Comparatively analysing the postoperative optical performance of different intraocular lenses: a prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative performance, including best corrected distance visual acuity (BCDVA) and optical metrics (from the OQAS and iTrace devices), was compared among 4 different intraocular lenses (IOLs). METHODS: This prospective observational study included 104 eyes from 104 subjects who underwent cataract surgery combined with implantation of 4 different IOLs: monofocal (Mon) IOLs, segmental refractive (SegRef) IOLs, diffractive (Dif) IOLs and extended depth of focus (EDoF) IOLs. Postoperative BCDVA and optical metrics were collected at the 6th month. The OQAS optical metrics included the objective scattering index (OSI), Strehl ratio (SR), modulation transfer function (MTF) cut-off frequency, and predicted visual acuity (PVA); the iTrace optical metrics included blur/double vision, glare/halo, starburst, mixed focus, night myopia, and night hyperopia. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in BCDVA among the 4 groups (P = 0.059; power = 70.3%). Differences were observed in all OQAS optical metrics among the groups (all P < 0.001). Overall, Mon IOLs and EDoF IOLs exhibited better performance than Dif IOLs and SegRef IOLs. Starburst was the only iTrace optical metric that differed among the groups (P < 0.001): SegRef IOLs caused more starbursts than Mon IOLs (P = 0.001), Dif IOLs (P = 0.006) and EDoF IOLs (P < 0.001). Spearman rank correlation analysis was used to determine the relationships among the iTrace optical metrics, OQAS optical metrics and BCDVA: starburst was negatively correlated with BCDVA, PVA at contrasts of 100% and 20%, OSI, and MTF cut-off frequency (all P ≤ 0.001); mixed focus was positively correlated with BCDVA, PVA at contrasts of 100% and 20%, OSI, and MTF cut-off frequency (all P ≤ 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative BCDVA and optical metrics varied among the different IOLs, which should be taken into account in the selection and management of IOLs for cataract patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was approved by the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University Ethical Review Board (No. 50 2022).

A robust Spearman correlation coefficient permutation test.

In this work, we show that Spearman's correlation coefficient test about H0:ρs=0 found in most statistical software is theoretically incorrect and performs poorly when bivariate normality assumptions are not met or the sample size is small. There is common misconception that the tests about ρs=0 are robust to deviations from bivariate normality. However, we found under certain scenarios violation of the bivariate normality assumption has severe effects on type I error control for the common tests. To address this issue, we developed a robust permutation test for testing the hypothesis H0:ρs=0 based on an appropriately studentized statistic. We will show that the test is asymptotically valid in general settings. This was demonstrated by a comprehensive set of simulation studies, where the proposed test exhibits robust type I error control, even when the sample size is small. We also demonstrated the application of this test in two real world examples.

Optimizing malaria vector control in the Greater Mekong Subregion: a systematic review and mathematical modelling study to identify desirable intervention characteristics.

BACKGROUND: In the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), new vector-control tools are needed to target mosquitoes that bite outside during the daytime and night-time to advance malaria elimination. METHODS: We conducted systematic literature searches to generate a bionomic dataset of the main malaria vectors in the GMS, including human blood index (HBI), parity proportion, sac proportion (proportion with uncontracted ovary sacs, indicating the amount of time until they returned to host seeking after oviposition) and the resting period duration. We then performed global sensitivity analyses to assess the influence of bionomics and intervention characteristics on vectorial capacity. RESULTS: Our review showed that Anopheles minimus, An. sinensis, An. maculatus and An. sundaicus display opportunistic blood-feeding behaviour, while An. dirus is more anthropophilic. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that environmental, climatic and sampling factors influence the proportion of parous mosquitoes, and resting duration varies seasonally. Sensitivity analysis highlighted HBI and parity proportion as the most influential bionomic parameters, followed by resting duration. Killing before feeding is always a desirable characteristic across all settings in the GMS. Disarming is also a desirable characteristic in settings with a low HBI. Repelling is only an effective strategy in settings with a low HBI and low parity proportion. Killing after feeding is only a desirable characteristic if the HBI and parity proportions in the setting are high. CONCLUSIONS: Although in general adopting tools that kill before feeding would have the largest community-level effect on reducing outdoor transmission, other modes of action can be effective. Current tools in development which target outdoor biting mosquitoes should be implemented in different settings dependent on their characteristics.

LiDAR Dynamic Target Detection Based on Multidimensional Features.

To address the limitations of LiDAR dynamic target detection methods, which often require heuristic thresholding, indirect computational assistance, supplementary sensor data, or postdetection, we propose an innovative method based on multidimensional features. Using the differences between the positions and geometric structures of point cloud clusters scanned by the same target in adjacent frame point clouds, the motion states of the point cloud clusters are comprehensively evaluated. To enable the automatic precision pairing of point cloud clusters from adjacent frames of the same target, a double registration algorithm is proposed for point cloud cluster centroids. The iterative closest point (ICP) algorithm is employed for approximate interframe pose estimation during coarse registration. The random sample consensus (RANSAC) and four-parameter transformation algorithms are employed to obtain precise interframe pose relations during fine registration. These processes standardize the coordinate systems of adjacent point clouds and facilitate the association of point cloud clusters from the same target. Based on the paired point cloud cluster, a classification feature system is used to construct the XGBoost decision tree. To enhance the XGBoost training efficiency, a Spearman's rank correlation coefficient-bidirectional search for a dimensionality reduction algorithm is proposed to expedite the optimal classification feature subset construction. After preliminary outcomes are generated by XGBoost, a double Boyer-Moore voting-sliding window algorithm is proposed to refine the final LiDAR dynamic target detection accuracy. To validate the efficacy and efficiency of our method in LiDAR dynamic target detection, an experimental platform is established. Real-world data are collected and pertinent experiments are designed. The experimental results illustrate the soundness of our method. The LiDAR dynamic target correct detection rate is 92.41%, the static target error detection rate is 1.43%, and the detection efficiency is 0.0299 s. Our method exhibits notable advantages over open-source comparative methods, achieving highly efficient and precise LiDAR dynamic target detection.

Estimation of additive and maternal covariance of production traits in Murrah buffalo.

The study was done to determine additive, maternal and common permanent environmental effects and best-suited model for some production traits using six univariate animal models that differed in the (co)variance components fitted to assess the importance of maternal effect using likelihood ratio test in Murrah buffaloes. Data from 614 Murrah buffaloes related to production traits were collected from history pedigree sheets maintained at the buffalo farm, Department of Livestock Production and Management (LPM), LUVAS, Hisar. The production traits under this study were 305 days milk yield (305DMY), peak yield (PY), lactation length (LL), dry period (DP), lactation milk yield (LMY) and wet average (WA). The heritability estimates were in the range of 0.33-0.44 for 305DMY, 0.25-0.51 for PY, 0.05-0.13 for LL, 0.03-0.23 for DP, 0.17-0.40 for LMY and 0.37-0.66 for WA. Model 1 was considered best for most of the traits, viz., 305DMY, PY, LL, LMY and WA followed by model 2 for DP. Covariance and correlated values within the traits caused inflation of heritability in model 3 and model 6. The maximum covariance between the additive and maternal effect was found in trait LMY, which was 14,183.90 in model 3 and the minimum value was also reported in the same trait for model 6, valued at -3522.37. Multivariate analysis showed that all production traits were moderate to high and positively correlated with each other except for DP, which was low and negative genetic and phenotypic correlated. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients of breeding value among all six models were high and significant, ranged from 0.78 to 1.00 for all the traits except DP, therefore any of the models could be taken into account depending upon the availability of data.

Estimation of direct and maternal covariance along with genetic and phenotypic trends of reproduction traits in Murrah buffalo.

The research utilized data from 662 Murrah buffaloes meticulously recorded over 24 years (1996-2019) from historical pedigree sheets maintained at the buffalo farm of the Department of Livestock Production and Management (LPM) at Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (LUVAS), Hisar. A series of six univariate animal models were employed to calculate estimates of (co)variance components and heritability for first lactation reproduction traits. Among these models, Model 2 was identified as the best fit for age at first calving (AFC) and calving interval (CI), while Model 1 proved optimal for service period (SP) and conception rate (CR). The heritability estimates for AFC, SP, CR and CI across the models were ranged between 0.11 and 0.32, 0.01 and 0.03, 0.05 and 0.06, and 0.01 and 0.06, respectively. Maternal effects (m2 ) were observed in AFC and CI, ranging from 0.10 to 0.20 and 0.01 to 0.03, respectively. Across all three traits, there was a consistent negative genetic correlation (-0.75 to -0.92) between direct additive and maternal effects. The breeding values for AFC, SP, CR and CI varied within specific ranges from -32.85 to 44.33 days, -15.61 to 28.42 days, -7.41 to 6.48% and -20.64 to 35.79 days, respectively. Significantly, Spearman's rank correlation analysis revealed highly significant relationships (p < .01) between the breeding values of different models, indicating strong and consistent associations within these traits. These findings underscore the stable and reliable connections observed within the breeding values for these essential reproductive traits across the various models used in the study. The majority of reproductive traits showed favourable negative trends, indicating a positive outcome. A decrease in AFC, SP and CI suggests an extended economic life for the animals. Additionally, the upward trends in CR reflect positive indications of effective management practices and skilled operational procedures.

Analysis of the current status of TB transmission in China based on an age heterogeneity model.

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease transmitted through the respiratory system. China is one of the countries with a high burden of TB. Since 2004, an average of more than 800,000 cases of active TB has been reported each year in China. Analyzing the case data from 2004 to 2018, we found significant differences in TB incidence by age group. A model of TB is put forward to explore the effect of age heterogeneity on TB transmission. The nonlinear least squares method is used to obtain the key parameters in the model, and the basic reproduction number Rv = 0.8017 is calculated and the sensitivity analysis of Rv to the parameters is given. The simulation results show that reducing the number of new infections in the elderly population and increasing the recovery rate of elderly patients with the disease could significantly reduce the transmission of TB. Furthermore, the feasibility of achieving the goals of the World Health Organization (WHO) End TB Strategy in China is assessed, and we obtained that with existing TB control measures it will take another 30 years for China to reach the WHO goal to reduce 90% of the number of new cases by the year 2049. However, in theory it is feasible to reach the WHO strategic goal of ending TB by 2035 if the group contact rate in the elderly population can be reduced, though it is difficult to reduce the contact rate.

Protein sequence comparison based on representation on a finite dimensional unit hypercube.

Numerous techniques are used to compare protein sequences based on the values of the physiochemical properties of amino acids. In this work, a single physical/chemical property value based non-binary representation of protein sequences is obtained on a 20 × 20-dimensional unit hypercube. The represented vector expressed in the matrix form is taken as the descriptor. The generalized NTV metric, which is an extension of the NTV metric used for polynucleotide space is taken as a distance measure. Based on this distance measure, a distance matrix is obtained for protein sequence comparison. Using this distance matrix, phylogenetic trees are drawn by using Molecular Evolutionary Genetics Analysis 11 (MEGA11) software applying the neighbor-joining method. Data sets used in this current work are 9-ND4, 9-ND5, 9-ND6, 24 TF-LF proteins, 27 different viruses and 127 proteins from the protein kinase C (PKC) family. Two sets of phylogenetic trees are obtained - one based on property value of polarity and the other based on property value of molecular weight. They are found to be exactly the same. Similar results also hold for other single property value based representation. The present trees are individually tested for efficiency based on the criterion of rationalized perception and computational time. The results of the present method are compared with those obtained earlier by other methods on the same protein sequences using assessment criteria of Symmetric distance (SD), Correlation coefficient, and Rationalized perception. In all the cases, the present results are found to be better than the results of other methods under comparison.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Correlation of event-related potentials N170 with dysfunctional attitudes in patients with major depressive disorder.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment frequently accompanies first-episode major depressive disorder (MDD) in patients. Early detection and intervention for cognitive impairment can enhance the quality of life for individuals with depressive disorders. Impaired emotion recognition may serve as an initial manifestation of cognitive impairment in these patients. This study examines the characteristics of event-related potentials N170 and dysfunctional attitudinal questionnaire total scores, as well as each factor and their correlation, revealing characteristic electroencephalogram (EEG) changes associated with cognitive impairment in first-episode MDD patients. METHOD: A total of 88 patients experiencing first-episode MDD and 29 healthy volunteers from the same period participated in the study. They underwent event-related potential N170 measures to assess mood recognition function, the 17-item Hamilton depression scale (HAMD-17) to evaluate the severity of depressive disorder, and the Dysfunctional Attitudes Scales(DAS) to appraise cognitive function. RESULT: The dysfunctional attitude questionnaire's total score and each factor score were higher in the MDD group compared to the healthy control (HC) group. The MDD group exhibited lower amplitudes than the HC group at CZ, PZ, POZ, P7, PO7, P8, and PO8 electrode points. A correlation was identified between the P7 and PO7 electrode points of the event-related potential N170 and cognitive function. LIMITATION: This study solely considered neutral face emotional stimuli and did not account for depressive disorder subtypes. CONCLUSION: Differences were observed between the MDD and HC groups in cognitive function and N170 amplitude in the central brain region (CZ, PZ, POZ), left posterior temporal region (P7), left occipitotemporal region (PO7), right posterior temporal region (P8), and right occipitotemporal region (PO8). Additionally, a correlation was found between N170 latency in the left posterior temporal region of the brain (P7) and the left occipitotemporal region (PO7) with cognitive function.

Long-term spatiotemporal analysis of the climate related impact on the transmission rate of COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: The association between weather conditions and the spread of COVID-19 was demonstrated by previous studies but focused on specific countries or investigated shorter periods of duration limiting the interpretation of the results. AIM: To make an international comprehensive insight into the association between the weather conditions and the spread of COVID-19 by spanning many regions in the Northern and Southern hemispheres over a period of two years for the COVID-19 Outbreak. METHODS: The data were analyzed by using statistical description, linear and multiple regressions, and the Spearman rank correlation test. Daily and weekly COVID-19 cases, the average temperatures, Wind Speed, the amount of precipitation as well as the relative humidity rates were collected from Irbid, Jordan as the main location of analyses, as well as comparison cities and countries in both hemispheres. RESULTS: we found that certain climate variables are significant factors in determining the transmission rate of COVID-19 worldwide. Where, The temperature in the northern hemisphere regions was the most important climate factor that affects the increase in the transmission rate of COVID-19 (Northern Hemisphere rs = -0.65; Irbid rs = -0.74995; P < 0.001), While in southern hemisphere, the climate factor that affects the increase in the transmission rate of COVID-19 was the humidity (rs = 0.55; P < 0.01), In addition, we found the negligible and oscillated effect of wind speed on the transmission rate of COVID-19 worldwide. Moreover, we found that in Irbid 82% of COVID-19 cases were in the fall and winter seasons, while in summer the percentage of COVID-19 cases didn't exceed 3% during the total study period. CONCLUSION: This study can help develop international strategies and policies against COVID-19-related pandemic peaks, especially during the colder seasons in the Northern Hemisphere regions from the first month of fall to the last month of winter.

Correlation of heavy metals' exposure with the prevalence of coronary heart disease among US adults: findings of the US NHANES from 2003 to 2018.

We sought to explore the association between heavy metal exposure and coronary heart disease (CHD) based on data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2003-2018). In the analyses, participants were all aged > 20 and had participated in heavy metal sub-tests with valid CHD status. The Mann-Kendall test was employed to assess the trends in heavy metals' exposure and the trends in CHD prevalence over 16 years. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient and a logistics regression (LR) model were used to estimate the association between heavy metals and CHD prevalence. 42,749 participants were included in our analyses, 1802 of whom had a CHD diagnosis. Total arsenic, dimethylarsonic acid, monomethylarsonic acid, barium, cadmium, lead, and antimony in urine, and cadmium, lead, and total mercury in blood all showed a substantial decreasing exposure level tendency over the 16 years (all Pfor trend < 0.05). CHD prevalence varied from 3.53 to 5.23% between 2003 and 2018. The correlation between 15 heavy metals and CHD ranges from - 0.238 to 0.910. There was also a significant positive correlation between total arsenic, monomethylarsonic acid, and thallium in urine and CHD by data release cycles (all P < 0.05). The cesium in urine showed a negative correlation with CHD (P < 0.05). We found that exposure trends of total arsenic, dimethylarsonic acid, monomethylarsonic acid, barium, cadmium, lead, and antimony in urine and blood decreased. CHD prevalence fluctuated, however. Moreover, total arsenic, monomethylarsonic acid, and thallium in urine all showed positive relationships with CHD, while cesium in urine showed a negative relationship with CHD.

Exploring how ecological and epidemiological processes shape multi-host disease dynamics using global sensitivity analysis.

We use global sensitivity analysis (specifically, Partial Rank Correlation Coefficients) to explore the roles of ecological and epidemiological processes in shaping the temporal dynamics of a parameterized SIR-type model of two host species and an environmentally transmitted pathogen. We compute the sensitivities of disease prevalence in each host species to model parameters. Sensitivity rankings are calculated, interpreted biologically, and contrasted for cases where the pathogen is introduced into a disease-free community and cases where a second host species is introduced into an endemic single-host community. In some cases the magnitudes and dynamics of the sensitivities can be predicted only by knowing the host species' characteristics (i.e., their competitive abilities and disease competence) whereas in other cases they can be predicted by factors independent of the species' characteristics (specifically, intraspecific versus interspecific processes or a species' roles of invader versus resident). For example, when a pathogen is initially introduced into a disease-free community, disease prevalence in both hosts is more sensitive to the burst size of the first host than the second host. In comparison, disease prevalence in each host is more sensitive to its own infection rate than the infection rate of the other host species. In total, this study illustrates that global sensitivity analysis can provide useful insight into how ecological and epidemiological processes shape disease dynamics and how those effects vary across time and system conditions. Our results show that sensitivity analysis can provide quantification and direction when exploring biological hypotheses.

Key Factors and Parameter Ranges for Immune Control of Equine Infectious Anemia Virus Infection.

Equine Infectious Anemia Virus (EIAV) is an important infection in equids, and its similarity to HIV creates hope for a potential vaccine. We analyze a within-host model of EIAV infection with antibody and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses. In this model, the stability of the biologically relevant endemic equilibrium, characterized by the coexistence of long-term antibody and CTL levels, relies upon a balance between CTL and antibody growth rates, which is needed to ensure persistent CTL levels. We determine the model parameter ranges at which CTL and antibody proliferation rates are simultaneously most influential in leading the system towards coexistence and can be used to derive a mathematical relationship between CTL and antibody production rates to explore the bifurcation curve that leads to coexistence. We employ Latin hypercube sampling and least squares to find the parameter ranges that equally divide the endemic and boundary equilibria. We then examine this relationship numerically via a local sensitivity analysis of the parameters. Our analysis is consistent with previous results showing that an intervention (such as a vaccine) intended to control a persistent viral infection with both immune responses should moderate the antibody response to allow for stimulation of the CTL response. Finally, we show that the CTL production rate can entirely determine the long-term outcome, regardless of the effect of other parameters, and we provide the conditions for this result in terms of the identified ranges for all model parameters.

Trends in Educational Assortative Marriage in China Over the Past Century.

In the past century, China has undergone rapid and dramatic social and economic changes. This article describes trends in educational assortative marriages of cohorts born in 1906-1995 in China. We measure educational attainment relatively as an individual's percentile position in the education distribution of a 10-year birth cohort and study trends using comparable, easy-to-interpret couple rank-rank correlations. We analyze microdata samples from the 1982, 1990, 2000, and 2010 China censuses and the 2015 1% intercensus survey and nationally representative surveys between 1996 and 2018. We find a large and steady increase in educational assortative marriage over the past century, except among those born in 1946-1965, whose schooling and marriage were impacted by the Cultural Revolution. Our study highlights the critical roles of social, political, and economic contexts in shaping trends in educational assortative marriage.

Interleukin-40 is a promising biomarker associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus risk.

Interleukin (IL)-40 is a recently identified cytokine with a proposed role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by low-grade inflammation. Therefore, it can be suggested that IL-40 may be involved in the pathogenesis of T2DM, but this topic has not been explored. The current study evaluated the potential of IL-40 as a biomarker for T2DM. Serum IL-40 levels were determined in 106 patients with T2DM and 109 healthy controls using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Median (interquartile range) IL-40 levels were significantly higher in patients than in controls (2.82 [2.58-3.25] vs. 1.22 [0.93-1.42] ng/L; probability [p] < 0.001). When IL-40 levels were stratified according to age, gender, disease duration, body mass index, diabetic neuropathy, fasting plasma glucose or glycated hemoglobin, no significant differences were found in each stratum. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that IL-40 was an excellent predictor in discriminating between T2DM patients and controls (area under the curve = 0.989; 95% confidence interval = 0.973-1.00; p < 0.001). Age- and gender-adjusted multinomial logistic regression analysis estimated an odds ratio of 53.36 (95% confidence interval = 12.52-227.45; p < 0.001) for IL-40 in T2DM. IL-40 level was negatively correlated with age (correlation coefficient = -0.274; p = 0.005) and onset age (correlation coefficient = -0.203; p = 0.037). In conclusion, IL-40 was up-regulated in the serum of T2DM patients, and can be considered as a reliable biomarker in distinguishing patients with T2DM from healthy controls.

Data quality evaluation and calibration of on-road remote sensing systems based on exhaust plumes.

In recent years, with rapid increases in the number of vehicles in China, the contribution of vehicle exhaust emissions to air pollution has become increasingly prominent. To achieve the precise control of emissions, on-road remote sensing (RS) technology has been developed and applied for law enforcement and supervision. However, data quality is still an existing issue affecting the development and application of RS. In this study, the RS data from a cross-road RS system used at a single site (from 2012 to 2015) were collected, the data screening process was reviewed, the issues with data quality were summarized, a new method of data screening and calibration was proposed, and the effectiveness of the improved data quality control methods was finally evaluated. The results showed that this method reduces the skewness and kurtosis of the data distribution by up to nearly 67%, which restores the actual characteristics of exhaust diffusion and is conducive to the identification of actual clean and high-emission vehicles. The annual variability of emission factors of nitric oxide decreases by 60% - on average - eliminating the annual drift of fleet emissions and improving data reliability.

Yinchen Linggui Zhugan decoction ameliorates high fat diet-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by modulation of SIRT1/Nrf2 signaling pathway and gut microbiota.

Yinchen Linggui Zhugan decoction (YLZD) is an effective and classical traditional herbal prescription for treating the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and has been proven to be effective in the regulation of lipid metabolism disorder and attenuate inflammation for a NAFLD rat model. However, the exact underlying mechanism has not been elucidated. In the current study, a NAFLD rat model was established using a high-fat diet (HFD) for 10 weeks, followed by YLZD treatment with 1.92 g/kg/day for 4 weeks to explore the mechanisms of YLZD. Our results showed that YLZD decreased the hepatic lipid deposition, restored the liver tissue pathological lesions, inhibited the expression of oxidative stress, and decreased the inflammatory cytokines levels. Meanwhile, the genes and proteins expressions of SIRT1/Nrf2 signaling pathway together with downstream factors including HO-1 and NQO1 were elevated in the YLZD treated NAFLD rats. For further elaborating the upstream mechanism, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in serum and feces were measured by liquid chromatograph mass spectrometer and gas chromatograph mass spectrometer, and the differences in gut microbiota of rats in each group were analyzed through high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA. The results demonstrated that the contents of butyric acid (BA) and total SCFAs in YLZD-treated NAFLD rats were significantly increased in serum and feces. 16S rRNA sequencing analysis illustrated that YLZD intervention led to a modification of the gut microbiota composition, with a decrease of Oribacterium, Lactobacillus and the ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroides, as well as the increase in SCFAs-producing bacteria such as Christensenellaceae, Clostridia, Muribaculaceae, and Prevotellaceae. Spearman rank correlation analysis indicated that BA and total SCFAs were negatively co-related with oxidative stress-related factors and inflammatory cytokines, while they were positively co-related with SIRT1/Nrf2 pathway related genes and proteins. Furthermore, in vitro study confirmed that BA effectively reduced oxidative stress by activating SIRT1/Nrf2 signaling pathway in L02 cells. Together, the present data revealed YLZD could ameliorate HFD-induced NAFLD in rats by the modulation of SIRT1/Nrf2 signaling pathway and gut microbiota.

Unified framework for brain connectivity-based biomarkers in neurodegenerative disorders.

Background: Brain connectivity is useful for deciphering complex brain dynamics controlling interregional communication. Identifying specific brain phenomena based on brain connectivity and quantifying their levels can help explain or diagnose neurodegenerative disorders. Objective: This study aimed to establish a unified framework to identify brain connectivity-based biomarkers associated with disease progression and summarize them into a single numerical value, with consideration for connectivity-specific structural attributes. Methods: This study established a framework that unifies the processes of identifying a brain connectivity-based biomarker and mapping its abnormality level into a single numerical value, called a biomarker abnormality summarized from the identified connectivity (BASIC) score. A connectivity-based biomarker was extracted in the form of a connected component associated with disease progression. BASIC scores were constructed to maximize Kendall's rank correlation with the disease, considering the spatial autocorrelation between adjacent edges. Using functional connectivity networks, we validated the BASIC scores in various scenarios. Results: Our proposed framework was successfully applied to construct connectivity-based biomarker scores associated with disease progression, characterized by two, three, and five stages of Alzheimer's disease, and reflected the continuity of brain alterations as the diseases advanced. The BASIC scores were not only sensitive to disease progression, but also specific to the trajectory of a particular disease. Moreover, this framework can be utilized when disease stages are measured on continuous scales, resulting in a notable prediction performance when applied to the prediction of the disease. Conclusion: Our unified framework provides a method to identify brain connectivity-based biomarkers and continuity-reflecting BASIC scores that are sensitive and specific to disease progression.

[Variation Characteristics of Surface Water Quality in China in Recent Years].

Based on data from 839 comparable sections (sites) of the national surface water environmental quality monitoring network from 2012 to 2020, the variation tendency of surface water environmental quality over the past nine years was analyzed. The results showed that the environmental quality of surface water in China has continuously improved, the proportion of Grade Ⅰ-Ⅲ water quality increased steadily, and the proportion of inferior Grade Ⅴ water quality decreased in succession. The annual average concentration of ammonia nitrogen, total phosphorus, and permanganate index all showed a decreasing trend annually; compared with those in 2012, the three indicator concentrations respectively declined 75.9%, 48.2%, and 17.5% by 2020. In Guangxi, Hainan, and Ningxia, the proportion of Grade Ⅰ-Ⅲ water quality sections was maintained at 100%, whereas Hubei and Jiangxi showed a consecutive decreasing trend, and the other provinces showed a consecutive increasing trend. In Guangxi, Hainan, Ningxia, Hunan, and Fujian, the proportion of inferior Grade Ⅴ water quality sections remained at 0, and the other provinces showed a decreasing trend yearly. The annual average concentration of total phosphorus in Guangxi and Jiangxi and the permanganate index in Hubei, Hainan, and Liaoning increased annually, whereas that in the other provinces decreased to varying degrees. The proportion of Grade Ⅰ-Ⅲ water quality sections in Ten Major basins showed a fluctuating upward trend. The proportion of inferior Grade Ⅴ water quality in the Zhejiang and Fujian Slice Rivers was maintained at 0, and the other river basins showed a fluctuating and declining trend. The annual average of the main pollution indicators all decreased to varying degrees. In 2020, 53% of 32 important lakes were eutrophic, which increased 12% compared to that in 2012. On the whole, surface water quality has generally improved in China during the past nine years; especially since the 13th Five-Year Plan period, remarkable achievements have been made in the prevention and control of water pollution. However, there are differences among various provinces and basins, the improvement in water environmental quality is unbalanced and uncoordinated, water resources are distributed unevenly, and the eutrophication trend of lakes and reservoirs is not optimistic. In the future, water resources, water environment, and water ecology should be overall managed, and great attention should be focused on precise pollution control and ecological restoration of surface water.

Rank correlation inferences for clustered data with small sample size.

This paper develops methods to test for associations between two variables with clustered data using a U-Statistic approach with a second-order approximation to the variance of the parameter estimate for the test statistic. The tests that are presented are for clustered versions of: Pearsons χ 2 test, the Spearman rank correlation and Kendall's τ for continuous data or ordinal data and for alternative measures of Kendall's τ that allow for ties in the data. Shih and Fay use the U-Statistic approach but only consider a first-order approximation. The first-order approximation has inflated significance level in scenarios with small sample sizes. We derive the test statistics using the second-order approximations aiming to improve the type I error rates. The method applies to data where clusters have the same number of measurements for each variable or where one of the variables may be measured once per cluster while the other variable may be measured multiple times. We evaluate the performance of the test statistics through simulation with small sample sizes. The methods are all available in the R package cluscor.