Mean Response Time Research Articles

Revealing hidden interactions in mean performance through distributional analyses: Evidence from Chinese lexical decision performance.

Important insights in visual word recognition have been provided by studies examining the combined influence of multiple factors on participants' mean response times to English words in the lexical decision task. However, to make progress towards a complete understanding of how meaning is activated by print, researchers need to conduct more detailed analyses of behavioral patterns beyond mean response latencies and accuracies, particularly how variables influence different components of response time distributions. Moreover, it is critical to extend patterns found in English to the diverse scripts encountered by readers across the world. The present study is the first to explore the theoretically important effects of stimulus quality and word frequency on lexical decisions involving two-character Mandarin Chinese and Cantonese Chinese words, using participants from Singapore and Hong Kong, respectively. Despite the profound differences between the English and Chinese writing systems, we observed remarkably similar trade-offs in the stimulus quality × word frequency interaction across different portions of the response time distribution for both orthographies, indicating that the optimization of lexical processing by leveraging available codes in response to task demands extends across multiple and highly diverse writing systems.

Qualitatively Analyzing Optimization Objectives in the Design of HPC Resource Manager

A correct evaluation of scheduling algorithms and a good understanding of their optimization criteria are key components of resource management in HPC. In this work, we discuss bias and limitations of the most frequent optimization metrics from the literature. We provide elements on how to evaluate performance when studying HPC batch scheduling. We experimentally demonstrate these limitations by focusing on two use-cases: a study on the impact of runtime estimates on scheduling performance, and the reproduction of a recent high-impact work that designed an HPC batch scheduler based on a network trained with reinforcement learning. We demonstrate that focusing on quantitative optimization criterion (“our work improves the literature by X%”) may hide extremely important caveat, to the point that the results obtained are opposed to the actual goals of the authors. Key findings show that mean bounded slowdown and mean response time are hazardous for a purely quantitative analysis in the context of HPC. Despite some limitations, utilization appears to be a good objective. We propose to complement it with the standard deviation of the throughput in some pathological cases. Finally, we argue for a larger use of area-weighted response time, that we find to be a very relevant objective.

The Comparison of PISA 2015-2018 Mathematics Trend Items Based on Item Response Times

This study aims to explore the intricate relationship between students' response times, item characteristics, and the effort invested during the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2015 and 2018 cycles. Through the analysis of data obtained from 69 mathematics trend items administered in a computer-based format across both cycles, this research investigates the dynamics of students' response times and their implications on effort and item characteristics. Findings reveal a significant increase in students' mean response times in the 2018 cycle compared to 2015, indicating potentially heightened effort and solution behavior. Notably, item formats exerted a substantial influence on response times, with open-ended items consistently eliciting lengthier response times compared to multiple-choice items. Additionally, a correlation between response times and item difficulty emerged, suggesting that more challenging items tend to consume more time, possibly due to the complexity of involved cognitive processes. Item based effort, assessed through Response Time Fidelity (RTF) indices, highlighted that a majority of students exhibited solution behavior across both cycles to the items.. Moreover, a decrease in the proportion of students displaying rapid-guessing behavior was observed in the 2018 cycle, potentially reflecting increased engagement with the assessment. While providing insights into the interplay of response times, item characteristics, and effort, this study emphasizes the need for further exploration into the multifaceted nature of effort in educational assessments. Overall, this research contributes valuable perspectives on nuances surrounding test performance and effort evaluation within PISA mathematics assessments.

Predictive alternating runs and random task-switching sequences produce dissociative switch costs in the Consonant-Vowel/Odd-Even task.

Task-switching is commonly used to investigate working memory and attentional control processes. The current study compares predictive versus non-predictive task-sequencing effects on task-switching performance. Participants completed four blocks of the Consonant-Vowel/Odd-Even (CVOE) task: Two single task pure blocks, a predictable switch block where task switching occurred every two trials, and a random switch block where switching was unpredictable. In addition to mean error rates and response times (RTs), we assessed sequence effects on local switch costs (i.e., switch vs. nonswitch trials) and global costs (i.e., nonswitch vs. pure trials) for both error rates and RTs along with their underlying distributions. Overall, we show that while predictive and random switching produced similar patterns for mean error rates and RTs, a dissociation occurred in RT switch costs. When switching was random, local costs were inflated. In contrast, predictive switching increased global costs. Increased local costs for random versus predictive switching reflect an increase in task-setreconfiguration processes as participants struggle to reconfigure to an unpredictable task type in working memory on a subsequent trial. Separately, increased global costs for predictive switching reflect declines in task-set maintenance processes, as participants must maintain both task types in working memory while simultaneously monitoring their progress through the trial sequencing.

The 36-Item Yoni Task: Normative Data for the Clinical Assessment of Theory of Mind.

Background: The evaluation of Theory of Mind (ToM) in the clinical setting remains limited due to the lack of valid instruments for a quick and reliable assessment. In this study, the psychometric properties of the Yoni-36 task were tested, and correction grids, equivalence scores, and normative data were computed. Methods: In total, 318 healthy subjects (169 females; mean age = 42.22 ± 18.11 years; mean education = 15.01 ± 3.43 years) were enrolled and administered the Yoni-36 task. Results: Statistical analysis showed good-to-high internal consistency, split-half reliability, and discrimination ability (especially for the second-order items) of the Yoni-36 task. Regression models highlighted the predictive role of age and education on second-order, affective, cognitive accuracy, and response time scores. Education influenced the first-order ToM response time score as well. Based on β values of the regressions, raw scores of the Yoni task were adjusted for sex, age, and education, and correction grids were computed. The equivalent scores indicated an accuracy index score < 0.69 and a response time index score < 0.83 as cut-off points for ToM competence. Normative data reported a mean accuracy and response time index score of 0.90 ± 0.11 and 0.91 ± 0.05 in the Italian population, respectively. Conclusions: The Yoni-36 proved to be a valid instrument for a quick and reliable ToM assessment, suitable to be included in neuropsychological batteries and to be used in routine clinical practice.

Two- versus one-bag fluid delivery in pediatric and adolescent diabetic ketoacidosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Two rehydration protocols currently exist to treat diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in pediatric patients aged <21 years: the traditional "one-bag" system and the more recent "two-bag" system. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the newer two-bag system versus the well-established one-bag system. The CiNAHL, Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were comprehensively searched from inception to June 2023 by 2 independent reviewers using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis framework. Eligible studies were those that reported participants <21 years of age who presented to the emergency room with a clinical diagnosis of DKA. This review was prospectively registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023427551). From the initial screening of 42 studies, 8 unique studies encompassing 583 patients met the eligibility criteria. The analysis yielded no significant intergroup differences in hypoglycemia (odds ratio, 0.61; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.20-1.87; I2=3%) or mean glucose correction rate (mean difference [MD], 0.04 mg/ dL/hr; 95% CI, -13.10 to 13.17; I2=64%). The incidence of cerebral edema was as low (0.17%) across groups, with only one case reported in the one-bag group. Notably, the mean time to DKA resolution (MD, -3.24 h; 95% CI, -5.57 to -0.91; I2=0%) and mean response time for intravenous fluid changes (MD, -32.75 min; 95% CI, -43.21 to -22.29; I2=59%) was lower for the two-bag system. This meta- analysis presents preliminary evidence suggesting that the two-bag system may confer advantages over the one-bag system for selected patients. However, further studies with greater patient stratification based on DKA severity, fluid composition, and protocol are needed to draw definitive conclusions and elucidate the extent of these advantages.

The future of AI clinicians: assessing the modern standard of chatbots and their approach to diagnostic uncertainty

BackgroundArtificial intelligence (AI) chatbots have demonstrated proficiency in structured knowledge assessments; however, there is limited research on their performance in scenarios involving diagnostic uncertainty, which requires careful interpretation and complex decision-making. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of AI chatbots, GPT-4o and Claude-3, in addressing medical scenarios characterized by diagnostic uncertainty relative to Family Medicine residents.MethodsQuestions with diagnostic uncertainty were extracted from the Progress Tests administered by the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto between 2022 and 2023. Diagnostic uncertainty questions were defined as those presenting clinical scenarios where symptoms, clinical findings, and patient histories do not converge on a definitive diagnosis, necessitating nuanced diagnostic reasoning and differential diagnosis. These questions were administered to a cohort of 320 Family Medicine residents in their first (PGY-1) and second (PGY-2) postgraduate years and inputted into GPT-4o and Claude-3. Errors were categorized into statistical, information, and logical errors. Statistical analyses were conducted using a binomial generalized estimating equation model, paired t-tests, and chi-squared tests.ResultsCompared to the residents, both chatbots scored lower on diagnostic uncertainty questions (p < 0.01). PGY-1 residents achieved a correctness rate of 61.1% (95% CI: 58.4–63.7), and PGY-2 residents achieved 63.3% (95% CI: 60.7–66.1). In contrast, Claude-3 correctly answered 57.7% (n = 52/90) of questions, and GPT-4o correctly answered 53.3% (n = 48/90). Claude-3 had a longer mean response time (24.0 s, 95% CI: 21.0-32.5 vs. 12.4 s, 95% CI: 9.3–15.3; p < 0.01) and produced longer answers (2001 characters, 95% CI: 1845–2212 vs. 1596 characters, 95% CI: 1395–1705; p < 0.01) compared to GPT-4o. Most errors by GPT-4o were logical errors (62.5%).ConclusionsWhile AI chatbots like GPT-4o and Claude-3 demonstrate potential in handling structured medical knowledge, their performance in scenarios involving diagnostic uncertainty remains suboptimal compared to human residents.

The role of frontopolar cortex in adjusting the balance between response execution and action inhibition in anthropoids.

Executive control of behaviour entails keeping a fine balance between response execution and action inhibition. The most anterior part of the prefrontal cortex (frontopolar cortex) is highly developed in anthropoids; however, no previous study has examined its essential (indispensable) role in regulating the interplay between action execution and inhibition. In this cross-species study, we examine the performance of humans and macaque monkeys in the context of a stop-signal task and then assess the consequence of selective and bilateral damage to frontopolar cortex on monkeys’ behaviour. Humans and monkeys showed significant within-session practice-related adjustments in both response execution (increase in response time (RT) and decrease in response variabilities) and action inhibition (enhanced inhibition). Furthermore, both species expressed context-dependent (post-error and post-stop) behavioral adjustments. In post-lesion testing, frontopolar-damaged monkeys had a longer RT and lower percentage of timeout trials, compared to their pre-lesion performance. The practice-related changes in mean RT and in RT variability were significantly heightened in frontopolar-damaged monkeys. They also showed attenuated post-error, but exaggerated post-stop, behavioural adjustments. Importantly, frontopolar damage had no significant effects on monkeys’ inhibition ability. Our findings indicate that frontopolar cortex plays a critical role in allocation of control to response execution, but not action inhibition.

Design, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic evaluation of a lecithin-chitosan hybrid nanoparticle-loaded dual-responsive in situ gel of nebivolol for effective treatment of glaucoma

In this research work, optimized nebivolol-loaded lecithin-chitosan hybrid nanoparticles (NEB-LCNPs) were prepared using sequential screening and optimization designs. The design of experiments software (DoE) was used to obtain a robust formulation that can improve ocular delivery of the NEB in the treatment of glaucoma. The optimized NEB-LCNPs had a mean particle size of 170.5 ± 5.3 nm and drug loading of 10.5 ± 1.2%. These were further loaded in a dual-responsive in situ gel, designed and reported previously by our group. The NEB-LCNPs loaded in situ gel (NEB-LCNPs-ISG) was characterized for physicochemical properties, rheological behavior, stability, in vitro dissolution, and ocular in vivo studies. The ocular pharmacokinetics showed that NEB-LCNPs-ISG had two-fold higher aqueous humor exposure with AUC0–tlast of 375.4 ng × h/mL and sustained drug concentrations for longer durations (1.7-folds higher duration with a mean residence time of 10.6 h) in comparison to a conventional aqueous suspension of NEB (NEB-Susp). Similarly, the pharmacodynamic study showed that NEB-LCNPs-ISG resulted in a higher percentage reduction in intraocular pressure (% ΔIOP) of 28.1 ± 1.8% × h, which was 2.2-times higher reduction compared to NEB-Susp (74.2 ± 3.2% × h). In addition, the pharmacodynamic effect was more sustained with a mean response time of 11.3 ± 0.2 h, a 2.8-times higher response time compared to NEB-Susp (4.06 ± 0.3 h). These results suggest that NEB-LCNPs-ISG was more effective than the conventional aqueous suspension of NEB in the treatment of glaucoma.

Performance evaluation of motorlance in the Pre-hospital Emergency System of Tabriz City 2018-2021

Background. Studies have shown that the application of motorcycles in the pre-hospital emergency services in an urban environment improves the time index and the quality of services. The present study aimed to evaluate the performance of the services provided by motorlance in the Tabriz metropolis between 2018-2021. Methods. In this cross-sectional study conducted in the Tabriz pre-hospital emergency center, the recorded data about the patients using motorlance between 2018-2021 were collected and examined. The collected variables included the age, sex, chief complaint of the patients, vital signs of the patients, and final result of the mission in the pre-hospital setting. Two important indices of reaction time and response time in all the missions were evaluated. Results. A total of 9866 motorlance missions were completed during the study period. The mean reaction time was 68.24±62.91 seconds, and the mean response time was 641.70±304.48 seconds. Examination of the patients' chief complaint revealed that the lowest reaction time was for patients with abdominal pain (mean 44.90), and the lowest response time was for patients with cardiopulmonary arrest (mean 550.52). Conclusion. It was concluded that the timing indicators of motorlance missions were within the acceptable range for ambulances. Practical Implications. It was found necessary to increase the number of motorlance in metropolitan cities and employ experienced and knowledgeable personnel in motorlance in order to improve the existing situation and the quality of services.

Preworkout dietary nitrate magnifies training-induced benefits to physical function in late postmenopausal women: a randomized pilot study.

To inform end points for future work, we explored the utility of preworkout (i.e., an acute dose before training) beetroot juice (BRJ) combined with exercise (BRJ + EX) to augment indices of physical function in postmenopausal women compared with exercise only (EX). A two-arm pilot study was used to compare 24 postmenopausal women following an 8-wk, circuit-based exercise intervention. Participants were randomized to BRJ + EX (n = 12) or EX (n = 12). BRJ + EX participants consumed 140 mL of BRJ 120-180 min (only) before training for 7 wk, then discontinued during the final week to mitigate carryover effects. Physical function indices were 6-min walk test (6MWT), estimated V̇o2peak, heart rate recovery (HRR), and maximal knee extensor power (Pmax). A treadmill task was used to measure V̇o2 on-kinetics wherein mean response time (MRT) coincided with the duration to reach 63% of steady-state V̇o2. Results showed greater changes (Δ) among BRJ + EX participants for 6MWT distance (40 ± 23 m vs. 8 ± 25 m; P = 0.003, d = 1.35), ΔV̇o2peak (1.5 ± 0.9 mL·kg-1·min-1 vs. 0.3 ± 1.0 mL·kg-1·min-1; P = 0.008, d = 1.20), and ΔHRR (-10 ± 6 beats/min vs. -1 ± 9 beats/min; P = 0.017, d = 1.05). Large and medium effect sizes favoring BRJ + EX were detected for ΔPmax (P = 0.07, d = 0.83) and ΔMRT (P = 0.257, d = 0.50), respectively. In postmenopausal women, BRJ + EX appears to magnify some adaptive benefits to physical function including aerobic capacity and recovery beyond that of training without BRJ. Investigation into contributing mechanisms is needed.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Though exercise training represents the principal strategy to combat age-related decline, the attendant effects of menopause weaken aspects of exercise adaptation compared with premenopausal women and age-matched men. Here we provide important initial evidence that preworkout (i.e., an acute dose before training) beetroot juice coupled with an 8-wk, circuit-based exercise training intervention may uniquely benefit late postmenopausal women by enhancing indices of physical function including aerobic capacity and recovery.

Sequential Effects on Reaction Time Distributions: Commonalities and Differences Across Paradigms.

A common finding across numerous response time (RT) paradigms is that the mean RT in one trial depends strongly on the characteristics of the immediately preceding trial. Although such sequential effects have usually only been considered within each single paradigm in isolation from the others, there are important similarities across paradigms between the theoretical accounts of these effects. However, so far there has been no systematic comparison of sequential effects across paradigms. To investigate the possible relationships between sequential effects in different paradigms, we conducted an experiment examining sequential effects in visual search, two-choice RT, interference, and task-switching paradigms, using methods designed to maximize the similarity of stimuli and responses across paradigms. Detailed analyses of the observed RT distributions were carried out using both descriptive (e.g., ex-Gaussian) and process-oriented (e.g., diffusion models) methods. The results reveal significant empirical similarities and differences between the sequential effects observed across different paradigms, and in some cases even across different conditions within a single paradigm. Furthermore, the sequential effects are more similar to one another for some pairs of paradigms than for others. These results imply that some cognitive processes eliciting sequential effects are shared across paradigms while others seem to be paradigm-specific.

Improving Medical Emergency Team Response Time for Urgent Care Patients in Primary Health Care Centers, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Background: Emergency healthcare systems are of increasing concern in international healthcare developments and the global fight against the burdens of disease. Concerns about focusing on ambulance response time as a single indicator are addressed by showing a case-sensitive approach for developing emergency health care systems that in return can identify ambulance response as the main indicator for a particular system. Problem description: Data collected by monitoring the time of receiving the call at the ambulance division until transport time.Methods: The fishbone diagram is used as a tool for understanding the process variation, investigate and eliminating unusual occurrences by the following methodology: M.M.M.Main outcomes: Responding time in emergency cases not exceeding 5 minutes; To improve responding time; To improve types of communication; To improve compliance with the logbook of the emergency referred cases. The intervention plan was Continuous Training for the staff and Clear Guidelines for emergency calls. Review and assess the actual implementation of the project. Data will be collected by an Emergency Medical specialist. A copy of the data should be sent to CQI for a continuous monitoring process. Check the data for process improvement (incident report analysis). Document the results of the change. Modify the change, if necessary and possible. The Emergency Medical Technicians quality coordinator will check the Data. Continue improvement by close monitoring of the compliance.Results: the mean response time dropped from 15 minutes in January 2023 to less than 5 minutes in December 2023.Conclusion: this initiative positively impacts the emergency team's response time and improves patient satisfaction. Response time reduction was evident, and the quality of the health care service was improved. Reduction of response time also improved emergency preparedness

HTSA: A novel hybrid task scheduling algorithm for heterogeneous cloud computing environment

Cloud computing provides users and programs with scalable resources and on-demand services virtually in real time, making it a fundamental paradigm in modern computing. The concept for using remote computing resources is novel. Cloud computing relies on task scheduling to boost system performance, reduce execution time, and optimise resource use. Due to exponential task increase and problem complexity, the search space is huge. Optimization tasks like this are NP-hard. This work aims to find a near-optimal solution for a multi-objective task scheduling problem in the cloud while lowering search time. Using the Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Gravitational Search Algorithms (GSA) benefits while avoiding their drawbacks, we offer a standard cloud computing task scheduling method to improve system performance and optimise the Quality of service (QoS) parameters like energy, makespan, resource utilization and throughput. We use CloudSim to test standard functions, real-time, and synthetic workloads. The obtained results are compared to other similar, metaheuristic-based techniques that were evaluated under the same conditions. The designed technique outperforms Gravitational Search Algorithms (GSA), Ant Colony Optimizaion(ACO), and Particle Swarm optimization(PSO) in Degree Of Imbalance (12%), resource utilization (9%), Mean Response Time (7%) and energy consumption (6%).

Heavy-intensity priming exercise extends the V̇o2max plateau and increases peak-power output during ramp-incremental exercise.

This study investigated whether a heavy-intensity priming exercise precisely prescribed within the heavy-intensity domain would lead to a greater peak-power output (POpeak) and a longer maximal oxygen uptake (V̇o2max) plateau. Twelve recreationally active adults participated in this study. Two visits were required: 1) a step-ramp-step test [ramp-incremental (RI) control], and 2) an RI test preceded by a priming exercise within the heavy-intensity domain (RI primed). A piecewise equation was used to quantify the V̇o2 plateau duration (V̇o2plateau-time). The mean response time (MRT) was computed during the RI control condition. The delta (Δ) V̇o2 slope (S; mL·min-1·W-1) and V̇o2-Y intercept (Y; mL·min-1) within the moderate-intensity domain between conditions (RI primed minus RI control) were also assessed using a novel graphical analysis. V̇o2plateau-time (P = 0.001; d = 1.27) and POpeak (P = 0.003; d = 1.08) were all greater in the RI primed. MRT (P < 0.001; d = 2.45) was shorter in the RI primed compared with the RI control. A larger ΔV̇o2plateau-time was correlated with a larger ΔMRT between conditions (r = -0.79; P = 0.002). This study demonstrated that heavy-intensity priming exercise lengthened the V̇o2plateau-time and increased POpeak. The overall faster RI-V̇o2 responses seem to be responsible for the longer V̇o2plateau-time. Specifically, a shorter MRT, but not changes in RI-V̇o2-slopes, was associated with a longer V̇o2plateau-time following priming exercise.NEW & NOTEWORTHY It remains unclear whether priming exercise extends the maximal oxygen uptake (V̇o2max) plateau and increases peak-power output (POpeak) during ramp-incremental (RI) tests. This study demonstrates that a priming exercise, precisely prescribed within the heavy-intensity domain, extends the plateau at V̇o2max and leads to a greater POpeak. Specifically, the extended V̇o2max plateau was associated with accelerated RI-V̇o2 responses.

Clinical characteristics and outcome of critically ill children referred to a tertiary hospital in Indonesia: a prospective observational study

BackgroundThe clinical characteristics of pediatric critically ill patients who need referral to a tertiary hospital is often unknown in resource limited settings where constraints in diagnosis capacity, resources, and infrastructures are common. There is a need to increase insight in the characteristics of these patients for capacity building strengthening and appropriate resource allocation. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of critically ill children who are referred to a tertiary referral teaching hospital in Yogyakarta.MethodsA prospective observasional study was carried out from July 1st, 2022 -January 31st, 2023 which included all critically ill pediatric patients who were referred through the Integrated Referral System (SISRUTE) to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) of dr. Sardjito hospital. We excluded patients who were referred with a request for admission to the PICU, but were not admitted to the PICU due to their stable condition and lack of the need for intensive care.ResultDuring the study period, we received 1046 emergency referral requests for pediatric patients via SISRUTE, of those, 562 (53.7%) patients were critically ill. The reasons of PICU referral request were the need of solely intensive care 504 (89.7%), the need of multidisciplinary team care, including intensive care 57 (10.1%) and parents request 1 (0.3%). The pre-referral emergency diagnosis was shock 226 (40.3%), respiratory distress/failure 151 (26.7%), central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction 135 (24.1%), trauma 33 (5.9%) and sepsis 17 (3%). Of the 562 critically ill PICU referral requests, 473 (84.2%) requests were accepted. One hundred and eighty-one (58.7%) patients were finally admitted to the PICU, 125 (40.3%) admitted to our regular ward due to stable condition, 4 (1.3%) patients died in Emergency Departement (ED). The remaining accepted patients on request did not arrive in our facility due to various reasons. The mean (SD) response time was 9.1 (27.6) minutes. The mean (SD) transfer time was 6.45 (4.73) hours. Mean (SD) PICU and hospital length of stay was 6.7 (8.3) days and 10.2 (9.2) days respectively. PICU and hospital mortality was 24.3% and 29.7%, respectively.ConclusionThe mortality rate for critically ill pediatric patients referred to a tertiary PICU still high, with shock being the most common pre-referral emergency diagnosis. There is a discrepancy between the referring hospital’s and the referral hospital’s indication for PICU admission. The time required to reach the referral hospital is quite lengthy.

Email recruitment for chronic pain clinical trials: results from the LAMP trial

BackgroundRecruitment for clinical trials and large-scale studies is challenging, especially for patients with complex conditions like chronic pain. Email recruitment has the potential to increase efficiency, to reduce costs, and to improve access for underrepresented patient populations. The objective of this study was to examine the effectiveness, efficiency, and equitability of email versus postal mail recruitment for the Learning to Apply Mindfulness to Pain (LAMP) study, a three-site clinical trial of mindfulness-based interventions for chronic pain.MethodsPatients with chronic pain diagnoses were recruited from three United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities using the VA electronic health record (EHR). Recruitment materials were sent using either postal mail (n = 7986) or email (n = 19,333). Patients in the email recruitment group were also mailed introductory postcards before any emails. Mailing addresses and email addresses were obtained from the EHR. Effectiveness was measured by the response rate of patients who logged into the secure LAMP study website. Efficiency was measured by the number of days from when the recruitment materials were sent to when patients logged into the LAMP portal as well as the estimated costs of each recruitment approach. To assess equitability, we examined whether email recruitment was less effective for underrepresented populations, based on demographic information from the EHR.ResultsEffectiveness—unadjusted response rates were greater for email versus postal-mail recruitment (18.9% versus 6.3%), and adjusted response rates were over three times greater for email recruitment (RR = 3.5, 95% CI 3.1–3.8) based on a multivariable analysis controlling for age, gender, race, ethnicity, rurality, and site. Efficiency—email recruitment had a significantly lower mean response time (1 day versus 8 days) and a lower cost. Equity—email recruitment led to higher response rates for all subpopulations, including older, non-White, Hispanic, rural, and female Veterans.ConclusionsEmail recruitment is an effective, efficient, and equitable way to recruit VA patients to large-scale, chronic pain clinical trials.Trial registrationClinical Trial Registration Number: NCT04526158. Patient enrollment began on December 4, 2020.

Introducing the Intra-Individual Variability Hypothesis in Explaining Individual Differences in Language Development.

Response times (RTs) are commonly used in studying language acquisition. However, previous research utilizing RT in the context of language has largely overlooked the intra-individual variability (IIV) of RTs, which could hold significant information about the processes underlying language acquisition. We explored the association between language abilities and RT variability in visuomotor tasks using two data sets from previously published studies. The participants were 7- to 10-year-old children (n = 77). Our results suggest that increased variability in RTs is associated with weaker language abilities. Specifically, this within-participant variability in visuomotor RTs, especially the proportion of unusually slow responses, predicted language abilities better than mean RTs, a factor often linked to language skills in past research. Based on our findings, we introduce the IIV hypothesis in explaining individual differences in language development. According to our hypothesis, inconsistency in the timing of cognitive processes, reflected by increased IIV in RTs, degrades learning different aspects of language, and results in individual differences in language abilities. Future studies should further examine the relationship between IIV and language abilities, and test the extent to which the possible relationship is causal.

Reducing police response times: Optimization and simulation of everyday police patrol

AbstractPolice forces around the world are adapting to optimize their current practices through intelligence‐led and evidence‐based policing. This trend towards increasingly data‐driven policing also affects daily police routines. Police patrol is a complex routing problem because of the combination of reactive and proactive tasks. Moreover, a trade‐off exists between these two patrol tasks. In this article, a police patrol algorithm that combines both policing strategies into one strategy and is applicable to everyday policing, is developed. To this end, a discrete event simulation model is built that compares a p‐median redeployment strategy with several benchmark strategies, that is, p‐median deployment, hotspot (re)deployment, and random redeployment. This p‐median redeployment strategy considers the continuous alternation of idle and non‐idle vehicles. The mean response time was lowest for the p‐median deployment strategy, but the redeployment strategy results in better coverage of the area and low mean response times.

A Comparison of Methods to Identify the Mean Response Time of Ramp-Incremental Exercise for Exercise Prescription

ABSTRACT Introduction: The oxygen uptake ( V ˙ O2) vs power output relationship from ramp incremental exercise is used to prescribe aerobic exercise. As power output increases, there is a delay in V ˙ O2 that contributes to a misalignment of V ˙ O2 from power output; the mean response time (MRT). If the MRT is not considered in exercise prescription, ramp incremental-identified power outputs will elicit V ˙ O2 values that are higher than intended. We compared three methods of determining MRT (exponential modeling (MRTEXP), linear modeling (MRTLIN), and the steady-state method (MRTSS)) and evaluated their accuracy at predicting the V ˙ O2 associated with power outputs approximating 75% and 85% of gas exchange threshold and 15% of the difference between gas exchange threshold and maximal V ˙ O2 (Δ15). Methods: Ten males performed a 30-W∙min−1 ramp incremental and three 30-min constant power output cycle ergometer trials with intensities at 75% gas exchange threshold, 85% gas exchange threshold, and ∆15. At each intensity, the measured steady-state V ˙ O2 during each 30-min test was compared to the V ˙ O2 predicted after adjustment by each of the three MRTs. Results: For all three MRT methods, predicted V ˙ O2 was not different (p = 1.000) from the measured V ˙ O2 at 75%GET (MRTEXP, 31 mL, MRTLIN, −35 mL, MRTSS 11 mL), 85%gas exchange threshold (MRTEXP −14 mL, MRTLIN −80 mL, MRTSS −32 mL). At Δ15, predicted V ˙ O2 based on MRTEXP was not different (p = .767) from the measured V ˙ O2, but was different for MRTLIN (p < .001) and MRTSS (p = .03). Conclusion: Given that the intensity is below gas exchange threshold, all model predictions implemented from the current study matched the exercise prescription.