Tag: pubmed

Acta Psychol (Amst). 2026 Jan 26;263:106307. doi: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106307. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

In modern multilingual and multicultural societies, effective second or foreign language learning requires not only linguistic skills but also strong social competencies. This study examines the effect of collaborative writing instruction on the social skills of Grade 10 students in Ethiopia. A quasi-experimental design was used, and 86 students, 43 in each of the experimental and control groups, participated. The study used a lottery method to assign participants to an experimental and a control group. The experimental group was involved in collaborative writing tasks, whereas the control group received the conventional instruction. The data were collected using questionnaires and interviews. Subsequently, the quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, ANCOVA, independent-samples t-tests, and paired-sample t-tests, while the qualitative data were analyzed thematically. The results showed that students in the experimental group demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in social skills compared to those in the control group. Qualitative data also highlighted the attitudes of participants toward collaborative writing as transformative, which boosted their social interactions, teamwork, and confidence. This study not only underscores the pedagogical value of collaborative writing but also offers evidence to implement these practices, enhancing necessary social skills across different learning settings. By linking language learning with social skills enhancement, this research contributes to the literature on language education and proposes instructional frameworks relevant to diverse globalized classrooms.

PMID:41592369 | DOI:10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106307

Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2025 Dec 9. doi: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000002916. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Magnetic resonance imaging is the current “gold standard” for measuring cervical muscle volume, but the associated time and cost may be prohibitive in numerous environments. This study sought to develop a novel and accessible model for estimating cervical muscle volume in adolescent athletes. It was hypothesized that cervical muscle volume could be accurately predicted using a combination of clinically-accessible variables. This secondary analysis of clinical trial data utilized 78 sets of biomechanics lab measurements and neck magnetic resonance imaging scans collected in a total of 42 adolescent athletes to develop a multiple linear regression model for predicting total cervical muscle volume. The final regression model was significant (R2 = 0.7644, F = 78.94, p < 0.001) and successfully predicted total cervical muscle volume using body weight, sex, and neck circumference as model inputs. These variables can be easily obtained using simple measurement tools that are available across most clinical and research environments. This model may be used by medical professionals and researchers to estimate total cervical muscle volume when magnetic resonance imaging measurements are unavailable.

PMID:41592341 | DOI:10.1097/PHM.0000000000002916

Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2025 Nov 28. doi: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000002908. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To compare adipose-derived cell therapies (ADCTs) versus non-active controls in treating knee osteoarthritis.

DESIGN: This systematic review and meta-analysis included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing ADCTs with placebo or no treatment in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Two reviewers extracted study, patient, and intervention data, as well as patient-reported outcomes. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed for outcomes reported in at least three studies. The primary outcome was pain improvement at six months, with secondary outcomes including function, quality of life, and adverse events.

RESULTS: Eight RCTs (585 patients) were included. ADCTs showed superior pain improvement versus controls at six months, with WOMAC Pain (MD -1.75, 95% CI -2.62 to -0.88) and KOOS Pain (MD 7.95, 95% CI 0.98 to 14.93) achieving statistical significance. Functional outcomes also improved significantly, while quality of life favored ADCT but did not reach significance. No serious adverse events occurred, although two patients reported severe events after ADCT.

CONCLUSIONS: At six months, ADCTs provided greater pain relief and functional improvement than non-active controls, though no benefit was observed for quality-of-life. Severe adverse events were uncommon, but additional studies are needed for long-term efficacy and safety.

PMID:41592340 | DOI:10.1097/PHM.0000000000002908

JMIR Form Res. 2026 Jan 27;10:e78717. doi: 10.2196/78717.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Life goal setting contributes substantially to well-being and quality of life, particularly among middle-aged and older adults. However, delivering remote goal-setting support remains challenging due to limited professional resources and accessibility barriers. Recent advancements in mobile health (mHealth) technologies, telemedicine, and generative artificial intelligence (AI) present new opportunities for scalable, personalized health behavior interventions. Nevertheless, few studies have compared AI-driven life goal interventions with conventional human-facilitated approaches in real-world settings.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and user experience of an AI-supported mHealth intervention for remote life goal setting based on flow theory. We compared the AI-supported approach to occupational therapist (OT)-facilitated support and explored the differential characteristics of AI-guided and human-guided interventions for self-management and motivation enhancement.

METHODS: An exploratory, within-participant, 2-condition comparison with a counterbalanced order was conducted among 28 community-dwelling adults (aged between 20 and 76 years) who were smartphone users. Each participant selected 2 personal life goals and completed remote adjusting the challenge-skill balance (R-ACS) sessions, a structured telemedicine process based on flow theory. One goal was supported by an OT, while the other was facilitated by a generative AI chatbot integrated into an mHealth platform. Following each session, participants completed a 4-item rubric-based questionnaire (5-point Likert scale), assessing the quantity and quality of questions, appropriateness of suggestions, and perceived contribution to goal attainment. Free-text feedback was also collected. Quantitative data were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests with effect size calculations and Benjamini-Hochberg correction for multiple comparisons. Qualitative differences were explored using text mining (term frequency-inverse document frequency analysis) and sentiment evaluation.

RESULTS: Both AI-supported and OT-facilitated R-ACS sessions were feasible and successfully delivered tailored suggestions for all participants. AI-supported sessions received higher scores on all rubric items than OT-facilitated sessions, with a statistically significant difference in suggestion appropriateness (z score=3.13; P=.002; r=0.418; false discovery rate-adjusted P=.008). Term frequency-inverse document frequency analysis of free-text comments revealed that AI-supported sessions emphasized actionability, motivation, and immediacy, while OT-facilitated sessions highlighted reflection, self-understanding, and emotional safety. Participants expressed high acceptance of both intervention types, with AI-supported interactions perceived as particularly accessible and conducive to health behavior change.

CONCLUSIONS: AI-supported mHealth interventions for remote life goal setting based on flow theory are feasible, well accepted, and offer potential advantages in immediacy, motivation enhancement, and action-oriented support. OT-facilitated support provides complementary strengths by fostering reflection and psychological safety. A hybrid R-ACS model that integrates both AI and human expertise may optimize personalized, scalable self-management support for life goal setting. Future randomized controlled trials are warranted to further investigate the long-term impact of AI-driven mHealth interventions on health behavior, well-being, and quality of life.

PMID:41592315 | DOI:10.2196/78717

Health Syst Reform. 2026 Dec 31;12(1):2609358. doi: 10.1080/23288604.2025.2609358. Epub 2026 Jan 27.

ABSTRACT

Previous studies have shown that facility autonomy, especially control over budget allocation, and management practices can have a modest positive effect on health facility performance, but the evidence is limited and often qualitative. Data from the evaluation of the Nigeria States Health Investment Project (NSHIP), a study that examined the effects of direct facility and performance-based financing, offers a novel opportunity to quantitatively examine these relationships in the context of a lower middle-income country. We utilize non-parametric statistics and regression methods to test the hypothesis that autonomy, supervision, and management affected facility performance. Results show that facilities with greater autonomy, more budget control, and better management practices generally outperform their peers on a range of facility readiness and service delivery measures. For example, regressions show that facilities with high autonomy held an additional 2.1 outreach sessions per month and facilities with a business plan offered 1.8 additional outreach services (p < 0.05). Supervision practices, including visit frequency and a quantitative checklist, are associated with 26% higher productivity and up to a 29% increase in equipment availability (p < 0.05). Sensitivity analyses validated that results are robust. We conclude that facility-level autonomy and especially budget control can improve primary healthcare facility readiness and service availability. Further, management practices that are reinforced through supportive supervision and routine monitoring can maximize the benefits that accrue from even small amounts of incremental financing. This shows that these policies and practices can contribute critically to efficiently achieving the goals of universal healthcare policies in the context of limited resources.

PMID:41592278 | DOI:10.1080/23288604.2025.2609358

Am J Audiol. 2026 Jan 27:1-30. doi: 10.1044/2025_AJA-25-00131. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Reduced spectral resolution limits speech recognition in cochlear implant (CI) listeners. Although many studies have examined this association, uncertainties remain regarding its strength and contributing methodological and clinical factors. This narrative review synthesizes findings from studies of postlingually deafened adult CI listeners, focusing on psychophysical measures of spectral resolution and their strengths and limitations.

METHOD: We reviewed studies published through January 2025 that examined the relationship between psychophysical measures of spectral resolution and speech perception outcomes in postlingually deafened adult CI listeners. Twenty-four studies met inclusion criteria and tested this association statistically. Where available, the coefficient of determination (R²) and effect size measures were extracted to quantify the strength of this association.

RESULTS: Several studies found a statistically significant association between psychophysical measures of spectral resolution and speech recognition performance. The predictive power of spectral resolution measures for speech perception outcomes varied substantially (R² = .21-.69), depending on the specific measure used and the type of speech material. Spectral ripple discrimination/detection threshold tasks and their modified versions, on average, show higher predictive capacity for investigating this link. These measures are especially predictive when using speech materials such as consonant-nucleus-consonant words and AzBio or Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering sentences presented in quiet or multitalker babble at moderate signal-to-noise ratios. In contrast, measures based on forward-masking paradigms and pitch ranking tend to yield weaker or nonsignificant associations.

CONCLUSIONS: The review underscores spectral resolution as a key leverage point in efforts to improve speech recognition outcomes. Variability in observed associations highlights the need for further mechanistic research into the pathways linking spectral resolution to speech recognition outcomes. Future studies are warranted to improve both the predictive accuracy and clinical feasibility of spectral resolution assessment tools.

PMID:41592272 | DOI:10.1044/2025_AJA-25-00131

Commun Dis Intell (2018). 2026 Jan 28;50. doi: 10.33321/cdi.2026.50.004.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The primary aim of this paper is to describe the outbreak investigation and public health response to a cluster of mpox cases that occurred in Southeast Queensland; and to investigate transmission dynamics to inform contact management.

BACKGROUND: The transmission of mpox in Australia has continued to circulate among the men who have sex with men community, since the declaration of the global outbreak of clade IIb in 2022. In May 2024, an outbreak investigation was carried out following the admission of an mpox case to a Queensland hospital, which precipitated a response coordinated by two metropolitan public health units (Metro North and Metro South) in Brisbane.

METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted to follow up attendees of an intimate group event over a 21-day period. From 21 event attendees, 16 were able to be contacted by public health clinicians, and were included in the cohort. Case histories and their respective contacts were identified and classified as high, medium or low risk. Descriptive statistics were conducted, and relative risk was determined for developing infection after attendance at the group event, when accounting for the level of vaccination against mpox. Whole genome sequencing was performed on collected pathology specimens, and phylogenetic analysis was conducted to support epidemiological investigations.

FINDINGS: A total of ten cases of mpox were detected, among a cohort of 16 males with differing levels of vaccination. Transmission of mpox occurred exclusively among high-risk contacts; no transmission was observed to medium- or low-risk contacts. Laboratory investigations revealed that all cases were of human MPXV clade IIb. Complete vaccination was a protective factor against development of mpox (relative risk = 0.33; 95% confidence interval: 0.06-1.88), compared with partial or no vaccination, after attendance at the high-risk exposure event. This outbreak resulted in 34 contacts, of which one high-risk contact became a secondary case. Findings from this investigation suggest there is less urgency for follow-up of household contacts and other medium- and low-risk contacts of mpox, compared with high-risk contacts. Fostering a rapport during telephone interviews with cases and contacts was found to be crucial to the overall attainment of accurate case histories, highlighting the need for the development of trust when interacting with members of priority groups. This outbreak investigation describes a comprehensive public health response attributed to the coordination of a range of public health workers in the Southeast Queensland area.

PMID:41592252 | DOI:10.33321/cdi.2026.50.004

Integr Environ Assess Manag. 2026 Jan 27:vjag006. doi: 10.1093/inteam/vjag006. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The revised 2023 European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) guidance on the risk assessment of plant protection products on bees introduced a major change in the statistical evaluation of higher tier studies, replacing difference testing with the equivalence testing approach. This paper evaluates several statistical models for equivalence testing of colony strength endpoints in honey bee semi-field studies, including a t-test, a two-way ANOVA, and a linear-mixed-effects model incorporating an autoregressive (AR) structure. Using a range of simulated scenarios, model performance was compared to determine suitability and the likely level of replication needed to conclude a low risk of a test substance with a true effect size of <10% reduction in colony strength. The linear mixed-effects model with AR structure and baseline adjustment offered the highest statistical power among the tested approaches. In all simulated scenarios, achieving 80% power to conclude equivalence required substantially more replication than the minimum of three replicates recommended in the EPPO (2010) test guideline. Under the best-case scenario, a minimum of seven replicates was needed when the true effect size was 0, whereas effects close to the equivalence margin (a true 9% reduction) required extremely large sample sizes, up to 612 replicates, to achieve sufficient power. Potential modifications to the study design to reduce replication needs were also explored. Reducing initial inter-colony variability alone did not meaningfully decrease required sample sizes, whereas increasing temporal correlation among repeated observations improved power and lowered replication requirements. Nevertheless, it is questioned whether the large numbers of replicates illustrated here are manageable in a practical study setup. Caution is needed during the implementation of the equivalence approach for regulatory evaluation until applicants and regulatory bodies better understand if such studies can be feasibly designed and conducted to demonstrate acceptable risk against the specific protection goals.

PMID:41592234 | DOI:10.1093/inteam/vjag006

JMIR Form Res. 2026 Jan 27;10:e79606. doi: 10.2196/79606.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Transgender Latina women in the United States face disproportionate HIV risk due to intersecting social and structural vulnerabilities that limit access to care. While gender-affirming, culturally responsive, and eHealth strategies show promise for improving access, social media-based approaches remain underused despite their potential to reach marginalized groups at scale.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop and pilot a culturally tailored social media campaign to increase awareness of HIV prevention and care services offered by a community-based organization (CBO) in King County, Washington, for transgender Latina women and to assess the campaign’s feasibility and acceptability.

METHODS: We conducted a community-engaged, mixed methods pilot study using a multiphase design. In phase 1, we conducted cross-sectional, in-depth interviews with transgender Latina women (n=20) recruited by a CBO in King County, Washington. Interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis, guided by the Unified Theory of Behavior, to inform campaign messaging priorities. A subsequent focus group (n=7) then reviewed and refined 6 draft campaign concepts according to the community preferences. In phase 2, the finalized campaign was piloted on Facebook and Instagram. A cross-sectional REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture; Vanderbilt University) survey was conducted with a subset (n=100) of transgender Latina women exposed to the campaign who voluntarily consented to complete the survey after being directed from the campaign. Survey data were summarized using descriptive statistics to assess campaign reach and feasibility and acceptability outcomes.

RESULTS: In-depth interview participants were a mean age of 37.6 (SD 9.5) years and reported an average of 10.2 (SD 10.8) years residing in the United States (n=20). Interviews revealed four key themes: (1) importance of HIV prevention and awareness, (2) accessibility of HIV services, (3) provision of culturally tailored care, and (4) need for confidentiality. Among survey respondents (mean age of 29.7, SD 5.2 years), 97% (97/100; 95% CI 91.5%-99.0%) had ever tested for HIV and 44% (44/100; 95% CI 34.3%-53.7%) reported testing within the past 6 months. A total of 3 respondents were living with HIV, all on antiretroviral therapy. Nearly all (91/100, 91%; 95% CI 84.3%-95.2%) reported campaign-motivated action, including HIV testing or seeking information or services.

CONCLUSIONS: Findings demonstrate the feasibility and acceptability of a culturally tailored campaign, cocreated with community members, to promote HIV prevention and care among transgender Latina women. By integrating participatory methods with digital outreach, this study contributes an innovative model that centers community voices in campaign design while leveraging widely used platforms. The study has implications for providing CBOs with scalable, low-cost strategies to expand culturally responsive HIV services, reduce stigma, and motivate health-seeking behaviors in populations often overlooked by mainstream public health messaging. This work underscores how codesigned social media campaigns can complement traditional outreach and inform future HIV prevention strategies for underserved populations.

PMID:41592163 | DOI:10.2196/79606

PLoS Comput Biol. 2026 Jan 27;22(1):e1013908. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1013908. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is a critical step in amplicon-based microbial community profiling, allowing the selective amplification of marker genes such as 16S rRNA from environmental or host-associated samples. Despite its widespread use, PCR is known to introduce amplification bias, where some DNA sequences are preferentially amplified over others due to factors such as primer-template mismatches, sequence GC content, and secondary structures. Although these biases are known to affect transcript abundance, their implications for ecological metrics remain poorly understood. In this study, we conduct a comprehensive evaluation of how PCR-bias influences both within-samples (α-diversity) and between-sample (β-diversity) analyses. We show that perturbation-invariant diversity measures remain unaffected by PCR bias, but widely used metrics such as Shannon diversity and Weighted-Unifrac are sensitive. To address this, we provide theoretical and empirical insight into how PCR-induced bias varies across ecological analyses and community structures, and we offer practical guidance on when bias-correction methods should be applied. Our findings highlight the importance of selecting appropriate diversity metrics for PCR-based microbial ecology workflows and offer guidance for improving the reliability of diversity analyses.

PMID:41592132 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1013908