Analysis of the condition of apartment buildings

These technical conditions of multi-apartment buildings are a huge digital array for making important management decisions both within the boundaries of individual territories of the municipality, and for planning budget expenditures within the municipality, the subject of the federation and the country as a whole. Aspects of the formation of data on apartment buildings in various information systems are considered. The basics of ensuring the reliability of the presented data are considered. It is noted in the work that for many years, during the transition from a planned economy to a market economy, the requirements of technical regulations and normative documents for the maintenance and operation of apartment buildings are not fully complied with by the operating organizations. The deadlines for replacing systems and equipment that have worked out the deadline are not met. It is noted that federal legislators and the Government of the Russian Federation have not determined a general procedure for monitoring the technical condition of apartment buildings and have not formed a general approach to assessing their technical condition, the obligation of owners of premises of apartment buildings to finance these works, their frequency has not been determined. It was revealed that the data obtained during the monitoring of the technical condition of apartment buildings combined in federal and regional information systems would be an objective marker in the formation of state and municipal programs in the field of reducing the housing stock unsuitable for living. financing of monitoring.

Validation of a Multimodal EEG-Based Index to Aid in Diagnosing and Tracking Concussion Among Athletes

ObjectiveThe goal of this study was to validate an EEG based multimodal index to aid in the assessment of concussion at time of injury, severity of concussion, and aid in evaluating readiness to return to play/activity.BackgroundThe absence of a gold standard for diagnosis of concussion results in reliance on subjective self-report of symptoms. EEG has been demonstrated to be sensitive to changes in brain function following head injury, especially in connectivity. Using machine learning with inputs primarily from EEG measures, and including multimodal inputs, an objective marker of the likelihood of concussion (Concussion Index, CI) was derived.Design/MethodsMale and female concussed athletes and controls ages of 13–25 years, represented a convenience sample (n = 580), enrolled from US High School, Colleges, and Concussion Clinics. Concussed subjects had a witnessed head impact and were removed from play by site guidelines. Assessments were performed within 72 hours of injury, at clinically determined return to play (RTP), 45 days following RTP, and included EEG (frontal and frontotemporal regions), neurocognitive performance, and standard concussion assessments.ResultsSensitivity = 85.99%, Specificity = 70.78%, NPV = 90.10% and PPV = 62.02, were obtained. Results demonstrated significance: (1) between CI at injury compared to RTP (p < 0.0001); (2) between CI in patients with rapid (<14 days) compared with those with prolonged recovery (=14 days), (p = 0.0038); (3) stability over time in controls (p < 0.0001); and (4) between CI and total symptom burden (correlation coefficient 0.8031, p < 0.0001).ConclusionsThis study independently validated a multimodal, EEG-based, objective index of concussion (CI). The neurotechnology platform incorporating this capability is handheld, rapid to use, and lends itself to incorporation into the standard assessment of concussion to aid in clinical diagnosis and assessment of readiness to RTP. This data supported the FDA clearance for the Concussion Index (embedded in the BrainScope medical device).

Voice analyses using smartphone-based data in patients with bipolar disorder, unaffected relatives and healthy control individuals, and during different affective states

Background Voice features have been suggested as objective markers of bipolar disorder (BD). Aims To investigate whether voice features from naturalistic phone calls could discriminate between (1) BD, unaffected first-degree relatives (UR) and healthy control individuals (HC); (2) affective states within BD. Methods Voice features were collected daily during naturalistic phone calls for up to 972 days. A total of 121 patients with BD, 21 UR and 38 HC were included. A total of 107.033 voice data entries were collected [BD (n = 78.733), UR (n = 8004), and HC (n = 20.296)]. Daily, patients evaluated symptoms using a smartphone-based system. Affective states were defined according to these evaluations. Data were analyzed using random forest machine learning algorithms. Results Compared to HC, BD was classified with a sensitivity of 0.79 (SD 0.11)/AUC = 0.76 (SD 0.11) and UR with a sensitivity of 0.53 (SD 0.21)/AUC of 0.72 (SD 0.12). Within BD, compared to euthymia, mania was classified with a specificity of 0.75 (SD 0.16)/AUC = 0.66 (SD 0.11). Compared to euthymia, depression was classified with a specificity of 0.70 (SD 0.16)/AUC = 0.66 (SD 0.12). In all models the user dependent models outperformed the user independent models. Models combining increased mood, increased activity and insomnia compared to periods without performed best with a specificity of 0.78 (SD 0.16)/AUC = 0.67 (SD 0.11). Conclusions Voice features from naturalistic phone calls may represent a supplementary objective marker discriminating BD from HC and a state marker within BD.

Cough Diagnosis: Present and Future

Chronic cough is a common symptom of numerous diseases occurring in about 10% of general population. The number of cough impulses over a period of time is an objective marker of cough severity. Cough frequency is now considered the primary endpoint in studies of the effectiveness of cough suppressants, as a factor contributing to the spread of tuberculosis, and as one of the indicators of patient stabilization during exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The review discusses data from 60 literature sources on the principles of automatic cough impulses counting, methods used for objective cough assessment, and forecasts for future development in this field.

Dairy Consumption, Lactase Persistence, and Mortality Risk in a Cohort From Southern Sweden

Background: Whether high dairy consumption is related to longevity is still unclear, and additional studies of prospective cohorts with high-quality dietary data from populations with wide consumption ranges are needed.Objective: To examine the association between dairy consumption and mortality in a Swedish cohort.Design: Among 26,190 participants (62% females, 45–73 years old) without diabetes and cardiovascular disease from the population-based Malmö Diet and Cancer cohort, 7,156 individuals died during a mean follow-up time of 19 years. Data on intake of dairy (non-fermented milk, fermented milk, cheese, cream and butter) were collected from 7 day food records and food questionnaires. A genetic marker (rs4988235) associated with lactase persistence was detected among 22,234 individuals born in Sweden.Results: Higher intakes up to 1,000 g/day of non-fermented milk were associated with only marginal higher mortality rates after adjusting for potential confounders. However, intakes above 1,000 g/day (1.5% of the population) were associated with 34% (95% CI: 14, 59%, p-trend=0.002) higher mortality compared to that with &lt; 200 g/day. Fermented milk and cheese intake were inversely associated with mortality. Cream showed a protective association only among men. Butter was not associated with mortality. CT/TT genotype carriers (i.e., individuals with lactase persistence) had a 27% higher reported consumption of non-fermented milk, and non-significant higher mortality risk (HR = 1.08; 95% CI = 0.96, 1.23; p = 0.20) than CC genotype carriers.Conclusions: Higher mortality rates were mainly observed among participants consuming more than 1,000 g of non-fermented milk per day. In contrast, fermented milk and cheese were associated with lower mortality. Because dairy products differ in composition, it is important to examine them separately in their relation to health and disease. The use of a genetic variant as an objective marker of lactose-containing milk intake should be examined in relation to mortality in a larger population.

Detection of Salivary Tryptase Levels in Children following Oral Food Challenges

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Oral food challenge (OFC) is commonly used to diagnose food allergy. This test is time and resource intensive, and conclusions are not always unequivocal as this relies on the interpretation of symptoms. Therefore, an objective marker would improve the accuracy of the diagnostic workup of food allergy. <b><i>Objectives:</i></b> The aim of this study was to investigate whether tryptase can be detected in saliva of children following OFC. <b><i>Method:</i></b> Children from 3 to 18 years of age were eligible for inclusion if an OFC for peanut or tree nut had been recommended. Saliva samples were collected prior to the first dose and 5, 10, and 15 min following the last administered dose during OFC. Assay precision, spike-and-recovery, and assessment of lower limit of detection of the tryptase immunoassay were examined before analysis of tryptase in saliva was performed. <b><i>Results:</i></b> A total of 30 children were included (median age 8 years, 63.3% male, 53.3% positive OFC outcome). Tryptase was detected in saliva samples. The mean of the change in baseline tryptase value to each saliva collecting time point was significantly different in patients with a positive OFC outcome compared to a negative outcome (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.01). <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> This study showed that tryptase can be detected in saliva of children following OFC. Increased levels of tryptase compared to baseline were found if the OFC outcome was positive, suggesting that measuring tryptase in saliva may be useful in the diagnosis of food allergy. Further research is needed to evaluate the potential association between tryptase levels and symptoms.

Determination of cortisol in hair using UHPLC–MS/MS: application to patients admitted for ethanol dependence treatment

Aim: Cortisol hair levels can be used to evaluate chronic stress status. In this context, an improved UHPLC–MS/MS assay for the determination of cortisol in hair was developed and validated. Materials & methods: Hair was extracted with methanol for 4 h at 25°C. Chromatographic run time was 5.5 min. The assay was linear in the range of 1–250 pg mg-1. Precision was 3.6–12.2% and accuracy 97.1–103.8%. The method was applied in hair from 19 volunteers admitted at a rehabilitation clinic, with ethanol consumption classified using ethyl glucuronide hair levels. Conclusion: Abstinent/chronic moderate ethanol consumers had significantly lower cortisol hair levels than chronic excessive consumers. This is the first study evaluating cortisol hair levels in ethanol abuse patients using an objective marker for ethanol consumption.

Suppression and Rebound of Pallidal Beta Power: Observation Using a Chronic Sensing DBS Device

Pallidal deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an increasingly used therapy for Parkinson’s disease (PD). Here, we study the effect of DBS on pallidal oscillatory activity as well as on symptom severity in an individual with PD implanted with a new pulse generator (Medtronic Percept system) which facilitates chronic recording of local field potentials (LFP) through implanted DBS lead. Pallidal LFPs were recorded while delivering stimulation in a monopolar configuration using stepwise increments (0.5 mA, every 20 s). At each stimulation amplitude, the power spectral density (PSD) was computed, and beta power (13–30 Hz) was calculated and correlated with the degree of bradykinesia. Pallidal beta power was reduced when therapeutic stimulation was delivered. Beta power correlated to the severity of bradykinesia. Worsening of parkinsonism when excessive stimulation was applied was associated with a rebound in the beta band power. These preliminary results suggest that pallidal beta power might be used as an objective marker of the disease state in PD. The use of brain sensing from implanted neural interfaces may in the future facilitate clinical programming. Detection of rebound could help to optimize benefits and minimize worsening from overstimulation.

The Gender-Equality Paradox and Optimal Distinctiveness: More Gender-Equal Societies Have More Gendered Names

Findings in several domains have documented a gender-equality paradox, where greater social and economic gender equality predicts increased gender differentiation. Many of these findings have used subjective rating scales and thus have been dismissed as artifactual due to different reference groups in more versus less gender-equal societies. Although recent research has documented the gender-equality paradox using an objective criterion—pursuit of degrees in STEM—the robustness of this finding has also been challenged. The current investigation offers evidence for the gender-equality paradox using an objective marker of gender differentiation: baby names. We find given names are more phonetically gendered in more gender-equal societies, with female names being more likely unvoiced (a softer sound) and male names being more likely voiced (a harder sound). We offer a theoretical explanation based on optimal distinctiveness theory to explain why increasing gender equality might motivate a preference for greater gender differentiation.

Utility of NT-proBNP as an objective marker of postoperative heart failure after coronary artery bypass surgery: a prospective observational study

Background Postoperative heart failure (PHF) is the main cause for mortality after cardiac surgery but unbiased evaluation of PHF is difficult. We investigated the utility of postoperative NT-proBNP as an objective marker of PHF after coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). Methods Prospective study on 382 patients undergoing isolated CABG for acute coronary syndrome. NT-proBNP was measured preoperatively, the first (POD1) and third postoperative morning (POD3). A blinded Endpoints Committee used prespecified criteria for PHF. Use of circulatory support was scrutinized. Results After adjusting for confounders PHF was associated with 1.46 times higher NT-proBNP on POD1 (p = 0.002), 1.54 times higher on POD3 (p < 0.0001). In severe PHF, NT-proBNP was 2.18 times higher on POD1 (p = 0.001) and 1.81 times higher on POD3 (p = 0.019). Postoperative change of NT-proBNP was independently associated with PHF (OR 5.12, 95% CI 1.86–14.10, p = 0.002). The use of inotropes and ICU resources increased with incremental quartiles of postoperative NT-proBNP. Conclusions Postoperative NT-proBNP can serve as an objective marker of the severity of postoperative myocardial dysfunction. Due to overlap in individuals, NT-proBNP is useful mainly for comparisons at cohort level. As such, it provides a tool for study purposes when an unbiased assessment of prevention or treatment of PHF is desirable. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00489827https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00489827?term=glutamics&draw=2&rank=1.