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This study aimed to explore and evaluate the development trends and differential changes in the prevalence of mental and behavioral disorders among the earthquake survivors in exposure groups (highly hard-hit areas) and control groups (general disaster areas) from 2015 to 2019, as well as to investigate the potential influencing factors. Data was obtained from the Sichuan Health Information System and the Sichuan Health Yearbook, the prevalence of the exposure group and the control group were calculated, the difference between the two groups was evaluated using the prevalence rate ratio, and a fixed effect model was developed to investigate the potential influencing factors of the prevalence. The prevalence by gender and age in the exposure group was always greater than those in the control group (RR>1), although the disparity between the two proceeded to diminish with time. The urbanization rate (β = 0.0448, P < 0.05) and disaster area levels (β = 0.0104, P < 0.05) were risk factors for the prevalence of mental and behavioral disorders. The study only collected data at the group level following the Wenchuan earthquake. Consequently, the findings are only applicable at the group level. Furthermore, diagnostic criteria for various types of mental and behavioral disorders diseases were not provided. The earthquake has a significant long-term impact on mental health. It is necessary to continuously monitor the mental health of Wenchuan earthquake survivors and take appropriate post-disaster intervention measures. • Studying mental health in regional adult survivors post-Wenchuan, 2015-2019, through bio-social lens. • Mental and behavioral disorder prevalence gap between exposure and control groups narrows annually. • The urbanization rate is the risk factor of the prevalence rate of mental and behavioral disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To undertake a one-stage meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomized trials comparing individualized dosing of follitropin delta vs. other forms of follitropin (alpha and beta) for live birth (LB) rates (LBR) and safety parameters in women undergoing ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization treatment. Systematic review with individual patient data meta-analysis. Not applicable. Women undergoing ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization treatment. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and the Web of Science to identify eligible phase 3 trials between January 1, 2000, and February 1, 2023. All analyses were based on individual participant data. We used a general linear mixed effects logistic regression model using fixed effects for treatment drugs interacting with log (AMH) level, age, and random effects for country and trial to compare the primary efficacy and safety outcomes of LB and early ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and/or the need for OHSS preventative measures, with ovarian stimulation parameters and neonatal outcomes also assessed. PROSPERO registration: CRD42023399711. Three trials met inclusion criteria and included 2,685 women undertaking 2,682 cycles between October 2013 and May 2020, with LB follow-up through to February 1, 2023. For women with an elevated AMH level (≥15 pmol/L), there was high-quality evidence that the use of individualized dosing of follitropin delta was associated with an increased LB rate (adjusted odds ratio [adj OR] 1.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.14, 2.36). Safety outcomes were also improved with a reduced risk of both early OHSS and/or the need for preventative interventions (adj OR 0.27, 95% CI 0.15, 0.49) and early moderate or severe OHSS (adj OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.16, 0.58). These improvements in outcomes were obtained with a lower total dose of gonadotropin (−48.7 μg, 95% CI −53.7, −43.8) and no adjustments in the daily dose. In contrast, similar LB rates (adj OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.63, 1.17) and safety outcomes (adj OR 1.92, 95% CI 0.76, 4.87) were observed for women with an AMH level of <15 pmol/L. There were no clinically meaningful differences in neonatal outcomes. Using follitropin delta in an AMH level and weight-based algorithm rather than conventional licensed dosing of follitropin alpha or beta for ovarian stimulation in women is associated with improved LB rates and safety outcomes for women with elevated AMH levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The impact of labor market institutions (LMIs) on regional patents is studied. • I argue that the supply-side approach is fallacious for Europe. • Stronger wage-setting institutions can foster innovation in Europe. • Wage-setting institutions offset the negative impact of employment protection legislation (EPL) on innovation. • Positive spillover effects are identified between European regions. The main goal of this paper is to investigate the relationship between labor market institutions (LMIs) and patents in 177 NUTS-1 and NUTS-2 European regions. Fixed effects models, ordinary least squares (OLS), the generalized method of moments estimation of the fixed effects (FE-GMM), multilevel modeling (MLM), and spatial models are employed. Patents are negatively correlated with EPL and union density and positively associated with wage bargaining coverage and centralization. As a result, a uniform wage that is higher than the competitive wage can enable the Schumpeterian creative destruction process, forcing firms to invest in innovation to remain in the market. Spatial analysis emphasizes that regional proximity promotes the flow of knowledge and increases the chance of innovation. Interactions also matter. Increased bargaining power and coordination, in particular, may outweigh the negative consequences of isolated EPL reforms. Thus, policies that strengthen wage-setting institutions are required in Europe to boost innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the 5th of March 2013, the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) issued warnings regarding elevated pollution levels. Air pollution were reported in various regions of England, thereby influencing consumer behavior significantly. In response to the inconveniences and health threats posed by air pollution, individuals may alter their behavior to contribute to environmental improvement and mitigate the risks of potential future disasters. This study employs a difference-in-difference model, incorporating a two-way fixed effect model, to explore the repercussions of air pollution on consumer behavior. The findings suggest severe air pollution increase reliance on public transportation, as well as heighten inclination towards walking and cycling for short journeys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The digital economy has introduced new ideas and methods for the high-quality development of agriculture, becoming a driving force for enhancing agricultural production efficiency. This manuscript utilizes balanced panel data from 1,503 counties and employs the three-stage DEA-Malmquist method to measure agricultural total factor productivity (hereinafter referred to as ATFP). Fixed effect models and mediation models are used to explore the impact and mechanisms of digital rural development on ATFP. The research findings indicate that both ATFP and digital rural development are increasing, although regional disparities exist. The eastern region has higher levels of digital rural development and ATFP compared to the central and western regions. Analysis using fixed effect models and mediation models shows that digital rural development has a significant positive effect on ATFP during the sample period, with rural inclusive finance and human capital playing a mediating role. The impact of digital rural development on ATFP varies across regions. It is more prominent in main grain-producing and main grain-consuming areas, and less significant in balanced production and consumption areas. Geographically, the impact is stronger in the eastern region than in the central and western regions. When categorized by the type of agricultural production, the impact is significant in livestock areas, while relatively smaller in planting industry areas. Based on these findings, it is recommended that local areas tailor their approach to digital rural construction and formulate agricultural production policies that leverage regional strengths and address weaknesses. Additionally, promoting the development of rural inclusive finance, cultivating digital talent, improving talent introduction policies, and expanding the rural digital talent pool are suggested to build momentum for agricultural development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selection to increase body weight in poultry can hamper reproduction traits and compromise production efficiency. Thus, attention to reproduction traits is essential to improving the sustainability of breeding programs. Data from a domestic quail breeding program for meat production were used to estimate genetic parameters. We analyzed five traits: 4-week body weight, age at sexual maturity for males and females, cloacal gland area, female, and male reproductive organs weights. A multi-trait mixed model analysis with fixed effects of generation/hatch was performed, assuming environmental covariance equals zero for sex-limited traits. Heritability estimates range from low to moderate for male sexual maturity and cloacal gland area, and high for other traits. Intersexual genetic correlation for age at sexual maturity is positive, which can lead to correlated responses in the other sex. Reproductive organs weights are genetically correlated with body weight, but not significantly between sexes and nor with sexual maturity. Genetic correlations for the cloacal gland area were positive with body weight and negative with age at sexual maturity of males and females, demonstrating a potential use of this trait for selection with favorable outcomes in reproduction. The use of the cloacal gland area can be used in the same way as the scrotal circumference in mammals, improving female reproduction traits by selecting a trait recorded in males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies have described variations in lactose content (LC) in dairy cows during udder quarter health disorder or negative energy balance (NEB). However, their joint effects on LC have never been described. This was the aim of a longitudinal observational study performed on 5 Quebec dairy farms using automatic milking systems. Quarter milk samples were collected every 14 d from 5 to 300 DIM. Quarter health status was described by combining SCC level (SCC− or SCC+: < or ≥100,000 cells/mL, respectively) and infectious status (Patho− or Patho+: absence or presence of pathogens on a milk culture, respectively). Cows with NEB in early lactation (DIM <70) were identified using milk BHB content: <0.15 m M = BHB−; 0.15 to 0.19 m M = BHB+; >0.19 m M = BHB++. A total of 14,505 quarter cisternal milk samples were collected from 380 lactating cows. The quarter LC was analyzed using a mixed linear regression model with the following fixed effects: quarter health status, parity, time interval between last milking and sampling, quarter milk yield (in kg/d), DIM, and herd. A random quarter intercept with a repeated measures correlation structure and a cow random intercept were also specified. The LC of SCC+ quarters was lower (−0.17 ± 0.013 percentage points) compared with LC of SCC- quarters for both primiparous and multiparous cows. Of the 162 bacterial species identified, only 8 species had a prevalence greater than 4.0%, and just 5 of them were associated with a reduction in LC: Staphylococcus aureus , Staphylococcus chromogenes , Streptococcus dysgalactiae , Staphylococcus epidermidis , and Staphylococcus simulans. Cows identified as BHB+ and BHB++ in early lactation had a lower LC (−0.05 ± 0.019 and −0.13 ± 0.020 percentage points, respectively) compared with BHB− cows. For BHB++ cows, in both parity groups the decrease in LC (−0.20 ± 0.025 percentage points) was higher in SCC+ quarters compared with SCC− quarters. Moreover, the additive effect of the quarter health status and NEB on milk LC was greater with larger increases in BHB. Our findings highlight the necessity to jointly take into consideration both quarter health status and milk BHB concentration when using LC as a biomarker for NEB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to set up a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach at the level of individual animals to assess the effects of a 3-breed crossbreeding program on the environmental impact of cows. The study involved 564 cows, 279 purebred Holstein Friesian (HO) and 285 crossbred cows (CR), that originated from a 3-breed crossbreeding program based on the rotational use of Viking Red, Montebèliarde, and HO sires and kept in 2 dairy herds of northern Italy (224 and 340 cows/herd, respectively). The reference unit of the LCA model was the lifetime of cows, from the birth to culling or death. Data were collected at different levels: individual animal-based data referred to the whole life (birth, calving, dry, cull or death dates, and milk production); individual test-date collection of body measures and BCS, used to predict BW and to estimate energy requirements; common farm-based data concerning herd management (diets composition, and materials used). Data were used to compute DMI, milk and milk components production, gross income (GI), and income over feed costs (IOFC) pertaining to the lifespan of cows. An individual LCA-derived approach was set up to compute global warming potential (GWP), acidification and eutrophication potential (AP and EP, respectively), and land occupation (LO), which have been associated with different functional units (cow in her whole life or per day of life; kilograms of milk fat plus protein, and GI and IOFC [in euros] produced in the herd life). Data were analyzed using a generalized linear model including the fixed effects of genetic group (CR vs. HO), farm, and their interaction (genetic group × farm). Compared with HO, CR cows completed more lactations (+12%), had earlier first calving (−2 wk), yielded more fat plus protein in milk both in the lifespan (+8%) and per day of life (+4%). Concerning the environmental impact, when compared with HO herd mates, CR cows had nominal greater emissions per cow in the whole life, similar emissions per day of life and ∼3% lower GWP, AP, and EP per kilogram of fat plus protein yielded in lifespan. Income over feed costs per unit of emission tended to be ∼4% greater in CR compared with HO cows. Also, the use of land tended to be lower in CR compared with HO in most indicators considered. In conclusion, LCA could be adapted to represent individual animals. Moreover, managing dairy cows according to a 3-breed rotational crossbreeding scheme may be regarded as a strategy that can contribute to mitigate the emissions and to improve the environmental impact of dairy operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enteric CH 4 produced from dairy cows contributes to the emission of greenhouse gases from anthropogenic sources. Recent studies have shown that the selection of lower CH 4 -emitting cows is possible, but doing so would be simpler if performance measures already recorded on farm could be used, instead of measuring gas emissions from individual cows. These performance measures could be used for selection of low emitting cows. The aim of this analysis was to quantify how much of the between-cow variation in CH 4 production can be explained by variation in performance measures. A dataset with 3 experiments and a total of 149 lactating dairy cows with repeated measures was used to estimate the between-cow variation (the variation between cow estimates) for performance and gas measures from GreenFeed (C-Lock, Rapid City, SD). The cow estimates were obtained with a linear mixed model with the diet within period effect as a fixed effect and the cow within experiment as a random effect. The cow estimates for CH 4 production were first regressed on the performance and gas measures individually, and then performance and CO 2 production measures were grouped in 3 subsets for principal component analysis and principal component regression. The variables that explained most of the between-cow variation in CH 4 production were DMI (R2 = 0.44), among the performance measures, and CO 2 production (R2 = 0.61), among gas measures. Grouping the measures increased the R2 to 0.53 when only performance measures were used, and to 0.66 when CO 2 production was added to the significant performance measures. We found the marginal improvement to be insufficient to justify the use of grouped measures rather than an individual measure because the latter simplifies the model and avoids over-fitting. Investigation of other measures that can be explored to increase explanatory power of between-cow variation in CH 4 production is briefly discussed. Finally, the use of residual CH 4 as a measure for CH 4 efficiency could be considered by using either DMI or CO 2 production as the sole predicting variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the influence of gateway seaports on inland ports within a river port system, focusing on the Yangtze River port system as a case study. The research initially employs a fixed-effects panel model to confirm the overall positive impact of Shanghai Port on Yangtze River inland ports. Subsequently, using Panel data model with individual-specific slopes, this study reveal that Shanghai Port positively affects each inland port, but the magnitude of this impact varies significantly. The research further employs a panel threshold regression model to dissect the mechanisms through which Shanghai Port influences inland ports in terms of geographical, operational, and economic distances. In terms of geographical distance, the influence of Shanghai Port on the throughput of Yangtze inland ports diminishes as the navigational distance increases. Notably, inland ports located downstream on the Yangtze River are the first and most impacted, marking the downstream area as an early influencer in the port regionalization process. As to operational distance, Shanghai Port exerts a stronger influence on inland ports with higher throughput levels, as opposed to those with lower throughput. With respect to economic distance, inland ports in cities with higher economic development are found to be less influenced by Shanghai Port compared to those in less economically developed regions. This nuanced understanding provides invaluable insights into the interconnectedness of major gateway ports and their inland counterparts. • Investigates the mechanism of how gateway seaports influence inland ports within a river port system. • Employs a panel model with fixed effects to confirm the overall positive impact of Shanghai Port on Yangtze River inland ports. • Constructs a Panel data model with individual-specific slopes to specifically examine the influence of Shanghai Port on each inland port. • Uses a panel threshold regression model to examine the influence mechanisms of Shanghai Port on inland ports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of a genetically modified corn hybrid with α-amylase expressed in the kernel (AMY) on fermentation profile, aerobic stability, nutrient composition, and starch disappearance of whole-plant corn silage (WPCS) and earlage. Both hybrids, AMY and an isogenic corn hybrid (ISO), were grown in 10 replicated plots (5 for WPCS and 5 for earlage). Samples of each plot were collected at harvest, homogenized, and divided into 5 subsamples which were randomly assigned to 5 storage lengths (0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 d). Both datasets (WPCS and earlage), were analyzed separately as a completely randomized block design in a factorial arrangement of treatments, with a model including the fixed effects of hybrid, storage length, and their interaction, and the random effect of block. Minor differences on fermentation profile were observed between AMY and ISO for WPCS and earlage. An interaction between hybrid and storage length was observed for DM losses in WPCS, where losses were similar at 30, 60 and 90 d, but lower for AMY compared with ISO at 120 d. No effect of hybrid was observed on yeast and mold counts for WPCS or earlage. The aerobic stability of WPCS was greater for AMY than ISO. For earlage, AMY had greater DM losses and aerobic stability than ISO. An interaction between hybrid and storage length was observed for ammonia-N in both WPCS and earlage, where ammonia-N was similar at 0 d but greater for AMY than ISO throughout later storage lengths. A similar interaction was observed for water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC) concentrations in WPCS, where ISO had greater WSC than AMY at 0 d but was similar throughout later storage lengths. However, AMY earlage had a greater WSC concentration throughout storage length, but a lesser magnitude after ensiling. Starch concentration was greater for AMY than ISO in WPCS and earlage. Greater starch disappearances at 0 h and 6 h were observed for ISO in WPCS and earlage. Minor effects on fermentation profile, microbial counts, aerobic stability and nutrient composition suggests that AMY can be ensiled for prolonged periods with no concerns for undesirable fermentation or nutrient losses. However, in situ starch disappearance was lower for AMY compared with ISO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of this study were to assess (1) the variation of protein metabolism biomarkers and factors affecting them during the transition period, (2) the association of each biomarker with skeletal muscle reserves and their changes, and (3) the association of these biomarkers with postpartum health, colostrum quality, reproduction, and milk production. For this purpose, 238 multiparous Holstein cows from 6 herds were used in a prospective cohort study. Plasma concentrations of 3-methylhistidine (3-MH) and 1-methylhistidine (1-MH) and serum concentrations of total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine (SCR) were determined for each cow at −21, −7, 7, 21, and 28 d relative to calving. Clinical diseases were recorded during the first 28 d postcalving, and presence of subclinical ketosis (scKET) was investigated at 7 and 21 d. Colostrum quality was estimated by Brix refractometry. Reproduction data by 150 d in milk (DIM) and milk production records were also available. Linear mixed models including the fixed effects of time point, herd, parity, body condition score (−21 d), duration of dry period and postparturient diseases were fitted to assess the variation in each biomarker's concentration. The association between the biomarkers' concentration during the prepartum period with the odds for each postparturient disease and for a combined trait (CD_1–28), defined as the presence of at least one clinical condition during the first 28 d after calving, were assessed with separate binary logistic models for time points −21 d and −7 d. The relationship of each biomarker's concentration with longissimus dorsi thickness (LDT) and the changes in LDT (ΔLDT) was assessed with pairwise correlations. Separate general linear models were used to assess the association of each biomarker with colostrum Brix values and milk production traits. Finally, the associated hazard for first artificial insemination (AI) and for pregnancy by 150 DIM (PREG_150DIM) was assessed with Cox proportional hazard models, whereas odds for pregnancy to the first AI (PREG_1stAI) were assessed with binary logistic models. The level of 3-MH was affected mainly by herd, time points, and their interaction. Higher 3-MH was associated with increased odds for metritis and CD_1–28, increased hazard for PREG_150 DIM and with increased milk production. 1-Methylhistidine was affected mainly by herd, scKET and occurrence of displaced abomasum. Higher 1-MH was associated with better colostrum quality, increased odds for scKET, increased hazard for first AI by 150 DIM and with decreased milk production. Both 3-MH and 1-MH were weakly to moderately negatively correlated with LDT and moderately to strongly negatively correlated with ΔLDT at the corresponding time periods. Additionally, higher TP was associated with increased odds for metritis and CD_1–28 and increased milk production, while higher ALB was associated with increased odds for scKET and increased milk production. Moreover, higher BUN was associated with decreased odds for scKET, increased odds for PREG_1stAI and increased milk production. Higher SCR was associated with decreased odds for retained fetal membranes, metritis, and CD_1–28. Periparturient protein metabolism is significantly associated with postpartum health, colostrum quality, reproduction, and milk production; mechanisms involved require further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the study was to quantify the association between the birth weight of a calf and the subsequent performance of its dairy dam in the absence of any recorded calving assistance. A total of 11,592 lactation records from 4,549 spring-calving dairy cows were used. The association between a series of quantitative cow performance metrics (dependent variable) and calf birth weight (independent variable) was determined using linear mixed models; logistic regression was used where the dependent variable was binary. Nuisance factors in the models were calf sex, heterosis coefficient of both the cow and calf, dry period length immediately before the birth of the calf, cow age at calving relative to the median cow age per parity, breed proportion of the cow, cow live weight between 100 and 200 d of lactation relative to the mean cow weight per parity, and contemporary group. Calf birth weight was included in the model as either a continuous or a categorical variable. Primiparous and multiparous cows were analyzed separately. Mean (SD) calf birth weight was 36.2 (6.8) kg. In primiparous cows, calf birth weight was associated with milk yield in the first 60 d of lactation, calving to first service interval, calving body weight (BW), and both nadir BW and body condition score (BCS). In multiparous cows, calf birth weight was associated with total milk, fat, and protein yield in the first 60 and 305 d of lactation, peak milk yield, total milk solids, both calving and nadir BW, and BCS loss from calving to nadir. Relative to primiparous cows that gave birth to calves weighing 34 to 37 kg (i.e., population mean), their contemporaries who gave birth to calves that weighed 15 to 29 kg produced 9.82 kg more milk in the first 60 d of lactation, had a 2-d shorter interval to first service, and were 8.08 kg and 5.51 kg lighter at calving and nadir BW, respectively; the former was also 0.05 units lower in BCS (5-point scale, 1 = emaciated and 5 = obese) at nadir. Relative to multiparous cows that gave birth to calves that were 34 to 37 kg birth weight, multiparous cows that gave birth to calves that were 15 to 29 kg yielded 59.63 kg, 2.44 kg, and 1.76 kg less milk, fat, and protein, respectively, in the first 60 d of lactation; produced 17.69 kg less milk solids throughout the 305-d lactation; and were also 10.49 kg lighter at nadir and lost 0.01 units more BCS to nadir. In a separate series of analyses, sire breed was added to the model as a fixed effect with and without calf birth weight. When calf birth weight was not adjusted for, 60-d milk yield for multiparous cows who gave birth to calves sired by a traditional beef breed (i.e., Angus, Hereford) produced 59.63 kg more milk than multiparous cows who gave birth to calves sired by a Holstein-Friesian. Hence, calf birth weight is associated with some subsequent dam performance measures; however, where associations do exist, the effect is biologically small. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The impact of digital economy on green total factor productivity in China is investigated. • The evidence on digital economy from a policy perspective is further supplied. • The ordinary least squares model and fixed effects model are used to research simultaneously. • Technological innovation, industrial structure optimization and resource misallocation as the transmission channels are considered in mechanism test. Digital economy has become a major driver of the green transformation of the economy. The "National Big Data Comprehensive Pilot Zone" policy is taken as a quasi-natural experiment. The Difference-in-Differences model is employed to explore the impact of digital economy on green total factor productivity, and the heterogeneity of this impact is further explored. The mechanism test model is applied to investigate its indirect transmission mechanism. It is found that digital economy significantly enhances green total factor productivity. Further, the impact is larger and more significant in the mid-western, non-resource-based, and large cities, whereas it is smaller or insignificant in the eastern, resource-based, and small and medium-sized cities. Results of mechanism analysis show that digital economy enhances green total factor productivity through the transmission channels of technological innovation, industrial structure optimization, and resource misallocation. Policy recommendations are provided on the basis of these results to establish the environment and digital economy that are mutually beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decline of bus ridership is increasingly prevalent in cities in both developed and emerging economies around the world. While researchers have made many efforts to explain why choice riders switch to other transportation modes in single-city cases, why cities vary in the performance of maintaining bus ridership is still largely unknown. This study examines the changes in bus ridership among 175 medium and small-sized cities without urban rail transit from 2010 to 2019 in China and links a few determining factors to such changes by deploying fixed effects panel models and piecewise regression models. Both heterogeneity and nonlinear relationships in the dynamics of bus ridership changes are confirmed. The results demonstrate that cities at different development stages perform diversely in maintaining bus ridership, due to the variations in travel demand and travel choice preferences in those contexts. Increased private car ownership and widening income inequity both contribute to bus ridership decline while an expansion of bus fleet sizes is associated with more bus patronage. These relationships are all displayed as nonlinear formats; the effects can diminish when influencing factors reach a certain level during the growth of cities. The research outcomes may inform policymakers that cities at different development stages need to adopt context-based strategies instead of simply copying from elsewhere. Policies such as controlling private car ownership might not work equally well in cities with diversified characteristics. • Shed light on the bus ridership decline challenges faced by 175 medium and small-sized cities in China. • Explore the interaction and nonlinear effect from influencing factors on bus ridership. • Focus on medium and small-sized cities' bus ridership decline phenomenon. • Emphasize the importance of understanding city-specific dynamics to formulate effective transit strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) improves response rates, but not overall survival, in advanced cervical cancer. • Novel use of meta -analysis reveals the efficacy of preoperative NACT in young patients with cervical cancer. • NACT has limited impact on adverse effects; there is potential for individualized postoperative strategies. Neither improvements in surgical techniques and methods nor advances in radiotherapy equipment and techniques have significantly improved cervical cancer survival rates for quite some time. By comparing the effectiveness of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the treatment of locally advanced cervical cancer, this study aimed to explore effective treatment methods for locally advanced cervical cancer, and provide a theoretical basis to guide clinical practice. A search of PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane databases was undertaken to identify randomized controlled trials on the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced cervical cancer, where the intervention in the experimental group was neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the studies were evaluated for quality according to the Cochrane Quality Rating Scale. Baseline information, intervention information and outcome indicators of the included studies were extracted. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4. Significant differences in overall survival [relative risk (RR) 1.63, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.69–2.57; p = 0.0007] and complete remission rate (RR 0.37, 95 % CI −0.49 to 1.23; p = 0.041) were found between the two groups. Heterogeneity of the objective response rate showed p < 0.0001 and I 2 = 99 % (I 2 = 99 > 50 % and p > 0.1 for the Q-test suggested strong heterogeneity). The fixed effects model was chosen for the integration statistic [standardized mean difference (SMD) 0.81, 95 % CI −0.21 to 1.83; p = 0.12]; the difference was not significant (p > 0.05). Heterogeneity of the adverse effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy showed p < 0.0001 and I 2 = 98 % (I 2 = 98 %>50 % and p > 0.1 for the Q-test suggested strong heterogeneity). The fixed effects model was chosen for the integration statistic (SMD −0.023, 95 % CI −0.95 to 0.49; p = 0.53); the difference was not significant (p > 0.05). The use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for the treatment of locally advanced cervical cancer improved the objective response rate and the complete remission rate of patients, but failed to improve overall survival and adverse effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing urban-rural income disparities is crucial for economic growth and sustainable development. Does combating environmental pollution contribute to reducing income inequality? Drawing on data gathered from 199 prefecture-level cities spanning 2011 to 2019, this study examines the impact of public environmental concern on urban-rural income gaps using a two-way fixed effects model and dynamic panel model. The study reveals that heightened public environmental awareness can impede the growth of farmers' income, exacerbating urban-rural income disparities with a delayed effect. This influence is more pronounced in densely populated areas, economically advanced regions, mid-regions, and low-pollution zones. Further investigations demonstrate that public environmental awareness can widen the economic divide between urban and rural areas by influencing environmental governance capabilities and deteriorating the employment landscape. These findings offer valuable insights for regions aiming to concurrently achieve shared prosperity and reduce carbon emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a limited understanding of site-specific, quality of life (QOL) outcomes in anterior skull base surgery (ASBS). The objective of the present investigation was to characterize postoperative change in QOL outcomes for anterior skull base lesions following open and endoscopic surgery. A comprehensive review of the literature was performed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines using the PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane databases for studies reporting pre- and postoperative, site-specific, QOL outcome measures in ASBS using validated questionnaires. Studies utilizing the anterior skull base quality of life (ASBQ) questionnaire or the skull base inventory were included. Investigations focusing on skull base surgery for pituitary lesions, as well as survey validation and non-English studies, were excluded. A total of 112 studies were screened; 4 studies, comprising a total of 195 patients and focusing exclusively on the ASBQ, were included in the systematic review. Using a fixed effect model for the meta-analysis, the mean ASBQ score was similar at six (3.45, P = 0.312; −0.19, 95% confidence interval: −0.57, 0.18) and 12 months postoperatively (3.6, P = 0.147; 0.3, 95% confidence interval: −0.11, 0.72) compared to baseline (3.53). Across a variety of anterior skull base pathologies, skull base-specific QOL demonstrated no improvement at 6 months and 12 months postsurgery. Few studies to date have published pre- and postoperative QOL data for patients undergoing ASBS, highlighting a current shortcoming in the available literature. Long-term follow-up in patients undergoing open and endoscopic approaches will be necessary to better understand and optimize outcomes for patients having ASBS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Children sleep less on days with longer daylight duration. • Sleeping longer improves selected general developmental, behavioural and health outcomes in children and adolescents. • Sleeping more increases children's BMI scores, mainly by increasing the risk of being overweight. • The results indicate a null or relatively small positive impact of sleeping longer on cognitive skills. Children and adolescents spend more than one-third of their time sleeping. Yet, we know little about the causal impact of sleeping on their development. This paper is the first to exploit variation in local daily daylight duration measured on pre-determined diary dates across the same individuals through time as an instrument in an individual fixed effects regression model to draw causal estimates of sleep duration on a comprehensive set of child development indicators. Applying this model to about 50 thousand time use diaries from two cohorts of Australian children spanning over 16 years, we first document that children sleep substantially less on days with longer daylight duration. Our results show that sleeping longer improves selected general developmental, behavioural and health outcomes in children and adolescents. By contrast, sleeping more statistically significantly increases the BMI scores, mainly by increasing the risk of being overweight. Moreover, while the impact of sleep duration on general and behavioural outcomes is more pronounced for females or older individuals, the effect on BMI is largely driven by males. The results indicate a null or relatively small positive impact of sleeping longer on cognitive skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By using a data set of 536 observations from 29 OECD countries for the 19 years from 1995 to 2013, this study investigates the factors affecting rail investment with panel data analysis. Among the pooled OLS, the fixed effects, and the random effects models, the fixed effects model is selected by statistical test. It seeks to clarify how investment is related to factors such as demand, managerial, and regulatory factors. The main results are as follows: (i) factors positively affecting investment are output as a measure of train-km, capital stock as network length, GDP per capita, and the competitiveness of passenger railways; (ii) the competitiveness of freight railways has a negative relationship with investment; (iii) the highspeed train ratio itself is not significant; (iv) a larger government debt ratio tends to weakly decrease investment; (v) accident rate has a weak positive relationship with investment, but as the government debt ratio increases, the accident rate's effect on investment decreases; (vi) among regulatory factors, investment weakly increases, as values of three indexes (the ratio of public ownership, vertical integration, and overall regulation) become larger; and (vii) deregulation of entry and greater competition in the market do not relate to investment. In conclusion, strong economic conditions such as GDP and the competitive situation in passenger rail are important for investment, but regulatory conditions are not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite a recent Cochrane Review demonstrating blunt suture needles are safer for surgeons, the use of blunt suture needles has not become widely adopted. In the 'Implant Era', with the value of medical implant companies to surpass $145 billion by 2027, should we re-examine the use of blunt suture needles, especially to reduce infection in implant surgery? We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) assessing whether blunt suture needles reduce risks to surgeons and patients. A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed per PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Cochrane and EMBASE databases were searched for RCTs. Dichotomous variables were pooled as risk ratios (RR) and associated 95% confidence intervals (CI) using the MH method. Random or fixed effects modelling use was based on statistical heterogeneity (I2). 14 RCTs were identified with 2488 patients. The RCTs included laparotomies, caesarean sections, episiotomies, and orthopaedic surgeries. Blunt suture needles when compared with sharp needles resulted in a significant reduction in glove perforation; RR: 0.47, 95% CI [0.37 to 0.60] and needlestick injuries, RR: 0.50, 95% CI [0.26 to 0.97]. Sharp needles caused more wound infections, but the result was not statistically significant; RR: 2.73, 95% CI [0.54 to 13.76], p 0.22. Surgeon's satisfaction decreased with blunt needles compared with sharp (RR: 1.22, 95% CI [1.09 to 1.37]). Blunt suture needles are safer than sharp needles for surgeons and likely reduce risks to patients. This, however, comes at the cost of decreased ease of use. The authors recommend the routine use of blunt suture needles, especially in implant surgery. Blunt needles reduce glove perforation by 73% (95% CI: 53–85%). Blunt needles also reduce needlestick injury by 52%. Blunt needles are safer for surgeons and reduce the risk of infectious disease. The ease of handling of blunt needles, however, is worse than sharp needles. The authors recommend blunt needle use, especially in implant surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study we wanted to investigate the associations between naturally occurring subclinical intramammary infection (IMI) caused by different etiological agents (i.e., Staphylococcus aureus , Streptococcus agalactiae , Streptococcus uberis , and Prototheca spp.), in combination with somatic cell count (SCC), on the detailed milk protein profile measured at the individual mammary gland quarter. An initial bacteriological screening (time 0; T0) conducted on individual composite milk from 450 Holstein cows reared in 3 herds, was performed to identify cows with subclinical IMI. We identified 78 infected animals which were followed up at the quarter level at 2 different sampling times: T1 and T2, 2 and 6 wk after T0, respectively. A total of 529 quarter samples belonging to the previously selected animals were collected at the 2 sampling points and analyzed with a reversed phase HPLC (RP-HPLC) validated method. Specifically, we identified and quantified 4 caseins (CN), namely α S1 -CN, α S2 -CN, κ-CN, and β-CN, and 3 whey protein fractions, namely β-lactoglobulin, α-lactalbumin, and lactoferrin (LF), which were later expressed both quantitatively (g/L) and qualitatively (as a percentage of the total milk nitrogen content, % N). Data were analyzed with a hierarchical linear mixed model with the following fixed effects: days in milk (DIM), parity, herd, SCC, bacteriological status (BACT), and the SCC × BACT interaction. The random effect of individual cow, nested within herd, DIM and parity was used as the error term for the latter effects. Both IMI (i.e., BACT) and SCC significantly reduced the proportion of β-CN and α S1 -CN, ascribed to the increased activity of both milk endogenous and microbial proteases. Less evident alterations were found for whey proteins, except for LF, which being a glycoprotein with direct and undirect antimicrobial activity, increased both with IMI and SCC, suggesting its involvement in the modulation of both the innate and adaptive immune response. Finally, increasing SCC in the positive samples was associated with a more marked reduction of total caseins at T1, and α S1 -CN at T2, suggesting a synergic effect of infection and inflammation, more evident at high SCC. In conclusion, our work helps clarify the behavior of protein fractions at quarter level in animals having subclinical IMI. The inflammation status driven by the increase in SCC, rather the infection, was associated with the most significant changes, suggesting that the activity of endogenous proteolytic enzymes related to the onset of inflammation might have a pivotal role in directing the alteration of the milk protein profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mastitis is one of the most significant diseases in dairy cows and causes several economic losses. Somatic cell count (SCC) is often used as an indirect diagnostic tool for mastitis, especially for subclinical mastitis (SCM) where no symptoms or signs can be detected. Streptococcus agalactiae is one of the main causes of contagious mastitis, and Prototheca spp. is an alga-inducing environmental mastitis that is not always correlated with increased milk SCC. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in the metabolomic profile of blood in relation to subclinical intramammary infection (IMI) in dairy cows. In addition, differences resulting from the etiologic agent causing mastitis were also considered. Forty Holstein-Friesian dairy cows in mid and late lactation were enrolled in this cross-sectional design study. Based on the bacteriological examination of milk, the animals were divided into 3 groups: group CTR (control group; n = 16), group A (affected by SCM with IMI caused by Strep. agalactiae ; n = 17), and group P (affected by SCM with IMI caused by Prototheca spp.; n = 7). Blood samples from the jugular vein were collected in tubes containing clot activator; the serum aliquot was stored until metabolomic analysis by 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Statistical analysis was conducted by fitting a linear model with the group as the fixed effect and SCC as the covariate. Forty-two metabolites were identified, and among them 10 were significantly different among groups. Groups A and P showed greater levels of His and lactose and lower levels of acetate, Asn, and dimethylamine compared with group CTR. Group A showed high levels of Val, and group P showed high levels of Cit and methylguanidine, as well as lower levels of 3-hydroxybutyrate, acetone, allantoin, carnitine, citrate, and ethanol. These metabolites were related to ruminal fermentations, energy metabolism, urea synthesis and metabolism, immune and inflammatory response, and mammary gland permeability. These results suggest systemic involvement with subclinical IMI and that the metabolic profile of animals with SCM undergoes changes related to the etiological agent of mastitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resilience can be defined as the capacity to maintain performance or bounce back to normal functioning after a perturbation, and studying fluctuations in daily feed intake may be an effective way to identify resilient dairy cows. Our goal was to develop new phenotypes based on daily dry matter intake (DMI) consistency in Holstein cows, estimate genetic parameters and genetic correlations with feed efficiency and milk yield consistency, and evaluate their relationships with production, longevity, health, and reproduction traits. Data consisted of 397,334 daily DMI records of 6,238 lactating Holstein cows collected from 2007 to 2022 at 6 research stations across the United States. Consistency phenotypes were calculated based on the deviations from expected daily DMI for individual cows during their respective feeding trials, which ranged from 27 to 151 d in duration. Expected values were derived from different models, including simple average, quadratic and cubic quantile regression with a 0.5 quantile, and locally estimated scatterplot smoothing (LOESS) regression with span parameters 0.5 and 0.7. We then calculated the log of variance (log-Var-DMI) of daily deviations for each model as the consistency phenotype. Consistency of milk yield was also calculated, as a reference, using the same methods (log-Var-Milk). Genetic parameters were estimated using an animal model, including lactation, days in milk and cohort as fixed effects, and animal as random effect. Relationships between log-Var-DMI and traits currently considered in the US national genetic evaluation were evaluated using Spearman's rank correlations between sires' breeding values. Heritability estimates for log-Var-DMI ranged from 0.11 ± 0.02 to 0.14 ± 0.02 across models. Different methods (simple average, quantile regressions, and LOESS regressions) used to calculate log-Var-DMI yielded very similar results, with genetic correlations ranging from 0.94 to 0.99. Estimated genetic correlations between log-Var-DMI and log-Var-Milk ranged from 0.51 to 0.62. Estimated genetic correlations between log-Var-DMI and feed efficiency ranged from 0.55 to 0.60 with secreted milk energy, from 0.59 to 0.63 with metabolic body weight, and from 0.26 to 0.31 with residual feed intake (RFI). Relationships between log-Var-DMI and the traits in the national genetic evaluation were moderate and positive correlations with milk yield (0.20 to 0.21), moderate and negative correlations with female fertility (−0.07 to −0.20), no significant correlations with health and longevity, and favorable correlations with feed efficiency (−0.23 to −0.25 with feed saved and 0.21 to 0.26 with RFI). We concluded that DMI consistency is heritable and may be an indicator of resilience. Cows with lower variation in the difference between actual and expected daily DMI (more consistency) may be more effective in maintaining performance in the face of challenges or perturbations, whereas cows with greater variation in observed versus expected daily DMI (less consistency) are less feed efficient and may be less resilient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although modal shift from private motorized vehicles to public and active transport is regarded as crucially important for a sustainable society, such a shift has not been successful in Japan. One reason may be that measures have not satisfied the latent factors underlying people's transportation mode choices. Moreover, these factors may have changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study is aimed at ascertaining what workers have emphasized in transportation mode choice, and how those emphases have affected their actual mode choice. We also examined how changes in individuals' emphases during the pandemic have affected their actual mode choices. We used a four-time panel survey with 1377 respondents from Japan that asked participants about important items related to their transportation mode choice and activity patterns at four time points before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. After conducting a factor analysis to ascertain the latent factors behind mode choice, we applied a logistic regression model showing whether or not the respondents used each transportation mode at each time point. A conditional logistic regression model with individual fixed effect was applied to the relationship between an individual's change in emphasis and actual mode choice. Factor analysis results indicated four latent factors: usability and reliability, personal time–space, attitude toward the environment and health, and ease of use and convenience. A higher emphasis on personal time–space encouraged car use and discouraged public transport use at any time points. This trend became stronger during the pandemic. Changes in the emphasis level of this factor for an individual also affected the actual mode choice. A higher emphasis on usability and reliability also discouraged public transport use. Ease of use and convenience encouraged public transport use, and attitude toward the environment and health neither encouraged nor discouraged actual mode choice at any time point. Emphases related to transportation mode choice changed over time. However, changes in individuals' emphasis altered the actual mode choice at some time points but not at others. These results should be considered in transportation planning in order to prompt desired modal shifts by transportation users. • Latent factors of transportation mode choice have changed during COVID-19 era. • Greater emphasis on personal time-space discourages public transport use. • COVID-19 pandemic increased the importance of personal time-space in mode choice. • Emphasis on attention to the environment and health does not affect mode choice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Linear mixed models and data generated from repeated measurements have found substantial applications in many disciplines. This paper considers the estimation problem of fixed effects and variance components in the system of two seemingly unrelated linear mixed models. We first propose the covariance adjustment estimator of the fixed effects and then construct consistent estimators of its unknown parameters and further study the small sample performance of the two-stage estimator. It is shown that the proposed two-stage covariance adjustment estimator is preferred and feasible based on its theoretical properties and some numerical illustrations. Finally, we investigate the effects of covariance adjustment on the variance components by plugging the two-stage estimator into the restricted log-likelihood of the variance components, and the results imply that seemingly unrelated linear mixed models may only improve the estimation of the fixed effects. • Propose the covariance adjustment estimator of the fixed effects. • Construct consistent estimators of its unknown parameters. • Study the small sample performance of the two-stage estimator. • Investigate the effects of covariance adjustment on the variance components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth of social media platforms has created a plethora of user-generated content, and social media has become an important channel of users to express their emotions. Although many studies have explored the influencing factors on user-generated content, there is an insufficient understanding the impact temporal cues on mental health content generation. This study aimed to explore how the on-the-hour time points affect users' anxiety content generation on social media platforms. Further, this study investigates the difference between weekdays and weekends, and the moderating effects of regional economic levels. We collected information on 2,543,902 user-generated anxiety-related posts from a leading social media platform in China. Then, we used fixed effect models to analyze the relationship between on-the-hour time points and user anxiety content generation. The results show that on-the-hour time points affect user anxiety-related content generation, especially at the beginning of each hour (β = 894.564 , p < 0.01). And the impact is greater on weekdays (β = 774.695 , p < 0.01) than on weekends (β = 119.869 , p < 0.01). Furthermore, regional economic moderates the impact, the better the economic condition, the greater the impact. Limitations include incomplete coverage of patient types and a single anxiety dictionary. This study uncovers the relationship between temporal cues and user-generated anxiety content, providing new insights into the mental illness observation, and provides insights for mental health services providers and designers of online social platforms. • "On-the-hour" effect positively affects user anxiety-related content generation, especially at the beginning of each hour. • Impact "on-the-hour" effect on user anxiety-related content generation is greater on weekdays than on weekends in platforms. • Regional economic positively moderates the relationship between "on-the-hour" effect and user-generated anxiety content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Student-teacher relationship closeness is associated with child adjustment in preschool. • Findings are not attributed to potentially omitted stable family confounders. • Higher structural quality may facilitate development of positive student–teacher relationships. This study aims at examining whether children's adjustment, social play behavior and Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) program-liking in universal ECEC are associated with the quality of student–teacher relationships and structural quality features of the classrooms they attend. The sample includes 7,436 5-year-old children (50% girls) and 195 sibling pairs (48% girls) participating in the nationwide Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa). Three sets of findings are presented. First, student–teacher closeness is associated with children's adjustment (β =.47; SE =.01), ECEC liking (β =.14; SE =.02) and social play behavior (β =.06; SE =.02) in the between-child analysis. Second, associations of student–teacher closeness with children's adjustment and ECEC liking are evident even after accounting for all confounders shared by siblings in the within-family analysis (sibling fixed effects). Third, structural quality indicators are related to the children's outcomes primarily via quality of student–teacher relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to estimate the perinatal mortality associated with prenatally diagnosed vasa previa and to determine what proportion of those perinatal deaths are directly attributable to vasa previa. The following databases have been searched from January 1, 1987, to January 1, 2023: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase. Our study included all studies (cohort studies and case series or reports) that had patients in which a prenatal diagnosis of vasa previa was made. Case series or reports were excluded from the meta-analysis. All cases in which prenatal diagnosis was not made were excluded from the study. The programming language software R (version 4.2.2) was used to conduct the meta-analysis. The data were logit transformed and pooled using the fixed effects model. The between-study heterogeneity was reported by I 2 . The publication bias was evaluated using a funnel plot and the Peters regression test. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to assess the risk of bias. Overall, 113 studies with a cumulative sample size of 1297 pregnant individuals were included. This study included 25 cohort studies with 1167 pregnancies and 88 case series or reports with 130 pregnancies. Moreover, 13 perinatal deaths occurred among these pregnancies, consisting of 2 stillbirths and 11 neonatal deaths. Among the cohort studies, the overall perinatal mortality was 0.94% (95% confidence interval, 0.52–1.70; I 2 =0.0%). The pooled perinatal mortality attributed to vasa previa was 0.51% (95% confidence interval, 0.23–1.14; I 2 =0.0%). Stillbirth and neonatal death were reported in 0.20% (95% confidence interval, 0.05–0.80; I 2 =0.0%) and 0.77% (95% confidence interval, 0.40–1.48; I 2 =0.0%) of pregnancies, respectively. Perinatal death is uncommon after a prenatal diagnosis of vasa previa. Approximately half of the cases of perinatal mortality are not directly attributable to vasa previa. This information will help in guiding physicians in counseling and will provide reassurance to pregnant individuals with a prenatal diagnosis of vasa previa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat abatement (e.g., soakers, fans) effectively reduces the negative physiological and production effects of heat stress, but no previous studies have documented effective interventions for the reduced lying times observed in response to hot weather. Although likely adaptive for heat dissipation, the reduction in motivated lying behavior may be an animal welfare concern. We evaluated the effect of air speed from fans with variable frequency drives on the heat stress responses of cows in a naturally ventilated freestall barn. Eight groups of lactating Holsteins (16 cows/group) were exposed to 3 treatments in a replicated crossover design: control (fans off, 0.4 ± 0.2 m/s, measured 0.5 m above the stall surface to represent cow resting height) versus 60% (1.7 ± 0.5 m/s; ≥1 m/s in all stalls) and 100% (2.4 ± 0.8 m/s) fan power. Each treatment was applied for 3 d of acclimation and 4 d of data collection. The effects of treatment on daily maximum vaginal temperature (VT) and lying time (LT; both measured with data loggers), respiration rate (RR; recorded from video), unshaved scapular skin temperature (ST), milk yield (MY), and dry matter intake (DMI) were analyzed using linear mixed models. All models included the fixed effect of treatment and a repeated term for treatment day within group of cows, with group as the subject. The models for LT, VT, and RR also included a fixed effect for same-day temperature-humidity index (THI; recorded in the pens with data loggers) and the THI × treatment interaction. The models for DMI and MY, using data from the latter 3 d of each treatment period, also included a fixed effect for the previous day's THI and the −1 d THI × treatment interaction. Lying time differed among treatments (100% vs. 60% fan power vs. control: 14.2 vs. 13.9 vs. 13.2 h/d, respectively, SEM = 0.15 h/d), but both fan treatments prevented the reduction in LT observed in the control treatment as THI increased. Relative to the control, both fan treatments effectively reduced ST, RR, and VT and increased DMI and MY. In the control, average values were elevated for both RR (68.7 ± 1.5 breaths/min, mean ± SEM, greater than a common benchmark of 60 breaths/min) and VT (39.3 ± 0.05°C) but remained in the normal range in both fan treatments (54.2 vs. 50.7 breaths/min in the 60% vs. 100% fan power treatments; 39.0°C in both fan treatments). Both fan treatments resulted in greater overall MY (42.6 vs. 43.0 ± 0.4 kg/d in the 60% vs. 100% fan power treatments) relative to the control (41.0 kg/d) and similarly avoided the reduction in MY when −1 d THI increased. Compared with natural ventilation alone, fans delivering air speeds of at least 1 m/s at cow resting height were effective not only for reducing thermoregulatory responses, but also for maintaining lying time, DMI, and MY in heat stress conditions. This is the first study to demonstrate an intervention to improve animal welfare by maintaining lying times during periods of heat stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This network meta-analysis (NMA) assessed the efficacy of venetoclax (VEN) + azacitidine (AZA) and VEN + low-dose cytarabine (LDAC) compared with AZA, LDAC, and decitabine monotherapies and best supportive care (BSC) in adults with untreated acute myeloid leukemia ineligible for intensive chemotherapy. A systematic literature review and feasibility assessment was conducted to select phase III randomized controlled trials for inclusion in the NMA. Complete remission + complete remission with incomplete blood count recovery and overall survival (OS) were compared using a Bayesian fixed-effects NMA. Treatments were ranked using surface under the cumulative ranking curves (SUCRAs) with higher values indicating a higher likelihood of being effective. A total of 1140 patients across 5 trials were included. VEN + LDAC (SUCRA 91.4%) and VEN + AZA (87.5%) were the highest ranked treatments for complete remission + complete remission with incomplete blood count recovery. VEN + LDAC was associated significantly higher response rates versus AZA (odds ratio 5.64), LDAC (6.39), and BSC (23.28). VEN + AZA was also associated significantly higher response rates than AZA (5.06), LDAC (5.74), and BSC (20.68). In terms of OS, VEN + AZA (SUCRA: 95.2%) and VEN + LDAC (75.9%) were the highest ranked treatments. VEN + AZA was associated with significant improvements in OS compared with AZA (hazard ratio 0.66), LDAC (0.57), and BSC (0.37), and VEN + LDAC was associated with significant improvements in OS compared with LDAC (0.70) and BSC (0.46). VEN + AZA and VEN + LDAC demonstrated improved efficacy compared with alternative therapies among treatment-naive patients with acute myeloid leukemia ineligible for intensive chemotherapy. • Patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) ineligible for intensive chemotherapy have been historically faced with limited treatment options and a dismal prognosis. Although venetoclax (VEN) has expanded the treatment options for these patients, comparisons of the efficacy of VEN-based combination therapies with a broader spectrum of alternative therapies are needed in this population. • In the present network meta-analysis, VEN-based combination therapies (ie, VEN + azacitidine and VEN + low-dose cytarabine) were indirectly compared with azacitidine, low-dose cytarabine, and decitabine monotherapies and best supportive care alone. They demonstrated improved remission rates and overall survival compared with alternative therapies among treatment-naive patients with AML who were ineligible for intensive chemotherapy. • This demonstration of improved clinical outcomes with VEN-based combination therapies among treatment-naive patients with AML who are ineligible for intensive chemotherapy reinforces current clinical guideline recommendations directing their use toward this patient population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Timely treatment is crucial for patients with cancer, affecting both their experience and outcomes. This study examined events that shorten or extend cancer pathways. A cohort of breast, lower gastrointestinal, lung, and prostate cancers diagnosed between 2015 and 2016 in England were identified using cancer registration data. This was linked to Hospital Episode Statistic data, Cancer Waiting Times data, and specialized treatment data sets to highlight key events and dates in the pathways of 236 205 patients. Our fixed-effects panel regression included straight-to-test first appointments, multiple tests on the same day, number of multidisciplinary team meetings, appointment cancellations, trust fixed effects, and patient factors, including sex, ethnicity, index of multiple deprivations, age, comorbidities, stage, and route to diagnosis. Patients with straight-to-test, multiple tests on the same day, and who were discussed in a single multidisciplinary team meeting waited a shorter time for treatment (-5, -4, and -7 days, respectively). Cancelled appointments and attending multiple providers were associated with longer pathways (+11 and +9 days). Our findings highlight specific areas in which redesigning cancer pathways and transfers between hospitals could potentially lead to less waiting time for treatment, and suggest that policies aimed at reducing cancellations, by patients or hospitals, have the potential to improve waiting times. • A PubMed search of the existing evidence suggests that delays in cancer pathways can be attributed to certain factors, including a greater number of diagnostic tests, a larger number of appointments on the pathway, and diagnostic assessments and treatment at different locations, and were shown to increase overall waiting times for treatment. In contrast, patients who underwent a diagnostic test at their first appointment had shorter overall pathways. • This study considered a range of pathway characteristics otherwise unexplored in the existing evidence, such as the number of multidisciplinary team meetings and cancelled appointments. Information was collected from the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service data set on all cancer pathways in England and different types of healthcare events along these pathways, yielding a large sample size of roughly 236 000 cancer pathways. Although previous studies focused on 1 to 2 tumor types, this study evaluated 4 different tumor sites simultaneously, allowing for direct comparisons among these sites and considered the average values to provide more generalizable results. • Our findings and related literature encourage the use of "straight to test" approaches and planning multiple tests on the same date, where possible, to deliver faster treatment. Moreover, in cases involving multiple multidisciplinary team meetings or providers, a better understanding of the impact of these factors on the time to treatment can encourage managers and clinicians to redesign treatment protocols. Finally, the findings suggest that missed and canceled appointments should be avoided or rescheduled promptly to avoid delays. This evidence may encourage providers to redesign their cancer treatment pathways to improve patients' experience and improve time to treatment. Future research could consider the cost implications of such pathway changes to assess the financial feasibility for providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the panel data of 204 cities from 2008 to 2020, the study first uses the mixed OLS model and two-way fixed effect model to verify the direct impact of tourism on the urban-rural income gap. Next, we employ the instrumental variable method, as well as estimation methods such as 2SLS and GMM, to test for endogeneity problem present in the study. Furthermore, the mediating effect model is used to examine the mechanism through which tourism affects the urban-rural income disparity. The findings indicate that rural infrastructure acts as an intermediary between tourism development and the reduction of the urban-rural income disparity. Furthermore, the impact of tourism on narrowing the income gap seems to diminish gradually from the western regions to the eastern ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the impact of policy uncertainty on air pollution, using the turnover of local officials in China as a quasi-natural experiment. The results from the two-way fixed effects model show that policy uncertainty caused by the turnover of different officials produces contrasting effects on air pollution. While the turnover of the mayor has no effect on air pollution, the turnover of the municipal party committee secretary deteriorates it. Two-Stage Least Square estimation confirms these results where the age and tenure of officials were used as instrumental variables of policy uncertainty. The results are robust after endogenous treatments and robustness tests. The mechanism analysis further indicates that policy uncertainty worsens air quality by weakening environmental regulation and crowding out green innovation. Moreover, the impact is more pronounced in smaller and less developed cities. The conclusions provide policy implications for environmental governance in the period of policy uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to assess the potential consequences on calf intake, performance, behavior, ruminal microbiome, and ruminal epithelium development of combining the inclusion of chopped barley straw and alfalfa hay during the pre- and postweaning periods keeping concentrate to forage ratio constant among dietary treatments. Forty-five Holstein calves (44 ± 5.7 kg of body weight [BW] and 3 ± 1.5 d of age) individually penned were blocked by BW and randomly assigned to a common pellet concentrate fed ad libitum along with one of following forage feeding strategies: barley straw before and after weaning (S-S), barley straw before and alfalfa hay after weaning (S-A), or alfalfa hay before and after weaning (A-A). All calves received the same milk replacer regimen. Forage was supplied in a separated bucket at the rate of 7.5% (preweaning) and 15% (postweaning) of total solid feed intake of the previous day. Feed intake and BW were recorded daily and weekly, respectively. Rumen samples were obtained via a stomach tube at 53, 66, and 87 d and were composite in 3 samples of 5 animals each for subsequent rumen microbiome analysis. A rumen epithelium sample was taken by endoscopy at 90 d to assess gene expression of OCLN , CLDN4 , SLC9A1 , SLC9A3 , SLC16A1 , SLC16A4 , IL6 , and TGFB1. Data were analyzed with a mixed-effects model accounting for the fixed effects of block, forage, week of study, and their interaction, and calf as a random effect. The type of forage fed did not affect concentrate feed, forage, or total DM intake before weaning. However, S-A and A-A calves consumed less concentrate feed and S-A calves grew at a lower rate after weaning than S-S calves. Expression of the gene coding for SLC16A1 in the rumen epithelium was greatest in S-S among treatments. Rumen microbiome did not differ among treatments, while the relative abundance of Acidaminococcus and Selenomas genera increased, while Alloprevotella , Bifidobaterium , Olsenella , and Succiclasticum genera decreased with age. In conclusion, feeding barley straw before and after weaning was more effective than feeding alfalfa hay in promoting concentrate feed intake after weaning and fostering an increase in the expression of SLC16A1 in the rumen epithelium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing body of evidence that the presence and length of the purple line could represent a non-invasive method of estimating and determining labour progress. The primary outcome was to provide a systematic review and meta-analysis on the association between the purple line length and cervical dilatation in active labour. The secondary outcome was to determine the association between the purple line length and the fetal head descent, and to calculate the pooled mean length of the purple line at a cervical dilatation of 3–4 cm and at a cervical dilatation of 9–10 cm. We searched the Medline, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Clinical Trials.gov and Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth's Trials Register databases from inception till March 25, 2023. We included observational studies of pregnant women in active first stage of labour who had their labour progress assessed with the use of regular vaginal examinations and who had the occurrence recorded and length of the purple line measured at the same time. Two reviewers independently evaluated study eligibility. We used the random effects and fixed effects model for meta-analysis. There were six eligible studies included in the systematic review that reported on 982 women in total with the purple line appearing in 760 (77.3%) of cases. We found a moderate positive pooled correlation between the purple line length with cervical dilatation (r = +0.64; 95%CI: 0.41–0.87) and fetal head descent (r = +0.50; 95%CI: 0.32–0.68). For women either in spontaneous or induced labour, the pooled mean length of the purple line was more than 9.4 cm when the cervical dilatation was 9–10 cm, whereas it was more than 7.3 cm when the cervical dilatation was 3–4 cm. The purple line is a non-invasive method that may potentially be used as an adjunct in labour progress assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quality control in longitudinal cohort studies is critical for valid epidemiologic inference. Conditional studentized residuals (CSRs) derived from linear mixed effects models offer efficient individual-specific quality control. We present the utility of CSRs for outlier detection in an applied example using data from the Chronic Kidney Disease in Children cohort. Longitudinal linear mixed effects models with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) as the outcome were fit for observations prior to kidney replacement therapy, stratified by nonglomerular or glomerular diagnosis, and for a subset after receiving a kidney transplant. For each model, CSRs were calculated and values ≥±5 were considered potential outliers for further investigation. A total of 1096 participants contributed 6881 annual measures of GFR across the two diagnostic groups and after transplant. In all models, the fixed effects captured progressive GFR decline. CSRs provided measures of individual-level deviations from the modeled trajectories (random + fixed effects) and were easily visualized in longitudinal plots. A total of 38 potential outliers from 32 participants were detected and further investigated for quality control. This example demonstrated how longitudinal models can provide CSRs to detect individual-specific outliers. CSRs should be considered as part of quality control for longitudinal epidemiologic studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health-state utility values (HSUVs) directly affect estimates of Quality-Adjusted Life-Years and thus the cost-utility estimates. In practice a single preferred value (SPV) is often selected for HSUVs, despite meta-analysis being an option when multiple (credible) HSUVs are available. Nevertheless, the SPV approach is often reasonable because meta-analysis implicitly considers all HSUVs as equally relevant. This article presents a method for the incorporation of weights to HSUV synthesis, allowing more relevant studies to have greater influence. Using 4 case studies in lung cancer, hemodialysis, compensated liver cirrhosis, and diabetic retinopathy blindness, a Bayesian Power Prior (BPP) approach is used to incorporate beliefs on study applicability, reflecting the authors' perceived suitability for UK decision making. Older studies, non-UK value sets, and vignette studies are thus downweighted (but not disregarded). BPP HSUV estimates were compared with a SPV, random effects meta-analysis, and fixed effects meta-analysis. Sensitivity analyses were conducted iteratively updating the case studies, using alternative weighting methods, and simulated data. Across all case studies, SPVs did not accord with meta-analyzed values, and fixed effects meta-analysis produced unrealistically narrow CIs. Point estimates from random effects meta-analysis and BPP models were similar in the final models, although BPP reflected additional uncertainty as wider credible intervals, particularly when fewer studies were available. Differences in point estimates were seen in iterative updating, weighting approaches, and simulated data. The concept of the BPP can be adapted for synthesizing HSUVs, incorporating expert opinion on relevance. Because of the downweighting of studies, the BPP reflected structural uncertainty as wider credible intervals, with all forms of synthesis showing meaningful differences compared with SPVs. These differences would have implications for both cost-utility point estimates and probabilistic analyses. • The Bayesian Power Prior has been widely used to downweigh historical evidence in a variety of settings, including medical research. • Applying the Bayesian Power Prior approach to health-state utility values allows for estimates to be synthesized, without assuming each estimate is similarly informative. • Fixed effects meta-analysis, when used with utility data, presents unrealistically narrow confidence intervals and is prone to being overpowered by studies with a small variance. • Compared with using only a single estimate, the BPP has different point estimates and uncertainty bounds, more in line (although not identical to) random effects meta-analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there has been a rapid increase in the trend towards environmental sustainability through the adoption of renewable energy resources. However, the main concern revolves around whether renewable energy consumption contributes to economic growth. Thus, this study aims to investigate the relationship between renewable energy and economic growth in European countries from 1970 to 2019 using panel data analysis with structural breaks. Additionally, this study demonstrates the influence of renewable energy consumption, capital stock, and the human capital index on economic growth performance in European countries. To control for structural breaks with sharp and smooth changes in the model, Bai & Perron's [10–11] structural breaks test and Sun et al.'s [66] time-varying fixed effects model are applied. The findings indicate that modeling significant structural breaks helps to consider nonlinearity in the model structure, define time dynamics in relationships, and gain new insights. Moreover, new modeling approaches reveal the validity of the time-varying effect of renewable energy on economic growth. Based on the obtained results, this study provides policy implications for governors and researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the whether high mammographic density (MD) is differentially associated with all subtypes of breast cancer. The PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases were searched systematically in October 2022 to include all studies that investigated the association between MD and breast cancer subtype. Aggregate data of 17,193 breast cancer cases from 23 studies were selected, including five cohort/case–control and 18 case-only studies. The relative risk (RR) of MD were combined using random/fixed effects models for case–control studies, and for case-only studies, relative risk ratios (RRRs) were a combination of luminal A, luminal B, and HER2-positive versus triple-negative tumours. Women in the highest density category in case–control/cohort studies had a 2.24-fold (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.53, 3.28), 1.81-fold (95% CI 1.15, 2.85), 1.44-fold (95% CI 1.14, 1.81), and 1.59-fold (95% CI 0.89, 2.85) higher risk of triple-negative, HER-2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) positive, luminal A, and luminal B breast cancer compared to women in the lowest density category. RRRs for breast tumours being luminal A, luminal B, and HER-2 positive versus triple-negative in case-only studies were 1.62 (95% CI 1.14, 2.31), 1.81 (95% CI 1.22, 2.71) and 2.58 (95% CI 1.63, 4.08), respectively, for BIRADS 4 versus BIRADS 1. The evidence indicates MD is a potent risk factor for the majority of breast cancer subtypes to different degrees. Increased MD is more strongly linked to HER-2-positive cancers compared to other breast cancer subtypes. The application of MD as a subtype-specific risk marker may facilitate the creation of personalised risk prediction models and screening procedures. • Evaluate the association between mammographic density and molecular subtypes. • Establish breast cancer prevention strategies for different molecular subtypes. • Facilitate future genomic investigations in molecular pathways on increased MD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sleep disturbance is common in hospital. The hospital environment can have a negative impact on sleep quality, through factors such as noise, light, temperature, and nursing care disruptions. Poor sleep can lead to delays in recovery, wound healing, and increase risk of post-operative infection. We conducted a systematic review evaluating the effectiveness of non-pharmacological sleep interventions for improving inpatient sleep. The primary outcome was sleep quality, the secondary outcome was length of hospital stay, the harm outcome was adverse events. MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO and the Cochrane Library were searched from inception to 17th February 2022. Meta-analysis was conducted using a fixed effects model, with narrative synthesis for studies with no useable data. Risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane tool. 76 studies identified with 5375 people randomised comparing 85 interventions. Interventions focused on physical sleep aids (n = 26), relaxation (n = 25), manual therapy (n = 12), music (n = 9), psychological therapy (n = 5), light therapy (n = 3), sleep protocols (n = 2), milk and honey (n = 1), exercise (n = 1), and nursing care (n = 1). In meta-analysis, medium to large improvements in sleep quality were noted for sleep aids, relaxation, music, and manual therapies. Results were generally consistent in studies at lower risk of bias. Length of hospital stay and adverse events were reported for some studies, with benefit in some trials but this was not consistent across all interventions. Physical sleep aids, relaxation, manual therapy and music interventions have a strong evidence base for improving inpatient sleep quality. Research is needed to evaluate how to optimise interventions into routine care. • This review provides a comprehensive overview of existing literature on sleep interventions for improving inpatient sleep. • Robust methods were used following Cochrane guidelines. • Strong evidence for physical sleep aids, relaxation, manual therapy, and music interventions improving patient sleep. • Research is needed on optimsing intervention implementation into routine care and address potential barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to systematically review and meta-analyse epidemiological data of refractive error prevalence in Portugal. A structured search strategy and systematic literature review was applied to multiple databases, such as MEDLINE/PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, official organizations and academic repositorium's, to identify all relevant epidemiological studies in Portugal until February 2021. The outcome measure was the prevalence of refractive error among the Portuguese population. The events and sample size were entered as raw data and the effect size parameters were computed by Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Software. A total of 9 studies were pooled for the meta-analysis. The fixed effects model points to an estimated effect size of 43% (95% CI: 41.9–44.1%). However, the statistics of heterogeneity (Q-value p < 0.001; I-squared =99.344) showed very high heterogeneity among studies and recommends using a random-effects model. The random effects model points to an estimated effect size of 31.9% (95% CI: 19.8–47.0%) prevalence of refractive error in the Portuguese population. A prevalence of refractive error in Portugal of 31.9% (95% CI: 20.0–47.0%) can be considered as a conservative approach to the real burden of this condition. However, it translates into at least 2 to 4.5 million Portuguese individuals with a refractive error. The high heterogeneity between studies, the wide estimate and the random effects involved demonstrate the need for more studies and consistent sources to obtain narrower estimates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• FE and SUR models analyse waste management policies from 14 European countries. • Landfill ban and deposit refund scheme correlated with decrease in landfill waste. • Landfill ban also associated with increase in energy recovery and recycling waste. • Landfill tax and deposit refund scheme correlated with decrease in waste generated. Waste management policies aim to divert waste from lower positions on the waste hierarchy such as landfill and incineration to higher positions in the hierarchy such as energy recovery and recycling. However, empirical evaluations of such policies are scarce. This study highlighted the effect of waste management policies on the amount of waste treated with landfill, incineration, energy recovery and recycling by analysing a panel dataset consisting of 14 European countries and the period 1996 to 2018. Findings from a seemingly unrelated regression model suggest that the landfill ban is associated with a decrease in landfill waste, but an increase in incineration, energy recovery and recycling waste. The landfill tax is also correlated with an increase in energy recovery waste but, in contrast, it is associated with a reduction in incineration and recycling waste. Meanwhile, the deposit refund scheme is associated with a decrease in the amount of landfill waste. Concerning the effects on total waste generated, regression results from a fixed effects model indicate that the landfill tax and the deposit refund scheme are both correlated with a reduction in the amount of waste generated. These findings contribute to the scarce academic literature evaluating waste management policies and may better inform policy makers on their longer-term implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Factors that increase the success of road safety target are examined. • Agglomerative hierarchical clustering approach is used for time-series data. • Ambitious target is less likely to be achieved. • Optimal target duration depends on socio-economic characteristics. Introduction: Setting quantified road safety targets has been recognized as a best practice to eliminate road fatalities by international organizations such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Previous studies have examined the relationship between setting quantified road safety targets and road fatality reduction. However, little attention has been paid to the association between the targets' characteristics and their successes under certain socioeconomic conditions. Method : This study aims to fill this gap by identifying the quantified road safety targets that are the most achievable. Specifically, using panel data on the OECD countries' quantified road safety targets, this study develops a fixed effects model to determine the specific characteristics (i.e., target duration and level of ambition) of an optimal target to make it as achievable as possible for OECD countries. Results : The study finds that a significant association exists between target duration, level of ambition, and target achievement, with targets that have lower levels of ambition having higher achievements. Moreover, different groups of OECD countries carry different characteristics (e.g., target duration) that concern their most achievable targets. Conclusions : The findings suggest that, in terms of duration and level of ambition, OECD countries' target setting should establish their own socioeconomic development conditions. This provides government officials, policymakers, and practitioners with useful references for the future quantified road safety target settings that are the most likely to be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of trade on environmental performance has recently become a hot topic. However, little is known about whether import trade affects the energy use of developing countries. Therefore, we use detailed micro-firm data on China's manufacturing sector to investigate the impact of import competition on firms' coal energy intensity. We measure the degree of import competition by import penetration and estimate firm-level data for 2001–2010 using a fixed effects model and 2SLS strategy. The findings suggest that import competition significantly reduces coal energy intensity for Chinese firms, which implies that increasing imports will make it easier for China to meet the objective of "carbon peaking, carbon neutral". By decomposing import competition, we find that differences in the sources of import competition can explain decline changes in firm energy intensity. The theoretical framework and mechanism tests show that the improvement of production and technology application efficiency are the main channels through which import competition decreases energy intensity. However, there is no evidence that import competition has driven firm green transformation process. Finally, we constructed an industry correlation index using the input–output relationship between industries to confirm that import competition affects the energy intensity of near-neighbor industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Student-teacher racial or ethnic matching may help address educational disparities. • Matching's impacts were examined using student fixed effects and controls. • Matching had mostly null effects across the study's 12 dependent measures. • There was some inconsistent evidence of effect heterogeneity across subsamples. • The observed positive and negative effects were small in size. We used student fixed effects and statistical controls to investigate whether U.S. elementary students (N = 18,170) displayed greater academic achievement, social-emotional behavior, or executive functioning and were more likely to receive gifted or special education services when taught by teachers of the same race or ethnicity. We observed mostly null effects for student-teacher racial or ethnic matching across the study's 12 dependent measures in analyses adjusting for Type 1 error. Matching resulted in lower science achievement (effect size [ES]= -.03 SD) for the full sample. Matching resulted in fewer internalizing problem behaviors (ES = 0.18 SD) for Black students. We observed null effects for Hispanic students. Robustness checks including those stratified by race or ethnicity and biological sex or by prior levels of low or high level of achievement, behavior, or executive functioning largely supported the study's null findings. Exceptions were that matching resulted in fewer externalizing problem behaviors (ES = 0.22 SD) for Black girls and lower academic achievement (ES range = -0.04 to -0.14 SD) and fewer externalizing and internalizing problem behaviors (ES range = 0.24 to 0.33 SD) for students who had previously displayed low levels of academic, behavioral, or executive functioning. Collectively, the analyses provide limited support for student-teacher racial or ethnic matching as a school-based policy to address educational disparities in U.S. elementary schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cross-sectional studies indicate that mental health has deteriorated in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic, including for parents. However, robust longitudinal studies interrogating change from before to during the pandemic remain rare. The current study analysed data from Australian parents surveyed in 2016 and August 2020. We investigate whether distress was higher in the COVID-19 period compared to pre-pandemic levels, and whether any increases in distress were greatest for parents living in Victoria (who had entered their second prolonged lockdown). A community cohort of Australian working parents (n = 5197) was recruited online in 2016. In August 2020, 25.9 % (n = 1348) completed a follow-up survey. Analyses were restricted to those employed at both time-points (n = 1311). Random effects longitudinal models examined the association between time (i.e. pre vs. during-pandemic) and distress (K6 scale). Fixed effects models specifically tested change between time periods in association with change in distress. The initial sample were recruited online with highly educate parents over-represented. Attrition between survey time-points may also limit generalisability. All models consistently showed that the pandemic period was associated with greater distress. Overall, serious mental illness (i.e. K6 score ≥ 18) increased by 5.3 percentage points (from 8.0 to 13.3). This increase was greater (by 4.7 percentage points) for those parents in Victoria. This study is one of few to longitudinally assess mental health pre- to during the pandemic. Psychological distress and serious mental illness increased for Australian working parents, and this effect was greatest for those experiencing a prolonged lockdown in Victoria. • Few Australian studies have interrogated change in mental health from before to during the pandemic using longitudinal data • Parents are a group that have experienced unique and considerable stressors during the COVID pandemic • Psychological distress and likelihood of mental illness increased for employed Australian parents during the pandemic. • The increase in distress was greater for parents living in Victoria, who were experiencing a prolonged lockdown [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous cross-sectional studies showed that COVID-19-related discrimination against healthcare workers was linked to depression. However, no study has examined the longitudinal association that allows causal interpretations. This prospective cohort study aimed to examine whether COVID-19-related discrimination at baseline is associated with depression and suicidal ideation several months later. Data were collected from October 2020 to July 2021. Multivariable logistic regression was performed. Fixed effects models were used to control for the effect of hospitals (Level 2 variable). Adjustments also included age, sex, living alone, alcohol consumption, exercise, BMI, working hours, comorbidity, and frontline worker status (Level 1 variables). Multiple sensitivity analyses were conducted to examine if the results substantially changed and were robust to unmeasured confounding. Multiple imputation for missing data was conducted via chained equations. As the final sample, 2862 healthcare workers without depression at baseline were studied. A total of 269 individuals (9.4%) experienced COVID-19-related discrimination. Depression was suggested in 205 participants (7.2%), and suicidal ideation in 108 participants (3.8%). In the adjusted models, COVID-19-related discrimination was significantly associated with subsequent depression (OR = 2.18, 95% CI = 1.39 to 2.90) and suicidal ideation (OR = 2.07, 95% CI = 1.22 to 3.50). Multiple sensitivity analyses verified the results. COVID-19-related discrimination results in depression and suicidal ideation in healthcare workers. Interventions to prevent such discrimination against healthcare workers, e.g., anti-discrimination campaigns, are crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic. • 9.4% of healthcare workers experienced COVID-19-related discrimination. • COVID-19-related discrimination was associated with subsequent depression in healthcare workers. • Findings were similar when examining suicidal ideation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Municipal infrastructure is typically implemented to address a social need, yet not regularly evaluated to assess its impacts. This research explores the question of measuring the impact of wastewater infrastructure on water-borne diseases using the case study of Texas. There are over 300,000 mostly Hispanic residents living in informal settlements called colonias primarily located along the Texas-Mexico border. Until the late 2000′s these residents were using contaminated wells, hauled water, cesspools, or nonfunctioning septic tanks. Consequently, the incidences of contagious diseases associated with poor water quality greatly surpassed the state average. Federal and state agencies invested about $1 billion for first-time water and wastewater service in these rural communities with the objective of reducing water-borne diseases. This study applies a two-way fixed effects regression model to evaluate results using data gathered from publicly available reports and over 90 interviews with water and wastewater service providers. This quasi-experimental analysis exploited the size, location, and timing of wastewater infrastructure. Results show that residents in the eight counties with the largest colonia population experienced a 24% reduction in hepatitis A incidence rate. However, tuberculosis and salmonellosis rates do not seem to be affected by infrastructure investment and continue to be a problem. Most of the utility managers interviewed, especially in the more rural areas, coincided that even though population growth or economic development did not occur, they witnessed quality-of-life improvements. This research design and results contribute to an emerging body of literature on monitoring and evaluation of programs related to municipal infrastructure. [Display omitted] • Investment in sanitation can assist in addressing hepatitis A. • High incidences of other contagious diseases such as tuberculosis continue. • Stakeholder interviews were important to understand other quality-of-life benefits. • Public data is available for program evaluation of infrastructure investment. • Fixed effects model used to measure impacts of infrastructure on health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this longitudinal analysis was to estimate funding loss in terms of tax revenue to the New Zealand (NZ) government from disease and injury among working age adults. Linked national health and tax data sets of the usually resident population between 2006 and 2016 were used to model 40 disease states simultaneously in a fixed-effects regression analysis to estimate population-level tax loss from disease and injury. To estimate tax revenue loss to the NZ government, we modeled a counterfactual scenario where all disease/injury was cause deleted. The estimated tax paid by all 25- to 64-year-olds in the eligible NZ population was $15 773 million (m) per annum (US dollar 2021), or $16 446 m for a counterfactual as though no one had any disease disease-related income loss (a 4.3% or $672.9 m increase in tax revenue per annum). The disease that—if it had no impact on income—generated the greatest impact was mental illness, contributing 34.7% ($233.3 m) of all disease-related tax loss, followed by cardiovascular (14.7%, $99.0 m) and endocrine (10.2%, $68.8 m). Tax revenue gains after deleting all disease/injury increased up to 65 years of age, with the largest contributor occurring among 60- to 64-year-olds ($131.7 m). Varied results were also observed among different ethnicities and differing levels of deprivation. This study finds considerable variation by disease on worker productivity and therefore tax revenue in this high-income country. These findings strengthen the economic and government case for prevention, particularly the prevention of mental health conditions and cardiovascular disease. • Maintaining a healthy society is an important determinant of national economic status, with the health of the working population determining a substantial proportion of tax revenue. • In a scenario of no disease or injury in New Zealand among working age adults, we estimate that tax revenue gains may increase by 4.3% or US $672 9 million. • This modeling provides support for health policies that prioritize preventive interventions to reduce disease burden, particularly from mental health and cardiovascular disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]