Category: Statistics

J Endourol. 2026 Feb 16:8927790261422977. doi: 10.1177/08927790261422977. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To critically appraise the Radius, Exophytic/endophytic, Nearness of tumor to collecting system or sinus, Anterior/posterior, Location relative to polar lines (R.E.N.A.L.), Preoperative Aspects and Dimensions Used for an Anatomical classification (PADUA), and Radius, Position, iNvasion of sinus (RPN) nephrometry systems with respect to their classification of tumor complexity for surgical planning in robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) and to compare their statistical validity, methodological rigor, and predictive performance.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A structured synthesis of published evidence identified large multicenter series, prospective cohorts, and meta-analyses from 2009 to 2025 that evaluated the predictive accuracy, methodological design, and clinical relevance of these systems. Key evaluation domains included statistical validation, anatomical parameter selection, and correlation with surgeon-perceived difficulty in RAPN.

RESULTS: Both the R.E.N.A.L. and PADUA scores were developed using empirically selected parameters and have historically been validated based on their correlation with perioperative outcomes. However, evidence in the literature now shows that such correlations are inconsistent and often clinically irrelevant in RAPN. In contrast, the RPN score was developed using a statistically modeled approach, reflecting the real-world surgical difficulty of RAPN as perceived by experienced robotic surgeons.

CONCLUSION: Current evidence does not support the continued use of R.E.N.A.L. and PADUA scores as validated tools in RAPN. The RPN score, with its statistically validated, anatomy-based methodology and alignment with surgical difficulty, represents a scientifically superior and clinically practical alternative for standardizing tumor complexity in RAPN.

PMID:41693428 | DOI:10.1177/08927790261422977

Assessment. 2026 Feb 16:10731911251412219. doi: 10.1177/10731911251412219. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Fifth Edition (WAIS-5) latent factor structure was assessed using complementary hierarchical exploratory factor analyses (EFA) with the Schmid and Leiman procedure and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) using the standardization sample (N = 2,020) correlation matrix and descriptive statistics of the 20 primary and secondary WAIS-5 subtests. The WAIS-5 Technical and Interpretive Manual did not include EFA, CFA with fewer than five first-order (group) factors, CFA with rival bifactor models, or model-based reliability and dimensionality estimates; thus, the present independent structural validity assessment corrects this evidential lacuna to help guide ethical and evidence-based interpretation. EFA results did not support five latent factors with separate Visual Spatial and Fluid Reasoning factors. Instead, a four-factor model with Visual Spatial and Fluid Reasoning factors merged into the former Perceptual Reasoning factor and measurement dominated by a general intelligence (g) factor-similar to the WAIS-IV structure-was supported. CFA results indicated that a bifactor model with four group factors provided the best fit, consistent with the EFA findings. Overall, the EFA and CFA results did not support the purported WAIS-5 structure and instead replicated findings from independent assessments of the WISC-V with standardization and clinical samples, that indicated primary, if not exclusive, interpretation of the FSIQ as an estimate of psychometric g.

PMID:41693426 | DOI:10.1177/10731911251412219

Subst Use Misuse. 2026 Feb 16:1-19. doi: 10.1080/10826084.2026.2628149. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Background: Sport and physical activity are increasingly used in adolescent substance use prevention, but interventions differ substantially in how sport is integrated. This systematic review examined preventive effects according to physical activity implementation paradigm. Methods: Five databases and prior reviews were searched. Interventions were classified into three paradigms: Preventive Sport (PS), where sport alone is expected to prevent use; Prevention Combined with Sport (PCS), where sport and prevention are delivered in parallel; and Prevention Through Sport (PTS), where preventive strategies are embedded within the sport context. A structured narrative synthesis was conducted of substance use, intentions, and risk and protective factors. Results: Nineteen interventions (25 studies) met inclusion criteria. PS interventions showed little evidence of preventive effects. PCS and PTS interventions reported preventive effects across several outcomes, particularly for alcohol and tobacco. PCS effects appeared more consistent in the short term, whereas PTS showed more sustained effects across substances and follow-up periods. Effect sizes were generally small and heterogeneity across formats, mechanisms, and outcomes was substantial. Conclusions: The paradigms differ in sport use, the preventive mechanisms they activate, and outcomes. Sport alone (PS) shows insufficient evidence for recommendation, whereas combined (PCS) and through-sport (PTS) approaches show more promising patterns. This research contributes to a better understanding of the role of sport in prevention, helping professionals and decision-makers to design more effective interventions and make better decisions.

PMID:41693421 | DOI:10.1080/10826084.2026.2628149

J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2026 Feb;52(2):e70204. doi: 10.1111/jog.70204.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) level and acute kidney injury as well as postpartum renal functional recovery.

METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 100 preeclampsia patients who were admitted and delivered in the Department of Obstetrics at our hospital between July 2024 and January 2025. Among them, 26 patients had concurrent acute kidney injury (AKI) while 74 did not. Demographic data and laboratory parameters were collected for all patients. Statistical analyses included Student’s t-test, Pearson correlation analysis, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis for comparisons.

RESULTS: Compared with the non-AKI group, the AKI group exhibited significantly higher levels of 24-h urinary protein excretion (1.91 ± 0.68 vs. 0.74 ± 0.20 g/24 h, p < 0.001), D-dimer (5.15 ± 0.73 vs. 3.15 ± 1.13 mg/L, p < 0.001), and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL; 461.33 ± 75.74 vs. 370.22 ± 56.51 ng/mL, p < 0.001), but a significantly lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR; 165.27 ± 19.44 vs. 181.66 ± 25.80 mL/min/1.73m², p = 0.004). NGAL level showed positive correlations with D-dimer (r = 0.402) and 24-h urinary protein excretion (r = 0.367). The area under the curve (AUC) for predicting AKI occurrence superimposed on preeclampsia (PE) was 0.974 for 24-h urinary protein excretion,0.699 for eGFR,0.923 for D-dimer and 0.841 for NGAL, indicating their predictive value. Compared with Day 1, NGAL levels decreased on Days 5 and 7 in the renal function recovery group, while NGAL levels increased on Day 7 in the group without renal function recovery.

CONCLUSION: Elevated serum NGAL levels at admission are significantly associated with acute kidney injury in patients with preeclampsia and serve as a valuable predictor for its occurrence, as evidenced by a high AUC.

PMID:41693384 | DOI:10.1111/jog.70204

Int Nurs Rev. 2026 Mar;73(1):e70155. doi: 10.1111/inr.70155.

ABSTRACT

AIM: This study aimed to investigate work engagement and its association with ethical climate among Jordanian nurses in the emergency department.

BACKGROUND: Work engagement and ethical climate are critical factors for emergency nurses who work in high-pressure environments that require rapid clinical and ethical decision-making.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Data were collected from a sample of 650 emergency nurses in Jordan from March to May 2025. Measures comprised the Ethical Climate Questionnaire (ECQ), the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale 9 (UWES-9), and sociodemographic variables. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to analyze the data.

RESULTS: The participants reported moderate levels of both satisfaction with the ethical climate and work engagement. A positive correlation existed between ethical climate and work engagement. Higher levels of work engagement correlated with participants who were female, single, divorced or widowed, employed in the private sector, and had lower monthly income. Five models resulted from the hierarchical multiple regression. They indicated that ethical climate, monthly income, marital status, and gender accounted for a meaningful proportion of variance in work engagement in this sample. Ethical climate was the strongest factor associated with work engagement.

CONCLUSION: Enhancing the ethical climate within emergency departments could be an effective strategy for strengthening nurses’ work engagement and sustaining workforce performance.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Nursing managers should promote ethical dialogue, supportive supervision, continuous training, and equitable workplace practices to strengthen work engagement among emergency nurses.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND/OR HEALTH POLICY: Healthcare policymakers should support ethical workplace policies, inclusive leadership development, and organizational empowerment to enhance an ethical climate in emergency departments.

PMID:41693374 | DOI:10.1111/inr.70155

IISE Trans Occup Ergon Hum Factors. 2026 Feb 15:1-17. doi: 10.1080/24725838.2026.2615463. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONSThis study introduces an automated ergonomic assessment system tailored for repetitive culinary tasks. By combining joint tracking with the Assessment of Repetitive Tasks (ART) tool, the system identifies movement patterns and evaluates ergonomic risks. Results show strong alignment with expert evaluations. Operating with standard video input, the system minimizes the need for manual observation, enabling consistent and scalable risk evaluations. Designed for practical use, the system can be deployed in commercial kitchens using affordable cameras and minimal setup. The output aligns with ART categories, helping safety managers pinpoint high-risk tasks. These findings can inform ergonomic interventions, such as tool redesign or task rotation. User-friendly and requiring minimal training, the system is well-suited for small to medium-sized food operations. It facilitates early detection of musculoskeletal risks and complements existing safety protocols. With further development, the system holds potential for broader applications in fields like healthcare or manufacturing.

PMID:41693346 | DOI:10.1080/24725838.2026.2615463

Health Serv Res. 2026 Feb;61(1):e70092. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.70092.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate how exposure to the 340B Drug Pricing Program influences care for patients with the two most common forms of cancer: lung and breast.

STUDY SETTING AND DESIGN: Proponents of the 340B Program assert that it reduces care costs by supporting safety-net providers through outpatient drug discounts. There is a gap in understanding patient-level program impacts. We estimate the association between the 340B program and care utilization, treatment costs, and health outcomes by comparing patients exposed to the 340B program to patients not exposed using linear and logistic multivariate regression analyses with propensity score weighting. Costs are inflation-adjusted to U.S. 2020 dollars.

DATA SOURCES AND ANALYTIC SAMPLE: We use Medicare fee-for-service claims data for beneficiaries in the United States who are within one year of an initial lung (N = 35,334) or breast (N = 83,721) cancer diagnosis between 2013 and 2018.

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Exposure to the 340B program is associated with a significant increase in the probability of using Part B-covered cancer treatment drugs of 10.8 percentage points (pp) (95% CI, 9.2 pp. to 12.3 pp) for lung cancer and 14.8 pp. (95% CI, 13.9 pp. to 15.6 pp) for breast cancer. This is a relative increase of 19.6% and 43.1% for lung and breast cancer, respectively. Medicare spent $9592 (95% CI, $8498 to $10,686) more on lung cancer and $7598 (95% CI, $7215 to $7980) more on breast cancer patients exposed to the 340B program compared with patients not exposed, where the average cost of treatment was $36,256 and $15,626 for lung and breast cancer, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: Findings are consistent with the financial incentives of the 340B program and highlight that the program has a broad impact on patient care and cost. Policymakers should consider ways to support safety net providers that are not tied to outpatient medications.

PMID:41693003 | DOI:10.1111/1475-6773.70092

Gerontologist. 2026 Feb 15:gnag009. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnag009. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The digital divide and limited AI literacy pose significant barriers to technology adoption among older adults in low-resource communities. This study investigates the potential of socially assistive robots (SARs) to promote social engagement and psychosocial well-being by analyzing interactions with the AI-driven Hyodol SAR.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Multimodal data-including log-based usage patterns and voice recordings-were collected via SAR-embedded sensors. Pre- and post-intervention surveys provided demographic and health information. Human-robot conversations were classified into nine emotional and topical categories, along with six types of activity participation. K-means clustering was employed to identify distinct user personas reflecting engagement patterns.

RESULTS: Of the participants, 44.6% engaged in conversation with the SAR, and 30.2% discussed activity participation. Three user personas emerged: Social Engagers (28.35%) balanced social and personal interactions with positive emotional tone; Independent Reflectors (41.79%) showed high conversational engagement; Emotionally Expressive Users (29.85%) demonstrated the highest overall SAR usage, including tactile and content-based interactions. While some clusters exhibited numerical reductions in loneliness and depression, these changes did not reach statistical significance.

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: These findings suggest that SARs can complement caregiving services for older adults in low-resource communities. By integrating narrative data with quantitative survey responses and usage logs, this study advances methodological approaches in AI-driven gerontological research. The results highlight opportunities for persona-based customization, AI-adaptive learning, and emotion-informed care in future SAR development.

PMID:41692979 | DOI:10.1093/geront/gnag009

Bioinformatics. 2026 Feb 15:btag070. doi: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btag070. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

MOTIVATION: In the past decades, many statistical methods for integrating multi-omics data have been developed. They have been implemented into software tools, which differ widely in their programming choices, such as the format required for data input, or the format of the generated integration results. This lack of standards renders cumbersome and time-intensive the application and comparison of different integration tools to a same multi-omics dataset.

RESULTS: We have developed the moiraine R package for constructing reproducible multi-omics integration pipelines, which enables users to apply one or more statistical methods for multi-omics integration to their own multi-omics dataset. moiraine facilitates the pre-processing of the omics datasets, and automates their formatting for the integration step. It simplifies the interpretation and evaluation of the integration results, through the construction of visualisations in which metadata about samples and features can easily be included. Crucially, it enables the comparison of results obtained with different integration tools, allowing users to assess the robustness of their results.

AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION: The moiraine R package is publicly available at https://github.com/Plant-Food-Research-Open/moiraine; an archival snapshot of the package is available on Zenodo at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17172718. A detailed tutorial is available at https://plant-food-research-open.github.io/moiraine-manual/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

PMID:41692950 | DOI:10.1093/bioinformatics/btag070

Nurs Open. 2026 Feb;13(2):e70434. doi: 10.1002/nop2.70434.

ABSTRACT

AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of interventions to enhance and maintain organisational commitment, work engagement and retention and to reduce burnout and turnover of newly graduated nurses (NGNs).

BACKGROUND: Nurses leave their profession at a rate of 5%-18% worldwide. NGNs transferring from being a nurse student to a registered nurse may face significant stress and difficulties. To support a successful transition and reduce turnover rates among new graduates, it is necessary to identify effective interventions to enhance and maintain organisational commitment, work engagement and retention of NGNs and to reduce their burnout and turnover.

METHODS: The systematic review focused on newly graduated nursing professionals having worked within clinical practice at most 6 months after their graduation, in any social or health care setting. We excluded studies focusing solely on nursing assistants, licensed practical nurses, advanced nurse practitioners, or clinical nurse specialists. Of the interventions, residency programmes were excluded. Cochrane Library, CINAHL, MEDLINE, Scopus, the Joanna Briggs Institute and Medic were searched with a timeline from January 2012 to February 2023. Quality appraisal of the original studies was performed using specific criteria for each study design. The results of the original studies were synthesised narratively. Effect size was estimated with Cohen’s d (d).

RESULTS: The review included three moderate to good quality original studies with 566 participants in total: a randomised controlled trial, a non-randomised trial and a cohort study. Two interventions based on one-to-one mentoring strategy (d = -0.18) and 10-minute preceptor model using educational strategies (d = -0.58) showed small or medium effects towards decreased turnover intentions. Psychological measures of work engagement, burnout or organisational commitment had not been addressed as an outcome in any of the studies.

CONCLUSION: We found very few good-quality studies examining interventions to promote NGN’s staying at work. Of the three studies, two showed an association with lower turnover. More research with high-quality study designs is needed. The evaluations should include cost-benefit analysis.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: The current evidence is insufficient to make recommendations for nursing management on interventions to promote NGN’s staying at work. Thus, further research is needed to build evidence-based interventions.

REGISTRATION: PROSPERO Registration CRD42022328406.

PMID:41692946 | DOI:10.1002/nop2.70434