Tag: statistics

J Gambl Stud. 2024 May 28. doi: 10.1007/s10899-024-10317-3. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between gambling behavior, self-confidence, and psychological resilience levels among university students. Additionally, the study aims to investigate the relationship between gambling behavior and socio-demographic variables. This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted between April and June 2023. The research employed a questionnaire, the Brief Psychological Resilience Scale, the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS), and the Self-Confidence Scale. The study was carried out online, reaching 229 students through Google Forms. According to the SOGS scores, 4.8% of the students are at risk of gambling addiction. Male students have statistically significantly higher SOGS scores than female students. The SOGS score is significantly higher in working students, smokers, and alcohol drinkers (p < 0.05). No statistically significant relationship was found between the students’ SOGS scores and the self- confidence scale (p = 0.637) and the brief resilience scale (p = 0.675). It is thought that training should be given to risky groups in order to prevent gambling behavior. In addition, it is thought that supporting university students to be active in different arts and sports fields may have a positive effect on preventing and reducing addictions.

PMID:38805161 | DOI:10.1007/s10899-024-10317-3

Environ Monit Assess. 2024 May 28;196(6):581. doi: 10.1007/s10661-024-12717-9.

ABSTRACT

In case necessary precautions are not taken in surface mines, serious accidents and loss of life may occur, particularly due to large mass displacements. It is extremely important to identify the early warning signs of these displacements and take the necessary precautions. In this study, free medium-resolution satellite radar images from the European Space Agency’s (ESA) C-band Sentinel-1A satellite and commercial high-resolution satellite radar images (SAR, Synthetic Aperture Radar) from the Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt’s (DLR) X-band TerraSAR-X satellite were obtained, and it was attempted to reveal the traceability and adequacy of monitoring of deformations and possible mass displacements in the dump site of an open-pit coal mine. The compatibility of the results obtained from the satellite radar data with two devices of Global Positioning System (GPS) which were installed in the field was evaluated. Furthermore, the velocity results in the Line Of Sight (LOS) direction and vertical deformation velocity results obtained with all three approaches (GPS/Sentinel-1A, GPS/TerraSAR-X, and Sentinel-1A/TerraSAR-X) were compared. It was observed that the results were statistically equal and the directions of movement were similar/compatible. The result of this study showed that deformations at mine sites can be monitored with sufficient accuracy for early warning with free Sentinel-1A satellite data, although the TerraSAR-X satellite offers a higher resolution.

PMID:38805130 | DOI:10.1007/s10661-024-12717-9

Bull Math Biol. 2024 May 28;86(7):81. doi: 10.1007/s11538-024-01303-2.

ABSTRACT

The mosquito-borne dengue virus remains a major public health concern in Malaysia. Despite various control efforts and measures introduced by the Malaysian Government to combat dengue, the increasing trend of dengue cases persists and shows no sign of decreasing. Currently, early detection and vector control are the main methods employed to curb dengue outbreaks. In this study, a coupled model consisting of the statistical ARIMAX model and the deterministic SI-SIR model was developed and validated using the weekly reported dengue data from year 2014 to 2019 for Selangor, Malaysia. Previous studies have shown that climate variables, especially temperature, humidity, and precipitation, were able to influence dengue incidence and transmission dynamics through their effect on the vector. In this coupled model, climate is linked to dengue disease through mosquito biting rate, allowing real-time forecast of dengue cases using climate variables, namely temperature, rainfall and humidity. For the period chosen for model validation, the coupled model can forecast 1-2 weeks in advance with an average error of less than 6%, three weeks in advance with an average error of 7.06% and four weeks in advance with an average error of 8.01%. Further model simulation analysis suggests that the coupled model generally provides better forecast than the stand-alone ARIMAX model, especially at the onset of the outbreak. Moreover, the coupled model is more robust in the sense that it can be further adapted for investigating the effectiveness of various dengue mitigation measures subject to the changing climate.

PMID:38805120 | DOI:10.1007/s11538-024-01303-2

Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2024 May 28. doi: 10.1007/s11748-024-02042-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Lung adenocarcinoma with a preoperatively elevated serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) value has a relatively poor postoperative prognosis. Although surgical resection generally results in a reduction in the CEA value, the significance of the change in the CEA value on the prognostic outcome remains unclear.

METHODS: Our study included 133 patients who underwent lobectomy with curative intent for lung adenocarcinoma representing a preoperative CEA value > 5.0. Statistical analysis was performed using a receiver operating characteristic analysis and a stepwise Cox proportional hazards analysis.

RESULTS: Both the postoperative CEA value and postoperative-to-preoperative CEA ratio (CEA ratio) significantly affected the survival. Although the CEA ratio was not predictive of the survival in patients with postoperative CEA ≤ 6.2 ng/ml (n = 105), it was predictive in the remaining patients with postoperative CEA > 6.2 ng/ml (n = 28). Patients with postoperative CEA > 6.2 ng/ml and a CEA ratio ≥ 0.39 (n = 7) showed the worst survival outcome. According to the multivariate analysis, the CEA ratio and postoperative nodal status were significant predictors of the survival in overall patients.

CONCLUSION: The CEA ratio may be a useful prognostic marker in patients who undergo lobectomy for lung adenocarcinoma and show postoperative CEA > 6.2 ng/ml. A high CEA ratio may indicate the presence of a subclinical residual tumor, which may lead to the development of subsequent recurrence.

PMID:38805108 | DOI:10.1007/s11748-024-02042-w

Int Ophthalmol. 2024 May 28;44(1):230. doi: 10.1007/s10792-024-03106-9.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The present study aimed to epidemiologically evaluate patients with infectious keratitis following corneal transplantation.

METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed medical records of patients who underwent keratoplasty from March 2014 to March 2022 at a tertiary center. A total of seventy-five patients were evaluated. The data were classified based on culture results, the type of microorganisms involved, treatment requirements, and the type of primary keratoplasty performed.

RESULTS: Seventy-five patients were evaluated in this study, with a mean age of 45.9 years (22-95 years). The mean duration between the first surgery and the incidence of infectious keratitis was 1.43 years, and most cases occurred in the first year (56.2%). Bacterial and fungal keratitis in 2.17%, 1.39%, and 1.26% of cases undergoing penetrating keratoplasty (PK), endothelial keratoplasty (EK), and anterior lamellar keratoplasty (ALK) occurred, respectively. Streptococcus viridans (9.3%) and Staphylococcus aureus (6.6%) had the highest prevalence. Across various smear and culture results (gram-positive, gram-negative, fungal, and negative culture), no significant differences were found in endophthalmitis rates (P = 0.797) and the necessity for tectonic grafts (P = 0.790). Similarly, the choice of surgical method (PK, ALK, EK) showed no significant impact on the need for tectonic grafts (P = 0.45) or the rate of endophthalmitis (P = 0.55).

CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of keratitis after a corneal graft was 1.7%, with Streptococcus viridans and Staphylococcus aureus the most common microorganisms. The rate of endophthalmitis associated with post-keratoplasty keratitis was 0.053%. There was no correlation between the necessity for a tectonic graft or the incidence of endophthalmitis and the type of microorganisms involved.

PMID:38805103 | DOI:10.1007/s10792-024-03106-9

Lifetime Data Anal. 2024 May 28. doi: 10.1007/s10985-024-09626-x. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Risk stratification based on prediction models has become increasingly important in preventing and managing chronic diseases. However, due to cost- and time-limitations, not every population can have resources for collecting enough detailed individual-level information on a large number of people to develop risk prediction models. A more practical approach is to use prediction models developed from existing studies and calibrate them with relevant summary-level information of the target population. Many existing studies were conducted under the population-based case-control design. Gail et al. (J Natl Cancer Inst 81:1879-1886, 1989) proposed to combine the odds ratio estimates obtained from case-control data and the disease incidence rates from the target population to obtain the baseline hazard function, and thereby the pure risk for developing diseases. However, the approach requires the risk factor distribution of cases from the case-control studies be same as the target population, which, if violated, may yield biased risk estimation. In this article, we propose two novel weighted estimating equation approaches to calibrate the baseline risk by leveraging the summary information of (some) risk factors in addition to disease-free probabilities from the targeted population. We establish the consistency and asymptotic normality of the proposed estimators. Extensive simulation studies and an application to colorectal cancer studies demonstrate the proposed estimators perform well for bias reduction in finite samples.

PMID:38805095 | DOI:10.1007/s10985-024-09626-x

Lifetime Data Anal. 2024 May 28. doi: 10.1007/s10985-024-09630-1. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Panel count regression is often required in recurrent event studies, where the interest is to model the event rate. Existing rate models are unable to handle time-varying covariate effects due to theoretical and computational difficulties. Mean models provide a viable alternative but are subject to the constraints of the monotonicity assumption, which tends to be violated when covariates fluctuate over time. In this paper, we present a new semiparametric rate model for panel count data along with related theoretical results. For model fitting, we present an efficient EM algorithm with three different methods for variance estimation. The algorithm allows us to sidestep the challenges of numerical integration and difficulties with the iterative convex minorant algorithm. We showed that the estimators are consistent and asymptotically normally distributed. Simulation studies confirmed an excellent finite sample performance. To illustrate, we analyzed data from a real clinical study of behavioral risk factors for sexually transmitted infections.

PMID:38805094 | DOI:10.1007/s10985-024-09630-1

Intern Emerg Med. 2024 May 28. doi: 10.1007/s11739-024-03651-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Patients with acute stroke often require venous access to facilitate diagnostic investigations or intravenous therapy. The primary aim of this study was to describe the rate and type of complications associated with the placement of a short peripheral catheter (SPC) in patients with acute ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke. A prospective, observational, single-cohort study was conducted at Niguarda Hospital, Italy, with enrolment in the Emergency Department. Adult patients with an ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke requiring an SPC were enrolled. Complications, such as infiltration, occlusion, phlebitis and dislodgment, were recorded daily. Descriptive statistics were used, and the incidence rate ratio (IRR) was estimated to assess the difference in complications, considering catheter calibre, dominant side, exit site, limb, and limb mobility, ictus type (ischemic/haemorrhagic), impairment deficit (language, motor, visual) and EA-DIVA score. A total of 269 participants and 755 SPC were analysed. Removal of SPC due to at least one local complication occurred in 451 (60%). Dislodgment was the major cause of SPC removal (31%), followed by infiltration (18%), occlusion (6%), and phlebitis (5%). The SPC calibre (22G), exit-site other than antecubital and forearm, visual deficit and EA-DIVA ≥ 8 were associated with a higher rate of SPC complications: IRR, 1.71 [1.31; 2.31]; 1.27 [1.01; 1.60], 1.38 [1.06; 1.80], 1.30 [1.04; 1.64], respectively. No other differences in complication rates were observed according to the insertion site, i.e. dominant side, left side, plegic/hyposthenic limb, or exit site. This study provides novel insights into the frequency and types of complications associated with SPC in patients with acute stroke. Compared to the literature, a higher dislodgment rate was observed, being the first cause of SPC removal, whereas no differences in the number of infiltrations, occlusions, and phlebitis were recorded.

PMID:38805082 | DOI:10.1007/s11739-024-03651-2

Eur J Epidemiol. 2024 May 28. doi: 10.1007/s10654-024-01126-4. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

While its etiology is not fully elucidated, preterm birth represents a major public health concern as it is the leading cause of child mortality and morbidity. Stress is one of the most common perinatal conditions and may increase the risk of preterm birth. In this paper we aimed to investigate the association of maternal perceived stress and anxiety with length of gestation. We used harmonized data from five birth cohorts from Canada, France, and Norway. A total of 5297 pregnancies of singletons were included in the analysis of perceived stress and gestational duration, and 55,775 pregnancies for anxiety. Federated analyses were performed through the DataSHIELD platform using Cox regression models within intervals of gestational age. The models were fit for each cohort separately, and the cohort-specific results were combined using random effects study-level meta-analysis. Moderate and high levels of perceived stress during pregnancy were associated with a shorter length of gestation in the very/moderately preterm interval [moderate: hazard ratio (HR) 1.92 (95%CI 0.83, 4.48); high: 2.04 (95%CI 0.77, 5.37)], albeit not statistically significant. No association was found for the other intervals. Anxiety was associated with gestational duration in the very/moderately preterm interval [1.66 (95%CI 1.32, 2.08)], and in the early term interval [1.15 (95%CI 1.08, 1.23)]. Our findings suggest that perceived stress and anxiety are associated with an increased risk of earlier birth, but only in the earliest gestational ages. We also found an association in the early term period for anxiety, but the result was only driven by the largest cohort, which collected information the latest in pregnancy. This raised a potential issue of reverse causality as anxiety later in pregnancy could be due to concerns about early signs of a possible preterm birth.

PMID:38805076 | DOI:10.1007/s10654-024-01126-4

Anal Chem. 2024 May 28. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c00100. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Over the years, a number of state-of-the-art data analysis tools have been developed to provide a comprehensive analysis of data collected from gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Unfortunately, the time shift problem remains unsolved in these tools. Here, we developed a novel comprehensive data analysis strategy for GC-MS-based untargeted metabolomics (AntDAS-GCMS) to perform total ion chromatogram peak detection, peak resolution, time shift correction, component registration, statistical analysis, and compound identification. Time shift correction was specifically optimized in this work. The information on mass spectra and elution profiles of compounds was used to search for inherent landmarks within analyzed samples to resolve the time shift problem across samples efficiently and accurately. The performance of our AntDAS-GCMS was comprehensively investigated by using four complex GC-MS data sets with various types of time shift problems. Meanwhile, AntDAS-GCMS was compared with advanced GC-MS data analysis tools and classic time shift correction methods. Results indicated that AntDAS-GCMS could achieve the best performance compared to the other methods.

PMID:38805056 | DOI:10.1021/acs.analchem.4c00100