Search

The variability and regularity of stride time may help identify individuals at a greater risk of injury during military load carriage. Wearable sensors could provide a cost-effective, portable solution for recording these measures, but establishing their validity is necessary. This study aimed to determine the agreement of several measures of stride time variability across five wearable sensors (Opal APDM, Vicon Blue Trident, Axivity, Plantiga, Xsens DOT) and force plates during military load carriage. Nineteen Australian Army trainee soldiers (age: 24.8 ± 5.3 years, height: 1.77 ± 0.09 m, body mass: 79.5 ± 15.2 kg, service: 1.7 ± 1.7 years) completed three 12-min walking trials on an instrumented treadmill at 5.5 km/h, carrying 23 kg of an external load. Simultaneously, 512 stride time intervals were identified from treadmill-embedded force plates and each sensor where linear (standard deviation and coefficient of variation) and non-linear (detrended fluctuation analysis and sample entropy) measures were obtained. Sensor and force plate agreement was evaluated using Pearson's r and intraclass correlation coefficients. All sensors had at least moderate agreement (ICC > 0.5) and a strong positive correlation (r > 0.5). These results suggest wearable devices could be employed to quantify linear and non-linear measures of stride time variability during military load carriage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: If questionnaires contributing to the diagnosis of dry eye disease are to be recommended as alternatives to existing questionnaires, they must be comparable, with similar repeatability and treatment sensitivity. Comparability was thus examined for three common dry eye questionnaires along with identifying the individual questions that most strongly predicted overall scores. Methods: Anonymised data (n = 329) collected via the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), 5-item Dry Eye Questionnaire (DEQ-5) and Symptom Assessment in Dry Eye (SANDE) questionnaires (including responses to individual questions) from consenting patients were drawn from real-world dry eye clinics/registries in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand; at follow-up, normalised changes were evaluated in 54 of these patients. Treatment data were also analysed from a 6-month, randomised controlled trial assessing artificial tear supplement treatments with 43 responders and 13 non-responders to treatment identified. The questions extracted from the OSDI which form the abbreviated 6-item OSDI were also analysed. Results: The agreement between the questionnaires ranged from r = 0.577 to 0.754 (all p < 0.001). For the OSDI, three questions accounted for 89.1% of the variability in the total score. The correlation between the OSDI and OSDI-6 was r = 0.939, p < 0.001. For the DEQ-5, two questions accounted for 88.5% of the variance in the total score. Normalised treatment changes were also only moderately correlated between the questionnaires (r = 0.441 to 0.595, p < 0.01). For non-responders, variability was 7.4% with both OSDI and OSDI-6, 9.7% with DEQ-5, 12.1% with SANDE-frequency and 11.9% with SANDE-severity scale. For responders, improvement with drops was detected with a 19.1% change in OSDI, 20.2% in OSDI-6, 20.9% in DEQ-5, and 27.5%/23.6% in SANDE-frequency/severity scales. Conclusions: Existing commonly used dry eye questionnaire scores do not show high levels of correlation. The OSDI was the least variable of the questionnaires and while displaying a slightly lower treatment effect than either the DEQ or SANDE, it was more sensitive to detection of a treatment effect. The quicker-to-complete OSDI-6 exhibited essentially the same outcome as the OSDI, with similar variability and treatment sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Young adults eat erratically and later in the day which may impact weight and cardiometabolic health. This cross-sectional study examined relationships between chrononutritional patterns and diet quality in two young adult populations: a university and community sample. Methods: Three days of dietary data were collected including food images captured using wearable cameras. Chrononutritional variables were extracted: time of first and last eating occasions, caloric midpoint (time at which 50% of daily energy was consumed), number of eating occasions per day, eating window, day-to-day variability of the above metrics, and evening eating (≥20:00h). The Healthy Eating Index for Australian Adults scored diet quality. Statistical analyses controlled for gender, body mass index, and socio-economic status. Results: No significant associations between chrononutritional patterns and diet quality were found for all participants (n = 95). However, differences in diet quality were found between university (n = 54) and community (n = 41) samples with average diet quality scores of 59.1 (SD 9.7) and 47.3 (SD 14.4), respectively. Of those who extended eating ≥20:00 h, university participants had better diet quality (62.9±SE 2.5 vs. 44.3±SE 2.3, p < 0.001) and discretionary scores (7.9±SE 0.9 vs. 1.6±SE 0.6, p < 0.001) than community participants. University participants consumed predominately healthful dinners and fruit ≥20:00h whereas community participants consumed predominately discretionary foods. Conclusion: For the general young adult population, meal timing needs to be considered. Food choices made by this cohort may be poorer during evenings when the desire for energy-dense nutrient-poor foods is stronger. However, meal timing may be less relevant for young adults who already engage in healthy dietary patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vertical toe position at minimum toe clearance (MTC) in the swing phase is critical for walking safety. Consequently, the joints involved should be strictly controlled and coordinated to stabilize the foot at MTC. The uncontrolled manifold (UCM) hypothesis framework has been used to determine the existence of synergies that stabilize relevant performance variables during walking. However, no study investigated the presence of a multi-joint synergy stabilizing the foot position at MTC and the effects of age and walking speed on this synergy. Is there a multi-joint synergy stabilizing MTC during treadmill walking? Does it depend on the persons' age and walking speed? Kinematic data from 23 young and 15 older adults were analyzed using the UCM approach. The participants walked on a treadmill at three speeds: slow, self-selected, and fast. The sagittal and frontal joint angles from the swing and stance legs and pelvis obliquity were used as motor elements and the vertical toe position at MTC was the performance variable. The variances in the joint space that affected (V ORT , 'bad' variance) and did not affect (V UCM , 'good' variance) the toe position at MTC and the synergy index (ΔV) were computed. The ΔV >0 was revealed for all subjects. Walking speed did not affect ΔV in older adults, whereas ΔV reduced with speed in young adults. ΔV was higher for older than for young adults at self-selected and fast speeds, owing to a lower V ORT in the older group. The vertical toe position at MTC was stabilized by a strong multi-joint synergy. In older adults, this synergy was stronger, as they were better at limiting V ORT than young adults. Reduced V ORT in older adults could be caused by more constrained walking, which may be associated with anxiety due to walking on a treadmill. • A multi-joint synergy (ΔV Z) stabilizes the minimum toe clearance (MTC) in walking. • ΔV Z is higher and variances (V UCM and V ORT) are lower at MTC than in the first half of swing phase. • The ΔV Z and V ORT reduced in young but not in older adults when walking in fast speed. • Older adults showed higher ΔV Z and lower V ORT than young adults. • A reduced V ORT in older adults may be a compensatory strategy adopted to constraint the MTC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatio-temporal running parameters and their variability help to determine a runner's running style. However, determining whether a change is due to the measurement or to a specific condition such as an injury is a matter of debate, as no recommendation on the number of steps required to obtain reliable assessments exists. What is the optimal number of steps required to measure different spatio-temporal parameters and study their variability at different running speeds? Twenty-five runners performed three experimental sessions of three bouts of treadmill running at 8, 10 and 12 km/h separated by 24 h. We measured cadence, stride, step, contact and flight time. We calculated the duty factor and the leg stiffness index (Kleg). Mean spatio-temporal parameters and linear (coefficient of variation, standard deviation) and non-linear (Higuchi fractal index, α1 coefficient of detrended fluctuation analysis) analyses were computed for different numbers of steps. Relative reliability was determined using the intraclass coefficient correlation. The minimal number of steps which present a good reliability level was considered as the optimal number of steps for measurement. Absolute reliability was assessed by calculating minimal detectable change. To assess the mean values of spatio-temporal running parameters, between 16 and 150 steps were required. We were unable to obtain an optimal number of steps for cadence, stride and step-time variabilities for all speeds. For the linear analyses, we deduced the optimal number of steps for Kleg and the contact time (around 350 steps). Non-linear analyses measurements required between 350 and 540 steps, depending on the parameter. Researchers and clinicians should optimize experimental conditions (number of steps and running speed) depending on the parameter or the variability analysis targeted. Future studies must use absolute reliability metrics to report changes in response to a specific condition with no bias due to measurement error. • The number of steps for a reliable measurement depends on speed and analysis targeted. • The assessment of the mean values of spatio-temporal parameters required from 16 to 144 steps. • The assessment of linear variability of spatio-temporal parameters required from 112 to 384 steps. • The assessment of non-linear variability of spatio-temporal parameters required from 144 to 544 steps. • Cadence, stride and step time variability couldn't be reliably measured with 6 min of running. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nonlinear variability present during steady-state gait may provide a signature of health and showcase one's walking adaptability. Although treadmills can capture vast amounts of walking data required for estimating variability within a small space, gait patterns may be misrepresented compared to an overground setting. Smartphones may provide a low-cost and user-friendly estimate of gait patterns among a variety of walking settings. However, no study has investigated differences in gait patterns derived from a smartphone between treadmill walking (TW) and overground walking (OW). This study implemented a smartphone accelerometer to compare differences in temporal gait variability and gait dynamics between TW and OW. Sixteen healthy adults (8F; 24.7 ± 3.8 years) visited the laboratory on three separate days and completed three 8-minute OW and three TW trials, at their preferred speed, during each visit. The inter-stride interval was calculated as the time difference between right heel contact events located within the vertical accelerometery signals recorded from a smartphone while placed in participants front right pant pocket during walking trials. The inter-stride interval series was used to calculate stride time standard deviation (SD) and coefficient of variation (COV), statistical persistence (fractal scaling index), and statistical regularity (sample entropy). Two-way analysis of variance compared walking condition and laboratory visits for each measure. Compared to TW, OW displayed significantly (p < 0.01) greater stride time SD (0.014 s, 0.020 s), COV (1.26 %, 1.82 %), fractal scaling index (0.70, 0.79) and sample entropy (1.43, 1.63). No differences were found between visits for all measures. Smartphone-based assessment of gait provides the ability to distinguish between OW and TW conditions, similar to previously established methodologies. Furthermore, smartphones may be a low-cost and user-friendly tool to estimate gait patterns outside the laboratory to improve ecological validity, with implications for free-living monitoring of gait among various populations. • Smartphones can enable gait monitoring outside the lab and for clinical purposes. • Treadmills reduce gait variability and dynamics compared to overground setting. • Context of walking must be considered within the interpretation of the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The newly released Swedish Interactive Thresholding Algorithm (SITA)-Faster (SFR) has significantly shorter testing durations compared with older SITA algorithms, but its variability is uncertain. This study quantified and established threshold limits of test–retest variability across the 24-2 test grid using SFR. Cross-sectional study with prospective longitudinal arm. 1426 eyes of 787 patients with healthy, suspected glaucoma, or manifest glaucoma eyes from hospital- and university- eye clinics. Two SFR tests per eye at a baseline visit and at two follow-up visits. Pointwise variability measured by test–retest difference in pointwise sensitivity between tests one and two, mean global variability (test–retest variance) measured by average of pointwise variability for each participant, global sensitivity, and reliability indices of each eye. Of the 1426 eyes, 540 eyes (37.9%) had a diagnosis of glaucoma, 753 eyes (52.8%) were suspected of having glaucoma, and the remaining 133 eyes (9.3%) were healthy. Of 74 152 pointwise sensitivities obtained, the mean test–retest difference was 2.17 ± 2.9 dB, whereas the mean test–retest variance for each participant was 2.17 ± 1.2 dB. Pointwise and global variability increased with worsening threshold sensitivity and (MD), respectively, and was greater for peripheral compared with central test locations. In the longitudinal cohort, no significant difference in mean test-retest variance was found across the 3 visits (mean variability, 2.10 dB vs. 2.16 dB vs. 2.16 dB at visits F0 vs. F1 vs. F2; P = 0.53, repeated-measures analysis of variance). Baseline MD (–0.19 dB; 95% CI, –0.22 to 0.16 dB; P < 0.0001) and abnormally high sensitivity on glaucoma hemifield test (1.14 dB; 95% CI, 0.78–1.51 dB; P < 0.0001) were significantly associated with increased variability. Finally, test–retest MD showed minimal change around the recommended 15% false-positive cutoff threshold. The variability of SFR increases with worsening threshold sensitivity, is stable over time, and is greater for peripheral compared with central test locations. Worse baseline MD and abnormally high sensitivity are significant predictors of increased variability. A cutoff of 15% in false-positive results may be inappropriate as a threshold for judging test reliability in SFR. The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) is a highly glycosylated protein in human plasma and one of the most abundant acute phase proteins in humans. Glycosylation plays a crucial role in its biological functions, and alterations in AGP N-glycome have been associated with various diseases and inflammatory conditions. However, large-scale studies of AGP N-glycosylation in the general population are lacking. Methods Using recently developed high-throughput glycoproteomic workflow for site-specific AGP N-glycosylation analysis, 803 individuals from the Croatian island of Korcula were analyzed and their AGP N-glycome data associated with biochemical and physiological traits, as well as different environmental factors. Results After regression analysis, we found that AGP N-glycosylation is strongly associated with sex, somewhat less with age, along with multiple biochemical and physiological traits (e.g. BMI, triglycerides, uric acid, glucose, smoking status, fibrinogen). Conclusion For the first time we have extensively explored the inter-individual variability of AGP N-glycome in a general human population, demonstrating its changes with sex, age, biochemical, and physiological status of individuals, providing the baseline for future population and clinical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sympatric animals may consume diets of differing breadths as a strategy to reduce competition. Studying patterns of dietary breadth in extinct taxa is difficult because available data are generally limited to morphology. Dental topographic analysis (DTA) is useful for comparing occlusal morphology and allows for examination of dietary adaptations in extinct taxa. What remains unknown is how dental morphology, quantified using DTA, covaries with dietary breadth. The niche variation hypothesis (NVH) posits that taxa with broader ecological niches will be characterized by greater variability in morphology relative to specialized taxa. Therefore, we predict that taxa with greater dietary breadth will have more varied dental morphology compared to specialists as a result of the molar morphology of specialists being under greater genetic control relative to generalists, with specialists requiring teeth specially adapted to efficiently process a smaller range of food sources. We measured curvature, complexity, and relief of the M2 of 3 pairs of closely related euarchontan mammals (primates and treeshrews), with each taxon within a pair categorized as a generalist or specialist. Our results indicate that generalists do not consistently show greater variability in dental morphology compared to specialists among primates, but that atelids and treeshrews do generally follow the predictions of the NVH, with the caveat that our treeshrew sample is small. This suggests that while dietary specialists may be under greater genetic constraint with respect to their molar topography, a link between dietary breadth and dental form is not clear. Our study demonstrates that variation in dental topography does not necessarily reflect dietary breadth and highlights the fact that it is difficult to categorize even the most specialized primates (i.e. bamboo lemurs) as "dietary specialists." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ivermectin has been used since the 1980s as an anthelmintic and antiectoparasite agent worldwide. Currently, the only available oral formulation is tablets designed for adult patients. A patient‐friendly orodispersible tablet formulation designed for pediatric use (CHILD‐IVITAB) has been developed and is entering early phase clinical trials. To inform the pediatric program of CHILD‐IVITAB, 16 healthy adults were enrolled in a phase I, single‐center, open‐label, randomized, 2‐period, crossover, single‐dose trial which aimed to compare palatability, tolerability, and bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of CHILD‐IVITAB and their variability against the marketed ivermectin tablets (STROMECTOL) at a single dose of 12 mg in a fasting state. Palatability with CHILD‐IVITAB was considerably enhanced as compared to STROMECTOL. Both ivermectin formulations were well tolerated and safe. Relative bioavailability of CHILD‐IVITAB compared to STROMECTOL was estimated as the ratios of geometric means for Cmax, AUC 0‐∞, and AUC0‐last, which were 1.52 [90% CI: 1.13‐2.04], 1.27 [0.99‐1.62], and 1.29 [1.00‐1.66], respectively. Maximum drug concentrations occurred earlier with the CHILD‐IVITAB formulation, with a median Tmax at 3.0 h [range 2.0‐4.0 h] versus 4.0 h [range 2.0‐5.0 h] with STROMECTOL (P = .004). With CHILD‐IVITAB, variability in exposure was cut in half (coefficient of variation: 37% vs 70%) compared to STROMECTOL. Consistent with a more controlled absorption process, CHILD‐IVITAB was associated with reduced variability in drug exposure as compared to STROMECTOL. Together with a favorable palatability and tolerability profile, these findings motivate for further clinical studies to evaluate benefits of such a patient‐friendly ODT formulation in pediatric patients with a parasitic disease, including infants and young children <15 kg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effects of syntactically marked and enhanced prosody on local ambiguity resolution in German SVO and OVS sentences. In a visual-world experiment, thirty younger and thirty elderly healthy participants performed a sentence-picture matching task. Response accuracy, reaction times and fixations proportions to the target picture were analysed using linear mixed models. We found no support for beneficial effects of syntactically marked prosody, however, results suggested a facilitative role of enhanced prosodic cues (i.e. increased f0 maximum) prior to the point of disambiguation in SVO structures, as well as the beneficial effects of enhanced prosody adding to morpho-syntactic cues in OVS structures. Both age groups showed comparable cue use but inter-individual variability in prosodic cue processing. Overall, our study replicates and extends previous findings demonstrating the importance of examining variability in prosodic cue processing in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2023, Antarctic sea‐ice extent (SIE) reached record lows, with winter SIE falling to 2.5Mkm2 below the satellite era average. With this multi‐model study, we investigate the occurrence of anomalies of this magnitude in latest‐generation global climate models. When these anomalies occur, SIE takes decades to recover: this indicates that SIE may transition to a new, lower, state over the next few decades. Under internal variability alone, models are extremely unlikely to simulate these anomalies, with return period >1000 years for most models. The only models with return period <1000 years for these anomalies have likely unrealistically large interannual variability. Based on extreme value theory, the return period is reduced from 2650 years under internal variability to 580 years under a strong climate change forcing scenario. Plain Language Summary: In 2023, the area of winter Antarctic sea ice fell to the lowest measured since satellite records began in late 1978. It is still under debate how far this low can be explained by natural variations, and how much can be explained by climate change. Global climate models are tools used to study past and predict future global change. We show that, without climate change, the latest generation of these models are extremely unlikely to simulate a sea‐ice reduction from the mean as large as observed in winter 2023. Including strong climate change quadruples the chance of such a reduction, but the chance is still very low. When these rare reductions are simulated, sea ice takes around 10 years to recover to a new, lower, area: this indicates that Antarctic sea ice may transition to a new, lower, state over the next few decades. Key Points: The latest generation of global climate models rarely simulate an Antarctic sea‐ice extent anomaly as negative as observed in winter 2023The return period for such an anomaly is 2650 years under internal variability, decreasing to 580 years under strong climate change forcingAfter the anomaly occurs, sea‐ice extent recovers within a decade to a new, lower state [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: The relationship between heart rate and the prognosis of patients with large vessel occlusion strokes treated with mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is not well established. This study aimed to evaluate the association of mean heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV) with the clinical outcomes after MT therapy. Methods: Acute ischemic stroke patients undergoing MT therapy were prospectively recruited from March 2020 to November 2022. Their heart rate was collected every hour for the initial 72 h after MT procedure, and the variability of heart rate was measured by standard deviation (SD) and coefficient of variation (CV). All-cause mortality and worsening of functional outcome (change in modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score) at 3-month were captured. Binary logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between heart rate indicators and all-cause mortality. Ordinal logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between heart rate indicators and worsening of functional outcome. Results: Among 191 MT-treated patients, 51(26.7%) patients died at 3-month after stroke. Increased mean heart rate per 10-bpm, heart rate SD and CV per 5-unit were all associated with the increased risk of mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] with 95% CI: 1.29 [1.09–1.51], 1.19 [1.07–1.32], 1.14 [1.03–1.27]; respectively). Patients in the highest tertile of heart rate SD had an increased risk of mortality (4.62, 1.70-12.52). After using mRS as a continuous variable, we found increased mean heart rate per 10-bpm, heart rate SD and CV per 5-unit were associated with the worsening of functional outcome (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] with 95% CI: 1.35 [1.11–1.64], 1.27 [1.05–1.53], 1.19 [1.02–1.40]; respectively). A linear relationship was observed between mean heart rate or heart rate SD and mortality; while all of the heart rate measures in this study showed a linear relationship with the worsening of functional outcome. Conclusions: Higher mean heart rate and HRV were associated with the increased risk of 3-month all-cause mortality and worse functional outcome after MT therapy for AIS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ancient glass products have suffered from the baptism of time and experienced changes in the burial environment and weathering, resulting in a change in the proportions of their chemical composition and interfering with their accurate identification by later generations. In this paper, the chemical composition of ancient glass products is predicted and identified. First, the multivariate statistical ANOVA test is applied to explore the relationship between whether the cultural relics samples are weathered or not and the glass type, decoration, and color to derive a law of chemical composition of the cultural relics and to analyze the correlation and difference among the four factors. Second, compared with the relevant data of the existing glass products, the missing values are processed by using the method of filling in the plurality. The weathering condition of the sampling points of the samples whose surfaces are not weathered is judged by the "distance discrimination method." Combined with the characteristics of the lead-barium glass and the high-potassium glass, the law of the chemical composition content on the surface of the samples, weathered or not, is explored. The modeling of the gray prediction method was applied again to predict the chemical composition content before weathering. Finally, the generalized Shapley function of fuzzy measurement was used to analyze the correlation between indicators and the chemical compositions and their differences. The scheme proposed in this paper can solve the difficult problem of category judgment in archeology, which is of great significance in promoting the smooth progress of archaeological work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this study is to investigate the spatial–temporal variability and climate forcing influence during the last 21,000 years of the South American Monsoon System (SAMS) and its components. TraCE-21k simulations, including Full and Single Forcings experiments, were employed. The identification of spatial variability patterns associated with the core of the monsoon region (SAMS) and the South Atlantic Convergence Zone (SACZ), the main components of SAMS during the austral summer, is based on multivariate EOF analysis (precipitation, humidity, zonal and meridional wind). This analysis produces two main modes: the first one is the South American Large Scale Monsoon Index (LISAM), representing the primary oscillation mode for SAMS, and the second one is the SACZ mode, representing the SACZ oceanic portion variability. The TraCE-21k EOF modes demonstrated the ability to represent the SAMS and SACZ patterns when compared to the 20th Century reanalysis. LISAM time series proved to be an important tool for identifying monsoon precipitation variability, consistent with the regime changes recorded in climatic proxies. The freshwater pulses forcing in TraCE-21k are a determining factor for the observed changes in the precipitation regime, mainly during the periods between Heinrich Stadial 1 and the Younger Dryas. The results indicate that the observed and modeled SACZ southward shift in the Late Holocene is primarily modulated by insolation changes, with a stronger correlation observed since the Mid-Holocene period. Through wavelet analysis, it was noted that energy was transferred from low frequencies to high frequencies during the Bølling–Allerød period for the full forcing and freshwater pulse experiments in the Northern Hemisphere. The SAMS multidecadal variability increased from the early Holocene with direct influences of orbital forcing and ice cover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite many years of extensive research, the evolution of Tropical Cyclone (TC) activity in our changing climate remains uncertain. This is partly because the answer to that question relies primarily on climate simulations with horizontal resolutions of a few tens of kilometers. Such simulations have only recently become accessible for most modeling centers, including the Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace (IPSL). Using recent numerical developments in the IPSL model, we perform a series of historical atmospheric-only simulations that follow the HighResMIP protocol. We assess the impact of increasing the resolution from ∼ 200 to 25 km on TC activity. In agreement with previous work, we find a systematic improvement of TC activity with increasing resolution with respect to the observations. However, a clear signature of TC frequencies convergence with resolution is still lacking. Cyclogenesis geographical distributions also improve at the scale of individual basins. This is particularly true of the North Atlantic, where the agreement with the observed distribution is impressive at 25 km. In agreement with the observations, TC activity correlates with the large-scale environment and ENSO in that basin. By contrast, TC frequencies remain too small in the Western North Pacific at 25 km, where significant biases of humidity and vorticity are found compared to the reanalysis. Despite the few minor weaknesses we identified, our results demonstrate that the IPSL model is a suitable tool for studying TCs on climate time scales. This work thus opens the way for further studies contributing to our understanding of TC climatology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Variability in quantitative traits has clinical, ecological, and evolutionary significance. Most genetic variants identified for complex quantitative traits have only a detectable effect on the mean of trait. We have developed the mean-variance test (MVtest) to simultaneously model the mean and log-variance of a quantitative trait as functions of genotypes and covariates by using estimating equations. The advantages of MVtest include the facts that it can detect effect modification, that multiple testing can follow conventional thresholds, that it is robust to non-normal outcomes, and that association statistics can be meta-analyzed. In simulations, we show control of type I error of MVtest over several alternatives. We identified 51 and 37 previously unreported associations for effects on blood-pressure variance and mean, respectively, in the UK Biobank. Transcriptome-wide association studies revealed 633 significant unique gene associations with blood-pressure mean variance. MVtest is broadly applicable to studies of complex quantitative traits and provides an important opportunity to detect novel loci. We developed MVtest to simultaneously model the mean and log variance of quantitative traits as functions of genotypes and covariates by using estimating equations. MVtest can detect effect modification, and association statistics can be meta-analyzed. MVtest is applicable to studies of complex quantitative traits and provides an opportunity to detect novel vQTLs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Axial length is a primary outcome in the management of progressive myopia. However, young children may have difficulty fixating during these measurements compared to older children, which can result in higher measurement variability. This may affect perceived axial length progression, leading to inappropriate management. This study assessed the impact of patient age on measurement variability for axial length measurements taken with the IOLMaster 700 and IOLMaster 500 in myopic children. A retrospective review of records was undertaken at a university optometry clinic. Five axial length measurements captured at the same visit were collected with the IOLMaster 700 and IOLMaster 500 for myopic patients ≤16 years. The within-subject standard deviation and R2 were calculated for each instrument to examine the effects of age on instrument variability. Data was collected for 51 patients (30 female and 21 male), and the mean age was 10.98 ± 2.77 years. Mean axial length measured with the IOLMaster 700 was longer compared to the IOLMaster 500 (difference −0.02 ± 0.02 mm; p < 0.001). There was no effect of age on within-person variability for the measurement of axial lengths with either instrument, with R2 values of 0.021 (p = 0.305) and 0.13 (p = 0.420) for the IOLMaster 700 and IOLMaster 500, respectively. The within-subject variability of axial measurements with the IOLMaster 700 was significantly lower than that with the IOLMaster 500 (p < 0.001). Measurement variability of axial length measurements with the IOLMaster 700 and IOLMaster 500 was not dependent on age. However, axial length measurements captured with the IOLMaster 700 were significantly longer and less variable than those with the IOLMaster 500. Eye health care practitioners should be aware of the differences between the two instruments and refrain from using them interchangeably, especially for myopia control where small changes in axial length can affect patient management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the spatiotemporal variability and determinants of rainfall patterns during the March to May (MAM) season in Rwanda, incorporating an analysis of teleconnections with oceanic–atmospheric indices over the period 1983–2021. Utilizing the Climate Hazards Group Infrared Precipitation with Stations (CHIRPS) dataset, the study employs a set of statistical tools including standardized anomalies, empirical orthogonal functions (EOF), Pearson correlation, the Mann–Kendall (MK) trend test, and Sen's slope estimator to dissect the intricacies of rainfall variability, trends, and their association with large-scale climatic drivers. The findings reveal a distinct southwest to northwest rainfall gradient across Rwanda, with the MK test signaling a decline in annual precipitation, particularly in the southwest. The analysis for the MAM season reveals a general downtrend in rainfall, attributed in part to teleconnections with the Indian Ocean Sea surface temperatures (SSTs). Notably, the leading EOF mode for MAM rainfall demonstrates a unimodal pattern, explaining a significant 51.19% of total variance, and underscoring the pivotal role of atmospheric dynamics and moisture conveyance in shaping seasonal rainfall. The spatial correlation analysis suggests a modest linkage between MAM rainfall and the Indian Ocean Dipole, indicating that negative (positive) phases are likely to result in anomalously wet (dry) conditions in Rwanda. This comprehensive assessment highlights the intricate interplay between local rainfall patterns and global climatic phenomena, offering valuable insights into the meteorological underpinnings of rainfall variability during Rwanda's critical MAM season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Control charts are tools of paramount importance in statistical process control. They are broadly applied in monitoring processes and improving quality, as they allow the detection of special causes of variation with a significant level of accuracy. Furthermore, there are several strategies able to be employed in different contexts, all of which offer their own advantages. Therefore, this study focuses on monitoring the variability in univariate processes through variance using the Binomial version of the ATTRIVAR Same Sample S2 (B-ATTRIVAR SS S2) control chart, given that it allows coupling attribute and variable inspections (ATTRIVAR means attribute + variable), i.e., taking advantage of the cost-effectiveness of the former and the wealth of information and greater performance of the latter. Its Binomial version was used for such a purpose, since inspections are made using two attributes, and the Same Sample was used due to being submitted to both the attribute and variable stages of inspection. A computational application was developed in the R language using the Shiny package so as to create an interface to facilitate its application and use in the quality control of the production processes. Its application enables users to input process parameters and generate the B-ATTRIVAR SS control chart for monitoring the process variability with variance. By comparing the data obtained from its application with a simpler code, its performance was validated, given that its results exhibited striking similarity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This special issue of Cognitive Linguistics reexamines the notions of uniformity and variability within morphological systems from a cognitive linguistic standpoint. It challenges traditional perspectives that regard morphological variability as mere deviations from the norm, suggesting instead that such variability is systematic and shaped by external influences including language acquisition and processing constraints. The contributions in this issue promote a shift from isolated analysis to a holistic view of paradigms, classes, and systems, advocating for a framework where morphological structures are seen as integral to communicative and functional aspects of language. By accounting for the broad adaptive dynamics of language systems, the complex interplay between uniformity and variability is revealed as an inherent aspect of language usage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The regularity of the fluctuations present in torque signals represent the adaptability of the motor control. While previous research showed how it is affected by neuromuscular fatigue and ageing, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. It is currently under debate whether these changes are explained by central or peripheral neuromuscular mechanisms. Here, we experimentally manipulated the sleep of thirteen young adults through a supervised 24 h-sleep deprivation protocol. This study aimed to investigate the effect of sleep deprivation on the regularity of torque fluctuations, and other standard torque-related outcomes (Peak Torque – PT – and Rate of Torque Development – RTD). The participants were asked to perform knee extension maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) and submaximal knee extensions at 40% of MVC for 30 s. PT and RTD were calculated from the MVC and the regularity of the torque fluctuations was determined on the submaximal task through Sample Entropy (SampEn). In addition, rate of perceived effort (RPE) was collected. We found no significant changes in PT and RTD. The regularity of torque fluctuations significantly increased (i.e., a decrease in SampEn) after 24 h-sleep deprivation (PRE = 1.76 ± 0.268, POS24 = 1.71 ± 0.306; p = 0.044). Importantly, we found a negative correlation between RPE and SampEn relative changes after sleep deprivation. This study brings new insights towards the understanding of the underlying mechanisms that explain changes in torque fluctuations, demonstrating that these changes are not limited to neuromuscular processes but are also likely to be affected by other domains, such as psychological profile, which can indirectly affect the neural drive to the muscles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indian mustard is an important oilseed crop in India. The productivity of Indian mustard needs to be increased in marginal environments such as in arid and semi‐arid areas to boost production. For this, identification of promising genotypes with high yield and quality under arid and semi‐arid climate is required. In this study, 65 genotypes of Indian mustard were evaluated in Augmented Randomized Block Design in the Purulia district of West Bengal, a mustard growing zone characterized by red laterite soil and semi‐arid climate. Considerable variation was observed between the genotypes for most characters such as number of seeds per siliqua (coefficient of variation [CV] 7.39%), followed by days to first flowering (CV 6.9%) and total number of siliquae (CV 6.43%), respectively. However, variation was less for days to maturity and quality parameters. Strong positive correlations were observed between many traits such as number of branches and number of siliquae on branches (0.82), number of branches and siliquae per plant (0.73), number of branches and yield per plant (0.72), number of siliquae on branches and siliquae per plant (0.91), number of siliquae on branches and seed yield per plant (0.76). Relatively strong negative correlation was observed only between oil and glucosinolate content (−0.60). Most of the traits showed high heritability along with high genetic advance over mean. Principal component analysis and cluster analysis classified the genotypes into six clusters. Based on yield, its components, and other quality parameters, promising genotypes such as Pusa Mahak, Narendra Ageti Rai 4, and JM‐1 were identified. These genotypes may be targeted for further genetic improvement or be incorporated in breeding programmes for developing high‐yielding mustard varieties for arid and semi‐arid climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Installation time for precast concrete (PC) components varies due to component-, location-, and weather-related factors. Because such variability affects the cost, time, and sustainability performance of PC projects, it is important to identify and classify the factors influencing installation time for different types of PC components. Against this background, this study aims to empirically investigate variability in installation time for PC components and different work steps and then identify the factors that affect particular work steps most significantly. To achieve the goal, this study gathered installation time and other influencing factors data from an actual project for 25 days and analyzed the data using a descriptive approach and the recursive feature elimination with cross-validation (RFECV) analysis. The analysis result provides empirical evidence that different PC types and work steps are involved with different levels of variability in installation time. The highest level of variability was shown in PC beams and assembly work. Regarding the factors influencing installation time, it is shown that different work steps are affected by different sets of influencing factors, with temperature and wind speed as the most common influencing factors across different PC types and work steps. This study contributes to the body of knowledge of off-site construction management by offering empirical evidence on the variability in PC installation time and the specific factors affecting PC installation time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the variability of major glucosinolates in the leaf lamina of 134 Chinese cabbage accessions was investigated using Acquity ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS). A total of twenty glucosinolates were profiled, of which glucobrassicanapin and gluconapin were identified as the predominant glucosinolates within the germplasm. These two glucosinolates had mean concentration levels above 1000.00 μmol/kg DW. Based on the principal component analysis, accessions IT186728, IT120044, IT221789, IT100417, IT278620, IT221754, and IT344740 were separated from the rest in the score plot. These accessions exhibited a higher content of total glucosinolates. Based on the VIP values, 13 compounds were identified as the most influential and responsible for variation in the germplasm. Sinigrin (r = 0.73), gluconapin (r = 0.78), glucobrassicanapin (r = 0.70), epiprogoitrin (r = 0.73), progoitrin (r = 0.74), and gluconasturtiin (r = 0.67) all exhibited a strong positive correlation with total glucosinolate at p < 0.001. This indicates that each of these compounds had a significant influence on the overall glucosinolate content of the various accessions. This study contributes valuable insights into the metabolic diversity of glucosinolates in Chinese cabbage, providing potential for breeding varieties tailored to consumer preferences and nutritional demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To describe components of night-to-night variation in objective measures of sleep. We conducted a secondary data analysis of consecutive and chronologically ordered actigraphy-based measurements for time in bed (min), time asleep (min), and wake-after-sleep onset (min). This investigation examined 575 individual night-based measures available for a sub-sample of fifty-two, male youth Middle Eastern football players tracked over a 14-day surveillance period (chronological age range: 12.1 to 16 years). Distinct multivariable-adjusted generalized additive models included each objective sleep outcome measure as dependent variable and disaggregated components of variation for night measurement-by-sleep period interaction, week part (weekday or weekend), and study participant random effects from within-subject night-to-night sleep variation. The within-subject standard deviation (SD) of ±98 min (95% confidence interval [CI], 92 to 104 min) for time in bed, ±87 min (95%CI, 82 to 93 min) for time asleep, and ±23 min (95%CI, 22 to 25 min) for wake-after-sleep-onset overwhelmed other sources of variability and accounted for ∼44% to 53% of the overall night-to-night variation. The night measurement-by-fragmented sleep period interaction SD was ±83 min (95%CI, 44 to 156 min) for time in bed, ±67 min (95%CI, 34 to 131 min) for time asleep, and ±15 min (95%CI, 7 to 32 min) for wake-after-sleep-onset that accounted for ∼22% to 32% of each sleep outcome measure overall variability. Substantial random night-to-night within-subject variability poses additional challenges for strategies aiming to mitigate problems of insufficient and inconsistent sleep that are detrimental to school learning and youth athlete development processes. • This is the first investigation to describe components of variation in actigraphy-based sleep outcomes measures in youth football players from the Middle East. • The degree of within-subject variation in time in bed, time asleep, and wake-after-sleep onset accounted for the largest proportion of night-to-night variability. • Promoting not only adequate night sleep duration time but also minimising nigh-to-night variation both deserve careful attention for youth athletes to cope with school and competition demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Increased intraindividual variability (IIV) of cognitive performance is a marker of cognitive decline in older adults. Whether computerized cognitive training (CCT) and aerobic exercise counteracts cognitive decline by reducing IIV is unknown. We investigated the effects of CCT with or without aerobic exercise on IIV in older adults. Methods: This was a secondary analysis of an 8-week randomized controlled trial. Older adults (aged 65–85 years) were randomized to CCT alone (n = 41), CCT with aerobic exercise (n = 41), or an active control group (n = 42). The CCT group trained using the Fit Brains® platform 3×/week for 1 hr (plus 3×/week of home-based training). The CCT with aerobic exercise group received 15 min of walking plus 45 min of Fit Brains® 3×/week (plus 3×/week of home-based training). The control group received sham exercise and cognitive training (3×/week for 1 hr). We computed reaction time IIV from the Dimensional Change Card Sort Test, Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention Test (Flanker), and Pattern Comparison Processing Speed Test (PACPS). Results: Compared with the control group, IIV reduced in a processing speed task (PACPS) following CCT alone (mean difference [95% confidence interval]: −0.144 [−0.255 to −0.034], p < 0.01) and CCT with aerobic exercise (−0.113 [−0.225 to −0.001], p < 0.05). Attention (Flanker congruent) IIV was reduced only after CCT with aerobic exercise (−0.130 [−0.242 to −0.017], p < 0.05). Conclusions: A CCT program promoted cognitive health via reductions in IIV of cognitive performance and combining it with aerobic exercise may result in broader benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.) is an important underutilized fruit crop. There is currently limited information available on the genetic background of longans, which is a key bottleneck in longan improvement. Studies on the extent of genetic variability and genetic divergence are crucial and it can provide relevant information which can be very useful for crop improvement programmes. In the present study, a total of 54 qualitative and quantitative traits were investigated of 20 different longan genotypes to determine the morphological and physiochemical traits that. Results revealed that the significant variability existed in the studied traits except few. Among the qualitative traits petiole colour, leaflet curvature, young leaf colour, mature leaf colour, branching density, leaflet midrib colour, abundance of flower, trunk surface, fruit maturity group, and tree vigour were showed more than the average value of Shannon's diversity index. Higher PCV and GCV recorded for several traits viz., tree volume followed by aril weight, number of fruits per branch, aril/seed weight ratio, trunk girth, TSS acid ratio, aril thickness, number of days from panicle initiation to flowering, titratable acidity, width of inflorescence, length of inflorescence, petiole length, fruit weight, plant height, crown diameter and rachis length. High heritability estimates coupled with high genetic advance as % of mean were recorded for the traits viz., plant height, trunk girth, crown diameter, tree volume, rachis and petiole length, number of days from panicle initiation to flowering, length and width of inflorescence, number of fruits per bunch, fruit, aril and seed weight, aril thickness, fruit colour-a, titratable acidity and TSS acid ratio which is indicative of additive gene action and selection based on these traits would be more reliable. According to the Mahalanobis D2 statistic, twenty diverse genotypes were grouped into eight groups. The presence of genetic divergence was also tested in cluster means by the significant amount of variability for various variables. Therefore, this study's findings imply that these genotypes have variability in terms of fruit quality traits, yield and traits that contribute to yield, and other agronomic traits that could be useful in future crop improvement initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis study aimed to examine the development of preservice mathematics teachers’ reasoning about measures of central tendency and variability. To this end, a classroom teaching experiment enriched by four compelling learning activities was conducted with 14 preservice teachers. The activities in the teaching experiment were designed to promote classroom discussion and collaboration. The study’s data comprised the video recordings of class sessions, field notes, and participants’ artifacts. The findings revealed the ideas about statistical measures generated by the preservice teachers based on their communal reasoning in the classroom. When using appropriate statistical measures for the context, they made sense of the measures of central tendency as indicators of certainty in situations including uncertainty. In other words, they could integrate central tendency and variability measures rather than just focusing on them independently. This study has valuable implications for teacher education in developing preservice teachers’ statistical reasoning on central tendency and variability measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The two phases of El‐Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) influence both regional and global terrestrial vegetation productivity on inter‐annual scales. However, the major drivers for the regional vegetation productivity and their controlling strengths during different phases of ENSO remain unclear. We herein disentangled the impacts of two phases of ENSO on regional carbon cycle using multiple data sets. We found that soil moisture predominantly accounts for ∼40% of the variability in regional vegetation productivity during ENSO events. Our results showed that the satellite‐derived vegetation productivity proxies, gross primary productivity from data‐driven models (FLUXCOM) and observation‐constrained ecosystem model (Carbon Cycle Data Assimilation System) generally agree in depicting the contribution of soil moisture and air temperature in modulating regional vegetation productivity. However, the ensemble of weakly constrained ecosystem models exhibits non‐negligible discrepancies in the roles of vapor pressure deficit and radiation over extra‐tropics. This study highlights the significance of water in regulating regional vegetation productivity during ENSO. Plain Language Summary: ENSO, a significant climate phenomenon, profoundly influences ecosystem productivity from regional to global scales. Yet, accurately pinpointing the attributions of different climate factors that control Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) during ENSO events remains challenging, partly due to large uncertainties in existing GPP data. Through extensive analysis using various data sets, we found that soil moisture plays a dominant role in controlling GPP across most continents. This implies that current terrestrial biosphere models might underestimate the importance of soil moisture in driving productivity during ENSO events. Addressing this gap in understanding is crucial for refining and properly constraining the related processes in terrestrial biosphere models. Key Points: Soil moisture predominantly governs vegetation productivity changes during El‐Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) eventsSatellite‐derived vegetation indices consistently support the predominant influence of water on vegetation productivityENSO triggers varying effects on vegetation productivity across different regions, with distinct impacts during El Niño and La Niña [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the potential overestimation of the importance of small-scale electric fields in the polar ionosphere. The author suggests that previous studies may have exaggerated the impact of these electric field variations on energy dissipation through Joule heating. The article emphasizes the need for future multispacecraft measurements to accurately determine the dimensions and lifetimes of these fluctuations. It also highlights the limitations of current satellite configurations in detecting and measuring these electric field spikes. The text concludes by stating that further research is needed to accurately assess the significance of small-scale electric field fluctuations in Joule heating. [Extracted from the article]

Background: The prevalence of depression among people with chronic pain remains unclear due to the heterogeneity of study samples and definitions of depression. We aimed to identify sources of variation in the prevalence of depression among people with chronic pain and generate clinical prediction models to estimate the probability of depression among individuals with chronic pain. Methods: Participants were from the UK Biobank. The primary outcome was a "lifetime" history of depression. The model's performance was evaluated using discrimination (optimism-corrected C statistic) and calibration (calibration plot). Results: Analyses included 24,405 patients with chronic pain (mean age 64.1 years). Among participants with chronic widespread pain, the prevalence of having a "lifetime" history of depression was 45.7% and varied (25.0–66.7%) depending on patient characteristics. The final clinical prediction model (optimism-corrected C statistic: 0.66; good calibration on the calibration plot) included age, BMI, smoking status, physical activity, socioeconomic status, gender, history of asthma, history of heart failure, and history of peripheral artery disease. Among participants with chronic regional pain, the prevalence of having a "lifetime" history of depression was 30.2% and varied (21.4–70.6%) depending on patient characteristics. The final clinical prediction model (optimism-corrected C statistic: 0.65; good calibration on the calibration plot) included age, gender, nature of pain, smoking status, regular opioid use, history of asthma, pain location that bothers you most, and BMI. Conclusions: There was substantial variability in the prevalence of depression among patients with chronic pain. Clinically relevant factors were selected to develop prediction models. Clinicians can use these models to assess patients' treatment needs. These predictors are convenient to collect during daily practice, making it easy for busy clinicians to use them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellular processes are subject to inherent variability, but the extent to which cells can regulate this variability has received little investigation. Here, we explore the characteristics of the rate of cellular protein synthesis in single cells of the eukaryote fission yeast. Strikingly, this rate is highly variable despite protein synthesis being dependent on hundreds of reactions which might be expected to average out at the overall cellular level. The rate is variable over short time scales, and exhibits homoeostatic behaviour at the population level. Cells can regulate the level of variability through processes involving the TOR pathway, suggesting there is an optimal level of variability conferring a selective advantage. While this could be an example of bet-hedging, but we propose an alternative explanation: regulated 'loose' control of complex processes of overall cellular metabolism such as protein synthesis, may lead to this variability. This could ensure cells are fluid in control and agile in response to changing conditions, and may constitute a novel organisational principle of complex metabolic cellular systems. Synopsis: How tightly global cellular metabolic processes are regulated remains unclear. Here, single-cell measurements of amino acid acid flux into nascent proteins reveal high variability of cellular protein synthesis in growing eukaryotic fission yeast, suggesting that a genetically-regulated 'loose' control ensures optimal manoeuvrability. Global protein synthesis rates in exponentially-growing unperturbed fission yeast populations exhibit high cell-to-cell variability. Global protein synthesis is dynamic over short time scales, and exhibits homeostatic behaviour at the population level. Genetic modulation of the TOR pathway and cell-cycle controllers modulates protein translation variability. Amino-acid acid flux into nascent proteins is highly variable and TOR-dependent in growing eukaryotic fission yeast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co-firing wood pellets with coal is an attractive alternative energy generation method with economic, social, and environmental benefits for the US energy generation sector. One way to sustainably use wood pellets for co-firing is to create consumer-supported green pricing programs (GPPs). Our study surveyed residents of five states (Alabama, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia) to investigate preferences for the attributes of a hypothetical GPP. The study applied the Best Worst Choice method, which employs the Best Worst Scaling (BWS) and binary choice (BC) task. The BWS analysis showed that residents of all five states most value the flexibility of contracts, the location of energy generation, and the reduction of carbon emissions as attributes of GPPs. The BC analysis, however, showed that residents are willing to pay a premium for length of contract, followed by reduction of carbon emissions and variability of payments. This study shows that the adoption of optimal GPP attributes can create real customer value. The success of GPPs will depend on increasing enrollment and public support; hence, the next step will be to increase awareness levels and green consciousness through sensitization in the form of public education exercises and media campaigns. Such measures will serve to inform and educate residents on the benefits of GPPs and lessen the gap between intrinsic value and willingness to pay for select attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Childhood trauma (CT) may increase vulnerability to psychopathology through affective dysregulation (greater variability, autocorrelation, and instability of emotional symptoms). However, CT associations with dynamic affect fluctuations while considering differences in mean affect levels across CT status have been understudied. Methods: 346 adults (age = 49.25 ± 12.55, 67.0% female) from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety participated in ecological momentary assessment. Positive and negative affect (PA, NA) were measured five times per day for two weeks by electronic diaries. Retrospectively-reported CT included emotional neglect and emotional/physical/sexual abuse. Linear regressions determined associations between CT and affect fluctuations, controlling for age, sex, education, and mean affect levels. Results: Compared to those without CT, individuals with CT reported significantly lower mean PA levels (Cohen's d = −0.620) and higher mean NA levels (d = 0.556) throughout the two weeks. CT was linked to significantly greater PA variability (d = 0.336), NA variability (d = 0.353), and NA autocorrelation (d = 0.308), with strongest effects for individuals reporting higher CT scores. However, these effects were entirely explained by differences in mean affect levels between the CT groups. Findings suggested consistency of results in adults with and without lifetime depressive/anxiety disorders and across CT types, with sexual abuse showing the smallest effects. Conclusions: Individuals with CT show greater affective dysregulation during the two-week monitoring of emotional symptoms, likely due to their consistently lower PA and higher NA levels. It is essential to consider mean affect level when interpreting the impact of CT on affect dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simultaneous exposure to multiple stressors complicates the challenge of predicting ecological responses to global environmental change. Here, we show that the contributions of individual species and functional groups to the overall stability of ecosystems can be modified by the presence of different stressors, both individually and in combination. By disturbing natural rocky shore communities with nutrients and sediments and simulating extinction of predatory whelks and grazers, we also found that consumers can simultaneously stabilise and destabilise communities along different stability dimensions, irrespective of their trophic position. Our results suggest that our experimental disturbances influenced consumer contributions to stability indirectly by modifying the interactions between consumers and macroalgae in different ways. These findings merit further exploration in different systems exposed to a range of different stressors to better understand how perturbations of different kinds can modify the multifaceted contributions of species to the overall stability of ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The hypothesis of decreased neural inhibition in dementia has been sparsely studied in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data across patients with different dementia subtypes, and the role of social and demographic heterogeneities on this hypothesis remains to be addressed. Methods: We inferred regional inhibition by fitting a biophysical whole-brain model (dynamic mean field model with realistic inter-areal connectivity) to fMRI data from 414 participants, including patients with Alzheimer's disease, behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia, and controls. We then investigated the effect of disease condition, and demographic and clinical variables on the local inhibitory feedback, a variable related to the maintenance of balanced neural excitation/inhibition. Results: Decreased local inhibitory feedback was inferred from the biophysical modeling results in dementia patients, specific to brain areas presenting neurodegeneration. This loss of local inhibition correlated positively with years with disease, and showed differences regarding the gender and geographical origin of the patients. The model correctly reproduced known disease-related changes in functional connectivity. Conclusions: Results suggest a critical link between abnormal neural and circuit-level excitability levels, the loss of grey matter observed in dementia, and the reorganization of functional connectivity, while highlighting the sensitivity of the underlying biophysical mechanism to demographic and clinical heterogeneities in the patient population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have identified patterns of coordinated control when adults combine gait and grasping. What remains unclear is whether the coordination of these two tasks differs between adolescent and adult groups. Groups of adults and adolescents were asked to walk across an instrumented gait mat in three conditions: walk forward, walk and grasp a small target, and walk and grasp a large target. Spatiotemporal measures of gait/gait variability and grasp/grasp variability were quantified. Both adolescents and young adults exhibited decreased velocity, decreased step-extremity ratio, and increased percent of gait cycle spent in double support when grasping compared to walking alone. The major influence of grasping was seen during the final step before grasp in both groups. Change scores between walk forward and walk and grasp conditions were larger for adolescents. Furthermore, spatiotemporal measures of gait and grasping were more variable in adolescents. These results suggest that superimposing grasp onto gait is more challenging for adolescents than young adults. The challenges associated with combining these two tasks is particularly evident in the last step prior to object contact and suggests that the increased planning and execution demands required to perform these coordinated skills affects adolescents to a greater extent than young adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Categorization represents one cognitive ability fundamental to animal behavior. Grouping of elements based on perceptual or semantic features helps to reduce processing resources and facilitates appropriate behavior. Corvids master complex categorization, yet the detailed categorization learning strategies are less well understood. We trained two jackdaws on a delayed match to category paradigm using a novel, artificial stimulus type, RUBubbles. Both birds learned to differentiate between two session-unique categories following two distinct learning protocols. Categories were either introduced via central category prototypes (low variability approach) or using a subset of diverse category exemplars from which diagnostic features had to be identified (high variability approach). In both versions, the stimulus similarity relative to a central category prototype explained categorization performance best. Jackdaws consistently used a central prototype to judge category membership, regardless of whether this prototype was used to introduce distinct categories or had to be inferred from multiple exemplars. Reliance on a category prototype occurred already after experiencing only a few trials with different category exemplars. High stimulus set variability prolonged initial learning but showed no consistent beneficial effect on later generalization performance. High numbers of stimuli, their perceptual similarity, and coherent category structure resulted in a prototype-based strategy, reflecting the most adaptive, efficient, and parsimonious way to represent RUBubble categories. Thus, our birds represent a valuable comparative animal model that permits further study of category representations throughout learning in different regions of a brain producing highly cognitive behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rice is the staple food for billions of people globally and contains numerous essential nutrients. Among the nutrients, zinc and iron are vital for several growth metabolisms in plants and humans. Therefore, deficiency of these nutrients causes hidden hunger. However, understandingthe genetic variability of rice germplasm is required for improvement of grain yield, yield contributing and nutritional traits. The present study aimed to examine the variability, heritability, character association and path analysis in zinc and iron-rich rice landraces. Methods: The present investigation was carried out with 37 genotypes of rice in a randomized block design with two replications during Kharif-2021 at Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Maruteru. Result: The studies on variability, heritability and genetic advance as percent mean results revealed moderate GCV and PCV coupled with high heritability and genetic advance as percent mean recorded for days to 50 per cent flowering, plant height, zinc content, iron content and grain yield plant-1 indicating scope for simultaneous improvement of these traits along with grain yield plant-1. Character associations and path analysis revealed positive and significant association coupled with a high positive direct effect for grains panicle-1, zinc content and productive tillers plant-1, indicating the effectiveness of direct phenotypic selection for these traits in the improvement of grain yield plant-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of visit-to-visit variability of a biomarker in predicting related disease has been recognized in medical science. Existing measures of biological variability are criticized for being entangled with random variability resulted from measurement error or being unreliable due to limited measurements per individual. In this article, we propose a new measure to quantify the biological variability of a biomarker by evaluating the fluctuation of each individual-specific trajectory behind longitudinal measurements. Given a mixed-effects model for longitudinal data with the mean function over time specified by cubic splines, our proposed variability measure can be mathematically expressed as a quadratic form of random effects. A Cox model is assumed for time-to-event data by incorporating the defined variability as well as the current level of the underlying longitudinal trajectory as covariates, which, together with the longitudinal model, constitutes the joint modeling framework in this article. Asymptotic properties of maximum likelihood estimators are established for the present joint model. Estimation is implemented via an Expectation-Maximization (EM) algorithm with fully exponential Laplace approximation used in E-step to reduce the computation burden due to the increase of the random effects dimension. Simulation studies are conducted to reveal the advantage of the proposed method over the two-stage method, as well as a simpler joint modeling approach which does not take into account biomarker variability. Finally, we apply our model to investigate the effect of systolic blood pressure variability on cardiovascular events in the Medical Research Council elderly trial, which is also the motivating example for this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chest compression is a lifesaving intervention in out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), but the optimal metrics to assess its quality have yet to be identified. The objective of this study was to investigate whether a new parameter, that is, the variability of the chest compression‐generated transthoracic impedance (TTI), namely ImpCC, which measures the consistency of the chest compression maneuver, relates to resuscitation outcome. Methods: This multicenter observational, retrospective study included OHCAs with shockable rhythm. ImpCC variability was evaluated with the power spectral density analysis of the TTI. Multivariate regression model was used to examine the impact of ImpCC variability on defibrillation success. Secondary outcome measures were return of spontaneous circulation and survival. Results: Among 835 treated OHCAs, 680 met inclusion criteria and 565 matched long‐term outcomes. ImpCC was significantly higher in patients with unsuccessful defibrillation compared to those with successful defibrillation (p =.0002). Lower ImpCC variability was associated with successful defibrillation with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.993 (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.989–0.998, p =.003), while the standard chest compression fraction (CCF) was not associated (OR 1.008 [95 % CI, 0.992–1.026, p =.33]). Neither ImpCC nor CCF was associated with long‐term outcomes. Conclusions: In this population, consistency of chest compression maneuver, measured by variability in TTI, was an independent predictor of defibrillation outcome. ImpCC may be a useful novel metrics for improving quality of care in OHCA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper provides a detailed description of the topographical distribution characteristics, along-strike morphologic variations, and tectonic implications of the Kyushu-Palau Ridge (KPR) in the 13°–17° N regions. The description is based on multibeam bathymetric data that was recently collected in the mid-southern segment of KPR and its surrounding areas. The findings indicate that the KPR in the studied region comprises several discontinuous seamounts and seamount chains. Along the ridge running from east to west, there is significant variation in the topography of the seafloor. Visible on this ridge are numerous deep-sea depressions and apparent topographical discontinuities. Geological tectonic processes such as plate subduction and seafloor spreading largely determine the topography of the seafloor. During the beginning of the Parece Vela Basin (PVB) spreading, the pre-existing volcanic arcs fractured under east-west extensional stress, resulting in the development of prominent seamounts, sharp ridges, relief alternations, and rift basins in the KPR. The east-west stress was subsequently transmitted to the weak and inactive mid-ocean ridge in the West Philippine Basin (WPB), which was reactivated and resulted in an episode of magma-poor spreading during 30–26 Ma. This episode caused the KPR to move eastward, stretched, and destroyed its pre-existing structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is a growing consensus to reduce the use of restrictive care practices in mental health settings to minimise the physical and psychological complications for patients. However, data regarding restrictive care practice use and factors contributing to variations in the proportion estimates has not previously been synthesised. Aims: This study aimed to synthesise evidence on (1) the pooled proportions of physical restraint, seclusion or chemical restraint in adult mental health inpatients and (2) sources of variability in these proportion estimates. Methods: Studies were identified from Scopus, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Embase and CINAHL databases following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. We conducted a meta‐analysis of studies published in English language from 1 January 2010 to 15 August 2022. Binomial data were pooled using a random effect model, with 95% confidence intervals. Meta‐regression was also computed to identify factors that may contribute to variations in the proportion estimates. Results: A total of 77 studies were included in this meta‐analysis. The pooled prevalence of physical restraint, seclusion and chemical restraint was 14.4%, 15.8% and 25.7%, respectively. Data were heterogeneous across studies (I2 > 99%). Reporting practices and geographical locations contributed to the variability in the reported estimates of restrictive care practices, with studies from Asian countries reporting higher proportions. Conclusion: There appear differences between geographical locations in the proportion of restrictive practices in mental health inpatients; however, this is complicated by how these prevalence data have been measured and defined. Consistency in the reporting of restrictive care practices in mental health is required to make valid comparisons between geographical regions, policy settings and practice innovations. Relevance to Clinical Practice: Efforts are needed to develop training programmes and policy changes to ensure consistency in defining and reporting of restrictive care practices in mental health facilities. Patient/Public Contribution: This is a systematic review that analysed data from previously published studies, and there was no patient/public contribution in this study. Protocol Registration: The protocol for this review has been registered to PROSPERO: CRD42022335167. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in precipitation impact water availability in river basins; therefore, it is important to perform detailed analyses of precipitation variables within regions to better understand drivers of precipitation variability. This study, which focuses on the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin in the southeastern United States, provides an analysis of precipitation variability during 1980–2021 and connects that information to circulation variables while also exploring the alignment between recent and projected precipitation changes. Data include daily precipitation totals from 33 stations, monthly values for circulation indices, and downscaled precipitation projections from climate models. Results show the pressure gradient across the southwestern North Atlantic Ocean and southeastern United States—which is a function of the strength and position of the Bermuda High—is strongly correlated with the precipitation variables and might be an important control of precipitation variability in the basin. In contrast, most teleconnection indices are relatively weakly correlated with precipitation. The basin has generally been getting wetter, with summer having the largest increases in precipitation totals and precipitation days and thus large decreases in maximum consecutive dry days. Increases in heavy-precipitation variables are relatively small, with the largest increases in the northern portion of the basin. Precipitation is projected to increase in the next several decades compared to recent decades, with heavy precipitation expected to have the largest increase. Since the Bermuda High is likely the dominant driver of precipitation in the basin, more information is needed about specific changes to the Bermuda High in upcoming decades to better determine how precipitation might change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Great Lakes region of North America has warmed by 1–2 °C on average since pre-industrial times, with the most pronounced changes observable during winter and spring. Interannual variability in temperatures remains high, however, due to the influence of ocean-atmosphere circulation patterns that modulate the warming trend across years. Variations in spring temperatures determine growing season length and plant phenology, with implications for whole ecosystem function. Studying how both internal climate variability and the "secular" warming trend interact to produce trends in temperature is necessary to estimate potential ecological responses to future warming scenarios. This study examines how external anthropogenic forcing and decadal-scale variability influence spring temperatures across the western Great Lakes region and estimates the sensitivity of regional forests to temperature using long-term growth records from tree-rings and satellite data. Using a modeling approach designed to test for regime shifts in dynamic time series, this work shows that mid-continent spring climatology was strongly influenced by the 1976/1977 phase change in North Pacific atmospheric circulation, and that regional forests show a strengthening response to spring temperatures during the last half-century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic structure of the Maximowicz's vole Alexandromys maximowiczii was assessed using data on the mtDNA control region variability, and the high level of genetic variability was revealed for the species as a whole. Three phylogenetic groups ("east," "west," and "south") were distinguished, and within the "east" group, three subclades ("Chit," "Amur," and "Khab") were identified. All phylogenetic groups and subclades were characterized by mainly allopatric geographical distribution across the species range with one "hybrid" sampling found in the vicinity of the settlement of Savvo-Borzya (Zabaykalsky krai), the individuals of which had different variants of the mt genotype. One individual carried the "west" variant, and the second one—the "east"/"Amur" variant. The revealed phylogeographic structure was generally congruent with the differentiation pattern as revealed by the chromosomal forms, but did not agree with the previously accepted subspecies system. Complex intraspecific subdivision of the Maximowicz's vole, revealed at different organization levels (molecular genetic, as well as chromosomal), reflects not only complex geography of the study area, but also the history of dynamic changes in the natural environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is known that the Metronome Response Task (MRT)—one of the most used mind-wandering sampling paradigms, struggles to differentiate between spontaneous mind-wandering (wherein one's attention is uncontrollably shifted away from the task at hand) and deliberate mind-wandering (wherein one's attention is purposefully shifted away). Thus, we endeavoured to design and test a new mind-wandering measure, called the In Sync Task (IST), that can achieve such differentiation more readily. Unlike the MRT, which involves having participants click in sync (using a mouse) with rhythmically presented, auditory monotones, the IST requires participants to (1) click in sync with tone triplets that increase incrementally in loudness and (2) modulate their clicking force to the presented tone's loudness. Here, we measured (1) participants' variabilities in their rhythmic response times (as is the MRT) and (2) their consistency in appropriately modulating their clicking force. Across two separate samples of university students (n = 119 and n = 121) collected between June 2022 to February 2023, we showed performance differences between the mind-wandering subtypes. Specifically, participants were better able to modulate their clicking force during epochs of spontaneous, compared with deliberate, mind-wandering, whereas the MRT was unable to differentiate between these conditions. In sum, we show that there appear to be greater costs to performance when one deliberately mind-wanders, as opposed to spontaneously mind-wandering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interobserver variability remains a major challenge for cytopathologists despite the development of standardized reporting and classification systems. Indeed, whereas moderate‐to‐good interobserver agreement is generally achievable when the differential diagnosis between benign and malignant entities is straightforward, high levels of variability make the diagnostic interpretation of atypical and suspicious samples not consistent. This review explores the landscape of interobserver agreement in cytopathology across different anatomical sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Associations of stress-related coping strategies with lifespan among the general population are understudied. Coping strategies are characterized as being either adaptive or maladaptive, but it is unknown the degree to which variability in tailoring their implementation to different contexts may influence lifespan. Women (N = 54,353; Mage = 47) completed a validated coping inventory and reported covariate information in 2001. Eight individual coping strategies (e.g., Acceptance, Denial) were considered separately. Using a standard deviation-based algorithm, participants were also classified as having lower, moderate, or greater variability in their use of these strategies. Deaths were ascertained until 2019. Accelerated failure time models estimated percent changes and 95% confidence intervals (CI) in predicted lifespan associated with coping predictors. In multivariable models, most adaptive and maladaptive strategies were associated with longer and shorter lifespans, respectively (e.g., per 1-SD increase: Active Coping = 4.09%, 95%CI = 1.83%, 6.41%; Behavioral Disengagement = −6.56%, 95%CI = −8.37%, −4.72%). Moderate and greater (versus lower) variability levels were similarly and significantly related to 8-10% longer lifespans. Associations were similar across age, racial/ethnic, residential income, and marital status subgroups. Findings confirm the adaptive and maladaptive nature of specific coping strategies, and further suggest benefits from both moderate and greater variability in their use for lifespan among women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]