Forced Oscillation Technique: a surrogate measure of lung function in neuromuscular disease patients?

Introduction Spirometry plays an important role in the assessment of possible respiratory failure in children with neuromuscular disorders (NMDs). However, obtaining reliable spirometry results is a major challenge. We studied the relation between Forced Oscillation Technique (FOT) and spirometry results. FOT is an easy, non-invasive method to measure respiratory mechanics, i.e. respiratory resistance R and respiratory reactance X. We hypothesized an increased resistance R and reduced reactance X in patients with more reduced lung function. Methods In this prospective single center study we included all children with NMDs able to perform spirometry. We consecutively measured respiratory resistance R and reactance X at 5, 11 and 19 Hz and (Forced) Vital Capacity, Peak Expiratory Flow. Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated and regression curves were estimated. Results We included 148 patients, with a median age of 13 years (IQR 8-16). All correlation coefficients were statistically significant with p = 0.000. A negative correlation was found between resistance R and spirometry outcomes (spearman correlation coefficient (ρ) between -0.5 and -0.6). A positive correlation was found between reactance X (i.e. less negative outcomes) and spirometry outcomes (ρ between 0.4 and 0.6). Highest correlation was found at lower frequencies. Regression analysis showed a non-linear relation between FOT and spirometry results. Conclusion We found a non-linear relation between FOT and spirometry results with increased resistance R and reduced reactance X in patients with more restrictive lung function decline. Given the difficulties with performing spirometry, FOT may be a promising surrogate measure of lung function.

Cash Holdings and Corporate Governance

This chapter investigates the empirical factors affecting corporate cash holdings with special emphasis on corporate governance variables for a sample of Turkish-listed nonfinancial firms over the period 2006 to 2010. The findings reveal a significant non-linear relation between family ownership and cash holdings. In addition, while board structure does not significantly affect the level of cash holdings, tunneling increases cash reserves of firms. Furthermore, the results indicate that cash flow, leverage, other liquid assets that can be used as cash substitutes, the degree of tangibility of assets, and firm size are important in determining cash holdings among Turkish companies.

Jacobsthal Representation Hybrinomials

Jacobsthal numbers are a special case of numbers defined recursively by the second order linear relation and for these reasons they are also named as numbers of the Fibonacci type. They have many interpretations, representations and applications in distinct areas of mathematics. In this paper we present the Jacobsthal representation hybrinomials, i.e. polynomials, which are a generalization of Jacobsthal hybrid numbers.

Double-Layer Capacitances Caused by Ion–Solvent Interaction in the Form of Langmuir-Typed Concentration Dependence

Variations of the double layer capacitances (DLCs) at a platinum electrode with concentrations and kinds of salts in aqueous solutions were examined in the context of facilitating orientation of solvent dipoles. With an increase in ionic concentrations, the DLCs increased by ca. a half and then kept constant at concentrations over 1 mol dm−3. This increase was classically explained in terms of the Gouy–Chapman (GC) equation combined with the Stern model. Unfortunately, measured DLCs were neither satisfied with the Stern model nor the GC theory. Our model suggests that salts destroy hydrogen bonds at the electrode–solution interface to orient water dipoles toward the external electric field. A degree of the orientation depends on the interaction energy between the salt ion and a water dipole. The statistical mechanic calculation allowed us to derive an equation for the DLC as a function of salt concentration and the interaction energy. The equation took the Langmuir-type in the relation with the concentration. The interaction energy was obtained for eight kinds of salts. The energy showed a linear relation with the interaction energy of ion–solvent for viscosity, called the B-coefficient.

Sex-differences in COVID-19 associated excess mortality is not exceptional for the COVID-19 pandemic

Europe experienced excess mortality from February through June, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with more COVID-19-associated deaths in males compared to females. However, a difference in excess mortality among females compared to among males may be a more general phenomenon, and should be investigated in none-COVID-19 situations as well. Based on death counts from Eurostat, separate excess mortalities were estimated for each of the sexes using the EuroMOMO model. Sex-differential excess mortality were expressed as differences in excess mortality incidence rates between the sexes. A general relation between sex-differential and overall excess mortality both during the COVID-19 pandemic and in preceding seasons were investigated. Data from 27 European countries were included, covering the seasons 2016/17 to 2019/20. In periods with increased excess mortality, excess was consistently highest among males. From February through May 2020 male excess mortality was 52.7 (95% PI: 56.29; 49.05) deaths per 100,000 person years higher than for females. Increased male excess mortality compared to female was also observed in the seasons 2016/17 to 2018/19. We found a linear relation between sex-differences in excess mortality and overall excess mortality, i.e., 40 additional deaths among males per 100 excess deaths per 100,000 population. This corresponds to an overall female/male mortality incidence ratio of 0.7. In situations with overall excess mortality, excess mortality increases more for males than females. We suggest that the sex-differences observed during the COVID-19 pandemic reflects a general sex-disparity in excess mortality.

An experimental study on the relation between friction force and real contact area

Classical laws of friction suggest that friction force is proportional to the normal load and independent of the nominal contact area. As a great improvement in this subject, it is now widely accepted that friction force is proportional to the real contact area, and much work has been conducted based on this hypothesis. In present study, this hypothesis will be carefully revisited by measuring the friction force and real contact area in-site and real-time at both normal loading and unloading stages. Our experiments reveal that the linear relation always holds between friction force and normal load. However, for the relation between friction force and real contact area, the linearity holds only at the loading stage while fails at the unloading stage. This study may improve our understanding of the origin of friction.

NEW RESULTS ON SEMICLOSED LINEAR RELATIONS

This paper has triple main objectives. The first objective is an analysis ofsome auxiliary results on closedness and boundednes of linear relations. The seconde objective is to provide some new characterization results on semiclosed linear relations. Here it is shown that the class of semiclosed linear relations is invariant under finite and countable sums, products, and limits. We obtain some fundamental new results as well as a Kato Rellich Theorem for semiclosed linear relations and essentially interesting generalizations. The last objective concern semiclosed linear relation with closed range, where we have particularly established new characterizations of closable linear relation.

SBA-Pr-Is-TAP Functionalized Nanostructured Silica as a Highly Selective Fluorescent Chemosensor for Fe3+ and Cr2O72− Ions in Aqueous Media

SBA-Pr-Is-TAP was synthesized via functionalization of SBA-15. The synthesized hybrid nanomaterial was characterized by various techniques including FT-IR, TGA, XRD, SEM, and BET. SBA-Pr-Is-TAP could precisely bind Fe3+ and Cr2O72− ions among a range of different species in aqueous media, consequently acting as a nanoporous chemosensor of Fe3+ and Cr2O72− ions. An excellent linear relation was observed between the nanoporous chemosensor and ion concentrations, with acceptable detection limits of 2.43 × 10−6 M and 3.96 × 10−7 M for Fe3+ and Cr2O72− ions respectively.