Tag: statistics

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2022 Sep 29. doi: 10.1007/s11356-022-23189-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study measures the impact of the implementation of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) on firms’ green innovation initiatives. We used 20 years of panel data from the Fortune 500 list of the US largest companies. Based on DID, a benchmark regression, the RGGI has a significant adverse effect on the green innovation of Fortune 500 companies, and we verified these findings with multiple robustness tests. As we investigate how energy-intensive industries were affected by RGGI, we found that it slowed down green innovation, but it was not statistically significant. This study provides a novel perspective on how the RGGI influences green innovation in firms and how different types of sectors respond to the policy. The findings indicate that the “weak” Porter Hypothesis has not been confirmed in the present carbon trading market (particularly the RGGI) for Fortune 500 firms in the USA. In terms of policy, we believe that a well-covered and differentiated legislation that fosters green innovation while being realistic about the policy’s goal and the firm’s environmental attitude, like emissions reduction through green innovation, is essential.

PMID:36173521 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-022-23189-0

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2022 Sep 29. doi: 10.1007/s11356-022-23287-z. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

An activated carbon (AC) deriving from sludge is used in this research for the adsorption of two water pollutants, namely Reactive Black 5 (RB5) and Green Alizarin (GA) dyes, at different temperatures. The adsorption capacities varied from 277.2 to 312.69 mg/g for GA and from 225.82 to 256.02 mg/g for RB5. Comparatively, this adsorbent presents good performances in removing these dyes from wastewater. The application of physical models to adsorption experiments is advantageous to provide new insights into the dyes’ adsorption mechanism. A dedicated physical adsorption model suggests that RB5 and GA dyes are adsorbed in a monolayer. Moreover, the orientation of RB5 and GA dyes on AC resulted in an angled position, determining a multi-molecular process. In addition, both dyes are adsorbed by the occurrence of an aggregation process, forming a dimer. The impact of temperature can be also interpreted, allowing concluding that it plays a relevant role in removing these dyes. The calculation and interpretation of adsorption energies show that the dyes are removed via an endothermic process, and physical forces are involved.

PMID:36173520 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-022-23287-z

Trop Anim Health Prod. 2022 Sep 29;54(5):328. doi: 10.1007/s11250-022-03330-4.

ABSTRACT

The objective of this systematic review was to estimate the overall pooled prevalence of Newcastle disease in chickens in Ethiopia and identify the sources of heterogeneity among and within studies. The seroprevalence of Newcastle disease was estimated using a single-group meta-analysis. Attempts were also made to identify study-level variables that could explain the heterogeneity in the apparent seroprevalence of the Newcastle disease. The findings were based on 16 published articles and 33 district-level reports and were limited to studies performed during 2005-2017. Due to the presence of heterogeneity, pooled analysis from different districts was conducted using random-effects meta-analysis. The single-group summary of Newcastle disease seroprevalence in chickens was estimated to be 21.47% (19.54-23.4%) with a 95% confidence interval. Our results indicated high inter-study variability (Cochran’s Q statistic = 196.2, true variance (τ²) = 0.36, inverse variance index (I²) = 90.0%, p < 0.001). Of all variables analysed, diagnostic techniques and regions were the most significant predictors (p ˂ 0.05) of heterogeneity. According to the diagnostic technique-based meta-analysis of random pooled prevalence, the haemagglutination inhibition test had the highest prevalence, followed by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In conclusion, the high-pooled prevalence estimates of the disease, combined with the scarcity of published data for the entire country of Ethiopia, indicate a significant data gap on the distribution of Newcastle disease in the country. While the high pooled prevalence tells the need for intervention to control the disease, there is also a need to assess the disease prevalence in all other parts of the country.

PMID:36173467 | DOI:10.1007/s11250-022-03330-4

Heart Vessels. 2022 Sep 29. doi: 10.1007/s00380-022-02158-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) has been widely used for critically ill patients all over the world; however, comprehensive survey regarding the relationship between VA-ECMO duration and prognosis is limited. We conducted a survey of VA-ECMO patients in the Japanese Registry of All Cardiac and Vascular Diseases-Diagnosis Procedure Combination (JROAD-DPC), which was a health insurance claim database study among cardiovascular centers associated with the Japan Circulation Society, between April 2012 and March 2016. Out of 13,542 VA-ECMO patients, we analyzed 5766 cardiovascular patients treated with VA-ECMO. 68% patients used VA-ECMO only for 1 day and 93% had VA-ECMO terminated within 1 week. In multivariate analysis, the hazard ratio of 1-day support was significantly high at 1.72 (95% confidence intervals; 95% CI 1.53-1.95) (p < 0.001), while that of 2-day [0.60 (95% CI 0.49-0.73)], 3-day [0.75 (95% CI 0.60-0.94)], 4-day [0.43 (95% CI 0.31-0.60)] and 5-day support [0.62 (95% CI 0.44-0.86)] was significantly low. Comprehensive database analysis of JROAD-DPC revealed that cardiovascular patients who were supported with VA-ECMO for 2-5 days showed lower mortality. The optimal VA-ECMO support window should be investigated in further studies.

PMID:36173448 | DOI:10.1007/s00380-022-02158-0

Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2022 Sep 29. doi: 10.1007/s00167-022-07176-z. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Cruciate-retaining and posterior-stabilised implant designs are available for primary total knee arthroplasty. However, whether the implant design is associated with a difference in the level of activity still remains unclear. This clinical trial compared posterior-stabilised and cruciate-retaining implants in sport-related patient-reported outcome measures, range of motion, rate of return to sport, and weekly time dedicated to sport in active adults. It was also hypothesised that in young and active patients both implants lead to a similar rate of return to sport in terms of hours per week, type of sport, and joint mobility.

METHODS: All patients were evaluated preoperatively and for a minimum of 36 months follow-up. The University of California Los Angeles activity scores, High-Activity Arthroplasty Score, and Visual Analogue Scale were administered preoperatively and at the last follow-up. The range of motion was investigated at admission and the last follow-up. Data concerning the hours per week dedicated to sports and the type of sport practiced were also collected at admission and at the last follow-up. The Kaplan-Meier Curve was performed to compare implant survivorship.

RESULTS: Data from 227 procedures (cruciate-retaining: 109, posterior-stabilised: 118) were prospectively collected. At the last follow-up, no difference was reported in The University of California Los Angeles activity scores (p = 0.6), High-Activity Arthroplasty Score (p = 0.1), Visual Analogue Scale (p = 0.9), flexion (p = 0.7) and extension (p = 0.4). No difference was found in the rate of return (p = 0.1) and weekly hours dedicated to sport (p = 0.3). The Kaplan-Meier curve evidenced no statistically significant difference in implant survivorship (p = 0.6).

CONCLUSIONS: At approximately five years of follow-up, no difference was reported between cruciate-retaining and posterior-stabilised implants in active adults in sport-related patient-reported outcomes measures, range of motion, pain, weekly time dedicated to sport, rate of return to sport, and implant survivorship.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II, prospective study.

PMID:36173439 | DOI:10.1007/s00167-022-07176-z

Int Urogynecol J. 2022 Sep 29. doi: 10.1007/s00192-022-05366-4. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: This study aimed to compare the difference in levator ani muscle (LAM) volumes between ‘normal’ and those with sonographically visualized LAM defects. We hypothesized that the ‘muscle damage’ group would have a significantly lower muscle volume.

METHODS: The study included patients who had undergone a 3D endovaginal ultrasound. The normal (NM) and damage (DM) muscle groups’ architectural changes were evaluated based on anterior-posterior (AP), left-right (LR) diameter, and minimal levator hiatus (MLH) area. The puboanalis-puboperinealis (PA), puborectalis (PR), and pubococcygeus-iliococcygeus (PC) were manually segmented using 2.5 vs. 1.0 mm to find the optimal sequence and to compare the volumes between NM and DM groups. POPQs were compared between the NM and DM groups.

RESULTS: The 1.0-mm segmentation volumes created superior volume analysis. Comparing NM to the DM group showed no significant difference in LAM volume. Respectively, the mean total LAM volumes were 17.27 cm³ (SD = 3.97) and 17.04 cm³ (SD = 4.32), p = 0.79. The mean MLH measurements for both groups respectively were 10.06 cm² (SD = 2.93) and 12.18 cm² (SD = 2.93), indicating a significant difference (p = 0.01). POPQ analysis demonstrated statistically significant differences at Ba and Bp parameters suggesting that the DM group had worse prolapse (p = 0.05, 0.01, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: While LAM volumes are similar, there is a significant difference in the physical architecture of the LAM and the POPQ parameters in muscle-damaged patients compared to the normal group.

PMID:36173426 | DOI:10.1007/s00192-022-05366-4

Exp Brain Res. 2022 Sep 29. doi: 10.1007/s00221-022-06462-z. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Previous history of activity and learning modulates synaptic plasticity and can lead to saturation of synaptic connections. According to the synaptic homeostasis hypothesis, neural oscillations during slow-wave sleep play an important role in restoring plasticity within a functional range. However, it is not known whether slow-wave oscillations-without the concomitant requirement of sleep-play a causal role in human synaptic homeostasis. Here, we aimed to answer this question using transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) to induce slow-oscillatory activity in awake human participants. tACS was interleaved between two plasticity-inducing interventions: motor learning, and paired associative stimulation (PAS). The hypothesis tested was that slow-oscillatory tACS would prevent homeostatic interference between motor learning and PAS, and facilitate plasticity from these successive interventions. Thirty-six participants received sham and active fronto-motor tACS in two separate sessions, along with electroencephalography (EEG) recordings, while a further 38 participants received tACS through a control montage. Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were recorded throughout the session to quantify plasticity changes after the different interventions, and the data were analysed with Bayesian statistics. As expected, there was converging evidence that motor training led to excitatory plasticity. Importantly, we found moderate evidence against an effect of active tACS in restoring PAS plasticity, and no evidence of lasting entrainment of slow oscillations in the EEG. This suggests that, under the conditions tested here, slow-oscillatory tACS does not modulate synaptic homeostasis in the motor system of awake humans.

PMID:36173425 | DOI:10.1007/s00221-022-06462-z

Disabil Rehabil. 2022 Sep 29:1-10. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2022.2127937. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Recent RCTs and meta-analyses compare the effectiveness of different types of exercise for chronic whiplash associated disorder (WAD). This study aimed to verify whether the results of these studies translate to statistically significant and clinically meaningful effects in individual participants.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A series of replicated randomised single case experimental design studies (SCEDs) with A-B design (A: baseline, B: intervention). Eight participants with chronic WAD (8 female, mean [SD] age 47 [10] years) were randomised into one of four baseline durations (5, 8, 11, and 14 days) and to one of two eight-week exercise interventions (aerobic or strengthening). Daily measures of pain intensity, bothersomeness, and interference were collected during the baseline phase and the intervention phase.

RESULTS: Visual analyses indicated that three participants in the aerobic exercise group meaningfully improved. No improvements were found in the strengthening group. Effect sizes favoured the aerobic exercise group, yet randomisation tests of pooled effects did not show a difference in between-intervention effectiveness.

CONCLUSION: Contrary to our expectations, three out of four participants were nearly pain-free at the end of the aerobic exercise intervention, whereas none of the participants in the strengthening group improved meaningfully. This suggests that aerobic exercise may be favourable for WAD.Implications for RehabilitationOur results suggest that aerobic exercises are favourable over strengthening exercises and may be the preferred option for patients with chronic WAD.We found substantial variability in self-reported outcomes within participants, clinicians should be aware of this in the judgement of treatment effectiveness.

PMID:36173391 | DOI:10.1080/09638288.2022.2127937

Am J Clin Nutr. 2022 Sep 29:nqac281. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqac281. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Elevated brain choline is associated with better executive function in preadolescents. Manipulating dietary choline prospectively in preadolescents using egg supplementation could improve executive function via effects on brain cellular and neurotransmitter function.

OBJECTIVE: Test the 9-mo impact of egg supplementation on executive function. It was hypothesized that preadolescents who consumed meal/snack replacement products containing powder made from whole eggs would have the largest improvement in executive function after 9-mo compared to those consuming similar products with either added milk powder or gelatin as a placebo.

METHODS: A randomized, parallel groups, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial design was used. The executive function of 122 preadolescents (58 females) aged 9-13 was analyzed before and after the 9-mo intervention. Primary outcomes were three National Institutes of Health Toolbox-Cognitive Battery measures of executive function: mental flexibility, working memory and selective attention/inhibitory control. Participants were randomized to consume food products with either: (i) whole egg powder, (ii) milk powder, or (iii) gelatin as a placebo, all matched on macronutrient content and used as replacements for commonly consumed foods (i.e., waffles, pancakes, macaroni and cheese, ice cream, and brownies). Hypothesis testing used mixed-effects models that included physical activity and sleep scores as covariates.

RESULTS: A statistically significant group by time interaction for selective attention and inhibitory control was found (p=0.049) for the milk group. This interaction resulted from no change for the placebo group and an improvement in selective attention and inhibitory control performance for the milk group by a T-score of 5.8; the effect size d was 0.44 standard deviation units. Other comparisons were statistically insignificant.

CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of foods with added milk powder as replacements for snacks or meals for 9-mo improves selective attention/inhibitory control in preadolescents. Replacement foods with added whole egg powder does not impact the 9-mo change in preadolescent executive function.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03739424.

PMID:36173384 | DOI:10.1093/ajcn/nqac281

J Esthet Restor Dent. 2022 Sep 29. doi: 10.1111/jerd.12968. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of six whitening toothpastes with different whitening ingredients as follows: abrasives, polyphosphates, activated charcoal and hydrogen peroxide on the color, and shear bond strength (SBS) of enamel.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-five extracted human molars were sectioned in mesiodistal direction, providing 70 enamel specimens and randomly divided into seven groups having different whitening ingredients (n = 10). After baseline color measurements, the specimens were brushed three times daily for the 30 s. At the end of 2 weeks, spectrophotometric readings were repeated, and color change parameters were calculated. Then, composite cylinders were built on the enamel surfaces and the specimens were subjected to SBS test. Failure modes were determined under a stereomicroscope (×10). One specimen from each group was examined with scanning electron microscope (SEM). The data were statistically analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis, Wilcoxon signed, one-way-ANOVA (p = 0.05).

RESULTS: Clinically acceptable color change was observed in all whitening toothpastes. There were no significant differences among the groups for Δa, ΔL, ΔE₀₀ , and ΔWI_D (p > 0.05). The differences among the groups were not significant regarding SBS and failure mode distributions (p > 0.05). SEM findings were in line with the SBS test and failure mode distribution results.

CONCLUSIONS: All the tested whitening toothpastes showed similar and clinically acceptable efficacy on the color change of the enamel and led to comparable SBS values.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The tested whitening toothpastes had an acceptable whitening efficacy and did not have a negative effect on the bond strength to the enamel.

PMID:36173366 | DOI:10.1111/jerd.12968