Stepwise Multiple Regression Analysis Research Articles

Unlocking the potential of soil potassium: Geostatistical approaches for understanding spatial variations in Northwestern Himalayas

This study delves into the heterogeneity of total soil potassium (TSK) in the Northwestern Himalayas (NWH) region by employing standard and geostatistical methods on surface soils (0–20 cm) randomly collected from various land use systems. This research aims to unveil the spatial dynamics of TSK in the challenging context of the NWH region, by unravelling connections between TSK levels, land use practices, and soil properties. The findings of this study are instrumental for sustainable agriculture and ecological resilience in the region. The results of this work reveal that soil TSK levels in different land use types were significantly different in the order: horticulture (13.76 g/kg) > agricultural (11.25 g/kg) > forest (7.38 g/kg) > fallow (4.72 g/kg), which is clearly associated with different K application rates. The stepwise multiple regression analysis provides a significant correlation between TSK levels and soil organic matter, clay, and other fine-grained particles. Spatially, the nugget ratios of TSK exhibit an apparent decrease correlated to land use types, in the order: agriculture > horticulture > forest > mixed. Among the Gaussian, exponential, linear, and spherical geostatistical models considered, the linear model yields the best fit. The isotropy models of TSK optimization vary based on land use type. The role of land use types is very important for modelling and predicting the TSK status at the scientific and industrial scale, ensuring the relevance and applicability of such insights for global scientific audiences and policymakers. This work provides a novel contribution to soil science, with direct implications for sustainable land management practices in fragile agroecological regions beyond geographical boundaries.

Cognitive and Motor Capacities Are Poorly Correlated with Agility in Early Pubertal Children: Gender-Stratified Analysis

This research aimed to identify relations of cognitive and power capacities with reactive agility in pubescent boys (n = 55) and girls (n = 46). Cognitive abilities were evaluated by the Stroop test, while the BlazePod system was used to evaluate agility performance conducting 20 yard shuttle and triangle tests of non-reactive (TCODS) and reactive agility (TRAG), respectively. Performance in jumping power was assessed through the squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ), and drop jump (DHJ) utilising the Opto Jump system (Microgate, Bolzano, Italy), while sprinting ability over distances of 10 and 20 m was measured using a photocells system. A principal component was extracted from the four Stroop test variables using factor analysis. Forward stepwise multiple regression analysis was conducted separately for boys and girls to evaluate the multivariate relationships among the predictors and the criterion. Among boys, 80% of the TRAG variance was explained (MultipleR = 0.9), with TCODS and SJ as significant predictors (β = 0.53 and −1.01, respectively). For girls, the TCODS was the significant predictor (β = 0.65), explaining 43% of the variance (MultipleR = 0.65). These results show that (i) cognitive abilities measured with the Stroop test were not a reliable tool for predicting TRAG, (ii) jumping power was a significant predictor of TRAG in boys, and (iii) TCODS was a significant predictor of TRAG in girls. The findings indicated that cognitive abilities do not significantly influence reactive agility in pubescent children. It seems that power features have a greater influence on reactive agility, particularly in boys who have more developed motor skills at this age compared to girls.

Attachment disturbance in women with depressive spectrum disorder, its connection with hostility

IntroductionThe results of the study of psychological factors of hostility in depression are presented. The topicality of the study is due to hostility considered, on the one hand, as a property of depression, and on the other hand, as a risk factor, associated with the likelihood of auto-aggressive behavior.ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between hostility and attachment disorders in endogenous depression.MethodsThe study involved 49 patients with depressive disorder (mean age 19,8±4,5). All patients were assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-17 mean 21,03±6,02). All completed the following methods: Revised Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR-R); Symptom Check List-90-Revised (SCL-90R); Aggression Questionnaire by Buss and Perry (BPAQ); I-structural test by G. Ammon (ISTA). According to the “depression” parameter of the SCL-90R, the group was divided into subgroups with high and medium severity of depression. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) or Mann-Whitney test were. Correlation analysis (Spearman) and stepwise multiple regression analysis were also used.ResultsAt high levels of depression, the indicators of “hostility”, “destructive” and “deficit aggression” are statistically significantly higher. The severity of depression significantly correlates with the severity of “anxiety” in attachment (close relationships), as well as with pathological “narcissism”, “destructive external self-delimitation”, “deficient internal self-delimitation”.For the measure of depression, regression analysis showed that the regression model explained more than 76% of the variance, with the measures of “interpersonal sensitivity”, “deficit narcissism”, and “avoidance” in attachment making significant contributions. For the “hostility” the regression model explains about 62% of the variance, while a significant contribution is made, as in the analysis of “depression”, by the indicators of “interpersonal sensitivity” and “avoidance”, however, unlike “depression”, the contribution of the “destructive narcissism” is noted in contrast to the “deficit narcissism”.ConclusionsWith severe depressive symptoms, indicators of hostility are increased. Hostility in depression is associated with factors caused by a violation of early interpersonal relationships (anxious attachment), which causes increased sensitivity in relations with others, “building a barrier” between oneself and the external environment perceived as hostile in the narcissistic pathology, problems in emotional regulation. One of the targets of psychotherapeutic work may be the ambivalence between desire for symbiotic dependence and the experienced hostility.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

The effect of perioperative sequential application of multiple doses of tranexamic acid on postoperative blood loss after PLIF: a prospective randomized controlled trial.

Tranexamic acid (TXA) has been utilized in spinal surgery to effectively reduce intraoperative blood loss (IBL) and allogeneic blood transfusion rates. However, the traditional TXA regimen might last the entire duration of hyperfibrinolysis caused by surgical trauma, resulting in its limited ability to reduce postoperative blood loss (PBL). Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of perioperative sequential administration of multiple doses of TXA in reducing PBL in patients who underwent posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF). From October 2022 to June 2023, 231 patients who were diagnosed with lumbar degenerative disease and scheduled to undergo PLIF were prospectively enrolled in the present study. The patients were randomly divided into three groups. Moreover, all patients received an intravenous injection of TXA at a dose of 15mg/kg 15min before the surgical skin incision. Patients in Group A received a placebo of normal saline after surgery, while patients in Group B received three additional intravenous injections of TXA at a dose of 15mg/kg every 24h. Patients in Group C received three additional intravenous injections of TXA at a dose of 15mg/kg every 5h. The primary outcome measure was PBL. In addition, this study assessed total blood loss (TBL), IBL, routine blood parameters, liver and kidney function, coagulation parameters, fibrinolysis indexes, inflammatory indicators, drainage tube removal time (DRT), length of hospital stay (LOS), blood transfusion rate, and incidence of complications for all subjects. The PBL, TBL, DRT, and LOS of Group B and Group C were significantly lower than those of Group A ( P <0.05). The level of D-dimer (D-D) in Group C was significantly lower than that in Group A on the first day after the operation ( P =0.002), and that in Group B was significantly lower than that in Group A on the third day after the operation ( P =0.003). The interleukin-6 levels between the three groups from 1 to 5 days after the operation were in the order of Group A > Group B > Group C. No serious complications were observed in any patient. The results of multiple stepwise linear regression analysis revealed that PBL was positively correlated with incision length, IBL, smoking history, history of hypertension, preoperative fibrinogen degradation product level, and blood transfusion. It was negatively correlated with preoperative levels of fibrinogen, red blood cells, blood urea nitrogen, and age. Compared to female patients, male patients had an increased risk of PBL. Finally, the incidence of PBL was predicted. Sequential application of multiple doses of TXA during the perioperative period could safely and effectively reduce PBL and TBL, shorten DRT and LOS, reduce postoperative D-D generation, and reduce the postoperative inflammatory response. In addition, this study provided a novel prediction model for PBL in patients undergoing PLIF.

Diabetes Distress Among Patients Undergoing Surgery for Diabetic Retinopathy and Associated Factors: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Diabetes distress (DD) is a negative emotion related to diabetes management and a predictor of depression; it affects diabetic retinopathy (DR) patients' quality of life and disease outcomes. The prevalence of DD was higher in patients undergoing surgery for DR. However, few studies have been conducted on DD in DR surgery patients. The present study aims to investigate the status of DD in DR surgery patients and identify factors associated with DD. Using a convenience sampling method, 210 DR surgery patients who were admitted to 2 tertiary-level hospitals in Wenzhou City (Zhejiang Province) and Zhengzhou City (Henan Province) from February to June 2023 were selected as research subjects. A questionnaire collecting demographic and disease-related information, the Diabetes Distress Scale, the Summary of Diabetes Self-Management Activities, the Family Care Index Scale, and the Social Support Rating Scale were used to collect data. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, t tests, ANOVAs, Pearson's correlation analyses and stepwise multiple linear regression. This study is reported according to the STROBE guidelines. In total, 156 out of 210 (74.29%) DR surgery patients experienced DD, with an average score of 2.13±0.63. The results of the stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that residential location, employment status, self-management level, family support, and social support were significantly associated with DD. These variables accounted for 30.6% of the total variation in DD. DR surgery patients exhibit moderate levels of distress. Health care professionals should pay attention to DD in DR surgery patients and develop targeted interventions to improve the self-management ability of these patients, increase their family support and social support to reduce their DD levels.

H-type Hypertension Status and Influencing Factors of the Elderly People Over 80 Years Old Based on Random Forest Model.

Hypertension is a common chronic disease in elderly people over 80 years old. Clinically, H-type hypertension occurs when hypertension coexists with hyperhomocysteinemia level of ≥ 10 umol/L. Effective identification of risk factors for H-type hypertension in the elderly can greatly improve patient prognosis.Consecutively, 494 patients with hypertension admitted to the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University from January 2019 to December 2021 were selected as the study population. They were divided into H-type hypertension (n = 197) and non-H-type hypertension groups (n = 297). Patient data were collected, including basic information, history, and clinical data. The random forest model and LASSO analysis were used to screen the influencing factors for H-type hypertension. Multiple stepwise regression analysis was used to analyze the selected variables.A total of 197 elderly people over 80 years old suffered from H-type hypertension, with an incidence rate of 39.88%. The random forest model and LASSO analysis results showed that the top 8 independent variables in importance ranking were ejection fraction (EF), fibrinogen, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), B-type natriuretic peptide, creatinine, fasting blood glucose, uric acid, and serum triiodothyronine levels. The results of multivariate analysis showed that EF was the protective factor, while fibrinogen, HbA1c, and creatinine were the risk factors for H-type hypertension in elderly people over 80 years old (P < 0.05).Healthcare professionals can indirectly assess the prevalence of H-type hypertension by focusing on EF, fibrinogen, creatinine, and HbA1c in elderly hypertensive patients. This provided proactive intervention and medical services to improve prognosis outcomes.

Self-protective behaviors of Thai village health volunteers in community engagement during a COVID-19 outbreak: interpretation using the health belief model

BackgroundVillage health volunteers (VHVs) engaging in community-based COVID-19 prevention and control measures played a key role in mitigating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand. We conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire survey study to investigate factors affecting VHVs’ COVID-19 self-protective behaviors and social distancing in Songkhla Province during the first COVID-19 outbreak. Such information may help to understand how to support VHVs in future pandemics.MethodsA total of 152 VHVs from 13 sub-districts participated in the study, completing a 54-item questionnaire based on the Health Belief Model (HBM). The questionnaire included items assessing susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers, self-efficacy, social distancing, and self-protective behavior. Stepwise multiple regression analysis determined which aspects of the HBM could explain VHVs’ self-protective behavior.ResultsThe VHV population sampled broadly reflected the main demographic characteristics of the local population, although VHVs were predominantly female. Self-protective behavior was significantly associated with VHVs’ role (higher perceived compliance for village leaders than non-leaders) but not with other demographic characteristics. Most VHVs reported high levels of self-efficacy (80.5%), adherence to social distancing measures (70.9%), and engagement in self-protective behavior (72.8%) against COVID-19. However, compliance with hand hygiene appeared to be suboptimal, suggesting room for improvement. Self-efficacy and perceived social distancing showed strong and moderate correlations with self-protective behavior against COVID-19 (r = 0.917, β = 0.819; and r = 0.561, β = 0.173 respectively; p < 0.001). The final HBM-based regression model accounted for 87.2% of the variance in VHVs’ self-protective behavior.ConclusionsThis study highlights the importance of VHVs’ self-efficacy for achieving self-protective behavior during a COVID-19 outbreak, and suggests that self-efficacy may help to overcome barriers that might otherwise hinder behaviors to mitigate against COVID-19. Policies that support self-efficacy should be implemented in any future pandemic, and steps to support VHVs with hand hygiene compliance and empower non-leaders to increase their self-protective behavior may also be helpful. Whilst the HBM provided a useful framework for interpretation, the final model was driven mainly by self-efficacy.

Preoperative factors associated with patient satisfaction after modified kinematically aligned total knee arthroplasty in varus knees

PurposeKinematically aligned-total knee arthroplasty (KA-TKA) has recently attracted significant interest because it delivers better clinical outcomes than mechanically aligned (MA)-TKA. However, the optimal preoperative factors that maximize the effectiveness of KA-TKA remain controversial. Therefore, we aimed to determine the preoperative factors that are appropriate for and might benefit from modified KA-TKA, based on patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). MethodsThe relationships between postoperative satisfaction and other variables in 84 patients with varus-type osteoarthritis of the knee who underwent primary modified KA-TKAs were investigated using stepwise multiple regression analysis. Patients were assigned to groups that were satisfied or dissatisfied with their outcomes after KA-TKA according to the 2011 Knee Society Scores. The cutoff for preoperative advanced activities scores (AASs) for excellent satisfaction were determined by analyzing receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The variables correlated with excellent satisfaction were identified using logistic regression models. ResultsA preoperative variable relevant to patient satisfaction was AAS (β ​= ​0.465). The results of the ROC curve analysis revealed eight optimal cut-offs for preoperative AASs that predicted excellent satisfaction, with a sensitivity and specificity of 0.700 and 0.625, respectively. Logistic regression analysis revealed that AASs significantly contributed to excellent patient satisfaction (odds ratio, 1.181; p ​= ​0.001). ConclusionsIndividuals who were highly active preoperatively were good candidates for KA-TKA. This modified kinematically aligned surgical technique can satisfy the demands of highly active patients.

Socio-demographic factors and parental feeding practices predicted body mass index of Malaysian children with learning disabilities

Introduction: Overweight and obesity have emerged as significant global health concerns among children. Previous studies have provided evidence that children with intellectual and learning disabilities (LD) are at a higher risk of obesity compared to their peers without disabilities. Methods: This study aimed to predict body weight status of children with LD who attended Special Education Integration Program in Kelantan, located on East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Parents completed a self-administered questionnaire in Malay language, which included “Screening Tool of Feeding Problems” children’s version (STEP-CHILD) and Comprehensive Feeding Practice Questionnaire (CFPQ). The children’s body weight and height were measured to determine body mass index (BMI). Research hypothesis was tested through stepwise multiple linear regression analysis. Results: This study recruited 245 subjects with mean age of 10.5±1.7 years and mean BMI of 18.5±4.9 kg/m2. Prevalence of underweight, thinness and severe thinness was 12.2%, while overweight and obesity was 29.0%. Male children with LD (β=0.109, p&lt;0.044), older age (β=0.226, p&lt;0.001), higher child birth weight (β=0.119, p&lt;0.029), lack of parental modelling (β=-0.170, p=0.004), lower parental pressure (β=-0.266, p&lt;0.001), and higher restriction for weight control (β=0.361, p&lt;0.001) were found to predict higher BMI values. Conclusion: Positive parental feeding practices during mealtime are crucial for addressing the poor nutritional status of children with LD.

Ten-year outcomes of congenital cataract surgery performed within the first six months of life.

To investigate the long-term outcomes of congenital cataract surgery performed within the first 6 months of life. 11 ophthalmic surgical sites in Japan. Retrospective chart review. Medical charts were retrospectively reviewed for 216 eyes of 121 patients. The age at surgery was 2.9 ± 1.7 months, with follow-up duration 13.0 ± 2.3 years. The cohort consisted of 83 cases with bilateral aphakia, 12 with bilateral pseudophakia, 20 with unilateral aphakia, and 6 with unilateral pseudophakia. Surgical intervention within the critical period of visual system development (10 weeks for bilateral and 6 weeks for unilateral cases) led to significantly better final visual acuity than surgery conducted after this time frame. The incidence of secondary glaucoma was similar between groups while the occurrence of visual axis opacification was more frequent with earlier surgery. A forward stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that the final visual acuity was significantly associated with laterality of cataract (better outcomes in bilateral cases), phakic status (with pseudophakia outperforming aphakia), presence of systemic and ocular comorbidities, and development of secondary glaucoma. Secondary glaucoma was significantly more prevalent in aphakic eyes than pseudophakic eyes. In patients with genuine congenital cataract, surgery within the critical period of visual development results in better final visual acuity, albeit with an increased risk of visual axis opacification. The use of IOL with sophisticated surgical techniques shows promise even in congenital cataract surgery.

Resilience and psychosocial factors in adult with epilepsy: A longitudinal study

PurposeResilience is conceptually characterized as a dynamic process encompassing positive adaptation in the context of significant adversity. Our goal was to assess the resilience in people with epilepsy (PWE) and how it impacts longitudinally on psychosocial factors, with a particular focus on the manifestation of stigmatization-related feelings. MethodsWe consecutively enrolled 78 adults PWE (42.5 ± 16.2 years old); among them 36 (46.1 %) were seizure-free. All subjects completed at baseline (T0) the Resilience Scale (RS-14) and questionnaires for the assessment of depressive symptoms, anxiety and quality of life: respectively, Beck Depression Inventory-II (BD-II), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and QOLIE-31 (Q31). All patients were followed up prospectively and re-evaluated after 6–22 months (T1; mean: 14 ± 8 months; median 14 months); at follow up they also completed the Stigma Scale of Epilepsy (SSE) for the assessment of the stigma associated with epilepsy. We correlated resilience values with all psychosocial scores at T0 and T1. Factors associated with resilient and vulnerable outcomes were identified. Finally, a multiple stepwise regression analysis was applied to identify predictors for resilience and stigma perception. ResultsThe results showed for the RS-14 score a significant direct correlation with the Q31 (p < 0.001) and an inverse correlation with the depressive and anxiety symptoms at both times (T0 and T1), as evaluated with BDI-II (p < 0.001) and GAD-7 (p < 0.001). Finally, we found a significant inverse correlation between RS-14 at T0 and the levels of stigmatization assessed with SSE at T1 (p =.015). Using a multiple stepwise regression analysis separately for resilience and stigma perception, depressive symptoms turned out as the best predictors for both variables. Finally, considering longitudinal evaluation we did not observe significant changes in depressive and anxious symptoms, despite a significant reduction in the total number of seizures at follow up. ConclusionsOur study showed that depressive symptoms, anxiety and quality of life were significantly associated with resilience in PwE. Finally, as a novel finding resilience was proved to affect the perception of stigma related to epilepsy more than seizures.

Differences in kinetic factors affecting gait speed between lesion sides in patients with stroke.

The differences in kinetic mechanisms of decreased gait speed across brain lesion sides have not been elucidated, including the arrangement of motor modules reflected by kinetic interjoint coordination. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the differences in the kinetic factors of slow gait speed in patients with stroke on the lesion sides. A three-dimensional motion analysis system was employed to assess joint moment in the lower limb and representative gait parameters in 32 patients with right hemisphere brain damage (RHD) and 38 patients with left hemisphere brain damage (LHD) following stroke as well as 20 healthy controls. Motor module composition and timing were determined using principal component analysis based on the three joint moments in the lower limb in the stance phase, which were the variances accounted for principal components (PCs) and the peak timing in the time series of PCs. A stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify the most significant joint moment and PC-associated parameter in explaining gait speed. A negligible difference was observed in age, weight, height, and gait speed among patients with RHD and LHD and controls. The following factors contributed to gait speed: in patients with RHD, larger ankle plantarflexion moment on the paretic (p = 0.001) and nonparetic (p = 0.002) sides and ankle dorsiflexion moment on the nonparetic side (p = 0.004); in patients with LHD, larger ankle plantarflexion moment (p < 0.001) and delayed peak timing of the first PC (p = 0.012) on the paretic side as well as ankle dorsiflexion moment on the nonparetic side (p < 0.001); in the controls, delayed peak timing of the first PC (p = 0.002) on the right side and larger ankle dorsiflexion moment (p = 0.001) as well as larger hip flexion moment on the left side (p = 0.023). The findings suggest that the kinetic mechanisms of gait speed may differ among patients with RHD following patients with stroke with LHD, and controls.

Developing a prototype system of computer-aided appointment scheduling: A radiology department case study.

Scheduling patient appointments in hospitals is complicated due to various types of patient examinations, different departments and physicians accessed, and different body parts affected. This study focuses on the radiology scheduling problem, which involves multiple radiological technologists in multiple examination rooms, and then proposes a prototype system of computer-aided appointment scheduling based on information such as the examining radiological technologists, examination departments, the patient's body parts being examined, the patient's gender, and the patient's age. The system incorporated a stepwise multiple regression analysis (SMRA) model to predict the number of examination images and then used the K-Means clustering with a decision tree classification model to classify the patient's examination time within an appropriate time interval. The constructed prototype creates a feasible patient appointment schedule by classifying patient examination times into different categories for different patients according to the four types of body parts, eight hospital departments, and 10 radiological technologists. The proposed patient appointment scheduling system can schedule appointment times for different types of patients according to the type of visit, thereby addressing the challenges associated with diversity and uncertainty in radiological examination services. It can also improve the quality of medical treatment.

Added value of DCER-features to clinicopathologic model for predicting metachronous metastases in rectal cancer patients.

The study aimed to investigate whether dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI parameters and preoperative radiological features (DCER-Features) add value to the clinicopathologic model for predicting metachronous metastases in rectal cancer patients. From January 2014 to December 2020, 859 patients in the PACS system were retrospectively screened. Of the initial 722 patients with surgically confirmed rectal cancer and no synchronous metastases, 579 patients were excluded for various reasons such as lack of clinicopathological or radiological information. 143 patients were finally included in this study. And 73 Patients of them developed metachronous metastasis within five years. After stepwise multiple regression analyses, we constructed three distinct models. Model 1 was developed solely based on clinicopathological factors, and model 2 incorporated clinicopathological characteristics along with DCE-MRI parameters. Finally, model 3 was built on all available factors, including clinicopathological characteristics, DCE-MRI parameters, and radiological features based on rectal magnetic resonance imaging. The radiological features assessed in this study encompass tumor imaging staging, location, and circumferential resection margin (CRM) for primary tumors, as well as the number of visible lymph nodes and suspected metastatic lymph nodes. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and decision curve analysis (DCA) were conducted to evaluate whether the diagnostic efficiency was improved. The performance of model 3 (including clinicopathologic characteristics and DCER-Features) was the best (AUC: 0.856, 95% CI 0.778-0.886), whereas it was 0.796 (95% CI 0.720-0.828) for model 2 and 0.709 (95% CI 0.612-0.778) for model 1 (DeLong test: model 1 vs model 2, p = 0.004; model 2 vs model 3, p = 0.037; model 1 vs model 3, p < 0.001). The decision curves indicated that the net benefit of model 3 was higher than the other two models at each referral threshold. The calibration plot of the three models revealed an excellent predictive accuracy. This study suggests that DCER-Features have added value for the clinicopathological model to predict metachronous metastasis in patients with rectal cancers.

Effects of long-term application of inorganic fertilizer and organic amendments on the amounts of fractionated soil organic carbon and their determining factors in paddy fields

ABSTRACT To investigate how the long-term application of inorganic fertilizer and organic amendments affects the accumulation of organic matter in physico-chemically fractionated components in paddy soils and how the accumulation is determined by soil properties and anthropogenic carbon input, we studied the effect of variable management of inorganic fertilizer and organic amendments for > 50 years on the amounts of accumulated soil organic carbon (SOC) in fractionated components in three paddy fields. SOC was fractionated into four components based on their physical and chemical properties: (1) light fraction (LF) derived from plant residues, (2) heavy fraction (HF) containing stable aggregates, (3) oxidizable fraction (OxF) and (4) non-oxidizable fraction (NOxF) forming organo-mineral complexes with fine-textured minerals. On average, the amount and percentage of accumulated C in the four fractions were as follows: OxF (6.63 gC kg−1 soil, 46%) > NOxF (5.32, 35) > LF (1.68, 12) > HF (1.12, 7.2), suggesting about 80% of SOC was in fine, stable fractions. The amount of accumulated C in all fractions increased slightly with the application of inorganic fertilizer, while it increased considerably with the use of organic amendments. In addition, the application of fertilizers and amendments raised the proportion of C content in LF and HF, which are labile and related to soil fertility. Stepwise multiple regression analysis using two principal component analysis scores of soil properties and anthropogenic C input further revealed that the labile fractions (LF and HF) were more strongly determined by the management of fertilizers and amendments, while the stable fractions (OxF and NOxF) were more strongly determined by soil-specific properties, mainly the amorphous nature of the soil. These results indicate that the use of certain amounts of organic amendments would be recommended to carry out rational management to improve soil fertility and C sequestration in paddy fields, with the application of amorphous minerals as an additional option.

The gustin gene variation at rs2274333 and PROP taster status affect dietary fat perception: a stepwise multiple regression model study

Gustin, a trophic factor for taste bud development, and its polymorphism at rs2274333 influence taste perception of 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) and fungiform papillae (FP) density. The PROP taster status affects dietary fat sensing and body composition. However, there is a paucity of research on the gustin genotype with dietary fat perception, PROP tasting ability, and body mass index (BMI). Thus, taste sensitivity to fat and bitterness was evaluated in 178 healthy individuals. The general labeled magnitude scale was used to determine suprathreshold taste intensity ratings, whereas the alternative forced choice approach was used to estimate the taste-sensing ability. The FP density was assessed by applying blue-colored food dye over the anterior region of the tongue. Restriction fragment length polymorphism was used to detect the genetic polymorphism (rs2274333) in the carbonic anhydrase VI (CA-VI) gene. Fisher's chi-square analysis showed that the CA-VI genotype and allelic frequencies significantly correlated (p<0.001) with the PROP taster status and BMI. Healthy individuals with AA genotypes of the CA-VI polymorphism and PROP super-tasters demonstrated stronger gustatory sensitivity for linoleic acid (LA) with greater FP density in comparison to individuals with AG/GG genotypes and other PROP taster groups. Stepwise forward multiple regression analysis indicates that BMI and PROP taster status significantly influence the LA sensing ability. The suprathreshold intensity rating for LA was also significantly impacted by PROP taster status and CA-VI genotypes, with a variation of 73.3%. Overall, our findings show a relationship between the taste papillae environment and the CA-VI genetic mutation at rs2274333, which influenced the gustatory preference for dietary fat and bitter taste.

Assessment of the bone biological age using multiple regression and neural network analysis

Background. Nowadays, many studies confirm the increased risk of osteoporosis in the elderly. Strategies for optimizing diagnosis include a combined use of various methods, so calculating bone biological age (BA) can also be important for disease prediction. Recently, some new methodological approaches to BA calculation with the mathematical methods implementation were proposed. However, studies utilizing advanced approaches, particularly neural network (NN) in Ukraine, are limited. The purpose of this study was to develop a bone BA model and compare its accuracy using stepwise multiple regression (MLR) and NN analysis methods. Materials and methods. In a single-center cohort study, we retrospectively analyzed the data of 3,071 healthy women aged 40–90 years. The analysis of the study indices included the anthropometric parameters, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry indices (DXA), and the parameters of the 10-year probability of major osteoporotic fractures (FRAX). For the development of bone BA models, MLR methods were used and the construction of the NN model was performed using a multilayer perceptron model. Results. As a result of the calculation, we received the MLR formula for bone BA determining bone mineral density (BMD) of lumbar spine and radius, minimal femoral and hip BMD as well as Trabecular Bone Score, and FRAX. The MLR equation allowed to calculation of the bone BA with an error of less than 4.9 years for study and control groups and demonstrated the high connection between calculated and chronological (ChrA) ages (R = 0.77; p &lt; 0.00001). The use of NN analysis showed the best results using 6 input variables and 1 internal layer of 7 neurons. The assessment of the connection between BA and ChrA demonstrated a high coefficient of correlation (R = 0.88; p &lt; 0.000001) with an average error of age calculation of less than 3.7 years for the study and control groups. Conclusions. A comparison of the accuracy of both models in bone BA estimation revealed a significant advantage of the deep learning NN, however, the use trained NN model requires specialized software, whereas the MLR formula can be used without additional costs.

Determinants of Mortality and Mid-Term Outcomes After Transcarotid Artery Revascularization and Transfemoral Carotid Artery Stenting.

The potential benefit of transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR) over transfemoral carotid artery stenting (tfCAS) has been studied in the perioperative period with lower rates of stroke and death; however, data on mid-term outcomes are limited. We aimed to evaluate 3-year outcomes after TCAR and tfCAS and determine the primary predictors of 30-day and 1-year mortality following TCAR. Data from the Vascular Quality Initiative for patients undergoing TCAR or tfCAS from January 2016 to December 2022 were analyzed. 1:1 propensity score matching using the nearest-neighbor method was used to adjust baseline demographics and clinical characteristics. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox Proportional Hazard Regression were used to evaluate long-term outcomes. Iterative stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis and Cox Proportional Hazard Regression were used to identify predictors of 30-day and 1-year mortality, respectively, based upon preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative factors. A total of 70 237 patients were included in analysis (TCAR=58.7%, tfCAS=41.3%). Transcarotid artery revascularization patients were older and had higher rates of comorbid conditions and high-risk medical and anatomic features than tfCAS patients. Propensity score matching yielded 22 322 pairs with no major differences between groups except that TCAR patients were older (71.6 years vs 70.8 years). At 3 years, TCAR was associated with a 24% reduction in hazard of death compared with tfCAS (hazard ratio [HR]=0.76, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.71-0.82, p<0.001), for both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. This survival advantage was established in the first 6 months (HR=0.59, 95% CI=0.53-0.62, p<0.001), with no difference in mortality risk from 6 months to 36 months (HR=0.95, 95% CI=0.86-1.05, p=0.31). Transcarotid artery revascularization was also associated with decreased hazard for 3-year stroke (HR=0.81, 95% CI=0.66-0.99, p=0.04) and stroke or death (HR=0.81, 95% CI=0.76-0.87, p<0.001) compared with tfCAS. The top predictors for 30-day and 1-year mortality were postoperative complications. The primary independent predictor was the occurrence of postoperative stroke. Transcarotid artery revascularization had a sustained mid-term survival advantage associated over tfCAS, with the benefit being established primarily within the first 6 months. Notably, our findings highlight the importance of postoperative stroke as the primary independent predictor for 30-day and 1-year mortal. The ongoing debate over the superiority of TCAR compared to tfCAS and CEA has been limited by a lack of comparative studies examining the impact of pre-operative symptoms on outcomes. Furthermore, data are scarce on mid-term outcomes for TCAR beyond the perioperative period. As a result, it remains uncertain whether the initial benefits of stroke and death reduction observed with TCAR over tfCAS persist beyond one year. Our study addresses these gaps in the literature, offering evidence to enable clinicians to assess the efficacy of TCAR for up to three years. Additionally, our study seeks to identify risk factors for postoperative mortality following TCAR, facilitating optimal patient stratification.

Determination of Pedestrian LOS for Crosswalks at Intersections - A Case Study in Shivamogga City

The main objective of this research is to identify the variables that affect the level of service (Los) of pedestrians at intersections both (signalized and unsignalized) in shivamogga city. Based on the experiences of the pedestrians at the individual in intersections. A walker’s questionnaire survey was done to gather level of service of pedestrians in terms of protection, comfort, and convenience for every crossing at signalized &amp; unsignalized intersections. Additionally, a video graphic method was employed to scan each crosswalk at the chosen three signalized and two unsignalized intersections. Pedestrian crossing time, pedestrian waiting time, pedestrian holding area, roadway width, and crosswalk surface condition were the key variables taken into account for the construction of the model. For each crossing, a considerable number of pedestrian ratings were collected, these ratings were used as the dependent variables in the analysis. In order to estimate the pedestrian level of service for each intersection's crosswalk, a stepwise multiple linear regression analysis utilizing SPSS software is used to construct a pedestrian Los model.

Contribution of the Characteristics of the Disaster Affected People to Practice the Disaster Coping Strategies

A study was conducted in Gangachara Upazila of Rangpur district, Bangladesh from September to December 2018 to determine how the characteristics of affected individuals contribute to the implementation of coping methods during disasters. Information was gathered from a sample of 302 respondents, chosen at random from the population affected by the disaster through both qualitative and quantitative techniques. Among the nineteen personal, economic, and social factors of the disaster-affected individuals, fourteen showed a positive association, two showed a negative relationship, and three showed no significant relationship with their disaster coping strategies. Stepwise multiple regression analysis identified six key variables that significantly contributed to explaining 33.6 percent of the total variations: education (23 percent), income generating activities (3.6 percent), awareness about social safety net programme (2.9 percent), disaster affected land (1.2 percent), farm size (1.9 percent), and perception of climate change (1.0 percent). Path analysis indicated that disaster-affected land had the highest direct positive value (0.589), while farm size had the highest overall indirect influence (0.643) on disaster coping strategy practices. The order of importance for the disaster coping strategies practiced by affected people is as follows: disaster affected land, education, participation in income generating activities, awareness about social safety net programme, perception of climate change, and farm size.