Search Results (49)

Introduction: The “obesity paradox” describes the observed association between improved cancer-specific (CSS) and overall (OS) survival observed among obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²) patients with RCC. Prior studies have reported lower stage/grade tumors among obese patients to explain this. This study aimed to evaluate subcutaneous (SFA) and visceral fat area (VFA) associations with CSS, OS, tumor stage and grade among patients with non-metastatic clear cell RCC. Methods: Following IRB approval, patients undergoing nephrectomy for clear cell RCC between 2000 and 2023 were screened for inclusion. Eligible patients were those with non-metastatic disease and available preoperative imaging within 90 days of surgery. SFA and VFA were determined using mid-L3 imaging and standardized Hounsfield Unit thresholds. Multivariable Cox models evaluated factors associated with 5-year CSS and OS, and multivariable logistic regression models evaluated associations with pathologic stage (pT) 3–4 and Fuhrman grade 3–4 disease. Results: 400 patients were included. Higher SFA quartiles were independently associated with improved CSS (Q3 HR 0.21, p = 0.029; Q4 HR 0.24, p = 0.042) and OS (Q2-Q4 HR range 0.35–0.52, all p < 0.05) compared to Q1. VFA was not independently associated with OS and showed only an isolated association with CSS in the third quartile (HR 2.95, p = 0.041). Neither SFA nor VFA were independently associated with RCC stage or grade. Conclusions: Greater subcutaneous adiposity was associated with improved 5-year CSS/OS, whereas visceral adiposity did not demonstrate consistent associations with survival outcomes. These findings refine the obesity paradox and reflect the importance of fat distribution as a more specific risk factor than weight-based measures such as BMI alone. Full article

Psychosomatic symptoms are common among females and involve complex psychological and cognitive processes. This study examined the relationships among self-focused attention (SFA), rumination, perceived stress, and psychosomatic symptoms. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in China among 839 women (mean age = 26.50 ± 6.08 years). Standardized questionnaires assessed SFA, rumination, perceived stress, anxiety symptoms, and somatic symptoms. Correlation, hierarchical regression, and structural equation modeling (SEM) analyses were performed. Psychosomatic symptoms were positively correlated with perceived stress, rumination, and SFA. SFA was positively correlated with rumination but not with perceived stress. SEM indicated a full mediation pattern in which rumination and perceived stress mediated the relationship between SFA and psychosomatic symptoms. The indirect path through rumination alone was not significant, whereas the indirect path through perceived stress alone and the chained indirect path through rumination and perceived stress were significant. The final SEM fit indices were (χ² [70] = 441.460, χ²/df = 6.307, CFI = 0.965, IFI = 0.965, TLI = 0.954, RMSEA = 0.080 [0.073–0.087], SRMR = 0.079, RMR = 0.037). The findings suggest that SFA may be associated with psychosomatic symptoms through different pathways. Given the online convenience sampling and the relatively limited age distribution, the findings should be generalized cautiously to broader female populations. Full article

Background: Marathon running triggers a robust systemic inflammatory response. Whether habitual dietary fat composition modulates pre-race cytokine concentrations or the magnitude and recovery of the exercise-induced inflammatory response remains unknown. Methods: Thirty-one recreational marathon runners (58.1% female; mean age 38.4 ± 10.2 years) completed the Diet History Questionnaire III to assess habitual dietary fat intake—including chain-length-specific SFA, MFA, PFA, trans fatty acids, and CLA—over the preceding three months. Circulating IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α were measured pre-race, immediately post-race, and 48 h post-race. Repeated measures ANOVA examined cytokine changes; multivariable regression models estimated fat–cytokine associations adjusted for 11 pre-specified covariates, with Benjamini–Hochberg FDR correction applied across all models. Results: IL-6 rose markedly post-race (p < 0.001, generalized η² = 0.615) before returning to pre-race levels by 48 h. IL-10 followed a similar trajectory (p < 0.001, generalized η² = 0.346). TNF-α showed a borderline non-significant trend (p = 0.056); IFN-γ, IL-1β, and IL-4 did not change significantly. MFA 20:1 was positively associated with IFN-γ concentrations at 48 h post-race (β = 13.66; 95% CI: 8.94, 18.38, p < 0.01, q = 0.04) and TNF-α (β = 9.14; 95% CI: 6.43, 11.86, p < 0.01, q = 0.02). Conclusions: Habitual intake of the long-chain monounsaturated fatty acid 20:1 was positively associated with IFN-γ and TNF-α at 48 h post-race. This pattern, emerging specifically at the 48 h post-race phase, suggests that the post-race period, once acute exercise-induced signaling has subsided, may be a window in which habitual dietary fat quality is most detectable in relation to circulating cytokines. Habitual fat quality may warrant consideration in future endurance recovery nutrition research. This exploratory finding calls for replication in larger cohorts. Full article

Excessive fertilizer use threatens soil quality and the sustainability of grain production, making improvements in fertilizer use efficiency (FUE) essential. This study examines how conservation tillage (CT) practices affect FUE in China’s wheat–maize rotation system using survey data from 1528 farm households in Shandong, Henan, Anhui, Shaanxi, and Shanxi provinces of China. We estimate FUE using stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) and identify the treatment effects of tillage choices using a multinomial endogenous switching regression (MESR) model to correct for self-selection. Three tillage practices are compared: conventional rotary tillage with straw returning (CTS), no-tillage with straw returning (NTS), and deep tillage with straw returning (DTS). The results show that the average FUE of farmers in grain production in the sample area is 0.5045 and displays a bimodal distribution. Relative to CTS, NTS significantly improves farmers’ FUE, whereas DTS significantly reduces it. Mechanism analysis indicates that NTS improves FUE through both reduced fertilizer input and increased yield, while DTS mainly increases yield without reducing fertilizer input. Threshold analysis further shows that farm size conditions these effects. The findings suggest that CT policies should promote NTS more actively and apply DTS selectively according to farm size and local production conditions. Full article

The adoption of green pest control technologies (GPCTs) has emerged as a critical factor in the pursuit of sustainable agricultural practices, particularly in improving farm efficiency and mitigating environmental impacts. This study investigates the effect of GPCT adoption on the technical efficiency of apple farmers in Shandong Province, China, using survey data collected in 2022. Applying advanced econometric techniques, including stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) to measure technical efficiency and endogenous switching regression model (ESR) to address endogeneity and selection bias, the findings indicate that GPCT adoption significantly enhances farmers’ technical efficiency. Specifically, under the counterfactual scenario of adoption, non-adopters’ technical efficiency would increase by 18.2% (from 0.669 to 0.851), whereas adopters would experience a 3.9% efficiency gain attributable to adoption (from the counterfactual 0.700 to the observed 0.739). The analysis further reveals that lower-income farmers benefit disproportionately from GPCT adoption, suggesting that the technology offers greater potential to enhance the productivity of resource-constrained farmers. These results underscore the importance of targeted policy interventions, such as subsidies and agricultural extension programs, to foster the widespread adoption of GPCTs, particularly among lower-income groups. This study contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence of the dual benefits of GPCT adoption: improving farm efficiency while promoting environmental sustainability, with important implications for policy formulation in developing economies. Full article

Profiling the blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability of bioactive molecules during early drug development is critical for optimizing their pharmacokinetic profile. The in vivo ability of a compound to cross the BBB is measured by the log BB parameter; however, its determination requires costly and time-consuming animal experiments. This study aimed to develop a novel in vitro method for high-throughput prediction of log BB values. The approach combines experimental data from open-tubular capillary electrochromatography (CEC) and automated potentiometric titrations, including the CEC retention factor (k′), electropherograms, and physicochemical parameters pK_a and log D_7.4. The k′ parameter reflects BBB permeability using a capillary internally coated with liposomes that mimic a biological membrane. Preliminary CEC analyses were conducted for 25 neutral drugs at pH 7.4, revealing a promising correlation between the permeability parameters log k and log BB. The validation was extended to 57 ionized drugs, with additional determination of pK_a and log D_7.4. A regression model was developed: log BB = −2.45 + 0.1k′ + 0.3logD_7.4 + 0.27pK_a (R² = 0.64). Furthermore, the analysis of CEC electropherograms enabled the machine learning-based rapid classification of compounds using Dynamic Time Warping, k-Nearest Neighbors, and the Bag-of-SFA-Symbols in Vector Space model, yielding an accuracy of 0.81 and an F1_weighted score of 0.8. Full article

Sustainability initiatives have gained significant attention; however, limited research has examined whether ESG factors facilitate or hinder financial sector efficiency. This research investigates the differences between the traditional stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) and the ESG-integrated SFA model in explaining inefficiency. In addition, it examines how ESG factors influence inefficiencies in a truncated regression. The sample includes 9 banks (4 Islamic and 5 commercial) and 11 financial firms—all the ESG adopters in Kuwait financial sector. Quarterly data were employed from 2018 to 2023. The findings revealed that the ESG-integrated model improves the explanatory power of the cost function, partially reducing stochastic noise in financial operations. Moreover, ESG facilitates lending consistently and reduces the marginal cost of non-interest activities. Nonetheless, capital reliance in both models is associated with higher inefficiencies. Additionally, we found that financial institutions on average operate at 33% below the best-practice technology frontier, indicating moderate gaps across the sector. Overall, strong ESG alignment is associated with improved cost-efficiency when supported by strong institutional quality. Full article

Background/Objectives: Nutrients such as vitamin B12, folate (B9), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) may independently influence cognitive health, but their combined effects and interactions remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the effects of B12, folate, and PUFAs, including their interactions, on cognitive function in cognitively healthy older adults, considering effect modification by sex and amyloid-beta status. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from 321 participants aged 60–85 y enrolled in the UK CHARIOT–PRO SubStudy. Dietary intake was assessed using the Scottish Collaborative Group Food Frequency Questionnaire, and cognitive performance was measured via the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). Stratified multivariate linear regression models by sex and amyloid-beta status and models with the saturated to unsaturated fatty acid ratio (substituted for PUFAs) as one of the predictors were constructed. Results: Males had lower total RBANS scores with a higher PUFA intake (β = −13.97, p = 0.04) but improved scores with increased folate (β = 9.08, p = 0.04). PUFA × folate revealed contrasting effects to PUFAs alone, with higher cognitive scores in the amyloid-negative group for total RBANS (β = 13.27, 95%: 3.81~22.73, p = 0.01) but lowered scores in the amyloid-positive group. Considering the UFA:SFA ratio, higher delayed memory scores were associated with the combined intake of folate, B12, and PUFAs (β = 7.46, p = 0.02) among females. In the amyloid-positive group, the negative cognitive effects observed with PUFAs were reversed when UFA:SFA was considered. Conclusions: Amyloid status and sex significantly influenced the cognitive effects of nutrient intake, with distinct patterns based on specific cognitive domains and nutrient interactions. Full article

The transition to a low-carbon economy is a key challenge for Eastern Europe, where economic growth, energy investments, and emission reduction policies interact in complex ways. This study employs a spatial econometric approach to assess the effectiveness of renewable energy investments and government environmental spending in mitigating CO₂ emissions across the region. Using panel data and spatial Durbin models (SDMs), we identify significant spillover effects in emissions reduction, revealing those environmental policies in one country influence neighboring regions. The results indicate that renewable investments have a positive but localized impact on emissions reduction, whereas government environmental expenditure exhibits diminishing returns beyond a threshold of 0.01 GDP. Threshold regression analysis confirms that excessive spending may lead to inefficiencies, reversing its expected benefits. Additionally, stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) highlights disparities in energy efficiency, with some countries demonstrating stronger optimization strategies than others. These findings underscore the importance of policy coordination and targeted investment strategies to enhance the effectiveness of decarbonization efforts. Strengthening regional cooperation and optimizing environmental expenditure allocation can significantly improve sustainability outcomes in Eastern Europe. Full article

Objectives: The objective of this study is to outline a framework for how fatty acids may be acting as mediators/suppressors and/or moderators of an individual’s genetic predisposition for cardiovascular lipid biomarkers. Methods: All UK Biobank participants with demographic and lifestyle variables, circulating cardiovascular lipids, and NMR-measured fatty acid data collected at the baseline visit (N = 229,859) were included in analyses. We fit four separate linear regression models, one for each of the following common measures of cardiovascular lipids: total cholesterol, HDL-c, LDL-c, and total triglycerides. Each model predicted cardiovascular lipids by an individual’s FADS (a well-known fatty acid desaturase gene complex) haplotype, with the addition of individual ω-3 (DHA, non-DHA, and total), ω-6 (LA, non-LA, and total), or SFA factors as additive (mediation/suppression) or using an interaction term (with FADS) (moderation). All models were adjusted for a wide range of demographic and medical history variables and evaluated against a Bonferroni-adjusted significance level (p < 8.9 × 10⁻⁴). Results: Across 56 models (four lipids × seven FAs × two conceptual models (mediation/suppression and moderation)), we found evidence of 19 moderation, 12 mediation, and 16 suppression effects of the FADS–lipid relationship. For example, adjusting for circulating DHA levels as a mediator, the association of the genotype with HDL-c substantially lessened for both minor genotypes reflecting >122% mediation of the association of FADS by DHA. Additionally, we found evidence that LDL-c is moderated, to some extent, by all fatty acid measures. Conclusions: This analysis demonstrates that an individual’s fatty acid profile can act as a mediator/suppressor or moderator of the association of the FADS genotype and various cardiovascular biomarkers. Future work is necessary to expand this cross-sectional examination to determine directionality and temporality of the mediation and moderation evidence presented. This research has been conducted using the UK Biobank Resource under Application Number 85092. Full article

The sustainable management of state-owned forest regions is significant for improving the nationally determined contribution and achieving carbon neutrality. The administrative area of key state-owned forest regions in northeast China and Inner Mongolia, hereafter referred to as forest regions, spans a forested area of 27.16 million hectares and a forest coverage rate of 82.97%. This represents China’s largest state-owned forest resource base, with extensive and concentrated forest areas. However, despite this vast forest coverage, the region’s forest stand density remains below the national and global average, underscoring the need for improved carbon sequestration performance. This study used the Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) method to measure the carbon sequestration efficiency of key state-owned forest regions in northeast China and Inner Mongolia. A spatiotemporal Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression model (GTWR) was employed to reveal the spatiotemporal non-stationarity of the driving mechanism of carbon sequestration efficiency. Finally, the benchmarking management method was applied to predict the carbon sequestration potential. The results indicated that the carbon sequestration efficiency of forest regions exhibited an overall increasing trend over time, with significant spatial and temporal heterogeneity among forest industry enterprises (forest farms). Specifically, the carbon sequestration efficiency ranked from highest to lowest is as follows: Greater Khingan Forestry Group, Inner Mongolia Forestry Industry Group, Longjiang Forestry Industry Group, Changbai Mountain Forestry Industry Group, Jilin Forestry Industry Group, and Yichun Forestry Industry Group. Furthermore, carbon sequestration efficiency was driven by both natural and socioeconomic factors, but the effects of these factors were spatiotemporally non-stationary. Generally, enterprise output value, labor compensation, tending, and accumulated temperature had positive effects on carbon sequestration efficiency, while capital structure, altitude, and precipitation had negative effects. Finally, our findings revealed that the carbon sequestration potential of forest regions is substantial. If technical efficiency is improved, the carbon sequestration potential of forest regions could expand by 0.86 times the current basis, reaching 31.29 mtCO₂ by 2030. These results underscore the importance of respecting the differences and conditionality of forest development paths and promoting the sustainable management of key state-owned forest regions through scientific approaches, which is crucial for achieving carbon neutrality goals. Full article

Background/Objectives: The objective of this study was to analyze the relationships between diet and geographic atrophy (GA) progression, both area-based and proximity-based, for dietary pattern, components, and micronutrients. Methods: In the Age-Related Eye Diseases Study (AREDS) and AREDS2, an Alternative Mediterranean Diet Index (aMedi), its nine components, and individual micronutrient intakes were calculated. Mixed-model regression was performed for square root GA area, GA foveal proximity, and acuity. Results: The study populations comprised 657 (AREDS) and 1179 eyes (AREDS2). For area-based progression, a higher aMedi was associated with slower progression in AREDS2 and (in analyses excluding MUFA:SFA) AREDS. A higher intake was associated with slower progression for seven components (including vegetables and fruit at Bonferroni) and four components (including fruit and less red meat at Bonferroni), and seven and 15 nutrients, in AREDS1/2, respectively. For proximity-based progression, a higher aMedi was associated with slower progression in AREDS. A higher intake was associated with slower progression for three components (including vegetables at Bonferroni) and two components, and 10 and 8 nutrients, in AREDS1/2, respectively. With increasing oral supplementation, associations between proximity-based progression and aMedi/components/nutrients were weaker. In AREDS2 eyes with non-central GA, higher aMedi was associated with a slower acuity decline. Conclusions: A Mediterranean-type diet is associated with slower GA area-based progression and slower progression to the fovea, accompanied by a slower decline in acuity. The most important components and micronutrients for incidence, area-based progression, and foveal progression overlap only partially. For the latter two, they include vegetables, fruit, and less red meat. These findings suggest the benefits of targeted nutritional and supplementation strategies. Full article

Financial resources play a crucial role in rural revitalization. Understanding the efficiency of financial support is essential for the scientific and rational allocation of these resources. Therefore, we conducted an assessment over the period 2011–2020 utilizing the three-stage DEA model and the Malmquist index model to measure the efficiency of financial support for rural revitalization across 30 Chinese provinces (excluding Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and Tibet) from both static and dynamic perspectives. The results indicate the following: (1) Despite an overall downward trend, efficiency increased during specific intervals, namely 2012–2013, 2015–2016, and 2018–2019. (2) Regionally, the decline in the efficiency of financial support for rural revitalization is particularly notable in the northeast region. The eastern and central regions also experienced this trend to a lesser extent, whereas the western region experienced a more moderate decrease. However, a detailed analysis revealed that 10 provinces experienced efficiency gains. (3) Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) regression results suggest that environmental variables have a measurable impact on the efficiency of financial support for rural revitalization. Full article

Over the past two decades, the industrial sector of China has experienced rapid development, which has correspondingly led to a significant increase in water resource consumption. To better understand the dynamics of industrial water use, and formulate appropriate water resource conservation and management policies, it is necessary to evaluate the evolution of industrial water use efficiency and its influencing factors in China. Given the high sensitivity and accuracy of the stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) model for efficiency assessment, the Tobit model is more suitable for regression analyses of truncated data. This study employed the SFA–Tobit panel model to evaluate the industrial water use efficiency of provinces in China from 2003 to 2021. The results indicate that national industrial water use efficiency improved from 0.41 to 0.65 during the study period. All provinces showed significant improvements, with developed provinces exhibiting higher industrial water use efficiency than undeveloped provinces. Regionally, the eastern areas demonstrated superior industrial water use efficiency compared to the western regions, with the central regions having the lowest overall water use efficiency. Moreover, the efficiency gap between regions has been narrowing. The national industrial water-saving potential is estimated at 31.306 billion cubic meters, with Jiangsu province having the highest saving potential at 3.709 billion cubic meters. In comparison, Beijing has the lowest at just 32,000 cubic meters. The Tobit regression results reveal that economic development and technological progress positively contribute to increased industrial water use efficiency. In contrast, water use intensity, openness, and urbanization levels negatively impacted the improvement of industrial water use efficiency. Therefore, it is necessary to increase investment in technological innovation, strictly control industrial water intensity, appropriately balance import and export trade with urbanization levels, and promote sustainable economic development. This study can provide effective support for the subsequent green transformation of China’s industry. Full article

Despite beneficial cardiovascular effects, substantial long-term modulation of food pattern could only be achieved in a limited number of participants. The impact of attitude towards healthy nutrition (ATHN) on successful modulation of dietary behavior is unclear, especially in the elderly. We aimed to analyze whether the personal ATHN influences 12-month adherence to two different dietary intervention regimes within a 36-month randomized controlled trial. Methods: 502 subjects were randomized to an intervention group (IG; dietary pattern focused on high intake of unsaturated fatty acids (UFA), plant protein and fiber) or control group (CG; dietary recommendation in accordance with the German Society of Nutrition) within a 36-month dietary intervention trial. Sum scores for effectiveness, appreciation and practice of healthy nutrition were assessed using ATHN questionnaire during the trial (n = 344). Linear regression models were used to investigate associations between ATHN and dietary patterns at baseline and at month 12. Results: Retirement, higher education level, age and lower body mass index (BMI) were associated with higher ATHN sum scores. ATHN was similar in CG and IG. Higher baseline intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and fiber as well as lower intake in saturated fatty acids (SFA) were associated with higher scores in practice in both groups. The intervention resulted in a stronger increase of UFA, protein and fiber in the IG after 12 months, while intake of SFA declined (p < 0.01). Higher scores in appreciation were significantly associated with higher intake of fiber and lower intake of SFA in the CG at month 12, whereas no associations between ATHN and macronutrient intake were observed in the IG after 12 months. Conclusions: While ATHN appeared to play a role in general dietary behavior, ATHN did not affect the success of the specific dietary intervention in the IG at month 12. Thus, the dietary intervention achieved a substantial modification of dietary pattern in the IG and was effective to override the impact of the individual ATHN on dietary behavior. Full article