Combining Propensity Scores and Common Items for Test Score Equating.

Ensuring that test scores are fair and comparable across different test forms and different test groups is a significant statistical challenge in educational testing. Methods to achieve score comparability, a process known as test score equating, often rely on including common test items or assuming that test taker groups are similar in key characteristics. This study explores a novel approach that combines propensity scores, based on test takers' background covariates, with information from common items using kernel smoothing techniques for binary-scored test items.

A Link Work Intervention to Facilitate Dental Visiting in People With Severe Mental Illness: A Two-Arm, Multi-Site, Assessor Blind, Randomised Feasibility Trial With Dental Record Linkage.

Objectives: People with severe mental illness experience poor oral health, compared to the general population. They experience inequity in accessing dental services. This randomised controlled trial evaluated the acceptability and feasibility of a link work intervention to support people with severe mental illness to access a routine dental appointment.

The influence of mycorrhizal hyphal connections and neighbouring plants on Plantago lanceolata physiology and nutrient uptake.

Most plants extend their zone of interaction with surrounding soils and plants via mycorrhizal hyphae, which in some cases can form common mycorrhizal networks with hyphal continuity to other neighbouring plants. These interactions can impact plant health and ecosystem function, yet the role of these radial plants in mycorrhizal interactions and subsequent plant performance remains underexplored. Here we investigated the influence of hyphal exploration and interaction with neighbouring mycorrhizal plants, plants that are weakly mycorrhizal, and a lack of neighbouring plants on the performance of Plantago lanceolata, a mycotrophic perennial herb common to many European grasslands, using mesh cores and the manipulation of neighbouring plant communities.

Linkages between plant tannins and the organic nitrogen cycle.

Tannins in forest soils bind organic nitrogen into persistent complexes, impacting nutrient cycling and ecosystem productivity. Mycorrhizal fungi, especially ectomycorrhizal (EcM) and ericoid types, can degrade these complexes, releasing nitrogen for plant uptake and influencing community composition. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi may also assist in nitrogen acquisition via interactions with free-living bacteria.

Large language model-driven natural language interaction control framework for single-operator bimanual teleoperation.

Bimanual teleoperation imposes cognitive and coordination demands on a single human operator tasked with simultaneously controlling two robotic arms. Although assigning each arm to a separate operator can distribute workload, it often leads to ambiguities in decision authority and degrades overall efficiency. To overcome these challenges, we propose a novel bimanual teleoperation large language model assistant (BTLA) framework, an intelligent co-pilot that augments a single operator's motor control capabilities.

Using Model-Based Geostatistics to Refine Population-Based Estimates of Trachoma Prevalence: Update from a Technical Consultation.

To explore how model-based geostatistics (MBG) could support trachoma elimination efforts, a technical consultation was held on March 4 and 5, 2024 by the Centre for Health Informatics, Computing, and Statistics at Lancaster University, United Kingdom, a WHO Collaborating Centre on Geostatistical Methods for Neglected Tropical Disease Research. The meeting aimed to foster collaboration for sharing insights on using MBG for decision-making; showcase its applications in assessing trachoma elimination status; address challenges, such as setting the probability threshold for elimination and resolving conflicts between survey and MBG evidence; and discuss considerations for integrating MBG into Tropical Data. Participants, including trachoma program managers, experts, academics, donors, and statisticians, reviewed MBG applications, discussed ongoing studies, identified knowledge gaps, and planned future work.

In vitro gametogenesis, 'social infertility', and the legacy of the Warnock report.

In vitro gametogenesis (IVG) is a biotechnological development which aims to replicate the process of gametogenesis outside the human body. If proven safe and effective, IVG could disrupt various social and biological norms, and create new reproductive possibilities and opportunities for those who experience infertility as a result of both social and biomedical factors. In this article we argue that the new reproductive possibilities provided by IVG, much like earlier discussions of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) dating back to the Warnock Report, highlight the importance of exploring the distinctions often made in policy terms between 'medical' and 'social' understandings of infertility, and that any access and funding decisions made on this basis require careful and critical attention.

Characterization of bovine and ovine basal-out and apical-out ileum organoids.

Organoids are three-dimensional stem cell-derived structures that differentiate into multiple cell types. Their capacity to self-organize, coupled with the presence of diverse cell types, means that organoids resemble their organ of origin in architecture and function. Organoids from intestinal tissues have been extensively used as a three-dimensional model for studies of the gut.

Predicting Engagement With Conversational Agents in Mental Health Therapy by Examining the Role of Epistemic Trust, Personality, and Fear of Intimacy: Cross-Sectional Web-Based Survey Study.

Background: The use of conversational agents (CAs) in mental health therapy is gaining traction due to their accessibility, anonymity, and nonjudgmental nature. However, understanding the psychological factors driving preferences for CA-based therapy remains critical to ensure ethical and effective application. Variables such as epistemic trust, attachment styles, personality traits, and fear of intimacy appear central in shaping attitudes toward these artificial intelligence (AI)-driven interventions.

Brain Segregation and Integration Relate to Word-Finding Abilities in Older and Younger Adults.

Previous research has shown that word-finding difficulties in older age are associated with functional and structural brain changes. Functional brain networks, measured through electroencephalography, reflect the brain's neurophysiological organisation. However, the utility of functional brain networks, to predict word-finding in older and younger adults has not yet been investigated.

Fusion of Multimodal Spatio-Temporal Features and 3D Deformable Convolution Based on Sign Language Recognition in Sensor Networks.

Sign language is a complex and dynamic visual language that requires the coordinated movement of various body parts, such as the hands, arms, and limbs-making it an ideal application domain for sensor networks to capture and interpret human gestures accurately. To address the intricate task of precise and expedient SLR from raw videos, this study introduces a novel deep learning approach by devising a multimodal framework for SLR. Specifically, feature extraction models are built based on two modalities: skeleton and RGB images.

Lived experiences of psychological distress in neck dystonia.

Purpose: Neck dystonia (ND) is a hyperkinetic movement disorder affecting the head and neck regions. High prevalence rates of psychological distress have been reported in ND. The aim of this research was to explore people's experiences of distress, in order to understand the needs of this population further.

Targeted elimination of mesenchymal-like cancer cells through cyclic stretch activation of Piezo1 channels: the physical aspects.

The application of cyclic stretch could represent a novel therapeutic method for fighting cancer. Research indicates that this mechanical stimulus selectively induces cell death in cancer mesenchymal-like cells while enhancing the migration and proliferation of healthy epithelial cells. Although the mechanisms have been examined through the lenses of cell signalling, gene expression, and biochemical processes, a significant gap persists in our understanding of the physical factors that drive cellular responses.

Saccadic eye movements differentiate functional cognitive disorder from mild cognitive impairment.

Functional Cognitive Disorder ("FCD") is a type of Functional Neurological Disorder characterised by subjective cognitive complaints not fully attributable to brain injury, disease, or other neuropathological or psychiatric conditions. FCD is a cognitive impairment but does not necessarily "convert" to cognitive decline. However, FCD is common in Memory Clinics worldwide, and currently there is a lack of tests to objectively assess FCD.

Aerobic minutes and step number remain low in inpatient stroke rehabilitation.

Objective: Rehabilitation is important for regaining mobility poststroke. Clinical practice guidelines suggest a high number of repetitive stepping activities to optimize subacute recovery especially when undertaken at intensities that challenge cardiovascular fitness. However, adherence to these guidelines is unclear.

"A creature inside me": perceptions and representations of HIV among adolescents living with HIV in Malawi.

Malawi is among the countries with the highest HIV prevalence worldwide. Adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) face diverse challenges, which influence their emotional wellbeing and long-term health, in addition to impacting HIV onward transmission. HIV education, especially the use of fear-based animation, but also the figurative language used for HIV, contribute to how ALHIV perceive and respond to their HIV status.

The transition from oncology to palliative care: barriers and facilitators explored through an integrative review.

Background: Patients with advanced cancer often experience difficult symptoms near the end of life, yet the beneficial integration of oncology and palliative care is frequently lacking or poorly coordinated. Transitioning from curative treatments to palliative care focused on symptom relief and quality of life remains a common challenge. Palliative care is often underused or introduced late in the cancer treatment process, leading to suboptimal care outcomes.

Tropical biodiversity loss from land-use change is severely underestimated by local-scale assessments.

Human impacts on nature span vast spatial scales that transcend abiotic gradients and biogeographic barriers, yet estimates of biodiversity loss from land-use change overwhelmingly derive from local-scale studies. Using a field dataset of 971 bird species sampled in forest and cattle pasture across 13 biogeographic regions of Colombia, we quantify biodiversity losses from local to near-national scales. Losses are on average 60% worse at the pan-Colombian scale than in individual regions, with underestimation remaining until six to seven biogeographic regions are sampled.

Independent effects of sex and ear-canal size on auditory brainstem response amplitudes in young adults.

Objective: Adult auditory brainstem response (ABR) amplitudes are employed by both researchers and clinicians, but exhibit substantial between-subject variability, reducing their sensitivity as measures of underlying auditory health. One source of variability is sex, for which a number of mechanisms have been proposed. The present analysis aimed to determine whether ear-canal size influences ABR wave I amplitude, independent of sex.

Challenges in the surveillance and control of mosquito-borne diseases in Europe and United States. The perspective from public health experts.

The complexity of mosquito-borne diseases and the necessity for cross-sector collaboration present significant challenges, requiring changes in laws, policies, and inter-agency agreements. In this qualitative study we purposively selected and interviewed public health managers from the European Union and United States involved in vector-borne disease surveillance and control and asked them about the barriers currently faced when engaging in their activities. The interviewees highlighted the differences in surveillance and control guidelines between the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which reflect structural political differences between the European Union and United States.

Role of viscoelasticity in the buckling-to-folding transition of epithelial monolayers under uni-axial compression.

Epithelial tissues often experience, and respond to, in-plane compression. This occurs during embryonic development and continues throughout adult life, driven by both internal and external forces. Gaining insight into such processes is essential for understanding the mechanisms of tissue morphogenesis, and therefore carries significant implications for developmental biology and regenerative medicine.

Complete removal of toxic herbicides and structural insight by a heteromolecular aggregate.

Viologens, especially paraquat (PQ) and its analogs, were commonly used as herbicides. However, their high toxicity poses considerable risks to human life and the environment. In this paper, we report an effective strategy for the encapsulation of toxic herbicides by a heteromolecular aggregate (HA) and could be used for the treatment of viologen poisoning.

Ethical challenges in sensitive research: a reflective narrative on managing the clinician-researcher dual role.

Background: Conducting sensitive research in healthcare settings often presents complex ethical challenges, particularly when clinicians assume a dual role as researchers. This dual role, while providing valuable insight, can lead to ethical dilemmas when professional responsibilities intersect with research obligations, especially in resource-limited and culturally sensitive environments. This reflective narrative explores these ethical tensions through the lens of a qualitative study involving men living with advanced prostate cancer and their family caregivers.

Safety and effectiveness of the Walk 'n Watch structured, progressive exercise protocol delivered by physical therapists for inpatient stroke rehabilitation in Canada: a phase 3, multisite, pragmatic, stepped-wedge, cluster-randomised controlled trial.

Background: Although clinical guidelines support high repetitions of walking after stroke, practice is slow to change. We undertook an implementation trial to enable entire stroke units to use the Walk 'n Watch structured, progressive exercise protocol. Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Walk 'n Watch implementation package on patient outcomes after 4 weeks in an inpatient stroke rehabilitation setting.