This research proposes an assessment and decision support model to use when a driver should be examined about their propensity for traffic accidents, based on an estimation of the driver's psychological traits. The proposed model was tested on a sample of 305 drivers. Each participant completed four psychological tests: the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11), the Aggressive Driving Behaviour Questionnaire (ADBQ), the Manchester Driver Attitude Questionnaire (DAQ) and the Questionnaire for Self-assessment of Driving Ability. In addition, participants completed an extensive demographic and driving survey. Various fuzzy inference systems were tested and each was defined using the well-known Wang-Mendel method for rule-base definition based on empirical data. For this purpose, a programming code was designed and utilized. Based on the obtained results, it was determined which combination of the considered psychological tests provides the best prediction of a driver's propensity for traffic accidents. The best of the considered fuzzy inference systems might be used as a decision support tool in various situations, such as in recruitment procedures for professional drivers. The validity of the proposed fuzzy approach was confirmed as its implementation provided better results than from statistics, in this case multiple regression analysis.

• Keywords
• Traffic accidents, driving behaviour, fuzzy rules based on data, fuzzy systems, multiple regression, road safety,
• MeSH
• Aggression MeSH
• Safety MeSH
• Accidents, Traffic * MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Fuzzy Logic MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Attitude MeSH
• Surveys and Questionnaires MeSH
• Models, Psychological * MeSH
• Regression Analysis MeSH
• Automobile Driving psychology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

BACKGROUND: A wide variety of interventions exists in physical therapy (PT), but knowledge about their use across different geographical regions is limited. This study investigated the use of PT interventions in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) across Europe. It aimed to determine whether regions differ in applying interventions, and explore whether factors other than regions play a role in their use. METHODS: In an online cross-sectional survey, 212 respondents from 115 European workplaces providing PT services to people with MS representing 26 countries (four European regions) participated. Cluster analysis, Pearson Chi-squared test and a Poisson regression model were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Thirteen of 45 listed PT interventions were used by more than 75% of centers, while nine interventions were used by less than 25%. For 12 interventions, regions differed markedly in their use. Cluster analysis of centers identified four clusters similar in their intervention use. Cluster assignment did not fully align with regions. While center region was important, center size, number and gender of physical therapists working in the center, and time since qualification also played a role. Cluster analysis exploring the use of the interventions provided the basis for a categorization of PT interventions in line with their primary focus: 1. Physical activity (fitness/endurance/resistance) training; 2. Neuroproprioceptive "facilitation/inhibition"; 3. Motor/skill acquisition (individualized therapy led); 4. Technology based interventions. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge this is the first study that has explored this topic in MS. The results broaden our understanding of the different PT interventions used in MS, as well as the context of their use.

• Keywords
• Cluster analysis, Europe, Multiple sclerosis, Physical therapy, Physiotherapeutic interventions, Questionnaire survey,
• MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Cross-Sectional Studies MeSH
• Regression Analysis MeSH
• Multiple Sclerosis therapy   MeSH
• Cluster Analysis MeSH
• Physical Therapy Modalities * MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Europe MeSH

The increasing prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has led to worldwide interest in factors influencing the age of ASD diagnosis. Parents or caregivers of 237 ASD children (193 boys, 44 girls) diagnosed using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) completed a simple descriptive questionnaire. The data were analyzed using the variable-centered multiple regression analysis and the person-centered classification tree method. We believed that the concurrent use of these two methods could produce robust results. The mean age at diagnosis was 5.8 ± 2.2 years (median 5.3 years). Younger ages for ASD diagnosis were predicted (using multiple regression analysis) by higher scores in the ADOS social domain, higher scores in ADOS restrictive and repetitive behaviors and interest domain, higher maternal education, and the shared household of parents. Using the classification tree method, the subgroup with the lowest mean age at diagnosis were children, in whom the summation of ADOS communication and social domain scores was ≥ 17, and paternal age at the delivery was ≥ 29 years. In contrast, the subgroup with the oldest mean age at diagnosis included children with summed ADOS communication and social domain scores < 17 and maternal education at the elementary school level. The severity of autism and maternal education played a significant role in both types of data analysis focused on age at diagnosis.

• Keywords
• ADOS, Age at diagnosis, Autism spectrum disorders, Maternal education, Paternal age, Shared household,
• MeSH
• Autistic Disorder * MeSH
• Child MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Communication MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Child Development Disorders, Pervasive * MeSH
• Autism Spectrum Disorder * diagnosis   epidemiology   MeSH
• Child, Preschool MeSH
• Regression Analysis MeSH
• Check Tag
• Child MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Child, Preschool MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Experiments were carried out in the genetically hypertensive obese rats of Koletsky type (SHR/N-cp) and in their lean siblings. Regression analysis was performed when plasma triglycerides was used as a dependent variable and plasma insulin, insulin binding to erythrocytes, basal plasma glucose tolerance data were used as independent variables. Coefficient determination (R2) as well as the tests of hypotheses of regression coefficients being zero were used to indicate which independent variables contributed the least in the explanation of dependent variable. This way we reduced the list of variables to give a simpler regression equation. In the control animals insulinemia was found to be dominant independent variable in all groups except SHR/N-cp obese females where the dominant independent variable was represented by the basal plasma glycaemia. Under the terguride treatment only in SHR/N-cp female rats the dominant independent variable remained the same as in controls. In the other groups the dominant independent variable was different in relation to the control animals. Long lasting terguride treatment normalized hypertriglyceridemia only in SHR/N-cp obese females. Thus the data obtained by multiple regression analysis of parameters of lipide and glycide metabolism show the close relationship to alleviating effect of terguride in hypertriglyceridemia.

• MeSH
• Dopamine Agonists pharmacology   MeSH
• Glucose metabolism   MeSH
• Glucose Tolerance Test MeSH
• Hypertension complications   metabolism   MeSH
• Insulin blood   MeSH
• Rats MeSH
• Lisuride analogs & derivatives   pharmacology   MeSH
• Obesity complications   metabolism   MeSH
• Rats, Inbred SHR MeSH
• Regression Analysis MeSH
• Triglycerides blood   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Rats MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Dopamine Agonists MeSH
• dironyl MeSH Browser
• Glucose MeSH
• Insulin MeSH
• Lisuride MeSH
• Triglycerides MeSH

BACKGROUND: Impairment of cognition and speech are common in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, but their relationship is not well understood. OBJECTIVE: To describe the relationship between articulation rate characteristics and processing speed and to investigate the potential role of objective speech analysis for the detection of cognitive decline in MS. METHODS: A total of 122 patients with clinically definite MS were included in this cross-sectional pilot study. Patients underwent three speaking tasks (oral diadochokinesis, reading text and monologue) and assessment of processing speed (Symbol Digit Modalities Test [SDMT], Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test-3 s [PASAT-3]). Association between articulation rate and cognition was analyzed using linear regression analysis. We estimated the area under the receiver operating characteristics curves (AUC) to evaluate the predictive accuracy of articulation rate measures for the detection of abnormal processing speed. RESULTS: We observed an association between articulation rate and cognitive measures (rho = 0.45-0.58; p < 0.001). Faster reading speed by one word per second was associated with an 18.7 point (95% confidence interval [CI] 14.9-22.5) increase of the SDMT score and 14.7 (95% CI 8.9-20.4) point increase of PASAT-3 score (both p < 0.001). AUC values of articulation rate characteristics for the identification of processing speed impairment ranged between 0.67 and 0.79. Using a cutoff of 3.10 in reading speed, we were able to identify impairment in both the SDMT and PASAT-3 with 91% sensitivity and 54% specificity. CONCLUSION: Slowed articulation rate is strongly associated with processing speed decline. Objective quantitative speech analysis identified patients with abnormal cognitive performance.

• Keywords
• Articulation, Cognition, Information processing, Multiple sclerosis, Speech,
• MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Dysarthria etiology   MeSH
• Cognition Disorders diagnosis   etiology   MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Pilot Projects MeSH
• Cross-Sectional Studies MeSH
• Regression Analysis MeSH
• ROC Curve MeSH
• Multiple Sclerosis complications   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Climatic conditions play a significant role in the development of citrus canker caused by Xanthomonas citri pv. citri (Xcc). Citrus canker is regarded as one of the major threats being faced by citrus industry in citrus growing countries of the world. Climatic factors exert significant impacts on growth stage, host susceptibility, succulence, vigor, survival, multiplication rate, pathogen dispersion, spore penetration rate, and spore germination. Predicting the impacts of climatic factors on these traits could aid in the development of effective management strategies against the disease. This study predicted the impacts of environmental variables, i.e., temperature, relative humidity, rainfall, and wind speed the development of citrus canker through multiple regression. These environmental variables were correlated with the development of canker on thirty (30) citrus varieties during 2017 to 2020. Significant positive correlations were noted among environment variables and disease development modeled through multiple regression model (Y = +24.02 + 0.5585 X1 + 0.2997 X2 + 0.3534 X3 + 3.590 X4 + 1.639 X5). Goodness of fit of the model was signified by coefficient determination value (97.5%). Results revealed the optimum values of environmental variables, i.e., maximum temperature (37°C), minimum temperature (27°C), relative humidity (55%), rainfall (4.7-7.1 mm) and wind speed (8 Km/h), which were conducive for the development of citrus canker. Current study would help researchers in designing better management strategies against citrus canker disease under changing climatic conditions in the future.

• MeSH
• Citrus * MeSH
• Plant Diseases MeSH
• Xanthomonas * MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Retracted Publication MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH

BACKGROUND: The relationship between fatigue impact and walking capacity and perceived ability in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is inconclusive in the existing literature. A better understanding might guide new treatment avenues for fatigue and/or walking capacity in patients with MS. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the subjective impact of fatigue and objective walking capacity as well as subjective walking ability in MS patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional multicenter study design was applied. Ambulatory MS patients (n = 189, age: 47.6 ± 10.5 years; gender: 115/74 women/men; Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS): 4.1 ± 1.8 [range: 0-6.5]) were tested at 11 sites. Objective tests of walking capacity included short walking tests (Timed 25-Foot Walk (T25FW), 10-Metre Walk Test (10mWT) at usual and fastest speed and the timed up and go (TUG)), and long walking tests (2- and 6-Minute Walk Tests (MWT). Subjective walking ability was tested applying the Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale-12 (MSWS-12). Fatigue impact was measured by the self-reported modified fatigue impact scale (MFIS) consisting of a total score (MFIStotal) and three subscales (MFISphysical, MFIScognitive and MFISpsychosocial). Uni- and multivariate regression analysis were performed to evaluate the relation between walking and fatigue impact. RESULTS: MFIStotal was negatively related with long (6MWT, r = -0.14, p = 0.05) and short composite (TUG, r = -0.22, p = 0.003) walking measures. MFISphysical showed a significant albeit weak relationship to walking speed in all walking capacity tests (r = -0.22 to -0.33, p < .0001), which persisted in the multivariate linear regression analysis. Subjective walking ability (MSWS-12) was related to MFIStotal (r = 0.49, p < 0.0001), as well as to all other subscales of MFIS (r = 0.24-0.63, p < 0.001), showing stronger relationships than objective measures of walking. CONCLUSIONS: The physical impact of fatigue is weakly related to objective walking capacity, while general, physical, cognitive and psychosocial fatigue impact are weakly to moderately related to subjective walking ability, when analysed in a large heterogeneous sample of MS patients.

• Keywords
• Fatigue, Multiple sclerosis, Walking capacity,
• MeSH
• Walking physiology   MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Gait Disorders, Neurologic etiology   MeSH
• Perception physiology   MeSH
• Disability Evaluation MeSH
• Cross-Sectional Studies MeSH
• Regression Analysis MeSH
• Multiple Sclerosis complications   psychology   MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Walk Test MeSH
• Fatigue etiology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Multicenter Study MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH

BACKGROUND: The risk factors for conversion from relapsing-remitting to secondary progressive multiple sclerosis remain highly contested. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the demographic, clinical and paraclinical features that influence the risk of conversion to secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. METHODS: Patients with adult-onset relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and at least four recorded disability scores were selected from MSBase, a global observational cohort. The risk of conversion to objectively defined secondary progressive multiple sclerosis was evaluated at multiple time points per patient using multivariable marginal Cox regression models. Sensitivity analyses were performed. RESULTS: A total of 15,717 patients were included in the primary analysis. Older age (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.02, p < 0.001), longer disease duration (HR = 1.01, p = 0.038), a higher Expanded Disability Status Scale score (HR = 1.30, p < 0.001), more rapid disability trajectory (HR = 2.82, p < 0.001) and greater number of relapses in the previous year (HR = 1.07, p = 0.010) were independently associated with an increased risk of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. Improving disability (HR = 0.62, p = 0.039) and disease-modifying therapy exposure (HR = 0.71, p = 0.007) were associated with a lower risk. Recent cerebral magnetic resonance imaging activity, evidence of spinal cord lesions and oligoclonal bands in the cerebrospinal fluid were not associated with the risk of conversion. CONCLUSION: Risk of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis increases with age, duration of illness and worsening disability and decreases with improving disability. Therapy may delay the onset of secondary progression.

• Keywords
• SPMS, disease modifying therapies, multiple sclerosis, prediction, prognostics,
• MeSH
• Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive drug therapy   epidemiology   physiopathology   MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Immunologic Factors pharmacology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Longitudinal Studies MeSH
• Disease Progression * MeSH
• Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting drug therapy   epidemiology   physiopathology   MeSH
• Risk MeSH
• Severity of Illness Index * MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Observational Study MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Immunologic Factors MeSH

Previous studies suggested that increased activity of haem oxygenase 1 may ameliorate autoimmune neuroinflammation in experimental models of multiple sclerosis. This increased activity is associated with an augmented number of GT repeats (≥ 25) within the HMOX1 gene promoter. Here we examined 338 patients with multiple sclerosis to determine the influence of their HMOX1 gene promoter (GT)n polymorphism and other individual characteristics on the course of the disease. The patients were divided into those with "rapid" or "delayed" course, based on reaching expanded disability status scale step 4 within nine years of disease onset, and the correlations between the disease course and the investigated characteristics were sought using logistic regression analysis. No statistically significant effect of HMOX1 gene promoter (GT)n polymorphism on the rate of disability progression was found (P = 0.9). This was confirmed by Cox regression analysis, which did not find any difference in the cumulative risk of reaching expanded disability status scale step 4 between the patients with long and short HMOX1 gene promoter (P = 0.7). In contrast, covariates significantly associated with the faster disability progression were: progressive course of multiple sclerosis, shorter duration of disease-modifying treatment and older age at disease onset (P ≤ 0.04). The observed absence of effect of the HMOX1 promoter (GT)n polymorphism could be attributed to its known dualistic role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders. As a secondary outcome, we have seen that disease-modifying drugs have the potential to delay disability progression in patients with multiple sclerosis.

• MeSH
• Autoimmune Diseases genetics   MeSH
• Time Factors MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Genetic Markers MeSH
• Heme Oxygenase-1 genetics   MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Polymorphism, Genetic * MeSH
• Prognosis MeSH
• Disease Progression MeSH
• Promoter Regions, Genetic * MeSH
• Proportional Hazards Models MeSH
• Regression Analysis MeSH
• Multiple Sclerosis genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Age of Onset MeSH
• Inflammation MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Genetic Markers MeSH
• Heme Oxygenase-1 MeSH

• MeSH
• Lumbar Vertebrae abnormalities   MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Kidney abnormalities   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Abnormalities, Multiple diagnostic imaging   MeSH
• Pregnancy in Diabetics diagnostic imaging   MeSH
• Pregnancy MeSH
• Ultrasonography, Prenatal MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Pregnancy MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Case Reports MeSH