Awareness of stuttering behaviours is associated with stuttering anticipation

The coronavirus pandemic has caused disruptions to lifestyles of many individuals. Specifically, undergraduate students have faced challenges adhering to healthy lifestyle behaviors due to the closure of gyms, altered food options, and lack of a consistent daily schedule due to online classes. The personality trait of grit is related to perseverance, which may influence lifestyle behaviors in young adults during the coronavirus pandemic. PURPOSE: To examine the influence of grit on healthy lifestyle factors in undergraduate students during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Data was collected from 141 undergraduate students via electronic internet-based questionnaire in June 2020. The questionnaires included validated self-reported surveys regarding physical activity, sleep, dietary behaviors and grit. Bivariate correlation and hierarchical multiple linear regression were performed to examine relationships between grit, demographic and lifestyle factors. Statistical significance was set to p < 0.05. RESULTS: Bivariate correlations indicated higher levels of grit were associated with better sleep quality (r = 0.186, p < 0.05) and diet (r = 0.196, p < 0.05), but was not significantly associated with physical activity or sitting time. Demographic factors were not associated with grit as our regression model with only demographic variables was not found to be statistically significant (p > 0.05). However, when lifestyle factors were added to the regression model,15.8% of the variance was explained (∆R2 = 14.2%, p < 0.05), with sleep quality (β = 0.25, p < 0.05) and vigorous physical activity (β = 0.20, p < 0.05) being associated with grit. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight students with higher levels of grit also engage in vigorous exercise and have better sleeping habits. As these behaviors are known to impact overall health, colleges may benefit from screening students for grit to identify those who may be at risk of not adhering to a healthy lifestyle. Additionally, interventions may be needed to improve students’ levels of grit as the pandemic continues may be one strategy to assist students in maintaining healthy lifestyles during these challenging times.

Personal growth, symptoms, and uncertainty in community-residing adults with heart failure

Incarceration Rates of Persons With First-Admission Psychosis

Few studies have investigated factors influencing participation rates for minority children with a chronic disease in clinical trials. The Silent Cerebral Infarct Multi-Center Clinical (SIT) Trial provides an opportunity to study the impact of demographic and socio-economic factors on randomization in a clinical trial among Black children. Our primary objective was to characterize the factors associated with successful randomization of children with sickle cell disease (SCD) and silent cerebral infarct (SCI) in the SIT Trial after initial consent. Differences in socio-economic and demographic variables, family history and disease-related variables were determined between eligible participants who were successfully randomized and those who were not randomized following initial consent. Head of household educational level and family income were examined separately for US versus non-US sites. Of 1,176 children enrolled in the SIT Trial, 1,016 (86%) completed screening. Of 208 (20%) children with qualifying SCI on pre-randomization MRI, 196 (94%) were successfully randomized. There were no differences in socio-economic, demographic, or disease-related variables between children who were or were not randomized. Participants from non-US sites were more likely to be randomized (22% vs. 12%, P = 0.011); although, randomization by country was associated with neither head of household education nor family income. In the SIT Trial, acceptance of random allocation was not associated with socio-economic or demographic factors. Although these factors may represent barriers for some participants, they should not bias investigators caring for children with SCD in their approach to recruitment for clinical trial participation.

Polymorphisms in One-Carbon Metabolism Genes and Overall Survival in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL).

A sigmoid regression and artificial neural network models for day-ahead natural gas usage forecasting

Objective: Pediatric weight management programs are plagued by insufficient changes in standardized body mass index (zBMI), disproportionately impacting racial minorities. Treatment outcomes of a pediatric weight management program with a large and diverse baseline sample were evaluated. Demographic and socioeconomic predictors of change in zBMI after 1 year were examined separately to identify characteristics contributing to treatment outcomes. It was hypothesized that socioeconomic disparities would account for lower zBMI outcomes above and beyond demographic factors. Method: Data were collected from 1,784 youth at baseline ( n = 271 at 12 months; age M = 11.89 years, SD = 3.15). Information on zBMI, demographics (sex, race, age, mother’s body mass index [BMI]) and socioeconomic status (SES; health insurance, number parents in home) were collected at baseline and 12 months post intervention. Results: After 1 year, average change in zBMI was −0.12 ( SD = 0.21). Linear hierarchical regression analysis assessed if SES factors predicted change in zBMI after 12 months above and beyond demographic factors. Demographics were entered in Block 1, and SES factors in Block 2. The final model significantly accounted for 14.2% of variance in change in zBMI ( p &lt; .000). Examining blocks separately indicated SES variables did not significantly add to the model beyond demographic variables, contributing to less than 1.0% of the variance. Unique predictors included age, and mother’s BMI. Conclusions: Participation in the program was associated with decreases in zBMI for youth who completed the year of treatment and follow-ups. Factors related to age and family had the largest association with weight loss. SES factors were not related to change in zBMI beyond demographic factors. Implications for Impact Statement Examination of the differential impact of demographic and socioeconomic (SES) factors on 12-month weight loss outcomes of a diverse, and urban pediatric weight management program indicated SES was not associated with weight loss above and beyond demographic variables. Youth under the age of 8 had the best weight loss outcomes, whereas those with mothers who reported high BMI at baseline saw the least improvement. Findings highlighted the importance of creating flexible programs that tailor pediatric weight loss interventions to be age-appropriate and inclusive to all members of the family.

Land-cover change is the result of complex multi-scale interactions between socioeconomic, demographic, and environmental factors. Demographic change, in particular, is thought to be a major driver of forest change. Most studies have evaluated these interactions at the regional or the national level, but few studies have evaluated these dynamics across multiple spatial scales within a country. In this study, we evaluated the effect of demographic, environmental, and socioeconomic variables on land-cover change between 2001 and 2010 for all Mexican municipalities (n = 2,443) as well as by biome (n = 4). We used a land-cover classification based on 250-m MODIS data to examine the change in cover classes (i.e., woody, mixed woody, and agriculture/herbaceous vegetation). We evaluated the trends of land-cover change and identified the major factors correlated with woody vegetation change in Mexico. At the national scale, the variation in woody vegetation was best explained by environmental variables, particularly precipitation; municipalities where woody cover increased tended to be in areas with low average annual precipitation (i.e., desert and dry forest biomes). Demographic variables did not contribute much to the model at the national scale. Elevation, temperature, and population density explained the change in woody cover when municipalities were grouped by biome (i.e., moist forest, dry forest, coniferous forest, and deserts). Land-cover change at the biome level showed two main trends: (1) the tropical moist biome lost woody vegetation to agriculture and herbaceous vegetation, and (2) the desert biome increased in woody vegetation within more open-canopy shrublands.

Background: In light of the growing interest to complementary approaches in healthcare and the widespread use of folk medicine in Eastern European countries, it is important to understand how future physicians perceive these practices. This study assesses the extent to which medical students are prepared for clinical dialogue with patients who use non-conventional methods and examines how demographic (such as sex, age and places of residence) and educational factors influence their views. Aim of the study: The aim of this study was to identify attitudes toward folk medicine among Polish medical students and to analyze the influence of demographic and educational variables—specifically gender, year of study, and place of residence on these attitudes. Materials and methods: The study was cross-sectional and descriptive in nature. It used an anonymous questionnaire developed by the authors, consisting of 15 questions grouped into four sections: demographic characteristics, knowledge and perception of folk medicine, sources of information, and willingness to use folk methods in future practice. Statistical analysis was conducted using the chi-squared test (χ²), with a significance level of p &lt; 0.05. The study included 168 medical students from Jagiellonian University Medical College in Krakow, Poland enrolled in years 1 through 6. 58,33% of participants were female, 41,67 – were male. Inclusion criteria: active enrollment in a medical program, age 18 or older, informed consent to participate. Students from non-medical programs were excluded. Convenience sampling was used. The survey was conducted anonymously online. Results: The statistical analysis revealed a significant relationship between knowledge of selected folk medicine methods and both the gender and year of study of the respondents. At the same time, the impact of the participants' place of residence was found to be statistically insignificant. The use of folk healers' services among medical students did not show a statistical correlation with demographic variables. Similarly, the analysis indicated no significant relationship between the use of alternative medicine in cases of ineffective conventional therapy and the demographic factors examined. The study confirmed that most future medical professionals believe that folk healers' work conflicts with that of physicians, and this opinion strengthened as students progressed through their studies. Conclusion: The attitudes of medical students toward folk medicine are largely independent of the analyzed demographic factors. However, the primary factor shaping these attitudes is the level of medical education, which results in increasing skepticism toward traditional treatment methods as students advance in their studies.

BackgroundThe use of digital health technology in diabetes self-care is increasing, making eHealth literacy an important factor to consider among people with type 1 diabetes. There are very few studies investigating eHealth literacy among adults with type 1 diabetes, highlighting the need to explore this area further.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to explore associations between eHealth literacy and demographic factors, disease-specific factors, and well-being among adults with type 1 diabetes.MethodsThe study used data from a larger cross-sectional survey conducted among adults with type 1 diabetes in Sweden (N=301). Participants were recruited using a convenience sampling method primarily through advertisements on social media. Data were collected between September and November 2022 primarily through a web-based survey, although participants could opt to answer a paper-based survey. Screening questions at the beginning of the survey determined eligibility to participate. In this study, eHealth literacy was assessed using the Swedish version of the eHealth Literacy Scale (Sw-eHEALS). The predictor variables, well-being was assessed using the World Health Organization-5 Well-Being Index and psychosocial self-efficacy using the Swedish version of the Diabetes Empowerment Scale. The survey also included research group–developed questions on demographic and disease-specific variables as well as digital health technology use. Data were analyzed using multiple linear regression presented as nested models. A sample size of 270 participants was required in order to detect an association between the dependent and predictor variables using a regression model based on an F test. The final sample size included in the nested regression model was 285.ResultsThe mean Sw-eHEALS score was 33.42 (SD 5.32; range 8‐40). The model involving both demographic and disease-specific variables explained 31.5% of the total variation in eHealth literacy and was deemed the best-fitting model. Younger age (P=.01; B=–0.07, SE=0.03;95% CI –0.12 to –0.02), lower self-reported glycated hemoglobin levels (P=.04; B=–0.06, SE=0.03; 95% CI –0.12 to 0.00), and higher psychosocial self-efficacy (P<.001; B=3.72, SE=0.53; 95% CI 2.68-4.75) were found associated with higher Sw-eHEALS scores when adjusted for demographic and disease-specific variables in this model. Well-being was not associated with eHealth literacy in this study.ConclusionsThe demographic and disease-specific factors explained the variation in eHealth literacy in this sample. Further studies in this area using newer eHealth literacy tools are important to validate our findings. The study highlights the importance of development and testing of interventions to improve eHealth literacy in this population for better glucose control. These eHealth literacy interventions should be tailored to meet the needs of people in varying age groups and with differing levels of psychosocial self-efficacy.

This study characterized the profile of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)-derived muscle deoxygenation (Δ[HHb]) and the tissue oxygenation index (TOI) as a function of absolute (PO(ABS)) and normalized power output (%PO) or oxygen consumption (%VO(2)) during incremental cycling exercise. Eight men (24 ± 5 year) each performed two fatigue-limited ramp incremental cycling tests (20 W min(-1)), during which pulmonary VO(2), Δ[HHb] and TOI were measured continuously. Responses from the two tests were averaged and the TOI (%) and normalized Δ[HHb] (%Δ[HHb]) were plotted against %VO(2), %PO and PO(ABS). The overall responses were modelled using a sigmoid regression (y = f ( 0 ) + A/(1 + e(-(-c+dx)))) and piecewise 'double-linear' function of the predominant adjustment of %Δ[HHb] or TOI observed throughout the middle portion of exercise and the 'plateau' that followed. In ~85% of cases, the corrected Akaike Information Criterion (AIC(C)) was smaller (suggesting one model favoured) for the 'double-linear' compared with the sigmoid regression for both %Δ[HHb] and TOI. Furthermore, the f ( 0 ) and A estimates from the sigmoid regressions of %Δ[HHb] yielded unrealistically large projected peak (f ( 0 ) + A) values (%VO(2p) 114.3 ± 17.5; %PO 113.3 ± 9.5; PO(ABS) 113.5 ± 9.8), suggesting that the sigmoid model does not accurately describe the underlying physiological responses in all subjects and thus may not be appropriate for comparative purposes. Alternatively, the present study proposes that the profile of %Δ[HHb] and TOI during ramp incremental exercise may be more accurately described as consisting of three distinct phases in which there is little adjustment early in the ramp, the predominant increase in %Δ[HHb] (decrease in TOI) is approximately linear and an approximately linear 'plateau' follows.

Research indicates a deleterious effect of sleep disturbances on pain and illness-related functioning across pediatric populations. Sleep problems in youth with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are understudied, despite studies in adult FGIDs indicating sleep disruptions increase pain and symptom severity. This study sought to better characterize sleep problems in school-age children with FGIDs and to assess relationships with demographic characteristics and gastrointestinal symptoms. Sixty-seven children with FGIDs (pediatric Rome IV criteria) and 59 parents completed questionnaires assessing sleep problems, and children completed a 2-week pain/stooling diary. Sleep problems in this sample were compared with published normative samples, and children above and below the clinical cutoff were compared on demographics and FGID symptoms. Of the sample, 61% were above the clinical cutoff for sleep disturbances, with significantly greater bedtime resistance, sleep onset delay, sleep duration, and daytime sleepiness than the comparison group. Children above the clinical cutoff reported greater mean abdominal pain severity and pain interference. Relative to White participants, Black/African-American participants were more likely to be above the clinical cutoff and indicated more frequent night wakening and symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing, but lower maximum and overall mean abdominal pain severity. Sleep problems in children with FGIDs are common and related to greater day-to-day abdominal pain severity and pain interference. Results suggest sleep-pain relationships may differ across racial/ethnic groups. Assessing sleep in children with FGIDs is important, and further research is needed to assess underlying mechanisms and evaluate sleep as a potential treatment target in this population.

Understanding of consumer buying behavior is difficult task as it is influenced by many factors such as cultural, social, personal and psychological. Understanding the consumer’s lifestyle is necessary for the marketers. Consumer needs and preferences are changing due to the change in the factors like demographics and lifestyles. These changes can become great business opportunities for alert marketers and threats for those who fail to adapt. Demographic variables help marketers locate their target market and psychographic variables provide the marketer with more insight about the segment. Psychographics is in common lifestyle analysis or AIO (activities, interests and opinions) research.&#x0D; The major objective is to empirically examine the relationship and impacts of demographic and psychographic variables with brand choice. A conceptual model has been tested with different determinants of demographic and psychographic variables to examine relationship with brand choice. In this study, Activities, Interests and Opinions (AIO) is used to identify lifestyle dimensions and demographic variables (age, education level, profession and Gender) as independent variables and brand choice (Innovation, quality, advertising, and price and reference group) as dependent variable. The results indicated that the lifestyle factors and demographic factors have impact on brand choice variables. The study shows that there was a significant association between the lifestyle of the consumers and the brands of products used by them. From the study it was concluded that consumers often choose products, services and activities over other because they are associated with a certain lifestyle.

The health crisis caused by COVID-19 is considered the most severe pandemic in the last 100 years. Because it is a serious public health problem, there are many studies aimed at understanding the evolution of cases and possible associations of meteorological and demographic factors with the contamination by the virus. Given this scenario, the objective of this study is to portray, based on literature, the associations between meteorological and demographic variables with COVID-19 contamination and spread, taking into account the global panorama. Regarding demographic variables, it was found that the age group and sex of the population are associated with the spread of COVID-19. Regarding meteorological variables, scientific studies point to an association between temperature, relative humidity and air quality in advancing the spread of the COVID-19 virus. It is noteworthy that among the studies evaluated, divergences were observed in the type and level of association between demographic and meteorological variables with the spread of viruses. These results demonstrate the particularity for each region and there is a need for more specific and in-depth studies in each region.

STUDY QUESTIONTo what extent do financial, demographic and cultural determinants explain the vast cross-national differences in ART treatments in Europe?SUMMARY ANSWERThe normative cultural acceptance of ART is a major driver of ART treatments in Europe, above and beyond differences in country wealth, demographic aspects and religious composition.WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADYThere are vast differences in the number of ART treatments across European countries, which are to some extent related to country affluence, regulation, and insurance coverage and costs. The role and impact of cultural and normative factors has not been explored in a larger cross-national comparison.STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATIONA descriptive and comparative cross-national analysis of ART treatment prevalence in over 30 European countries in 2010, with the outcome defined as the total number of ART cycles per million women of reproductive age (15–44 years). Data is drawn from multiple sources (ICMART, US Census Bureau Library, World Bank, Barro–Lee Educational Attainment Dataset, IFFS Surveillance reports, European Values Study and World Religion Database).PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODSOur sample includes data from 35 European countries, where we describe the associations between demographic and cultural factors and the prevalence of ART treatments. Bivariate correlation and ordinary least squares multiple regression analysis serves to establish the relationships between predictor variables and the number of ART treatments per million women aged 15–44 years in a country.MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCEA one-percent increase in national GDP is associated with 382 (95% CI: 177–587) additional ART procedures per million women of reproductive age, yet this effect is reduced to 99 (−92 to 290) treatments once cultural values and demographic factors are accounted for. In our fully adjusted model, normative cultural values measuring the acceptability of ART are the strongest predictor of ART usage, with a one-point increase of average approval in a country associated with 276 (167–385) additional ART treatments per million women of reproductive age.LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTIONFindings are based on a cross-sectional, cross-national analysis, making formal tests of causality impossible and prohibiting inferences to the individual level.WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGSResults indicate that reproductive health policy should openly acknowledge the importance of cultural norms in informally shaping and regulating the wider availability of ART treatment.STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)Funding for this project was provided by the European Union's Seventh Framework Program (FP7 2007–2013) (No. 320116 Families and Societies), European Research Council for the SOCIOGENOME Consolidator Grant (ERC-2013-CoG-615603) and the Wellcome Trust Institutional Strategic Support Fund (all to M.C.M.). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERN/A.