Lancet Psychiatry. 2024 Aug;11(8):577-578. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(24)00218-9.
NO ABSTRACT
PMID:39025625 | DOI:10.1016/S2215-0366(24)00218-9
Category: Nevin Manimala
Lancet Psychiatry. 2024 Aug;11(8):574-575. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(24)00181-0.
NO ABSTRACT
PMID:39025624 | DOI:10.1016/S2215-0366(24)00181-0
Methods Enzymol. 2024;701:83-122. doi: 10.1016/bs.mie.2024.04.008. Epub 2024 May 17.
ABSTRACT
The lateral stress profile of a lipid bilayer constitutes a valuable link between molecular simulation and mesoscopic elastic theory. Even though it is frequently calculated in simulations, its statistical precision (or that of observables derived from it) is often left unspecified. This omission can be problematic, as uncertainties are prerequisite to assessing statistical significance. In this chapter, we provide a comprehensive yet accessible overview of the statistical error analysis for the lateral stress profile. We detail two relatively simple but powerful techniques for generating error bars: block-averaging and bootstrapping. Combining these methods allows us to reliably estimate uncertainties, even in the presence of both temporal and spatial correlations, which are ubiquitous in simulation data. We illustrate these techniques with simple examples like stress moments, but also more complex observables such as the location of stress profile extrema and the monolayer neutral surface.
PMID:39025584 | DOI:10.1016/bs.mie.2024.04.008
Methods Enzymol. 2024;701:1-46. doi: 10.1016/bs.mie.2024.03.006. Epub 2024 Apr 4.
ABSTRACT
A widely known property of lipid membranes is their tendency to undergo a separation into disordered (Ld) and ordered (Lo) domains. This impacts the local structure of the membrane relevant for the physical (e.g., enhanced electroporation) and biological (e.g., protein sorting) significance of these regions. The increase in computing power, advancements in simulation software, and more detailed information about the composition of biological membranes shifts the study of these domains into the focus of classical molecular dynamics simulations. In this chapter, we present a versatile yet robust analysis pipeline that can be easily implemented and adapted for a wide range of lipid compositions. It employs Gaussian-based Hidden Markov Models to predict the hidden order states of individual lipids by describing their structure through the area per lipid and the average SCC order parameters per acyl chain. Regions of the membrane with a high correlation between ordered lipids are identified by employing the Getis-Ord local spatial autocorrelation statistic on a Voronoi tessellation of the lipids. As an example, the approach is applied to two distinct systems at a coarse-grained resolution, demonstrating either a strong tendency towards phase separation (1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC), 1,2-dilinoleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DIPC), cholesterol) or a weak tendency toward phase separation (1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC), 1-palmitoyl-2-docosahexaenoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (PUPC), cholesterol). Explanations of the steps are complemented by coding examples written in Python, providing both a comprehensive understanding and practical guidance for a seamless integration of the workflow into individual projects.
PMID:39025569 | DOI:10.1016/bs.mie.2024.03.006
Sci Justice. 2024 Jul;64(4):389-396. doi: 10.1016/j.scijus.2024.05.003. Epub 2024 May 23.
ABSTRACT
DNA technology is the gold standard with respect to the identification of individuals from biological evidence. The technology offers the convenience of a universally similar approach and methodology for analysis across the globe. However, the technology has not realised its full potential in India due to the lack of a DNA database and lacunae in sample collection and preservation from the scene of crime and victims (especially those of sexual assault). Further, statistical interpretation of DNA results is non-existent in the majority of cases. Though the latest technologies and developments in the field of DNA analysis are being adopted and implemented,very little has been enacted practically to improve optimise sample collection and preservation. This article discusses current casework scenarios that highlight the pitfalls and ambiguous areas in the field of DNA analysis, especially with respect DNA databases, sampling, andstatistical approaches to genetic data analysis. Possible solutions and mitigation measures are suggested.
PMID:39025564 | DOI:10.1016/j.scijus.2024.05.003
Sci Justice. 2024 Jul;64(4):360-366. doi: 10.1016/j.scijus.2024.05.002. Epub 2024 May 11.
ABSTRACT
The impact of contextual bias has been repeatedly demonstrated across forensic domains; however, research on this topic in China is scarce. To examine the prevalence of contextual bias in pattern feature-comparison disciplines, we conducted an experiment involving 24 forensic document examination students. The aim was to determine whether knowledge of different contextual information influenced their forensic decision-making. Participants were divided into different context groups and tasked with examining whether questioned signatures with ambiguous features matched reference signatures. The results of independent-samples t-tests for their decision score data in the two context groups exhibited a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05, Cohen’s d > 0.8). Moreover, the submitted forensic reports by participants disclosed a biased evaluation of handwriting features. These findings show how contextual information can bias forensic decision-making in handwriting examination. Context management with complementary strategies such as case triage, cognitive training and decision-making transparency must be implemented to minimize bias in handwriting examination.
PMID:39025561 | DOI:10.1016/j.scijus.2024.05.002
Lancet Child Adolesc Health. 2024 Aug;8(8):571-579. doi: 10.1016/S2352-4642(24)00130-5.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Strategies to promote mental health care help-seeking among children are needed, especially in low-income and middle-income countries and in complex settings. The aim of this trial was to compare a vignette-based, community-level, proactive case detection tool (CCDT) against standard awareness raising for promoting mental health help-seeking among children and adolescents.
METHODS: This stepped wedge cluster randomised trial was conducted in the Bidi Bidi, Kyaka II, Kyangwali, Omugo, and Rhino refugee settlements in Uganda. Community gatekeepers received a 2-day training session on using the CCDT to proactively detect children with mental health concerns and encourage children (or their caregivers) to use the mental health-care service run by Transcultural Psychosocial Organization Uganda. At baseline, organisations implemented routine detection or mental health awareness-raising activities. At cross-over to CCDT implementation, gatekeepers used the tool in their daily activities. The primary outcome was mental health-care service use by children and adolescents. Child population size estimates at the zone level were not available. Therefore, service use was calculated using total population size. We report the effect of CCDT implementation as an incidence rate ratio (IRR), which we produced from a model that accounts for calendar time, exposure time, and person-time. IRRs were estimated for the analysis of effect over time in the per-protocol and intention-to-treat populations. The trial is registered with the ISRCTN registry, number ISRCTN19056780.
FINDINGS: 28 administrative zones were selected for trial participation by October, 2021. Between Jan 1, and Nov 8, 2022, seven clusters of four zones sequentially crossed over from routine care to CCDT implementation in 1-month intervals. The CCDT was implemented by 177 trained community gatekeepers. In 9 months, 2385 children visited a mental health-care service; of these, 1118 (47%) were girls and 1267 (53%) were boys (mean age 12·18 years [SD 4.03]). 1998 children made a first or re-entry visit to a service; of these, 937 (47%) were girls and 1061 (53%) were boys (mean age 12·08 years [SD 4·06]). Compared to standard awareness-raising activities, CCDT implementation was associated with an increase in mental health-care service use in the first month after implementation (20·91-fold change [95% CI 12·87-33·99]). Despite a slight decline in service use over time in both the CCDT and pre-CCDT zones, CCDT zones maintained a time-average 16·89-fold increase (95% CI 8·15-34·99) in mental health service use.
INTERPRETATION: The CCDT enabled community gatekeepers to increase mental health-care service use by children and adolescents. Vignette-based strategies rooted in the community could become a valuable contribution towards reducing the mental health-care gap among children, especially when accompanied by accessible mental health-care services.
FUNDING: Sint Antonius Stichting Projects.
TRANSLATIONS: For the Arabic, French and Spanish translations of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.
PMID:39025558 | DOI:10.1016/S2352-4642(24)00130-5
Lancet Child Adolesc Health. 2024 Aug;8(8):546-547. doi: 10.1016/S2352-4642(24)00166-4.
NO ABSTRACT
PMID:39025555 | DOI:10.1016/S2352-4642(24)00166-4
J Nurs Meas. 2024 Jul 18:JNM-2023-0122.R1. doi: 10.1891/JNM-2023-0122. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Background Purpose: This study was carried out to assess the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the 21st-Century Skills Scale in Nursing Students. Methods: It is a methodological type of research. In the validity study of the scale, language validity, content validity, and structure validity were examined. Internal consistency analysis was performed in the reliability study. Results: According to the exploratory factor analysis, the total variance explained by the eight-factor structure was calculated as 57.15%. Items 63, 62, 60, and 15 were removed from the scale, as they did not contribute to any factor. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the model was statistically significant and valid (χ2 /df = 2.255). Conclusions: The results of this research indicate that the 21st-Century Skills Scale is a valid scale with 8 sub-dimensions and 59 items in Turkish society and can be used reliably to determine the 21st-century skills of nursing students.
PMID:39025521 | DOI:10.1891/JNM-2023-0122
BMJ. 2024 Jul 18;386:q1591. doi: 10.1136/bmj.q1591.
NO ABSTRACT
PMID:39025507 | DOI:10.1136/bmj.q1591