General Linear Mixed-effects Models Research Articles

Recursive self-feedback improves spontaneous speech in chronic aphasia within real-world settings

ABSTRACT Background Spontaneous speech generation, often impaired in chronic nonfluent aphasia, is essential for natural communication. Treatments aiming to optimize spontaneous speech in real-world settings are critical for improving the quality of life for persons with nonfluent aphasia (PWNA). Traditional treatments frequently rely on models and feedback from external agents, which may not be sustainable in the long-term. Preliminary evidence suggests that PWNA can use self-feedback alone, through recursive self-feedback, to improve their production of scripted sentences. This study developed and examined the impact of spontaneous speech with recursive self-feedback on enabling PWNA to self-improve their spontaneous speech in real-world settings. Method Using a cross-over design, 3 participants received 2 treatments at their homes: spontaneous speech with recursive self-feedback and spontaneous speech with speech model. Recursive self-feedback treatment involved iterative self-monitoring and minimization/correction of errors during spontaneous speech response to narrative prompts. The speech model treatment provided corrective model responses to prompts from an external source which served as reference frames to help improve the participants’ responses. Participants utilized a mobile app to practice the treatments intensively at home for 2 hours each day over a period of 12 to 14 days, spanning 2 to 3 weeks. Direct and generalized treatment effects on microlinguistic measures of spontaneous speech were determined using general linear mixed effects model and standardized mean difference. Results Both treatments led to significant improvements in microlinguistic measures of spontaneous speech, with recursive self-feedback treatment showing broader post-treatment effects on treated prompts and generalization effects. to untreated prompts. Conclusion Recursive self-feedback is a promising procedure for enhancing spontaneous speech in PWNA, providing a simple and flexible self-directed treatment option. This procedure relies primarily on speech-auditory stimulations and self-feedback loops to improve spontaneous speech, suggesting its potential applicability across various spoken language cultures. To validate these findings and assess their broader relevance, further research is recommended.

Autonomous data sampling for high-resolution spatiotemporal fish biomass estimates

Many key ecological dynamics such as biomass distributions are only detectable on a fine spatiotemporal scale. Autonomous data collection with Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USV) creates new possibilities for cost efficient and high-resolution aquatic data sampling. However, the spatial coverage and sampling resolution remain uncertain due to the novelty of the technology. Further, there is no established method for analysing such fine-scale autocorrelated data without aggregation, potentially compromising data resolution. We here used a USV with an echosounder, a conductivity-temperature sensor and a flourometer to collect data from April–July 2019–2023 in a 60x80km area in the central Baltic Sea. The USV covered a total distance of 8000 nmi, over 42–81 days per year, with an average speed of 0.5 m/s. We combined the hydroacoustic data with publicly available oceanographic data from Copernicus Marine Service Information (CMSI) to describe seasonal distribution dynamics of a small pelagic fish community. Key oceanographic variables collected by the USV were correlated with CMSI estimates at daily/monthly resolution, respectively, to test for suitability to scale (Temperature 0.99/0.97; Salinity −0.77/−0.26; Chlorophyll-a 0.12/0.28). We investigated two approaches of Species Distribution Models (SDMs): generalized additive models (GAM) versus spatiotemporal generalized linear mixed effect models (GLMM). The GLMMs explained the observed data better than the GAMs (R2 0.31 and 0.20, respectively). The addition of environmental variables increased the explanatory capability of GAM and GLMM by 25 % and ∼ 3 %, respectively. Due to the high data resolution, we found significant amounts of positive autocorrelation (R: 0.05–0.30) across more than 50 sequential observations (>6 hours). However, we found that diel patterns in fish detection strongly affected the abundance estimates due to vertically migrating species hiding in the ‘acoustic dead zone’ near the seabed. Such dynamics could only be estimated and corrected for in predictions on the high-resolution data, complicating the trade-off between autocorrelation and high-resolution for SDMs. We compared estimates and effect sizes/directions in identical SDMs on 2x2km/month aggregated (i.e non-autocorrelated) observations and non-aggregated (i.e. autocorrelated) observations, and found relatively little difference in spatiotemporal estimates (r = 0.80). For the first time, we predicted the distribution of a small pelagic fish community at a high spatial resolution, in an area essential to breeding top predators, opening up for new applications in ecological studies locally and globally.

Universal Design Element Utilization and Mathematics Performance: Implications for Diverse Student Populations

This empirical research study investigates the relationship between the utilization of Universal Design (UD) elements and math performance among eighth graders. We analyzed 2017 National Assessment of Educational Progress process data using Poisson Generalized Linear Mixed-Effects Models to examine how the frequency of UD element usage varies across diverse student demographics. Our findings reveal a great divide: lower achievers, students with disabilities, those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, English Language Learners, and African American students predominantly use text-to-speech, whereas high achievers more frequently employ digital pencils (which allow for manual writing or drawing on the screen) and elimination capacity (which enables students to dismiss incorrect multiple-choice answers). Linear Mixed-Effects Models show that higher levels of utilization of digital pencils and elimination capacity are correlated with improved math performance across various student subgroups. However, frequent changes in color themes, intended to enhance visual differentiation, were associated with lower performance, suggesting that these might serve as distractions rather than aids for some students. We discuss the implications of the findings in terms of the design of UD elements, as well as for equity, accessibility, and math education more broadly.

Microclimate and the spatio-temporal dynamics of natural production of two ectomycorrhizal fungi from the Guineo-Sudanian ecozone in Benin

The study aims to determine the relation between the micro-climate and the natural production of Amanita subviscosa, and Lactifluus gymnocarpoides, in the Guinea-Sudanian ecozone. Nine permanent plots of 50 ×50 m were installed in three different vegetations of the “Ouémé Supérieur” forest reserve in central Benin. The mycological surveys were carried out during three (3) mycological seasons, each from June to October at a frequency of two visits per week and per plot. The number of fruiting bodies and the fresh biomass were recorded. Microclimatic parameters (soil water content, air temperature, soil temperature, relative humidity and precipitation) were measured using a rain gauge and a HOBO micro station data logger installed at the middle of each plot. We tested several Generalized Linear Mixed Effects Models (GLMM) using the lme4 package to obtain the effect of recorded microclimate factor on the number of fruit bodies of each species and the Linear Mixed Effects Model (LMM) using the package nlme for fresh biomass. The study showed that soil water content is the main driver of fungal fruiting phenology and increased biomass production. The fruiting of A. subviscosa is positively affected by air temperature and soil water content (p = 0.0004) but negatively affected by relative air humidity. The fructification of L. gymnocarpoides is only positively affected by the air temperature and negatively affected by relative air humidity and soil water content. Soil water content significantly affects the fresh biomass of A. subviscosa (p≈0) while the fresh biomass of L. gymnocarpoides is significantly affected by soil water content and relative air humidity (p≈0). All species for their natural production have specific response at microclimate parameters variation.

Evidence at the landscape level links high predator/pest ratios to biocontrol services against aphids

Compared with external environment interferences, the interaction between arthropod natural enemies and pests is the key inherent driver determining the strength of biocontrol services. However, the extent to which this effect can suppress pests is still inconclusive. We combined two complementary experiments to determine how variation in an assemblage of generalist arthropod predators modified the level of biocontrol services for suppression of a key aphid pest in cotton fields. Using generalized linear mixed effect models (GLMM) and path analysis, we clarified the causal relationship between predator/aphid ratios (PAR) and (1) the resulting biocontrol services index (BSI) and (2) the aphid population growth index (APGI) as seen in field predator exclusion trials. We also measured the effect of PAR on APGI in more commercial cotton fields. Our results, at landscape level, indicate that when PAR values increased one unit, BSI values improved 34.1 %, and reduced aphid population growth 28.3 % (the standardized effect coefficient in path analysis) during two weeks in field cage-exclusion trials. The effect of high predator/aphid ratios on reducing the aphid population growth rates was also significant in more commercial cotton fields, which were sampled over a longer time interval (4 weeks). Our study confirmed that there was a causal relationship between the natural enemy/pest ratio and the level of biological pest control services for predators and aphid population growth in crop fields. PAR values (predator/aphid ratios) can, therefore, be used to predict the level of biocontrol services in this context instead of relying on more labor-intensive cage exclusion studies.

Lifestyle intervention improves cognition and quality of life in persons with early Multiple Sclerosis

BackgroundLifestyle changes have been demonstrated to impact pathophysiology in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Various diet and exercise protocols have been reported to improve symptoms and function in persons with MS. Evidence is accumulating that interventions as early as possible in the disease course are warranted. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of a remotely delivered lifestyle program focusing on specific diet and exercise recommendations in persons with early MS. MethodsMS patients, with disease diagnosis no more than 2 years prior, were recruited from the patient population of the MS clinic of the Pacific Neuroscience Institute. Participants followed recommendations for diet and exercise delivered via remote heath coaching. Each participant received 6 sessions with a health coach over a 12-week period. They were given parameters of a Mediterranean-type diet to follow, and specific and individualized recommendations about duration, intensity and type of exercise and physical activity. Outcome measures included Quality of Life (QOL), cognition (Symbol Digit Modalities Test, SDMT), fatigue (Multiple Sclerosis Fatigue Impact Scale, MFIS), fitness (estimated with Metabolic equivalents, METS) and other objective and patient reported outcomes (PRO). Changes in outcomes were analyzed using mixed effects general linear models and standardized pre-post differences.(Cohen's d) ResultsFifteen persons with early (≤ 2 years) MS enrolled in the study, 14 of whom completed the study. We observed significant improvements in QOL (p = 0.02), SDMT (p = 0.006), fatigue(p = 0.005), fitness (p = 0.04), and other PRO and objective metrics at the end of the protocol compared to baseline. Adherence and patient satisfaction measures were high. ConclusionsSpecific and individualized lifestyle recommendations can be effectively delivered remotely, and may produce improvement in symptoms and function in persons with early MS. Larger controlled trials of these interventions are warranted.

Urban scavenging: vertebrates display greater sensitivity to land-cover and garden vegetation cover than invertebrates

Scavenging removes carrion or littered food waste from the environment, promoting nutrient cycling, and reducing waste management costs. These ecosystem services are important in urban environments, where high human population densities result in increased littered food waste. It is unclear how the magnitude of scavenging across urban-rural gradients is influenced by agent, land-cover type, and patch size. We investigated scavenging provision by vertebrates and invertebrates across a gradient of urbanisation, based on impervious surface cover, in woodlands and gardens in Liverpool, UK. The percentage dry weight loss of bait after 48 h, deployed within vertebrate exclusion cages or exposed to vertebrates and invertebrates, was used to quantify scavenging provision. General linear mixed effects models were used to assess the relative contributions of vertebrates and invertebrates across an urban-rural gradient, variation in scavenging between woodlands and gardens, and the effects of semi-natural vegetation cover on scavenging in gardens. We consider patch size as a preliminary assessment of how fragmentation influences scavenging. Vertebrates contributed substantially more to scavenging than invertebrates across the urbanisation gradient. Vertebrate scavenging was greater in woodlands than gardens, while invertebrate scavenging remained consistent. Scavenging increased with patch size in gardens, but not woodlands. Vertebrate scavenging increased with patch size and garden semi-natural vegetation cover. Urban woodlands and gardens make important contributions to scavenging-mediated ecosystem services. There is a need to increase the cover of semi-natural vegetation in gardens to increase their contributions, and protect and expand woodlands, especially in areas with a high demand for scavenging-mediated ecosystem services.

Global epidemiology of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus in human and animals: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Since the initial identification of the Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS) in ticks in rural areas of China in 2009, the virus has been increasingly isolated from a diverse array of hosts globally, exhibiting a rising trend in incidence. This study aims to conduct a systematic analysis of the temporal and spatial distribution of SFTS cases, alongside an examination of the infection rates across various hosts, with the objective of addressing public concerns regarding the spread and impact of the disease. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, an exhaustive search was conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Medline, CNKI, WanFang, and CQVIP. The literature search was confined to publications released between January 1, 2009, and May 29, 2023. The study focused on collating data pertaining to animal infections under natural conditions and human infection cases reported. Additionally, species names were unified using the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database. The notification rate, notification death rate, case fatality rate, and infection rates (or MIR) were assessed for each study with available data. The proportions were pooled using a generalized linear mixed-effects model (GLMM). Meta-regressions were conducted for subgroup analysis. This research has been duly registered with PROSPERO, bearing the registration number CRD42023431010. We identified 5492 studies from database searches and assessed 238 full-text studies for eligibility, of which 234 studies were included in the meta-analysis. For human infection data, the overall pooled notification rate was 18.93 (95% CI 17.02-21.05) per ten million people, the overall pooled notification deaths rate was 3.49 (95% CI 2.97-4.10) per ten million people, and the overall pooled case fatality rate was 7.80% (95% CI 7.01%-8.69%). There was an increasing trend in notification rate and deaths rate, while the case fatality rate showed a significant decrease globally. Regarding animal infection data, among 94 species tested, 48 species were found to carry positive nucleic acid or antibodies. Out of these, 14 species were classified under Arthropoda, while 34 species fell under Chordata, comprising 27 Mammalia and 7 Aves. This systematic review and meta-analysis present the latest global report on SFTS. In terms of human infections, notification rates and notification deaths rates are on the rise, while the case fatality rate has significantly decreased. More SFTSV animal hosts have been discovered than before, particularly among birds, indicating a potentially broader transmission range for SFTSV. These findings provide crucial insights for the prevention and control of SFTS on a global scale. None.

Intelligibility of Natively and Nonnatively Produced English Speech Presented in Noise to a Large Cohort of United States Service Members.

A corpus of English matrix sentences produced by 60 native and nonnative speakers of English was developed as part of a multinational coalition task group. This corpus was tested on a large cohort of U.S. Service members in order to examine the effects of talker nativeness, listener nativeness, masker type, and hearing sensitivity on speech recognition performance in this population. A total of 1,939 U.S. Service members (ages 18-68 years) completed this closed-set listening task, including 430 women and 110 nonnative English speakers. Stimuli were produced by native and nonnative speakers of English and were presented in speech-shaped noise and multitalker babble. Keyword recognition accuracy and response times were analyzed. General(ized) linear mixed-effects regression models found that, on the whole, speech recognition performance was lower for listeners who identified as nonnative speakers of English and when listening to speech produced by nonnative speakers of English. Talker and listener effects were more pronounced when listening in a babble masker than in a speech-shaped noise masker. Response times varied as a function of recognition score, with longest response times found for intermediate levels of performance. This study found additive effects of talker and listener nonnativeness when listening to speech in background noise. These effects were present in both accuracy and response time measures. No multiplicative effects of talker and listener language background were found. There was little evidence of a negative interaction between talker nonnativeness and hearing impairment, suggesting that these factors may have redundant effects on speech recognition. https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.26060191.

EPEN-30. PROTON THERAPY FOR PEDIATRIC INTRACRANIAL EPENDYMOMA: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW, META-ANALYSIS AND META-REGRESSION

Abstract BACKGROUND Pediatric intracranial ependymoma (IE) represents a challenging subset of tumors necessitating tailored therapeutic strategies. Conventional treatments, including surgery and conventional radiation therapy, have shown limitations in achieving optimal outcomes, particularly in preserving neurocognitive function and mitigating long-term sequelae. Proton therapy (PT) has emerged with its ability to offer precise tumor targeting with reduced irradiation of healthy surrounding tissues. METHODS A systematic search was conducted using the electronic databases PubMed, CENTRAL, and EMBASE from inception through February 2024 following the PRISMA statement. Statistical analysis was conducted using R (R Foundation for Statistical Computing; Vienna, Austria) with the packages ‘meta’ and ‘metafor’. The random effects model of proportions was estimated using the generalized linear mixed-effects model (GLMM) method. RESULTS A total of 7 studies were included comprising 943 patients, with a mean age of 4 years, 543 boys (57.58%) and a mean dose of 56.94 Gy. The local control (LC) rate at 3 years was 83% (95% CI = 0.80 to 0.86, p=0.65) and a 5-year rate was 81% (95% CI = 0.72 to 0.89, p=0.35). Progression-free survival (PFS) was 75% at 3 years (95% CI = 0.68 to 0.82, p=0.17) and 71% at 5 years (95% CI = 0.56 to 0.87, p=0.07). Overall survival (OS) rates were notably high, with 93% at 3 years (95% CI = 0.89 to 0.97, p=0.11) and 85% at 5 years (95% CI = 0.83 to 0.87, p=0.96). Meta-regression analysis revealed that total dose significantly influenced 3-year OS (p=0.04), indicating a dose-dependent effect on survival rates. CONCLUSIONS This meta-analysis supports the effectiveness of PT through the outcomes LC, PFS and OS in pediatric IE. The significant correlation between total dose and 3-year OS underscores the importance of dose optimization in treatment planning. These findings highlight the importance of PT in pediatric neuro-oncology management, offering evidence-based guidance for enhancing therapeutic strategies and patient outcomes.

Evaluation of walking activity and gait to identify physical and mental fatigue in neurodegenerative and immune disorders: preliminary insights from the IDEA-FAST feasibility study

BackgroundMany individuals with neurodegenerative (NDD) and immune-mediated inflammatory disorders (IMID) experience debilitating fatigue. Currently, assessments of fatigue rely on patient reported outcomes (PROs), which are subjective and prone to recall biases. Wearable devices, however, provide objective and reliable estimates of gait, an essential component of health, and may present objective evidence of fatigue. This study explored the relationships between gait characteristics derived from an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and patient-reported fatigue in the IDEA-FAST feasibility study.MethodsParticipants with IMIDs and NDDs (Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), primary Sjogren’s syndrome (PSS), and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)) wore a lower-back IMU continuously for up to 10 days at home. Concurrently, participants completed PROs (physical fatigue (PF) and mental fatigue (MF)) up to four times a day. Macro (volume, variability, pattern, and acceleration vector magnitude) and micro (pace, rhythm, variability, asymmetry, and postural control) gait characteristics were extracted from the accelerometer data. The associations of these measures with the PROs were evaluated using a generalised linear mixed-effects model (GLMM) and binary classification with machine learning.ResultsData were recorded from 72 participants: PD = 13, HD = 9, RA = 12, SLE = 9, PSS = 14, IBD = 15. For the GLMM, the variability of the non-walking bouts length (in seconds) with PF returned the highest conditional R2, 0.165, and with MF the highest marginal R2, 0.0018. For the machine learning classifiers, the highest accuracy of the current analysis was returned by the micro gait characteristics with an intrasubject cross validation method and MF as 56.90% (precision = 43.9%, recall = 51.4%). Overall, the acceleration vector magnitude, bout length variation, postural control, and gait rhythm were the most interesting characteristics for future analysis.ConclusionsCounterintuitively, the outcomes indicate that there is a weak relationship between typical gait measures and abnormal fatigue. However, factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted gait behaviours. Therefore, further investigations with a larger cohort are required to fully understand the relationship between gait and abnormal fatigue.

Beyond the hippocampus: Amygdala and memory functioning in older adults

BackgroundMedial temporal lobe atrophy has been linked to decline in neuropsychological measures of explicit memory function. While the hippocampus has long been identified as a critical structure in learning and memory processes, less is known about contributions of the amygdala to these functions. We sought to investigate the relationship between amygdala volume and memory functioning in a clinical sample of older adults with and without cognitive impairment. MethodsA serial clinical sample of older adults that underwent neuropsychological assessment at an outpatient neurology clinic was selected for retrospective chart review. Patients were included in the study if they completed a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment within six months of a structural magnetic resonance imaging scan. Regional brain volumes were quantified using Neuroreader® software. Associations between bilateral hippocampal and amygdala volumes and memory scores, derived from immediate and delayed recall conditions of a verbal story learning task and a visual design reconstruction task, were examined using mixed-effects general linear models, controlling for total intracranial volume, scanner model, age, sex and education. Partial correlation coefficients, adjusted for these covariates, were calculated to estimate the strength of the association between volumes and memory scores. ResultsA total of 68 (39 F, 29 M) participants were included in the analyses, with a mean (SD) adjusted age of 80.1 (6.0) and educational level of 15.9 (2.5) years. Controlling for age, sex, education, and total intracranial volume, greater amygdala volumes were associated with better verbal and visual memory performance, with effect sizes comparable to hippocampal volume. No significant lateralized effects were observed. Partial correlation coefficients ranged from 0.47 to 0.33 (p<.001). ConclusionThese findings contribute to a growing body of knowledge identifying the amygdala as a target for further research in memory functioning. This highlights the importance of considering the broader functioning of the limbic system in which multiple subcortical structures contribute to memory processes and decline in older adults.

Evaluating scholastic achievement in pediatric brain tumor survivors compared to healthy controls.

10065 Background: Radiotherapy (RT) causes cognitive deficits in pediatric brain tumor survivors (PBTS). This has traditionally been measured using exams such as serial IQ tests administered after diagnosis. Scholastic data provides pre-diagnostic measurements and is practical for patients and families. In our state, testing in reading and mathematics is mandated annually for grades 3-11. We sought to evaluate scholastic achievement in PBTS pre- and post-RT treatment. Methods: With IRB approval, we retrospectively analyzed scholastic achievement in children (&lt;21) with primary brain tumors treated with RT at our institution. Eligible children all resided within the state of the institution and were treated 2007-2020. The state’s Department of Education (DOE) provided test scores, school grades, and accommodations, which were matched to institutional clinical data. The other scholastic outcome of interest was Achievement Level (range 1-5 where 5 reflects highest achievement) from state-mandated standardized assessments in Mathematics and Reading, tested annually in grades 3-11. The DOE also provided scholastic data on healthy children matched 3:1 to treated patients by year, district, age, and whether the child was eligible for free or reduced lunch. A general linear mixed-effects model was performed with the above dependent variables and independent variables grade, time (a binary value being pre- or post-time of RT), and treatment (a child being treated or healthy). The interaction term of time*treatment was the outcome of interest, with α=0.1 for this pilot. Odds ratios (ORs) are reported. Results: A total of 200 students were available for analysis: 50 recruited patients and 150 matched controls identified by the DOE with median age 11.6 years at treatment and 7 years median follow-up. Fifty-two percent were eligible for free or reduced lunch. Fifty-six percent received craniospinal irradiation. Thirty-seven (60%) children had post-treatment scholastic data with 179 annual observations available. Of those, there were 10 (6%) physical education waivers, 32 (18%) testing accommodations, and 6 (3%) academic retentions. Compared to matched controls, treated patients were significantly more likely to receive accommodations (OR=31; p=0.001) and significantly less likely to receive a standard grade promotion (OR=0.57; p=0.005) or passing Mathematics scores (OR=0.47; p=0.05). Conclusions: We present the first reporting of scholastic data for United States PBTS. We demonstrate a novel method using existing state mandated school performance testing to evaluate academic performance in PBTS receiving RT. Compared to matched healthy children, we noted significantly increased needs and worse scholastic performance for PBTS. Evaluating scholastic success is an unmet need for PBTS, and we demonstrate the feasibility of using school performance as a novel patient-centered metric.

Mental workload evaluation using weighted phase lag index and coherence features extracted from EEG data

Electroencephalogram (EEG) represents an effective, non-invasive technology to study mental workload. However, volume conduction, a common EEG artifact, influences functional connectivity analysis of EEG data. EEG coherence has been used traditionally to investigate functional connectivity between brain areas associated with mental workload, while weighted Phase Lag Index (wPLI) is a measure that improves on coherence by reducing susceptibility to volume conduction, a common EEG artifact. The goal of this study was to compare two methods of functional connectivity analysis, wPLI and coherence, in the context of mental workload evaluation. The study involved model development for mental workload domains and comparing their performance using coherence-based features, wPLI-based features, and a combination of both. Generalized linear mixed-effects model (GLMM) with the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) feature selection method was used for model development. Results indicated that the model developed using a combination of both feature types demonstrated improved predictive performance across all mental workload domains, compared to models that used each feature type individually. The R2 values were 0.82 for perceived task complexity, 0.71 for distraction, 0.91 for mental demand, 0.85 for physical demand, 0.74 for situational stress, and 0.74 for temporal demand. Furthermore, task complexity and functional connectivity patterns in different brain areas were identified as significant contributors to perceived mental workload (p-value<0.05). Findings showed the potential of using EEG data for mental workload evaluation which suggests that combination of coherence and wPLI can improve the accuracy of mental workload domains prediction. Future research should aim to validate these results on larger, diverse datasets to confirm their generalizability and refine the predictive models.

Calling to the collective: contact calling rates within groups of disc-winged bats do not vary by kinship or association.

Many group-living animals coordinate social behaviours using contact calls, which can be produced for all group members or targeted at specific individuals. In the disc-winged bat, Thyroptera tricolor, group members use 'inquiry' and 'response' calls to coordinate daily movements into new roosts (furled leaves). Rates of both calls show consistent among-individual variation, but causes of within-individual variation remain unknown. Here, we tested whether disc-winged bats produce more contact calls towards group members with higher kinship or association. In 446 experimental trials, we recorded 139 random within-group pairs of one flying bat (producing inquiry calls for roost searching) and one roosting bat (producing response calls for roost advertising). Using generalized linear mixed-effect models (GLMM), we assessed how response and inquiry calling rates varied by sender, receiver, genetic kinship and co-roosting association rate. Calling rates varied consistently across senders but not by receiver. Response calling was influenced by inquiry calling rates, but neither calling rate was higher when the interacting pair had higher kinship or association. Rather than dyadic calling rates indicating within-group relationships, our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that bats produce contact calls to maintain contact with any or all individuals within a group while collectively searching for a new roost site. This article is part of the theme issue 'The power of sound: unravelling how acoustic communication shapes group dynamics'.

Familial aggregation of seizure outcomes in four familial epilepsy cohorts.

To assess the possible effects of genetics on seizure outcome by estimating the familial aggregation of three outcome measures: seizure remission, history of ≥4 tonic-clonic seizures, and seizure control for individuals taking antiseizure medication. We analyzed families containing multiple persons with epilepsy in four previously collected retrospective cohorts. Seizure remission was defined as being 5 and 10 years seizure-free at last observation. Total number of tonic-clonic seizures was dichotomized at <4 and ≥4 seizures. Seizure control in patients taking antiseizure medication was defined as no seizures for 1, 2, and 3 years. We used Bayesian generalized linear mixed-effects model (GLMM) to estimate the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of the family-specific random effect, controlling for epilepsy type, age at epilepsy onset, and age at last data collection as fixed effects. We analyzed each cohort separately and performed meta-analysis using GLMMs. The combined cohorts included 3644 individuals with epilepsy from 1463 families. A history of ≥4 tonic-clonic seizures showed strong familial aggregation in three separate cohorts and meta-analysis (ICC .28, 95% confidence interval [CI] .21-.35, Bayes factor 8 × 1016). Meta-analyses did not reveal significant familial aggregation of seizure remission (ICC .08, 95% CI .01-.17, Bayes factor 1.46) or seizure control for individuals taking antiseizure medication (ICC .13, 95% CI 0-.35, Bayes factor 0.94), with heterogeneity among cohorts. A history of ≥4 tonic-clonic seizures aggregated strongly in families, suggesting a genetic influence, whereas seizure remission and seizure control for individuals taking antiseizure medications did not aggregate consistently in families. Different seizure outcomes may have different underlying biology and risk factors. These findings should inform the future molecular genetic studies of seizure outcomes.

Global patterns of nuclear and mitochondrial genetic diversity in marine fishes.

Genetic diversity is a fundamental component of biodiversity. Examination of global patterns of genetic diversity can help highlight mechanisms underlying species diversity, though a recurring challenge has been that patterns may vary by molecular marker. Here, we compiled 6862 observations of genetic diversity from 492 species of marine fish and tested among hypotheses for diversity gradients: the founder effect hypothesis, the kinetic energy hypothesis, and the productivity-diversity hypothesis. We fit generalized linear mixed effect models (GLMMs) and explored the extent to which various macroecological drivers (latitude, longitude, temperature (SST), and chlorophyll-a concentration) explained variation in genetic diversity. We found that mitochondrial genetic diversity followed geographic gradients similar to those of species diversity, being highest near the Equator, particularly in the Coral Triangle, while nuclear genetic diversity did not follow clear geographic patterns. Despite these differences, all genetic diversity metrics were correlated with chlorophyll-a concentration, while mitochondrial diversity was also positively associated with SST. Our results provide support for the kinetic energy hypothesis, which predicts that elevated mutation rates at higher temperatures increase mitochondrial but not necessarily nuclear diversity, and the productivity-diversity hypothesis, which posits that resource-rich regions support larger populations with greater genetic diversity. Overall, these findings reveal how environmental variables can influence mutation rates and genetic drift in the ocean, caution against using mitochondrial macrogenetic patterns as proxies for whole-genome diversity, and aid in defining global gradients of genetic diversity.

Habitat overlap and interspecific competition between snow leopards and leopards in the Central Himalayas of Nepal

Traditionally, leopards (Panthera pardus) and snow leopards (P. uncia) occupy distinct habitats. This study explored the coexistence of snow leopards and leopards within the Gaurishankar Conservation Area in Lapchi Valley, Nepal. Both leopard species are crucial for ecosystem stability as apex predators. Camera trapping data from 2018 to 2023 confirmed twenty species of wild mammals and two species of domesticated livestock in Lapchi Valley, where snow leopards have strong spatio-temporal overlap (Δ=0.74) with leopards. Snow leopards exhibited distinct temporal patterns before and after the leopards’ arrival in the study area. Generalized Linear Mixed Effect Models (GLMM) revealed seasonal and prey-type associations with leopard presence, highlighting the snow leopards' preference for cold season and wild prey. Leopards, however, did not show a significant seasonal preference. The findings highlight Lapchi Valley's ecological richness as well as the need for comprehensive conservation strategies. The record of spatial and temporal overlap between the leopards and snow leopards provides important insights into the behavioral dynamics of apex predators and the need for targeted biodiversity conservation in the face of changing ecosystems. The study emphasizes the valley's transboundary significance, calling for collaborative efforts between Nepal and China to help promote effective conservation management. Lapchi Valley's isolation, traditional and religious importance, and recent infrastructure developments further impact the conservation challenges.

Consistent efficacy outcomes between phase 2 and phase 3 trialsin Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis in adults: a meta-analysis.

The approval of novel biologic agents and small molecules for the treatment of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) is dependent on phase 3 randomized controlled trials (RCTs). However, these trials sometimes fail to achieve the expected efficacy outcomes observed in phase 2 trials. We conducted a systematic review of RCTs that evaluated biologic agents and small molecules using paired regimens in both phase 2 and phase 3. We searched Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases up until February 13, 2024. The revised Cochrane tool was utilized to assess the risk of bias. A generalized linear mixed-effects model (GLMM) was employed to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) for efficacy outcomes in phase 2 trials compared to phase 3. We identified a total of 23 trials with 10 paired regimens for CD and 30 trials with 11 paired regimens for UC. The GLMM analysis revealed that phase 2 CD trials had higher outcomes measured by the Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) by 9-13% without statistical significance: CDAI-150: OR, 1.12 (95% CI 0.83-1.51, p = 0.41); CDAI-100: OR, 1.09 (95% CI 0.88-1.35, p = 0.40); or CDAI-70: OR, 1.13 (95% CI 0.61-2.08, p = 0.66). For UC, two efficacy outcomes were estimated to be equally reported in phase 2/phase 3 pairs: clinical remission: OR, 1.00 (95% CI 0.83-1.20, p = 0.96); endoscopic improvement: OR, 0.98 (95% CI 0.83-1.15, p = 0.79). However, the rate of clinical response was underestimated in phase 2 by 19%: OR, 0.81 (95% CI 0.70-0.95, p = 0.03). The inclusion criterion for the type of Mayo score for UC had a significant interaction with the study phase to influence the difference in clinical response (p = 0.002). Our findings suggest that the main efficacy outcomes for CD and UC remain consistent between phase 2 and phase 3 trials, except for UC response rates. The efficacy data obtained from phase 2 trials can be considered reliable for the design of subsequent phase 3 trials. PROSPERO (CRD42023407947).

Review of methodologies for detecting an observer effect in commercial fisheries data

Observers are deployed on commercial fishing trips to collect representative samples of discard rates. However, fishers may change their fishing habits when an observer is onboard (“observer effect”) or observer programs may over- or under-sample portions of the fleet (“deployment effect”). If the extent of these effects are substantial, observer data will not be representative of unobserved trips, potentially biasing the estimation of discards. This sampling bias can impact catch monitoring, stock assessments, and fishery management. The purpose of this study was to examine the power and error rate of several published methods for detecting an observer effect using a simulation of observer and deployment effects at varying sampling ratios (i.e., observer coverage) for several sample statistics. The simplest methods (t-test and F-test for difference of means and variances) provided an accurate although imprecise estimate of the observer effect size, but only when there were no deployment effects. A generalized linear mixed effects model (GLMM) was also not reliable for detecting small bias, but was not confounded by deployment effects and was relatively robust to changing coverage rates. The most complicated tests involved comparing differences in trip characteristics between subsequent trips for observed-unobserved and unobserved-unobserved pairs. These tests were able to detect smaller observer effects and were not confounded by deployment effects, but were unreliable at high coverage rates (>60%), producing both high false positive and false negative rates. Sensitivity tests also showed differing detection accuracy as the distribution of the metric of interest changed. Thus, the optimal test for detecting an observer effect will depend on the metric of interest, the coverage rate, and whether a deployment effect exists. An example from the New England groundfish fishery is provided to illustrate how conflicting results may be explained. Results should always be considered carefully when declaring that an observer effect is or is not occurring because of the sensitivity of the tests.