Yoxas/statistical_literacy huggingface dataset:
Visual misinformation poses unique challenges to public health due to its potential for persuasiveness and rapid spread on social media. In this article, librarians at the University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences Library System identify four types of visual health misinformation: misleading graphs and charts, out of context visuals, image manipulation in scientific publications, and AI-generated images and videos. To educate our campus's health sciences audience and wider community on these topics, we have developed a range of instruction about visual health misinformation. We describe our strategies and provide suggestions for implementing visual misinformation programming for a variety of audiences.
Visual perception is profoundly sensitive to context. Surround suppression is a well-known visual context effect in which the firing rate of a neuron is suppressed by stimulation of its extra-classical receptive field. The majority of contrast surround suppression studies exclusively use narrowband, sinusoidal grating stimuli; however, it is unclear whether the results produced by such artificial stimuli generalize to real-world, naturalistic visual experiences. To address this issue, we developed a contrast discrimination paradigm that includes both naturalistic broadband textures and narrowband grating textures. All textures were matched for first order image statistics and overall perceptual salience. We observed surround suppression across broadband textures (F(1,6)=19.01, p=.005); however, effect sizes were largest for narrowband, sinusoidal gratings (Cohen's d=1.83). Among the three broadband texture types, we observed strongest suppression for the texture with a clear dominant orientation (stratified: Cohen's d=1.29), while the textures with a more even distribution of orientation information produced weaker suppression (fibrous: Cohen's d=0.63; braided: Cohen's d=0.65). We also observed an effect of texture identity on the slope of psychometric functions (F(1.98,11.9)=7.29, p=0.01), primarily driven by smaller slopes for the texture with the most uniform distribution of orientations. Our results suggest that well-known contextual modulation effects only partially generalize to more ecologically valid stimuli.
Visual Question Answering (VQA) is a method of answering questions in natural language based on the content of images and has been widely concerned by researchers. The existing research on the visual question answering model mainly focuses on the point of view of attention mechanism and multi-modal fusion. It only pays attention to the visual semantic features of the image in the process of image modeling, ignoring the importance of modeling the spatial relationship of visual objects. We are aiming at the existing problems of the existing VQA model research. An effective spatial relationship reasoning network model is proposed, which can combine visual object semantic reasoning and spatial relationship reasoning at the same time to realize fine-grained multi-modal reasoning and fusion. A sparse attention encoder is designed to capture contextual information effectively in the semantic reasoning module. In the spatial relationship reasoning module, the graph neural network attention mechanism is used to model the spatial relationship of visual objects, which can correctly answer complex spatial relationship reasoning questions. Finally, a practical compact self-attention (CSA) mechanism is designed to reduce the redundancy of self-attention in linear transformation and the number of model parameters and effectively improve the model's overall performance. Quantitative and qualitative experiments are conducted on the benchmark datasets of VQA 2.0 and GQA. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method performs favorably against the state-of-the-art approaches. Our best single model has an overall accuracy of 71.18% on the VQA 2.0 dataset and 57.59% on the GQA dataset.
Visual Thinking Strategies is an arts and humanities pedagogical intervention increasingly incorporated into medical education. As a straightforward method that appears easy to use, its nuances are often overlooked or-less frequently-improperly implemented entirely. Such haphazard use can lead to lessened impact for learners, and result in inconsistent and non-generalizable findings in studies in the nascent field of arts and humanities medical education. Critical and often glossed-over components of Visual Thinking Strategies include choosing the appropriate artwork, adhering to the specific 3-question language of the method, facilitating dialogue with effective paraphrasing, framing and linking of participant comments, intentionally utilizing non-verbal communication, and carefully setting up the environment. These components can be systematically taught by strengthening Visual Thinking Strategies training for faculty and adopting faculty development techniques from the K-12 education realm, namely peer and video feedback, where VTS has been used and fine-tuned for decades. It is an opportune time to begin rigorous faculty coaching for Visual Thinking Strategies facilitation and set the standard for art and humanities interventions in medical education.
Visualisations facilitate the interpretation of geometrically structured data and results. However, heterogeneous geometries-such as volumes, surfaces, and networks-have traditionally mandated different software approaches. We introduce hyve, a Python library that uses a compositional functional framework to enable parametric implementation of custom visualisations for different brain geometries. Under this framework, users compose a reusable visualisation protocol from geometric primitives for representing data geometries, input primitives for common data formats and research objectives, and output primitives for producing interactive displays or configurable snapshots. hyve also writes documentation for user-constructed protocols, automates serial production of multiple visualisations, and includes an API for semantically organising an editable multi-panel figure. Through the seamless composition of input, output, and geometric primitives, hyve supports creating visualisations for a range of neuroimaging research objectives.
Visualising the course of a complex perianal fistula on imaging can be difficult. It has been postulated that three-dimensional (3D) models of perianal fistulas improve understanding of the perianal pathology, contribute to surgical decision-making and might even improve future outcomes of surgical treatment. The aim of the current study is to investigate the accuracy of 3D-printed models of perianal fistulas compared with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI scans of 15 patients with transsphincteric and intersphincteric fistulas were selected and then assessed by an experienced abdominal and colorectal radiologist. A standardised method of creating a 3D-printed anatomical model of cryptoglandular perianal fistula was developed by a technical medical physicist and a surgeon in training with special interest in 3D printing. Manual segmentation of the fistula and external sphincter was performed by a trained technical medical physicist. The anatomical models were 3D printed in a 1:1 ratio and assessed by two colorectal surgeons. The 3D-printed models were then scanned with a 3D scanner. Volume of the 3D-printed model was compared with manual segmentation. Inter-rater reliability statistics were calculated for consistency between the radiologist who assessed the MRI scans and the surgeons who assessed the 3D-printed models. The assessment of the MRI was considered the 'gold standard'. Agreement between the two surgeons who assessed the 3D printed models was also determined. Consistency between the radiologist and the surgeons was almost perfect for classification (κ = 0.87, κ = 0.87), substantial for complexity (κ = 0.73, κ = 0.74) and location of the internal orifice (κ = 0.73, κ = 0.73) and moderate for the percentage of involved external anal sphincter in transsphincteric fistulas (ICC 0.63, ICC 0.52). Agreement between the two surgeons was substantial for classification (κ = 0.73), complexity (κ = 0.74), location of the internal orifice (κ = 0.75) and percentage of involved external anal sphincter in transsphincteric fistulas (ICC 0.77). Our 3D-printed anatomical models of perianal fistulas are an accurate reflection of the MRI. Further research is needed to determine the added value of 3D-printed anatomical models in preoperative planning and education.
Visualizations are ubiquitous in data-driven research, serving as both tools for knowledge production and genuine means of knowledge communication. Despite criticisms targeting the alleged objectivity of visualizations in the digital humanities (DH) and reflections on how they may serve as representations of both scholarly perspective and uncertainty within the data analysis pipeline, there remains a notable scarcity of in-depth theoretical grounding for these assumptions in DH discussions. It is our understanding that only through theoretical foundations such as basic semiotic principles and perspectives on media modality one can fully assess the use and potential of visualizations for innovation in scholarly interpretation. We argue that visualizations have the capacity to "productively irritate" existing scholarly knowledge in a given research field. This does not just mean that visualizations depict patterns in datasets that seem not in line with prior research and thus stimulate deeper examination. Complementarily, "irritation" here consists of visualizations producing uncertainty about their own meaning-yet it is precisely this uncertainty in which the potential for greater insight lies. It stimulates questions about what is depicted and what is not. This turns out to be a valuable resource for scholarly interpretation, and one could argue that visualizing big data is particularly prolific in this sense, because due to their complexity researchers cannot interpret the data without visual representations. However, we argue that "productive irritation" can also happen below the level of big data. We see this potential rooted in the genuinely semiotic and semantic properties of visual media, which studies in multimodality and specifically in the field of Bildlinguistik have carved out: a visualization's holistic overview of data patterns is juxtaposed to its semantic vagueness, which gives way to deep interpretations and multiple perspectives on that data. We elucidate this potential using examples from medieval English legal history. Visualizations of data relating to legal functions and social constellations of various people in court offer surprising insights that can lead to new knowledge through "productive irritation."
Visually impaired and blind adolescents fare poorly in educational attainment compared to adolescents without vision impairment. Rehabilitation holds the potential to compensate for the hindrances that the impairment causes. Many rehabilitation initiatives exist. However, the efficacy of these initiatives remains uncertain. This systematic review assessed which rehabilitation initiatives improve participation in an educational setting for visually impaired and blind adolescents. PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cinahl, and Cochrane library databases were searched. Only primary studies as randomized controlled trial (parallel group or crossover), cohort studies, case-control studies, qualitative studies, and case-studies were included. Data on the study characteristics, visual impairment, type of intervention, research question, main findings, and implications for practice were extracted from the papers. Critical appraisal was performed using the Critical Appraisal Checklist for Qualitative Research and the Checklist for Quasi-Experimental Studies both from the Joanna Briggs Institute. The data extraction and the critical appraisal were performed independently by two reviewers. A total of 10 studies with visually impaired and blind adolescents were considered eligible, from an original search result of 3210 studies. In the thematic analysis we identified a heightened focus on different means for studying by making the curriculum content more accessible by applying different audio, tactile, or electronic devices (n = 8). A minor focus in the identified studies (n = 2) was placed on the impact of support from the environment on the development of literacy, for example the support from teachers or parents. Outcome parameters representing more diverse rehabilitation initiatives have not been adequately investigated in the literature. The scientific evidence that we identified was based on few publications with contradictory results and some studies were of questionable quality, limiting the applicability of their findings. Overall, the review identified a gap in the evidence regarding rehabilitation initiatives for visually impaired and blind adolescents that enables participation in an educational setting. The overall quality assessment of the 10 studies identified several risks of bias, for which reason the current scientific evidence does not qualify as a basis for decision making, leaving the adolescents in a heightened risk to fall even further behind in the educational system. Further high quality randomized controlled trials are required to establish high-quality evidence.
Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a leading contributor to the poor health and nutrition of young children in sub-Saharan Africa. Funding constraints are compelling many countries to shift from longstanding campaigns to integrating vitamin A supplementation (VAS) into routine health services. We assessed child VAS coverage and associated factors for integrated delivery systems in Mozambique, Senegal, and Sierra Leone and for a campaign-based delivery strategy in Tanzania. Data were obtained using representative household surveys administered to primary caregivers of N = 16,343 children aged 6-59 months (Mozambique: N = 1,659; Senegal: N = 7,254; Sierra Leone: N = 4,149; Tanzania: N = 3,281). Single-dose VAS coverage was assessed and bivariate and multivariable associations were examined for child VAS receipt with respect to rural or urban residence; child age and sex; maternal age, education, and VAS program knowledge; and household wealth. VAS coverage for children aged 6-59 months was 42.8% (95% CI: 40.2, 45.6) in Mozambique, 46.1% (95% CI: 44.9, 47.4) in Senegal, 86.9% (95% CI: 85.8, 87.9) in Sierra Leone, and 42.4% (95% CI: 40.2, 44.6) in Tanzania and was significantly higher for children 6-11 vs. 24-59 months in Mozambique, Senegal, and Tanzania. In Sierra Leone, children aged 12-23 months (aOR = 1.86; 95% CI: 1.20, 2.86) and 24-59 months (aOR = 1.55; 95% CI: 1.07, 2.25) were more likely to receive VAS, compared to those 6-11 months. Maternal awareness of VAS programs was associated with higher uptake in Mozambique (aOR = 4.00; 95% CI: 2.81, 5.68), Senegal (aOR = 2.72; 95% CI: 2.35, 3.15), and Tanzania (aOR = 14.50; 95% CI: 10.98, 19.17). Increased household wealth was associated with a higher likelihood of child VAS in Senegal and Tanzania. Our findings indicate routine delivery approaches for VAS are not achieving the level of coverage needed for public health impact in these settings. Intensive outreach efforts contributed to the higher coverage in Sierra Leone and highlight the importance of reducing the burdens associated with seeking supplementation at health facilities. As countries move towards incorporating VAS into routine health services, the essentiality of informed communities and potential losses for older children and socio-economically disadvantaged populations are key considerations in the sub-Saharan African context.
Vitamin D (VitD) is a naturally occurring, fat-soluble vitamin which regulates calcium and phosphate homeostasis in the human body and is also known to have a neuroprotective role. VitD deficiency has often been associated with impaired cognition and a higher risk of dementia. In this study, we aimed to explore the relationship between levels of VitD and cognitive functioning in adult individuals. 982 cognitively healthy adults (≥ 45 years) were recruited as part of the CBR-Tata Longitudinal Study for Aging (TLSA). Addenbrooke's cognitive examination-III (ACE-III) and Hindi mental status examination (HMSE) were used to measure cognitive functioning. 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels were measured from the collected serum sample and classified into three groups- deficient (< 20 ng/ml), insufficient (20-29 ng/ml) and normal (≥ 30 ng/ml). Statistical analysis was done using IBM SPSS software, version 28.0.1.1(15). The mean age of the participants was 61.24 ± 9 years. Among 982 participants, 572 (58%) were deficient, 224 (23%) insufficient and only 186 (19%) had normal levels of VitD. Kruskal-Wallis H test revealed a significant difference in age (p = 0.015) and education (p = 0.021) across VitD levels and the Chi-square test revealed a significant association between gender (p = 0.001) and dyslipidemia status (p = 0.045) with VitD levels. After adjusting for age, education, gender and dyslipidemia status, GLM revealed that individuals with deficient (p = 0.038) levels of VitD had lower scores in ACE-III verbal fluency as compared to normal. Additionally, we also found that 91.2% individuals who had VitD deficiency were also having dyslipidemia. It is concerning that VitD deficiency impacts lipid metabolism. Lower levels of VitD also negatively impacts verbal fluency in adult individuals. Verbal fluency involves higher order cognitive functions and this result provides us with a scope to further investigate the different domains of cognition in relation to VitD deficiency and other associated disorders.
Vitamin D influence on brain development and subsequent postnatal neurodevelopment remains controversial. We explored the correlation between cord blood vitamin D levels and longitudinal neurodevelopment in early childhood. A cohort study was conducted on term infants with no congenital abnormalities, born from pregnant women from a cohort study. Cord blood samples were collected to measure vitamin D. Neurodevelopment was examined three times in infants aged 6, 12 and 24 months using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire-3, which comprises 30 questions of five developmental domains: gross motor, fine motor, communication, problem-solving and social-personal. Statistical analysis was conducted with Spearman's rank correlation and multiple linear regression. Of the 141 babies born from previous cohort studies, only 116 participants were included. The mean level of cord blood vitamin D was 16.2 ng/mL. The percentage participants with vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency were 12.9 and 65.5, respectively. Cord blood vitamin D and the problem-solving domain for infant aged 12 and 24 months were correlated (r = 0.217 and 0.414, respectively). Multiple linear regression showed a decreased problem-solving domain score of 0.641 associated with decreased vitamin D levels. In conclusion, cord blood vitamin D levels correlated with infant neurodevelopmental status.
Vitiligo is an acquired autoimmune depigmented disorder characterized by the presence of white and well-defined patches on the skin, mucous membrane, or both. It is associated with a significant disease burden and has a profoundly impacts patients' quality of life. Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs) result from an autoimmune system dysregulation, leading to an erroneous immune attack on the thyroid gland. Previous observational and epidemiological studies have suggested the association between vitiligo and AITDs. However, the bidirectional cause-effect relationship between vitiligo and AITDs has not been formally assessed. Two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was conducted to explore potential causal relationships between genetically increased risk of vitiligo and AITDs, using summary statistics from genome-wide association studies in European populations. Causal effects were primarily estimated using the inverse variance weighted method, and additional quality control was performed using the MR-Egger, weighted median, simple mode, and weight mode methods. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess the robustness of the results. The forward MR analysis showed a positive causal relationship between vitiligo and autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT), autoimmune hyperthyroidism (AIH), and Graves' disease (GD). The odds ratio (OR) were 1.17 (95% CI, 1.01-1.35; p = 0.04), 1.12 (95% CI, 1.03-1.22; p = 0.01), and 1.13 (95% CI, 1.06-1.20; p < 0.01), respectively. In the reverse MR analysis, a positive causal relationship was found between AIT and vitiligo, with an OR of 1.10 (95% CI, 1.01-1.35; p = 0.04). However, no causal relationship was observed between AIH (p = 0.10) or GD (p = 0.61) and vitiligo. Sensitivity analysis revealed no evidence of horizontal pleiotropy or heterogeneity. The genetic-level investigation provides evidence of a genetic causal association between susceptibility to vitiligo and an increased risk of AITDs. Additionally, the results demonstrate a genetic causal association between susceptibility to AIT and an increased risk of vitiligo, while not indicating a similar association with susceptibility to AIH or GD.
Vitrification under isochoric (constant-volume or volumetrically confined) conditions has emerged as an intriguing new cryopreservation modality, but the physical complexities of the process confound straight-forward interpretation of experimental results. In particular, the signature pressure-based ice detection used in many isochoric techniques becomes paradoxical during vitrification, wherein the emergence of a sharp increase in pressure reliably indicates the presence of ice, but avoidance of this increase does not necessarily indicate its absence. This phenomenon arises from the rich interplay between thermochemical and thermovolumetric effects in isochoric systems, and muddies efforts to confirm the degree to which a sample has vitrified. In this work, we seek to aid interpretation of isochoric vitrification experiments by calculating thermodynamic limits on the maximum amount of ice that may form without being detected by pressure, and by clarifying the myriad physical processes at play. Neglecting kinetic effects, we develop a simplified thermodynamic model accounting for thermal contraction, cavity formation, ice growth, solute ripening, and glass formation, we evaluate it for a range of chamber materials and solution compositions, and we validate against the acutely limited data available. Our results provide both counter-intuitive insights- lower-concentration solutions may contract less while producing more pressure-undetectable ice growth for example- and a general phenomenological framework by which to evaluate the process of vitrification in isochoric systems. We anticipate that the model herein will enable design of future isochoric protocols with minimized risk of pressure-undetectable ice formation, and provide a thermodynamic foundation from which to build an increasingly rigorous multi-physics understanding of isochoric vitrification.