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Association between midday napping and long-term trajectories of cognitive function among middle-aged and older Chinese adults

Background The prevalence of dementia has become an increasingly important public health priority. This study investigated the association between midday napping and long-term trajectories of cognitive function in middle-aged and older Chinese adults. Methods Among 4648 participants aged 45+ years extracted from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). The components of the Telephone Interview of Cognitive Status battery (TICS-10) was used to assess cognitive function. Group-based trajectory modelling (GBTM) was used to identify long-term trajectories of cognitive function. Multinomial logistic regression model was used to estimate risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results Three distinct long-term trajectories of cognitive function reflected patterns of rapid decline, slow decline, and stable. The RR (95% CI) for rapid decline was 1.45 (1.05–2.01) for 0 minutes, 1.49 (1.05–2.12) for 31–90 minutes, and 2.19 (1.41–3.42) for >90 minutes compared with midday napping 1–30 minutes. The RR (95% CI) for slow decline was 1.22 (1.02–1.47) for 0 minutes, 1.27 (1.04–1.55) for 31–90 minutes, and 1.80 (1.38–2.35) for >90 minutes compared with midday napping 1–30 minutes. In addition, the increased risk of cognitive decline that transferred from >90 to 31–90 minutes, switched from 31–90 to >90 minutes, and persisted in >90 minutes compared with midday napping 1–30 minutes, especially rapid decline. Conclusions There was a longitudinal association between no and long (>30 minutes) midday napping and long-term trajectories of cognitive decline, especially rapid decline. The study is a 4-year observational in nature and provides limited evidence for establishing causal relationships.

A wideband array antenna with a novel matching circuit and DGS structure for the sub 6 GHz applications

Correlations of density and current fluctuations in single-file motion of hard spheres and in driven lattice gas with nearest-neighbor interaction

We analyze correlations between density fluctuations and between current fluctuations in a one-dimensional driven lattice gas with repulsive nearest-neighbor interaction and in single-file Brownian motion of hard spheres dragged across a cosine potential with constant force. By extensive kinetic Monte Carlo and Brownian dynamics simulations, we show that density and current correlation functions in nonequilibrium steady states follow the scaling behavior of the Kardar–Parisi–Zhang (KPZ) universality class. In a coordinate frame comoving with the collective particle velocity, the current correlation function decays as ∼−t−4/3 with time t. Density fluctuations spread superdiffusively as ∼t2/3 at long times, and their spatio-temporal behavior is well described by the KPZ scaling function. In the absence of the cosine potential, the correlation functions in the system of dragged hard spheres show scaling behavior according to the Edwards–Wilkinson universality class. In the coordinate frame comoving with the mean particle velocity, they behave as in equilibrium, with current correlations decaying as ∼−t−3/2 and density fluctuations spreading diffusively as ∼t1/2.

Association between primary care physicians’ practice models and referral rates to specialists: A sex-based cross-sectional study

Referrals from primary care physicians (PCPs) to specialists are a key function of the primary care system, enabling access to secondary and tertiary health care services. Since the early 2000s, Ontario has implemented substantial primary care practice reforms, however, PCP referral patterns have not been examined since reforms were implemented. We conducted a cross-sectional study in Ontario analyzing PCPs’ referral patterns to specialists from January 1 to December 31, 2019. Data from physician administrative and Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) billing databases were linked for 9,301 PCPs practicing comprehensive primary care with 11.8 million patients. We calculated referral rates per physician and built a multivariable Poisson regression model stratified by physician sex, recognizing that female and male PCPs practice primary care differently, to examine the association between PCP’s referral rates and their practice model. Subgroup analyses were conducted for medical, surgical, diagnostics and General Practitioner (GP) focused practice specialties. Overall, PCPs in fee-for-service practice models (females: 0.72, 95% CI 0.71–0.72, males 0.71 95% CI 0.71–0.72) and Family Health Groups (females: 0.90, 95% CI 0.90–0.91, males 0.85 95% CI 0.84–0.85) had lower adjusted relative referral rates compared to those in Family Health Teams (FHTs); a finding that was consistent across medical and surgical specialties. Younger, part-time PCPs, those practicing in urban areas, those with larger roster sizes and those affiliated with a large practice group showed higher adjusted referral rates. Female PCPs tended to be younger (average age 47.2 years vs. 54.1 years for males; SMD=0.56), work part-time (32.1% vs. 17.9% for males; SMD=0.33), had a smaller patient roster (average 1,097.8 rostered patients vs. 1,442.1 for males; SMD=0.44), and had higher unadjusted referral rates to specialists compared to male PCPs (32.9 vs. 29.9 per 100 rostered patients). PCPs’ referral patterns in Ontario vary by practice model and PCP’s sex. Future changes to primary care practices should account for their effects on referral volumes to specialists.

Identification of pandemic ST147, ESBL-type β-lactamases, carbapenemases, and virulence factors in Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from southern Peru

Highly precise values for the energy ratios underlying the Lieb–Oxford bound and the convexity conjecture for the adiabatic connection

The response function Kohn–Sham (KS) inversion method is employed to a set of 67 atoms and molecules to access the kinetic and potential energy contributions to the correlation energy, as well as the correlation energy itself. We use these energy contributions to compute highly reliable and accurate reference values for the energy ratios underlying the Lieb–Oxford bound and the convexity conjecture for the adiabatic connection. Commonly used approximate exchange–correlation functionals that go beyond the local density approximation lead to values for the energy ratios that agree surprisingly well with the calculated reference data. The largest value for the energy ratio corresponding to the Lieb–Oxford bound observed for the considered systems is 1.4024, which is well below the estimate of 1.9554 ≤λLO≤2.1346 for the Lieb–Oxford bound. The convexity conjecture for the adiabatic connection is not violated for any of the considered systems. We show that the numerical errors of the employed response function KS inversion method using Gaussian basis sets can be kept almost negligibly small by choosing an appropriate computational setup. The KS inversion method, furthermore, requires only moderate computational effort and, therefore, is well-suited to calculate reference data for various quantities of interest in Kohn–Sham density-functional theory for large numbers of molecules.

Socioeconomic inequalities of 3-year survival in formal employees with colorectal cancer between 2012 and 2019 in Colombia

Background Colorectal cancer is a high-burden disease that requires comprehensive multidisciplinary management. In Colombia, despite a healthcare system covering 97% of the population, socioeconomic disparities persist. Lower income levels are associated with decreased survival, potentially due to delays in diagnosis or treatment and a higher probability of advanced staging at diagnosis, These inequities persist even among relatively advantaged populations, such as formal employee who are assumed to have fewer barriers to accessing healthcare services compared to informal workers. Objective This study aimed to assess the association monthly minimum wages (MMW) as a measure of socioeconomic status in three-year survival among formal employees diagnosed with colorectal cancer in Colombia from 2012 to 2019. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted using administrative databases that included healthcare and mortality records. Formal employees newly diagnosed with colorectal cancer were identified through diagnostic and oncological procedure codes and were followed for three years from the date of diagnosis or until death. The exposure variable was the legal monthly minimum wage (MMW) at the time of diagnosis, used as a proxy for socioeconomic status, while the outcome variable was three-year survival. Patients were stratified into quartiles based on their MMW. The three-year mortality proportion was calculated for each quartile. To assess survival differences, Cox proportional hazards regression models were applied to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs). Socioeconomic gradients in survival were quantified using the Relative Index of Inequality (RII) and the Slope Index of Inequality (SII). Results The cohort included 1,913 formal employees (mean age: 49.9 years), with 660 deaths (34.5%) recorded over the follow-up period. Patients in the lowest MMW quartile experienced the highest three-year mortality (39.5%) compared to those in the highest quartile (30.7%). After adjusting for confounders, individuals in the highest quartile had a 25% lower risk of death than those in the lowest quartile (aHR: 0.74; 95% CI: 0.59–0.92). The RII indicated a 50% higher risk of death in the lowest income group (RII: 1.50; 95% CI: 1.13–1.99), while the SII revealed an absolute difference of 0.16 deaths per 1,000 individuals (p=0.01). Conclusion Significant income-based disparities in colorectal cancer survival were observed among formal employees in Colombia despite the theoretically equitable healthcare system. These findings underscore the persistent influence of socioeconomic factors on health outcomes, even within populations assumed to have better access to care.

Human intergroup coordination in a hierarchical multi-agent sensorimotor task arises from concurrent co-optimization

Abstract Division of labor and specialization are common principles observed across all levels of biological organisms and societies, including humans that often rely on specialized roles to achieve a shared goal in complex coordination tasks. Understanding these principles in a quantitative fashion remains a challenge. In this study, we explore a novel experimental paradigm where two specialized groups of human players—a sensor group and an actor group—collaborate to accomplish a shared sensorimotor task of steering a cursor into a target. With all decision-makers initially unaware of their contribution and in the absence of verbal communication, the study explores how the group dynamics evolve over time, evaluating performance in terms of learning speed, group coherence and intergroup coordination. To gain quantitative insights, we simulate different computational models, including Bayesian learning and bounded rationality models, to describe human participants’ behavior. We also relate our findings to perceptual control theory, which emphasizes hierarchical control systems in which information flows bidirectionally between levels. Our results show that both human participants and model-based simulations (Bayesian and bounded rational agents) successfully complete the task. Over time, mutual information between actors and sensors increases, and cooperative behavior emerges within the groups. Interestingly, model-free hierarchical reinforcement learning fails to account for the observed data, being overwhelmed by task variability. In contrast, model-based approaches can be shown to generalize to larger groups and more complex network structures in evolutionary simulations. Our findings highlight the importance of internal models and concurrent co-optimization in facilitating adaptive coordination, offering insights into distributed information processing mechanisms.

Erratum: “Evolution equations for open systems and collective variables: Which equation would you like to solve by molecular dynamics simulation?” [J. Chem. Phys. 161, 191501 (2024)]

Revisiting the cognitive and behavioral aspects of loneliness: Insights from different measurement approaches

Loneliness is increasingly recognized as a critical public health issue that profoundly affects psychological well-being and social functioning. This study evaluates cognitive and behavioral differences associated with different facets of loneliness. We classified 790 German-speaking adults (MAge = 31.86 (12.48), 81% female) as lonely or not lonely based on three dimensions - loneliness frequency, distress, and chronicity - and tested for group differences regarding cognitive and behavioral aspects, as proposed by the cognitive model of loneliness, while controlling for depressive and social anxiety symptoms. The results indicate fair to substantial agreement between the three classification methods. Further, we found significant group differences regarding all components, such as interpretation bias, social avoidance, and self-esteem, with each loneliness classification method. Our findings highlight the multifaceted nature of loneliness and underscore the importance of applying diverse methods to fully capture its complexity. This study contributes to a more nuanced understanding of loneliness and its implications, suggesting that interventions should consider the specific dimensions of loneliness to effectively address its cognitive and behavioral ramifications.

Life’s crucial 9 is inversely and linearly associated with female infertility prevalence: a cross-sectional analysis from NHANES 2013–2018

Excited triplet state zero-field splitting in a ligand-to-ligand charge transfer complex

Solid-state variable-temperature, variable-field magneto-photoluminescence experiments have been performed on the emissive excited triplet state (T1) of the ligand-to-ligand charge transfer (LL′CT) complex (qdt)Pt(dbbpy) (qdt = quinoxaline-2,3-dithiolate; dbbpy = 4,4′-di-tert-butyl-2-2′-bipyridine). We observe a strong temperature and magnetic field dependence of the PL spectra, and the spin–lattice relaxation (T1) among ms levels within the T1 state appears to be accelerated due to both ZFS in the T1 state and the presence of the applied magnetic field, allowing for an assessment of the axial ZFS parameter (D) for the chromophoric T1 state, which is EPR silent at X-band (∼9 GHz). Analysis of the data indicates a zero-field splitting (ZFS) of the T1 state (−2.9 ± 0.7 cm−1) that derives from the presence of spin–orbit coupling related to the heavy Pt(II) ion. The results have been used to provide an estimate of the ZFS in the quartet excited state of related radical-elaborated (radical-dichalcogenolene)Pt(dbbpy) complexes. This information is necessary to understand how transitions between the 2T1 and 4T1 excited states in these radical-elaborated complexes lead to electron spin polarization within their 2T1 state and how this is transferred to the 2S0 electronic ground state.

Comparison of absorption and excretion of test compounds in sucking versus chewing pests

A critical understanding of how pests interact with active ingredients is essential for the development of new insect control solutions to maintain crop quality and quantity by reducing insect damage. Absorption of insecticides into insect bodies of targeted pest species is the first critical step that confounds the efficacy of insecticides. This study investigated how different feeding behaviour of two pests, Myzus persicae and Spodoptera littoralis, affects the absorption, metabolism, and excretion (AME) of seven insecticidally inactive test compounds. A feeding contact assay for the chewing pest (Lepidopteran larvae) and an oral ingestion assay for the sucking pest (aphids) was used to investigate the AME of test compounds with agrochemical-like structural motifs. The standardized assays comprised of an exposure period with treated diet and a subsequent depuration period with untreated diet. The results showed that S. littoralis larvae differed from M. persicae in their compound quantities absorbed into the insect body and in their excretion products at the end of the exposure or depuration periods. We suggest that this is caused by their different ingestion types and rates resulting in different absorption and excretion quantities. Further, we found differences in the metabolism (timing and biotransformation pathways) of compounds between both species. Notably, certain compounds remained detectable in both pests after the depuration period, suggesting compound and species-specific metabolism and excretion. Our results highlight the complex interplay between feeding biology of insects, in particular the critical role of excretion products, and the exposure to different compounds that lead to species-specific AME.

Robustness of viral load over CD4 cell count in measuring the quality of life of people with HIV at second line regimen in Amhara region

Bulk viscosity of simple liquids

Anomalous intrinsic properties of bulk viscosity at normal states of simple liquids were revealed by molecular dynamics simulations, compared with shear viscosity and thermal conductivity. To this end, we analyzed the partial contributions of the time correlation function in the Green–Kubo formula not only from pair and three-body interactions but also from attractive and repulsive parts. The most distinct feature of bulk viscosity from the other transport properties is sensitivity to the attractive interaction. What is even more interesting is that the effect of attractive interactions is greatly reduced by the introduction of the three-body repulsion, even though the strength of the three-body repulsion itself is very weak and has little effect directly on all the transport coefficients. The mechanism behind this is elucidated in detail through the change in the pair distribution function brought about by the introduction of the three-body interaction. We conclude that the origin of the anomalous properties is that the transport process corresponding to bulk viscosity is a scalar process that does not involve directional flow, unlike other transport processes.

The first validation of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Hepatobiliary (FACT-Hep) for evaluating health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with advanced-stage intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (biliary tract cancer)

Background The FACT-Hep questionnaire has been used to evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in various types of hepatobiliary cancer. Nevertheless, the application in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) has been limited. The study aimed to validate the applicability of FACT-Hep as a reliable tool for evaluating HRQOL in patients with advanced-stage iCCA. Methods Atractylodes lancea capsules were tested for efficacy and safety in a randomized, controlled phase IIA. Internal consistency, intraclass correlation, test-retest reliability, discriminant and convergent validity, and FACT-Hep score-clinical response connection were assessed. Results Thirty-nine patients qualified for the research. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients > 0.7 showed internal consistency for all subscale items from baseline (day 1) to 90 days. For ICC, convergent, and discriminant validity, all items except the HepCS subscale were reliable. Patients with ECOG scores of 0–1 or 2 had significantly different HepCS subscale values—calculated effect size for subscale score change over time. FACT-G and FWB differed significantly in low-dose group 1. At 3-month, 1-month, and 2-month follow-ups, Group 2 (high dose) patients had significant differences in FACT-Hep, TOI, and HepCS. The effect size was the same in Group 3 (untreated). Group 1 and 2 non-progressive patients exhibited lower FWB and EWB scores than progressive patients. The treated survivors had lower FACT-Hep, TOI, HepCS, FWB, and EWB scores than the non-treated survivors, which was linked to AL treatment side effects. Conclusion The FACT-Hep detects changes and is a reliable and valid tool for assessing HRQOL in patients with advanced-stage iCCA.

A five-year examination into the occurrence of herbicide-resistant barnyardgrass populations in paddy from Jiangsu Province, China

An unusual way of augmenting one-electron basis sets: New aug-pecS-<i>n</i> (<i>n</i> = 1, 2) basis sets for H, C, N, and O atoms for NMR shielding constant calculations that require extra diffuse functions

In this paper, the augmentation of the NMR chemical shift-oriented pecS-n (n = 1, 2) basis sets for H, C, N, and O atoms with diffuse functions was proposed. New aug-pecS-n basis sets were shown to significantly improve the accuracy of the calculated solvent corrections to 1H, 13C, 15N, and 17O NMR shielding constants and these shielding constants of anion systems. The augmentation of the pecS-n (n = 1, 2) basis sets was carried out with the property-energy consistent method using the isotropic dipole polarizability as the target property, which is cardinally different from the usual approach based on the anion energy minimization.

Potential drug targets for Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD): A Mendelian randomization analysis

Background Certain peripheral proteins are involved in the development of Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD), such as IL-6, complement proteins, and MHC class II molecules. However, the roles of other new protein biomarkers are unclear. Current NMOSD treatments (e.g., intravenous pulse methylprednisolone, or satralizumab for IL-6 receptor inhibition) can only manage symptoms, necessitating the identification of new drug targets to treat NMOSD. The objective of this study is to identify potential drug targets for NMOSD through Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis, thereby addressing the limitations of current treatments and providing better clinical options for patients. Methods NMOSD potential drug targets were evaluated via MR. Data was obtained from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) with 132 individuals with AQP4-IgG-positive NMOSD and 1244 controls. Genetic instruments for plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) proteins were identified. Sensitivity analyses were conducted using Bayesian co-localization, reverse causality testing and phenotype scanning. Additionally, a comparison and analysis of protein-protein interactions (PPI) were conducted to identify potential causal proteins. The implications of these findings were further explored by evaluating existing NMOSD drugs and their respective targets. Results Four proteins were identified at the FDR correction via MR analysis (p &lt; 0.05). Higher levels of PF4V1 (OR = 0.47; 95% CI, 0.29–0.78; p = 3.39 × 10−3) and FAM3B (OR = 0.12; 95% CI, 0.03–0.45; p = 1.65 × 10−3) were associated with a reduced risk of NMOSD, whereas elevated SERPINA1 (OR = 2.28; 95% CI, 1.29–4.04; p= 4.71 × 10−3) and CLEC11A (OR = 13.45; 95% CI, 1.29–4.04; p = 4.71 × 10−3) were related to an increased risk of NMOSD. Bayesian co-localization showed that the protein-related genes shared the same mutation as NMOSD (all PPH4&gt;0.80). Reverse causality testing showed no evidence of NMOSD-driven protein changes (all p &gt; 0.05). PPI analysis revealed SERPINA1 interacts with PF4V1 (combined score = 0.72). Drug evaluation identified Mercaptoethanol and Ferrous gluconate as repurposing candidates. Conclusion Increased levels of plasma CLEC11A and SERPINA1 are correlated with an elevated risk of NMOSD, whereas elevated levels of plasma PF4V1 and CSF FAM3B are associated with a decreased risk of NMOSD. The opposing effects of risk or protective proteins suggest synergistic targeting could improve efficacy beyond current immunosuppressive regimens. Nonetheless, clinical trials are required to confirm the findings.

Coxsackievirus A24 variant associated with acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis outbreak in Bhutan, 2023

Abstract In 2023, Bhutan detected an outbreak of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC) in southern and central regions, coinciding with similar outbreaks reported in South and Southeast Asia. Laboratory results from clinical specimens were initially inconclusive in identifying the etiological agent. To address this, 18 clinical samples, comprising conjunctival swabs and throat/nasal swabs from nine patients were collected and sent to WRAIR-AFRIMS for further analysis. Specimens were tested using multiplex real-time RT-PCR (Fast-track respiratory 21 kit, FTD21) and hybrid-capture-based next-generation sequencing (NGS) with the Illumina Viral Surveillance Panel. FTD21 testing identified human adenovirus, human bocavirus, influenza A, enterovirus, and/or human rhinovirus in 10/18 specimens (56%). A higher detection rate was observed in conjunctival specimens (78%, 7/9) compared to throat/nasal specimens (33%, 3/9) from the same patients, highlighting the increased sensitivity of conjunctival samples in identifying causative agents of conjunctivitis. Further assessment by NGS detected only coxsackievirus A24 variant (CVA24v) genotype IV in 9/17 specimens (53%), with detection primarily from conjunctival samples. Phylogenetic analyses of CVA24v VP1 sequences revealed genetic distinctions in the 2023 isolates compared to prior outbreaks from 2002–2017, suggesting re-emergence driven by novel genetic mutations. These findings suggest that conjunctival samples are more reliable for detecting the etiological agent in AHC outbreaks compared to throat/nasal swabs. Additionally, the identification of a novel strain of CVA24v genotype IV underscores the importance of genomics.