Three-year Average Research Articles

Influence of urbanization on meteorological conditions and ozone pollution in the Central Plains Urban Agglomeration, China

Changes in aerodynamic and thermal conditions caused by urbanization can impact regional meteorological conditions, subsequently affecting air quality. Updated Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) land use data and coupled with the urban canopy models (UCMs) in the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. This enabled the impact of urban land expansion on meteorological conditions and ozone (O3) concentrations to be evaluated. Urban expansion increased the temperature at 2 m (T2) and the probability of precipitation in urban expansion areas, and enhanced the surface urban heat island at night. As the expansion areas became progressively larger, the increase in T2 became more pronounced. The proportions of urban surfaces in June 2016, 2018, and 2020 compared to 2001 increased by 0.69%, 0.83%, and 1.04%, respectively, while T2 increased by 0.12, 0.19, and 0.20 °C in urban areas, respectively. With urban expansion, the O3 concentration increased by 1.12, 1.37, and 0.76 μg/m3 (three-year averages) in urban, suburban, and rural areas, respectively. After coupling a multi-layer urban canopy model (building effect parameterization, BEP), or a multi-layer urban canopy model with a building energy model including anthropogenic heat due to air conditioning (BEP + BEM, abbreviated as BEM simulation), the O3 concentration changed significantly in the urban expansion area, compared to the results of a single-layer urban canopy model (UCM). O3 concentrations decreased most in the BEP simulation (−0.77 μg/m3), while O3 concentrations increased most in the BEM simulation (+1.85 μg/m3). The average observed O3 concentration was 108.35 μg/m3 (three-year average), while the simulated value was 75.65–83.72 μg/m3 (R = 0.69−0.77). The validation results in the BEM and Global Optimal Scenario (GOS) simulations were relatively good, with the GOS simulation producing slightly better results than the BEM. The simulation of O3 in urban agglomerations could be improved by integrating the results of the UCMs.

Farmland mulching and optimized irrigation increase water productivity and seed yield by regulating functional parameters of soybean (Glycine max L.) leaves

In both arid and semi-arid regions, adopting field mulching can effectively optimize soil moisture distribution, enhance crop yields, and improve water productivity. While acknowledging its advantages, field mulching seems insufficient for maintaining high crop productivity due to the increasing frequency of extreme weather. Furthermore, drought often coincides with critical crop growth stages, necessitating the implementation of agricultural irrigation to ensure normal crop growth. Accordingly, we conducted a three-year field experiment from 2021 to 2023 including three typical field mulching methods (no mulching, NM; straw mulching, SM; plastic film mulching, FM) and three supplementary irrigation strategies (irrigated at the branching stage (V4), W1; irrigated at the pod-filling stage (R2), W2; irrigated at both the V4 and R2 stage, W3). Throughout the entire growth period, we monitored soil moisture conditions for each treatment, measured leaf physiological parameters at crucial growth stages, and assessed soybean yields and water productivity (WP). Our findings indicated that, relative to SM and NM, FM maintains optimal soil moisture balance, augments chlorophyll content, and enhances photosynthesis, resulting in an average yield increase of 17.0% and 38.3% over three growing seasons. Additionally, supplementary irrigation also significantly affects the growth and seed yield of soybean. FMW2 achieved the higher seed yield (4307.5 kg ha−1, 3-year averaged), had insignificant difference with the highest seed yield of 4568.6 kg ha−1, both significantly higher than other treatments. Similarly, the leaf area index, chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and transpiration rate (Tr) also presented insignificant difference between FMW2 and FMW3, while WUEleaf (Pn/Tr) of FMW2 obviously higher than that of FMW3. As a result, FMW2 achieved the highest WP of 12.2 kg ha−1 mm−1 over the three growing seasons, compared to the three-year average of the other treatments, the increase ranges from 5.6% to 46.7%. In summary, the FMW2 treatment optimized water distribution to meet the water demands of soybeans during the reproductive growth stages, achieving a beneficial balance between soybean seed production and WP by regulating leaf functional parameters. Future research will explore more specific irrigation scheduling techniques (e.g., precision irrigation, deficit irrigation, and sensor-based irrigation management systems) while integrating innovative agricultural film materials (e.g., biodegradable films) to further enhance crop resilience and productivity under evolving climatic conditions.

Effects of Nitrogen Fertilizer Management on Dry Matter Accumulation and Yield of Drip-Irrigated Sugar Beet in Arid Areas

Clarifying the optimal combination of N fertilizer application rate and application method can maximize the yield of drip-irrigated sugar beet in arid areas, which is of great significance for reducing farmland N pollution and achieving sustainable agricultural development. In this three-year field experiment in Xinjiang, China, the effects of three N application rates [75 kg ha−1 (N1), 150 kg ha−1 (N2), and 225 kg ha−1 (N3)] and three N application methods [the proportion of N applied at canopy rapid growth stage, taproot expansion stage, and sugar accumulation stage were (M1) 100%: 0%: 0%, (M2) 70%: 30%: 0%, and (M3) 50%: 30%: 20%] on the dry matter accumulation (DMA) and distribution, leaf senescence, yield, and agronomic N use efficiency (aNUE) of drip-irrigated sugar beet were explored. The results showed that N application (N1, N2, and N3 treatments) increased the shoot DMA by 27.7% (three-year average), 52.6%, and 83.1%, and the taproot DMA by 28.3%, 43.2%, and 61.6%, respectively (p < 0.05), compared with CK (no N supply) treatment. The N application methods M2 and M3 increased the shoot DMA by 5.6% (three-year average) and 1.0% (p > 0.05), respectively, and the taproot DMA by 7.2% and 3.6% (p < 0.05), respectively, compared with M1. In addition, M2 could delay the end of shoot and taproot growth (te) and the occurrence of maximum growth rate (tm). In particular, the N3M2 treatment increased the leaf area index (LAI) by 20.4–75.9% (p < 0.05) compared with other treatments by increasing the leaf area duration (LAD) and decreasing the leaf senescence rate (LSR). The taproot yield and sugar yield of N3M2 treatment reached the maximum at harvest time, but there was no significant difference in taproot yield and sugar yield between N3M2 treatment and N2M2 treatment. The aNUE in N2M2 treatment was the highest (p < 0.05), which was 1.29–7.85 times higher than that of other treatments. Therefore, reducing the N application rate from 225 kg·ha−1 to 150 kg·ha−1 and applying 70% and 30% of 150 kg N ha−1 at the canopy rapid growth stage and the taproot expansion stage, respectively, could achieve the goal of increasing sugar beet yield and N use efficiency. This study will provide an important reference for the sustainable production of sugar beet under drip irrigation in Xinjiang, China.

The impacts of irrigation methods and regimes on the water and nitrogen utilization efficiency in subsoiling wheat fields

Long-term rotary tillage limit water infiltration and crop productivity in North China Plain (NCP). The practice of subsoiling to fracture plow pans has made beneficial impacts on soil surface structure and water infiltration. Further, appropriate irrigation method coupled with irrigation regime can improve crop productivity in subsoiling condition. A three-year field trial (2020–2023) was carried out to assess the effects of the irrigation regime and the method on winter wheat evapotranspiration (ET), grain yield (GY), water productivity (WP), partial factor productivity from applied nitrogen (PPFN), and economic analysis. The three irrigation regimes were irrigated when soil moisture levels decreased to 70%, 60% and 50% of the field capacity (referred as H, M and L) and two irrigation methods were the surface drip irrigation (SDI) and the micro-sprinkler irrigation (MSI). The traditional flood irrigation with 70% of the field capacity in subsoiling filed was CK. The results showed optimizing irrigation method and irrigation regime significantly influenced ET, GY, WP, PPFN, and net incomes. As the irrigation amount increased, the ET first increased while GY, WP, PPFN, and net incomes increased and then slightly decreased. Based on the three-year average, the maximum GY of 9454 kg ha−1 and the net income of 11089 yuan ha−1 was achieved in SDI-M, which had WP of 2.3 kg m−3 and PPFN of 39.4 kg kg−1. At the same time, SDI-M did not result in much increase of ET (average of 405.1 mm in three seasons). Considering comprehensively ET, GY, WP, PPFN, and net incomes, to irrigate when soil moisture decreases to 60% of the field capacity by surface drip irrigation was the optimal strategy in all aspects. These results will provide a scientific reference for irrigation management in subsoiling wheat field in NCP, as well as in similar production areas worldwide.

Abstract B036: Trends in disparities in clinical trial accrual: An analysis of National Cancer Institute (NCI)-sponsored early phase clinical trials over the last 22 years

Abstract Using the NCI Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program (CTEP)-sponsored early phase oncology clinical trials database, we evaluated trends in disparities in patient enrollment over the last 22 years. Counts and percentages of enrolled patients were calculated directly from the full population of patients enrolled to CTEP-sponsored Phase 1, 2, and 1/2 trials during 2000-22. Trends in enrollment were assessed based on single-year data, four-year periods, and using a three-year rolling average. Analyses of patient residential ZIP code were restricted to patients residing and enrolled at institutions within the United States. Geographical data corresponding to patient ZIP codes was obtained using the zipcodeR package, including geographical region and median household income corresponding to each ZIP, and distance between patient residential and enrolling institution ZIPs. A total of 14,877 patients were enrolled in CTEP-sponsored early phase trials evaluated during 2000-22, with 14,342 residing and enrolled within the US. The proportion of patients aged 40-64 at enrollment decreased from 59.8% in 2000-03 to 47.5% in 2020-22, with corresponding increases in ages 65-74 (24.2% to 32.9%) and 75-84 (5.9% to 12.3%). There were fluctuations in gender, most likely based on the specific agents being studied in clinical trials enrolling at a given time. In 2020-22, 72.9% of the population was non-Hispanic white when compared to 2000-03 when enrollment of non-Hispanic whites was 83.7%. Hispanic/Latino population enrollment increased from 4.2% in years 2000-03 to 6.9% in years 2020-22. Asian/Pacific Islander population increased from 2.5% in 2000-03 to 5.4% in 2020-22. Enrollment of non-Hispanic Black patients increased slightly over the last 20 years (6.3% to 7.1%), as did the proportion with unknown or unspecified race/ethnicity (3.3% to 7.6%). Trial enrollment trends by geographic regions revealed that enrollment in South and West overall increased (29.1% to 40.9%; 7.9% to 18.2%), Northeast representation remained static (23.9% to 20.8%) and Midwest representation decreased (24.4% to 19.4%) from 2000-03 to 2020-22. Most early phase participants in our database were from localities with a moderate median household income ($52,200 - $156,600; 51.9% to 59.4%), with an increase in representation from low-income localities (income < $52,000; 31.1% to 37.7%) over the last 22 years. We observed an overall increase in patients enrolling within a 50-mile radius of their residence over the 22-year period (46.5% to 64.5%) and an overall decrease in patients traveling over 200 miles to enroll in clinical trials (16.1% to 8.3%). We also examined trends in disparities during the COVID-19 pandemic and saw no significant differences in trial enrollment by race/ethnicity and gender when compared to pre-pandemic enrollment. Disparities in patients enrolled in early-phase clinical trials have marginally improved over the span of two decades, and outreach and inclusion efforts for enrollment of underrepresented patients should be continued to sustain these observed trends. Citation Format: Maria Farooq, Elad Sharon, Naoko Takebe, Ana F. Best, Shanda Finnigan. Trends in disparities in clinical trial accrual: An analysis of National Cancer Institute (NCI)-sponsored early phase clinical trials over the last 22 years [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr B036.

Optimizing delayed sowing date decreases methane emissions from paddies and ensures the comprehensive benefits of rice production

Adjusting the sowing date presents a cost-effective and advantageous practice to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on agricultural cultivation. However, its impact on the comprehensive benefits of rice production in terms of methane (CH4) emissions remains uncertain. During the 2019–2021 rice growing season, field studies with different sowing dates were carried out, including a conventional sowing date (CS) and a delayed sowing date of 10 days (DS1) and 20 days (DS2) from the conventional sowing date. CH4 fluxes were monitored using a transparent box-high precision greenhouse gas analyzer (LGR). During the crucial growth stage of rice, the physicochemical properties and enzyme activities of the soils were assessed, while both atmospheric and soil temperatures were recorded. Changes in rice yields were analyzed, and the comprehensive benefits of rice production were calculated. The results demonstrated a significant decrease in the peak of CH4 flux with the delayed sowing date, and the growth stages of rice characterized by high cumulative CH4 emissions were observed to be delayed. Compared to CS, DS1 and DS2 exhibited reductions in cumulative CH4 emissions by 29.98 % and 56.61 %, respectively (three-year average). Atmospheric and soil temperatures showed significant increasing exponential correlations with CH4 fluxes, and temperature sensitivity decreased with the delay of sowing date. The delayed sowing date resulted in more stable changes in soil carbon and nitrogen levels, elevated soil pH, and diminished soil enzyme activity, which could potentially serve as a mechanism for mitigating CH4 flux. DS1 improved the solar radiation and heat utilization efficiency of rice and promoted the growth of panicles and grains, so the yield increased by 20.16 % compared with CS. However, the growth period of DS2 was insufficient for photosynthetic product formation and posed a risk of yield reduction, with an average decrease of 6.46 % over the three-year average. Relative to CS, DS1 effectively reduced cumulative CH4 emissions while ensuring an increase in production, resulting in a 28.90 % increase in comprehensive benefits. Although DS2 achieved greater reductions in cumulative CH4 emissions, the decline in yield resulted in a 7.73 % decrease in comprehensive benefits. In summary, optimizing delayed sowing (delayed sowing for 10 days) is conducive to achieving rice yield and CH4 emission reduction, and this finding provides important and novel insights for eco-efficient rice planting.

Partiküler Hava Kirliliğinin Bebek Ölümlerine Kısa Dönemdeki Etkisi: 2018-2020 Yılları Ankara İli Örneği

Background: Today, nine out of 10 people on a global scale live in an air pollution environment above the limit values determined. It is predicted that particulate air pollution is a risk factor for 5.3% of deaths under the age of one in Türkiye. In order to examine the causes of infant deaths and take necessary precautions, it is important to investigate air pollution and the possibilities of infant death due to. Aims: This study was carried out to examine the relationship between Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5 and (PM)10 levels observed in Ankara between the years 2018-2020 and infant deaths that occurred at that time. Methods: To examine the relationship poisson regression model, in which the terms formed by the flexible cubic spline function, were mainly used. The effect of each 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 and PM10 on infant mortality, taking into account lags of up to seven days by adjusting for seasonal trends and air temperature effects, was determined by relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) analyzed by calculation. Results: In the evaluated period, 1295 infant deaths occurred in 754 of 1096 days. The three-year average of the daily average PM2.5 and PM10 levels detected in Ankara is above the limit values. Conclusion: The effect of particulate air pollution on infant mortality in the first week was not detected, this relationship may become detectable when different variables such as possible effect modifiers are included in the models applied. The subject should also be examined under such different conditions.

Assessment of the straw and biochar application on greenhouse gas emissions and yield in paddy fields under intermittent and controlled irrigation patterns

Water-saving irrigation and straw and biochar application are common agronomic practices in rice production, and their profound impact on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from paddy soils cannot be ignored. A three-year field experiment was conducted in typical paddy fields in the subtropical region of eastern China. The methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions with straw or biochar application under intermittent irrigation (II) and controlled irrigation (CI) patterns were systematically assessed, and relevant soil physicochemical properties were measured to clarify the internal linking mechanisms. Five treatments were established: conventional flooding as the control group (CG), intermittent irrigation + straw (II + S), intermittent irrigation + biochar (II + B), controlled irrigation + straw (CI + S), and controlled irrigation + biochar (CI + B). The cumulative CH4 emissions with II + S, II + B, CI + S, and CI + B were reduced by 11.2%, 33.2%, 14.1%, and 40.3%, respectively； while the cumulative N2O emissions increased by 20.2%, 5.8%, 13.6%, and 1.2%, respectively (three-year average). Each treatment significantly reduced the global warming potential (GWP) by 10.1–44.8%, and increased rice grain yield by 7.9–13.3%, significantly reducing the greenhouse gas emission intensity (GHGI) by 16.7–46.7%. With II and CI, straw or biochar application increased the soil pH, ground temperature at 5 cm depth, and soil nitrogen levels and regulated the SOM and DOC contents, which may be closely related to greenhouse gas emission regulation and improvements to soil fertility. Notably, the decrease in the soil mcrA/pmoA gene abundance ratio was a dominant factor in CH4 reduction. Overall, each treatment has the potential to reduce GHG emissions and increase crop productivity in paddy fields, and CI + B achieved the best results. These practices facilitate the development of optimal management strategies for rice cultivation.

Long-term exposure to ambient PM2.5 constituents is associated with dyslipidemia in Chinese adults

BackgroundAmbient particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 µm (PM2.5) consists of various toxic constituents. However, the health effect of PM2.5 may differ depending on its constituents, but the joint effect of PM2.5 constituents remains incompletely understood. ObjectiveOur goal was to evaluate the joint effect of long-term PM2.5 constituent exposures on dyslipidemia and identify the most hazardous chemical constituent. MethodsThis study included 67,015 participants from the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort study. The average yearly levels of PM2.5 constituents for all individuals at their residences were assessed through satellite remote sensing and chemical transport modeling. Dyslipidemia was defined as one or more following abnormal blood lipid concentrations: total cholesterol (TC) ≥ 6.22 mmol/L, triglycerides (TG) ≥ 2.26 mmol/L, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) < 1.04 mmol/L, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) ≥ 4.14 mmol/L. The logistic regression model was utilized to examine the single effect of PM2.5 constituents on dyslipidemia, while the weighted quantile sum regression model for the joint effect. ResultsThe odds ratio with a 95 % confidence interval for dyslipidemia positively related to per-SD increase in the three-year average was 1.29 (1.20–1.38) for PM2.5 mass, 1.25 (1.17–1.34) for black carbon, 1.24 (1.16–1.33) for ammonium, 1.33 (1.24–1.43) for nitrate, 1.34 (1.25–1.44) for organic matter, 1.15 (1.08–1.23) for sulfate, 1.30 (1.22–1.38) for soil particles, and 1.12 (1.05–1.92) for sea salt. Stronger associations were observed in individuals < 65 years of age, males, and those with low physical activity. Joint exposure to PM2.5 constituents was positively related to dyslipidemia (OR: 1.09, 95 %CI: 1.05–1.14). Nitrate was identified as the constituent with the largest weight (weighted at 0.387). ConclusionsLong-term exposure to PM2.5 constituents poses a significant risk to dyslipidemia and nitrate might be the most responsible for the risk. These findings indicate that reducing PM2.5 constituent exposures, especially nitrate, could be beneficial to alleviate the burden of disease attributed to PM2.5-related dyslipidemia.

A Multiple Linear Regression Analysis to Measure the Journal Contribution to the Social Attention of Research

This paper proposes a three-year average of social attention as a more reliable measure of the social impact of journals since the social attention of research can vary widely among scientific articles, even within the same journal. The proposed measure is used to evaluate a journal’s contribution to social attention in comparison to other bibliometric indicators. This study uses Dimensions as a data source and examines research articles from 76 disciplinary libraries and information science journals through multiple linear regression analysis. This study identifies socially influential journals whose contribution to social attention is twice that of scholarly impact, as measured by citations. In addition, this study finds that the number of authors and open access have a moderate effect on social attention, while the journal impact factor has a negative effect and funding has a small effect.

Risk factors for testicular adrenal rest tumors in pediatric patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia

Testicular adrenal rest tumors (TARTs) predominantly occur in patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and may interfere with the function of the testicles. This study aimed to identify the factors that contribute to the occurrence of TARTs in patients with CAH and influence their volume. This was a comparative cross-sectional study. Male patients aged 0-16 years with CAH were included. Weight, height, bone age determination, biochemical and androgenic profiles, and testicular ultrasound were performed. Patients were divided into those with and without TARTs and the between-group differences were assessed using the Mann-Whitey U test and Fisher's exact test. A ROC curve was created for serum ACTH levels to identify the cut-off point to diagnose TARTs. Variables that influenced the volume of the TARTs were identified using Spearman's correlation coefficient. TARTs were observed in seven (19.4%) of 36 male children with CAH. Of the patients with TARTs, 85.7% were pubertal. Serum concentrations of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels were significantly higher in patients with TARTs than in those without (309.0pg/mL vs. 45.2pg/mL; p=0.006). ACTH levels >200pg/mL were found to predict the presence of TARTs (sensitivity 85.7%; specificity 86.2%) (Figure). The factors found to correlate with TARTs volume were ACTH levels (coefficient 0.004; p=0.009) and the three-year average of serum testosterone levels (coefficient 9.64; p=0.003).] DISCUSSION: The main limitation of this study was the small sample size. However, an ACTH cut-off point to predict insufficient hormonal treatment and consequently the presence of TART had not been described. High ACTH (>200pg/mL) was found to be predictive insufficient hormonal treatment in patients with CAH. The three-year average of serum testosterone levels and ACTH concentrations were correlated with the volume of TARTs.

Relationship of long-term air pollution exposure with asthma and rhinitis in Italy: an innovative multipollutant approach

Backgroundair pollution is a complex mixture; novel multipollutant approaches could help understanding the health effects of multiple concomitant exposures to air pollutants. Aimto assess the relationship of long-term air pollution exposure with the prevalence of respiratory/allergic symptoms and diseases in an Italian multicenter study using single and multipollutant approaches. Methods14420 adults living in 6 Italian cities (Ancona, Pavia, Pisa, Sassari, Turin, Verona) were investigated in 2005–2011 within 11 different study cohorts. Questionnaire information about risk factors and health outcomes was collected. Machine learning derived mean annual concentrations of PM10, PM2.5, NO2 and mean summer concentrations of O3 (μg/m3) at residential level (1-km resolution) were used for the period 2013–2015. The associations between the four pollutants and respiratory/allergic symptoms/diseases were assessed using two approaches: a) logistic regression models (single-pollutant models), b) principal component logistic regression models (multipollutant models). All the models were adjusted for age, sex, education level, smoking habits, season of interview, climatic index and included a random intercept for cohorts. Resultsthe three-year average (± standard deviation) pollutants concentrations at residential level were: 20.3 ± 6.8 μg/m3 for PM2.5, 29.2 ± 7.0 μg/m3 for PM10, 28.0 ± 11.2 μg/m3 for NO2, and 70.9 ± 4.3 μg/m3 for summer O3. Through the multipollutant models the following associations emerged: PM10 and PM2.5 were related to 14–25% increased odds of rhinitis, 23–34% of asthma and 30–33% of night awakening; NO2 was related to 6–9% increased odds of rhinitis, 7–8% of asthma and 12% of night awakening; O3 was associated with 37% increased odds of asthma attacks. Overall, the Odds Ratios estimated through the multipollutant models were attenuated when compared to those of the single-pollutant models. Conclusionsthis study enabled to obtain new information about the health effects of air pollution on respiratory/allergic outcomes in adults, applying innovative methods for exposure assessment and multipollutant analyses.

Impact of medicinal chemistry integration in Pharm.D. programmes on first-time NAPLEX pass rates

Objectives: To address the impact of instructing medicinal chemistry in an integrated versus stand-alone fashion on three-year average of first-time NAPLEX (North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination) pass rates of all United States of America Pharmacy programmes. Methods: A review of each programme’s publicly available curriculum on their official webpage revealed medicinal chemistry as integrated (horizontal or vertical), or standalone course forms. Fisher’s exact and the ANOVA tests were performed to assess the primary outcome and covariates. Results: Out of a total of 136 eligible programmes, 80 programmes (61.5%) stated that medicinal chemistry content was integrated with other foundational sciences content (‘horizontal integration’), while 38 (29.2%) stated that medicinal chemistry was a standalone course. Medicinal chemistry is integrated with pharmacotherapy courses ('vertically integrated’) in remaining 12 programmes (9.2%). Conclusion: A conclusion could not be made regarding the impact of medicinal chemistry instruction on NAPLEX outcome due to other underlying factors; however, this study provided a framework for future research.

Understanding Rising Concentration at the Extremes of the U.S. Income Distribution

We explore the importance of income fluctuations at the top of the U.S. income distribution in understanding rising income concentration. Very high income families—including the top .001 percent—account for much of the recent top income growth, but are under-studied even in the literature exploring high-income groups. Using 3-year panels of tax records from 1997 to 2013 we document that top-income shares are lower—typically by about 20 percent—when measured by using a three-year income average, and that cyclical income fluctuations are greatest at the very top of the income distribution. Trends toward rising concentration over time, however, cannot be explained by these fluctuations, as growth in top-income shares is comparable for annual and three-year average income, and measured income dispersion has increased only for the very top group. Further, the probability of remaining in the highest income groups over multiple years increased over the sample period.

Comparing Effect of FOXO3 Gene and Urban-Rural Environment on Longevity: a Cohort Study among Older Adults in China

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Empirical evidence points to urban residents having better health than their rural counterparts in several countries. Since lifespan has complex environmental and genetic underpinnings, we aim to study the effects of FOXO3 and the urban-rural disparity on mortality. METHODS: We used the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). The study cohort conducted surveys from 2008 to 2014, roughly biennially. The geographical distribution encompassed 22 out of 34 provinces in China. We used tagging SNPs rs2253310, rs2802292, and rs4946936 to identify the FOXO3A gene. We used residence classifications: village, town, and city. We used the Cox-proportional hazard regression models to assess the main effects and interaction of FOXO SNPs and residence on mortality risk adjusted for covariates. We conducted analysis to assess the effects of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations (three-year annual average, 1km×1km grid) and residential greenness (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), 500-meter radius) around participant residences. RESULTS:Among the 3179 participants, the baseline mean age was 85.1 (SD: 11.3) years, 1688 (53%) were female, 32.1% lived in urban areas (city/town), and 67.9% lived in the rural areas (village). The distributions of the six SNPs of FOXO3A are even across populations of different demographic characteristics (except for age and gender), indicating mendelian randomization. We found FOXO3A to have a protective effect on mortality [HR (95% CI): rs2802292 GG vs TT/TG: 0.825 (0.688, 0.989); rs2253310 CC vs. GG/GC 0.825 (0.689,0.989); rs4946936 TT vs. CC: 0.805 (0.655, 0.989)]. We found participants living in rural areas to have a lower risk of mortality [HR of the urban vs. the rural: 0.825 (95% CI: 0.735, 0.926)]. CONCLUSIONS:Higher air pollution and lower residential greenness both contributed to higher mortality. The effect size of the beneficial effect of FOXO3 on mortality is roughly equivalent to that living in urban areas. KEYWORDS: Longevity, FOXO3A, gene-environment interaction, air pollution, PM2.5, greenness

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on organised cervical cancer screening: The first results of the Slovenian cervical screening programme and registry.

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic threatens the impact of cervical cancer screening and global cervical cancer elimination goals. As cervical cancer screening programmes were adjusting to the new situation, we evaluated the intensity, quality, and outcomes of cervical cancer screening in Slovenia in the first seven months of the pandemic.MethodsHistorical observational study on data from a population-based cervical cancer screening registry. Number of cervical cytopathology (screening and follow-up), histopathology (diagnostic procedures, invasive procedures and number of newly diagnosed CIN2+ cases) and HPV test results from the entire Slovenian women population between January 1st and September 30th 2020 were compared to a three-year average of the years 2017–19.FindingsA two-month screening lock-down between March 12th and May 8th 2020 resulted in an epidemic deficit of screening (-92%), follow-up (-70%), and HPV triage tests (-68%), as well as invasive diagnostic (-47%) and treatment (-15%) of cervical lesions. Time to diagnosis and treatment did not increase; times to laboratory results fluctuated but stayed within standards. Slovenia has entered the second epidemic intending to add as little as possible to the pandemic deficit of screening smears (-23%) and yearly CIN2+ cases (-10%). Women aged 30–39 were most affected, with the highest pandemic deficit of screening smears (-26%) and yearly CIN2+ cases (-19%).InterpretationThe pandemic has deeply affected all levels of our lives. New vulnerable groups and inequalities have emerged that require recognition and action. To prevent long-term increases in the cervical cancer burden due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial that organised screening is maintained and monitored in settings where it can be safely and comprehensively provided.FundingNone.

The effect of year and genotype on productivity and quality of potato

The study presents results of a three-year experiment of variability of different potato varieties in Montenegro: early maturity varieties (Riviera), medium early (Almera, Aladin and Bounty) and medium late (Agria, Margarita, Kennebec and Desiree). The research was conducted during 2015, 2016 and 2017, in acid, brown soil and three different climatic locations: Nedakusi (556 m a.s.l.), Sutivan (680 m a.s.l.) and Orahovica (900 m a.s.l.). Field experiments were set up using standard methodology in random block design in three repetitions. The analysis of variance suggest that number of tubers per plant, mean tuber weight, yield of small tubers, marketable and total yields were significantly fluctuating depending on genotype (G), year (Y) and the location (L). In addition to individual influences of different factors, their interactions were also pronounced (G x Y, G x L, Y x L, G x Y x L). In the three-year period average, the highest total yield was recorded in Nedakusi (31.41 t ha-1), followed by Sutivan (21.35 t ha-1), while the lowest average yield (17.36 t ha-1) was recorded in Orahovica. As expected, on the three-year average, the highest percentage of dry matter was found in late varieties Agria - 25.46%, then Desiree - 25.33%, followed by Kennebec with 25.13%, while the lowest percentage of dry matter was found in medium early variety Almera - 20.82%. The highest average yield of tubers in the three-year period was recorded in the Aladin variety, followed by Agria and Desiree, while the lowest average yield was recorded in the variety Riviera. Obtained results show that the highest yields over observed locations were recorded in medium early varieties that formed high number of tubers per plant (Aladin) and medium late varieties (Desiree and Agria) give satisfactory and stable yields.

78. Acute Respiratory Illnesses in Children During the sars-cov-2 Pandemic: A Prospective Multicenter Surveillance Study

BackgroundA state of emergency was declared in the United States (US) on March 13, 2020 in response to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Healthcare providers had to alter practice patterns and research priorities. We assessed the frequency of acute respiratory illnesses (ARI) in children, notably those due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza, before and during the pandemic.MethodsWe conducted multi-center active prospective ARI surveillance in children as part of the New Vaccine Surveillance Network. Children < 18 years with fever and/or respiratory symptoms were enrolled in emergency department and inpatient settings at seven US medical centers over four respiratory seasons during 2016–2020 (Fig 1). Pandemic-related restrictions to patient access limited enrollment in some sites beginning March 2020. Respiratory specimens were collected and tested at each site for RSV and influenza by qRT-PCR. Data were analyzed by calendar weeks. We compared the cumulative proportions of RSV and influenza detection after week 13 in 2020 to the previous seasons using Fisher’s exact test.Figure 1. Numbers of Eligible and Enrolled Acute Respiratory Illness Cases, and Proportions of RSV and Influenza Detection by Week, Stratified by Study Season ResultsOf 44,247 eligible children, 25,375 (57%) were enrolled and tested for RSV and/or influenza. A total of 6351/25375 (25%) and 3446/25372 (14%) children were RSV and influenza-positive over the four seasons, respectively. In 2020, we noted a rapid drop in eligible and enrolled ARI subjects after weeks 11–13 (Fig 1). During weeks 13–18 in 2016–2019, the three-year average of eligible and enrolled subjects was 1802 and 978, respectively. However, over the same period in 2020, there were 675 eligible and 278 enrolled subjects, representing declines of 62.5% and 71.6% respectively (Fig 1). In 2020, there were no RSV or influenza cases detected in weeks 15–18, and the cumulative proportions of RSV and influenza detection after week 13 were lower compared to previous seasons (p< 0.001) (Figs 1 and 2).Figure 2. Cumulative Proportions of Weekly RSV and Influenza Detection by Study Season ConclusionThere was a considerable decline in ARI visits and the proportion of RSV and influenza detection across seven distinct geographic sites during the pandemic compared with previous seasons. These findings might be attributable to social distancing measures to lessen the spread of SARS-CoV-2, changes in healthcare-seeking behaviors, and limited access to medical care.Disclosures Zaid Haddadin, MD, CDC (Grant/Research Support, Research Grant or Support)Quidel Corporation (Grant/Research Support, Research Grant or Support)sanofi pasteur (Grant/Research Support, Research Grant or Support) John V. Williams, MD, GlaxoSmithKline (Advisor or Review Panel member)IDConnect (Advisor or Review Panel member)Quidel (Advisor or Review Panel member) Christopher J. Harrison, MD, GSK (Grant/Research Support, Infant menigiciccal B conjugate vaccine trial)Merck (Research Grant or Support, Infant pneumococcal conjugate vaccine trial) Janet A. Englund, MD, AstraZeneca (Scientific Research Study Investigator)GSK group of companies (Scientific Research Study Investigator)Meissa vaccines (Consultant)Merck (Scientific Research Study Investigator)Sanofi Pasteur (Consultant) Natasha B. Halasa, MD, MPH, Genentech (Other Financial or Material Support, I receive an honorarium for lectures - it’s a education grant, supported by genetech)Karius (Consultant)Moderna (Consultant)Quidel (Grant/Research Support, Research Grant or Support)Sanofi (Grant/Research Support, Research Grant or Support)

Sandhill Crane abundance in Nebraska during spring migration: making sense of multiple data points

The USFWS conducts an annual one-day aerial survey of the North and Central Platte River Valleys, generally on the fourth Tuesday in March, to estimate the abundance of the midcontinent Sandhill Crane population. However, these abundance indices demonstrate unrealistic inter-annual variation as a result of deviations in migration chronology and other factors. Additional research efforts have been undertaken within the region to estimate Sandhill Crane abundance over time and space but these projects generally seek to answer unique questions, employ differing survey methods, and cover overlapping yet distinct survey areas. Despite the wealth of information there remains significant uncertainty regarding the actual abundance of Sandhill Cranes in Nebraska during the peak of migration. We conducted a model-based metadata analysis relying on the distinctive strengths of three databases to assess USFWS data, identify annual abundance estimates that may not be robust, and developed parameter-based and factorbased corrections to USFWS indices from 2000 to 2019. Our analyses suggest that at the peak of spring migration there is likely between 1.1 and 1.4 million Sandhill Cranes in the North and Central Platte River Valleys of Nebraska. Our best performing models indicated the most likely peak estimate was 1.27 million Sandhill Cranes with approximately 220,000 in the North Platte River Valley and 1,050,000 in the Central Platte River Valley in both 2018 and 2019. Our assessment suggests that 25% of USFWS aerial estimates are robust, with the rest representing underestimates as both exogenous and endogenous factors such as migration chronology and survey methodology serve to bias indices downward. Given this downward bias, the three-year running average used by the USFWS actually provides a robust estimate for only 5–15% of the years analyzed. By contrast, we found that a five-year rolling maximum provides a robust estimate for 70–75% of the years analyzed.

Scottish Burden of Disease (SBOD) study: developments and findings of local estimates

BackgroundA criticism of Burden of Disease (BOD) estimates has been that they only provide evidence for national policy and aren’t relevant for local needs. This has led to a growing call for BOD studies to provide more granular estimates for sub-national geographies, particularly within European countries, to help support local policy makers with evidence-based decision making.&#x0D; AimTo develop local BOD estimates and investigate inequalities in BOD within and across local areas of Scotland.&#x0D; MethodsEstimates of Years Lived with Disability (YLD), Years of Life Lost (YLL), DALYs (Disability-adjusted Life Years), prevalent cases and mortality counts were developed for 68 conditions. Morbidity estimates were calculated based on a three-year average of 5-year age-group, sex and deprivation decile rates per person (from the SBOD 2016 study) which were applied to 2016 mid-year local population estimates. Mortality estimates were based on a three-year average (2014-16) sourced from the National Records of Scotland register of deaths. Direct age-standardised rates and numbers were produced for regions (3), NHS boards (14) and local authorities (32) by age-group and sex.&#x0D; ResultsAcross local authorities the male rate of all-cause DALYs ranged from 20,996 (per 100,000 population) to 33,442 and the female rate of all-cause DALYs ranged from 19,889 to 27,684. Inequalities in age-group (15-24; 25-44; 45-64; and 65+ years) differences between all-cause DALYs rates in the area with the highest and lowest rates ranged from 58.4% to 98.0% in males. Comparable estimates were slightly lower for females, but inequalities in rates were wider (41.4% to 87.4%).&#x0D; ConclusionInequalities in BOD across areas highlight the need for action at all levels. These local estimates provide a huge opportunity to work towards and beyond the 2020 vision of the Scottish Government by ensuring that we have the right workforce and services to achieve a healthier Scotland.