Analytic thinking outruns fluid reasoning in explaining rejection of pseudoscience, paranormal, and conspiracist beliefs

Around one third of people across populations hold beliefs in epistemically unwarranted claims and theories. Why this effect is so strong remains elusive. In three studies (total N = 827), we clarified the relationships of fluid reasoning ability, analytic thinking style (indexed by non-intuitiveness and open-mindedness), and unwarranted beliefs in pseudoscience, paranormal phenomena, and conspiracy theories. Fluid reasoning predicted about 11% of variance in rejection of pseudoscience, but only 4% - in paranormal beliefs, and less than 2.5% - in conspiracist beliefs. By contrast, analytic thinking substantially predicted rejection of all the three kinds of beliefs, explaining 37% variance in pseudoscience and around 20% variance in paranormal and conspiracist beliefs. A novel finding indicated that fluid reasoning and analytic thinking predicted rejection of pseudoscience in an over-additive interaction. Fluid reasoning and analytic thinking explained the common variance shared by unwarranted beliefs, but not the belief-specific variance. Their relationships with unwarranted beliefs were stronger for males than for females. Overall, the three studies suggest that analytic thinking is more important than cognitive ability for adopting epistemically supported world-view

Fluid reasoning is equivalent to relation processing

Fluid reasoning (Gf) - the ability to reason abstractly - is typically measured using nonverbal inductive reasoning tests involving the discovery and application of complex rules. We tested whether Gf, as measured by such traditional assessments, can be equivalent to relation processing (a much simpler process of validating whether perceptually available stimuli satisfy the arguments of a single predefined relation - or not). Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the factor capturing variance shared by three relation processing tasks was statistically equivalent to the Gf factor loaded by three hallmark fluid reasoning tests. Moreover, the two factors shared most of their residual variance that could not be explained by working memory. The results imply that many complex operations typically associated with the Gf construct, such as rule discovery, rule integration, and drawing conclusions, may not be essential for Gf. Instead, fluid reasoning ability may be fully reflected in a much simpler ability to effectively validate single, predefined relations

Most evidence for the compensation account of cognitive training is unreliable

Cognitive training and brain stimulation studies have suggested that human cognition, primarily working memory and attention control processes, can be enhanced. Some authors claim that gains (i.e., post-test minus pretest scores) from such interventions are unevenly distributed among people. The magnification account (expressed by the evangelical "who has will more be given") predicts that the largest gains will be shown by the most cognitively efficient people, who will also be most effective in exploiting interventions. In contrast, the compensation account ("who has will less be given") predicts that such people already perform at ceiling, so interventions will yield the largest gains in the least cognitively efficient people. Evidence for this latter account comes from reported negative correlations between the pretest and the training/stimulation gain. In this paper, with the use of mathematical derivations and simulation methods, we show that such correlations are pure statistical artifacts caused by the widely known methodological error called "regression to the mean". Unfortunately, more advanced methods, such as alternative measures, linear models, and control groups do not guarantee correct assessment of the compensation effect either. The only correct method is to use direct modeling of correlations between latent true measures and gain. As to date no training/stimulation study has correctly used this method to provide evidence in favor of the compensation account, we must conclude that most (if not all) of the evidence should be considered inconclusive

Rozwój biotechnologii w miastach wybranych krajów Unii Europejskiej

Nowadays biotechnolog/ industry is „the next big issue” after the boom in the IT sector. Bio- technology is characterised by innovation, wide application rangę and progress generation in other branches of basie Sciences. In Europę the beginnings of biotechnology sector development datę back to the end of 70s of the 20th century and are associated with the appearance of a great number of smali and medium-sized enterprises related to research and scientific institutions. Therefore, biotechnology develops not only in big cities but also in the rural regions (e.g. agricultural regions).The aim of this article is to analyse spatial yariation of biotechnology development as a key high-tech sector in some European countries. This spatial arrangement will be reviewed in relation to the structure of the settlement network.Współcześnie przemysł biotechnologiczny postrzegany jest jako najważniejszy i najszybciej rozwijający sie sektor gospodarki wysokich technologii. Przemysł ten cechują innowacyjność, szeroki zakres aplikacji i generowania postępu w innych dziedzinach nauk podstawowych. W Europie początki sektora biotechnologii sięgają końca lat 70. XX w. i są związane z pojawieniem sie dużej liczby małych i średnich przedsiębiorstw związanych z  instytucjami badawczymi i  naukowymi. Rozwój biotechnologii następuje zatem nie tylko w dużych miastach, ale również w regionach wiejskich (np. regiony rolnicze). Celem niniejszego artykułu jest analiza zmienności przestrzennego rozwoju biotechnologii jako kluczowego sektora high-tech w  wybranych krajach europejskich. Układ przestrzenny zostanie zweryfikowany w odniesieniu do struktury sieci osadniczej

Mitral and aortic regurgitation following transcatheter aortic valve replacement

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the impact of postprocedural mitral regurgitation (MR), in an interaction with aortic regurgitation (AR), on mortality following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). METHODS: To assess the interaction between MR and AR, we compared the survival rate of patients (i) without both significant MR and AR versus (ii) those with either significant MR or significant AR versus (iii) with significant MR and AR, all postprocedure. 381 participants of the Polish Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation Registry (166 males (43.6%) and 215 females (56.4%), age 78.8±7.4 years) were analysed. Follow-up was 94.1±96.5 days. RESULTS: Inhospital and midterm mortality were 6.6% and 10.2%, respectively. Significant MR and AR were present in 16% and 8.1% patients, including 3.1% patients with both significant MR and AR. Patients with significant versus insignificant AR differed with respect to mortality (log rank p=0.009). This difference was not apparent in a subgroup of patients without significant MR (log rank p=0.80). In a subgroup of patients without significant AR, there were no significant differences in mortality between individuals with versus without significant MR (log rank p=0.44). Significant MR and AR had a significant impact on mortality only when associated with each other (log rank p<0.0001). At multivariate Cox regression modelling concomitant significant MR and AR were independently associated with mortality (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.54 to 5.71, p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Significant MR or AR postprocedure, when isolated, had no impact on survival. Combined MR and AR had a significant impact on a patient's prognosis

Padaczka arytmiczna, czyli zaskakująca historia pewnej padaczki

We present a case of a 45 year-old woman with epilepsy diagnosed 24 years earlier. Epilepsy was confirmed by EEG and many seizures episodes were treated with different combination of anticonvulsive drugs. A 24-h Holter ECG monitoring revealed an episode of asystole lasting 82 s. The pacemaker was implanted and antiepileptic therapy with valproic acid chrono (1800 mg/d.) was continued. We review in this article present data on arrhythmic epilepsy. Kardiol Pol 2012; 70, 1: 64&#8211;6

Epileptic asystole : a case report

We present a case of a 45 year-old woman with epilepsy diagnosed 24 years earlier. Epilepsy was confirmed by EEG and many seizures episodes were treated with different combination of anticonvulsive drugs. A 24-h Holter ECG monitoring revealed an episode of asystole lasting 82 s. The pacemaker was implanted and antiepileptic therapy with valproic acid chrono (1800 mg/d.) was continued. We review in this article present data on arrhythmic epilepsy

Shockwave intravascular lithotripsy as a novel strategy for balloon undilatable heavily calcified chronic total occlusion lesions

Background: The successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in chronic total occlusion (CTO) improves the long-term outcome in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Heavy calcification remains one of the strongest predictors of an unfavorable outcome of PCI. In this case series study, shockwave intravascular lithotripsy (S-IVL)-a novel balloon-based coronary system facilitating modification of calcified coronary lesions was evaluated. Methods: The study population consisted of five heavily calcified, undilatable-CTOs lesions treated with S-IVL selected out of all consecutive CTO-PCI patients performed at two high-volume cardiac centers. Results: The registry included 5 patients successful CTO — S-IVL procedures with an average J-CTO of 2.6 points. In the short-term follow-up period, including the first 30 days, no cases of acute in-stent thrombosis, target lesion failure, or major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events were noted. Conclusions: The present data suggest that this approach can be safe and useful in the treatment of complex calcified CTO lesions

Comparison of mid-term results of transcatheter aortic valve implantation in high-risk patients with logistic EuroSCORE ≥ 20% or < 20%

Wstęp: Przezcewnikowa implantacja zastawki aortalnej (TAVI) jest ustaloną metodą leczenia wybranych chorych ze zwężeniem zastawki aortalnej. Według wspólnego stanowiska ekspertów, Europejskiego Towarzystwa Torakochirurgów i Kardiochirurgów, Europejskiego Towarzystwa Kardiologicznego i Asocjacji Interwencji Sercowo-Naczyniowych, opublikowanego w 2008 r. TAVI powinno się wykonywać u chorych z grupy wysokiego ryzyka chirurgicznego z logistic EuroSCORE (log ES) ≥ 20%. Istnieje natomiast niewiele doniesień na temat TAVI u pacjentów z grupy wysokiego ryzyka chirurgicznego, ale z log ES &lt; 20%. Cel: Celem pracy było porównanie wyników TAVI u chorych z log ES ≥ 20% z rezultatami uzyskanymi u pacjentów z log ES &lt; 20%, którzy ze względu na inne choroby współtowarzyszące zostali ostatecznie zdyskwalifikowani z leczenia operacyjnego. Metody i wyniki: W okresie od stycznia 2009 do grudnia 2011 r. TAVI wykonano u 93 chorych, którzy zastali podzieleni na dwie grupy. Grupę 1 stanowiło 59 (63.4%) pacjentów z log ES ≥ 20%, a grupę 2 — 34 (36,6%) osób z log ES &lt; 20%. Średnia wartość Log ES wynosiła 30,9 ± 9,7% w grupie 1 oraz 12,7 ± 4,9% w grupie 2 (p &lt; 0,001). Chorzy z grupy 1 byli starsi (82,9 ± 5,9 vs. 78,7 ± 7,8 roku; p = 0,01), charakteryzowali się niższą frakcją wyrzutową lewej komory (51,5 ± 14% vs. 60,4 ± 9,6%; p = 0,002), wyższym ciśnieniem skurczowym w tętnicy płucnej (56 ± 11 vs. 49 ± 10,6 mm Hg; p = 0,02) oraz gorszą funkcją nerek (GFR 51,3 ± 18,4 vs. 60,6 ± 16,6 ml/min/m2; p = 0,02). Przeżycie po roku i po 2 latach było porównywalne i wynosiło 76,6% i 69,0% oraz 89,0% i 83,6% odpowiednio w grupie 1 i 2 (p = NS), natomiast częstość wy­stępowania zgonów sercowych po roku i po 2 latach była istotnie wyższa w grupie 1 (21,4% i 28,6%) niż w grupie 2 (8,1% i 10,8%) (p = 0,02). Wnioski: Wyniki niniejszej pracy pokazują, że częstość występowania zgonów sercowych w okresie 2-letniej obserwacji po TAVI jest wyższa u chorych z grupy wysokiego ryzyka chirurgicznego z log ES ≥ 20% niż u pacjentów zdyskwalifikowanych z leczenia chirurgicznego przez Zespół Sercowy, ale z log ES &lt; 20%.Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is an established treatment method in selected high-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis. However, data on which patients gain most benefit from this procedure is still limited. According to the European consensus document, TAVI is recommended for high-risk patients with logistic EuroSCORE (log ES) ≥ 20%. To date, little is known about TAVI outcomes in patients with log ES &lt; 20%. Aim: To evaluate outcomes of TAVI in high-risk patients with log ES ≥ 20% in comparison with high-risk patients with log ES &lt; 20%. Methods and results: Of 93 patients who underwent TAVI at our institution between January 2009 and December 2011, we identified 59 (63.4%) patients with log ES ≥ 20% (Group 1) and 34 (36.6%) patients with log ES &lt; 20% (Group 2). The mean log ES was 30.9 ± 9.7% in Group 1 and 12.7 ± 4.9% in Group 2 (p &lt; 0.01). Significant differences were found between the two groups in regard to age (82.9 ± 5.9 vs. 78.7 ± 7.8 years, p = 0.001), left ventricular ejection fraction (51.5 ± 14% vs. 60.4 ± 9.6%, p = 0.002), pulmonary artery systolic pressure (56 ± 11 vs. 49 ± 10.6 mm Hg, p = 0.02), and glomerular filtration rate (51.3 ± 18.4 vs. 60.6 ± 16.6 mL/min/m2, p = 0.02). Survival rates at 1 and 2 years were 76.6% and 69.0% in Group 1 and 89.0% and 83.6% in Group 2 (p = NS). However, cardiovascular mortality at 1 and 2 years was higher in Group 1 compared to Group 2 (21.4% and 28.6% vs. 8.1% and 10.8% in Groups 1 and 2, respectively). Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrate that at 2 years of follow-up, TAVI in high-risk patients with log ES ≥ 20% was associated with a higher cardiovascular mortality compared to high-risk patients with log ES &lt; 20%