Repeated Measures Design Research Articles

Milk replacer galacto-oligosaccharide (GOS) inclusion rates for neonatal calves.

Galacto-oligosaccharide (GOS) is a prebiotic isolated from whey. This study evaluated the optimal inclusion rate for improving growth and health performance of neonatal calves. Eighty-eight 2-5-d old Holstein bull calves were blocked by initial BW and randomly allocated to 1 of 4 treatments using a RCBD. Treatments comprised a 22:20 (CP: fat) amino acid balanced milk replacer (MR) with GOS added at the rate of 0 g/d (Control or GOS0), 2 g/d (GOS2), 4 g/d (GOS4), and 8 g/d (GOS8). Calves received 0.283 kg MR in 1.9 L fed 2 x/d for the first 14 d, then increased to 0.42 kg in 2.84 L fed 2x/d through d 35, followed by 0.42 kg MR in 2.84 L fed 1x/d through d 42, followed by weaning. The GOS inclusion rate remained constant as milk volume increased. Calves fed GOS at 2, 4, and 8 g/d demonstrated similar growth performance compared with calves fed GOS0. Calves fed GOS4 demonstrated a carryover effect into post-weaning resulting in a tendency for increased (P < 0.08) BW (82.5, 83.0, 85.3, and 83.1 kg for GOS0, GOS2, GOS4, and GOS8, respectively), BW gains (37.8, 38.2, 41.3 and 38.6 kg), and ADG (687, 696, 751, and 701 g/d). The ADG was increased by 9.3% when feeding calves GOS4 compared with calves fed GOS0. Calf starter DMI was greater at 7 (1.73,1.86, 1.95, and 1.83 kg/d) and 8 (2.34, 2.50, 2.60, 2.49 kg/d) wk of age for calves fed GOS4 compared with calves fed GOS0 with remaining treatments being intermediate and similar. Feed conversion (0.552, 0.529, 0.563, 0.545 kg/kg) was greater for calves fed GOS0 and GOS4 g/d compared with calves fed GOS2 with calves fed GOS8 being intermediate and similar. Body frame gains were similar for calves fed all GOS inclusion rates. A treatment by week interaction at wk 2 indicated that calves fed GOS2 demonstrated greater fecal score = 0 d than calves fed the remaining treatments, indicating less scours. In conclusion, supplementing GOS to a milk replacer at 4 g/d fed to neonatal calves improved growth performance without compromising health conditions.

Examining implicit and explicit anti-Black racial bias in children: A repeated measure design using the Function Acquisition Speed Test (FAST)

ABSTRACT Anti-Black bias involves negative evaluations of individuals from African-descendent groups. Researchers use explicit and implicit measures to detect this bias and evaluate intervention effectiveness. However, few behavior analysis studies have focused on identifying and addressing racial bias in children, and none have explored the effects of test-retest on implicit measures in this context. This study aimed to identify implicit and explicit anti-Black racial bias in children and examine the test-retest reliability of these measures over three time points. Thirty-four children (average age 8.60 years, 24 females) rated images of Black and White faces on a five-point Likert scale. The Modified Function Acquisition Speed Test (FAST), an implicit measure, assessed how fluently participants categorized Black and White faces with positive and negative images. Results showed no explicit racial bias in the sample. However, implicit measure results revealed an anti-Black bias, with 11 participants consistently displaying this bias across three repetitions. Regarding test-retest reliability, there were no significant performance differences on the implicit and explicit measures across the three repetitions. These findings suggest that the FAST is a sensitive tool for identifying racial bias in children, and the absence of test-retest effects supports its feasibility for repeated use.

Development and Evaluation of the Maintenance Office Duty Test: An Alternate Form of the Charge of Quarters Duty Test for Assessing Executive Function After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury to Inform Duty-Readiness After Concussion.

After mild traumatic brain injury, service members may experience difficulty with executive functions, which could interfere with return to duty and life roles. Because performance-based multitasking assessments are sensitive to executive dysfunction, a team of military and civilian rehabilitation researchers developed the Charge of Quarters Duty Test (CQDT) to help inform duty readiness after concussion; it is a multitasking test based on a military task scenario that challenges executive functions, such as foresight and planning, set shifting, and prospective memory. Although previous study indicates that CQDT has reliability and known-groups validity, like other multitasking tests, it should not be readministered after rehabilitative care because of learning effects. The purpose of this study was to develop an alternate form of the CQDT and evaluate its equivalence to the CQDT. A measurement development study was conducted in which subject matter experts on the study team used an iterative approach to create an alternate form. To evaluate equivalence, a repeated measures design was employed in which each participant performed one or both test versions twice and acted as their own control. The study team created the Maintenance Office Duty Test (MODT), the alternate form of the CQDT. A convenience sample of 40 adults performed both the MODT and CQDT approximately 2 weeks apart; 4 had a history of military service and 16 had a history of acquired brain injury. We compared mean scores and standard deviations of each test's 4 subscores using matched-pair t-tests and found that scores were not statistically different, suggesting that the 2 tests are equivalent. In addition, matched-pair t-tests were used to compare Time 1 and Time 2 subscores when (1) participants performed the 2 test versions (CQDT and MODT) and (2) participants performed the same test twice. None of the differences in Time 1 and Time 2 subscores were statistically significant when participants performed the 2 test versions. However, when participants performed the same test twice, three of the four Time 1 and Time 2 scores were significantly different, with Time 2 reflecting improved performance and possible learning effects (performance accuracy P = .013; total number of rule breaks P = .015; performance time P = .002). The MODT appears to be an equivalent form of the CQDT that mitigates learning effects that often accompany performance of multitasking assessments. Having developed and validated the equivalence of the CDQT's alternate form, military rehabilitation clinicians have an expanded set of clinical tools by which to identify possible executive dysfunction and evaluate service members' response to rehabilitative care via pre- and post-rehabilitation testing after mild traumatic brain injury.

Audio-guided and mindfulness-based forest bathing in moderately affected Long/Post-COVID patients: A pre-post pilot-study

ObjectiveLong/Post-COVID patients are in urgent need of specialized treatment. Forest bathing has shown to promote health and well-being, and thus may be an appropriate treatment option. This pilot study aimed to investigate both the feasibility of a two-week audio-guided and mindfulness-based forest bathing intervention and pre-to-post symptom changes in Long/Post-COVID patients. MethodsA repeated-measures design was employed to collect self-reported data on Long/Post-COVID symptoms, fatigue, well-being and stress-coping strategies from moderately affected Long/Post-COVID patients (N = 46, N = 36 included; recruited through media) prior to and following participation in the forest bathing program. Pulse rate was monitored through smartwatches. Feasibility was assessed by analysis of dropout rates. ResultsThe dropout rate was 22 % due to physical and environmental conditions. We observed decreased overall Long/Post-COVID symptoms (p < .001) and fatigue (p < .001), increased well-being (p < .001) and a more adaptive use of stress-coping strategies (p < .01) over time. Participants` pulse rate fell within the normal range after a forest “walk” (p < .001). ConclusionOur results suggest that further research on audio-guided and mindfulness-based forest bathing is warranted, since this approach may offer a feasible and cost-effective method for the complementary treatment of moderate Long/Post-COVID.

Gait Training Interventions for Individuals with Chronic Ankle Instability: A Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis.

This review aimed to determine if gait training interventions influence lower extremity biomechanics during walking in individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI). A literature search was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, and MEDLINE to identify English-language studies from inception through September 2022. Eligible studies included randomized control trials, repeated measures design, and descriptive laboratory studies measuring the effects during or following a gait training intervention on biomechanical outcomes (kinematics, kinetics, electromyography) during walking in individuals with CAI. Gait training interventions were broadly categorized into devices (destabilization devices, novel gait training device) and biofeedback (visual, auditory, and haptic delivery modes). Meta-analyses were conducted when appropriate using random-effects to compare pre-and post- gait training intervention mean differences and standard deviations. Thirteen studies were included. Meta-analyses were conducted for single session gait training studies only. Eleven studies reported kinetic outcomes. Our meta-analyses showed location of center of pressure (COP) was shifted medially from 0-90% (Effect Size [ES] range=0.35-0.82) of stance, contact time was decreased in medial forefoot (ES=0.43), peak pressure was decreased for lateral midfoot (ES=1.18) and increased for hallux (ES=0.59), pressure time integral was decreased for lateral heel (ES=0.33) and lateral midfoot (ES=1.22) and increased for hallux (ES=0.63). Three studies reported kinematic outcomes. Seven studies reported electromyography outcomes. Our meta-analyses revealed increased activity following initial contact (IC) for fibularis longus (ES=0.83). Gait training protocols improved some lower extremity biomechanical outcomes in individuals with CAI. Plantar pressure outcome measures seem to be most impacted by gait training programs with improvements in decreasing lateral pressure associated with increased risk for lateral ankle sprains. Gait training increased EMG activity post-IC for the fibularis longus. Few studies have assessed the impact of multi-session gait training on biomechanical outcome measures. Targeted gait trainning should be considered when treating patients with CAI.

Exploring the Affordance Effect of Visual Properties Associated with Virtual Keyboard Buttons on Smartphones

Digital affordances exist on the touchscreen, but the affordance of virtual buttons on smartphones is unknown. Therefore, this study investigated the on-screen affordances by examining whether the visual properties of virtual keyboard buttons could afford possible clicking actions and affect the entry performance. This study employed a three-way within-subject design: 2 (Symbol Position: standard mode vs. corrective mode) × 2 (Button Border: bordered button vs. borderless button) × 26 (Button Position: 26 positions). In the serial tapping task, 30 university students tapped virtual keyboard buttons with four button types. The results confirmed that the symbol-position and button-border variables influenced clicking actions. When employing offset-correcting symbols, the entry accuracy of virtual keyboard buttons increased without the speed-accuracy tradeoff. Additionally, button borders improved the perceived usability of virtual keyboard buttons despite failing to enhance the entry accuracy and speed. However, the button position moderated the effects of the symbol-position and button-border variables.

Lingering legacies: Past growth and parental experience influence somatic growth in a fish population.

Body size and growth rate can influence individual and population success by mediating fitness. Understanding the factors that influence growth can be difficult to disentangle, however, because growth can be shaped by environmental conditions recently experienced, as well as legacy effects from conditions experienced earlier in life and by parents (via parental effects). To improve understanding of growth among annual cohorts (1982-2015) of Lake Erie Walleye (Sander vitreus), a species with life-history and growth characteristics similar to many other long-lived, iteroparous fishes, we determined the role of the following hypothesised factors: (H1) recent environmental conditions; (H2) traits and experiences of the cohort, including growth, in the previous year; (H3) early-life cohort density; (H4) early-life body size; and (H5) parental composition and environment. We evaluated the relative importance of these hypothesised factors using piecewise structural equation modelling in an information-theoretic framework. Our results indicated that cohort-specific growth of Lake Erie Walleye was most strongly influenced by traits (growth) and experiences of the cohort during the previous year (H2) and parental composition and environment (H5). The observed negative relationship with growth during the previous year may indicate that Walleye exhibit compensatory growth. The relationships with parental sizes and environments may mean that parental contributions to offspring affects cohorts into adulthood, with serious implications for the effects of climate change. Warm winters appear to negatively influence offspring growth performance for many years. Legacy effects had a stronger influence on cohort growth than recent environmental conditions, providing new understanding of how somatic growth is regulated in Lake Erie's Walleye population. Specifically, the parental composition and environment appear important via epigenetic and/or egg-provisioning legacies, with carryover effects modifying growth among years. Ultimately, our findings demonstrate that understanding recent growth in animal populations similar to Lake Erie Walleye may require knowledge of past conditions, including those experienced by parents.

River-sea migration patterns of juvenile Japanese seabass influence migrations in subsequent stages

The Japanese seabass Lateolabrax japonicus, an important commercial fishery species, exhibits partial migration, where some individuals migrate upstream into rivers, and others inhabit estuarine and coastal areas within the same population. Although this migratory behavior has been documented in juvenile seabass, the prevalence of river use and the ecological significance of partial migration in subsequent developmental stages remain unclear. To understand the river use of subadult and adult Japanese seabass, we estimated the river use history using otolith Sr/Ca ratios from individuals captured in both marine and riverine environments. Based on hierarchical clustering with Dynamic Time Warping, Sr/Ca ratios at age 0 were clustered into three habitat use patterns: coastal resident, estuarine resident, and river migrant. Groups that used coastal and riverine habitats at age 0 tended to use coastal and riverine habitats, respectively, from spring to fall of age 1 and above, with overlapping distributions during winter. Subadult and adult river use patterns were linked to juvenile river use, indicating a carryover effect. Additionally, seasonal migration between the sea and rivers became less active with age, and the high growth sustained by river use also declined with age, suggesting that the benefits of river use are less for older (subadult and adult) seabass. This study highlights that juvenile habitat use experience drives subadult and adult partial migration of Japanese seabass, with individuals seeking environments adapted from past experiences. Our findings indicate that the seabass population consists of individuals adapted to various environments, from the sea to the rivers, maximizing the use of biological productivity.

Do patients prefer a human doctor, artificial intelligence, or a blend, and is this preference dependent on medical discipline? Empirical evidence and implications for medical practice.

Today the doctor-patient relationship typically takes place in a face-to-face setting. However, with the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) systems, two further interaction scenarios are possible: an AI system supports the doctor's decision regarding diagnosis and/or treatment while interacting with the patient, or an AI system could even substitute the doctor and hence a patient interacts with a chatbot (i.e., a machine) alone. Against this background, we report on an online experiment in which we analyzed data from N = 1,183 people. The data was collected in German-speaking countries (Germany, Austria, Switzerland). The participants were asked to imagine they had been suffering from medical conditions of unknown origin for some time and that they were therefore visiting a health center to seek advice from a doctor. We developed descriptions of patient-doctor interactions (referred to as vignettes), thereby manipulating the patient's interaction partner: (i) human doctor, (ii) human doctor with an AI system, and (iii) an AI system only (i.e., chatbot). Furthermore, we manipulated medical discipline: (i) cardiology, (ii) orthopedics, (iii) dermatology, and (iv) psychiatry. Based on this 3 × 4 experimental within-subjects design, our results indicate that people prefer a human doctor, followed by a human doctor with an AI system, and an AI system alone came in last place. Specifically, based on these 12 hypothetical interaction situations, we found a significant main effect of a patient's interaction partner on trust, distrust, perceived privacy invasion, information disclosure, treatment adherence, and satisfaction. Moreover, perceptions of trust, distrust, and privacy invasion predicted information disclosure, treatment adherence, and satisfaction as a function of interaction partner and medical discipline. We found that the situation in psychiatry is different from the other three disciplines. Specifically, the six outcome variables differed strongly between psychiatry and the three other disciplines in the "human doctor with an AI system" condition, while this effect was not that strong in the other conditions (human doctor, chatbot). These findings have important implications for the use of AI in medical care and in the interaction between patients and their doctors.

Virtually Augmented Surgical Navigation in Endoscopic Sinus Surgery Simulation Training: A Prospective Trial of Repeated Measures.

The objective of this study was to explore the educational utility of virtually augmented surgical navigation (VASN) in simulation training for endoscopic sinus surgery. Prospective trial using within-subjects design. Single academic institution. Otolaryngology trainees (n = 15) were enrolled in a prospective trial of repeated measures. Participants performed unilateral functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) on a 3-dimensional-printed sinus model without instruction. Participants then underwent educational intervention incorporating VASNtools-featuring anatomic overlay delineations, virtual planning points, proximity alerts, digital measurements, as well as artificial intelligence-generated endoscopic viewpoints. With the VASN tools activated, participants then performed FESS on the contralateral side of the model. Primary outcomes of interest included number of major complications, time to complete anterior fess, steps completed, and technical skills score. Descriptive statistics were performed to describe participant characteristics and bivariate analysis were used to evaluate differences in subjective and objective outcome measures. A majority (93%) of residents strongly agreed that simulation intervention improved their confidence in surgical skills related to FESS. Complications decreased from 13 instances to 3 following interventions. Initial technical skills score of 45.2 increased to 54.4 postintervention (P < .0001) and global score also improved by 4.6 points on average (P < .001). Time to anterior FESS decreased from 1356 to 915seconds (P = .006) and average number of completed surgical steps increased from 3.3 to 4.6 (P < .001). This simulation study contributes to growing evidence supporting utility of advanced technology in surgical education. Results suggest that VASN serves as a beneficial adjunct in FESS simulation training.

Light and Motion: Effects of Light Conditions and mEDI on Activity and Motion Area under a Sky-Lighting Machine

ABSTRACT We investigated whether differences in light levels and spectral properties have effects on motion. Twenty-two participants, divided into groups of two, experienced the same room in two diffused light conditions (daylight [DL] or static artificial light [AL]), which were experienced in a repeated measures design layout, controlled for order. Both light conditions offered a stimulus of at least 250 melanopic equivalent daylight illuminance (mEDI) lux, without a view. Participants were observed during an individual reading session and a collaborative construction game session. We measured the connectivity of the built structures, activity by actigraphy, and we automatically extracted motion area and quantity of motion from video analysis. We found a correlation between mEDI values in the two light conditions (DL or AL) and activity and a correlation between light condition and motion area. Diffuse daylight conditions were correlated with lower activity and less extended motion than a diffuse static condition at levels recommended for office lighting and to ensure alerting responses. Indeed, static AL was found to be related to increased spatial exploration, which might indicate restlessness, and high mEDI to a more composed motion. Actigraphy measurements correlate with quantity of motion values; therefore, the two methods provided comparable results. Results also showed a high correlation between all photometric values in the daylight condition. These findings offer arguments for favoring DL conditions in the design of places where it is desirable to avoid fidgetiness, like educational institutions, and to support composed motion, like medical institutions.

Total sulfur amino acid requirements are higher during late gestation compared with early gestation in healthy Canadian pregnancies in a repeated-measures trial

BackgroundDietary Reference Intake (DRI) Recommendations for total sulfur amino acids (TSAAs; methionine + cysteine) during pregnancy are based on factorial calculations using data from adult males. To date, no data exist on TSAA requirements obtained directly during pregnancy. ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to examine whether TSAA requirements during early (11–20 wk) and late (31–40 wk) gestation in healthy females with singleton pregnancies are different than current recommendations, and different between early and late gestation using the indicator amino acid oxidation (IAAO) technique. MethodsTwenty-five females 20–40 y with a healthy singleton pregnancy were studied using the IAAO technique in a repeated measures design for a total of 70, 8-h d. On each study day a methionine test intake (range: 0–40 mg⋅kg−1⋅d−1) was provided in 8 hourly, isonitrogenous and isocaloric meals with cysteine excluded from the diet. Breath samples were collected at baseline and isotopic steady state of orally provided L-1-13C-Phenylalanine for measurement of phenylalanine oxidation. The requirement was determined using biphasic linear regression crossover analysis to identify a breakpoint in 13CO2 production, representing the estimated average requirement (EAR). ResultsThe TSAA requirement in healthy pregnant participants in early gestation was 11.1 mg⋅kg−1⋅d−1 {R2m = 0.79, R2c = 0.79; 95% confidence interval [CI] (8.9, 13.3 mg⋅kg−1⋅d−1)} and 15.0 mg⋅kg−1⋅d−1 (R2m = 0.72, R2c = 0.79; 95% CI [13.0, 17.0 mg⋅kg−1⋅d−1]) in late gestation. The difference between confidence intervals of the 2 breakpoints was = −3.9 ± 3.0, and statistically different. ConclusionsWe directly measured TSAA requirements in healthy pregnant mothers, and our findings suggest that requirements are lower than current DRI recommendations of 20 and 25 mg⋅kg−1⋅d−1, as the EAR, and Recommended Dietary Allowance, respectively. Late gestation TSAA needs are significantly different and increased 35% compared with early gestation. Recommendations for TSAA intake need to be tailored for gestational stage.This clinical trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04326322.

Greenwashing in food labelling: Consumer deception by claims of climate neutrality and the importance of an interpretative labelling approach

Approaches to climate labelling are gaining significant importance in food marketing. Labels that are based on carbon offsets are becoming increasingly popular. However, offsetting-labels have been criticized as misleading and are subject to accusations of greenwashing. The proposal of the EU Green Claims Directive therefore requires companies to substantiate claims. This study employs a consumer survey (n = 2,109) using a between-subjects and within-subjects design to explore how German participants evaluate the climate impact of six food products (ranging from low to very high) through five distinct climate labels: (1) ‘climate-neutral’ (without any declaration), (2) ‘climate-compensated’, (3) ‘climate-neutral and CO2-compensated product’ (declaration according to the proposed EU Green Claims Directive), (4) informative labels indicating the actual climate impact as a numeric carbon footprint (kg CO2eq/kg of food) or (5) as an interpretative traffic light-like label. Except for the numeric indication of the carbon footprint (4) and the traffic light (5), all climate labels significantly skewed perceptions of a food’s climate impact positively, compared to the control group without any label. The effect was sometimes even stronger for highly involved consumers. In contrast, the interpretative traffic light climate label helps to correctly assess the climate impact. In summary, green claims such as ‘climate-neutral’ can be misleading by fostering a false perception of a food’s climate impact, even when the compensatory character is explained or justified close to the claim. This challenges the approach of the draft European Green Claims Directive, which posits that additional information (‘substantiation’) is sufficient to avoid misconceptions.

Acute analgesic effect of nicotine vaping using three experimental pain induction tasks: a randomized, placebo-controlled laboratory study.

Pain and nicotine use are co-occurring conditions with a significant impact on health. Experimental evidence supports an acute analgesic effect of nicotine which may reinforce nicotine use among those with chronic pain. Evidence for nicotine analgesia have primarily been gathered in combustible cigarette users and have not been extended to electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS or vaping). Furthermore, the mechanisms of nicotine analgesia in humans are not well understood. Assess the effect of acute vaped nicotine on subjective and behavioral indices of pain sensitivity using three tasks designed to probe distinct mechanisms of analgesia. This study recruited ENDS users (N = 86) to undergo a paced vaping protocol followed by pain tasks in counterbalanced order. Across four sessions, participants vaped e-liquid containing nicotine or placebo, and flavor or no-flavor in a 2 × 2 within-subject design. Assessments included cold pressor, submaximal effort tourniquet to induce ischemic pain, and temporal summation of heat pain, an index of central sensitization. Compared to placebo, nicotine increased cold pressor pain tolerance (ηp2 = 0.031), ischemic pain threshold (ηp2 = 0.073) and tolerance (ηp2 = 0.056) but had no effect on temporal summation of pain. Flavor did not affect pain sensitivity. Females reported greater ischemic pain sensitivity (ηp2 = 0.027) and greater reductions in craving (ηp2 = 0.086). Consistent with research from tobacco smoking, analgesia may be reinforcing and contribute to nicotine dependence among ENDS users. More research on sex differences is warranted.

Machine learning approaches to predict whether MEPs can be elicited via TMS

BackgroundTranscranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a valuable technique for assessing the function of the motor cortex and cortico-muscular pathways. TMS activates the motoneurons in the cortex, which after transmission along cortico-muscular pathways can be measured as motor-evoked potentials (MEPs). The position and orientation of the TMS coil and the intensity used to deliver a TMS pulse are considered central TMS setup parameters influencing the presence/absence of MEPs. New methodWe sought to predict the presence of MEPs from TMS setup parameters using machine learning. We trained different machine learners using either within-subject or between-subject designs. ResultsWe obtained prediction accuracies of on average 77 % and 65 % with maxima up to up to 90 % and 72 % within and between subjects, respectively. Across the board, a bagging ensemble appeared to be the most suitable approach to predict the presence of MEPs. ConclusionsAlthough within a subject the prediction of MEPs via TMS setup parameter-based machine learning might be feasible, the limited accuracy between subjects suggests that the transfer of this approach to experimental or clinical research comes with significant challenges.

Effect of standardized ileal digestible arginine:lysine on growth performance of 6- to 13-kg nursery pigs.

A total of 480 newly weaned pigs (PIC 337×1050; Genus, Hendersonville, TN) with an initial body weight (BW) of 6.20 ± 0.61kg were used in a dose-response study to investigate the impact of increasing standardized ileal digestible (SID) Arg:Lys on nursery pig growth performance. At weaning, pigs were placed into 48 pens with 5 barrows and 5 gilts per pen. Pens were randomly assigned to 1 of 6 dietary treatments. The experimental diets were formulated with increasing SID Arg:Lys, achieved by substituting corn starch, glycine, and l-alanine with l-arginine, resulting in SID Arg:Lys ranging from 45% to 145%. Diets were sublimiting in SID Lys and exceeded all other essential amino acid requirements. The experimental diets were fed across two feeding phases from days 0 to 10 and 10 to 27, with adjustments made to account for the Lys requirement of the pigs. All pens were placed on a common diet for the remaining 14 d of the study to evaluate carryover effects. Pigs and feeders were weighed at the start and end of each phase to calculate average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and feed efficiency (G:F). Data were analyzed according to a linear regression model, which included the linear and quadratic effects of SID Arg:Lys and initial BW. Pen was the experimental unit, and results were considered significant at P ≤ 0.05 and a tendency at 0.50 < P ≤ 0.10. From days 0 to 27, Arg:Lys tended to have a quadratic effect on ADFI (P = 0.058), where 97.00 ± 7.631% SID Arg:Lys maximized feed intake. Similarly, Arg:Lys had a quadratic impact on ADG (P = 0.046), where ADG was maximized at a SID Arg:Lys of 95.65 ± 7.165. Correspondingly, Arg:Lys had a quadratic effect on pig BW on day 27 (P = 0.014). These effects were carried through the end of the study, where Arg:Lys quadratically impacted days 0 to 41 ADFI (P = 0.006), ADG (P = 0.077), and day 41 BW (P = 0.028). There was no evidence of an effect of SID Arg:Lys on G:F throughout the study (P ≥ 0.315). In conclusion, SID Arg:Lys quadratically impacted ADFI and ADG in 6- to 13-kg nursery pigs, where ADFI was maximized at a SID Arg:Lys of 97.00% (95% CI [81.6%, 112.4%]), and ADG was maximized at a SID Arg:Lys of 95.65% (95% CI [81.2%, 110.1%]). Together, these data suggest that the SID Arg:Lys requirement of nursery pigs is at least 81%, based on the lower bounds of the 95% CI for maximum ADG and ADFI, and excessive Arg supplementation may negatively affect growth performance.

Assessing the influence of sleep and sampling time on metabolites in oral fluid: implications for metabolomics studies

IntroductionThe human salivary metabolome is a rich source of information for metabolomics studies. Among other influences, individual differences in sleep-wake history and time of day may affect the metabolome.ObjectivesWe aimed to characterize the influence of a single night of sleep deprivation compared to sufficient sleep on the metabolites present in oral fluid and to assess the implications of sampling time points for the design of metabolomics studies.MethodsOral fluid specimens of 13 healthy young males were obtained in Salivette® devices at regular intervals in both a control condition (repeated 8-hour sleep) and a sleep deprivation condition (total sleep deprivation of 8 h, recovery sleep of 8 h) and their metabolic contents compared in a semi-targeted metabolomics approach.ResultsAnalysis of variance results showed factor ‘time’ (i.e., sampling time point) representing the major influencer (median 9.24%, range 3.02–42.91%), surpassing the intervention of sleep deprivation (median 1.81%, range 0.19–12.46%). In addition, we found about 10% of all metabolic features to have significantly changed in at least one time point after a night of sleep deprivation when compared to 8 h of sleep.ConclusionThe majority of significant alterations in metabolites’ abundances were found when sampled in the morning hours, which can lead to subsequent misinterpretations of experimental effects in metabolomics studies. Beyond applying a within-subject design with identical sample collection times, we highly recommend monitoring participants’ sleep-wake schedules prior to and during experiments, even if the study focus is not sleep-related (e.g., via actigraphy).

Unraveling the dynamics of loneliness and cognition in late life: a cross-lagged panel model.

Loneliness and cognitive decline are pressing concerns among older adults, yet little research has explored cognition as a predictor of loneliness. This study investigates the dynamic relationship between loneliness and cognitive function in older adults using the random intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM). Data were drawn from Waves 9-14 of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), encompassing 8,473 individuals aged 65 years and older. Loneliness was assessed using the UCLA Loneliness Scale, and cognitive function was measured using immediate and delayed word recall and serial 7s from the HRS RAND file. Age, gender, education, marital status, self-health report, and depression were included as covariates. Using Mplus, we computed RI-CLPMs. The first three models were conducted on loneliness and cognitive functions. Then unconditional RI-CLPMs with no exogenous predictors were computed. Three conditional model results showed that age, gender, marital status, self-health report, and depression were significantly associated with loneliness in the first wave, but only age and self-health report were significantly associated with immediate and delayed word recall at the first wave, not with serial 7s. For carry-over effects, loneliness showed significant positive associations across consecutive waves, but cognitive functions showed significant positive associations just in the last two waves. Some spill-over effects were found between loneliness and cognitive functions. For within-person effects, although initially non-significant, a negative association between loneliness and immediate and delayed word recall emerged in later waves (11-12 and 13-14). The conditional models indicated that older age, not being married, male gender, low self-reported health, and high depression levels were positively associated with loneliness. However, only older age and lower self-reported health were positively linked to cognitive functions. This study underscores the link between loneliness and cognitive function decline in older adults, emphasizing the need to address loneliness to potentially reduce cognitive decline. Insights into demographic predictors of loneliness and cognitive function could inform targeted interventions for promoting successful aging.

Remote self-testing for adult cochlear implant users: the effect of wireless streaming on speech recognition in noise

Objectives Wireless sound transfer methods for cochlear implant sound processors have become popular for remote self-assessed hearing tests. The aim of this study was to determine (1) spectral differences in stimuli between different wireless sound transfer options and (2) the effect on outcomes of speech recognition tests in noise. Design In study 1, the frequency response of different streaming options (Phonak Roger Select, Cochlear Mini Mic 2+, telecoil and Bluetooth connection) was measured by connecting headphones to CI sound processors. Study 2 followed a repeated measures design in which digits-in-noise (DIN) tests were performed using wireless streaming to sound processors from Cochlear, Advanced Bionics, and MED-EL. Study Sample 20 normal hearing participants. Results Differences in frequency response between loudspeaker and wireless streaming conditions were minimal. We did not find significant difference in DIN outcome (F4,194 = 1.062, p = 0.376) between the wireless transfer options with the Cochlear Nucleus 7 processor. No significant difference in DIN outcomes was found between Bluetooth streaming and the loudspeaker condition for all of the three tested brands. The mean standard error of measurement was 0.72 dB. Conclusions No significant differences in DIN test outcomes between wireless sound transfer and the reference method were found.

Does Cannabis-based Medicine Improve Pain and Sleep Quality in Patients With Traumatic Brachial Plexus Injuries? A Triple-blind, Crossover, Randomized Controlled Trial.

After traumatic brachial plexus injuries, despite treatment with appropriate medications, some patients experience uncontrollable pain, which can be devastating. Cannabis-based medicine is considered to have pain-relieving benefits in this situation, but the evidence is limited. Is cannabis-based medicine effective compared with the placebo in (1) reducing pain (measured by the VAS for pain) and neuropathic pain (measured by the DN4 questionnaire), and (2) improving sleep quality (measured by the VAS for sleep quality) in patients with traumatic brachial plexus injury? This prospective, triple-blinded (the researcher administering the substance, the patients, and the evaluator were all blinded to the substance used), two-period crossover, placebo-controlled, randomized controlled trial was conducted at a single center. Between January 2020 and January 2022, we treated 147 patients for neuropathic pain related to a traumatic brachial plexus injury. Our inclusion criteria were age between 20 and 60 years and moderate-to-severe pain (VAS for pain equal to or greater than 4 of 10 for more than 6 months), even with the use of appropriate medications. Based on these criteria, 20% (30) of patients were eligible. They were randomly allocated to receive either cannabis-based medicine followed by the placebo or vice versa. Fifteen patients received cannabis-based medicine first, and 15 patients received the placebo first. The groups did not differ at baseline in terms of demographic parameters. Participants received both the cannabis-based medicine and the placebo; they started with 10 days of the initial intervention, followed by a 14-day washout period, and then a 10-day period with the second intervention. The dosage regimen adhered strictly to the protocol. The outcomes were the (1) VAS for pain, which ranges from 0 to 10 and where 0 represents no pain and 10 signifies the worst pain; (2) the DN4 questionnaire which ranges from 1 to 10 and where a score of 4 or higher indicates a positive result for neuropathic pain; and (3) VAS for sleep quality, from 0 (worst) to 10 (best). The minimum clinically important difference of VAS for pain was defined as a 2-point improvement. After enrollment, 7% (2 of 30) of patients (one patient received the cannabis-based medicine first and another received the placebo first) were lost before the minimum study follow-up, leaving 93% (28 of 30) for analysis. With 28 patients in each group, the study was powered a priori at 90% to detect a clinically important difference of 2 points in the VAS for pain. No carryover or period effects were observed in the study. Four patients experienced mild dizziness during the cannabis-based medicine period but were able to continue the intervention. When comparing the use of cannabis-based medicine alongside pain control medications with the combination of placebo and pain control medications, the reduction in pain VAS from the preintervention resulted in a mean difference of 1 (99% CI -0.03 to 2.1; p = 0.01). Neuropathic pain was reported by 75% (21 of 28) of patients in both interventions (OR 1 [99% CI 0.07 to 14.1]; p > 0.99). The VAS for sleep quality favored cannabis-based medicine with a mean difference of 1.5 (99% CI 0.7 to 2.4; p < 0.001). Our study findings indicate that cannabis-based medicine did not improve pain by a clinically important margin. Consequently, our study advises against the addition of cannabis-based medicine to the standard medication treatment for pain in patients with traumatic brachial plexus injury. Level 1, therapeutic study.