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Heliyon May 2024The present study examined gender-wise differences in the use of apology strategies employed by Persian and American English interlocutors in two popular Persian and...
The present study examined gender-wise differences in the use of apology strategies employed by Persian and American English interlocutors in two popular Persian and American TV film-series. To this aim, 347 apology utterances across 600 min of both Persian and American TV film-series were selected for analysis. The apology utterances produced by males and females in the two film series were observed, classified, and coded based on the apology strategies taxonomy propounded by Eslami-Rasekh (2004) [59]. The acquired data were analyzed through descriptive statistics and Binomial tests to depict the frequency and type of apologies concerning female-female, female-male, male-female, and male-male interactions. The frequency of the males' apologies to the females and males suggested no statistically significant differences between the two communities. In addition, the findings manifested both similarities and differences in the realization and distribution of the apology speech act between males and females in the targeted cultures. For example, the apology strategies were more commonly used by the males than the females. Illocutionary Force Indicating Devices were the most frequent apology strategies employed by the Persian and American males in both languages. In the Persian film series, 'Acceptance of responsibility' and 'Offer of repair' were the other frequent apology strategies which differed significantly between the males and females. In the American film series, 'Explanation', 'Acceptance of responsibility', and 'Refusing responsibility' were the strategies found to be significantly different between the males and females. Generally, it was realized that males were more inclined to apologize in the examined film series despite the prevalent stereotype that women apologize more frequently than men.
PubMed: 38756595
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30508 -
Journal of the American Academy of... May 2024Instrumented spinal fusions can be used in the treatment of vertebral fractures, spinal instability, and scoliosis or kyphosis. Construct-level selection has notable...
BACKGROUND
Instrumented spinal fusions can be used in the treatment of vertebral fractures, spinal instability, and scoliosis or kyphosis. Construct-level selection has notable implications on postoperative recovery, alignment, and mobility. This study sought to project future trends in the implementation rates and associated costs of single-level versus multilevel instrumentation procedures in US Medicare patients aged older than 65 years in the United States.
METHODS
Data were acquired from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2019. Procedure costs and counts were abstracted using Current Procedural Terminology codes to identify spinal level involvement. The Prophet machine learning algorithm was used, using a Bayesian Inference framework, to generate point forecasts for 2020 to 2050 and 95% forecast intervals (FIs). Sensitivity analyses were done by comparing projections from linear, log-linear, Poisson and negative-binomial, and autoregressive integrated moving average models. Costs were adjusted for inflation using the 2019 US Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index.
RESULTS
Between 2000 and 2019, the annual spinal instrumentation volume increased by 776% (from 7,342 to 64,350 cases) for single level, by 329% (from 20,319 to 87,253 cases) for two-four levels, by 1049% (from 1,218 to 14,000 cases) for five-seven levels, and by 739% (from 193 to 1,620 cases) for eight-twelve levels (P < 0.0001). The inflation-adjusted reimbursement for single-level instrumentation procedures decreased 45.6% from $1,148.15 to $788.62 between 2000 and 2019, which is markedly lower than for other prevalent orthopaedic procedures: total shoulder arthroplasty (-23.1%), total hip arthroplasty (-39.2%), and total knee arthroplasty (-42.4%). By 2050, the number of single-level spinal instrumentation procedures performed yearly is projected to be 124,061 (95% FI, 87,027 to 142,907), with associated costs of $93,900,672 (95% FI, $80,281,788 to $108,220,932).
CONCLUSIONS
The number of single-level instrumentation procedures is projected to double by 2050, while the number of two-four level procedures will double by 2040. These projections offer a measurable basis for resource allocation and procedural distribution.
Topics: Humans; United States; Medicare; Spinal Fusion; Aged; Forecasting; Female; Health Care Costs; Male; Aged, 80 and over
PubMed: 38743853
DOI: 10.5435/JAAOSGlobal-D-24-00053 -
Frontiers in Genetics 2024Recent technology breakthroughs in spatially resolved transcriptomics (SRT) have enabled the comprehensive molecular characterization of cells whilst preserving their...
Recent technology breakthroughs in spatially resolved transcriptomics (SRT) have enabled the comprehensive molecular characterization of cells whilst preserving their spatial and gene expression contexts. One of the fundamental questions in analyzing SRT data is the identification of spatially variable genes whose expressions display spatially correlated patterns. Existing approaches are built upon either the Gaussian process-based model, which relies on kernels, or the energy-based Ising model, which requires gene expression to be measured on a lattice grid. To overcome these potential limitations, we developed a generalized energy-based framework to model gene expression measured from imaging-based SRT platforms, accommodating the irregular spatial distribution of measured cells. Our Bayesian model applies a zero-inflated negative binomial mixture model to dichotomize the raw count data, reducing noise. Additionally, we incorporate a geostatistical mark interaction model with a generalized energy function, where the interaction parameter is used to identify the spatial pattern. Auxiliary variable MCMC algorithms were employed to sample from the posterior distribution with an intractable normalizing constant. We demonstrated the strength of our method on both simulated and real data. Our simulation study showed that our method captured various spatial patterns with high accuracy; moreover, analysis of a seqFISH dataset and a STARmap dataset established that our proposed method is able to identify genes with novel and strong spatial patterns.
PubMed: 38725485
DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1356709 -
Deutsches Arzteblatt International Jul 2024Regional deprivation due to regional economic and social differences can increase the risk of suicide. This study investigated whether regional structural deprivation in... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
BACKGROUND
Regional deprivation due to regional economic and social differences can increase the risk of suicide. This study investigated whether regional structural deprivation in Germany is associated with a higher rate of suicide.
METHODS
Data from cause-of-death statistics for the years 2015-2021 were analyzed. A regression analysis for data with a negative binomial distribution was used to study the association between suicide mortality and the German Index of Multiple Deprivation (GIMD), which is based on data from 2015 and includes 401 districts and independent cities in Germany.
RESULTS
Among the districts and independent cities covered by the GIMD, the quintile with the highest deprivation had higher suicide rates than the quintile with the lowest deprivation (relative risk [RR]: 1.85; 95% confidence interval [1.72; 2.00]). A sensitivity analysis revealed similar associations when the analysis was restricted to men (RR = 1.99 [1.80; 2.18]) or women (RR = 1.69 [1.49; 1.92]). A stronger association, however, was found in a comparison of rural (RR = 2.29 [2.04; 2.57]) with urban areas (RR = 1.51 [1.36; 1.68]).
CONCLUSION
These findings document an association between regional deprivation and suicide. They highlight the need for a more targeted approach to suicide prevention in deprived regions. At the same time, more research is needed into the mechanisms and effects of regional deprivation on mortality due to suicide.
PubMed: 38717465
DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.m2024.0069 -
Scientific Reports May 2024Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease affecting approximately 20% of children globally. While studies have been conducted elsewhere, air...
Association between exposure to ambient air pollution, meteorological factors and atopic dermatitis consultations in Singapore-a stratified nationwide time-series analysis.
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease affecting approximately 20% of children globally. While studies have been conducted elsewhere, air pollution and weather variability is not well studied in the tropics. This time-series study examines the association between air pollution and meteorological factors with the incidence of outpatient visits for AD obtained from the National Skin Centre (NSC) in Singapore. The total number of 1,440,844 consultation visits from the NSC from 2009 to 2019 was analysed. Using the distributed lag non-linear model and assuming a negative binomial distribution, the short-term temporal association between outpatient visits for AD and air quality and meteorological variability on a weekly time-scale were examined, while adjusting for long-term trends, seasonality and autocorrelation. The analysis was also stratified by gender and age to assess potential effect modification. The risk of AD consultation visits was 14% lower (RR: 0.86, 95% CI 0.78-0.96) at the 10th percentile (11.9 µg/m) of PM and 10% higher (RR: 1.10, 95% CI 1.01-1.19) at the 90th percentile (24.4 µg/m) compared to the median value (16.1 µg/m). Similar results were observed for PM with lower risk at the 10th percentile and higher risk at the 90th percentile (RR: 0.86, 95% CI 0.78-0.95, RR: 1.10, 95% CI 1.01-1.19). For rainfall for values above the median, the risk of consultation visits was higher up to 7.4 mm in the PM model (RR: 1.07, 95% CI 1.00-1.14) and up to 9 mm in the PM model (RR: 1.12, 95% CI 1.00-1.25). This study found a close association between outpatient visits for AD with ambient particulate matter concentrations and rainfall. Seasonal variations in particulate matter and rainfall may be used to alert healthcare providers on the anticipated rise in AD cases and to time preventive measures to reduce the associated health burden.
Topics: Humans; Singapore; Dermatitis, Atopic; Air Pollution; Female; Child; Male; Child, Preschool; Adolescent; Adult; Particulate Matter; Infant; Environmental Exposure; Young Adult; Seasons; Weather; Middle Aged; Meteorological Concepts; Air Pollutants; Referral and Consultation; Incidence; Infant, Newborn
PubMed: 38710739
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60712-4 -
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual... May 2024We sought to explore whether sex imbalances are discernible in several autosomally inherited macular dystrophies.
PURPOSE
We sought to explore whether sex imbalances are discernible in several autosomally inherited macular dystrophies.
METHODS
We searched the electronic patient records of our large inherited retinal disease cohort, quantifying numbers of males and females with the more common (non-ABCA4) inherited macular dystrophies (associated with BEST1, EFEMP1, PROM1, PRPH2, RP1L1, and TIMP3). BEST1 cases were subdivided into typical autosomal dominant and recessive disease. For PRPH2, only patients with variants at codons 172 or 142 were included. Recessive PROM1 and recessive RP1L1 cases were excluded because these variants give a more widespread or peripheral degeneration. The proportion of females was calculated for each condition; two-tailed binomial testing was performed. Where a significant imbalance was found, previously published cohorts were also explored.
RESULTS
Of 325 patients included, numbers for BEST1, EFEMP1, PROM1, PRPH2, RP1L1, and TIMP3 were 152, 35, 30, 50, 14, and 44, respectively. For autosomal dominant Best disease (n = 115), there were fewer females (38%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 29-48%; P = 0.015). For EFEMP1-associated disease (n = 35), there were significantly more females (77%; 95% CI, 60%-90%; P = 0.0019). No significant imbalances were seen for the other genes. When pooling our cohort with previous large dominant Best disease cohorts, the proportion of females was 37% (95% CI, 31%-43%; P = 1.2 × 10-5). Pooling previously published EFEMP1-cases with ours yielded an overall female proportion of 62% (95% CI, 54%-69%; P = 0.0023).
CONCLUSIONS
This exploratory study found significant sex imbalances in two autosomal macular dystrophies, suggesting that sex could be a modifier. Our findings invite replication in further cohorts and the investigation of potential mechanisms.
Topics: Humans; Female; Male; Sex Distribution; Macular Degeneration; Extracellular Matrix Proteins; Eye Proteins; Peripherins; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-3
PubMed: 38700873
DOI: 10.1167/iovs.65.5.9 -
Scientific Reports May 2024Zika, a viral disease transmitted to humans by Aedes mosquitoes, emerged in the Americas in 2015, causing large-scale epidemics. Colombia alone reported over 72,000 Zika...
Zika, a viral disease transmitted to humans by Aedes mosquitoes, emerged in the Americas in 2015, causing large-scale epidemics. Colombia alone reported over 72,000 Zika cases between 2015 and 2016. Using national surveillance data from 1121 municipalities over 70 weeks, we identified sociodemographic and environmental factors associated with Zika's emergence, re-emergence, persistence, and transmission intensity in Colombia. We fitted a zero-state Markov-switching model under the Bayesian framework, assuming Zika switched between periods of presence and absence according to spatially and temporally varying probabilities of emergence/re-emergence (from absence to presence) and persistence (from presence to presence). These probabilities were assumed to follow a series of mixed multiple logistic regressions. When Zika was present, assuming that the cases follow a negative binomial distribution, we estimated the transmission intensity rate. Our results indicate that Zika emerged/re-emerged sooner and that transmission was intensified in municipalities that were more densely populated, at lower altitudes and/or with less vegetation cover. Warmer temperatures and less weekly-accumulated rain were also associated with Zika emergence. Zika cases persisted for longer in more densely populated areas with more cases reported in the previous week. Overall, population density, elevation, and temperature were identified as the main contributors to the first Zika epidemic in Colombia. We also estimated the probability of Zika presence by municipality and week, and the results suggest that the disease circulated undetected by the surveillance system on many occasions. Our results offer insights into priority areas for public health interventions against emerging and re-emerging Aedes-borne diseases.
Topics: Zika Virus Infection; Colombia; Humans; Markov Chains; Zika Virus; Animals; Aedes; Bayes Theorem; Mosquito Vectors; Disease Outbreaks
PubMed: 38693192
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59976-7 -
BMC Palliative Care Apr 2024In response to the rapid aging population and increasing number of cancer patients, discussions on dignified end-of-life (EoL) decisions are active around the world....
BACKGROUND
In response to the rapid aging population and increasing number of cancer patients, discussions on dignified end-of-life (EoL) decisions are active around the world. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the differences in EoL care patterns between types of hospice used for cancer patients.
METHODS
In this population-based cohort study, the Korean National Health Insurance Service cohort data containing all registered cancer patients who died between 2017 and 2021 were used. A total of 408,964 individuals were eligible for analysis. The variable of interest, the type of hospice used in the 6 months before death, was classified as follows: (1) Non-hospice users; (2) Hospital-based hospice single users; (3) Home-based hospice single users; (4) Combined hospice users. The outcomes were set as patterns of care, including intense care and supportive care. To identify differences in care patterns between hospice types, a generalized linear model with zero-inflated negative binomial distribution was applied.
RESULTS
Hospice enrollment was associated with less intense care and more supportive care near death. Notably, those who used combined hospice care had the lowest probability and frequency of receiving intense care (aOR: 0.18, 95% CI: 0.17-0.19, aRR: 0.47, 95% CI: 0.44-0.49), while home-based hospice single users had the highest probability and frequency of receiving supportive care (Prescription for narcotic analgesics, aOR: 2.95, 95% CI: 2.69-3.23, aRR: 1.45, 95% CI: 1.41-1.49; Mental health care, aOR: 3.40, 95% CI: 3.13-3.69, aRR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.31-1.39).
CONCLUSION
Our findings suggest that although intense care for life-sustaining decreases with hospice enrollment, QoL at the EoL actually improves with appropriate supportive care. This study is meaningful in that it not only offers valuable insight into hospice care for terminally ill patients, but also provides policy implications for the introduction of patient-centered community-based hospice services.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Neoplasms; Retrospective Studies; Middle Aged; Aged; Terminal Care; Republic of Korea; Cohort Studies; Hospice Care; Adult; Aged, 80 and over; Hospices
PubMed: 38689262
DOI: 10.1186/s12904-024-01442-2 -
Oman Medical Journal Jan 2024In medical research, the study's design and statistical methods are pivotal, as they guide interpretation and conclusion. Selecting appropriate statistical models hinges...
OBJECTIVES
In medical research, the study's design and statistical methods are pivotal, as they guide interpretation and conclusion. Selecting appropriate statistical models hinges on the distribution of the outcome measure. Count data, frequently used in medical research, often exhibit over-dispersion or zero inflation. Occasionally, count data are considered ordinal (with a maximum outcome value of 5), and this calls for the application of ordinal regression models. Various models exist for analyzing over-dispersed data such as negative binomial, generalized Poisson (GP), and ordinal regression model. This study aims to examine whether the GP model is a superior alternative to the ordinal logistic regression (OLR) model, specifically in the context of zero-inflated Poisson models using both simulated and real-time data.
METHODS
Simulated data were generated with varied estimates of regression coefficients, sample sizes, and various proportions of zeros. The GP and OLR models were compared using fit statistics. Additionally, comparisons were made using real-time datasets.
RESULTS
The simulated results consistently revealed lower bias and mean squared error values in the GP model compared to the OLR model. The same trend was observed in real-time datasets, with the GP model consistently demonstrating lower standard errors. Except when the sample size was 1000 and the proportions of zeros were 30% and 40%, the Bayesian information criterion consistently favored the GP model over the OLR model.
CONCLUSIONS
This study establishes that the proposed GP model offers a more advantageous alternative to the OLR model. Moreover, the GP model facilitates easier modeling and interpretation when compared to the OLR model.
PubMed: 38686000
DOI: 10.5001/omj.2024.41 -
Bioinformatics (Oxford, England) May 2024Continuous advancements in single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology have enabled researchers to further explore the study of cell heterogeneity, trajectory...
MOTIVATION
Continuous advancements in single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology have enabled researchers to further explore the study of cell heterogeneity, trajectory inference, identification of rare cell types, and neurology. Accurate scRNA-seq data clustering is crucial in single-cell sequencing data analysis. However, the high dimensionality, sparsity, and presence of "false" zero values in the data can pose challenges to clustering. Furthermore, current unsupervised clustering algorithms have not effectively leveraged prior biological knowledge, making cell clustering even more challenging.
RESULTS
This study investigates a semisupervised clustering model called scTPC, which integrates the triplet constraint, pairwise constraint, and cross-entropy constraint based on deep learning. Specifically, the model begins by pretraining a denoising autoencoder based on a zero-inflated negative binomial distribution. Deep clustering is then performed in the learned latent feature space using triplet constraints and pairwise constraints generated from partial labeled cells. Finally, to address imbalanced cell-type datasets, a weighted cross-entropy loss is introduced to optimize the model. A series of experimental results on 10 real scRNA-seq datasets and five simulated datasets demonstrate that scTPC achieves accurate clustering with a well-designed framework.
AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION
scTPC is a Python-based algorithm, and the code is available from https://github.com/LF-Yang/Code or https://zenodo.org/records/10951780.
Topics: Single-Cell Analysis; Cluster Analysis; Algorithms; Humans; Sequence Analysis, RNA; RNA-Seq; Deep Learning; Software; Single-Cell Gene Expression Analysis
PubMed: 38684178
DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btae293