High Performance Group Research Articles

Evaluation of different feedback designs for target guidance in human controlled robotic cranes: A comparison between high and low performance groups

Labour shortages and costly operator training are driving the need for digital on-board robotic crane operator support in forestry and construction. This simulator study investigated the effects of sonification (auditory, pitch/loudness) and continuous visual (brightness/size) feedback on aiming movements with a robotic crane for low and high performers. The feedback was designed non-linear and linear. Thirty-six participants controlled a robotic crane bimanually using joysticks across 320 movements. Performance and skill indicators (movement time, accuracy, trajectory, smoothness) as well as satisfaction, and usefulness were assessed. Low-performing participants showed higher movement accuracy, particularly with non-linear pitch feedback compared to visual feedback. High performers exhibited no significant performance improvement in movement time, accuracy, or smoothness. There was no effect of linear or non-linear mapping of the feedback. Additionally, perceived satisfaction was lower with auditory than visual feedback. These results suggest that real-time auditory feedback can enhance operator accuracy whereas acceptance remains challenging.

Mapping out the structural relationship of middle school students’ use of talk and gestures and group outcomes’ quality in collaborative science problem-solving activities

ABSTRACT The current study explores the connection and affordances of talk and gesture in collaborative science problem-solving activities using an emerging analytical approach. A total of 15 three to five-member groups of middle school students participated in a set of clinical collaborative science problem-solving activities. Six groups (three low- and three high-performing groups) were selected for further analyses. The data consisted of successive statements in student conversations that were coded as different types of talk and gestures. Pearson Phi correlation test and Epistemic Network Analysis were used to analyze the data. We found that certain types of gesture were moderately associated with certain types of talk. In addition, we found high-performing groups were significantly different from low-performing groups in the use of higher cognitive engagement and collaborative regulation talks. We did not find a significant difference in the use of gestures on their own. However, we found that when talk and gestures were combined, high-performing groups tended to use higher cognitive engagement and collaborative regulation talks with representing and pointing gestures. These findings support previous studies on the affordances of talk and gesture in collaborative science activities and provide more evidence for how multimodality is important in science learning.

Generating Creative Scientific Ideas in Collaborative Learning Using Computer-Based Mind Mapping

Creativity is widely described as a key 21st-century skill. Science education has emphasized the development of creative ideas or innovative solutions with the support of technology. Several research results have shown that the collaborative learning model is the most widely applied treatment and has proven to awaken students' creative thinking abilities. This study aims to generate scientific creative ideas through scientific creative assignments by applying a computer-based Mind Mapping learning strategy in collaborative learning. This research is an exploratory study investigating how Science Education students engage in tasks to generate scientific creativity with technological support, specifically how they generate ideas in small groups by applying relevant thinking strategies, engaging in social communication, and building computer-based creative ideas. Do high- and low-performing groups differ in their idea-generation process, and if so, what are the differences? Mind mapping to facilitate group thinking. The participants were 16 3rd semester students who worked on a series of scientific creativity tasks in 4 groups. All categories emerged in the conversations, although the percentage of frequency varied. Compared to low-performing groups, high-performing groups engaged more in divergent thinking, mind mapping, and regulative discussions, in addition to making these activities more closely connected with idea generation. These findings have implications for the design of technology-supported educational interventions intended to promote and improve group creativity in science education.

Two modes of social impressions and their effects on choice.

Our memories of other people shape how we interact with them. Yet, even when we forget exactly what others said or did, we often remember impressions that capture a general gist of their behavior-whether they were forthright, friendly, or funny. Drawing on fuzzy trace theory, we propose two modes of social impression formation: impressions formed based on ordinal gist ("more competent," "less competent") or categorical gist ("competent," "incompetent"). In turn, we propose that people gravitate toward the simplest representation available and that different modes of memory have distinct consequences for social decisions. Specifically, ordinal impressions lead people to make decisions based on an individual's standing relative to others, whereas categorical impressions lead people to make decisions based on discrete classifications that interpret behavior. In four experiments, participants learned about two groups of individuals who differed in their competence (Studies 1a, 2, and 3) or generosity (Study 1b). When participants encoded impressions as ordinal rankings, they preferred to hire or help a relatively good target from a low-performing group over a relatively bad target from a high-performing group, even though both targets behaved identically and accuracy was incentivized. However, when participants could use categorical boundaries to interpret behavior, this preference was eliminated. In a final experiment, changing the category participants used to encode others' generosity changed their impressions, even when accounting for memory for verbatim details. This work links social impressions to theories of mental representation in memory and judgment, highlighting how distinct representations support divergent patterns of social decision-making. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

23 The Wandering Mind: Variability in Mindfulness is Associated with Improved Aspects of Executive Functioning.

Objective:Research evaluating mindfulness and cognition has produced mixed results. However, variability in mindfulness has not been previously evaluated as a predictor of cognitive ability. This study evaluated the relation between intra-individual variability (IIV) in mindfulness and cognitive performance.Participants and Methods:274 university participants (M=19 years old, SD=1.5; 72.6% female, 67.2% White, 25.6% African American, 3.3% Asian American, 1.1% Hispanic American) completed the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) and the CNS Vital Signs computerized test battery. IIV was computed from the FFMQ facet T-scores. Additionally, high and low cognitive performance groups were formed from the top and bottom 16% of the sample using the neurocognition index (NCI) score from CNS Vital Signs (N=52 high NCI performance and N=46 low NCI performance).Results:Pearson r correlations were used to evaluate the relation between mindfulness IIV and CNS Vital Signs domains. Mindfulness IIV was negatively associated with performance on the domains of psychomotor speed [r=-.18; p=.003], composite memory [r=-.14; p=.023] and verbal memory [r=-.15; p=.015]. For the high NCI group, IIV mindfulness was positively associated with cognitive flexibility [r=.31; p=.024], executive functioning [r=.33; p=.016] and was negatively related to visual memory [r=-.28; p=.043]. For the low NCI group, IIV mindfulness was negatively related to psychomotor speed [r=-.49; p<.001], composite memory [r=-.32; p=.033] and verbal memory [r=-.31; p=.038]. There was no relation found for individual FFMQ facet scores and CNS Vital Sign domains.Conclusions:Increased consistency in self-reported mindfulness (lower IIV) was associated with greater processing speed and memory performance in the overall sample. However, the relation been mindfulness IIV and cognitive performance changed greatly in high NCI performers compared to low NCI performers. The low NCI group may be a proxy for poor effort which would explain why more variable self-reported mindfulness was associated with worse performance for processing speed and memory and this could be driving the results for the overall sample. However, our findings for the high NCI performance group are unique and suggest an association between increased variability in mindfulness facets and improved cognitive flexibility and executive functioning. Further study of mindfulness variability and aspects of executive functioning is warranted.

Load-Time and Load-Speed Relationship in the Resisted Sled Sprint Exercise: What Independent Variable Most Accurately Determines the Relative Load?

Jiménez-Lozano, M, Yáñez-García, JM, Mora-Custodio, R, Valle-Salguero, A, Díez-Fernández, DM, Franco-Márquez, F, González-Badillo, JJ, and Rodríguez-Rosell, D. Load-time and load-speed relationship in the resisted sled sprint exercise: what independent variable most accurately determines the relative load? J Strength Cond Res 37(11): 2167-2177, 2023-The aims of this study were to analyze the load-speed and load-time relationships in the resisted sled sprint exercise using different variables as relative load and to estimate the decrement of speed sprint and the increase of sprint time across different loads. Thirty young healthy men performed a progressive loading test in the countermovement jump (CMJ) exercise to determinate the load that elicited a 2 m·s-1 peak velocity (PV2-load) and in the full squat exercise to obtain the 1 repetition maximum (1RM) value and the load that elicited a 1 m·s-1 mean velocity (V1-load). In addition, subjects performed a progressive loading test in the resisted sled sprint exercise, whereas time and instantaneous speed at 10 (T10 and V10) and 20 m (T20 and V20) were measured. The independent variables used were body mass (BM), 1RM and V1-load in the squat exercise, the PV2-Load in the loaded CMJ exercise, 1RM + BM, V1-Load + BM, and PV2-Load + BM. To analyze whether relationships were dependent on individual performance obtained in unloaded sprint, the total sample was divided into 3 subgroups: high performance (T20 < 3.00 s), medium performance (T20:3.00-3.12 s), and low performance (T20 > 3.12 seconds) groups. The independent variables showing the highest relationships with time and speed in 10 and 20 m were %BM, %BM + V1-load, and %BM + PV2-load. Statistically significant differences between performance groups in %DSS (decrease of sprint speed) and %IST (increase sprint time) in 20 m were found when %BM was used as relative load, whereas there were no significant differences between groups for %BM + PV2-load or %BM + V1-load. In conclusion, the use of %BM + PV2-load and %BM + V1-load should be considered as variables for monitoring the relative load in the resisted sled sprint exercise.

56 Dunning-Kruger Effect and Anxiety in a Mexican population

Objective:The Dunning-Krueger effect is a cognitive bias where individuals tend to overestimate their abilities in areas where they are less competent. The Cordoba Naming Test (CNT) is a 30-item confrontation naming task. Hardy and Wright (2018) conditionally validated a measure of perceived mental workload called the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX). Researchers reported that workload ratings on the NASA-TLX increased with increased task demands on a cognitive task. Anxiety is known as an emotion that can make an individual more susceptible to develop a mental health condition. We examine if the Dunning-Krueger effect occurs in a Mexican population with and without current symptoms of anxiety and possible factors driving individuals to overestimate their abilities on the CNT. We predicted the abnormal symptoms of anxiety (ASA) group would report better CNT performance, report higher perceived workloads on the CNT, and underperform on the CNT compared to the normal symptoms of anxiety (NSA) group. We also predicted the low-performance group would report better CNT performance, report higher perceived workloads on the CNT, and underperform on the CNT compared to the high-performance group.Participants and Methods:The sample consisted of 192 Mexican participants with NSA (79 low-performance &amp; 113 high-performance) and 74 Mexican participants with ASA (44 low-performance &amp; 30 high-performance). Participants completed the CNT, NASA-TLX, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) in Spanish. The NASA-TLX was used to evaluate perceived workloads after the completion of the CNT. Meanwhile, the HADS was used to create our anxiety groups. Finally, CNT raw scores were converted into T-scores, which then were averaged to create the following two groups: low-performance (CNT T-Score &lt;50) and high-performance (CNT T-Score 50+). A series of 2x2 ANCOVAs, controlling for gender were used to evaluate CNT performance and perceived workloads.Results:We found a significant interaction where the low-performance ASA and the high-performance NSA groups demonstrated better CNT performance and reported higher perceived workloads (i.e., performance, temporal demand) on the CNT compared to their respective counterparts (i.e., low-performance NSA &amp; high-performance ASA groups), p's&lt;.05, ηp's2=.02. We found a main effect where the high-performance group outperformed the low-performance group on the CNT and reported lower perceived workloads on the CNT, p's&lt;.05, ηp's2 =.04-.46.Conclusions:The Dunning-Krueger effect did not occur in our sample. Participants that demonstrated better CNT performance also reported higher perceived workloads regardless of their current symptoms of anxiety. A possible explanation can be our sample's cultural norms of what would be considered as abnormal symptoms of anxiety, is a normal part of life, decreasing the possibilities to experience self-efficacy distoritions. Future studies should investigate whether the Dunning-Kruger effect may be influencing other aspects of cognitive functioning subjectively in Mexicans residing in Mexico and the United States with and without current symptoms of anxiety.

Analysis of learning behaviour in immersive virtual reality

Immersive virtual reality technology has been widely used in teaching and learning scenarios because of its unique visual and interactive experiences that bring learners a sense of immersive reality. However, how to better apply immersive virtual reality technology to learning environments to promote learning effectiveness is a direction that has been studied and explored by many scholars. Although a growing number of studies have concluded that immersive virtual reality technology can enhance learners’ attention in teaching and learning, few studies have directly linked both learning behaviors and attention to investigate the differences in behavioral performance across attention. In this study, attention data monitored by EEG physiological brainwaves and a large number of videos recorded during learning were used to explore the differences in the sequence of high attention behaviors across performance levels in an immersive virtual reality environment using behavioral data mining techniques. The results found that there was a strong correlation between attention and performance in immersive virtual reality, that thinking and looking may be more conducive to learners’ concentration, and that high concentration behaviors in the high-performing group accompanied the test and appeared after the monitoring, while the action continued to be repeated after the high concentration behaviors in the low-performing group. Based on this, this study provides a reference method for the analysis of the learning process in this environment, and provides a theoretical basis and practical guidance for the improvement of participants’ attention and learning effectiveness.

Kinematics, Kinetics and Muscle Activity Analysis during Single-leg Drop-jump Landing Followed by an Unanticipated Task: Focusing on Differences in Neurocognitive Function.

Lower neurocognitive function is a risk factor for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. However, the mechanism by which lower neurocognitive function increases the risk of ACL injury remains unclear. To clarify the effect of differences in neurocognitive function on landing mechanics during a single-leg drop-jump landing motion followed by an unanticipated task. Cross-sectional study. Fifteen collegiate female athletes were recruited (20.1 ± 1.3 years, 166.6 ± 7.3 cm, 60.6 ± 6.9 kg) and were divided into two groups (the high-performance (HP) group and the lower-performance (LP) group) using the median Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) score. Three-dimensional motion analysis was employed for the analysis during the experimental task of a single-leg drop-jump followed by an unanticipated landing task from a 30-cm high box. Joint angular changes of the trunk, pelvis, hip, and knee were calculated within the interval from initial contact (IC) to 40ms. Knee and hip moments were calculated as the maximum values within the interval from IC to 40ms. Surface electromyography data from key muscles were analyzed 50ms before and after IC. Independent t-tests were used to compare the effects of different neurocognitive function on the measurement items. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. The SDMT score was significantly higher in HP group (HP: 77.9 ± 5.5; LP: 66.0 ± 3.4; p < 0.001). The LP group had a significantly greater trunk rotation angular change to the stance leg side (HP: 0.4 ± 0.8; LP: 1.2 ± 0.4; p = 0.020). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of joint moments, and muscle activities. Differences in neurocognitive function by SDMT were found to be related to differences in motor strategies of the trunk in the horizontal plane. Although trunk motion in the sagittal and frontal planes during single-leg drop-jump landing increases the ACL injury risk by affecting knee joint motion, the effect of trunk motion in the horizontal plane remains unclear. 3© The Authors.

Learning behavioral patterns of students with varying performance in a high school mathematics course using an e-book system

Traditional textbooks are progressively being replaced by e-book systems, which are also being utilized more commonly in K–12 education. The study investigated learning behavioral patterns in a seven-week high school mathematics course using an e-book system. In this study, learning data from the BookRoll system was analyzed with lag sequential analysis to examine learning behavioral patterns, learning strategies, and the differences between students with different performances. The results of the learning behavior patterns of all students confirmed the usage of rehearsal and elaboration strategies. However, it demonstrated the lack of using metacognitive strategies in the e-book learning process. Additionally, the results also revealed different learning patterns among students with different learning performances. Students with decreased performance tended to use shallow cognitive processing strategies, while students with increased performance used deeper learning strategies, such as integrating information from the previous and next pages to highlight learning contents. Regarding the strategy usage of students with unchanged performance, students in the unchanged low and middle performance groups tended to utilize the re-reading strategy, while students in the unchanged high performance group utilized the elaboration strategy. Notably, students with increased performance employed fewer learning behavioral patterns than decreased performance students. The behavioral patterns of students with increased performance were more efficient and effective.

Identifying and characterising individual flood precautionary behaviour dynamics from panel data

Individual precautionary behaviour in response to flooding can considerably reduce flood impacts. Therefore, understanding its drivers and temporal dynamics is of high interest for risk management and communication. Previous studies are mostly based on temporally limited data by using cross-sectional surveys. Here we identified and characterised different types of trajectories of adaptive behaviour after a flood event. We used panel data, where 227 households were repeatedly surveyed within 45 months after the flood of June 2013 in Germany about their precautions. To identify robust groups, we applied and compared two clustering methods: latent class growth analysis (LCGA) and k-means based cluster analysis for panel data (kmlShape). Three different groups were consistent across the two methods and showed different dynamic adaptive behaviour over the survey period: a ‘high standard’ (35% of the sample), a ‘high performer’ (37%) and a ‘low adaptive’ (28%) group. The high standard group was characterised by a significantly higher protection motivation and flood experience in comparison to the other groups. The high performer group showed the largest increase in implemented precautionary measures after the flood, but also expressed a general fatalistic attitude towards floods. The low adaptive group trusted their community significantly more in managing floods and reported little access to information and support. The results indicate that tailored risk communication and funding schemes might be needed to support low adaptive types of flood-prone residents. They also present a starting point for the implementation of empirically based, heterogeneous adaptation behaviour in socio-hydrological models.

Exploring sequential interplay between challenges and regulatory processes in collaborative learning with process mining

ABSTRACT This study explored the sequential interplay between challenges and regulatory processes in high- and low-performing collaborative groups. 66 students from a Finnish higher education institution participated in a collaborative task in groups of three. Approximately 34 h of video data were coded. The sequential analysis revealed that both groups had higher sequential transitions between cognitive regulation and emotional/motivational regulation, rather than cognitive challenges. The high-performing groups demonstrated a stronger sequential link between emotional/motivational regulation and cognitive regulation than the low-performing groups did when faced with cognitive challenges. The study establishes a theoretical grounding and advances our understanding of regulated learning. Since collaborative learning tasks are highly adopted in the higher education context, especially in the Nordic region, this study has practical implications for higher education in these countries and beyond as they seek to develop pedagogical methodologies and customised support to help collaborative groups resolve challenges by initiating regulatory processes.

Comprehensive CMR to differentiate between fitness levels amongst veteran endurance athletes

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): British Heart Foundation. Background Myocardial fibrosis has been demonstrated to be highly prevalent amongst endurance athletes. However, it is unknown whether endurance athletes with a greater exercise capacity have an increased prevalence of fibrosis. Purpose To determine whether greater maximal exercise threshold is associated with increased myocardial fibrosis on cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in veteran endurance athletes. Methods 50 healthy veteran (aged &amp;gt; 50 years old) endurance athletes (cyclists/triathletes) who train &amp;gt;10 hours/week for &amp;gt;15 years underwent comprehensive CMR assessment and functional threshold power (FTP) cycling testing. Focal myocardial fibrosis was measured quantitively from late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) imaging. Diffuse myocardial fibrosis was identified using global native T1 mapping of mid-left ventricular (LV) slices whilst extracellular volume (ECV) was calculated using haematocrit on the same day as CMR. Statistical analysis between groups was performed using independent t-test for nominal values and chi-squared for ordinal values. Results Athletes were divided into high and low performance groups based on FTP assessment (median 240.8 Watts). High performance athletes were significantly younger with increased bi-ventricular size and reduced right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) at rest (Table 1). However, there was no statistical difference in focal fibrosis, ECV or native T1 between the groups. Conclusion Maximal effort capacity did not appear to influence the prevalence of cardiac fibrosis which may be related to alternative factors such as cumulative exercise exposure. However, higher performing athletes had increased bi-ventricular size, particularly affecting the more compliant right ventricle (RV). Further larger studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Financial performance prediction model based on firms’ internal capability determinants: evidence from listed firms in Thailand during the transition period of going public

This study attempts to develop a financial performance prediction model, which explores the relationship between the internal capability determinants and the financial performance of public firms both before and after the firms participated in the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET). The regression and logistic regression methods are employed in this model based on two internal capability determinants, namely firm financial strengths and firm characteristics. The evaluation is based on 111 listed firms that entered the SET between 2003 and 2014, inclusively. Decision makers can make use of the developed model to predict their firms’ financial performance in relative groups (high, medium and low performance groups) during the transition years when they become public. Unlike prior studies, this study includes the effect of time by considering the relative transition years (compared to the year that the firms join the stock market), which are not the calendar years. As a result, the true timing effect on the firm performance before and after going public can be discovered. The empirical evidence shows that the firms have to maintain different levels of determinants during different years of operation to yield a better financial performance. In addition, they can use the results of the prediction to prepare the most effective investment plan with the strategy of when and how much should be invested for each relative type of firms in order to upgrade its financial performance in relative to other firms in the marke Financial performance prediction model based on firms’ internal capability determinants: evidence from listed firms in Thailand during the transition period of going publicAll authorsNavee Chiadamrong & Tanakrit Wattanawarangkoonhttps://doi.org/10.1080/23311916.2023.2216860Published online:25 May 2023Display full size

Applying the UTAUT2 Model to Smart Eyeglasses to Detect and Prevent Falls Among Older Adults and Examination of Associations With Fall-Related Functional Physical Capacities: Survey Study.

As people age, their physical capacities (eg, walking and balance) decline and the risk of falling rises. Yet, classic fall detection devices are poorly accepted by older adults. Because they often wear eyeglasses as they go about their daily activities, daily monitoring to detect and prevent falls with smart eyeglasses might be more easily accepted. On the basis of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT2), this study evaluated (1) the acceptability of smart eyeglasses for the detection and prevention of falls by older adults and (2) the associations with selected fall-related functional physical capacities. A total of 142 volunteer older adults (mean age 74.9 years, SD 6.5 years) completed the UTAUT2 questionnaire adapted for smart eyeglasses and then performed several physical tests: a unipodal balance test with eyes open and closed, a 10-m walk test, and a 6-minute walk test. An unsupervised analysis classified the participants into physical performance groups. Multivariate ANOVAs were performed to identify differences in acceptability constructs according to the performance group. The UTAUT2 questionnaire adapted for eyeglasses presented good psychometric properties. Performance expectancy (β=.21, P=.005), social influence (β=.18, P=.007), facilitating conditions (β=.17, P=.04), and habit (β=.40, P<.001) were significant contributors to the behavioral intention to use smart eyeglasses (R²=0.73). The unsupervised analysis based on fall-related functional physical capacities created 3 groups of physical performance: low, intermediate, and high. Effort expectancy in the low performance group (mean 3.99, SD 1.46) was lower than that in the other 2 groups (ie, intermediate: mean 4.68, SD 1.23; high: mean 5.09, SD 1.41). Facilitating conditions in the high performance group (mean 5.39, SD 1.39) were higher than those in the other 2 groups (ie, low: mean 4.31, SD 1.68; intermediate: mean 4.66, SD 1.51). To our knowledge, this study is the first to examine the acceptability of smart eyeglasses in the context of fall detection and prevention in older adults and to associate acceptability with fall-related functional physical capacities. The older adults with higher physical performances, and possibly lower risks of falling, reported greater acceptability of smart eyeglasses for fall prevention and detection than their counterparts exhibiting low physical performances.

Exploring the characteristics of successful prehospital trauma care teams: Insights from military trauma care simulations.

Trauma care teams play a crucial role in determining the outcomes of trauma victims. The composition and training of these teams can vary. Our study seeks to examine the characteristics of successful military Advanced Life Support (ALS) teams and the factors that affect them. A retrospective study was conducted at the Israel Defense Force (IDF) Military Medical Academy throughout 2021, where prehospital medical teams were observed in trauma care simulations. Teams were led by ALS providers (military physicians or paramedics) trained in IDF Military Trauma Life Support. Demographic and training data were collected. Teams were categorized into high or subpar performance groups based on simulation scores. Specific skills were assessed by trauma instructors using a points system. Scores were compared between the groups and analyzed for correlations with demographic and training data. Overall, 63 team simulations were analyzed, with teams led by a military paramedic in 78% of simulations. The mean overall simulation performance was 81% ±6.2, and there were no differences in scores of single or multicasualty simulations. A total 3% of the teams achieved successful results and were more likely to have a paramedic as the ALS provider ( p = 0.028). A sensitivity analysis excluding physicians was conducted and showed that high-performance teams had significantly higher skill assessments for primary survey ( p = 0.004), injury recognition ( p = 0.002), exposure ( p = 0.006), adherence to clinical practice guidelines ( p = 0.032), and medical device use ( p = 0.002). Our study found that ALS provider is associated with overall simulation performance in prehospital ALS teams, with military paramedics more likely to be successful. These findings have implications for the training and staffing of prehospital ALS teams, suggesting that teams should be composed accordingly and that training should focus on skills affected by the ALS provider type. Prognostic and Epidemiological; Level IV.

Short-term Trajectories of Poststroke Cognitive Function: A STROKOG Collaboration Study.

Past studies on poststroke cognitive function have focused on the average performance or change over time, but few have investigated patterns of cognitive trajectories after stroke. This project used latent class growth analysis (LCGA) to identify clusters of patients with similar patterns of cognition scores over the first-year poststroke and the extent to which long-term cognitive outcome is predicted by the clusters ("trajectory groups"). Data were sought from the Stroke and Cognition consortium. LCGA was used to identify clusters of trajectories based on standardized global cognition scores at baseline (T1) and at the 1-year follow-up (T2). One-step individual participant data meta-analysis was used to examine risk factors for trajectory groups and association of trajectory groups with cognition at the long-term follow-up (T3). Nine hospital-based stroke cohorts with 1,149 patients (63% male; mean age 66.4 years [SD 11.0]) were included. The median time assessed at T1 was 3.6 months poststroke, 1.0 year at T2, and 3.2 years at T3. LCGA identified 3 trajectory groups, which were characterized by different mean levels of cognition scores at T1 (low-performance, -3.27 SD [0.94], 17%; medium-performance, -1.23 SD [0.68], 48%; and high-performance, 0.71 SD [0.77], 35%). There was significant improvement in cognition for the high-performance group (0.22 SD per year, 95% CI 0.07-0.36), but changes for the low-performance and medium-performance groups were not significant (-0.10 SD per year, 95% CI -0.33 to 0.13; 0.11 SD per year, 95% CI -0.08 to 0.24, respectively). Factors associated with the low- (vs high-) performance group include age (relative risk ratio [RRR] 1.18, 95% CI 1.14-1.23), years of education (RRR 0.61, 95% CI 0.56-0.67), diabetes (RRR 3.78, 95% CI 2.08-6.88), large artery vs small vessel strokes (RRR 2.77, 95% CI 1.32-5.83), and moderate/severe strokes (RRR 3.17, 95% CI 1.42-7.08). Trajectory groups were predictive of global cognition at T3, but its predictive power was comparable with scores at T1. The trajectory of cognitive function over the first-year poststroke is heterogenous. Baseline cognitive function ∼3.6 months poststroke is a good predictor of long-term cognitive outcome. Older age, lower levels of education, diabetes, large artery strokes, and greater stroke severity are risk factors for lower cognitive performance over the first year.

Individual hand hygiene improvements and effects on healthcare-associated infections: a long-term follow-up study using an electronic hand hygiene monitoring system

Obtaining detailed insights into people's unique hand hygiene behaviour could play an important role in developing the most effective long-term hand hygiene compliance (HHC) interventions. To investigate the effect of two feedback interventions provided by an electronic hand hygiene monitoring system (EHHMS) on sustained HHC improvement, individual responsiveness, and prevention of hospital-acquired bloodstream infections (HABSIs) and urinary tract infections (HAUTIs). The study included two 2-year cohorts (exposed and unexposed to EHHMS) observed over 4 years in an internal medicine department with 142 caregivers and 39 doctors. Healthcare workers (HCWs) were stratified into four groups based on their baseline performance to assess predicted responsiveness to the interventions. All HCWs increased their HHC independently from their performance at baseline, except for a few in the low-performance groups with constantly low HHC. The two low-performance groups at baseline were most responsive to group feedback (weekly change in HHC of 4.4% and 3.1%) compared with individual feedback (weekly change in HHC of 1.0% and 2.2%). The number of cases of HABSI reduced significantly during the intervention period (P=0.01), with the greatest effect on Staphylococcus aureus. No significant change in HAUTIs was observed. The EHHMS interventions sustained the HHC improvements successfully and reduced the number of cases of HABSI. Nearly all HCWs responded to the interventions. The two low-performance groups at baseline never reached the same HHC levels as those in the high-performance groups, indicating the potential for further improvement and the need for intensified individualized interventions.

Influence de la comparaison symbolique versus non symbolique sur le risque de difficultés d’apprentissage en mathématiques en éducation de la petite enfance

The main goal of this study was to clarify if students at risk of Mathematics Learning Disabilities had deficits in symbolic, non-symbolic processing, or both. Other purpose was to know if the Open Algorithm Based on Numbers (OBN) teaching method offers advantages over Closed Algorithms Based on Ciphers (CBC) method. A total of 307 Early Childhood Education students participated in this study. Based on student’ scores obtained in Test of Early Mathematics Ability (TEMA-3), that assesses formal and informal thinking, three analysis groups were designed: low-performance group, average-performance group, and high-performance group. There were significant differences in symbolic comparison and, consequently, the post hoc analysis showed significant differences between all groups in symbolic comparison except between the High and Average groups calculation. However, there were no differences in non-symbolic comparison between any of the groups. The teaching method and the mathematical competence showed a significant effect only on the symbolic comparison, resulting in a small size of effect for both the method and the Early Math Competence rate. These data support the dual representation hypothesis, in which the non-symbolic magnitudes would activate the Numerical Approximation System (ANS) and the symbolic quantities an exact representation of the numbers. This being a significant source of mathematical learning that could contribute to the improvement of the ANS.

“Back and forth” between the individual and the group: collaboration and emotional leadership in science

PurposeIn this article, the authors explore the emotional dimension of the strategies that researchers carry out to foster collaboration within research groups in science.Design/methodology/approachThe authors have carried out fieldwork based on semi-structured interviews with members of high-performance research groups, supported by the analysis of ethnographic observations in the local work contexts of several of these groups.FindingsAs a result, the authors start from the representations of the principal investigators interviewed about collaboration, as a dynamic between the individuals involved and the group, to describe two forms of leadership strategies: ego-centered or group. Hence, the authors highlight that the emotional work of IPs consists of combining both strategies by activating and deactivating affection, warmth and spontaneity in interactions. The authors conclude by reviewing the contributions and some potential lines of study.Research limitations/implicationsThe main contributions and conclusions must be regarded considering several limitations of our work. First, the authors have focused on high-performance groups, so it would be expected that the research groups that do not have the support of European Research Council (ERC) do not present the observed dynamics. Concerning the analysis, the authors have focused on the link between situational (personal interaction) and organizational scales. Although the authors have attended social factors that imply the structure and changes of the professional sector of science (Whitley, 2000, 2014), future publications will allow the authors to delve into relationships on a broader scale, associating collaboration patterns and discursive positions. The authors will focus on (1) roles and social profiles and (2) features of scientific culture and its recent configuration.Practical implicationsThe authors affirm that the emotional field is key to understanding how groups and individuals respond to these profound changes. In their work, scientific professionals do not only act based on rational and instrumental criteria but also driven by habits, affective networks and inertia of their organizational cultures. In this paper, the authors provide theoretical and practical keys to understand the complexity that collaboration creates within research groups as a contradictory reality that consists of a constant movement of individuals and the group.Social implicationsAs many of the interviewees expressed, there are no adequate spaces to learn and reflect on leadership and collaboration in science. The authors are science workers who are responsible for imagining and deciding how the authors want their research groups to function. Institutions must ensure the means so that this task can be carried out. Hopefully, this article will contribute to this irrevocable project.Originality/valueThe authors’ aim is to understand how well-known groups operate in their field, with a high level of resources and productivity, in order to identify and promote cutting-edge strategies in different scientific branches. Moreover, the authors want to recognize the importance of institutional infrastructures. For this reason, giving them a place in the framework of management studies allows to submit this issue to public debate for a wide audience of social scientists. Moreover, this permits to inquire about cross-disciplinary subjects, such as social and organizational psychology, sociology of work, studies about science and management studies.