Generalized Linear Models Research Articles

Natural language processing in at-risk mental states: enhancing the assessment of thought disorders and psychotic traits with semantic dynamics and graph theory.

Verbal communication has key information for mental health evaluation. Researchers have linked psychopathology phenomena to some of their counterparts in natural-language-processing (NLP). We study the characterization of subtle impairments presented in early stages of psychosis, developing new analysis techniques and a comprehensive map associating NLP features with the full range of clinical presentation. We used NLP to assess elicited and free-speech of 60 individuals in at-risk-mental-states (ARMS) and 73 controls, screened from 4,500 quota-sampled Portuguese speaking citizens in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Psychotic symptoms were independently assessed with Structured-Interview-for-Psychosis-Risk-Syndromes (SIPS). Speech features (e.g.sentiments, semantic coherence), including novel ones, were correlated with psychotic traits (Spearman's-ρ) and ARMS status (general linear models and machine-learning ensembles). NLP features were informative inputs for classification, which presented 86% balanced accuracy. The NLP features brought forth (e.g. Semantic laminarity as 'perseveration', Semantic recurrence time as 'circumstantiality', average centrality in word repetition graphs) carried most information and also presented direct correlations with psychotic symptoms. Out of the standard measures, grammatical tagging (e.g. use of adjectives) was the most relevant. Subtle speech impairments can be grasped by sensitive methods and used for ARMS screening. We sketch a blueprint for speech-based evaluation, pairing features to standard thought disorder psychometric items.

Assessing the Effectiveness of Multilevel Intervention Sequences on "Tension" Among Men Living with HIV: A Randomized-Control Trial.

Tension (often times called "Tenshun" in Hindi) is a cultural expression used to convey feelings of distress and common mental disorders in India and among South Asia communities. This study compared the effectiveness of different intervention sequences in reducing tension among alcohol-consuming men living with HIV in India. This secondary data analysis paper utilized data from a randomized trial study titled "Alcohol and Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Adherence: Assessment, Intervention, and Modeling in India." The multilevel interventions, including individual counseling (IC), group intervention (GI), and collective advocacy (CA), were conducted sequentially over three cycles at three ART centers. Additionally, another ART center, serving as a pilot site, received all three interventions simultaneously in the final cycle. Participants completed surveys assessing demographic characteristics, tension, and other variables including HIV stigma, a 4-day ART adherence, HIV symptoms, and depressive symptoms at four time points: baseline, 9months, 18months, and 24months. General linear mixed models were employed to assess the intervention effects on tension. Out of 940 participants, 666 reported experiencing tension, including 54% reporting high tension. At site 1, the GI-CA-IC sequence resulted in a slope of -0.06, indicating that this sequence reduced tension from T1 to T4 compared to the control group (p < 0.01). Additionally, the pilot site where the intervention package was conducted simultaneously had a slope of -0.06, indicating that the intervention package also reduced tension compared to the control group (p < 0.01). Conversely, the CA-IC-GI sequence resulted in a slope of 0.07, indicating that this sequence resulted in significantly higher tension levels than the control group (p = 0.008) contrary to the expectation that the sequence would reduce tension. This study contributes valuable insights on the issue of tension among alcohol-consuming men living with HIV. The significant reduction in tension observed at the site using the GI-CA-IC sequence, which began with a group intervention, underscores the importance of intervention order and the importance of group intervention within multilevel intervention programs for tension reduction. Further research is needed to validate these observations and broaden our understanding of effective tension management strategies among people living with HIV in diverse settings. URL: clinicaltrials.gov. NCT03746457.

The association of dispositional anxiety with the NoGo N2 under relaxation instruction vs. speed/accuracy instruction

Prior research suggests that cognitive control, indicated by NoGo N2 amplitudes in Go/NoGo tasks, is associated with dispositional anxiety. This negative association tends to be reduced in anxiety-enhancing experimental conditions. However, anxiety-reducing conditions have not yet been investigated systematically. Thus, the present study compares the effect of a relaxation instruction with the conventional speed/accuracy instruction in a Go/NoGo task on the correlation of the NoGo N2 with two subconstructs of dispositional anxiety, namely anxious apprehension and anxious arousal. As the test of differences between correlations needs considerable statistical power, the present study was included into the multi-lab CoScience Project. The hypotheses, manipulation checks, and the main path of pre-processing and statistical analysis were preregistered. Complete data sets of 777 participants were available for data analysis. Preregistered general linear models revealed that the different instructions of the task (speed/accuracy vs. relaxation) had no effect on the association between dispositional anxiety and the NoGo N2 amplitude in general. This result was supported by Cooperative-Forking-Path analysis. In contrast, a preregistered latent growth model with categorical variables revealed that anxious arousal was a negative predictor of the NoGo N2 intercept and a positive predictor of the NoGo N2 slope. Non-preregistered growth models, allowing for correlations of anxious apprehension with anxious arousal, revealed that higher anxious apprehension scores were associated with more negative NoGo N2 amplitudes with increased relaxation. Results are discussed in the context of the compensatory error monitoring hypothesis and the revised Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory.

Associations of physical activity and soybean product consumption with psychological symptoms: a cross-sectional survey of Chinese university students

IntroductionDeclining physical activity among university students has become a concern, with increasingly poor dietary behaviors and other unfavorable factors having an impact on the occurrence of psychological symptoms. Previous studies have analyzed the association between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and psychological symptoms, but few studies have investigated the association between soy product consumption and these symptoms. In addition, the associations between physical activity and soy product consumption with psychological symptoms have not been investigated.MethodsIn this study, 7267 university students from different regions of China were surveyed regarding physical activity, soy product consumption, and psychological symptoms. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the associations among MVPA, soy product consumption, and psychological symptoms. A generalized linear model (GLM) was applied to further analyze the associations of MVPA and soy product consumption with psychological symptoms in this population.ResultsThe detection rate of psychological symptoms among Chinese university students was 17.9%, with the rate among female students (18.9%) higher than that among male students (16.6%). The proportion of university students with MVPA < 30 min/d, 30–60 min/d, and > 60 min/d was 76.1%, 19.3%, and 4.6%, respectively, and the proportion with soy product consumption ≤ 2 times/wk, 3–5 times/wk, and ≥ 5 times/wk was 25.8%, 42.4%, and 31.7%, respectively. The GLM showed that compared with university students who had MVPA < 30 min/d and soy product consumption ≤ 2 times/week, those with the lowest risk of developing psychological symptoms had MVPA > 60 min/d and soy product consumption ≥ 6 times/week (OR = 0.198, 95% CI: 0.100–0.393, P < 0.001). This group was followed by university students with MVPA > 60 min/d and soy product consumption 3–5 times/week (OR = 0.221, 95% CI: 0.102–0.479, P < 0.001).ConclusionIn terms of research, there is an association between physical activity and soy product consumption and psychological symptoms among university students. The results of our study suggest that integrated intervention for psychological symptoms among university students is needed from the perspectives of physical activity and dietary behavior to promote good mental health in this population.

Human Brain Deuterium Metabolic Imaging at 7 T: Impact of Different [6,6'-2H2]Glucose Doses.

Deuterium metabolic imaging (DMI) is an innovative, noninvasive metabolic MR imaging method conducted after administration of 2H-labeled substrates. DMI after [6,6'-2H2]glucose consumption has been used to investigate brain metabolic processes, but the impact of different [6,6'-2H2]glucose doses on DMI brain data is not well known. To investigate three different [6,6'-2H2]glucose doses for DMI in the human brain at 7 T. Prospective. Six healthy participants (age: 28 ± 8 years, male/female: 3/3). 7 T, 3D 2H free-induction-decay (FID)-magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) sequence. Three subjects received two different doses (0.25 g/kg, 0.50 g/kg or 0.75 g/kg body weight) of [6,6'-2H2]glucose on two occasions and underwent consecutive 2H-MRSI scans for 120 minutes. Blood was sampled every 10 minutes during the scan, to determine plasma glucose levels and plasma 2H-Glucose atom percent excess (APE) (part-1). Three subjects underwent the same protocol once after receiving 0.50 g/kg [6,6'-2H2]glucose (part-2). Mean plasma 2H-Glucose APE and glucose plasma concentrations were compared using one-way ANOVA. Brain 2H-Glc and brain 2H-Glx (part-1) were analyzed with a two-level Linear Mixed Model. In part-2, a General Linear Model was used to compare brain metabolite signals. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Between 60 and 100 minutes after ingesting [6,6'-2H2]glucose, plasma 2H-Glc APE did not differ between 0.50 g/kg and 0.75 g/kg doses (P = 0.961), but was significantly lower for 0.25 g/kg. Time and doses significantly affected brain 2H-Glucose levels (estimate ± standard error [SE]: 0.89 ± 0.01, 1.09 ± 0.01, and 1.27 ± 0.01, for 0.25 g/kg, 0.50 g/kg, and 0.75 g/kg, respectively) and brain 2H-Glutamate/Glutamine levels (estimate ± SE: 1.91 ± 0.03, 2.27 ± 0.03, and 2.46 ± 0.03, for 0.25 g/kg, 0.50 g/kg, and 0.75 g/kg, respectively). Plasma 2H-Glc APE, brain 2H-Glc, and brain 2H-Glx levels were comparable among subjects receiving 0.50 g/kg [6,6'-2H2]glucose. Brain 2H-Glucose and brain 2H-Glutamate/Glutamine showed to be [6,6'-2H2]glucose dose dependent. A dose of 0.50 g/kg demonstrated comparable, and well-detectable, 2H-Glucose and 2H-Glutamate/Glutamine signals in the brain. 1 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.

Analysis and optimization of machining parameters of AZ91 alloy nanocomposite with the Influences of nano ZrO2 through vacuum diecast process

The magnesium alloy composite is a vital material for automotive applications due to its features like high stiffness, superior damping resistance, high strength, and lightweight. Here, the motto of research is to establish the AZ91 alloy nanocomposite with the exposures of 0, 1, 3, and 5 volume percentages (vol%) of nano zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) particles (50nm) through fluid stir metallurgy route associated with 1x105 Pa vacuum die cast process. Exposures on structural morphology, hardness, and impact toughness of composite are analyzed and identified as the nano AZ91 alloy composite enclosed with 5vol% is homogenous particle dispersion, enhanced hardness (97.6HV), and optimum toughness of 21.2J/mm2. However, composite faces machining difficulties due to the hard abrasive particles with higher hardness, resulting in tool wear. This experiment predicts the optimum mill parameters during the end mill operation of magnesium alloy nanocomposite (AZ91/5vol%) by using a tungsten carbide coated end mill cutter to attain the maximum metal removal rate with low surface roughness and tool wear analyzed via the general linear model (GLM) ANOVA approach. The input conditions for end milling operation vary, like feed rate (0.1 -0.4mm/rev), depth of cut (0.05 -0.2mm), and spindle speed (250-1000rpm). During the ANOVA GLM approach, the L16 design experiment is fixed for further interaction analysis. The results predicted by the depth to cut and feed rate were dominant and played a major role in deciding the tool wear, surface roughness, and MRR.

Physical reserve and its underpinning functional neural networks moderate the relationship between white matter hyperintensity and postural balance in older adults with subcortical ischemic vascular cognitive impairment

White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are markers of subcortical ischemic vascular cognitive impairment (SIVCI) associated with impaired postural balance. Physical reserve (PR) is a recently established construct that reflects one’s capacity to maintain physical function despite brain pathology. This cross-sectional study aims to map functional networks associated with PR, and examining the relationship between PR, WMH, and postural balance. PR was defined in 22 community-dwelling older adults with SIVCI. Functional networks of PR were computed using general linear model. Subsequent analyses examined whether PR and relevant networks moderated the relationship between WMH and postural balance under two conditions—eyes open while standing on foam (EOF) or on floor (EONF). We found that PR and the relevant networks—frontoparietal network (FPN) and default mode network (DMN)—significantly moderated the association between WMH and postural balance. For individuals with high PR, postural balance remained stable regardless of the extent of WMH load; whereas for those with low PR, postural balance worsened as WMH load increased. These results suggest the attenuated effects of WMH on postural stability due to PR may be underpinned by functional neural network reorganization in the FPN and DMN as a part of compensatory processes.

Association of the Korean-specific food-based index of dietary inflammatory potential with the risk of mild cognitive impairment in Korean older adults.

This study aimed to examine the association between the food-based index of dietary inflammatory potential (FBDI) and the risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in Korean older adults. The subjects were 798 Korean adults aged 60 years and older. The FBDI was calculated based on the intake of 7 anti-inflammatory and 3 inflammatory food groups. Cognitive function was assessed using the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE-KC). A general linear model and multiple logistic regression were applied to assess the association between FBDI and the risk of MCI. As the FBDI increased, the intake of white rice, cookies/candies, and sweetened drinks tended to increase, but the intake of niacin, β-carotene, calcium, and potassium tended to decrease (p for trend < 0.05). The highest FBDI group had a higher MCI risk (odds ratio [OR], 1.60; 95% CI, 1.01 - 2.52) than the lowest FBDI group, adjusted for sex, age, and education level; and this trend was significant in a fully adjusted model (p for trend = 0.039). No significant associations were found in men after adjusting for confounding factors. Among women, MCI risk increased as the FBDI increased (p for trend = 0.007); and the highest FBDI group had a higher MCI risk (OR, 2.22; 95% CI, 1.04 - 4.74) than the lowest FBDI group in a fully adjusted model. These results suggest that the appropriate intake of anti-inflammatory foods and nutrients may be associated with a reduced risk of MCI among older adults.

Relationships between tryptophan-related gut metabolites, brain activity, and autism symptomatology.

Gut microbial metabolites have been theorized to play a causative role in the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This hypothesis is based on results from mechanistic preclinical studies and several correlational studies showing differences in gut microbial composition between ASD subjects and neurotypical (NT) controls. However, alterations in how the human brain interacts with the gut microbiome in ASD have not been examined. In this cross-sectional, case-control observational study, fecal metabolomics, task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and behavioral assessments were obtained from 43 ASD and 41 NT children aged 8-17. The fMRI tasks were based on socio-emotional and sensory paradigms that commonly show strong evoked brain differences in ASD participants. General linear models and mediational modeling were applied to examine the links between tryptophan metabolism and evoked brain activity and behavior. Results indicated that fecal levels of specific tryptophan-related metabolites were associated with: 1) brain activity atypicalities in regions previously implicated in ASD (i.e., insula and cingulate); and 2) ASD severity and symptomatology (i.e., ADOS scores, disgust propensity, and sensory sensitivities). Importantly, activity in the mid-insula and mid-cingulate significantly mediated relationships between the microbial tryptophan metabolites, indolelactate and tryptophan betaine, and ASD severity and disgust sensitivity. To our knowledge, this is the first study to elucidate how interactions between gut metabolites and brain activity may impact autism symptomatology, particularly in functional brain pathways associated with vagal and interoceptive/emotion processing.

Analysing student satisfaction with teaching strategies in vocational education

PurposePedagogical and digital innovation in vocational education training (VET) is scarce as well as research on the subject. The pandemic may have prompted a modernization of VET that needs to be examined with a focus on the main subjects: the students. The purpose of this paper is to analyse students' perspectives on henceforth VET pedagogies. We aim to investigate students' perspectives and satisfaction regarding the didactic strategies and teaching modalities they experience to inform further trends in VET.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative and cross-sectional study was conducted, gathering the views of 460 Catalan VET students through a questionnaire. Data were analysed descriptively and applying the generalised linear model (GLM) mediation model to address the specific aims detailed below.FindingsThe findings show that the most frequent and preferred teaching strategies are lecturing and active learning, while situated learning is found to be less frequent and preferred. Face-to-face is the preferred teaching mode for all teaching strategies. The internship modality does not affect students' satisfaction with teaching strategies, while the professional brunch does.Research limitations/implicationsThe limited responses gathered and the impact of the pandemic on the students' views limit the widespread applicability of the results. Future work must collect data from a broader sample and within a context of normality to determine current pedagogies and the use of digital technologies in VET.Originality/valueLiterature on VET pedagogies is scarce, and little is known about the predictable boost that the pandemic gave to the digitalisation and pedagogical modernisation of VET. Our study sheds light on the shift towards combined teaching strategies with a particular focus on active learning.

Deficits of Facial Emotion Recognition in Elderly Individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment.

The study of facial emotion recognition is under-explored in subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). We investigated whether deficits in facial emotion recognition are present in patients with MCI. We also analyzed the relationship between facial emotion recognition and different domains of cognitive function. This study included 300 participants aged 60 years or older with cognitive decline. We evaluated 181 MCI and 119 non-MCI subjects using the Seoul Neuropsychological Screening Battery-Core (SNSB-C) and facial emotion recognition task using six facial expressions (anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness and surprise). A Generalized Linear Model (GLM) was used to assess the association between cognitive performance and accuracy of facial emotion recognition and to compare facial emotion recognition in the MCI group based on the impairment of five different domains of cognitive function. The model was adjusted for age, sex, years of education, and depressive symptoms. Patients with MCI had a lower score for accurately recognizing total facial emotion (0.48 vs. 0.53; ρ = 0.0003) and surprise (0.73 vs. 0.81; ρ = 0.0215) when compared to cognitively healthy subjects. We also discovered that frontal/executive function domain (Digit Symbol Coding [DSC, 0.38 vs. 0.49; p &lt; 0.0001], Controlled Oral Word Association Test [COWAT, 0.42 vs. 0.49; p = 0.0001], Korean-Trail Making Test [K-TMT, 0.37 vs. 0.48; p = 0.0073], Korean-Color Word Stroop Test [K-CWST, 0.43 vs. 0.49; p = 0.0219]) and language domain (Korean-Boston Naming Test [S-K-BNT, 0.46 vs. 0.47; p = 0.003]) were statistically associated with the deficits of facial emotion recognition in patients with MCI. We observed a significant association between deficits in facial emotion recognition and cognitive impairment in elderly individuals.

Exploring the Effect of Preamputation Employment and Income on Ambulation in Dysvascular Lower Extremity Amputees After Amputee Rehabilitation: A Retrospective Cohort Study

ObjectiveTo assess the relationship between 2-minute walk test (2MWT) distance, employment status, and median household income in adult dysvascular amputee patients after a 6-week rehabilitation program. DesignRetrospective cohort study. SettingAmputation rehabilitation program. ParticipantsIn total, 505 patients were included in the analysis. Most (71.1%) were men and had below-knee amputations (78.3%); the average age was 65.3±11.6 years. InterventionsNot applicable. Main Outcome Measures2MWT distance at discharge. ResultsMen (68.3±32.6m) and below-knee amputation amputees (70.9±32.0m) walked significantly further than women (58.8±30.0m; P=.003) and above-knee amputees (47.2±25.7m; P<.001), respectively. A significant negative correlation was found between 2MWT distance and age (r=−.32; P<.001) as well as time from consultation to admission (r=−.23; P<.001). An unadjusted general linear model (GLM) revealed that employment status (F2,446=17.47; P<.001) but not income (F4,446=.714; P=.58) was statistically significantly associated with 2MWT distance. An adjusted (age, sex, time from consult to admission, and amputation level) GLM revealed employment status remained significant (F2,434=5.59; P=.004) and income remained insignificant (F4,434=.43; P=.784). Differences in 2MWT distance between employment and income groups did not meet clinical significance. ConclusionsPreamputation employment appears to be associated with postrehabilitation outcomes.

Performance of Hermetia illucens reared on pure, mixed, and sequentially mixed organic wastes regionally available in central Argentina

Abstract Black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens L.) are proficient decomposers of organic matter. We compared experiments with local substrates containing: domestic residues (DR), and brewery wastes (BW) in pure form, or mixed with in two different proportions (BW70 or BW30), and two sequential diets in which larvae were fed first DR and then BW (DR/BW) or vice versa (BW/DR). The effects of the diets on life cycle parameters for mass production of H. illucens larvae were evaluated using general linear mixed models, ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis. The pure DR diet significantly prolonged the developmental period (47.8 days), although the pupal stage was shorter in larvae fed on this diet (13.8 days). Larval survival was similar between treatments (over 85%), but pupal survival tended to be higher in the mixed diets (over 96%). Larval weights differed significantly between treatments, with mixed diets promoting greater weight gains than pure and sequential diets. Larvae fed a DR/BW diet gained more weight than those fed a BW/DR diet. The highest mean larval weights (0.23 g) were observed in the mixed diet BW70, followed by the sequential diet DR/BW (0.22 g). Mixed diet BW70 also resulted in larger wings and bodies in both sexes. Sequential diet BW/DR and pure diet DR resulted in the smallest adult sizes. Sex ratios varied, favouring male emergence (1.8 M:0.2 F) in pure diet DR and in both sequential mixed diets (1.7 M:0.3 F and 1.3 M:0.7 F, respectively). This study highlights the importance of higher total protein plus carbohydrate concentrations in diets for optimal larval rearing, favouring mixed diets BW70. Carbohydrate-rich substrates should be provided earlier in the cycle to benefit larval and adult performance. Locally available waste vegetable or fruit peels, brewery waste, and spent yerba mate proved to be viable substrates for larval rearing, providing economic and environmental benefits for H. illucens rearing.

Occurrence of fenbendazole resistance in Parascaris spp. on breeding farms in Sweden

Anthelmintic resistance is an increasing problem in many gastrointestinal parasites of grazing animals. Among these, the equine roundworm, Parascaris spp., has developed wide-spread resistance to macrocyclic lactones over the past decades. Additionally, there are recent observations of emerging treatment failure of both tetrahydropyrimidine and fenbendazole. Therefore, the aims of this study were to further investigate the occurrence of fenbendazole resistance on breeding farms and to explore potential management-related risk factors associated with resistance in Parascaris spp. in Sweden. Eleven farms with 92 foals positive for Parascaris spp. were included in a faecal egg count reduction test during the years 2021–2023. According to the clinical protocol of the guidelines of the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology, fenbendazole resistance was present on four farms with efficacies varying from 45 % to 96 %. Having previously reported reduced efficacy on one of these farms, we can now confirm that fenbendazole resistance in Parascaris spp. has established. Farms with more than 40 yearly born foals had a significantly higher probability of having resistant Parascaris spp. Populations compared with smaller farms, (generalized linear model (GLM), t = 70.39, p < 0.001). In addition, there was a correlation between the number of foals on the farm and the frequency of yearly treatments showing that farms with < 20 foals were notably inclined to administer treatments twice during the first year (GLM, t=2.76, p < 0.05) in contrast to larger farms with > 40 foals that were using more frequent treatment intervals. In conclusion, this study confirms the establishment of fenbendazole resistance in Parascaris spp. populations on Swedish stud farms with the number of foals on the farm identified as a risk factor for development of anthelmintic resistance.

Evaluating Salinity Tolerance of Pomegranate Cultivars Using Subordinate Function Analysis and Machine Learning

ABSTRACT The application of machine learning in salinity tolerance evaluation studies is limited. To address this gap, a pot culture experiment was conducted with six pomegranate cultivars at Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana, India, in 2020 and 2021. The data were subjected to subordinated function analysis (SFA), random forest regression (RFR), support vector regression (SVR) and general linear modeling (GLM) after 60 and 120 days of first saline water treatment. The SFA identified ‘Bhagwa’ as the most salt tolerant cultivar, followed by ‘Wonderful.’ The RFR highlighted leaf K, catalase activity, and relative growth rate (RGR) as key parameters influencing salinity tolerance of the tested cultivars after 60 days. The SVR demonstrated root S content and net assimilation rate as critical factors. After 120 days, both RFR and SVR identified stomatal conductance and relative growth rate as crucial markers displaying salinity tolerance of cultivars. Both RFR and SVR showed high predictive accuracy, especially after 120 days, compared to GLM. However, GLM provided a broader set of variables for a better understanding of the underlying mechanism across different time intervals. Therefore, this research emphasizes the importance of using both machine learning techniques and traditional statistical approaches to gain a deeper understanding of the subject.

Females with hip pain walk with altered kinematics at peaks and throughout the gait cycle

BackgroundFemales with acetabular dysplasia and/or labral tears (hip pain) exhibit altered walking kinematics, with studies reporting mixed results in sagittal and frontal planes compared to pain-free controls, often conducting only discrete analyses and warranting further investigation. The objective of this study was to investigate discrete and continuous hip and pelvic kinematics between females with and without hip pain in two walking conditions. MethodsWe collected kinematic walking data from 69 females (35 with hip pain, 34 controls) using motion capture and an instrumented treadmill in two conditions: preferred and fast (125% preferred). We used a general linear model and one-dimensional statistical parametric mapping to conduct discrete and continuous analyses comparing kinematics between groups, with and without adjustment for gait speed. FindingsThe hip pain group walked with reduced peak hip extension (Preferred: P = .046, Cohen's d = 0.41; Fast: P = .028, d = 0.48) and greater peak anterior pelvic tilt (Preferred: P = .011, d = 0.57; Fast: P = .012, d = 0.58) compared to controls. From continuous analyses, the hip pain group walked with reduced hip extension during terminal stance (Fast: P = .040), greater anterior pelvic tilt throughout (Preferred: P = .007; Fast: P = .004), and greater contralateral pelvic drop (Preferred: P = .045) during midstance. Adjusting for speed slightly affected p-values, but significance was retained for all prior variables except pelvic drop. InterpretationKinematic differences between individuals with and without hip pain may provide insight into potential predisposing factors for hip pathology and/or compensations for pain or pathological processes. This work furthers understanding of altered movement patterns in individuals with hip pain and may inform physical therapy treatments.

In Males with Adequate Dietary Needs Who Present No Sleep Disturbances, Is an Acute Intake of Zinc Magnesium Aspartate, Following Either Two Consecutive Nights of 8 or 4 h of Sleep Deprivation, Beneficial for Sleep and Morning Stroop Interference Performance?

Purpose: We examined whether supplementation of zinc magnesium aspartate (ZMA) in two groups of males, either partially sleep-restricted (4 h) or with habitual sleep (8 h) for 2 nights, was beneficial for sleep and subsequent morning Stroop performance. Participants were randomly allocated to two independent groups who either had 4 h (33 males) or 8 h (36 males) sleep for two nights. Using a double-blinded, randomised counterbalanced design, they then completed five sessions, (i) two familiarisation sessions including 7 days of sleep and dietary intake, (ii) three conditions with 4 h or 8 h sleep and either NoPill control (NoPill), placebo (PLAC) or ZMA (ZMA). Sleep was assessed by actimetry and sleep questionnaires, and cognitive performance was assessed by the Stroop test. The data were analysed using a general linear model with repeated measures. A main effect for "sleep" (4 or 8 h) was found, where more opportunity to sleep resulted in better "sleep" metrics (both objective and subjective) as well as better Stroop scores (lower colour-interference and word-interference scores and lower error in words). No main effect for "Pill" was found other than the mood state depression, where subjective ratings for the PLAC group were lower than the other two conditions. Interactions were found in anger, ease to sleep and waking time. Having 8 h opportunity to sleep resulted in better "sleep" metrics as well as better Stroop scores compared to 4 h. Supplementation of ZMA for 4 or 8 h for 2 nights had no effect on subsequent morning cognitive performance but reduced sleep or total sleep time by ~0.46 h compared to the other conditions. An interaction was found where sleep time was reduced by ~0.94 h in the ZMA group in the 8 h condition compared to NoPill or PLAC.

The association between ultra-processed food consumption and health-related quality of life differs across lifestyle and socioeconomic strata

BackgroundIn this prospective study, we aimed to examine the association between ultra-processed foods and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and to evaluate the effect of lifestyle and socioeconomic factors on this association.MethodsThis study included 1766 adults (aged 18 to 78, 54.3% women), who took part in the Tehran Lipid and Glucose study. The Short-Form 12-Item Health Survey version 2 was used to determine HRQoL, which includes the physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores. Ultra-processed food consumption was assessed using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Lifestyle (physical activity and smoking status) and socioeconomic factors (education level and employment status) were also determined. General linear models (GLM) were applied to estimate the mean (95% confidence interval) for MCS and PCS scores across the ultra-processed foods tertiles. Additionally, the effect of lifestyle and socioeconomic factors on the relationship between ultra-processed foods and HRQoL was examined using GLM.ResultsThe median consumption of ultra-processed foods was 11.9% (IQR: 8.2 to 16.8) of total energy intake. There was a significant inverse association between ultra-processed foods consumption and PCS, but not MCS, after adjustment for confounding factors. Significant interactions were observed between ultra-processed food consumption, sex, and occupation on PCS score (all P values < 0.001). The interaction test tended to be significant for smoking status, education levels, and physical activity levels. As ultra-processed food consumption increased, the PCS score significantly decreased in women (P = 0.043), low physical active subjects (P = 0.014), smokers (P = 0.015), and lower-educated individuals (P = 0.022). Non-employed individuals with higher ultra-processed food intake showed a decline in their PCS and MCS scores. While there was no significant difference in MCS score among different strata of lifestyle and socioeconomic status across tertiles of ultra-processed foods.ConclusionsHigher intake of ultra-processed foods was associated with poorer physical health, particularly among women, those with unhealthy lifestyles, and low socioeconomic conditions.

Genome-wide association study identifies loci and candidate genes for RVA parameters in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

The gelatinization and retrogradation characteristics of wheat starch affect the eating quality of Chinese-style food. Rapid Visco Analyzer (RVA) parameters have been widely used as important indicators to evaluate and improve the quality of wheat starch. However, the genetic basis of RVA parameters remains to be further explored. In the present study, a natural population was genotyped using 90K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays, and the RVA parameters of this population grown in five environments were evaluated. The results showed that 22,068 high-quality SNP markers were identified and distributed unequally on the chromosomes. According to the genetic distance, 214 wheat materials were divided into four groups. Except for the pasting temperature (PTT), six parameters followed a normal distribution. Based on the general linear model, 969 significant association SNPs were detected by genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and chromosomes 7A and 2B had the most associated SNPs. Breakdown viscosity (BV) was associated with the most SNPs (n = 238), followed by PTT (n = 186), peak viscosity (PV; n = 156), trough viscosity (TV; n = 127), and final viscosity (FV; n = 126). According to the average linkage disequilibrium (LD), 33 stable quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were identified for single parameters in multiple environments, of which 12 were associated with BV, followed by peak time (PT; n = 8) and PTT (n = 7). On the other hand, 67 pleiotropic QTLs were identified for multiple parameters. Three candidate genes-TasbeIIa, TasbeI, and TassIIa-were screened for phenotyping analysis. The grain width and the weight of the TasbeIIa and TaSSIIa knockout (KO) lines were significantly lower than those of the TasbeI KO lines and the control (CK). The KO lines had smaller endosperm cells, smaller A-type starch granules, and higher amylose content. The TasbeI KO lines showed normal RVA curves, while the TasbeIIa KO lines showed flat curves. However, the TaSSIIa lines failed to paste under the RVA temperatures. Conclusively, the SNPs/QTLs significantly associated with the RVA parameters and genetic resources with novel haplotypes could be used to improve the quality of wheat starch.

Correlates of viral suppression among sexual minority men and transgender women living with HIV in Mpumalanga, South Africa.

Sexual minority men (SMM) and transgender women in South Africa engage in HIV care at lower rates than other persons living with HIV and may experience population-specific barriers to HIV treatment and viral suppression (VS). As part of a pilot trial of an SMM-tailored peer navigation (PN) intervention in Ehlanzeni district, South Africa, we assessed factors associated with ART use and VS among SMM at trial enrolment. A total of 103 HIV-positive SMM and transgender women enrolled in the pilot trial. Data on clinical visits and ART adherence were self-reported. VS status was verified through laboratory analysis (<1000 copies/ml). We assessed correlates of VS at baseline using Poisson generalized linear model (GLM) with a log link function, including demographic, psychosocial, clinical, and behavioral indicators. Among participants, 52.4% reported ART use and only 42.2% of all participants had evidence of VS. Of the 49.5% who reported optimal engagement in HIV care (consistent clinic visits with pills never missed for ≥ 4 consecutive days) in the past 3-months, 56.0% were virally suppressed. In multivariable analysis, SMM were significantly more likely to be virally suppressed when they were ≥ 25 years of age (Adjusted prevalence ratio [APR] = 2.0, CI 95%:1.0-3.8); in a relationship but not living with partner, as compared to married, living together, or single (APR = 1.7, CI 95%:1.0-2.7), and optimally engaged in care (APR = 2.1, 95% CI:1.3-3.3). Findings indicate a need for targeted treatment and care support programming, especially for SMM and transgender women who are young and married/living with their partners to improve treatment outcomes among this population.