Tag: statistics

PLoS One. 2021 Aug 25;16(8):e0256293. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256293. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to assess the relationships among motivational profiles, their responsibility levels, the school social climate and resilience, and the differences according to gender and age of students from different secondary schools in Spain. A sample of 768 students (mean age of 13.84 years), 314 boys (46.1%) and 354 girls (53.9%) was used. The measurements taken concerned: personal and social responsibility, basic psychological need satisfaction, motivation, resilience and school social climate. Bivariate correlation, cluster and multivariate analyses were carried out. The cluster analysis was made using the Motivation toward Education Scale with its different variables (intrinsic, identified, introjected, external motivation and amotivation), revealing four profiles: low quality (1, low values in all motivational variables except in amotivation), low quantity (2, low values), high quantity (3, high values), and high quality (4, high values except in amotivation). The contrast in comparisons shows differences in resilience, personal and social responsibility, teacher climate and school climate (p < .001). The group with the highest values in resilience, basic psychological needs, responsibility and school social climate was that with a high quality profile. There were statistical differences in all variables with respect to the low quantity and low quality groups (p < .001), while the high quantity group showed statistical differences only in personal and social responsibility (p < .001). The low quality group had the lowest values among all the variables, with statistical differences with respect to all groups (p < .001). On the other hand, there were more boys than girls associated with high quantity, without differences in their age. In conclusion, high quality motivation profiles (those with high or low amotivation values and high values in autonomous and controlling motivation), also have a higher satisfaction of basic psychological needs. Moreover, these students are more resilient, show more responsibility and enhance the school/teaching social climate, while low quality and /or quantity motivation, influence negatively on these variables.

PMID:34432839 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0256293

PLoS One. 2021 Aug 25;16(8):e0256604. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256604. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

The influence maximization problem (IMP) as classically formulated is based on the strong assumption that “chosen” nodes always adopt the new product. In this paper we propose a new influence maximization problem, referred to as the “Link-based Influence Maximization Problem” (LIM), which differs from IMP in that the decision variable of the spreader has changed from choosing an optimal seed to selecting an optimal node to influence in order to maximize the spread. Based on our proof that LIM is NP-hard with a monotonic increasing and submodular target function, we propose a greedy algorithm, GLIM, for optimizing LIM and use numerical simulation to explore the performance in terms of spread and computation time in different network types. The results indicate that the performance of LIM varies across network types. We illustrate LIM by applying it in the context of a Dutch national health promotion program for prevention of youth obesity within a network of Dutch schools. GLIM is seen to outperform the other methods in all network types at the cost of a higher computation time. These results suggests that GLIM may be utilized to increase the effectiveness of health promotion programs.

PMID:34432815 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0256604

PLoS One. 2021 Aug 25;16(8):e0256302. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256302. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

This report is prepared to examine the heat transport in stagnation point mixed convective hyperbolic tangent material flow past over a linear heated stretching sheet in the presence of magnetic dipole. Phenomenon of thermal transmission plays a vital role in several industrial manufacturing processes. Heat generation is along with thermal relaxation due to Cattaneo-Christov flux is engaged while modeling the energy equation. In order to improve the thermal performance, inclusion of hybrid nanoparticles is mixed in hyperbolic tangent liquid. The conservation laws are modeled in Cartesian coordinate system and simplified via boundary layer approximation. The modeled partial differential equations (PDEs) system are converted into ordinary differential equations (ODEs) system by engaging the scaling group transformation. The converted system of modeled equations has been tackled via finite element procedure (FEP). The efficiency of used scheme has been presented by establishing the grid independent survey. Moreover, accurateness of results is shown with the help of comparative study. It is worth mentioning that the inclusion of hybrid nanoparticles has significant higher impact on heat conduction as compared with nanoparticle. Moreover, hybrid nanoparticles are more efficient to conduct maximum production of heat energy as compared with the production of heat energy of nanoparticles. Hence, hybrid nanoparticles (MoS2/Ag) are observed more significant to conduct more heat energy rather than nanoparticle (Ag).

PMID:34432830 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0256302

PLoS One. 2021 Aug 25;16(8):e0256436. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256436. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Oncology applications of cell-free DNA analysis are often limited by the amount of circulating tumor DNA and the fraction of cell-free DNA derived from tumor cells in a blood sample. This circulating tumor fraction varies widely between individuals and cancer types. Clinical factors that influence tumor fraction have not been completely elucidated.

METHODS AND FINDINGS: Circulating tumor fraction was determined for breast, lung, and colorectal cancer participant samples in the first substudy of the Circulating Cell-free Genome Atlas study (CCGA; NCT02889978; multi-cancer early detection test development) and was related to tumor and patient characteristics. Linear models were created to determine the influence of tumor size combined with mitotic or metabolic activity (as tumor mitotic volume or excessive lesion glycolysis, respectively), histologic type, histologic grade, and lymph node status on tumor fraction. For breast and lung cancer, tumor mitotic volume and excessive lesion glycolysis (primary lesion volume scaled by percentage positive for Ki-67 or PET standardized uptake value minus 1.0, respectively) were the only statistically significant covariates. For colorectal cancer, the surface area of tumors invading beyond the subserosa was the only significant covariate. The models were validated with cases from the second CCGA substudy and show that these clinical correlates of circulating tumor fraction can predict and explain the performance of a multi-cancer early detection test.

CONCLUSIONS: Prognostic clinical variables, including mitotic or metabolic activity and depth of invasion, were identified as correlates of circulating tumor DNA by linear models that relate clinical covariates to tumor fraction. The identified correlates indicate that faster growing tumors have higher tumor fractions. Early cancer detection from assays that analyze cell-free DNA is determined by circulating tumor fraction. Results support that early detection is particularly sensitive for faster growing, aggressive tumors with high mortality, many of which have no available screening today.

PMID:34432811 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0256436

PLoS One. 2021 Aug 25;16(8):e0255668. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255668. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

Using an incentivized experiment with statistical power, this paper explores the role of stakes in charitable giving of lottery prizes, where subjects commit to donate a fraction of the prize before they learn the outcome of the lottery. We study three stake levels: 5€ (n = 177), 100€ (n = 168), and 1,000€ (n = 171). Although the donations increase in absolute terms as the stakes increase, subjects decrease the donated fraction of the pie. However, people still share roughly 20% of 1,000€, an amount as high as the average monthly salary of people at the age of our subjects. The number of people sharing 50% of the pie is remarkably stable across stakes, but donating the the whole pie-the modal behavior in charity-donation experiments-disappears with stakes. Such hyper-altruistic behavior thus seems to be an artifact of the stakes typically employed in economic and psychological experiments. Our findings point out that sharing with others is a prevalent human feature, but stakes are an important determinant of sharing. Policies promoted via prosocial frames (e.g., stressing the effects of mask-wearing or social distancing on others during the Covid-19 pandemic or environmentally-friendly behaviors on future generations) may thus be miscalibrated if they disregard the stakes at play.

PMID:34432813 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0255668

Pediatr Phys Ther. 2021 Aug 24. doi: 10.1097/PEP.0000000000000820. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study summarizes experiences and perceptions of parents whose children received physical therapy for idiopathic toe walking (ITW) to inform clinical practice guideline development and identify perceived strengths and gaps in care.

METHODS: A US-based survey was distributed to parents of children with ITW. Data from 98 respondents were compiled through descriptive statistics of item responses and review of comments.

RESULTS: Parents reported variability in timing of diagnosis and intervention, ITW care, and extent they felt educated and involved in decision making. Rates of confidence, satisfaction, and effectiveness of physical therapy care varied.

CONCLUSIONS: A parent-informed clinical practice guideline for physical therapy management of ITW and family-friendly supplemental knowledge translation tools could reduce care variability, optimize shared decision making, and increase satisfaction of outcomes.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE: Clinicians should be knowledgeable about ITW diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment options, educating families and engaging them in shared decision making around ITW care.

PMID:34432760 | DOI:10.1097/PEP.0000000000000820

PLoS Comput Biol. 2021 Aug 25;17(8):e1009316. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009316. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

A salient feature of mammalian sleep is the alternation between rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM (NREM) sleep. However, how these two sleep stages influence each other and thereby regulate the timing of REM sleep episodes is still largely unresolved. Here, we developed a statistical model that specifies the relationship between REM and subsequent NREM sleep to quantify how REM sleep affects the following NREM sleep duration and its electrophysiological features in mice. We show that a lognormal mixture model well describes how the preceding REM sleep duration influences the amount of NREM sleep till the next REM sleep episode. The model supports the existence of two different types of sleep cycles: Short cycles form closely interspaced sequences of REM sleep episodes, whereas during long cycles, REM sleep is first followed by an interval of NREM sleep during which transitions to REM sleep are extremely unlikely. This refractory period is characterized by low power in the theta and sigma range of the electroencephalogram (EEG), low spindle rate and frequent microarousals, and its duration proportionally increases with the preceding REM sleep duration. Using our model, we estimated the propensity for REM sleep at the transition from NREM to REM sleep and found that entering REM sleep with higher propensity resulted in longer REM sleep episodes with reduced EEG power. Compared with the light phase, the buildup of REM sleep propensity was slower during the dark phase. Our data-driven modeling approach uncovered basic principles underlying the timing and duration of REM sleep episodes in mice and provides a flexible framework to describe the ultradian regulation of REM sleep in health and disease.

PMID:34432801 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009316

Retina. 2021 Sep 1;41(9):1833-1838. doi: 10.1097/IAE.0000000000003131.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To describe and evaluate demographic, clinical features, prognostic factors, and rate of success of surgery and visual outcomes in patients with late presentation of retinal detachment.

METHODS: A retrospective, comparative, observational case series of patients with late presentation retinal detachment, defined as retinal detachment with the loss of central vision for 4 weeks or more, over a period of 12 months.

RESULTS: The mean of onset of central visual loss was 12.7 weeks (SD, 21.3). Proliferative vitreoretinopathy at the first operation was identified in 69% of eyes. The overall primary success rate was 69.2%, significantly less than that was found in outcomes for nonselected retinal detachment (primary success rate, 86%; P = 0.006). The initial best-corrected visual acuity was 20/500, and the final was 20/160 (P = 0.0027). There were no identifiable statistically significant socioeconomic factors related to late presentation.

CONCLUSION: A high rate of established proliferative vitreoretinopathy on presentation was identified, and although cases can be treated with good anatomical results, visual outcomes are often less favorable. Primary surgical success is lower, and more reoperations are required compared with standard retinal detachments.

PMID:34432743 | DOI:10.1097/IAE.0000000000003131

J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2021 Sep 1;91(3):527-536. doi: 10.1097/TA.0000000000003249.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Our aim was to describe the characteristics of vertebral fractures, the presence of associated injuries, and clinical status within the first days in a severe trauma population.

METHODS: All patients with severe trauma admitted to our level 1 trauma center between January 2015 and December 2018 with a vertebral fracture were analyzed retrospectively. The fractures were determined by the AO Spine classification as stable (A0, A1, and A2 types) or unstable (A3, A4, B, and C types). Clinical status was defined as stable, intermediate, or unstable based on clinicobiological parameters and anatomic injuries. Severe extraspinal injuries and emergent procedures were studied. Three groups were compared: stable fracture, unstable fracture, and spinal cord injury (SCI) group.

RESULTS: A total of 425 patients were included (mean ± SD age, 43.8 ± 19.6 years; median Injury Severity Score, 22 [interquartile range, 17-34]; 72% male); 72 (17%) in the SCI group, 116 (27%) in the unstable fracture group, and 237 (56%) in the stable fracture group; 62% (95% confidence interval [CI], 57-67%) had not a stable clinical status on admission (unstable, 30%; intermediate, 32%), regardless of the group (p = 0.38). This decreased to 31% (95% CI, 27-35%) on day 3 and 23% (95% CI, 19-27%) on day 5, regardless of the group (p = 0.27 and p = 0.25). Progression toward stable clinical status between D1 and D5 was 63% (95% CI, 58-68%) overall but was statistically lower in the SCI group. Severe extraspinal injuries (85% [95% CI, 82-89%]) and extraspinal emergent procedures (56% [95% CI, 52-61%]) were comparable between the three groups. Only abdominal injuries and hemostatic procedures significantly differed significantly (p = 0.003 and p = 0.009).

CONCLUSION: More than the half of the patients with severe trauma had altered initial clinical status or severe extraspinal injuries that were not compatible with safe early surgical management for the vertebral fracture. These observations were independent of the stability of the fracture or the presence of an SCI.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic and epidemiological, level III.

PMID:34432757 | DOI:10.1097/TA.0000000000003249

J Nurs Res. 2021 Aug 20. doi: 10.1097/jnr.0000000000000450. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) is a leading cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Although case management programs have been proposed to improve maternal and fetal outcomes in high-risk pregnancies, limited data are available regarding the effect of case management on women with PIH.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of an antepartum case management program on stress, anxiety, and pregnancy outcomes in women with PIH.

METHODS: A quasi-experimental research design was employed. A convenience sample of women diagnosed with PIH, including preeclampsia, was recruited from outpatient clinics at a medical center in southern Taiwan. Sixty-two women were assigned randomly to either the experimental group (n = 31) or the control group (n = 31). The experimental group received case management for 8 weeks, and the control group received routine clinical care. Descriptive statistics, independent t or Mann-Whitney U tests, chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests, paired t test, and generalized estimating equations were used to analyze the data.

RESULTS: The average age of the participants was 35.1 years (SD = 4.5). No significant demographic or clinical differences were found between the control and experimental groups. The results of the generalized estimating equations showed significantly larger decreases in stress and anxiety in the experimental group than in the control group. No significant differences were identified between the two groups with respect to infant birth weeks, infant birth weight, average number of medical visits, or frequency of hospitalization.

CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The nurse-led case management program was shown to have short-term positive effects on the psychosocial outcomes of a population of Taiwanese patients with PIH. These results have important clinical implications for the healthcare administered to pregnant women, particularly in terms of improving the outcomes in those with PIH.

PMID:34432727 | DOI:10.1097/jnr.0000000000000450