We examined how flexibly we plan sequences of actions when we switch between multiple action sequences. Mastering a sequential skill is assumed to involve integrating successive actions into groups known as chunks that can be efficiently planned and smoothly executed. Chunking is suggested by gains in planning efficiency for long compared to short action sequences following practice and learning associations between actions and perceptual outcomes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe first observation of the production of W^{±}W^{±} bosons from double parton scattering processes using same-sign electron-muon and dimuon events in proton-proton collisions is reported. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb^{-1} recorded at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV using the CMS detector at the CERN LHC. Multivariate discriminants are used to distinguish the signal process from the main backgrounds.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA search for the rare η→μ^{+}μ^{-}μ^{+}μ^{-} double-Dalitz decay is performed using a sample of proton-proton collisions, collected by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC with high-rate muon triggers during 2017 and 2018 and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 101 fb^{-1}. A signal having a statistical significance well in excess of 5 standard deviations is observed. Using the η→μ^{+}μ^{-} decay as normalization, the branching fraction B(η→μ^{+}μ^{-}μ^{+}μ^{-})=[5.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Using a new database combining primary and specialty care electronic medical record (EMR) data in Canada, we determined attainment of glycemic targets and associated predictors among adults with diabetes.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional observational study combining primary and specialty care EMR data in Canada. Adults with diabetes whose primary care provider contributed to the National Diabetes Repository or who were assessed at a diabetes specialty clinic (LMC Diabetes and Endocrinology) between July 3, 2015, and June 30, 2019, were included.
Certain species of marine microalgae produce potent biotoxins that pose a risk to human health if contaminated seafood is consumed, particularly filter feeding bivalve shellfish. In regions where this is likely to occur water and seafood produce are regularly monitored for the presence of harmful algal cells and their associated toxins, but the current approach is flawed by a lengthy delay before results are available to local authorities. Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) can be used to measure phytoplankton DNA sequences in a shorter timeframe, however it is not currently used in official testing practices.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Chronic pain is a significant health concern that adversely affects all aspects of life, including emotional well-being. Opioids are prescribed for the management of refractory, severe chronic pain, although they have been associated with adverse effects, including addiction and overdose. The aim of this study was to examine factors that predict thoughts of self-harm among adults with chronic pain who are prescribed opioids.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThere has been keen interest in whether dynamic consent should be used in health research but few real-world studies have evaluated its use. Australian Genomics piloted and evaluated CTRL ('control'), a digital consent tool incorporating granular, dynamic decision-making and communication for genomic research. Individuals from a Cardiovascular Genetic Disorders Flagship were invited in person (prospective cohort) or by email (retrospective cohort) to register for CTRL after initial study recruitment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe increasing share of using biofuels in vehicles (mandated by current regulations) leads to a reduction in particle size, resulting in increased particle toxicity. However, existing regulations disregarded small particles (sub-23 nm) that are more toxic. This impact is more significant during vehicle cold-start operation, which is an inevitable frequent daily driving norm where after-treatment systems prove ineffective.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImportance: There is variability in practice and imaging usage to diagnose cervical spine injury (CSI) following blunt trauma in pediatric patients.
Objective: To develop a prediction model to guide imaging usage and to identify trends in imaging and to evaluate the PEDSPINE model.
Design, Setting, And Participants: This cohort study included pediatric patients (<3 years years) following blunt trauma between January 2007 and July 2017.
The presence of poorly controlled symptoms negatively impacts the quality of life (QoL) throughout cancer treatment. The purpose of this multisite study was to explore the relationship between QoL and symptom adverse events (AEs) in children with advanced cancer over 6 months. A prospective and longitudinal descriptive study design was used to collect QoL and symptom AE data from children aged 2 to 18 with advanced cancer.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Previous systematic reviews have explored nurse, patient, and organizational outcomes in Magnet®-recognized hospitals compared with non-Magnet hospitals, yet these did not comprehensively review a wide variety of patient outcomes.
Aim: The purpose of this scoping review was to describe the findings from published research evaluating patient outcomes in Magnet-recognized hospitals compared with non-Magnet hospitals.
Methods: A medical librarian conducted a systematic search for published peer-reviewed, English-language literature and a search of the reference lists for retrieved publications to identify articles addressing Magnet compared with non-Magnet hospitals related to patient outcomes.
Context.—: Clinician feedback is an important source of information for laboratory quality improvement programs.
Objective.
We are less optimistic than Madole & Harden that family-based genome-wide association studies (GWASs) will lead to significant second-generation causal knowledge. Despite bearing some similarities, family-based GWASs and randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are not identical. Most RCTs assess a relatively homogenous causal stimulus as a treatment, whereas GWASs assess highly heterogeneous causal stimuli.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFResearch has shown that high amounts of dietary phosphorus that are twice the amount of the U.S. dietary reference intake of 700 mg for adults are associated with all-cause mortality, phosphate toxicity, and tumorigenesis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPhysicians and governments work collaboratively to determine optimal healthcare policy options. Physicians are also engaged by health researchers to participate in studies. Physician engagement can be impeded by limits on physician time and remuneration for engagement, and the impact of physician burnout (exacerbated by COVID-19).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe purpose of this study was to investigate manual performance of humans when using push buttons following cold water hand immersion. An experiment involving 29 human participants was carried out to measure the activation rate of twelve different shaped push buttons mounted on a novel test apparatus after their dominant hand was immersed in cold (2 °C) and thermoneutral (34 °C) water for 2 min. A series of standardized hand dexterity tests were completed to assess the participants' baseline tactile sensitivity in a dry thermoneutral state.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImportance: Psilocybin shows promise as a treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD).
Objective: To evaluate the magnitude, timing, and durability of antidepressant effects and safety of a single dose of psilocybin in patients with MDD.
Design, Setting, And Participants: In this phase 2 trial conducted between December 2019 and June 2022 at 11 research sites in the US, participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive a single dose of psilocybin vs niacin placebo administered with psychological support.
Chater & Loewenstein make a persuasive case for focusing behavioural research and policy making on s- rather than i-interventions. This commentary highlights some conceptual and ethical issues that need to be addressed before such reform can be embraced. These include the need to adjudicate between different conceptions of "effectiveness," and accounting for reasonable differences between how people weight different values.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe intestinal microbiome influences growth and disease progression in children with cystic fibrosis (CF). Elexacaftor-tezacaftor-ivacaftor (ELX/TEZ/IVA), the newest pharmaceutical modulator for CF, restores function of the pathogenic mutated CFTR channel. We performed a single-center longitudinal analysis of the effect of ELX/TEZ/IVA on the intestinal microbiome, intestinal inflammation, and clinical parameters in children with CF.
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