Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tackling Scientific Misconceptions: The Element of Surprise.

Misconceptions about scientific concepts often prevail even if learners are confronted with conflicting evidence. This study tested the facilitative role of surprise in children's revision of misconceptions regarding water displacement in a sample of German children (N = 94, aged 6-9 years, 46% female). Surprise was measured via the pupil dilation response. It was induced by letting children generate predictions before presenting them with outcomes that conflicted with their misconception. Compared to a control condition, generating predictions boosted children's surprise and led to a greater revision of misconceptions (d = 0.56). Surprise further predicted successful belief revision during the learning phase. These results suggest that surprise increases the salience of a cognitive conflict, thereby facilitating the revision of misconceptions.
The effect of sleep–wake intraindividual variability in digital cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia: a mediation analysis of a large-scale RCT

Abstract Study Objectives Digital cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (dCBT-I) is an effective treatment for insomnia. However, less is known about mediators of its benefits. The aim of the present study was to test if intraindividual variability in sleep (IIV) was reduced with dCBT-I, and whether any identified reduction was a mediator of dCBT-I on insomnia severity and psychological distress. Methods In a two-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT), 1720 adults with insomnia (dCBT-I = 867; patient education about sleep = 853) completed the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and sleep diaries, at baseline and 9-week follow-up. Changes in IIV were analyzed using linear mixed modeling followed by mediation analyses of ISI, HADS, and IIV in singular sleep metrics and composite measures (behavioral indices (BI-Z) and sleep disturbance indices (SI-Z)). Results dCBT-I was associated with reduced IIV across all singular sleep metrics, with the largest between-group effect sizes observed for sleep onset latency (SOL). Reduced IIV for SOL and wake after sleep onset had the overall greatest singular mediating effect. For composite measures, SI-Z mediated change in ISI (b = −0.74; 95% confidence interval (CI) −1.04 to −0.52; 13.3%) and HADS (b = −0.40; 95% CI −0.73 to −0.18; 29.2%), while BI-Z mediated minor changes. Conclusion Reductions in IIV in key sleep metrics mediate significant changes in insomnia severity and especially psychological distress when using dCBT-I. These findings offer important evidence regarding the therapeutic action of dCBT-I and may guide the future development of this intervention. Clinical trials Name: Overcoming Insomnia: Impact on Sleep, Health and Work of Online CBT-I Registration number: NCT02558647 URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02558647? cond=NCT02558647&draw=2&rank=1
Cardiovascular Risk Factor Trajectories Since Childhood and Cognitive Performance in Midlife

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Background: Cardiovascular risk factors, such as high blood pressure, adverse serum lipids, and elevated body mass index in midlife, may harm cognitive performance. It is important to note that longitudinal accumulation of cardiovascular risk factors since childhood may be associated with cognitive performance already since childhood, but the previous evidence is scarce. We studied the associations of cardiovascular risk factors from childhood to midlife, their accumulation, and midlife cognitive performance. Methods: From 1980, a population-based cohort of 3596 children (3–18 years of age) have been repeatedly followed up for 31 years. Blood pressure, serum lipids, and body mass index were assessed in all follow-ups. Cardiovascular risk factor trajectories from childhood to midlife were identified using latent class growth mixture modeling. Cognitive testing was performed in 2026 participants 34 to 49 years of age using a computerized test. The associations of the cardiovascular risk factor trajectories and cognitive performance were studied for individual cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular risk factor accumulation. Results: Consistently high systolic blood pressure (β=–0.262 SD [95% CI, –0.520 to –0.005]) and serum total cholesterol (β=–0.214 SD [95% CI, –0.365 to –0.064]) were associated with worse midlife episodic memory and associative learning compared with consistently low values. Obesity since childhood was associated with worse visual processing and sustained attention (β=–0.407 SD [95% CI, –0.708 to –0.105]) compared with normal weight. An inverse association was observed for the cardiovascular risk factor accumulation with episodic memory and associative learning (P for trend=0.008; 3 cardiovascular risk factors: β=–0.390 SD [95% CI, –0.691 to –0.088]), with visual processing and sustained attention (P for trend<0.0001; 3 cardiovascular risk factors: β=–0.443 SD [95% CI, –0.730 to –0.157]), and with reaction and movement time (P for trend=0.048; 2 cardiovascular risk factors: β=–0.164 SD [95% CI, –0.318 to –0.010]). Conclusions: Longitudinal elevated systolic blood pressure, high serum total cholesterol, and obesity from childhood to midlife were inversely associated with midlife cognitive performance. It is important to note that the higher the number of cardiovascular risk factors, the worse was the observed cognitive performance. Therefore, launching preventive strategies against cardiovascular risk factors beginning from childhood might benefit primordial promotion of cognitive health in adulthood.
Health Pandemic and Social Media: A Content Analysis of COVID-Related Posts on a Telegram Channel With More Than One Million Subscribers

BACKGROUND Mobile-based social media play an important role in the dissemination of information during public health emergencies. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to analyze the contents and trends of public messages posted on Telegram during Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. METHODS A content analysis of the 1781 messages, posted in a public Telegram channel with more than one million subscribers performed over 9-weeks. The messages were categorized into seven categories. RESULTS In total, 39% (n=703) of all messages were related to COVID-19. With the official confirmation of the case of COVID-19 in Iran, the number of COVID-related massages started to rise. Overall, the most frequent messages were of joke and humor (n=292, 41.5%), followed by educational messages (n=140, 19.9%). CONCLUSION Our study showed that the most popular messages during first weeks of COVID pandemic were satirical, indicating that people may not had taken the risks of this pandemic seriously. It is crucial for health organizations to develop strategies for dissemination of reliable health information through social media.
National Culture and the Cyclical Behavior of Research-and-Development Expenditure

This article examines the cyclical behavior of business (firm-financed) research-and-development (R&D) expenditure at the national level, using a panel of 64 countries spanning four decades. R&D is considerably more volatile than gross domestic product and tends to be procyclical. The author adopts the Hofstede framework to systematically investigate cross-national heterogeneity in comovement and volatility of R&D. Similar to prior studies, a higher R&D intensity (R&D expenditure/gross domestic product) is associated with countries that are more accepting of uncertainty, long-term oriented, and indulgent. Notably, R&D behaves less procyclically in countries that are more accepting of uncertainty, individualistic, long-term oriented, and indulgent, and it is less volatile in countries that are more masculine, individualistic, long-term oriented, and indulgent. That is, a culture with a higher propensity to invest in R&D tends to follow business cycles less closely (i.e., lower comovement) and have more persistent spending over time (i.e., lower volatility). Furthermore, higher comovement or volatility of R&D indeed harms national productivity and innovativeness. Therefore, this research broadens the understanding of the role national culture plays by demonstrating that (1) it considerably affects the cyclical behavior of R&D and (2) this cyclical behavior is another conduit through which culture influences economic performance.
Percutaneous Intervention in Diffuse Coronary Disease: Overlapping Versus Single Very Long Stent Technique. Results From the OVERLONG Registry

Background Both stent length and stent overlap are associated with worse outcomes in the percutaneous treatment of diffuse coronary artery disease (dCAD). However, evidence comparing these issues is scarce. We aimed to compare the results between the use of single very long stent (VLS) and ≥2 overlapping stents (OS) in the treatment of dCAD. Methods Seven hundred twenty-four consecutive lesions were included: 275 treated with a single VLS (≥40 mm) and 449 with ≥2 OS. Procedural characteristics were assessed, and survival analysis was performed to compare the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE; composite of cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, target lesion revascularization [TLR], or stent thrombosis) during a median follow-up of 31 months. Results Procedures with VLS required less contrast volume (268 ± 122 vs 302 ± 113 cm3; P < .01), fluoroscopy time (16 ± 8 vs 21 ± 16 minutes; P < .01), and procedure duration (37 ± 18 vs 47 ± 27 minutes; P < .01) than the OS procedures. The VLS group showed lower incidence of MACE (4.4% vs 10.7%; P < .01), driven mainly by lower TLR rate (1.1% vs 4.7%; P < .01). The use of OS was an independent predictor of MACE. Conclusions In this study, the use of VLS for the treatment of dCAD was associated with better outcomes compared to OS.
Interrelationship Among Competition, Diversification and Liquidity Creation: Evidence from Indian Banks

This study analyses the impact of competition on liquidity creation by banks and investigates the dynamics between diversification, liquidity creation and competition for banks operating in India during the period from 2005 to 2018. Using the broad and narrow measures of liquidity creation, an inverse relationship is determined between liquidity creation and competition. The study also indicates a trade-off between pro-competitive policies to improve consumer welfare and the liquidity-destroying effects of competition, and it highlights how diversification affects liquidity creation. Highly diversified banks in India create less liquidity compared with less-diversified banks, both public and private. The liquidity-destroying effects of competition is intensified among highly diversified private banks, which suggest that diversification has not moderated the adverse impact of competition. JEL Codes: G01, G18, G21, G28
Synthesis of Poly(thioether-ester) nanoparticles derived from renewable resources via thiol-ene polymerization in miniemulsion

Green chemistry has drawn attention from researchers and even some industries due to concerns about the depletion of fossil oil reserves and aggravation in the global warming and other environmental issues. Polymeric materials from biofeedstocks-derived monomers are a promising environmentally friendly alternative to petrol-derived polymers, especially for high value added applications. In this context, vegetable oils and saccharides are interesting raw materials that can be applied as chemical platforms in the synthesis of novel fully renewable monomers through chemical modification. In addition, thiol-ene polymerization has been shown as a versatile tool to produce polymers from fully renewable α,ω-diene monomers bearing, for example ester, ether, or amide functional groups in the backbone chain. However, works portraying the polymerization of renewable monomers through thiol-ene polymerization in dispersed medium are still uncommon. Herein, it is presented the synthesis and characterisation of poly(thioether-ester) nanoparticles via thiol-ene polymerization in miniemulsion using a monomer derived from renewable resources. The synthesis of a renewable α,ω-diene diester monomer, dianhydro-Dglucityl diundec-10-enoate (DGU), produced from 10-undecenoic acid (derived from castor oil) and isosorbide (derived from starch) was performed. DGU was copolymerized with 1,4-butanedithiol (Bu(SH)2) through thiol-ene polymerization both in bulk and miniemulsion to yield linear semi-crystalline poly(thioether-ester)s. Different parameters were evaluated such as reaction temperature, initiator concentration, surfactant type and surfactant concentration. Particle size distribution and morphology was observed by DLS and TEM respectively resulting in spherical particles with an intensity average particle diameter around 200 nm. Polymer with higher molecular weight was obtained by miniemulsion polymerization when compared to bulk polymerization. Number average molecular weight of 11 kDa was obtained through miniemulsion polymerization at 80°C for 4h using AIBN at 1 mol% (in relation to Bu(SH)2). Furthermore, DSC and XRD analyses have shown that the synthesized polymer was semi-crystalline with a degree of crystallinity above 20% and Tm around 60°C. Finally, depending on the co-stabilizer type, hexadecane or Crodamol, and amount, phase segregation within polymer particles was observed through DSC.
Moral Distress and Resilience Associated with Cancer Care Priority Setting in a Resource‐Limited Context

Abstract Background Moral distress and burnout are highly prevalent among oncology clinicians. Research is needed to better understand how resource constraints and systemic inequalities contribute to moral distress in order to develop effective mitigation strategies. Oncology providers in low‐ and middle‐income countries are well positioned to provide insight into the moral experience of cancer care priority setting and expertise to guide solutions. Methods Semistructured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 22 oncology physicians, nurses, program leaders, and clinical advisors at a cancer center in Rwanda. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using the framework method. Results Participants identified sources of moral distress at three levels of engagement with resource prioritization: witnessing program‐level resource constraints drive cancer disparities, implementing priority setting decisions into care of individual patients, and communicating with patients directly about resource prioritization implications. They recommended individual and organizational‐level interventions to foster resilience, such as communication skills training and mental health support for clinicians, interdisciplinary team building, fair procedures for priority setting, and collective advocacy for resource expansion and equity. Conclusion This study adds to the current literature an in‐depth examination of the impact of resource constraints and inequities on clinicians in a low‐resource setting. Effective interventions are urgently needed to address moral distress, reduce clinician burnout, and promote well‐being among a critical but strained oncology workforce. Collective advocacy is concomitantly needed to address the structural forces that constrain resources unevenly and perpetuate disparities in cancer care and outcomes. Implications for Practice For many oncology clinicians worldwide, resource limitations constrain routine clinical practice and necessitate decisions about prioritizing cancer care. To the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first in‐depth analysis of how resource constraints and priority setting lead to moral distress among oncology clinicians in a low‐resource setting. Effective individual and organizational interventions and collective advocacy for equity in cancer care are urgently needed to address moral distress and reduce clinician burnout among a strained global oncology workforce. Lessons from low‐resource settings can be gleaned as high‐income countries face growing needs to prioritize oncology resources.
Limitations of CNNs for Approximating the Ideal Observer Despite Quantity of Training Data or Depth of Network

The performance of a convolutional neural network (CNN) on an image texture detection task as a function of linear image processing and the number of training images is investigated. Performance is quantified by the area under (AUC) the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The Ideal Observer (IO) maximizes AUC but depends on high-dimensional image likelihoods. In many cases, the CNN performance can approximate the IO performance. This work demonstrates counterexamples where a full-rank linear transform degrades the CNN performance below the IO in the limit of large quantities of training data and network layers. A subsequent linear transform changes the images' correlation structure, improves the AUC, and again demonstrates the CNN dependence on linear processing. Compression strictly decreases or maintains the IO detection performance while compression can increase the CNN performance especially for small quantities of training data. Results indicate an optimal compression ratio for the CNN based on task difficulty, compression method, and number of training images.
Effects of a diuretic adjustment algorithm protocol on heart failure admissions: A randomized clinical trial

Introduction The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a diuretic adjustment algorithm (DAA) in maintaining clinical stability and reducing HF readmissions using telemonitoring technologies. Methods Randomized clinical trial of patients with an indication for furosemide dose adjustment during routine outpatient visits. In the intervention group (IG), the diuretic dose was adjusted according to the DAA and the patients received telephone calls for 30 days. In the control group (CG), the diuretic dose was adjusted by a physician at baseline only. Co-primary outcomes were hospital readmission and/or emergency department visits due to decompensated HF within 90 days, and a 2-point change in the Clinical Congestion Score and/or a deterioration in New York Heart Association functional class within 30 days. Results A total of 206 patients were included. Most patients were male (n=119; 58%), with a mean age of 62 (SD 13) years. Four patients (2%) in the IG and 14 (7%) in the CG were hospitalized for HF (odds ratio (OR) 0.31 (0.10–0.91); p=0.04). Multivariate analysis showed a reduction of 67% in readmissions and/or emergency department visits due to decompensated HF in the IG compared with the CG (95% CI 0.13–0.88; p=0.027). Regarding the combined outcome of HF readmission and/or emergency department visits or clinical instability, the IG had 20% fewer events than the CG within 30 days (IG: n=48 (23%), CG: n=70 (34%); OR 0.80 (0.63–0.93); p=0.03). Discussion Using DAA improved the combined outcome in these outpatients, with favorable and significant results that included a reduction in HF admissions and in clinical instability. (NCT02068937)
Field Borders Provide Winter Refuge for Beneficial Predators and Parasitoids: A Case Study on Organic Farms

Abstract Semi-natural field borders are frequently used in midwestern U.S. sustainable agriculture. These habitats are meant to help diversify otherwise monocultural landscapes and provision them with ecosystem services, including biological control. Predatory and parasitic arthropods (i.e., potential natural enemies) often flourish in these habitats and may move into crops to help control pests. However, detailed information on the capacity of semi-natural field borders for providing overwintering refuge for these arthropods is poorly understood. In this study, we used soil emergence tents to characterize potential natural enemy communities (i.e., predacious beetles, wasps, spiders, and other arthropods) overwintering in cultivated organic crop fields and adjacent field borders. We found a greater abundance, species richness, and unique community composition of predatory and parasitic arthropods in field borders compared to arable crop fields, which were generally poorly suited as overwintering habitat. Furthermore, potential natural enemies tended to be positively associated with forb cover and negatively associated with grass cover, suggesting that grassy field borders with less forb cover are less well-suited as winter refugia. These results demonstrate that semi-natural habitats like field borders may act as a source for many natural enemies on a year-to-year basis and are important for conserving arthropod diversity in agricultural landscapes.
Performance comparison of aspirin assay between Anysis and VerifyNow: Assessment of therapeutic platelet inhibition in patients with cardiac diseases

BACKGROUND: Assessment of platelet inhibition for aspirin therapy is important to manage patients who are at potential risk of developing thrombotic and hemorrhagic complications. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate a new platelet assay (Anysis-aspirin), compare it with VerifyNow-aspirin in patients with cardiac diseases, and analyze the aspirin resistance rates between the two devices. METHODS: Citrated blood samples were collected from patients with cardiac diseases referred for the aspirin response test. In the Anysis assay, a test result was provided with a blood flow migration distance (MD) until blood flow stoppage, which was comparable to aspirin reaction units (ARUs) obtained using VerifyNow. The measurements were simultaneously conducted using the two devices and compared. RESULTS: The MD without and with aspirin use was 160±33 and 254±23 mm, respectively (p < 0.0001). Compared with VerifyNow (reference), the sensitivity and specificity of Anysis-200 were 96.3 and 90.3%, respectively (area under the curve, 0.968). Furthermore, the aspirin resistance rate in aspirin-administered patients was 20.9%using VerifyNow and 16.5%for Anysis-200. The Cohen’s kappa coefficient between the two devices was 0.81, indicating an almost perfect agreement between the two devices. CONCLUSIONS: Anysis-aspirin, a novel aspirin assay for assessing platelet inhibition, showed excellent agreement with VerifyNow-aspirin with high accuracy and precision. The Anysis-aspirin assay would be used as a point-of-care test to assess aspirin non-responsiveness and abnormal platelet reactivity.