One-way Multivariate Analysis Of Covariance Research Articles

Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet: A Tool to the Therapeutic Approaches for Patients With Temporomandibular Joint Disorders.

Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) is characterized by symptoms such as clenching, clicking, and locking of the jaw, often due to improper positioning affecting occlusion. Nearly half of TMD patients rarely require treatment, as symptoms typically diminish on their own within a year.Nevertheless, a significant majority of persons who are diagnosed with TMD do necessitate therapy, and it may take up to three years for complete remission to occur. This study aims to determine the extent to which a healthy nutritional model, specifically the Mediterranean diet, can enhance the effectiveness of existing therapeutic treatments, like physiotherapy with warm pads. An interventional study design was implemented. Baseline scores were obtained pre- and post-intervention, while Mediterranean diet adherence was evaluated once at the beginning. A dependent samples t-test and a one-way multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) were used to test the experimental hypotheses. There is a statistically significant difference (p=0.04) between the three groups associated with Mediterranean diet adherence, as indicated by the mean differences on the Jaw Functional Limitation Scale (JFLS-20) questionnaire. Participants following a medium or high level of Mediterranean diet (≥18) reported fewer problems with jaw functionality both before and after the intervention compared to those with low (<18) adherence to the diet. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet appears to have a therapeutic effect on patients with TMD, offering a new dimension to their treatment. The primary benefit is the low cost of treatment, as the diet is easily accessible. This dietary approach could significantly enhance the management of TMD symptoms.

Esports for development? Exploring esports player profiles and their development and well-being outcomes

PurposeThis study aimed to identify subgroups of esports players based on their gaming behavior patterns across game genres and compare self-efficacy, social efficacy, loneliness and three dimensions of quality of life between these subgroups.Design/methodology/approach324 participants were recruited from prolific academic to complete an online survey. We employed latent profile analysis (LPA) to identify subgroups of esports players based on their behavioral patterns across genres. Additionally, a one-way multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was conducted to test the association between cluster memberships and development and well-being outcomes, controlling for age and gender as covariates.FindingsLPA analysis identified five clusters (two single-genre gamer groups, two multigenre gamer groups and one all-genre gamer group). Univariate analyses indicated the significant effect of the clusters on social efficacy, psychological health and social health. Pairwise comparisons highlighted the salience of the physical enactment-plus-sport simulation genre group in these outcomes.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the understanding of the development and well-being benefits experienced by various esports consumers, as well as the role of specific gameplay in facilitating targeted outcomes among these consumer groups.

Volume enlargement of the choroid plexus and brain ventricles in drug-naïve, first-episode major depressive disorder

BackgroundWe investigated volumetric alterations in the bilateral choroid plexus (ChP) and brain ventricles of patients during their first episode of major depressive disorder (MDD) prior to antidepressant treatment. MethodsSeventy-one first-episode drug-naïve patients with MDD and seventy-four healthy control (HC) subjects were recruited. MRI data were obtained, and bilateral ChP and brain ventricle volumes were evaluated using segmentation, based on the adaptive multiscale and expectation maximization method. One-way multivariate analysis of covariance was used to calculate volumetric differences in the bilateral ChP and brain ventricles between the groups, and partial Pearson correlation analyses were used to investigate the relationship between the volumes of the bilateral ChP and brain ventricles. ResultsFirst-episode drug-naïve patients with MDD showed enlarged volumes of the bilateral ChP, bilateral lateral ventricle (LV), and third ventricle compared with HCs. The ChP volume positively correlated with the LV and third ventricle, but not with the fourth ventricle in patients with MDD, whereas it correlated with all four brain ventricles in HCs. We did not observe significant correlations between bilateral ChP volume and brain ventricles, HAMD scores, or symptom severity. LimitationsOur study populations differed in age and sex and we did not extensively measure the amount of neuroinflammation in the brain or blood, include a functional assessment, nor evaluate other neural comorbidities or neuropsychiatric conditions. ConclusionsOur study extends the existing research to suggest that illness-related alterations in ChP volume enlargement in first-episode antidepressant-naïve patients with MDD may serve as a trait measure.

Delayed and unmet prescription drug access linked to elevated anxiety symptoms during COVID-19: Retrospective findings from the NLSY79 child and young adult cohort

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic produced substantial challenges to pharmacy systems worldwide and provoked concerns about a wider influence on mental health. While various studies have investigated the relationship between disruptions in access to healthcare and mental health, the effects of delayed and unmet access to prescription drugs on anxiety-related outcomes have been underexamined. ObjectiveThis study analyzed the impact of delayed and unmet access to prescription drugs on anxiety-related outcomes, including anxiety, inability to stop or control worrying, worrying too much, trouble relaxing, trouble sitting still, being annoyed or irritable, and fear of future events, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. MethodsA retrospective observational study was performed using the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 79 Child and Young Adult dataset, encompassing 2193 individuals. One-way multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between access to prescription drugs and anxiety-related symptoms. ResultsThe findings show that, before the pandemic, instances of delayed/unable to access prescription drugs were either not linked to anxiety symptoms or, in some cases, were linked to anxiety symptoms but no different than during the pandemic. Delayed access to prescription drugs amid the pandemic was significantly linked with increases in anxiety symptoms not found pre-pandemic, including worrying too much (F = 18.433, p < .001, η2p = 0.017), trouble relaxing (F = 11.423, p < .001, η2p = 0.010), and being easily annoyed or irritable (F = 3.881, p = .021, η2p = 0.004). Similarly, unmet access to prescription drugs amid the pandemic was significantly linked with increases in anxiety-related symptoms not found pre-pandemic, including an inability to stop or control worrying (F = 14.666, p < .001, η2p = 0.013) and worrying too much (F = 18.433, p < .001, η2p = 0.017). ConclusionsThese results have implications for pharmacy administrators and policymakers seeking to understand and limit adverse mental health outcomes within pharmacy during times of crisis.

Teaching Mathematics based on Integrating Reading Strategies and Working Memory in Elementary School

This study strived to determine the effectiveness of integrative teaching of reading strategies and working memory on basic math and problem-solving skills. It is a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest study carried out on 50 second-graders from Chahashk Shandiz village in the academic year of 2020-2021 who were randomly selected by cluster sampling and randomly divided into experimental and control groups. The intervention was performed by cellphone software through virtual education in two steps. The experimental group underwent integrative training for 20 sessions, but the control group did not receive any intervention. Colored Progressive Matrices (1956) and a researcher-made story problem-solving and arithmetic skills test were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and one-way multivariate analysis of covariance were used to analyze the data. The results showed that the integrative teaching of reading strategies and working memory enhanced the basic math skills, with an effect size of 0.67 in second-grade elementary students (P&lt;0.001). According to the results, integrative teaching improved students' problem-solving skills but did not affect their skills in arithmetic operations. Therefore, second-grade elementary teachers can use this method to enhance their story problem-solving skills. Keywords: integrative teaching, reading strategies, working memory, basic math skills

Efficacy of Core-Strengthening and Intensive Dynamic Back Exercises on Pain, Core Muscle Endurance, and Functional Disability in Patients with Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain: A Randomized Comparative Study.

Chronic back pains are progressively disabling working individuals, including 60-80% of the general population, for which their diagnosis is challenging to healthcare workers worldwide, thereby becoming a burden to nations. The study aimed to investigate the efficacy of core strengthening exercise (CSE) and intensive dynamic back exercise (IDBE) on pain, core muscle endurance, and functional disability in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain (LBP). The study was based on a three-arm parallel-group randomized control design. Forty-five participants with chronic non-specific LBP were recruited and randomly divided into the CSE, IDBE, and Control groups. The CSE and IDBE groups received CSE and IDBE, respectively. However, the Control group received no intervention. Numeric pain rating scale, Oswestry Disability Index, core flexors, extensors, and side bridge tests assessed pain intensity, functional disability, and endurance of core muscles. Outcome scores for the dependent variables were collected at baseline (pre-intervention) and six-week post-intervention. There were no follow-up measurements in this study. A one-way multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was used to analyze the intervention effects on the outcomes within groups and between groups, respectively; keeping the significance-level alpha at 95%, i.e., p < 0.05. A univariate F-test was performed to observe the superiority of one treatment over another. Pearson's correlation coefficient test was conducted to determine a relation between the dependent variables. In all statistical analyses, the level of significance α was kept at 0.05. All forty-five out of sixty-three participants with chronic non-specific low back pain (male, 32 and female, 23; average age, 20.24 ± 1.46 years; average pain duration, 19.6 ± 5.42 weeks) completed the study and their data were analyzed. The MANCOVA test showed a significant difference between the treatment groups on the combined multiple endurance tests for the core muscles (flexors, extensors, side bridge tests to the right and left), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores after controlling for baseline scores of all the dependent variables: F (6, 12) = 23.381; p < 0.05; Wilks' Λ = 0.033; partial η2 = 0.819. A post hoc pair-wise comparison followed by a univariate F-test indicated that a significant improvement was found between the CSE vs. IDBE vs. Control groups on the post-test scores of all the dependent variables except VAS and EET (CSE vs. IDBE only). A Pearson's correlation coefficient test revealed a notable relation between the dependent variables. The experimental group CSE was found to be more effective than IDBE on improving functional disability, cores' flexors, and side bridges' endurance tests than IDBE. The magnitude of this improvement exceeded the minimal clinically important difference (MCID), suggesting a clinically relevant enhancement in functional disability, core flexors, and side bridge endurance for participants engaged in CSE. However, CSE vs. IDBE revealed non-significant differences on reducing pain and core extensors' endurance. The absence of statistically significant differences suggests that the observed changes did not exceed the established MCID for pain intensity and core extensors' endurance. In addition, partial eta-squared value revealed the superiority of CSE over IDBE and Control groups. This suggests that the observed differences between the two interventions are not only statistically significant, but also clinically relevant, surpassing the established MCID.

An Exploration into the Impact of Flipped Classroom Model on Cadets’ Problem-Solving Skills: A Mix Method Study

&lt;p style="text-align:justify"&gt;Many education and learning experts currently recommend the flipped classroom model as an alternative to learning after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to explore the impact of the flipped classroom model on social skills and problem-solving skills for cadets. This research used a sequential mix method involving 50 maritime students in semester 7 of the Engineering Study Program at the Maritime Sciences Polytechnic Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Researchers used two main instruments, namely problem-solving skill tests and interviews. Furthermore, in the quantitative analysis, the researcher ran paired sample t-tests and one-way Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) using the SPSS 25.00 program. In addition, researchers also analysed qualitative data from interviews using thematic analysis techniques. The results showed that the flipped classroom model proved to have a positive effect on the problem-solving skills of maritime students. Other findings state that the cadets also respond positively to the flipped classroom model. Researchers recommend that teachers use the flipped classroom model, especially in dealing with learning in the post-pandemic era, like today.&lt;/p&gt;

PERIANAESTHETIC HYPOTHERMIA IN RODENTS: A FACTOR TO CONSIDER FOR ACCURATE AND REPRODUCIBLE OUTCOMES IN ORTHOPAEDIC DEVICE-RELATED INFECTION STUDIES

Orthopedic device-related infection (ODRI) preclinical models are widely used in translational research. Most models require induction of general anesthesia, which frequently results in hypothermia in rodents. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of peri anesthetic hypothermia in rodents on outcomes in preclinical orthopedic device-related infection studies.A retrospective analysis of all rodents that underwent surgery under general anesthesia to induce an ODRI model with inoculation of Staphylococcus epidermidis between 2016 and 2020 was conducted. A one-way multivariate analysis of covariance was used to determine the fixed effect of peri anesthetic hypothermia (hypothermic defined as rectal temperature &lt;35°C) on the combined harvested tissue and implant colonies forming unit counts, and having controlled for the study groups including treatments received duration of surgery and anesthesia and study period. All animal experiments were approved by relevant ethical committee.A total of 127 rodents (102 rats and 25 mice) were enrolled in an ODRI and met the inclusion criteria. The mean lowest peri-anesthetic temperature was 35.3 ± 1.5 °C. The overall incidence of peri-anesthetic hypothermia was 41% and was less frequently reported in rats (34% in rats versus 68% in mice). Statistical analysis showed a significant effect of peri anesthetic hypothermia on the post-mortem combined colonies forming unit counts from the harvested tissue and implant(s) (p=0.01) when comparing normo- versus hypothermic rodents. Using Wilks’ Λ as a criterion to determine the contribution of independent variables to the model, peri-anesthetic hypothermia was the most significant, though still a weak predictor, of increased harvested colonies forming unit counts.Altogether, the data corroborate the concept that bacterial colonization is affected by abnormal body temperature during general anesthesia at the time of bacterial inoculation in rodents, which needs to be taken into consideration to decrease infection data variability and improve experimental reproducibility.

The use of social cognitive learning for humanistic professional role modelling: impacts on awareness of humanistic professionalism, caring behaviour, and transitional anxiety

Background Although medical literature has highlighted the importance of role modelling, hardly any reveals how humanistic qualities and role modelling should be taught. This study aimed to determine whether the use of Bandura’s social cognitive learning for humanistic professional role modelling could elicit any positive effect on medical university students’ awareness of humanistic professionalism, caring behaviours, and school-to-work transitional anxiety. Methods We conducted a 16-week quasi-experimental study to examine whether the intervention could elicit any differences between the experimental group (BanduraSCLT – HPRM – Literature-and-Film Study; N = 34) and the control group (non-BanduraSCLT – HPRM – Literature-and-Film Study; N = 33), comprising of medical university students from the central part of Taiwan. The quantitative instruments included the Humanistic Professional Awareness Scale (HPAS-HSP), Caring Behaviour Scale (CBS-HSP) and School-to-Work Transitional Anxiety Scale (StWTA-HS). One-way MANOVA (multivariate analysis of variance) and one-way MANCOVA (multivariate analysis of covariance) were used for statistical analysis. Results The results revealed that students who received Bandura’s social cognitive learning for humanistic professional role modelling had significantly stronger humanistic professional awareness in terms of ‘personal integrity and accountability’, ‘sensitivity to others’ and ‘professional competence’. They also had more effective caring behaviour in terms of ‘support and attentiveness’, ‘professional knowledge and skills’, ‘gratifying needs and responsiveness’ and ‘confidentiality and trust’. In addition, they had less school-to-work transitional anxiety in terms of ‘inexperience in professional knowledge and skills’, ‘fear of death’, ‘fear of being infected’ and ‘interpersonal interactions.’ Conclusion The findings suggest that using Bandura’s social cognitive learning for humanistic professional role modelling can have a positive impact on awareness of humanistic professionalism, caring behaviour and school-to-work transitional anxiety. Hence, it can be an effective teaching tool for medical education.

Peri-anesthetic hypothermia in rodents: A factor to consider for accurate and reproducible outcomes in orthopedic device-related infection studies.

Orthopedic device-related infection (ODRI) preclinical models are widely used in translational research. Most ODRI models require induction of general anesthesia, which frequently results in hypothermia in rodents. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of peri-anesthetic hypothermia in rodents on outcomes in preclinical ODRI studies. A retrospective analysis of all rodents that underwent surgery under general anesthesia to induce an ODRI model with inoculation of Staphylococcus epidermidis between 2016 and 2020 was conducted. A one-way multivariate analysis of covariance (one-way MANCOVA) was used to determine the fixed effect of peri-anesthetic hypothermia (hypothermic defined as rectal temperature <35°C) on the combined harvested tissue and implant colony-forming unit (CFU) counts, and having controlled for the study groups including treatments received, duration of surgery and anesthesia, and study period. The results showed a significant effect of peri-anesthetic hypothermia on the post-mortem combined CFU counts from the harvested tissue and implant(s) (p = 0.01) when comparing normo- versus hypothermic rodents. Using Wilks' Λ as a criterion to determine the contribution of independent variables to the model, peri-anesthetic hypothermia was the most significant, though still a weak predictor, of increased harvested CFU counts. Altogether, the data corroborate the concept that bacterial colonization is affected by abnormal body temperature during general anesthesia at the time of bacterial inoculation in rodents, which needs to be taken into consideration to decrease infection data variability and improve experimental reproducibility.

Physical and Mental Health Differences Reported by Three Age Groups of Older Adults With Diabetes.

Most studies have classified older adults with diabetes into one group despite substantial variation in health status across different stages of late adulthood. In this study, we examined difference in self-reported physical and mental health among three age groups of older adults with diabetes. Using data from the 2016 National Social Life, Health and Aging Project, Wave 3, we classified 424 individuals diagnosed with diabetes into three age groups, young-old (YO): 50–64 years; middle-old (MO): 65–74; and oldest old (OO): 75+ years. A one-way multivariate analysis of covariance was used to assess group differences, followed by univariate analyses. The results indicate that the YO group reported significantly lower physical health and higher depression than the MO group and higher levels of loneliness than the MO and OO groups. These findings indicate that physical and mental health may differ among different age groups of older adults with diabetes and suggest that the YO might be more vulnerable to diminished physical and mental health than the other age groups.

Exploring Socio-Demographic Factors Affecting Psychological Symptoms in Humidifier Disinfectant Survivors

This study aimed to compare the psychological symptoms of humidifier disinfectant survivors to the general population and explore socio-demographic factors influencing survivors’ psychological symptoms. A one-way Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) and a series of two-way MANCOVA were conducted with a sample of 228 humidifier disinfectant survivors and 228 controls. The results demonstrated that the survivor group displayed higher anxious/depressed symptoms, withdrawn symptoms, somatic complaints, thought problems, attention problems, aggressive behavior and rule-breaking behavior than the general group. Moreover, among the socio-demographic factors, the two-way interaction effects of group × family economic status and group × number of friends were found to be statistically significant. The limitations and implications of this study are discussed.

Discourse performance and related cognitive function in mild cognitive impairment and dementia: A preliminary study

Objectives This study applied the discourse task and related cognitive items of the Brief Test of Cognitive-Communication Disorders (BCCD) to normal, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and moderate dementia groups and compared the scores of each area. In addition, the cognitive functions affecting the discourse performance were investigated by group. Participants 117 normal adults, 38 MCI, and 31 patients with moderate dementia (DEM) conducted BCCD, including discourse and cognitive items. Design/setting The discourse item included repeating an explanatory discourse, and the total discourse score was calculated by summing the scores for each of the four areas of coherence, cohesion, proposition, and pause. The cognitive areas of BCCD were attention, visuospatial ability, memory, organization, reasoning, problem-solving, and executive function. This study performed a one-way multivariate analysis of covariance to compare the scores of the three groups and multiple regression analysis determined the cognitive functions influencing the total discourse score. Measurements The discourse scores reporting differences among all groups were the pause and the total discourse scores, with the normal group showing a higher performance than the patient groups in the cohesion score and the DEM group in the propositions score, respectively. In addition, the cognitive functions affecting discourse performance were attention, organization, and problem-solving in the normal group, and organization and problem-solving in the MCI group. Conclusions Organizing information into a series of semantic units related to each other is necessary for coherent and efficient utterances, and the ability to correctly recognize the task and establish a strategy to grasp the core content is necessary for pragmatic language.

Executive functions in Persian-speaking preschool children with speech sound disorders and comparison with their typically developing peers

This study aimed to compare working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility, the core components of executive functions, among two prevalent subtypes of preschool children with speech sound disorder, i.e., phonological delay (n = 16) and consistent phonological disorder (n = 15), and a group of typically developing children (n = 18). The correlation between executive function components and the accuracy of speech sound production were also investigated. Nonword repetition task and syllable repetition task were used to evaluate the phonological loop of working memory. Backward digit span was administered to examine the central executive of working memory. Cognitive flexibility was assessed using the second selection of the flexible item selection task and inhibitory control using Stroop-like and Go/No-Go tasks. The percentage consonants correct was applied to calculate the accuracy of speech sound production. Results of a one-way multivariate analysis of covariance revealed statistically significant differences between groups in the combined dependent variables after controlling for age (F(14, 80) = 17.289, p < .001, Pillai’s trace = 1.503, partial ηƞ 2 = .752). Typically developing children outperformed in all measurements of executive functions than both speech sound disorder subgroups. Moreover, children with phonological delay performed better in nonword repetition and corrected responses of Stroop-like than consistent phonological disorder group. All executive function measurements also correlated with speech sound production. The results of the present study highlight the importance of including domain-general cognitive skills in current assessment protocols for children with phonological delay and consistent phonological disorders.

Diagnostic Assessment of Students' Misconceptions about Heat and Temperature Through the Use of Two-Tier Test Instrument

The research looked into the misconceptions held by Physics students about some selected heat and temperature concepts. The research design employed in this study was a diagnostic-descriptive research design. A sample of 56 Senior High School (SHS) two (2) students, drawn from Berekum Senior School in the Berekum Municipality, Ghana, were used for the study. An instrument known as the Two-Tier Test Instrument of Heat and Temperature Concepts (HTCT) was employed in data gathering. Mean score, standard deviation, frequencies, percentage were used to answer research questions one and two, while one-way multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) and correlational analysis was used to answer research question three. Results indicated that students used for this study hold misconceptions, lack understanding, and have difficulties explaining the selected heat and temperature concepts used in the HTCT instrument. The results also revealed that misconceptions about heat and temperature concepts non-significantly interact with student age (F .545 = .463, p &gt; .05), but significantly interact with students' gender (F 4.541 = .038, p &lt; .05). Based on the results obtained, the researchers recommended the use of two-tier test instruments and advanced organisers to identify students’ misconceptions of scientific concepts.

Comparison Between Various Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives Based on Spectators’ Attitudes and Attendance Intention for a Professional Baseball Franchise

Abstract: The effects of different corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives—child and family, community relations, health and wellness, and environment protection—were compared in this study based on spectators’ attitudes toward a sports franchise and event attendance intention. A total of 354 spectators were recruited from the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) in Taiwan. A quasi-experimental design was used as the research design, and a one-way multivariate analysis of covariance was conducted for data analysis. The results of this study indicate that spectators perceive the environment protection initiative to be more persuasive in terms of the attitude of sports spectators toward sports franchises and event attendance intention than child and family and health and wellness initiatives. Additionally, community relation initiatives are perceived to be more effective than child and family initiatives in terms of consumers’ attitudes toward sports franchises and event attendance intention. This article contributes both theoretical and practical knowledge and implications to CSR studies pertaining to sports from an Asian perspective.

Increased representation of the non-dominant hand in pianists demonstrated by measurement of 3D morphology of the central sulcus.

Post-mortem and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies of the central sulcus, as an indicator of motor cortex, have shown that in the general population there is greater representation of the dominant compared to the non-dominant hand. Studies of musicians, who are highly skilled in performing complex finger movements, have suggested this dominance is affected by musical training, but methods and findings have been mixed. In the present study, an automated image analysis pipeline using a 3D mesh approach was applied to measure central sulcus (CS) asymmetry on MR images obtained for a cohort of right-handed pianists and matched controls. The depth, length, and surface area (SA) of the CS and thickness of the cortical mantle adjacent to the CS were measured in each cerebral hemisphere by applying the BrainVISA Morphologist 2012 software pipeline to 3D T1-weighted MR images of the brain obtained for 15 right-handed pianists and 14 controls, matched with respect to age, sex, and handedness. Asymmetry indices (AIs) were calculated for each parameter and multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA), and post hoc tests were performed to compare differences between the pianist and control groups. A one-way MANCOVA across the four AIs, controlling for age and sex, revealed a significant main effect of group (P = 0.04), and post hoc analysis revealed that while SA was significantly greater in the left than the right cerebral hemisphere in controls (P < 0.001), there was no significant difference between left and right SA in the pianists (P = 0.634). Independent samples t-tests revealed that the SA of right CS was significantly larger in pianists compared to controls (P = 0.015), with no between-group differences in left CS. Application of an image analysis pipeline to 3D MR images has provided robust evidence of significantly increased representation of the non-dominant hand in the brain of pianists compared to age-, sex-, and handedness-matched controls. This finding supports prior research showing structural differences in the central sulcus in musicians and is interpreted to reflect the long-term motor training and high skill level of right-handed pianists in using their left hand.

Pregnancy outcomes following different protocols of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in couples undergoing intrauterine insemination.

Clomiphene citrate (CC), letrozole and cetrorelix acetate are frequently used agents in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH). However, these three agents have not yet been compared to one another regarding their pregnancy outcomes. The present study was designed to retrospectively compare pregnancy outcomes among the three aforementioned agents. This study involved infertile couples with an infertility duration of at least 2 years, ages 18 to 42years and who were referred to have their first intrauterine insemination (IUI) treatment cycle. All patients underwent COH with recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (rFSH) plus CC (n=118), letrozole (n=81), or cetrorelix acetate (n=62), followed by IUI. Using the one-way multivariate analysis of covariance to control female patients' ages, patients stimulated with cetrorelix acetate/rFSH or CC/rFSH had higher numbers of preovulatory follicles than women stimulated with letrozole/rFSH (P<.02), whereas women stimulated with cetrorelix acetate/rFSH had a thicker endometrium than women stimulated with CC/rFSH (P<.0005). Biochemical pregnancy rates were similar among the three protocols of COH. However, women stimulated with letrozole/rFSH showed clinical pregnancy rates higher than those stimulated with CC/rFSH (P=.003) or cetrorelix acetate/rFSH (P=.03) and subclinical abortion rates lower than those stimulated with CC/rFSH or cetrorelix acetate/rFSH (P=.009). Of the different protocols of COH, the odds of having a clinical pregnancy was 3.1 times greater for women stimulated with letrozole/rFSH than women stimulated with CC/rFSH (P=.004) and 2.8 times greater for women stimulated with letrozole/rFSH than women stimulated with cetrorelix acetate/rFSH (P=.03). Our observations show that increased numbers of preovulatory follicles or endometrium thickness do not necessarily improve pregnancy outcomes, because pregnancy outcomes are also subjected to the type of COH used agent. In this regard, letrozole produced fewer preovulatory follicles and did not significantly increase endometrium thickness, but significantly improved pregnancy outcomes in comparison to CC and cetrorelix acetate.

Up North and Down South: Regional Differences in Pain, Religious Coping, and Negative Affect in Osteoarthritis

Objective: This research examines regional differences (Northern vs. Southern) in pain, religious coping, and negative affect among African Americans (AA) and non-Hispanic Whites (NHW) over the age of 50 with physician-confirmed knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: As part of a larger study of racial/ethnic differences in everyday quality of life with OA, 116 persons were recruited from sites in Alabama (n = 64) and New York (n = 52). Participants completed global measures of pain (PGC Pain Scale) and religious coping (Brief RCOPE); daily variability in pain, coping, and affect was assessed using a daily diary methodology consisting of 4 daily phone calls over 7 days. Site comparisons were conducted using one-way multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) with covariates of race, sex, education, and marital status. Results: There was a significant multivariate effect of site on pain, religious coping, and affect, F(5, 104) = 3.846, p = .003, Wilk’s Λ = .844, partial η2 = .156. Follow-up univariate tests and mean examinations revealed that Southerners reported statistically more daily pain (M = 2.023, SD = .89), religious coping (M = .618, SD = .427), and negative affect (M = 6.556, SD = 2.661) than Northerners (M = 1.810, SD = .719; M = .386, SD = .417; M = 5.865, SD = 1.446). Implications: Results contribute to a growing understanding of how individuals use their religious beliefs to cope with daily pain. (Supported by R01-AG041655 D. Smith and P. Parmelee, PIs.)

Do cognitive training applications improve executive function in children with adverse childhood experiences? A pilot study

Executive function (EF) is comprised of inhibitory control, working memory and cognitive flexibility, core components which more complex skills and abilities develop from, including problem solving, reasoning and planning. Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) negatively impact the development of these skills and in turn life outcomes. This pilot-study explores the use of computerized cognitive training applications (CCTA) (software-based training programs) in school, to improve these skills in children aged 6–11 with ACE. A pre-post-test, between-subject experimental design using an experimental and a placebo-control group was used. The control group were matched to the experimental group by prior academic attainment level and age. A one-way multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) assessed changes in EF across two time-points between the experimental and the control group. Both groups of participants were selected based on an ACE parent-report questionnaire score of 4+ (n = 32). EF was measured using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF), assessing far-transfer of training to behavioral measures of EF. Results show CCTA had a significant positive impact on executive function, particularly on working memory. This small-scale pilot study presents exciting directions for future research into the role of CCTA in order to confirm conclusions drawn.