Tag: statistics

PLoS One. 2021 Dec 16;16(12):e0261356. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261356. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Manhiça District, in Southern Mozambique harbors high HIV prevalence and a long history of migration. To optimize HIV care, we sought to assess how caregiver’s mobility impacts children living with HIV (CLHIV)´s continuation in HIV care and to explore the strategies used by caregivers to maintain their CLHIV on antiretroviral treatment (ART).

METHODS: A clinic-based cross-sectional survey conducted at the Manhiça District Hospital between December-2017 and February-2018. We enrolled CLHIV with a self-identified migrant caregiver (moved outside of Manhiça District ≤12 months prior to survey) and non-migrant caregiver, matched by the child age and sex. Survey data were linked to CLHIV clinical records from the HIV care and treatment program.

RESULTS: Among the 975 CLHIV screened, 285 (29.2%) were excluded due to absence of an adult at the appointment. A total of 232 CLHIV-caregiver pairs were included. Of the 41 (35%) CLHIV migrating with their caregivers, 38 (92.6%) had access to ART at the destination because either the caregivers travelled with it 24 (63%) or it was sent by a family member 14 (36%). Among the 76 (65%) CLHIV who did not migrate with their caregivers, for the purpose of pharmacy visits, 39% were cared by their grandfather/grandmother, 28% by an aunt/uncle and 16% by an adult brother/sister. CLHIV of migrant caregivers had a non-statistically significant increase in the number of previous reported sickness episodes (OR = 1.38, 95%CI: 0.79-2.42; p = 0.257), ART interruptions (OR = 1.73; 95%CI: 0.82-3.63; p = 0.142) and lost-to-follow-up episodes (OR = 1.53; 95%CI: 0.80-2.94; p = 0.193).

CONCLUSIONS: Nearly one third of the children attend their HIV care appointments unaccompanied by an adult. The caregiver mobility was not found to significantly affect child’s retention on ART. Migrant caregivers adopted strategies such as the transportation of ART to the mobility destination to avoid impact of mobility on the child’s HIV care. However this may have implications on ART stability and effectiveness that should be investigated in rural areas.

PMID:34914769 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0261356

PLoS One. 2021 Dec 16;16(12):e0261405. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261405. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Therapeutic communities (TCs) are mutual aid based residential programs for the treatment of substance abuse and criminal behavior. While it is expected that residents will provide feedback to peers, there has been no social network study of the hierarchy through which feedback flows.

METHODS: Data for this study was drawn from clinical records of peer corrections exchanged between TC residents in six units kept over periods of less than two to over eight years. Four of the units served men while two served women. Hierarchy position was measured using eigenvector centrality, on the assumption that residents who were more central in the network of corrections were lower in the hierarchy. It was hypothesized that residents would rise in the hierarchy over time. This was tested using Wilcoxon paired samples tests comparing the mean and maximum eigenvector centrality for time in treatment with those in the last month of treatment. It was also hypothesized that residents who rose higher in the hierarchy were more likely to graduate, the outcome of primary interest. Logistic regression was used to test hierarchy position as a predictor of graduation, controlling for age, race, risk of recidivism as measured by the Level of Services Inventory-Revised (LSI-R) and days spent in the program.

RESULTS: Residents averaged a statistically significantly lower eigenvector centrality in the last month in all units, indicating a rise in the hierarchy over time. Residents with lower maximum and average eigenvector centrality both over the length of treatment and in the last month of treatment were more likely to graduate in four of the six units, those with lower maximum and average eigenvector centrality in the last month but not over the length of treatment were more likely to graduate in one of the six units, while eigenvector centrality did not predict graduation in one unit. However, this last unit was much smaller than the others, which may have influenced the results.

CONCLUSION: These results suggest that TC residents move through a social network hierarchy and that movement through the hierarchy predicts successful graduation.

PMID:34914758 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0261405

PLoS One. 2021 Dec 16;16(12):e0260867. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260867. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

The primary aims of this study were to examine the effects of bio-banding players on passing networks created during 4v4 small-sided games (SSGs), while also examining the interaction of pitch size using passing network analysis compared to a coach-based scoring system of player performance. Using a repeated measures design, 32 players from two English Championship soccer clubs contested mixed maturity and bio-banded SSGs. Each week, a different pitch size was used: Week 1) small (36.1 m2 per player); week 2) medium (72.0 m2 per player); week 3) large (108.8 m2 per player); and week 4) expansive (144.50 m2 per player). All players contested 12 maturity (mis)matched and 12 mixed maturity SSGs. Technical-tactical outcome measures were collected automatically using a foot-mounted device containing an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and the Game Technical Scoring Chart (GTSC) was used to subjectively quantify the technical performance of players. Passing data collected from the IMUs were used to construct passing networks. Mixed effect models were used with statistical inferences made using generalized likelihood ratio tests, accompanied by Cohen’s local f2 to quantify the effect magnitude of each independent variable (game type, pitch size and maturation). Consistent trends were identified with mean values for all passing network and coach-based scoring metrics indicating better performance and more effective collective behaviours for early compared with late maturation players. Network metrics established differences (f2 = 0.00 to 0.05) primarily for early maturation players indicating that they became more integral to passing and team dynamics when playing in a mixed-maturation team. However, coach-based scoring was unable to identify differences across bio-banding game types (f2 = 0.00 to 0.02). Pitch size had the largest effect on metrics captured at the team level (f2 = 0.24 to 0.27) with smaller pitch areas leading to increased technical actions. The results of this study suggest that the use of passing networks may provide additional insight into the effects of interventions such as bio-banding and that the number of early-maturing players should be considered when using mixed-maturity playing formats to help to minimize late-maturing players over-relying on their early-maturing counterparts during match-play.

PMID:34914749 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0260867

PLoS One. 2021 Dec 16;16(12):e0261264. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261264. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The objectives of this study were; (I) to determine the proportion of pathogens isolated from patients with infected chronic wounds in the surgical ward of MRRH that are resistant to the third-generation cephalosporins and (II) to determine the factors associated with resistance to third-generation cephalosporins in the surgical ward of MRRH.

METHOD(S): This study was a descriptive analytical survey of bacterial isolates from infected chronic wounds among patients admitted in the surgical ward of MRRH, Uganda. Seventy five (75) study participants were recruited in the study using convenient sampling technique. Bacterial culture and identification was performed using standard microbiology laboratory procedures whereas broth microdilution method was used to establish the susceptibility of the identified pathogens. Data for objective one (1) was summarized as proportions while the categorized variables were analyzed using logistic regression to determine whether they were associated with the resistance patterns. The level of significance was preset at 5% and p-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: Generally, all isolates had complete susceptibility (100%) to Cefoperazone+Sulbactam 2g except 7.1% of proteus spp that were resistant. Of all the bacterial isolates studied, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter agglomerans, providencia spp and pseudomonas earuginosa had complete resistance (100%) to Cefopodoxime 200mg while providencia spp and pseudomomas earuginosa had complete resistance (100%) to Cefixime 400mg and cefotaxime 1g. Finally, higher odds of bacterial resistance to more 2 brands of the third generation cephalosporins were observed among participants who had prior exposure to the third generation cephalosporins (OR, 2.22, 95% CI, 0.80-6.14), comorbidities (OR, 1.76, 95% CI, 0.62-4.96) and those who had more than two hospitalizations in a year (OR, 1.39, 95% CI 0.46-4.25). However, multivariate logistic regression was not performed since no factor was significantly associated with resistance to more than two brands of third generation cephalosporins (p >0.05).

CONCLUSION: This study found that cefixime and cefpodoixme had high rates of resistance and should not be used in routine management of infected chronic wounds. In addition, the factors investigated in this study were not significantly associated with bacterial resistance to more than two brands of third generation cephalosporins.

PMID:34914757 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0261264

PLoS One. 2021 Dec 16;16(12):e0260567. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260567. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

We propose a framework of Resources, Achievement, Status, and Events (RASE) that allows the many disparate but well-documented phenomena affecting underrepresented groups in STEM to be assembled into a story of career trajectories, illuminating the possible cumulative impact of many small inequities. Our framework contains a three-component deterministic cycle of (1) production of Achievements from Resources, (2) updated community Status due to Achievements, and (3) accrual of additional Resources based on community Status. A fourth component, stochastic Events, can influence an individual’s level of Resources or Achievements at each time step of the cycle. We build a specific mathematical model within the RASE framework and use it to investigate the impact of accumulated disadvantages from multiple compounding variables. We demonstrate that the model can reproduce data of observed disparities in academia. Finally, we use a publicly available visualization and networking tool to provide a sandbox for exploring career outcomes within the model. The modeling exercise, results, and visualization tool may be useful in the context of training STEM faculty to recognize and reduce effects of bias.

PMID:34914741 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0260567

PLoS One. 2021 Dec 16;16(12):e0261223. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261223. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

In this paper, the algebraic topological characteristics of brain networks composed of electroencephalogram(EEG) signals induced by different quality images were studied, and on that basis, a neurophysiological image quality assessment approach was proposed. Our approach acquired quality perception-related neural information via integrating the EEG collection with conventional image assessment procedures, and the physiologically meaningful brain responses to different distortion-level images were obtained by topological data analysis. According to the validation experiment results, statistically significant discrepancies of the algebraic topological characteristics of EEG data evoked by a clear image compared to that of an unclear image are observed in several frequency bands, especially in the beta band. Furthermore, the phase transition difference of brain network caused by JPEG compression is more significant, indicating that humans are more sensitive to JPEG compression other than Gaussian blur. In general, the algebraic topological characteristics of EEG signals evoked by distorted images were investigated in this paper, which contributes to the study of neurophysiological assessment of image quality.

PMID:34914746 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0261223

PLoS One. 2021 Dec 16;16(12):e0257407. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257407. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

Salmonid fish raised in hatcheries often have lower fitness (number of returning adult offspring) than wild fish when both spawn in the wild. Body size at release from hatcheries is positively correlated with survival at sea. So one explanation for reduced fitness is that hatcheries inadvertently select for trait values that enhance growth rate under the unnatural environment of a hatchery, but that are maladaptive in the wild environment. A simple prediction of this hypothesis is that juveniles of hatchery origin should grow more quickly than fish of wild origin under hatchery conditions, but should have lower survival under wild conditions. We tested that hypothesis using multiple full sibling families of steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) that were spawned using either two wild parents (WxW) or two first-generation hatchery (HxH) parents. Offspring from all the families were grown together under hatchery conditions and under semi-natural conditions in artificial streams. HxH families grew significantly faster in the hatchery, but had significantly lower survival in the streams. That we see this tradeoff after only a single generation of selection suggests that the traits involved are under very strong selection. We also considered one possible alteration to the hatchery environment that might reduce the intensity of selection among families in size at release. Here we tested whether reducing the fat content of hatchery feed would reduce the variance among families in body size. Although fish raised under a low-fat diet were slightly smaller, the variation among families in final size was unchanged. Thus, there is no evidence that reducing the fat content of hatchery feed would reduce the opportunity for selection among families on size at release.

PMID:34914737 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0257407

PLoS One. 2021 Dec 16;16(12):e0260891. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260891. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Parent mental health and wellbeing may have implications for understanding attachment transmission. In this systematic review, we synthesise the published literature to determine the nature of the relationship between parent mental health and wellbeing and the intergenerational transmission of attachment and to provide recommendations for future research, clinical practice and intervention.

METHOD: Using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) approach, five electronic databases were searched for peer-reviewed empirical studies, published in English. Articles were considered for inclusion if data was collected on adult attachment, child attachment, and a domain of parent mental health/wellbeing. No date parameters were applied to the search strategy. The review was registered with PROPSERO (registration number: CRD42020157247).

RESULTS: Eleven studies examining the impact on parent mental health and wellbeing on the intergenerational transmission of attachment were identified for inclusion in this review. Our review found preliminary evidence that parent mental health and wellbeing play a role in the intergenerational transmission of attachment. Other key findings from the review were: evidence quality is mixed due to variable measurement of attachment and mental health; studies have mostly included correlational analysis or do not utilise contemporary methodological approaches to testing mediating or moderating relationships; and literature is largely focused on psychopathology and negative factors of mental health.

CONCLUSIONS: The limited scope of parent mental health and wellbeing constructs examined in the literature, the sparse use of robust statistical analyses, and the lack of literature in general makes it difficult to draw conclusions on how and why parent mental health impacts attachment transmission. Addressing these limitations will further progress attachment-related literature and may have particular implications for attachment-informed interventions with clinical populations.

PMID:34914730 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0260891

Disabil Rehabil. 2021 Dec 16:1-12. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2021.2013961. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To systematically review the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions developed for informal caregivers of hemodialysis patients.

METHODS: Relevant studies were identified through five electronic databases: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest, and the CENTRAL. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental studies describing interventions for informal caregivers of adult in-center hemodialysis patients (≥18 years old) were included and independently appraised by two reviewers using the Joanna Briggs Institute Statistics Assessment and Review Instruments critical appraisal checklists.

RESULTS: Eleven articles evaluating eight intervention programs were included in this review, covering a total of 729 informal caregivers. Most studies implemented educational or psycho-educational interventions (n = 6). Psycho-educational interventions designed to promote caregivers’ ability to care and to cope with the caregiving role had positive effects on burden and/or quality of life. Psychological interventions also had large effects on reducing the burden over time.

CONCLUSIONS: There are still few interventions available to caregivers of hemodialysis patients. Psychosocial interventions showed great potential in improving the caregiver burden and quality of life. Further research with rigorous designs is needed to achieve stronger evidence on the extent of the current findings.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42021247916.Implications for rehabilitationPatients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing in-center hemodialysis often require emotional and/or practical support from family members or friends.Research has consistently shown that informal caregivers of hemodialysis patients may experience significant burden and a negative impact on their quality of life as a result of their caregiving role during the disease trajectory.This review evidenced that intervention programs involving education and psychological strategies had large positive effects on reducing caregiver burden and improving quality of life.The findings provide valuable evidence to recommend the inclusion of psychosocial programs to family caregivers as part of comprehensive renal care.

PMID:34913777 | DOI:10.1080/09638288.2021.2013961

Percept Mot Skills. 2021 Dec 16:315125211060953. doi: 10.1177/00315125211060953. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The underlying mechanism(s) of the Bilateral Deficit (BLD) phenomenon is without consensus. Methodological inconsistencies across prior works may be an important source of equivocal results and interpretations. Based on repeatability problems with the BLD measure and maximal force definition, the presence or absence of the BLD phenomenon is altered, shifting conclusions of its mechanistic cause. Our purpose in this study was to examine methodological inconsistencies in applying the BLD measure to establish optimal methods for evaluating the underlying mechanism. Eleven healthy participants engaged in one familiarity and five test sessions, completing bilateral and unilateral elbow maximal voluntary isometric contractions. We defined maximal force by averaged and absolute peak and plateau values. BLD was evident if the bilateral index (BI), the ratio of the bilateral over summed unilateral forces, was statistically different from zero. We addressed interclass correlations (ICC), Chronbach’s α, standard error of the mean, and minimal detectable change between and within sessions for all force measures and BI. We evaluated all combinations of sessions (i.e., 1-2, 3-5, 5-6) and maximal forces to establish the optimal number of sessions to achieve reliability. BLD was present for test sessions, but not for familiarization. All measures of maximal force were highly reliable between and within sessions (ICC(2,1) ≥ .895). BI was only considered significantly reliable in sessions 3-5 (p < .027), defined by absolute and average plateau forces, but reliability was still quantifiably poor (absolute: ICC(2,1) = .392; average: ICC(2,1) = .375). These results demonstrate that high force reliability within and between sessions does not translate to stable and reliable BI, potentially exposing the lack of any defined BLD mechanism.

PMID:34913749 | DOI:10.1177/00315125211060953