Personality Measures Research Articles

Cutaneous leishmaniasis in British troops following jungle training in Belize: Cumulative incidence and potential risk practices

BackgroundBritish soldiers undergoing jungle training in Belize typically experience a relatively low risk of developing cutaneous leishmaniasis. However, an uncharacteristically large outbreak of cutaneous leishmaniasis occurred in 2022. This study aimed to determine the cumulative incidence of the disease and highlight potential shortcomings in personal protective measures to mitigate exposure to sand fly vector bites. MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on medical records of cutaneous leishmaniasis cases between 2005 and 2022, as well as on questionnaire responses regarding personal protective measures administered to cutaneous leishmaniasis cases in 2022. Data were sourced from Defence Public Health Unit, Military Environmental Health Department and British Army Training Support Unit Belize. ResultsEighty-one confirmed clinical cutaneous leishmaniasis cases were recorded between 2005 and 2022, with a substantial peak (38 cases) in 2022. Most cases occurred during the wet season. Pre-2022, the median cumulative incidence per 8-week deployment was 0.90 % (Q1–Q3: 0.34 %–1.34 %), with an annual variation of 0.2 % to 2.0 %. In 2022, the cumulative incidence spiked to 4.22 %, associated with a risk ratio of 5.3 (95 % C.I.s, 3.41, 8.16), and rising to a cumulative incidence of 7.3 % in a single unit of 450 men (33 cases) in late 2022. These values are significantly higher than the median cumulative incidence of all previous years, and to published reports for other cutaneous leishmaniasis -endemic regions. Troop responses identified limitations in the supply of optimal equipment, and in sand fly bite and leishmaniasis risk avoidance information provided by the pre-deployment health education programme. Compliance with health education advise was also suboptimal, with irregular use of insect repellents, protective clothing / head netting, and insecticide-treated hammocks. ConclusionsThe reasons behind the unusually high numbers of cutaneous leishmaniasis cases and cumulative incidence in 2022 remain unclear, emphasising the need to improve personal protective measures provision and implement a comprehensive health education programme for troops undergoing jungle training in Belize.

Individual differences in information demand have a low dimensional structure predicted by some curiosity traits

To understand human learning and progress, it is crucial to understand curiosity. But how consistent is curiosity's conception and assessment across scientific research disciplines? We present the results of a large collaborative project assessing the correspondence between curiosity measures in personality psychology and cognitive science. A total of 820 participants completed 15 personality trait measures and 9 cognitive tasks that tested multiple aspects of information demand. We show that shared variance across the cognitive tasks was captured by a dimension reflecting directed (uncertainty-driven) versus random (stochasticity-driven) exploration and individual differences along this axis were significantly and consistently predicted by personality traits. However, the personality metrics that best predicted information demand were not the central curiosity traits of openness to experience, deprivation sensitivity, and joyous exploration, but instead included more peripheral curiosity traits (need for cognition, thrill seeking, and stress tolerance) and measures not traditionally associated with curiosity (extraversion and behavioral inhibition). The results suggest that the umbrella term "curiosity" reflects a constellation of cognitive and emotional processes, only some of which are shared between personality measures and cognitive tasks. The results reflect the distinct methods that are used in these fields, indicating a need for caution in comparing results across fields and for future interdisciplinary collaborations to strengthen our emerging understanding of curiosity.

Immune system dysfunction in personnel of chemical hazard facilities: purpose and effectiveness of immunotherapeutic drugs

Clinical signs of the presence of immune dysfunction/insufficiency, identified by questioning workers at the landfill for the storage and destruction of industrial toxic waste, were the basis for performing a screening study of immune status. This included a clinical blood test with determination of the leukocyte formula, assessment of the phenotypic status of lymphocytes for the main subpopulations, determination of the concentration in serum immunoglobulins of various classes, assessment of the migration activity of leukocytes, assessment of the microbicidal capacity of neutrophils and their ability to phagocytosis. When the examined employees were found to have more than 20% changes in the normative range of immune status parameters and the presence of combined disorders in different parts of immunoreactivity, in particular combined disorders in the cellular part of the immune system, it was the basis for conducting an in-depth stage of immunoepidemiological examination. This included determination of functional activity cellular elements of the adaptive component of immunity, assessment of the severity of autosensitization, assessment of the severity and specificity of atopic hypersensitization, assessment of cytokine status in normal conditions and in response to mitogen. When assessing the phenotypic status of immunoreactivity cells, it turned out that the absolute number of T lymphocytes (CD3+ phenotype), helper T lymphocytes (CD3+CD4+ phenotype) and killer T lymphocytes (CD3+CD8+ phenotype) was significantly reduced in the peripheral blood of test site employees (p ≤ 0.05, compared with similar indicators in the control group). On the contrary, the content of NK cells (CD3-CD56+ phenotype) tended to increase (both the absolute number and the proportion among other lymphocyte populations). Dysfunction of the cellular component of humoral immunoreactivity (a significant decrease in the absolute number of lymphocytes with the CD3-CD20+ phenotype [B lymphocytes] in the peripheral blood), as well as a significant increase in the concentration of serum IgA-class immunoglobulin and pronounced disimmunoglobulinemia in the serum of the examined individuals (compared to individuals in the control group ) indicated a predominantly inhalation method of exposure to immunotoxic industrial toxicants from the landfill on the immune system. Pathogenetically targeted immune-oriented therapy for the personnel of the test site was carried out with drugs that have thymomimetic activity (cytovir-3, thymogen) and are a means of replacement immunocorrection with a cytokine drug (genetically engineered recombinant yeast IL-2 [roncoleukin]). The established effectiveness of the immunotherapy, in particular the reduction in the incidence rate of various nosological forms of immune-related pathology among the site employees who received immunotherapy and the presence of an immunocorrective effect in the immunoactive drugs used for therapy, indicate the advisability of carrying out preventive medical measures in persons professionally exposed to xenobiotic influences as a component of improving medical provision.

Rasch analysis of the new general self efficacy scale: an evaluation of its psychometric properties in older adults with low vision

BackgroundWhile general self-efficacy is known to relate to achievement in many areas, it has rarely been evaluated in individuals with low vision. Here we explore the psychometric properties and targeting of the New General Self Efficacy Scale (NGSES) using Rasch analysis in data collected from older adult clinical trial participants with low vision.MethodsParticipants (n = 121) completed pre-intervention telephone questionnaires (i.e., NGSES, Activity Inventory (AI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), SF-36, and the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS). Rasch analysis using the Method of Successive Dichotomizations (MSD) was applied to NGSES, AI, and BDI datasets to estimate person and item measures, and ordered rating category thresholds.NGSES infit mean square statistics and standard errors were analyzed to test whether data fit Rasch model requirements, and targeting was assessed by comparing distributions of person and item measures. Multiple linear regression evaluated the influence of participant characteristics on NGSES person measures.ResultsThere was a significant difference (p = 0.01) in the distributions of NGSES person measures (mean = 0.85, range -2.1-3.2) and item measures (mean = 0, range -1.0-0.72). Infit mean square statistics and standard errors for item and person measures conformed to expectations of the Rasch model.Greater NGSES person measure was related to lower BDI person measure (β = -0.48, p < 0.0005, 95% CI -0.67—-0.28) and higher AI person measure (β = 0.11, p = 0.047, 95% CI 0.0013 – 0.22) after controlling for cognitive status (TICS). Other variables including SF-36, visual acuity, and patient demographics were not related to NGSES person measure.ConclusionsWhile NGSES person measures estimated from a low vision patient population conformed to basic Rasch model requirements, the significant differences in the person and item measure distributions indicate poor NGSES targeting, specifically a ceiling effect. Therefore, there is limited discrimination between persons at the upper end of the scale. While further work can evaluate how self-efficacy may be associated with other factors in the low vision patient population, the ceiling effect found in this study cautions interpretation of NGSES results for those with high general self-efficacy.Trial registrationPre-registered on clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT04926974.

A Retrospective Analysis of Human Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Epidemiology During 2016 - 2021 in Hoveyzeh County, Khuzestan Province, Iran

Background: Leishmaniasis, a significant neglected tropical disease, is caused by obligate intracellular protozoa of the Leishmania genus. Objectives: This research aimed to investigate the epidemiology of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) from 2016 to 2021 in Hoveyzeh county. Methods: This study is a retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study based on available data. The study population included all individuals treated and followed up in health care centers who were clinically diagnosed with CL and confirmed by laboratory tests. Results: Among the 628 individuals diagnosed with CL, 324 (51.6%) were male, and 304 (48.4%) were female. The average age of the patients was 16.58 ± 15.17 years. The highest proportion (45.4%) of cases occurred in the 0 - 10-year age group, highlighting the vulnerability of children, while those above 50 years had the lowest incidence (3.7%). Approximately 68.2% of patients resided in urban areas, with the remainder living in rural settings. The hand was the most frequently affected area (44.5%), and the maximum number of lesions reported in a single individual was 25. Most patients (46.82%) were treated with topical glucantime along with cryotherapy. Disease incidence showed seasonal variation, with the highest number of cases reported in autumn (54%) and a significant peak in December (22%). The highest incidence year was 2016 (30.3%). Conclusions: Effective strategies to combat this disease should include comprehensive public awareness campaigns focused on health education, early recognition of symptoms, and transmission methods. Promoting personal protective measures is crucial for disease prevention efforts.

Validation of the English-language version of the Morningness-Eveningness-Stability-Scale-improved (MESSi), and comparison with a measure of sleep inertia

ABSTRACT The Morningness-Eveningness-Stability-Scale-improved (MESSi) assesses three components of circadian functioning: Morning Affect (time to fully awaken), Eveningness (orientation/preference for evening activity), and Distinctness (amplitude of diurnal variations in functioning). Following the original German version, translations of the MESSi (including Spanish, Turkish, and Chinese) have been validated, but validity evidence for the English-language version has been lacking. The current study tested the factor structure, internal consistency, and predicted correlations of the English-language MESSi. A sample of 600 adults from an online recruitment platform (aged 18–78, mean = 41.31, SD = 13.149) completed an online survey including the MESSi, reduced Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (rMEQ), Sleep Inertia Questionnaire (SIQ), and measures of personality and depressive symptoms. Exploratory factor analysis exactly reproduced the three-component structure of Morning Affect (MA), Eveningness, and Distinctness, with all items loading strongly on their respective component. Confirmatory factor analysis of this structure showed acceptable fit. The three subscales showed good internal consistency and replicated previously reported correlations with depressive symptoms, sleep inertia, sleep quality, and personality. Further factor analysis combining the items of the MESSi, rMEQ, and SIQ replicated a previously found seven-factor structure: Cognitive, Emotional, and Physiological sleep inertia (SI), Responses to SI (including one MA item); Duration of SI (one SIQ item, 3/5 MA items); Morningness-Eveningness (MESSi Eveningness items, plus 3/5 rMEQ items); Distinctness (5/5 MESSi items). In conclusion, the English-language MESSi shows sound psychometric properties, but Morning Affect may be more suitably characterised as a measure of sleep inertia duration, rather than morningness preference.

Accurate and 30-plus days reliable cuffless blood pressure measurements with 9-minutes personal photoplethysmograph data and mixed deduction learning

Cuffless blood pressure (BP) measurements have long been anticipated, and the PPG (Photoplethysmography)-only method is the most promising one since already embedded in many wearable devices. To further meet the clinical accuracy requirements, PPG-only BP predictions with personalized modeling for overcoming personal deviations have been widely studied, but all required tens to hundreds of minutes of personal PPG measurements for training. Moreover, their accurate test periods without calibration practice were not reported. In this work, we collected records of PPG data from our recruited subjects in real-life scenarios instead of relying on the openly available MIMIC dataset obtained from intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Since our objective is commercial application and a substantial reduction in training data, we tailored our model training to closely mimic real-world usage. To achieve this, we developed a training approach that only requires 9-minutes of personal PPG signal recordings and mixed with other PPG data from our recruited 364 subjects. The modeling is conducted with two-channel paired inputs to the convolutional neural network (CNN)-based model, which we called Mixed Deduction Learning (MDL). The test results of 88 samples from 15 subjects, under testing period up to 30-plus days without extra calibration, revealed that MDL meets most of the standards of AAMI, BHS, and IEEE 1708–2014 (for static test only) for BP measurement devices, which indicates MDL’s long-term stability and consistency. Furthermore, we found that the model with two-channel inputs presents a trend of improving performance as the pool of mixed training data increased, while the conventional one-channel input revealed degraded performance. The outperformance of MDL is attributed to many significant features remained in the first CNN layer even when mixing personal 9-minutes data with the other 364 subjects. Consequently, PPG-only with MDL introduces a new avenue for overcoming challenges in training due to personal physiological variations. Given our consideration of real-life usage, this technology can be seamlessly translated to commercial applications.

Respiratory Symptoms and Paper Dust Exposure among Workers in the Paper Industry in Ethiopia: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study

Chronic respiratory symptoms are a health concern in the paper industry. This study evaluates the association between personal inhalable paper dust exposure and chronic respiratory symptoms among workers in this industry. In total, 270 workers from the paper industry and 267 from a water bottling factory participated. Chronic respiratory symptoms were assessed using a standardized questionnaire, modified from the American Thoracic Society. A job exposure matrix, based on cross-sectional personal measurements of inhalable paper dust, was used to estimate the exposure–response relationship between cumulative dust exposure and chronic respiratory symptoms. There was a higher prevalence of chronic coughs (27.4% vs. 7.5%), breathlessness (25.6% vs. 11%), coughs with sputum (21.1% vs. 1.1%), and wheezing (25.6% vs. 5%) among paper workers compared to those in the water bottling industry. A Poisson regression analysis revealed that the prevalence ratios for chronic coughs (APR = 3.3 and 95% CI: 2.0–5.4), breathlessness (APR = 2.2 and 95% CI: 1.4–3.4), and wheezing (APR = 4.3 and 95% CI: 2.3–7.7) were significantly higher in paper workers than in water bottling workers. Among paper workers, a significant exposure–response relationship was observed between cumulative dust exposure and chronic coughs after adjusting for age, sex, history of respiratory illnesses, work in other dusty industries, and use of biofuels. As there were only four ever-smokers, smoking was not included in the regression analysis. The results show a significant association between dust exposure and coughing, highlighting the need for control measures to prevent the development of respiratory symptoms among workers.

Ultraviolet radiation thin film dosimetry: A review of properties and applications.

Spectroradiometry, radiometry, and dosimetry are employed for the measurement of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) irradiance and non-ionizing exposure. Different types of UVR dosimeter have been developed for measuring personal and environmental UVR exposures since film dosimetry was pioneered in the 1970s. An important type of dosimeter is the thin film variant, which contains materials that undergo changes in optical absorbance when exposed to UVR. These changes can be measured at a specific wavelength using a spectrophotometer. Thin film dosimeters allow UVR exposure measurements on humans at various body sites during daily activities, as well as on plants, animals, and any sites of interest when utilized in a field environment. This review examines the properties and applications of five types of thin film UVR dosimeter that have different dynamic exposure limits and spectral responses. Polysulphone, with a spectral response approximating the human erythema action spectrum, was one of the first materials employed in thin film form for the measurement of UVR exposures up to 1 day, and up to 6 days with an extended dynamic range filter. Polyphenylene oxide has been characterized and employed for personal UVR exposure measurements up to approximately four summer days and has also been used for long-term underwater UVR exposures. Phenothiazine and 8-methoxypsoralen have been reported as suitable for the measurement of longer wavelength UVA exposures. Finally, polyvinyl chloride with an extended dynamic exposure range of over 3 weeks has been shown to have predominantly a spectral response in the UVB and extending up to 340 nm.

Methodology for assessing health risk behaviours among undergraduates in Sri Lanka: a literature review

It is imperative to learn more about the distinctive Health-Risk-Behaviours (HRB) that are culturally acceptable in the lower-resource settings. Therefore, the objective of this review is to identify tools measuring HRBs among undergraduates in Sri Lankan context. A literature review was conducted both manually and electronically through Google Scholar and Hinari and PubMed databases. Self-administered Questionnaires were used in National Surveys and individual studies. Youth-Risk Behaviour-Surveillance-System was the most commonly used comprehensive HRB assessment tool. The National College Health Risk Behaviour Survey, National College Health Assessment were other widely used instruments. There are few validated tools and multiple short scales or items combined like Health-Promotion-Lifestyle[1]Profile, Health-Behaviour-Questionnaire or Inventory, DOSPERT scale, Adolescent-Health-Attitude and Behaviour[1]Survey, Healthy-Lifestyle-Scale, Health-Behaviour-Scale and Health-Behaviour-Checklist. Objective methods for assessing high-risk behaviors (HRBs) include measures of personality and aggression, which have been used to critically quantify violence and accidental injury, as well as biochemical tests for alcohol, nicotine, and other drug use, mechanical or computer sensors, and biological tests such as urinary cultures for sexual risk behaviours. These tools had focused only on specific aspects of HRBs among undergraduates in Western countries and were not comprehensive assessments of HRBs of undergraduates in lower-resource settings. It was evident that there has been a deficit of choices for the adaptation of an HRB tool for undergraduates in lower-resource-settings and a new tool to be developed for Sri Lankan context.

High Risk Areas of Covid-19 Pandemic in UK: An Epidemiological and Spatiotemporal Analysis

Since the outbreak of Covid-19 the humanity has faced great global health crisis. Covid-19 have affected all countries of the world, causing thousands of deaths and economic hardships. In United Kingdom as well as other regions of the world, the virus is infectious to people of all aspects of life, social, political, economic as well as moral. The objectives of this study was to ) to understand the epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 pandemic in UK; 2) to understand the spatiotemporal characteristics of COVID-19 pandemic in UK, and 3) to map out the high risk areas/regions of COVID-19 pandemic in UK. To achieve these objectives, a quantitative study was conducted using secondary data collected from various sources. The data collected included Covid-19 statistics of tests, confirmed cases, and deaths in UK. The data analysis techniques applied comparative analysis, descriptive statistics and spatial autocorrelation using Moran’s I index (Local Indicators of Spatial Association). The findings of the study indicated that that England has the highest rates of confirmed Covid-19 case, deaths and conducted tests while Northern Ireland has the lowest rates of confirmed Covid-19 case, deaths and conducted tests. There were no correlation or relationship between the regions under study, in terms of Covid-19 reported cases, tests or deaths. For both year 2020 and 2021, the Covid-19 confirmed cases, tests and deaths among the four neighboring regions were significantly different from each other. The research recommends that each nation should bear its responsibility of adopting and implementing measures geared towards addressing and controlling the spread of Covid-19 pandemic. As well, individuals should take personal preventive measures to avoid being infected with Covid-19 virus, especially in the high risky areas.

Personal noise exposure patterns and health implications in urban work environments

Noise-induced hearing loss remains a preventable occupational health concern, contingent on timely detection and mitigation of excessive workplace noise. However, the lack of effective identification of at-risk workers often results in the neglect of safety measures that could prevent hearing loss. To address this, personal noise exposure measurements, using noise dosimeters, were conducted on 50 individuals across diverse urban work environments, including work from home, offices, outdoor settings, and mixed-use spaces. The results demonstrated significant variations in noise exposure levels among different environments. Outdoor and mixed-use environments exhibited the highest average dose percentages, while home-based workers had the lowest exposure. A strong correlation between noise levels above 80 dB and increased dose percentages emphasized the need to reduce high-noise exposure times. Additionally, the study integrated quantitative dosimeter measurements with qualitative data from a questionnaire survey to provide a holistic understanding of the participants' perception on noise pollution. Traffic emerged as the primary source of noise pollution, with a substantial number of respondents experiencing stress and ear infections attributed to noise exposure. The research underscores the importance of personalized noise dosimetry in assessing health implications, emphasizing the need for awareness and preventative measures to mitigate health risks in urban work environments.

Contrasting Perceptions, Knowledge, and Actions around Lyme Disease in an Urban Area of Emerging Lyme Disease and an Area of Endemic Lyme Disease in the Northeastern United States.

Lyme disease transmission dynamics in the northeastern United States vary by context. Periurban regions, including Block Island, RI, have experienced decades of endemic transmission. In urban areas, including Staten Island, a borough in New York City, NY, Lyme disease is an emerging issue. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices around Lyme disease evolve as an area progresses from emergent to endemic. We conducted focus group discussions and household surveys within Staten Island, NY and Block Island, RI to compare knowledge, attitudes, and practices surrounding Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases. Qualitative data were coded into themes, and survey data were used to provide more general context of the focus group discussions. Using item response theory, we developed an index of knowledge from relevant factors within the household survey. We identified a significant difference in knowledge scores between the two study areas. Additionally, we identified key differences across multiple domains. Participants from Block Island were more likely to report prior tick exposure and Lyme disease in themselves or household members and were more likely to express concerns about the environmental impact of mitigation strategies. Individuals on Staten Island were more likely to assign responsibility of prevention and control to local, state, and federal government than to take personal prevention measures. Prevention of Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases must be tailored to the community context and monitored over time as perceptions and priorities may evolve as transmission dynamics transition from emergent to endemic.

Evaluation of exposure to volatile organic compounds (BTEX) and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in gas station workers and oxidative stress assessment in Karaj city

Gas stations are one of the sources of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX) and polyromantic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The present study was conducted with the aim of evaluating the level of breathing exposure of gas station workers to BTEX, PAHs and oxidative stress caused by exposure to these compounds in Karaj city. Oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species (ROS) is one of the mechanisms involved in the toxicity caused by exposure to gas vapors. In this study, all 25 gas stations in the city of Karaj were investigated. Personal sampling and analysis of BTEX and PAHs was done according to National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 1501 and 5515 methods, respectively. Finally, oxidative stress markers were investigated in 25 gas station workers and 25 control group. The results showed that the mean age and employment history of gas station workers are 39.96 ± 9.55 and 12.84 ± 6.92, respectively. Also, no significant difference was reported between gas station workers and control subjects in terms of oxidative stress parameters including the level of ROS, oxidized glutathione (GSSG) content, malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) content. The concentration values of personal exposure of gas station workers to BTEX and PAHs are lower than the occupational exposure limits (OEL). Although the level of oxidative stress parameters in gas station workers is higher than the control group, this difference is not statistically significant (p>0.05). It is recommended to take personal protection measures in case of chronic exposure.

Practical considerations for assessing crew noise exposure in armored vehicles.

Measurement and analysis of the continuous and intermittent noise produced by armored vehicle (AV) platforms, including the output from communications systems as experienced by crew, are necessary for the purposes of exposure prediction, to support the selection of hearing protection and communication devices, and to facilitate assessments of compliance with occupational health and safety legislation. Practical estimation of the personal noise exposure of AV crews requires the assessment of the vehicle, communications and special-to-role activity noise sources, and an understanding of how these sources combine. Procedures are described that consider instrumentation requirements, AV configuration and build standard, operating conditions representative of actual use, the application of speed thresholding to measurements, and derivation of communications noise levels. Real-world examples are given where these procedures have been applied to an in-service tracked AV to estimate crew noise exposure. The procedures and methods presented are a compromise between precision, repeatability, reproducibility, and pragmatism. Measurements of AV noise are expected to be obtained during the commissioning stage of vehicle design, immediately prior to the vehicle being put into operational service and following any major modifications to the vehicle to inform the necessary engineering, administrative, and personal protective equipment control measures.

Understanding Intensive Care Unit Family Caregivers' Vulnerability to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: The Impact of Neurotic Personality Traits, Emotional Suppression, and Perceptions of Unexpected Death.

Rationale: Family members of patients who die in an intensive care unit (ICU) are at heightened risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Not all surrogates develop these symptoms and heterogeneity exists in PTSD symptom clusters. Objectives: The study tested a personality model of PTSD symptoms in bereaved family caregivers of ICU patients. It was hypothesized that family members endorsing higher levels of neurotic personality traits would report higher levels of PTSD symptom clusters and that these associations would be explained by tendencies to view the patient's death as unexpected and to cope by suppressing their emotions. Methods: Participants were family members of ICU patients at an urban, academic medical center who either died or were discharged to an inpatient hospice unit. Participants were contacted for participation at least six months after the patient's death. Participants completed measures of personality, emotion regulation, and PTSD symptoms. Data were analyzed using path analysis. Results: Approximately one-third (35%) of the sample of 162 caregivers endorsed at-risk levels of PTSD. Individuals reporting higher levels of neurotic personality traits reported more PTSD symptoms (r = 0.53, p < 0.001). Perceptions that the patient death was unexpected partially explained the association of neuroticism with the intrusive re-experiencing PTSD symptoms (B = 0.45, p = 0.031). In contrast, emotional suppression partially explained the association of neuroticism with avoidance (B = 0.70, p = 0.010) and hyperarousal symptom clusters (B = 0.37, p = 0.041). Conclusions: Family vulnerability to PTSD after an ICU death can be conceptualized based on neurotic personality traits. Tendencies to view the patient's death as unexpected may contribute to intrusive thoughts and memories of the ICU experience. Individuals may avoid reminders and remain at heightened levels of arousal when they suppress their emotional experiences. Key Message: Family members who experience the death of a loved one following ICU treatment are vulnerable to PTSD symptoms. These reactions to ICU-related losses may be shaped by family members' personalities, expectations, and emotion regulation styles. Understanding these characteristics could inform family screening and intervention efforts in the ICU.

The Relationships Between Reaction Time Scores and False Start Penalties of Offensive Linemen in the National Football League (NFL).

Each year in the United States, many factors are considered in the National Football League's draft process, including scouting reports, interviews, medical tests, and measures of players' strength, speed, anthropometry, and personality. Recently, an increased emphasis has been placed on players' psychometrically measured cognitive abilities. Historically, offensive linemen have been excluded from NFL research, since they do not have individual performance statistics. In this study, we attempted to fill that research gap by investigating correlates of offensive linemen's measured vigilance/impulsivity. We obtained archival player data from 85 offensive linemen in the years from 2014-2021 prior to each of these players' NFL draft. We then used false start penalties per game (FSPG) as an index of their vigilance/impulsivity (and general success) on the field, and we related those values to Reaction Time tests through hierarchical multiple regression analyses. After controlling for draft placement, these players' higher accuracy on a Choice Reaction Time task accounted for a statistically significant percentage of the variance associated with their FSPG statistics. We discuss the practical utility for player development of these and other cognitive assessments now used in the NFL.

Concurrent Particulate Matter and Heat Exposure in Working and Non-Working Women in Rural Guatemala

High temperatures and air pollution exposure are individually known risks to human health, with amplifying adverse health effects during periods of co-exposure. This study compared co-occurring individual-level exposures to particulate matter (PM5, aerodynamic diameter of ≤5 μm) and heat among women in residential and agricultural settings in Guatemala. We measured personal and ambient exposure to PM5, temperature, and humidity among 21 female sugarcane workers in the fields and on their off days. We measured similar exposures among a group of 30 community members not involved in sugarcane work. We collected 171 personal PM5 measurements across 18 sampling days. The median workday personal PM5 concentration was 271 µg/m3, which was 3.6-fold higher than ambient area levels in the fields. The median personal PM5 concentration was 95.8 µg/m3 for off-work days and 83.5 µg/m3 for community days. The average workday individual-level temperature and humidity were 39.4 °C and 82.4%, respectively, with significantly lower temperatures on off-work and community days. The women workers and community members were exposed to high levels of PM5 and heat in both occupational and residential settings. Research needs to consider individual-level exposures at both work and home to help tailor more effective comprehensive prevention efforts to reduce risks.

Determination of the effect of the pre-surgery COVID-19 fear level and hygiene behaviours of the patients on the personal protective clinical measures developed after the surgery: Across-sectional study.

This study aims to examine patients' preoperative COVID-19 fear levels, hygiene behaviours, postoperative personal protective clinical measures, and their correlations with each other. This research is a cross-sectional type of study. The study sample consisted of 131 patients hospitalized in the general surgery inpatient ward of a hospital in Turkey. The sample was determined by G-Power analysis. The data were collected in two stages in a research hospital between 1 April 2021 and 1 March 2022. Sociodemographic and Clinical Information Form, COVID-19 Fear Scale, COVID-19 Hygiene Scale were used before surgery; COVID-19 personal protective clinical measures questionnaire was used after surgery. Descriptive statistics, independent t-test, ANOVA test, Wilcoxon test and Spearman correlation analysis were used to evaluate the data. It was determined that preoperative COVID-19 fear levels, hygiene behaviours, and the personal protective clinical measures developed after the surgery were above moderate. A statistically significant and positive correlation was found between the COVID-19 Fear Scale and the preoperative COVID-19 Hygiene Scale and postoperative COVID-19 personal protective clinical prevention questionnaire total score and sub-dimension score averages. Patients' COVID-19 fears, preoperative and postoperative hygiene behaviours are statistically significantly associated with each other at a low level; postoperative clinical precautions and preoperative hygiene behaviours are statistically significantly associated with each other at a high level. The results of this study show that patients are terrified of COVID-19 while they are hospitalized due to surgical intervention during the pandemic process, and they increase their hygiene measures. It is thought that the results of the study will guide the regulation of clinical measures, patient education, and nursing care to be developed for patients during pandemic periods. No patient or public contribution.

Comparison of a radiofrequency electric and magnetic field source-based job-exposure matrix with personal radiofrequency exposure measurements.

Assessing occupational exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) presents significant challenges due to the considerable variability in exposure levels within and between occupations. This spatial and temporal variability complicates the reliable evaluation of potential health risks associated with RF-EMF exposure in the workplace. Accurate assessment methods are crucial to understand the extent of exposure and to evaluate potential health risks, especially given the potential for higher exposures in occupational settings compared to the general population. This study compares the historical RF-EMF exposure estimates in the INTEROCC RF-EMF job-exposure matrix (RF-JEM) with recent personal measurement data collected in 2 countries as part of the OccRF-Health study, to assess the broader applicability of the RF-JEM. Weighted kappa (k w) coefficients and Spearman rank correlation tests were performed to assess the alignment between RF-JEM estimates and measurements for 8h time-weighted average exposure intensity and prevalence estimates across various occupations. The comparisons were mainly based on 22 jobs having ≥5 measured workers in the OccRF-Health study. Poor agreement was found for both exposure prevalence and intensity between both methods (k w < 0.1). RF-JEM values likely overestimated exposure levels for both electric (E) and magnetic (H) fields (mean percentage difference >194%) compared to current personal measurements. Findings suggest that the INTEROCC-JEM likely overestimates current exposure intensity levels in the measured jobs. Adopting a semiquantitative JEM could also mitigate misclassification errors due to exposure variability, improving accuracy in exposure assessment. These findings indicate the need for more targeted personal measurements, including among highly exposed workers, and for potentially considering new exposure metrics to more accurately assess occupational RF-EMF exposures in occupational epidemiological research.