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The linear mixed-effects model (LME) is a versatile approach to account for dependence among observations. Many large-scale neuroimaging datasets with complex designs have increased the need for LME; however LME has seldom been used in whole-brain imaging analyses due to its heavy computational requirements. In this paper, we introduce a fast and efficient mixed-effects algorithm (FEMA) that makes whole-brain vertex-wise, voxel-wise, and connectome-wide LME analyses in large samples possible. We validate FEMA with extensive simulations, showing that the estimates of the fixed effects are equivalent to standard maximum likelihood estimates but obtained with orders of magnitude improvement in computational speed. We demonstrate the applicability of FEMA by studying the cross-sectional and longitudinal effects of age on region-of-interest level and vertex-wise cortical thickness, as well as connectome-wide functional connectivity values derived from resting state functional MRI, using longitudinal imaging data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive DevelopmentSM Study release 4.0. Our analyses reveal distinct spatial patterns for the annualized changes in vertex-wise cortical thickness and connectome-wide connectivity values in early adolescence, highlighting a critical time of brain maturation. The simulations and application to real data show that FEMA enables advanced investigation of the relationships between large numbers of neuroimaging metrics and variables of interest while considering complex study designs, including repeated measures and family structures, in a fast and efficient manner. The source code for FEMA is available via: https://github.com/cmig-research-group/cmig_tools/.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 1 infection is known to cause gut microbiota dysbiosis. Among the causes is the direct infection of HIV-1 in gut-resident CD4+ T cells, causing a cascade of phenomena resulting in the instability of the gut mucosa. The effect of HIV infection on gut microbiome dysbiosis remains unresolved despite antiretroviral therapy. Here, we show the results of a longitudinal study of microbiome analysis of people living with HIV (PLWH). We contrasted the diversity and composition of the microbiome of patients with HIV at the first and second time points (baseline_case and six months later follow-up_case, respectively) with those of healthy individuals (baseline_control). We found that despite low diversity indices in the follow-up_case, the abundance of some genera was recovered but not completely, similar to baseline_control. Some genera were consistently in high abundance in PLWH. Furthermore, we found that the CD4+ T-cell count and soluble CD14 level were significantly related to high and low diversity indices, respectively. We also found that the abundance of some genera was highly correlated with clinical features, especially with antiretroviral duration. This includes genera known to be correlated with worse HIV-1 progression (Achromobacter and Stenotrophomonas) and a genus associated with gut protection (Akkermansia). The fact that a protector of the gut and genera linked to a worse progression of HIV-1 are both enriched may signify that despite the improvement of clinical features, the gut mucosa remains compromised.

To increase organ donation rates, many countries have switched from an opt-in ('explicit consent') default for organ donation to an opt-out ('presumed consent') default. This study sought to determine the extent to which this change in default has led to an increase in the number of deceased individuals who become organ donors. Longitudinal retrospective analysis. We conducted a retrospective analysis of within-country longitudinal data to assess the effect of changing the organ donation default policy from opt-in to opt-out. Our analysis focused on the longitudinal deceased donor rates in five countries (Argentina, Chile, Sweden, Uruguay, Wales) that had adopted this change. Using a Bayesian aggregated binomial regression model, we estimated the odds of organ donation within each country over time, as well as the effect of the policy switch. Switching from an opt-in to an opt-out default did not result in an increase in donation rates when averaged across countries. Moreover, the opt-out default did not lead to even a gradual increase in donations: there was no discernible difference in the linear rate of change of donations after the change in default. Finally, the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a reduction in the odds of donation across all five countries. Our longitudinal analysis suggests that changing to an opt-out default does not increase organ donation rates. Unless flanked by investments in healthcare, public awareness campaigns, and efforts to address the concerns of the deceased's relatives, a shift to an opt-out default is unlikely to increase organ donations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides a longitudinal analysis of the strong decline in trust in the government in the Netherlands during the corona pandemic in 2020/2021. At the start of the pandemic, 69 per cent of the Dutch population had (much) trust in the government. One and a half year later this was declined to only 29 per cent. Using multilevel regression we studied individual level differences in both the level of trust and the degree of decline during the corona pandemic. We found various differences in the level of trust, particularly a strong effect of education: higher and intermediate educated people have more trust than lower educated respondents. All time varying variables also correlated with trust: the more people have troubles with making ends meet, have health problems and the higher their discontent with corona policies, the lower their trust in the government. Perceived threat by COVID increases trust in the government. Surprisingly, we found no individual differences in the decline of trust. Irrespective of their education, migration background or other characteristics, the decline in trust during the corona pandemic is more or less the same for all respondents. However, we found that the average development of trust is related with several time varying variables. There is a clear relation between the steep decline in trust and the growing discontent with corona policies. The decline in trust is also related to the perceived threat of the virus. Particularly in the later phase of the pandemic, both the perceived threat and the level of trust dropped. The average development of trust seemed not related to economic security and health problems during the pandemic. Although the perceived health remained rather constant during the pandemic and respondents experienced less problems with making ends meet, partly because the extensive economic support of the Dutch government, the level of trust in the government nevertheless fell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the genetic basis of sweet taste preference is crucial for potential implications in diet-related health outcomes, such as obesity. This study identified genes and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with sweet taste preferences over time. Data from the American Nurses' Health Study (NHS1) and Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS) cohorts were analyzed. Using tools like PLINK and METAL for genetic associations and FUMA for functional annotation, the study identified eight SNPs associated with sweet taste preferences. Notably, rs80115239 and rs12878143 were identified as key determinants of the highest and lowest associations with sweet taste preferences, respectively. Individuals with the rs80115239 (AA) genotype displayed a higher preference for sweet tastes, including chocolate and cake, but a lower preference for physical activity, fruits, and vegetables, particularly in females from the NHS1 cohort, linking this genotype to a higher obesity risk. Conversely, those with the rs12878143 (CC) genotype preferred fruits, vegetables, coffee, and tea, with a lower preference for sweetened beverages, but the correlation with obesity risk was less clear due to inconsistent data. In conclusion, these findings highlight the genetic influences on sweet taste preference and their potential role in personalized dietary recommendations and obesity management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses the dearth of research on what enables firms' performance in the context of Industry 4.0 (I4.0). We investigate how I4.0 shapes the effects of firm investments over time and whether the effects of people and equipment depend on innovative management approaches. A longitudinal multi-sector study is conducted of 157 export-oriented, manufacturing firms in a European Union member state (Slovenia) over a 14-year period (in total, consisting of 1791 total observations). The findings suggest that firms which invest more in technology complement these costs by making investments in people, which over time leads to a higher firm performance. The I4.0 phase moderates this mediated relationship in that firms more advanced with respect to engaging in I4.0 tend to lower their human resources costs despite investing in technology while still showing a superior firm performance. This indicates the substitution effect of technology vis-à-vis human resources. The moderation of management innovation proved to be weaker, calling for a detailed look at its nuances across the studied levels. Taken together, our paper contributes in advancing the stream of research focused on internal factors and processes specifically related to firm investments and management processes, thereby leading to the outcomes of new technology use and capitalization. The findings highlight the link between I4.0 and technology management, and innovation, and complements the existing research on the link between management innovation and performance by contextualizing it within I4.0's new technology and socio-economic changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Perivascular space (PVS) enlargement in ageing and Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the drivers of such a structural change in humans require longitudinal investigation. Elucidating the effects of demographic factors, hypertension, cerebrovascular dysfunction, and AD pathology on PVS dynamics could inform the role of PVS in brain health function as well as the complex pathophysiology of AD. Methods: We studied PVS in centrum semiovale (CSO) and basal ganglia (BG) computationally over three to four annual visits in 503 participants (255 females; meanage = 70.78 ± 5.78) of the ongoing observational multicentre "DZNE Longitudinal Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Study" (DELCODE) cohort. We analysed data from subjects who were cognitively unimpaired (n = 401), had amnestic mild cognitive impairment (n = 71), or had AD (n = 31). We used linear mixed-effects modelling to test for changes of PVS volumes in relation to cross-sectional and longitudinal age, as well as sex, years of education, hypertension, white matter hyperintensities, AD diagnosis, and cerebrospinal-fluid-derived amyloid (A) and tau (T) status (available for 46.71%; A-T-/A + T-/A + T + n = 143/48/39). Results: PVS volumes increased significantly over follow-ups (CSO: B = 0.03 [0.02, 0.05], p < 0.001; BG: B = 0.05 [0.03, 0.07], p < 0.001). PVS enlargement rates varied substantially across subjects and depended on the participant's age, white matter hyperintensities volumes, and amyloid and tau status. PVS volumes were higher across elderly participants, regardless of region of interest (CSO: B = 0.12 [0.02, 0.21], p = 0.017; BG: B = 0.19 [0.09, 0.28], p < 0.001). Faster BG-PVS enlargement related to lower baseline white matter hyperintensities volumes (ρspearman = -0.17, pFDR = 0.001) and was more pronounced in individuals who presented with combined amyloid and tau positivity versus negativity (A + T + > A-T-, pFDR = 0.004) or who were amyloid positive but tau negative (A + T + > A + T-, pFDR = 0.07). CSO-PVS volumes increased at a faster rate with amyloid positivity as compared to amyloid negativity (A + T-/A + T + > A-T-, pFDR = 0.021). Conclusion: Our longitudinal evidence supports the relevance of PVS enlargement in presumably healthy ageing as well as in AD pathology. We further discuss the region-specific involvement of white matter hyperintensities and neurotoxic waste accumulation in PVS enlargement and the possibility of additional factors contributing to PVS progression. A comprehensive understanding of PVS dynamics could facilitate the understanding of pathological cascades and might inform targeted treatment strategies. Trial registration: German Clinical Trials Register DRKS00007966. Registered 04.05.2015 – retrospectively registered, https://drks.de/search/en/trial/DRKS00007966. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The COVID‐19 pandemic presents a natural setting to study how labor market protection policies may influence welfare attitudes because while lockdowns and economic recession threatened millions of jobs, job retention schemes shielded many workers from unemployment. We investigate support for unemployment protection and the unemployed among people active in the labor force and participating in the Mannheim Corona Study in Germany, Coping with COVID‐19 in France, ResPOnsE in Italy, and the British Social Attitudes survey in Great Britain. Two‐way fixed effects analyses on the German data show that there was a general increase in respondents' support over the onset of the pandemic and that while job loss significantly boosted support, there was little attitudinal difference between those who experienced job retention and those who continued working. We confirm these patterns with cross‐sectional analyses in all four countries, providing comparative insight into attitudes across the largest European economies. Unemployment is materially similar to job retention, but because it is associated with higher support, we contend that nonmaterial factors such as risk perceptions may be consequential in influencing preference changes when individuals lose their jobs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Private master's comprehensive institutions (PMCIs) in the United States navigate pressures to expand college access and equity while striving for prestige in the academic hierarchy. To strive for prestige entails competing for world‐class status of greater selectivity, research intensity and resources, but such a pathway to excellence may, because of market‐competition, deepen institutional and student stratification in the sector. In this study, we examine how organisational characteristics associated with striving influence low‐income student enrolment at PMCIs over time. Our panel analysis revealed selected factors constraining the enrolment of low‐income students at the average PMCI. But the magnitude of these statistical relationships was rather modest and did not suggest dramatically worsening institutional and student inequality in the sector. These findings support a flexible theory of organisational fields, illuminating more equity‐centred behaviours at the typical PMCI than what prior literature indicates. We discuss implications for research and policy emphasising equity's connection to institutional excellence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While well-being does generally constitute a moderate predictor of school achievement, research on the predictive validity of cognitive ability for wellbeing in school contexts remains scant. The current study analyzed longitudinal relations between cognitive ability measured at age 13 (Grade 6) and wellbeing measured at age 18 (Grade 12, valid N = 2,705) in a Swedish sample, using several multivariate model techniques. The results indicate that cognitive ability was not a statistically significant predictor when several predictors were entered in a multiple regression model. However, gender was a significant covariate as girls and young women have a substantially lower degree of self-reported well-being. This casts light on the limitations of cognitive ability as a construct for some non-cognitive outcomes, at least in shorter and narrower spatial-temporal contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Background/Objectives Subjects/Methods Results Conclusions Few studies have examined the putative mediating role of eating behaviours linking genetic susceptibility and body weight. The goal of this study was to investigate the extent to which two polygenic scores (PGSs) for body mass index (BMI), based on child and adult data, predicted BMI through over‐eating and fussy eating across childhood.The study sample involved 692 participants from a birth cohort study. Height and weight were measured on six occasions between ages 6 and 13 years. Over‐eating and fussy eating behaviours were assessed five times between ages 2 and 6 years. Longitudinal growth curve mediation analysis was used to estimate the contributions of the PGSs to BMI z‐scores mediated by over‐eating and fussy eating.Both PGSs predicted BMI z‐scores (PGSchild: β = 0.26, 95% CI: 0.19–0.33; PGSadult: β = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.27–0.41). Over‐eating significantly mediated these associations, but this mediation decreased over time from 6 years (PGSchild: 18.0%, 95% CI: 3.1–32.9, p‐value = 0.018; PGSadult: 14.2%, 95% CI: 2.8–25.5, p‐value = 0.014) to 13 years (PGSchild: 11.4%, 95% CI: −0.4‐23.1, p‐value = 0.057; PGSadult: 6.2%, 95% CI: 0.4–12.0, p‐value = 0.037). Fussy eating did not show any mediation.Our results support the view that appetite is key to translating genetic susceptibility into changes in body weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Limited research has explored immunosuppressant medication adherence over time in pediatric transplant patients, who often struggle with posttransplant regimen adherence, resulting in poor outcomes. Methods: This study investigated the longitudinal growth in immunosuppressive medication levels following transplantation. Medication level variability index (MLVI) scores from tacrolimus blood levels of pediatric organ transplant recipients at a major medical center were analyzed. Linear mixed effect models (LMEM) assessed individual MLVI change trajectories and predictors of growth, exploring both linear and curvilinear growth patterns posttransplant. Results: A sample of 181 patients with at least 4 years of MLVI data were analyzed. Growth curve modeling identified the cubic model as the best fit for the quarterly MLVI values, which significantly decreased within the first 2 years posttransplant before stabilizing. Gender significantly predicted MLVI change, with females showing greater MLVI decreases, while age at transplant did not significantly predict changes. Significant variation in MLVI among individual patients was found in all models. Conclusions: The study demonstrated a significant decrease in MLVI values over time, indicating improved medication adherence in pediatric transplant patients, with females exhibiting more adherent growth patterns than males. Future research should aim to identify pediatric patients at high risk of nonadherence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Phosphate is a macro-element involved in all cellular energetic processes. As about 90% of the phosphate filtered by the glomerulus is excreted by kidneys, the impairment of renal function and the consequent over-secretion of parathyroid hormone and fibroblast growth factor 23 results in the increase in the serum phosphate levels. The association between phosphate and hemoglobin is controversial, as both direct and indirect relationships have been reported. The present study aims to investigate the relationship between phosphate and hemoglobin in a large prospective, longitudinal cohort including dialysis patients from the Sicilian Registry of Nephrology, Dialysis, and Transplantation. Methods: In this prospective cohort study, we included 6263 hemodialysis patients to achieve a total of 120,462 repeated measurements of serum phosphate and hemoglobin over time. The longitudinal association between phosphate and hemoglobin was analyzed by univariate and multivariate Linear Mixed Models. Results: The mean age was 66 ± 16 years and the median dialysis vintage was 5 months [IQR: 2–16]. Mean and median values of hemoglobin and phosphate were 10.7 g/dL (SD 1.3 g/dL) and 4.6 mg/dL [IQR 3.9–5.5 mg/dL], respectively. The multivariate model, adjusted for potential confounders, confirmed the positive association between serum phosphate and hemoglobin [adjβ = 0.13, 95%CI 0.03–0.23, p = 0.01)]. These results were confirmed in analyses stratified for the use of phosphate binders. Conclusions: In our large cohort of dialysis patients, we found a linear, direct relationship between phosphate and hemoglobin levels. As a reduction in phosphate is associated with a parallel reduction in hemoglobin levels, hypophosphatemia can accentuate anemia in dialysis patients. Our results generate the hypothesis that monitoring serum phosphate in clinical practice might provide a better management of anemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circulating tumor cell (CTC) numbers in the blood of cancer patients can indicate the progression and invasiveness of tumors, and their prognostic and predictive value has been repeatedly demonstrated. However, the standard baseline CTC count at the beginning of treatment, while informative, is not completely reliable and may not adequately reflect the state of the disease. A growing number of studies indicate that the long-term monitoring of CTC numbers in the same patient provides more comprehensive prognostic data and should be incorporated into clinical practice, as a factor that contributes to therapeutic decisions. This review describes the current status of CTC enumeration as a prognostic and predictive factor, highlights the shortcomings of current solutions, and advocates for longitudinal CTC analysis as a more effective method of the evaluation of developing disease, treatment efficacy, and the long term-monitoring of the minimal residual disease. As evidenced by the described reports, the longitudinal monitoring of CTCs should provide a better and more sensitive prediction of the course of the disease, and its incorporation in clinical practice should be beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neighborhood poverty is associated with adiposity in women, though longitudinal designs, annually collected residential histories, objectively collected anthropometric measures, and geographically diverse samples of midlife women remain limited. Objective: To investigate whether longitudinal exposure to neighborhood concentrated poverty is associated with differences in body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) among 2,328 midlife women (age 42–52 years at baseline) from 6 U.S. cities enrolled in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN) from 1996 to 2007. Methods: Residential addresses and adiposity measures were collected at approximately annual intervals from the baseline visit through a 10-year follow-up. We used census poverty data and local spatial statistics to identify hot-spots of high concentrated poverty areas and cold-spots of low concentrated poverty located within each SWAN site region, and used linear mixed-effect models to estimate percentage differences (95% confidence interval [CI]) in average BMI and WC levels between neighborhood concentrated poverty categories. Results: After adjusting for individual-level sociodemographics, health-related factors, and residential mobility, compared to residents of moderate concentrated poverty communities, women living in site-specific hot-spots of high concentrated poverty had 1.5% higher (95% CI: 0.6, 2.3) BMI and 1.3% higher (95% CI: 0.5, 2.0) WC levels, whereas women living in cold-spots of low concentrated poverty had 0.7% lower (95% CI: −1.2, −0.1) BMI and 0.3% lower (95% CI: −0.8, 0.2) WC. Site-stratified results remained in largely similar directions to overall estimates, despite wide CIs and small sample sizes. Conclusions: Longitudinal exposure to neighborhood concentrated poverty is associated with slightly higher BMI and WC among women across midlife. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Union (EU) has laboured hard to gain the right to make oral interventions in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in pursuit of a more active international role. At the same time, though, EU member‐states continue to take the floor to make their own interventions, thus differentiating – but not necessarily distancing – their stance from the officially expressed EU position. In that respect, it is important to examine the drivers behind the differentiating activity of EU member‐states and their engagement in UNGA deliberations. We identify structural, institutional, political and thematic drivers. They relate to resources, the EU system of external representation in the form of the EU rotating Council Presidency and the opportunities that it provides during each country's period in office, national political aspirations for greater influence, as well as issue‐specific assertiveness. We operationalize and control for these drivers by looking at the size and economic resources of EU member‐states, their individual statements while holding the EU rotating Council Presidency, their membership in the UN Security Council (UNSC) or candidacy for it, and the issue specificity of each UNGA Main Committee. Our analysis is based on a three‐level longitudinal multilevel random intercept model and relies upon a new dataset that compiles the oral interventions made by representatives of EU member‐states and by EU officials in UNGA through an automated content analysis of the verbatim records of the UNGA meetings from 1998 to 2017. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Experiencing physical sibling abuse is a form of family violence that is common but understudied. While it is often perceived as a normative aspect of sibling relationships, there are apparent behavioral consequences. The current study aims to advance the literature by utilizing the displaced aggression model and I3 theory to longitudinally examine trait anger as a pathway linking physical sibling abuse to bullying perpetration. Methods: Using data from the Bullying, Sexual, and Dating Violence Trajectories from Early to Late Adolescence in the Midwestern United States, 2008–2013, adolescents (n = 851, M = 14.8 years) completed questionnaires at baseline and were reassessed 6 months later. Results: Results suggested that when adolescents experience physical sibling abuse, they are more likely to engage in bullying perpetration. Mediation analyses indicated that as adolescents were physically abused by a sibling at home, they were more likely to report higher levels of trait anger, which subsequently increased their risk of engaging in bullying perpetration. Conclusion: These results suggest that experiencing physical sibling abuse has long‐term detrimental consequences, including elicitation of trait anger, subsequently predicting bullying perpetration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to estimate (a) trajectories of life satisfaction before and after housing relocation and (b) how changes in housing tenure at the time of relocation affect life satisfaction trajectories. Using data from the Korea Welfare Panel Study spanning 2006 to 2021 (N = 9,369), we examined the anticipatory, immediate, and long-term impacts of housing relocation on life satisfaction. We employed individual-level fixed effects models. This study also conducted housing tenure-stratified analysis to determine whether changes in tenure at the time of relocation affect the longitudinal association between housing relocation and life satisfaction. Our study found that life satisfaction decreased in the year leading up to housing relocation but showed an immediate increase during the relocation year. However, this rebound did not result in a long-term improvement, as life satisfaction eventually returned to baseline levels. Regarding housing tenure changes, persistent owner-occupiers experienced an immediate increase in life satisfaction during the year of relocation, while persistent renters did not experience any significant changes in life satisfaction before or after relocation. Individuals transitioning from renters to owner-occupiers reported higher levels of life satisfaction both before and after relocation. In contrast, those transitioning from owner-occupiers to renters experienced a decline in life satisfaction before relocation, with no significant changes in the year of relocation or afterward. These findings highlight the varying impacts of housing relocation on life satisfaction, influenced by changes in housing tenure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite a growing availability of longitudinal datasets, it can be difficult to select the most appropriate modelling strategy. In particular, there is little guidance regarding which causal questions one can ask using longitudinal data, and what is the best way to answer these questions. This paper distinguishes between three causal quantities that researchers in social and behavioral sciences often want to investigate: the contemporaneous treatment effect, the cumulative treatment effect, and the long-term treatment effect. I provide a definition of these quantities, clarify which causal assumptions are needed to identify these effects, and present statistical models that can be used to estimate these quantities. The aim is to provide an accessible overview of longitudinal models for estimating causal effects using observational data. I illustrate the methods discussed by studying how peer victimization in school affects internalizing behaviors. For this purpose, I used a nationally representative sample of kindergarteners, and focused on peer victimization events from 2nd to 5th grades. Consistent with prior research, the results suggest that peer victimization has short-run, cumulative, and long-term effects on internalizing behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/hypothesis: Few studies have examined the clinical characteristics associated with changes in weight before and after diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Using a large real-world cohort, we derived trajectories of BMI before and after diabetes diagnosis, and examined the clinical characteristics associated with these trajectories, including assessing the impact of pre-diagnosis weight change on post-diagnosis weight change. Methods: We performed an observational cohort study using electronic medical records from individuals in the Scottish Care Information Diabetes Collaboration database. Two trajectories were calculated, based on observed BMI measurements between 3 years and 6 months before diagnosis and between 1 and 5 years after diagnosis. In the post-diagnosis trajectory, each BMI measurement was time-dependently adjusted for the effects of diabetes medications and HbA1c change. Results: A total of 2736 individuals were included in the study. There was a pattern of pre-diagnosis weight gain, with 1944 individuals (71%) gaining weight overall, and 875 (32%) gaining more than 0.5 kg/m2 per year. This was followed by a pattern of weight loss after diagnosis, with 1722 individuals (63%) losing weight. Younger age and greater social deprivation were associated with increased weight gain before diagnosis. Pre-diagnosis weight change was unrelated to post-diagnosis weight change, but post-diagnosis weight loss was associated with older age, female sex, higher BMI, higher HbA1c and weight gain during the peri-diagnosis period. When considering the peri-diagnostic period (defined as from 6 months before to 12 months after diagnosis), we identified 986 (36%) individuals who had a high HbA1c at diagnosis but who lost weight rapidly and were most aggressively treated at 1 year; this subgroup had the best glycaemic control at 5 years. Conclusions/interpretation: Average weight increases before diagnosis and decreases after diagnosis; however, there were significant differences across the population in terms of weight changes. Younger individuals gained weight pre-diagnosis, but, in older individuals, type 2 diabetes is less associated with weight gain, consistent with other drivers for diabetes aetiology in older adults. We have identified a substantial group of individuals who have a rapid deterioration in glycaemic control, together with weight loss, around the time of diagnosis, and who subsequently stabilise, suggesting that a high HbA1c at diagnosis is not inevitably associated with a poor outcome and may be driven by reversible glucose toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pandemics like COVID-19 have illuminated the significant disparities in the performance of national healthcare systems (NHCSs) during rapidly evolving crises. The challenge of comparing NHCS performance has been a difficult topic in the literature. To address this gap, our study introduces a bi-criteria longitudinal algorithm that merges fuzzy clustering with Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). This new approach provides a comprehensive and dynamic assessment of NHCS performance and efficiency during the early phase of the pandemic. By categorizing each NHCS as an efficient performer, inefficient performer, efficient underperformer, or inefficient underperformer, our analysis vividly represents performance dynamics, clearly identifying the top and bottom performers within each cluster of countries. Our methodology offers valuable insights for performance evaluation and benchmarking, with significant implications for enhancing pandemic response strategies. The study’s findings are discussed from theoretical and practical perspectives, offering guidance for future health system assessments and policy-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The impact of multimorbidity (≥ 2 chronic diseases) on the well-being of older adults is substantial but variable. The burden of multimorbidity varies by the number and kinds of conditions, and timing of onset. The impact varies by age, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and health indicators. Large scale longitudinal surveys linked to medical claims provide unique opportunities to characterize this variability. Methods: We analyzed Medicare-linked Health and Retirement Study data for respondents 65 and older with 3 or more years of fee-for-service coverage (n = 17,199; 2000–2016). We applied standardized claims algorithms for operationalizing 21 chronic diseases. We compared multimorbidity levels, demographics, and outcomes at baseline and over time and escalation to high multimorbidity levels (≥ 5 conditions). Results: At baseline, 51.2% had no multimorbidity, 36.5% had multimorbidity, and 12.4% had high multimorbidity. Loss of function, cognitive decline, and higher healthcare utilization were up to ten times more prevalent in the high multimorbidity group. Greater rates of high multimorbidity were seen among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic groups, those with lower wealth, younger birth cohorts, and adults with obesity. Rates of transition to high multimorbidity varied greatly and was highest among Hispanic and respondents with lower education. Conclusions: The development and progression of multimorbidity in old age is influenced by many factors. Higher levels of multimorbidity are associated with sociodemographic characteristics, suggesting possible mitigation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loneliness and posttraumatic stress (PTS) are common in adolescence. However, there has been little longitudinal research on their association. To address this deficit, this study examined the longitudinal association between these phenomena in a sample of U.S. school students while also exploring if gender was important in this context. Data were analysed from 2807 adolescents (52.1 % female; age at baseline 11–16 years (M = 12.79)) who were followed over a one-year period. Information was obtained on loneliness in year 1 using a single-item question, while PTS was assessed with the self-report Child Post-Traumatic Stress - Reaction Index (CPTS-RI). A full path analysis was performed to assess the across time associations. Almost one-third of the students reported some degree of loneliness while most students had 'mild' PTS. In the path analysis, when controlling for baseline PTS and other covariates, loneliness in year 1 was significantly associated with PTS in year 2 (β = 0.06, 95%CI: 0.02, 0.09). Similarly, PTS in year 1 was significantly associated with loneliness in year 2 (β = 0.19, 95%CI: 0.15, 0.23). An interaction analysis further showed that loneliness was higher in girls with PTS than in their male counterparts. The use of a single-item measure to assess loneliness that used the word 'lonely' may have resulted in underreporting. Loneliness and PTS are bidirectionally associated in adolescence. Efforts to reduce loneliness in adolescence may help in combatting PTS, while clinicians should intervene to address loneliness if detected in adolescents with PTS. • Longitudinal research on the loneliness-posttraumatic stress (PTS) link is limited. • Loneliness and PTS are linked bidirectionally in U.S. adolescents. • Loneliness was higher in girls with PTS than in their male counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In sub-Saharan African countries, preventable and manageable diseases such as diarrhea and acute respiratory infections still claim the lives of children. Hence, this study aims to estimate the rate of change in the log expected number of days a child suffers from Diarrhea (NOD) and flu/common cold (NOF) among children aged 6 to 11 months at the baseline of the study. Methodology: This study used secondary data which exhibit a longitudinal and multilevel structure. Based on the results of exploratory analysis, a multilevel zero-inflated Poisson regression model with a rate of change in the log expected NOD and NOF described by a quadratic trend was proposed to efficiently analyze both outcomes accounting for correlation between observations and individuals through random effects. Furthermore, residual plots were used to assess the goodness of fit of the model. Results: Considering subject and cluster-specific random effects, the results revealed a quadratic trend in the rate of change of the log expected NOD. Initially, low dose iron Micronutrient Powder (MNP) users exhibited a higher rate of change compared to non-users, but this trend reversed over time. Similarly, the log expected NOF decreased for children who used MNP and exclusively breastfed for six months, in comparison to their counterparts. In addition, the odds of not having flu decreased with each two-week increment for MNP users, as compared to non-MNP users. Furthermore, an increase in NOD resulted in an increase in the log expected NOF. Region and exclusive breastfeeding also have a significant relationships with both NOD and NOF. Conclusion: The findings of this study underscore the importance of commencing analysis of data generated from a study with exploratory analysis. The study highlights the critical role of promoting EBF for the first six months and supporting children with additional food after six months to reduce the burden of infectious diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sparsely populated geographic edges of colonised nations exhibit heterogenous historical demographic trajectories. In this study, we analyse the longitudinal evolution of the settlement system in Northern Australia to quantify and visualise relative settlement dynamics over 165 years. We extend the existing literature by deviating from analysing each township as an individual entity, instead focusing the analysis on relativities within the entire settlement system. We quantify settlement and systemic volatility through measurement and visualisation of relative settlement sizes using rank-sizes and document rank-size changes between 1856 and 2021. We analyse rapid and non-synergic shifts in rank-trajectories and demonstrate rank-trajectories for selected settlements by types. We found that the expansion of a fly-in-fly-out workforce in the resource sector since the 1980s has meant less turbulent trajectories for the settlement system in the North could potentially open prospects for more sustainable population growth policies while relocating the risks of resource dependency in employment and growing unemployment during economic bust from edges to core areas. Beyond annotating the evolution of the settlement system in Northern Australia, this study demonstrates the potential for policy, economic conditions and definitional peculiarities to affect volatility in the settlement system at geographic edges elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mediated public diplomacy is a critical way of strategic communication for governments to influence global public opinion, especially during international conflicts. Based on the theories of mediatization and digitalization as well as the layered model of communicative space, this study investigates how the United States and Iranian embassies competed on the Chinese social media platform Sina Weibo over 13 months. Following a network ethnography approach, this study conducts longitudinal network analysis and textual analysis. The findings suggest that the macro-layer function (i.e. hashtag) facilitated horizontal dissemination of news about the US-Iran conflict from mainly China's state-media accounts, increasing public awareness of the issue within a short time. The meso-layer (repost and follower network) and micro-layer (mention and comment) functions helped establish vertical communication facilitated by opinion leaders and crowd-enabled leaders that perpetuated public attention on relevant issues. The two embassies engaged with the Chinese public in different communicative layers. The US embassy interacted with the Chinese publics through reposts and replies, while the Iranian embassy constructed their posts in the form of replies. The Iranian embassy leveraged China's state media agendas as narrative agency to conduct diplomatic communication by incorporating relevant hashtags in their posts. A layered model of mediated public diplomacy is proposed. The findings deepen our understanding of competing mediated public diplomacy, and contribute to the field of international communication of international conflicts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES Mitral valve regurgitation and left ventricular dysfunction are cardiovascular symptoms of Marfan syndrome. There is a paucity of information on tricuspid valve regurgitation and right ventricular function. In patients with Marfan syndrome, we looked at long-term changes in right ventricular function, tricuspid valve regurgitation and freedom from tricuspid valve repair. METHODS Retrospective-observational single-centre analysis on right ventricular function and tricuspid regurgitation in Marfan patients who underwent surgery with cardioplegic arrest between 1995 and 2020. Patients were followed-up from 1st operation until death, with echocardiographic changes analysed longitudinally. Composite end point was tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) ≤16 mm, severe tricuspid regurgitation or tricuspid repair. RESULTS The study included 135 patients who underwent 193 operations, 58 of those were reoperations in 40 patients. Median age at 1st operation was 35 years [interquartile range (IQR) 26–46], median follow-up was 8.0 years (IQR 3.0–16.0) and median time to 1st reoperation was 7.5 years (IQR 3.4–12.5). The composite end point occurred in 81 observations in 40 patients, mostly as a recurrent event, after median 7.0 years (IQR 1.0–13.0). Ten-year cumulative incidence for composite end point was 22.0% (95% CI 15–31) and 9.0% (95% CI 4.4–16) for new-onset TAPSE ≤16 mm, but no significant change in TAPSE was observed at 10 years. Tricuspid regurgitation was associated with increased risk of annual progression (P  < 0.001), but not clinically relevant at 10 years. Actuarial 10-year survival was 91.1%. CONCLUSIONS In Marfan patients with a history of cardiac surgery and subsequent reoperations, the right ventricular function remains stable. The incidence of severe tricuspid regurgitation and tricuspid repair remain low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While extensive research has explored the taxonomy of career indecision, a longitudinal examination of the joint operation of major indecision factors is lacking. Tracking a sample of US college students (n = 261) over three time points, the current study examined a mediation model involving lack of readiness, neuroticism/negative affectivity, interpersonal conflicts, need for information, and choice/commitment anxiety. The results showed that need for information mediated the positive predictions of lack of readiness and interpersonal conflicts for subsequent choice/commitment anxiety. However, neuroticism/negative affectivity did not predict need for information while controlling for lack of readiness and interpersonal conflicts. Therefore, the current study suggests that motivational and interpersonal barriers could undermine readiness for committing to a career direction because these barriers could impede information collection. The theoretical and practical implications of this study are deliberated along with its limitations and recommendations for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attachment theory posits that childhood maltreatment negatively impacts beliefs about the self and those beliefs are carried forward into adulthood. This study examined the long-term effects of three forms of maltreatment (physical abuse, emotional abuse, and emotional neglect) on self-acceptance in adulthood. It also explored the effects of current relationships with family, friends, and spouse. Data were obtained from 4325 participants in the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study. We used multilevel models to estimate the independent and interactive effects of a history of childhood maltreatment and quality of relationships with friends, family, and spouse or partner on self-acceptance over three waves of assessment spanning nearly two decades. Key results showed that a history of childhood maltreatment had a negative effect on self-acceptance. Warm and supportive relationships showed positive associations with self-acceptance but only the spouse/partner relationship moderated the effects of emotional neglect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's hybrid media system, communication professions are connected to media convergence, and this leads to a blurring of boundaries between journalism, public relations (PR), and marketing. Our study demonstrates the blurring boundaries of the communication professions through a longitudinal automated semantic analysis of 336,629 job postings in the fields of journalism, PR, and marketing published between 2015 and 2020 in Austria and Germany. Similarities in skills demanded in job postings in journalism, PR, and marketing in Austria and Germany are greater than differences, but the three job fields are still distinguishable from each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The associations between mood disorders (anxiety and depression) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer's dementia (AD) remain unclear. Methods: Data from the Australian Imaging, Biomarker & Lifestyle (AIBL) study were subjected to logistic regression to determine both cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between anxiety/depression and MCI/AD. Effect modification by selected covariates was analysed using the likelihood ratio test. Results: Cross-sectional analysis was performed to explore the association between anxiety/depression and MCI/AD among 2,209 participants with a mean [SD] age of 72.3 [7.4] years, of whom 55.4% were female. After adjusting for confounding variables, we found a significant increase in the odds of AD among participants with two mood disorders (anxiety: OR 1.65 [95% CI 1.04–2.60]; depression: OR 1.73 [1.12–2.69]). Longitudinal analysis was conducted to explore the target associations among 1,379 participants with a mean age of 71.2 [6.6] years, of whom 56.3% were female. During a mean follow-up of 5.0 [4.2] years, 163 participants who developed MCI/AD (refer to as PRO) were identified. Only anxiety was associated with higher odds of PRO after adjusting for covariates (OR 1.56 [1.03–2.39]). However, after additional adjustment for depression, the association became insignificant. Additionally, age, sex, and marital status were identified as effect modifiers for the target associations. Conclusion: Our study provides supportive evidence that anxiety and depression impact on the evolution of MCI/AD, which provides valuable epidemiological insights that can inform clinical practice, guiding clinicians in offering targeted dementia prevention and surveillance programs to the at-risk populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical activity (PA) is significantly associated with many health outcomes. The wide usage of wearable accelerometer-based activity trackers in recent years has provided a unique opportunity for in-depth research on PA and its relations with health outcomes and interventions. Past analysis of activity tracker data relies heavily on aggregating minute-level PA records into day-level summary statistics in which important information of PA temporal/diurnal patterns is lost. In this paper we propose a novel functional data analysis approach based on Riemann manifolds for modeling PA and its longitudinal changes. We model smoothed minute-level PA of a day as one-dimensional Riemann manifolds and longitudinal changes in PA in different visits as deformations between manifolds. The variability in changes of PA among a cohort of subjects is characterized via variability in the deformation. Functional principal component analysis is further adopted to model the deformations, and PC scores are used as a proxy in modeling the relation between changes in PA and health outcomes and/or interventions. We conduct comprehensive analyses on data from two clinical trials: Reach for Health (RfH) and Metabolism, Exercise and Nutrition at UCSD (MENU), focusing on the effect of interventions on longitudinal changes in PA patterns and how different modes of changes in PA influence weight loss, respectively. The proposed approach reveals unique modes of changes, including overall enhanced PA, boosted morning PA, and shifts of active hours specific to each study cohort. The results bring new insights into the study of longitudinal changes in PA and health and have the potential to facilitate designing of effective health interventions and guidelines.

Abstract Background Perivascular space (PVS) enlargement in ageing and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and the drivers of such a structural change in humans require longitudinal investigation. Elucidating the effects of demographic factors, hypertension, cerebrovascular dysfunction, and AD pathology on PVS dynamics could inform the role of PVS in brain health function as well as the complex pathophysiology of AD. Methods We studied PVS in centrum semiovale (CSO) and basal ganglia (BG) computationally over three to four annual visits in 503 participants (255 females; meanage = 70.78 ± 5.78) of the ongoing observational multicentre “DZNE Longitudinal Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Study” (DELCODE) cohort. We analysed data from subjects who were cognitively unimpaired (n = 401), had amnestic mild cognitive impairment (n = 71), or had AD (n = 31). We used linear mixed-effects modelling to test for changes of PVS volumes in relation to cross-sectional and longitudinal age, as well as sex, years of education, hypertension, white matter hyperintensities, AD diagnosis, and cerebrospinal-fluid-derived amyloid (A) and tau (T) status (available for 46.71%; A-T-/A + T-/A + T + n = 143/48/39). Results PVS volumes increased significantly over follow-ups (CSO: B = 0.03 [0.02, 0.05], p A-T-, p FDR = 0.004) or who were amyloid positive but tau negative (A + T + > A + T-, p FDR = 0.07). CSO-PVS volumes increased at a faster rate with amyloid positivity as compared to amyloid negativity (A + T-/A + T + > A-T-, p FDR = 0.021). Conclusion Our longitudinal evidence supports the relevance of PVS enlargement in presumably healthy ageing as well as in AD pathology. We further discuss the region-specific involvement of white matter hyperintensities and neurotoxic waste accumulation in PVS enlargement and the possibility of additional factors contributing to PVS progression. A comprehensive understanding of PVS dynamics could facilitate the understanding of pathological cascades and might inform targeted treatment strategies. Trial registration German Clinical Trials Register DRKS00007966. Registered 04.05.2015 – retrospectively registered, https://drks.de/search/en/trial/DRKS00007966 .

Abstract With global C-section rates rising, understanding potential consequences is imperative. Previous studies suggested links between birth mode and psychological outcomes. This study evaluates the association of birth mode and neurodevelopment in young children across two prospective cohorts, using repeated psychometric assessments. Data from the ELEMENT (Early Life Exposures in Mexico to Environmental Toxicants) and PROGRESS (Programming Research in Obesity, Growth, and Environment and Social Stress) cohorts, comprising 7158 and 2202 observations of 1402 children aged 2 to 36 months, and 726 children aged 5 to 27 months, respectively, were analyzed. Exclusion criteria for the cohorts were maternal diseases such as preeclampsia, renal or heart disease, gestational diabetes, and epilepsy. Neurodevelopment was gauged via Bayley’s Scales of Infant Development: 2nd edition for ELEMENT and 3rd edition for PROGRESS. Mixed-effects models longitudinally estimated associations between birth mode and neurodevelopment scores, adjusting for cofounders. In ELEMENT, psychomotor development composite scores were significantly affected by birth mode from ages 2 to 8 months; the largest estimate within this range was at 2 months (β =-1.93; 95% CI: [-3.64, -0.22], reference: vaginal delivery). For PROGRESS, a negative association was found with motor development composite scores over all the studied age range (β=-1.91; 95% CI: [-3.01, -0.81]). The association was stronger between ages 6 to 18 months, with the strongest estimate at 11 months (β=-2.58; 95% CI: [-4.37, -0.74]). A negative impact of C-section on language scores in girls was estimated for the PROGRESS cohort (β=-1.92; 95% CI: [-3.57, -0.27]), most marked in ages 22 to 25 months (largest β at 24.5 months=-3.04; 95% CI: [-5.79, -0.30]). Children born by C-section showed lower motor and language development scores during specific age windows in the first three years of life. Further research is necessary to understand the complexities and implications of these findings.

Abstract Background The impact of multimorbidity (≥ 2 chronic diseases) on the well-being of older adults is substantial but variable. The burden of multimorbidity varies by the number and kinds of conditions, and timing of onset. The impact varies by age, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and health indicators. Large scale longitudinal surveys linked to medical claims provide unique opportunities to characterize this variability. Methods We analyzed Medicare-linked Health and Retirement Study data for respondents 65 and older with 3 or more years of fee-for-service coverage (n = 17,199; 2000–2016). We applied standardized claims algorithms for operationalizing 21 chronic diseases. We compared multimorbidity levels, demographics, and outcomes at baseline and over time and escalation to high multimorbidity levels (≥ 5 conditions). Results At baseline, 51.2% had no multimorbidity, 36.5% had multimorbidity, and 12.4% had high multimorbidity. Loss of function, cognitive decline, and higher healthcare utilization were up to ten times more prevalent in the high multimorbidity group. Greater rates of high multimorbidity were seen among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic groups, those with lower wealth, younger birth cohorts, and adults with obesity. Rates of transition to high multimorbidity varied greatly and was highest among Hispanic and respondents with lower education. Conclusions The development and progression of multimorbidity in old age is influenced by many factors. Higher levels of multimorbidity are associated with sociodemographic characteristics, suggesting possible mitigation strategies.

Abstract Pandemics like COVID-19 have illuminated the significant disparities in the performance of national healthcare systems (NHCSs) during rapidly evolving crises. The challenge of comparing NHCS performance has been a difficult topic in the literature. To address this gap, our study introduces a bi-criteria longitudinal algorithm that merges fuzzy clustering with Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). This new approach provides a comprehensive and dynamic assessment of NHCS performance and efficiency during the early phase of the pandemic. By categorizing each NHCS as an efficient performer, inefficient performer, efficient underperformer, or inefficient underperformer, our analysis vividly represents performance dynamics, clearly identifying the top and bottom performers within each cluster of countries. Our methodology offers valuable insights for performance evaluation and benchmarking, with significant implications for enhancing pandemic response strategies. The study’s findings are discussed from theoretical and practical perspectives, offering guidance for future health system assessments and policy-making.

Abstract Background In sub-Saharan African countries, preventable and manageable diseases such as diarrhea and acute respiratory infections still claim the lives of children. Hence, this study aims to estimate the rate of change in the log expected number of days a child suffers from Diarrhea (NOD) and flu/common cold (NOF) among children aged 6 to 11 months at the baseline of the study. Methodology This study used secondary data which exhibit a longitudinal and multilevel structure. Based on the results of exploratory analysis, a multilevel zero-inflated Poisson regression model with a rate of change in the log expected NOD and NOF described by a quadratic trend was proposed to efficiently analyze both outcomes accounting for correlation between observations and individuals through random effects. Furthermore, residual plots were used to assess the goodness of fit of the model. Results Considering subject and cluster-specific random effects, the results revealed a quadratic trend in the rate of change of the log expected NOD. Initially, low dose iron Micronutrient Powder (MNP) users exhibited a higher rate of change compared to non-users, but this trend reversed over time. Similarly, the log expected NOF decreased for children who used MNP and exclusively breastfed for six months, in comparison to their counterparts. In addition, the odds of not having flu decreased with each two-week increment for MNP users, as compared to non-MNP users. Furthermore, an increase in NOD resulted in an increase in the log expected NOF. Region and exclusive breastfeeding also have a significant relationships with both NOD and NOF. Conclusion The findings of this study underscore the importance of commencing analysis of data generated from a study with exploratory analysis. The study highlights the critical role of promoting EBF for the first six months and supporting children with additional food after six months to reduce the burden of infectious diseases.

The prevalence of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms suggestive of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH) is notably high and potentially elevates the likelihood of depressive symptoms. This study was designed to employ both cross-sectional and longitudinal methodologies to explore the correlation between LUTS/BPH and depressive symptoms among middle-aged and elderly men in China. This investigation utilized data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), with the initial dataset from 2015 serving as the baseline and subsequent data from 2018 and 2020 facilitating longitudinal analysis. The study encompassed a baseline cohort of 5156 men aged 45 years and above, and an expansive longitudinal analytical sample of 23,530 participants spanning from 2015 to 2020. The assessment of depressive symptoms was conducted using the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depressive Symptoms Scale (CESD-10). To investigate the factors associated with LUTS/BPH, the relationship between LUTS/BPH and depressive symptoms, and to evaluate the incidence rate of depressive symptoms onset based on LUTS/BPH status, multivariate logistic analyses and logistic regression models were employed. Our results reveal a markedly higher incidence of depressive symptoms among individuals with LUTS/BPH, at 30.16 %, compared to 22.94 % in those without LUTS/BPH. This pattern was consistent in both mild and moderate depressive symptoms categories. However, the prevalence of severe depressive symptoms did not exhibit a significant disparity between the two groups. Longitudinal analysis spanning from 2015 through 2018 and 2020 further corroborated these observations. Individuals with LUTS/BPH showed a substantially higher incidence of depressive symptoms across all severity levels compared to those without LUTS/BPH. Specifically, the presence of LUTS/BPH was linked to a 53 % heightened risk of mild depressive symptoms, a 45 % increase in moderate depressive symptoms, and an alarming 229 % surge in severe depressive symptoms risk between 2015 and 2018. Additionally, from 2015 to 2020, there was a 30 % increased risk for mild depressive symptoms, a 41 % rise for moderate depressive symptoms, and a 106 % escalation in the risk of severe depressive symptoms among those with LUTS/BPH. In middle-aged and older Chinese adults, LUTS/BPH were correlated with an elevated risk of depressive symptoms. • General health status, socioeconomic status, comorbidities and other factors play a role in the occurrence and development of LUTS/BPH. • Cross-sectional studies link LUTS/BPH to depressive symptoms. • A significantly increased risk of new-onset depression in LUTS/BPH patients. • Longitudinal studies have shown that LUTS/BPH patients have a significantly increased risk of new-onset depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined agenda-setting relationships across the media, politics, and the public, while accounting for contextual boundaries from 1978 to 2018 in the United States. Our findings indicate that (1) for the overall model, the media and the public influence the prominence of economic concerns on the political agenda, but the political agenda has no agenda-setting power; (2) under a Republican president, the prominence of economic topics in the media and political agendas influence each other, the media and the public agendas influence each other, and the public influences the political agenda; and (3) under a Democrat president, attention paid toward economic topics in the media and political agendas influence each other, as do the political and public agendas. Of particular note for agenda-setting theorists is our finding that the media significantly sets the agenda for the public under a Republican presidential condition and not under other conditions. Additionally, these relationships differ longitudinally; for example, the media responds to economic changes quicker and for more prolonged periods under a Republican than a Democrat. This study advances the agenda-setting theory by presenting novel findings about agenda-setters in action and by demonstrating the unique complexities of modeling longitudinal nonlinear relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracurricular clubs stand out as transformative and accommodating hubs in the academic experience of university students, thereby offering opportunities for personal growth, community building, and effective academic engagement. This research investigates the profound influence of academic club participation on Moroccan university students, with a specific focus on experiences within clubs such as the Bookworms and Public Speaking Clubs at Ibn Zohr University. Employing a qualitative longitudinal approach, including qualitative case studies and longitudinal analysis, the research reveals three main themes: empowerment through inclusivity, increased academic engagement and excellence, and a sense of agency and achievement. Findings indicate that club participation fosters a sense of belonging, enhances academic motivation, and develops essential soft skills, leadership orientations and community engagement. The study calls for institutional support and integration of clubs into the curriculum to promote educational research and practice within Moroccan universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a large longitudinal national dataset, The Freshmen Survey and College Senior Survey by the Higher Education Research Institution, we analyzed 950 Asian American college students to explore associations between their diverse social experiences and perceived mental health compared to other racial groups. Asian American college students appeared to show lower levels of mental health, spend less hours on social activities, and feel less connected to their friends and colleagues compared to their non-Asian counterparts (White, Black, and Latinx students). Asian American college students reported higher levels of mental health and were more satisfied with their social experience in their senior year compared to their freshmen year. For Asian American college students, gender and confidence in their social ability were significant predictors of mental health. Practical implications and recommendations for research to support Asian American students' mental health and their social life are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This study tests whether memory impairment and perceived increases in stress due to life changes independently contribute to similar personality changes, such as increased neuroticism and decreased conscientiousness. Longitudinal data from 12,912 participants aged 50+ from the Health and Retirement Study (2006–2020) were analyzed using Latent Growth Curve Models (LGCMs). Six LGCMs were simultaneously estimated to examine how changes in personality across three data points spanning 8 years are predicted by both the classification of memory impairment (MI) statuses assessed via the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status and estimated increases in life stress. Decreases were observed in all Big Five personality factors (B = − 0.240/− 0.510, SE = 0.085/0.089) over the 8-year period. No significant differences in personality changes were found between MI cases and non-MI cases. Increased life stress was significantly associated with a rise in neuroticism (B = 0.587, SE = 0.094) and reductions in conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and openness (B ranges from − 0.223 to − 0.497). The findings emphasize adaptive/developmental shifts in personality in response to life stress rather than neuropathological ones related to memory impairment. Clinical assessment of personality changes in mid-to-late life should first consider psychological maladaptation to situational threats and challenges.

Abstract Body Mass Index (BMI) trajectories are important for understanding how BMI develops over time. Missing data is often stated as a limitation in studies that analyse BMI over time and there is limited research exploring how missing data influences BMI trajectories. This study explores the influence missing data has in estimating BMI trajectories and the impact on subsequent analysis. This study uses data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Distinct BMI trajectories are estimated for adults aged 50 years and over. Next, multiple methods accounting for missing data are implemented and compared. Estimated trajectories are then used to predict the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Four distinct trajectories are identified using each of the missing data methods: stable overweight, elevated BMI, increasing BMI, and decreasing BMI. However, the likelihoods of individuals following the different trajectories differ between the different methods. The influence of BMI trajectory on T2DM is reduced after accounting for missing data. More work is needed to understand which methods for missing data are most reliable. When estimating BMI trajectories, missing data should be considered. The extent to which accounting for missing data influences cost-effectiveness analyses should be investigated.

Abstract Background Leveraging Alzheimer’s disease (AD) imaging biomarkers and longitudinal cognitive data may allow us to establish evidence of cognitive resilience (CR) to AD pathology in-vivo. Here, we applied latent class mixture modeling, adjusting for sex, baseline age, and neuroimaging biomarkers of amyloid, tau and neurodegeneration, to a sample of cognitively unimpaired older adults to identify longitudinal trajectories of CR. Methods We identified 200 Harvard Aging Brain Study (HABS) participants (mean age = 71.89 years, SD = 9.41 years, 59% women) who were cognitively unimpaired at baseline with 2 or more timepoints of cognitive assessment following a single amyloid-PET, tau-PET and structural MRI. We examined latent class mixture models with longitudinal cognition as the dependent variable and time from baseline, baseline age, sex, neocortical Aβ, entorhinal tau, and adjusted hippocampal volume as independent variables. We then examined group differences in CR-related factors across the identified subgroups from a favored model. Finally, we applied our favored model to a dataset from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI; n = 160, mean age = 73.9 years, SD = 7.6 years, 60% women). Results The favored model identified 3 latent subgroups, which we labelled as Normal (71% of HABS sample), Resilient (22.5%) and Declining (6.5%) subgroups. The Resilient subgroup exhibited higher baseline cognitive performance and a stable cognitive slope. They were differentiated from other groups by higher levels of verbal intelligence and past cognitive activity. In ADNI, this model identified a larger Normal subgroup (88.1%), a smaller Resilient subgroup (6.3%) and a Declining group (5.6%) with a lower cognitive baseline. Conclusion These findings demonstrate the value of data-driven approaches to identify longitudinal CR groups in preclinical AD. With such an approach, we identified a CR subgroup who reflected expected characteristics based on previous literature, higher levels of verbal intelligence and past cognitive activity.

Abstract Background The associations between mood disorders (anxiety and depression) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer’s dementia (AD) remain unclear. Methods Data from the Australian Imaging, Biomarker & Lifestyle (AIBL) study were subjected to logistic regression to determine both cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between anxiety/depression and MCI/AD. Effect modification by selected covariates was analysed using the likelihood ratio test. Results Cross-sectional analysis was performed to explore the association between anxiety/depression and MCI/AD among 2,209 participants with a mean [SD] age of 72.3 [7.4] years, of whom 55.4% were female. After adjusting for confounding variables, we found a significant increase in the odds of AD among participants with two mood disorders (anxiety: OR 1.65 [95% CI 1.04–2.60]; depression: OR 1.73 [1.12–2.69]). Longitudinal analysis was conducted to explore the target associations among 1,379 participants with a mean age of 71.2 [6.6] years, of whom 56.3% were female. During a mean follow-up of 5.0 [4.2] years, 163 participants who developed MCI/AD (refer to as PRO) were identified. Only anxiety was associated with higher odds of PRO after adjusting for covariates (OR 1.56 [1.03–2.39]). However, after additional adjustment for depression, the association became insignificant. Additionally, age, sex, and marital status were identified as effect modifiers for the target associations. Conclusion Our study provides supportive evidence that anxiety and depression impact on the evolution of MCI/AD, which provides valuable epidemiological insights that can inform clinical practice, guiding clinicians in offering targeted dementia prevention and surveillance programs to the at-risk populations.

Children born from pregnancy complications are at higher risk of chronic diseases in adulthood. Identifying which children born from a complicated pregnancy are likely to suffer from later chronic disease is important in order to intervene to prevent or delay the onset of disease. This study examined the associations between the major pregnancy complications (gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, small- and large for gestational age, and preterm birth) and child telomere length, a biomarker of chronic disease risk. This was a population-based longitudinal analysis using data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. The primary outcome is telomere length, measured in 11–12-year-old children. Multivariable linear regression was used to estimate the association between pregnancy complications and child telomere length, adjusting for a range of a priori confounders. Data from 841 families were used. One in four pregnancies (27.1%) featured a pregnancy complication. In the adjusted analysis, there was no association between pregnancy complications and child telomere length (high blood pressure: mean difference (95% CI): 0.00 (−0.12, 0.12); gestational diabetes (0.05 (−0.10, 0.19)); small for gestational age (0.07 (−0.04, 0.19)); large for gestational age (−0.06 (−0.15, 0.03)); and preterm birth (−0.10 (−0.21, 0.01)). Our results do not support the notion that telomere length is shorter in children born to mothers after a pregnancy complication. Methodological considerations should be rigorous to improve the reproducibility of findings.

AbstractThis paper examines the emergence of gender differences in socioemotional skills and traits during adolescence, and the socioeconomic and cultural factors that may explain such gaps, in Ethiopia, India, Peru and Vietnam. Findings from Young Lives longitudinal data showed that the gender gap in self-efficacy emerges around age 19, with males scoring more highly than females in Ethiopia, India and Vietnam. Similar, but less consistent, patterns were observed for self-esteem and peer relations. At age 22, males also scored more highly than females, in at least one country, in emotional stability, conscientiousness, grit, and teamwork. In India and Ethiopia, the two countries with higher poverty and more unequal gender attitudes, we found gender differences in a greater number of socioemotional skills or traits. A predictive analysis of self-efficacy, emotional stability and teamwork found that time spent in paid and unpaid household activities, having a more equal attitude to gender roles, and socioeconomic status were associated with the gender gap in socioemotional skills. These covariates explained gender gaps more in India and Ethiopia than in other countries. However, substantial portions of gender differences remained unexplained by available variables. Our findings may help clarify the origins of gender inequalities in life outcomes and how they can be addressed through socioemotional programmes in adolescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hereditary Spastic Paraplegias (HSP) are genetic neurodegenerative disorders affecting the corticospinal tract. No established neuroimaging biomarker is associated with this condition. Methods: A total of 46 patients affected by HSP, genetically and clinically evaluated and tested with SPRS scores, and 46 healthy controls (HC) matched by age and gender underwent a single-voxel Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy sampling (MRS) of bilateral pre-central and pre-frontal regions. MRS data were analyzed cross-sectionally (at T0 and T1) and longitudinally (T0 vs. T1). Results: Statistically significant data showed that T0 mI/Cr in the pre-central areas of HSP patients was higher than in HC. In the left (L) pre-central area, NAA/Cr was significantly lower in HSP than in HC. In the right (R) pre-frontal area, NAA/Cr was significantly lower in HSP patients than in HC. HSP SPG4 subjects had significantly lower Cho/Cr concentrations in the L pre-central area compared to HC. Among the HSP subjects, non-SPG4 patients had significantly higher mI/Cr in the L pre-central area compared to SPG4 patients. In the R pre-frontal area, NAA/Cr was reduced, and ml/Cr was higher in non-SPG4 patients compared to SPG4 patients. Comparing "pure" and "complex" forms, NAA/Cr was higher in pHSP than in cHSP in the R pre-central and R pre-frontal areas. The longitudinal analysis, which involved fewer patients (n = 30), showed an increase in mI/Cr concentration in the L pre-frontal area among HSP subjects with respect to baseline. The patients had significantly higher SPRS scores at follow-up, with a significant positive correlation between SPRS scores and mI/Cr in the L precentral area, while in bilateral pre-frontal areas, lower SPRS scores corresponded to higher NAA/Cr concentrations. To explore the discriminating power of MRS in correctly identifying HSP and controls, an inference tree methodology classified HSP subjects and controls with an overall accuracy of 73.9%, a sensitivity of 87.0%, and a specificity of 60.9%. Conclusion: This pilot study indicates that brain MRS is a valuable approach that could potentially serve as an objective biomarker in HSP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractMigrant housing-related disadvantages and residential segregation are both important concerns in migrant-receiving countries. However, there exists little understanding about the connection between the two. According to the spatial assimilation framework, migrants who establish themselves in the labour market and experience income increase tend to move to higher-income neighbourhoods. However, migrant opportunities to rent or buy an apartment may vary across cities due to each city having its own distinctive housing regimes, along with related tenure structures, as emphasised by the housing availability framework. Different opportunity structures may lead to different pathways of spatial assimilation, as moving into a higher-income neighbourhood does not necessarily entail becoming a homeowner, and vice versa. The main findings of our comparative and longitudinal study reveal that different pathways of spatial assimilation indeed do arise in cities which have different housing regimes, as has been proposed by the housing availability framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a common complication of severe COVID-19 and contributes to patient morbidity and mortality. ARDS is a heterogeneous syndrome caused by various insults, and results in acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. Patients with ARDS from COVID-19 may represent a subgroup of ARDS patients with distinct molecular profiles that drive disease outcomes. Here, we hypothesized that longitudinal transcriptomic analysis may identify distinct dynamic pathobiological pathways during COVID-19 ARDS. Methods: We identified a patient cohort from an existing ICU biorepository and established three groups for comparison: 1) patients with COVID-19 ARDS that survived hospitalization (COVID survivors, n = 4), 2) patients with COVID-19 ARDS that did not survive hospitalization (COVID non-survivors, n = 5), and 3) patients with ARDS from other causes as a control group (ARDS controls, n = 4). RNA was isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) at 4 time points (Days 1, 3, 7, and 10 following ICU admission) and analyzed by bulk RNA sequencing. Results: We first compared transcriptomes between groups at individual timepoints and observed significant heterogeneity in differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Next, we utilized the likelihood ratio test to identify genes that exhibit different patterns of change over time between the 3 groups and identified 341 DEGs across time, including hemoglobin subunit alpha 2 (HBA1, HBA2), hemoglobin subunit beta (HBB), von Willebrand factor C and EGF domains (VWCE), and carbonic anhydrase 1 (CA1), which all demonstrated persistent upregulation in the COVID non-survivors compared to COVID survivors. Of the 341 DEGs, 314 demonstrated a similar pattern of persistent increased gene expression in COVID non-survivors compared to survivors, associated with canonical pathways of iron homeostasis signaling, erythrocyte interaction with oxygen and carbon dioxide, erythropoietin signaling, heme biosynthesis, metabolism of porphyrins, and iron uptake and transport. Discussion: These findings describe significant differences in gene regulation during patient ICU course between survivors and non-survivors of COVID-19 ARDS. We identified multiple pathways that suggest heme and red blood cell metabolism contribute to disease outcomes. This approach is generalizable to larger cohorts and supports an approach of longitudinal sampling in ARDS molecular profiling studies, which may identify novel targetable pathways of injury and resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]