Category: Statistics

Lang Speech. 2024 Jul 27:238309241261702. doi: 10.1177/00238309241261702. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Fundamental frequency (F0) has been widely studied and used in the context of speaker discrimination and forensic voice comparison casework, but most previous studies focused on long-term F0 statistics. Lexical tone, the linguistically structured and dynamic aspects of F0, has received much less research attention. A main methodological issue lies on how tonal F0 should be parameterized for the best speaker discrimination performance. This paper compares the speaker discriminatory performance of three approaches with lexical tone modeling: discrete cosine transform (DCT), polynomial curve fitting, and quantitative target approximation (qTA). Results show that using parameters based on DCT and polynomials led to similarly promising performance, whereas those based on qTA generally yielded relatively poor performance. Implications modeling surface tonal F0 and the underlying articulatory processes for speaker discrimination are discussed.

PMID:39066631 | DOI:10.1177/00238309241261702

J Evol Biol. 2024 Jul 27:voae093. doi: 10.1093/jeb/voae093. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

While the shell of the land snail Cepaea nemoralis is typically classed as yellow, pink or brown, the reality is that colour variation is continuously distributed. To further understand the origin of the continuous variation we used crosses of C. nemoralis to compare quantitative measures of the colour with the inferred genotype of the underlying supergene locus. We also used a recently developed linkage map to find quantitative trait loci (QTL) that may influence colour. The results show that the colour locus of the supergene – at around 31.385 cM on linkage group 11 – is involved in determining the quantitative chromatic differences that are perceptible to human vision. We also found some evidence that variation within colour classes may be due to allelic variation at or around the supergene. There are likely other unlinked loci involved in determining colour within classes, but confirmation will require greater statistical power. Although not investigated here, environmental factors, including diet, may also impact upon variation within colour types.

PMID:39066609 | DOI:10.1093/jeb/voae093

Cell J. 2024 Jul 13;26(5):277-284. doi: 10.22074/cellj.2024.2019885.1481.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Trimethyltin (TMT) chloride is an organotin compound used in industry. It has been linked to generating reactive oxygen species (ROS), inflammatory processes, and neuronal death. Carvacrol is a monoterpene phenol found in the Lamiaceae plant family, modulating inflammatory conditions and necroptosis in neural tissue. This study aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effects of carvacrol in a rat model of hippocampal neuronal injury induced by TMT.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this experimental study, sixty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups (n=12): group 1 receiving saline, group 2 received dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as a vehicle for 21 days, group 3 receiving a single dose of TMT (8 mg/kg) and groups 4 and 5 receiving carvacrol 40 and 70 mg/kg daily for 21 days after a single dose of TMT. All injections were intraperitoneal (I.P.). Caspase-3, Bax, Bcl-2, and Bdnf gene expression and the number of pyknotic neurons in the hippocampus were quantified. Spatial memory was assessed with a radial arm maze.

RESULTS: Statistical analysis of histological data revealed the carvacrol significantly attenuated cognitive dysfunction and the number of pyknotic neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region of rats treated with TMT. Based on real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), carvacrol modulated the expression of genes involved in apoptosis (Bax and Caspase-3) and upregulated anti-apoptotic (Bcl-2) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf) genes in the hippocampal tissue.

CONCLUSION: These findings revealed neuroprotective effects of carvacrol which might be mediated by apoptotic and anti-apopetotic factors.

PMID:39066592 | DOI:10.22074/cellj.2024.2019885.1481

J Interpers Violence. 2024 Jul 27:8862605241265918. doi: 10.1177/08862605241265918. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Over the past two decades, femicide-the gender-based killing of women or girls-has become an issue of international concern. Yet relatively little data on perpetrators exist. Current research primarily focuses on individual risk factors with less attention on community and societal factors. We use a social capital approach to examine femicide by analyzing the extent to which crime perpetrators experience and perceive social punishment (exclusion) from their social networks. Using a quota sampling strategy, we administered a cross-sectional questionnaire to perpetrators of femicide (N = 71), male-male homicide (N = 73), and other serious crimes (N = 64) across four prisons in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Other crime perpetrators served as a control to the two lethal crime groups. Perceived social capital scores were assigned based on responses to two scales adapted from the World Bank’s “Integrated Questionnaire for the Measurement of Social Capital.” Before committing murder, femicide and homicide perpetrators’ scores were not statistically different. Yet after the crime, femicide perpetrators retained significantly greater scores than homicide perpetrators. The perceived social capital scores of other crime perpetrators did not change after the commission of their crimes. As a secondary objective, we examined the individual and social contexts of femicide perpetrators. Most (85%) of the femicide perpetrators could name at least one other person in their social network whom they knew to be physically violent during disagreements with their partner, while 11% stated that “everyone” they knew used violence during disagreements. Although the penalty for committing femicide and homicide is ostensibly equivalent-a life sentence of 50 years-we found that the informal social punishment femicide perpetrators perceived is less severe than that experienced by homicide perpetrators. These data indicate a lack of social punishment for femicide, compared to other crimes, showing social legitimization of the crime. These findings support the development of community-level interventions to prevent femicide.

PMID:39066590 | DOI:10.1177/08862605241265918

J Interpers Violence. 2024 Jul 27:8862605241265447. doi: 10.1177/08862605241265447. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant challenge that has a profound impact on women, and a contributing factor to its high prevalence is the justification of IPV. Various research works have shown that women’s socioeconomic status (SES) is connected to IPV justification. The major objective of this study is to investigate the socioeconomic disparities in justification of IPV by women in Nigeria. The study involved an analysis of the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey data using a sample comprising 116,958 women. The study utilized chi-square tests and logistic regression as the classical test, and the Bayesian Regression Model in Stan for its analysis. The results were presented using odds ratios along with the 95% confidence limits. The study found that the occurrence of IPV justification by women in Nigeria stood at 32.9%. Additionally, it shows a significant but weak relationship between women’s age and the justification of IPV. Controlling for covariates, women who lacked formal education possess a higher likelihood of justifying IPV with a 54% increase in odds in comparison to women with a higher education level. The study also found that women in the poorest wealth category had a 17% increase in odds of justifying IPV compared to women in the middle-class category, indicating a concerning trend of tolerance toward domestic violence among women with lower SES. IPV has detrimental effects on women and their children. To combat this issue, programs aimed at contextualizing IPV, improving women’s SES, advocating for the end of IPV, and empowering women are highly important. Ultimately, IPV is unjustifiable, regardless of the rationale behind it, and action is needed to reduce the victimization of women within our societies.

PMID:39066588 | DOI:10.1177/08862605241265447

J Interpers Violence. 2024 Jul 27:8862605241264176. doi: 10.1177/08862605241264176. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Previous research has shown there is a high prevalence of sexual violence (SV) and revictimization among the LGBTQ+ community. Little is known about the prevalence of SV and revictimization among rural LGBTQ+ individuals. This study investigates patterns of revictimization and the prevalence of SV among sexual and gender minority individuals. Less resources, services, and more social isolation in rural areas may exacerbate SV. The Illinois Cohort Study is a longitudinal cohort made up of LGBTQ+ individuals with recruitment from June to September 2022. Individuals that have met the screening criteria were delivered a series of surveys for completion, after obtaining consent and given an incentive for their participation. Survey questions on intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and revictimization were collected and described using descriptive statistics. Rural areas were defined as having a population less than 50,000. A total of N = 74 participants responded to the third survey. There were 46% of participants who identified as non-cisgender, and roughly 48% of participants identified as bisexual, pansexual, or other. There were 58% of participants who experienced some form of SV. Factors significantly associated with SV included age, gender, and total Adverse Childhood Experience score (p < .001, .0278, and .002, respectively). There were 70% of participants who reported experiencing SV more than once. Those who reported being sexually victimized more than once reported the abuse lasting an average of 11 years. There were 46% of participants who felt unsafe or trapped in their current relationship. Lesbian (31%) or bisexual (31%) participants were significantly more likely to report feeling afraid in their relationship (p = .041). This study showed that in rural areas, SV is prevalent among LGBTQ+ individuals. Data can be used to produce interventions and resources to reduce the prevalence of SV and revictimization among rural LGBTQ+ individuals.

PMID:39066571 | DOI:10.1177/08862605241264176

Womens Health (Lond). 2024 Jan-Dec;20:17455057241266455. doi: 10.1177/17455057241266455.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Abdominal pain due to menses (primary dysmenorrhea) is an extremely pervasive and debilitating symptom affecting up to 90% of menstruating individuals.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this randomized control trial was to investigate the effect of a commercial transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation unit, Therabody PowerDot^® (Therabody Inc., Los Angeles) on dysmenorrhea compared with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use.

DESIGN: This was a randomized cross-over study.

METHODS: A total of 47 participants agreed to participate in the study, with 34 completing it. Participants completed treatments across three consecutive menstrual cycles in randomized order: single-unit transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (Uno), dual unit transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (Duo), and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use (Control). Upon onset of dysmenorrhea, participants applied transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation to their abdomen for a minimum of 30 min. Control participants were instructed to take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as needed. Surveys were used to record pain before and after treatment. We hypothesized that the PowerDot would decrease self-reported pain scores, and decrease non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug consumption during menses.

RESULTS: Participants experienced a statistically and clinically significant reduction in pain during the Control (-3.52 ± 1.9), Uno (-2.10 ± 1.6), and Duo (-2.19 ± 1.7) cycles (p < 0.001). The doses of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs consumed during the Control cycle (3.5 ± 2.6), was significantly different as compared with that of Uno (1.5 ± 3.0), or Duo (1.1 ± 2.6) (p = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS: Use of a commercial transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation unit results in significant decrease in pain. Although not as robust as the relief in pain induced by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, the adverse events of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation are minimal in comparison. Therefore, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation appears to be a viable alternative to pain relief from dysmenorrhea.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT05178589.

PMID:39066557 | DOI:10.1177/17455057241266455

J Health Psychol. 2024 Jul 27:13591053241262006. doi: 10.1177/13591053241262006. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This randomized controlled study aimed to determine the effectiveness of yoga and laughter yoga approaches in enhancing psychological resilience of mothers with babies hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit. The Mothers were randomized into three groups as yoga, laughter yoga, and control groups. The mothers received a total of 10 yoga/laughter yoga sessions for 45 minutes twice a week as home-based exercises. Depression, anxiety, stress, and psychological resilience outcomes were evaluated at baseline and after 5th and 10th sessions. The study was completed with 60 mothers including 20 mothers in the yoga group, 19 mothers in the laughter yoga group, and 21 mothers in the control group. There were statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of depression, anxiety, stress, and psychological resilience after 5th and 10th sessions. Yoga and laughter yoga was effective for increasing psychological resilience and alleviating depression, anxiety, stress.

PMID:39066522 | DOI:10.1177/13591053241262006

Scand J Surg. 2024 Jul 26:14574969241263539. doi: 10.1177/14574969241263539. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The aim was to compare survival for incidental gallbladder cancer (IGBC), respectively, preoperatively suspected gallbladder cancer (GBC), subjected to surgery for different pathological tumour (pT) stages and in different treatment groups in a national cohort.

METHODS: Data were collected and crosslinked from two national quality registers, SweLiv (2009-2019) and GallRiks (2009-2016). Survival was estimated using Kaplan-Meier analysis. The log-rank test and Cox regression analyses were used to compare groups.

RESULTS: In total, 466 IGBC patients, including 225 who only underwent simple cholecystectomy (SC), and 477 GBC patients were included. Most patients were female, with small differences in mean age between groups. In all IGBC patients compared with GBC patients, an improved 5-year overall survival in pT3 GBC undergoing surgery (GBC 13% vs all IGBC 8%, p < 0.001), was seen. GBC was shown to be an independent predictor for improved survival in pT3 patients (hazard ratio (HR): 0.6; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.4-0.8, p < 0.001). In addition, in GBC with curative reresection compared with IGBC SC and IGBC with curative resection, an improved 5-year overall survival in pT3 GBC was shown (GBC 20% vs all IGBC 10%, p < 0.001). GBC was an independent predictor for improved survival in pT3 patients with curative resection (HR: 0.4; 95% CI: 0.3-0.7, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: GBC was shown to be an independent predictor for improved survival in pT3 patients, and patients with GBC may benefit from one-stage resection. It is, therefore, reasonable to recommend that radiological suspicion of malignancy should be evaluated at a liver tumour centre to optimize patient outcomes.

PMID:39066517 | DOI:10.1177/14574969241263539