bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Διερεύνηση των σχέσεων της διαμόρφωσης ταυτότητας και των συμπτωμάτων ψυχοπαθολογίας σε αναδυόμενους ενήλικες
Authors: Τάνταρος Σπυρίδων , Σπαντιδάκη-Κυριαζή Φωτεινή , Γράψας Ευστάθιος
Published: November 2020

The current research aims to investigate the relationship between identity formation processes and the manifestation of symptoms of general distress in emerging adults. For the purpose of the study, 237 university students from five Universities in Greece, aged from 18 to 25, completed the following questionnaires: Dimensions of Identity Development Scale (DIDS), Symptom Checklist 90 – Revised (SCL – 90 – R) and a demographics questionnaire. The results showed that ruminative exploration and identification with commitment can significantly predict the intensity of distress symptoms. As hypothesized, significant, positive correlations emerged between the identity commitment dimensions, as well as among the identity exploration dimensions. As expected, the identity commitment dimensions were negatively correlated with ruminative exploration. However, their correlation with in-depth exploration was found negative, whereas with in-breadth exploration was found insignificant. Significant differences were observed in the levels of commitment making and ruminative exploration in regard to participants’ type of accommodation, financial status and financial independence. Most scales showed overall good reliability, with the exception of in-depth exploration, the reliability of which was found questionable.
Στρατηγικές επιπολιτισμού Αλβανών και Ινδών μεταναστών στην Κρήτη
Authors: Κατέρη Ευαγγελία , Καραδήμας Ευάγγελος
Published: November 2020

The aim of this study was to explore the factors related to the acculturation strategies of first generation Albanian and Indian immigrants in Greece. On the basis of Berry’s acculturation model (1997), immigrants’ demographic characteristics, factors related to intercultural contact (ethnic identity and perceived discrimination) and self-esteem were examined, regarding the acculturation strategies of integration, assimilation, separation, and marginalization. The findings indicated that immigrant’s ethnicity differentiated all four acculturation attitudes, with the Indians falling mostly into separation and Albanian participants into integration. The factors of intercultural contact, inconjunction with demographic factors, predicted integration, assimilation, and separation. On the contrary, in the case of marginalization, immigrants’ demographic characteristics and self-esteem were significant, indicating a negative relationship between marginalization and self-esteem. Furthermore, perceived discriminationwas related positively to separation and negatively to integration. These results are discussed on the basis of Berry’s acculturation model and the rejection-identification model, suggesting that possibly immigrantswith pronounced cultural differences from Greeks experience discrimination and identify more with their in-group, thus choosing separation as a way to protect their self-image.
Η επίδραση του τύπου φυλακής στην επιθετικότητα και την ψυχική υγεία των κρατουμένων στις ελληνικές φυλακές
Authors: Μπαμπάσικας Κωνσταντίνος
Published: November 2020

Prisons differ in the degree of autonomy they provide to inmates. The objective of this study is to measure the impact of the prison environment, as reflected in the prison types, on prisoners’ self-reported aggression and mental health. This question becomes even more relevant since the recent bill opposing the set-up of a Type-C maximum security prison in Greece. The hypothesis is that the greater the degree of "security" (i.e., closed and judicial prisons being of a higher level of security compared with rural), the more likely the prisoners will be to exhibit aggression or poorer mental health. To test this hypothesis, a Multivariate Analysis of Covariance was used with prisoners’ age and imprisonment years as covariates. Prison type had a statistically significant effect on hostility and verbal aggression (with the highest levels recorded in the judicial prisons) and on depression (with lower levels in the rural prisons). In contrast, the effect of prison type on anger-physical aggression and anxiety was not significant. The results underline the importance of the prison environment and the needfor further strengthening of the rural prisons that will help minimize the physical and psychological risks for the inmates.
Οι μακροχρόνιες επιδράσεις της επαναλαμβανόμενης ανάσυρσης στη μάθηση απαιτητικού εκπαιδευτικού υλικού
Authors: Αμερικάνου Μαρία , Μασούρα Ελβίρα , Παπαγεωργίου Βάια , Μωραΐτου Δέσποινα
Published: November 2020

The present study investigated the applications of “testing effect” in education, observing how University Students learn a demanding scientific passage under the condition of retrieval practice. Sixty University Students presented with a long text of 350 words to-be-learned. They all evaluated in two sessions: during the first session all participant read the passage for three times over 7 minutes per time. During the second session half of the student read the passage once more for 7 minutes while the other half asked to recall as many information from the passage as possible. In a final evaluation 5 minutes after the second session all participants asked to recall information from the passage. The same evaluation took place 2 days later and one week later, to estimate the long-term retention of the information. Results revealed that the two groups did not differ on the evaluation 5 minutes or 2 days after the reading/testing of the passage, but they differ significantly on the evaluation that took place a weekafter the first session, with the retrieval practice group to recall more information. Results are on line with the notion that repetition retrieval leads not to better learning but to a durable long-term retention.
Ομοφυλοφιλία, ουσιοποίηση και ταυτότητα στο λόγο ομοφυλόφιλων και ετεροφυλόφιλων ανδρών
Authors: Μίχος Ιωάννης , Φίγγου Λία
Published: November 2020

Essentialism of social categories and its consequences on intergroup relations constitute one of the most popular research topics in social psychology. Drawing upon the relevant literature, the present study explores essentialist and de-essentialist representations about homosexual men and their identity functions in discourse. Sixteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight men who identified themselves as homosexual and eight men who identified themselves as heterosexual. Interviews were analyzed by the use of the principles of discursive psychology and rhetoric. Analysis indicated the coexistence of essentialist and de-essentialist representations of homosexuality in the discourse of both groups as a result of the negotiation and reconceptualization of naturalness, historical stability and normality of social categories. However, similar essentialist representations –suchas the historical stability of homosexuality– perform different intergroup functions, whereas different entitative representations perform common intergroup functions in the discourse of homosexual and heterosexual participants.
Ανιχνεύοντας το αξιακό υπόβαθρο της πολιτικής συμπεριφοράς
Authors: Παυλόπουλος Βασίλης , Vecchione Michele
Published: November 2020

individual differences in politics are usually studied through the bipolar “left/right” or “liberal/conservative” axis. Traditionally, political preferences are examined in relation to socio-demographic factors. More recently, personal values have been shown to constitute a useful framework for understanding political attitudes. This study attempted to explore emotional, cognitive, and behavioral aspects of individual variation in political behavior on the basis of Schwartz’s value theory. The sample consisted of 304 adults (51% male), aged 21-65 years (M = 39,1), residing in various regions across Greece (55% in the Athens metropolitan area). Participants completed the Portrait Values Questionnaire (Schwartz et al., 2001); they also responded on items regarding their core political values (Schwartz et al., 2010), political self-placement, political participation, and socio-demographic profile. overall, results are consistent with research hypotheses. Personal values emerged as significant predictors of political values and political self-placement. Specifically, tradition, security and achievement were associated with the political right and universalism with the left, as well as with unconventional forms of political participation. The above findings are being discussed with regard to the existing models of values and political behavior, along with the multi-faceted crisis that the Greek society is undergoing.
Κυρίαρχος προσανατολισμός των αξιών προς την ατομικότητα ή τη συλλογικότητα σε ελληνικό και γαλλικό δείγμα
Authors: Σακαλάκη Μαρία
Published: November 2020

This study focuses on social representations about the constructs of individuality and collectivity in two European capitals. The structure as well as the attitudinal dimension of social representations was explored through a material collected by the method of free associations and analyzed by the structural approach proposed by P. Vergès. Participants (68 Psychology students from the University of Paris 5 and 109 Psychology students from Panteion University) filled out a questionnaire. Based on the examination of previous studies, we hypothesized that the Greek sample would produce more positive associations and more positive evaluation of the terms associated to collectivity than the French sample and that the French sample would produce more positive associations and a more positive evaluation of the terms associated to individuality. The structure of social representations for the two samples should also confirm these differences, highlighting through the central and peripheral elements of the representations that the Greek sample favors collectivism compared to the French sample and inversely that the French sample favors individuality compared to the Greek sample. The findings confirm our hypotheses.
Το νευροβιολογικό υπόστρωμα της νοημοσύνης: Ανατομικά και λειτουργικά χαρακτηριστικά του εγκεφάλου που συνδέονται με γνωστικές ικανότητες
Authors: Τόμπρου Δήμητρα-Μαρία , Ντόλκα Ελένη , Παπαδάτου-Παστού Μαριέττα
Published: November 2020

The modern era of brain imaging has enabled the direct investigation of the neurobiological substrate of intelligence thus contributing significantly to our understanding of individual differences in cognitive functions. This is a review of recent findings on the anatomical and functional underpinnings of intelligence. Specifically, the anatomical features of the brain that are associated with intelligence are brain volume, cortical thickness, white matter microstructure, and corpus callosum thickness. The functional characteristics associated with intelligence are the degree of activation of the prefrontal cortex and other areas of the parieto-frontal network, nerve conduction velocity, rate of glucose metabolism, and direction of cerebral laterality. Two recent neurobiological theories of intelligence, namely the neural efficiency hypothesis and the parieto-frontal integration theory (P-FIT), are also presented.
Στάση εκπαιδευτικού, ψυχολογικό κλίμα τάξης και εξωτερικευμένα προβλήματα συμπεριφοράς μαθητών
Authors: Σμυρνάκη Μαρία , Κουρκούτας Ηλίας
Published: November 2020

This study is placed in the framework of mental resilience models in Educational/ School Psychology, which emphasize the importance of relationships in basic contexts of life of students with problems. It is part of a wider research project and studies the relationship between perceived acceptance or rejection of teacher attitude, the psychologicalclimate of the classroom and externalizing behavior problems in primary school students. It is a comparative study among 55 students with externalizing behavior problems and 55 students without externalizing behavior problems, from the last grades of totally three primary schools in a suburban area of Crete. According to the main findings of the study, students’ externalizing behavior problems affect students to experienceteacher attitude greatly undifferentiated rejective (mild form of rejection). About the psychological climate of classroom, the results are conflicting, as students with externalizing behavior problems report theyare satisfied with both the peaceful/collaborative classroom climate (cohesiveness) and the conflictual climate (friction). Study’s results are utilized through intervention proposals for the prevention and treatment of schoolage students’ externalizing behavior problems.
Αναζητώντας τα Χαρακτηριστικά του Ηθικού Ηγέτη: Μια εμπειρική μελέτη στον χώρο εργασίας
Authors: Μητροπούλου Ειρήνη Μαρίνα , Τσαούσης Ιωάννης , Ξανθοπούλου Δέσποινα , Πετρίδης Κωνσταντίνος
Published: November 2020

Theories of ethical leadership differentiate on the number and type of characteristics they adopt. Τhe purpose of the present study was to review all different theoretical approaches that have been presented so far in the literature, to record the different characteristics that have been proposed , and to study empirically the importance of these characteristics. In total, twenty-seven different dimensions of ethical leadership were identified in the international bibliography. A quantitative study was carried out and forty-one employees and employers in organizations in the public and private sectors in Greece evaluated the significance of the twenty seven dimensions. The results showed that all dimensions were appraised as important by all participants. However, more emphasis was placed on the dimensions “Trust” and “Collaboration” and less on “Green Practices” and “Development of Ethical Vision”. The Intra-Class Correlation between employers and employees was noteworthy (ICC = 0.91). However, statistically significant moderate differences between the evaluationsof employers and employees emerged only on the dimensions of “Integrity” and “Ethical responsibility”, with employers showing higher scores. These results indicate that all twenty seven dimensions are relevant and important for the definition of the concept of ethical leadership.
Σχέσεις μεταξύ του ζευγαριού και οι αντιλήψεις τους για το δεσμό με τη μητέρα τους
Authors: Κυργερίδου Ελένη , Βόρρια Παναγιώτα , Κιοσέογλου Γρηγόρης
Published: November 2020

The current study examined the association between attachment style and adjustment in romantic relationships as well as the association between perceptions of adult attachment and adjustment in romantic relationships. 65 cohabitating couples aged from 21 to 32 years were recruited for the study. Couples completed the following self-report questionnaires: 1) Perceptions of Adult Attachment Questionnaire, PAAQ, Lichtenstein & Cassidy, 1991, 2) Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory, ECR, Brennan, Clark & Shaver, 1998 and 3) Dyadic Adjustment Scale, DAS, Spanier, 1976. Results showed that secure couples (both partners described themselves as securely attached) as well as mixed couples (one partner chose the secure description and the other defined himself or herself as insecure) reported higher relationship quality compared to both insecure couples (both partners described themselves as insecurely attached). Analyses aimed to test the links between early attachment experiences and marital relationship quality illustrated that both partners’ rejection from their mother in early childhood had a detrimental effect on women’s marital adjustment.
Κοινωνικές αξίες, περιβαλλοντικές στάσεις και περιβαλλοντική συμπεριφορά φοιτητών: Μια συγκριτική μελέτη σε Ελλάδα, Κύπρο και Ελβετία
Authors: Παπαστυλιανού Αντωνία , Παπαδημητρίου Ευριπίδης
Published: November 2020

environmental behavior and the various parameters that determine it constitute a broad area in which research has penetrated in recent years utilizing a host of research approaches and theories from the field, mainly social, and environmental psychology and sociology. The present study focuses on the above subject area, positing individual andcomparative questions and monitoring the way in which specific research models stand up to samples from different cultural environments. Findings from an empirical – comparative study conducted by the authors in university departments from three countries are presented; Greece, Cyprus and Switzerland (N = 669), in which the role that social values and environmental attitudes play in shaping environmental behavior were studied in particular. The research highlighted the decisive influence of specific social values and particularly ‘environmental values’ and those of Individualism and Collectivism. Significant individual differences were revealed between participants from the three countries not only in terms of their environmental behavior but also regarding the weight of each factor that affects this, as well as their environmental attitudes and the mediating role they play between values and behavior.
Προσανατολισμός δεσμού και κοινωνική αντίληψη του συναισθήματος: Ο ρόλος των κοινωνικών κινήτρων
Authors: Ανδριοπούλου Πανωραία , Καφέτσιος Κωνσταντίνος
Published: November 2020

Despite the seminal role of emotion perception in social and personal relationships, there is limited understanding of how adult attachment organization affects the decoding of facial emotion expressions. Previousresearch has focused on how insecure attachment-related strategies for emotion regulation influence early stages of emotion information processing. However, recent studies highlight the importance of socialprocesses and motivational factors in the perception of positive and negative emotion (see e.g., Vrtička, Sander, & Vuilleumier, 2012). Based on a critical review of the relevant literature, the present articlepresents findings from a recent series of studies that reveal the effects senders' social moti ves (relational context, social goals) have on emotion decoding accuracy in adults with insecure attachment. The findings from these studies are discussed in the context of theories of motivated social cognition and the social perception of emotion.
Κίνητρα φιλοκοινωνικής συμπεριφοράς: Αγνός αλτρουισμός ή ψυχολογικός εξαναγκασμός;
Authors: Λαμπρίδης Ευθύμιος
Published: November 2020

Having as a starting point the dispute between the Empathy – Altruism Hypothesis and the Aversive Arousal Reduction Hypothesis, the present research focus on the study of the motives underlying prosocial behavior. Thus, an experimental process was designed in which male and female adults took part (N = 128). Participants first completed the Prosocial Tendencies Measure (PTM, Carlo & Randal, 2002) and the Toronto Empathy Questionnaire (TEQ, Spreng et al., 2009). Then, based on their answers, participants were assigned to eight groups and exposed to different experimental conditions (2 known – unknown x 2 in need of help – without need of help x 2 compel to receive help – absence of compel to receive help). Findings indicate that the level of empathy experiencing by the “benefactor” plays an important role in the performance of prosocial behavior. Nevertheless, the variable of familiarity with the person in need was found to be crucial in the performance of prosocial behavior as well as the need for help. Furthermore, findings suggest that the performance of prosocial behavior is a consequence of psychological pressure to the “benefactor” who, in turn, seems to use the performance of such a behavior as a means of psychological escape from a condition in which the request of help is salient.
Γονεϊκές πρακτικές και παράγοντες επικινδυνότητας κατά την εφηβεία: Η σημασία του διαζυγίου, των γονεϊκών συγκρούσεων και των αρνητικών γεγονότων ζωής
Authors: Δουκάκου Μαρία , Μόττη - Στεφανίδη Φρόσσω
Published: November 2020

The purpose of this study was to examine whether divorce is a risk factor for parenting adolescents over and above parental conflicts and negative life events. 2083 adolescents, aged 15-17 years, males and females studying in 14 high schools of Attica participated in the study. 12% of these adolescents live with divorced/separated parents. Divorce, parental conflicts and negative life events were examined as risk factors for parenting. Four parenting dimensions were examined: the parent-adolescent bond, the psychological control, the behavioral control and the autonomy granting. Self-reported questionnaires were used, well-known in research, and they were translated to greek language. Results indicated that when divorce was examined as the only risk factor, it put at risk parenting. Over and above the parental conflicts and negative life events, divorce was not a risk factor for mothers’ parenting but it was a risk factor for fathers’ parenting. Also, parental conflicts and negative life events were risk factors for both mothers’ and fathers’ parenting, irrespective of family status. Finally, differences in parenting were found in terms of adolescents’ gender and parental socio-economic status. These results are discussed in terms of their significance in family counselling.
Oι θετικές ψευδαισθήσεις για τον εαυτό και η ριψοκίνδυνη συμπεριφορά στην εφηβεία: Ανασκόπηση της βιβλιογραφίας
Authors: Μπάτζου Κατερίνα , Τσούρτου Βασιλική
Published: November 2020

The objective of this study is, through the relevant literature review, to point out the associations between risk-taking behavior during adolescence and positive illusions about the self, that is imaginary audience and personal fable ideations. Positive illusions about the self and risky behavior in adolescence are usually investigated as a direct result of adolescent egocentrism. in this study we briefly describe the main theoretical approaches of positive illusions about the self. Moreover, research findings are presented on the mediating role of self-esteem in the relationship between positive illusions about the self (mainly personal fable) and risk-taking in adolescence. also, we discuss age and gender effects on the complex phenomenon of risk-taking and we focus on adaptive developmental functions of positive illusions about the self. in particular, we focus on the dual function of the personal fable ideation: the illusions of omnipotence and invulnerability either lead adolescents and young adults to risk-taking, or they contribute both to a positive self-image projection in the future and to individuals’ functional adaptation to new situations in their transition from adolescence to adulthood.
Κοινωνικές κατασκευές της ιδεολογίας: Ομάδες εστίασης νέων συζητούν για τις πολιτικές «κρίσεις» του ελληνικού κράτους
Authors: Σουρβίνου Μαρτίνα , Φίγγου Λία
Published: November 2020

The study of political ideology constitutes an a priori central issue in social and political psychological research and literature that adopts a critical discursive approach has focused on the ideological functions of discourse, both everyday and institutional. While the connection of political ideology with everyday discourse is evident, however, the study of this notion as a distinct “rhetorical object” has been neglected. This study focuses on the use of the construct of “political ideology” in everyday discourse and on the exploration of the possible functions of its invocation. Considering the constantly changing political scene of the Greek state ideal for the study of this issue, six focus group discussions were conducted with youth of 18-30 years old, focused on the thematicaxes of financial “crisis”, the refugee issue and the rise of the far-right. Using the analytical tools of Critical Discursive Social Psychology and Rhetorical Psychology, analysis indicated that ideology is used by theparticipants as a discursive resource in two basic argumentative contexts. In the first it is discussed in relation to political/voting behavior. In the second it is constructed as a reified notion and is represented “in theory”. Analytic findings are discussed in relation to their functions, as well as, to their implications for social change and agency.
Space as a Resource and Implication of (Inter)group Relations and Rights: Analyzing Discourse on the Refugee Issue in Greece
Authors: Zisakou Anastasia , Figgou Lia
Published: November 2020

This study aims at exploring the way in which constructions of space and identity are mobilized in interviews on refugees’ reception and entitlements in Greece. Our analytic material was derived from individual semi-structured interviews conducted with 19 people of Greek nationality in Thessaloniki, while the analysis has been based on the principles of critical discursive social psychology. Analysis indicated the multiple ways that participants have available to construct the intersection of place identity and intergroup relations. On the one hand, proximity and contact with refugees were represented as a potentially justified basis for reactions against their settlement and integration. Intergroup distance and separation (ghettoization), on the other hand, were treated as a sufficient condition of anomy on the part of the refugees, and, by implication, as a source of problematic intergroup relations. Furthermore, analysis showed that constructions of “insider” and “outsider” coincided with symbolic boundaries, while biopoliticalstrategies, introduced through recourse to space limitation and scarcity of material resources, were employed to articulate arguments which supported the restriction of refugees’ entitlements.
Dialogue Games for Minimal Logic
Authors: Pavlova Alexandra
Published: November 2020

In this paper, we define a class of dialogue games for Johansson’s minimal logic and prove that it corresponds to the validity of minimal logic. Many authors have stated similar results for intuitionistic and classical logic either with or without actually proving the correspondence. Rahman, Clerbout and Keiff [17] have already specified dialogues for minimal logic; however, they transformed it into Fitch-style natural deduction only. We propose a different specification for minimal logic with the proof of correspondence between the existence of winning strategies for the Proponent in this class of games and the sequent calculus for minimal logic.
Development of the middle-range theory of wound itch
Authors: Paul Julia C
Published: November 2020

The problem of itch occurring with chronic wounds has been recognised, but is often ignored in practice. This paper describes the process of how the ‘theory of wound itch’ was formulated from Levine's conservation model. Concepts and propositions from the conceptual model were used to develop the theory. The theory will provide a basis for nursing research and practice.
Disabled student advocacy to enhance accessibility and disability inclusion in one School of Social Work
Authors: de Bie Alise , Kumbhare Shaila , Mantini Sarah , Evans Jessica
Published: November 2020

In this article, current and former social work students with disabilities consider how the student Disability Action Group has facilitated greater accessibility and disability inclusion in our Canadian university’s School of Social Work. After reviewing the relative absence of disabled student voices in the published literature on disability/accessibility advocacy initiatives in Canadian social work education, we reflect on the work of the Disability Action Group and the successes and challenges we have faced. We encourage other disabled social work students to collectively advocate for their learning needs and call on faculty and staff to better support us in enhancing accessibility and documenting and sharing student efforts to do so.
Household latrine utilization and associated factors in semi-urban areas of northeastern Ethiopia
Authors: Asnake Deres , Adane Metadel
Published: November 2020

Background

Latrine utilization is the actual behavior in a practice of regularly using existing latrines for safe disposal of excreta. Latrine utilization is a common problem in semi-urban areas of developing countries, including Ethiopia. Since the status of latrine utilization and associated factors among semi-urban areas of northeastern Ethiopia, including Alansha in South Wollo Zone is unknown, local data is needed in order to assess the need for planning of intervention programs for the improvement of latrine utilization to support consistent and sustained latrine utilization. This study is designed to address this knowledge gap.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to March, 2019 among 401 systematically selected households. Data were collected by trained workers using a pre-tested, structured questionnaire via face-to-face interviews and on-the-spot observations of the latrines. A systematic random sampling method was used to select participant households. Data were entered using EpiData version 3.1 and exported to Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0 for data cleaning and analysis. The wealth index status of participants was estimated using principal component analysis. Data were analyzed using a binary logistic regression model at 95% confidence interval (CI). From the multivariable logistic regression analysis, variables withp-value < 0.05 were taken as statistically significant and independently associated with latrine utilization. Model fitness was checked using Hosmer-Lemeshow test.

Result

We found that the prevalence of latrine utilization among households was 71.8% (95% CI [67.5–76.1%]) while 28.2% (95% CI [23.9–32.5%]) did not utilize latrines. About one-fifth (21.7%) of participant households were found to have a pit latrine with slab and 78.3% (311) used pit latrines without slab. The hygienic condition of the majority (82.9%) of the latrines was dirty and only 17.1% clean. Household family size from one to three persons (AOR: 3.99, 95% CI [1.20–6.24]), presence of primary or secondary school student in a house (AOR: 2.33, 95% CI [1.42–3.83]), number of years since latrine was constructed (≥ 2 years) (AOR: 1.82, 95% CI [1.12–2.95]) and a frequency of daily cleaning of the latrine (AOR: 2.19, 95% CI [1.12–4.28]) were factors significantly associated with latrine utilization.

Conclusion

Seven out of ten households utilized a latrine. Factors significantly associated with latrine utilization were household family size from one to three persons, presence of primary or secondary school student in the house, time since household latrine had been constructed of two or more years and daily frequency of latrine cleaning. Therefore, it is recommended that measures to promote behavioral change towards further improvement in sustainable and consistent latrine utilization should be carried out based on the evidence of the determinant factors found in this study.
The thromboprotective effect of traditional Chinese medicine Tongji 2 granules is dependent on anti-inflammatory activity by suppression of NF-κB pathways
Authors: Zhou Lin , Lapping Stephanie , Liao Xudong , Lu Yuan , Zhou Guangjin , Matoba Keiichiro , Vasudevan Neelakantan , Wang Lemin , Nayak Lalitha
Published: November 2020

Inflammation is a vital physiological response of the immune system meant to protect against the invasion of pathogens. However, accumulating evidence describes an intimate link between inflammation and thrombosis and cellular elements of the immune system of the immune system such as neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages are emerging as key players in the generation of a prothrombotic milieu suggesting that anti-inflammatory therapy may have a role in the management of thrombosis that is driven by inflammation. Tongji 2 (TJ2) is a traditional Chinese medication manufactured as granules by Tongji hospital of Tongji University (Shanghai, China) with known anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we examine the effects of TJ2 on inflammation and thrombosis. Our study shows that TJ2 modulates NF-κB activation and thus generates a prominent anti-inflammatory effect. Further, we use mouse models of thrombosis to demonstrate that TJ2 has a beneficial effect in both arterial and venous thrombosis that occurs in the absence of alterations in platelet activation or coagulation.
Vaccination strategies on dynamic networks with indirect transmission links and limited contact information
Authors: Shahzamal Md , Mans Bernard , Hoog Frank de , Paini Dean , Jurdak Raja
Published: November 2020

Infectious diseases are still a major global burden for modern society causing 13 million deaths annually. One way to reduce the morbidity and mortality rates from infectious diseases is through pre-emptive or targeted vaccinations. Current theoretical vaccination strategies based on contact networks, however, rely on highly specific individual contact information which is difficult and costly to obtain, in order to identify influential spreading individuals. Current approaches also focus only on direct contacts between individuals for spreading, and disregard indirect transmission where a pathogen can spread between one infected individual and one susceptible individual who visit the same location within a short time-frame without meeting. This paper presents a novel vaccination strategy which relies on coarse-grained contact information, both direct and indirect, that can be easily and efficiently collected. Rather than tracking exact contact degrees of individuals, our strategy uses the types of places people visit to estimate a range of contact degrees for individuals, considering both direct and indirect contacts. We conduct extensive computer simulations to evaluate the performance of our strategy in comparison to state-of-the-art vaccination strategies. Results show that, when considering indirect links, our lower cost vaccination strategy achieves comparable performance to the contact-degree based approach and outperforms other existing strategies without requiring over-detailed information.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and the quadrivalent HPV Vaccine among Brazilian adolescents and parents: Factors associated with and divergences in knowledge and acceptance
Authors: Gomes Jéssica Menezes , Silva Beatriz Machado , Santos Edige Felipe de Sousa , Kelly Patricia Jane , Costa Annielson de Souza , Takiuti Albertina Duarte , de Abreu Luiz Carlos , Soares Júnior José Maria , Baracat Edmund Chada , Sorpreso Isabel Cristina Esposito
Published: November 2020

Background

Low national immunization coverage (44.64%) requires strengthening the vaccination campaign to improve knowledge about HPV and its vaccine among adolescents and parents/guardians. Our aim is to evaluate factors related to knowledge about HPV, its vaccine, acceptability and divergences among Brazilian adolescents and parents/guardians.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was performed at a health unit of Sao Paulo University, Brazil, from 2015 to 2016. The convenience sample comprised 1047 individuals, including 74% (n = 776) adolescents and 26% (n = 271) parents/guardians, who answered a survey (knowledge about HPV, its vaccine, barriers and acceptability).

Results

The main source of information for adolescents was school (39%, n = 298); for parents/guardians, it was health professionals (55%, n = 153). Parents/guardians were 2.48 times more likely than adolescents to know that HPV caused changes in the Pap smear test [RR 2.48, 95% CI 2.03–3.01 (p < 0.001)], 1.43 times likely to be aware that HPV was a sexually transmitted infection [RR 1.43, 95% CI 1.22–1.68 (p < 0.001)], and 2.77 times likely to be informed that the HPV vaccine decreased the chance of having genital warts [RR 2.77, 95% CI 2.22–2.47 (p < 0.001)]. Girls knew more about the topic than boys (RR 1.67; 95% CI 1.10–2.60); education increased parents’ knowledge [(RR 3.38; 95% CI 1.71–6.69)].

Conclusion

Female adolescents and parents/guardians with a higher level of education are factors related to suitable knowledge about HPV and its vaccine among Brazilian respondents. There were differences between parents/guardians and adolescents in HPV awareness, clinical implications, vaccine knowledge and vaccine acceptance.
Photovoltaic modules evaluation and dry-season energy yield prediction model for NEM in Malaysia
Authors: Islam Syed Zahurul , Othman Mohammad Lutfi , Saufi Muhammad , Omar Rosli , Toudeshki Arash , Islam Syed Zahidul
Published: November 2020

This study analyzes the performance of two PV modules, amorphous silicon (a-Si) and crystalline silicon (c-Si) and predicts energy yield, which can be seen as facilitation to achieve the target of 35% reduction of greenhouse gases emission by 2030. Malaysia Energy Commission recommends crystalline PV modules for net energy metering (NEM), but the climate regime is a concern for output power and efficiency. Based on rainfall and irradiance data, this study aims to categorize the climate of peninsular Malaysia into rainy and dry seasons; and then the performance of the two modules are evaluated under the dry season. A new mathematical model is developed to predict energy yield and the results are validated through experimental and systematic error analysis. The parameters are collected using a self-developed ZigBeePRO-based wireless system with the rate of 3 samples/min over a period of five days. The results unveil that efficiency is inversely proportional to the irradiance due to negative temperature coefficient for crystalline modules. For this phenomenon, efficiency of c-Si (9.8%) is found always higher than a-Si (3.5%). However, a-Si shows better shadow tolerance compared to c-Si, observed from a lesser decrease rate in efficiency of the former with the increase in irradiance. Due to better spectrum response and temperature coefficient, a-Si shows greater performance on output power efficiency (OPE), performance ratio (PR), and yield factor. From the regression analysis, it is found that the coefficient of determination (R2) is between 0.7179 and 0.9611. The energy from the proposed model indicates that a-Si yields 15.07% higher kWh than c-Si when luminance for recorded days is 70% medium and 30% high. This study is important to determine the highest percentage of energy yield and to get faster NEM payback period, where as of now, there is no such model to indicate seasonal energy yield in Malaysia.
Effect of drill cuttings addition on physicochemical and chemical properties of soil and red clover (Trifolium pretense L.) growth
Authors: Kujawska Justyna , Pawłowska Małgorzata
Published: November 2020

The most economical method of drill cuttings disposal may be their application in land reclamation which allows for the wastes recovery. However, the wastes application into the soil should ensure that the quality of the environment would not be deteriorated. These investigations were aimed at identifying the effect of drill cuttings, which were the mixture of different types of drilling wastes, on the physicochemical properties of acidic soil and growth of red clover (Trifolium pratenseL.). The experimental design comprised 5 treatments, which differed in a dose of the drill cuttings: 0% (control), 2.5%, 5%, 10% and 15% of dry weight. A six-week pot experiment was conducted to determine the influence of the wastes on the plant growth. The results showed that the drill cuttings addition significantly changed the chemical and physicochemical properties of the soil, such as: electrical conductivity (EC), pH, base saturation, content of carbonate, alkaline cations (Ca2+, Na+, K+, Mg2+), organic matter, total organic carbon (TOC), and available phosphorus form. However, the most important factors that influenced the growth of red clover were pH, base saturation, content of Mg2+and plant available phosphorus. The red clover biomass was increased from 1.5 to 2.5 times depending on the dose of wastes. We concluded that the examined wastes can be used for reclamation of the acid and unfertile degraded soils, but the amount of wastes should not exceed 5% of the soil, because the highest total clover biomass was observed just at this dose.
Attitude and help-seeking behavior of the community towards mental health problems
Authors: Tesfaye Yonas , Agenagnew Liyew , Terefe Tucho Gudina , Anand Susan , Birhanu Zewdie , Ahmed Gutema , Getenet Masrie , Yitbarek Kiddus
Published: November 2020

Background

Community attitude towards mental health problems and help-seeking behavior plays a major role in designing effective community based mental health interventions. This study aimed to assess the attitude, help-seeking behavior, and associated factors of the Jimma zone community towards mental health and mental health problems.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study design was employed. A respondent from each of the 423 systematically selected households was interviewed using a pretested, structured, and interviewer-administered questionnaire. Accordingly, a community’s attitude towards mental health problems was measured by the adapted version of the “Community Attitude towards Mentally Ill questionnaire (CAMI)” and help-seeking behavior was measured by a general help-seeking questionnaire. Data were entered into Epi-data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 23.0 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was done to determine the independent predictors of the outcome variable.

Results

Among the total 420 study participants (197,46.9%) of them had an overall unfavorable attitude towards mental illness. The majority (153,36.4%) of the study participants agreed on avoidance of anyone who has mental health problems and (150,35.7%) participants described marrying a person with a mental health problem or recovered from the problem is foolishness. Moreover, regression analysis showed family monthly income (AOR = 0.24, 95%CI:0.06–0.91) and occupational status (AOR = 0.57, 95%CI:0.34–0.96) were found to be the predictors of community attitude towards mental health problems. The study finding also revealed a significant number of the respondents preferred non- medical treatment approaches.

Conclusion

Almost half of the respondents had an unfavorable attitude towards mental health problems and the traditional and religious help-seeking intention was high. This suggests the need for designing effective community based mental health interventions to improve the general public attitude and help-seeking behavior towards mental health problems.
Electronic health record analysis identifies kidney disease as the leading risk factor for hospitalization in confirmed COVID-19 patients
Authors: Oetjens Matthew T. , Luo Jonathan Z. , Chang Alexander , Leader Joseph B. , Hartzel Dustin N. , Moore Bryn S. , Strande Natasha T. , Kirchner H. Lester , Ledbetter David H. , Justice Anne E. , Carey David J. , Mirshahi Tooraj
Published: November 2020

Background

Empirical data on conditions that increase risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) progression are needed to identify high risk individuals. We performed a comprehensive quantitative assessment of pre-existing clinical phenotypes associated with COVID-19-related hospitalization.

Methods

Phenome-wide association study (PheWAS) of SARS-CoV-2-positive patients from an integrated health system (Geisinger) with system-level outpatient/inpatient COVID-19 testing capacity and retrospective electronic health record (EHR) data to assess pre-COVID-19 pandemic clinical phenotypes associated with hospital admission (hospitalization).

Results

Of 12,971 individuals tested for SARS-CoV-2 with sufficient pre-COVID-19 pandemic EHR data at Geisinger, 1604 were SARS-CoV-2 positive and 354 required hospitalization. We identified 21 clinical phenotypes in 5 disease categories meeting phenome-wide significance (P<1.60x10-4), including: six kidney phenotypes, e.g. end stage renal disease or stage 5 CKD (OR = 11.07, p = 1.96x10-8), six cardiovascular phenotypes, e.g. congestive heart failure (OR = 3.8, p = 3.24x10-5), five respiratory phenotypes, e.g. chronic airway obstruction (OR = 2.54, p = 3.71x10-5), and three metabolic phenotypes, e.g. type 2 diabetes (OR = 1.80, p = 7.51x10-5). Additional analyses defining CKD based on estimated glomerular filtration rate, confirmed high risk of hospitalization associated with pre-existing stage 4 CKD (OR 2.90, 95% CI: 1.47, 5.74), stage 5 CKD/dialysis (OR 8.83, 95% CI: 2.76, 28.27), and kidney transplant (OR 14.98, 95% CI: 2.77, 80.8) but not stage 3 CKD (OR 1.03, 95% CI: 0.71, 1.48).

Conclusions

This study provides quantitative estimates of the contribution of pre-existing clinical phenotypes to COVID-19 hospitalization and highlights kidney disorders as the strongest factors associated with hospitalization in an integrated US healthcare system.
Sex-based differences and aging in tactile function loss in persons with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Gorniak Stacey L. , Ochoa Nereyda , Cox Lauren I. Gulley , Khan Aisha , Ansari Sahifah , Thames Beatriz , Ray Haley , Lu Yoshimi F. , Hibino Hidetaka , Watson Nikita , Dougherty Patrick M.
Published: November 2020

Background

Recent evidence of significant sex-based differences in the presentation of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and its complications has been found in humans, which may contribute to sex-based differences in reduced functionality and quality of life. Some functionality, such as tactile function of the hands, has significant direct impact on quality of life. The purpose of the current study was to explore the impact of DM and sex on tactile function, with consideration of variability in health state measures.

Research design and methods

A case-control single time point observational study from 2012–2020 in an ethnically diverse population-based community setting. The sample consists of 132 adult individuals: 70 independent community dwelling persons with DM (PwDM) and 62 age- and sex-matched controls (42 males and 90 females in total). The Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test was used to evaluate tactile sensation of the hands.

Results

Tactile sensation thresholds were adversely impacted by sex, age, degree of handedness, high A1c, diagnosis of DM, and neuropathy. Overall, strongly right-handed older adult males with poorly controlled DM and neuropathy possessed the poorest tactile discrimination thresholds. When self-identified minority status was included in a secondary analysis, DM diagnosis was no longer significant; negative impacts of age, neuropathy, degree of handedness, and high A1cremained significant.

Conclusions

The data indicate significant impacts of male sex, age, degree of handedness, self-identified minority status, and metabolic health on the development of poor tactile sensation. This combination of modifiable and non-modifiable factors are important considerations in the monitoring and treatment of DM complications.
High ankle brachial index predicts high risk of cardiovascular events amongst people with peripheral artery disease
Authors: Golledge Jonathan , Moxon Joseph V. , Rowbotham Sophie , Pinchbeck Jenna , Quigley Frank , Jenkins Jason
Published: November 2020

Ankle-brachial pressure index (ABPI) is commonly measured in people referred to vascular specialists. This study aimed to assess the association of high ABPI (≥ 1.4) with cardiovascular events in people with peripheral artery disease (PAD). 1533 participants with PAD diagnosed by a vascular specialist were prospectively recruited from four out-patient clinics in Australia. ABPI was measured at recruitment and the occurrence of myocardial infarction (MI), stroke or cardiovascular death (major cardiovascular events; MACE) and any amputation were recorded over a median (inter-quartile range) follow-up of 3.3 (1.0–7.1) years. The association of high, compared to normal, low (0.5–0.9) or very low (<0.5), ABPI with clinical events was estimated using Cox proportional hazard analyses, adjusting for traditional risk factors and reported as hazard ratio with 95% confidence intervals. 596 (38.9%), 676 (44.1%), 157 (10.2%) and 104 (6.8%) participants had normal, low, very low and high ABPI, respectively. Participants with high ABPI had increased risk of MACE, MI and death by comparison to those with either normal ABPI [1.69 (1.07, 2.65), 1.93 (1.07, 3.46) and 1.67 (1.09, 2.56)] or either low or very low ABPI [1.51 (1.02, 2.23), 1.92 (1.16, 3.19) and 1.47 (1.02, 2.14)] after adjusting for other risk factors. Findings were similar in a sensitivity analysis excluding people with ABPI only measured in one leg (n = 120). Participants with high ABPI also had an increased risk of MACE and MI compared to those with very low ABPI alone. High ABPI is a strong indicator of excess risk of cardiovascular events amongst people with PAD.