. However, two major limitations of CBPT include the inability to directly analyze experiments with multiple fixed effects and the inability to account for random effects (e.g. variability across subjects). Here, we propose a flexible multi-step hypothesis testing strategy using CBPT with Linear Mixed Effects Models (LMEs) and Generalized Linear Mixed Effects Models (GLMEs) that can be applied to a wide range of experimental designs and data types. MethodsWe first evaluate the statistical robustness of LMEs and GLMEs using simulated data distributions. Second, we apply a multi-step hypothesis testing strategy to analyze ERPs and broadband power signals extracted from human ECoG recordings collected during a simple image viewing experiment with image category and novelty as fixed effects. Third, we assess the statistical power differences between analyzing signals with CBPT using LMEs compared to CBPT using separate t-tests run on each fixed effect through simulations that emulate broadband power signals. Finally, we apply CBPT using GLMEs to high-gamma burst data to demonstrate the extension of the proposed method to the analysis of nonlinear data. ResultsFirst, we found that LMEs and GLMEs are robust statistical models. In simple simulations LMEs produced highly congruent results with other appropriately applied linear statistical models, but LMEs outperformed many linear statistical models in the analysis of “suboptimal” data and maintained power better than analyzing individual fixed effects with separate t-tests. GLMEs also performed similarly to other nonlinear statistical models. Second, in real world human ECoG data, LMEs performed at least as well as separate t-tests when applied to predefined time windows or when used in conjunction with CBPT. Additionally, fixed effects time courses extracted with CBPT using LMEs from group-level models of pseudo-populations replicated latency effects found in individual category-selective channels. Third, analysis of simulated broadband power signals demonstrated that CBPT using LMEs was superior to CBPT using separate t-tests in identifying time windows with significant fixed effects especially for small effect sizes. Lastly, the analysis of high-gamma burst data using CBPT with GLMEs produced results consistent with CBPT using LMEs applied to broadband power data. ConclusionsWe propose a general approach for statistical analysis of electrophysiological data using CBPT in conjunction with LMEs and GLMEs. We demonstrate that this method is robust for experiments with multiple fixed effects and applicable to the analysis of linear and nonlinear data. Our methodology maximizes the statistical power available in a dataset across multiple experimental variables while accounting for hierarchical random effects and controlling FWER across fixed effects. This approach substantially improves power leading to better reproducibility. Additionally, CBPT using LMEs and GLMEs can be used to analyze individual channels or pseudo-population data for the comparison of functional or anatomical groups of data.

Methylation of the Oxytocin, Oxytocin Receptor, and Vasopressin Gene Promoters in Tobacco Use Disorder during Cessation

Introduction: Vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OT) exert sex-specific effects on social pair bonding and stress reactions while also influencing craving in substance use disorders. In this regard, intranasal oxytocin (OT) and AVP antagonists present potential treatments for tobacco use disorder (TUD). Since transcription of both hormones is also regulated by gene methylation, we hypothesized sex-specific changes in methylation levels of the AVP, OT, and OT receptor (OXTR) gene during nicotine withdrawal. Methods: The study population consisted of 49 smokers (29 males, 20 females) and 51 healthy non-smokers (25 males, 26 females). Blood was drawn at day 1, day 7, and day 14 of smoking cessation. Craving was assessed with the questionnaire on smoking urges (QSU). Results: Throughout cessation, mean methylation of the OT promoter gene increased in males and decreased in females. OXTR receptor methylation decreased in females, while in males it was significantly lower at day 7. Regarding the AVP promoter, mean methylation increased in males while there were no changes in females. Using mixed linear modeling, CpG position, time point, sex, and the interaction of time point and sex as well as time point, sex, and QSU had a significant fixed effect on OT and AVP gene methylation. The interaction effect suggests that sex, time point, and QSU are interrelated, meaning that, depending on the sex, methylation could be different at different time points and vice versa. There was no significant effect of QSU on mean OXTR methylation. Discussion: We identified differences at specific CpGs between controls and smokers in OT and AVP and in overall methylation of the AVP gene. Furthermore, we found sex-specific changes in mean methylation levels of the mentioned genes throughout smoking cessation, underlining the relevance of sex in the OT and vasopressin system. This is the first study on epigenetic regulation of the OT promoter in TUD. Our results have implications for research on the utility of the AVP and OT system for treating substance craving. Future studies on both targets need to analyze their effect in the context of sex, social factors, and gene regulation.

Estimation of Carcass Trait Characteristics, Proportions, and Their Correlation with Preslaughter Body Weight in Indigenous Chickens in Southeastern Ethiopia

This study aimed to estimate carcass trait characteristics, proportions, and their correlation with the preslaughter body weight of indigenous chickens in Southeastern Ethiopia. Data from 42 healthy male chickens were collected and analyzed using SAS 2012 ver. 9.4, R software ver.4.3.1, and MetaboAnalyst 5.0. The results indicated significant fixed effect of districts on dressed carcass weight, drumsticks, thighs, wings, and gizzard between Goba and Agarfa chickens (p &lt; 0.05). The fixed effect of age and the district–age interaction effect were not significant. Principal component analysis revealed that PC1, accounting for 96.8% of the total variation between Goba and Agarfa chickens, was contributed by preslaughter and dressed carcass weight. Among the carcass components, the key contributors to differentiation between the Goba and Agarfa indigenous chicken carcass yields were the drumstick, thigh, breast (with/without keel bone), and back with thoracic weight (VIP &gt; 1); there was a higher yield in Goba chickens. Preslaughter weight exhibited stronger correlations with most other traits, while dressing percentages displayed a negative correlation with various carcass components and edible giblet yields across the study districts. This study provides useful insights into carcass component characteristics and yields of indigenous Ethiopian chickens, which can increase our understanding of carcass components and their relationships with other qualities for improvement and further studies on poultry production.

Patient-specific computational models of retinal prostheses

Retinal prostheses stimulate inner retinal neurons to create visual perception for blind patients. Implanted arrays have many small electrodes. Not all electrodes induce perception at the same stimulus amplitude, requiring clinicians to manually establish a visual perception threshold for each one. Phosphenes created by single-electrode stimuli can also vary in shape, size, and brightness. Computational models provide a tool to predict inter-electrode variability and automate device programming. In this study, we created statistical and patient-specific field-cable models to investigate inter-electrode variability across seven epiretinal prosthesis users. Our statistical analysis revealed that retinal thickness beneath the electrode correlated with perceptual threshold, with a significant fixed effect across participants. Electrode-retina distance and electrode impedance also correlated with perceptual threshold for some participants, but these effects varied by individual. We developed a novel method to construct patient-specific field-cable models from optical coherence tomography images. Predictions with these models significantly correlated with perceptual threshold for 80% of participants. Additionally, we demonstrated that patient-specific field-cable models could predict retinal activity and phosphene size. These computational models could be beneficial for determining optimal stimulation settings in silico, circumventing the trial-and-error testing of a large parameter space in clinic.

Unmet needs and the effect of healthcare system generosity on prevention activity – A multilevel analysis

IntroductionMaintaining a healthy lifestyle and obtaining preventive care (hereafter, prevention-activity) usually have an inverse association with poverty status and unmet needs. We seek to estimate the extent to which the effect of individual unmet needs status on prevention-activity is moderated by the generosity of the healthcare system. Materials and methodsTwo datasets were combined: Pre-Covid Wave-8 (2019–2020) of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE, Release 8.0.0), with 46,500 individuals aged 50+ from 27 countries (26 European countries and Israel) and 12 healthcare generosity variables obtained from the OECD Health Statistics Library. An econometric two-level model was used in three sequentially models. Outcome variables included five prevention-activities align over a continuum (sports, smoking, flu vaccinations, mammography, and colon cancer screening) and unmet needs status, defined as the lack of resources necessary to meet basic human and medical needs. ResultsWe found that unmet needs at the individual level had a significant negative fixed effect in all of the prevention-activity models including a healthy lifestyle, primary prevention and secondary prevention. Sources of intra-country variation were social/public insurance, health expenditure and number of nurses, which have had a significant and positive effect on an individual's prevention-activities (except years of smoking). Nonetheless, the gaps in generous countries between people reporting on unmet need and others were larger or similar to those in less generous countries, suggesting that disparities increase with the generosity of the health system. ConclusionsThe study provides insight into the effect of health system generosity on socioeconomic inequalities in healthy lifestyle and prevention care. Our findings suggest that the state has an important and decisive role to play in ensuring that prevention services are accessible to the entire population, particularly those reporting unmet needs.

Factors affecting nutritional quality in terms of the fatty acid composition of Cyprinion macrostomus

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different factors (season, gender, location, total lipid, weight and length) on the fatty acid composition and nutritional quality of Cyprinion macrostomus. The results were evaluated through PERMANOVA, principal coordinates (PCO), and cluster analysis for similarity ranges. An analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) was performed on the distance matrix using multiple permutations within a significant fixed effect (p &lt; 0.05). C18:1ω9, EPA and DHA were the most important fatty acids which had an effect on the nutritional quality in all the factor groups. Total lipid amount, season and length factors were the most influential on the fatty acid compositions of C. macrostomus. Summer and Spring were the best the periods for the good nutritional quality of C. macrostomus in terms of AI (Atherogenicity index), TI (Thrombogenicity index) and h/H (Σhypocholesterolemic/Σhypercholesterolemic fatty acid index). In addition, station, gender and weight had no effect on nutritional quality. The study indicated that C. macrostomus is a potential fish meat for human nutrition with high nutritional value in terms of fatty acid composition.

Abstract 1979: Examining stereotype perceptions of colorectal cancer in the Latino community

Abstract Purpose: Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening is significantly lower in the Hispanic community compared to non-Hispanic whites. Qualitative research has suggested that cultural attitudes towards cancer may be a potential barrier to screening. The purpose of the study was to quantitatively examine explicit stereotypes about CRC and CRC screening within the Hispanic community using the stereotype content model. Methods: A one-time online cross-sectional survey was administered to individuals self-identifying as Hispanic living across the United States. Based on participant preference, the survey was completed in English or Spanish. In counterbalanced order, participants were asked to read brief paragraphs about a control target, a target with CRC, and a target undergoing colonoscopy CRC screening. The target was a Hispanic individual assigned a gender-neutral name. Other than the one sentence with CRC-related information in the CRC and CRC screening paragraphs, all the paragraphs were identical describing the individual, their family, and their hobbies. After each paragraph, participants were asked to rate the target on validated surveys assessing warmth and competence, two indicators of explicit stereotypes. Data was analyzed using linear mixed-effects models, which were fitted to evaluate the effect of each target on warmth and competence, controlling for age, gender, race, Hispanic heritage, cancer exposure, and randomization. Results: The target condition was not statistically significantly associated with the Warmth and Competence outcomes when the models were fitted considering only the main effects. However, in the presence of interactions the condition was associated with the outcomes. Specifically, the analysis yielded a significant fixed effect for the interaction between target condition and participant age, such that younger participants had greater perceptions of warmth [F(2, 511.93)=7.045, p=0.001] and competence [F(2, 522.73)=11.129, p&amp;lt;0.001] towards the target undergoing cancer screening. The analysis also yielded a further significant effect for the interaction between target condition and Hispanic heritage with differences in perceptions of warmth between those born in the USA and participants born in Central and South America or in Europe [(F(2, 520.16)=2.299, p=0.02)]. Conclusion: Findings highlight the importance of understanding the heterogeneity within the Hispanic community when seeking to address stigma towards CRC. First, there are differences in explicit perceptions based on generation, suggesting the need for age-appropriate cancer prevention initiatives. Second, the findings demonstrate the need to account for diverse cultural perspectives of cancer screening based on country of origin. Thus, this research supports the importance of respecting the diversity within the Hispanic community and tailoring cancer prevention interventions accordingly. Citation Format: Bianca Luna-Lupercio, Aidan Foley, Nenette A. Caceres, Ergueen Herrera, Galen Wiens-Cook, Vinicius Calsavara, Zul Surani, Sarah-Jeanne Salvy, Robert Haile, Celina H. Shirazipour. Examining stereotype perceptions of colorectal cancer in the Latino community [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 1979.

Superimposed vibration on suspended push-ups.

Superimposition of vibration has been proposed in sports training using several devices and methods to enhance muscle activation and strength adaptations. Due to the popularity of suspension training, vibration systems have recently been developed to increase the effects of this training method. The present cross-sectional study aims to examine the effects of superimposing vibration on one of the most popular exercises in strength and conditioning programs: push-ups. Twenty-eight physically active men and women executed push-ups in three suspended conditions (non-vibration, vibration at 25 Hz, and vibration at 40 Hz). OMNI-Res scale was registered, and surface electromyographic signals were measured for the activity of the right and left external oblique, anterior deltoid, triceps brachii, sternal, and clavicular heads of the pectoralis major. A linear mixed model indicated a significant fixed effect for vibration at 25 Hz and 40 Hz on muscle activity. Suspended push-ups with superimposed vibration (25 Hz and 40 Hz) showed a significant higher activity on left (25 Hz: p=0.036, d=0.34; 40 Hz: p=0.003, d=0.48) and right external oblique (25 Hz: p=0.004, d=0.36; 40 Hz: p=0.000, d=0.59), anterior deltoid (25 Hz: p=0.032, d=0.44; 40 Hz: p=0.003, d=0.64), and global activity (25 Hz: p=0.000, d=0.55; 40 Hz: p=0.000, d=0.83) compared to non-vibration condition. Moreover, OMNI-Res significant differences were found at 25 Hz (6.04 ± 0.32, p=0.000 d=4.03 CI = 3.27, 4.79) and 40 Hz (6.21 ± 0.36 p=0.00 d=4.29 CI = 3.49, 5.08) compared to the non-vibration condition (4.75 ± 0.32). Superimposing vibration is a feasible strategy to enhance the muscle activity of suspended push-ups.