Search

The article discusses the relationship between lipid metabolism disorders and psoriasis, highlighting the importance of understanding the causal links between cholesterol levels and autoimmune diseases. The study critiques a previous publication by Zhou et al. for methodological flaws and outdated dataset choices, suggesting a re-analysis using more current data. The re-analysis found significant associations between triglycerides and specific lipid components with psoriasis risk, while no causal link was found between HDL-C, LDL-C, and total cholesterol with psoriasis. The study emphasizes the need for precise data and adherence to Mendelian randomization principles in confirming causal relationships. [Extracted from the article]

The article "Commentary: Meta-analysis of the effect and clinical significance of Delphian lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid cancer" discusses errors in data analysis that impacted the results of a study on Delphian lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid cancer. The reanalysis showed that male patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma are more likely to have Delphian lymph node metastasis. The study highlights the importance of personalized treatment plans based on individual patient conditions and the need for tailored management strategies in thyroid cancer. [Extracted from the article]

This document is a correction notice for an article titled "How social relationships shape moral wrongness judgments" published in Nature Communications. The correction addresses errors in the original article, including misused terms, reporting errors, and incorrect calculations. The corrections have been made in the PDF and HTML versions of the article, and a script with all the corrected results has been provided. The errors do not affect the conclusions of the study. The document provides corrections to various tables and sections in the research article, ensuring the accuracy of the data presented. [Extracted from the article]

In the present paper, an experimental study is developed on how asset-liability-equity-employees influence the financial performance of companies in the Romanian garment industry with the aim of identifying the managerial decision-making factors in order to develop businesses in this economic sector. The financial performance was influenced by the independent variables of the patrimonial structure and the human resource: fixed assets, current assets, advance expenses, equity, liabilities and the average number of employees. The results reveal that current assets, advance expenses and total liabilities positively affect financial performance, while fixed assets negatively affect financial performance. The findings show us that companies in the Romanian clothing industry tend to focus on short-term financial performance. A statistically significant impact and positive effect was identified in the case of equity and the average number of employees influencing financial performance (Sales). Two of the six hypotheses based on the analysis model of the financial performance of Romanian clothing companies are confirmed.

Milk is considered an essential source of protein for people of all ages. However, Bangladeshi people, particularly those living in rural areas, tend to consume less milk and milk products than necessary. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the demand for milk and milk products among rural consumers and the factors affecting their consumption habits. The study utilizes balanced panel data from three waves of the Bangladesh Integrated Household Survey: 2011–12, 2015, and 2018–19, collected by the International Food Policy Research Institute. Both the Almost Ideal Demand System (AIDS) and Fixed Effects Model were employed. The expenditure elasticity for liquid milk, powdered milk, and condensed milk was found to be 1.013, 1.856, and 1.060, respectively, indicating that these products are considered luxury goods in rural Bangladesh. Additionally, powdered milk is more price-sensitive than liquid or condensed milk in these areas. Milk and milk products exhibit a substitutable relationship based on the Slutsky and Cournot cross-price elasticities matrix. Consumption of liquid milk is significantly influenced, either positively or negatively, by several factors, including age, education, family size, ownership of dairy animals, income, expense of food, and year. Furthermore, while the consumption of powdered milk is increasing over time, factors such as family size and livestock ownership negatively impact its consumption. Similarly, the consumption of condensed milk is negatively affected by education and ownership of dairy animals. Based on our study results, we recommend increasing household income through on and off-farm job creation, promoting educational campaigns on the benefits of milk, and supporting livestock ownership to reduce reliance on processed milk products.

This study aimed to investigate the association between post-materialist values and subjective well-being in European countries, while examining the complex relationships between the diffusion of post-materialist values, economic development, and democratization. This study analyzed data from the European Values Study and World Values Survey between 1981 and 2022 using finite mixture models and fixed-effects models. The results show that the positive association between diffusing post-materialist values and changes in average life satisfaction was mediated by social changes, including economic development and democratization. However, a negative association between economic development and democratization emerged; although both were positively associated with changes in national life satisfaction, their associations could be offset by each other. This implies that while social change is intertwined with social values and subjective well-being, the relationships between them are highly intricate.

Population aging has become a social issue of concern to the whole world, and as the world's most populous country, how to cope with population aging will be a hot issue that all sectors of Chinese society must think about. This paper uses provincial panel data from 30 provinces in China from 2000 to 2021 to study the relationship between population aging and economic development based on the perspective of health expenditure. The DIFF-GMM model, the fixed effect model (FE), and fixed effect instrumental variable model (FE-IV) are used to test this study. The following two conclusions are drawn from the empirical study: (1) population aging has a significant inhibitory effect on economic development, while health expenditures have a significant promotional effect on economic development; and (2) increased health expenditures help to alleviate the negative impact of population aging on economic development. However, the deepening of population aging will likewise inhibit the positive effect of health expenditure on economic growth. Based on the conclusions of the study, it is recommended that the government and society should continue to increase spending in the field of health protection, encourage and guide residents to carry out self-care, and moderately increase personal health expenditure, to promote economic development with healthy bodies and realize the goal of "Healthy China". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to reveal the impact of pilot free trade zones policy on green development, we use multi-period difference-in-difference estimation and fixed effect model to explore the impact and impact mechanism of the establishment of free trade zones on the green transformation of enterprises from the micro perspective, based on the panel data of China's A-share listed companies from 2009–2021, The results show that pilot free trade zones policy significantly improves the green transformation of enterprises in the zones. Pilot free trade zones policy affects the corporate green transformation through industrial agglomeration and financial constraints. The green transformation of state-owned enterprises, non-heavy polluting enterprises and high-tech enterprises are significantly impacted by pilot free trade zones policy. Urban innovation and green subsidies play a positive moderating role in the impact of free trade zones on enterprises' green transformation. The research conclusions provide a valuable policy basis for how to promote the green transformation of enterprises under the free trade zones policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oral candidiasis (OC) is a prevalent opportunistic infection in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The increasing resistance to antifungal agents in HIV-positive individuals suffering from OC raised concerns. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of drug-resistant OC in HIV-positive patients. Methods: Pubmed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase databases were systematically searched for eligible articles up to November 30, 2023. Studies reporting resistance to antifungal agents in Candida species isolated from HIV-positive patients with OC were included. Baseline characteristics, clinical features, isolated Candida species, and antifungal resistance were independently extracted by two reviewers. The pooled prevalence with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated using the random effect model or fixed effect model. Results: Out of the 1942 records, 25 studies consisting of 2564 Candida species entered the meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of resistance to the antifungal agents was as follows: ketoconazole (25.5%, 95% CI: 15.1–35.8%), fluconazole (24.8%, 95% CI: 17.4–32.1%), 5-Flucytosine (22.9%, 95% CI: -13.7-59.6%), itraconazole (20.0%, 95% CI: 10.0–26.0%), voriconazole (20.0%, 95% CI: 1.9–38.0%), miconazole (15.0%, 95% CI: 5.1–26.0%), clotrimazole (13.4%, 95% CI: 2.3–24.5%), nystatin (4.9%, 95% CI: -0.05-10.3%), amphotericin B (2.9%, 95% CI: 0.5–5.3%), and caspofungin (0.1%, 95% CI: -0.3-0.6%). Furthermore, there were high heterogeneities among almost all included studies regarding the resistance to different antifungal agents (I2 > 50.00%, P < 0.01), except for caspofungin (I2 = 0.00%, P = 0.65). Conclusions: Our research revealed that a significant number of Candida species found in HIV-positive patients with OC were resistant to azoles and 5-fluocytosine. However, most of the isolates were susceptible to nystatin, amphotericin B, and caspofungin. This suggests that initial treatments for OC, such as azoles, may not be effective. In such cases, healthcare providers may need to consider prescribing alternative treatments like polyenes and caspofungin. Registration: The study protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews as PROSPERO (Number: CRD42024497963). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The homogeneity hypothesis is a common assumption in classic measurement. However, the item response theory model assumes that different respondents with same ability have the same option probabilities, which may not hold. The aim of this study is to propose a new individual random effect model that accounts for the differences in option probabilities among respondents with same latent traits by using within-person variance. The performance of the new model is evaluated through simulation studies and real data using the PRESUPP scale of PISA. The model parameters are estimated by the MCMC method. The results show that the individual random effect model can provide more accurate parameter estimates and obtain a scale parameter to describe the distribution of respondents' abilities, under different within-person variances. The new model has lower RMSE and better model fit than the classic IRT model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing urban carbon emissions is an important path for ecological civilization construction, which can be achieved through the adjustment of urban land use tax. Using provincial Panel data from 2011 to 2021, based on the analysis of urban carbon emission efficiency values using a non radial SBM model, the Tobit random effects panel model is used to explore the institutional impact of urban land use tax. The study found that urban land use tax has a significant positive promoting effect on carbon emission efficiency and shows certain regional differences. The eastern region is higher in overall efficiency and technical efficiency than the central and western regions, but the central region has the highest overall scale efficiency. At the same time, factors such as population urbanization, industrial structure, and energy-saving technology level will also have a certain impact on this effect. Based on the institutional effect of improving carbon emission efficiency, the article proposes corresponding countermeasures and suggestions from aspects such as tax rate levels, tax system adjustments, tax incentives, and differentiated regional arrangements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: About 20–40% patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) had an increased risk of developing diabetic nephropathy (DN). Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i) were recommended for treatment of T2DM, while the impact of DPP-4i on renal function remained unclear. This study aimed to explore the effect of DPP-4i on renal parameter of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) in T2DM. Methods: A systematic search was performed across PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library. A fixed or random-effects model was used for quantitative synthesis according to the heterogeneity, which was assessed with I2 index. Sensitivity analysis and publication bias were performed with standard methods, respectively. Results: A total of 17 randomized controlled trials were identified. Administration of DPP-4i produced no significant effect on eGFR (WMD, -0.92 mL/min/1.73m2, 95% CI, -2.04 to 0.19) in diabetic condition. DPP-4i produced a favorable effect on attenuating ACR (WMD, -2.76 mg/g, 95% CI, -5.23 to -0.29) in patients with T2DM. The pooled estimate was stable based on the sensitivity test. No publication bias was observed according to Begg's and Egger's tests. Conclusions: Treatment with DPP-4i preserved the renal parameter of eGFR in diabetic condition. Available evidences suggested that administration of DPP-4i produced a favorable effect on attenuating ACR in patients with T2DM. International Prospective Register for Systematic Review (PROSPERO) number: CRD.42020144642. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: As of 2020, breast cancer has emerged as the predominant cause of cancer incidence globally. Anthracycline-based chemotherapy serves as a crucial element in the treatment regimen for breast cancer. However, these anthracycline-based drugs are associated with cardiac toxicity. This study represents the first clinical quantitative analysis aimed at accurately determining the incidences of arrhythmia and abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG) changes, thereby providing valuable data to bolster clinical drug usage and monitoring. Methods: A systematic search was conducted across multiple databases including CNKI, VIP, Wanfang, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library. The incidence of combined arrhythmias in breast cancer patients and the associated heterogeneity were calculated using either a random effect model or a fixed effect model. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA16. Results: The study encompassed a total of 37 articles, which included 5705 breast cancer patients undergoing anthracycline treatment. Among these patients, 2257 developed arrhythmias. The meta-analysis revealed that the incidence of anthracycline-associated arrhythmias and abnormal ECG changes in breast cancer patients was 0.41 (0.37, 0.44). Subgroup analysis indicated that the incidence of ST-T segment change was 0.19 (0.15, 0.23), the incidence of conduction block was 0.04 (0.02, 0.05), the incidence of premature beats was 0.09 (0.07, 0.11), and the incidence of atrial fibrillation was 0.04 (0.00, 0.12). Additional results are presented in Table 3. Conclusion: This pioneering study accurately assesses the incidence of arrhythmias in breast cancer patients treated with anthracyclines. The findings provide clinicians with valuable insights into understanding and managing the cardiac toxicity associated with such treatment. Moreover, this study lays the foundation for future research exploring the mechanisms underlying these arrhythmias and potential preventative strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: At the end of 2022, globally, only 46% of children (aged 0–14 years) on ART had suppressed viral loads. Viral load suppression is crucial to reduce HIV-related deaths. To suppress the viral load at the expected level, children must be retained in ART treatment. Nevertheless, lost to follow-up from ART treatment continues to be a global challenge, particularly, in developing countries. Previously, primary studies were conducted in Ethiopia to assess the incidence of lost to follow-up among HIV-positive children on ART treatment. However, variations have been seen among the studies. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled incidence of lost to follow-up among HIV-positive children on ART and identify its associated factors in Ethiopia. Methods: We searched PubMed, HINARI, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and African Journals Online to obtain articles published up to November 20, 2023. Critical appraisal was done using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. Heterogeneity was identified using I-square statistics. Funnel plot and Egger's tests were used to identify publication bias. Data was presented using forest plots and tables. Random and fixed-effect models were used to compute the pooled estimate. Results: Twenty-four studies were included in the final analysis. The pooled incidence of lost to follow-up among HIV-positive children on ART was 2.79 (95% CI: 1.99, 3.91) per 100-child-year observations. Advanced HIV disease (HR: 2.20, 95% CI: 1.71, 2.73), having opportunistic infection (HR: 2.59, 95% CI: 1.39; 4.78), fair or poor ART treatment adherence (HR: 2.92, 95% CI: 1.31; 6.54) and children aged between 1–5 years (HR: 2.1,95% CI: 1.44; 2.95) were factors associated with lost to follow up among HIV positive children on ART. Conclusions: The overall pooled incidence of lost to follow-up among HIV-positive children on ART is low in Ethiopia. Therefore, counseling on ART drug adherence should be strengthened. Moreover, emphasis has to be given to children with advanced HIV stage and opportunistic infection to reduce the rate of lost to follow up among HIV-positive children on ART. Trial registration: Registered in PROSPERO with ID: CRD42024501071. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an empirical investigation on the determinants of workplace accidents across Europe and focuses on the extent to which production-system characteristics (employment sectoral risk, size of firms, temporary contracts), business cycle and socio-economic factors (GDP, level of investments, unemployment, education) and other territorial controls (crime index) might account for cross-country heterogeneity. We use Eurostat data, and our panel is composed of 27 European countries over the period 2010–2018. Implementing different functional forms and estimation methodologies (pooled OLS, panel fixed and random effects models, system-GMM and semiparametric fixed effects model), we find robust evidence that productive-system structural characteristics, business cycle controls and the other territorial variables are effective in explaining European cross-country heterogeneity. Moreover, we find evidence of a nonlinear relationship between GDP and occupational accidents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use video footage of a water-tunnel experiment to construct a 2-D reduced-order model of the flapping dynamics of an inverted flag in uniform flow. The model is obtained as the reduced dynamics on a 2-D attracting spectral submanifold (SSM) that emanates from the two slowest modes of the unstable fixed point of the flag. Beyond an unstable fixed point and a limit cycle expected from observations, our SSM-reduced model also confirms the existence of two unstable fixed points for the flag, which were found by previous studies. Importantly, the model correctly reconstructs the dynamics from a small number of general trajectories and no further information on the system. In the chaotic flapping regime, we construct a 4-D SSM-reduced model that captures the system's chaotic attractor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China has experienced rapid development in the digital economy. Using data from 30 provinces in China between 2011 and 2017, this paper constructs a two-way fixed effects model to study the effects and mechanisms of the digital economy development on social insurance funds revenue. An increase of one unit in digital economy development led to a 0.56% increase in basic endowment insurance funds revenue and a 0.33% increase in basic health insurance funds revenue. The digital economy increased the social insurance funds revenue by promoting employment and increasing income. Furthermore, the effects of digital economic development on social insurance funds revenue were heterogeneous for different levels of economic development and urbanization. The conclusions stood after robustness tests by changing the method of weighting the digital economy indicators and using instrumental variables. This paper confirmed the positive role of the development of the digital economy in increasing the revenue of social insurance funds from the perspective of quantitative research and explored the mechanisms in depth. In order to increase social insurance funds revenue, it is essential to accelerate the development of the digital economy, especially in regions with lower economic development and urbanization, and to address the needs of the technically unemployed and those engaged in flexible employment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the economic development of various countries entering a new stage, sustainable development has become a focus of development transformation. It is well known that outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) drives the development of the manufacturing industry. However, the OFDI's influence mechanism on the sustainable development of the manufacturing industry still needs to be clarified, and its specific action path requires further exploration. This study thus constructs a performance evaluation indicator system for the manufacturing industry from sustainable perspective. Based on interprovincial panel data of China's 30 provinces from 2008 to 2017, the entropy method is used to measure and analyse the sustainable development level of the manufacturing industry in each province. Second, the influence of OFDI on the sustainable development level of manufacturing industry is verified using a fixed effects model. Finally, through the establishment of the mediation effect and threshold effect models, we conduct in-depth research on its specific mechanism, testing the mediation effect of technological progress and threshold effect of openness. The results reveal that government departments can enhance the sustainable development of manufacturing industry by promoting technological progress through OFDI. Improving the degree of openness can also promote sustainable development in the manufacturing industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green innovation possesses dual externalities of "innovation" and "environmental protection", and enhancing energy efficiency serves as a crucial means to promote high-quality economic development. Building upon the energy rebound effect, we use the balanced panel data of cities at prefecture level and above in China from 2008 to 2018 to explore the impact of urban green innovation on total factor energy efficiency (TFEE). The findings of this study indicate that, firstly, the impact of green innovation on TFEE exhibits a positive U-shaped pattern, characterized by initial suppression followed by subsequent promotion. This conclusion remains robust after undergoing a series of rigorous robustness tests. Second, high-quality green innovation is found to reach the turning point more quickly, implying that substantial green innovation can cross the turning point in smaller quantities. Thirdly, on the whole, in comparison to non-resource-based cities, resource-based cities are capable of reaching the turning point at an earlier stage. Finally, the new energy demonstration cities have not yet reached the turning point, while the non-new energy demonstration cities have crossed the turning point. This study contributes novel insights into the relationship between green innovation and TFEE, which holds significant implications for the formulation and implementation of sustainable development policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using matched data from China Stock Market and Accounting Research (CSMAR) and Wind databases, this paper explores the impact of exports on the green technology innovation (GTI) of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The mechanisms are analyzed through a two-way fixed effects model. First, exports contribute significantly to GTI of SMEs. Second, exports mainly contribute to GTI of SMEs by attracting government subsidies and increasing firms' environmental awareness. Third, from the perspective of heterogeneity, exports significantly positively impact GTI of SMEs especially in medium- and low-technology industries and in eastern China. The impact of exports on GTI is also examined by replacing core variables, modifying the sample for robustness testing, and utilizing both urban river density and distance from the center of the city to the nearest port as instrumental variables for endogeneity test. With the continuous development of international import and export trade, enterprises increase GTI research and development by attracting government subsidies, improving the quality of disclosed information, and increasing environmental awareness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Modern contraceptive utilization is the most effective intervention to tackle unintended pregnancy and thereby reduce abortion and improve maternal, child, and newborn health. However, multilevel factors related to low modern contraceptive utilization and the robust analysis required for decision-making were scarce in Ethiopia. Objective: To investigate the individual and community-level predictors of modern contraceptive utilization among reproductive-age women in Ethiopia. Methods: We utilized data from a cross-sectional 2019 Performance Monitoring for Action Ethiopia survey. The survey employed a stratified two-stage cluster sampling method to select households for inclusion. In Stata version 16.0, the data underwent cleaning, aggregation, and survey weighting, following which a descriptive analysis was performed utilizing the "svy" command. Subsequently, the primary analysis was executed using R software version 4.1.3. We fitted a two-level mixed effects logistic regression model on 6,117 reproductive-age women nested within 265 enumeration areas (clusters). The fixed effect models were fitted. The measures of variation were explained by intra-cluster correlation, median odds ratio, and proportional change in variance. The shrinkage factor was calculated to estimate the effects of cluster variables using the Interval odds ratio and proportion opposed odds ratio. Finally, the independent variables with a significance level of (P<0.05) and their corresponding Adjusted Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were described for the explanatory factors in the final model. Results: In Ethiopia, the prevalence of modern contraceptive utilization was only 37.% (34.3 to 39.8). Women who attained primary, secondary, and above secondary levels of education were more likely to report modern contraceptive utilization with AOR of 1.47, 1.73, and 1.58, respectively. Divorced/widowed women were less likely to report modern contraceptive utilization (AOR:0.18, 95% CI 0.13,0.23) compared to never-married women. Discussions between women and healthcare providers at the health facility about family planning were positively associated with modern contraceptive utilization (AOR:1.84, 95% CI: 1.52, 2.23). Community-level factors have a significant influence on modern contraceptive utilization, which is attributed to 21.9% of the total variance in the odds of using modern contraceptives (ICC = 0.219). Clusters with a higher proportion of agrarian (AOR: 2.27, 95% CI 1.5, 3.44), clusters with higher literacy (AOR: 1.46, 95% CI 1.09, 1.94), clusters with empowered women and girls about FP (AOR: 1.47, 95% CI 1.11, 1.93) and clusters with high supportive attitudes and norms toward FP (AOR: 1.37, 95% CI 1.04, 1.81) had better modern contraceptive utilization than their counterparts. Conclusion: In Ethiopia, understanding the factors related to modern contraceptive use among women of reproductive age requires consideration of both individual and community characteristics. Hence, to enhance family planning intervention programs, it is essential to focus on the empowerment of women and girls, foster supportive attitudes towards family planning within communities, collaborate with education authorities to enhance overall community literacy, pay special attention to pastoralist communities, and ensure that reproductive-age women as a whole are targeted rather than solely focusing on married women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of economic instruments within environmental policy has become a challenging topic for policymakers, governments and scholars. Environmental taxes have emerged as a prevailing preference in developed countries to promote sustainability. Recently, a particular focus has been given to waste generation and disposal, shifting the attention from greenhouse gases to another important source of environmental pollution. This paper investigates the effect of national environmental taxes and policies on industrial waste. A fixed effects model is used for 34 countries across Europe from 2004 to 2022. The results suggest that environmental taxes and energy policies reduce industrial (hazardous and non-hazardous) waste. However, environmental tax reforms should take into consideration the deterioration in environmental quality, the increase in economic costs and undesirable social consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an important way for China to achieve its dual-carbon goal, green finance has become the foundation for promoting high-quality economic development in China. In order to clarify the mechanism of green finance on carbon emissions, this paper puts green finance into the economic model and deduces the relationship between green finance and carbon emission reduction. This paper is based on the panel data of 30 provinces in China (excluding Tibet, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan) from 2008 to 2019, using the individual fixed effect model, dynamical model, mediator model, and SDM model to study the impact of green finance on carbon emissions and its impact path of upgrading of the industrial structure and the development of science and technology based on the measurement of the green finance development index of each province by the entropy method. The findings show that the development of green finance can reduce carbon emission significantly, which can be sustained until at least the third phase and generates spatial spillover effects; regional heterogeneity analysis finds that the development of green finance shows geographical discrepancies: compared with the eastern and western regions, the development of green finance in central region can reduce carbon emissions more significantly; not only can the development of green finance directly reduce carbon emission, but also through the upgrading of industrial structure and technological innovation. The research not only provides a new perspective and supplementary empirical evidence for understanding the carbon emission reduction effect of green finance, but also offers some useful references for green finance to contribute to carbon emission reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid economic development leads to excessive consumption of fossil energy, resulting in a large number of carbon emissions, which makes the sustainable development of China's economy and society face great challenges. Under the background of global warming and environmental deterioration, developing low-carbon economy has become an inevitable choice for China to change its development model and improve its international competitiveness. Technological progress is the first driving force to promote economic growth. However, the influence degree and mechanism of technological progress on the development of low-carbon economy are still unclear. Based on this, the paper proposes the concept of low-carbon GDP, which is used to measure the low-carbon economic development of 30 Chinese provinces. Then, the panel fixed effect model is used to study the effect degree and mechanism of technological progress on low-carbon GDP and the moderating effect of other factors on the relationship between them. The results show that, first, economically developed provinces and regions have higher per capita low-carbon GDP and low-carbon GDP index, but the speed and quality of low-carbon economic development are not necessarily higher. Second, technological progress can promote the growth of low-carbon GDP and make greater contributions to resources-poor regions. Third, improving local education can make technological progress more effective in low-carbon economic development. China needs to upgrade technological development by developing new and high-tech technologies, promoting new urbanization and strengthening education in order to promote low-carbon economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the relationship between political orientation, government change, and public satisfaction with food policies in the Republic of Korea. Utilizing data from the Consumer Behavior Survey for Foods (CBSF) conducted by the Korea Rural Economic Institute from 2020 to 2021, we employ fixed effects models to examine the impact of political orientation, the presence of a conservative government, and their interactions on satisfaction across various dimensions of food policy. We also analyze the change in satisfaction levels from 2020 to 2021 based on shifts in political orientation. The results reveal complex dynamics between political alignment, government performance, and public perceptions. While conservatives and liberals exhibit higher satisfaction with labeling policies, they show lower satisfaction with safety and redress policies. The presence of a conservative government is associated with higher satisfaction in specific policy areas but lower overall satisfaction. Changes in political orientation significantly influence policy satisfaction, with shifts away from conservatism and towards liberalism leading to decreased satisfaction. The findings highlight the importance of understanding the nuanced preferences of different political groups and the need for responsive and transparent food policy frameworks. This study advances the theoretical understanding of the political economy of policy satisfaction and provides novel policy implications for effective governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper employs a multidimensional fixed effects model and examines the impact of the digital economy on the performance of firms in traditional industries. We have identified a pattern similar to the "IT productivity paradox" observed in the United States during the 1980s. Using data from A-share listed Chinese firms from 2011–2019, we find that the digital economy significantly reduces the short-term performance of firms by intensifying market competition and increasing adjustment costs. On the contrary, the digital economy improves firms' long-term performance through accumulation of human capital and greater innovation capability. Competitive strategies strengthen the effect of the digital economy on the long-term performance of firms. Additionally, our research demonstrates that technology-intensive firms and small firms experience more pronounced negative effects in the short term but firms with high-tech titles suffer smaller shocks than other technology-intensive firms. These findings presents novel perspectives on the influence of the digital economy on firm performance, offering valuable insights for managers, investors, and policymakers involved in economic decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Binary outcomes are likely the most common in randomized controlled trials, but ordinal outcomes can also be of interest. For example, rather than simply collecting data on diseased versus healthy study subjects, investigators may collect information on the severity of disease, with no disease, mild, moderate, and severe disease as possible levels of the outcome. While some investigators may be interested in all levels of the ordinal variable, others may combine levels that are not of particular interest. Therefore, when research synthesizers subsequently conduct a network meta-analysis on a network of trials for which an ordinal outcome was measured, they may encounter a network in which outcome categorization varies across trials. Methods: The standard method for network meta-analysis for an ordinal outcome based on a multinomial generalized linear model is not designed to accommodate the multiple outcome categorizations that might occur across trials. In this paper, we propose a network meta-analysis model for an ordinal outcome that allows for multiple categorizations. The proposed model incorporates the partial information provided by trials that combine levels through modification of the multinomial likelihoods of the affected arms, allowing for all available data to be considered in estimation of the comparative effect parameters. A Bayesian fixed effect model is used throughout, where the ordinality of the outcome is accounted for through the use of the adjacent-categories logit link. Results: We illustrate the method by analyzing a real network of trials on the use of antibiotics aimed at preventing liver abscesses in beef cattle and explore properties of the estimates of the comparative effect parameters through simulation. We find that even with the categorization of the levels varying across trials, the magnitudes of the biases are relatively small and that under a large sample size, the root mean square errors become small as well. Conclusions: Our proposed method to conduct a network meta-analysis for an ordinal outcome when the categorization of the outcome varies across trials, which utilizes the adjacent-categories logit link, performs well in estimation. Because the method considers all available data in a single estimation, it will be particularly useful to research synthesizers when the network of interest has only a limited number of trials for each categorization of the outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Malnutrition remains a global problem and is increasing with the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. In Madagascar, half of the children under five years of age suffer from stunting. However, since 2006, vitamin A supplementation campaigns, deworming and free vaccinations have been implemented within the framework of the Mother and Child Health Week (MCHW) to strengthen the fight against micronutrient deficiencies and reduce mortality. On the other hand, rice, the staple food of the Malagasy population, can provide some of the micronutrients necessary for good nutrition. However, the country's rice production is still insufficient, and the price has been rising steadily in recent years. This has led the government to resort to the policy of stabilizing rice prices through imported rice in 2017 and 2018. The aim of this paper is therefore to analyse the effects of these policies on the prevalence of malnutrition among children under five years of age in Madagascar. Which policy would be more effective: the nutrition policy or the price stabilisation policy? Methods: Data from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey conducted by the National Institute of Statistics in 2018 are used, and logistic regressions for the analysis of the effects of nutrition policies on nutrition outcomes are performed. For the effect of price stabilisation policy, panel data on 22 regions of Madagascar from 2016 to 2019 are considered, and a fixed effect model is used. Results: We found that the effects of the nutrition policy are not immediately visible. Only participation in the 2016 MCHW contributes to a lower probability of malnutrition occurrence. The odds ratios of the effects of this participation on stunting are 0.69 (p-value: 0.05); on underweight: 0.70 (p-value < 0.01); and on wasting: 0.57 (p-value < 0.01). However, the participation rate remains very low. Then, there is no effect of the rice price stabilization policy on nutrition outcomes (0.00; p-value = 0.11). Conclusions: Price stabilisation policy is not sufficient to fight against malnutrition, due to a lack of food diversification. These results suggest the need for a policy to ensure nutritional intake and to sensitize the population to participate in the MCHW. Trial registration: Not applicable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The role of esketamine in pediatric gastrointestinal endoscopy is still unclear. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of esketamine for pediatric gastrointestinal endoscopy. Methods: Clinical trials of esketamine for pediatric gastrointestinal endoscopy were searched in eight common databases, up to October 2023. These clinical trials were included in the meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis (TSA). The risk ratio (RR) and weighted mean difference (WMD) were used as the effect sizes for dichotomous variables and continuity variables, respectively. When the heterogeneity test showed I2 < 50%, the fixed effects model was used for the meta-analysis and TSA; Otherwise, the random effects model was used for them. Results: In terms of efficacy endpoints, the meta-analysis showed that compared with placebo or blank, esketamine significantly decreased recovery time by 2.34 min (WMD −2.34; 95% Confidence interval [CI] −3.65, −1.02; p = 0.0005) and propofol consumption by 0.70 mg/kg (WMD −0.70; 95% CI −0.98, −0.43; p < 0.00001), and increased mean heart rate by 4.77 beats/min (WMD 4.77; 95% CI 2.67, 6.87; p < 0.00001) and mean arterial pressure by 3.10 mmHg (WMD 3.10; 95% CI 1.52, 4.67; p = 0.0001), while induction time and mean blood oxygen remained comparable. TSA indicated conclusive evidence for these benefits. In terms of safety endpoints, the meta-analysis revealed that esketamine significantly reduced involuntary movements by 59% (RR 0.41; 95% CI 0.22, 0.76; p = 0.005) and choking by 51% (RR 0.49; 95% CI 0.26, 0.92; p = 0.03), while significantly increasing dizziness by 98% (RR 1.98; 95% CI 1.11, 3.56; p = 0.02) and there were no significant differences in total adverse events, respiratory depression, and vomiting. TSA demonstrated conclusive evidence for involuntary movements and dizziness. Low-dose analysis showed that esketamine at ≤0.3 mg/kg significantly reduced recovery time, propofol consumption and involuntary movements, and significantly increasing mean heart rate, with no increase in dizziness. The Begg’s test (p = 0.327) and the Egger’s test (p = 0.413) indicated no significant publication bias, yet the funnel plot suggested potential publication bias. Conclusion: Esketamine is an effective adjuvant anesthesia for children undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy. However, the general dose of esketamine may increase the risk of dizziness, which can be avoided by administering a low dose (≤0.3 mg/kg). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of combining diterpene ginkgolide meglumine injection (DGMI) with edaravone for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. This is particularly relevant because Western drugs, excluding intravenous thrombolysis, have shown limited success. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted using multiple databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure WanFang, VIP, and Chinese Biomedical Database (CBM) until June 2023. The data were analyzed using fixed-effects and random-effects models in Review Manager. The mean difference with 95% confidence interval was calculated for each outcome. Results: Eighteen studies involving 1,636 participants were included in the analysis. The DGMI group showed significant reductions in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score, and C-reactive protein (CRP) level, compared to the control group. Furthermore, the DGMI group showed a significant improvement in superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels and a reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. The combination of DGMI and edaravone was more effective in reducing neuron-specific enolase (NSE) levels following brain tissue injury than edaravone alone. Additionally, DGMI complemented edaravone in reducing rheological parameters associated with ischemic stroke, including hematocrit, plasma viscosity, platelet adhesion rate, and erythrocyte deformation index. Conclusion: The combination of DGMI and edaravone significantly improved the therapeutic efficacy in patients with acute ischemic stroke. However, more extensive and high-quality clinical trials are required to validate these underlying mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Accurate and reproducible tumor delineation on positron emission tomography (PET) images is required to validate predictive and prognostic models based on PET radiomic features. Manual segmentation of tumors is time-consuming whereas semi-automatic methods are easily implementable and inexpensive. This study assessed the reliability of semi-automatic segmentation methods over manual segmentation for tumor delineation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) PET images. Approach. We employed manual and six semi-automatic segmentation methods (just enough interaction (JEI), watershed, grow from seeds (GfS), flood filling (FF), 30% SUVmax and 40%SUVmax threshold) using 3D slicer software to extract 128 radiomic features from FDG-PET images of 100 HNSCC patients independently by three operators. We assessed the distributional properties of all features and considered 92 log-transformed features for subsequent analysis. For each paired comparison of a feature, we fitted a separate linear mixed effect model using the method (two levels; manual versus one semi-automatic method) as a fixed effect and the subject and the operator as the random effects. We estimated different statistics—the intraclass correlation coefficient agreement (aICC), limits of agreement (LoA), total deviation index (TDI), coverage probability (CP) and coefficient of individual agreement (CIA)—to evaluate the agreement between the manual and semi-automatic methods. Main results. Accounting for all statistics across 92 features, the JEI method consistently demonstrated acceptable agreement with the manual method, with median values of aICC = 0.86, TDI = 0.94, CP = 0.66, and CIA = 0.91. Significance. This study demonstrated that JEI method is a reliable semi-automatic method for tumor delineation on HNSCC PET images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Importance: Subacute thyroiditis (SAT) is a self-limiting and inflammatory thyroid disease. Although SAT usually improves on its own within weeks, it needs treatment when patients have pain, fever, and symptoms of thyrotoxicosis. Therapeutic drugs mainly include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and glucocorticoids. Currently, there is no systematic review or meta-analysis of the comparison of outcomes between NSAIDs and glucocorticoids for the treatment of SAT. Objectives: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis on the outcomes in subacute thyroiditis patients treated with glucocorticoids or NSAIDs. Data sources: Using the four electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Wanfang database and Web of Science. All publications until 21 June 2023 were searched. The reference lists of all selected articles were independently screened to identify additional studies left out in the initial search. Study selection: The literature comparing outcomes between glucocorticoids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for patients with subacute thyroiditis will be included. Data extraction and synthesis: Two independent investigators (Anqi Yuan and Jialu Wu) extracted the data following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines (PRISMA) and then evaluated the quality of the eligible studies with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Fixed-effects models for the meta-analyses were applied. Heterogeneity was assessed with the chisquared (x²) test (Cochran's Q) and inconsistency index (I²). The robustness of the results was tested with the sensitivity analyses. The bias of publication was assessed with the Harbord test. Main outcomes and measures: The incidence of permanent hypothyroidism in SAT patients treated with corticosteroids or NSAIDs. Results: Our study included a total of ten comparative cohort studies with 1337 participants. We found that the incidence of developing permanent hypothyroidism in the SAT patients who received glucocorticoids treatment was significantly lower than those who received NSAIDs treatment. (OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.36-0.88; P = 0.01). The risk of permanent hypothyroidism in patients who received prednisone at an average initial dose < 40 mg/d was significantly lower than that in patients who received NSAIDs (OR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.14-0.94; P = 0.04). There was no significant difference in the occurrence of permanent hypothyroidism between SAT patients who received an average initial dose ≥ 40 mg/d of prednisone and those who received only NSAIDs (OR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.14-3.53; P = 0.67). In addition, the recurrence rate was observably higher in those receiving glucocorticoids than in those receiving NSAIDs (OR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.12-3.5; p = 0.02). The recurrence rate was significantly higher in patients with an average initial prednisone doseof < 40mg/d than in theNSAIDs group. There was no significant difference in the recurrence rate between patients in the mean initial prednisone dose = 40 mg/d group and those in the NSAIDs group. Conclusions and relevance: In this meta-analysis, we compared the treatment outcomes of SAT patients between glucocorticoids and NSAIDs. Our results indicated that glucocorticoid treatment was associated with a lower incidence of permanent hypothyroidism than NSAID treatment. Patients treated with NSAIDs might have a lower recurrence rate. This finding might help to understand the outcome of the disease when choosing different drugs and help physicians to make appropriate decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major global health concern with increasing prevalence and associated complications. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been linked to CKD, but the evidence remains inconsistent. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the association between MetS and kidney dysfunction. Method: We conducted a comprehensive search of databases until December 2022 for cohort studies assessing the association between MetS and incident kidney dysfunction. Meta-analysis was performed using fixed and random effects models. Subgroup analyses were conducted to explore heterogeneity. Publication bias was assessed using Egger's and Begg's tests. Result: A total of 24 eligible studies, involving 6,573,911 participants, were included in this meta-analysis. MetS was significantly associated with an increased risk of developing CKD (OR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.28, 1.57), albuminuria or proteinuria (OR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.10, 1.86), and rapid decline in kidney function (OR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.07, 1.47). Subgroup analyses showed a stronger association as the number of MetS components increased. However, gender-specific subgroups demonstrated varying associations. Conclusion: Metabolic syndrome is a significant risk factor for kidney dysfunction, requiring close renal monitoring. Lifestyle changes and targeted interventions may help reduce CKD burden. Further research is needed to understand the connection fully and assess intervention efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The forest fires that ravaged parts of Indonesia in 2015 were the most severely polluting of this century but little is known about their effects on health care utilization of the affected population. We estimate their short-term impact on visit rates to primary and hospital care with particular focus on visits for specific smoke-related conditions (respiratory disease, acute respiratory tract infection (ARTI) and common cold). Method: We estimate the short-term impact of the 2015 forest fire on visit rates to primary and hospital care by combining satellite data on Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) with administrative records from Indonesian National Health Insurance Agency (BPJS Kesehatan) from January 2015–April 2016. The 16 months of panel data cover 203 districts in the islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan before, during and after the forest fires. We use the (more efficient) ANCOVA version adaptation of a fixed effects model to compare the trends in healthcare use of affected districts (with AOD value above 0.75) with control districts (AOD value below 0.75). Considering the higher vulnerability of children's lungs, we do this separately for children under 5 and the rest of the population adults (> 5), and for both urban and rural areas, and for both the period during and after the forest fires. Results: We find little effects for adults. For young children we estimate positive effects for care related to respiratory problems in primary health care facilities in urban areas. Hospital care visits in general, on the other hand, are negatively affected in rural areas. We argue that these patterns arise because accessibility of care during fires is more restricted for rural than for urban areas. Conclusion: The severity of the fires and the absence of positive impact on health care utilization for adults and children in rural areas indicate large missed opportunities for receiving necessary care. This is particularly worrisome for children, whose lungs are most vulnerable to the effects. Our findings underscore the need to ensure ongoing access to medical services during forest fires and emphasize the necessity of catching up with essential care for children after the fires, particularly in rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crossed random effects models (CREMs) are particularly useful in longitudinal data applications because they allow researchers to account for the impact of dynamic group membership on individual outcomes. However, no research has determined what data conditions need to be met to sufficiently identify these models, especially the group effects, in a longitudinal context. This is a significant gap in the current literature as future applications to real data may need to consider these conditions to yield accurate and precise model parameter estimates, specifically for the group effects on individual outcomes. Furthermore, there are no existing CREMs that can model intrinsically nonlinear growth. The goals of this study are to develop a Bayesian piecewise CREM to model intrinsically nonlinear growth and evaluate what data conditions are necessary to empirically identify both intrinsically linear and nonlinear longitudinal CREMs. This study includes an applied example that utilizes the piecewise CREM with real data and three simulation studies to assess the data conditions necessary to estimate linear, quadratic, and piecewise CREMs. Results show that the number of repeated measurements collected on groups impacts the ability to recover the group effects. Additionally, functional form complexity impacted data collection requirements for estimating longitudinal CREMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Quality of life (QoL) of patients with mental illness has been examined internationally but to a lesser extent in developing countries, including countries in Africa. Improving QoL is vital to reducing disability among people with mental illness. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the prevalence of QoL and associated factors among people living with mental illness in Africa. Methods: Using the PICOT approach, Scopus, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Embase, the Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched. A structured search was undertaken, comprising terms associated with mental health, mental illness, QoL, and a list of all African countries. The Joanna Briggs Institute Quality Appraisal Checklist is used to evaluate research quality. Subgroup analysis with Country, domains of QoL, and diagnosis was tested using a random-effect model, and bias was assessed using a funnel plot and an inspection of Egger's regression test. A p value, OR, and 95% CI were used to demonstrate an association. Results: The pooled prevalence of poor QoL was 45.93% (36.04%, 55.83%), I2 = 98.6%, p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis showed that Ethiopia (48.09%; 95% CI = 33.73, 62.44), Egypt (43.51%; 95% CI = 21.84, 65.18), and Nigeria (43.49%; 95% CI = 12.25, 74.74) had the highest mean poor QoL prevalence of the countries. The pooled prevalence of poor QoL by diagnosis was as follows: bipolar disorder (69.63%; 95% CI = 47.48, 91.77), Schizophrenia (48.53%; 95% CI = 29.97, 67.11), group of mental illnesses (40.32%; 95% CI = 23.98, 56.66), and depressive disorders (38.90%; 95% CI = 22.98, 54.81). Being illiterate (3.63; 95% CI = 2.35, 4.91), having a comorbid medical illness (4.7; 95% CI = 2.75, 6.66), having a low monthly income (3.62; 95% CI = 1.96, 5.27), having positive symptoms (0.32; 95% CI = 0.19, 0.55), and having negative symptoms (0.26; 95% CI = 0.16, 0.43) were predictors of QoL. Thus, some factors are significantly associated with pooled effect estimates of QoL. Conclusions: The current systematic review and meta-analysis showed that almost half of patients with mental illness had poor QoL. Being illiterate, having a comorbid medical condition, having a low monthly income, having positive symptoms, and having negative symptoms of mental illness were independent predictors of poor QoL. This systematic review and meta-analysis emphasize that poor QoL of people with mental illness in Africa needs attention to reduce its negative consequences. [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]

Based on the panel data of 30 provinces from 2011-2021, the tenacity of Chinese pig feed industry chain was measured by the entropy method, and the current development situation and regional characteristics of the tenacity of pig feed industry chain were analyzed. A bidirectional fixed effect model was used to explore the influencing factors of the resilience of Chinese pig feed industry chain. The restults showed that during the research period, the toughness of Chinese pig feed industry chain rose slowly, and showed a cyclical rising trend with the appearance of pig cycle. Based on a dimensional perspective, the improvement of the resilience of Chinese pig feed industry chain mainly benefits from the effective improvement of basic strength and resistance. From a regional perspective, the most resilient pig feed industry chain in China is in sustainable production areas, followed by restricted production areas, core production areas, and finally suitable production areas. From the perspective of influencing factors, the economic development level, technological innovation level, financial development level, and transportation convenience all had a significant role in improving the toughness of Chinese pig feed industry chain. The study indicates that exploring the practical path to enhance the resilience of Chinese pig feed industry chain can provide useful reference for accelerating the construction of a new pattern of Chinese pig feed industry chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article deals with the problem of classifying Fréchet populations by proposing a non-linear fixed effects model. Various properties of the proposed model are investigated in detail. Estimations of the effects are achieved in explicit expressions and stochastic properties of the estimators are discussed. Two procedures for testing the homogeneity of populations are proposed. Illustrative examples are also given. The proposed model is an alternative method for situations in which the existing parametric methods such as generalized linear models provide poor efficiency and factor effects are on the response non-linearly. The proposed model is also applicable in situations where the mean response does not exist. [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]

Background: Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) gene are known to be associated with susceptibility to several cerebrovascular diseases, including ischemic stroke (IS). The aims of this study was to evaluate associations between PCSK9 gene polymorphisms and the risk of IS. Based on previous reports linking PCSK9 SNPs to plasma lipid levels and to atherosclerosis, and to inconsistencies in the reported associations between the SNPs, plasma lipid levels and IS risk, we choose the PCSK9 rs505151, rs529787, and rs17111503 to performe the association analysis. Methods: Using multiple databases, all relevant case-control and cohort studies that matched our search criteria were collected. Quality assessment of included studies was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Demographic and genotype data were extracted from each study, and meta-analysis was performed using Stata/MP 17.0. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using fixed and random effects models. Results: A critical evaluation was conducted on ten case-control studies, involving a total of 2426 cases and 2424 controls. Pooled results from the allelic models indicated the PCSK9 rs505151 G allele (OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.06-1.87, p = 0.019, I2 = 53.9%) and the PCSK9 rs17111503 A allele (OR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.22-1.55, p < 0.001, I2 = 43.5%) were significantly associated with IS. Study qualities ranged from moderate (n = 4) to good (n = 6). Begg's and Egger's tests results indicated there was no evidence of publication bias in the findings (p > 0.05). Conclusions: This meta-analysis demonstrated that G allele variant of PCSK9 rs505151 and A allele variant of PCSK9 rs17111503 were associated with an increased risk of IS. Based on our findings, these SNPs could serve as potential targets for the diagnosis and treatment of IS. The integration of information on genetic polymorphism into IS risk prediction model may be beneficial in routine clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute kidney injury (AKI) following surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB-AKI) is common in pediatrics. Urinary liver-type fatty acid binding protein (uL-FABP) increases in some kidney diseases and may indicate CPB-AKI earlier than current methods. The aim of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to evaluate the potential role of uL-FABP in the early diagnosis and prediction of CPB-AKI. Databases Pubmed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched on 12 November 2023, using the MeSH terms "Children", "CPB", "L-FABP", and "Acute Kidney Injury". Included papers were revised. AUC values from similar studies were pooled by meta-analysis, performed using random- and fixed-effect models, with p < 0.05. Of 508 studies assessed, nine were included, comprising 1658 children, of whom 561 (33.8%) developed CPB-AKI. Significantly higher uL-FABP levels in AKI versus non-AKI patients first manifested at baseline to 6 h post-CPB. At 6 h, uL-FABP correlated with CPB duration (r = 0.498, p = 0.036), postoperative serum creatinine (r = 0.567, p < 0.010), and length of hospital stay (r = 0.722, p < 0.0001). Importantly, uL-FABP at baseline (AUC = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.64–0.89, n = 365), 2 h (AUC = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.52–0.90, n = 509), and 6 h (AUC = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.72–0.80, n = 509) diagnosed CPB-AKI earlier. Hence, higher uL-FABP levels associate with worse clinical parameters and may diagnose and predict CPB-AKI earlier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

he parameters of the weighted exponential regression model for panel data are estimated using the maximum likelihood method which represents the aim of this paper. Weekly infection and recovery ratios of COVID-19 data are predicted, where the model is converted from its nonlinear into a linear state using the Taylor series. The novelty of this paper lies in dealing with nonlinear panel data. Furthermore, the panel data of the model are tested to determine whether the data follows fixed or random effects by the Hausman test, as well as the exclusion of the pooled effects because the model does not include the intercept term. The simulation is depended on the generated data to compare the fixed and random effects models for different sample sizes (5, 10, 20, 30). COVID-19 data is used for three Iraqi governorates to represent the panel data model. Three months,May, June, and July of 2022 are taken to represent the research sample and then predict the ratios of infection and recovery for the next three months. Depending on the Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) and Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC), the random effects of the weighted exponential regression give better results than the fixed effects. Depending on this, we predict the weekly infection ratios of COVID-19 in Iraq that will decrease during the next ten weeks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: most studies that analyze the relationship between diet quality and obesity have a cross-sectional design; an alternative with repeated cross-sectional data is a pseudo-panel design. Objective: to estimate the association between trends in dietary patterns, defined by a diet quality index, and body mass index (BMI) of Mexican adults between 2006 and 2016. Methodology: a pseudo-panel analysis was performed using data from cross-sectional surveys: National Health and Nutrition Surveys of Mexico (ENSANUTs) 2006 and 2012 and the Midway National Health and Nutrition Survey 2016 (ENSANUTMC). Cohorts (n = 108) were constructed by grouping adults 20-59 years old by sex (men n = 6,081 and women n = 11,404), education level, and year of birth. The association between diet quality (defined with the Healthy Eating Index-2015) and BMI was estimated using a fixed effects model, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics. Results: a one-point increase in the proportion of women with high diet quality was associated with 4.1 points lower BMI (p = 0.014) compared with women with low diet quality when excluding sub-reporters of energy, the same association is observed when physical activity is included in the model. No association was found between diet quality and BMI in men, possibly because of the existence of latent classes within sociodemographic strata, therefore diet qualiy is inversely associated with BMI only in some categories of sociodemographic strata. Conclusions: these results contribute to the evidence in the longitudinal analysis between diet and BMI, highlighting the importance of differentiating the population by sex and sociodemographic characteristics. These results are input for public policy creation that promotes improving the quality of the population's diet as part of multisectoral strategies to reduce overweight and obesity in Mexican adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]