Need For Additional Information Research Articles

High- versus low-gradient aortic stenosis: Is our evaluation limited by aorto-mitral angle on cardiovascular CT?

BackgroundAccurate assessment of aortic valve (AV) stenosis (AS) on transthoracic echocardiogram is crucial for appropriate clinical management. However, discordance between aortic valve area (AVA) and Doppler can complicate the diagnosis of severe AS in low-gradient (LG) AS phenotypes. MethodsWe reviewed 220 consecutive patients with suspected severe AS and AVA ≤1.0 cm2 on transthoracic echocardiogram who were evaluated for transcatheter AV replacement (TAVR) within a large health system from 2015 to 2019. We compared AV calcium score and aorta-mitral angle (AMA) on 3-chamber views from ECG-gated cardiovascular CT among patients with high-gradient (HG) AS (N = 18), paradoxical low-flow low-gradient (PLFLG) AS (N = 24) and normal-flow low-gradient (NFLG) AS (N = 14). ResultsAll groups had comparable age, comorbidities, and AV calcium scores. Compared to patients with HG AS (mean AMA 120 ± 10°), those with PLFLG AS (104 ± 12°; p < 0.001) and NFLG AS (106 ± 13°; p = 0.008) had narrower mean AMA values on cardiovascular CT. ConclusionLG AS patients have significantly narrower AMA than HG AS patients on cardiovascular CT. Due to difficulty obtaining parallel Doppler alignment, narrower AMA may contribute to AVA-Doppler discordance on echocardiogram. These findings emphasize the need for additional information in the setting of LG AS.

Understanding Corporate Bond Defaults in Korea Using Machine Learning Models*

AbstractWe investigate corporate bond defaults from 1995 to 2020 using hand‐collected data from hard‐copy publications in Korea. Using an under‐sampling method, we construct default prediction models based on machine learning models as well as a logistic model. The empirical results show that the random forest model outperforms the others. However, regardless of the models used, model performance in financial crisis periods is significantly worse than it is in non‐crisis periods. This finding suggests the need for additional information to improve model performance during crises when the default prediction is the most relevant. Furthermore, the dominant predictor of defaults before the global financial crisis was the debt ratio, while subsequently, the coverage ratio has become the most important predictor.

Genetic connectivity in the Arizona toad (Anaxyrus microscaphus): implications for conservation of a stream dwelling amphibian in the arid Southwestern United States

The Arizona Toad (Anaxyrus microscaphus) is restricted to riverine corridors and adjacent uplands in the arid southwestern United States. As with numerous amphibians worldwide, populations are declining and face various known or suspected threats, from disease to habitat modification resulting from climate change. The Arizona Toad has been petitioned to be listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and was considered “warranted but precluded” citing the need for additional information – particularly regarding natural history (e.g., connectivity and dispersal ability). The objectives of this study were to characterize population structure and genetic diversity across the species’ range. We used reduced-representation genomic sequencing to genotype 3,601 single nucleotide polymorphisms in 99 Arizona Toads from ten drainages across its range. Multiple analytical methods revealed two distinct genetic groups bisected by the Colorado River; one in the northwestern portion of the range in southwestern Utah and eastern Nevada and the other in the southeastern portion of the range in central and eastern Arizona and New Mexico. We also found subtle substructure within both groups, particularly in central Arizona where toads at lower elevations were less connected than those at higher elevations. The northern and southern parts of the Arizona Toad range are not well connected genetically and could be managed as separate units. Further, these data could be used to identify source populations for assisted migration or translocations to support small or potentially declining populations.

Preoperative assessment of retroperitoneal Liposarcoma using volume-based 18F-FDG PET/CT: implications for surgical strategy and prognosis

PurposeRetroperitoneal liposarcoma (RLPS) poses a challenging scenario for surgeons due to its unpredictable biological behavior. Surgery remains the primary curative option for RLPS; however, the need for additional information to guide surgical strategies persists. Volume-based 18F-FDG PET/CT may solve this issue.MethodsWe analyzed data from 89 RLPS patients, measuring metabolic tumor volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis (TLG), and maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and explored their associations with clinical, prognostic, and pathological factors.ResultsMTV, TLG of multifocal and recurrent RLPS were significantly higher than unifocal and primary ones (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P = 0.003 and P = 0.002, respectively). SUVmax correlated with FNCLCC histological grade, mitotic count and Ki-67 index (P for G1/G2 = 0.005, P for G2/G3 = 0.017, and P for G1/G3 = 0.001, P < 0.001 and P = 0.024, respectively). MTG, TLG and SUVmax of WDLPS were significantly lower than DDLPS and PLPS (P for MTV were 0.009 and 0.022, P for TLG were 0.028 and 0.048, and P for SUVmax were 0.027 and < 0.001, respectively). Multivariable Cox analysis showed that MTV > 457.65 (P = 0.025), pathological subtype (P = 0.049) and FNCLCC histological grade (P = 0.033) were related to overall survival (OS).ConclusionsOur findings indicate that MTV is an independent prognostic factor for RLPS, while MTV, TLG, and SUVmax can preoperatively predict multifocal lesions, histological grade, and pathological subtype. Volume-based 18F-FDG PET/CT offers valuable information to aid in the decision-making process for RLPS surgical strategies.

Upaya Pengendalian DBD Hasil Evaluasi Survey Mawas Diri Di Rw 2 Kelurahan Tenggilis Mejoyo Kecamatan Tenggilis Mejoyo

The Self-Introduction Survey (SMD) is an activity for identifying, collecting, and assessing people's health. It is carried out by cadres and local community leaders under the guidance of the Kelurahan/Kelurahan head and health officers. The aim of the study was to identify problems in controlling dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), the underlying factors, and alternative solutions to DHF control problems in RW 02, Tenggilis Mejoyo Village. A descriptive research method with a cross-sectional study was used. Data collection was carried out by a self-introduction survey (SMD), and respondents were interviewed using a questionnaire instrument. The respondents were 20 Great Surabaya Cadres (KSH). DHF control priority issues were prepared using the CARL method, and causative factor analysis was done using a fish bone Ishikawa diagram. The study found that most of the KSH in the RW 02 area of Tenggilis Mejoyo Village were aged between 25 and 60 years and had a bachelor's degree. The most common health problem was DHF, caused by cadres' lack of knowledge and inappropriate behavior in eradicating mosquito larvae nests (PSJN). The alternative solutions to the problem were proposing regular additions of cadres according to their area and providing the widest possible opportunity for cadres to obtain information regarding PSJN properly through counseling. The chosen problem-solving method was to provide counseling to KSH. The SMD activity carried out in RW 02 Tenggilis Mejoyo Village identified DHF as the priority health problem. Counseling on KSH was selected as the follow-up problem-solving method, which was in line with the findings in the field, namely the need for additional information regarding DHF knowledge and appropriate behavior in PSJN.

Development and functional evaluation of pedotransfer functions for estimating soil hydraulic properties in Portuguese soils: Implications for soil water dynamics

Accurate knowledge of soil hydraulic properties is essential for effectively simulating soil water dynamics in field plots. However, determining these properties directly can be challenging, especially when a large amount of data is required. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to develop four hierarchical pedotransfer functions (PTFs) to estimate the soil hydraulic parameters of the Mualem-van Genuchten model. The PTFs that were developed ranged from utilizing a limited set of variables to those comprising a more comprehensive set of variables. These included particle size distribution, soil bulk density, soil depth, and soil water contents at matric potentials of −33 and − 1580 kPa. The functional performance of these PTFs was also assessed in simulations of the soil water balance in ten agricultural fields over two growing seasons using the HYDRUS-1D model. The simpler PTFs exhibited moderate accuracy in estimating soil water contents at different matric potentials, while the more complex PTFs with a greater number of variables yielded increasing accuracy. However, estimation errors were more noticeable in the drier range of the soil water retention curve. The inclusion of bulk density as a predictor only affected the wetter range of the same curve. Estimation of log Ks improved from the simpler to the more complex PTFs, but the statistical indicators were consistently modest. The functional performance of the PTFs showed increased errors in simulating soil water contents in the ten study sites compared to reference simulations. The more complex PTFs with the greatest number of variables provided the best predictions in most cases. The PTFs primarily affected flow conditions in the soil profile, resulting in increased soil water storage and impacting predictions of deep percolation the most. Water availability in the soil profile then influenced actual transpiration, alleviating stress in some cases but causing waterlogging in one situation. The study emphasizes the cautious use of the PTFs and the need for additional information on clay-rich soils and hydraulic conductivity data to enhance their performance.

Consumers’ perceptions of animal husbandry practices and their heterogeneous needs for information – insights from a cross-country cluster analysis

Abstract The growing complexity of value chains leads to an increasing distance between consumers and producers. In anonymized markets, product labels are used to decrease the information asymmetry between producers and consumers, as they replace any form of direct communication. In the context of animal husbandry, we reveal how the distance between consumers and producers is related to consumers’ perceptions of animal welfare and elaborate on the role of knowledge, information, and product labels. A quantitative online survey on consumers’ perceptions of and attitudes towards animal welfare (AW) was carried out in Austria, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Sweden. Data was analyzed using principal component and cluster analysis, yielding four consumer segments, namely the pragmatists, the AW unconcerned, the indifferent, and the AW concerned. The results indicate that the more contact consumers have with producers/farmers, the higher is consumers’ subjective knowledge of animal husbandry systems and the lower is the need for additional information on animal welfare through a label. Further research is needed to investigate the relation between subjective and objective knowledge, animal welfare concern, and consumers’ alienation from food production places and practices.

Acceptance, Intent, Hesitance, and Attitudes Towards SAR-CoV-2 Vaccines Among Healthcare Workers in Michigan, USA.

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are critical infrastructure workers for whom COVID-19 vaccination was prioritized. It is believed that healthcare workers would have little or no hesitancy to take the COVID-19 vaccines given the risks of the pandemic to them, their families, and their patients. The study aims to understand the acceptance and attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccines among the HCWs in Michigan. A cross-sectional survey was fielded from January 11, 2021, through February 28, 2021. We obtained a representative sample of HCWs at MidMichigan Health. The participants were approximately 1500 clinical and non-clinical HCWs. COVID-19 vaccination acceptance and the intent to be vaccinated were measured with a questionnaire. HCWs indicating hesitance were asked to enter their reasons for hesitance as a free text response. A total of 1,467 HCWs responded to the survey. Overall, 62% indicated they had received both shots; 19.7% reported that they had received the first shot and would take the second; 2.3% noted that they were yet to receive the vaccine but would take both shots; 0.4% reported that they had received the first shot but would not take the second; 5.7% noted that they were unsure; and 9.9% indicated they did not intend to take the vaccine. Factors associated with vaccine hesitance included being female, younger age, having administrative staff or other health workers, having a larger household size, and having received no vaccines in the past year. Vaccine hesitancy concerns included safety, efficacy, antivaccine beliefs, the need for additional information, and a lack of trust. This survey revealed that 16% of HCWs in central and northern Michigan were hesitant about COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccine education is needed to increase the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines among HCWs.

Quantifying the fraction of new mutations that are recessive lethal.

The presence and impact of recessive lethal mutations have been widely documented in diploid outcrossing species. However, precise estimates of the proportion of new mutations that are recessive lethal remain limited. Here, we evaluate the performance of Fit∂a∂i, a commonly used method for inferring the distribution of fitness effects (DFE), in the presence of lethal mutations. Using simulations, we demonstrate that in both additive and recessive cases, inference of the deleterious nonlethal portion of the DFE is minimally affected by a small proportion (<10%) of lethal mutations. Additionally, we demonstrate that while Fit∂a∂i cannot estimate the fraction of recessive lethal mutations, Fit∂a∂i can accurately infer the fraction of additive lethal mutations. Finally, as an alternative approach to estimate the proportion of mutations that are recessive lethal, we employ models of mutation-selection-drift balance using existing genomic parameters and estimates of segregating recessive lethals for humans and Drosophila melanogaster. In both species, the segregating recessive lethal load can be explained by a very small fraction (<1%) of new nonsynonymous mutations being recessive lethal. Our results refute recent assertions of a much higher proportion of mutations being recessive lethal (4%-5%), while highlighting the need for additional information on the joint distribution of selection and dominance coefficients.

PD10-01 ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN PROSTATE MRI AND GENOMIC TESTING AND TREATMENT INTENSIFICATION AMONG PATIENTS WITH LOCALIZED PROSTATE CANCER

You have accessJournal of UrologyCME1 Apr 2023PD10-01 ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN PROSTATE MRI AND GENOMIC TESTING AND TREATMENT INTENSIFICATION AMONG PATIENTS WITH LOCALIZED PROSTATE CANCER Michael Leapman, Rong Wang, Jessica Long, Preston Sprenkle, Xiaomei Ma, and Cary Gross Michael LeapmanMichael Leapman More articles by this author , Rong WangRong Wang More articles by this author , Jessica LongJessica Long More articles by this author , Preston SprenklePreston Sprenkle More articles by this author , Xiaomei MaXiaomei Ma More articles by this author , and Cary GrossCary Gross More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000003250.01AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Prostate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and tissue-based gene expression (genomic) tests improve local staging and estimates of disease prognosis, however clinical management associated with their use in the real-world setting is not well understood. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of Medicare beneficiaries diagnosed with clinically localized prostate cancer in 2013-2017 and treated with prostate radiation or radical prostatectomy in the Surveillance Epidemiology and End-Results (SEER)-Medicare database. We identified prostate MRI and genomic tests using specific administrative claims codes. The primary study outcome was treatment intensification, defined as any use of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate radiation or pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) for radical prostatectomy, respectively. We assessed the associations between patient-level receipt of prostate MRI and genomic testing and treatment intensification via multivariable logistic regressions, adjusting for clinical and sociodemographic factors, and further stratifying the analyses by D’Amico clinical risk status. RESULTS: We identified 26,017 patients meeting inclusion criteria, including 2,822 (11%) with low, 17,651 (68%) with intermediate and 4,664 (18%) with high-risk prostate cancer. In the overall cohort, receipt of prostate MRI (odds ratio [OR], 1.76 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.65-1.88, p<0.001) was associated with increased odds of treatment intensification, while genomic testing was not associated (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.73-1.01, p=0.07). Prostate MRI was associated with increased odds of intensified treatment in all risk strata, while genomic testing was associated with lower odds of intensified treatment in the high-risk subset only (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.35-1.00, p=0.048). By specific treatments, prostate MRI was associated with increased odds of PLND (OR 2.54, 95% CI 2.24-2.87) and ADT (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.26-1.48) across all risk strata, while genomic testing was associated with decreased odds of PLND (OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.54-0.83) and ADT (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.41-0.76). This analysis is limited by the absence of MRI and genomic testing results. CONCLUSIONS: We identified distinct patterns of management associated with prostate MRI and genomic testing in localized prostate cancer. These findings suggest the need for additional information about the independent role of diagnostic technologies in decision-making. Source of Funding: William O. Seery Foundation, Patterson Trust Mentored Research AwardNIH/National Cancer Institute © 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 209Issue Supplement 4April 2023Page: e326 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Michael Leapman More articles by this author Rong Wang More articles by this author Jessica Long More articles by this author Preston Sprenkle More articles by this author Xiaomei Ma More articles by this author Cary Gross More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...

An Online Repository for Pre-Clinical Imaging Protocols (PIPs).

Providing method descriptions that are more detailed than currently available in typical peer reviewed journals has been identified as an actionable area for improvement. In the biochemical and cell biology space, this need has been met through the creation of new journals focused on detailed protocols and materials sourcing. However, this format is not well suited for capturing instrument validation, detailed imaging protocols, and extensive statistical analysis. Furthermore, the need for additional information must be counterbalanced by the additional time burden placed upon researchers who may be already overtasked. To address these competing issues, this white paper describes protocol templates for positron emission tomography (PET), X-ray computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that can be leveraged by the broad community of quantitative imaging experts to write and self-publish protocols in protocols.io. Similar to the Structured Transparent Accessible Reproducible (STAR) or Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE) articles, authors are encouraged to publish peer reviewed papers and then to submit more detailed experimental protocols using this template to the online resource. Such protocols should be easy to use, readily accessible, readily searchable, considered open access, enable community feedback, editable, and citable by the author.

Drug Information Sources for Patients with Chronic Conditions in the Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia.

Appropriate drug information is vital for the correct use of drugs in pharmaceutical practice. Providing patients with educational advice on prescribed medication and on proper medication administration has become an essential part of the pharmaceutical care process. The objectives of this study were to identify patients' knowledge of prescribed medications, their desire for more information, and the sources of medication information in a population from Qassim, Saudi Arabia, using a cross-sectional descriptive study. Our target population consisted of adult patients with chronic illnesses receiving drugs at outpatient pharmacies. Nineteen pharmacies were selected based on convenience. After collecting their prescriptions, patients were asked to take part in the study by interviewers as they were leaving the pharmacies. The questionnaire used was pretested on 18 patients and then modified accordingly. questions investigated participants' knowledge of drug information, their wish for more information, and their sources of drug information, other than clinicians. Descriptive analysis was used to describe patients' physical details. The effect of sex, education, diagnosis, number of drugs, and age on knowledge of the purpose of drugs and the need for additional information were tested using Chi-square test. A total of 270 patients were interviewed, of whom 29.7% reported not knowing the purpose of at least one of their medications, and only reading a portion of the PILs. Of the patients sampled, 56.7% said they read the side effects section of the PIL, 43.3% reported reading the uses, while 27% read the contraindications. The drug -interactions section was the least read, with only 18.9% reporting reading it. A total of 57% of the patients reported that they needed more information about their medications. Highly educated patients reported using the PIL, social media, family and friends, TV, and newspapers as sources of drug information at significantly higher rates than patients with lower levels of education. Healthcare professionals should assess patient comprehension and the need for additional drug information, especially among patients with low levels of education. Additionally, healthcare professionals should consider other information sources used by their patients.

Low-distortion information propagation with noise suppression in swarm networks

A method for low-distortion (low-dissipation, low-dispersion) information propagation in swarm-type networks with suppression of high-frequency noise is presented. Information propagation in current neighbor-based networks, where each agent seeks to achieve a consensus with its neighbors, is diffusion-like, dissipative, and dispersive and does not reflect the wave-like (superfluidic) behavior seen in nature. However, pure wave-like neighbor-based networks have two challenges: i) It requires additional communication for sharing information about time derivatives and ii) it can lead to information decoherence through noise at high frequencies. The main contribution of this work is to show that delayed self-reinforcement (DSR) by the agents using prior information (e.g., using short-term memory) can lead to the wave-like information propagation at low-frequencies as seen in nature without the need for additional information sharing between the agents. Moreover, it is shown that the DSR can be designed to enable suppression of high-frequency noise transmission while limiting the dissipation and dispersion of (lower-frequency) information content leading to similar (cohesive) behavior of agents. In addition to explaining noise-suppressed wave-like information transfer in natural systems, the result impacts the design of noise-suppressing cohesive algorithms for engineered networks.

Survey on the use of antibiotics among Swiss equine veterinarians

The aim of this study was to evaluate the current use of antibiotics by Swiss equine veterinarians and to compare the results with a similar study from 2013 before the introduction of the web tool Antibiotic Scout. The survey was sent to equine veterinarians according to the member database of the Swiss Veterinary Association (GST, SVS). The demographic data of the respondents and their antibiotics usage were collected. In addition, six different case scenarios were presented with questions to their potential antibiotic usage, active substance/preparation and the dosing scheme. The dosage provided was compared with the dosage information approved by Swissmedic in the information for healthcare professionals and the recommendations of the antibiotic scout. A backward logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association between different aspects of antibiotic use and demographic data. The response rate was 94/739 (13 %), 22 of the 94 (23 %) had also participated in the 2013 study. 47/94 (50 %) of the respondents obtained their information from the antibiotic scout. The respondents indicated that they used an antibiotic in 16 %-88 % depending on the case scenario. Neither 3rd nor 4th generation cephalosporins or fluoroquinolones were used in the case scenarios. Dihydrostreptomycin was indicated as a possible antibiotic in a case scenario by 14/94 (15 %) of the respondents. Respondents who had already taken part in the 2013 survey used dihydrostreptomycin significantly more frequently (7/22, 32 % vs. 7/72, 10 %; p = 0,047). 29/81 (36 %) had underdosed compared to the prescribing information and 38/81 (47 %) compared to the antibiotic scout; neither was associated with demographic data. The use of non-equine-licensed antimicrobial products was directly related to the number of veterinarians in the practice (p = 0,007) and to the percentage of horses (p = 0,02). No association between demographics and peri-operative antibiotic use >24h (17/44, 39 %) was detected. The antibiotic prescribing habits of Swiss equine veterinarians have improved over the last 10 years. The antibiotic use decreased compared to the study of Schwechler et al. in 2013 by 0-16 % depending on the case scenario. The use of 3rd and 4th generation cephalosporins was reduced by 4 % and fluoroquinolones by 7 %. Underdosing according to scientific recommendations was reduced by 32 %. Furthermore, there is a need for additional information regarding the indication for antimicrobial use and the adequate use of perioperative antibiotics.

EVALUATION OF UKRAINIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS' KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND PRACTICE REGARDING THE PREVENTION OF PAPILLOMAVIRUS INFECTION

The purpose of the study was to assess the level of Ukrainian medical students' knowledge regarding the human papillomavirus (HPV), as well as their attitude and practice regarding the prevention of HPV infection. Materials and methods. A cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted among medical students in Kharkiv, Kyiv, and Vinnytsia in October–December 2022. A questionnaire was developed. Two hundred and fifty-two medical students took part in the survey. Descriptive statistics methods were used for data analysis. Pearson's χ2 test was used to determine if there was a significant relationship between two nominal variables. Results. The sample of respondents was represented by students aged 16–38 years, primarily female (87.3%, n = 220). Almost three-quarters (73.8%, n = 186) of all respondents indicated the need for additional information about HPV. Only 43.3% of respondents (n = 109) knew that the early onset of sexual life was a risk factor for HPV infection. Thirty-seven respondents (14.7%) correctly indicated that men who had sex with men were at increased risk of HPV infection compared to heterosexual men. Seventy-nine students (31.3%) reported that they didn't know about the existence of the HPV vaccine before taking the questionnaire. Seventy-five students (29.8%) didn't know whether vaccination against HPV infection was mandatory in Ukraine and whether it was included in the national vaccination schedule. Only 57.9% of respondents (n = 146) reported that they systematically (at least once a year) visited a gynecologist/urologist. The proportion of students who had sexual relations and visited a gynecologist/urologist was greater than the proportion of students who didn't have sexual relations and regularly visited a gynecologist/urologist (χ2 = 27.559; p &lt; 0.00001). One hundred and forty-eight respondents (58.7%) indicated that they had sexual relations. Of them, 52.0% (n = 77) of respondents had two or more sexual partners during their lifetime. Twenty-seven respondents of those who had sex life (18.2%) had never been tested for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The majority of students with sexual relations (57.4%, n = 85) never demanded documentary confirmation of the absence of STIs from their sexual partners. The proportion of students vaccinated against HPV was 5.2% (n = 13 of 252). Forty-three respondents (n = 43) did not know their vaccination status and could not say with certainty whether they had been vaccinated against HPV. The other 77.8% of respondents (n = 196) indicated that they were not vaccinated against HPV infection. Among the unvaccinated students, 33.7% of respondents (n = 66) planned to get vaccinated against HPV; 21.9% of respondents (n = 43) didn't plan to be vaccinated against HPV. Conclusion. An insufficient level of knowledge of medical students regarding HPV was revealed. There is a lack of adherence of medical students to HPV vaccination. Factors of risky sexual behavior have been identified among persons who have sexual relations. It is necessary to increase the awareness of future doctors about HPV and HPV immunoprophylaxis by optimizing educational programs in medical universities and to intensify sanitary and educational work on safe sex.

Methods of Teaching Students of Non-Linguistic Specialties at a Higher Educational Institution

The modern educational paradigm provides for the formation of various competencies: general cultural, personal and professional, the optimal combination of which should be achieved as a result of professional training of a specialist. Accordingly, for students of non-linguistic specialties, the study of a foreign language should be aimed at the development of all these competencies, which determines the choice of the main forms and methods of teaching it, based on an integrative personal-activity approach. At the same time, the main methodological solution for teaching a foreign language in a non-linguistic university should be the development and creative application of complex digital educational resources that can be used both as basic and additional pedagogical technologies. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the fact that in the conditions of modern informatization of society, it becomes necessary not only to develop methodological tools independently, but also to use the existing developments productively. The practical significance of the study lies in the fact that students have the opportunity to apply the knowledge, skills and abilities they have acquired, determine for themselves the need for additional information, continue their continuing education and self-education throughout their professional path. The use of digital educational resources makes it possible to switch the process of acquiring knowledge from broadcasting to their purposeful acquisition, which corresponds to the modern competence paradigm.

‘There are people like me who will see that, and it will just wash over them’: Black sexual minority men’s perspectives on messaging in PrEP visual advertisements

The high incidence of HIV among US Black sexual minority men is a public health crisis that pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV can help address. Public health campaigns, which often include pictures of Black sexual minority men alongside PrEP-related messaging, have been developed to encourage PrEP awareness and uptake. However, the acceptability of the messaging within these campaigns among Black sexual minority men is unclear. We conducted four focus groups with 18 HIV-negative Black sexual minority men in Washington, DC to explore their perspectives regarding promotional messaging (textual elements) in PrEP visual advertisements, including their reactions to three large-scale public health campaigns. Primary themes included: (1) the need for additional information about PrEP, (2) preference for slogan simplicity, (3) the desire to normalise PrEP use, and (4) mixed views on the inclusion of condoms. Results indicated that the messaging in current PrEP visual advertisements may not sufficiently address Black sexual minority men’s questions about PrEP. Providing basic PrEP information and methods to access more information; using simple, unambiguous language; presenting PrEP use in a destigmatising, normalising fashion; and conveying the relevance of condoms if included in the advertisement could help increase the acceptability of future PrEP advertising among Black sexual minority men.

Mental health risk factors during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Polish population

Introduction: The level of post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) associated with the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak, stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms was assessed. Risk factors for mental health in the Polish population have been identified. Material and methods: Nine hundred and twenty-six respondents completed a set of questionnaires consisting of questions concerning COVID-19, PTSS related to the COVID-19 outbreak (Impact of Event Scale-Revised, IES-R), and their mental health status (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale, DASS-21). Results: Most respondents reported severe PTSS related to the COVID-19 outbreak (44.06%), the normal intensity of depressive symptoms (52.38%), anxiety symptoms (56.05%), and stress (56.48%). Almost 20% of Polish respondents were characterized by a severe or extremely severe level of stress, anxiety, or depressive symptoms. Every seventh respondent reported an extremely severe level of depressive symptoms. Female gender, parental status, having a relationship, at least a two-person household were associated with higher PTSS or DASS-21 subscales. A few physical symptoms, a medical visit, quarantine, negative health evaluation, chronic diseases, knowledge about the increase in the number of infected people or deaths were associated with higher levels of PTSS. Some of the precautions and the need for additional information on COVID-19, the certainty of a high COVID-19 contracting probability or of a low survival rate, and concerns about the loved ones were associated with higher PTSS. Conclusions: The indicated risk factors can be used for developing psychological interventions to improve mental health. It is necessary to conduct qualitative research on the psychological reasons for the occurrence of mental symptoms during the pandemic.

The influence of positive affect on sensitivity to important omissions.

It is surprisingly difficult to notice when important information is missing (omission neglect) and yet, social media, advertisements, and other forms of communication typically only include one-sided information or positive attributes and omit opposing views or negative attributes. Even though it is surprisingly difficult to overcome this natural tendency, there are circumstances when decision makers are more sensitive to omissions. Understanding how and when decision makers can overcome this omission neglect tendency can be helpful to improve decision making in many situations. This paper investigates positive affect as a potential factor that can elicit sensitivity to omissions and alert decision makers to the need for additional information when important information is, in fact, missing. Four experiments use a consumer product choice situation to show that when decision makers are making an important decision, positive affect increases the likelihood that they will report a greater desire for additional product information (experiments 3 and 4) and temper their purchase interest in the target product. These results are shown using inference (experiments 1, 2, and 3) and by explicitly comparing a product choice with full and partial information (experiment 4). The results are discussed in terms of omission neglect literature as well as implications of the results for understanding the role of positive affect in information processing, judgment, and decision-making. These findings have implications for policy makers, marketers and others who are interested in message processing.

ANALYSIS OF STUDENTS'INFORMATION NEEDS IN CONDITIONS OF EPIDEMIC DISTRIBUTION OF CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTORS

Introduction: An epidemic of cardiovascular disease has been observed in Bulgaria for decades. In order to reduce the risk of developing the disease, it is necessary to prevent risk factors, starting in childhood and continuing throughout life. Purpose, material and methods: The aim of the study is to establish students' awareness of risk factors for cardiovascular disease and the nature and need for disease promotion and prevention. Sociological, documentary, statistical methods and method of graphic analysis of the obtained results are used. Results Conclusions: More than 2/3 of study participants know the adjustable risk factors such as alcohol use, smoking, stress and fatigue, and approximately half have information about the negative effects of being overweight and high blood pressure. There is a need for additional information on the impact of other major biological risk factors, such as atherosclerosis, high blood sugar and diabetes mellitus, as well as the impact of unadjustable risk factors - age, gender and family history.