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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Systemic inflammatory markers in relation to cognitive function and measures of brain atrophy: a Mendelian randomization study

Geroscience. 2022 Jun 11. doi: 10.1007/s11357-022-00602-7. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Observational studies have implied associations between multiple cytokines and cognitive decline, anti-inflammatory drugs however did not yield any protective effects on cognitive decline. We aimed to assess the associations of systemic inflammation, as measured by multiple cytokine and growth factor, with cognitive performance and brain atrophy using two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR). Independent genetic instruments (p < 5e – 8 and p < 5e – 6) for 41 systemic inflammatory markers were retrieved from a genome-wide association study conducted in 8293 Finnish participants. Summary statistics for gene-outcome associations were obtained for cognitive performance (N = 257,841) and for brain atrophy measures of cerebral cortical surface area and thickness (N = 51,665) and hippocampal volume (N = 33,536). To rule out the heterogeneity in the cognitive performance, we additionally included three domains: the fluid intelligence score (N = 108,818), prospective memory result (N = 111,099), and reaction time (N = 330,069). Main results were computed by inverse-variance weighting; sensitivity analyses taking pleiotropy and invalid instruments into account were performed by using weighted-median estimator, MR-Egger, and MR PRESSO. After correcting for multiple testing using false discovery rate, only genetically predicted (with p < 5e – 6 threshold) per-SD (standard deviation) higher IL-8 was associated with – 0.103 (- 0.155, – 0.051, padjusted = 0.004) mm3 smaller hippocampal volume and higher intelligence fluid score [β: 0.103 SD (95% CI: 0.042, 0.165), padjusted = 0.041]. Sensitivity analyses generally showed similar results, and no pleiotropic effect, heterogeneity, or possible reverse causation was detected. Our results suggested a possible causal association of high IL-8 levels with better cognitive performance but smaller hippocampal volume among the general healthy population, highlighting the complex role of inflammation in dementia-related phenotypes. Further research is needed to elucidate mechanisms underlying these associations.

PMID:35689786 | DOI:10.1007/s11357-022-00602-7

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Impact of impaired renal function on outcomes of chronic total occlusion undergoing revascularization: a systemic review and meta-analysis

Int Urol Nephrol. 2022 Jun 11. doi: 10.1007/s11255-022-03192-7. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have an associated burden of coronary artery disease, including chronic total occlusions (CTO). It is unclear how the presence of CKD affects the outcomes of CTO revascularization. Previous reviews have not taken into account all relevant published studies that examined the association of CKD with outcomes of CTO revascularization.

METHODS: A systematic search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases for studies investigating patients with or without CKD who also had coronary chronic total occlusion undergoing revascularization procedures Statistical analysis was performed using STATA software. Effect sizes were reported as pooled relative risk (RR).

RESULTS: A total of 13 studies were included. CKD patients showed elevated risk of in-hospital mortality (RR 4.25, 95% CI 2.64, 6.82) and mortality at latest follow-up (RR 3.24, 95% CI 2.56, 4.11), elevated risk of major cardio or cerebrovascular events (RR 1.65, 95% CI 1.38, 1.98), major bleeding (RR 2.85, 95% CI 1.96, 4.13), and contrast-induced acute kidney injury (RR 3.06, 95% CI 1.70, 5.52). CKD patients also showed lower chances of technical success (RR 0.95, 95% CI 0.91, 1.00).

CONCLUSIONS: The presence of CKD increases the risk of mortality, complications and adversely affects the success of CTO revascularization. Patients with CKD undergoing revascularization should have their kidney function comprehensively evaluated and these patients should be carefully monitored.

PMID:35689780 | DOI:10.1007/s11255-022-03192-7

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

An optimum balance among the reduction in ordering cost, product deterioration and carbon emissions: a sustainable green warehouse

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2022 Jun 11. doi: 10.1007/s11356-022-21008-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study involves an optimum balance between ordering cost reduction and product deterioration in controllable carbon emissions for a sustainable green warehouse. The sensitivity analysis is to simulate the impact of those attributes. Industries are foraging to find a proper balance between the use of fossil fuels and reducing carbon emissions, as burning fossil fuels is also indispensable for industrialization. Carbon can emit through inevitable logistic activities in the chains (e.g., lighting, heating, air-conditioning, product deterioration). An industry always attempts to curb those emissions through energy-efficient green technology. The green warehouse is a popular store system in present supply chains to limit the carbons. Product deterioration, particularly for perishable items, is also important for a practitioner to decide how to preserve a perishable product for maximum shelf-life. There is a common tendency among industries to increase order frequencies and volumes in search of a better preservation strategy, increasing the ordering cost and the probability of carbon emissions due to increased transportation. A realistic mathematical model is proposed based on those decision parameters by a sensitivity analysis to demonstrate the impacts. The results showed an increase of 46.30% profit is achieved when all three proposed reduction attributes, but shortages are considered. This improvement is significant without shortage, whereas the increased profit is 94.75%.

PMID:35689774 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-022-21008-0

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Does cooperation stimulate firms’ eco-innovation? Firm-level evidence from China

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2022 Jun 11. doi: 10.1007/s11356-022-21296-6. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Firms’ collaborative activities have created increasing opportunities for eco-innovation in modern society. Based on unbalanced panel data from the Chinese National Innovation Survey between 2011 and 2015, this paper explored the influences of different modes of cooperation, i.e., vertical cooperation, horizontal cooperation, and mixed cooperation, on the eco-innovation of Chinese manufacturing firms. The results indicated that three types of cooperation all had positive and statistically significant effects on the firms’ eco-innovation, and mixed cooperation had promoted eco-innovation more dramatically. The extent of such impacts may vary depending on the heterogeneity of the characteristic of enterprises. We also verified that knowledge spillovers from cooperative partners have played a mediating role between cooperation and eco-innovation. Our results suggest the potential benefits of diversified collaborative activities and appropriate intellectual property protection for firms’ eco-innovation in China.

PMID:35689768 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-022-21296-6

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Panel data analysis of energy conservation and emission reduction on high-quality development of logistics industry in Yangtze River Delta of China

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2022 Jun 11. doi: 10.1007/s11356-022-21237-3. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

With the implementation of Chinese carbon neutrality policy, the Yangtze River Delta calls for great concern. As a benchmark for the development of Chinese logistics industry, it accompanies energy consumption and environmental problems. This study explores how Chinese logistics industry can achieve energy conservation and emission reduction and high-quality development in the context of carbon neutrality. It analyzes the relationship between the logistics industry and economy, energy, as well as environment in Yangtze River Delta. The data is based on China Statistical Yearbook from 2001 to 2019, by means of the entropy method and panel vector autoregressive (PVAR) model. The main findings are summarized as follows: firstly, the economy, industrial structure, energy, and environment have significant impact on the development of logistics industry in Yangtze River Delta. Secondly, the development of logistics industry in Yangtze River Delta is not balanced. The provinces including Jiangsu, Shanghai, Zhejiang, and Anhui have great differences in economy, industrial structure, demographic dividend, energy consumption, and environmental protection, but they show the possibility of complementary advantages. Thirdly, the economic development and energy consumption have bidirectional effects. Environmental protection is relevant to economic development, industrial structure, energy consumption and logistics supply. Finally, some suggestions are provided on how to realize the high-quality development of logistics industry in Yangtze River Delta. In the context of carbon neutrality, it is necessary to consider energy conservation and emission reduction.

PMID:35689767 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-022-21237-3

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Just How Confident Can We Be in Predicting Sports Injuries? A Systematic Review of the Methodological Conduct and Performance of Existing Musculoskeletal Injury Prediction Models in Sport

Sports Med. 2022 Jun 11. doi: 10.1007/s40279-022-01698-9. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: An increasing number of musculoskeletal injury prediction models are being developed and implemented in sports medicine. Prediction model quality needs to be evaluated so clinicians can be informed of their potential usefulness.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the methodological conduct and completeness of reporting of musculoskeletal injury prediction models in sport.

METHODS: A systematic review was performed from inception to June 2021. Studies were included if they: (1) predicted sport injury; (2) used regression, machine learning, or deep learning models; (3) were written in English; (4) were peer reviewed.

RESULTS: Thirty studies (204 models) were included; 60% of studies utilized only regression methods, 13% only machine learning, and 27% both regression and machine learning approaches. All studies developed a prediction model and no studies externally validated a prediction model. Two percent of models (7% of studies) were low risk of bias and 98% of models (93% of studies) were high or unclear risk of bias. Three studies (10%) performed an a priori sample size calculation; 14 (47%) performed internal validation. Nineteen studies (63%) reported discrimination and two (7%) reported calibration. Four studies (13%) reported model equations for statistical predictions and no machine learning studies reported code or hyperparameters.

CONCLUSION: Existing sport musculoskeletal injury prediction models were poorly developed and have a high risk of bias. No models could be recommended for use in practice. The majority of models were developed with small sample sizes, had inadequate assessment of model performance, and were poorly reported. To create clinically useful sports musculoskeletal injury prediction models, considerable improvements in methodology and reporting are urgently required.

PMID:35689749 | DOI:10.1007/s40279-022-01698-9

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Investigation of Molecular Diffusion at Block Copolymer Thin Films Using Maximum Entropy Method-Based Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy and Single Molecule Tracking

J Fluoresc. 2022 Jun 11. doi: 10.1007/s10895-022-02975-6. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) has been widely used to investigate molecular diffusion behavior in various samples. The use of the maximum entropy method (MEM) for FCS data analysis provides a unique means to determine multiple distinct diffusion coefficients without a priori assumption of their number. Comparison of the MEM-based FCS method (MEM-FCS) with another method will reveal its utility and advantage as an analytical tool to investigate diffusion dynamics. Herein, we measured diffusion of fluorescent probes doped into nanostructured thin films using MEM-FCS, and validated the results with single molecule tracking (SMT) data. The efficacy of the MEM code employed was first demonstrated by analyzing simulated FCS data for systems incorporating one and two diffusion modes with broadly distributed diffusion coefficients. The MEM analysis accurately afforded the number of distinct diffusion modes and their mean diffusion coefficients. These results contrasted with those obtained by fitting the simulated data to conventional two-component and anomalous diffusion models, which yielded inaccurate estimates of the diffusion coefficients. Subsequently, the MEM analysis was applied to FCS data acquired from hydrophilic dye molecules incorporated into microphase-separated polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PS-b-PEO) thin films characterized under a water-saturated N2 atmosphere. The MEM analysis revealed distinct fast and slow diffusion components attributable to molecules diffusing on the film surface and inside the film, respectively. SMT studies of the same materials yielded trajectories for mobile molecules that appear to follow the curved PEO microdomains. Diffusion coefficients obtained from the SMT data were consistent with those obtained for the slow diffusion component detected by MEM-FCS. These results highlight the utility of MEM-FCS and SMT for gaining complementary information on molecular diffusion processes in heterogeneous material systems.

PMID:35689743 | DOI:10.1007/s10895-022-02975-6

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

What can we learn about posthumous sperm retrieval after extra long-term follow-up?

J Assist Reprod Genet. 2022 Jun 11. doi: 10.1007/s10815-022-02535-8. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To describe spermatozoa extraction rate by testicular sperm extraction (TESE) for posthumous sperm retrieval (PMSR) and examine harvest time impact on sperm motility; to compare long-term sperm usage between married vs. single deceased men.

METHODS: This retrospective study included all PMSR cases in Shamir Medical Center during 2003-2021. We evaluated sperm cryopreservation according to latency time after death. Then, we assessed sperm usage according to Israeli PMSR regulations.

RESULTS: The study included 69 (35 married and 34 singles) deceased men with average age of 30.3 ± 7.8 years. Sperm was cryopreserved in 65 cases (94.2%) after maximum and average harvest time of 40 and 16.5 ± 8.1 h, respectively. Motile sperm extraction was associated with significantly shorter harvest time compared with non-motile sperm (13.8 ± 7.3 vs. 18.7 ± 8.1 h, p = 0.046). Sperm usage among married deceased was significantly higher than single (15.6% vs. 0%, p = 0.05). Disposal requests were lower among single compared to married men relatives without reaching statistical difference. Eventually, single men had significantly higher rate of non-used cryopreserved samples (93.8% vs 69.6%, p = 0.01).

CONCLUSION: This large long-term cohort study demonstrates high efficacy of PMSR. We found significant harvest latency time difference between motile and non-motile preserved sperm. Clinical sperm usage rate justifies the efforts for PMSR among married deceased. However, contradicting policy on the topic of single men (which implies liberal sperm preservation but rigid prevention of usage) results with high non-used sperm rate and relatives’ extremely sophisticated emotional burden.

PMID:35689734 | DOI:10.1007/s10815-022-02535-8

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Diatom community composition on submerged macrophyte species from an Ontario (Canada) lake

J Phycol. 2022 Jun 11. doi: 10.1111/jpy.13273. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The introduction of invasive macrophyte species can affect submerged macrophyte community composition and abundance, which in turn can alter the functions of lake ecosystems. Knowing when and how invasive macrophytes arrive and spread can help disentangle the effects of invasive species from other stressors on lake ecosystems. This requires a long-term (decades) perspective of macrophyte community composition, which is rarely available. An alternative is paleolimnological inferences of macrophyte community composition from fossil diatom assemblages, which requires knowledge of epiphytic diatom communities. Here, we investigated the epiphytic diatom community composition of three common submerged macrophyte species (Chara sp., Potamogeton robbinsii, and the invasive Myriophyllum spicatum) in a typical temperate, mixed forest lake, Chandos Lake, Ontario, Canada, to provide a basis for future paleolimnological research. Non-parametric, multivariate analysis of variance indicated a statistically significant difference in the epiphytic diatom communities of different macrophyte species, despite principal components analysis showing some overlap among the diatom communities. Diatom community composition of all macrophytes had abundant Achnanthidium minutissimum and Cocconeis placentula. Generalised linear models and univariate analysis of variance identified six diatoms (Encyonopsis microcephala, Epithemia turgida, Gomphonema pavulum var. parvulius, Navicula gerloffi, Rhopalodia gibba, and Rossithidium anastasiae) that were significantly different among macrophyte species. Although it remains uncertain whether these differences are sufficient to infer historical macrophyte community composition from epiphytic diatom fossil assemblages, our results indicate the potential of such an approach and offer suggestions for future research.

PMID:35689727 | DOI:10.1111/jpy.13273

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Significance of extrinsic factors for the optimization of dietary cobalt supplementation in Tor putitora fingerlings

Fish Physiol Biochem. 2022 Jun 11. doi: 10.1007/s10695-022-01089-x. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Extrinsic factors play a significant role during aquaculture feed manufacturing practices. Herein, a 90-day feeding trial was designed in triplicate under controlled environmental conditions to evaluate the efficiency of different chemical forms of dietary cobalt at different dosage levels on growth performance, hematological, and immunological indices of Tor putitora fingerlings. Firstly, cobalt chloride nanoparticles (Co-NPs) and cobalt methionine chelated complex (Co-Met) were synthesized via physical and chemical methods respectively and then characterized for their size, surface morphology, and elemental composition analysis by using X-rays diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Results indicated the crystalline nature of Co-NPs with spherical shape having an average size < 20 nm while Co-Met appeared as an amorphous complex with a honey-comb-like octahedral structure with an average size of 82.69 nm. Afterward, a feeding experiment was executed and fish were divided into three groups, i.e., control group (CG; fed 40% crude protein diet with no mineral added), while the other two groups were fed graded levels (0.5-3 mg/kg; increment of 0.5 mg Co/group) of Co-NPs and Co-Met supplemented diets. Statistical analysis of results by using two-way ANOVA indicated significant (P < 0.001) effect of both chemical forms, dosage levels, and their interaction level on fish indicating a dose-dependent significant effect of different chemical forms of dietary cobalt on fish. Additionally, Co-Met supplemented group of fish at supplementation level of 3 mg/kg diet showed highest growth performance, and improved hemato-immunological as compared to other experimental and control group of fish.

PMID:35689710 | DOI:10.1007/s10695-022-01089-x