Variation In Individual Values Research Articles

Особенности клинических и лабораторных изменений у подростков в динамике развития новой коронавирусной инфекции

The relevance of research on a novel coronavirus infection is associated with an increase in the incidence among children since 2021, which may be due to the accumulation of mutations in the virus genome and its evolution towards increased contagiousness, replicative ability, and evasion of immune protection. While there are many studies in adults, data analyzing the clinical course of the disease in pediatric patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 are limited, particularly regarding adolescents. Objective. To study the clinical and laboratory features of the course of a novel coronavirus infection in hospitalized adolescents in Novosibirsk during the first, second and third waves of the pandemic. Мaterials and methods. A retrospective analysis of case histories of 125 children treated at Novosibirsk Children's Clinical Hospital No 6 with a confirmed diagnosis of coronavirus infection during three pandemic waves was carried out (June–August 2020, October–December 2020, June–August 2021). Based on these time intervals, three groups of adolescents admitted to the hospital during the first, second, and third waves of coronavirus infection were formed. SARS-CoV-2 RNA in nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal scrapings was determined using the PCR-RT method. Biochemical and general clinical studies were performed in accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. Statistical processing was carried out using the Satistika 7.0 software package (StatSoft, USA). Differences between the groups were assessed using the Z-test and the Mann–Whitney U test. Differences between the compared series were considered statistically significant with a probability level of 95%. Results. It was shown that during three pandemic waves (June 2020 – August 2021), more than half of the hospitalized children were adolescents. At the same time, regardless of the pandemic wave, intoxication, catarrhal and intestinal syndromes predominated in hospitalized adolescents. CNS injury symptoms were significantly less frequent in the first wave, as were skin rashes. Cough in the third wave was observed in 100% of hospitalized adolescents. The average values of the parameters of complete blood count, as well as CRP, D-dimer and ferritin had no statistically significant differences in different pandemic waves, but there was a significant variation in individual values within the groups in each wave. Key words: adolescents, coronavirus infection, COVID-19, clinical manifestations, laboratory parameters

The Ruminal Acidosis’s effect over the Milk production in dairy Cows

The ruminal acidosis is a decrease in the ruminal pH by the accumulation of acidic metabolites at this level. As a result, the proportion of ruminal volatile fatty acids and glycaemia changes with immediate repercussions on the milk production. Of the total ruminant-reticular indigestions diagnosed in a lot of 370 cows, 37.9% were represented by ruminal acidosis. Out of these, most of the cases (90.9%) had a subacute evolution, which implies difficulties of diagnosis under farm conditions. On the other hand, the amount of milk was, on average, smaller with 1.7 liters in cows with ruminal acidosis compared to the clinically healthy cows. Milk fat decreased from 3.8% to 2.8% in sick cows, by an average of 1% and had a coefficient of variation of individual values almost double compared to the values obtained in clinically healthy cows. This shows the direct implication of ruminal acidosis over milk production. Appart of ruminal paresis and indigestion, milk production’s impairment is an important clinical sign in most of the dairy cows with ruminal acidosis.

First Satellite Measurements of Carbon Dioxide in the Earth’s Atmosphere (From the SI-1 Spectrometer Aboard the Meteor Satellite in 1979)

Spectral measurements of the outgoing thermal IR radiation carried out in 1977 and 1979 (SI-1 instrument, Meteor satellite) are used for estimating the CO2 content in the Earth’s atmosphere. A special algorithm based on the technique of artificial neural networks has been developed for solving the inverse problem of determining the CO2 content. The algorithm uses experimental spectra, as well as data on temperature and humidity from the NCEP CFSR reanalysis archive. Despite the presence of a noticeable variation in individual values of CO2 content in 1977 and 1979 (330–350 ppm), the estimates clearly demonstrate the seasonal variations of the carbon dioxide content for Europe and low values for the Southern Hemisphere. The spatial and temporal averaging of the retrieved CO2 estimates gives mean winter and spring–summer values for the European region at 338.2 and 336.5 ± 3.1 ppmv, correspondingly, which is in a good agreement with the ground-based measurements at Mauna Loa station.

Development of a Framework Based on Reflective MCDA to Support Patient-Clinician Shared Decision-Making: The Case of the Management of Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors (GEP-NET) in the United States.

IntroductionWell- or moderately differentiated gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) are often slow-growing, and some patients with unresectable, asymptomatic, non-functioning tumors may face the choice between watchful waiting (WW), or somatostatin analogues (SSA) to delay progression. We developed a comprehensive multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) framework to help patients and physicians clarify their values and preferences, consider each decision criterion, and support communication and shared decision-making.MethodsThe framework was adapted from a generic MCDA framework (EVIDEM) with patient and clinician input. During a workshop, patients and clinicians expressed their individual values and preferences (criteria weights) and, on the basis of two scenarios (treatment vs WW; SSA-1 [lanreotide] vs SSA-2 [octreotide]) with evidence from a literature review, expressed how consideration of each criterion would impact their decision in favor of either option (score), and shared their knowledge and insights verbally and in writing.ResultsThe framework included benefit-risk criteria and modulating factors, such as disease severity, quality of evidence, costs, and constraints. Overall and progression-free survival being most important, criteria weights ranged widely, highlighting variations in individual values and the need to share them. Scoring and considering each criterion prompted a rich exchange of perspectives and uncovered individual assumptions and interpretations. At the group level, type of benefit, disease severity, effectiveness, and quality of evidence favored treatment; cost aspects favored WW (scenario 1). For scenario 2, most criteria did not favor either option.ConclusionsPatients and clinicians consider many aspects in decision-making. The MCDA framework provided a common interpretive frame to structure this complexity, support individual reflection, and share perspectives.FundingIpsen Pharma.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s12325-017-0653-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Comparison of lysimeters and porous ceramic cups for measuring nitrate leaching in different soil types

Environmental concerns over nitrate levels in surface and ground water have led to increased efforts to measure nitrate leaching from farmland. This study compared two methods of measuring leaching (lysimeters versus ceramic suction cups) using 12 soil monolith lysimeters (70 cm deep) containing four replicates of three contrasting New Zealand soils: Gorge silt loam, Mataura sandy loam (both stone-free soils) and Lismore stony silt loam. The ceramic suction cups were installed at 35 cm and 60 cm depths. Urea solution was surface applied at 250 kg N ha−1, followed by regular weekly irrigation. Nitrate leaching loss was calculated by combining the volume of drainage water collected from each lysimeter with the nitrate concentration in either the lysimeter drainage solution or the solution from the suction cups. Cup samples were taken twice per irrigation/drainage sequence: during irrigation and then immediately after irrigation ceased. No evidence of any difference in nitrate concentration and in cumulative leaching was observed between the first and second cup sampling times. However, there was a large variation in individual values measured by the suction cup samples. There were differences between the cumulative leaching loss measured in the lysimeter drainage and values estimated from the cups in the Gorge and Lismore soils. The cumulative leaching loss, measured from the top cups, bottom cups and lysimeter drainage, was 64, 68 and 54 kg N ha−1 respectively in the Gorge soil, 57, 68 and 62 kg N ha−1 in the Mataura soil and 61, 103 and 99 kg N ha−1 in the Lismore soil. It was concluded that suction cups were inappropriate for the determination of cumulative leaching in the structured Gorge soil and the Lismore topsoil, but ceramic cups could provide useful data on cumulative leaching in the Mataura sandy loam soil. It was hypothesised that preferential flow was likely to be the cause of the differences between the results obtained from suction cups and the lysimeter drainage, especially in the Lismore and possibly the Gorge soils, where the small sampler size was not able to capture a representative sample of the pore network responsible for the soil drainage.

Os valores dos administradores de empresas mudam ao longo da carreira? Relações entre prioridades axiológicas e tempo de formado

A hierarquia de valores individuais orienta escolhas, atitudes e comportamentos, inclusive no âmbito profissional. Um aspecto que tem merecido atenção de pesquisadores é compreender em que medida os valores (prioridades axiológicas) de uma pessoa sofrem mudanças ao longo do tempo, em diferentes estágios de sua vida e/ou carreira. Este trabalho teve por objetivo identificar a variação dos valores individuais conforme o tempo de formado de administradores de empresas. Para isso, foi administrado o inventário de valores de Schwartz junto a uma amostra de 179 administradores de empresas, egressos da Faculdade de Economia, Administração e Contabilidade da Universidade de São Paulo, formados entre 1967 e 2008. A Anova foi calculada em nível dos tipos motivacionais de valores e das dimensões bipolares. Os resultados indicaram variações no perfil axiológico dos sujeitos, à medida que aumenta o tempo de formado. Essa variação avança da priorização dos valores hedonismo e estimulação (abertura à mudança), nos primeiros anos de formado, para uma ênfase maior nos valores segurança, tradição e conformidade (conservação), em estágios mais avançados da carreira. Também há um deslocamento da priorização de valores que atendem a interesses individuais (no início da carreira) para valores que atendem a interesses coletivos (em estágios posteriores). Outros resultados, bem como implicações e possíveis causas, também são discutidos.

Research Highlights

Research Highlights

Modelling by impedance measurements of screen printing electrodes containing different ratio of poly(vinyl chloride) and cellulose acetate

Electrodes with different thick-film compositions were prepared by screen printing procedure. All the conducting inks contain graphite powder mixed with different ratios of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and cellulose acetate (CA) until homogenization. Their behaviours were investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and exhibit some modifications in electrochemical interfacial properties depending to the PVC/CA ratio. All EIS curves fit well with two different circuits corresponding to the presence or absence of PVC in the blend, and the variations of individual values of parameters deduced from impedance fits were examined.

No Regional Differences of Cytochrome P450 Expression in the Liver of Cynomolgus Monkeys (Macaca fascicularis)

Non-human primates are frequently used in toxicological studies the result of which are extrapolated to humans, but background data on drug metabolism ability among monkeys derived from different countries has not been published, especially on the key enzyme, cytochrome P450 (CYP450). We assessed the amounts of hepatic CYP450 obtained from cynomolgus monkeys of different ages and from different countries in this study. There were no regional differences of total P450 content, as well as major CYP450 isozymes (CYP 1A, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E1 and 3A4) in cynomolgus monkeys by westernblot analysis. Similarly, there were no significant differences with hybrid cynomolgus monkeys, but variations in individual values were large. As for aging, total P450 contents declined in old cynomolgus monkeys (12-32 years of age). These results indicate the usefulness of basic data of hepatic CYP450 obtained from cynomolgus monkeys of different ages and from different countries.

Agreement of Carbon Dioxide Levels Measured by Arterial, Transcutaneous and End Tidal Methods in Preterm Infants ≤28 Weeks Gestation

To assess the agreement of transcutaneous carbon dioxide (TcPCO(2)) and end tidal carbon dioxide (PetCO(2)) with arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO(2)) values in infants < 28 weeks gestational age. In all, 27 ventilated preterm infants were prospectively studied. PaCO(2) was compared with TcPCO(2) and PetCO(2) measured at three similar time points within first 24 hours after birth. The Intraclass correlation coefficients for TcPCO(2) and PaCO(2) were 0.45, 0.73 and 0.53; and for PetCO(2) and PaCO(2) were 0.61, 0.56 and 0.57 at 4, 12 and 24 hours after birth, respectively. A moderate agreement with a wide variation in individual values was observed between noninvasive methods and PaCO(2) in preterm infants in the first 24 hours. Noninvasive monitoring methods cannot be substituted for PaCO(2) analyses in preterm infants during this critical period.

Domestic magnetic field exposures in Avon

To define a protocol for surrogate measurement of magnetic field exposure by questionnaire, a series of spot and 24-hour measurements was made at 50 houses in Avon, UK. Measurements were made with Emdex ll equipment in the centres of rooms with the house power encountered at the start of the visit, and then with all power to the house isolated at the main switch. The mean spot magnetic field averaged over the 50 homes for each room varied between 0.011 and 0.023 T with an overall mean (0.0170.003) T with the power `on', and between 0.008 and 0.015 T, giving an overall mean (0.0120.002) T with power `off'. Measurements over 24 h in the three main occupancy rooms showed a distinct diurnal variation in the overall mean magnetic field of the 50 homes by a factor of three, giving a 24-hour mean of (0.0440.06) T; at the same time mean recorded personal exposure for the occupants monitored was (0.0670.08) T. These values appear low compared with, for example, USA domestic levels of magnetic field exposure demonstrated in several studies, but also show a wide variation in individual values, which could not be predicted from spot measurements.

A comparison of skinfold anthropometry and bioelectrical impedance analysis for measuring percentage body fat in patients with cirrhosis

Percentage body fat was determined by skinfold anthropometry and bioelectrical impedance analysis in 60 patients with cirrhosis, 30 of whom had overt fluid retention, and in 60 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers. In the control population the mean +/- 1SD percentage body fat assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis, 22.6 +/- 6.5%, and skinfold anthropometry, 22.5 +/- 6.9%, were comparable. However, there was considerable variation in individual values such that measurements made using bioelectrical impedance analysis could be from 9% less to 8% more than the corresponding anthropometric values. In patients with cirrhosis the mean percentage body fat assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis, 24.4 +/- 8.9%, was significantly greater than the value obtained using skinfold anthropometry, 20.3 +/- 8.4% (p < 0.01) for the whole group and for the subgroup of patients with fluid retention, 24.5 +/- 8.5% cf. 18.4 +/- 7.1% (p < 0.005); estimates of body fat in the subgroup of patients without overt fluid retention were comparable between methods, 24.4 +/- 9.4% cf. 22.1 +/- 9.2%. In the whole patient group individual measurements made using bioelectrical impedance analysis could be from 10% less to 18% more than the corresponding anthropometric values; similar degrees of variation in individual values were observed in the two patient subgroups. Bioelectrical impedance analysis should not be used interchangeably with skinfold anthropometry for assessment of percentage body fat in patients with cirrhosis, irrespective of their state of hydration.

DDT residues in human milk samples from Delhi, India.

Possible contamination of human milk through the excretion of DDT and its metabolites is a concern in India where DDT is widely used as an insecticide. To assess this risk milk samples collected from 60 lactating women admitted to hospitals in Delhi were quantitatively analyzed. 55 of the 60 milk samples showed evidence of residues of ppDDE (mean 0.176 + or - 0.382 ppm) opDDT (mean 0.046 + or - 0.011 ppm) and ppDDT (mean 0.122 + or - 0.434 ppm). The mean residue level in milk fat (mg/kg fat) was 7.280 + or - 23.240 1.428 + or - 2.697 and 1.597 + or - 5.936 respectively. A large variation in individual values was observed. The finding that ppDDE is the DDT metabolite excreted into human milk at the highest level is consistent with previous research. Daily intake of total DDT averaged 0.062 mg/kg of body weight--a value that is 12 times higher than the acceptable level of DDT (0.005 mg/kg/day) set by the World Health Organization. Although no harmful effects of DDT have been recorded to date in breastfed infants in India preventive measures aimed at reducing the body burden of DDT in lactating women are urged.

Radioimmunologische Steroidhormonbestimmungen in der Follikelflüssigkeit bei Rind und Schwein

3H-radioimmunoassays (RIA) suitable for determination of estradiol-17β (E2), estrone (E1), testosterone (T) and progesterone (P) in follicular fluid were used for investigations on cattle or sivines with spontaneous eslrus and superovulated cattle or swines with synchronized ovulation. Tlie mean intrafollicular concentrations of estrogens and progesterone during the ovilation showed a characteristic course in spite of relative high variations of individual values.

Fibrinopeptide A, beta-thromboglobulin, and fibrin degradation products as screening test for the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis.

In a group of 111 consecutive patients (mean age 65 years) with suspected deep venous thrombosis (DVT) phlebography demonstrated DVT in 51. In all patients blood tests for fibrinopeptide A (FPA), fibrin degradation products (FDP) and beta-thromboglobulin (beta-Tg) were carried out. There was a significant difference in FPA concentration between the group of patients with a positive and a negative phlebography. However, there was a wide variation of individual values in both groups. The difference in FPA concentration between the groups was not related to differences in predisposing diseases, age or sex. FDP and beta-Tg did not differ between the groups and, again, a wide variation of individual values was found in both groups. In our hands, none of these three methods reflecting activities in the hemostasis seems to be useful to diagnose DVT in clinical routine work.

Application of polyethylene glycol turbidity assay to detection of circulating immune complexes in cancer patients

A rapid, reproducible immune complex screening assay was used to quantitate levels of circulating immune complexes in the sera of normal subjects, patients with documented increases in immune complexes from rheumatoid arthritis, patients with clinically or microbiologically documented infections, and patients with cancer. Although wide variations in individual values within the groups were noted and the concurrent elevation of polyethylene glycol-circulating immune complex levels by infection was documented as expected, significant differences were found in the values in patients with cancer compared with those in normal subjects. The overall clinical application of polyethylene glycol-circulating immune complex screening is discussed and current application of screening of serial sera samples from individual patients for correlation with measurable tumor volume is proposed.

Untersuchungen über die Kutikularwachse in der Gattung Cistus L. (Cistaceae) II. Die Zusammensetzung der Alkane im Wachs von Blütenblättern

Summary In petal waxes of 15 Cistus plants of 5 different species n- and iso-alkanes are found in amounts of 0.14 % to 0.33 % of dry weight. All plants yielded a homologous series of n-alkanes ranging in chain length from C 17 to C 35 and iso-alkanes ranging from C 23 to C 35 . Dominating was n-pentacosane in the species laurifolius (39.1 %), ladaniferas (43.5 %), hirsutus (48.4 %) and n-triacosane in the species salvifolius (51.0 %) and monspeliensis (48.1 %). In all species remarkable amounts of n-C23, n-C 25 , n-C 27 , n-C 29 occur. Iso-alkanes are observed with 2.3 % to 16.5 % of the alkane-fractions, especially iso-C 29 , iso-C 31 , iso-C 33 . The results demonstrate organ specific composition of alkanes in the Cistus petals. In contrast to leaf alkanes, petal alkanes showed a shift in the dominating alkanes to shorter chain length and a flatter distribution curve, the occurrence of iso-alkanes, greater variations in individual values and characteristic alkane patterns for each Cistus species.

Uptake and loss of 14 C-dopamine by platelets from children with infantile autism.

A study of uptake and loss of14C-dopamine by platelets from 5 autistic children, 4 boys and 1 girl, 9 to 19 years of age, is reported and discussed. The results are compared with those obtained from normal, age-matched controls. There were no significant differences in the uptake or loss of dopamine in the autistic group, but there was much greater variation in individual values. In one subject, dopamine uptake and loss were both abnormally high, which may be indicative of a body defect for dopamine in platelets of autistic children. As endogenous14C-5 hydroxytryptamine and adenosine triphosphate were normal, the defect would not involve an abnormality in dopamine:adenosine triphosphate complex formation. It is suggested that these results highlight the need for more extensive investigation of brain biochemistry in autism.

Blood Values in Cows: Erythrocytes

Summary Cows (over 2½ years old) of Charolais, Hereford, Aberdeen Angus, ferscy, Friesian and Shorthorn breeds were blood sampled to estimate haemoglobin, packed cell volume and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration. Charolais cattle had significantly higher values for packed cell volume and haemoglobin. Jersey cows had significantly lower values for haemoglobin and there were significant differences in packed cell volume and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration within the 5 Jersey herds. There were wide variations in individual values irrespective of breed.

Simultaneous Determination of Liver Blood Flow and Polygonal Cell Function in Hepatobiliary Diseases

SummaryThe present paper reports values for the extraction fraction of 131I-R.B. in the liver (E. F.) — as an index of the momentary ability of the polygonal cells to extract a foreign dye from the blood passing through the liver — in 457 patients with various types of liver damage and a group of controls.This value was obtained by means of the colloidal 198Au clearance and the 131I-Rose Bengal clearance determined simultaneously. In comparison with the control group the average value of the E. F. was decreased in the group of infectious hepatitis (~ 12%), and in the group of secondary or primary cancer of the liver (~ 14%o). An increase of the E. F. was observed in the group of fatty infiltration of the liver (~ 11%) and in the group of congestive heart failure (~13%).In the groups of chronic liver diseases with and without portal hypertension the average value of E. F. was almost the same as the value in the control group, but a great variation of individual values has been noticed. According to the authors’ opinion the value of E. F. in these groups as well as in the group of infectious hepatitis is closely related to the activity of the liver disease. This may be important for deciding the therapy, especially from the viewpoint of a possible indication to perform portocaval anastomosis.