Collaborative imagination synchronizes representations of the future and fosters social connection in the present

From close friends to people on a first date, imagining a shared future appears fundamental to relationships. Yet, no previous research has conceptualized the act of imagination as a socially constructed process that affects how connected we feel to others. The present studies provide a framework for investigating imagination as a collaborative process in which individuals cocreate shared representations of hypothetical events—what we call collaborative imagination. Across two preregistered studies (N = 244), we provide evidence that collaborative imagination of a shared future fosters social connection in novel dyads—beyond imagining a shared future individually or shared experience in general. Subjective ratings and natural language processing of participants’ imagined narratives illuminate the representational features of imagined events shaped by collaborative imagination. Together, the present findings have the potential to shift how we view the structure and function of imagination with implications for better understanding interpersonal relationships and collective cognition

An example of the three stages of the dot probe task in the neutral threat condition.

<p>An example of the three stages of the dot probe task in the neutral threat condition.</p

Attentional bias scores (in ms) for threat images for the four groups: defensive high-anxious (DHA), repressor (REP), high-anxious (HA) and non-extreme (NE) groups.

<p>Attentional bias scores (in ms) for threat images for the four groups: defensive high-anxious (DHA), repressor (REP), high-anxious (HA) and non-extreme (NE) groups.</p

Evaluation of the analytical performance of the novel NS-Prime system and examination of temperature stability of fecal transferrin compared with fecal hemoglobin as biomarkers in a colon cancer screening program

Objective: To examine the analytical aspects of fecal transferrin (Tf) and hemoglobin (Hb) measured on the NS-Prime analyzer for use in a colon cancer screening program. Designs and methods: Method evaluation and temperature stability studies for fecal Tf and Hb were completed. A method comparison was carried out against the NS-Plus system using samples collected from 254 screening program participants. A further 200 samples were analyzed to help determine suitable reference limits for fecal Tf using these systems. Results: The assay for fecal Tf showed acceptable linearity, precision, and recovery, and showed minimal carryover with low potential for impact by the prozone effect. The 95th percentile for fecal Tf obtained for the reference population was 4.9 µg/g feces. The collection device sufficiently maintained fecal Tf and Hb stability for at least 7 days at room temperature, 4 °C, and −20 °C. Fecal Tf and Hb were most stable at 4 °C and −20 °C, but showed considerable loss (20–40%) of both proteins at 37 °C within the first 7 days. Mixing small amounts of blood into diluted fecal samples maintained at 37 °C for various time periods showed >50% loss of both proteins within 1 h of incubation. Conclusions: The NS-Prime analyzer showed acceptable performance for fecal Tf and Hb. These studies suggest that use of both Tf and Hb together as biomarkers will result in higher positivity rates, but this may not be attributed to greater stability of Tf over Hb in human feces. Keywords: Transferrin, Hemoglobin, Colorectal cancer screening, Fecal biomarkers, Fecal occult blood tes

A Desirability of Outcome Ranking Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Seven Versus Fourteen Days of Antibiotics for Uncomplicated Gram-Negative Bloodstream Infection

Background: Although a short course (7 days) of antibiotics has been demonstrated to be noninferior to a conventional course (14 days) in terms of mortality and infectious complications for patients with a Gram-negative bacterial bloodstream infection (GNB), it is unknown whether a shorter treatment duration can provide a better overall clinical outcome. Methods: We applied a bloodstream infection-specific desirability of outcome ranking (DOOR) analysis to the results of a previously completed, randomized controlled trial comparing short versus conventional course antibiotic therapy for hospitalized patients with uncomplicated GNB. We determined the probability that a randomly selected participant in the short course group would have a more desirable overall outcome than a participant in the conventional duration group. We performed (1) partial credit analyses allowing for calculated and variable weighting of DOOR ranks and (2) subgroup analyses to elucidate which patients may benefit the most from short durations of therapy. Results: For the 604 patients included in the original study (306 short course, 298 conventional course), the probability of having a more desirable outcome with a short course of antibiotics compared with a conventional course was 51.1% (95% confidence interval, 46.7% to 55.4%), indicating no significant difference. Partial credit analyses indicated that the DOOR results were similar across different patient preferences. Prespecified subgroup analyses using DOOR did not reveal significant differences between short and conventional courses of therapy. Conclusions: Both short and conventional durations of antibiotic therapy provide comparable clinical outcomes when using DOOR to consider benefits and risks of treatment options for GNB