Category: Statistics

ACS Nano. 2025 Feb 12. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.4c16468. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Glycerol electrolysis is a promising strategy for generating hydrogen at the cathode and value-added products at the anode. However, the effect of the atomic distribution within catalysts on their catalytic performance remains largely unexplored, primarily because of the inherent complexity of the glycerol oxidation reaction (GOR). Herein, an ordered Pt₃Mn (O-Pt₃Mn) intermetallic compound and a disordered Pt₃Mn (D-Pt₃Mn) alloy are used as model catalysts, and their performance in the GOR and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is studied. O-Pt₃Mn consistently outperforms D-Pt₃Mn and commercial Pt/C catalysts. It can generate high-value glycerate at a notable production rate of 17 mM h^-1 while achieving an impressively low cell voltage of 0.76 V for glycerol electrolysis, which is ∼0.98 V lower than that required for water electrolysis. Statistical analysis using theoretical calculations reveals that Pt-Pt-Pt hollow sites are crucial for the catalytic GOR and HER. The averaged adsorption energies of key intermediates (simplified as C*, O*, and H*) on diverse catalysts closely correlate with their experimentally observed activity. Our proposed linear models accurately predict these adsorption energies, exhibiting high correlation coefficients ranging from 0.97 to 0.99 and highlighting the significance of the distribution of the topmost and subsurface-corner Mn atoms in determining these adsorption energies. By sampling all possible Mn configurations within the fitted linear models, we confirm that O-Pt₃Mn establishes the maximum activity threshold for the GOR and HER compared with any disordered variant. This study presents an innovative framework for exploring the effect of the atomic distribution within catalysts on their catalytic performance and designing high-performance catalysts for complex reactions.

PMID:39937986 | DOI:10.1021/acsnano.4c16468

J Refract Surg. 2025 Feb;41(2):e102-e113. doi: 10.3928/1081597X-20241113-01. Epub 2025 Feb 1.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To compare clinical outcomes for patients implanted with either FineVision HP or FineVision Triumf intraocular lenses (IOL) (Beaver-Visitec International, Inc) following cataract surgery.

METHODS: Twenty-six patients bilaterally implanted with the HP IOL and 27 patients with the Triumf IOL were followed up for 6 months in a prospective randomized study. Refraction, uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), uncorrected and distance-corrected intermediate visual acuity (DCIVA), and uncorrected and distance-corrected near visual acuity (DCNVA) were evaluated. Defocus curves and contrast sensitivity were also measured. Patient-reported outcomes were assessed using the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire 25, and adverse events were registered.

RESULTS: Ninety-four percent of the eyes in both groups were within ±1.00 diopter (D) of spherical equivalent. All of the patients had 20/20 or better binocular CDVA in both groups and 96% and 100% had 20/25 or better binocular CDIVA in the Triumf and HP IOL groups, respectively, being reduced to 32% and 91.7% for DCNVA, respectively. Differences between groups were statistically significant from -2.00 to -4.50 D with better visual acuity outcomes for the HP IOL group (P < .01). Better monocular photopic contrast sensitivity was found for the Triumf IOL group at 12 and 18 cycles per degree (P < .01). There was a statistically significant increase of the overall composite score in both groups before and after surgery (P < .001). Spectacle independence was similar between groups for distance and intermediate vision but higher for the HP IOL for near vision (96% versus 75%). There were no adverse events related to the IOLs.

CONCLUSIONS: Both IOLs showed good and comparable distance and intermediate visual acuities but near vision was better for the HP IOL. This model provided higher spectacle independence for near vision. [J Refract Surg. 2025;41(3):e102-e113.].

PMID:39937980 | DOI:10.3928/1081597X-20241113-01

J Refract Surg. 2025 Feb;41(2):e164-e172. doi: 10.3928/1081597X-20241230-04. Epub 2025 Feb 1.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of SMART surgery (SCHWIND eye-tech-solutions GmbH) on corneal abnormalities and refractive errors compared to traditional femtosecond laser-assisted laser in situ keratomileusis (FSLASIK).

METHODS: A retrospective case series was conducted at Xi’an Gucheng Aier-Eye Hospital, analyzing data from 83 patients who underwent FS-LASIK and SMART procedures in 2021. Pentacam (Oculus Optikgeräte GmbH) measurements were taken before surgery and at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively to assess corneal higher order aberrations, spherical aberrations, and coma. Statistical analyses included an independent Student test between the two groups. Visual acuities were compared by the Mann-Whitney U test, paired t-tests, and repeated measures analysis of variance.

RESULTS: Comparison of visual acuity at 1 week and 1 month postoperatively showed significant differences between the FSLASIK and SMART groups. After 6 months, a higher percentage of patients in the SMART group achieved spherical equivalent within +1.00 diopter compared to the FS-LASIK group. Both groups showed a shift from negative to positive Q-values, indicating improved visual quality. Corneal spherical aberrations and horizontal coma were more prevalent at 6 months postoperatively in both groups compared to preoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS: In the long term, SMART surgery demonstrates comparable results to FS-LASIK for myopia and astigmatism correction. Higher order aberrations were less common after SMART surgery compared to FS-LASIK. These findings suggest that SMART surgery may be a suitable option for patients seeking refractive surgery, considering its potential benefits for visual quality and corneal health. [J Refract Surg. 2025;41(2):e164-e172.].

PMID:39937977 | DOI:10.3928/1081597X-20241230-04

J Refract Surg. 2025 Feb;41(2):e114-e119. doi: 10.3928/1081597X-20241204-01. Epub 2025 Feb 1.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of capsular tension rings (CTRs) on the accuracy of nine new-generation intraocular lens (IOL) formulas in long eyes.

METHODS: A total of 106 eyes (106 patients) with CTR (CTR group) and another 106 eyes (106 patients) without CTR (NCTR group) were analyzed. The differences in mean prediction error, standard deviation, mean absolute prediction error (MAE), median absolute prediction error (MedAE), root mean square absolute prediction error (RMSAE), and percentage of eyes within ±0.25, ±0.50, ±0.75, ±1.00, and greater than ±1.00 diopter (D) were compared.

RESULTS: In the CTR group, only the Hoffer QST and VRF-G formulas showed significantly lower MedAE compared to the NCTR group. There was no statistically significant difference found among other formulas. The VRF-G and Hoffer QST formulas had lower MAE (0.351 to 0.367) than the Kane (0.469) (P < .05). The K6 and Pearl-DGS formulas had higher MAE (0.441 to 0.452) than the Zhu-Lu (0.351) and Emmetropia Verifying Optical (EVO) 2.0 (0.377) (P < .05). In the NCTR group, the Zhu-Lu and RBF 3.0 formulas had lower MAE (0.340 to 0.411) compared to the Kane (0.477) (P < .05). The Zhu-Lu and EVO 2.0 formulas also had lower MAE (0.340 to 0.363) than Pearl-DGS (0.429) (P < .05), and the EVO 2.0 had lower MedAE (0.273) than the Kane (0.433) (P < .05). The percentage of eyes within ±0.50 D (76 to 85, 71.70% to 80.19%) of the RBF3.0, K6, EVO 2.0, and Zhu-Lu formulas were higher than Kane (53.77%) (P < .02).

CONCLUSIONS: CTR implantation does not improve the refractive prediction accuracy of the most new generation IOL formula. The Zhu-Lu formula is recommended for use in long eyes, regardless of CTR implantation. [J Refract Surg. 2025;41(2):e114-e119.].

PMID:39937975 | DOI:10.3928/1081597X-20241204-01

J Refract Surg. 2025 Feb;41(2):e144-e154. doi: 10.3928/1081597X-20241230-02. Epub 2025 Feb 1.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To examine lenticule decentration and visual quality following small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) using either the coaxially sighted corneal light reflex (CSCLR) or the tear film mark (TFM) centration method.

METHODS: A total of 186 eyes from 93 patients were enrolled in this prospective, randomized, contralateral eye comparison study. Each patient had one eye randomly assigned to the CSCLR group (n = 93) and the contralateral eye to the TFM group (n = 93). Visual outcomes, optical zone decentration, contrast sensitivity, corneal higher order aberrations (HOAs), and the relationships between the magnitude of decentration and induced corneal HOAs were evaluated at 3 months postoperatively.

RESULTS: The magnitudes of total decentration (CSCLR: 0.23 ± 0.13; TFM: 0.22 ± 0.13; P = .996), as well as horizontal and vertical decentration, were comparable between the two methods. However, in the angle kappa greater than 200 µm subgroup, a statistically significant smaller horizontal decentered displacement was observed in the CSCLR group (0.01 ± 0.16) compared to the TFM group (0.07 ± 0.18) (P = .024). The induced HOAs and contrast sensitivity were comparable between the two methods (all P > .05). Additionally, significant correlations were identified between total decentered displacement and induced HOAs, including RMS HOAs, RMS coma, vertical coma, and RMS spherical aberration, in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Both the CSCLR and TFM methods can yield accurate treatment centration and satisfactory visual quality. However, the CSCLR method may contribute to less horizontal decentration in patients with a large preoperative pupil offset. [J Refract Surg. 2025;41(2):e144-e154.].

PMID:39937974 | DOI:10.3928/1081597X-20241230-02

JMIR Form Res. 2025 Feb 12;9:e59533. doi: 10.2196/59533.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In the Netherlands, 545,900 people experienced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in 2022. Physical therapy following the Royal Dutch Society for Physiotherapy (Koninklijk Nederlands Genootschap voor Fysiotherapie) guidelines for COPD treatment is a proven effective treatment for people with COPD. The revised guidelines include a new recommendation: a patient’s physical activity level should be assessed with an activity tracker (AT). Literature shows that the implementation of eHealth in clinical practice, in this case, ATs, is challenging.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims (1) to assess how and why ATs are currently used in physical therapy in patients with COPD and (2) to determine which barriers and facilitators are of relevance for optimal implementation of ATs during the clinical reasoning process of physical therapists in patients with COPD.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was used to evaluate the implementation of ATs in physical therapy. Included participants were physical therapists who were affiliated with Chronisch ZorgNet and had a specialization in COPD treatment. The survey content was based on the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, the theory of planned behavior, the framework “experiences of patients with commercially available ATs,” and the Koninklijk Nederlands Genootschap voor Fysiotherapie guidelines for COPD. Physical therapists were questioned via a digital survey.

RESULTS: In total, 211 completed surveys were analyzed. Of the 211 participating physical therapists, 108 (51.2%) used ATs, whereas most of them (n=82, 75.9%) already used ATs before it was advised in the guidelines. Physical therapists indicated that the most important reason to use ATs is that they experience it as an added health care value. Both users and nonusers indicated that the most important reason why they do not use ATs is because their patients do not want to use an AT. The second reason was a lack of knowledge in the nonuser group. Moreover, both users and nonusers indicated that the implementation of ATs was not prepared and planned for within their center.

CONCLUSIONS: Overall, these results show that ATs are not yet fully implemented in the Dutch general physical therapy practice in patients with COPD, as recommended by current evidence-based guidelines. Physical therapists need guidance for the successful implementation of ATs. This could be accomplished by providing training for physical therapists, integrating ATs into the education of (future) physical therapists, and providing support during the implementation process of ATs for both the physical therapists and management.

PMID:39937970 | DOI:10.2196/59533

JBJS Rev. 2025 Feb 12;13(2). doi: 10.2106/JBJS.RVW.24.00201. eCollection 2025 Feb 1.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Since its inception, activity level and bone quality have been essential considerations for patients undergoing hip resurfacing arthroplasty (HRA). Moreover, younger patients tend to experience fewer complications, lower revision rates, and better outcomes after any surgery. This study aims to compare the clinical outcomes, complication rates, and survivorship rates between younger and older patients undergoing HRA, providing insights into whether active older patients with appropriate bone quality can still achieve significant benefits from HRA.

METHODS: A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases. Articles were screened by title and abstract, followed by full-text review. A meta-analysis was performed using a random effects model to compare UCLA scores and odds of prosthesis survivorship between younger (<50 years of age) and older (>50 years of age) patients in studies comparing both age groups. Statistical significance was defined as a 95% confidence interval that does not include 1. In addition, the average complication and prosthesis survivorship rates were calculated and compared between younger and older hips using both comparative and noncomparative studies.

RESULTS: From an initial pool of 1,286 articles, 31 met inclusion criteria, encompassing 22,691 patients. Analysis revealed a pooled mean age of 33.65 years for the younger cohort and 63 years for the older cohort, and a complication rate of 5.37% in younger compared with 3.83% in older hips. The difference in postoperative UCLA scores was deemed statistically insignificant based on meta-analysis. However, the difference in mean survivorship rates was found to be statistically significant at 86% for younger and 94.9% for older patients through univariate analysis and meta-analysis.

CONCLUSION: There is no significant difference in postoperative outcomes between younger and older patients undergoing HRA. In fact, older patients seem to experience higher prosthesis survivorship rates compared with younger cohorts. Older patients who are active and possess good bone quality can achieve outcomes comparable to their younger counterparts, indicating that HRA may be viable for a broader age range than previously considered.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, systematic review of Level II, III, and IV studies. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

PMID:39937926 | DOI:10.2106/JBJS.RVW.24.00201

Sci Adv. 2025 Feb 14;11(7):eadt5088. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adt5088. Epub 2025 Feb 12.

ABSTRACT

Climate change affects lightning frequency and wildfire intensity globally. To date, model limitations have prevented quantifying climate-lightning-wildfire interactions comprehensively. We exploit advances in Earth System modeling to examine these three-way interactions and their sensitivities to idealized CO₂ forcing in 140-year simulations. Lightning sensitivity to global temperature change (+1.6 ± 0.1% per kelvin) is mitigated by compensating atmospheric effects. Global burned area sensitivity to temperature (+13.8 ± 0.3% per kelvin) is largely driven by intensified fire weather and increased biomass but marginally by lightning changes. We find a universal law characterizing regional-scale modeled fire activity and its CO₂ sensitivity, consistent with basic principles of statistical mechanics. Last, a negative climate feedback through intensified aerosol direct effect from fire emissions reaches an equivalent decrease of 0.91 ± 0.01% in CO₂ radiative forcing. However, this feedback contributes to polar amplification. Our analysis shows that climate-lightning-wildfire interactions involve multiple compensating and amplifying feedbacks, which are sensitive to anthropogenic CO₂ forcing.

PMID:39937907 | DOI:10.1126/sciadv.adt5088

Braz J Cardiovasc Surg. 2025 Feb 12;40(1):e20240088. doi: 10.21470/1678-9741-2024-0088.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVER: The aim of this study was to determine the clinical outcomes of patients with acute type A aortic dissection comparing proximal aortic repair vs. total arch replacement.

METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study. We included all acute type A aortic dissection procedures from January 2002 to November 2022. Groups were defined according to the extent of aortic replacement (hemiarch repair vs. total arch replacement). We collected data from pre, intra, and postoperative variables. Our main endpoints were stroke rate, spinal cord injury, and in-hospital mortality. We performed a statistical analysis for between-group comparisons according to the nature and distribution of variables. Bivariate analyses were done using the Mann-Whitney U test and for categorical variables, the Chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test. Significance was established at alpha level of 0.05.

RESULTS: We identified 107 acute type A aortic dissection procedures (69 hemiarch repairs vs. 38 total arch replacements). There were no differences in postoperative outcomes such as surgical site infection or acute kidney injury. Bleeding reoperation was more frequent in the hemiarch group (30% vs. 11 %). We did not find statistically significant differences in stroke rate, spinal cord injury, or in-hospital mortality.

CONCLUSION: Acute type A aortic dissection treatment is still a challenge. Total arch replacement does not increase the risk of major early postoperative complications in comparison to hemiarch repair. The extended repair seems to provide benefits such as a lower risk of reoperation. Total arch replacement should be performed in selected patients, as it may improve long-term outcomes.

PMID:39937874 | DOI:10.21470/1678-9741-2024-0088

PLoS One. 2025 Feb 12;20(2):e0317679. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0317679. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

Inspiratory muscle weakness may affect exercise tolerance; however, the relationship between inspiratory muscle strength and the 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) in patients with acute heart failure (AHF) is unknown. This study aimed to quantitatively investigate the association between inspiratory muscle strength at the start of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) and 6MWD at discharge in patients with AHF. This single-center, retrospective, observational study enrolled 275 patients with AHF who underwent CR. Patients unable to walk before admission, with isometric knee extensor strength/weight (%IKES) < 0.3 kgf/kg at the start of CR, or unable to undergo examination were excluded. Maximum inspiratory mouth pressure (PI-max) was used as an indicator of inspiratory muscle strength and was measured at the start of CR. The measured PI-max was divided by the predicted value and used for analysis (%PI-max). The primary outcome was 6MWD, an indicator of exercise tolerance, and was measured at discharge. Statistical analysis was performed using multiple regression analysis, with 6MWD at discharge as the dependent variable and %PI-max at the start of CR as the independent variable. Covariates were age, New York Heart Association class, physical frailty, and %IKES at the start of CR. The final analysis included 94 patients (median age 83.0 years, 57.5% male). Multiple regression analysis showed that %PI-max at the start of CR was significantly associated with 6MWD at discharge even after adjustment for covariates (β = 0.223, 95% confidence interval: 0.063-0.382, p = 0.007). PI-max was a factor associated with 6MWD at discharge in patients with AHF. In conclusion, increased inspiratory muscle strength may contribute to improved 6MWD in patients with AHF.

PMID:39937872 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0317679