Statistical Trend Research Articles

Prognostic and diagnostic implications of impaired rest and exercise-stress left atrial compliance in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: Insights from the HFpEF Stress Trial

Abstract Background With emerging therapies, early diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) comes to the fore. Whilst the reference standard of exercise-stress right heart catheterisation is well established, the clinical routine struggles between feasibility of exercise-stress and diagnostic accuracy of available tests. Methods The HFpEF Stress Trial (DZHK-17) prospectively enrolled 75 patients with exertional dyspnoea and echocardiographic signs of diastolic dysfunction (E/e’>8) who underwent simultaneous rest and exercise-stress echocardiography and RHC. HFpEF was defined according to pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (HFpEF: PCWP rest: ≥15mmHg stress: ≥25mmHg). Patients were classified as non-cardiac dyspnoea (NCD) in the absence of HFpEF and cardiovascular disease. LA compliance was defined as reservoir strain (Es)/(E/e’). Follow-up was conducted after 4 years to evaluate cardiovascular hospitalisation (CVH). Results The final study population included 68 patients (HFpEF n=34 and NCD n=34) of which 23 reached the clinical endpoint, 1 Patient was lost to follow-up. Patients with HFpEF according to the HFA-PEFF score (≥5 points) had significantly lower LA compliance at rest (p<0.001) compared to patients with a score ≤4. LA compliance at rest outperformed E/e’ (AUC 0.78 vs 0.87, p=0.024) and showed a statistical trend to outperform Es (AUC 0.79 vs 0.87, p=0.090) for the diagnosis of HFpEF. LA compliance at rest predicted CVH (HR 2.83, 95% CI 1.70-4.74, p<0.001) irrespective of concomitant atrial fibrillation. Conclusions LA compliance at rest can be obtained from clinical routine imaging and bears strong diagnostic and prognostic accuracy. Addition of LA compliance can improve the role of echocardiography as the primary test and gatekeeper.

3D target definition and initial results from the electroanatomic substrate-guided stereotactic ablative radiotherapy for refractory ventricular tachycardia (ELSTAR-VT)

Abstract Background/introduction Noninvasive stereotactic radiotherapy (STAR) is an emerging transmural ablative therapy for refractory ventricular tachycardia (VT). Delineation of the arrhythmogenic gross target volume (GTV) relies on electrical (exit and isthmus) VT characteristics and anatomical scar detailing. 17-AHA segmental approaches or eyeballing techniques are adopted to transfer the GTV to the treatment planning CT. An individualized 3D GTV delineated with ADAS3D based on the areas of interest of each modality could lead to a smaller GTV compared to 17-AHA segmental approaches. Purpose We investigated whether our workflow using ADAS3D for the delineating of the GTV renders smaller GTV compared to 17-AHA segmental approaches whilst remaining effective for VT treatment during follow-up. Methods We targeted 3D-personalized GTV with STAR in patients with refractory VT in structural heart disease. Electroanatomical detailing was achieved by combining high-resolution invasive and noninvasive (ECG imaging during noninvasive programmed stimulation) mapping, combined with wall thickness analyses by cardiac CT. After coregistration in ADAS3D, a 3D DICOM-radiation therapy file including the delineated target volume was generated and transferred into the free-breathing and respiration-corrected 4D CT scan. Standard STAR using a single-fraction of 20-25 Gy was applied. We compared conventional (17-AHA segmental approaches) versus 3D-based GTV demarcation, and assessed VT burden and procedural safety. Results From January 2023 to February 2024 STAR was successfully performed in three patients (all male, mean age 73±1 years, two ischemic cardiomyopathy, one laminopathy) with persistent VT despite ≥2 catheter-based (endocardial/epicardial) ablation procedures. The 3D-derived GTVs showed a statistical trend towards smaller volumes compared to conventional segmental delineation (11±4 versus 21±3 cm3, p=0.07). VT burden and ICD therapy was reduced by 100% over 9 patients-months (8-week blanking period). No acute or subacute adverse events occurred. One patient died of progressive heart failure. Conclusion 3D-individualized target volume annotation may hold promise for effective and safe STAR employment.ELSTAR workflow

Automated digital counselling with social network support for chronic heart failure fails to improve health status but promotes health-related quality of life: ODYSSEE-vCHAT pilot trial

Abstract Background Automated digital counselling programs have the potential to provide a scalable, complementary behavioural intervention to improve clinical outcomes for chronic heart failure (CHF). Purpose The primary hypothesis for this pilot trial was that automated digital counseling with social network support (ODYSSEE-vCHAT) vs. Usual Care would decrease the incidence of all-cause re-hospitalization or ED visits. Secondary outcomes included: minimal clinically important difference for improvement on the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire-Overall Summary (KCCQ-OS), and improvement on ENRICHD Social Support Index (ESSI), Patient Health Questionnaire for Depression (PHQ-9) Godin-Shephard Leisure Time Physical Activity Scale (GSLTPAQ), and Self-Efficacy in Managing Chronic Disease (SEMCD6). Methods This 2-arm, parallel group, single-blind pilot trial randomized patients to ODYSSEE-vCHAT vs. Usual Care. Patients were ≥18 years of age with CHF (reduced ejection fraction [HFrEF] < 40%, mid-range [HFmrEF] 40-49%, or preserved [HFpEF] ≥ 50%). Exclusion was based on inability to participate due to co-morbidities. All-cause hospitalization or ED visit were assessed digitally by hospital administrative data. Questionnaires were administered at baseline and end-of-study (approximately 8 months). The digital counselling protocol aimed to improve CHF self-care, HRQL, and adherence to medications, exercise, diet, and smoke-free living (Figure 1). The primary outcome was assessed using multivariable binary logistic regression. Secondary outcomes were assessed using multivariable linear regression analyses with ethno-racial group as a covariate. Results 61 patients were randomized: ODYSSEE-vCHAT, n = 30 (49%), vs. Usual Care, n = 31 (51%). There were 2 deaths, 3 withdrawals, and 12 patients failed to complete secondary outcome assessments. Sample characteristics included mean age = 59 years (95% Confidence Interval, CI, 30, 76), gender identity as women, n = 23 (38%), ethno-racial group other than White, n = 17, (28%) and CHF with HFrEF, n = 47 (77%), HFmrEF, n = 8 (13%), and HFpEF, n = 4 (7%). Duration of enrollment to trial endpoint: mean = 247 days, (95% CI, 75, 382). Figure 2 indicates that ODYSSEE-vCHAT was not associated with lower incidence of all-cause hospitalization/ED visit: composite index events for Usual Care, n = 8 (28%), ODYSSEE-vCHAT, n = 7 (23%). However, ODYSSEE-vCHAT was associated with greater prevalence of KCCQ-OS change (≥ 5 points), and greater improvement in self-efficacy (SEMCD6) for managing CHF. There was a statistical trend to decreased prevalence of depression. Social support was inversely associated with ODYSSEE-vCHAT. No benefit was observed for physical activity (Figure 2). Conclusions Automated digital counselling with social network support promotes improvement in HRQL indices, but not health status. Findings for this pilot trial support a follow-up phase 2 randomized controlled trial.Digital Counselling ProtocolODYSSEE-vCHAT Outcomes

Psilocybin-assisted neurofeedback for the improvement of executive functions: a randomized semi-naturalistic-lab feasibility study.

Executive function deficits, common in psychiatric disorders, hinder daily activities and may be linked to diminished neural plasticity, affecting treatment and training responsiveness. In this pioneering study, we evaluated the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of psilocybin-assisted frontal-midline theta neurofeedback (NF), a neuromodulation technique leveraging neuroplasticity, to improve executive functions (EFs). Thirty-seven eligible participants were randomized into an experimental group (n = 18) and a passive control group (n = 19). The experimental group underwent three microdose sessions and then three psilocybin-assisted NF sessions, without requiring psychological support, demonstrating the approach's feasibility. NF learning showed a statistical trend for increases in frontal-midline theta from session to session with a large effect size and non-significant but medium effect size dynamical changes within sessions. Placebo effects were consistent across groups, with no tasks-based EF improvements, but significant self-reported gains in daily EFs-working memory, shifting, monitoring and inhibition-showing medium and high effect sizes. The experimental group's significant gains in their key training goals underscored the approach's external relevance. A thorough study with regular sessions and an active control group is crucial to evaluate EFs improvement and their specificity in future. Psilocybin-enhanced NF could offer significant, lasting benefits across diagnoses, improving daily functioning. This article is part of the theme issue 'Neurofeedback: new territories and neurocognitive mechanisms of endogenous neuromodulation'.

Trans-arterial embolization for treatment of acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding-a multicenter analysis.

To assess the technical feasibility, safety, and clinical success rate of trans-arterial embolization (TAE) as an emergency treatment for acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB). Consecutive patients who received urgent TAE due to active LGIB at five academic centers in Germany were retrospectively analyzed. LGIB was confirmed and localized using contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) or endoscopy. Outcome parameters including technical and clinical success rates as well as ischemia-related adverse events were analyzed. Furthermore, treatment-related variables that may affect technical and clinical success were analyzed using a regression model. One hundred and forty-one patients were included. TAE was performed in 91% (128/141) of patients. In 81% (114/141) of patients, TAE was performed due to active bleeding visible at angiography, the remaining 10% (14/141) underwent empiric embolization based on pre-interventional imaging. In 9% (13/141) of patients, no TAE was performed. Microcoils were the most used embolic 48.5% (62/128), followed by glue 23.5% (30/128) and Microparticles (8%; 10/128). In the case of bleeding visible in angiography, the technical success rate was 100% (114/114); the clinical success rate was 93.6% (120/128). Severe ischemia-related adverse events necessitating bowel surgery occurred in 14% (18/128) of all patients after embolization. Thirty-day mortality was 14% (21/141). Regression analysis revealed no significant correlations but a statistical trend toward a higher incidence of bowel resection when glue was used (p = 0.090) and toward a higher 30-day mortality when an unselective embolization was performed (p = 0.057). TAE for LGIB has a high technical and clinical success rate. Severe ischemia-related adverse events necessitating bowel surgery occurred in 14% of patients without identifying a significant correlation to the embolization technique or an embolic. Question Is trans-arterial embolization (TAE) viable as an emergency treatment for acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB)? Findings TAE demonstrated a 100% technical and 93.6% clinical success rate in treating acute LGIB, with severe ischemia-related adverse events occurring in 14% of patients. Clinical relevance TAE is highly effective and has an acceptable complication rate in treating lower gastrointestinal bleeding, emphasizing the need for a direct head-to-head comparison between endovascular and endoscopic therapy.

Adherence to high-frequency ecological momentary assessment in persons with moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury.

Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) involves repeated collection of real-time self-report data, often multiple times per day, nearly always delivered electronically by smartphone. While EMA has shown promise for researching internal states, behaviors, and experiences in multiple populations, concerns remain regarding its feasibility in samples with cognitive impairments, like those associated with chronic moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). This study examines adherence to a 7-week high-frequency (5x daily) EMA protocol in individuals with moderate-to-severe TBI, considering changes in response rate over time, as well as individual participant characteristics (memory function, education, injury severity, and age). In the sample of 39 participants, the average overall response rate was 65% (range: 5%-100%). Linear mixed-effects modeling revealed a small but statistically significant linear decay in response rate over 7 weeks of participation. Individual trajectories were variable, as evidenced by the significant effect of random slope. A better response rate was positively associated with greater educational attainment and better episodic memory function (statistical trend), whereas the effects of age and injury severity were not significant. These findings shed light on the potential of EMA in TBI studies but underscore the need for tailored strategies to address individual barriers to adherence.

Satellite measurement data-based assessment of spatiotemporal characteristics of ultraviolet index (UVI) over the state of Johor, Malaysia

The study examines the spatiotemporal and statistical characteristics of the daily ultraviolet index (UVI) over the Johor state of Malaysia. The datasets utilized in this study are the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI)/Aura satellite’s daily UVI observations between October 2004 and March 2023. The innovative trend analysis (ITA) method is employed to identify the statistical trend of daily UVI. Basic statistics of daily, monthly, and seasonal UVI are also carried out to better characterize UVI in the study area. The daily UVI data collected for the analysis exhibit wide variability, with more than 80% of the daily UVI data falling above UVI 8, indicating the severity of UV radiation (UVR) reaching the study area. The monthly and seasonal UVI also display highly varying characteristics, as observed in the daily data. The pixel-based analysis of ITA results indicates a significant increasing and decreasing trend of daily UVI in the region, with values varying between − 9.42 × 10−6 and 3.79 × 10−5. However, for the study area as a whole, UVI shows a significant increasing trend of 4.50 × 10−5. The influence of parameters such as cloud optical thickness (COT), solar zenith angle (SZA), and O3 column on the strength of UVR reaching the study area is also investigated. Based on the results, the study area is characterized by low thickness, broken clouds, and sometimes cloudless conditions. Overall, the results show that UVI in the study area is increasing, and therefore, proper health guidelines and direct UVR exposure regulations need to be implemented to reduce serious health risks associated with UVR exposure.Graphical

The Search for Certainty in Dispute Resolution in International Tax: An Evaluation of OECD Statistics and Initiatives

In this article, the author examines various pathways to achieving the resolution of tax treaty disputes in the light of current OECD statistical trends and recent initiatives encouraging bilateral and multilateral controversy management.

Empirical analysis of the cyberattacks of the Russian–Ukrainian war

This research study aims to empirically analyze the cyberattacks that occurred in the context of the Russian–Ukrainian conflict between 2022 and 2023, with a specific focus on the impact of these attacks on civilian infrastructure and institutions. The data collection for this study is based on publicly available sources from the Cyber- Peace Institute, taking into account various types of incidents such as malware, distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, spam, information operations, and website defacements. The study employs a network theory approach to examine the structure and dynamics of incidents and campaigns, while additional statistical methods and trend analysis are used to assess sector-specific and geographic patterns, as well as changes in attack frequency and severity. The research aims to contribute to the existing literature on cyber warfare and to provide valuable insights into the cyber threats faced by civilian infrastructure and institutions during times of conflict.

Teaching aids usage and Generic Skills Acquisition in Mathematics Subject in Public Secondary Schools in Rwanda: A Case of Bugesera District

The research assess the extent to which various factors related to teaching aids usage are employed to enhance the acquisition of generic skills among students of mathematics in public secondary schools; identifies the specific generic skills in mathematics that students acquire as a result of using teaching aids in public secondary schools, and determines the relationship between the utilization of teaching aids and the acquisition of generic skills in mathematics in public secondary schools in Bugesera district, Rwanda. The study underscores the significance of teaching aids in improving mathematics education quality in Rwanda's public secondary schools, particularly in Bugesera district. By evaluating the impact of teaching aids on the acquisition of generic math skills, the study offers valuable insights for enhancing educational practices and informing evidence-based policy decisions using a mixed-methods approach that combines qualitative and quantitative data collection through case study and survey research designs. By capturing statistical trends and contextual insights from a targeted sample of 184 respondents, including mathematics teachers, head teachers, sector education inspectors, and students, the study provides a comprehensive understanding of how teaching aids influence student outcomes. Stratified and simple random sampling techniques were utilized to ensure the reliability and validity of the research. Data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, and observations. The study's internal consistency and accuracy were verified using the Content Validity Index (CVI) and Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, while qualitative data were subjected to content analysis. Content analysis was used for qualitative data. Results indicate a significant integration of teaching aids into mathematics lessons, with 83.6% of respondents agreeing that these aids effectively enhance the acquisition of generic skills, reflected by a mean of 4.21 and a standard deviation of 1.16. Additionally, 60.9% of respondents agreed that the frequency of using teaching aids is sufficient to support skill acquisition, with a mean of 3.43 and a standard deviation of 1.21. The majority of respondents acknowledged the positive impact of teaching aids on students' motivation, engagement, and skill development, with 86.9% confirming their role in enhancing students' motivation to acquire generic skills. Moreover, 91.3% agreed that teaching aids engage students actively, fostering interest and participation in mathematics learning, as shown by a mean of 4.35 and a standard deviation of 0.56. However, 65.7% noted challenges related to the accessibility and availability of teaching aids, with a mean of 2.7 and a standard deviation of 1.57. Furthermore, the study has revealed a strong and positive correlations between the frequency, variety, and accessibility of instructional aids and the development of students' critical thinking, problem-solving, and logical reasoning skills.

Avaliação da precisão da técnica Structure from Motion aplicada ao Mapeamento Fotogramétrico de Corredores

The advantages offered by the use of RPA technology combined with the algorithms implemented by the SfM technique and its variants have made Photogrammetry supported by RPA and SfM an economical, fast and widely used solution in various branches of Engineering. Despite many studies on the accuracy achieved in digital cartographic products generated through these technologies, little is discussed about the case of corridors. In this context, the objective of this work is to investigate the positional accuracy achieved in the mapping of a 1.3 km long corridor through the adoption of different amounts of control points and different amounts of lanes. Accuracy assessment was performed based on the Mean Square Error (NDE) values of the checkpoints and trend analysis. The experiments showed that the adoption of control points positioned every five and ten photogrammetric bases can achieve accuracy between 2-2.6 GSD and eliminate planimetric and altimetric statistical trends in the RMSE values of the checkpoints that adopt two or three bands. In addition, the experiments performed showed that increasing the number of bands does not necessarily imply a decrease in the NDE values of checkpoint discrepancies.

A Retrospective Observational Study of Continuous Wireless Vital Sign Monitoring via a Medical Grade Wearable Device on Hospitalized Floor Patients.

Background: Continuous vital sign monitoring via wearable technology, combined with algorithm-based notifications, has been utilized for early detection of patient deterioration. In this retrospective observational study, we summarize a large-scale implementation of a continuous monitoring system in medical-surgical units of two hospitals over the course of fifteen (15) months. Methods: An FDA-cleared wireless monitoring device (BioButton®, BioIntelliSense Inc., Golden, CO, USA), was placed on each patient upon admission. The wearable device measures heart rate and respiratory rate at rest, skin temperature, and patient activity levels. High-frequency data (up to 1440 measurements per day) are transmitted to display in exception management software (BioDashboard™, version 2.9, BioIntelliSense Inc.). Algorithmic and rules-based notifications are triggered based on clinical and statistical trending criteria. We present (i) agreement of device readings with bedside charted measurements, (ii) the frequency of notifications, (iii) the occurrence of notifications prior to clinical deterioration events, and (iv) impact on clinical management, including early data on length of stay (LOS). Results: In total, 11,977 patient encounters were monitored at two sites. Bias ±95% limits of agreement were 1.8 ± 12.5 for HR and 0.4 ± 8.0 for RR. The rates of notifications were 0.97 and 0.65 per patient-day at Sites 1 and 2, respectively. Among clinical deteriorations, 73% (66%) had at least one notification within 24 h prior at Site 1 (Site 2). At Site 1, there were 114 cases for which a notification led to a new or changed physician's order. LOS in the first unit monitored by the system exhibited a decreasing trend from 3.07 days to 2.75 days over 12 months. Conclusions: Wearable continuous vital sign monitoring with the BioIntelliSense BioButton® system enables early detection of clinical deterioration.

Quantification of interactions among agricultural drought indices within Köppen–Geiger climate zones in Bangladesh

Agricultural productivity is highly correlated with climatic variations, including drought events. This study is aimed at performing a comprehensive assessment of agricultural drought conditions in the Köppen–Geiger climate zones in Bangladesh, based on the temperature condition index (TCI), vegetation condition index (VCI), and vegetation health index (VHI). The zones are classified as follows: temperate dry winter with a hot summer zone, tropical savannah zone, and tropical monsoon zone. The range of VHI is optimized based on its correlation with TCI and VCI. The correlation among the stratified drought indices is also examined to quantify and measure the strength and direction of the linear relationships between them. Moreover, Mann–Kendall test is conducted to assess the statistical trends in the spatiotemporal propagation of droughts across different climate zones. The balanced correlation approach for VHI reveals that vegetation health is governed by the temperature conditions. Certain variations in the drought intensity, frequency, and duration are observed across climatic zones in earlier years while the recent years are noted with less droughts. Normal or no drought conditions are noticed mostly in the tropical monsoon zone through VCI and VHI. The correlations among the drought classes indicate that VHI is more strongly correlated with TCI than with VCI, while NDVI exhibits stronger correlations with VCI than with either VHI or TCI. The Mann-Kendall test revealed that VCI has significant downward trends in drought categories and an upward trend in normal conditions, whereas VHI and TCI displayed inconsistency in statistical trends. By extensively exploring the agricultural drought conditions within specific climate zones, this study offers valuable insights for agronomists and stakeholders involved in climate resilience planning and agricultural development in Bangladesh.

Enhancing our heritage—40 years of JOSA A and JOSA B in the ever-changing world of optical science and technology: editorial

JOSA A and JOSA B are archival journals that have preserved the heritage and served the community in the field of optics for the past 40 years. In line with the community’s expansion and evolution over this time, the journals have regularly reinvented themselves while also keeping an eye on the future. This editorial celebrates the journals’ ruby anniversary and introduces readers to some recent statistical data points and trends.

Spatiotemporal analysis of malaria in the state of Mato Grosso-Legal Amazon, Brazil: identification of high-risk áreas

The objective of the study was to analyze temporal and geographic data to identify high-risk areas for malaria occurrence in the state of Mato Grosso within the Legal Amazon. High-risk areas were identified through scan statistics, and the relative risk (RR) was characterized using cluster maps. Statistical temporal trend analysis was conducted using Prais-Winsten autoregression. A total of 20,819 cases were identified, with higher incidence rates among men. Malaria was predominantly diagnosed via thick blood smear microscopy, with Plasmodium vivax being the most prevalent species. The average incidence ranged from 0.01 to 2,849.85, with higher averages observed in the North, West, and Northwest regions. The Global Moran analysis revealed a positive correlation (0.47) between incidence rates and regions with a higher number of cases, while Local Moran identified distinct infection clusters. Eight risk clusters were delineated using scan statistics, with the highest RR recorded at 90.09. The spatiotemporal scan classified three statistically significant high-risk clusters exhibiting stationary temporal trends. These findings highlight the delineation of high-risk areas for malaria infection in Mato Grosso.

Enhancing our heritage—40 years of JOSA A and JOSA B in the ever-changing world of optical science and technology: editorial

JOSA A and JOSA B are archival journals that have preserved the heritage and served the community in the field of optics for the past 40 years. In line with the community’s expansion and evolution over this time, the journals have regularly reinvented themselves while also keeping an eye on the future. This editorial celebrates the journals’ ruby anniversary and introduces readers to some recent statistical data points and trends.

Studies on Variation of Temperature and Rainfall using Climatological data for the Plain and Hill zones of Uttarakhand

The present study examines long-term annual, seasonal and monthly changes and short-term fluctuations in monsoonal rainfall and temperature over plain and hill zones of Uttarakhand. Both rainfall and temperature data for period of 1981-2020 were analyzed in this study. Statistical trend analysis techniques namely Mann–Kendall test and Sen’s slope estimator were used to examine and analyze the problems. The detailed analysis of the data for 40 years indicates that the annual range of temperature is increasing in the hill zone. In the context of agriculture, the observed trends in temperature and rainfall patterns pose significant implications for farming practices and crop yields in Uttarakhand. The increasing annual range of temperature, particularly in the hill zone, suggests a heightened risk of temperature extremes such as heat waves and cold spells. During the monsoon season, while rainfall levels may remain relatively stable or exhibit minor fluctuations, the variability highlighted by the box and whisker plots underscores the importance of preparedness for both excess and deficit rainfall scenarios.

Towards characterising rocky worlds: Trends in chemical make-ups of M dwarfs versus GK dwarfs

Elemental abundances of Sun-like stars have been shown to be crucial for understanding the detailed properties of planets surrounding them. However, accurately measuring elemental abundances of M stars, the most abundant class of stars in the solar neighbourhood, is challenging due to their faintness and pervasive molecular features in optical photospheric spectra. As a result, elemental abundances of Sun-like stars have been proposed to constrain those of M stars, particularly by scaling X/H given measured Fe/H This work aims to test the robustness of this convenient practice based on two selected sets of M- and GK-dwarf stellar abundances and a set of rigorous statistical methods. We compiled the elemental abundances of a sample of up to 43 M dwarfs for ten major rock-forming elements (Fe, C, O, Mg, Si, Al, Ca, Na, Ni, and Ti) from high-resolution near-infrared stellar surveys including APOGEE, CARMENES, and Subaru. We carried out bootstrap-based linear regressions on the selected sample of M dwarfs to constrain the statistical trends of X/H versus Fe/H and then compare them with those of GK dwarfs (sampled from the GALAH database). We then applied a two-sample, multivariate Mahalanobis Distance test to assess the significance of the differences in the X/H Fe/H trends for individual elemental pairs between M and GK dwarfs. We find that the null hypothesis -- that is, no significant difference in the chemical trends of X/H versus Fe/H between M and GK dwarfs -- is strongly rejected for all elements except for Si, for which the rejection is marginal ($p$-value close to 0.05), and Na and Ni, for which the results are inconclusive. This finding suggests that assuming no difference may result in biased results, and thus inaccurate constraints on characterising rocky planets around M dwarfs by scaling the (unmeasured) chemical abundances of planet-hosting M dwarfs from the chemical trends of X/H Fe/H determined by GK dwarfs. It is therefore crucial for both the stellar and exoplanet communities to be aware of these observed differences. To better understand these differences, we advocate for dedicated modelling techniques for M-dwarf atmospheres and an increasing set of benchmark, homogeneous abundance analyses. Intermediately, our statistically constrained trends of X/H Fe/H for M dwarfs provide a new constraint on estimating M-dwarf elemental abundances given measured Fe/H and further on characterising the detailed properties of M-dwarf-hosted rocky worlds.

Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis of Moral Foundations in Argumentation

This paper introduces moral argument analytics, a technology that provides insights into the use of moral arguments in discourse. We analyse five socio-political corpora of argument annotated data from offline and online discussions, totalling 240k words with 9k arguments, with an average annotation accuracy of 78%. Using a lexicon-based method, we automatically annotate these arguments with moral foundations, achieving an estimated accuracy of 83%. Quantitative analysis allows us to observe statistical patterns and trends in the use of moral arguments, whereas qualitative analysis enables us to understand and explain the communication strategies in the use of moral arguments in different settings. For instance, supporting arguments often rely on Loyalty and Authority, while attacking arguments use Care. We find that online discussions exhibit a greater diversity of moral foundations and a higher negative valence of moral arguments. Online arguers often rely more on Harm rather than Care, Degradation rather than Sanctity. These insights have significant implications for AI applications, particularly in understanding and predicting human and machine moral behaviours. This work contributes to the construction of more convincing messages and the detection of harmful or biased AI-generated synthetic content.

CONTEMPORARY STATISTICAL TRENDS OF FOREIGN TRADE BY SEA TRANSPORT BY COUNTRY GROUPS

Nino Abesadze E-mail: nino.abesadze@tsu.ge Associate Professor, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisis State University Tbilisi, Georgia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6564-2771 Otar Abesadze E-mail: o.abesadze@gmail.com Associate Professor, Georgian National University SEU Tbilisi, Georgia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1644-4995 Nino Paresashvili E-mail: nino.paresashvili@tsu.ge Associate Professor, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisis State university Tbilisi, Georgia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7645-6491 Natalia Robitashvili E-mail: nato.robitashvili@bsu.edu.ge Associate Professor, Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University Batumi, Georgia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7645-6491 Abstract. At the modern stage of economic development, under the conditions of deepening globalization, the use of correct logistics is becoming more and more relevant, which plays an important role in the development of trade relations between countries and ensuring correct fragmentation of the economy. Today, the situation is such that the presence of certain threats in sea transportation determines the high risk of the possibility of an increase in transportation prices, which is why its influence on price volatility is quite strong. Based on the current situation, the research of maritime logistics issues is becoming more and more relevant in this regard, because the analysis of quantitative indicators of shipments, determination of risk expectations, detection of trends, identification of problems, etc. is an indicator of increasing the effectiveness of maritime logistics. This issue becomes even more important when the issue concerns the activation of trade relations with groups of different countries of the world by sea transport. This process is actively taking place in Georgia today, which is a prerequisite for diversification of transportation by different types of transport and increasing its intensity in the future, and there are signs of this in the country. As of today, the geographical area of trade relations of Georgia in terms of types of transport is wide, although the quantitative characteristics of foreign trade are differentiated according to individual countries and groups of countries. The main goal of the paper was to identify and analyze the statistical trends of Georgia's foreign trade relations with EU, CIS, BSEC, OECD, GUAM, and EFTA countries. During the stages of statistical research, the methods of statistical observation, gathering-grouping, and analysis are used in the research process. Therefore, the article discusses studies and analyzes the dynamics of foreign trade relations of Georgia with EU, CIS, BSEC, OECD, GUAM, and EFTA countries groups by sea transport. The main statistical indicators of foreign trade turnover, export-import, local export re-export, and the characteristics of the commodity structure are analyzed according to all indicators. The main statistical trends of foreign trade with non-specified country groups are identified and regularities are established. Relevant conclusions are made. Conclusions. Foreign trade relations in Georgia are primarily carried out by road transport, although marine transport with a 32.6% share firmly occupies the second place in dynamics;In exports, the advantage of the use of road transport is evident, compared to imports. EU, CIS, BSEC, OECD, GUAM, EFTA countries, the rate of foreign trade by sea transport is increasing;In 2016-2023, on average, the share of the EU in foreign trade by country groups increased by 5.3%.Changing trends are observed in case of exports of EU, BSEC, OECD countries groups. From 2019, the predominant growth of the BSEC indicator was revealed, but in 2023, the EU was again the highest indicator with a share of 67.4%9 in export relations.In the case of imports to the EU, CIS, BSEC, OECD, GUAM, EFTA countries, there is a pronounced trend: the European Union is the undisputed leader in the group of mentioned countries. In 2016-2023, the EU's share of maritime transport imports grew by an average of 2.6% annually. The growth of EU indicators is recorded in local exports, while a completely different picture was revealed in re-exports of sea transport, due to the intensification of trade relations with the CIS countries.From these EU, CIS, BSEC, OECD, GUAM, EFTA countries, Motor cars, Petroleum and petroleum oils are the most imported to Georgia, the share of which in imports is 68% and 32%. Copper ores and concentrates are the most exported, whose share in the motor exports of EU, CIS, BSEC, OECD, GUAM, EFTA is 38% and 17%. No significant changes have been observed in the commodity structure of both exports and imports in recent years. Key words: Trends, Sea Transport, Export, Import, Country Groups. JEL classification: C0