Category: Statistics

Plant Dis. 2023 Jun 17. doi: 10.1094/PDIS-10-22-2445-RE. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Options for managing southern blight of processing tomato (caused by Athelia rolfsii) in California are limited. The objectives of this study were to: (i) evaluate grafting with the resistant rootstock Maxifort for southern blight management in processing tomato; and (ii) evaluate increasing the height of the graft union to further reduce incidence of southern blight in grafted plants. We evaluated two cultivars (Heinz 5608 or Heinz 8504) and a grafting factor with three levels (grafted to Maxifort rootstock with standard scion height, grafted to Maxifort rootstock at a tall height, and non-grafted) in a field study with natural inoculum or in inoculated greenhouse experiments. Southern blight severity was low in both greenhouse experiments in 2018 and 2019 and no consistent trends were observed. In field experiments in 2018 and 2019, mean incidence in non-grafted plots was 6.2 to 17.0 times higher when compared to either the standard or tall grafted treatments. Southern blight was numerically lower in tall grafted plots compared to standard, but the magnitude was small and not statistically significant. Based on our studies, grafting can reduce losses of processing tomato in California to southern blight but increasing the height of the graft union does not offer a tangible benefit.

PMID:37330632 | DOI:10.1094/PDIS-10-22-2445-RE

Gerontologist. 2023 Jun 18:gnad070. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnad070. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The immigrant population, the primary driver of U.S. population growth, is aging and many immigrants remain uninsured. Lack of health insurance limits access to care, aggravating the already high level of depression for older immigrants. However, there is scarce evidence on how health insurance, particularly Medicare, affects their mental health. Using the Health and Retirement Study, this study examines the effect of Medicare coverage on depressive symptoms of older immigrants in the U.S.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Exploiting the fact that many immigrants are not covered by Medicare after passing age 65, we use a difference-in-difference model with propensity score weighting to compare differences in depressive symptoms pre- and post-age-65. We further stratify the sample by socioeconomic status and by race/ethnicity.

RESULTS: Medicare coverage was significantly associated with a reduction in the probability of reporting depressive symptoms for immigrants with low socioeconomic status, especially for those below median wealth levels. The beneficial effect of Medicare coverage was also statistically significant for non-White immigrants – Black, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander – even when holding socioeconomic status constant.

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Our findings imply that immigration policies that expand healthcare protection to older immigrants can lead to further health benefits and reduce existing disparities for the aging population. Policy reforms such as providing limited Medicare access to immigrants who paid sufficient taxes but are still awaiting permanent residency status could increase coverage for the uninsured and improve participation of immigrants in the payroll system.

PMID:37330627 | DOI:10.1093/geront/gnad070

J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2023 Jun 18:gbad091. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbad091. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Older adults often have difficulty remembering the details of recently encountered objects. We (Davidson et al., 2019) found this with the Mnemonic Similarity Task (MST). Surprisingly, the older adults’ MST lure discrimination index (LDI) was significantly correlated with visual acuity but not with memory or executive function. Here we ran a replication with new, larger samples of young (N=45) and older adults (N=70). We then combined the original and replication older adult samples (N=108) to critically examine the relative contributions of visual acuity, memory, and executive function composite scores to LDI performance using dominance analysis. This provided, to our knowledge, the first direct statistical comparison of all three of these factors and their interactions on LDI.

METHOD: Participants completed the MST and a battery assessing visual acuity, memory, and executive function. We examined age group differences on MST performance in the new (i.e., replication) young and older adult samples and performed multiple regression and dominance analysis on the combined older adult sample.

RESULTS: Consistent with previous findings, the older adults showed significantly poorer LDI but preserved item recognition. LDI was significantly correlated with both memory and executive function but not with visual acuity. In the combined older adult sample, all three composites predicted LDI, but dominance analysis indicated that executive function was the most important predictor.

DISCUSSION: Older adults’ MST LDI difficulty may be predicted by their executive function and visual acuity. These factors should be considered when interpreting older adults’ MST performance.

PMID:37330622 | DOI:10.1093/geronb/gbad091

Int J Paediatr Dent. 2023 Jun 17. doi: 10.1111/ipd.13095. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Panoramic radiographs (PRs) are used in the detection and diagnosis of developmental dental anomalies and pathologies (DDAP) in children.

AIM: The primary objective of this observational cohort study was to evaluate the age-based prevalence of DDAP on PRs while the secondary objective was to determine a threshold age for detection of DDAP to provide supportive evidence for prescription of PR in pediatric dental practice.

DESIGN: The study examined diagnostic PRs from 581 subjects from ages 6-19 years. All PRs were reviewed by experienced, calibrated, masked examiners for identification or presence of anomalies of size, shape, position, structure, and other developmental anomalies and pathologies (ODAP) of face-neck region in a standardized condition. The data was statistically analyzed for interpretation.

RESULTS: Overall, 74% (n=411) of the cohort had at least one anomaly (shape anomaly: 12%, number anomaly: 17%, positional anomaly: 28%, structural anomaly: 0%, and ODAP: 63%). The optimal Youden index cutoff for any anomaly was 9 years. Twelve and 15 years also showed predictive ability.

CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that PRs should be prescribed at ages 9, 12, and 15 years for the diagnosis of DDAP.

PMID:37330621 | DOI:10.1111/ipd.13095

Sci Rep. 2023 Jun 17;13(1):9846. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-37132-x.

ABSTRACT

The carbon stock function of harvested wood products (HWPs) is attracting attention among climate change countermeasures. Among HWPs, particle board (PB) and fiberboard (FB) mainly use recycled materials. This study estimated carbon stocks of PB and FB and their annual changes over the past 70 years in Japan using three methods of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change guidelines: Tiers 1-3. Tier 1 uses first order decay (FOD), a 25-year half-life, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations database. Tier 2 uses FOD, a 25-year half-life, and Japan-specific statistics. Tier 3 uses a log-normal distribution for the decay function and a 38-63-year half-life of building PB/FB. Japan’s PB and FB carbon stocks have increased for the past 70 years. The latest carbon stock in early 2022 and the annual change in carbon stock in 2021 was 21.83 million t-C and 0.42 million t-C/year, respectively for Tier 3. Tier 3 has the highest estimation accuracy by using decay functions and half-lives that match the actual conditions of building PB and FB, whereas Tiers 1 and 2 were underestimates. Approximately 40% of the carbon stock is derived from waste wood, which extends its utilization.

PMID:37330597 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-023-37132-x

J Health Popul Nutr. 2023 Jun 17;42(1):57. doi: 10.1186/s41043-023-00397-z.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Central obesity is excessive accumulation of fat around the abdomen, which is associated with the risk of coronary heart and cerebrovascular diseases. This study determined the magnitude of central obesity among adult patients using the waist-to-hip ratio, which has a superior capacity to measure the risk of developing non-communicable diseases compared to the body mass index used in previous studies in Ethiopia.

METHODS: Institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among a sample of 480 adults from April 1 to May 30, 2022. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select the study participants. Data were collected by using interviewer-administered structured questionnaires and anthropometric measurements. The data were entered into EPI INFO version 7 and analyzed by Statistical Software for Social Science Version 25. The associations between independent and dependent variables were checked using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were used to measure the strengths of the association. Statistical significance was declared at a P value of less than 0.05.

RESULTS: The magnitude of central obesity in this study was 40% (51.2% and 27.4% among females and males, respectively (95% CI 36-44%)). Being a female (AOR = 9.5, 95% CI 5.22-17.9), age range 35-44 (AOR = 7.0, 95% CI 2.9-16.7), 45-64 years (AOR = 10.1, 95% CI4.0-15.2), married (AOR = 2.5, 95% CI 1.3-4.7), high monthly income (AOR = 3.3, 95% CI 1.5-7.3), high consumption of milk and milk products (AOR = 0.3, 95% CI 0.1-0.6), family history of obesity (AOR = 1.8, 95% CI 1.1-3.2) were significantly associated with central obesity among the study participants.

CONCLUSION: The magnitude of central obesity was higher in the study area. Sex, age, marital status, monthly income, consumption of milk and milk products, and family history of obesity were independent determinants of central obesity. Therefore, it is important to raise awareness about central obesity through behavior change communication that targets the high-risk population.

PMID:37330577 | DOI:10.1186/s41043-023-00397-z

Sci Rep. 2023 Jun 17;13(1):9847. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-36951-2.

ABSTRACT

We developed a machine learning algorithm (MLA) that can classify human thyroid cell clusters by exploiting both Papanicolaou staining and intrinsic refractive index (RI) as correlative imaging contrasts and evaluated the effects of this combination on diagnostic performance. Thyroid fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) specimens were analyzed using correlative optical diffraction tomography, which can simultaneously measure both, the color brightfield of Papanicolaou staining and three-dimensional RI distribution. The MLA was designed to classify benign and malignant cell clusters using color images, RI images, or both. We included 1535 thyroid cell clusters (benign: malignancy = 1128:407) from 124 patients. Accuracies of MLA classifiers using color images, RI images, and both were 98.0%, 98.0%, and 100%, respectively. As information for classification, the nucleus size was mainly used in the color image; however, detailed morphological information of the nucleus was also used in the RI image. We demonstrate that the present MLA and correlative FNAB imaging approach has the potential for diagnosing thyroid cancer, and complementary information from color and RI images can improve the performance of the MLA.

PMID:37330568 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-023-36951-2

Sci Rep. 2023 Jun 17;13(1):9811. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-36954-z.

ABSTRACT

We aimed to assess the potential role of Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) in conditioning respiratory function and pulmonary vasoregulation during Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) infection. Within 72 h from admission, samples from 90 COVID-19 patients were assessed for ADMA, SDMA, L-arginine concentrations. In addition to classical statistics, patients were also clustered by a machine learning approach according to similar features. Multivariable analysis showed that C-reactive protein (OR 1.012), serum ADMA (OR 4.652), white blood cells (OR = 1.118) and SOFA (OR = 1.495) were significantly associated with negative outcomes. Machine learning-based clustering showed three distinct clusters: (1) patients with low severity not requiring invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), (2) patients with moderate severity and respiratory failure whilst not requiring IMV, and (3) patients with highest severity requiring IMV. Serum ADMA concentration was significantly associated with disease severity and need for IMV although less pulmonary vasodilation was observed by CT scan. High serum levels of ADMA are indicative of high disease severity and requirement of mechanical ventilation. Serum ADMA at the time of hospital admission may therefore help to identify COVID-19 patients at high risk of deterioration and negative outcome.

PMID:37330534 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-023-36954-z

J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2023 Jun 17;20(1):79. doi: 10.1186/s12984-023-01203-x.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Wheelchair Tai Chi (WCTC) has been proved to have benefits for the brain and motor system of spinal cord injury (SCI) patients. However, the characteristics of corticomuscular coupling during WCTC are scarcely known. We aimed to investigate changes following SCI on corticomuscular coupling, and further compare the coupling characteristics of WCTC with aerobic exercise in SCI patients.

METHODS: A total of 15 SCI patients and 25 healthy controls were recruited. The patients had to perform aerobic exercise and WCTC, while healthy controls needed to complete a set of WCTC. The participants accomplished the test following the tutorial video in a sitting position. The upper limb muscle activation was measured from upper trapezius, medial deltoid, biceps brachii and triceps brachii with surface electromyography. Cortical activity in the prefrontal cortex, premotor cortex, supplementary motor area and primary motor cortex was simultaneously collected by functional near-infrared spectroscopy. The functional connectivity, phase synchronization index and coherence values were then calculated and statistically analyzed.

RESULTS: Compared to healthy controls, changes in functional connectivity and higher muscle activation were observed in the SCI group. There was no significant difference in phase synchronization between groups. Among patients, significantly higher coherence values between the left biceps brachii as well as the right triceps brachii and contralateral regions of interest were found during WCTC than during aerobic exercise.

CONCLUSION: The patients may compensate for the lack of corticomuscular coupling by enhancing muscle activation. This study demonstrated the potential and advantages of WCTC in eliciting corticomuscular coupling, which may optimize rehabilitation following SCI.

PMID:37330516 | DOI:10.1186/s12984-023-01203-x

Respir Res. 2023 Jun 17;24(1):161. doi: 10.1186/s12931-023-02457-8.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Pre-operative and post-operative hypoxemia are frequent complications of Stanford type A aortic dissection (AAD). This study explored the effect of pre-operative hypoxemia on the occurrence and outcome of post-operative acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in AAD.

METHOD: A total of 238 patients who underwent surgical treatment for AAD between 2016 and 2021 were enrolled. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to investigate the effect of pre-operative hypoxemia on post-operative simple hypoxemia and ARDS. Post-operative ARDS patients were divided into pre-operative normal oxygenation group and pre-operative hypoxemia group that were compared for clinical outcomes. Post-operative ARDS patients with pre-operative normal oxygenation were classified as the real ARDS group. Post-operative ARDS patients with pre-operative hypoxemia, post-operative simple hypoxemia, and post-operative normal oxygenation were classified as the non-ARDS group. Outcomes of real ARDS and non-ARDS groups were compared.

RESULT: Logistic regression analysis showed that pre-operative hypoxemia was positively associated with the risk of post-operative simple hypoxemia (odds ratios (OR) = 4.81, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.67-13.81) and post-operative ARDS (OR = 8.514, 95% CI: 2.64-27.47) after adjusting for the confounders. The post-operative ARDS with pre-operative normal oxygenation group had significantly higher lactate, APACHEII score and longer mechanical ventilation time than the post-operative ARDS with pre-operative hypoxemia group (P < 0.05). Pre-operative the risk of death within 30 days after discharge was slightly higher in ARDS patients with pre-operative normal oxygenation than in ARDS patients with pre-operative hypoxemia, but there was no statistical difference(log-rank test, P = 0.051). The incidence of AKI and cerebral infarction, lactate, APACHEII score, mechanical ventilation time, intensive care unit and post-operative hospital stay, and mortality with 30 days after discharge were significantly higher in the real ARDS group than in the non-ARDS group (P < 0.05). After adjusting for confounding factors in the Cox survival analysis, the risk of death within 30 days after discharge was significantly higher in the real ARDS group than in the non-ARDS group (hazard ratio(HR): 4.633, 95% CI: 1.012-21.202, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Preoperative hypoxemia is an independent risk factor for post-operative simple hypoxemia and ARDS. Post-operative ARDS with pre-operative normal oxygenation was the real ARDS, which was more severe and associated with a higher risk of death after surgery.

PMID:37330514 | DOI:10.1186/s12931-023-02457-8