Category: Statistics

Chaos. 2026 Aug 1;36(8):083152. doi: 10.1063/5.0333588.

ABSTRACT

In this paper, we study the role of geometry in q-deformations. We consider two conjugate maps fa(x) and 1 – fa(1 – x), where fa is the logistic family, with a ∈ (0, 4], and prove that their q-deformations by the map ϕq(x)=qx-q-xq-q-1 may exhibit quite different dynamic behaviors. Thus, the geometry of the maps is more important than their being conjugate when q-deformations are considered.

PMID:42644708 | DOI:10.1063/5.0333588

Pediatr Ann. 2026 Aug;55(8):e323-e327. doi: 10.3928/19382359-20260609-05. Epub 2026 Aug 1.

ABSTRACT

Pediatric acute gastroenteritis remains a leading global cause of mortality and malnutrition, accounting for 1.7 billion annual cases. Despite its prevalence, management remains variable. This article advocates for a transition from unstructured clinical “gestalt” to evidence-based frameworks in order to improve outcomes. Diagnostic evaluation should prioritize validated tools, like the Clinical Dehydration Scale and the Gorelick Scale, as physician intuition often lacks precision. Laboratory diagnostics and polymerase chain reaction testing should be reserved for severe cases or patients with high risk to avoid over testing. Management emphasizes oral rehydration therapy as the gold standard for mild-to-moderate dehydration, supported by single-dose ondansetron to reduce intravenous (IV) fluid reliance and hospitalization. Antimicrobials are indicated only for specific pathogens (eg, Shigella, Vibrio cholerae) or immunocompromised hosts. Finally, there is discussion on systemic health disparities-noting that children who are Black and not Hispanic and children who are Hispanic are statistically less likely to receive IV fluids or admission-underscoring the role of standardized guidelines in ensuring equitable, high-value care.

PMID:42644700 | DOI:10.3928/19382359-20260609-05

Oral Health Prev Dent. 2026 Aug 26;24:703-717. doi: 10.3290/j.ohpd.c_2763.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This paper describes a novel surgical technique (Sinus-Plate Augmentation Method [SPAM]) using autologous sinus plate bone for posterior lateral maxillary augmentation during sinus lifting and dental implant insertion.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight partially edentulous patients aged 52-71 years old (7 females, 2 smokers) with severe horizontal alveolar bone resorption in the maxillary posterior areas, were surgically treated as follows: lateral bone augmentation was performed by harvesting the vestibular bone wall of the sinus window and using a xenogeneic bone graft, followed by external sinus lifting and implant insertion. Seven patients were followed-up for 12-18 months, while one patient was followed-up for 36 months.

RESULTS: A total of 24 implants were inserted simultaneously with SPAM and sinus lifting. Post-operative healing was uneventful in all cases. Horizontal alveolar bone gain ranged between 9.28±1.2 mm post-operatively and 8.37±1.5 mm at the 19.5-month follow-up. A statistically significant gain in alveolar bone width of 2.55±1.47 mm was present at the follow-up.

CONCLUSION: SPAM seems to be a feasible surgical technique for the horizontal reconstruction of moderate to severely resorbed posterior maxillae, concomitant to external sinus lifting and implant insertion.

PMID:42644674 | DOI:10.3290/j.ohpd.c_2763

J Interpers Violence. 2026 Aug 26:8862605261476090. doi: 10.1177/08862605261476090. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Despite the prevalence of sexual assault in military contexts and the unique risk factors associated with military life, little research has examined sexual assault experiences among family members of military personnel. This study examined the prevalence and characteristics of sexual assault among spouses of U.S. service members, and explored which individual and military factors were associated with sexual assault. Military spouses enrolled in the Millennium Cohort Family Study (N = 19,500) self-reported experiences of sexual assault since entering the military community, including offender and assault characteristics. Descriptive statistics weighted to the population were used to explore prevalence and characteristics of sexual assault experiences, while logistic regressions were used to examine associations with individual and military factors. Approximately 7.6% of military spouses experienced sexual assault (female: 8.2%, male: 4.1%). Spouses who were veterans had the highest prevalence (18.9%), followed by spouses who were currently serving (8.9%) or had never served in the military (6.9%). Among those who experienced sexual assault, a wide range of offender and assault characteristics were reported, including assault from a “friend, relative, or acquaintance” (43.2%) and “spouse or significant other” (27.5%). The most common assault characteristics were those involving sexual contact (59.8%), assault via incapacitation (47.1%), and completed sexual intercourse (46.4%). Higher odds of sexual assault were observed among spouses who were female, had current or former military service, were separated, divorced or widowed, or were affiliated with the Navy. However, an interaction indicated that current military service was only a risk factor among female spouses. These findings provide novel insight into the sexual assault experiences of military spouses and may inform sexual violence prevention and response within the U.S. military.

PMID:42644655 | DOI:10.1177/08862605261476090

J Interpers Violence. 2026 Aug 26:8862605261476098. doi: 10.1177/08862605261476098. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Chronic pain is associated with mood dysregulation, irritability, and impaired emotion regulation. However, population-based evidence linking chronic pain to abusive behaviors toward older adults remains limited. This study examined (a) the prevalence of verbal and physical abusive behaviors toward family members and older adults according to chronic pain status and (b) the independent and joint associations of chronic pain history and loneliness with these behaviors. We analyzed pooled cross-sectional data from 39,173 adults (mean age: 46.4 years; 51.6% women) who participated in the Japan COVID-19 and Society Internet Survey in 2022 and 2023. Chronic pain status (current, past, or none) was assessed by self-report, loneliness was measured using the six-item De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale, and abusive behaviors in the past year were assessed via single-item questions. Modified Poisson regression models estimated prevalence ratios (PRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusting for sociodemographic, lifestyle, and mental health factors. After full adjustment, current chronic pain was significantly associated with a higher prevalence of verbal aggression toward family members (PR 1.54, 95% CI [1.45, 1.63]), verbal aggression toward older adults (PR 1.35, 95% CI [1.23, 1.47]), and physical violence toward family members (PR 1.41, 95% CI [1.30, 1.52]), but not significantly associated with physical violence toward older adults. Participants with both a history of chronic pain and high loneliness had the largest adjusted PRs across outcomes; however, RERI estimates showed no statistically significant departure from additivity. Given the cross-sectional design and self-reported measures, these findings should be interpreted as associations that may reflect broader accumulated vulnerability rather than direct causal effects. The findings suggest that pain management and primary care settings may serve as contact points for identifying interpersonal conflict and that screening for loneliness and broader psychosocial vulnerability may facilitate early identification of individuals at elevated risk.

PMID:42644640 | DOI:10.1177/08862605261476098

J Interpers Violence. 2026 Aug 26:8862605261476096. doi: 10.1177/08862605261476096. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Bullying perpetration among adolescents remains a pressing global concern, yet the psychosocial processes that link sexual harassment victimization experiences to subsequent aggression are not fully understood. Sexual harassment has been identified as a salient risk factor, but little research has systematically examined the psychological and behavioral pathways, particularly school disconnectedness and school truancy, through which sexual harassment victimization may be statistically associated with bullying perpetration. Drawing on large-scale cross-sectional data from 13 countries (N = 32,190), this study employed structural equation modeling to examine the direct association between sexual harassment victimization and bullying perpetration, as well as their indirect associations through school disconnectedness and truancy. Given the cross-sectional design, the indirect effects are interpreted as theoretically informed statistical associations rather than evidence of causal mediation. The structural equation model demonstrated good fit to the data. Sexual harassment victimization was positively associated with bullying perpetration both directly and indirectly through school disengagement. Both school disconnectedness and truancy significantly mediated this relationship, with truancy emerging as a comparatively stronger pathway than disconnectedness. These findings provide novel cross-national evidence on the psychosocial processes associated with sexual harassment victimization and bullying perpetration. By integrating psychological and behavioral dimensions of disengagement, the study advances theoretical models of peer aggression and underscores the need for interventions that simultaneously strengthen school connectedness and reduce truancy. Such strategies may offer globally relevant approaches to disrupting cycles of victimization and aggression in adolescence.

PMID:42644631 | DOI:10.1177/08862605261476096

Foot Ankle Int. 2026 Aug 26:10711007261472466. doi: 10.1177/10711007261472466. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Lateral ankle sprains frequently result in anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) dysfunction, leading to chronic lateral ankle instability. The ATFL consists of superior and inferior fascicles; however, the stabilizing role of the superior fascicle remains unclear. We biomechanically evaluated its function using cadaveric models.

METHODS: Nine frozen cadaveric ankles were tested using a robotic system (FRS2015). The superior fascicle was sequentially transected arthroscopically to simulate cumulative 3 injury types: type 1, partial detachment at the medial margin of the fibular attachment; type 2, proximal detachment; and type 3, complete detachment. Anterior talar translation, internal rotation, and inversion angles relative to the tibia were measured as displacements under the anterior drawer, internal rotation, and inversion loads, respectively, at 15° dorsiflexion and 15° and 30° plantarflexion. In situ forces and ankle kinematics were also measured.

RESULTS: Internal rotation displacement at 30° plantarflexion was significantly greater in type 3 than in the intact (mean difference, 2.9°; 95% CI, 0.6°-5.0°; P = .01), type 1 (mean difference, 2.6°; 95% CI, 0.5°-4.8°; P = .02), and type 2 (cumulative with type 1; mean difference, 2.5°; 95% CI, 0.4°-4.5°; P = .02). With the numbers available, no significant differences were found among intact, type 1, and type 2, nor in anterior or inversion displacement across any conditions. The in situ force was greater in type 3 than in type 1 during anterior drawer and internal rotation loading, and ankle kinematics did not differ.

CONCLUSION: Partial injury to the superior fascicle of the ATFL was not associated with a statistically significant difference in ankle instability under the tested conditions, whereas complete injury was associated with significantly greater internal rotational displacement.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Injury to the superior fascicle of the ATFL is associated with increased internal rotational laxity, supporting the use of internal rotation testing, such as the anterolateral drawer test, when evaluating suspected ATFL injury.

PMID:42644620 | DOI:10.1177/10711007261472466

Br J Dev Psychol. 2026 Aug 26. doi: 10.1111/bjdp.70065. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Research on genetic syndromes is vital to our understanding of how development unfolds, but the rarity of genetic syndromes can mean that studies are carried out with small sample sizes. Small sample sizes can reduce the statistical power of a study to produce reliable and replicable results. Here, we review all UK journal articles on three target genetic syndromes published from 2013 to 2022. There were 368 eligible articles. The median sample size of genetic syndrome groups was N = 30, and only 6.5% of articles reported a power analysis. Power analysis was performed on the 123 articles classed as ‘Cognitive’ research, as a test case. This demonstrated an average power of only 54% for a medium effect size and an alpha of 0.05. This is well below the recommended threshold of 80% power. The low power of UK genetic syndrome research has consequences for the replicability of the field due to the risk of Type II errors and reduced precision in effect size estimates, as well as implications for the communities that this research seeks to serve. We provide suggestions for researchers, journal editors and funders for improving the replicability of the field of genetic syndrome research.

PMID:42644592 | DOI:10.1111/bjdp.70065

Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2026 Sep;35(9):e70467. doi: 10.1002/pds.70467.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Deprescribing is increasingly recognized as an effective strategy for reducing potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use and polypharmacy in older adults. However, existing deprescribing frameworks often lack detailed operational guidance, which may hinder their routine implementation in clinical practice. To systematically map and characterize the reported deprescribing processes in older adults with PIM use or polypharmacy and identify gaps in their operationalization.

METHODS: PubMed, Embase (Ovid), and Web of Science were comprehensively searched for studies describing deprescribing processes in older adults with PIM use or polypharmacy. The reported processes were evaluated against Reeve’s patient-centered deprescribing framework, which comprises five sequential steps.

RESULTS: A total of 92 studies describing deprescribing processes were included. Although 91 studies (98.91%) provided at least a partial description of the deprescribing process, only 1 study reported all five steps of Reeve’s framework in detail. The step of planning and initiating medication withdrawal was the most frequently and thoroughly described (63/92, 68.97%). In contrast, operational guidance for determining whether a medication could be ceased and prioritizing medications for discontinuation was rarely reported, with only 7 studies (7.61%) providing sufficient detail. Patient involvement in developing the deprescribing plan was also inconsistently reported, with nearly half of the studies inadequately addressing this aspect.

CONCLUSIONS: Deprescribing processes are incompletely and inconsistently operationalized in the literature. In particular, guidance on cessation decisions, medication prioritization, and patient engagement remains limited. Future deprescribing frameworks should provide explicit, stepwise, and patient-centered operational guidance to facilitate consistent implementation in routine clinical practice.

PMID:42644554 | DOI:10.1002/pds.70467

Front Dent Med. 2026 Aug 11;7:1895392. doi: 10.3389/fdmed.2026.1895392. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Platelet-rich fibrin has shown regenerative potential in periodontal treatments; nonetheless, patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) may experience altered biological activities. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the regenerative potential and growth factor release profiles of advanced platelet-rich fibrin (A PRF) and injectable platelet-rich fibrin (i-PRF) derived from participants with controlled and uncontrolled T2DM.

METHODS: This study compared n = 87 (29 per group) participants-controlled T2DM, uncontrolled T2DM, and Healthy non-diabetic groups-analysing blood samples for HbA1c, platelet count, and growth factors like Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB), Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1), Transforming growth factor-beta 2 (TGF-β2) via Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), assessing cytocompatibility with 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays, and employing statistical methods like Analysis of variance (ANOVA) correlation, and regression.

RESULTS: PRF derived from participants with uncontrolled T2DM demonstrated significantly reduced PDGF-BB and TGF-β2 release compared with healthy participants in both A-PRF (P = 0.016), i-PRF (P = 0.033), and A-PRF (P = 0.002) and i-PRF (P = 0.0034. VEGF release was significantly lower in uncontrolled T2DM than in well-controlled T2DM in both A-PRF (P = 0.0096) and i-PRF (P = 0.0023). Compared with the uncontrolled T2DM group, well-controlled T2DM exhibited significantly higher VEGF release in both A-PRF (P = 0.0096) and i-PRF (P = 0.0023), and significantly higher IGF-1 (P < 0.05) and TGF-β2 (P = 0.033) levels in i-PRF. Platelet counts were comparable across the study groups, whereas cell viability was highest in PRF from healthy participants. HbA1c was not independently associated with the evaluated growth factor concentrations in multivariable analyses.

CONCLUSIONS: A-PRF and i-PRF derived from participants with well-controlled T2DM exhibited biological properties comparable to those of healthy non-diabetic individuals, whereas uncontrolled T2DM was associated with reduced release of key growth factors, indicating compromised healing potential. These findings suggest that achieving good glycaemic control may optimize the biological performance of PRF for periodontal regenerative therapy. However, the present findings are based on in vitro analyses; confirmation through well-designed prospective clinical studies remains essential before these findings can be translated into routine clinical practice.

PMID:42643293 | PMC:PMC13503254 | DOI:10.3389/fdmed.2026.1895392