Generalized Linear Models Research Articles

The dimensions of the sex as leisure view and their links to young adults’ sexual attitudes and comfort with sexuality

ABSTRACT The sex as leisure view contributes to positive sexuality values and serves as a coping mechanism for personal crises, public health crises, and challenging marginalising societal stereotypes. Nevertheless, the underlying tenets of this view remain understudied, especially among young adults, and a scale for measuring sex as leisure is nonexistent. Thus, the purpose of this research was to develop a scale for establishing and measuring the dimensions of the sex as leisure construct and examining the links between young adults’ perceptions of these dimensions and their general sexual attitudes and levels of comfort with sexuality. Cross-sectional data were collected using survey methodology (N = 270; 55.2% women) and analysed with exploratory factor analysis and general linear modelling. This study found three underlying dimensions of the sex as leisure view, including the perceptions of sex as intrinsic recreational pleasure, the frivolous time-filling leisure, and the biopsychosocial benefits of sex as leisure. The first two dimensions significantly predicted people’s overall propensity to view sex as leisure. Sexual attitudes and comfort with sexuality significantly predicted perceptions of all three dimensions of the sex as leisure view, albeit in different ways. The study contributes to both research and practice in the leisure and sexual health fields.

White matter hyperintensities and cholinergic degeneration as Lewy body disease.

Although basal forebrain (BF) cholinergic degeneration and white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are important in neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), their relationships with dopaminergic degeneration and clinical manifestations remain unclear. A total of 407 patients with cognitive impairment meeting the diagnostic criteria for AD, DLB, or both (AD+DLB) were assessed. All participants underwent 3T MRI, dopamine transporter (DAT) positron emission tomography, neuropsychological tests, and assessments for parkinsonism, cognitive fluctuation, visual hallucination, and rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD). General linear and logistic regression models were used to investigate the relationships among BF volume, DAT uptake in the anterior caudate (DAT-AC), WMH volumes in anterior, posterior, periventricular, and deep regions, and clinical manifestations. DAT-AC was positively associated with BF volume and negatively associated with anterior periventricular WMH volume, but not with deep WMHs. Both deep and periventricular WMHs volumes were associated with hypertension and the number of microbleeds and lacunae. Lower BF volume and DAT-AC were independently associated with increased risk of cognitive fluctuation and visual hallucination, whereas lower DAT-AC was additionally associated with increased risk of RBD and greater parkinsonian severity. Both lower BF volume and DAT-AC were independently associated with widespread cognitive impairment, whereas higher anterior periventricular WMH volume was associated with executive dysfunction. BF cholinergic degeneration and anterior periventricular WMHs are closely associated with dopaminergic degeneration. Anterior periventricular WMHs may represent axonal alterations caused by the interplay between Lewy body-related degeneration and vascular pathologies.

Diagnostic yield and complications of ultrasoundguided trans-thoracic biopsies by pulmonologists: a single-centre retrospective study of lesions with pleural contact.

Introduction Ultrasound-guided trans-thoracic needle biopsy (US-TTNB) is a method of choice for the diagnostic management of peripheral lung lesions and pleural masses for pulmonologists. If complication risk factors and diagnostic yield have been well reported for CT-guided biopsies, publications for US-TTNB in this field are very scarce. Methods The primary objective of this study was to describe the diagnostic yield of US-TTNB carried out by pulmonologists defined by a definitive histopathological diagnosis Secondary objectives were to identify factors that may influence diagnostic yield and to describe complications of this procedure. Between September 2015 and December 2022, charts of consecutive patients presenting peripheral lesion with pleural contact and having undergone US-TTNB were retrospectively analyses. ROC curves were performed to assess the probability of having a contributing biopsy (definitive histology) depending on scannographic measurements and the number of punctures. Univariate and then multivariate analysis were performed to look for variables associated with complications. Results One hundred and fifty nine patients were enrolled in this study. Among them, diagnosis was obtained for 140 patients (88% success rate). The histology was in favor of a neoplastic process in 96% of cases (135/140). Analysis of the ROC curves showed that the depth of the lesion (AUC 75%; CI95% 65-85; cut-off 3.0cm), the width of the lesion (AUC 73%; CI95% 63-86; cut-off 3.9cm), the pleural contact (AUC 68%; CI95% 57-80; cut-off 3.8cm) and the number of biopsies (AUC 70%; CI95% 59-81; cut-off 3 biopsies) were the variables associated with diagnostic yield. Complications occurred for 27 patients (17%) mainly pneumothorax (6%), hemoptysis (6%), and sepsis (6%) Univariate analysis showed a significant association between pneumothorax and lesion depth (OR 0.68; 95% CI 0.65-0.92; p = 0.03) with a predicted probability > 5% for a depth < 4cm according to general linear model analysis. Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed a significant association between the number of biopsies and the risk of sepsis (OR 1.90; 95% CI 1.19-3.26; p = 0.01) with a predicted probability > 5% for more than 4 biopsies. Conclusion US-TTNB is a reliable diagnostic procedure that can be performed by pulmonologists. The depth, width, pleural contact of the lesion and the number of biopsies are key variables associated with diagnostic yield. The depth of the lesion is associated with the risk of pneumothorax, and the number of biopsies with the risk of pulmonary sepsis.

Psychological features of systemic sclerosis: results from an observational study

Objectives(a) Assessing mental disorders, psychological distress, psychological wellbeing in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc); (b) identifying psychological features independently contributing to the status of having the diagnosis of SSc.MethodsTwo hundred SSc outpatients were compared with 100 healthy subjects. Mental disorders were assessed via the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Self-reported rating scales were administered: Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI), Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), Psychological Well Being scales (PWB). General linear models allowed to verify which psychological feature would individually make unique contributions to overall status of having the diagnosis of SSc.ResultsMajor depressive episode/disorder, panic disorder were more prevalent among patients with SSc (p &amp;lt; 0.05); SCL-90-R somatization and depression were more severe (p &amp;lt; 0.05) in SSc; PWB personal growth, positive relationships with others, purposes in life were poorer (p &amp;lt; 0.05) in patients with SSc if compared to healthy controls. The final general linear model, accounting for 20.4% of variance, showed that having the diagnosis of SSc was associated to lower SCL-90-R paranoid ideation and poorer PWB relationships with others.ConclusionSSc showed to present psychological features in need of assessment since some of them individually made unique contributions to overall status of having the SSc diagnosis.

Towards an eco-social circular economy: exploring the feasibility study of pyrolysis on agricultural feedstocks

AbstractThe agricultural sector is challenging to decarbonise due to its reliance on heavy machinery and fossil fuels, which face issues when decarbonising via methods such as electrification. However, agriculture provides opportunities to generate renewable energy via biomass sources due to their abundance within this sector. This feasibility study used a continuous auger pyrolysis system to assess how straw waste from a medium-scale arable farm could convert energy from an external electrical source into usable chemical potential. Wheat, barley, oil seed rape (OSR), and bean straw have all been processed and pyrolysed under different temperatures and auger feed rates. The syngas product was then analysed, considering its composition and the lower heating value. Results indicate that the percentage of carbon monoxide and hydrogen and the total volume of syngas increased with temperature. In addition, the syngas’ energy quantity increased despite the product’s decreasing heating value. The case study’s annual energy demand was equal to 14.4% of the 3900 GJ maximum potential contained within the syngas, and thus it can be concluded that there is potential for the application of this system towards a circular economy. The system’s cold gas, net, and electrical conversion efficiency were also assessed with maximum values of 37.1%, 30.1%, and 174.4%, respectively. Furthermore, the statistical analysis confirms high predictability for wheat, barley, bean, and OSR feedstocks, with a general linear model showing high accuracy across all.

Breed differentiation in northern Ethiopian cattle: The application of univariate and multivariate analyses of phenotypic traits.

The aim of this study was to characterize and differentiate the Adwa, Arado, Medenes, and Begait cattle breeds in northern Ethiopia via univariate and multivariate analyses of phenotypic traits. Sixteen qualitative characteristics and nine morphometric traits were recorded for a total of 946 (604 females and 342 males) purposively selected adult cattle. The frequency, general linear model (GLM), and canonical discriminant (CANDISC) analysis procedures of the Statistical Analysis Software (SAS 9.0) were used to analyze the data. Qualitatively, Medenes and Begait, cattle breeds from lowland agroecology and livestock-based production systems, possess a convex facial profile, relatively larger dewlap, naval flap, and perpetual sheath, as well as more uniform and lighter body colors than the Adwa and Arado cattle breeds, which are from the midland agroecology and mixed crop-livestock production systems. Morphometrically, clear differences were observed among all of the studied cattle breeds, where the Begait, Medenes, Arado, and Adwa cattle breeds were ordered in descending order according to their overall body size. Moreover, multivariate analysis revealed significant differences among the breeds where each breed was placed under a separate group. However, such phenotypic distinctions among the four cattle breeds do not necessarily indicate genetic dissimilarities. Therefore, further inclusive genetic characterization studies involving the use of representative samples from the Adwa and Medenes cattle breeds are recommended to quantify the degree of genetic relationships among these breeds. Moreover, owing to the unknown breed-level population size, urgent conservation programs as well as genetic improvement strategies are needed to ensure sustainable utilization.

Pattern Separation Involves Regions Beyond the Hippocampus in Non-demented elderly Individuals: a 7T Object Lure Task fMRI Study

Abstract Investigating the mechanism of differentiating similar representations, known as pattern separation, has primarily focused on the hippocampus. The roles of cortical regions and their interaction with the hippocampus remain largely unclear. In this study, we address this topic by analyzing whole-brain, high-resolution mnemonic similarity task (MST) fMRI data collected with a 7-Tesla MR scanner. Structural and functional MRI data were acquired from 55 non-demented elderly subjects. During the encoding phase of the MST task, participants responded with “indoor” or “outdoor” to 66 everyday objects. In the recognition phase, participants were asked to make “same” / “similar” / “new” judgements about objects that were either the same as previously seen objects (targets), similar but different from previously seen objects (lures), or new objects (foils). A general linear model was conducted on hippocampal regions of interest (ROIs) and at the whole-brain level with five conditions, including “new” response to foils (foil), “same” response to targets (hit), correct “similar” response to lure (lure correct rejection, LureCR), false “same” response to lure (lure false alarm, LureFA), and one condition for all others. The activity difference when lures were identified as “similar” compared to “same” (LureCR versus LureFA) was used to assess if a region is involved in pattern separation. An association analysis was conducted to test if lure discrimination performance was correlated with activity difference of hippocampal ROIs between LureCR and LureFA, as well as age. Task-based functional connectivity between hippocampal ROIs and other regions involved in pattern separation was examined. In the hippocampal ROI analysis, left anterior CA3/DG showed greater activity in LureCR condition compared to LureFA. All other hippocampal ROIs did not show differential activity. Better lure discrimination performance was associated with larger activity difference between LureCR and LureFA at left anterior CA3/DG and right anterior subiculum. In the whole-brain analyses, regions in the frontoparietal network (FPN) consistently showed increased activity in the Hit, LureCR and LureFA conditions, and the activity was right-lateralized for Hit and LureFA conditions but bilateral for LureCR condition. Eleven clusters, mainly located in the left hemisphere, were identified to show significant activity difference between LureCR and LureFA condition, including left FPN, middle temporal lobe and subcortical regions. In summary, with the whole-brain high-resolution MST fMRI data, regions exhibiting the pattern separation signature were found to be lateralized to the left hemisphere in elderly participants. The left and right FPN are suggested to have distinct functional roles in the MST. The right FPN contributes to retrieving previously viewed same or similar objects, while the left FPN is preferentially involved in pattern separation. Furthermore, the pattern separation process might require the coordinated effort of FPN and hippocampus, with their interaction potentially mediated by subcortical regions.

Capturing inter-individual variability in stress dynamics with heart rate traces reveals activity in the bilateral hippocampus, amygdala, and insula

Abstract Abnormalities in the neural mechanisms of the stress response have the potential to serve as a transdiagnostic marker for stress-related disorders. This potential is rooted in the highly individual and dynamic stress response, which poses a challenge to classical experimentally informed models that focus on specific phases, conditions, or stimuli during a stress task. Here, we integrate individual heart rates (HR) as an immanent index of the stress-response and combine these with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data. In this study, 83 healthy participants completed a multimodal psychosocial imaging stress task comprising three different task phases (PreStress, Stress, and PostStress), with each phase consisting of five 60 s blocks of active task interleaved with 40 s of rest, and simultaneous recordings of pulse plethysmography. Participants were asked to solve mental calculations and were exposed to negative social feedback during the Stress phase. We estimated a general linear model (GLM) with individual heart rates averaged per active block as a single parametric modulator of the task regressor across all 15 active blocks irrespective of the task phase. Results revealed a negative correlation between HR and activation in the bilateral amygdala and anterior hippocampus as well as deactivation in the default mode network. Positive correlations with HR were detected in the bilateral insular cortex, bilateral angular gyrus, and parts of the inferior and superior parietal lobes. In summary, our findings emphasize the utility of integrating the commonly assessed cardiovascular stress response (here: HR) as an immediate index of the participant’s stress status. We conclude that by such integration, brain regions involved in regulating the acute stress response, such as the anterior hippocampus and amygdala, are detected more sensitively by tracking the individual’s “stress wave” rather than treating every experimental block uniformly. Our approach may serve as a complementary analysis to the task-regressor based model.

The relationship between depression and insulin resistance in the population without diabetes: Results from the 2005–2016 NHANES

BackgroundInsulin resistance (IR), a precursor of type 2 diabetes and other metabolic disorders, is becoming more common owing to rising obesity rates. Depression, which affects 4.4 % of the global population, has been linked to IR; however, the findings are inconsistent. The roles of moderating factors in the depression-IR relationship remain underexplored, creating a gap in the current understanding. MethodsData from six cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2005–2016), including 6636 participants without diabetes, were analyzed. Depression was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), with scores of 5–9 and 10–27 defined as mild and moderate-to-severe depression, respectively. IR was measured using the HOMA2-IR model, with IR defined as a value of ≥ 2.3. Weighted generalized linear models (GLMs) were used to investigate the relationship between depression and IR. Stratified analyses were used to evaluate the potential moderators. ResultsAfter adjusting for demographic factors and metabolic indicators, the results of GLMs analysis showed that moderate-to-severe depression significantly increased the odds of IR (OR = 1.65, 95 % CI: 1.04–2.61, p = 0.035), especially in non-Hispanic White individuals (OR = 2.64, 95 % CI: 1.39–5.00, p = 0.004). Antidepressant use also reduced this association. ConclusionModerate-to-severe depression was significantly associated with IR, and race/ethnicity and antidepressant use were important moderators. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to address both mental and metabolic health risks in high-risk populations.

Integrating infiltration processes in hybrid downscaling methods to estimate sub-surface soil moisture

Soil moisture is a key variable in the water, energy, and carbon cycles. Mapping sub-surface soil moisture with fine spatial resolution requires integrating downscaling approaches and process-based models. However, the effectiveness of hybrid methods, such as regression kriging (RK), in enhancing soil moisture estimates through process-based parameter predictions remains inconclusive. This study aims to integrate infiltration processes into downscaling models to predict 1-km multi-layer soil moisture, while comparing performance of nonlinear and linear models, and evaluating RK improvements. Random forests (RF) and generalized linear model (GLM) were used to downscale surface soil moisture (0–5 cm) from 36-km Soil Moisture Active Passive satellite products to 1 km across the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Next, the soil moisture analytical relationship (SMAR) model was applied to simulate infiltration processes and obtain site-scale parameters. RK variants (RFRK and GLMRK) were applied to jointly predict the spatial distribution of multiple infiltration parameters, which were used in SMAR at 1-km grids to estimate sub-surface soil moisture (5–40 cm). The results showed that parameter calibration significantly enhanced sub-surface soil moisture simulation, reducing root mean square error (RMSE) by 61.2 % to 69.8 %, from 0.09 to 0.03. RF outperformed GLM across all depth intervals, providing higher prediction accuracy (average RMSE, RF: 0.07; GLM: 0.09). Moreover, RK enhanced the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient (RFRK: 0.34; GLMRK: 0.28) and coefficient of determination (RFRK: 0.5; GLMRK: 0.38) by 7.7 %–13.3 % and 2.2 %–2.4 %. This study provides a reference for mapping multi-layer soil moisture through the integration of data-driven and knowledge-driven approaches in regional-scale study areas.

Truthful and privacy-preserving generalized linear models

This paper explores estimating Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) when agents are strategic and privacy-conscious. We aim to design mechanisms that encourage truthful reporting, protect privacy, and ensure outputs are close to the true parameters. Initially, we address models with sub-Gaussian covariates and heavy-tailed responses with finite fourth moments, proposing a novel private, closed-form estimator. Our mechanism features: (1) o(1)-joint differential privacy with high probability; (2) o(1n)-approximate Bayes Nash equilibrium for (1−o(1))-fraction of agents; (3) o(1) error in parameter estimation; (4) individual rationality for (1−o(1)) of agents; (5) o(1) payment budget. We then extend our approach to linear regression with heavy-tailed data, using an ℓ4-norm shrinkage operator to propose a similar estimator and payment scheme.

Spatio-temporal analysis of habitat suitability for the endangered oriental white stork (Ciconia boyciana) in the wetland ecosystem of northeast China

Human-induced habitat transformation often leads to habitat degradation and loss, impacting suitable habitats for endangered and rare species. This study was conducted to assess suitable habitats for the endangered oriental white stork in the wetland ecosystem of northeast China, to facilitate successful species-habitat conservation. The study incorporated field surveys, literature reviews, vegetation index calculations, eDNA for assessing prey abundance and land use and land cover classification for the years 2000, 2011, and 2022. A fuzzy logic-based habitat model was developed to map suitable habitats for the oriental stork. Generalized Linear Models (GLM) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) were used to assess the influence of various environmental variables on habitat suitability changes. Roosting locations of the oriental stork were used as reference points to evaluate the impact of environmental factors on habitat suitability. The results indicate that 20% of the area is highly suitable for the stork, 73.4% is moderately suitable, and 5.6% is less or not suitable. Habitats near lakes and rivers, with low Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and high Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), are more suitable compared to areas close to roads and built-up zones. Prey abundance, particularly fish, is a crucial determinant of oriental stork presence and survival. Marshlands, swamps, and water bodies were identified as the most suitable habitats, as they interface with lotic and lentic ecosystems providing abundant prey for the storks. Our findings emphasize the importance of ongoing efforts to protect wetland ecosystems and habitats for endangered and rare bird species. Priority should be given to habitats identified as critical roosting areas for the oriental stork.

Relationship Between Dietary Diversity, Eating Behavior, and Cognitive Performance in Economically Disadvantaged School Children

The effect of dietary diversity and eating behavior on attention, and concentration among lack-resources children is unclear. We aim to investigate the association between dietary diversity, eating behavior, and cognitive abilities among economically disadvantaged children at high risk of cognitive impairment. This study enrolled 676 children aged 10–12 years from 16 free academic tutoring centers across Taiwan. Demographic and dietary behavior data were collected through self-administered questionnaires. Cognitive abilities, specifically attention and concentration, were assessed using the following validated tools: the Attention Test for Elementary School Children and the Concentration Questionnaire. Those who reported poor concentration and attention tend to have a higher prevalence of obesity. After adjustment for confounding variables by general linear model, a significant positive correlation was identified between dietary diversity score (DDS) and classroom concentration score (regression coefficient (β) = 0.24; p < 0.0001). Conversely, the frequency of unhealthy food intake exhibited a negative correlation with concentration (β: −0.09; p = 0.025). Moreover, a negative correlation was observed between the frequency of instant food intake and the attention (β: −0.08; p = 0.04) and concentration scores (β: −0.09; p = 0.026). Thus, enhancing dietary diversity and reducing unfavorable food intake may improve cognitive performance in socioeconomically disadvantaged children.

PREDICTING HIGH FLOW ARTERIOVENOUS FISTULAS AND CARDIAC OUTCOMES IN HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS.

Heart failure is common in patients receiving hemodialysis. A high flow arteriovenous fistula (AVF) may represent a modifiable risk factor for heart failure and death. Currently, no tools exist to assess the risk of developing a high flow AVF (>2000 mL/min). The aim of this study was to use machine learning to develop a predictive model identifying patients at risk of developing a high flow AVF and to examine the relationship between blood flow, heart failure, and death. Between 2011 and 2020, serial AVF blood flows were measured in 366 prevalent hemodialysis patients at two tertiary hospitals in Australia. Four prediction models (deep neural network, and 3 separate tree-based algorithms) employing age, first AVF flow, diabetes, and dyslipidemia were compared to predict high flow AVF development. Logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between AVF blood flow, heart failure, and death. High flow AVFs were present in 31.4% of patients. The bootstrap forest predictive model performed best in identifying those at risk of a high flow AVF (AUC 0.94, sensitivity 86%, specificity 83%). Heart failure prior to vascular access creation was identified in 10.2% of patients with an additional 24.9% of patients developing heart failure after AVF creation. Long-term mortality after access formation was 27%, with an average time to death after AVF creation of 307.5 ± 185.6 weeks. No univariable relationship using logistic regression was noted between AVF flow and incident heart failure after AVF creation or death. Age, flow at first measurement >1000 mL/min, time to highest AVF flow, and heart failure predicted death after AVF creation using a general linear model. Predictive modelling techniques can identify patients at risk of developing high flow AVF. No association was seen between AVF blood flow rate and incident heart failure after AVF creation. In those patients who died, time to highest AVF flow was the most important predictor of death after AVF creation.

Impact of astaxanthin supplementation on markers of cardiometabolic health and tactical performance among firefighters.

Firefighters are at risk for cardiovascular disease due to occupational-related inflammation, oxidative stress, and lifestyle practices. Astaxanthin (AX) possesses anti-inflammatory/antioxidant and purported ergogenic properties. This study examined the impact of supplementing the diet with 12 mg/d AX for four weeks on markers of inflammation, oxidative stress, cardiometabolic health, exercise capacity, and occupation-related performance in career firefighters. In a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover fashion, 15 male career firefighters (34.5 ± 7.4 years; 177.7 ± 7.0 cm; 95.6 ± 12.0 kg; 30.1 ± 2.9 kg/m2; 11.03 ± 6.85 years of service) ingested 12 mg/d of AX (AstaReal®, AstaReal AB, Nacka, SWE) or placebo (PLA) for four weeks while following a standardized resistance training program. After each treatment, testing sessions were completed to assess inflammatory markers, oxidative stress markers, cardiopulmonary exercise capacity, and performance to a fire ground test (FGT) consisting of nine fire suppressive activities. Data were analyzed using general linear model (GLM) analysis with repeated measures. Clinical significance was assessed via mean changes from baseline with 95% confidence intervals. Analysis of mean percent changes from baseline revealed that AX supplementation lessened the inflammatory response to to performing an incremental maximal exercise test and attenuated increases in interleukin-1β, cortisol, and uric acid in response to performing fire suppressive activities compared to when they ingested PLA. However, most of these effects were within groups rather than between groups. Additionally, there was evidence that AX ingestion increased the ventilatory anaerobic threshold. Four weeks of AX supplementation did not significantly affect fasting markers of oxidative stress, blood lipids, performance during the FGT, general clinical chemistry panels, or self-reported side effects. Results provide some evidence that AX supplementation may help mediate occupation-related inflammation in response to high-intensity, short-duration exercise in firefighters. More research is warranted to determine if long-term supplementation can improve cardiometabolic risk in this population. ISRCTN10901752.

Knowledge, risk perceptions and practices regarding rodents and their associated pathogens: environmental consultants in Chile

BackgroundRodents play essential ecological roles but are also significant reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens, posing risks to humans. Individuals with frequent occupational contact with rodents face an elevated risk of exposure to rodent-borne diseases. This study examines the knowledge, risk perceptions, and practices of Chilean environmental consultants (ECs) concerning rodents and rodent-borne diseases.MethodsA 32-item questionnaire, which focused primarily on biologists, veterinarians, and environmental engineers, was administered. The questionnaire included closed, open-ended, and semi-open-ended questions. Data analyses, performed using R software, involved calculating frequencies and proportions for questions related to knowledge of rodents and rodent-borne diseases, rodent management and handling, biosafety procedures, and training. Additionally, generalized linear models (GLMs) were used to assess knowledge of rodent hosts and diseases, whereas correspondence analysis was used to examine associations between EC characteristics (undergraduate fields of study and years of experience) and responses regarding risk perception and the importance of zoonotic disease training.ResultsCompleted questionnaires were received from 206 ECs. Although the ECs demonstrated a strong awareness of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome, identifying it as a significant rodent-borne threat, knowledge gaps were evident regarding the specific role of certain rodent reservoir species and other rodent-borne diseases in Chile. For example, leptospirosis was well recognized, particularly among veterinarians, whereas emerging zoonoses such as scrub typhus was rarely mentioned. The study also revealed the frequent use of live trapping and direct handling of rodents, resulting in injuries to 32% of the respondents. Despite the widespread use of personal protective equipment, key elements such as respiratory protection and disposable suits were underutilized, and inadequate cleaning practices for traps were reported. Nevertheless, ECs expressed a willingness to participate in zoonotic disease training, underscoring the need for further education.ConclusionsThis study highlights the critical need for ongoing education for ECs on rodent reservoirs, diseases, and biosafety measures to enhance their safety and reduce the risk of zoonotic infections. The findings offer valuable insights for developing strategies aimed at improving awareness and strengthening biosafety practices within this occupational group.

A comparative analysis of economic traits between purebred and synthesized sheep breeds in dry and harsh environments of Iran

The present study aimed to compare economic traits of Baluchi as an indigenous purebred and Iran-Black and Arman as synthesized breeds of sheep in Iran. Data of Baluchi, Iran-Black and Arman were collected from the Abbas Abad Breeding Station located in Mashhad, Iran. The studied pre-weaning traits included birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), and survival from birth to weaning (SU). The studied reproductive traits included litter size at birth (LSB), litter size at weaning (LSW), total litter weight at birth (TLWB), and total litter weight at weaning (TLWW). Data was analyzed using the generalized linear model (GLM) procedure in SAS software. The least square means were compared using a Tukey test at a significance level of 0.05. The least square means for BW were 3.87, 3.71 and 3.75kg, for WW were 20.06, 20.86 and 20.98kg, and for SU were 88.26, 82.94 and 90.26 percent in Baluchi, Iran-Black and Arman sheep, respectively. The least square means for LSB and LSW were 1.31, 1.59, 1.57 lambs born per ewe and 1.17, 1.31, 1.42 lambs weaned per ewe for Baluchi, Iran-Black and Arman sheep, respectively. The least square means for TLWB in purebred and synthetic breeds differed significantly, with values of 5.66kg, 6.25kg, and 6.31kg for Baluchi, Iran-Black and Arman sheep, respectively. Furthermore, the least square means for TLWW was 28.94kg, 32.16kg and 33.67kg per ewe in Baluchi, Iran-Black and Arman sheep, respectively. The results obtained in this study indicated that TLWW in Iran-Black and Arman ewes increased by approximately 11.13% and 16.34% compared to Baluchi ewes, respectively. It can be concluded that crossbreeding Baluchi sheep with foreign breeds to create synthetic breeds has had a positive impact on the efficiency of the sheep industry in Iran.

Can Pregnancy Experience Predict Birth Experience, Postpartum Depression and Anxiety? A Prospective Descriptive Study.

A positive pregnancy experience can be a good start for healthy motherhood. This study aimed to investigate Iranian women's pregnancy experience and how self-reported hassles and uplifts influence birth experience, postpartum depression and anxiety, and the association between childbirth experience and postpartum mental health. A prospective descriptive study. A prospective descriptive study was conducted among 228 pregnant women from health centres in Tabriz, Iran. From the 28th to 36th weeks of pregnancy, participants completed the Pregnancy Experience Scale. Then, the mothers were followed up until 4-6 weeks postpartum, and Childbirth Experience Questionnaires version 2.0, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression and the short form of Specific Postpartum Anxiety Scales were completed. The data were analysed using the general linear model. After adjusting for possible confounding variables, there was no statistically significant association between women's pregnancy and childbirth experiences. However, the mean scores of postpartum depression and anxiety were significantly higher in women who felt unhappy about the discomforts that they experienced during pregnancy (β [95% CI] = 0.01 [0.01-0.02]; p < 0.001, 0.22 [0.09-0.35]; p = 0.001, respectively). There was a significant statistical reverse association between childbirth experience and postpartum anxiety and depression. The study demonstrated a significant association between women's pregnancy, birth experiences and postpartum psychological outcomes. Implementing interventions that create a positive pregnancy experience will likely have an impact on reducing the prevalence of postpartum depression and anxiety. Pregnant women participated solely in the data collection by responding to the questionnaires. No participant contributions were required for the study's design, outcome measurement or implementation.

Which Sex- and Gender-Based Explanatory Variables are Associated with Memory Function Post-Stroke? A Cross Sectional Analysis of the National Health and Aging Trends Study.

To identify sex- and gender-based variables associated with immediate and delayed recall in individuals with stroke. This was a secondary analysis of data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) using general linear models with a standard stepwise approach. Community INTERVENTIONS: Not Applicable PARTICIPANTS: Participants were eligible for the current analysis if they had a self-reported history of stroke at NHATS Round 1 (2011), and data available on our variables of interest. The final analyses included 366 participants for the immediate recall model and 365 participants for the delayed recall model. Independent variables of interested included sex- (eight variables, for example biological sex, depression and anxiety, and comorbidities) and gender-related factors (fourteen variables, for example education, income, independence with banking). The dependent variables of interest were the 10-word immediate and delayed recall tests, respectively. Higher immediate recall scores were associated with younger age, female biological sex, independence with banking, higher income, giving financial gifts, not requiring assistance with ADLs, and higher education (p<0.001-0.04). Higher delayed recall scores were associated with younger age, higher BMI, higher education, placing importance in socializing, and independence with banking (p<0.001-0.04). We conducted the largest analysis to date of sex- and gender-based factors associated with cognition in individuals with stroke. Stroke rehabilitation scientists and clinicians may consider both biological and sociodemographic factors associated with cognitive function, which may guide holistic post-stroke assessments and interventions.

The relationship between lead levels and reading acquisition in Spanish speakers, evidence from Uruguayan schoolers.

To investigate the cross-sectional association between blood lead levels (BLL), and pre-reading and reading abilities in first-grade children from Montevideo, Uruguay. Of 357 school children (age 67-105 months) enrolled into the study, 287(43 % girls) had a BLL measure and an assessment of pre-reading and reading abilities based on five tests (Verbal comprehension, Sound blending, Letter word identification, Sentence reading fluency, and Passage comprehension) from the Batería III Woodcock-Muñoz. Separate generalized linear models (GLM) were conducted on the relationship between BLL and each test score separately, adjusting for sex, maternal education, household assets, Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment Inventory score, season, test administrator, blood lead testing method, and school clusters. The mean BLL was 4.0 ± 2.2 µg/dL, with no differences between the sexes. BLL was associated with a poorer vocabulary knowledge (β [95 % CI]): -0.20 [-0.39, 0.01]. For all the tests, children with BLLs ≥5 µg/dL tended to exhibit poorer performance than children with lower BLLs, but these associations were not statistically significant. When stratified by sex, some evidence of differential associations between BLLs and reading abilities emerged: BLLs were associated with higher phonological awareness in girls (0.32 [0.15, 0.48]) but not boys, and with lower reading comprehension in boys (-0.54 [-1.20, 0.13]) but not girls. Also, lead exposure (BLL ≥ 5 µg/dL) was more strongly and negatively associated with phonological awareness (-1.22 [-1.57, -0.86]) in boys than girls. In this study of first-grade children learning to read in Spanish, we found an inverse association between lead exposure and vocabulary scores, as well as tendency toward lower performance on pre-reading and reading measures among children with BLLs ≥5 µg/dL. Pre-reading and reading abilities are relevant to literacy acquisition; further research is required to confirm these links in larger studies, and to investigate differences between boys and girls, and according to key sociodemographic characteristics.