Category: Nevin Manimala

J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform. 2023 May;49(5):709-724. doi: 10.1037/xhp0001120.

ABSTRACT

Static statistical regularities in the placement of targets and salient distractors within the search display can be learned and used to optimize attentional guidance. Whether statistical learning also extends to dynamic regularities governing the placement of targets and distractors on successive trials remains controversial. Here, we applied the same dynamic cross-trial regularity-one-step shift of the critical item in clockwise/counterclockwise direction-to either the target or a distractor. In two experiments, we found and replicated robust learning of the predicted target location: processing of the target at this location was facilitated, compared to random target placement. But we found little evidence of proactive suppression of the predictable distractor location-even in a close replication of Wang et al. (2021), who had reported a dynamic distractor suppression effect. Facilitation of the predictable target location was associated with explicit awareness of the dynamic regularity, whereas participants showed no awareness of the distractor regularity. We propose that this asymmetry arises because, owing to the target’s central role in the task set, its location is explicitly encoded in working memory, enabling the learning of dynamic regularities. In contrast, the distractor is not explicitly encoded; so, statistical learning of dynamic distractor locations is more precarious. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

PMID:37261775 | DOI:10.1037/xhp0001120

J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform. 2023 May;49(5):672-686. doi: 10.1037/xhp0001104.

ABSTRACT

Previous studies have posited that spatial location plays a special role in object recognition. Notably, the “spatial congruency bias (SCB)” is a tendency to report objects as the same identity if they are presented at the same location, compared to different locations. Here we found that even when statistical regularities were manipulated in the opposite direction (objects in the same location were three times more likely to be different identities), subjects still exhibited a robust SCB (more likely to report them as the same identity). We replicated this finding across two preregistered experiments. Only in a third experiment where we explicitly informed subjects of the manipulation did the SCB disappear, though the lack of a significantly reversed bias suggests the ingrained congruency bias was not completely overcome. The inclusion of catch trials where the second object was completely masked further bolsters previous evidence that the congruency bias is perceptual, not simply a guessing strategy. These results reinforce the dominant role of spatial information during object recognition and present the SCB as a strong perceptual phenomenon that is incredibly hard to overcome even in the face of opposing regularities and explicit instruction. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

PMID:37261773 | DOI:10.1037/xhp0001104

J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform. 2023 May;49(5):623-634. doi: 10.1037/xhp0001108.

ABSTRACT

We investigated the perception of higher-order interpersonal affordances for kicking that emerged from lower-order personal and interpersonal affordances in the context of soccer. Youth soccer players reported the minimum gap width between two confederates through which they could kick a ball. In Experiment 1, we independently manipulated the egocentric distance of gaps from participants, and the nominal role of the confederates, either as teammates or opponents. In Experiment 2, we additionally varied the direction in which the confederates were facing, either together (i.e., into the gap) or away (i.e., away from the gap). Perceived minimum kickable gap width was larger for farther egocentric distances, when confederates were identified as opponents rather than as teammates, and (in Experiment 2) when confederates faced toward, rather than away from the gap. In both experiments, these main effects were subsumed in statistically significant interactions. We argue that these interactions reveal perception of higher-order interpersonal affordances for kicking that emerged from the simultaneous influence of lower-order affordances. The results are compatible with the hypothesis that these higher-order affordances were perceived, as such, and were not additively combined from independent perception of underlying, lower-order affordances. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

PMID:37261770 | DOI:10.1037/xhp0001108

Psychol Trauma. 2023 Jun 1. doi: 10.1037/tra0001528. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the relationships between race-based traumatic stress symptoms (RBTSS), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and negative affect (NA) in the past year.

METHOD: Participants were 185 community-based respondents who completed a paper and pencil survey of the race-based traumatic stress symptoms scale (RBTSSS), diagnostic and statistical manual (DSM)-related PTSD symptoms, and negative emotions.

RESULTS: Two canonical correlation analyses were conducted for two participant groups: those with no race-based traumatic stress (RBTS) elevations and those with one or more RBTS elevations. Results showed a significant relationship between RBTS symptoms and PTSD symptoms for the no elevation group, and a significant relationship between RBTS symptoms and NA for the race-based stress/traumatic stress group. Notably, RBTS inclusion was not significantly correlated with NA.

CONCLUSIONS: Those with average-level RBTS symptoms appear to endorse more PTSD criteria, while those with elevated RBTS scores do not. The study, therefore, highlights the need for further investigation of how diagnostic measures of trauma may differentiate from trauma symptoms related to race-based experiences. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

PMID:37261756 | DOI:10.1037/tra0001528

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2023 Jun 1. doi: 10.1007/s11356-023-28004-y. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

In present study, geophysical and geostatistical variability of ground water and agricultural soil investigated in the Jaipur region of Rajasthan (Western India) by applying the geographic information system (GIS), vertical electrical sounding (VES) ,and statistical analysis. Ground water and soil samples collected from different sites from the selected study area and variation pattern of quality parameters were assessed. A contour map analysis of distribution of metals and other contaminants in the samples was conducted using GIS. Maximum concentration of metals recorded in the soil samples in order of Fe, 11.25 mg kg^-1 > Mn, 8.6 mg kg^-1 > Zn, 7.2 mg kg^-1 > Cu, 0.455 mg kg^-1; however, maximum concentration of metals in the ground water samples was found as Zn, 2.64 mg L^-1 > Cu, 0.86 mg L^-1 > Fe, 0.39 mg L^-1 > Mn, 0.18 mg L^-1 > Pb, 0.065 mg L^-1 > Ni, 0.016 mg L^-1. Observed data emphasis variability in groundwater and soil quality parameter by PCA technique indicated 84.60% and 66.98% of variance, respectively. Soil quality index (SQI) value was observed as 0.482 indicating that 46% of soil sampling sites deteriorated and shown poor quality. Similarly, water quality index (WQI) value indicates good water quality at the sampling sites TW1, TW8, TW10, and TW12; however, TW3, TW4, TW6, TW19, TW20, and TW22 sites showed very poor water quality. The present study concludes that overexploitation of groundwater and unregulated discharge of wastewater leads to depletion of water and soil quality. Further, applying geographical and geostatistical techniques in assessing water and soil quality could be more effective tools in environmental monitoring and management for environmental and health safety.

PMID:37261695 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-023-28004-y

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2023 Jun 1. doi: 10.1007/s11356-023-27821-5. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study examined the impact of climate change on climate extreme indices in the Kaduna River basin, Nigeria. Large-scale atmospheric variables derived from the Global Climate Model (GCM), Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) (CanESM2) were used to develop a high-resolution climate using a Statistical Down Scaling Model. The adapted Caussinus-Mestre algorithm for homogenizing networks of temperature series and multivariate bias correction based on an N-dimension probability function were used to homogenize and correct the climate data, respectively. Fifteen climate extreme indices were computed using RClimdex. The coefficient of variance, Kruskal-Wallis test, and the modified Mann-Kendall test were used to assess the variation and trends. Wavelet analysis was used to determine the periodicities of the indices (1980-2020). The findings revealed a significant warming trend with low variability of temperature indices. The moderate variability with an insignificant decreasing trend was found for rainfall indices. Similarly, the future climate indices indicate a continuing positive trend in the temperature extreme indices. The majority of climate indices have a periodicity of less than or equal to 10 years for high frequency, except for PRCPTOT, R10MM, R20MM, Rx5day, SDII, TN90p, and TX90p for temperature indices. The findings conclude that the periodicity pattern of climate extreme indices is related to atmospheric phenomena (such as quasi-biennial oscillation, QBO), which indicate the impact of climate change. As a result, this can serve as an early warning for possible extreme event occurrences in the basin. The CMIP6 should be used to compare with the results of this study to provide a detailed assessment of the current implication of climate change on the catchment.

PMID:37261694 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-023-27821-5

J Patient Rep Outcomes. 2023 Jun 1;7(1):51. doi: 10.1186/s41687-023-00593-9.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The Respiratory Infection Intensity and Impact Questionnaire (RiiQ™) is a patient-reported outcome measure designed to assess symptoms and impacts of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. This study evaluated the construct validity, reliability, and responsiveness of the RiiQ™ Respiratory and Systemic Symptoms Scale scores.

METHODS: Prospective data were analyzed from a total of 1795 participants, including from non-hospitalized patients with acute respiratory infection (ARI) and no coinfections enrolled in a Phase 2b RSV vaccine study (RSV-positive: n = 60; RSV-negative: n = 1615), and two observational studies of patients hospitalized with RSV (n = 20; n = 100). Descriptive statistics, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), test-retest intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), construct validity correlations (between a clinician-assessed clinical questionnaire and the RiiQ™ symptoms scale), known-groups validity, and responsiveness (correlations of change scores) were evaluated.

RESULTS: Mean patient age ranged from 66.5 to 71.5 years and the majority of patients were female. Initial assessments in the vaccine trial (ARI Day 1) were suggestive of less severe illness than in the observational studies with hospitalized patients. CFA loadings (> 0.40) supported summary scores. ICCs exceeding the recommended threshold of 0.70 supported test-retest reliability for Respiratory and Systemic Symptoms, except in the small observational study. At the scale level, correlations were moderate to strong (|r| ≥ 0.3) and positive between the Respiratory Symptoms Scale and the related clinical questionnaire scores, reflecting measurement of similar symptoms in support of convergent validity. Correlations with change in Patient Global Impression of Severity > 0.30 supported responsiveness.

CONCLUSIONS: Psychometric tests applied to the RiiQ™ Symptoms scales provide evidence of its reliability, construct validity, discriminating ability, and responsiveness for use in clinical studies to assess the onset and severity of RSV symptoms.

PMID:37261682 | DOI:10.1186/s41687-023-00593-9

Geroscience. 2023 Jun 1. doi: 10.1007/s11357-023-00825-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Balancing stroke prevention and risk of bleeding in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is challenging. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are by now considered standard of care for treating patients with AF in international guidelines. Our objective was to assess the safety of long-term intake of DOACs in older adults with AF. We included RCTs in elderly (≥ 65 years) patients with AF. A systematic search in MEDLINE and EMBASE was performed on 19 April 2022. For determination of risk of bias, the RoB 2 tool was applied. We pooled outcomes using random-effects meta-analyses. The quality of evidence was assessed using GRADE. Eleven RCTs with a total of 63,374 patients were identified. Two RCTs compared apixaban with either warfarin or aspirin, four edoxaban with either placebo, aspirin, or vitamin K antagonists (VKAs), two dabigatran with warfarin and three rivaroxaban with warfarin. DOACs probably reduce mortality in elderly patients with AF (HR 0.89 95%CI 0.77 to 1.02). Low-dose DOACs likely reduce bleeding compared to VKAs (HR ranged from 0.47 to 1.01). For high-dose DOACS the risk of bleeding varied widely (HR ranged from 0.80 to 1.40). We found that low-dose DOACs probably decrease mortality in AF patients. Moreover, apixaban and probably edoxaban are associated with fewer major or clinically relevant bleeding (MCRB) events compared to VKAs. For dabigatran and rivaroxaban, the risk of MCRB varies depending on dose. Moreover, subgroup analyses indicate that in the very old (≥ 85) the risk for MCRB events might be increased when using DOACs.Registration: PROSPERO: CRD42020187876.

PMID:37261677 | DOI:10.1007/s11357-023-00825-2

Clin Pharmacokinet. 2023 Jun 1. doi: 10.1007/s40262-023-01248-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: An important barrier to HIV prevention among transgender women (TGW) is the concern that oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) negatively affects the efficacy of feminizing hormone therapy (FHT). We aimed to assess the impact of PrEP on FHT pharmacokinetics (PK) among TGW from Brazil.

METHODS: We performed a drug-drug interaction sub-study among TGW enrolled in a daily oral PrEP demonstration study (PrEParadas, NCT03220152). Participants had a first PK assessment (PK1) 15 days after FHT (estradiol valerate 2-6 mg plus spironolactone 100-200 mg) initiation and then started PrEP (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300 mg/emtricitabine 200 mg). A second PK evaluation was performed 12 weeks later (PK2). Blood samples were collected prior and after the directly observed dosing (0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 24 hours). Pharmacokinetic parameters of estradiol, spironolactone, and metabolites were estimated by non-compartmental analysis (Monolix 2021R2, Lixoft^®) and compared as geometric mean ratios (GMRs, 90% confidence interval [CI]).

RESULTS: Among 19 TGW who completed the substudy, median age was 26 years (interquartile range: 23-27.5). Estradiol area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC_τ) and trough concentrations did not differ between PK1 and PK2 evaluations (GMR [90% CI]: 0.89 [0.76-1.04] and 1.06 [0.94-1.20], respectively). Spironolactone and canrenone AUC_τ were statistically lower at PK2 than PK1 (0.76 [0.65-0.89] and 0.85 [0.78-0.94], respectively). Canrenone maximum concentration was also lower at PK2 than PK1 (0.82 [0.74-0.91]).

CONCLUSION: Estradiol PK was not influenced by PrEP concomitant use. The small differences observed in some spironolactone and canrenone PK parameters should not prevent the concomitant use of estradiol-based FHT and PrEP.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial (NCT03220152) was registered on July 18, 2017.

PMID:37261664 | DOI:10.1007/s40262-023-01248-0

J Cancer Surviv. 2023 Jun 1. doi: 10.1007/s11764-023-01408-y. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Weight gain after breast cancer poses health risks. We aimed to identify factors associated with weight gain during adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET).

METHODS: Women initiating AET enrolled in a prospective cohort. Participants completed FACT-ES plus PROMIS pain interference, depression, anxiety, fatigue, sleep disturbance and physical function measures at baseline, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months. Treatment-emergent symptoms were defined as changes in scores in the direction indicative of worsening symptoms that exceeded the minimal important difference at 3 and/or 6 months compared to baseline. We used logistic regression to evaluate associations of clinicodemographic features and treatment-emergent symptoms with clinically significant weight gain over 60 months (defined as ≥ 5% compared to baseline) in pre- and post-menopausal participants.

RESULTS: Of 309 participants, 99 (32%) were pre-menopausal. The 60 months cumulative incidence of clinically significant weight gain was greater in pre- than post-menopausal participants (67% vs 43%, p < 0.001). Among pre-menopausal participants, treatment-emergent pain interference (OR 2.49), aromatase inhibitor receipt (OR 2.8), mastectomy, (OR 2.06) and White race (OR 7.13) were associated with weight gain. Among post-menopausal participants, treatment-emergent endocrine symptoms (OR 2.86), higher stage (OR 2.25) and White race (OR 2.29) were associated with weight gain while treatment-emergent physical function decline (OR 0.30) was associated with lower likelihood of weight gain.

CONCLUSIONS: Weight gain during AET is common, especially for pre-menopausal women. Clinicodemographic features and early treatment-emergent symptoms may identify at risk individuals.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Patients at risk for weight gain can be identified early during AET.

GOV IDENTIFIER: NCT01937052, registered September 3, 2013.

PMID:37261654 | DOI:10.1007/s11764-023-01408-y