Category: Statistics

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2023 Dec 27;270:115861. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115861. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

As agents in an emerging technology, Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus, 1758) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) larvae, black soldier fly, have shown exciting potential for degrading antibiotics in organic solid waste, a process for which gut microorganisms play an important role. This study investigated the characteristics of larval gut bacterial communities effected by typical antibiotics. Initially, antibiotics significantly reduced the diversity of gut bacterial species. After 8 days, diversity recovered to similar to that of the control group in the chlortetracycline, tylosin, and sulfamethoxazole groups. Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteriota were the dominant phyla at the initial BSFL gut. However, after 4 days treatment, the proportion of Actinobacteriota significantly decreased, but Bacteroidota notably increased. During the conversion process, 18, 18, 17, 21, and 19 core genera were present in the chlortetracycline, sulfamethoxazole, tylosin, norfloxacin, and gentamicin groups, respectively. Pseudomonas, Actinomyces, Morganella, Providencia and Klebsiella might be the important genera with extraordinary resistance and degradation to antibiotics. Statistical analyses of COGs showed that antibiotics changed the microbial community functions of BSFL gut. Compared with the control group, (i) the chlortetracycline, sulfamethoxazole, and tylosin groups showed significant increase in the classification functions of transcription, RNA processing and modification，and so on, (ii) the norfloxacin and gentamicin groups showed significant increase in defense mechanisms and other functions. Note that we categorized the response mechanisms of these classification functions to antibiotics into resistance and degradation. This provides a new perspective to deeply understand the joint biodegradation behavior of antibiotics in environments, and serves as an important reference for further development and utilization of microorganisms-assisted larvae for efficient degradation of antibiotics.

PMID:38154153 | DOI:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115861

Aging (Albany NY). 2023 Dec 27;15. doi: 10.18632/aging.205403. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Working memory (WM) is a foundational cognitive function involving the temporary storage of information. Unfortunately, WM is also one of the most sensitive cognitive functions to the detrimental effects of aging. Expanding the field’s understanding of age-related WM changes is critical to advancing the development of strategies to mitigate age-related WM declines. In the current study, we investigated the neural mechanisms serving WM function in seventy-eight healthy aging adults (range: 20.2-65.2 years) using magnetoencephalography (MEG) and a Sternberg WM task with letter stimuli. Neural activity during the different phases of the WM task (i.e., encoding, maintenance, and retrieval) were imaged using a time-frequency resolved beamformer and whole-brain statistics were performed. We found stronger increases in theta activity and stronger decreases in alpha and beta activity (i.e., more negative relative to baseline) as a function of healthy aging. Specifically, age-related increases in theta activity were detected during the encoding period in the primary visual and left prefrontal cortices. Additionally, alpha and beta oscillations were stronger (i.e., more negative) during both encoding and maintenance in the left prefrontal cortex in older individuals. Finally, alpha and beta oscillations during the retrieval phase were stronger (i.e., more negative) in older participants within the prefrontal, parietal, and temporal cortices. Together, these results indicate that healthy aging strongly modulates the neural oscillatory dynamics serving WM function.

PMID:38154102 | DOI:10.18632/aging.205403

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2024 Jan 2;121(1):e2215401120. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2215401120. Epub 2023 Dec 28.

ABSTRACT

Explaining the evolution of primate social organization has been fundamental to understand human sociality and social evolution more broadly. It has often been suggested that the ancestor of all primates was solitary and that other forms of social organization evolved later, with transitions being driven by various life history traits and ecological factors. However, recent research showed that many understudied primate species previously assumed to be solitary actually live in pairs, and intraspecific variation in social organization is common. We built a detailed database from primary field studies quantifying the number of social units expressing different social organizations in each population. We used Bayesian phylogenetic models to infer the probability of each social organization, conditional on several socioecological and life history predictors. Here, we show that when intraspecific variation is accounted for, the ancestral social organization of primates was inferred to be variable, with the most common social organization being pair-living but with approximately 10 to 20% of social units of the ancestral population deviating from this pattern by being solitary living. Body size and activity patterns had large effects on transitions between types of social organizations. As in other mammalian clades, pair-living is closely linked to small body size and likely more common in ancestral species. Our results challenge the assumption that ancestral primates were solitary and that pair-living evolved afterward emphasizing the importance of focusing on field data and accounting for intraspecific variation, providing a flexible statistical framework for doing so.

PMID:38154063 | DOI:10.1073/pnas.2215401120

J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2024 Jan 1. doi: 10.1515/jpem-2023-0431. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Seasonal environment at birth may influence diabetes incidence in later life. We sought evidence for this effect and analyzed the association between the month of birth and the risk of developing type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).

METHODS: This was a cohort study carried out with 814 patients diagnosed with T1DM in the region of Bauru – São Paulo State, Brazil, receiving medical care in a private Endocrinology clinic or in the public Brazilian National Health Care System, from 1981 to 2021. All live births that occurred in São Paulo State between 1974 and 2020 were classified by month of birth and were considered as the control group.

RESULTS: We found no statistically significant difference (χ²=16.31, critical 19.68) between the month of birth and risk of developing T1DM, when comparing our patients with the background population of the region. There was no association between the month of birth, sex, age at diagnosis, duration of symptoms before diagnosis, self-reported color, and socioeconomic status.

CONCLUSIONS: We found no association between month of birth and the risk of developing T1DM in this highly admixed South American population. Our data suggest that our population heterogeneity and geographic location may be important factors in the development of T1DM. Future prospective studies, evaluating environmental factors that may confer risk or protection to the disease, are warranted.

PMID:38154033 | DOI:10.1515/jpem-2023-0431

Environ Sci Technol. 2023 Dec 28. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.3c06330. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Chemical pollution can degrade aquatic ecosystems. Chinook salmon in contaminated habitats are vulnerable to health impacts from toxic exposures. Few studies have been conducted on adverse health outcomes associated with current levels and mixtures of contaminants. Fewer still address effects specific to the juvenile life-stage of salmonids. The present study evaluated contaminant-related effects from dietary exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations and mixture profiles in juvenile Chinook salmon from industrialized waterways in the U.S. Pacific Northwest using two end points: growth assessment and disease susceptibility. The dose and chemical proportions were reconstituted based on environmental sampling and analysis using the stomach contents of juvenile Chinook salmon recently collected from contaminated, industrialized waterways. Groups of fish were fed a mixture with fixed proportions of 10 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 3 dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs), and 13 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) at five concentrations for 35 days. These contaminant compounds were selected because of elevated concentrations and the widespread presence in sediments throughout industrialized waterways. Fork length and otolith microstructural growth indicators were significantly reduced in fish fed environmentally relevant concentrations of these contaminants. In addition, contaminant-exposed Chinook salmon were more susceptible to disease during controlled challenges with the pathogen Aeromonas salmonicida. Our results indicate that dietary exposure to contaminants impairs growth and immune function in juvenile Chinook salmon, thereby highlighting that current environmental exposure to chemicals of potential management concern threatens the viability of exposed salmon.

PMID:38154032 | DOI:10.1021/acs.est.3c06330

J Appl Biomech. 2023 Dec 27:1-9. doi: 10.1123/jab.2023-0126. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Disruptions in gait function are common after concussion in adolescents; however, the neuromotor control deficits driving these gait disruptions are not well known. Fifteen concussed (age mean [SD]): 17.4 [0.6], 13 females, days since injury: 26.3 [9.9]) and 17 uninjured (age: 18.0 [0.7], 10 females) adolescents completed 3 trials each of single-task gait and dual-task gait (DT). During DT, participants simultaneously walked while completing a serial subtraction task. Gait metrics and variability in instantaneous mean frequency in lower extremity muscles were captured by inertial sensors and surface electromyography, respectively. A 2-way analysis of covariance was used to compare gait metrics across groups and conditions. Functional principal components analysis was used to identify regions of variability in instantaneous mean frequency curves. Functional principal component scores were compared across groups using a Welch statistic. Both groups displayed worse performance on gait metrics during DT condition compared to single-task, with no differences between groups (P < .001). Concussed adolescents displayed significantly greater instantaneous mean frequency, indicated by functional principal component 1, in the tibialis anterior, biceps femoris, and semitendinosus (P < .05) during single-task and DT compared with uninjured adolescents. Our observations suggest that concussed adolescents display inefficient motor unit recruitment lasting longer than 2 weeks following injury, regardless of the addition of a secondary task.

PMID:38154023 | DOI:10.1123/jab.2023-0126

Org Lett. 2023 Dec 28. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.3c03715. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Bambus[6]urils and biotin[6]urils are macrocycles with an exceptional affinity for inorganic anions. Here, we investigated statistical condensation of 2,4-dibenzylglycoluril and d-biotin, monomers of the corresponding macrocycles, to prepare the enantiomerically pure macrocycle 1 containing a single d-biotin and five glycoluril units. Host-guest properties of 1 in chloroform solution and solid state were investigated. The macrocycle 1 bearing a single functional group was employed in the formation of [1]rotaxane utilizing reversible covalent bonds.

PMID:38153981 | DOI:10.1021/acs.orglett.3c03715

Indian J Ophthalmol. 2023 Dec 26. doi: 10.4103/IJO.IJO_2182_22. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We aim to report the natural course of non-center involving diabetic macular edema (NCIDME) progression to center involving diabetic macular edema (CIDME) and associated risk factors.

METHODS: This is a multicenter retrospective comparative study. Data was collected from electronic medical records from 8 centers in India covering. We included patients with type 2 diabetes above 18 years of age with treatment-naïve NCIDME on OCT and best-corrected visual acuity at baseline of 6/12 or better who were under observation for NCIDME and had 2 years follow-up data.

RESULTS: Out of 72 patients with NCIDME, 26.38% patients progressed to CI DME by 2 years, and the visit wise proportion was 11.11% at 6 months, 7% at 1st year and 8.3% at 2 years. The change in CST was statistically significant at 2 years in patients who developed CIDME, the mean difference was 137.73 ± 48.56 microns p = 0.045. Duration of diabetes mellitus > 10 years was the only risk factor for conversion to CIDME.

CONCLUSION: A quarter of eyes with NCIDME developed CIDME and 15% progressed from NPDR to PDR by 2 years, highlighting the disease burden in these patients with NCIDME.

PMID:38153973 | DOI:10.4103/IJO.IJO_2182_22

PLoS One. 2023 Dec 28;18(12):e0293981. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293981. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire Self-Administered Standardized (CRQ-SAS) is a valid and reliable tool that evaluates the health-related quality of life among the adult population affected with chronic respiratory disorders (CRDs) and has been translated into many languages as per need. The main objective of this study was to translate the CRQ-SAS into the Urdu language and evaluate its psychometric properties.

METHODOLOGY: It was a two-staged study that consisted of translating the original version into Urdu language and then psychometric testing of the translated version. The reliability of the translated questionnaire was assessed by measuring its internal consistency, test-retest reliability, standard error of mean (SEM) & minimal detectable change (MDC). Validity was determined by evaluating its content for content validity, construct (convergent and discriminative) validity, and exploratory factor analysis. Data was analyzed using SPSS v 28 with an alpha level < 0.05 considered to be significant.

RESULTS: CRQ-SAS U had an excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s Alpha α = 0.89), test-retest reliability (ICC2,1) = 0.91 of all items, and low SEM = 0.11 and MDC = 0.65. S-CVI was 0.9, with statistically significant difference across the response of COPD patients and healthy subjects, and a high degree of correlation with St Georges Respiratory Questionnaire (r = 0.7-0.9) proving CRQ-SAS U content, discriminant and convergent valid respectively. Exploratory factor analysis identified two factors responsible for 80% of the variance.

CONCLUSION: CRQ-SAS U demonstrated optimal psychometric properties which renders it to be used in Urdu speaking populations with COPD.

PMID:38153959 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0293981

PLoS One. 2023 Dec 28;18(12):e0283175. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0283175. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The study aimed to examine the effect of witnessing inter-parental violence and experiencing childhood abuse on victimization of intimate partner violence (IPV) after marriage among adolescent and young girls.

METHOD: Data were drawn from the second wave of the Understanding the lives of adolescents and young adults (UDAYA) survey (2018-2019). The sample size was 5480 married adolescent and young girls aged 13-23 years. The outcome variable of the study was the victimization of IPV. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis and structural equation modelling (SEM) were performed.

RESULT: A total of 39% of married adolescent and young girls experienced physical violence, followed by sexual violence (35%) and emotional violence (28%) by their partner. Around 30% of respondents witnessed inter-parental violence, and 32% of the participants were beaten by their parents during childhood. Participants who had witnessed inter-parental violence were significantly correlated with experiencing childhood abuse, and this association was positively correlated with exposure to IPV in adolescence and young adulthood. Further, the parameter estimates of the indicators of IPV were highest for emotional violence (1.10) followed by physical violence (1.00) and sexual violence (0.62). Witnessing inter-parental violence significantly increases parents’ physical violence to adolescents and young adult girls (β = 0.49, P<0.001, CI: 0.47-0.51). No tie between witnessing inter-parental violence and childhood abuse mediates their effect on later victimization of IPV.

CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that witnessing inter-parental violence is a strong risk factor for IPV victimization among adolescent and young adult girls. Our findings advocate prerequisite collaborative effort with multiple service providers for greater empowerment at national, state, community, and family levels to achieve SDG goals pertaining to eliminating violence against women.

PMID:38153957 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0283175