Exploring the distribution for the estimator of Rosenthal's "fail-safe' number of unpublished studies in meta-analysis

The present article discusses the statistical distribution for the estimator of Rosenthal's ‘file-drawer’ number NR, which is an estimator of unpublished studies in meta-analysis. We calculate the probability distribution function of NR. This is achieved based on the central limit theorem and the proposition that certain components of the estimator NR follow a half-normal distribution, derived from the standard normal distribution. Our proposed distributions are supported by simulations and investigation of convergence

Mapping regional vulnerability in Europe’s energy transition: development and application of an indicator to assess declining employment in four carbon-intensive industries

Europe’s transition to an energy system compatible with limiting global heating to 1.5 °C will require radical changes in energy systems. While this will create substantial new growth industries in clean technologies, some currently important economic activities will decline. The impacts of that transition will not be the same for all regions. We map the economic vulnerability of European regions to ambitious decarbonisation scenarios in terms of employment losses in four carbon-intensive industries. To do so, we develop a composite vulnerability indicator that combines each region’s share of employment in those high-carbon industries with other dimensions of vulnerability and resilience. We then explore how regional patterns of vulnerability are influenced by the technology pathway to 2050, using four scenarios modelled using the European PRIMES model. We show that economic vulnerability to the low-carbon transition is regionally concentrated, with some regions combining high employment shares in industries expected to decline with weak adaptive capacity and high pre-existing unemployment. We also show that there is little variation in regional vulnerability arising from different transition pathways. All scenarios compatible with 1.5 °C involve large declines in all high-carbon sectors we analyse, and as a result, scenario variation does not lead to large variation in relative vulnerability of regions. The results highlight regions that may be in need of additional policy support to diversify their economies and achieve a just transition

Severe eosinophilic colitis caused by neuropathic agents in a patient with chronic fatigue syndrome and functional abdominal pain: case report and review of the literature

Eosinophilic colitis is a rare clinical condition that belongs to the group of eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders. Its occurrence can be primary or secondary to infection, medications, or autoimmune/hematological conditions. We present a case of a young female adult with severe chronic fatigue syndrome, widespread chronic pain, including functional abdominal pain, who developed severe eosinophilic colitis following successive treatments with gabapentin and pregabalin. On both occasions, symptoms manifested as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and eosinophilia and improved upon discontinuation of the medications. Magnetic resonance imaging of the small bowel demonstrated an ascending colon colitis, and endoscopic investigations confirmed florid colitis mainly in the ascending colon with biopsies demonstrating a dense eosinophilic infiltrate with micro-abscesses. Serum eosinophil counts correlated well with the timing of the agents’ administration. There was no other organ involvement. Symptoms improved upon discontinuation of the drugs and steroid administration. Eosinophilic colitis is an exceptionally rare entity and its mechanism of action is still unclear. Suspicion of eosinophilic colitis should be raised if a patient presents with abdominal pain, diarrhea, and peripheral eosinophilia following treatment with pregabalin or gabapentin. / Die eosinophile Kolitis ist eine sehr seltene Krankheit aus der Gruppe der eosinophilen Magen-Darm-Erkrankungen. Als Auslöser gelten Primär- und Sekundärinfektionen, Medikamente, sowie autoimmune und hämatologische Erkrankungen. Unser Fall beschreibt eine junge, weibliche Erwachsene mit schwerem chronischem Müdigkeitssyndrom und generalisierten chronischen Schmerzen, darunter funktionellen Unterleibsschmerzen, welche unter Behandlung mit Gabapentin und Pregabalin an einer schweren eosinophilen Kolitis erkrankte. Zu zwei unterschiedlichen Zeitpunkten wies die Patientin abdominelle Schmerzen, Diarrhoe und ein Eosinophilie auf, mit jeweils Verbesserung der Symptomatik nach Sistieren der Medikamenteneinnahme. In einer Kernspintomografie stellte sich eine Kolitis des aufsteigenden Kolons dar. Endoskopisch konnte eine floride Kolitis, vorwiegend im Kolon ascendens, bestätigt werden, mit Nachweis einer dichten eosinophilen Infiltration mit Mikroabszessen in den Biopsien. Die serologische Eosinophilie korrelierte zeitlich mit der Medikamenteneinnahme. Andere Organe waren nicht beteiligt. Die Symptomatik verbesserte sich nach Absetzen der Medikamente und Verabreichung von Steroiden. Die eosinophile Kolitis ist eine ausgesprochen seltene Erkrankung mit bisher noch unklarem Wirkmechanismus. Bei Patienten mit abdominellen Schmerzen, Diarrhoe und peripherer Eosinophilie unter einer Therapie mit Pregabalin oder Gabapentin sollte der Verdacht auf eine eosinophile Kolitis gestellt werden

Citrulline as a marker of intestinal function and absorption in clinical settings: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Citrulline has been described as a marker of intestinal function or absorption but evidence varies according to clinical settings. Objective: The objective of this article is to examine the evidence of plasma citrulline as a marker of intestinal function and absorption in various clinical settings. Methods: Studies were examined for p values, means and standard deviations, correlation coefficients or other metrics depicting the association of citrulline with intestinal function. A random effects model was used to produce a pooled estimate. A hierarchical summary receiver operating curve model was fitted for diagnostic accuracy measures. Results: Citrulline levels are correlated strongly with small bowel length in short bowel syndrome patients (r = 0.67). Citrulline is strongly negatively correlated (r = –0.56) with intestinal disease severity with regards to enteropathies (coeliac disease, tropical enteropathy, Crohn’s disease, mucositis, acute rejection in intestinal transplantation). Citrulline cut-off levels have an overall sensitivity and specificity of 80% and 84% respectively. Citrulline levels in untreated coeliac patients compared to controls were reduced by 10 µmol/l. Citrulline levels increase with gluten-free diet and with improvement of enteropathy. Citrulline is decreased in critical illness and sepsis. Conclusion: These findings allow us to advocate quite reasonably that citrulline is a marker of acute and chronic intestinal insufficiency

Temperature dependence of the Brewer global UV measurements

Spectral measurements of global UV irradiance recorded by Brewer spectrophotometers can be significantly affected by instrument-specific optical and mechanical features. Thus, proper corrections are needed in order to reduce the associated uncertainties to within acceptable levels. The present study aims to contribute to the reduction of uncertainties originating from changes in the Brewer internal temperature, which affect the performance of the optical and electronic parts, and subsequently the response of the instrument. Until now, measurements of the irradiance from various types of lamps at different temperatures have been used to characterize the instruments' temperature dependence. The use of 50 W lamps was found to induce errors in the characterization due to changes in the transmissivity of the Teflon diffuser as it warms up by the heat of the lamp. In contrast, the use of 200 or 1000 W lamps is considered more appropriate because they are positioned at longer distances from the diffuser so that warming is negligible. Temperature gradients inside the instrument can cause mechanical stresses which can affect the instrument's optical characteristics. Therefore, during the temperature-dependence characterization procedure warming or cooling must be slow enough to minimize these effects. In this study, results of the temperature characterization of eight different Brewer spectrophotometers operating in Greece, Finland, Germany and Spain are presented. It was found that the instruments' response changes differently in different temperature regions due to different responses of the diffusers' transmittance. The temperature correction factors derived for the Brewer spectrophotometers operating at Thessaloniki, Greece, and Sodankylä, Finland, were evaluated and were found to remove the temperature dependence of the instruments' sensitivity.This article is based upon work from COST Action ES1207 “A European Brewer Network (EUBREWNET)”, supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) and from the ENV59-ATMOZ (“Traceability for atmospheric total column ozone”) Joint Research Programme (JRP)