Treatment of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction by Classical Eyelid Hygiene Measures With and Without Additional Lipid Substitution for Tear Film Stabilization.

Objective: This study aimed to document the treatment success of eyelid hygiene with liposomal suspension using new diagnostic tools and to determine whether additional lipid substitution provided measurable benefits in meibomian gland dysfunction.

Methods: A single-center controlled, partially single masked study was conducted. Group A used eyelid hygiene only, whereas group B additionally applied a liposomal eye spray.

On the Identifiability of 3- and 4-Parameter Item Response Theory Models From the Perspective of Knowledge Space Theory.

The present work aims at showing that the identification problems (here meant as both issues of empirical indistinguishability and unidentifiability) of some item response theory models are related to the notion of identifiability in knowledge space theory. Specifically, that the identification problems of the 3- and 4-parameter models are related to the more general issues of forward- and backward-gradedness in all items of the power set, which is the knowledge structure associated with IRT models under the assumption of local independence. As a consequence, the identifiability problem of a 4-parameter model is split into two parts: a first one, which is the result of a trade-off between the left-side added parameters and the remainder of the Item Response Function, e.

Patients' well-being during the transition period after psychiatric hospitalization to school: insights from an intensive longitudinal assessment of patient-parent-teacher triads.

Background: The transition period after psychiatric hospitalization back to school is accompanied by various challenges, including a substantial risk for rehospitalization. Self-efficacy and self-control, as transdiagnostic variables and important predictors of coping with school demands, should be crucial factors for successful adaptation processes as well as an overall high well-being during school reentry. The present study therefore investigates how patients' well-being develops during this period, and how it is related to patients' self-control and academic self-efficacy, as well as parents' and teachers' self-efficacy in dealing with the patient.

E-Mental-Health aftercare for children and adolescents after partial or full inpatient psychiatric hospitalization: study protocol of the randomized controlled DigiPuR trial.

Background: During reintegration to daily school life following psychiatric hospitalization, children and adolescents are confronted with various challenges and are at risk for rehospitalization. Tailored post-discharge services could support a successful readjustment and accompany the high-risk transition period after discharge. The study DigiPuR ("Digital gestützte Psychotherapie und Reintegration," digitally supported psychotherapy and reintegration) aims to establish and to evaluate an innovative digital aftercare program to alleviate challenges during reintegration and improve cross-sectoral care.

Do Open-Science Badges Increase Trust in Scientists Among Undergraduates, Scientists, and the Public?

In three experimental studies, we investigated whether badges for open-science practices have the potential to affect trust in scientists and topic-specific epistemic beliefs by student teachers ( = 270), social scientists ( = 250), or the public ( = 257), all of whom were at least 16 years old. Furthermore, we analyzed the moderating role of epistemic beliefs for badges and trust. Each participant was randomly assigned to two of three conditions: badges awarded, badges not awarded, and no badges (control).

Acute effects of a motor coordination intervention on executive functions in kindergartners: a proof-of-concept randomized controlled trial.

Background: Executive functions are pivotal for future academic and social functioning. Causal effects of physical activity on executive functions have been shown in adults. The primary objective of this study was to test the proof-of-concept (i.

Forecasting Intra-individual Changes of Affective States Taking into Account Inter-individual Differences Using Intensive Longitudinal Data from a University Student Dropout Study in Math.

The longitudinal process that leads to university student dropout in STEM subjects can be described by referring to (a) inter-individual differences (e.g., cognitive abilities) as well as (b) intra-individual changes (e.

Association of professional pre-qualifications, study success in medical school and the eligibility for becoming a physician: A scoping review.

Background: Literature, individual experiences and common considerations suggest that prior professional qualification can be an advantage for later career development. For instance, in Germany, professional pre-qualification has been honored by medical faculties in selection procedures for several years. However, a systematic evaluation of this relationship lacks.

The adolescent motor performance development of elite female soccer players: A study of prognostic relevance for future success in adulthood using multilevel modelling.

Considering the scarce empirical evidence regarding talent predictors in female youth soccer, the present study aimed to investigate the long-term prognostic validity of elite female soccer players' adolescent motor performance for future success in adulthood. Additionally, the three-year development of highly talented girls' motor performance and the predictive value of this motor development for reaching a professional adult performance level (APL) was analysed. Overall, = 737 female players participated in nationwide motor diagnostics (sprinting, agility, dribbling, ball control, shooting) within the German Soccer Association's talent identification and development programme at least twice between the age groups Under-12 (U12) and U15.

Comparing estimators for latent interaction models under structural and distributional misspecifications.

Estimation methods for structural equation models with interactions of latent variables were compared in several studies. Yet none of these studies examined models that were structurally misspecified. Here, the model-implied instrumental variable 2-stage least square estimator (MIIV-2SLS; Bollen, 1995; Bollen & Paxton, 1998), the 2-stage method of moments estimator (2SMM; Wall & Amemiya, 2003), the nonlinear structural equation mixture model approach (NSEMM; Kelava, Nagengast, & Brandt, 2014), and the unconstrained product indicator approach (UPI; Marsh, Wen, & Hau, 2004) were compared in a Monte Carlo simulation.

Refining scores based on patient reported outcomes - statistical and medical perspectives.

Background: Patient Reported Outcomes (PRO) are gaining more and more importance in the context of clinical trials. The assessment of PRO is frequently performed by questionnaires where the multiple items of a questionnaire are usually pooled within summarizing scores. These scores are used as variables to measure subjective aspects of treatments and diseases.

On a Generalization of Local Independence in Item Response Theory Based on Knowledge Space Theory.

Knowledge space theory (KST) structures are introduced within item response theory (IRT) as a possible way to model local dependence between items. The aim of this paper is threefold: firstly, to generalize the usual characterization of local independence without introducing new parameters; secondly, to merge the information provided by the IRT and KST perspectives; and thirdly, to contribute to the literature that bridges continuous and discrete theories of assessment. In detail, connections are established between the KST simple learning model (SLM) and the IRT General Graded Response Model, and between the KST Basic Local Independence Model and IRT models in general.

Identification of neurophysiological biotypes in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Aim: Findings on neurophysiological alterations in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have been proposed to underlie ADHD symptoms, with different etiological pathways for different patient biotypes. We aimed at determining whether neurophysiological deviations confirm distinct neurophysiological profiles in ADHD, thus providing direct evidence for the endophenotype concept.

Methods: Neurophysiological biotypes were investigated in 87 adult patients with ADHD using cluster analysis.

Longitudinal motor performance development in early adolescence and its relationship to adult success: An 8-year prospective study of highly talented soccer players.

Several talent identification and development (TID) programs in soccer have implemented diagnostics to measure players' motor performance. Yet, there is a lack of research investigating the relationship between motor development in adolescence and future, adult performance. This longitudinal study analyzed the three-year development of highly talented young soccer players' speed abilities and technical skills and examined the relevance of this development to their adult success.

Tilt testing and what you should know about it - Experience with 835 consecutive patients with syncope of unknown origin.

Background: Numerous tilt testing protocols with and without a preceding passive phase or the administration of nitrates have already been investigated. However, a truely standardized method for the investigation does not yet exist.

Methods And Results: A total of 835 consecutive patients who underwent tilt testing between January 2005 and March 2015 were included in this study.

Development and psychometric validation of a shorter version of the Breast Cancer Treatment Outcome Scale (BCTOS-12).

Objectives: Aesthetic and functional outcomes after oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery (BCS) are directly related to the patients' quality of life (QoL). The Breast Cancer Treatment Outcome Scale (BCTOS) is a validated but burdensome questionnaire for the assessment of these outcomes. The aim of the study was to strengthen and focus the BCTOS instrument by reducing the number of items and subscales without loss of information and validity.

The influence of speed abilities and technical skills in early adolescence on adult success in soccer: A long-term prospective analysis using ANOVA and SEM approaches.

Several talent development programs in youth soccer have implemented motor diagnostics measuring performance factors. However, the predictive value of such tests for adult success is a controversial topic in talent research. This prospective cohort study evaluated the long-term predictive value of 1) motor tests and 2) players' speed abilities (SA) and technical skills (TS) in early adolescence.

Affective Aspects of Perceived Loss of Control and Potential Implications for Brain-Computer Interfaces.

Most brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) focus on detecting single aspects of user states (e.g., motor imagery) in the electroencephalogram (EEG) in order to use these aspects as control input for external systems.

The Standardization of Linear and Nonlinear Effects in Direct and Indirect Applications of Structural Equation Mixture Models for Normal and Nonnormal Data.

The application of mixture models to flexibly estimate linear and nonlinear effects in the SEM framework has received increasing attention (e.g., Jedidi et al.

A new approach for the quantification of synchrony of multivariate non-stationary psychophysiological variables during emotion eliciting stimuli.

Emotion eliciting situations are accompanied by changes of multiple variables associated with subjective, physiological and behavioral responses. The quantification of the overall simultaneous synchrony of psychophysiological reactions plays a major role in emotion theories and has received increased attention in recent years. From a psychometric perspective, the reactions represent multivariate non-stationary intra-individual time series.

A general non-linear multilevel structural equation mixture model.

In the past 2 decades latent variable modeling has become a standard tool in the social sciences. In the same time period, traditional linear structural equation models have been extended to include non-linear interaction and quadratic effects (e.g.

Synergistic Effects of Expectancy and Value on Homework Engagement: The Case for a Within-Person Perspective.

Historically, expectancy-value models of motivation assumed a synergistic relation between expectancy and value: motivation is high only when both expectancy and value are high. Motivational processes were studied from a within-person perspective, with expectancies and values being assessed or experimentally manipulated across multiple domains and the focus being placed on intraindividual differences. In contrast, contemporary expectancy-value models in educational psychology concentrate almost exclusively on linear effects of expectancy and value on motivational outcomes, with a focus on between-person differences.

A Bayesian Model For The Estimation Of Latent Interaction And Quadratic Effects When Latent Variables Are Non-Normally Distributed.

Structural equation models with interaction and quadratic effects have become a standard tool for testing nonlinear hypotheses in the social sciences. Most of the current approaches assume normally distributed latent predictor variables. In this article, we present a Bayesian model for the estimation of latent nonlinear effects when the latent predictor variables are nonnormally distributed.

Risk for permanent pacemaker after transcatheter aortic valve implantation: a comprehensive analysis of the literature.

Background: Permanent pacemaker (PM) requirement is a known complication after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). There are, however, no systematic data concerning this complication.

Objective: To determine the incidence and potential predictors of permanent PM requirement after TAVI based on published literature.