Category: Nevin Manimala

J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2022 Apr 6:gbac057. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbac057. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: We traced the historical arc of the rise in gray divorce (i.e., divorce that occurs among adults aged 50 and older) in the U.S. since 1970, elucidating unique patterns for middle-aged (aged 50-64) versus older (aged 65+) adults.

METHODS: Data from the 1970, 1980, and 1990 U.S. Vital Statistics Reports and the 2010 and 2019 American Community Survey (ACS) were used to chart the trends in gray divorce over the past half century. Drawing on the 2019 ACS, we estimated gray divorce rates across sociodemographic subgroups for today’s middle-aged and older adults. We pooled the 2010 (N = 757,835) and 2019 (N = 892,714) ACS data to assess whether divorce risks are shifting for middle-aged versus older adults.

RESULTS: The gray divorce rate was low and grew only modestly between 1970 and 1990 before doubling by 2010. Since 2010, the rate has decreased slightly (but the decrease is not statistically significant). The gray divorce rate has stagnated among middle-aged adults but continues to climb among older adults.

DISCUSSION: Our study illustrates the graying of divorce over the past half century. Nowadays, 36% of U.S. adults getting divorced are aged 50 or older. The only age group with an increasing divorce rate is adults aged 65+, raising new questions about how they will navigate old age.

PMID:35385579 | DOI:10.1093/geronb/gbac057

PLoS One. 2022 Apr 6;17(4):e0266567. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0266567. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

Oxidative stress has a major role in disease pathogenesis. However, limited studies have investigated the effect of various sample collection tubes on oxidative biomarkers. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of different collection tubes on the variation of malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), total thiol (t-SH), and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) levels. A total of 35 individuals participated in this study and each collected sample was separated into three different tubes: glass tubes (GTs), plain plastic tubes (PTs), and gel separator tubes (GSTs). The results of PTs and GSTs were compared to those of GTs as the reference tube. The comparison between the means of biomarkers in various tubes indicated that there was no significant difference in MDA results between tubes. In contrast, t-SH and NO content were significantly decreased in GSTs and PTs compared to GTs. However, the Bland-Altman analysis showed an acceptable concordance for the mentioned analytes and the statistically significant differences were not clinically significant for NO, MDA, and t-SH antioxidant parameters. Moreover, the FRAP level was considerably lower in GSTs compared to GTs. Nevertheless, the Bland-Altman analysis showed a high bias percentage for the FRAP assay when using PTs and GSTs. According to the present results, it can be concluded that switching to plastic blood collection tubes or serum separation tubes could influence the FRAP results. However, there was no interference for the interpretation of other antioxidant assays in different types of collection tubes. Hence, it is suggested to use GTs for total antioxidant capacity evaluations, especially the FRAP assay.

PMID:35385561 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0266567

PLoS One. 2022 Apr 6;17(4):e0266541. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0266541. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

Thermal remote sensing is an important tool for monitoring regional climate and environment, including urban heat islands. However, it suffers from a relatively lower spatial resolution compared to optical remote sensing. To improve the spatial resolution, various “data-driven” image processing techniques (pan-sharpening, kernel-driven methods, and machine learning) have been developed in the previous decades. Such empirical super-resolution methods create visually appealing thermal images; however, they may sacrifice radiometric consistency because they are not necessarily sensitive to specific sensor features. In this paper, we evaluated a “sensor-driven” super-resolution approach that explicitly considers the sensor blurring process, to ensure radiometric consistency with the original thermal image during high-resolution thermal image retrieval. The sensor-driven algorithm was applied to a cloud-free Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) scene of heterogeneous urban and suburban landscape that included built-up areas, low mountains with a forest, a lake, croplands, and river channels. Validation against the reference high-resolution thermal image obtained by the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) shows that the sensor-driven algorithm can downscale the MODIS image to 250-m resolution, while maintaining a high statistical consistency with the original MODIS and ASTER images. Part of our algorithm, such as radiometric offset correction based on the Mahalanobis distance, may be integrated with other existing approaches in the future.

PMID:35385560 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0266541

PLoS One. 2022 Apr 6;17(4):e0266612. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0266612. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: University students’ psychological health is linked to their academic satisfaction. This study aimed to investigate students’ psychological health and academic satisfaction in the context of COVID-19 and academic year-end stress.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Standardized self-filled scales for anxiety, depression, stress, psychological well-being, academic satisfaction (subjective assessment of students’ quality of life in their educational setting), and an ad-hoc scale for stress on the learning experience due to COVID-19 were used in this cross-sectional study. Participants were first- to third-year students of eight different health-related tracks in Geneva, Switzerland. Descriptive statistics and hierarchical regression analyses were applied.

RESULTS: In June 2020, out of 2835 invited students, 433 (15%) completed the survey. Academic satisfaction was a stronger mental health predictor than COVID-19 stress on the learning experience, which mainly predicted stress and anxiety. Lower academic satisfaction scores were significantly associated with stress (β = -0.53, p < 0.001), depression (β = -0.26, p < 0.001), anxiety (β = -0.20, p < 0.001), while higher scores with psychological well-being (β = 0.48, p < 0.001). Identifying as female was strongly associated with anxiety and stress but not with depression or psychological well-being. Lower age was associated with stress only. The nature of the academic training had a lesser impact on mental health and the academic year had no impact.

CONCLUSIONS: Academic satisfaction plays a more substantial role than COVID-19 stress on the learning experience in predicting students’ overall mental health status. Training institutions should address the underlying factors that can enhance students’ academic satisfaction, especially during the COVID-19 period, in addition to ensuring that they have a continuous and adequate learning experience, as well as access to psychosocial services that help them cope with mental distress and enhance their psychological well-being.

PMID:35385555 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0266612

PLoS One. 2022 Apr 6;17(4):e0265754. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265754. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

Sex determination of the human pelvis has traditionally been done through visual analyses of morphoscopic traits and there are limited metric methods available to forensic anthropologists to add metric credibility to these analyses. The goal of this research was to create an improved metric method using three-dimensional geometric morphometrics to determine sex from both whole and modeled fragmented human pubic bones. The sample consisted of n = 378 pubic bones from the University of New Mexico’s Maxwell Museum Documented Skeletal Collection and eight landmarks were collected from each bone. Statistical analyses and machine learning algorithms were used to predict the accuracy of the method’s ability to classify a bone as male or female on both whole and simulated fragmented remains; this included tests run on each possible landmark combination of three or more landmarks to simulate fragmented bones (218 combinations). The results of the whole bone analysis resulted in 95.35% testing accuracy. The results of the modeled fragmentary analysis consisted of 164 combinations which exhibit a 90% or higher accuracy in sex prediction; and twelve combinations which exhibit 96% or higher accuracy in sex prediction. In particular, two landmarks clustered around the ventral arc of the pubic bone performed the best, indicating this is the most sexually dimorphic portion of the bone. These results indicate that three-dimensional geometric morphometrics is a valid method to be applied to sex determination in forensic anthropology.

PMID:35385554 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0265754

PLoS One. 2022 Apr 6;17(4):e0265549. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265549. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

The Covid-19 global pandemic that began in March 2020 was not fully mitigated through governmental Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs) and continued to infect people and take lives through 2021. Since many countries were affected by the second, third, and fourth waves of Covid-19, governments extended and strengthened NPIs, but these actions led to citizen protests and fatigue. In this study, we investigate the effect of a lockdown policy on Covid-19 third wave implemented by the province of Ontario, Canada, on April 3rd 2021, followed by a stay-at-home order on April 7th 2021 while free Covid-19 testing and vaccination were in progress. Herein, the effect of both NPIs and vaccination are considered simultaneously. We used the prevalence of Covid-19 cases, tests, and administered vaccines data reported publicly by the Government of Ontario on their website. Because mobility changes can reflect the behaviors and adherence of residents with a stay-at-home order, Covid-19 community mobility data for Ontario provided by Google was also considered. A statistical method called interrupted time series was used to analyze the data. The results indicated that, although vaccinations helped to control the Covid-19 infection rate during this time, the stay-at-home order caused a rate reduction by decreasing the trend of the Covid-19 prevalence by 13 (±0.8962) persons per million daily and the level by 33 (±7.6854) persons per million. Furthermore, the stay-at-home order resulted in approximately a 37% reduction in Covid-19 prevalence one week after the intervention’s effective date. Therefore, Ontario’s strict lockdown policy, including several NPIs, mitigated the Covid-19 surge during the third wave. The results show that even when vaccination is in progress, strict NPIs such as lockdown is required to control Covid-19 waves, and early re-openings should be avoided. These results may also be useful for other countries that have implemented delayed vaccination schedules.

PMID:35385547 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0265549

PLoS One. 2022 Apr 6;17(4):e0266607. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0266607. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness and macular thickness (MT) between patients with non-diabetic chronic kidney disease (NDCKD) and controls, as well as between different stages of NDCKD. We also evaluated the correlation between pRNFL thickness and MT with duration of NDCKD.

METHODS: This was a comparative cross-sectional study. Subjects were divided into NDCKD and control groups. Both pRNFL thickness and MT, including center subfield thickness (CST), average MT as well as average ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) were measured using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. One-way ANCOVA test was used to compare the differences in pRNFL and MT between NDCKD and controls, as well as between the different stages of NDCKD. Spearman rank-order correlation coefficients were employed to determine the effects of NDCKD duration on pRNFL thickness and MT.

RESULTS: A total of 132 subjects were recruited, 66 with NDCKD and 66 controls. There was a statistically significant difference in superior (110.74 ± 23.35 vs 117.36 ± 16.17 μm, p = 0.022), nasal (65.97 ± 12.90 vs 69.35 ± 10.17 μm, p = 0.006), inferior quadrant (117.44 ± 23.98 vs 126.15 ± 14.75 μm, p = 0.006), average pRNFL (90.36 ± 14.93 vs 95.42 ± 9.87 μm, p = 0.005), CST (231.89 ± 26.72 vs 243.30 ± 21.05 μm, p = 0.006), average MT (268.88 ± 20.21 vs 274.92 ± 12.79 μm, p = 0.020) and average GC-IPL (75.48 ± 12.44 vs 81.56 ± 6.48, p = 0.001) values between the NDCKD group and controls. The superior quadrant (p = 0.007), nasal quadrant (p = 0.030), inferior quadrant (p = 0.047), average pRNFL (p = 0.006), average MT (p = 0.001) and average GC-IPL (p = 0.001) differed significantly between different stages of NDCKD. There was no correlation between pRNFL thickness and MT with duration of NDCKD.

CONCLUSION: CST, average MT, average GC-IPL thickness, average pRNFL and all quadrants of pRNFL except the temporal quadrant were significantly thinner in NDCKD patients compared to controls. These changes were associated with the severity of CKD, but not its duration.

PMID:35385541 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0266607

PLoS One. 2022 Apr 6;17(4):e0265951. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265951. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Estimating the clinical demand for blood and components arising in a health facility is crucial to ensure timely availability of blood. This study aims to estimate disease-specific clinical demand, supply and utilization of whole blood and components in India.

METHODS: We conducted a national level cross-sectional study in five randomly selected states from five regions of the country. We included 251 public and private facilities representing primary, secondary and tertiary care facilities. We collected annual disease-specific demand, supply and utilization of blood and components using a structured tool. We estimated the national demand by extrapolating the study data (demand and beds) to the total number of estimated beds in the country.

FINDINGS: According to the study, the total clinical demand of 251 health facilities with 51,562 beds was 474,627 whole blood units. Based on this, the clinical demand for India was estimated at 14·6 million whole blood units (95 CI: 14·59-14·62), an equivalent of 36·3 donations per 1,000 eligible populations, which will address whole blood and component requirement. The medicine specialty accounted for 6·0 million units (41·2%), followed by surgery 4·1 million (27·9%), obstetrics and gynecology 3·3 million (22·4%) and pediatrics 1·2 million (8·5%) units. The supply was 93% which is equivalent to 33·8 donations against the demand.

CONCLUSION: The study indicated a demand and supply gap of 2.5 donations per 1,000 eligible persons which is around one million units. The gap emphasises the need for sustained and concerted efforts from all stakeholders and for increasing the awareness about repeat voluntary non-remunerated blood donation (VNRBD); optimizing the availability of blood components through efficient blood component separation units; promoting modern principles of patient blood management and strengthening capacities of human resources in the blood transfusion system in India.

PMID:35385543 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0265951

PLoS One. 2022 Apr 6;17(4):e0266505. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0266505. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: There is limited knowledge about the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) associated with cardiometabolic disorders in lean persons. This study examines the contribution of cardiometabolic disorders to NAFLD risk among lean individuals and compares to non-lean individuals.

METHODS: We analyzed longitudinal data from 6,513 participants of a yearly voluntary routine health testing conducted at the Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, Brazil. NAFLD was defined as hepatic ultrasound diagnosed fatty liver in individuals scoring below 8 on the alcohol use disorders identification test. Our main exposure variables were elevated blood glucose, elevated blood pressure (BP), presence of atherogenic dyslipidemia (AD, defined as the combination of elevated triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol) and physical inactivity (<150 minutes/week of moderate activity). We further assessed the risk of NAFLD with elevations in waist circumference and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (HsCRP).

RESULTS: Over 15,580 person-years (PY) of follow-up, the incidence rate of NAFLD was 7.7 per 100 PY. In multivariate analysis adjusting for likely confounders, AD was associated with a 72% greater risk of NAFLD (IRR: 1.72 [95% CI:1.32-2.23]). Elevated blood glucose (IRR: 1.71 [95%CI: 1.29-2.28]) and physical inactivity (IRR: 1.46 [95%CI: 1.28-1.66]) were also independently associated with increased risk of NAFLD. In lean individuals, AD, elevated blood glucose and elevated BP were significantly associated with NAFLD although for elevated blood glucose, statistical significance was lost after adjusting for possible confounders. Physical inactivity and elevations in HsCRP were not associated with the risk of NAFLD in lean individuals only. Among lean (and non-lean) individuals, there was an independent association between progressively increasing waist circumference and NAFLD.

CONCLUSION: Cardiometabolic risk factors are independently associated with NAFLD. However, there are significant differences in the metabolic risk predictors of NAFLD between lean and non-lean individuals. Personalized cardiovascular disease risk stratification and appropriate preventive measures should be considered in both lean and non-lean individuals to prevent the development of NAFLD.

PMID:35385529 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0266505

PLoS One. 2022 Apr 6;17(4):e0266479. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0266479. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Worldwide, the estimated prevalence of urinary incontinence is 8.7%. Urinary incontinence is more frequent in women than in men. Posing the right questions is crucial, when diagnosing urinary incontinence, but also to evaluate the need of treatment and treatment effect. Therefore, reliable and validated questionnaires within this area are needed. Even though the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF) has been used on a daily basis in the Danish Urogynaecological Database since 2006, it has not yet been validated in a Danish population of both men and women.

OBJECTIVE: To test the reliability and validity of the Danish version of the ICIQ-UI SF in a Danish speaking population of men and women among municipal employees.

METHODS: Content validity was evaluated with semi-structured interviews. A quantitative field test was performed, in which the questionnaire was distributed electronically to municipal workers by E-mail. Statistical methods included item characteristics (missings, kurtosis and skewness), internal consistency (Chronbach’s alfa), test-retest (ICC), construct validity (known group validation), and floor and ceiling effect.

RESULTS: A number of 1814 Danish municipal workers completed the questionnaire. Of the total number of responders, 426 were invited to complete the questionnaire twice (for test-retest) and 215 (50.5%) of these completed the questions again two weeks later. Statistical analyses of the ICIQ-UI SF demonstrated no floor and ceiling effects, skewness was zero and kurtosis 0.00-0.49. Cronbach’s alfa was 0.87 and intraclass correlation coefficient 0.73. Two out of three hypotheses were accepted in the known-groups validation.

CONCLUSION: This study offers an adaptation of the ICIQ-UI SF to a Danish setting. The Danish ICIQ-UI SF demonstrated acceptable reliability and validity. However, clinicians should consider the relatively high measurement error.

PMID:35385519 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0266479