Category: Statistics

Nanophotonics. 2023 Mar 24;12(14):2841-2847. doi: 10.1515/nanoph-2022-0750. eCollection 2023 Jul.

ABSTRACT

Among the family of transition metal dichalcogenides, 1T-TaS₂ stands out for several peculiar physical properties including a rich charge density wave phase diagram, quantum spin liquid candidacy and low temperature Mott insulator phase. As 1T-TaS₂ is thinned down to the few-layer limit, interesting physics emerges in this quasi 2D material. Here, using scanning near-field optical microscopy, we perform a spatial- and temperature-dependent study on the phase transitions of a few-layer thick microcrystal of 1T-TaS₂. We investigate encapsulated air-sensitive 1T-TaS₂ prepared under inert conditions down to cryogenic temperatures. We find an abrupt metal-to-insulator transition in this few-layer limit. Our results provide new insight in contrast to previous transport studies on thin 1T-TaS₂ where the resistivity jump became undetectable, and to spatially resolved studies on non-encapsulated samples which found a gradual, spatially inhomogeneous transition. A statistical analysis suggests bimodal high and low temperature phases, and that the characteristic phase transition hysteresis is preserved down to a few-layer limit.

PMID:39635486 | PMC:PMC11501826 | DOI:10.1515/nanoph-2022-0750

Pulm Circ. 2024 Dec 4;14(4):e12446. doi: 10.1002/pul2.12446. eCollection 2024 Oct.

ABSTRACT

Macitentan is a dual endothelin receptor antagonist (ERA) approved for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). SOPRANO evaluated the efficacy and safety of macitentan versus placebo in pulmonary hypertension (PH) patients after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. SOPRANO was a phase 2, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study. Patients with an LVAD implanted within the prior 90 days who had persistent PH (i.e., mean pulmonary arterial pressure ≥25 mmHg, pulmonary artery wedge pressure [PAWP] ≤18 mmHg, and pulmonary vascular resistance [PVR] >3 Wood units [WU]) were randomized (1:1) to macitentan 10 mg or placebo once daily for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint was change in PVR. Secondary endpoints included change in right-heart catheterization hemodynamic variables, N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide levels, World Health Organization functional class, and safety/tolerability. Fifty-seven patients were randomized to macitentan (n = 28) or placebo (n = 29). A statistically significant reduction in PVR from baseline to Week 12 was observed with macitentan versus placebo (placebo-corrected geometric mean ratio, 0.74; 95% confidence interval, 0.58-0.94; p = .0158). No statistically significant differences were observed in secondary endpoints. In a post-hoc analysis, 66.7% of patients receiving macitentan achieved PVR <3 WU versus 40.0% receiving placebo (p = .0383). Macitentan was generally well tolerated; adverse events were consistent with those in previous PAH studies with macitentan. In conclusion, macitentan showed promising tolerability and significantly reduced PVR in PH patients with persistently elevated PVR after LVAD implantation. ClinicalTrials. gov identifier: NCT02554903.

PMID:39635465 | PMC:PMC11615754 | DOI:10.1002/pul2.12446

SSM Popul Health. 2024 Oct 10;28:101715. doi: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2024.101715. eCollection 2024 Dec.

ABSTRACT

We prospectively examined the association between structure, function, and quality of social relations and self-rated health (SRH) in U.S. adults followed over 10 years in the population-based National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP). Large social network and high positive/negative social support were measured at baseline and defined as the highest quartile. These three binary measures were reported from friends, family, and partner and combined into a multifactorial exposure variable. SRH was measured through a 5-point Likert scale and dichotomised. Odds ratios (OR) for poor SRH were estimated with covariate-adjusted logistic regression. In total, 1,592 participants were included. Based on the combined multifactorial exposure variable as well as independent exposure variables, only lower levels of negative social support were prospectively associated with better SRH (aOR = 0.65; 95%CI 0.44-0.98). From the different social ties, only family-related negative social support was associated with poor SRH (aOR = 0.59; 95%CI 0.39-0.90). This association was similar between genders, but only statistically significant among women. Sensitivity analysis with depressive symptoms as outcome supported the hypothesis that the findings for SRH may be partially driven by mental health (aOR = 0.65; 95%CI 0.48-0.90). Concluding, negative social support particularly from family is prospectively associated with poor SRH.

PMID:39635462 | PMC:PMC11614841 | DOI:10.1016/j.ssmph.2024.101715

Cities Health. 2024 Feb 29;8(6):1081-1093. doi: 10.1080/23748834.2024.2315804. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to examine how young people subjectively perceive their local neighbourhoods and compare these perceptions with objective data regarding access to amenities aligned with features of the 20-minute neighbourhood (20MN) policy. Objective data (n:287 aged 12-18 years) were gathered through an online adaptation of the Place Standard Tool for Young People in Scotland. Subjective data concerning access to ten amenities in line with the 20MN concept, along with crime statistics, area-level deprivation and urbanicity were spatially linked. The association between perceptions of localities and factors such as gender, as well as both subjective and objective neighbourhood assessments were examined. Young people were most satisfied with nature and active travel in their local area. Conversely, their satisfaction was lowest for active travel to school. Rural young people were more dissatisfied with their localities. Agreement was observed between satisfaction with their 20 neighbourhoods and objective data indicating the presence of frequent public transportation, recreational spaces, and access to services. In conclusion, our study highlights the importance of amenities in healthy urban planning, showing a positive impact on young people’s perceptions. Additionally, we uncover a connection between crime perceptions and area-level crime variables, potentially influencing health outcomes.

PMID:39635459 | PMC:PMC11614036 | DOI:10.1080/23748834.2024.2315804

Clin Psychol Sci. 2024 Nov;12(6):1146-1161. doi: 10.1177/21677026231213368. Epub 2024 Jan 24.

ABSTRACT

Algorithmically defined aspects of reinforcement learning correlate with psychopathology symptoms and change with symptom improvement following cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Separate work in nonclinical samples has shown that varying the structure and statistics of task environments can change learning. Here, we combine these literatures, drawing on CBT-based guided restructuring of thought processes and computationally defined mechanistic targets identified by reinforcement-learning models in depression, to test whether and how verbal queries affect learning processes. Using a parallel-arm design, we tested 1,299 online participants completing a probabilistic reward-learning task while receiving repeated queries about the task environment (11 learning-query arms and one active control arm). Querying participants about reinforcement-learning-related task components altered computational-model-defined learning parameters in directions specific to the target of the query. These effects on learning parameters were consistent across depression-symptom severity, suggesting new learning-based strategies and therapeutic targets for evoking symptom change in mood psychopathology.

PMID:39635456 | PMC:PMC11617014 | DOI:10.1177/21677026231213368

Nanophotonics. 2021 Sep 29;11(4):689-696. doi: 10.1515/nanoph-2021-0432. eCollection 2022 Jan.

ABSTRACT

Twist phase is a nontrivial second-order phase that only exists in a partially coherent beam. Such twist phase endows the partially coherent beam with orbital angular momentum (OAM) and has unique applications such as in super-resolution imaging. However, the manipulation and the detection of the twist phase are still far from easy tasks in experiment. In this work, we present a flexible approach to generate a famous class of twisted Gaussian Schell-model (TGSM) beam with controllable twist phase by the superposition of the complex field realizations using a single phase-only spatial light modulator. The precise control of the amplitude and phase of the field realizations allows one to manipulate the strength of the twist phase easily. In addition, we show that the twist factor, a key factor that determines the strength of twist phase and the amount of OAM, can be measured by extracting the real part of the complex degree of coherence of the TGSM beam. The experiment is carried out with the help of the generalized Hanbury Brown and Twiss experiment as the generated TGSM beam obeys Gaussian statistics. The flexible control and detection of the twist phase are expected to find applications in coherence and OAM-based ghost imaging.

PMID:39635389 | PMC:PMC11501484 | DOI:10.1515/nanoph-2021-0432

Front Glob Womens Health. 2024 Nov 20;5:1471316. doi: 10.3389/fgwh.2024.1471316. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a key outcome indicator in antiretroviral therapy program. In Ethiopia, primary studies on gender disparity in HRQoL among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) are conflicting, with no pooled estimation. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate gender disparity in HRQoL among PLHA in Ethiopia.

METHODS: Studies were retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS, Embase, MEDLINE, Science Direct, HINARI, and PsycINFO were systematically searched. In addition, Google Scholar, Google, journal homepages, bibliographies, and universities’ research repositories in the country were searched by combining keywords and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms with Boolean operators. Based on the primary study results, the average score of each domain was utilized as a cut-off point to classify HRQoL as poor or good. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist was used to assess study quality. A random-effects model was used to report the pooled estimates. Summary estimates are presented in forest plots and tables. The variation between studies was assessed using the Higgins heterogeneity test (I²). Funnel plot, Begg’s test, and Egger’s test were used to assess publication bias. Data were extracted using Microsoft Excel and exported to STATA 17 (Corporation, College Station, TX, USA) for analysis. The search results were managed using the EndNote X7 software.

RESULTS: Fifteen studies with 4,867 PLHA were included. The pooled prevalence of poor HRQoL was 46.53% (95% CI: 41.96-51.10), 46.15% (95% CI: 37.05-55.24), and 36.21% (95% CI: 30.19-42.23) among PLHA, women, and men living with HIV, respectively. Moreover, a significant gender disparity in HRQoL was observed among Ethiopian women and men living with HIV. Women living with HIV were found to have 61% increased odds of poor HRQoL than men living with HIV in the country (OR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.07, 2.15). No statistical evidence of a publication bias was observed.

CONCLUSION: Almost half of PLHA patients in Ethiopia had a poor HRQoL. Women living with HIV have higher odds of poor HRQoL than men living with HIV. This highlights the pressing need for gender-specific risk assessment approaches and treatment interventions aimed at optimizing HRQoL in HIV/AIDS settings.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42023454810.

PMID:39635356 | PMC:PMC11614810 | DOI:10.3389/fgwh.2024.1471316

J Clin Med Res. 2024 Dec;16(11):547-553. doi: 10.14740/jocmr6108. Epub 2024 Nov 30.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) is often accompanied by atrial fibrillation (AF), which significantly worsens the outcome of both diseases. Half of individuals with HF has AF, and HF occurs in more than one-third of individuals with AF. Thus, HF and AF are commonly encountered together and are closely interrelated with similar risk factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of potential risk factors on the occurrence of paroxysmal/persistent AF in patients with heart failure with moderately reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF).

METHODS: The study included 193 patients with HFmrEF and nonvalvular paroxysmal/persistent AF after successful cardioversion. As a control group the similar 76 patients without AF were examined. All patients underwent the examination, including electrocardiography (ECG), echocardiography, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and Holter ECG monitoring. Levels of inflammatory markers, such as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and the fibrotic marker transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. The obtained results were modeled using binary logistic regression using the odds ratio (OR).

RESULTS: It was shown that frequent episodes of hypertensive crisis (HC) and increased body mass index (BMI) were possible risk factors for paroxysmal/persistent AF. An increased OR of diastolic and systolic parameters of the left ventricle was associated with significant atrial and ventricular remodeling. Statistically, higher OR of inflammatory markers levels, such as hs-CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α were associated with an increased risk of paroxysmal/persistent AF occurrence in HFmrEF patients compared to similar patients without AF. An increase of the fibrosis marker TGF-β1 OR was statistically significant in patients with persistent AF.

CONCLUSIONS: It could be considered that frequency of HC, BMI, atrial and ventricular remodeling, as well as an increase of inflammation markers were possible risk factors for the occurrence of paroxysmal/persistent AF in HFmrEF patients. Moreover, fibrosis factor level significantly increased the likelihood of persistent AF in these patients.

PMID:39635337 | PMC:PMC11614407 | DOI:10.14740/jocmr6108

Comput Biol Med. 2024 Dec 3;185:109450. doi: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2024.109450. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Research on venous hemodynamics is pivotal for unravelling venous diseases, including varicose veins and deep vein thrombosis, essential for clinical management, treatment and artificial valve design. In this study, a three-dimensional (3D) numerical simulation, employing the immersed boundary/finite element method, is constructed to explore the fluid-structure interaction (FSI) between intravenous blood and venous valves. A hyperelastic constitutive model is used to capture the incompressible, nonlinear mechanical response. Our findings reveal the periodic characteristics of valve movement and intravenous blood flow throughout the cardiac cycle, alongside quantified physiological parameters such as blood pressure, flow rate, geometric orifice area, and stress-strain distribution on venous valve surfaces. The study unveils a significant correlation between dynamic valve motion and vortices within the venous sinus. Stress and strain concentrate primarily at the free edge of venous valves, which is in contrast to 2D modelling. Moreover, increased hydrostatic venous pressure is found to be the key to venous vessel dilation. The effects of fibrosis and atrophy of venous valves on venous hemodynamics are compared and analysed. This FSI numerical study introduces a fully 3D framework for modelling the venous system, expected to provide crucial references for understanding the development and mechanism underlying venous diseases, thereby furnishing a scientific underpinning for their prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

PMID:39631111 | DOI:10.1016/j.compbiomed.2024.109450

Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2024 Nov 25;130:105703. doi: 10.1016/j.archger.2024.105703. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Blood-based biomarkers such as plasma neurofilament light chain (pNfL) are crucial biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Additionally, neuroimaging techniques such as tensor-based morphometry (TBM), which identify structural changes in the brain, can provide valuable insights into AD pathophysiology. However, the role of genetics in linking the blood based biomarkers and imaging findings has not been well understood. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether the polygenic hazard score (PHS), affects the association between neurofibrillary tangles and neuritis plaques and brain imaging findings.

METHODS: Using the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) database, we enrolled all participants for whom a complete dataset of pNfL, PHS, and TBM was available. Using Python, we analyzed the associations between pNfL levels and the TBM data of 567 participants incluidng 152 cognitively normal individuals, 309 participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 106 patients with AD. We used a mediation analysis to identify the effect of PHS in how pNfL is associated with TBM measures.

RESULTS: We found a negative correlation between the accelerated TBM measure and NfL levels in both the MCI and AD groups. The pNfL concentration predicted both accelerated statistical and anatomical TMB measures in patients with MCI. Furthermore, PHS mediatedthe association between statistical TBM measures and NfL levels in AD patients, to the extent that the significant association between NfL and TBM measures disappeared after accounting for PHS.

CONCLUSION: We showed that although pNfL can predict the cognitiee decline and imaging findings in AD, this effect is mediated by the PHS. Therefore, PHS should be considered when investigating AD biomarkers and their corresponding imaging findings.

PMID:39631103 | DOI:10.1016/j.archger.2024.105703