Nevin Manimala

J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2023 Mar 10:1-16. doi: 10.1044/2022_JSLHR-22-00519. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The Masking Level Difference (MLD) has been used for decades to evaluate the binaural listening advantage. Although originally measured using Bekesy audiometry, the most common clinical use of the MLD is the CD-based Wilson 500-Hz technique with interleaved N0S0 and N0Sπ components. Here, we propose an alternative technique based on manual audiometry as a faster way of measuring the MLD. The article describes the advantages to this administration technique and evaluates if it is a viable alternative for the Wilson technique.

METHOD: Data were retrospectively analyzed on 264 service members (SMs). All SMs completed both the Wilson and Manual MLDs. Descriptive and correlational statistics were applied to evaluate the comparisons between the two techniques and highlight the differences. Equivalence measures were also completed to compare the tests using a standardized cutoff score. Analyses were also made to compare both techniques to subjective and objective measures of hearing performance.

RESULTS: Moderate to high positive correlations were determined between Wilson and Manual measures of each threshold (N0Sπ and N0S0). Although the Manual and Wilson MLD techniques produced significantly different thresholds, simple linear transformations can be used to obtain approximately equivalent scores on the two tests, and agreement was high for using these transformed scores to identify individuals with substantial MLD deficits. Both techniques had moderate test-retest reliability. The Manual MLD and components had stronger correlations to the subjective and objective hearing measures than the Wilson.

CONCLUSIONS: The Manual technique is a faster method for obtaining MLD scores that is just as reliable as the CD-based Wilson test. With the significant reduction in assessment time and comparable results, the Manual MLD is a viable alternative for direct use in the clinic.

PMID:36898137 | DOI:10.1044/2022_JSLHR-22-00519

Phys Rev Lett. 2023 Feb 24;130(8):081901. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.130.081901.

ABSTRACT

Using a sample of 4.3×10^{5} η^{‘}→ηπ^{0}π^{0} events selected from the ten billion J/ψ event dataset collected with the BESIII detector, we study the decay η^{‘}→ηπ^{0}π^{0} within the framework of nonrelativistic effective field theory. Evidence for a structure at π^{+}π^{-} mass threshold is observed in the invariant mass spectrum of π^{0}π^{0} with a statistical significance of around 3.5σ, which is consistent with the cusp effect as predicted by the nonrelativistic effective field theory. After introducing the amplitude for describing the cusp effect, the ππ scattering length combination a_{0}-a_{2} is determined to be 0.226±0.060_{stat}±0.013_{syst}, which is in good agreement with theoretical calculation of 0.2644±0.0051.

PMID:36898113 | DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.130.081901

J Clin Oncol. 2023 Mar 10:JCO2202839. doi: 10.1200/JCO.22.02839. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:36898080 | DOI:10.1200/JCO.22.02839

S D Med. 2023 Feb;76(2):76-79.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and early detection is critical to improve breast cancer survival. The All Women Count! (AWC!) Program, part of the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, provides breast and cervical screening services at no cost to underserved women in South Dakota. Aiming to investigate program participation, we examined trends in the number of women eligible for breast cancer screening services through the AWC! Program along with mammography screening participation by county.

METHODS: Using the State-level Small Area Health Insurances Estimates data and the AWC! data, we calculated the proportion of South Dakotan women eligible for mammography screening under the AWC! Program from 2016 to 2019, and calculated the standardized participation ratio and 95 percent confidence interval by county (2019). To investigate differences in screening participation over time and by counties, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey statistical test were conducted, respectively.

RESULTS: From 2016 to 2019, the number of women eligible for breast cancer screening services declined by 12 percent. Differences in screening participation were not statistically significant over the four-year period. Conversely, county-level variations in screening participation were found. In 2019, among the 59 counties with screening data, 15 percent presented statistically higher participation in screening.

CONCLUSION: A decrease in the number of women eligible for breast cancer services provided by AWC! was observed. Additionally, screening participation varied by county. A more comprehensive investigation is needed to explain these geographic disparities so prevention strategies can reduce the burden of breast cancer among South Dakota underserved women.

PMID:36898074

J Comput Biol. 2023 Mar 10. doi: 10.1089/cmb.2022.0201. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Ordinary differential equations (ODEs) are widely used for elucidating dynamic processes in various fields. One of the applications of ODEs is to describe dynamics of gene regulatory networks (GRNs), which is a critical step in understanding disease mechanisms. However, estimation of ODE models for GRNs is challenging because of inflexibility of the model and noisy data with complex error structures such as heteroscedasticity, correlations between genes, and time dependency. In addition, either a likelihood or Bayesian approach is commonly used for estimation of ODE models, but both approaches have benefits and drawbacks in their own right. Data cloning is a maximum likelihood (ML) estimation method through the Bayesian framework. Since it works in the Bayesian framework, it is free from local optimum problems that are common drawbacks of ML methods. Also, its inference is invariant for the selection of prior distributions, which is a major issue in Bayesian methods. This study proposes an estimation method of ODE models for GRNs through data cloning. The proposed method is demonstrated through simulation and it is applied to real gene expression time-course data.

PMID:36898058 | DOI:10.1089/cmb.2022.0201

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2023 Mar 10:1-12. doi: 10.1080/00952990.2023.2170806. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Background: Previous research conducted among Latino/a immigrants has shown the underlying effect that exposure to stress after immigrating to the U.S. (i.e. health access, racial/ethnic discrimination, and language barriers) has on alcohol use patterns. However, given the demographic shifts in recent immigrants, understanding the influence of stress before (i.e. poverty, healthcare, and educational opportunities) and after immigration on their alcohol use (i.e. alcohol consumption and drinking behaviors in the past 12 months) in the context of migration and traditional gender roles is warranted.Objectives: To examine the (a) cumulative effects of pre- to post-immigration stress, (b) respective moderating effects of traditional gender roles, and (c) forced migration on alcohol use for men and women.Methods: Hierarchical multiple regression and moderation analyses were conducted on a cross-sectional sample of 529 (N = 268 men, N = 261 women) adult (18-34 years) from recent Latino/a immigrants in South Florida.Results: Gender had a statistically significant difference on alcohol use, (F 527) = 18.68, p < .001, with men (p = 4.36 ± SE =.22) reporting higher alcohol use than women (p = 3.08 ± SE =.20). Post-immigration stress (β = .12, p = .03) but not pre-migration stress had a statistically significant association with alcohol use. There is no interaction effect by traditional gender roles and forced migration on the associations between pre- to post-immigration stress and alcohol use.Conclusion: Results suggest that post-immigration stress may be a reasonable intervention target to mitigate alcohol use among recent Latino/a immigrants, particularly among men.

PMID:36898052 | DOI:10.1080/00952990.2023.2170806

J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2023 Mar 3. doi: 10.1097/MPH.0000000000002651. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Survivorship care plans (SCPs) have been instrumental in aiding transition from cancer treatment to survivorship care, which contains the diagnosis, treatment, potential late effects, and recommended follow-up. There has been paucity of research on its efficacy and lack of guidelines on development and delivery of SCPs. The Next Steps Survivorship Clinic at Children’s Wisconsin uses a Survivorship Healthcare Passport (SHP), a SCP pocket-sized card. This study aims to improve understanding of patient and parent use of the SHP at a single institution.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: An electronic survey was distributed to cancer survivors (14 to 28 y old) and parents/guardians who received the SCP. Data was analyzed with descriptive and correlation statistics.

RESULTS: Older survivors were reliable in carrying their SHP, and endorsed greater confidence in understanding its contents leading to a notion of improved ability to coordinate care. Younger survivors tend to rely on their parents. A preference for a smartphone application as another platform was noted.

CONCLUSIONS: This form of SCP has shown to benefit older survivors which directly impacts the notion of efficacy in care coordination.

IMPLICATION FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Providing easy-to-access information may encourage survivors to advocate for their health and to facilitate transition of care.

PMID:36898042 | DOI:10.1097/MPH.0000000000002651

Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2023 Feb 28;25(1):22m03334. doi: 10.4088/PCC.22m03334.

ABSTRACT

Objective: To determine the prevalence of bedtime procrastination (BtP) among Indian university students and to evaluate the performance of the Bedtime Procrastination Scale (BPS).

Methods: The BPS (scoring range, 9-45), with separate, additional questions related to sleep and influences thereon, was administered to all on-campus graduate and postgraduate students attending Navrachana University, Gujarat, India. The variable of regular sleep habits was defined as a BPS total score of 9-18 and BtP as a BPS total of 36-45. The BPS was examined using factor analysis. The study was conducted from November 2021 to December 2021.

Results: Completed forms were received from 560 of 567 eligible students. The mean BPS total score was 29.1. BPS total scores did not differ significantly between males and females. Few students (n = 54, 9.6%) had study-defined regular sleep habits. One-fifth of the sample (20.2%) had study-defined BtP. Higher BtP total scores showed a small but statistically significant correlation with daytime tiredness (r = 0.26). Factor analysis of the BPS yielded a 2-factor solution that explained 49.3% of the variance in the data. The latent variables appeared to represent “Going to bed late” and “Going to bed on time.” Potential problems, not previously discussed in the literature, were identified based on the manner in which BPS items were presented and scored.

Conclusions: Few university students have regular sleep habits. BtP is present in a sufficiently large enough proportion of students to be of health concern. The BPS is likely to require modifications for future use.

PMID:36898024 | DOI:10.4088/PCC.22m03334

Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 2023 Mar 10:10499091231163269. doi: 10.1177/10499091231163269. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: This study describes the end-of-life (EOL) care planning and bereavement practices among adult day services centers (ADSC) when an ADSC participant is dying or has died. Methods: Data are from the 2018 National Study of Long-term Care Providers’ biennial survey of ADSCs. Respondents were asked about the following 4 practices: 1) honoring the deceased in some public way in this center; 2) offering bereavement services to staff and participants; 3) documenting in the care plan what is important to the individual at the end of life (EOL), such as the presence of family or religious or cultural practices; and 4) discussing spiritual needs at care planning conferences. ADSC characteristics included US Census region, metropolitan statistical area status, Medicaid authorization, electronic health records (EHR) use, for-profit status, employment of aides, services provision, and model type. Results: About 50% to 30% of ADSCs offered the EOL care planning or bereavement services. Honoring the deceased was the most common practice (53%), followed by bereavement services (37%), discussing spiritual needs (29%), and documenting what is important at EOL (28%). Fewer ADSCs in the West had EOL practices relative to the other regions. The EOL planning and bereavement practices were offered more often in ADSCs that used EHRs, accepted Medicaid, employed an aide, provided nursing, hospice, and palliative care services, and were categorized as medical models, compared with ADSCs without these characteristics. Conclusion: These results highlight the importance of understanding how ADSCs provide EOL and bereavement care to participants who are near EOL.

PMID:36898004 | DOI:10.1177/10499091231163269

J Phys Chem B. 2023 Mar 10. doi: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c08915. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The carbonyl stretching modes have been widely used in linear and two-dimensional infrared (IR) spectroscopy to probe the conformation, interaction, and biological functions of nucleic acids. However, due to their universal appearance in nucleobases, the IR absorption bands of nucleic acids are often highly congested in the 1600-1800 cm^-1 region. Following the fruitful applications in proteins, ¹³C isotope labels have been introduced to the IR measurements of oligonucleotides to reveal their site-specific structural fluctuations and hydrogen bonding conditions. In this work, we combine recently developed frequency and coupling maps to develop a theoretical strategy that models the IR spectra of oligonucleotides with ¹³C labels directly from molecular dynamics simulations. We apply the theoretical method to nucleoside 5′-monophosphates and DNA double helices and demonstrate how elements of the vibrational Hamiltonian determine the spectral features and their changes upon isotope labeling. Using the double helices as examples, we show that the calculated IR spectra are in good agreement with experiments and the ¹³C isotope labeling technique can potentially be applied to characterize the stacking configurations and secondary structures of nucleic acids.

PMID:36898003 | DOI:10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c08915