Moderate Levels Research Articles

Influence of affective instability on suicidal ideation beyond traumatic brain injury and posttraumatic stress disorder in veterans

ObjectiveMild traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with long-term consequences, including greater risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and suicidal ideation. Affective instability is also independently related to PTSD and suicidality, which may explain why some individuals continue to experience chronic psychiatric complaints following mild TBI. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate affective instability as a key factor for PTSD and suicidal ideation among Veterans with and without TBI. MethodParticipants (N = 299 Veterans; 86.96% male) completed the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) and structured clinical interviews for TBI and psychiatric diagnoses. Hierarchical linear regression was used to evaluate main and interaction effects. ResultsThere were no significant differences in affective instability (p = 0.140) or suicidal ideation (p = 0.453) between Veterans with or without TBI. Individuals with TBI were more likely to have a PTSD diagnosis (p = 0.001). Analyses evaluating PTSD diagnosis as an outcome indicated a main effect of affective instability (p < 0.001), but not TBI (p = 0.619). Analyses evaluating suicidal ideation as an outcome demonstrated an interaction effect between PTSD and affective instability beyond the effects of TBI (p = 0.034). ConclusionsSevere Affective instability appears to be a key factor in suicidal ideation among Veterans beyond TBI or PTSD history. PTSD was more strongly associated with suicidality at lower and moderate levels of affective instability. At severe levels of affective instability, however, Veterans with and without PTSD experienced suicidal ideation at similar rates. Findings suggests that high levels of affective instability not better explained by other psychiatric conditions confers similar suicidality risk to that of PTSD in a Veteran population.

The Study of Profile Characteristics of Agro- Input Dealers Towards Agro Services in Junagadh District of Gujarat State

Aim: To study the selected characteristics of the input dealers.&#x0D; Study Design: Ex-post facto research design.&#x0D; Place and Duration of Study: The present investigation was undertaken in Junagadh district of Gujarat state.&#x0D; Methodology: Junagadh district comprises of nine talukas out of which five talukas viz, Junagadh, Keshod, Mendarda, Vanthali and Maliya-hatina were randomly selected for the study. From each taluka thirty input dealers were selected randomly for the study. Thus, total 150 input dealers were selected randomly from five talukas.&#x0D; Results: With regard to characteristics, approximately half (49.34%) of input dealers were in the middle age group, while nearly half (46.00%) had attained a graduation/post-graduation level of education. Around half (48.67 %) of input dealers had moderate social participation, and a majority (69.34 %) reported a high to very high annual income. Approximately 60.00%% of input dealers utilized sources of information at a moderate level, while 51.34%% had a medium level of mass media exposure. Only 16.64%% of input dealers had received training, and a majority (61.34 %%) had moderate extension contact. Additionally, 58.67 % of input dealers exhibited a moderate level of risk orientation, while 62.00%% displayed a medium level of management orientation. Approximately 75.34%% of agro-input dealers had a medium level of economic motivation, and slightly over half (58.67 %) demonstrated a medium level of progressivism.&#x0D; Conclusion: It can be concluded that the majority of the respondents were from the middle age group with a graduation/post-graduation level of education. Additionally, more than half of the input dealers had medium social participation and belonged to the high to very high annual income bracket. Similarly, over half of the input dealers utilized sources of information and had mass media exposure at a moderate level. However, the data indicates that only a few input dealers received training from various institutes, while most had moderate extension contact and exhibited a medium level of risk and management orientation. Moreover, a significant proportion of agro-input dealers demonstrated a medium level of economic motivation and progressivism.

Mental health and resilience quotient of patients in primary care units during the widespread COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand: a cross-sectional study.

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic impacted both the physical and mental health of individuals. The resilience quotient (RQ) is an important factor that decreases mental health problems. This study aimed to explore mental health problems and RQ in patients who visit Primary Care Units (PCU). A cross-sectional study was conducted on participants aged 18 to 60years who visited the PCU of Songklanagarind Hospital from May 1, 2022, to June 31, 2022. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire on baseline characteristics and the Primary Care Assessment, Personal Resource Questionnaire, satisfaction with life scale, Thai RQ, PHQ-9, and GAD-7, and the results were analyzed by descriptive, logistic regression, and Spearman's rank correlation. Among the 216 participants, 72.2% were female, and the median age was 39 (24,51) years old. Most of them had normal RQ levels (61.1%). Of these, 4.2% and 12.1% exhibited moderate to high levels of depression and anxiety, respectively. This study found that sex (OOR 1.93; 95% CI 1.01-3.74), age (OOR 1.03; 95% CI 1.01-1.06), moderate and high social support levels (OOR 9.51; 95% CI 3.36-28.85), and a high life satisfaction level (OOR 4.67; 95%CI 1.75-13.25) were associated with RQ. Moreover, the results showed that ≥ 3 times visiting PCU (β 1.73; 95% CI 0.39-3.08), BMI (β 0.13; 95% CI 0.04-0.23) and experiencing stressful events (β 2.34; 95% CI 1.32-3.36) were positively associated with depression. Finally, experiencing stressful events (OR 4.1; 95% CI 1.09-15.47) significantly affected anxiety, however, moderate and high life satisfaction levels acted as a protective factor against anxiety (OR 0.19; 95% CI 0.07-0.54 and OR 0.03; 95% CI 0.01-0.16, respectively). Although there were a few patients with moderate to severe levels of depression and anxiety, most of them had normal RQ levels. However, there were some patients with low RQ levels which correlated to a high risk of psychiatric diseases such as depression and anxiety. Healthcare providers should focus on interventions that enhance resilience in both proactive and defensive strategies to reduce negative mental problems during these formidable times.

Motivation and Ability: Unpacking Underperforming Firms’ Risk Taking

Do firms take more or less risk in response to performance shortfalls? Although the behavioral theory of the firm (BTOF) has been a guiding framework in this area, empirical evidence remains inconclusive. Moreover, empirical work has largely failed to distinguish between firms’ motivation to take risks and their ability to do so. In this study, recognizing the distinct roles played by these two components, we specifically focus on risk-taking motivation. Drawing on March and Shapira’s shifting-focus-of-attention model, we highlight that firms’ motivation to take risks is contingent on their chosen reference points and the shifts between them. We propose that, on average, risk-taking motivation exhibits a positive monotonic relationship with performance shortfalls, a sequence involving an initial increase, subsequent leveling off, and then a renewed increase. To advance the theory of risk-taking motivation, we extend our inquiry to consider the moderating effect of concern for firm survival and subsequently explore factors influencing this concern. Furthermore, we investigate a critical implication of differentiating risk-taking motivation and ability. Because of the mismatch between motivation and ability, underperforming firms take the greatest risks when their performance is moderately below aspirations, with motivation and ability being at moderate levels, leading to an inverted U-shaped relationship between performance shortfalls and risk taking. Empirical evidence derived from experiments and archival data supports our theoretical predictions. This study contributes to the BTOF literature by demonstrating that underperforming firms’ risk-taking behavior is jointly determined by their motivation, ability, focus of attention, and concern for survival. Funding: This work was supported by the Israel Science Foundation [Grant 677/20]. Supplemental Material: The online appendices are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2020.13953 .

Comparing fear responses of two lizard species across habitats varying in human impact

Abstract Animals that are successful in urban habitats often have reduced antipredator responses toward people (sometimes called “fear” responses). However, few studies test whether sympatric species differ in their responses to humans, which may explain differing sensitivities to urbanization. Here, we quantified the behavioral and physiological responses to humans in two lizard species, side-blotched lizards (Uta stansburiana) and western fence lizards (Sceloporus occidentalis), across three different habitat types that vary in human impact: natural habitats with low levels of human activity, natural habitats with high levels of human activity, and urban habitats. We found that side-blotched lizards had longer flight initiation distances, were found closer to a refuge, and were more likely to hide than fence lizards, behaviors that could indicate greater fearfulness. Both lizard species were found closer to a refuge and were also more likely to hide in the urban habitat than in the natural habitat with low human impact, which could represent adaptive behaviors for increased risks in urban areas (e.g. cats). Western fence lizards exhibited lower body sizes and conditions in the habitats with moderate and high levels of human activity, whereas these traits did not differ among habitats in side-blotched lizards. Baseline and stress-induced corticosterone concentrations did not differ across habitats for both species, suggesting that human-impacted habitats were not stressful or that lizards had undergone habituation-like processes in these habitats. Taken together, our results highlight the importance of standardized measurements across multiple species in the same habitats to understand differential responses to human-induced environmental change.

Environmental education and sustainable tourism for visitors to Peru

This study examined the impact of environmental education on sustainable tourism. A causal and correlational investigation was carried out of a non-experimental and transversal nature, in which 1,000 tourists who visited the city of Arequipa-Peru participated. These were intentionally selected to represent a specific sample. Two expert-validated surveys were used for data collection. The results indicated a moderate level of environmental education, with foreign professional women showing profound environmental knowledge. On the contrary, young national professionals demonstrated a profound commitment to the environment. These results underscore the significant link between environmental education and sustainable tourism. Nevertheless, a definitive conclusion was not reached about the study, as there could be other contributing factors.

Perfectionism and its Levels among Teachers in South Al Batinah

This study aimed to explore the perfectionism degree and its levels among teachers in Al Batinah South Governorate according to the variables of type of education, years of work, gender, and educational qualification. The study sample consisted of (302) teachers, comprising (129) male teachers and (173) female teachers. The researchers developed a perfectionism scale due to the absence of a specific Arabic scale to measure perfectionism among teachers. The results indicated a moderate level of perfectionism among teachers in Al Batinah South according to the perfectionism scale. The results also showed differences in the level of perfectionism among teachers in Al Batinah South attributed to years of experience in favor of the group with 10 years or more. However, the results did not show differences in the level of perfectionism among teachers in Al Batinah South Governorate attributed to variables of gender, type of education, and educational qualification.

Long‐term occupancy monitoring reveals value of moderate disturbance for an open‐habitat specialist, the Stephens' kangaroo rat (Dipodomys stephensi)

AbstractFor species of conservation concern, long‐term monitoring is vital to properly characterize changes in population distribution and abundance over time. In addition, long‐term monitoring guides management decisions by informing and evaluating the efficacy of management actions. A long‐term monitoring initiative for the federally threatened Stephens' Kangaroo rat (Dipodomys stephensi, SKR) was established in 2005, across 628 hectares within Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton (MCBCP), San Diego, California, USA. From 2005 to 2018, we tracked trends in area occupied by SKR, trends in relative SKR densities within occupied habitat, and modeled probabilities of SKR occupancy, colonization, extinction, with habitat, climate, and disturbance covariates. Area occupied by SKR increased almost 2‐fold from 2005 to 2018 on MCBCP, while density in occupied habitat increased almost 3‐fold. Increased area occupied was correlated with increases in estimated density among years, indicating SKR population growth occurs by expansion into suitable habitat patches, as well as increases in numbers within occupied habitat. SKR occupancy was positively associated with gentle slopes (&lt;10%) and moderate open ground (40–80%) and forb cover (&gt;40%). They were more likely to colonize previously unoccupied habitat when there were moderate levels of open ground (40–80%) and low shrub cover (&lt;20%), while more likely to go locally extinct in areas with high slopes (&gt;10%), less open ground (&lt;20%), and increased non‐native grass cover (&gt;40%). Additionally, probabilities of SKR occupancy and colonization were higher in areas with moderate levels of disturbance, which was positively associated with open ground and forb cover. We conclude that long‐term occupancy and density monitoring is effective in informing status and trends of spatially dynamic species and that moderate habitat‐based disturbance is compatible with the management of SKR.

Effects of frequency and amount of stover mulching on the microbial community composition and structure in the endosphere and rhizosphere.

Stover mulching, as a sustainable agricultural conservation practice, has been shown to effectively increase soil organic matter and enhance crop yields. The impact of stover mulching on soil microorganisms has been extensively studied. However, less attention has been given to endophytic and rhizospheric microorganisms that have closer relationships with crops. How do the quality and frequency of stover mulching affect the composition and structure of these endosphere and rhizosphere microbial communities? And what is their influence on critical indicators of soil health such as bacterial plant pathogen and Rhizobiales? These questions remain unresolved. Therefore, we investigated the responses of the microbial functional guilds in the endosphere and rhizosphere to maize stover mulching qualities (0%, 33%, 67%, and total stover mulching every year) and frequencies (once every 3 years and twice every 3 years) under 10-year no-till management. Results showed significant correlations between Bacillales and Rhizobiales orders and soil SOC, NO3-N, and NH4+N; Hypocreales and Eurotiales orders were significantly correlated with soil NO3-N, with the Aspergillus genus also showing a significant correlation with soil SOC. The frequency and quality of stover mulching had a significant effect on root and rhizospheric microbial communities, with the lowest relative abundance of bacterial plant pathogens and highest relative abundance of nitrogen-fixing bacteria such as Rhizobiales and Hypocreales observed under F1/3 and F2/3 conditions. The most complex structures in endosphere and rhizospheric microbial communities were found under Q33 and Q67 conditions, respectively. This research indicates that from a soil health perspective, low-frequency high-coverage stover mulching is beneficial for the composition of endosphere and rhizosphere microbial communities, while moderate coverage levels are conducive to more complex structures within these communities. This study holds significant ecological implications for agricultural production and crop protection.

A diallel study to detect genetic background variation for FHB resistance in winter wheat

Breeding for resistance to Fusarium head blight (FHB) relies strongly on a limited number of larger-effect resistance QTL that have been mapped and associated with nearby markers. Smaller-effect (background) resistance QTL may also contribute moderate levels of resistance yet are mostly poorly characterized. Overall resistance of a genotype is determined by the combined action of both types of resistance QTL. This study aimed to identify well-adapted, advanced hard red winter (HRW) wheat breeding lines with useful background resistance QTL. A diallel trial consisting of 11 parents and 55 non-reciprocal F1 hybrids was tested for Type II FHB resistance in a replicated greenhouse experiment. Significant differences were detected among entries for disease severity (DS), general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) with four parents being identified as the best general combiners with lowest DS. The ratio of GCA:SCA effects suggested that additive QTL effects were of primary importance. Overall, resistance QTL showed incomplete dominance, an excess of dominant alleles, and a greater contribution of positive effect genes. F2 of the six best F1 hybrids with the lowest DS were compared in a second greenhouse FHB trial to select possible transgressive segregates for continued evaluation and line development.

Integrated Discriminant Evaluation of Molecular Genetic Markers and Genetic Diversity Parameters of Endangered Balearic Dog Breeds.

The genetic diversity analysis of six dog breeds, including Ca de Bestiar (CB), Ca de Bou (CBOU), Podenco Ibicenco (PI), Ca Rater (CR), Ca Mè (CM), and Ca de Conills (CC), reveals insightful findings. CB showcases the highest mean number of alleles (6.17) and heterozygosity values, with significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) observed in five markers, indicating high intra-racial genetic diversity (average observed heterozygosity (Ho) = 0.754, expected heterozygosity (He) = 0.761). In contrast, CBOU presents the lowest mean number of alleles (5.05) and heterozygosity values, coupled with moderate polymorphic information content (PIC) values and a moderate level of intra-racial genetic diversity (average Ho = 0.313, He = 0.394). PI demonstrates moderate genetic diversity with an average of 5.75 alleles and highly informative PIC values, while CR displays robust genetic diversity with an average of 6.61 alleles and deviations from equilibrium, indicating potential risks of inbreeding (average Ho = 0.563, He = 0.658). CM exhibits moderate genetic diversity and deviations from equilibrium, similar to CBOU, with an average of 6.5 alleles and moderate PIC values (average Ho = 0.598, He = 0.676). Conversely, CC shows a wider range of allelic diversity and deviations from equilibrium (average Ho = 0.611, He = 0.706), suggesting a more diverse genetic background. Inter-racial analysis underscores distinct genetic differentiation between breeds, emphasizing the importance of informed breeding decisions and proactive genetic management strategies to preserve diversity, promote breed health, and ensure long-term sustainability across all breeds studied.

Awareness and Practices of Senior High School Students and Teachers on Environmental Education: Basis for Instructional Materials Development

Environmental education in the Philippines has been incorporated into different course curricula, including life and physical sciences. This study evaluated the awareness and practices of senior high school students and teachers in environmental education. The study included 125 senior high school students and 25 teachers from Montevista Stand Alone Senior High School.&#x0D; The study found that 44% of the teacher-respondents were between 41-50 years old, while 51.20% of the student-respondents were between 17-18 years old. The teacher-respondents demonstrated a high level of awareness in environmental concepts and the state of the environment, with an overall mean of 4.34. The student-respondents showed a moderate level of awareness, with an overall mean of 3.18. The teacher-respondents "always" practiced taking action to solve environmental problems, with an overall mean of 4.52, while the student-respondents "often" did so, with an overall mean of 3.80.&#x0D; No statistically significant difference was found in the level of awareness of environmental concepts and the state of the environment among teachers when grouped according to gender (p-value = 0.207) or grade level taught (p-value = 0.910). Similarly, for students, no statistically significant difference was found when grouped according to grade level (p-value = 0.162) or age (p-value = 0.213). The awareness of environmental concepts was significantly and positively related to the need for a high degree of commitment among both teachers (r=0.455; p=0.022) and students (r=0.885; p=0.000).&#x0D; Based on the findings, the researcher recommends developing instructional materials for environmental education that aim to maintain and increase students' understanding and capacities in relation to environmental problems and environmental sustainability principles.

Assessing Panonychus ulmi (Acari: Tetranychidae) Infestations and Their Key Predators on Malus domestica Borkh in Varied Ecological Settings

This study investigates the infestation dynamics of Panonychus ulmi McGregor 1916 and its associated predators in Malus domestica borkh orchards across three towns in Morocco: Midelt, Ait Sebaa, and Imouzzer-Kender, situated in the Fez-Meknes and Draa-Tafilalt regions. Ait Sebaa (Fez-Meknes region), characterized by high temperatures and a lower altitude, exhibited a substantial increase in P. ulmi and its predators. In contrast, Midelt (Draa-Tafilalt region), with the highest altitude, demonstrated lower mite counts. Imouzzer-Kender (Fez-Meknes region), at an intermediate altitude, showed moderate mite levels. Detailed findings reveal a positive correlation between P. ulmi and temperature, as well as with phytoseiid mites. Conversely, a negative correlation exists between P. ulmi and altitude. Additionally, a positive correlation between phytoseiid mites and temperature is identified. Overall, this study provides valuable information on the ecological interactions between mites, temperature, altitude and humidity in distinct Moroccan regions, highlighting the need to take regional specificities into account in pest management strategies.

In vitro and in silico studies of the potential cytotoxic, antioxidant, and HMG CoA reductase inhibitory effects of chitin from Indonesia mangrove crab (Scylla serrata) shells

This study aimed to characterize chitin extracted from Indonesia mangrove crab (Scylla serrata) shells, as well as to assess its in vitro cytotoxic, antioxidant, and HMG CoA reductase inhibitory potentials. In silico molecular docking, molecular dynamic, and ADMET prediction analyses were also carried out. Chitin was extracted from mangrove crab shells using deproteination and demineralization processes, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) characterization are then performed. The MTT method was further tested in a study of cell viability, while in vitro method was used to assess HMG CoA reductase inhibitory and antioxidant activities. The extracted chitin was found to have a moderate level of cytotoxic and antioxidant activities. In vitro studies showed that it has an IC50 of 36,65 ± 0,082 μg/mL as an HMG CoA reductase inhibitor, and decreased enzyme activity by 68.733 % at 100 μg/mL as a concentration. Furthermore, in the in silico study, chitin showed a strong affinity to several targets, including HMG CoA reductase, HMG synthase, LDL receptor, PPAR-alfa, and HCAR-2 with binding energies of −5.7; −5.8; −3.6; −5.6; −4.6 kcal/mol, respectively. Based on the ADMET properties, it had non-toxic molecules, which were absorbed and distributed across the blood-brain barrier. The molecular dynamics (MD) simulation also showed that it remained stable in the active sites of HMG CoA reductase receptor for 100 ns. These results indicated that chitin from Indonesian mangrove crab shells can be used to develop more potent HMG CoA reductase inhibitor with antioxidant and cytotoxic activities for effective dyslipidemia therapy.

Relationship between smartphone addiction, loneliness, and depression in adolescents: A correlational structural equation modeling study

PurposeThis study was aimed to investigate the relationship between smartphone addiction, loneliness, and depression in adolescents. Design and methodsThis study was designed in a correlational-cross-sectional-descriptive model and was conducted with 1041 adolescents attending high schools in a provincial center in Eastern Turkey. The data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a personal information form, Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version for Adolescents, UCLA Loneliness Scale, and Kutcher Adolescent Depression Scale. ResultsThe average scores for smartphone addiction were found to be higher among females, individuals with low academic success, and those with a high-income level. Similarly, the average scores for loneliness were higher among individuals residing in broken families and those with parents who have limited literacy. Additionally, the mean scores for depression were higher among individuals with low academic success and those with a high-income level. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was observed between the duration of smartphone use and levels of smartphone addiction, loneliness, and depression. ConclusionSmartphone addiction, loneliness, and depression were found to be prevalent above the moderate level in adolescents. Additionally, a significant positive correlation was observed between the depression and loneliness scores of adolescents. Practice implicationsPediatric and school nurses should assess children's phone use. Nurses are well-positioned to establish a follow-up program aimed at monitoring adolescents' efforts in managing smartphone use, offering continuous support, and providing guidance when necessary. The implementation of such programs enables prompt intervention in addressing any arising issues.

Weight loss induced by a hypocaloric diet with or without fish oil supplementation re-established iron and omega-3 fatty acid homeostasis in middle-aged women with obesity: A post-hoc analysis of a randomized controlled trial

ObjectiveMiddle-aged women with obesity are at increased risk of iron overload and iron disorder is known to disrupt n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid homeostasis. We evaluated relationships between pretreatment hemoglobin and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid levels, and tested whether pretreatment hemoglobin contributed to inter-individual variability in weight loss with special focus on changes in body weight, iron and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid profiles. Study design117 middle and older aged women with obesity and more than two metabolic abnormalities were randomized to a 12-week hypocaloric diet without or with fish oil supplementation. Blood iron biomarker and erythrocyte membrane phospholipid profiles were evaluated. Main outcomeThe absolute change from baseline to week 12 in serum iron and erythrocyte n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid levels according to pretreatment hemoglobin tertiles and fish oil supplementation. ResultsA Pearson correlation analysis showed that pretreatment hemoglobin levels were negatively correlated with linoleic acid (r = −0.231), α-linoleic acid (r = −0.279), and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (r = −0.217) (all p < 0.05). Dietary weight loss markedly enhanced erythrocyte membrane lipids of linoleic acid, α-linoleic acid, and n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid only in those women with the highest pretreatment hemoglobin levels (tertile 3) (all p < 0.05). Fish oil supplementation increased bioavailable iron in women with moderate pretreatment hemoglobin levels (tertile 2) (p < 0.05) and, to a lesser extent, prevented a reduction in circulating iron in those with the lowest hemoglobin levels (tertile 1). ConclusionDietary weight loss is an effective treatment program to manage obesity-related iron and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid disorders, particularly for middle-aged women with obesity and iron overload.

Assessment of physical activity levels and back pain among poles and Portuguese in the further year of the COVID-19 pandemic - a pilot study

BackgroundThe vast majority of people have experienced the problem of back pain at least once in their lives for a variety of reasons. It is well known that regular physical activity at a moderate level has a number of health benefits regardless of age or gender with positive effects on the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, respiratory or nervous systems improving fitness levels. During the pandemic, Poland experienced one of the longest periods of school lockdown in Europe. In Portugal, this period was considerably shorter. The aim of this study was to determine the level of physical activity and back pain as well as relationship between physical activity and back pain in a group of Polish and Portuguese students in the following year the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsThe study was conducted via the Internet among students from Poland and Portugal (398 respondents − 229 from Poland and 169 from Portugal) in October 2022. In the pilot study, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and The Oswestry Disability Index and Neck Disability Index questionnaires were used to assess the level of back pain.ResultsThere are no statistically significant differences in the level of physical activity and pain complaints of respondents from the two countries. At least half of the students do not report any pain complaints (median in some groups being 0). In the Portuguese men, there is a correlation between the level of physical activity and the Neck Disability Index score (p = 0.0304).ConclusionsThe following year, after the pandemic COVID-19 was declared, the prevalence of back pain among students in Poland and Portugal is still significant.

Evaluation of anxiety and hopelessness levels in emergency service workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey

Background/Aim: The COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant threat to the lives of individuals, particularly frontline healthcare workers. This brought about negative emotions, such as anxiety and hopelessness. Despite the existence of research evaluating psychiatric symptoms among healthcare personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study is also significant in terms of evaluating and emphasizing the common negative emotions experienced by frontline healthcare workers during the pandemic. This study aimed to evaluate anxiety and hopelessness levels in emergency service workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and to examine these levels in terms of specific variables. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among emergency service healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses, and healthcare officers working in a training and research hospital from July 10 to August 10, 2020 during the pandemic. Participants completed a survey that included a sociodemographic information form, the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS). A total of 135 personnel without a history of psychiatric illness or use of psychiatric medication were included in the study. Results: Of the 135 participants in the study, 67 were female, and 68 were male. The mean state anxiety score for all participants was 44.5 (12.6), trait anxiety score was 44.2 (7.3) and hopelessness score was 7.1 (5.2). It was found that the anxiety of emergency service workers during the pandemic was at a moderate level and their hopelessness was at a mild level. In the study, higher scores were found in hopelessness and state-trait anxiety measurements in married individuals compared to single participants (P=0.040, P=0.003, P=0.001, respectively). Trait anxiety scores were significantly higher among those with chronic diseases compared to those without chronic diseases, and in those living with families compared to those living alone (P=0.039 and P=0.017, respectively). A positive and moderate relationship was observed between hopelessness levels and state-trait anxiety levels (P&lt;0.001 for all, r=0.457, r=0.425, respectively). Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, increased levels of anxiety and hopelessness were detected among healthcare workers in emergency services. It was observed that as the working time in the emergency department increased, hopelessness and state anxiety levels of the employees also increased.

Influence of the Fear of Movement and Fatigue on Self-Efficacy for Physical Activity in Women with Fibromyalgia

Introduction and purpose: Self-efficacy is considered an antecedent for physical activity levels in fibromyalgia patients. However, the influence of the fear of movement and fatigue on the self-efficacy to reduce physical inactivity is still not clear and could be critical in improving the biopsychosocial benefits of therapeutic exercise. In this way, the present study aims to assess the relationship between self-efficacy, fatigue, fibromyalgia impact, the fear of movement, and physical activity. Additionally, it aims to explore differences among patients based on self-reported physical activity levels. Material and methods: A sample of 115 women diagnosed with fibromyalgia were evaluated in this prospective study. The variables were the impact of fibromyalgia, the fear of movement, fatigue, self-efficacy, and physical activity levels. Results: Patients with high and moderate physical activity levels had higher self-efficacy for physical function (p &lt; 0.05), which is in line with the previously known model. Furthermore, a model was developed where the significant relationship between the fear of movement and self-efficacy for physical activity was significantly mediated by general fatigue and the impact of fibromyalgia on physical function. Conclusions: The fear of movement may influence self-efficacy, affecting physical activity levels; therapeutic exercises targeting the fear of movement can enhance self-efficacy and activity levels, while fatigue and fibromyalgia may mediate this relationship.

Polygonum aviculare L.'s biological Activities: Investigating its Anti-Proliferative, Antioxidant, chemical properties supported by molecular docking study

In this study, two different solvent extracts of Polygonum aviculare L. collected from natural environment were evaluated in terms of their antioxidant properties, antiproliferative properties and interactions of the extract components with proteins, and were addressed in terms of their pharmacological potential and biological activities. The plant was extracted using two different solvents, and its biological activity levels were examined utilizing in vitro antioxidant and antiproliferative (cytotoxicity assay) assays. According to the results obtained, there was a variation in chemical composition between the water and methanol extracts of this plant. While “1,4:3,6-Dianhydro-.alpha.-d-glucopyranose” was determined with 2.78 as the major component of the water extract of the plant, “n-Hexadecanoic acid” was determined with 10.32 in the methanol extract. The antioxidant activity of the plant was evaluated according to both DPPH and ABTS methods. The results obtained in both methods were found to be close to each other. While the antioxidant activity value of the plant remained at a moderate level compared to the standard substance, it was observed that the activity value increased as the concentration increased. When the results were examined in terms of antiproliferative properties of aqueous and methanolic extracts, it was seen that only the water extract was active. In addition, among the molecules identified in the extracts, it was determined by molecular docking calculations that cyclododecane, which is the third most abundant component in the methanol extract, showed the highest biological activity. In the same time, the activities of chemicals found in Polygonum aviculare L. plant extract against a range of proteins, including the crystal structures of the following: bovine xanthine oxidedase (PDB ID: 3NRZ), human peroxiredoxin 5 (PDB ID: 1HD2), antibacterial FabH inhibitors (PDB ID: 4Z8D), estrogen receptor (PDB ID: 1A52), and the BRCT repeat region (PDB ID: 1JNX). Next, the compounds with the highest activity were analyzed for their ADME/T characteristics.