Tag: pubmed

Eur Phys J E Soft Matter. 2023 Dec 20;46(12):131. doi: 10.1140/epje/s10189-023-00389-1.

ABSTRACT

Non-equilibrium fluctuations caused by the rearrangement of hemoglobin molecules into an aggregate state under shear stress have been investigated experimentally. The flow response under the shear stress (σ) corroborates the presence of contrasting aggregate and rejuvenation states governed by entropy production and consumption events. From the time-dependent shear rate fluctuation studies of aggregate states, the probability distribution function (PDF) of the rate of work done is observed to be spread from negative to positive values with a net positive mean. The PDFs follow the steady-state fluctuation theorem, even at a smaller timescale than that desired by the theorem. The behavior of the effective temperature (T_eff) that emerges from a non-equilibrium fluctuation and interconnects with the structural restrictions of the aggregate state of our driven system is observed to be within the boundary of the thermodynamic uncertainty. The increase in T_eff with the applied σ illustrates a phenomenal nonlinear power flux-dependent aggregating behavior in a classic bio-molecular-driven system.

PMID:38123828 | DOI:10.1140/epje/s10189-023-00389-1

J Hazard Mater. 2023 Dec 11;465:133108. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133108. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Due to the intervention of human activities, the background values of riverbed sediment exhibit spatiotemporal variability, which can affect the accuracy of risk assessment results. Using risk assessment that do not rely on background values is an executable alternative to avoid such problems. In this study, a relative pollution level assessment (RPLA) method which was based on the statistical results of relevant literatures was proposed. This method includes a four-step data processing procedure to extract the evaluation indexes of relative pollution degree of pollutants in environment and a series of relative pollution status assessment methods to evaluate the overall relative pollution level and regional difference of world-wide rivers. To demonstrate how to use RPLA method, 310 relevant literatures covering world-wide rivers were selected. And the ambient background value (x̅), the world-wide threshold values (WWTV) and the relative pollution grades (LEVEL I ∼ IV) of 9 target metals (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Pb, Sb and Tl) in riverbed surface sediments of world-wide rivers were extracted and used for evaluation. Moreover, the stability and applicability of RPLA method were evaluated. Results show that the evaluation results of RPLA method are robust and comparable with traditional evaluation method.

PMID:38118195 | DOI:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133108

Glob Public Health. 2024 Jan;19(1):2291703. doi: 10.1080/17441692.2023.2291703. Epub 2023 Dec 20.

ABSTRACT

One in five child deaths under age 5 are a result of severe wasting. Malnutrition at early ages is linked to lifelong consequences, such as reduced cognitive skills, reduced earnings in adulthood and chronic health conditions. Countries worldwide have committed to addressing child undernutrition, and ending hunger is foundational to the Millennium Development Goals. In this paper, we study the intergenerational effect of providing free tuition in secondary school on future children’s nutrition. We combined a novel longitudinal dataset that captures educational policies for 40 African countries from 1990 to 2019 with the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS). We identified three countries that introduced free secondary education several years after implementing free primary education. Exploiting this variation in timing we estimate the additional impact of providing free secondary education over free primary education. Using a difference-in-difference approach, we find that introducing free secondary education significantly reduced wasting. Cohorts exposed to free secondary had an 18% relative decrease in wasting. The impact on cohorts exposed only to free primary was smaller and not statistically significant. Expanding free secondary education has long-term, intergenerational benefits and is an effective path to reducing malnutrition. Results are robust to different specifications.

PMID:38118117 | DOI:10.1080/17441692.2023.2291703

Am J Public Health. 2023 Dec;113(S3):S240-S247. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2023.307525.

ABSTRACT

Objectives. To evaluate the effect of COVID-19 on Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) receipt among pregnant individuals overall and by race/ethnicity. Methods. We measured changes in WIC receipt among Medicaid-covered births (n = 10 484 697) from the US National Center for Health Statistics Natality Files (2016-2022). Our interrupted time series logistic model included a continuous monthly variable, a binary post-COVID variable, and a continuous slope shift variable. We additionally fit separate models for each race/ethnicity relative to White individuals, using interaction terms between the time series variables and race/ethnicity. Results. We found decreases in WIC receipt (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.899; P < .001) from before COVID (66.6%) to after COVID (57.9%). There were larger post-COVID decreases for American Indian/Alaska Native (AOR = 0.850; P < .001), Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander (AOR = 0.877; P = .003), Black (AOR = 0.974; P < .001), and Hispanic (AOR = 0.972, P < .001) individuals relative to White individuals. Conclusions. The greater reductions in WIC receipt among minoritized individuals highlights a pathway through which the pandemic may have widened gaps in already disparate maternal and infant health. Public Health Implications. Continued efforts to increase WIC utilization are needed overall and among minoritized populations. (Am J Public Health. 2023;113(S3):S240-S247. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2023.307525).

PMID:38118087 | DOI:10.2105/AJPH.2023.307525

J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol. 2023 Dec 20:1-17. doi: 10.1080/15374416.2023.2292045. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Sexual and gender minority (SGM) stigmatization is a key factor related to transgender adolescent mental health. While previous research has focused on direct associations between stigmatization and mental health, the present study of transgender youth, equitably recruited across the autism spectrum, examines cognitive and developmental factors in relation to the self-report of experienced and perceived SGM stigmatization.

METHOD: 65 binary transgender adolescents (43% transfeminine; ages 13-21 years) were intentionally recruited across the spectrum of autism traits from no traits to full criteria autism. Participants completed measures of autism-related social differences, cognitive abilities, and self-reported directly experienced and perceived SGM stigma. Autism-related social differences, cognitive abilities, and age were studied in relation to both SGM stigma factors.

RESULTS: Autism-related social differences were negatively associated with level of directly experienced SGM stigma but unassociated with perceived stigma. Greater cognitive ability was positively associated with level of perceived SGM stigma, but unassociated with report of directly experienced stigma. Older age was positively associated with level of perceived SGM stigma. There was a statistical trend toward older age positively associated with level of directly experienced stigma.

CONCLUSIONS: The present study identifies candidate cognitive and developmental influences on self-reported SGM stigmatization among transgender adolescents, evenly recruited across the autism spectrum. The factors which may impact the perception and experience of stigmatization have been notably under-explored in the mental health field. The examination of these individual characteristics may allow for more precise predictive models for research with transgender youth, and ultimately, in clinical care.

PMID:38118056 | DOI:10.1080/15374416.2023.2292045

N Engl J Med. 2023 Dec 21;389(25):2403-2404. doi: 10.1056/NEJMc2312332.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:38118045 | DOI:10.1056/NEJMc2312332

N Engl J Med. 2023 Dec 21;389(25):2403. doi: 10.1056/NEJMc2312332.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:38118044 | DOI:10.1056/NEJMc2312332

N Engl J Med. 2023 Dec 21;389(25):2402-2403. doi: 10.1056/NEJMc2312332.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:38118043 | DOI:10.1056/NEJMc2312332

N Engl J Med. 2023 Dec 21;389(25):2402. doi: 10.1056/NEJMc2312332.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:38118042 | DOI:10.1056/NEJMc2312332

Clin Infect Dis. 2023 Dec 20;77(Supplement_7):S519-S527. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciad585.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: An effective implementation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance projects requires sustainable and multidisciplinary engagement with stakeholders from various backgrounds, interests and aims. The “Capturing Data on Antimicrobial resistance Patterns and Trends in Use in Regions of Asia” (CAPTURA) project, funded by the Fleming Fund, initially targeted 12 countries in South Asia (SA) and Southeast Asia (SEA) to “expand the volume of historical and current data on AMR and antimicrobial usage” and support local agencies through capacity building activities.

METHODS: In this article, we focus on early stakeholder engagement activities and present overall statistics on AMR data collated from 72 laboratories across seven countries. This included 2.3 million records of antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) data, which were curated, analyzed, and shared back to the facilities for informed decision making.

RESULTS: Approximately 98% of the data collated by CAPTURA originated from laboratories based in SA countries. Furthermore, country-wide data were analyzed to identify commonly reported pathogens in each country, followed by descriptions of AST practices and multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens. Overall, we found meager adherence to standard guidelines to perform and record AST results, and a significant number of MDR pathogens were reported.

CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that close collaboration with the existing national mechanisms for identifying AMR data sources was crucial for the project’s success. Although we show a vast retrospective dataset on AMR is available for data sharing in Asia, there remain critical gaps in data generation/management practice and analysis capacity for AMR data at most facilities.

PMID:38118005 | DOI:10.1093/cid/ciad585