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Schizophrenia is associated with amotivation and reduced goal-directed behavior, which have been linked to poor functional outcomes. Motivational deficits in schizophrenia are often measured using effort-based decision-making (EBDM) paradigms, revealing consistent alterations in effort expenditure relative to controls. Although these results have generally been interpreted in terms of decreased motivation, the ability to use trial-by-trial changes in reward magnitude or probability of receipt to guide effort allocation may also be affected by cognitive deficits. To date, it remains unclear whether altered performance in EBDM primarily reflects deficits in motivation, cognitive functioning, or both. We applied a newly developed computational modeling approach to the analysis of EBDM data from two previously collected samples comprising 153 patients and 105 controls to determine the extent to which individuals did or did not use available information about reward and probability to guide effort allocation. Half of the participants with schizophrenia failed to incorporate information about reward and probability when making effort-expenditure decisions. The subset of patients who exhibited difficulties using reward and probability information were characterized by greater impairments across measures of cognitive functioning. Interestingly, even within the subset of patients who successfully used reward and probability information to guide effort expenditure, higher levels of negative symptoms related to motivation and avolition were associated with greater effort aversion during the task. Taken together, these data suggest that prior reports of aberrant EBDM in schizophrenia patients are related to both cognitive function and individual differences in negative symptoms. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Background and Hypothesis Disturbances in effort-cost decision-making have been highlighted as a potential transdiagnostic process underpinning negative symptoms in individuals with schizophrenia. However, recent studies using computational phenotyping show that individuals employ a range of strategies to allocate effort, and use of different strategies is associated with unique clinical and cognitive characteristics. Building on prior work in schizophrenia, this study evaluated whether effort allocation strategies differed in individuals with distinct psychotic disorders. Study Design We applied computational modeling to effort-cost decision-making data obtained from individuals with psychotic disorders (n  = 190) who performed the Effort Expenditure for Rewards Task. The sample included 91 individuals with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder, 90 individuals with psychotic bipolar disorder, and 52 controls. Study Results Different effort allocation strategies were observed both across and within different disorders. Relative to individuals with psychotic bipolar disorder, a greater proportion of individuals with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder did not use reward value or probability information to guide effort allocation. Furthermore, across disorders, different effort allocation strategies were associated with specific clinical and cognitive features. Those who did not use reward value or probability information to guide effort allocation had more severe positive and negative symptoms, and poorer cognitive and community functioning. In contrast, those who only used reward value information showed a trend toward more severe positive symptoms. Conclusions These findings indicate that similar deficits in effort-cost decision-making may arise from different computational mechanisms across the psychosis spectrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Undergraduate research is a highly valued and increasingly critical component of STEM undergraduate education, as it is a key strategy in effective student development (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2017; Science Education Alliance, 2017). However, there is little evidence on the long-term education and career impacts of undergraduate research. According to Carlone and Johnson (2007), developing an identity as a scientist requires knowledge growth, the ability to communicate scientific ideas and findings to a variety of audiences, and being recognized and respected as a scientist by others in the field. The goal of this study was to assess the longitudinal differences in science identity development as it relates to education and career outcomes of recipients and nonrecipients of NOAA's Undergraduate Research Experiences (UREs), the Educational Partnership Program Undergraduate Scholarship, and the Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship. This evaluative study uses a quasi-experimental design to assess differences in students with equal motivation to participate in the URE, as all participants were eligible to apply and completed applications. Multivariate analyses showed that recipients of NOAA's UREs were 1.2 times more likely to publish in a peer-reviewed journal, 2.2 times more likely to attain an advanced degree, and 1.92 times more likely to be a part- or full-time employee of NOAA.

To examine the relationship between food and housing insecurity and the continuation of breastfeeding, interviews were conducted with 203 birthing parents in English or Spanish. The study was conducted between August 2019 and March 2021 in the southeastern U.S. The breastfeeding rate among participants was 52%. Multivariate analysis indicated that birthing parents experiencing housing insecurity were less likely to be breastfeeding at 4 months of infant's age (p =.019). Future research is warranted to understand how housing insecurity might contribute to the discontinuation of breastfeeding through stress, poor rent affordability and the lack of clean and safe environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundDelivering specialty care remotely directly into people's homes can enhance access for and improve the healthcare of individuals with chronic conditions. However, evidence supporting this approach is limited.Materials and methodsConnect.Parkinson is a randomized comparative effectiveness study that compares usual care of individuals with Parkinson's disease in the community with usual care augmented by virtual house calls with a Parkinson's disease specialist from 1 of 18 centers nationally. Individuals in the intervention arm receive four virtual visits from a Parkinson's disease specialist over 1 year via secure, Web-based videoconferencing directly into their homes. All study activities, including recruitment, enrollment, and assessments, are conducted remotely. Here we report on interest, feasibility, and barriers to enrollment in this ongoing study.ResultsDuring recruitment, 11,734 individuals visited the study's Web site, and 927 unique individuals submitted electronic interest forms. Two hundred ten individuals from 18 states enrolled in the study from March 2014 to June 2015, and 195 were randomized. Most participants were white (96%) and college educated (73%). Of the randomized participants, 73% had seen a Parkinson's disease specialist within the previous year.ConclusionsAmong individuals with Parkinson's disease, national interest in receiving remote specialty care directly into the home is high. Remote enrollment in this care model is feasible but is likely affected by differential access to the Internet.

The article describes the role of radiologic technologists in the procedural efficiency of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Topics discussed include steps in TAVR procedure, the need for radiologic technologists to have a certification for the use of radiation-emitting equipment and clinical competencies as well as education for interventional radiography and knowledge of radiation protection and safety practices, and future applications of TAVR.

From his patient seat in the courtroom's jury box, Ramon Diaz quietly sighed and rested his cheek on his shackled wrist. At the time, a sunny Friday morning in the [...]

This study examines the trends of the "International Journal of Technology and Design Education" over the past decade (2005-2014). The researchers looked at trends in article topics, research methods, authorship, and article citations by analyzing keyword frequencies, performing word counts of article titles, classifying studies according to the various research methods they employed, and analyzing citation data generated by Google Scholar. The article concludes by comparing the findings with the stated aims and scope of the journal.