Correction: A novel scaling methodology to reduce the biases associated with missing data from commercial activity monitors.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0235144.].

A novel scaling methodology to reduce the biases associated with missing data from commercial activity monitors.

BACKGROUND: Commercial physical activity monitors have wide utility in the assessment of physical activity in research and clinical settings, however, the removal of devices results in missing data and has the potential to bias study conclusions. This study aimed to evaluate methods to address missingness in data collected from commercial activity monitors. METHODS: This study utilised 1526 days of near complete data from 109 adults participating in a European weight loss maintenance study (NoHoW). We conducted simulation experiments to test a novel scaling methodology (NoHoW method) and alternative imputation strategies (overall/individual mean imputation, overall/individual multiple imputation, Kalman imputation and random forest imputation). Methods were compared for hourly, daily and 14-day physical activity estimates for steps, total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) and time in physical activity categories. In a second simulation study, individual multiple imputation, Kalman imputation and the NoHoW method were tested at different positions and quantities of missingness. Equivalence testing and root mean squared error (RMSE) were used to evaluate the ability of each of the strategies relative to the true data. RESULTS: The NoHoW method, Kalman imputation and multiple imputation methods remained statistically equivalent (p<0.05) for all physical activity metrics at the 14-day level. In the second simulation study, RMSE tended to increase with increased missingness. Multiple imputation showed the smallest RMSE for Steps and TDEE at lower levels of missingness (<19%) and the Kalman and NoHoW methods were generally superior for imputing time in physical activity categories. CONCLUSION: Individual centred imputation approaches (NoHoW method, Kalman imputation and individual Multiple imputation) offer an effective means to reduce the biases associated with missing data from activity monitors and maximise data retention.

Habitual coffee consumption and changes in measures of adiposity: a comprehensive study of longitudinal associations.

BACKGROUND: A relationship between change in coffee consumption and reduced long-term weight gain has been suggested, but current evidence is inconsistent. OBJECTIVE: To examine longitudinal associations between coffee consumption and changes in body mass index (BMI), fat mass index (FMI), fat-free mass index (FFMI), body fat percentage (BF %) and waist circumference (WC). DESIGN: The study consisted of 2128 participants from the Danish part of the MONICA (Monitoring Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Disease) cohort with repeated information on coffee consumption, adiposity measures and covariates during an 11-year period. Linear regression analyses were conducted to assess the associations between baseline coffee consumption and subsequent change in adiposity measures. The same analyses were conducted analyzing associations between change in coffee consumption and concurrent as well as subsequent changes in adiposity measures. RESULTS: We found no consistent evidence of associations between baseline coffee consumption and subsequent 6-year changes in adiposity measures. A statistically significant association between increased coffee consumption over a 6-year period and decreased concurrent gain in BMI, FMI, BF % and WC (-0.05 kg m-2 (95% confidence interval (CI): -0.07, -0.02), -0.04 kg m-2 (95% CI: -0.06, -0.02), -0.08% (95% CI: -0.13, -0.04) and -0.23 cm (95% CI: -0.34, -0.12), respectively, per 1 cup day-1 increase in coffee consumption) was found. No association was seen between change in coffee consumption and concurrent change in FFMI. Moreover, an initial change in coffee consumption during the first 5-year period was not associated with change in adiposity during the subsequent 6-year period. CONCLUSIONS: Increased coffee consumption was associated with a decreased concurrent gain in body weight, fat mass and waist circumference, but the associations were weak. Moreover, a causal relationship could not be established, as we found no evidence of associations between an initial change in coffee consumption and subsequent change in adiposity.

Estimating the causal effect of body mass index on hay fever, asthma and lung function using Mendelian randomization.

BACKGROUND: Observational studies have shown that body mass index (BMI) is positively associated with asthma. However, observational data are prone to confounding and reverse causation. In Mendelian randomization, genetic variants are used as unconfounded markers of exposures to examine causal effects. We examined the causal effect of BMI on asthma, hay fever, allergic sensitization, serum total immunoglobulin E (IgE), forced expiratory volume in one-second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC). METHODS: We included 490 497 participants in the observational and 162 124 participants in the genetic analyses. A genetic risk score (GRS) was created using 26 BMI-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Results were pooled in meta-analyses and expressed as odds ratios (ORs) or ß-estimates with 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: The GRS was significantly associated with asthma (OR=1.009; 95% CI: 1.004, 1.013), but not with hay fever (OR= 0.998; 95% CI: 0.994, 1.002) or allergic sensitization (OR=0.999; 95% CI: 0.986, 1.012) per BMI-increasing allele. The GRS was significantly associated with decrease in FEV1: ß=-0.0012 (95% CI: -0.0019, -0.0006) and FVC: ß=-0.0022 (95% CI: -0.0031, -0.0014) per BMI-increasing allele. Effect sizes estimated by instrumental variable analyses were OR=1.07 (95% CI: 1.03, 1.10) for asthma, a 9 ml decrease in FEV1 (95% CI: 2.0-15 mL decrease) and a 16 ml decrease in FVC (95% CI: 7.0-24 mL decrease) per 1 kg/m2 higher BMI. CONCLUSIONS: The results support the conclusion that increasing BMI is causally related to higher prevalence of asthma and decreased lung function, but not with hay fever or biomarkers of allergy.

Microscopic and macroscopic characterization of organosilane-functionalized nanocrystalline NaZSM-5.

Nanocrystalline NaZSM-5 zeolites with systematically varied particle sizes (15, 60, and 200 nm) were functionalized with organosilanes. Through the systematic variation of particle size and therefore external surface area of NaZSM-5, the extent of functionalization and location of functional groups were spectroscopically verified. 29Si magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy provided conclusive evidence that the silanol groups located on the external surface of NaZSM-5 were functionalized through reaction with the organosilanes. The 29Si NMR results provided quantitative information about the extent of functionalization on NaZSM-5. A nitroxide spin label was adsorbed on the external surface of NaZSM-5 to probe the surface properties by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The macroscopic and microscopic properties, such as the behavior of functionalized NaZSM-5 in different solvents, and the specific surface areas were also investigated. The hydrophobicity of the functionalized NaZSM-5 was found to increase relative to the parent NaZSM-5 as expected for an organic surface coating.

High yield method for nanocrystalline zeolite synthesis.

Nanocrystalline zeolites, such as silicalite-1 and zeolite Y, were synthesized in high yield by periodically removing nanocrystals from the synthesis solution and recycling the unused reagents, including the template and T-atom sources.

Magnetic resonance investigation of vanadia and vanadium-molybdenum gels synthesized with peroxovanadate precursors.

Vanadia gels and vanadium-molybdenum oxide gels were investigated using the magnetic resonance techniques, EPR spectroscopy and (51)V MAS NMR spectroscopy. The vanadium oxide gels were derived from the reaction of H(2)O(2) and V(2)O(5), and the vanadium-molybdenum oxide (VMoO) gels were derived from the reaction of peroxovanadates with an ammonium molybdate solution. EPR spectroscopy was utilized to determine quantitative information about the concentration of V(4+) paramagnetic species present in the samples and additional structural information about the V(4+) coordination environment. (51)V MAS NMR spectroscopy was used to elucidate the V(5+) electronic environment and how it changes as a function of molybdenum content. The observed line broadening of the (51)V NMR signal with increasing molybdenum content was correlated with an increase in the concentration of paramagnetic species as monitored by EPR spectroscopy. The evolution of various vanadium sites during thermal treatment was also investigated. This work provides further support for the hypothesis that the selectivity of VMoO catalysts in the oxidation of 1,3-butadiene to maleic anhydride is due to the presence of paramagnetic V(4+) sites.

Synthesis, characterization, and adsorption properties of nanocrystalline ZSM-5.

Nanocrystalline ZSM-5 with a Si/Al ratio of 20 was synthesized using clear solutions and a hydrothermal synthesis procedure. The resulting ZSM-5 materials were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), nitrogen adsorption isotherms, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance, and toluene adsorption. A commercial ZSM-5 sample was similarly characterized for comparison with the synthesized materials. The particle sizes of the synthesized ZSM-5 samples were calculated using the measured external surface areas and were determined to be 15 and 60 nm. SEM images indicated that the ZSM-5 samples consist of agglomerated and possibly intergrown particles. Toluene adsorption measurements showed that the ZSM-5 sample with a particle size of 15 nm adsorbed approximately 50% more toluene than the other ZSM-5 samples, most likely due to the adsorption of toluene on the external surface. For the toluene adsorbed on the internal zeolite surface, approximately one toluene molecule was adsorbed per channel intersection for each of the ZSM-5 samples.

Hexagonal, hollow, aluminium-containing ZSM-5 tubes prepared from mesoporous silica templates.

Hexagonal hollow ZSM-5 tubes were synthesized using mesoporous silica with a worm-like morphology as the template. A new method for aluminium incorporation during the hydrothermal synthesis step was developed.

Size-dependent properties of nanocrystalline silicalite synthesized with systematically varied crystal sizes.

Silicalite-1 powders with crystal sizes ranging from 20 to 1000 nm were synthesized by systematically varying synthesis gel composition, pressure, temperature, and time duration. These samples were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, nitrogen adsorption isotherms, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance, and toluene adsorption. The effect of crystal size on the physical properties of crystals is observed, including a large increase of both total and external surface area when crystal size decreases. The relationship between particle size and external surface area was modeled by assuming a cubic crystal geometry. The nanosized silicalite samples with crystal sizes less than 100 nm have a higher adsorption capacity for toluene, showing promising potential for its application in volatile organic compound removal.