Tag: statistics

Zootaxa. 2025 Mar 17;5604(4):401-447. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.5604.4.1.

ABSTRACT

Species groups of Western Hemispheric Onthophagus Latreille (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae: Onthophagini) are suggested using COI barcoding and gene trees and supported by congruence with external morphology, behavior, ecology, and biogeographic evidence. New species groups, complexes, and taxonomic statuses are offered, and other preexisting proposals are confirmed. No barcoding gap w as found between the intragroup and intergroup genetic distance blocks, but the average intragroup (8.38%) and intergroup (13.88%) Kimura-two-parameter distances are statistically different. The following seven preexisting species groups were supported by the congruence between the mtDNA barcode analysis and other independent evidence: O. chevrolati, O. clypeatus, O. dicranius, O. gazellinus, O. hircus, O. landolti, and O. mexicanus. Eight new species groups are suggested: O. crinitus, O. curvicornis, O. eulophus, O. hecate, O. hoepfneri, O. marginatus, O. nasutus, and O. velutinus. Possible behavioral/ecological adaptations of morphological characters are also discussed. New biogeographic and evolutionary hypotheses are also advanced. An identification key for species groups is presented.

PMID:40174196 | DOI:10.11646/zootaxa.5604.4.1

Zootaxa. 2025 Feb 19;5589(1):166-189. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.5589.1.14.

ABSTRACT

The systematics of pheretimoids have been hindered by limited diagnostic traits and extensive homoplasy. This study utilized an integrative taxonomic approach, combining morpho-anatomical traits and mitochondrial COI data, to delineate species and clarify phylogenetic relationships among Indian pheretimoids. Three new species of Metaphire (Megascolecidae) were identified: Metaphire manipurensis Tiwari & Yadav sp. nov., belongs to M. houlleti group with three pairs of spermathecal pores (6/7-8/9) and no post-clitellar markings; Metaphire thabiensis Tiwari & Yadav sp. nov. classified within the M. javanica group, with two pairs of spermathecal pores (7/8-8/9) and copulatory pouches lacking stalked glands and Metaphire churachandpurensis Tiwari & Yadav sp. nov., which lacks spermathecal pores but has stalked genital marking glands. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis of COI data confirmed species placements with strong statistical support and validated species delineation through congruent OTUs. These findings advance phylogenetics and evolutionary trajectory of the group, though expanded COI datasets are needed for broader insights.

PMID:40173784 | DOI:10.11646/zootaxa.5589.1.14

Zootaxa. 2025 Jan 14;5569(2):253-281. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.5569.2.3.

ABSTRACT

A new species of gekkonid lizard is described from Phnom Khpoh, an isolated karstic hill within an extensive karstic archipelago in Battambang Province, western Cambodia. Phylogenetic analysis using a 1041 base pair fragment of the mitochondrial gene ND2 recovered Hemiphyllodactylus khpoh sp. nov. as the sister species of H. pardalis, found 335 km to the west in southern Thailand. Analyses of meristic, morphometric, and categorical characters of morphology and color pattern differentiated H. khpoh sp. nov. from both the morphologically distinct H. pardalis and the very similar Hemiphyllodactylus sp. from Phnom Kulen, approximately 130 km to the northeast in Siem Reap Province. The statistical morphological analyses and comparisons also showed that H. khpoh sp. nov. is well-differentiated from the recently described H. bokor and H. samkos from the nearby Cardamom Mountains as well from species in clade 6-a recently designated lineage from China, Laos, and Vietnam to which H. khpoh sp. nov. + H. pardalis compose the sister lineage. The discovery of H. khpoh sp. nov. highlights the rich but understudied biodiversity of karstic landscapes, emphasizing the need for continued research in the extensive unexplored karstic archipelago of western Cambodia. This region is poised to reveal unparalleled gekkonid diversity, comparable to that observed in the similarly sized karstic archipelago of the Salween Basin in southern Myanmar. Although karstic landscapes are proving to be some of the most biodiverse habitats on the planet, less than 1% of them are afforded any formal protection.

PMID:40173545 | DOI:10.11646/zootaxa.5569.2.3

J Med Internet Res. 2025 Apr 2;27:e72414. doi: 10.2196/72414.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The proliferation of internet-based health information has intensified cyberchondria, or anxiety resulting from excessive health-related searches. The relationship between cyberchondria and suicidal ideation remains underexplored, although there are indications that people with high levels of cyberchondria may also be suicidal. Understanding this relationship is critical, given rising digital health-seeking behaviors and the need to mitigate suicide risk. Emerging evidence suggests that psychological distress can mediate the relationship between cyberchondria and suicidal ideation. However, to the best of our knowledge, no research has directly examined these associations.

OBJECTIVE: This study had two aims. The first was to examine the relationship between cyberchondria and suicidal ideation in a sample of the general Chinese population. The second aim was to investigate the possible role of psychological distress, reflecting the symptoms of depression and anxiety, as a mediator in the relationship between cyberchondria and suicidal ideation.

METHODS: Data were obtained from a cross-sectional and web-based survey conducted in 2024. Structural equation modeling analysis was used to assess the hypothesized association between cyberchondria and suicidal ideation, as well as the mediating effect of psychological distress on this association. The Cyberchondria Severity Scale-12 items, Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale, and Kessler Psychological Distress Scale-10 items were used to measure cyberchondria, suicidal ideation, and psychological distress, respectively. Standardized (β) estimates, along with their 95% CIs, were calculated for all structural paths, adjusting for participants’ background characteristics.

RESULTS: A total of 2415 individuals completed the questionnaire (response rate=98.5%). Scores on the Cyberchondria Severity Scale-12 items ranged from 12 to 60, with the mean score being 40 (SD 7.9). The mean score on the Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale was 12.7 (SD 9.9). Scores on the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale-10 items ranged from 10 to 50, and the mean score was 22 (SD 6.9). Cyberchondria, suicidal ideation, and psychological distress were significantly correlated. Structural equation modeling revealed a significant association between cyberchondria and psychological distress (β=.281; P<.001), between psychological distress and suicidal ideation (β=.504; P<.001), and between cyberchondria and suicidal ideation (β=.107; P<.001). The indirect effect of cyberchondria on suicidal ideation through psychological distress was also significant (β=.142; P<.001).

CONCLUSIONS: The main contribution of this study is that it highlights an important relationship between cyberchondria and suicidal ideation, with a direct and statistically significant association between these variables. Their relationship is also mediated by psychological distress, which reflects the role of depressive and anxiety symptoms.

PMID:40173445 | DOI:10.2196/72414

JMIR Infodemiology. 2025 Apr 2;5:e68483. doi: 10.2196/68483.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, health experts used social media platforms to share information and advocate for policies. Many of them faced online abuse, which some reported took a toll on their mental health and well-being. Variation in the impacts of online abuse on mental health, well-being, and professional efficacy suggest that health communicators may differ in their coping strategies and ultimately their resilience to such abuse.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to explore the impacts of online abuse on health communicators’ mental health and well-being as well as their emotion- and problem-focused coping strategies.

METHODS: We recruited health communicators (public health officials, medical practitioners, and university-based researchers) in Canada who engaged in professional online communication during the COVID-19 pandemic. In phase 1, semistructured interviews were conducted with 35 health communicators. In phase 2, online questionnaires were completed by 34 individuals before participating in workshops. Purposive recruitment resulted in significant inclusion of those who self-identified as racialized or women. Interview and workshop data were subjected to inductive and deductive coding techniques to generate themes. Descriptive statistics were calculated for selected questionnaire questions.

RESULTS: In total, 94% (33/35) of interviewees and 82% (28/34) of questionnaire respondents reported experiencing online abuse during the study period (2020-2022). Most health communicators mentioned facing an emotional and psychological toll, including symptoms of depression and anxiety. Racialized and women health communicators faced abuse that emphasized their ethnicity, gender identity, and physical appearance. Health communicators’ most common emotion-focused coping strategies were withdrawing from social media platforms, avoiding social media platforms altogether, and accepting online abuse as unavoidable. Common problem-focused coping strategies included blocking or unfriending hostile accounts, changing online behavior, formal help-seeking, and seeking peer support. Due to the impacts of online abuse on participants’ mental health and well-being, 41% (14/34) of the questionnaire respondents seriously contemplated quitting health communication, while 53% (18/34) reduced or suspended their online presence. Our findings suggest that health communicators who used problem-focused coping strategies were more likely to remain active online, demonstrating significant professional resilience.

CONCLUSIONS: Although health communicators in our study implemented various emotion- and problem-focused coping strategies, they still faced challenges in dealing with the impacts of online abuse. Our findings reveal the limitations of individual coping strategies, suggesting the need for effective formal organizational policies to support those who receive online abuse and to sanction those who perpetrate it. Organizational policies could improve long-term outcomes for health communicators’ mental health and well-being by mitigating online abuse and supporting its targets. Such policies would bolster professional resilience, ensuring that important health information can still reach the public and is not silenced by online abuse. More research is needed to determine whether gender, race, or other factors shape coping strategies and their effectiveness.

PMID:40173443 | DOI:10.2196/68483

J Med Internet Res. 2025 Apr 2;27:e59591. doi: 10.2196/59591.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The last decade has witnessed major advances in the development of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies for use in health care. One of the most promising areas of research that has potential clinical utility is the use of AI in pathology to aid cancer diagnosis and management. While the value of using AI to improve the efficiency and accuracy of diagnosis cannot be underestimated, there are challenges in the development and implementation of such technologies. Notably, questions remain about public support for the use of AI to assist in pathological diagnosis and for the use of health care data, including data obtained from tissue samples, to train algorithms.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate public awareness of and attitudes toward AI in pathology research and practice.

METHODS: A nationally representative, cross-sectional, web-based mixed methods survey (N=1518) was conducted to assess the UK public’s awareness of and views on the use of AI in pathology research and practice. Respondents were recruited via Prolific, an online research platform. To be eligible for the study, participants had to be aged >18 years, be UK residents, and have the capacity to express their own opinion. Respondents answered 30 closed-ended questions and 2 open-ended questions. Sociodemographic information and previous experience with cancer were collected. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze quantitative data; qualitative data were analyzed thematically.

RESULTS: Awareness was low, with only 23.19% (352/1518) of the respondents somewhat or moderately aware of AI being developed for use in pathology. Most did not support a diagnosis of cancer (908/1518, 59.82%) or a diagnosis based on biomarkers (694/1518, 45.72%) being made using AI only. However, most (1478/1518, 97.36%) supported diagnoses made by pathologists with AI assistance. The adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for supporting AI in cancer diagnosis and management was higher for men (aOR 1.34, 95% CI 1.02-1.75). Greater awareness (aOR 1.25, 95% CI 1.10-1.42), greater trust in data security and privacy protocols (aOR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.07), and more positive beliefs (aOR 1.27, 95% CI 1.20-1.36) also increased support, whereas identifying more risks reduced the likelihood of support (aOR 0.80, 95% CI 0.73-0.89). In total, 3 main themes emerged from the qualitative data: bringing the public along, the human in the loop, and more hard evidence needed, indicating conditional support for AI in pathology with human decision-making oversight, robust measures for data handling and protection, and evidence for AI benefit and effectiveness.

CONCLUSIONS: Awareness of AI’s potential use in pathology was low, but attitudes were positive, with high but conditional support. Challenges remain, particularly among women, regarding AI use in cancer diagnosis and management. Apprehension persists about the access to and use of health care data by private organizations.

PMID:40173441 | DOI:10.2196/59591

J Med Internet Res. 2025 Apr 2;27:e62822. doi: 10.2196/62822.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: As the percentage of the older population increases, it is accompanied by an increase in the prevalence of Parkinson disease (PD). People with PD experience a range of nonmotor symptoms, including pain, constipation, dysphagia, sleep disturbances, and fatigue. Improving self-care is necessary for people with PD because it is a chronic disease that requires lifelong management. In our previous study, we developed a mobile app (Yon PD app) to monitor nonmotor symptoms of PD. In this study, we investigated the long-term effects of the app in a larger group of people.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a mobile app on the management of self-care in people with PD.

METHODS: This was a randomized controlled trial. People with PD aged ≥50 years and able to use a smartphone were recruited from the neurology outpatient clinic of a tertiary hospital in South Korea. In total, 102 participants were enrolled in this study. The intervention group was requested to record 5 nonmotor symptoms (pain, constipation, dysphagia, sleep disturbances, and fatigue) for 12 weeks using the mobile app. The control group was requested to record these 5 nonmotor symptoms on a paper questionnaire. General characteristics including age, sex, level of education, disease severity, and comorbidities were examined at baseline. The degree of self-care was examined using the Self-Care of Chronic Illness Inventory at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks. At 12 weeks, satisfaction with the app was also examined. General characteristics and satisfaction with the app were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The effect of the app on self-care was analyzed using the repeated-measures ANOVA with an α level of .05.

RESULTS: In total, 93 participants were included in the analysis. There were 41 and 52 participants in the intervention and control groups, respectively. The general characteristics of the 2 groups were comparable. Monitoring nonmotor symptoms with the app effectively increased self-care maintenance (F₂₁₈₂=4.087; P=.02) and prevented a decrease in self-care monitoring (F₂₁₈₂=3.155; P=.045). However, using the app was ineffective in improving self-care management (F₂₁₈₂=1.348; P=.26). Self-care management gradually decreased over the 12-week period in both groups. The intervention (n=41) adherence rate reached 60.84% at 6 weeks but decreased to 41.87% by 12 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS: Participants were able to improve the degree of self-care by monitoring their nonmotor symptoms using the app. However, additional strategies that increase motivation and enjoyment are required to improve adherence.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Research Information Service KCT0006433; https://tinyurl.com/3vmf435m.

PMID:40173440 | DOI:10.2196/62822

Psychol Health Med. 2025 Apr 2:1-15. doi: 10.1080/13548506.2025.2487227. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Pregnancy is associated with an increased psychological burden on women. This burden may be worsened by uncertainty occasioned by pandemics such as the recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The study aims to investigate the psychological status of pregnant women following the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted amongst 126 pregnant women at the Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi. Data on the women’s sociodemographic and obstetric factors, levels of depression, anxiety, and insomnia were recorded on a questionnaire. SPSS version 29 was used to perform paired t-test and multivariate regression analysis to assess for statistically significant association between sociodemographic, obstetrics factors, and related factors on COVID-19-related stressors with depression, anxiety, and insomnia. High levels of depression, anxiety, and insomnia were noted with a mean Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score of 14.90 ± 5.25, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) score of 44.12 ± 9.73 and Women’s Health Initiative Insomnia Rating Scale (WHIIRS) score of 10.07 ± 5.81 respectively. There was a strong association between depression, anxiety, and insomnia with specific factors. In conclusion, pregnant women in Kenya experienced significant symptoms of depression, anxiety, and insomnia following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

PMID:40173438 | DOI:10.1080/13548506.2025.2487227

J Med Internet Res. 2025 Apr 2;27:e64028. doi: 10.2196/64028.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Symptom checker apps (SCAs) are layperson-facing tools that advise on whether and where to seek care, or possible diagnoses. Previous research has primarily focused on evaluating the accuracy, safety, and usability of their recommendations. However, studies examining SCAs’ impact on clinical care, including the patient-physician interaction and satisfaction with care, remain scarce.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the effects of an SCA on satisfaction with the patient-physician interaction in acute care settings. Additionally, we examined its influence on patients’ anxiety and trust in the treating physician.

METHODS: This parallel-group, randomized controlled trial was conducted at 2 emergency departments of an academic medical center and an emergency practice in Berlin, Germany. Low-acuity patients seeking care at these sites were randomly assigned to either self-assess their health complaints using a widely available commercial SCA (Ada Health) before their first encounter with the treating physician or receive usual care. The primary endpoint was patients’ satisfaction with the patient-physician interaction, measured by the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ). The secondary outcomes were patients’ satisfaction with care, their anxiety levels, and physicians’ satisfaction with the patient-physician interaction. We used linear mixed models to assess the statistical significance of primary and secondary outcomes. Exploratory descriptive analyses examined patients’ and physicians’ perceptions of the SCA’s utility and the frequency of patients questioning their physician’s authority.

RESULTS: Between April 11, 2022, and January 25, 2023, we approached 665 patients. A total of 363 patients were included in the intention-to-treat analysis of the primary outcome (intervention: n=173, control: n=190). PSQ scores in the intervention group were similar to those in the control group (mean 78.5, SD 20.0 vs mean 80.8, SD 19.6; estimated difference -2.4, 95% CI -6.3 to 1.1, P=.24). Secondary outcomes, including patients’ and physicians’ satisfaction with care and patient anxiety, showed no significant group differences (all P>.05). Patients in the intervention group were more likely to report that the SCA had a beneficial (66/164, 40.2%) rather than a detrimental (3/164, 1.8%) impact on the patient-physician interaction, with most reporting no effect (95/164, 57.9%). Similar patterns were observed regarding the SCA’s perceived effect on care. In both groups, physicians rarely reported that their authority had been questioned by a patient (intervention: 2/188, 1.1%; control: 4/184, 2.2%). While physicians more often found the SCA helpful rather than unhelpful, the majority indicated it was neither helpful nor unhelpful for the encounter.

CONCLUSIONS: We found no evidence that the SCA improved satisfaction with the patient-physician interaction or care in an acute care setting. By contrast, both patients and their treating physicians predominantly described the SCA’s impact as beneficial. Our study did not identify negative effects of SCA use commonly reported in the literature, such as increased anxiety or diminished trust in health care professionals.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: German Clinical Trial Register DRKS00028598; https://drks.de/search/en/trial/DRKS00028598/entails.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): RR2-10.1186/s13063-022-06688-w.

PMID:40173434 | DOI:10.2196/64028

PLoS One. 2025 Apr 2;20(4):e0311459. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0311459. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Relative proportion of cases in a multi-strain pandemic like the COVID-19 pandemic provides insight on how fast a newly emergent variant dominates the infected population. However, the behavior of relative proportion of emerging variants is an understudied field. We investigated the emerging behavior of dominant COVID-19 variants using nonlinear statistical methods and calculated the time to dominance of each variant.

METHOD: We used a phenomenological approach to model national- and regional-level variant share data from the national genomic surveillance system provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to determine the best model to describe the emergence of two recent dominant variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus: XBB.1.5 and JN.1. The proportions were modeled using logistic, Weibull, and generalized additive models. Model performance was evaluated using the Akaike Information Criteria (AIC) and the root mean square error (RMSE).

FINDINGS: The Weibull model performed the worst out of all three approaches. The generalized additive model approach slightly outperformed the logistic model based on fit statistics, but lacked in interpretability compared to the logistic model. These models were then used to estimate the time elapsed from emergence to dominance in the infected population, denoted by the time to dominance (TTD). All three models yielded similar TTD estimates. The XBB.1.5 variant was found to dominate the population faster compared to the JN.1 variant, especially in HHS Region 2 (New York) where the XBB.1.5 was believed to emerge. This research expounds on how emerging viral strains transition to dominance, informing public health interventions against future emergent COVID-19 variants and other infectious diseases.

PMID:40173404 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0311459