5 research outputs found

    Revisiting lexical processing: Evidence from Greek-speaking adults

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    In the present studywe examined factors that affect word recognition in Greek while further exploring whether the process is influenced by participants’ educational background. We employed an on-line lexical decision task to a group of 60 young monolingual Greek-speaking adults. Participants had difficulty recognising real words of low frequency while those with lower vs. higher academic attainment were even more vulnerable to this effect. Word length and gender effects were detected but to a smaller extent. The results demonstrate that frequency is the most important factor in word identification although the role of extra-linguistic factors is not to be ignored

    An examination of the leftward cradling bias among typically developing adults high on autistic traits

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    The leftward cradling bias is the tendency to cradle infants on the left side of the body and it has been linked with hemispheric asymmetry for emotional processing. This study examines this phenomenon using a real-size infant doll in typically developing adults who score high in the Reading the Mind in the Eyes, the Autistic Spectrum Quotient and the Empathy Quotient, measures that assess autistic traits among typically developing individuals. Results revealed that this group showed a reduced tendency to cradle on the left compared to participants who score within the normal range on the above measurements. This study provides further support for the justification of the leftward cradling bias upon brain lateralization on emotional processing. Study limitations and suggestions for future research are discussed

    The effect of print exposure upon performance on the Raven Progressive Matrices Test

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    This study examines a potential relationship between reading and performance on a fluid intelligence test. Participants were 89 adults (M age= 39.0) of various educational backgrounds. Reading volume was assessed by the Greek versions of the Author and Magazine Recognition test (here ART-GR and MRT-GR respectively) initially developed by Stanovich and West (1989). Fluid intelligence was assessed by the Raven Progressive Matrices Test (Raven 1938), a non-verbal, graphical test. Participants with greater print exposure as measured both by the ART-GR and the MRT-GR reported greater fluid intelligence scores. The same was true for participants with more advanced than lower educational background

    Sepsis-induced coagulopathy in preterm neonates with Gram-positive sepsis presents with hypercoagulation and reduced platelet activation compared with healthy preterm neonates

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    Background: Neonatal sepsis is frequently accompanied by coagulopathy and thrombocytopenia attributed to the cross-link between inflammation and coagulation. However, sepsis-induced coagulopathy and platelet function in septic preterm neonates remain to be elucidated. In addition, there is no robust evidence for a causal relationship between thrombocytopenia and bleeding in preterm neonates with sepsis. Objective: This single-center prospective cohort study aimed to assess sepsis-induced coagulopathy and platelet function in preterm neonates during sepsis. Methods: We included 25 preterm neonates with Gram-positive sepsis born at gestational age 24 + 1 to 34 + 3 and studied in comparison to 30 healthy counterparts. Coagulation was assessed using conventional coagulation tests (CCTs) and rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM). Platelet function was evaluated by flow cytometry. The study was conducted at 3-time points, at 1st, at 2nd to 3rd, and at 5th to 7th day of sepsis, respectively. Results: Compared with healthy controls, neonates with Gram-positive sepsis present in ROTEM a hypercoagulable state; a higher maximum clot firmness (MCF) and higher amplitudes of intrinsic rotational thromboelastometry (INTEM) (INTEM MCF: median, 71; P .004 and INTEM A10: median, 67; P .005, respectively), extrinsic rotational thromboelastometry (EXTEM) (EXTEM MCF: median, 70; P .02 and EXTEM A10: median, 67; P .02, respectively), and rotational thromboelastometry assay for fibrin formation (FIBTEM) (FIBTEM MCF: median, 25; P < .001 and FIBTEM A10: median, 23; P .002, respectively). Conversely, CCTs exhibited hypocoagulation. Thrombocytopenia in preterm neonates with Gram-positive sepsis is not associated with an increased bleeding risk. In Gram-positive sepsis, platelets display increased glycoprotein (GP) surface receptors' expression (GPIb: median, 2.8; P .03, GPIIb: median, 3.1; P .004, and GPIIIa: median, 3.9; P .008, respectively) and reduced activation (P-selectin: median, 1; P < .001). A higher expression of platelets GP and improved degranulation capacity were recorded in patients in higher gestational age groups of >32 weeks of gestation. Platelet GPIb expression is age-dependent in healthy neonates. Conclusion: Neonatal Gram-positive sepsis is characterized by a progressive hypercoagulation along with increased GP expression, reduced platelet activation, and thrombocytopenia without bleeding. Platelet GP expression and degranulation capacity are age-dependent among neonates with sepsis. Platelet GP expression is age-dependent among healthy counterparts. © 2023 The Author(s
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