Tag: statistics

Sci Total Environ. 2023 Oct 29:168114. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168114. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The evolution of insecticide resistance has been attributed to strong directional selection by lethal concentrations of insecticides, but there is growing evidence that sublethal doses may also modify resistance through the hormetic effects. Hormesis is a beneficial effect caused by exposure to low doses. However, the role of parental (transgenerational) effects on hormesis, and through that on insecticide resistance, is still unclear. We investigated the effects of several sublethal pyrethroid insecticide (Decis) doses on survival, body mass, and reproduction within four generations (F0, F1, F2, and F3) of the Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata). We found that insecticide exposure had mostly linear adverse within-generation effects: decreased larva-to-adult survival, adult body mass, and egg hatching. However, transgenerational exposure led to hormetic effects: increased larva-to-adult survival and pre-diapause adult body mass. Moreover, transgenerational effects were even more positive for offspring exposed to insecticides, leading to decreased larva-to-adult survival, increased body mass, and egg hatching. Our results show that despite mostly negative within-generation effects, transgenerational sublethal exposure to insecticide can cause unwanted positive hormetic effects in their offspring, making them to resist or tolerate the insecticides better, even though the underlying mechanisms are still unclear.

PMID:37907109 | DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168114

Sci Total Environ. 2023 Oct 29:168185. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168185. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Being one of the most serious biomass burning regions in the world, the air pollution caused by spring combustion in the Indo-China Peninsula (ICP) has already had an impact on Yunnan Province’s beautiful environment and excellent air quality to some extent. In this study, considering the differences in geographical location and topography of Yunnan, we used the K-Means algorithm to divide it into five clustering zones according to the spatiotemporal variation characteristics of PM_2.5. Then this study explored the spatial and temporal characteristics of pollution in Yunnan Province and biomass combustion in ICP based on the multi-source data such as MOD14A1, GDAS1, and ground-based PM_2.5 data, and used HYSPLIT (Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory) pollution tracer analysis and other data statistical methods. The results show that the spatiotemporal variation characteristics of PM_2.5 in Yunnan Province show large differences within each clustering zone (CZ). Spatially, CZ 2 has better air quality throughout the year, and the areas with higher PM_2.5 are mainly in CZ 1 and CZ 3. Temporally, the months with higher concentration values were mainly from February to April, and also this period owed high biomass burning activities in the ICP, which resulted in pollution values exceeding 60 μg/m³ within certain CZs. Finally, the results of the pollution tracer analysis showed that within CZs other than CZ 2, the contribution due to the burning in the ICP was variable, and that the countries with a high contribution of pollution to Yunnan Province were Myanmar, and the other sources of pollution are mainly caused by local and neighbouring anthropogenic activities. Therefore, based on overall improvement of air quality, Yunnan Province is necessary to prevent and control not only the pollutants from the ICP from February to April, but also the pollution caused by the emissions from rapid economic development.

PMID:37907099 | DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168185

J R Soc Interface. 2023 Nov;20(208):20230117. doi: 10.1098/rsif.2023.0117. Epub 2023 Nov 1.

ABSTRACT

Chemical reactions that couple to systems that phase separate have been implicated in diverse contexts from biology to materials science. However, how a particular set of chemical reactions (chemical reaction network, CRN) would affect the behaviours of a phase separating system is difficult to fully predict theoretically. In this paper, we analyse a mean field theory coupling CRNs to a combined system of phase separating and non-phase separating materials and analyse how the properties of the CRNs affect different classes of non-equilibrium behaviour: microphase separation or temporally oscillating patterns. We examine the problem of achieving microphase separated condensates by statistical analysis of the Jacobians, of which the most important motifs are negative feedback of the phase separating component and combined inhibition/activation by the non-phase separating components. We then identify CRN motifs that are likely to yield microphase by examining randomly generated networks and parameters. Molecular sequestration of the phase separating motif is shown to be the most robust towards yielding microphase separation. Subsequently, we find that dynamics of the phase separating species is promoted most easily by inducing oscillations in the diffusive components coupled to the phase separating species. Our results provide guidance towards the design of CRNs that manage the formation, dissolution and organization of compartments.

PMID:37907095 | DOI:10.1098/rsif.2023.0117

J R Soc Interface. 2023 Nov;20(208):20230296. doi: 10.1098/rsif.2023.0296. Epub 2023 Nov 1.

ABSTRACT

The spatial configuration of urban amenities and the streets connecting them collectively provide the structural backbone of a city, influencing its accessibility, vitality and ultimately the well-being of its residents. Most accessibility measures focus on the proximity of amenities in space or along transportation networks, resulting in metrics largely determined by urban density alone. These measures are unable to gauge how efficiently street networks can navigate between amenities, since they neglect the circuity component of accessibility. Existing measures also often require ad hoc modelling choices, making them less flexible for different applications and difficult to apply in cross-sectional analyses. Here, we develop a simple, principled and flexible measure to characterize the circuity of accessibility among heterogeneous amenities in a city, which we call the pairwise circuity (PC). The PC quantifies the excess travel distance incurred when using the street network to route between a pair of amenity types, summarizing both spatial and topological correlations among amenities. Measures developed using our framework exhibit significant statistical associations with a variety of urban prosperity and accessibility indicators when compared with an appropriate null model, and we find a clear separation in the PC values of cities according to development level and geographical region.

PMID:37907093 | DOI:10.1098/rsif.2023.0296

West Afr J Med. 2023 Oct 31;40(10):1096-1106.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Burnout remains a crucial occupational health challenge to healthcare professionals given its immediate and remote harmful effects. Doctors and nurses are highly susceptible to burnout due to the essence and demands of their services. The study aimed to establish and compare the prevalence of burnout among doctors and nurses working at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Southern Nigeria.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a comparative cross-sectional study among 553 doctors and nurses at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, South-South Nigeria. Study participants were selected by a stratified random sampling technique. A pretested, self-administered MBI – Human Services Survey for Medical Personnel – MBI-HSS (MP) was used for data collection and analysed with IBM Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) software version 23. The Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were applied with a statistical significance level set at α<0.05.

RESULTS: The mean ages for doctors and nurses were 37.1 ± 5.3 and 39.0 ± 9.2 respectively (p=0.003). Burnout prevalence among doctors was 9.7% compared to 5.5% among nurses (p =0.062). Out of 553 respondents, 247 (46.7%) had high emotional exhaustion (EE), 70 (12.7%) had high depersonalization (DP), and 342 (61.9%) had low personal accomplishments (PA). Furthermore, 132 (47.3%) doctors had high EE, 43 (15.4%) had high DP and 159 (57%) had low PA. While 115 (42%) nurses had high EE, 27 (9.9%) had high DP and 183 (66.8%) had a low PA (p=0.041). Excessive workload (p=0.042) and lengthy years spent in a workplace position (p=0.002) were significantly associated with burnout among doctors compared to family size (p=0.045) and workplace support or community (p=0.005) among nurses.

CONCLUSION: The study found burnout prevalence to be higher among doctors than nurses. Work-related factors contributed significantly to burnout development. Recreating or modifying workplace environments is essential to mitigating the adverse effects of burnout among healthcare workers.

PMID:37906955

Andes Pediatr. 2022 Oct;93(5):699-708. doi: 10.32641/andespediatr.v93i5.3686.

ABSTRACT

In Chile, there is a lack of information about wheezing and asthma epidemiology in children under 5 years of age.

OBJECTIVE: To determine at the national level the hospitalization and mortality rates in children aged under 5 years with diagnosis of acute bronchitis and asthma.

PATIENTS AND METHOD: Hospitalization rates were made using discharge data provided by the Department of Health Statis tics and Information, selecting only those corresponding to the ICD10 codes for asthma and acute bronchitis. Population sizes of those at risk of hospitalization were obtained from projections of the National Institute of Statistics. The mortality rate was obtained by calculating the quotient between the number of deaths due to acute bronchitis and asthma in children under 5 years of age and the exposed population. The evolution of the global and regional hospitalization rates from 2002 to 2017 was studied.

RESULTS: Most of the patients who were hospitalized had a diagnosis of acute bronchitis (93,6%), were under two years old, were male, and were hospitalized in winter. During the analyzed period, the acute bronchitis hospitalization rate dropped from 79.7 to 56.1 per 10,000 inhabitants, meanwhile, the asthma hospitalization rate increased from 2.4 to 7.6 per 10,000 inhabitants. The mortality rate in patients with acute bronchitis was 0.52 per 100,000 inhabitants. No mortality was observed in patients diagnosed with asthma.

CONCLUSIONS: During the analyzed period, a significant reduction in hospitalization rate due to acute bronchitis was observed in children aged under 5 years, with a low mortality rate.

PMID:37906890 | DOI:10.32641/andespediatr.v93i5.3686

Andes Pediatr. 2022 Oct;93(5):640-647. doi: 10.32641/andespediatr.v93i5.4060.

ABSTRACT

Advances in medical care have increased the survival of children with complex chronic pathology (CCP).

OBJECTIVE: to analyze the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of a cohort of children with CCP.

PATIENTS AND METHOD: retrospective descriptive study performed in a tertiary hospital bet ween June 2017 and June 2020, which included patients with CCP criteria. Epidemiological, clinical, admissions, and services involved data were collected and analyzed. Statistical analysis was perfor med using SPSS v22.0 software.

RESULTS: 323 patients (mean age 7 years) were included. 93.1% had a multisystem disease, with neurological (87.3%) and gastrointestinal (34.1%) as the most frequent chronic conditions. 39.9% were technology dependent. The main diagnoses were Infantile Cerebral Palsy (23.5%) and Epileptic Encephalopathy (13.9%). Each patient was in follow-up by 5 specialists on average. Of the patients, 85.1% were admitted at some time, with a total of 739 admissions. The mean length of stay was 8.7 days. Technology-dependent patients accounted for 54.7% of hospi talizations. The reasons for admission were acute illness (64.3%), surgery (20.3%), and diagnostic procedure (15%). ICU was required in 23.1%. 62 admissions were partially carried out by the Home Hospitalization Unit.

CONCLUSIONS: Children with CCP require an increased number of admissions and multiple specialists. The implementation of specialized referral units may be useful to improve their care.

PMID:37906884 | DOI:10.32641/andespediatr.v93i5.4060

Andes Pediatr. 2023 Jan;94(1):78-85. doi: 10.32641/andespediatr.v94i1.3989.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), progression risk, and quality of life in students aged from 10 to 18 years.

PATIENTS AND METHOD: Cross-sectional descriptive study in students 10 – 18 years old from 5 communes in Santiago, Chile, between 2015-2016. Adam’s Test was performed and the angle trunk rotation (ATR) at the thoracic, thoracolumbar, and lumbar levels were measured with a scoliometer. If ATR was ≥ 6°, anteroposterior and lateral radiological images of the spine were taken, and Cobb angle was measured. Scoliosis was confirmed if the Cobb angle was ≥ 10° plus vertebral rotation. Progression factor was calculated with Lonstein and Carlson formula. Quality of life was assessed through spinal deformities questionnaires and the trunk appearance perception scale.

RESULTS: 1200 students were evaluated, 54.9% were female, and 8.17% had ATR ≥ 6°. We found mild scoliosis in 2.91%, moderate in 0.75% and severe in 0.17%. Total prevalence was 3.83% (CI 95%: 2.74 – 4.92). 82.61% of the cases had a late diagnosis, after their growth spurt. Of the patients with scoliosis, 21.74% had a progression risk ≥ 50%. Quality of life had a positive correlation with scoliosis severity, not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of AIS was 3.83%. Most patients were diagnosed after their growth spurt with high progression risk. Quality of life showed a weak positive correlation with scoliosis severity.

PMID:37906874 | DOI:10.32641/andespediatr.v94i1.3989

Andes Pediatr. 2023 Jan;94(1):54-61. doi: 10.32641/andespediatr.v94i1.4049.

ABSTRACT

Weight measurement is essential in the treatment of pediatric patients in emergencies, however, in cases of patient instability or limited resources, weight estimation becomes a plausible alternative. There are rapid estimation methods, although with performance discrepancies in different populations.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the performance of the “Colombian Pediatric Tape” (CPT) and Broselow Tape (BT) in weight estimation in children.

PATIENTS AND METHOD: Descriptive cross-sectional study and concordance analysis. Sample of 42,232 children from the 2010 National Survey of the Nu tritional Situation of Colombia. For the performance evaluation, the prediction of zones and weight of each tool and their concordance using the Kappa coefficient and the Bland-Altman index were considered.

RESULTS: Cohen’s Kappa index for the BT with respect to the color area agreement was 0.57 and for the CPT it was 0.65. The Bland-Altman index for CPT of the actual weight and the esti mated weight showed a mean difference of 0.005 Kg (CI95; -4.1 to +4.1), and for the BT was 0.13 Kg (CI95; -5.2 to 5.5). The percentage difference analysis of concordance between the two tools showed a statistically significant overall difference in favor of the CPT, 66% Vs 70% (p = 0.00001).

CONCLUSIONS: In Colombian children, the BT overestimates or underestimates the weight by up to 21% with respect to the real value, while CPT can be used with better performance to estimate the weight.

PMID:37906871 | DOI:10.32641/andespediatr.v94i1.4049

Andes Pediatr. 2023 Jan;94(1):37-44. doi: 10.32641/andespediatr.v94i1.4179.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To describe the presence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in children with craniofacial anomalies (CFA), associate biodemographic characteristics and polygraph variables, and analyze the therapeutic management decided after the sleep study and the evaluation by a multidisciplinary team.

PATIENTS AND METHOD: Retrospective study. Polygraphs were performed on patients aged between 1 month and 19 years with CFA. An initial and projected management was established categorized into ventilatory support, tracheostomy, surgery, dental, and medical treatment. Descrip tive and inferential statistics were performed, evaluating the association between demographic and polygraph variables and therapeutic management.

RESULTS: 34 patients were included with a median age of 4.0 years (IQR 0.9 – 6.5). Diagnosis was 41.2% cleft lip and palate, 35.3% craniosynostosis, and 23.5% micrognathia. Polygraphs were altered in 70.6% of the cases; of these, 26.5% were diagnosed as mild, 5.9% moderate, and 38.2% severe OSAS. There was an association between minimum satu ration and diagnosis of OSAS (p = 0.0036), and in the presence of OSAS with the initial management applied (p=0.0013). There was no significant relationship between the different types of CFA with the initial therapeutic management (p = 0.6565). Initial and projected managements, respectively: Venti latory support (11.8% and 2.9%), tracheostomy (11.8% and 0%), surgery (35.2% and 26.5%), dental (20.6% and 53%), and medical treatment (20.6% and 17.6 %).

CONCLUSIONS: 70% of the patients with CFA presented OSAS. The greatest severity was found in Cleft Lip and Palatine and Craniosynostosis. Therapeutic management was mainly oriented towards initial surgical and planned dental treatments based on the diagnosis of OSAS and not on the type of CFA.

PMID:37906869 | DOI:10.32641/andespediatr.v94i1.4179