Yoxas/statistical_literacy huggingface dataset:
The assumption that statistical learning is affected in dyslexia has generally been evaluated in children and adults with diagnosed dyslexia, not in pre-literate children with a family risk (FR) of dyslexia. In this study, four-to-five-year-old FR children (n = 25) and No-FR children (n = 33) completed tasks of emerging literacy (phoneme awareness and RAN). They also performed an online non-adjacent dependency learning (NADL) task, based on the Serial Reaction Time (SRT) task paradigm. Children's accuracy (hits), signal sensitivity (d') and reaction times were measured. The FR group performed marginally more poorly on phoneme awareness and significantly more poorly on RAN than the No-FR group. Regarding NADL outcomes, the results were less straightforward: the data suggested successful statistical learning for both groups, as indicated by the hit and reaction time curves found. However, the FR group was less accurate and slower on the task than the No-FR group. Furthermore, unlike the No-FR group, performance in the FR group varied as a function of the specific stimulus presented. Taken together, these findings fail to show a robust difference in statistical learning between children with and without an FR of dyslexia at preschool age, in line with earlier work on older children and adults with dyslexia.
The atrial fibrillation better care (ABC) pathway is an effective strategy for the integrated management of atrial fibrillation (AF). Current data on adherence to the ABC pathway among rural patients with AF in China are limited. To investigated adherence to the ABC pathway and its associated factors among rural patients with AF in China. In the cross-sectional study, we recruited 870 rural patients with AF from July 2022 to July 2023 in China. AF-related sociodemographic and clinical data was collected. Among the 870 rural patients with AF, 437 (50.23 %) were male, 714 (82.07 %) were ≥65 years old. The level of adherence to ABC pathway was extremely low (5.75 %), and its associated factors included patients ≥75 years (compared with those <65 years, OR=0.165, 95 %CI: 0.065-0.417, P < 0.001), junior middle school and senior middle school education or above (compared with primary school education or below, OR=3.441, 95 %CI: 1.144-10.351, P = 0.028; OR=11.438, 95 %CI: 3.758-34.814, P < 0.001), average monthly household income per capita 1000-3000 RMB and >3000 RMB (compared with <1000 RMB, OR=3.993, 95 %CI: 1.343-11.877, P = 0.013; OR=4.474, 95 %CI: 1.478-13.541, P = 0.008), persistent AF (compared with paroxysmal AF, OR=0.062, 95 %CI: 0.008-0.466, P = 0.007) and multimorbidity (OR=0.356, 95 %CI: 0.163-0.781, P = 0.010). There is an urgent need to develop targeted interventions and national policies to improve the adherence to the ABC pathway of rural AF patients in China.
The attractive targeted sugar bait (ATSB) is a novel malaria vector control tool designed to attract and kill mosquitoes using a sugar-based bait, laced with oral toxicant. Western Province, Zambia, was one of three countries selected for a series of phase III cluster randomized controlled trials of the Westham ATSB Sarabi version 1.2. The trial sites in Kenya, Mali, and Zambia were selected to represent a range of different ecologies and malaria transmission settings across sub-Saharan Africa. This case study describes the key characteristics of the ATSB Zambia trial site to allow for interpretation of the results relative to the Kenya and Mali sites. This study site characterization incorporates data from the trial baseline epidemiological and mosquito sugar feeding surveys conducted in 2021, as well as relevant literature on the study area. CHARACTERIZATION OF THE TRIAL SITE: The trial site in Zambia was comprised of 70 trial-designed clusters in Kaoma, Nkeyema, and Luampa districts. Population settlements in the trial site were dispersed across a large geographic area with sparsely populated villages. The overall population density in the 70 study clusters was 65.7 people per square kilometre with a total site population of 122,023 people living in a geographic area that covered 1858 square kilometres. However, the study clusters were distributed over a total area of approximately 11,728 square kilometres. The region was tropical with intense and seasonal malaria transmission. An abundance of trees and other plants in the trial site were potential sources of sugar meals for malaria vectors. Fourteen Anopheles species were endemic in the site and Anopheles funestus was the dominant vector, likely accounting for around 95% of all Plasmodium falciparum malaria infections. Despite high coverage of indoor residual spraying and insecticide-treated nets, the baseline malaria prevalence during the peak malaria transmission season was 50% among people ages six months and older. Malaria transmission remains high in Western Province, Zambia, despite coverage with vector control tools. New strategies are needed to address the drivers of malaria transmission in this region and other malaria-endemic areas in sub-Saharan Africa.
The audiogram is frequently used by hearing specialists communicate test results to non-specialists, such as physicians. However, it relies on uncommon terminology and interpreting unusual graphical elements to extract information. In this study, we examine whether the audiogram can be accurately interpreted by specialists and non-specialists. We used an online questionnaire to assess the interpretability of an audiogram by audiologists and primary-care physicians. Participants viewed a sample audiogram and submitted their answers via an online survey system. We recruited actively practicing primary care physicians (n = 100) and actively practicing audiologists (n = 67). We only accepted respondents from the United States. The audiogram was not easily interpreted by physicians, with a median score of 4/9. Fewer than 25% could accurately report a threshold correctly. Audiologists were more accurate than physicians (median score 7/9, Wilcoxon two-sample p < 0.001, r = 0.648). The audiogram is difficult for non-specialists to interpret. Clinicians are advised to supplement or supplant the audiogram in interprofessional communication. The development of tools to facilitate interprofessional communication between audiologists and physicians could have positive effects on physician awareness of hearing loss, and even downstream influences on patient behaviour and outcomes.
The authors aim to study Religiosity/Spirituality (R/S) and Quality of Life (QoL) in patients with Crohn's disease and their correlation with the disease phenotypes. Prospective cross-sectional cohort study with 151 consecutive patients enrolled from March 2021 to October 2021 at the Colorectal IBD Outpatient of Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HCFMUSP). Sociodemographic, Religiosity/Spirituality (Duke University Religion Index - Durel) questionnaires and QoL (Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire - Short IBDQ-S) were applied. When necessary, qualitative variables were evaluated using the chi-square or Fisher's exact test. The Mann-Whitney and Kruskall-Wallis tests were used to analyze quantitative variables and compare more than two groups, both non-parametric statistical techniques. The most frequent location was Ileocolonic followed by Ileal and colonic (41.1 %, 27.2 %, and 25.2 %); only 6.6 % of subjects had a perianal presentation. Inflammatory, stenosing, and penetrating behaviors showed 36.4 %, 19.1 %, and 44.4 % respectively. The majority of the population is Catholic, Evangelical, or Spiritualist (92.4 %). QoL score showed no significant difference in the phenotypes. The scores for DUREL domains were 61.4 % for organizational religiosity, 75 % for non-organizational religiosity, 98.6 %, 93.6 % and 89.3 % for intrinsic spirituality, with high results in all disease phenotypes. The studied population presented homogeneous sociodemographic results and high religious and spiritual activity. R/S in a positive context were not associated with better QoL or phenotype. R/S is present in the patients' lives and could be seen as an important tool for adherence to treatment and the professional relationship between doctor and patient. The homogeneity of the sample difficult for an appropriate evaluation, which leads us to suggest new studies with more heterogeneous groups.
The authors designed an integrated type 2 diabetes (T2D) curricula to model real-world complexity for high school biology and health students, highlighting interactions between genetic, biologic, environmental, and social factors, and modeling prevention and intervention activities. We evaluated the curriculum with two samples of students (888 historical comparison [no exposure] and 2,122 intervention students [received the T2D curricula]). Students completed pre-post assessments that were analyzed for knowledge gains and changes in self-efficacy to engage in healthy behaviors. Correct posttest answers in the intervention group increased by 24% versus 1% (biology) and 3% (health) of comparison students (p < .001); mean (sd) self-efficacy scores increased for biology [3.2 (25.2)] and health [1.5 (7.2), both p < .0001)]. COVID-19 prompted mandatory online teaching starting in March 2020 resulting in more health (65%) than biology students (47%, p < .001) doing the curriculum in virtual/hybrid classrooms, yet posttest knowledge gains were similar for these students learning in class or online (p = .47). Students' "take-home" messages mentioned the importance of prevention (64%), physiological mechanisms for developing T2D (54%), and environmental factors (17%). The curricula successfully delivered cross-disciplinary content without placing undue burden on teachers to create and sustain integrated learning systems.
The authors developed and validated a short form of the Brazilian Oral Health Literacy Assessment Task for Paediatric Dentistry (BOHLAT-P). Data included responses from 200 parents of preschoolers to sociodemographic and oral health service access questions on the BOHLAT-P, the Brazilian Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Dentistry (BREALD-30), and the Brazilian Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (B-ECOHIS). Data on the preschoolers' dental caries experience (ICDAS-II) were also included. An item response theory-based approach was employed to develop the short form, while confirmatory factor analysis evaluated the instrument dimensionality. The validity and reliability of the short form were tested by statistical analysis using BREALD-30, B-ECOHIS, and sociodemographic and dental caries experience data. The short form (BOHLAT-P-30) comprises 30 items, is unidimensional, and presents better model fit estimates (TLI = 0.94; CFI = 0.94; RMSEA = 0.05) than those of the BOHLAT-P. Moreover, BOHLAT-P-30 demonstrated excellent reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.91; intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.95). BOHLAT-P-30 scores were positively correlated with BREALD-30 scores (r = 0.71), with the number of years of schooling (r = 0.60), and with the number of hours spent reading (r = 0.33). BOHLAT-P-30 scores were negatively correlated with B-ECOHIS scores (r = -0.21), and with the number of teeth with cavitated caries (r = -0.18). After controlling for confounding factors, BOHLAT-P-30 scores were not found to be associated with caries presence, or with the number of teeth with cavitated caries. The BOHLAT-P-30 had properties similar to those of the BOHLAT-P, and proved to be a valid measure to assess the OHL of Brazilian parents.
The authors propose and test a causal model theory of reasoning about conditional arguments with causal content. According to the theory, the acceptability of modus ponens (MP) and affirming the consequent (AC) reflect the conditional likelihood of causes and effects based on a probabilistic causal model of the scenario being judged. Acceptability of MP is a judgment of causal power, the probability that the antecedent cause is efficacious in bringing about the consequent effect. Acceptability of AC is a judgment of diagnostic strength, the probability of the antecedent cause given the consequent effect. The model proposes that acceptability judgments are derived from a causal Bayesian network with a common effect structure in which the probability of the consequent effect is a function of the antecedent cause, alternative causes, and disabling conditions. In 2 experiments, the model was tested by collecting judgments of the causal parameters of conditionals and using them to derive predictions for MP and AC acceptability using 0 free parameters. To assess the validity of the model, its predictions were fit to the acceptability ratings and compared to the fits of 3 versions of Mental Models Theory. The fits of the causal model theory were superior. Experiment 3 provides direct evidence that people engage in a causal analysis and not a direct calculation of conditional probability when assessing causal conditionals. The causal model theory represents a synthesis across the disparate literatures on deductive, probabilistic, and causal reasoning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved).
The authors sought to assess whether an Ask-Tell-Ask feedback model augmented with bidirectional feedback improves perception of feedback. Implementation occurred on an inpatient psychiatry unit at University of North Carolina (UNC) Hospitals from July 2022 to June 2023 among attending and resident physicians and medical students. Attending physicians were educated on the Ask-Tell-Ask model and encouraged to hold weekly bidirectional feedback sessions with trainees. Surveys containing scales and free-text response were distributed by email before and after rotations to assess perception of feedback: if feedback was clearly stated, occurred on a predictable basis, included actionable goals, and fostered bidirectional feedback with attendings. For statistical analysis, survey responses were assigned numerical values of 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Differences between mean numerical correlates of responses from pre-rotation and post-rotation surveys were analyzed with unpaired t-tests; p < 0.05 indicated statistical significance. Authors independently developed themes from free-text responses, which were consolidated with themes developed by all authors. Mean ratings to survey items universally improved following the intervention; all p < 0.0001 and statistically significant. Pre-rotation, feedback culture was described as constrained, fraught, non-actionable, inconsistent, improving, and hierarchical. Post-rotation, the feedback culture within the UNC Department of Psychiatry was described as constructive, consistent, improving, strength-based, approachable, and nonhierarchical. An Ask-Tell-Ask feedback model with an added emphasis on giving and receiving feedback significantly improves perception of feedback and feedback culture.
The authors' goal was to study the potential effect on cognitive function of an interaction of HIV infection and a history of alcohol abuse. The subjects were 30 HIV-negative and 50 HIV-positive men with and without a past history of alcohol abuse. Thirty-three of the men (12 HIV negative and 21 HIV positive) had a past history of alcohol abuse, and 47 (18 HIV negative and 29 HIV positive) had never abused alcohol. Each subject's history of alcohol use was obtained by using a syndromal approach based on the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R and a quantitative approach. Each subject was given a battery of neuropsychological tests assessing verbal reasoning, reaction time, intelligence, memory, and dexterity. The subjects were then compared on a summary neuropsychological impairment rating. There were no significant differences in CD4 level, age, education, depression, anxiety, or other drug abuse history between the HIV-positive and HIV-negative groups with and without a history of alcohol abuse. Significant effects on cognitive function were found for past alcohol abuse and HIV infection, with significant interactions in verbal reasoning, auditory processing, and reaction time. This demonstrates that HIV infection and a history of alcohol abuse have independent effects on some aspects of higher cognitive function but may have synergistic effects on other cognitive domains. In the HIV-negative subjects there were no differences in cognitive function between subjects with and without a history of alcohol abuse. Among the HIV-positive subjects, those with a history of alcohol abuse performed more poorly on tests of verbal IQ, verbal reasoning, and reaction time. There are both additive and interactive effects of previous alcohol abuse and HIV infection on cognition. Individuals with a history of past alcohol abuse may be at greater risk for cognitive dysfunction in the context of HIV infection.
The automatic disease diagnosis utilizing clinical data has been suffering from the issues of feature sparse and high probability of missing values. Since the graph neural network is a effective tool to model the structural information and infer the missing values, it is becoming the dominant method for the predictive model construction from electronic medical records. Existing graph neural network based solutions usually adopt the medical concepts (e.g., symptoms) the feature representation of clinical data without considering their underlying semantic relations. The limited discriminative capability of the medical concept cannot provide sufficient indicative information about the disease. This article proposes a knowledge-guided graph attention network for the disease prediction. Beside extracting the attribute-value structure as a large-size medical concept, the mutual information between multiple medical concepts mentioned in the electronic medical records are taken into account in the graph construction. Meanwhile, the defined diseases and their associations with the medical concepts in the medical knowledge graph are incorporated into the graph, which provides the potentials to enhance the indicative impacts of the medical concepts directly related to a target disease. Then, the spatial and attention based graph encoders are employed to aggregate information from directly neighbor nodes to generate node embeddings as the compact features to be used for disease diagnosis. The approach itself is a general one that can utilized to build the predictive model using Chinese EMRs for different diseases. The empirical experiments for its performance evaluation are conducted on the real-world COPD EMR dataset. The comparison study results show that the proposed model outperforms baseline methods, which illustrates the effectiveness of our proposed model.
The availability of measures to operationalize allostatic load - the cumulative toll on the body of responding to stressor demands - in population health surveys may differ across years or surveys, hampering analyses on the entire sampled population. Here, impacts of variable selection and calculation method were evaluated to generate an allostatic load index applicable across all cycles of the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS). Data from CHMS cycles 1 to 4 were used to compare allostatic load scores when replacing the most prevalent risk factor, waist-to-hip ratio - available in cycles 1 to 4 but not 5 and 6 - with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, waist circumference within BMI groups (classified as normal, overweight, or obese), or waist-to-height ratio. Indexes were generated using clinical or sex-specific empirically defined risk thresholds and as count-based or continuous scores. Logistic regression models that included age and sex were used to relate each potential index to socioeconomic indicators (educational attainment, household income). Of the variables assessed, waist-to-height ratio and waist circumference were closest to waist-to-hip ratio according to an individual's percentile ranking and in classifying "at risk" using either clinical or empirically defined cut-offs. Allostatic load profiles generated using waist-to-height ratios most closely resembled profiles constructed using waist-to-hip ratios. Sex-dependent associations with educational attainment and household income were maintained across constructs whether indexes were count-based or continuous. Allostatic load profiles and associations with socioeconomic indicators were robust to variable substitution and method of calculation, supporting the use of a harmonized index across survey cycles to assess the cumulative toll on health of stressor exposure.
The availability of voluntary nonremunerated blood donors is a major concern in low- and middle-income countries because there is a substantial scarcity of safe blood supply against the expected demand. This study explores the status of knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding blood donation among students and teachers of residential religious academic institutions in Jamalpur district in Bangladesh. Religious institutions were selected through simple random sampling, and the cross-sectional survey included 512 participants. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed with statistical significance defined as p < 0.05. Over 90% of the participants were students, non-smokers, and aged 18-30 years. The majority (92%) did not ever donate blood to anyone, yet over 42% wanted to be regular donors. More than 80% considered blood donation a moral responsibility and an Islamic act. The common reasons for not donating blood were lack of knowledge (40%), lack of opportunity (20%), thinking it was harmful to health (21%), fearing needles (16%), and no financial benefit (6%). Interestingly, more than 67% did not know their blood group, and about 61% of the respondents said they did not hear of or could not remember any blood donation program. The participants had poor knowledge of general eligibility criteria but an overall positive attitude towards blood donation. There was a weak positive correlation between knowledge, attitude, and practice scores. Participants willing to donate blood to strangers were four times more likely to do so regularly. Those who considered blood donation a religious act and a moral responsibility were twice as likely to become regular blood donors. This study reveals that many potential donors are being neglected, although they may be a valuable resource in addressing the ongoing blood donation issue.
The axiomatic structure of the κ-statistcal theory is proven. In addition to the first three standard Khinchin-Shannon axioms of continuity, maximality, and expansibility, two further axioms are identified, namely the self-duality axiom and the scaling axiom. It is shown that both the κ-entropy and its special limiting case, the classical Boltzmann-Gibbs-Shannon entropy, follow unambiguously from the above new set of five axioms. It has been emphasized that the statistical theory that can be built from κ-entropy has a validity that goes beyond physics and can be used to treat physical, natural, or artificial complex systems. The physical origin of the self-duality and scaling axioms has been investigated and traced back to the first principles of relativistic physics, i.e., the Galileo relativity principle and the Einstein principle of the constancy of the speed of light. It has been shown that the κ-formalism, which emerges from the κ-entropy, can treat both simple (few-body) and complex (statistical) systems in a unified way. Relativistic statistical mechanics based on κ-entropy is shown that preserves the main features of classical statistical mechanics (kinetic theory, molecular chaos hypothesis, maximum entropy principle, thermodynamic stability, H-theorem, and Lesche stability). The answers that the κ-statistical theory gives to the more-than-a-century-old open problems of relativistic physics, such as how thermodynamic quantities like temperature and entropy vary with the speed of the reference frame, have been emphasized.