scholarly journals Relationship between Latent Toxoplasmosis and Depression in Clients of a Center for Assisted Reproduction

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1052
Author(s):  
Jana Hlaváčová ◽  
Jaroslav Flegr ◽  
Kateřina Fiurašková ◽  
Šárka Kaňková
Keyword(s):  
Assisted Reproduction ◽  
Latent Infection ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Cohen’S D ◽  
Infertile Men ◽  
Fertility Problems ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Cohen's D ◽  
The Impact

Latent infection of the globally spread parasite Toxoplasma gondii in humans has been associated with changes in personality and behavior. Numerous studies have investigated the effect of toxoplasmosis on depression, but their results are inconsistent. Our study focused on the effect of latent toxoplasmosis on depression in men and women in association with their fertility. In 2016–2018, we recruited clients (677 men and 664 women) of the Center for Assisted Reproduction and asked them to complete a standardized Beck Depression Inventory-II. In women without fertility problems, we found higher depression scores in Toxoplasma-positive than in Toxoplasma-negative (p = 0.010, Cohen’s d = 0.48). Toxoplasma-positive infertile men, on the other hand, had lower depression scores than Toxoplasma-negative infertile men (p ≤ 0.001, Cohen’s d = 0.48). Our results are consistent with the previously described effects of latent toxoplasmosis, which seem to go in opposite directions regarding the effect on personality and behavior of men and women. Our results could be explained by gender-contrasting reactions to chronic stress associated with lifelong infection. This suggests that due to gender differences in the impact of latent toxoplasmosis, future studies ought to perform separate analyses for women and men.

scholarly journals The Impact of Replacement Conventional Dentures on Eating Experience

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
H.F. Al-Sultani ◽  
J.C. Field ◽  
J.M. Thomason ◽  
P.J. Moynihan
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Complete Dentures ◽  
Social And Emotional ◽  
Cohen’S D ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Emotional Issues ◽  
Cohen's D ◽  
The Impact

Introduction: Despite much research on the impact of edentulism and prosthetic rehabilitation on food and nutrient intake, there is little information on how replacing complete dentures affects social and emotional issues around eating. Objectives: To investigate, in a cohort study, how replacing conventional complete dentures affects eating-related quality of life (ERQoL). A secondary aim was to test the responsiveness of an Emotional and Social Issues Related to Eating (ESIRE) questionnaire to change in ERQoL. Methods: Participants, recruited from the Dental Hospital, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK, completed the self-administrated ESIRE questionnaire before and after provision of new conventional complete dentures. Paired t test was used to determine any change between pre- and posttreatment ESIRE scores, which can range from 0 (poor) to 100 (excellent). Cohen’s d effect size was used to measure the magnitude of change in ERQoL. Standardized response mean (SRM) was used to measure the responsiveness of the ESIRE questionnaire to changes in ERQoL. Results: Fifty-five participants aged 52 to 85 y (mean, 72 y), including 21 males (42%) and 29 females (58%), completed the study. A statistically significant improvement in the total ESIRE scores was found, mean (SE) +20.3 (3.30), P < 0.001. Equally, all domains of the ESIRE questionnaire showed significant improvements: enjoyment of food/eating, +27.3 (3.63), P < 0.001; self-consciousness/embarrassment, +18.1 (3.88), P < 0.001; interruption to meals, +13.3 (5.27), P < 0.05; confidence when eating, +18.7 (4.84), P < 0.001; time for eating/preparation of meals, +18.5 (4.85), P < 0.001); and functional ability to eat, +18.2 (3.67), P < 0.001). Cohen’s d was large (0.95) for the total score and ranged from medium (0.37) to large (1.30) for all domains. Value of SRM was large (0.87) for the total score and ranged from medium (0.36) to large (1.1) for all domains. Conclusion: Denture replacement can directly improve ERQoL. The ESIRE questionnaire was responsive to clinically important changes in ERQoL. Knowledge Transfer Statement: The results of this study improve the understanding of the impact of denture replacement on eating-related quality of life (ERQoL). Clinicians are encouraged to pay more attention to the impact of wearing conventional complete dentures on social and emotional issues around eating. The findings should motivate clinicians and inspire specialists in prosthodontics and oral rehabilitation to continue providing conventional complete dentures as a suitable treatment option for edentulous patients.

scholarly journals 0636 Using AI To Predict Future CPAP Adherence and the Impact of Behavioral and Technical Interventions

SLEEP ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A243-A243
Author(s):  
W Hevener ◽  
B Beine ◽  
J Woodruff ◽  
D Munafo ◽  
C Fernandez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Effect Size ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Cpap Adherence ◽  
Cohen’S D ◽  
Usage Patterns ◽  
Patient Outreach ◽  
Cohen's D ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Usage Data

Abstract Introduction Clinical management of CPAP adherence remains an ongoing challenge. Behavioral and technical interventions such as patient outreach, coaching, troubleshooting, and resupply may be deployed to positively impact adherence. Previous authors have described adherence phenotypes that retrospectively categorize patients by discrete usage patterns. We design an AI model that predictively categorizes patients into previously studied adherence phenotypes and analyzes the statistical significance and effect size of several types of interventions on subsequent CPAP adherence. Methods We collected a cross-sectional cohort of subjects (N = 13,917) with 455 days of daily CPAP usage data acquired. Patient outreach notes and resupply data were temporally synchronized with daily CPAP usage. Each 30-days of usage was categorized into one of four adherence phenotypes as defined by Aloia et al. (2008) including Good Users, Variable Users, Occasional Attempters, and Non-Users. Cross-validation was used to train and evaluate a Recurrent Neural Network model for predicting future adherence phenotypes based on the dynamics of prior usage patterns. Two-sided 95% bootstrap confidence intervals and Cohen’s d statistic were used to analyze the significance and effect size of changes in usage behavior 30-days before and after administration of several resupply interventions. Results The AI model predicted the next 30-day adherence phenotype with an average of 90% sensitivity, 96% specificity, 95% accuracy, and 0.83 Cohen’s Kappa. The AI model predicted the number of days of CPAP non-use, use under 4-hours, and use over 4-hours for the next 30-days with OLS Regression R-squared values of 0.94, 0.88, and 0.95 compared to ground truth. Ten resupply interventions were associated with statistically significant increases in adherence, and ranked by adherence effect size using Cohen’s d. The most impactful were new cushions or masks, with a mean post-intervention CPAP adherence increase of 7-14% observed in Variable User, Occasional Attempter, and Non-User groups. Conclusion The AI model applied past CPAP usage data to predict future adherence phenotypes and usage with high sensitivity and specificity. We identified resupply interventions that were associated with significant increases in adherence for struggling patients. This work demonstrates a novel application for AI to aid clinicians in maintaining CPAP adherence. Support  

scholarly journals The impact of a community based rehabilitation program in Afghanistan: a longitudinal analysis using propensity score matching and difference in difference analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Francois Trani ◽  
Juanita Vasquez-Escallon ◽  
Parul Bakhshi
Keyword(s):  
Daily Living ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Medium Effect ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Persons With Disabilities ◽  
Cohen’S D ◽  
Community Based Rehabilitation ◽  
Medium Effect Size ◽  
Cohen's D ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background The 2006 United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities states that the achievement of equal rights, empowerment and social inclusion of people with disabilities requires comprehensive rehabilitation services encompassing all components of the World Health Organization Community based rehabilitation (CBR) matrix: health, education, livelihood, social and empowerment. CBR programs specifically aim to deliver such comprehensive interventions. In the present study, we investigate the impact of a CBR program in Afghanistan on all these components. Methods We enrolled 1861 newly recruited CBR participants with disabilities in the study, from 169 villages between July 2012 and December 2013 as well as 1132 controls with disabilities randomly selected through a two-stage process within 6000 households from 100 villages in the same provinces but outside the catchment area of the CBR program. We interviewed them again after one (midline) and two (end-line) years in the study. Using propensity score matching and difference in difference analysis, we estimated the impact of the CBR on outcomes of interest, namely mobility, activities of daily living, communication, participation in social and community life, emotional well-being and employment. Results Three years on average into the CBR program, participants showed a significant and close to medium effect size reduction in emotional (Cohen’s d = − 0.48, 95%CI[− 0.58--0.38]), and social participation challenges (Cohen’s d = − 0.45, 95%CI[− 0.53−− 0.36]); small to medium effect size reduction in unemployment (Cohen’s d = − 0.21, 95%CI[− 0.33--0.10]), activities of daily living (Cohen’s d = − 0.26, 95%CI[− 0.35--0.18]), mobility (Cohen’s d = − 0.36, 95%CI[− 0.44--.29]) and communication challenges (Cohen’s d = − 0.38, 95%CI[− 0.46--0.3]). Conclusions Our study indicates that a CBR program may provide positive rehabilitation outcomes for persons with disabilities even in a conflict context, and improve overall well-being of all participants with disabilities, whatever their impairment, individual characteristics and the CBR matrix components considered. Trial registration ISRCTN, ISRCTN50214054. Registered August 5th 2020 - retrospectively registered

scholarly journals Cognitive consequences of COVID-19: results of a cohort study from South America

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucía Crivelli ◽  
Ismael Calandri ◽  
Nicolás Corvalán ◽  
María Agostina Carello ◽  
Greta Keller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Executive Functions ◽  
Cognitive Dysfunction ◽  
Psychiatric Symptomatology ◽  
Cohen’S D ◽  
Cognitive Risk ◽  
Cognitive Complaint ◽  
Visuospatial Skills ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Cohen's D ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACT Background: Neurological and psychiatric manifestations associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection have been reported throughout the scientific literature. However, studies on post-COVID cognitive impairment in people with no previous cognitive complaint are scarce. Objective: We aim to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on cognitive functions in adults without cognitive complaints before infection and to study cognitive dysfunction according to disease severity and cognitive risk factors. Methods: Forty-five post-COVID-19 patients and forty-five controls underwent extensive neuropsychological evaluation, which assessed cognitive domains such as memory, language, attention, executive functions, and visuospatial skills, including psychiatric symptomatology scales. Data were collected on the severity of infection, premorbid medical conditions, and functionality for activities of daily living before and after COVID-19. Results: Significant differences between groups were found in cognitive composites of memory (p=0.016, Cohen’s d= 0.73), attention (p<0.001, Cohen’s d=1.2), executive functions (p<0.001, Cohen’s d=1.4), and language (p=0.002, Cohen’s d=0.87). The change from premorbid to post-infection functioning was significantly different between severity groups (WHODAS, p=0.037). Self-reported anxiety was associated with the presence of cognitive dysfunction in COVID-19 subjects (p=0.043). Conclusion: Our results suggest that the presence of cognitive symptoms in post-COVID-19 patients may persist for months after disease remission and argue for the inclusion of cognitive assessment as a protocolized stage of the post-COVID examination. Screening measures may not be sufficient to detect cognitive dysfunction in post-COVID-19 patients.

The Impact of Temperament in a School Setting: An Epidemiological Study

1986 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 499-504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maurice Boudreault ◽  
Jacques Thivierge
Keyword(s):  
Behavior Problems ◽  
Epidemiological Study ◽  
School Setting ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Child Temperament ◽  
Clinical Population ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
French Speaking ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
The Impact

The authors present the results of an epidemiological study on a large non-clinical population-based sample of French speaking seven year-old children (N = 596) whose aim was to verify if a relation exists between temperament and outward-type or inward-type behavior problems in school. The Thomas and Chess’ Parent Temperament Questionnaire, filled out twice by the parents over a four-week interval, was used to determine temperament. The Conners Teacher Questionnaire, filled out twice by the teachers over a four-week interval, was used to determine behavior problems in school. Five points emerge from this study. First, “difficult” temperament ‘per se’ is not associated either with outward-type or inward-type behavior problems in school. Second, a temperamental pattern of high activity and high approach with new stimuli predisposes boys to present outward-type behavior problems in school. Third, the temperamental traits of low adaptability or withdrawal with new stimuli predisposes girls to inward-type behavior problems in school. Fourth, the study demonstrates the importance of verifying if the associations between temperament and behavior problems are stable since, in the comparisons between results of the test with those of the retest, several of the associations found in one occasion failed to be replicated at the other. Fifth, the different influences of temperament according to sex emphasize the need to study boys and girls separately. Future studies should take into account interactions between parents/teachers and child temperament since these sex-related different influences of temperament could be related to the sex-related different attitudes of caretakers.

scholarly journals Awareness of eSafety and Potential Online Dangers among Children and Teenagers

10.28945/3864 ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 319-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gila Cohen Zilka
Keyword(s):  
Internet Use ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
Individual Case ◽  
Future Research ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Use Of The Internet ◽  
High Level ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
The Impact

Aim/Purpose: Awareness of eSafety and potential online dangers for children and teenagers. Background The study examined eSafety among children and teenagers from their own perspectives, through evaluations of their awareness level of eSafety and of potential online dangers. Methodology: This is a mixed-method study with both quantitative and qualitative elements. The study includes questionnaires and interviews. A total of 345 participants from Israel completed questionnaires; 90 children and teenagers were interviewed from among the participants. Contribution: The study examined the awareness of children and youths of safe online surfing. It also examined the degree of exposure of children and youths to positive and negative aspects of the Internet. This study illustrates the dual potential of Internet use within the context of eSafety, as seen through the eyes of children and teenagers. Characteristics of use of the Internet are liable to increase the danger to and the bullying of youths and by youths in the digital domain. It also demonstrates the promises of using the Internet for productive learning and leisure activities. Findings: Findings show that the children and teenagers who participated in the study reported a medium-high level of awareness. Issues that participants were concerned about included avoiding contact with strangers and cyberbullying, not necessarily by strangers, but also by friends. Recommendations for Practitioners : It is important to examine how children perceive online events for the purpose of examining their statements regarding eSafety and the way they view problematic or dangerous online events, as well as how they believe they can cope with them. Recommendation for Researchers: The study recommends incorporating in future studies individual case studies and allowing participants to express how they perceive complex online situations. Impact on Society: This study illustrates the dual potential, positive and negative aspects, of Internet use within the context of eSafety, as seen through the eyes of children and teenagers. Future Research: Future studies should track changing eSafety awareness and behavior longitudinally to identify the impact of maturation and experience on their behavior and attitudes.

scholarly journals Bicycling and tricycling road race performance in international UCI events between 2011 and 2019

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
David N Borg ◽  
John O Osborne ◽  
Sean M Tweedy ◽  
Johanna B Liljedahl ◽  
Carla FJ Nooijen
Keyword(s):  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cohen’S D ◽  
Road Race ◽  
T1 And T2 ◽  
Cohen's D ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Race Performance

Purpose: This study described bicycling (C-classes, 1–5) and tricycling (T-classes, 1–2) performance in International Cycling Federation (Union Cycliste Internationale; UCI) road race events between 2011 and 2019. Methods: A total of 3,243 race results (bicycling = 2,571; tricycling = 672) from 33 UCI events held between May 2011 and August 2019 were included in the analysis. Mean race velocity was calculated for each race result. Bicycling and tricycling data were separately modelled using hierarchical regression. Cohen’s d was calculated for the standardised difference between adjacent classes. Results: Road race performance was statistically different between men’s classes C1/C2 (p &lt;.001; d = 0.42), C2/C3 (p &lt;.001; d = 0.47) and C3/C4 (p &lt;.001; d = 0.73). In contrast, performance was not statistically different between men’s C4/C5 (p = .506; d = 0.14), or between all adjacent women’s bicycling classes (p = .050 to .121; d = 0.46 to 1.15). The absence of statistical differences between adjacent women’s bicycling classes may be due to the relatively small number of observations in these classifications. As expected, race performance was statistically different between T1 and T2 for men (p &lt;.001; d = 1.64) and women (p &lt;.001; d = 1.38). Conclusion: Road race performance was hierarchical within the disciplines of bicycling and tricycling, with higher classes characterised by faster mean velocities. However, not all adjacent classes were statistically different. Future research should examine the influence of prosthetic technologies and the impact of different impairments on bicycling and tricycling performance.

scholarly journals The Influence of Mate Choice Motivation on Non-financial Altruism

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manpal Singh Bhogal ◽  
James Edward Bartlett ◽  
Daniel Farrelly
Keyword(s):  
Mate Choice ◽  
Attractive Potential ◽  
Altruistic Behavior ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Economic Games ◽  
Cohen’S D ◽  
Opposite Sex ◽  
Mating Signal ◽  
Cohen's D

Several studies have found that individuals are more altruistic towards potential mates than others, suggesting altruistic behavior may be a mating signal. Much of the literature focuses on financial altruism using economic games, however altruism can also comprise of non-financial acts, which this experiment examined in an attempt to replicate and refine these previous findings. A study was conducted with 199 participants, who viewed both high attractive and low attractive opposite-sex images, and were asked how likely they would be to altruistically share their research credits with the person in the image, whilst controlling for self-rated attractiveness. The findings suggest that both men and women were more altruistic towards pictures of high attractive than low attractive potential mating partners (Cohen’s d = 0.37). This study therefore partially replicates previous research exploring the role of mate choice effects when exploring non-financial altruism.

scholarly journals Characteristics of Pedaling Muscle Stiffness among Cyclists of Different Performance Levels

Medicina ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (6) ◽  
pp. 606
Author(s):  
Isaac López-Laval ◽  
Rafel Cirer-Sastre ◽  
Francisco Corbi ◽  
Sebastian Sitko
Keyword(s):  
Exercise Test ◽  
Vastus Lateralis ◽  
Performance Level ◽  
Muscle Stiffness ◽  
Incremental Exercise ◽  
Performance Levels ◽  
Incremental Exercise Test ◽  
Cohen’S D ◽  
Cohen's D ◽  
The Impact

Background and Objectives: The aim of the present study was to compare the impact of an incremental exercise test on muscle stiffness in the rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis (VL), biceps femoris (BF), and gastrocnemius (GL) among road cyclists of three performance levels. Materials and Methods: The study group consisted of 35 cyclists grouped according to their performance level; elite (n = 10; professional license), sub-elite (n = 12; amateur license), and recreational (n = 13; cyclosportive license). Passive muscle stiffness was assessed using myometry before and after an incremental exercise test. Results: There was a significant correlation between time and category in the vastus lateralis with stiffness increases in the sub-elite (p = 0.001, Cohen’s d = 0.88) and elite groups (p = 0.003, Cohen’s d = 0.72), but not in the recreational group (p = 0.085). Stiffness increased over time in the knee extensors (RF, p < 0.001; VL, p < 0.001), but no changes were observed in the knee flexors (GL, p = 0.63, BF, p = 0.052). There were no baseline differences among the categories in any muscle. Conclusions: Although the performance level affected VL stiffness after an incremental exercise test, no differences in passive stiffness were observed among the main muscles implicated in pedaling in a resting state. Future research should assess whether this marker could be used to differentiate cyclists of varying fitness levels and its potential applicability for the monitoring of training load.

scholarly journals THE ACCEPTANCE OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF MIGRANTS TO SLOVAKIA BASED ON GENDER

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miroslava Bozogáňová ◽  
◽  
Tatiana Pethö
Keyword(s):  
Slovak Republic ◽  
Close Relative ◽  
Control Group ◽  
General Description ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Cohen’S D ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Cohen's D ◽  
Group 1

"Schahbasi, Huber and Fieder (2020) found that men are generally more sceptical toward migration than women. The goal of this paper is to analyse the acceptance of different types of migrants to Slovakia based on gender. An experimental vignette methodology (EVM) with a simple experimental design was used - the reason for coming to Slovakia was manipulated. Respondents were randomly assigned to one of three different vignettes. The research sample consisted of 1001 respondents (49% men) aged 17 to 75 years (M = 44.81; SD = 14.92). Each vignette describes a different type of migrant according to the reasons for coming to Slovakia, while the word ""migrant"" was omitted to avoid prejudice. Control group (general description of people coming to Slovakia) - 334 respondents (51.2% men), group 1 (people coming for work / study) - 335 respondents (47.5% men); and group 2 (people arriving for a threat in their home country) - 332 respondents (48.2% men). The data were collected online (panel collection) in the Slovak Republic with the ambition to obtain a representative sample. Respondents were asked if they would accept a person coming to Slovakia from another country for ... a close relative acquired by marriage, a close personal friend, a neighbour living on the same street, co-worker / colleague, citizen of the SR and visitor of the SR, where 1 = strongly agree – 5 = strongly disagree. The comparison of respondents using t-test for independent samples showed that there were significant differences between men and women in control group - women had more acceptance for coming people as a close personal friend (Cohen's d = 0.251) and less for co-worker / colleague (Cohen's d = 0.224) than men. Women from group 1 had also more acceptance in terms of co-worker / colleague (Cohen's d = 0.331) and the visitor of the SR (Cohen's d = 0.276) than men. There were no differences in group 2. For the interpretation of the results, it is necessary to look at the negligible size of the differences between men and women. Respondents were in the “accepting” part of the scale (M = 2.31; SD = 0.82). The results suggest that there are almost none differences in the acceptance of migrants between men and women, regardless of vignette they evaluated in Slovakia. Based on our data is seems, that gender is not the main factor of acceptance rate of different types of migrants."

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