Nevin Manimala

J Forensic Sci. 2023 Jan 22. doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.15192. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Human hairs are one of the most commonly encountered items of trace evidence. Currently, conventional methods for hair analysis include microscopic comparison and DNA analysis (nuclear and mitochondrial). Each approach has its own drawbacks. Hair proteins are stable and offer an alternative to DNA testing, as demonstrated with proteomics for distinguishing humans. However, proteomics is complicated and requires identifying peptides to remain intact following harsh sample preparation methods. Alternatively, the actual amino acid content of a hair sample may also offer important identifying information and actually requires proteins and peptides to be broken down completely rather than remaining intact. This study evaluated the discriminating power of using hair amino acid ratios to differentiate hair samples from 10 unrelated individuals with dark colored hair. Hair proteins were digested, derivatized, and analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Amino acid ratios were calculated for each individual and comparisons using ANOVA and post-hoc pairwise t-test with Bonferroni correction were made with amino acid ratios for individuals. Overall, out of the 45 possible pairwise comparisons between all hair samples, 38 (84%) were differentiable. Out of the 36 possible pairwise comparisons between brown haired individuals, 32 (89%) were considered differentiable using univariate statistics. Multivariate statistics were also attempted but, overall, univariate models were sufficient for exclusionary purposes. These results indicate that amino acid ratio analysis can potentially be used as an exclusionary method using hair if DNA analysis cannot be performed, or to corroborate conclusions made following microscopic analysis.

PMID:36683150 | DOI:10.1111/1556-4029.15192

Environ Monit Assess. 2023 Jan 23;195(2):319. doi: 10.1007/s10661-022-10909-9.

ABSTRACT

This study aims to compare three popular machine learning (ML) algorithms including random forest (RF), boosting regression tree (BRT), and multinomial logistic regression (MnLR) for spatial prediction of groundwater quality classes and mapping it for salinity hazard. Three hundred eighty-six groundwater samples were collected from an agriculturally intensive area in Fars Province, Iran, and nine hydro-chemical parameters were defined and interpreted. Variance inflation factor and Pearson’s correlations were used to check collinearity between variables. Thereinafter, the performance of ML models was evaluated by statistical indices, namely, overall accuracy (OA) and Kappa index obtained from the confusion matrix. The results showed that the RF model was more accurate than other models with the slight difference. Moreover, the analysis of relative importance also indicated that sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and pH have the most impact parameters in explaining groundwater quality classes, respectively. In this research, applied ML algorithms along with the hydro-chemical parameters affecting the quality of ground water can lead to produce spatial distribution maps with high accuracy for managing irrigation practice.

PMID:36683118 | DOI:10.1007/s10661-022-10909-9

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2023 Jan 23. doi: 10.1007/s11356-023-25349-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This research aims to investigate the appropriate ownership structure via mediating role of corporate sustainability on corporate performance in state-owned companies of Pakistan by examining the role of organizational governance, agency problems, and current issue of CEO ownership. Most effective theories within the context of the developing country of Pakistan are taken into account and study explores the following issue. First, ownership structure is more effective and could provide major findings in corporate, innovative, and environmental performance. Second, corporate, innovative, and environmental performance is receiving high attention due to the critical business environment in Pakistan. There are many factors that stimulate the significance of the corporate, innovative, and environmental performance. In this phase, the role of CEO and responsibilities towards the company and its performance is analyzed. This study has conducted the theoretical survey in both foreign and home countries. Further, this step is hallmark in providing some countermeasures recommendation for the betterment of state-owned companies of Pakistan. Third is whether the CEOs and shareholders could enhance the corporate, innovative, and environmental performance. Empirical evidence data is collected via structured questionnaire from SO companies operating in the emerging market of Pakistan. In addition, empirical research in this study includes descriptive statistics tests, co-relation test, and analyses generated hypotheses through Analysis of a Moment Structure (AMOS) using structural equation modeling. Our research findings recommend CEOs and top managers to utilize their financial resources in an efficient way to achieve the advantage.

PMID:36683108 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-023-25349-2

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2023 Jan 23. doi: 10.1007/s11356-022-25115-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

As an important drinking water source for North China, the Middle Route of China’s South-to-North Water Diversion Project (MRP) must provide high-quality water to maintain the health and safety of more than 60 million people. However, different water transfer operation modes may affect the water quality status, and the spatiotemporal characteristics of water quality in the MRP, with high water transfer volumes, remain poorly understood. In this study, the differences in water quality in the MRP between the initial stage (Nov. 2015 to Oct. 2017, low transfer volumes) and the current stage (Nov. 2017 to Oct. 2020, high transfer volumes) were compared, and the spatiotemporal water quality variations in the current stage were evaluated using multivariate statistical methods. For this purpose, approximately 12,528 observations, including the datasets of 12 water quality parameters collected from 29 monitoring sites, were used. The results showed that the water quality status improved significantly during the current stage. Based on principal component analysis (PCA), physical parameters (natural), nutrients, organic matter and microbes (anthropogenic), and heavy metals (natural and anthropogenic) were the key factors influencing water quality variations. Based on hierarchical cluster analysis, 12 months were classified into two groups: the high-flow period (HFP, Jun.-Oct.) and the low-flow period (LFP, Nov.-May). Additionally, 29 sampling sites were grouped into three sections: the Henan section (HN; S1-S16), Hebei section (HB; S17-S24), and Tianjin-Beijing section (TB; S25-S29). From the perspective of water quality regulation, the total nitrogen concentration and permanganate index in the HB and TB sections of the MRP should be considered throughout the year, and the faecal coliform concentrations in these two sections should also be considered during the HFP. The results of this study could be helpful for local administrations to understand and control pollution and better protect the quality of water in the MRP.

PMID:36683107 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-022-25115-w

Arch Osteoporos. 2023 Jan 23;18(1):23. doi: 10.1007/s11657-022-01201-x.

ABSTRACT

Health records of patients hospitalized for osteoporotic fracture were analyzed. Prior to the index hospital admission, most patients were not receiving any antiosteoporotic treatment. During the index hospitalization visit, 25.5% of patients received antiosteoporotic treatment. The most common treatment regimens were active vitamin D₃, bisphosphonates, and teriparatide.

PURPOSE: To examine the real-world treatment patterns and factors associated with receipt of treatment among Japanese patients with osteoporotic fracture.

METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed health records of patients who were hospitalized for osteoporotic fracture between February 2016 and February 2018 in Japan. The type and duration of treatment with antiosteoporotic medications prescribed during hospital stays and after discharge were examined using descriptive statistics. Demographic and clinical factors (e.g., age, previous diagnoses, Charlson Comorbidity Index scores) associated with osteoporotic treatment were explored using multivariable logistic regression.

RESULTS: A total of 112,275 patient medical records were evaluated, including 56,574 records from patients with hip fracture, 26,681 records from patients with vertebrae fracture, and 29,020 patients with non-vertebral non-hip fractures. Prior to the index hospital admission, most patients (91.7%, n = 102,919) were not receiving any antiosteoporotic treatment. For those receiving treatment, active vitamin D₃ (51.1%, n = 4778) and bisphosphonates (47.5%, n = 4441) were the most common. During the index hospitalization visit, 25.5% (n = 28,678) of patients received treatment for their fracture, including active vitamin D₃ (n = 17,074), bisphosphonates (n = 10,007), and teriparatide (n = 4561). Upon discharge, 41.5% (n = 46,536) of patients returned to their home and 34.3% (n = 38,542) of patients were transferred to a different hospital or medical care facility. Variables associated with receipt of treatment at follow-up included older age, previous diagnoses of osteoporosis and fracture, and higher Charlson Comorbidity Index scores.

CONCLUSION: Despite osteoporotic fracture being a major health concern within older Japanese populations, treatment with antiosteoporotic medication regimens remains generally low.

PMID:36683098 | DOI:10.1007/s11657-022-01201-x

Pneumonia (Nathan). 2023 Jan 23;15(1):2. doi: 10.1186/s41479-022-00103-3.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Pneumococcal disease is a leading cause of communicable disease morbidity and mortality globally. We aimed to estimate invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), pneumococcal pneumonia (PP) and all-cause pneumonia (ACP) incidence rates (IRs) in children aged 0-17 years in England from 2003 to 2019.

METHODS: A retrospective study in children ≤17 years old from 2003 to 2019 using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) Gold and Hospital Episodes Statistics Admitted Patient Care (HES APC) databases. IPD episodes were identified in hospital records (HES APC). PP (caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae only) and ACP episodes (caused by any pathogen) were identified in primary care (CPRD) and in hospital records (HES APC). Annual IRs by age-group were calculated as the number of episodes/person-years (PY) at risk, with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Interrupted time series analyses were conducted to assess changes in IRs across the post-PCV7 (2007-2009), early post-PCV13 (2011-2014) and late post-PCV13 (2015-2019) periods compared to the pre-PCV7 period (2003-2005) using generalized linear models.

RESULTS: 170 IPD episodes, 769 PP episodes and 12,142 ACP episodes were identified in 1,500,686 children in 2003-2019. The overall IPD, PP and ACP IRs (per 100,000 PY) were 2.29 (95% CI 1.96-2.66), 10.34 (95% CI 9.62-11.10) and 163.37 (95% CI 160.47-166.30), respectively. The highest IPD, PP and ACP IRs were observed in children aged < 2 years compared to older children (2-4 and 5-17 years). IPD IRs decreased between the pre-PCV7 period and the late post-PCV13 period from 3.28 (95% CI 2.42-4.33) to 1.41 (95% CI 0.80-2.29), IRR 0.28 (95% CI 0.09-0.90), p-value 0.033. PP IRs declined between the pre-PCV7 period and the late post-PCV13 period from 14.65 (95% CI 12.77-16.72) to 3.87 (95% CI 2.81-5.20), IRR 0.19 (95% CI 0.09-0.38), p-value < 0.001. ACP IRs declined between the pre-PCV7 period and the late post-PCV13 period from 167.28 (95% CI 160.78-173.96) to 124.96 (95% CI 118.54-131.63), IRR 0.77 (95% CI 0.66-0.88), p-value < 0.001.

CONCLUSIONS: The clinical burden of IPD, PP and ACP declined in children in England aged 0-17 years between 2003 and 2019, especially in the late post-PCV13 period. This study highlights the importance of PCV vaccination in reducing the burden of PD and ACP in children in England.

PMID:36683061 | DOI:10.1186/s41479-022-00103-3

J Cardiovasc Magn Reson. 2023 Jan 23;25(1):2. doi: 10.1186/s12968-023-00917-0.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study compares three-dimensional (3D) high-resolution (HR) late gadolinium enhancement (LGE; 3D HR-LGE) imaging using a respiratory navigated, electrocardiographically-gated inversion recovery gradient echo sequence with conventional LGE imaging using a single-shot phase-sensitive inversion recovery (PSIR) balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP; PSIR-bSSFP) sequence for routine clinical use in the pediatric population.

METHODS: Pediatric patients (0-18 years) who underwent clinical cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) with both 3D HR-LGE and single-shot PSIR-bSSFP LGE between January 2018 and June 2020 were included. Image quality (0-4) and detection of LGE in the left ventricle (LV) (per 17 segments), in the right ventricle (RV) (per 3 segments), as endocardial fibroelastosis (EFE), at the hinge points, and at the papillary muscles was analyzed by two blinded readers for each sequence. Ratios of the mean signal intensity of LGE to normal myocardium (LGE:Myo) and to LV blood pool (LGE:Blood) were recorded. Data is presented as median (1st-3rd quartiles). Wilcoxon signed rank test and chi-square analyses were used as appropriate. Inter-rater agreement was analyzed using weighted κ-statistics.

RESULTS: 102 patients were included with median age at CMR of 8 (1-13) years-old and 44% of exams performed under general anesthesia. LGE was detected in 55% of cases. 3D HR LGE compared to single-shot PSIR-bSSFP had longer scan time [4:30 (3:35-5:34) vs 1:11 (0:47-1:32) minutes, p < 0.001], higher image quality ratings [3 (3-4) vs 2 (2-3), p < 0.001], higher LGE:Myo [23.7 (16.9-31.2) vs 5.0 (2.9-9.0), p < 0.001], detected more segments of LGE in both the LV [4 (2-8) vs 3 (1-7), p = 0.045] and RV [1 (1-1) vs 1 (0-1), p < 0.001], and also detected more cases of LGE with 13/56 (23%) of patients with LGE only detectable by 3D HR LGE (p < 0.001). 3D HR LGE specifically detected a greater proportion of RV LGE (27/27 vs 17/27, p < 0.001), EFE (11/11 vs 5/11, p = 0.004), and papillary muscle LGE (14/15 vs 4/15, p < 0.001). Inter-rater agreement for the recorded variables ranged from 0.42 to 1.00.

CONCLUSIONS: 3D HR LGE achieves greater image quality and detects more LGE than conventional single-shot PSIR-bSSFP LGE imaging, and should be considered an alternative to conventional LGE sequences for routine clinical use in the pediatric population.

PMID:36683053 | DOI:10.1186/s12968-023-00917-0

J Orthop Surg Res. 2023 Jan 23;18(1):62. doi: 10.1186/s13018-023-03551-9.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The use of machine learning has the potential to estimate the probability of a second classification event more accurately than traditional statistical methods, and few previous studies on predicting new fractures after osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) have focussed on this point. The aim of this study was to explore whether several different machine learning models could produce better predictions than logistic regression models and to select an optimal model.

METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 529 patients who underwent percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) for OVCFs at our institution between June 2017 and June 2020 was performed. The patient data were used to create machine learning (including decision trees (DT), random forests (RF), support vector machines (SVM), gradient boosting machines (GBM), neural networks (NNET), and regularized discriminant analysis (RDA)) and logistic regression models (LR) to estimate the probability of new fractures occurring after surgery. The dataset was divided into a training set (75%) and a test set (25%), and machine learning models were built in the training set after ten cross-validations, after which each model was evaluated in the test set, and model performance was assessed by comparing the area under the curve (AUC) of each model.

RESULTS: Among the six machine learning algorithms, except that the AUC of DT [0.775 (95% CI 0.728-0.822)] was lower than that of LR [0.831 (95% CI 0.783-0.878)], RA [0.953 (95% CI 0.927-0.980)], GBM [0.941 (95% CI 0.911-0.971)], SVM [0.869 (95% CI 0.827-0.910), NNET [0.869 (95% CI 0.826-0.912)], and RDA [0.890 (95% CI 0.851-0.929)] were all better than LR.

CONCLUSIONS: For prediction of the probability of new fracture after PKP, machine learning algorithms outperformed logistic regression, with random forest having the strongest predictive power.

PMID:36683045 | DOI:10.1186/s13018-023-03551-9

J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2023 Jan 22;20(1):11. doi: 10.1186/s12984-023-01126-7.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The mechanical properties of an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) play an important role in the gait mechanics of the end user. However, testing methodologies for evaluating these mechanical properties are not standardized. The purpose of this study was to compare five different evaluation frameworks to assess AFO stiffness.

METHOD: The same 13 carbon composite AFOs were tested with five different methods. Four previously reported custom test fixtures (the BRUCE, KST, SMApp, and EMPIRE) rotated an AFO into dorsiflexion about a defined axis in the sagittal plane. The fifth method involved quasi-static deflection of AFOs into dorsiflexion by hanging weights (HW) from the footplate. AFO rotational stiffness was calculated as the linear fit of the AFO resistive torque and angular deflection. Differences between methods were assessed using descriptive statistics and a repeated measures Friedman with post-hoc Bonferroni-Holm adjusted Wilcoxon signed-rank tests.

RESULTS: There were significant differences in measured AFO stiffnesses between test methods. Specifically, the BRUCE and HW methods measured lower stiffness than both the EMPIRE and the KST. Stiffnesses measured by the SMApp were not significantly different than any test method. Stiffnesses were lowest in the HW method, where motion was not constrained to a single plane. The median difference in absolute AFO stiffness across methods was 1.03 Nm/deg with a range of [0.40 to 2.35] Nm/deg. The median relative percent difference, measured as the range of measured stiffness from the five methods over the average measured stiffness was 62% [range 13% to 156%]. When the HW method was excluded, the four previously reported test fixtures produced a median difference in absolute AFO stiffness of 0.52 [range 0.38 to 2.17] Nm/deg with a relative percent difference between the methods of 27% [range 13% to 89%].

CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the importance of developing mechanical testing standards, similar to those that exist for lower limb prosthetics. Lacking standardization, differences in methodology can result in large differences in measured stiffness, particularly for different constraints on motion. Non-uniform measurement practices may limit the clinical utility of AFO stiffness as a metric in AFO prescription and future research.

PMID:36683044 | DOI:10.1186/s12984-023-01126-7

J Orthop Surg Res. 2023 Jan 23;18(1):63. doi: 10.1186/s13018-023-03547-5.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In children aged 3-5 years, femoral fractures are common and are frequently treated using flexible intramedullary nails (FIN) or spica casting. Recently, more surgeons have been relying on FIN surgery because of the high rate of complications associated with spica casts, such as skin irritation and re-adjustment surgery. We aimed to evaluate the effect of skin traction combined with braces in 3-5 years old children at our hospital.

METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 125 children aged 3-5 years with femoral shaft fractures treated at our hospital between January 2010 and December 2020. We assigned 68 patients who underwent FIN surgery to Group A and 57 patients treated with skin traction and braces to Group B. Comparative analysis included the children’s age, sex, side of the affected limb, cause of fracture, function of the knee joint, healing time of the fracture, duration of hospitalization, cost of hospitalization, and complications. The complications evaluated included joint dysfunction, pain, infection, pressure ulcers, angular deformities, limb length differences, re-fractures, nonunion fractures, and delayed union.

RESULTS: There were significant differences in and hospital costs (p = 0.001). Conversely, no statistically significant differences were observed in sex (p = 0.858), injury type (p = 0.804), age (p = 0.231), hospitalization time (p = 0.071), bone healing time (p = 0.212), and complications. Pressure ulcers, nonunion fractures, and delayed union did not occur in both groups.

CONCLUSION: Both methods had similar therapeutic effects and postoperative complications in children aged 3-5 years with femoral shaft fractures. Therefore, skin traction combined with braces is recommended for this population and for patients hospitalized in institutions where several beds are available, with a consequent possibility of prolonged hospitalization.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

PMID:36683037 | DOI:10.1186/s13018-023-03547-5