bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Challenges and opportunities for improved contact tracing in Ghana: experiences from Coronavirus disease-2019-related contact tracing in the Bono region
Authors: Asare Isaac Tachie , Douglas Mbuyiselo , Kye-Duodu Gideon , Manu Emmanuel
Published: May 2023

Background

In Ghana, contact tracing received heightened attention in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic during its peak period. Despite the successes achieved, numerous challenges continue to limit the efforts of contact tracing in completely curtailing the effect of the pandemic. Despite these challenges, there are still opportunities that could be harnessed from the COVID-19 contact tracing experience for future eventualities. This study thus identified the challenges and opportunities associated with COVID-19 contact tracing in the Bono Region of Ghana.

Methods

Using a focus group discussion (FGD) approach, an exploratory qualitative design was conducted in six selected districts of the Bono region of Ghana in this study. The purposeful sampling technique was employed to recruit 39 contact tracers who were grouped into six focus groups. A thematic content analysis approach via ATLAS ti version 9.0 software was used to analyse the data and presented under two broad themes.

Results

The discussants reported twelve (12) challenges that hindered effective contact tracing in the Bono region. These include inadequate personal protective equipment, harassment by contacts, politicisation of the discourse around the disease, stigmatization, delays in processing test results, poor remuneration and lack of insurance package, inadequate staffing, difficulty in locating contacts, poor quarantine practices, poor education on COVID-19, language barrier and transportation challenges. Opportunities for improving contact tracing include cooperation, awareness creation, leveraging on knowledge gained in contact tracing, and effective emergency plans for future pandemics.

Conclusion

There is a need for health authorities, particularly in the region, and the state as a whole to address contact tracing-related challenges while simultaneously harnessing the recommended opportunities for improved contact tracing in the future for effective pandemic control.
Action competence in obstetric emergencies—can this be achieved via e-learning? Interprofessional blended learning module on diagnostics and emergency treatment of shoulder dystocia
Authors: Stieglitz Verena , Buggenhagen Holger , Strelow Kai-Uwe , Schmidtmann Irene , Skala Christine , Kurz Sandra
Published: May 2023

Background

Due to the rarity of shoulder dystocia, an obstetric emergency, it is difficult even for experts to develop the appropriate routine in this emergency. Regular further training is therefore recommended for obstetricians and midwives. Evidence is lacking on the extent to which e-learning as a teaching method can be successfully used to acquire these skills and put them into practice. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate how the learning objectives for shoulder dystocia, listed in the National Competence Based Learning Objectives Catalog for Medicine (NKLM, Germany) can be successfully taught in medical studies using a blended learning concept (e-learning and practical application on a birth simulator).

Methods

After completing an e-learning course, final year medical students and midwife trainees demonstrated their action competence for shoulder dystocia procedure on a birth simulator. This transfer of the theoretical knowledge to the case study was assessed using an evaluation form oriented to the recommendations for action.

Results

One hundred sixty medical students and 14 midwifery trainees participated in the study from April to July 2019. Overall, 95.9% of the study participants met the required standards, i.e. achieved very good to adequate performance (Ø good) in simulation training.

Conclusions

E-learning with annotated high-quality learning videos is an excellent way to transfer theoretical knowledge about shoulder dystocia procedures into medical practice on a birth simulator. The learning objectives required by the NKLM for shoulder dystocia can be successfully conveyed to students via the applied blended learning concept.
An overview of nursing and midwifery leadership, governance structures, and instruments in Africa
Authors: Nawagi Faith , Kneafsey Rosie , Modber Mohammed , Mukeshimana Madeline , Ndungu Cecilia , Bayliss-Pratt Lisa
Published: May 2023

Background

Investment in nursing and midwifery leadership and governance are key suggested approaches by the World Health Organization (WHO) Africa Regional Office to address the shortages in the nursing health workforce. However, there are few if any studies that have investigated the existence and operationalization of the nursing and midwifery leadership and governance structures in Africa. This paper fills this gap by, providing an overview of nursing and midwifery leadership, governance structures, and instruments in Africa.

Methods

We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study of the nursing and midwifery leadership, structures, and instruments in 16 African countries using quantitative methodology. Data was analyzed using SPSS IBM 21 statistical software. Data was summarized in frequencies and percentages and presented as tables and charts.

Results

Only (9,56.25%) of the 16 countries included had retrievable evidence of all expected governance structures while (7, 43.75%) lacked one or more of the structures. A quarter (4, 25%) of the countries did not have a department of nursing and midwifery or chief nursing and midwifery officer at their Ministry of Health (MOH). The dominant gender representation across all the governance structures was female. Only Lesotho (1, 6.25%) had all expected nursing and midwifery governance instruments while the remaining (15, 93.75%) had either one or four of these instruments missing.

Conclusions

The lack of complete nursing and midwifery governance structures and instruments in various African countries is a matter of concern. Without these structures and instruments, the strategic direction and input of the nursing and midwifery profession cannot be maximized for the public good in relation to health outcomes. Addressing the existing gaps requires a multipronged approach with the need to strengthen regional collaboration, and advocacy, creating awareness, and advancing nursing and midwifery leadership training to enable nursing and midwifery governance capacity development in Africa.
Image-guided cancer surgery: a narrative review on imaging modalities and emerging nanotechnology strategies
Authors: Bortot Barbara , Mangogna Alessandro , Di Lorenzo Giovanni , Stabile Guglielmo , Ricci Giuseppe , Biffi Stefania
Published: May 2023

Surgical resection is the cornerstone of solid tumour treatment. Current techniques for evaluating margin statuses, such as frozen section, imprint cytology, and intraoperative ultrasound, are helpful. However, an intraoperative assessment of tumour margins that is accurate and safe is clinically necessary. Positive surgical margins (PSM) have a well-documented negative effect on treatment outcomes and survival. As a result, surgical tumour imaging methods are now a practical method for reducing PSM rates and improving the efficiency of debulking surgery. Because of their unique characteristics, nanoparticles can function as contrast agents in image-guided surgery. While most image-guided surgical applications utilizing nanotechnology are now in the preclinical stage, some are beginning to reach the clinical phase. Here, we list the various imaging techniques used in image-guided surgery, such as optical imaging, ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear medicine imaging, and the most current developments in the potential of nanotechnology to detect surgical malignancies. In the coming years, we will see the evolution of nanoparticles tailored to specific tumour types and the introduction of surgical equipment to improve resection accuracy. Although the promise of nanotechnology for producing exogenous molecular contrast agents has been clearly demonstrated, much work remains to be done to put it into practice.

Graphical Abstract
Translocation of bacterial LPS is associated with self-reported cognitive abilities in men living with HIV receiving antiretroviral therapy
Authors: Isnard Stéphane , Royston Léna , Scott Susan C. , Mabanga Tsoarello , Lin John , Fombuena Brandon , Bu Simeng , Berini Carolina A. , Goldberg Mark S. , Finkelman Malcolm , Brouillette Marie-Josée , Fellows Lesley K. , Mayo Nancy E. , Routy Jean-Pierre
Published: May 2023

Background

Gut damage allows translocation of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and fungal β-D-glucan (BDG) into the blood. This microbial translocation contributes to systemic inflammation and risk of non-AIDS comorbidities in people living with HIV, including those receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART). We assessed whether markers of gut damage and microbial translocation were associated with cognition in ART-treated PLWH.

Methods

Eighty ART-treated men living with HIV from the Positive Brain Health Now Canadian cohort were included. Brief cognitive ability measure (B-CAM) and 20-item patient deficit questionnaire (PDQ) were administered to all participants. Three groups were selected based on their B-CAM levels. We excluded participants who received proton pump inhibitors or antiacids in the past 3 months. Cannabis users were also excluded. Plasma levels of intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP), regenerating islet-derived protein 3 α (REG3α), and lipopolysaccharides (LPS = were quantified by ELISA, while 1–3-β-D-glucan BDG) levels were assessed using the Fungitell assay. Univariable, multivariable, and splines analyses were performed.

Results

Plasma levels of I-FABP, REG3α, LPS and BDG were not different between groups of low, intermediate and high B-CAM levels. However, LPS and REG3α levels were higher in participants with PDQ higher than the median.

Multivariable analyses showed that LPS association with PDQ, but not B-CAM, was independent of age and level of education. I-FABP, REG3α, and BDG levels were not associated with B-CAM nor PDQ levels in multivariable analyses.

Conclusion

In this well characterized cohort of ART-treated men living with HIV, bacterial but not fungal translocation was associated with presence of cognitive difficulties. These results need replication in larger samples.
Existence and H-U stability of a tripled system of sequential fractional differential equations with multipoint boundary conditions
Authors: Murugesan Manigandan , Muthaiah Subramanian , Alzabut Jehad , Nandha Gopal Thangaraj
Published: May 2023

In this paper, we introduce a new coupled system of sequential fractional differential equations with coupled boundary conditions. We establish existence and uniqueness results using the Leray–Schauder alternative and Banach contraction principle. We examine the stability of the solutions involved in the Hyers–Ulam type. As an application, we present a few examples to illustrate the main results.
Safety, tolerability, and effectiveness of the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) dapagliflozin in combination with standard chemotherapy for patients with advanced, inoperable pancreatic adenocarcinoma: a phase 1b observational study
Authors: Park Lauren K. , Lim Kian-Huat , Volkman Jonas , Abdiannia Mina , Johnston Hannah , Nigogosyan Zack , Siegel Marilyn J. , McGill Janet B. , McKee Alexis M. , Salam Maamoun , Zhang Rong M. , Ma Da , Popuri Karteek , Chow Vincent Tze Yang , Beg Mirza Faisal , Hawkins William G. , Peterson Linda R. , Ippolito Joseph E.
Published: May 2023

Background

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a lethal malignancy. Thus, there is an urgent need for safe and effective novel therapies. PDAC’s excessive reliance on glucose metabolism for its metabolic needs provides a target for metabolic therapy. Preclinical PDAC models have demonstrated that targeting the sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) with dapagliflozin may be a novel strategy. Whether dapagliflozin is safe and efficacious in humans with PDAC is unclear.

Methods

We performed a phase 1b observational study (ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT04542291; registered 09/09/2020) to test the safety and tolerability of dapagliflozin (5 mg p.o./day × 2 weeks escalated to 10 mg p.o./day × 6 weeks) added to standard Gemcitabine and nab-Paclitaxel (GnP) chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced and/or metastatic PDAC. Markers of efficacy including Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST 1.1) response, CT-based volumetric body composition measurements, and plasma chemistries for measuring metabolism and tumor burden were also analyzed.

Results

Of 23 patients who were screened, 15 enrolled. One expired (due to complications from underlying disease), 2 dropped out (did not tolerate GnP chemotherapy) during the first 4 weeks, and 12 completed. There were no unexpected or serious adverse events with dapagliflozin. One patient was told to discontinue dapagliflozin after 6 weeks due to elevated ketones, although there were no clinical signs of ketoacidosis. Dapagliflozin compliance was 99.4%. Plasma glucagon increased significantly. Although abdominal muscle and fat volumes decreased; increased muscle-to-fat ratio correlated with better therapeutic response. After 8 weeks of treatment in the study, partial response (PR) to therapy was seen in 2 patients, stable disease (SD) in 9 patients, and progressive disease (PD) in 1 patient. After dapagliflozin discontinuation (and chemotherapy continuation), an additional 7 patients developed the progressive disease in the subsequent scans measured by increased lesion size as well as the development of new lesions. Quantitative imaging assessment was supported by plasma CA19-9 tumor marker measurements.

Conclusions

Dapagliflozin is well-tolerated and was associated with high compliance in patients with advanced, inoperable PDAC. Overall favorable changes in tumor response and plasma biomarkers suggest it may have efficacy against PDAC, warranting further investigation.
Digital literacies, social media, and undergraduate learning: what do students think they need to know?
Authors: Smith Erika E. , Storrs Hannah
Published: May 2023

This research addresses an identified need to further understand digital literacies (DL) and whether undergraduate students view DL as being important in their lives and in their learning. Using a cross-sectional survey sent to a stratified random sample of 2500 undergraduates representative of the overall student population at a medium-sized Canadian undergraduate university (survey response rate of 19.8%, N = 496), we explored the relationships between social media and digital literacies, particularly in different disciplinary contexts. We also explored the ways in which students report using social media in their university learning, showing that students value social media for collaboration, discussion, information finding and sharing, and practise activities related to their learning. Additionally, we examined the importance students place on DL, and how they perceive and rate their own abilities with digital literacies across three domains: procedural and technical, cognitive, and sociocultural. Findings illustrate an observable gap between the high importance that students place on digital literacies (including DL for social media) in their learning and their lives and the lack of coverage students reported receiving about these topics in their undergraduate education. Based on the study’s findings, we discuss the specific ways that those in the higher education community can address this gap by engaging with and fostering development of digital literacies within specific disciplinary and professional contexts, and in interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary learning settings across the curriculum.
Video-EEG-monitoring to guide antiseizure medication withdrawal
Authors: Dhaenens-Meyer Laurien K. L. , Schriewer Elisabeth , Weber Yvonne G. , Wolking Stefan
Published: May 2023

Background

Discontinuing anti-seizure medication (ASM) should be considered in persons with epilepsy with long-term seizure freedom. Clinicians should also pursue ASM withdrawal in persons with one-time seizures without increased recurrence risk and those with suspected non-epileptic events. However, ASM withdrawal is associated with the risk of recurring seizures. Monitored ASM withdrawal in an epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) could help better evaluate the risk of seizure recurrence. Here, we investigate the practice of EMU-guided ASM withdrawal, assess its indications, and aim to determine positive and negative predictors for successful withdrawal.

Methods

We screened the medical records of all patients admitted to our EMU between November 1, 2019, and October 31, 2021, and included patients of at least 18 years admitted with the aim of permanent ASM withdrawal. We defined four groups of withdrawal indications: (1) long-term seizure freedom; (2) suspected non-epileptic events; (3) history of epileptic seizures but not fulfilling diagnostic criteria of epilepsy; and (4) seizure-freedom after epilepsy surgery. Successful withdrawal was defined according to the following criteria: no recoding of (sub)clinical seizure activity during VEM (groups 1, 2, and 3), patients did not meet the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) definition of epilepsy (groups 2 and 3) [14], and patients were discharged without ongoing ASM treatment (all groups). We also evaluated the prediction model by Lamberink et al. (LPM) for the risk of seizure recurrence in groups 1 and 3.

Results

55/651 (8.6%) patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Withdrawal indications were distributed as follows; group 1: 2/55 (3.6%); group 2: 44/55 (80%); group 3: 9/55 (16,4%); group 4: 0/55. Overall, ASM withdrawal was successful in 90.9%. The sensitivity of the LPM for a 2-year 50% relapse risk threshold was 75%, the specificity 33.3%; for a 5-year relapse risk respectively 12.5% and 33.3%, suggesting that the model is not suitable for risk assessment in patients with one-time seizures or acute-symptomatic seizures, who constituted most of the evaluated patients.

Conclusions

Our study suggests that EMU-guided ASM withdrawal could be a helpful tool to support clinical decision-making and improve patient safety. Prospective, randomized trials should further evaluate this method in the future.
Defining a successful total knee arthroplasty: a systematic review of metrics of clinically important changes
Authors: Beiene Zodina A. , Tanghe Kira K. , Kahlenberg Cynthia A. , McLawhorn Alexander S. , MacLean Catherine H. , Gausden Elizabeth B.
Published: May 2023

Background

Despite the increasing use of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), the methodology used to evaluate clinically significant postoperative outcomes after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is variable. The review aimed to survey studies with identified PROM-based metrics of clinical efficacy and the assessment procedures after TKA.

Methods

The MEDLINE database was queried from 2008–2020. Inclusion criteria were: full texts, English language, primary TKA with minimum one-year follow-up, use of metrics for assessing clinical outcomes with PROMs, and primary derivations of metrics. The following PROM-based metrics were identified: minimal clinically important difference (MCID), minimum detectable change (MDC), patient acceptable symptom state (PASS), and substantial clinical benefit (SCB). Study design, PROM value data, and methods of derivation for metrics were recorded.

Results

We identified 18 studies (including 46,173 patients) that met the inclusion criteria. Across these studies, 10 different PROMs were employed, and MCID was derived in 15 studies (83%). The MCID was calculated using anchor-based techniques in nine studies (50%) and distribution techniques in eight studies (44%). PASS values were presented in two studies (11%) and SCB in one study (6%) using an anchor-based method; MDC was derived in four studies (22%) using the distribution method.

Conclusion

There is variability in the TKA literature with respect to the definition and derivation of measurements of clinically significant outcomes. Standardization of these values may have implications for optimal case selection and PROM-based quality measurement, ultimately improving patient satisfaction and outcomes.
Major depressive episode and postpartum depression: A network analysis comparison on the IGEDEPP cohort
Authors: Tebeka Sarah , Gauld Christophe , Belzeaux Raoul , Peyre Hugo , Dubertret Caroline
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Major depression episode (MDE) and postpartum depression (PPD) have the same diagnosis criteria, but dissimilarities may be present regarding the frequency and structure of depressive symptoms.

Methods

We used data from the IGEDEPP Cohort (France) to examine DSM-5 depressive symptoms in two groups of women: 486 with PPD and 871 with a history of non-perinatal MDE. We compare (i) the frequency of each depressive symptom adjusted for the severity of depression, (ii) the global structure of depressive symptom networks, and (iii) the centrality of each symptom in the two networks.

Results

Women with PPD were significantly more likely to have appetite disturbance, psychomotor symptoms, and fatigue than those with MDE, while sadness, anhedonia, sleep disturbance, and suicidal ideation were significantly less common. There were no significant differences in the global structure of depressive symptoms of MDE and PPD. However, the most central criterion of the MDE network was “Sadness” while it was “Suicidal ideations” for the PPD network. “Sleep” and “Suicidal ideations” criteria were more central for PPD network, whereas “Culpability” was more important for MDE network than for PPD network.

Conclusion

We found differences in depressive symptoms expression between PPD and MDE, which justify continuing to clinically distinguish PPD from MDE.
Current Treatment Strategies and Risk Stratification for Oral Carcinoma
Authors: Mohamad Issa , Glaun Mica D.E. , Prabhash Kumar , Busheri Ahmed , Lai Stephen Y. , Noronha Vanita , Hosni Ali
Published: May 2023

Management of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) involves a multidisciplinary team approach. Surgery is ideally the primary treatment option for nonmetastatic OSCC, and less invasive curative surgical approaches are preferred in early-stage disease to minimize surgical-related morbidity. For patients at high risk of recurrence, adjuvant treatment using radiation therapy or chemoradiation is often used. Systemic therapy may also be used in the neoadjuvant setting (for advanced-stage disease with the intent of mandibular preservation) or in the palliative setting (for nonsalvageable locoregional recurrence and/or distant metastases). Patient involvement in treatment decision is the key for patient-driven management, particularly in clinical situation with poor prognosis, for example, early postoperative recurrence before planned adjuvant therapy.
Altered cohesin dynamics and H3K9 modifications contribute to mitotic defects in thecbf11Δlipid metabolism mutant
Authors: Vishwanatha Akshay , Princová Jarmila , Hohoš Patrik , Zach Róbert , Převorovský Martin
Published: May 2023

Mitotic fidelity is crucial for the faithful distribution of genetic information into the daughter cells. Many fungal species, including the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, undergo a closed form of mitosis, during which the nuclear envelope does not break down. In S. pombe, numerous processes have been identified that contribute to successful completion of mitosis. Notably, perturbations of lipid metabolism can lead to catastrophic mitosis and the ‘cut’ phenotype. It has been suggested that these mitotic defects are caused by insufficient membrane phospholipid supply during the anaphase nuclear expansion. However, it is not clear whether additional factors are involved. In this study, we characterized in detail mitosis in an S. pombe mutant lacking the Cbf11 transcription factor, which regulates lipid metabolism genes. We show that in cbf11Δ cells mitotic defects have already appeared prior to anaphase, before the nuclear expansion begins. Moreover, we identify altered cohesin dynamics and centromeric chromatin structure as additional factors affecting mitotic fidelity in cells with disrupted lipid homeostasis, providing new insights into this fundamental biological process.
The use of an unmanned aerial vehicle to investigate habitat use and behavior of invasive blue crab in Mediterranean microhabitats
Authors: MARCHESSAUX GUILLAUME , BIZZARRI SERGIO , MARSIGLIA NICOLETTA , PONZÈ NICOLO , SARÀ GIANLUCA
Published: May 2023

The blue crab Callinectes sapidus has shown an immense capacity to adapt to new habitats in the Mediterranean Sea. Followingthe numerous reports of its proliferation along western Sicily, an investigation was conducted to identify any existing populations. In August 2021, a population of blue crabs was found in the natural reserve of Trapani which includes a large area of restored saltmarshes. In this study, by developing a tracking system using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), we studied (i) the behavior of blue crabs on an hourly scale, and (ii) the weekly position of blue crabs in the saltmarshes to determine substrate preference. This study provides a new approach to better understand C. sapidus’ habitat use and their potential impact on local biodiversity. Blue crab activity was found to increase with temperature and tidal height, with a peak in activity observed at high tide and at maximum temperatures: the mean speed (m h-1) was higher (12.1 ± 8.7 m h-1) at T > 28 °C than at T = 23.7 °C (2.0 ± 3.2 m h-1). Considering habitat use, in 49 ± 13 % of the cases, blue crabs were observed on the sand, while 21 ± 14 % in the Cymodocea meadows, and 30 ± 15 % in the Ruppia meadows. These microhabitats provide a refuge for C. sapidus and should be prioritized and studied before management plans are designed and implemented to manage this important invasive species.
STUDY OF PREDICTORS OF EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING OF SCHOOLCHILDREN WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS
Authors: Shaymukhametova Svetlana F. , Tereshchenko Nina G. , Shulaeva Marina V.
Published: May 2023

Background. The relevance of the study is explained by the applied importance of identifying and characterizing the indicators of children’s social adaptation in inclusive education as a tool for psychological and pedagogical monitoring of the child’s emotional well-being.

The purpose of the study is to study the features of self-esteem and the level of anxiety of children with disabilities in special and secondary schools.

Materials and/or methods. Dembo-Rubinstein self–assessment methodology, Phillips school anxiety level test; statistical verification was carried out using the criteria: χ2 - Pearson criterion, T-Student criterion, Spearman rank correlation coefficient.

Results. The article presents the results of a comparative study of the characteristics of self-esteem and the level of anxiety as predictors of emotional well-being for adolescents with disabilities, students of special schools and general schools. It is empirically established that children with disabilities who study in secondary schools are more likely to have a high level of self-esteem and a level of aspiration in combination with a high level of anxiety. Conclusion. The high level of anxiety of children with disabilities in the general education school approach revealed during the study indicates a low level of emotional well-being of the child in the educational environment and requires additional psychological support for this category of children, as well as a special individual pedagogical approach.
ASSESSMENT OF THE ROLE OF CHRONOBIOLOGICAL PERSONALITY TYPE IN THE FORMATION OF INTERNET-ADDICTIVE BEHAVIOR IN SCHOOLCHILDREN
Authors: Yaskevich Natalia A. , Lysakov Alexey S. , Yaskevich Roman A. , Moskalenko Olga L.
Published: May 2023

The purpose of the study. To evaluate the role of chronobiological personality type in the formation of Internet-addictive behavior in schoolchildren.

Materials and methods. The study involved 25 students of both sexes of the 6th grade of secondary school No. 84 in Krasnoyarsk. The chronobiological personality type was determined using the Morningness-Evningness Questionnaire. The Chen Internet addiction Scale was used to assess the level of Internet addiction.

Results. The most common chronobiological type among students was the daytime chronotype. A pronounced and stable pattern of Internet addictive behavior on the CIAS scale was detected in 8,0% of the surveyed schoolchildren, among whom there were only girls. The frequency of gaming addiction was higher in boys, while the frequency of social media addiction was 3 times higher among girls compared to boys. Internet addiction was observed mainly in adolescents with a daytime chronotype. The frequency of gambling addiction was twice as high among the representatives of the evening chronotype, while dependence on social networks was twice as common among schoolchildren of the daytime chronobiological type.

Conclusion. It was found that Internet addiction was observed mainly in students with a daytime chronobiological type.
Text-Forming Repetitions in Intercultural Communication: Chinese-Russian Correspondences
Authors: Ma Yuxin
Published: May 2023

The success of intercultural communication depends largely on how accurately the communicative goal of the speaker is expressed. Means that contribute to the communicative goal are nationally specific, so they can vary significantly in the texts of intercultural communication. The object of scientific observation in this article is textual repetitions of different types and ways of their expression in the translation and the original text.

The aim of this study is to identify the communicative functions and the specificity of textual repetitions, used in the Chinese and Russian texts of the journalistic genre.

The material of this research was the report delivered by the Chinese Presi-dent Xi Jinping at the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China on October 16, 2022, and its Russian version. The article focuses on the intercultural features of the elements of cohesion in the texts of intercultural communication in Chinese and Russian.

The result of the study is to identify the types of communicative tactics in the transfer of comparable information in the texts in Chinese and Russian: correspondence, incomplete correspondence and inconsistency. It is demonstrated that in the translation of the repetitions the Russian-speaking text to a large extent corresponds to the original, preserves the text-forming connections created by these repetitions, but has national specificity in the stylistic processing of the original.
Formation of Conflictological Competences in Training PR Specialists
Authors: Melnikova Irina , Cherkaschenko T.
Published: May 2023

The article analyzes the demand for conflict management competencies in the labor market. As part of the research phase, an analysis of the content of vacancies for specialists in the field of advertising and media communications, posted in the public domain, was applied. The research confirmed the hypothesis about the demand for conflictological competencies in this area of professional activity. The content of professional standards was analyzed as the main documents regulating the requirements for a candidate for a position in the field of skills and knowledge. The necessity of approval of specialized professional standards of specialists in the field of media communications is substantiated. This will ensure that the interests and requests of employers are taken into account in the development and implementation of educational programs. The main elements of conflictological competence are considered and the role of various educational technologies in their formation is determined.
Estrutura e Dimensões representacionais da graduação em psicologia para seus estudantes: experiências, conhecimentos e temores
Authors: Wolter Rafael , Da Costa Oliveira Flaviane , Peixoto Álvaro , Santin Thiago Rafael
Published: May 2023

A graduação é um momento de transição na vida dos jovens, da vida estudantil à profissional. Por ser um objeto repleto de afetos, práticas, inserido dentro de uma instituição e ligado ao quotidiano dos estudantes, a graduação é pensada de forma contextualizada. Buscamos estudar a representação social da graduação, dentro da abordagem estrutural, em três diferentes contextos de pensamento: descritivo, normativo e prático. O estudo contou com 340 estudantes de psicologia de três universidades públicas do sudeste do Brasil, que responderam a um questionário contendo os esquemas cognitivos de base e a técnica das escolhas sucessivas por blocos. Os dados dos esquemas cognitivos de base (scb) foram analisados com os cálculos de valência, enquanto que as escolhas sucessivas por blocos (cpb) permitiram o cálculo do índice de distância de Guimelli e a construção de árvores máximas. Os resultados mostram que tanto em contexto descritivo quanto em contexto normativo o pensamento se estrutura com dois polos opostos, um de esperança e evolução e outro de anseios e dificuldades. No contexto descritivo o pensamento é baseado na ideia de conhecimento, por sua vez, no contexto normativo a ideia de mais alta probabilidade de ser central é o trabalho. No contexto prático o polo de anseios e dificuldades quase desaparece, o pensamento é mais voltado à finalidade dos estudos e a ideias positivas e agradáveis da graduação, com a ideia de diagnóstico de centralidade mais provável sendo o crescimento. Tal resultado nos levanta a questão da polifasia cognitiva dentro da estrutura representacional.
Is Separately Modeling Subpopulations Beneficial for Sequential Decision-Making?
Authors: Lee Ilbin
Published: May 2023

When applying decision models, we often estimate input parameters using data. In healthcare and some other applications, data are collected from a population of different entities, such as patients. Thus, one faces a modeling question of whether to estimate different models for subpopulations (called stratifying). The potential benefit of stratifying comes from the heterogeneity of subpopulations. For example, patients who progress faster than others require a separate model and a tailored treatment plan. In “Is Separately Modeling Subpopulations Beneficial for Sequential Decision-Making?,” Lee provides theoretical results and empirical methods for deciding whether to stratify subpopulations. The article also presents how to use its results to select the best stratification among many. Improving medical decisions by tailoring to each subpopulation is a building block of precision medicine, and thus, this work aligns closely with the precision medicine paradigm.
Advancing Together with Knowledge
Authors: Kroboth Gabriele
Published: May 2023

Gabriele Kroboth discusses the recent convening of the European Council of Enterostomal Therapy board in Brescia and the council’s plans for the future
Work-related musculoskeletal pain and discomfort in laparoscopic surgeons: an international multispecialty survey
Authors: Dixon F , Vitish-Sharma P , Khanna A , Keeler BD
Published: May 2023

Introduction

As laparoscopic surgery is used more widely across the globe and within multiple surgical specialties the potential impact on surgeons is yet to be fully quantified. Maintenance of uncomfortable body positions may lead to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) in surgeons, with potential knock-on effects.

Methods

An international open online survey of multispecialty laparoscopic surgeons was carried out, designed and reported in accordance with the CHERRIES checklist for internet e-survey research. There was no paid advertising and no incentives offered.

Results

A total of 259 surgeons from 9 specialties and 32 countries answered the survey, with 90% reporting pain attributable to performing laparoscopic surgery. All training grades were represented. Longer average operative duration and a greater number of years in practice were both associated with a significantly higher prevalence of pain. Surgeons with a pre-existing injury were significantly more likely to report pain than those without. Twenty per cent of surgeons would consider early retirement owing to pain.

Conclusions

The impact on surgeons of performing laparoscopic surgery is significant, even given the limitations of an open survey. Innovations such as robotic surgery and improved ergonomic education may reduce the incidence of WMSD in surgeons, to mitigate both the personal effects on surgeons and the wider effect on the future surgical workforce.
Polarized radiative transfer in seawater-in-oil emulsions floated on seawater considering the impact of oil absorption on seawater droplet scattering
Authors: Jia Chengwei , Wang Chengchao , Ma Lanxin , Wang Cunhai , Liu Linhua
Published: May 2023

Among various remote sensing approaches, optical polarization remote sensing shows great advantages in identifying oil–water emulsions in seawater and has become one of the most promising detection technologies. Herein, we focus on exploring the sensitivity of polarized radiative transfer properties for oil emulsion polarization detection to the influence factors of viewing angle, droplet volume fraction and radius, incident wavelength, and emulsion thickness. The radiative properties of seawater droplets dispersed in crude oil are calculated using the improved Lorenz–Mie theory considering the absorption of crude oil as the host medium, after which the reflected Stokes vector and the degree of linear polarization (DOLP) of seawater-in-oil emulsions floating on seawater are obtained using the spectral element method. By analyzing the calculation results of a 0° viewing azimuth angle, the detection wavelength and viewing zenith angles corresponding to the highest sensitivity of the DOLP to the above factors are significantly different; thus, quantitative remote sensing detection of the droplet volume fraction, droplet diameter, and emulsion thickness is possible. Exploring the sensitivity of polarized remote sensing signals for oil emulsion polarization detection to the above factors is a prerequisite for quantitative polarization detection of oil emulsions.
Pulsed laser cleaning of C contamination on a glass insulator surface
Authors: Fang Chunhua , Hu Tao , Pu Ziheng , Li Peng , Wu Tian
Published: May 2023

When a pulsed laser cleans a glass insulator, the laser power, scanning speed, and repetition frequency affect the laser-cleaning effect. Herein, we considered glass insulators and their surface contaminations as objects, established a finite element model, analyzed the influence of these parameters on the temperature and stress fields, and explored the optimal cleaning parameters for glass insulator surface contamination. In addition, a laser test platform was constructed to verify the cleaning effect. The results indicated that the difference in the cleaning effect was negligible for lasers at repetition frequencies of 10–75 kHz. When the power increased, the scanning speed decreased and the temperature of the fouled layer increased. When the power was 60–70 W and the scanning speed was 240 mm/s, the equivalent tensile stress did not exceed the tensile strength of the insulator. The ablation reaction can remove the fouling part, and the tensile stress can overcome the adhesion force generated between the dirt and glass insulator to achieve effective cleaning. Experiments confirmed that the surface dirt removal rate of glass insulators can be approximately 99% at 60–70 W (laser power) and 240 mm/s (scanning speed).
Deflecting and routing nematicons via orientation programmable liquid crystal array
Authors: Zhang Song-Yu , Wang Yi-Fei , Shen Dong , Luo Duan-Bin , Zheng Zhi-Gang
Published: May 2023

By designing a liquid crystal cell with comb electrode structure, the alignment modulation of nematic liquid crystal in the cell can be realized after the electric field is applied. In different orientation regions, the incident laser beam can deflect at different angles. At the same time, by changing the incident angle of the laser beam, the reflection modulation of the laser beam on the interface of the liquid crystal molecular orientation change can be realized. Based on the above discussion, we then demonstrate the modulation of liquid crystal molecular orientation arrays on nematicon pairs. In different orientation regions of liquid crystal molecules, nematicon pairs can exhibit various combinations of deflections, and these deflection angles are modulable under external fields. Deflection and modulation of nematicon pairs have potential applications in optical routing and optical communication.
Towards precise diagnosis time profile of ultrafast electron bunch trains using orthogonal terahertz streak camera
Authors: Xu Yang , Song Yifang , Tsai Cheng-Ying , Wang Jian , Liu Zhengzheng , Qi Hong , Fan Kuanjun , Yang Jinfeng , Meshkov O. I.
Published: May 2023

Ultrafast electron microbunch trains have broad applications in which the individual bunch length and the bunch-to-bunch interval are critical parameters that need to be precisely diagnosed. However, directly measuring these parameters remains challenging. This paper presents an all-optical method that simultaneously measures the individual bunch length and the bunch-to-bunch spacing through an orthogonal THz-driven streak camera. For a 3 MeV electron bunch train, the simulation indicates that the temporal resolution of individual bunch length and the bunch-to-bunch spacing is 2.5 fs and 1 fs, respectively. Through this method, we expect to open a new chapter in the temporal diagnostic of electron bunch trains.
Mechanism and tuning sensitivity of symmetry-protected resonances in high-contrast gratings
Authors: Yao Hsin-Yu , Wang Yi-Chen , HadavandMirzaee Fatemeh , Chang Tsun-Hsu , Her Tsing-Hua
Published: May 2023

We develop a theory of refractive index tuning for symmetry-protected optical bound states (SP-BICs) in high-contrast gratings (HCGs). A compact analytical formula for tuning sensitivity is derived and verified numerically. We also discover a new type of SP-BIC in HCGs that has an accidental nature with a spectral singularity, which is explained in terms of hybridization and strong coupling among the odd- and even-symmetric waveguide-array modes. Our work elucidates the physics of tuning SP-BICs in HCGs and significantly simplifies their design and optimization for dynamic applications in light modulation, tunable filtering, and sensing.
Pulsed stimulated Brillouin microscopy
Authors: Chow Desmond M. , Yun Seok-Hyun
Published: May 2023

Stimulated Brillouin scattering is an emerging technique for probing the mechanical properties of biological samples. However, the nonlinear process requires high optical intensities to generate sufficient signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Here, we show that the SNR of stimulated Brillouin scattering can exceed that of spontaneous Brillouin scattering with the same average power levels suitable for biological samples. We verify the theoretical prediction by developing a novel scheme using low duty cycle, nanosecond pulses for the pump and probe. A shot noise-limited SNR over 1000 was measured with a total average power of 10 mW for 2 ms or 50 mW for 200 µs integration on water samples. High-resolution maps of Brillouin frequency shift, linewidth, and gain amplitude from cells in vitro are obtained with a spectral acquisition time of 20 ms. Our results demonstrate the superior SNR of pulsed stimulated Brillouin over spontaneous Brillouin microscopy.
Optomechanically induced optical trapping system based on photonic crystal cavities
Authors: Monterrosas-Romero Manuel , Alavi Seyed K. , Koistinen Ester M. , Hong Sungkun
Published: May 2023

Optical trapping has proven to be a valuable experimental technique for precisely controlling small dielectric objects. However, due to their very nature, conventional optical traps are diffraction limited and require high intensities to confine the dielectric objects. In this work, we propose a novel optical trap based on dielectric photonic crystal nanobeam cavities, which overcomes the limitations of conventional optical traps by significant factors. This is achieved by exploiting an optomechanically induced backaction mechanism between a dielectric nanoparticle and the cavities. We perform numerical simulations to show that our trap can fully levitate a submicron-scale dielectric particle with a trap width as narrow as 56 nm. It allows for achieving a high trap stiffness, therefore, a high Q-frequency product for the particle’s motion while reducing the optical absorption by a factor of 43 compared to the cases for conventional optical tweezers. Moreover, we show that multiple laser tones can be used further to create a complex, dynamic potential landscape with feature sizes well below the diffraction limit. The presented optical trapping system offers new opportunities for precision sensing and fundamental quantum experiments based on levitated particles.
Analysis of the 2p-manifold population distribution in a diode-pumped metastable Ar laser
Authors: Liu Qingshan , Wang Rui , Sun Jianyong , Zhao Huizi , Yang Zining , Yang Weiqiang , Wang Hongyan , Han Kai , Xu Xiaojun
Published: May 2023

The complex excited energy levels in the diode-pumped metastable Ar laser may induce harmful effects in laser cycling. Significantly, the influence of the population distribution in 2p energy levels on the laser performance is unclear yet. In this work, the absolute populations in all the 2p states were measured online by the simultaneous applications of tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy and optical emission spectroscopy. The results showed that most atoms were populated to the 2p8, 2p9, and 2p10 levels while lasing, and the majority of the 2p9 population was efficiently transferred to the 2p10 level with the aid of helium, which was beneficial for the laser performance.
Self-focusing effect analysis of a perfect optical vortex beam in atmospheric turbulence
Authors: Wang ShuaiLing , Cheng MingJian , Yang XiHua , Xu JingPing , Yang YaPing
Published: May 2023

The correlation function and the detection probability of orbital angular momentum (OAM) of a perfect optical vortex beam (POVB) were obtained under atmospheric turbulence conditions and then used to estimate the POVB propagation model through atmospheric turbulence. The POVB propagation in a turbulence-free channel can be divided into anti-diffraction and self-focusing stages. The beam profile size can be well preserved in the anti-diffraction stage as the transmission distance increases. After shrinking and focusing the POVB in the self-focusing region, the beam profile size expands in the self-focusing stage. The influence of topological charge on the beam intensity and profile size differs depending on the propagation stage. The POVB degenerates into a Bessel-Gaussian beam (BGB)-like when the ratio of the ring radius to the Gaussian beam waist approaches 1. The unique self-focusing effect of the POVB enables higher received probability compared to the BGB when propagating over long distances in atmospheric turbulence. However, the property of the POVB that its initial beam profile size is not affected by topological charge does not contribute to the POVB achieving a higher received probability than the BGB in short-range transmission application scenarios. The BGB anti-diffraction is stronger than that of the POVB, assuming a similar initial beam profile size at short-range transmission.