bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electoral Democracy – 2020 in the Light of Public Choice Theory: Lessons in Institutional Design for Russia
Authors: Orekhovsky P. A.
Published: March 2021

2020 was marked by major landmark events. First of all, there is the political crisis in the United  States  related  to  the  presidential  elections.  Secondly,  there  is  the  UK’s  secession from the EU. Finally, there is the unexpected return to power of left-wing forces in some Latin American countries. This forces us to return to the foundations and conclusions of the theory of public choice – a tool that allowed us to analyze and predict the political and economic behavior of modern electoral democracies.The paper states that the erosion of the middle class leads to the dominance of minorities and their priorities. The position of the median voter is losing its former significance. As a result, the political duopoly becomes unstable, in contrast to the model of political pluralism (oligopoly). The desire of middle-income countries with a high degree of social differentiation to  adopt  a  bipartisan  system  in  the  hope  that  this  will  ensure  political  stability  must  be mistaken. In contrary to what was said, the construct of American federalism, which many scholars  consider  archaic,  effectively  defends  horizontal  democracy  and  discourages  the imposition of values by aggressive minority coalitions. The use of one or another modification of the «electoral colleges» in the presidential and parliamentary elections would strengthen the federal principles of horizontal democracy in Russia. The article presents an analysis of two main approaches to the analysis of corruption – as «opportunistic behavior of an agent in the principal-agent model», and as «status rent». Criticism of the latter approach reveals the view of Russia as an «institutional mutant». Authors who interpret corruption as «status rent» tend to ignore the rent-seeking behavior of actors in rich countries. The article substantiates the idea of transferring to Russia the American legislation regulating the  behavior  of  lobbyists,  the  contribution  of  funds  to  the  electoral  funds  of  parties  and politicians. Such a transplant will dramatically reduce the volume of domestic corruption, while at the same time making the «electoral machines» much more transparent.
Eko-filozofia a perspektywa ekologicznego konserwatyzmu
Authors: Niedek Mikołaj
Published: March 2021

Niniejszy artykuł przedstawia stanowiska ekofilozoficzne prezentowane przez Henryka Skolimowskiego, Rogera Scrutona i papieża Franciszka w ich zapatrywaniach na kwestie problematyki ekologicznej. Dotyczy to zarówno diagnozowanych przyczyn współczesnego kryzysu ekologicznego, jak i konstruktywnych propozycji przeciwdziałania jemu poprzez zmianę naszego sposobu myślenia i postawy względem świata. Artykuł rozpoczyna się od zarysowania początków filozofii ekologicznej i jej definiowania jako refleksji światopoglądowej nad relacją człowieka wobec środowiska. Uwagę autora skupia ideowy profil koncepcji ekofilozoficznych, który wyznacza progresywny lub konserwatywny światopogląd stojący u podstaw danej ekofilozofii. Zdaniem autora zieloną filozofię R. Scrutona i koncepcję ekologii integralnej papieża Franciszka można zakwalifikować do ekologicznego konserwatyzmu. Ekofilozofia H. Skolimowskiego pozwala natomiast koncepcyjnie zapośredniczyć zarówno progresywne, jak i konserwatywne propozycje ekofilozoficzne.  Zdaniem autora ważna jest świadomość zarówno różnic, jak i podobieństw różnych ekofilozofii. Wspólnym elementem analizowanych w artykule koncepcji jest znaczenie proekologicznego, przyjaznego środowisku stylu życia dla przeciwdziałania kryzysowi ekologicznemu.
Postawa społeczeństwa wobec organizmów modyfikowanych genetycznie (GMO) w Polsce – na przykładzie wybranych grup osób
Authors: Nowakowska Justyna Anna , Berezovska Daria , Szulińska Aleksandra
Published: March 2021

Poziom wiedzy społeczeństwa nt. GMO stale się zmienia. W listopadzie i grudniu 2019 r. studenci UKSW w Warszawie przeprowadzili ankiety wśród 699 anonimowych respondentów na temat zastosowania produktów GMO w codziennym życiu Polaków. Osoby ankietowane podzielono wg czterech kryteriów: płci, wieku, wykształcenia i miejsca zamieszkania z podziałem na miasto i wieś, zadając 7 pytań merytorycznych odnośnie do poziomu wiedzy i osobistego podejścia do konsumpcji produktów GMO. Analizę statystyczną wyników wykonano w programie STATISTICA 12. Wykazano, że w ostatnich latach rośnie wiedza mieszkańców w Polsce nt. GMO, ale obawy przed produktami genetycznie modyfikowanymi nadal występują u ponad połowy społeczeństwa. Większość kobiet obawia się GMO, zwraca większą uwagę na oznakowanie produktów zawierających GMO i nie podałaby ich swoim dzieciom. Osoby w wieku poniżej 20 lat są pozytywnie nastawione do GMO, natomiast osoby w wieku powyżej 35 lat obawiają się negatywnych skutków spożywania produktów GMO. Większość osób mieszkających na wsi obawia się produktów GMO, opinia zaś mieszkańców miasta jest podzielona na dwie, prawie równe grupy: zarówno zwolenników, jak i przeciwników GMO. Różnice w odpowiedziach odnośnie obawy przed negatywnymi skutkami spożywania produktów zawierających GMO były statystycznie istotne (p < 0,001) i wykazały większe obawy wśród osób zamieszkujących tereny wiejskie (67%) niż u mieszkańców miast (49%). Jednocześnie, prawie ten sam duży odsetek osób ze wsi i z miasta (67%) był przychylny stosowaniu leków wyprodukowanych drogą inżynierii genetycznej (p < 0,01).
Poziomy metali szkodliwych dla zdrowia w różnych typach żywności
Authors: Góralczyk Katarzyna , Dziubak Anita , Kręźlewicz Adrianna
Published: March 2021

Zdrowie człowieka w dużym stopniu zależy od jego przyzwyczajeń żywieniowych. Dlatego tak istotne jest, aby spożywać żywność o odpowiedniej jakości zarówno pod względem odpowiedniej zawartości w niej składników odżywczych, jak i dopuszczalnej obecności różnych zanieczyszczeń. Jeśli chodzi o te ostatnie, to w żywności powszechnie występują metale i ich związki, których zawartość w głównej mierze wynika z powszechnej ich obecności w różnych elementach środowiska. O jakości zdrowotnej żywności świadczą przede wszystkim poziomy mikro- i makroelementów.  Materiał i metody: Materiał do badań stanowiły próbki żywności z produkcji ekologicznej i konwencjonalnej. Do badań wytypowano najpopularniejsze w diecie w naszym kraju owoce i warzywa, odpowiednio: jabłka i marchew. W próbkach tych oznaczano metodą spektrometrii emisyjnej ze wzbudzeniem plazmowym (ICP-OES) poziomy metali szkodliwych dla zdrowia: kadm (Cd), ołów (Pb), arsen (As) i rtęć (Hg), a także wybrane mikro- i makroelementy: wapń (Ca), potas (K), magnez (Mg), fosfor (P), żelazo (Fe), mangan (Mn), cynk (Zn) i glin (Al). Próbki były poddawane mineralizacji mikrofalowej.  Wyniki: Zawartość metali szkodliwych dla zdrowia (Pb, Cd, Hg, As) w badanych próbkach jabłek i marchwi były znacznie niższe od najwyższych dopuszczalnych poziomów ustalonych w ustawodawstwie unijnym i nie różniły się istotnie w uprawach konwencjonalnych vs. ekologicznych. Podobne rezultaty wykazano w przypadku mikro- i makroelementów.
Bed-Shear Velocity Measurement in Curved Open Channel
Authors: Sumiadi Sumiadi , Kironoto Bambang , Legono Djoko , Istiarto Istiarto
Published: March 2021

Generally, the condition of the rivers in Indonesia are alluvial rivers which had meanders, where the change in the river bed topography often occur. One of the parameters associated with changes in the river bed topography is bed-shear velocity, or Reynolds stress. The bed-shear velocity can be calculated by the Reynolds stress distribution method and the Clauser method which commonly used in straight channels. In fact, on natural channel there is a curve and even a meandering channel. With more complex flow conditions, the use of the Clauser method in curved channels can be questioned, is it still accurate or not. In this paper, both methods will be discussed by comparing the measurement data in the laboratory using 180 curved channel with flat bed. The results of data analysis show that the use of these two methods in curved channels produces an average difference of around 19.81%, where the Clauser method gives greater results and better tendencies. Apart from the differences in the results given, it can be said that the Clauser method as well as the Reynolds stress distribution method can still be used to calculate the bed-shear velocity in the curved channel
Determinants of linkages between foreign direct investment firms and domestic firms in Vietnam
Authors:   International School of Economics and Finance, Academy of Policy and Development, Hanoi, Vietnam, Tuan Dao Hoang
Published: March 2021

Foreign direct investment (FDI) is an important sector of many developing economies in general and of Vietnam in particular. In Vietnam, the FDI sector contributed up to 27.7% of the average economic growth rate of 6.0% per year from 2010 to 2018. Besides this contribution, operations of FDI in Vietnam reveal many limitations, the most noticeable of which is the weak linkage between FDI and Vietnamese firms. This article examines determinants of FDI-domestic firms linkage in Vietnam. This research looks at all three types of linkage, including horizontal linkage, vertical linkage, and supply-backward linkage. Factors that have a positive impact on linkages are provincial economic growth, firms’ technology level, regional factors, being located in industrial zones, and operating in the manufacturing sector. Macroeconomic instability has a negative impact on linkage. The quality of economic governance, as measured by the Provincial Competitiveness Index, is important for attracting FDI, but does not affect linkages.
Opportunities for predicting cesarean scar insufficiency
Authors: Galustyan M. V. , Kutsenko I. I. , Borovikov I. O. , Magay A. S.
Published: March 2021

Objective. The study aimed to compare the diagnostic value of different methods of assessing the condition of the scar on the uterus after a cesarean section.

Materials and methods. A comparative analysis of the diagnostic value of assessing the validity of the scar on the uterus in the pre-graviridar period and during pregnancy ultrasound (ultrasound) investigation with dopplerometry (DM), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and microwave radiothermometry (RTM). The study included fertile patients after delivery by cesarean section (n = 56), at the planning stage, during pregnancy and after delivery, both through natural birth pathways and by re-cesarean section.

Results. A comparative analysis of the assessment of the scar in the uterus by the mentioned methods revealed the comparable diagnostic value of these methods during the planning phase of pregnancy and in gestation time 11–12 and 20 –21 weeks, while at the period of 37–38 weeks, the sensitivity of RTM was significantly (1.6 times) higher than ultrasound investigation.

Conclusions. Despite the high diagnostic effectiveness of all three methods of assessing the condition of the uterine scar after cesarean section, the method of microwave radiothermometry has advantages in the simplicity of the method, lack of need for expensive equipment, and specialized qualifications of the doctor.
Morphological verification of the first missed abortion
Authors: Lebedenko E. Y. , Milovanov A. P. , Sablina N. V. , Fokina T. V. , Gaida O. V.
Published: March 2021

Objective. The study aimed to compare the level of INF a2 immunoexpression in tissues obtained during medical abortion with the corresponding level of IFNa2 expression in a retained fetal egg tissues after the first missed abortion. The authors compared the anamnestic data on previous inflammatory diseases of the genital tract with the results of an extended morphological study of the material obtained during the evacuation of the contents of the uterine cavity during the first non-developing pregnancy in the first trimester.

Materials and methods. The study included 15 patients with first-time missed abortions caused by a viral infection (6-8 weeks of pregnancy). All patients demonstrated either recurrent herpes simplex labialis/genitalis or PCR confirmed HSV, HPV, CMV. Exclusion criteria were recurrent miscarriage, blighted ovum, endocrinopathies, male factor infertility, and other causes of miscarriage. The comparison group included 20 women of the same age that chose to undergo a medical abortion.

Results. In patients from the comparison group, the main producer of IFN a2 was syncytiotrophoblast as well as maternal decidual cells in the parietal endometrium and uteroplacental area. In the main group, manifested hematogenous infection (microabscesses, vasculitis, lymphocytic and macrophage infiltration) with dystrophy and necrosis of decidual maternal cells and secondary pathological changes in the placental villi were diagnosed, which led to a significant decrease in the IFN a2 immunoexpression in all the studied cells.

Conclusion. The lack of anamnestic data on previous urogenital infections does not exclude the etiological role of the inflammatory component in the genesis of non-developing pregnancy. First-time occurred pregnancy loss requires adequate postoperative interferon therapy and a thorough examination of a couple.
Mentoring in the Rostov-on-Don anti-plague institute and information link between generations
Authors: Shchipeleva I. A. , Markovskaya E. I. , Kretenchuk О. F. , Chemisova O. S.
Published: March 2021

The article presents the experience of using mentoring as the most effective method of adapting new employees to fully include them in the work of the Rostov-on-don anti-plague Institute. The purpose of the study was to analyze the work on mentoring in the Rostov-on-Don anti-plague Institute and to compare the experience of the Institute with the work in this direction in other institutions in Russia and abroad. It was shown how important the mentoring process was when working with pathogens of groups I–II of pathogenicity, including during the fight against the novel coronavirus infection COVID-19. The importance of mentoring when immersed in the scientific environment, when motivating to acquire new knowledge, and striving for innovative results in their research was also noted. Mentoring is a modern method of personnel work that provides quick adaptation, professional development, and career growth, and has a positive effect on the stability of the institution as a whole.
The behaviour of Nitinol Wire Bundles for Structural Applications
Authors:   Vemury Structural Consultancy Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, Vemury Chandra Mouli , Corradi Marco ,   Department of Mechanical and Construction Engineering, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK & University of Perugia, Department of Engineering, 06125 Perugia, Italy;, Abozaid Feras ,   BAUER Technologies Ltd, Bishop's Stortford, United Kingdom;, Charles Alasdair ,   School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK;, Hughes David ,   School of Computing, Engineering & Digital Technologies, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, UK;
Published: March 2021

Shape memory alloys (SMA) belong to a family of smart materials, which undergo diffusionless phase transformations when subjected to thermo-mechanical changes making them ideally suitable for utilization in several structural engineering applications. Within this class of materials, Ni-Ti (Nickel-Titanium) alloys are predominantly used due to their non-linear behaviour. Nitinol, one of the Ni-Ti alloys, possesses unique properties such as super-elasticity and shape- memory effect, which makes it suitable for damping vibrations transmitted to structures like buildings and bridges during high wind and seismic events. This paper presents selected results obtained from a series of tests conducted on Nitinol 55 wires and bundles made from wires having diameters of 0.25, 0.5, 0.55, and 1 mm. The tests conducted include microstructure analyses, static tensile tests, hysteresis tests, and cyclic dynamic tests performed on wire bundles of various diameters. It is demonstrated that wires having small diameters (0.25 and 0.5 mm) exhibit greater ultimate strength compared with the ones having a larger diameter (1 mm). The bundles produced from these wires displayed hysteretic behaviour under cyclic-dynamic testing conditions confirming their suitability in structural engineering applications.
Machine Learning Approach to Predicting COVID-19 Disease Severity Based on Clinical Blood Test Data: Statistical Analysis and Model Development
Authors: Aktar Sakifa , Ahamad Md Martuza , Rashed-Al-Mahfuz Md , Azad AKM , Uddin Shahadat , Kamal AHM , Alyami Salem A , Lin Ping-I , Islam Sheikh Mohammed Shariful , Quinn Julian MW , Eapen Valsamma , Moni Mohammad Ali
Published: March 2021

Background

Accurate prediction of the disease severity of patients with COVID-19 would greatly improve care delivery and resource allocation and thereby reduce mortality risks, especially in less developed countries. Many patient-related factors, such as pre-existing comorbidities, affect disease severity and can be used to aid this prediction.

Objective

Because rapid automated profiling of peripheral blood samples is widely available, we aimed to investigate how data from the peripheral blood of patients with COVID-19 can be used to predict clinical outcomes.

Methods

We investigated clinical data sets of patients with COVID-19 with known outcomes by combining statistical comparison and correlation methods with machine learning algorithms; the latter included decision tree, random forest, variants of gradient boosting machine, support vector machine, k-nearest neighbor, and deep learning methods.

Results

Our work revealed that several clinical parameters that are measurable in blood samples are factors that can discriminate between healthy people and COVID-19–positive patients, and we showed the value of these parameters in predicting later severity of COVID-19 symptoms. We developed a number of analytical methods that showed accuracy and precision scores >90% for disease severity prediction.

Conclusions

We developed methodologies to analyze routine patient clinical data that enable more accurate prediction of COVID-19 patient outcomes. With this approach, data from standard hospital laboratory analyses of patient blood could be used to identify patients with COVID-19 who are at high risk of mortality, thus enabling optimization of hospital facilities for COVID-19 treatment.
Peer-to-Peer Social Media Communication About Dietary Supplements Used for Weight Loss and Sports Performance Among Military Personnel: Pilot Content Analysis of 11 Years of Posts on Reddit (Preprint)
Authors: Sharp Kendall J , Vitagliano Julia A , Weitzman Elissa R , Fitzgerald Susan , Dahlberg Suzanne E , Austin S Bryn
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND

Over 60% of military personnel in the United States currently use dietary supplements. Two types of dietary supplements, weight loss and sports performance (WLSP) supplements, are commonly used by military personnel despite the associated serious adverse effects such as dehydration and stroke.

OBJECTIVE

To understand peer-to-peer communication about WLSP supplements among military personnel, we conducted a pilot study using the social media website, Reddit.

METHODS

A total of 64 relevant posts and 243 comments from 2009 to 2019 were collected from 6 military subreddits. The posts were coded for year of posting, subreddit, and content consistent with the following themes: resources about supplement safety and regulation, discernability of supplement use through drug testing, serious adverse effects, brand names or identifiers, and reasons for supplement use.

RESULTS

A primary concern posted by personnel who used supplements was uncertainty about the supplements that were not detectable on a drug test. Supplements to improve workout performance were the most frequently used.

CONCLUSIONS

Our pilot study suggests that military personnel may seek out peer advice about WLSP supplements on Reddit and spread misinformation about the safety and effectiveness of these products through this platform. Future directions for the monitoring of WLSP supplement use in military personnel are discussed.
A National Survey on use and perceived usefulness of the Irish COVID Tracker contact tracing App (Preprint)
Authors: O'Callaghan Michael Edmund , Abbas Manzar , Buckley Jim , Fitzgerald Brian , Johnson Kevin , Laffey John , McNicholas Bairbre , Nuseibeh Bashar , O'Keeffe Derek , Beecham Sarah , Razzaq Abdul , Rekanar Kaavya , Richardson Ita , Simpkin Andrew , O'Connell James , Storni Cristiano , Tsvyatkova Damyanka , Walsh Jane , Welsh Thomas , Glynn Liam G
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND

Novel software applications (“Apps”) that can potentially simplify the laborious work of manual contact tracing during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic are a tempting prospect. Given this potential, many countries have designed, developed and deployed Apps before their efficacy has been established.
The Irish health service launched the “COVID Tracker” App on the 7th July 2020 and 8 months later it is being used by 35% of those over 16 in Ireland.

OBJECTIVE

Conduct a national survey with a large sample of the Irish population to gather public opinion of the COVID Tracker App and its contribution to the national COVID-19 response.

METHODS

A 37-item questionnaire deployed online for 10 days in early October 2020.

RESULTS

There were 2,889 complete responses to the survey. Responses were received from all 26 counties in the Republic of Ireland and the cohort was younger, more female-predominant and had higher educational attainment than the population. Of the 2,889 respondents, 2,741 (95%) had downloaded the App at some point, while 2,553 (88%) were still using it. For the 188 respondents who had stopped using the App, 116 respondents (62%) reported battery related concerns.
For the 2,741 participants who had downloaded the App at some point, 2,374 (87%) reported the App was easy to use and 2,250 (82%) agreed it looked professional and of high quality.

Regarding the main function of the App, 2,333 (81%) felt this was clear, and 92% of these App users stated the main function was to assist contact tracing. Overall, 1,265 (44%) respondents stated they believe the App is helping the national effort, while 1,089 (38%) were unsure.
Younger respondents, female respondents, those in low-risk groups and those less worried about COVID-19 and were more negative about the clarity of the App’s main function and its usefulness.

CONCLUSIONS

Contact tracing Apps have the potential to augment traditional contact tracing methods. Our research describes general positivity toward the Irish COVID Tracker App but also highlights the need for users to be updated regularly on its effectiveness. While the effectiveness of digital contact tracing is difficult to ascertain, all countries using contact tracing Apps must strive to ensure citizens are clear on any contribution such Apps are making to the pandemic response.
Data describing how many notified users were already aware of their recent close contact with an infected case, and if the warning actually prevented people mixing, would constitute objective evidence of the impact these Apps are having, which may in turn improve their adoption and consequent usefulness.

CLINICALTRIAL

n/a
Factors Associated with Intention to Vaccinate against COVID-19 in Puerto Rico: An Online Survey of Adults (Preprint)
Authors: Melin Kyle , Zhang Cheyu , Zapata Juan Pablo , Rivera Yonaira M. , Fernandez Katie , Shacham Enbal , Malave-Rivera Souhail M , Rodriguez-Diaz Carlos E
Published: March 2021

UNSTRUCTURED

COVID-19 has been particularly devastating to Black and Latinx communities in the U.S. However, data on acceptability of the COVID-19 vaccines among minority populations are limited. We conducted an online survey among adults in Puerto Rico to identify factors associated with intention to vaccinate against COVID-19. Sociodemographic variables were analyzed independently for association with intention to vaccinate. Significant associations were included in the multivariate logistic regression analysis. A total of 1016 responses were available for analysis. In the bivariate analysis, younger age, higher education, pre-covid employment, male sex, gay/bisexual identity, and single marital status were associated with increased intention to vaccinate. In the multivariate logistic regression, younger, male respondents who had higher educational attainment reported higher intention to vaccinate. Lower-income and living outside the San Juan metro region were associated with lower intention to vaccinate. National and international health organizations were identified as the most reliable sources of information, followed by healthcare professionals. These findings highlight the importance of considering sociodemographic characteristics identified with low intention to vaccinate as well as using trusted sources of information when designing public messaging related to increasing COVID-19 vaccinations.
Evaluation of Family Caregivers’ Use of Their Adult Care Recipient’s Patient Portal From the 2019 Health Information National Trends Survey: Secondary Analysis (Preprint)
Authors: Raj Minakshi , Iott Bradley
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND

Patient engagement is critical for realizing the value of telehealth modalities such as the patient portal. Family caregiver engagement may also be critical for facilitating the use of the patient portal among adult patients, including older adults.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to analyze the 2019 Health Information National Trends Survey to characterize family caregivers’ use of their care recipient’s patient portal in terms of sociodemographic, health, and caregiving characteristics and caregivers’ use of their own portal.

METHODS

We conducted a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from the National Cancer Institute’s Health Information National Trends Survey 5 Cycle 3. This survey was administered to 5438 US adults between January and May 2019. We analyzed data from 320 respondents who were identified as family caregivers. We created measures to reflect family caregivers’ use of their care recipient’s and their own portal, caregiver demographic and caregiving characteristics, and care recipient health characteristics.

RESULTS

Over half of the caregivers (179/320, 55.9%) reported using their own portal at least once, whereas only one-third (105/320, 32.8%) reported using their care recipient’s record in the previous 12 months. Caregivers using their own portal were significantly more likely to use their care recipient’s portal (odds ratio 11.18; P<.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Policies should enable patients to designate family caregivers who can access their patient portal. Providers could screen caregivers for challenges in their caregiving responsibilities that may be addressed through the portal so they can better support their adult relatives. Interventions to support family caregivers, especially older caregivers, in using their own portal may facilitate their use of their care recipient’s portal.

CLINICALTRIAL
Perceptions of Factors Influencing Engagement With Health and Well-being Apps in the United Kingdom: Qualitative Interview Study (Preprint)
Authors: Szinay Dorothy , Perski Olga , Jones Andy , Chadborn Tim , Brown Jamie , Naughton Felix
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND

Digital health devices, such as health and well-being smartphone apps, could offer an accessible and cost-effective way to deliver health and well-being interventions. A key component of the effectiveness of health and well-being apps is user engagement. However, engagement with health and well-being apps is typically poor. Previous studies have identified a list of factors that could influence engagement; however, most of these studies were conducted on a particular population or for an app targeting a particular behavior. An understanding of the factors that influence engagement with a wide range of health and well-being apps can inform the design and the development of more engaging apps in general.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to explore user experiences of and reasons for engaging and not engaging with a wide range of health and well-being apps.

METHODS

A sample of adults in the United Kingdom (N=17) interested in using a health or well-being app participated in a semistructured interview to explore experiences of engaging and not engaging with these apps. Participants were recruited via social media platforms. Data were analyzed with the framework approach, informed by the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation–Behaviour (COM-B) model and the Theoretical Domains Framework, which are 2 widely used frameworks that incorporate a comprehensive set of behavioral influences.

RESULTS

Factors that influence the capability of participants included available user guidance, statistical and health information, reduced cognitive load, well-designed reminders, self-monitoring features, features that help establish a routine, features that offer a safety net, and stepping-stone app characteristics. Tailoring, peer support, and embedded professional support were identified as important factors that enhance user opportunities for engagement with health and well-being apps. Feedback, rewards, encouragement, goal setting, action planning, self-confidence, and commitment were judged to be the motivation factors that affect engagement with health and well-being apps.

CONCLUSIONS

Multiple factors were identified across all components of the COM-B model that may be valuable for the development of more engaging health and well-being apps. Engagement appears to be influenced primarily by features that provide user guidance, promote minimal cognitive load, support self-monitoring (capability), provide embedded social support (opportunity), and provide goal setting with action planning (motivation). This research provides recommendations for policy makers, industry, health care providers, and app developers for increasing effective engagement.
Explaining Adherence to American Academy of Pediatrics Screen Time Recommendations With Caregiver Awareness and Parental Motivation Factors: Mixed Methods Study (Preprint)
Authors: Lammers Shea M , Woods Rebecca J , Brotherson Sean E , Deal James E , Platt Carrie Anne
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND

With the increasing integration of technology into society, it is advisable that researchers explore the effects of repeated digital media exposure on our most vulnerable population—infants. Excessive screen time during infancy has been linked to delays in language, literacy, and self-regulation.

OBJECTIVE

This study explores the awareness of and adherence to the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) recommendations related to avoiding screen time for infants younger than 2 years and the motivational factors associated with screen time exposure.

METHODS

A mixed methods survey design was used to gather responses from 178 mothers of infants younger than 2 years. The measures included infant screen time use and duration, maternal awareness of screen time use recommendations, and motivations related to screen time exposure. A variety of statistical procedures were used to explore associations between caregiver awareness of and adherence to AAP guidelines for screen time exposure, motivations related to screen time for infants, and the duration of infant screen time exposure.

RESULTS

The results indicated that 62.2% (111/178) of mothers were aware of the AAP screen time recommendations, but only 46.1% (82/178) could cite them accurately, and most mothers learned of them via the internet or from a medical professional. Mothers who were aware of the guidelines allowed significantly less screen time for infants than those who were unaware (P=.03). In addition, parents who adhered to the AAP guidelines reported significantly less infant screen time per day than those who did not adhere (P<.001). Among mothers who reported not adhering to the guidelines, the greatest motivation for allowing screen time was perceived educational benefits. Less educated mothers rated an infant’s relaxation as a motivational factor in allowing screen time significantly higher than more highly educated mothers (P=.048). The regression analysis indicated that none of the parental motivation factors predicted daily infant screen time.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate 2 key approaches to improving adherence to screen time recommendations. First, the awareness of the AAP recommendations needs to be increased, which tends to improve adherence. Second, the myth that screen time can be educational for infants needs to be dispelled.
Novel Interactive Tool for Breast and Ovarian Cancer Risk Assessment (Bright Pink Assess Your Risk): Development and Usability Study (Preprint)
Authors: Hibler Elizabeth A , Fought Angela J , Kershaw Kiarri N , Molsberry Rebecca , Nowakowski Virginia , Lindner Deborah
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND

The lifetime risk of breast and ovarian cancer is significantly higher among women with genetic susceptibility or a strong family history. However, current risk assessment tools and clinical practices may identify only 10% of asymptomatic carriers of susceptibility genes. Bright Pink developed the Assess Your Risk (AYR) tool to estimate breast and ovarian cancer risk through a user-friendly, informative web-based quiz for risk assessment at the population level.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to present the AYR tool, describe AYR users, and present evidence that AYR works as expected by comparing classification using the AYR tool with gold standard genetic testing guidelines.

METHODS

The AYR is a recently developed population-level risk assessment tool that includes 26 questions based on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines and factors from other commonly used risk assessment tools. We included all women who completed the AYR between November 2018 and January 2019, with the exception of self-reported cancer or no knowledge of family history. We compared AYR classifications with those that were independently created using NCCN criteria using measures of validity and the McNemar test.

RESULTS

There were 143,657 AYR completions, and most participants were either at increased or average risk for breast cancer or ovarian cancer (137,315/143,657, 95.59%). Using our estimates of increased and average risk as the gold standard, based on the NCCN guidelines, we estimated the sensitivity and specificity for the AYR algorithm–generated risk categories as 100% and 89.9%, respectively (P<.001). The specificity improved when we considered the additional questions asked by the AYR to define increased risk, which were not examined by the NCCN criteria. By race, ethnicity, and age group; we found that the lowest observed specificity was for the Asian race (85.9%) and the 30 to 39 years age group (87.6%) for the AYR-generated categories compared with the NCCN criteria.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate that Bright Pink’s AYR is an accurate tool for use by the general population to identify women at increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer. We plan to validate the tool longitudinally in future studies, including the impact of race, ethnicity, and age on breast and ovarian cancer risk assessment.
Examining the Mental Workload Associated With Digital Health Technologies in Health Care: Protocol for a Systematic Review Focusing on Assessment Methods (Preprint)
Authors: Kremer Lisanne , Lipprandt Myriam , Röhrig Rainer , Breil Bernhard
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND

The workload in health care is high; physicians and nurses report high stress levels due to a demanding environment where they often have to perform multiple tasks simultaneously. As a result, mental health issues among health care professionals (HCPs) are on the rise and the prevalence of errors in their daily tasks could increase. Processes of demographic change are partly responsible for even higher stress levels among HCPs. The digitization of patient care is intended to counteract these processes. However, it remains unclear whether these health information systems (HIS) and digital health technologies (DHT) support the HCPs and relieve stress, or if they represent a further burden. The mental construct that describes this burden of technologies is mental workload (MWL). Work in the clinic can be viewed as working in safety-critical environments. Particularly in this sensitive setting, the measurement methods of MWL are relevant, mainly due to their strongly differing levels of intrusiveness and sensitivity. The method of eye tracking could be a useful way to measure MWL directly in the field.

OBJECTIVE

The systematic review aims to address the following questions: (1) In which manner do DHT contribute to the overall MWL of HCPs? (2) Can we observe a direct or indirect effect of DHT on MWL? (3) Which aspects or factors of DHT contribute to an increase in MWL? (4) Which methods/assessments are applied to measure MWL related to HIS/DHT? (5) What role does eye tracking/pupillometry play in the context of measuring MWL? (6) Which outcomes are being assessed via eye tracking?

METHODS

Following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis) statement, we will conduct a systematic review. Based on the research questions, we define keywords that we then combine in search terms. The review follows the following steps: literature search, article selection, data extraction, risk of bias assessment, data analysis, and data synthesis.

RESULTS

We expect results as well as a finalization of the review in the summer of 2021.

CONCLUSIONS

This review will evaluate the impact of DHT on the MWL of HCPs. In addition, assessment methods of MWL in the context of digital technologies will be systematically analyzed.

CLINICALTRIAL

PROSPERO (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews) CRD42021233271; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021233271

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT

DERR1-10.2196/29126
Work engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic: insights from a cross-sectional web-survey with path modelling analysis (Preprint)
Authors: Guelmami Noomen , Chen Wen , Chalghaf Nasr , ben Khalifa Maher , Kong Jude Dzevela , Wu Jianhong , Azaiez Fairouz , Luigi Nicola
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND

Workers are being highly impacted by the current COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE

The present study aimed to identify the relationship between COVID-19 pandemic and work engagement among professionals who are working to offer living needs to people during the quarantine.

METHODS

A total of 364 private and state sector employees were recruited for this study. The subjects are divided into 159 women and 205 men with mean age 34.33 years old ± 11.40; and live and in Tunisia. Occupational category includes administrative employees (n = 101), employees in factories and companies (n = 137) and small businesses (n = 126). Participants were administered Work engagement scale (UWES), Work Domain Satisfaction Scale (WDSS), Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), Promis Global Health Scale, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS4), and COVID-19 Fear scale. Partial Least Square modeling method was performed.

RESULTS

Results of the measurement model and the structural model confirmed the direct relationships between perceived stress, life satisfaction, and job satisfaction with Work engagement. Indirect links have also been highlighted between fear of CoviD-19 and overall health with engagement to work.

CONCLUSIONS

The established model can be used by researchers and management practitioners to act on constructs to increase engagement to work.
Heart Failure Hospitalization Risk associated with Iron Status in Veterans with CKD
Authors: Cho Monique E. , Hansen Jared L. , Sauer Brian C. , Cheung Alfred K. , Agarwal Adhish , Greene Tom
Published: March 2021

Background and objectives

CKD is an independent risk factor for heart failure. Iron dysmetabolism potentially contributes to heart failure, but this relationship has not been well characterized in CKD.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements

We performed a historical cohort study using data from the Veterans Affairs Corporate Data Warehouse to evaluate the relationship between iron status and heart failure hospitalization. We identified a CKD cohort with at least one set of iron indices between 2006 and 2015. The first available date of serum iron indices was identified as the study index date. The cohort was divided into four iron groups on the basis of the joint quartiles of serum transferrin saturation (shown in percent) and ferritin (shown in nanograms per milliliter): reference (16%–28%, 55–205 ng/ml), low iron (0.4%–16%, 0.9–55 ng/ml), high iron (28%–99.5%, 205–4941 ng/ml), and function iron deficiency (0.8%–16%, 109–2783 ng/ml). We compared 1-year heart failure hospitalization risk between the iron groups using matching weights derived from multinomial propensity score models and Poisson rate-based regression.

Results

A total of 78,551 veterans met the eligibility criteria. The covariates were well balanced among the iron groups after applying the propensity score weights (n=31,819). One-year adjusted relative rate for heart failure hospitalization in the iron deficiency groups were higher compared with the reference group (low iron: 1.29 [95% confidence interval, 1.19 to 1.41]; functional iron deficiency: 1.25 [95% confidence interval, 1.13 to 1.37]). The high-iron group was associated with lower 1-year relative rate of heart failure hospitalization (0.82; 95% confidence interval, 0.72 to 0.92). Furthermore, the association between iron deficiency and heart failure hospitalization risk remained consistent regardless of the diabetes status or heart failure history at baseline.

Conclusions

Iron deficiency, regardless of cause, was associated with higher heart failure hospitalization risk in CKD. Higher iron status was associated with lower heart failure hospitalization risks.
KOMUNIKACIONI SUVERENITET SRBIJE I NOVI INSTRUMENTI MEKE MOĆI
Authors: Jevtovic Zoran , Bajic Predrag
Published: March 2021

Posmatrajući pojam bezbednosti kao jednu od vitalnih funkcija države, u čijoj strukturi i mnoštvu subjekata se izdvajaju komunikacijski tokovi, u tekstu se razmatra uloga informacija i javnog mnjenja u procesima zaštite nacionalnih vrednosti. U multipolarnom geopolitičkom okruženju postepeno se redizajnira priroda međunarodnih odnosa, ali i instrumenata nacionalne moći. Digitalne tehnologije sve čvršće se integrišu u savremene informaciono-komunikacione sisteme i bezbednosne strategije, šireći meku moć koja značajnim psihološkim delovanjem postaje mnogo efikasnija od vojne sile. U konfliktnim situacijama i vremenima međunarodnih pritisaka, u propagandnim akcijama pobeđuje onaj ko kreira dominantni diskurs, ne samo unutar sopstvene zajednice, već i u širem delu globalnog auditorijuma. Planiranje, oblikovanje, sprovođenje i upravljanje složenim postupkom konstruisanja stvarnosti deo je izmenjenog referentnog okvira, u kojem svaki medij ima značaj i mesto u širem sistemu propagandnog uticanja. To znači da nije važno šta se desilo, već kako će to da bude medijski predstavljeno. Takođe, digitalno doba je donelo novi izazov – društvene mreže, odnosno mogućnosti komunikacije i širenja informacija van tradicionalnog načina organizacije medijskih subjekata, što je poseban aspekt razmatranja. Jasno je da u globalnom umreženom društvu države imaju sve teži zadatak da održavaju komunikacioni suverenitet, čemu doprinose i brojne unutrašnje slabosti, ali je isto tako jasno i da je neophodno oblikovati jasnu medijsku strategiju za negovanje i očuvanje osnovnih nacionalnih vrednosti, umesto jednostavnog deklarativnog zalaganja za njih.
POLITIČKI VEKTOR SOCIJALNE DIMENZIJE ODRŽIVOG RAZVOJA SRBIJE
Authors: Prorokovic Dusan
Published: March 2021

Prilikom definisanja koncepta održivog razvoja Republike Srbije prihvaćeno je najuže moguće tumačenje njegove socijalne dimenzije, pa se samim tim nije ni moglo ozbiljnije razmišljati o političkim vektorima koji utiču na usmeravanje razvoja. Zbog toga se u određenom razvoju situacije dovodi u pitanje ne samo ekonomski rast, već i bezbednost države ili društvenih grupa. Nesamostalnost u političkim izborima i opredeljenjima ima svoju cenu i uzrokuje konkretne posledice. Zato je neophodno menjati pristup u definisanju održivog razvoja i projektovanje sopstvenih ciljeva u skladu sa multivektorskim spoljnopolitičkim težnjama, kako bi se potencijalne posledice umanjile, a održivost dugoročnog razvoja postala realnija. Rad se sastoji iz četiri dela. Uvodni deo posvećen je razmatranju pojma razvoja i kritici vezivanja razvojne paradigme za isključivo ekonomski rast. U drugom delu se objašnjava koncept održivog razvoja i njegova socijalna dimenzija. Nacionalna strategija održivog razvoja Republike Srbije analizirana je u trećem delu, uz kritički osvrt na neusaglašenost sa ostalim strateškim dokumentima i nedorečenosti. Četvrti deo su zaključna razmatranja.
Pengelolaan Destinasi Pariwisata Berkelanjutan: Kasus Tanjung Lesung Provinsi Banten
Authors: Ahman Sya  , Muhammad Zid  , Asma Irma S  , Anita Anita Eka Putri , Revi Mainaki
Published: March 2021

Kolaborasi penta-helix (akademisi, bisnis, pemerintah, komunitas, dan media) adalah faktor kunci pengelolaan destinasi pariwisata berkelanjutan. Pariwisata merupakan salah satu industri tercepat dan terbesar di Indonesia yang menjadi sektor terkuat pada lima tahun terakhir. Untuk itu, tujuan penelitian ini yaitu untuk menentukan (1) aksesibilitas tujuan, atraksi, dan amenitas (3-A), (2) pentahelix ABGCM (akademisi, bisnis, pemerintah, komunitas, dan media) komitmen dalam pengembangan destinasi, (3) bentuk atau jenis promosi pariwisata, (4) langkah untuk menyiapkan sumber daya manusia pariwisata, dan (5) langkah dan model baru untuk mempercepat promosi destinasi pariwisata Tanjung Lesung berbasis pengelolaan destinasi pariwisata berkelanjutan. Metode yang digunakan yaitu deskriptif analitis untuk mempelajari dan menganalisis berbagai indikasi, data, dan fenomena. Hasil analisis menunjukkan bahwa pengembangan sumber daya manusia (HRD) belum memenuhi persyaratan minimum sertifikasi kompetensi. Untuk mempercepat pengembangan dan peningkatan destinasi Tanjung Lesung, perlu diterapkan model baru pariwisata berbasis masyarakat berkelanjutan dengan strategi pro-job, pro-poor, pro-growth, dan pro-environment.
Field Study Terintegrasi Hybrid Learning: Solusi Pembelajaran Dasar-Dasar Geologi Selama Pandemi Covid-19
Authors: Oktavianto Angga
Published: March 2021

Pandemi COVID-19 memaksa dunia pendidikan untuk segera berbenah. Hal ini berlaku dalam proses pembelajaran, berubah dari mode tatap muka menuju mode pembelajaran daring. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk memanfaatkan aktivitas pembelajaran field study terintegrasi hybrid learning dalam pembelajaran Dasar-Dasar Geologi, dan apakah pembelajaran tersebut dapat meningkatkan hasil belajar siswa. Desain Penelitian Tindakan Kelas (PTK) digunakan dalam penelitian ini.  Subjek pada penelitian ialah Kelas X SMK Negeri 1 Binuang pada Program Keahlian Geologi Pertambangan Tahun Pelajaran 2019/2020 dengan jumlah 32 siswa. Analisis data PTK menggunakan analisis deskriptif kuantitatif, yang dilakukan dengan menelaah data hasil belajar sebelum dan setelah siklus, kemudian dilakukan sintesis dengan kajian pustaka. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan Siklus II menghasilkan angka 77,78% siswa tuntas Kriteria Ketuntasan Minimal (KKM) atau turun dari Siklus pertama 84,374%. Saat Pra Siklus menunjukkan jumlah siswa tuntas KKM hanya 18,75%. Hasil yang diperoleh dalam PTK ini menandakan bahwa field study terintegrasi hybrid learning berpotensi untuk menjadi model pembelajaran Dasar-Dasar Geologi di masa Pandemi COVID-19.