ABSTRACT
Extensive research has focused on the impact of weather on working capacity and income. However, in regions where income data largely relies on surveys, a pivotal yet underexplored question is whether weather not only influence real income but also introduce biases into survey-collected income data. We analyze longitudinal data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey and corresponding weather records from the Global Surface Summary of the Day, and uncover a negative correlation between survey-day temperature and self-reported annual income from the previous year. With a series of robustness checks, we confirm that the effect is primarily driven by behavioral factors rather than actual income changes. And threshold regression analyses show that the impact of temperature is more pronounced on hot days and relatively subdued or even reversed on cooler days. Further analyses indicate that mood, rather than cognitive capacity, plays a central role in causing the observed downward bias.
ABSTRACT
For the optimization of ventricular assist devices (VADs), flow simulations are crucial. Typically, these simulations assume single-phase flow to represent blood flow. However, blood consists of plasma and blood cells, making it a multiphase flow. Cell migration in such flows leads to a heterogeneous cell distribution, significantly impacting flow dynamics, especially in narrow gaps of less than 300 µm found in VADs. In these areas, cells migrate away from the walls, forming a cell-free layer, a phenomenon not usually considered in current VAD simulations. This paper addresses this gap by introducing a viscosity model that accounts for cell migration in microchannels under VAD-relevant conditions. The model is based on local particle distributions measured in a microchannels with a blood analog fluid. We developed a local viscosity distribution for flows with particles/cells and a cell-free layer, applicable to both blood and analog fluids, with particle volume fractions of up to 5%, gap heights of 150 µm, and Reynolds numbers around 100. The model was validated by comparing simulation results with experimental data of blood and blood analog fluid flow on wall shear stresses and pressure losses, showing strong agreement. This model improves the accuracy of simulations by considering local viscosity changes rather than assuming a single-phase fluid. Future developments will extend the model to physiological volume fractions up to 40%.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Smoking in people with diabetes markedly elevates their risk of developing complications and increases the likelihood of cardiovascular mortality. This review is the first to specifically provide evidence-based analysis about the influence of quitting smoking on diabetes-related complications in people with type 2 diabetes. METHOD: The present review was carried out according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Extension for Scoping Reviews. All human clinical studies assessing the effects of stopping smoking cessation on diabetes-related complications were included. PubMed and Embase were screened until January 2024. References of primary studies and principal peer-reviewed scientific journals in the field were manually screened. RESULTS: We identified a total of 1023 studies. Only 26 met the criteria for eligibility. In general quitting smoking is associated with decreased risks of myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke. Regarding microvascular complications, the strongest evidence for the beneficial effects of smoking cessation is observed in diabetic nephropathy. However, the relationship between smoking cessation and retinopathy, neuropathy, diabetic foot complications and diabetic-related erectile dysfunction, is poorly investigated. CONCLUSION: Quitting smoking offers significant advantages in managing diabetes-related complications, significantly lowering the risks of myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and diabetic nephropathy. This underscores the importance of cessation. Providing evidence-based information on the benefits of stopping smoking for people with type 2 diabetes who smoke, can bolster smoking cessation efforts in the context of diabetes management.