Difficulties In Daily Life Research Articles

Menstrual Cycle Management and Period Tracker App Use in Millennial and Generation Z Individuals: Mixed Methods Study.

Menstruation is a physical symptom that occurs in women of reproductive age. It has a significant impact on the daily life and health of women when their academic and social activities are most active. Since many women experience difficulties in daily life because of premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhea, it is important to identify, prepare for, and manage the menstrual cycle in advance. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between menstruation-related experiences and the use of mobile-based period tracker apps by millennial and generation Z (gen Z) individuals. The objectives of this study are to investigate (1) menstrual cycle management, (2) factors affecting app usage (3) factors affecting cycle management, and (4) motivators and barriers to using period tracker apps, in millennial and gen Z women. A mixed methods design was used for this study. The participants were young women aged 20-39 years and recruited via the Ovey application. Data were collected through surveys and focus group interviews. The survey was conducted among 700 women, and 8 of them participated in the focus group interviews. In total, 431 (62.3%) participants used period tracker apps primarily to predict their next menstrual cycle. Factors affecting app usage included childbirth experience (odds ratio [OR] 0.475, P<.05), number of dysmenorrhea symptoms (OR 1.136, P<.05), and cycle management level (OR 2.279, P<.001). Additionally, education level (OR 1.122, P<.05 [university level compared high school level]) and the number of dysmenorrhea symptoms (OR 1.024, P<.05) showed a positive association with the cycle management level. However, childbirth experience (OR 0.902, P<.05) and period irregularity (OR 0.929, P<.001) were negatively associated with the cycle management level. Period tracker apps are becoming the new normal among millennials and gen Z individuals for managing their menstrual cycles. The use of a period tracker app empowers women by helping them gain a better understanding of their bodies, ultimately enhancing their social, academic, and health-related lives. Improving the accuracy and literacy of the app is an ongoing task for period-tracking apps, and it is important to provide added value tailored to users' needs. Therefore, the findings of this study should be considered when designing or upgrading period tracker apps to facilitate the adoption of digital technology among young women, thereby promoting their overall well-being and reproductive health.

B - 6 The BRIEF-2A Pattern of Self and Informant Executive Functioning Difficulties in Adults with Epilepsy

Abstract Objective People with epilepsy (PWE) commonly have executive functioning (EF) difficulties on objective testing. However, less is known about subjective EF difficulties in everyday life. We examined self- and informant-rated EF in PWE using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function for Adults-2 (BRIEF-2A). We hypothesized that PWE and their informants would endorse greater EF difficulties relative to healthy participants. Method Participants included 43 PWE who completed comprehensive clinical neuropsychological evaluation at a large Northeastern academic medical center, which included BRIEF-2A Informant and Self Report Forms (Age M = 40.4 ± 17.2 years, 53% female, Education M = 13.0 ± 1.8 years). Twenty-four participants completed self-reports, while 19 had both self and informant reports. The comparison sample included 43 age- and gender-matched healthy controls (HC). We analyzed BRIEF-2A subscales using MANOVAs, where elevated T scores indicated worse EF. Repeated measures ANOVAs compared self and informant ratings. Multi-rater comparisons (90% CIs) and chi-squares analyzed patterns of discrepant ratings. Results Self-reported EF difficulties in PWE were elevated across all scales, compared to HC (p’s0.25), with greatest difference observed for working memory (PWE = 69.7 ± 12.7, HC = 44.5 ± 16.7, ηp2 = 0.61). Similar elevations across all scales were observed for PWE informant reports (p’s0.14). PWE rated greater self-monitoring (p = 0.03, ηp2 &amp;gt; 0.23) and emotional control (p = 0.08, ηp2 &amp;gt; 0.16) difficulties than informants. There was 42.1–68.4% concordance between self and informant reports for PWE, compared to 84–95% in HC. Patterns of self and informant ratings were similar between PWE and HC for initiation, planning/organization, and task-monitoring (p’s &amp;gt; 0.20). Conclusions PWE and their informants report high, yet relatively similar, levels of EF difficulties in daily life.

Effect of background noise and memory load on listening effort of young adults with and without hearing loss

ObjectivePeople with hearing loss often encounter difficulties in hearing under adverse conditions, such as listening in the presence of noise. Listening effort is an indicator used to assess listening difficulties in daily life. Although many studies on listening effort have been conducted in recent years, there is a notable gap in the exploration of how task load influences listening effort in young adults. This study compared the effects of background noise and memory load on task performance and subjective listening effort in young adults with and without hearing loss. MethodsThe study included a group of 8 adults with hearing loss (mean age: 24.1 ± 6.0 years) and a group of 16 individuals with normal hearing (mean age: 27.9 ± 4.9 years). A number memorizing task was conducted, involving two types of auditory digits (either three or seven digits) presented under multi-talker babble noise conditions of signal-to-noise ratio of −5 dB [SN −5 dB] or SN +5 dB. Participants determined whether the number presented in the encoding interval matched the one presented in the retrieval interval. Subsequently, they were asked to complete a questionnaire using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) to assess their subjective listening effort. Percentage of correct responses, reaction times, and VAS ratings were compared between adults with and without hearing loss. ResultsOur results showed significant differences between the two groups in the percentage of correct responses and the reaction time under the SN −5 dB conditions, regardless of the memory load. Under the SN +5 dB conditions, a significant difference was found only in the percentage of correct responses for seven digits. In the normal hearing group, the percentage of correct responses and VAS ratings tended to decrease as the memory load increased, even under the same noise condition. Conversely, in the hearing loss group, a consistent trend could not be identified in the effects of noise and memory load on the percentage of correct responses and VAS ratings. ConclusionThese results suggest that in conditions of high noise load, young adults with hearing loss show a higher tendency for listening effort to be affected by other loads. We confirmed that for some participants with hearing loss, the task exceeded a certain level of difficulty in the SN −5 dB and seven digits condition, leading to a change in their motivation and strategy used. Future research should examine ways to control for participants’ motivations.

Antipsychotics: beyond dopamine

People with schizophrenia often experience considerable difficulties in daily life because of a wide constellation of symptoms associated with the condition. This article examines the pharmaceutical targets that are being investigated to provide greater efficacy and tolerability than the current dopamine‐focussed drugs.

Interpersonal Communication and Mental Health: An Impact Study of Interpersonal Communication Skills on Mental Health of Youth

Effective communication is crucial for mental as well as emotional well-being, playing a key role in determining the way people express themselves, build connections and relate to others. This research focuses on understanding the impacts of interpersonal communication in life of an individual and how does it affects the mental health. Through conducting a survey of 100 individuals of age ranging between 18 to 25 years, we came to the finding that many of the participants struggle in talking or conveying their emotions, which leads to feelings of suffocation and difficulty in daily life. A substantial portion of the respondents mentioned that communication challenges often affect their relationships, while some of them told about experiencing worsened bonds due to communication difficulties. Our findings emphasize the importance of encouraging a better open communication to enhance mental well-being and improve overall quality of life.

Influence of multidisciplinary team care with abundant nurse staffing on patient-reported outcomes among patients with inflammatory bowel disease in clinical remission

BackgroundPatients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) experience difficulties in daily life and demanding self-care needs. The goal of our support for patients is to ease their difficulties and improve their belief in their capacity to self-manage their disease (self-efficacy), by increasing their ability for self-care. The nurse’s contribution is vital in empowering patients and supporting them to better manage their disease. There is evidence that higher nurse staffing levels are associated with better patient outcomes in acute care settings, but little is known about the outpatient setting. The objective of this study was to explore the impact of multidisciplinary team care with abundant nurse staffing levels on patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) among patients with IBD, encompassing Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), in clinical remission.MethodsPatients with IBD in clinical remission were included because disease activity influences the patient’s subjective evaluation. A total of 499 valid responses from two different sources were analyzed: 318 from a specialized IBD clinic with abundant nurse staffing and a multidisciplinary care team (UC: 83, CD: 235) and 181 from an online survey panel (UC: 109, CD: 72). The IBD Self-Efficacy Scale (IBD-SES) and the difficulty of life scale (DLS) were used as disease-specific PROMs.ResultsIn two multiple regression models adjusted by background characteristics (age, sex, diagnosis [UC/CD], employment status, use of biologics, and disease duration) using the IBD-SES or DLS as a dependent variable, the responses from clinic patients showed a more favorable score (higher self-efficacy or lower difficulty) than the online responses.ConclusionsMultidisciplinary team care with abundant nurse staffing may improve self-efficacy and ease difficulties of life among patients with IBD in clinical remission. These results could help bring attention to nurse staffing in an outpatient setting, which has previously been overlooked, and be the first to provide evidence of its importance in encouraging enhanced staffing levels.

Structure and factorial invariance of an irrational beliefs scale in adolescents from Peru and Turkey

Irrational beliefs (IB) are irrational thinking patterns that limit the interpretation of situations and generate difficulties in daily life. Although there are several instruments to evaluate irrational beliefs, attention to their evaluation in adolescents has been insufficient, and possible gender and cultural differences have been overlooked. This study aims to analyze the psychometric properties of the Irrational Beliefs Scale-Adolescent Form (IBS-AF) in adolescents from Peru and Turkey aged 13 to 18 years (M = 15.1, SD = 1.17), where 52.7% were females. Two models were evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis, where the second unidimensional model of 15 items with adequate fit indices (χ2/df = 4.79, CFI = .959, TLI = .952, SRMR = .065, RMSEA [95% CI] = .078 [.72, .84]) and adequate reliability was confirmed. Factorial invariance (configural, metric, scalar, residual) was also evaluated based on country and gender, as well as differences between these categorical variables. In conclusion, IBS-AF is a consistent and reliable tool for evaluating irrational beliefs in adolescents and is equivalent in both cultural contexts and based on gender. Furthermore, significant differences favor women and Turkish adolescents in IB scores. This scale will be useful in addressing IB in adolescents and improving their psychological well-being.

Neurocognitive Impairment among HIV-Infected Participants on Methadone for IV-Heroin use in Yunnan, China Relates to AIDS Status and Depression Severity, not Patterns of Substance use

We used a comprehensive and culturally normed battery of Neurocognitive (NC) tests to evaluate NC impairment (NCI) in 406 adults with prior IV heroin use who were in a government-supervised methadone maintenance program in Yunnan province, China. Participants included 202 without HIV infection, 57 with AIDS, and 147 HIV+ without AIDS (“nonAIDS group”). The AIDS group had higher proportions of individuals with global NCI (38.6%) relative to nonAIDS (15.7%) and HIV- participants (17.3%; ps &lt; 0.01). The AIDS group performed worse than the non AIDS group globally (&lt; 0.001), and in the domains of executive functioning (ps = 0.001), learning (ps = 0.035), and speeded information processing (ps = 0.0002). Despite the lack of difference in prevalence of NCI between non AIDS and HIV- groups, the non AIDS group showed impairment in memory and complex motor domains relative to the HIV- group (p = 0.03). In People With HIV (PWH), NCI was associated with more severe depression symptoms and HIV disease characteristics (duration of illness, CD4 nadir, AIDS status). Nearly all participants were HCV infected. Alcohol use disorder diagnoses, non-invasive indications of liver fibrosis, and characteristics of prior heroin use were not associated with NCI. PWH with NCI had worse daily functioning, as indexed by unemployment (ps = 0.016) and reported increased cognitive difficulties in daily life (ps = 0.016). These results highlight the importance of early HIV diagnosis and treatment to avoid HIV disease progression, particularly among IV drug users, with the goal of protecting NC abilities, everyday functioning, and life quality in infected individuals.

Pain and daily interference among reproductive-age women with myofascial pelvic pain: Serial mediation roles of kinesiophobia, self-efficacy and pain catastrophizing.

Myofascial pelvic pain (MFPP), which is identified by tender points in the pelvic floor musculature, is a prevalent source of chronic pelvic pain in women. It may lead to physical and mental exhaustion, reproductive concerns, and coping difficulties in daily life and work than the disease itself. Pain-related cognitive processes can affect pain relief and quality of life. Kinesiophobia, self-efficacy and pain catastrophizing are frequently treated as mediators between pain and its related consequences. Greater kinesiophobia and pain catastrophizing have been shown to be associated with adverse functional outcomes, while higher self-efficacy has been related with improved quality of life. Regarding MFPP in females of childbearing age, it remains unclear whether the effects of kinesiophobia, self-efficacy and pain catastrophizing on daily interference are direct or indirect; the influence on each variable is, therefore, not entirely evident. The present study aimed to evaluate the relationship between pain and daily interference in reproductive-age women with MFPP through kinesiophobia, self-efficacy and pain catastrophizing, as well as to identify areas for future investigation and intervention based on the data collected from this population. This is a multi-center cross-sectional study. The study was conducted from November 15, 2022 to November 10, 2023, 202 reproductive-age women with MFPP were recruited from 14 hospitals in ten provinces of China. The demographic variables, Brief Pain Inventory, Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia, Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire, and Pain Catastrophizing Scale were used to measure the participants' related information. The data was described and analyzed using Descriptive analyses, Pearson correlation analysis, and Serial mediation modeling. Pain not only had a direct positive impact (B = 0.575; SE = 0.081; 95%CI: LL = 0.415, UL = 0.735) on daily interference, but also had an indirect impact on daily interference through the independent mediating role of pain catastrophizing (B = 0.088; SE = 0.028; 95%CI: LL = 0.038, UL = 0.148), the chain mediating of kinesiophobia and catastrophizing (B = 0.057; SE = 0.019; 95%CI: LL = 0.024, UL = 0.098), and the four-stage serial mediating of kinesiophobia, self-efficacy and catastrophizing (B = 0.013; SE = 0.006; 95%CI: LL = 0.003, UL = 0.027). The proposed serial mediation model showed a good fit with the collected data. The findings illustrate the significance of addressing pain catastrophizing and kinesiophobia (especially catastrophizing), and increasing self-efficacy in pain therapy, and suggest that functional recovery be integrated into pain therapy for reproductive-age women suffering from MFPP.

AI- POWERED BASED BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED SYSTEM FOR SMART GLASS

Visual impairment causes serious problems in daily life and mobility for millions of people worldwide. Against this background, smart assistive technology is gaining momentum to improve the independence and quality of life of the blind and visually impaired. They have difficulty in daily life because they cannot detect the problems around them, and one of their biggest problems is identifying people. Besides automation, there are many unexplored uses of search engines. This project includes an app that uses search to help blind people see things in front of them safely, and a facial recognition system with visual feedback that can help visually impaired people see familiar and unfamiliar people. The speaker will provide them with sound support. In this work, we use deep learning-based Regional Convolutional Neural Network (Faster R-CNN) to detect and identify people and objects in the environment. Faster local convolutional neural network technology processes and distributes images captured by cameras. The operator takes the image as input. Therefore, this model helps visually impaired people in a simpler way than a white cane. Keywords—Visuallmpairment,Objectdetection,Faster Region Convolutional Neural Network.

P130 Unmet needs and treatment preferences concerning digital ulcers in patients with systemic sclerosis

Abstract Background/Aims Digital Ulcers (DU) affect around half of systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients and are associated with significant pain and difficulties in daily life. Despite available treatment options, DUs are often recalcitrant and recurrent. Our aim was to examine the patients’ perspectives concerning the unmet needs and treatment of SSc-DUs. Methods SSc patients with past DU were invited through international patient associations/social media to participate in an online English-language survey. The survey was launched on 31st January 2023 and open for four weeks. Results A total of 358 evaluable responses were collected from 11 countries, mainly from USA (65.6%), UK (11.5%) and Canada (4.5%). 81,6% of respondents were aged 30-70 years and 93% were female. Almost all (96.1%) had &amp;gt;1DU during the course of their disease (46% &amp;gt;10 DUs), mainly localised on the fingertips (84.9%). DUs have broad-ranging impacts: activities of daily living (79% ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’), work activities (73% ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’), future planning (64% ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’), and interpersonal relationships and/or social activities (59% ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’). Only one quarter (26.2%) of respondents were satisfied with currently available treatments, or treatment efficacy on main ulcer symptoms such as pain (24%). Half (51.7%) of respondents received wound/ulcer care, with only a third (31.4%) via a dedicated rheumatological/wound care clinic. The most frequent DU interventions were: wound cleaning (58.9%), ulcer dressing (63.2%) and debridement (27%), while botulinum (8.1%), fat injection (1.6%), sympathectomy (10.3%), and surgery (16.8%) were less frequent. Among respondents, the majority (71.3%) were ‘likely’ or ‘very likely’ to consider local DU treatment, 68.4% oral therapy, 43.8% intravenous treatments and 30.4% surgical approach. Figure 1 presents respondents perceived factors that may delay DU healing (1A), reasons to seek healthcare professional advice (1B), and reasons to change treatment (1C). Education about tDU complications is limited (34.1%), including recognition (30.8%), and actions to be taken (25%). Conclusion DUs have significant broad-ranging impacts there are many unmet needs have emerged. Local wound care is not standardized across specialist centers and patient education is often neglected. Dedicated treatment recommendations are urgently needed to optimise the therapeutic strategy, including non-pharmacological interventions. Disclosure G. Bandini: None. A. Alunno: None. B. Ruaro: None. I. Galetti: None. B. Alcacer-Pitarch: None. F. Oliveira Pinheiro: None. G. Campanaro: None. J. Jade: None. L. Muir: None. A. Moggi Pignone: None. Z. McMahan: None. K. El Aoufy: None. M. Matucci Cerinic: None. M. Hughes: None.

Stress fracture of the clavicle associated with sternocostoclavicular hyperostosis combined with bony ankylosis of the acromioclavicular joint and ossification of the coracoclavicular ligament.

Sternocostoclavicular hyperostosis (SCCH) has been reported in patients with pustulotic arthro-osteitis, but there are few reports of marked ossification of the lateral part of the clavicle. Here, we report a case of stress fracture in a patient with SCCH with marked ossification of the lateral part of the clavicle. In this case, the clavicular fracture was proximal and no dislocation. Conservative treatment with a clavicle band and the administration of corticosteroids resulted in rapid symptom improvement. Eight months later, the patient had no difficulty in daily life, but X-rays showed that bone fusion was not complete. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully follow-up such patients for any recurrence of symptoms and radiographic changes.

The clinical relevance of subgroups of autistic adults: Stability and predictive value.

Autism in adulthood is characterized by heterogeneity, complicating the provision of tailored support. In previous work, we aimed to capture this heterogeneity by determining subgroups of autistic adults that differed in clinical outcomes: cognitive failures, psychological difficulties, and quality of life (QoL). Two subgroups were identified: a "Feelings of Low Grip" subgroup characterized by experiencing a lower sense of mastery and a higher susceptibility to difficulties in daily life, and a "Feelings of High Grip" subgroup characterized by a higher sense of mastery and lower susceptibility to difficulties in daily life. The current pre-registered study involves a longitudinal extension to determine (a) stability and (b) predictive value of the previously identified two subgroups. Subgroups were identified using community detection based on 14 self-report measures related to demographic, psychological, and lifestyle characteristics in two samples (aged 31-86 years) that were analyzed separately: Sample 1 (NAutism = 80) measured 5 years after baseline and Sample 2 (NAutism = 241, NComparison = 211) measured 2 years after baseline. The stability over time was assessed based on (a) the number of subgroups, (b) subgroup profiles, and (c) subgroup membership. Predictive validity was assessed for cognitive failures, psychological difficulties, and QoL. Results indicated that autistic and non-autistic adults formed distinct subgroups. Within both autism samples, the two previously identified autism subgroups were replicated at follow-up. Subgroup profiles were similar for >50% of the variables at two-year follow-up, and 21% at five-year follow-up. Moreover, ≥76% remained in the same subgroup at two-year follow-up, and ≥ 57% after 5 years. Subgroup membership was predictive of external clinical outcomes up to 5 years. Thus, this study demonstrated the stability and predictive value of the autism subgroups, especially for the two-year follow-up. A further focus on their clinical utility might increase the aptness of support, and may provide more insight into the aging process when being autistic.

Application of Improved Support Vector Machine for Pulmonary Syndrome Exposure with Computer Vision Measures

Background: In many medically developed applications, the process of early diagnosis in cases of pulmonary disease does not exist. Many people experience immediate suffering due to the lack of early diagnosis, even after becoming aware of breathing difficulties in daily life. Because of this, identifying such hazardous diseases is crucial, and the suggested solution combines computer vision and communication processing techniques. As computing technology advances, a more sophisticated mechanism is required for decision-making. Objective: The major objective of the proposed method is to use image processing to demonstrate computer vision-based experimentation for identifying lung illness. In order to characterize all the uncertainties that are present in nodule segments, an improved support vector machine is also integrated into the decision-making process. Methods: As a result, the suggested method incorporates an Improved Support Vector Machine (ISVM) with a clear correlation between various margins. Additionally, an image processing technique is introduced where all impacted sites are marked at high intensity to detect the presence of pulmonary syndrome. Contrary to other methods, the suggested method divides the image processing methodology into groups, making the loop generation process much simpler. Results: Five situations are taken into account to demonstrate the effectiveness of the suggested technique, and test results are compared with those from existing models. Conclusion: The proposed technique with ISVM produces 83 percent of successful results.

Mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic and first lockdown in Lebanon: Risk factors and daily life difficulties in a multiple-crises setting.

Research from around the world shows important differences in the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns on mental health. This study examined the extent of mental health challenges (depressive and anxiety symptoms and daily life difficulties) and their associations with pandemic- and response-related factors during the first lockdown in Lebanon, which happened amid a severe economic crisis and socio-political turmoil. Data come from a cross-sectional internet-based survey (May-June 2020). Association of depressive (Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)) and anxiety symptoms (Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7)) with outbreak-related worries and knowledge, information sources, and confidence and satisfaction in response measures were estimated using logistic regression adjusted for sociodemographic and socioeconomic indicators. Among 510 participants (mean age 36.1±11.3; 69.4% women), 32.3% had elevated depressive and 27.3% had elevated anxiety symptoms; younger age, unemployment, loss of employment, and lower income were related to more mental health symptoms. Most prevalent daily life challenges were feelings of uncertainty (74.5%) and financial (52.2%) and emotional (42.2%) difficulties; these and all other daily life difficulties (work-related, caregiving, and online learning) were significantly higher among participants with higher depressive and anxiety symptoms. Higher outbreak-related worries were associated with higher depressive (OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.20,1.53) and anxiety symptoms (OR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.30,1.67). Higher pandemic-related knowledge, reliance on and trust in local health agencies and professionals' information, and satisfaction and confidence regarding governmental and health institutions' response were all related to lower mental health symptoms. Results show that mental health burden in Lebanon during the first lockdown (when the COVID-19 outbreak was still minimal) is among the highest reported worldwide and highlight elevated emotional and financial tolls and widespread impact on daily life. In this high-burden and multiple-challenges context, results suggest an important role for the healthcare body, knowledge, and trust in the institutions managing the response.

한국형 성인 실행기능 척도 타당화

Objectives In this study, the adult executive functioning scale ADEXI(Adult Executive Functioning Inventory) de-veloped by Holst and Thorell (2017) was adapted and validated into Korean to measure the executive function ing of adults.&#x0D; Methods An executive functioning scale was selected through a review of previous research literature, permission to use the scale was obtained from the original author, and the Korean Adult Executive Functioning Scale (KADEXI) was constructed through translation and back-translation. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted on 237 adults aged 19 or older.&#x0D; Results Confirmatory factor analysis was performed, and convergent and criterion validity were verified. The Korean adult executive functioning scale was ultimately composed of 14 items each for self-report and other-re-port, and the subfactors were 9 items for working memory and 5 items for inhibition, identical to the original scale. A test-retest performed 2 weeks later was found to be reliable.&#x0D; Conclusions By presenting specific difficulties in daily life through the validation of a Korean scale measuring adult executive functioning, it appears to be of great clinical utility in that it can provide guidance for therapeutic inter-vention and change. In addition, when implementing the executive functioning scale, cross-verification with self-report and meaningful other person's report can be used to ensure validity in identifying the degree of execu-tive functioning deficiency.

Ghani Khan: His Flight from the Real in the Poem My Palace (Zama Mahal)

This study explores the theme of Escapism in Ghani Khan's poetry My Palace (Zama Mahal), focusing on how the speaker utilizes the construction of an idealized world as an escape route to avoid the difficulties of daily life. The study thoroughly analyses the poem in both its Pashto original and its English translation using a qualitative research design in order to find literary techniques, thematic notions, and instances of escape. The results provide insight into the profound meaning of escape in Ghani Khan's poetry and offer an innovative perspective on the longstanding human desire to escape reality and find comfort in the world of the imagination. This research contributes to the existing body of knowledge on Ghani Khan's literary legacy, highlighting a theme that has received limited scholarly attention.

A Comprehensive Examination of Vegan Lifestyle in Italy.

The popularity of veganism and plant-based diets is rapidly increasing worldwide, including in Italy, where more individuals and families are adopting this lifestyle. However, medical and health professionals often lack the necessary knowledge and are skeptical about this diet despite the scientific evidence. It is important for them to provide support and expertise to those following this diet. The survey evaluated various aspects of the lifestyle of Italian vegans living in Italy and abroad, including food frequency, vitamin and mineral supplementation, relationship with medical and health professionals, and perceived difficulties in daily life. The emphasis was on potentially critical aspects for those following this dietary choice. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Italy between March and April 2022. A questionnaire was distributed through social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and Telegram, and 2180 Italian adults who follow a vegan diet completed it. The survey found that most of the vegan population surveyed were female, showed a greater sensitivity to ethical issues, were aware of the need for vitamin B12 supplementation, and followed healthy-eating guidelines. It is evident that despite the increasing popularity of plant-based diets, many medical and health professionals remain cautious and hesitant to recommend them.

Walka o Lwów w Pamiętnikach z lat 1916-1918 Ludomiła Germana

THE STRUGGLE FOR LVIV IN THE “DIARIES FROM THE YEARS 1916-1918” BY LUDOMIŁ GERMANThis edition covers the final section of the diary of Ludomił German (1851-1920), a Galician teacher and school inspector, playwright, translator, politician, and activist in the National-Democratic Party and the Polish Democratic Party. He served as a member of the Imperial Council in Vienna (1907-1918) and the Regional Sejm in Lviv (1912-1914), vice president of the Austrian Chamber of Deputies, and vice president of the Polish Circle. In his diary, kept from July 1914 to January 1919, German documented his activities in the Supreme National Committee, the Polish Circle, and the Imperial Council. He also chronicled the history of the Polish Legions, the struggle for their leadership, and the aspirations of politicians from Galicia and the Kingdom of Poland aiming to establish a more or less independent Polish state. The diary, now divided into two parts, is preserved in the Jagiellonian Library in the manuscript collection under the signature 8537 I (‘Notes from Great Times,’ the original written by Ludomił German) and in the Lviv National Scientific Library of Ukraine named after V. Stefanyk (fond 5, signature 6415, vol. 1-3, ‘Diaries from the Years 1916-1918,’ a copy made in 1935-1936 by Ludomił’s son, Juliusz German). The presented fragment covers almost three months (from November 1, 1918 to January 24, 1919), during which the author was in Lviv during the Polish-Ukrainian battles for the city, initially occupied and later besieged by Ukrainian forces. The author describes, based on his own experiences and information from other sources, the course of military actions, the difficulties of daily life associated with them, attempts by both sides to end the fighting, and the establishment of new municipal authorities and their initial political decisions. As much as possible, he tries to track events in other parts of the re-emerging Poland (critically evaluating the actions of the new state authorities) and throughout Europe, especially within the former Austro-Hungarian borders.

The Potential of Chatbots for Emotional Support and Promoting Mental Well-Being in Different Cultures: Mixed Methods Study.

Artificial intelligence chatbot research has focused on technical advances in natural language processing and validating the effectiveness of human-machine conversations in specific settings. However, real-world chat data remain proprietary and unexplored despite their growing popularity, and new analyses of chatbot uses and their effects on mitigating negative moods are urgently needed. In this study, we investigated whether and how artificial intelligence chatbots facilitate the expression of user emotions, specifically sadness and depression. We also examined cultural differences in the expression of depressive moods among users in Western and Eastern countries. This study used SimSimi, a global open-domain social chatbot, to analyze 152,783 conversation utterances containing the terms "depress" and "sad" in 3 Western countries (Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and 5 Eastern countries (Indonesia, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand). Study 1 reports new findings on the cultural differences in how people talk about depression and sadness to chatbots based on Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count and n-gram analyses. In study 2, we classified chat conversations into predefined topics using semisupervised classification techniques to better understand the types of depressive moods prevalent in chats. We then identified the distinguishing features of chat-based depressive discourse data and the disparity between Eastern and Western users. Our data revealed intriguing cultural differences. Chatbot users in Eastern countries indicated stronger emotions about depression than users in Western countries (positive: P<.001; negative: P=.01); for example, Eastern users used more words associated with sadness (P=.01). However, Western users were more likely to share vulnerable topics such as mental health (P<.001), and this group also had a greater tendency to discuss sensitive topics such as swear words (P<.001) and death (P<.001). In addition, when talking to chatbots, people expressed their depressive moods differently than on other platforms. Users were more open to expressing emotional vulnerability related to depressive or sad moods to chatbots (74,045/148,590, 49.83%) than on social media (149/1978, 7.53%). Chatbot conversations tended not to broach topics that require social support from others, such as seeking advice on daily life difficulties, unlike on social media. However, chatbot users acted in anticipation of conversational agents that exhibit active listening skills and foster a safe space where they can openly share emotional states such as sadness or depression. The findings highlight the potential of chatbot-assisted mental health support, emphasizing the importance of continued technical and policy-wise efforts to improve chatbot interactions for those in need of emotional assistance. Our data indicate the possibility of chatbots providing helpful information about depressive moods, especially for users who have difficulty communicating emotions to other humans.