Economic Approach to Intergenerational Mobility

This chapter provides an analytical survey and synthesis of economic literature on intergenerational mobility in developing countries, with a focus on data and methodological challenges. Sample truncation from co-residency and measurement error cause substantial downward bias in intergenerational regression coefficient, whereas intergenerational correlation and intergenerational rank correlation are more robust to such data limitations. To understand heterogeneity, reliable estimates of both the intercept and the slope are necessary. The OLS estimate of the intercept is biased upward, but less so in the rank–rank regression. Sibling correlation is a broader measure of mobility, especially convenient with limited data. Estimating intergenerational causal effects is challenging as it requires long panel data. A promising alternative is to focus on the causal effects of policies on measurement of relative and absolute mobility, without disentangling the role of genetic inheritance.

Plasma boron concentrations in the general population: a cross-sectional analysis of cardio-metabolic and dietary correlates

Purpose Experimental evidence suggests positive effects of boron on health and metabolism, but human data are still scarce. We aimed to identify dietary and cardio-metabolic correlates of plasma boron concentrations in the general population. Methods In a community-based sample (n = 899, 57% men, mean age 61 years), plasma boron (median [IQR]: 33.80 µg/L [25.61; 44.65]) concentrations were measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Overall (PDI), healthy (hPDI), and unhealthy (uPDI) plant-based diet indices were derived from a validated food frequency questionnaire. Reduced rank regression (RRR) yielded a dietary pattern explaining 30% of the variation of circulating boron. Cross-sectional associations of dietary indices and cardio-metabolic traits with plasma boron concentrations were assessed using multivariable-adjusted linear regression analysis. Results The RRR pattern was characterized by high intake of fruits, nuts/seeds, tea, wine and low intake of e.g. bread, poultry, processed meat, chocolate/sweets, and soft drinks. 10-point increments in PDI, hPDI, and uPDI were associated with 8.7% (95% CI: 4.2; 13.4), 10.4% (95% CI: 6.6; 14.3), and −8.8% (95% CI: −12.1; −5.4) change in plasma boron concentrations, respectively. Age and phosphate were directly, while BMI, plasma lipid concentrations, and CRP were inversely associated with circulating boron. Plasma boron concentrations were higher in summer vs. winter, in individuals taking vs. not taking antihypertensive medication, and in individuals with high or medium vs. low education level. Conclusion Higher plasma boron concentrations appeared to associate with a healthier diet, were related to lower BMI and a more favorable cardio-metabolic risk profile, and showed seasonal variations.

Synergistic Interaction of Dietary Pattern and Concordance Lifestyle with Abnormal Liver Function among Young Adults in Taiwan: A Population-Based Longitudinal Study

While diet and lifestyle are independently implicated in the etiology of liver disease, the interaction of diet and lifestyle may be more helpful for determining the risk of liver abnormality. Thus, our study aimed to evaluate the interaction between the dietary pattern associated with liver biomarkers and lifestyle factors among Taiwanese adults with abnormal liver enzymes. A liver-associated dietary pattern, generated using reduced rank regression, was characterized by high intake of soy sauce or other dips, sugar sweetened beverages, and preserved and processed foods, but low intake of seafood, fruits, eggs, and dark-colored vegetables. In the fully adjusted model, liver-associated dietary patterns or unhealthy concordance lifestyle factors were associated with an increased risk of having liver function abnormality (OR = 1.08, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.12 and OR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.31, 1.53, respectively). Moreover, the interaction between liver-associated dietary pattern and unhealthy concordance lifestyle factors showed more significant correlation, with an elevated risk of abnormal liver function (OR = 2.14, 95% CI: 2.02, 2.26). Therefore, our study suggests that participants who have a strong liver-associated dietary pattern along with unhealthy concordance lifestyles are likely to have increased odds of abnormal liver function.

Study on the Correlation Between Homocysteine-related Dietary Patterns and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Based on Reduced-rank Regression Analysis

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the association between homocysteine-related dietary patterns and gestational diabetes mellitus. Methods: A total of 488 pregnant women at 24–28 weeks of gestation between January 2019 and December 2020 were included. Demographic characteristics, dietary intake, and multivitamin supplement intake information were collected using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ); fasting venous blood samples were collected for serum index detection. Serum homocysteine (Hcy), folic acid, and B12 were selected as response variables, and hyperhomocysteinemia (hHcy)-related dietary patterns were extracted using the descending rank regression method. The relationship between the score of hHcy-related dietary patterns and GDM was analyzed using a multivariate logistic regression model. Results: Three hHcy-related dietary patterns were extracted. Only mode 2 had a positive and significant relationship with the risk of developing GDM. After adjusting for confounding factors, the risk of GDM was significantly increased in the highest quartile array compared with the lowest quartile of the pattern (OR=2.96, 95% Confidence Interval: 0.939–9.356, P=0.004). There was no significant correlation between dietary pattern 1 and GDM risk (P>0.05). Conclusions: Homocysteine-related dietary patterns were positively associated with gestational diabetes mellitus. Adjusting dietary patterns may contribute to the intervention and prevention of GDM.

The association between the dietary pattern in abdominal obesity based on visceral fat index and dyslipidaemia in the Henan Rural Cohort Study

The present study aimed to explore the association between dietary patterns in abdominal obesity obtained by reduced-rank regression (RRR) with visceral fat index (VFI) as a dependent variable and dyslipidemia in rural adults in Henan, China. A total of 29538 people aged 18–79 were selected from the Henan Rural Cohort Study. RRR analysis was used to identify dietary patterns; logistic regression analysis and restricted cubic spline regression models were applied to analyze the association between dietary patterns in abdominal obesity and dyslipidemia. VFI was used as a mediator to estimate the mediation effect. The dietary pattern in abdominal obesity was characterized by high carbohydrate and red meat intake and low consumption of fresh fruits, vegetables, milk, etc. After full adjustment, the highest quartile of dietary pattern scores was significantly associated with an increased risk of dyslipidemia (OR: 1·33, 95 % CI 1·23–1·44, Ptrend < 0·001), there was a non-linear dose–response relationship between them (Poverall-association < 0·001, Pnon-lin-association = 0·022). The result was similar in dose-response between the dietary pattern scores and VFI. The indirect effect partially mediated by VFI was significant (OR: 1·07, 95 % CI 1·06–1·08). VIF explained approximately 53·3 % of odds of dyslipidemia related to the dietary pattern. Abdominal obesity dietary pattern scores positively affected VFI and dyslipidemia; there was a dose-response in both relationships. Dyslipidemia progression increased with higher abdominal obesity dietary pattern scores. In addition, VFI played a partial mediating role in relationship between abdominal obesity dietary pattern and dyslipidemia.

Association between Homocysteine-Related Dietary Patterns and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Study Using the Reduced Rank Regression Method

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the association between homocysteine-related dietary patterns and gestational diabetes mellitus. Methods: A total of 488 pregnant women at 24-28 weeks of gestation between January 2019 and December 2020 were included. Demographic characteristics, dietary intake, and multivitamin supplement intake information were collected using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ); fasting venous blood samples were collected for serum index detection. Serum homocysteine (Hcy), folic acid, and B12 were selected as response variables, and hyperhomocysteinemia (hHcy)- related dietary patterns were extracted using the descending rank regression method. The relationship between the score of hHcy-related dietary patterns and GDM was analyzed using a multivariate logistic regression model. Results: Three hHcy-related dietary patterns were extracted: (mode 1) more meat, cattle meat intake, green leafy vegetables, dark vegetables and soy, and less consumption of shrimp. (mode 2) livestock meat, eggs and more grains, green leafy vegetables, bacteria, algae, dairy, and less nuts intake; and (model 3) livestock meat intake, and less soy intake. Because the explanatory variation of mode 3 was relatively small, it was not retained. Only mode 2 had a positive and significant relationship with the risk of developing GDM. After adjusting for confounding factors, the risk of GDM was significantly increased in the highest quartile array (OR=2.96, 95% Confidence Interval: 0.939-9.356, P=0.004). There was no significant correlation between dietary pattern 1 and GDM risk (P >0.05).

Association of dietary inflammatory potential with risk of overall and cause-specific mortality

Inflammation is a central mechanism in metabolic disorders associated with morbidity and mortality and dietary factors can modulate inflammation. We aimed to prospectively investigate the association between an empirically-developed, food-based dietary inflammatory pattern (EDIP) score and the risk of overall and cause-specific mortality, using data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2014. EDIP score was derived by entering 39 predefined commonly consumed food groups into the reduced rank regression models followed by stepwise linear regression, which was most predictive of 2 plasma inflammation biomarkers including C-reactive protein and white blood cell count among 25 500 US adults. This score was further validated in a testing set of 9466 adults. Deaths from baseline until December 31, 2015 were identified through record linkage to the National Death Index. During a median follow-up of 7.8 years among 40 074 participants, we documented 4904 deaths. Compared to participants in the lowest quintile of EDIP score, those in the highest quintile had a higher risk of overall death (HR=1.19, 95%CI: 1.08-1.32, Ptrend= 0.002), and deaths from cancer (HR=1.41, 95%CI: 1.14-1.74, Ptrend= 0.017) and cardiovascular diseases (HR=1.22, 95%CI: 0.98-1.53, Ptrend= 0.211). When stratified by age, the association of EDIP with overall mortality was stronger among individuals under 65 years of age (Pinteraction= 0.001). Diets with a higher inflammatory potential were associated with increased risk of overall and cancer-specific mortality. Interventions to reduce the adverse effect of pro-inflammatory diets may potentially promote health and longevity.

Associations between plasma nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors concentrations and cognitive function in people with HIV

Objectives To investigate the associations of plasma lamivudine (3TC), abacavir (ABC), emtricitabine (FTC) and tenofovir (TFV) concentrations with cognitive function in a cohort of treated people with HIV (PWH). Methods Pharmacokinetics (PK) and cognitive function (Cogstate, six domains) data were obtained from PWH recruited in the POPPY study on either 3TC/ABC or FTC/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)-containing regimens. Association between PK parameters (AUC0-24: area under the concentration-time curve over 24 hours, Cmax: maximum concentration and Ctrough: trough concentration) and cognitive scores (standardized into z-scores) were evaluated using rank regression adjusting for potential confounders. Results Median (IQR) global cognitive z-scores in the 83 PWH on 3TC/ABC and 471 PWH on FTC/TDF were 0.14 (-0.27, 0.38) and 0.09 (-0.28, 0.42), respectively. Higher 3TC AUC0-24 and Ctrough were associated with better global z-scores [rho = 0.29 (p = 0.02) and 0.27 (p = 0.04), respectively], whereas higher 3TC Cmax was associated with poorer z-scores [rho = -0.31 (p<0.01)], independently of ABC concentrations. Associations of ABC PK parameters with global and domain z-scores were non-significant after adjustment for confounders and 3TC concentrations (all p’s>0.05). None of the FTC and TFV PK parameters were associated with global or domain cognitive scores. Conclusions Whilst we found no evidence of either detrimental or beneficial effects of ABC, FTC and TFV plasma exposure on cognitive function of PWH, higher plasma 3TC exposures were generally associated with better cognitive performance although higher peak concentrations were associated with poorer performance.

Latent neural dynamics encode temporal context in speech

Direct neural recordings from human auditory cortex have demonstrated encoding for acoustic-phonetic features of consonants and vowels. Neural responses also encode distinct acoustic amplitude cues related to timing, such as those that occur at the onset of a sentence after a silent period or the onset of the vowel in each syllable. Here, we used a group reduced rank regression model to show that distributed cortical responses support a low-dimensional latent state representation of temporal context in speech. The timing cues each capture more unique variance than all other phonetic features and exhibit rotational or cyclical dynamics in latent space from activity that is widespread over the superior temporal gyrus. We propose that these spatially distributed timing signals could serve to provide temporal context for, and possibly bind across time, the concurrent processing of individual phonetic features, to compose higher-order phonological (e.g. word-level) representations.