Practical Communication Research Articles

Media Consumption and COVID-19-Related Precautionary Behaviors During the Early Pandemic: Survey Study of Older Adults.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, media sources dedicated significant time and resources to improve knowledge of COVID-19 precautionary behaviors (eg, wearing a mask). Many older adults report using the television, radio, print newspapers, or web-based sources to get information on political news, yet little is known about whether consuming news in the early phase of the pandemic led to behavior change, particularly in older adults. The goals of this study were to determine (1) whether dosage of news consumption on the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with COVID-19 precautionary behaviors; (2) whether being an ever-user of social media was associated with engagement in COVID-19 precautionary behaviors; and (3) among social media users, whether change in social media use during the early stages of the pandemic was associated with engagement in COVID-19 precautionary behaviors. Data were obtained from a University of Florida-administered study conducted in May and June of 2020. Linear regression models were used to assess the association between traditional news and social media use on COVID-19 precautionary behaviors (eg, mask wearing, hand washing, and social distancing behaviors). Analyses were adjusted for demographic characteristics, including age, sex, marital status, and education level. In a sample of 1082 older adults (mean age 73, IQR 68-78 years; 615/1082, 56.8% female), reporting 0 and <1 hour per day of media consumption, relative to >3 hours per day, was associated with lower engagement in COVID-19 precautionary behaviors in models adjusted for demographic characteristics (β=-2.00; P<.001 and β=-.41; P=.01, respectively). In addition, increasing social media use (relative to unchanged use) was associated with engagement in more COVID-19 precautionary behaviors (β=.70, P<.001). No associations were found between being an ever-user of social media and engaging in COVID-19 precautionary behaviors. The results demonstrated an association between higher media consumption and greater engagement in COVID-19 precautionary behaviors in older adults. These findings suggest that media can be effectively used as a public health tool for communication of prevention strategies and best practices during future health threats, even among populations who are historically less engaged in certain types of media.

Adaptive Wireless Power Transfer via Resonant Laser Beam Over Large Dynamic Range

Wireless power transfer (WPT) via resonant laser beam from a spatially-distributed laser resonator not only benefits the instinct safety, but also has important potential of adaptive operation without positioning and aiming when retroreflectors are used to enable the alignment-free operation of the laser. Despite the intense theoretical modeling and experimental efforts with different laser schemes, the adaptive resonant beam WPT across large dynamic range -including both working distance and field of view (FoV) -has never been demonstrated, due to the absence of true alignment-free laser. In this work, we summarized the requirements on the dynamic range and discussed the optimization criteria of dynamic range and laser safety, including the telescope in the laser resonator, the resonator stability, coupled-resonator scheme, and influences of the optical aberrations. The analysis indicated that loss induced by optical aberrations is the main issue limits the dynamic range. In the experiment, alignment-free laser with large dynamic range for WPT application was demonstrated with improved resonator design and optical design to compensate the aberrations. Efficient multiwatt optical output was obtained across a working distance of 1-5 m, a receiver FoV of ±30∘, and a transmitter FoV of 4.6∘; and over 1.3 W electrical output was obtained via an InGaAs photovoltaic cell, with DC-DC WPT efficiency being 4%. Our work proved the feasibility of large-dynamic-range alignment-free laser with distributed-resonator, which paves the way for practical resonant beam charging and communication applications based on it for the internet of things devices.

Ask questions (ASQ): Implementation of a question prompt list communication intervention in a network of outpatient medical oncology clinics

ObjectiveThis descriptive, single-arm study assessed the implementation and patient perceptions of an evidence-based Question Prompt List (QPL), the ASQ brochure, across a network of oncology clinics in a diverse patient population. MethodThe QPL was revised in collaboration with stakeholders. Implementation was assessed using the RE-AIM framework. Eligible patients were scheduled for a first appointment with an oncologist at any of eight participating clinics. All participants received the ASQ brochure and completed three surveys: one at baseline, one immediately before, and one following their appointment. Surveys assessed sociodemographic characteristics; communication-related outcomes (perceived knowledge, self-efficacy in interacting with physicians, trust in physicians, distress); and perceptions of the ASQ brochure. Analyses included descriptive statistics and linear mixed-effects models. ResultsReach: Participants (n = 81) represented the diverse population served by the clinic network. Efficacy: All outcomes improved significantly, with no significant differences by clinic site or patient race. Adoption: All eight invited clinics participated and recruited patients. Patient perceptions of the ASQ brochure were overwhelmingly positive. ConclusionImplementation of the ASQ brochure was successful in this oncology clinic network providing care to a diverse patient population. Practical ImplicationsThis evidence-based communication intervention can be implemented widely in similar medical contexts and populations.

Pendampingan psikologis dan komunikasi efektif para relawan penyintas kekerasan seksual di Yakesma, Baitussalam, Aceh Besar (Psychological and effective communication assistance for volunteers working with sexual violence survivals at Yakesma, Baitussalam, Aceh Besar)

Yakesma (Aceh Community Welfare Foundation) in Kajhu Village, Baitussalam District, Aceh Besar, focuses on nurturing management by recruiting foster parents and volunteers to assist groups of abandoned children and, primarily, survivors of sexual violence. Child survivors of sexual violence have experienced deep psychological trauma, which requires continuous psychological assistance. The presence of volunteers is significant in accompanying these survivors so that they can recover from the psychological trauma they have experienced. However, not all volunteers have psychological abilities and practical communication skills. This community service aims to equip Yakesma volunteers with the two abilities needed to help themselves when interacting with survivors of sexual violence to recover from their mental health issues—the community service through workshop and practicum methods. The results of psychological assistance and effective communication received a positive response from the volunteers, encouraging them to write their stories as self-healing. The outputs of community service are training modules and an anthology book of volunteer stories that can be referenced to assist survivors of sexual violence in other institutions.

A novel channel estimation strategy for practical RIS-aided wideband OFDMA communications

A novel channel estimation strategy for practical RIS-aided wideband OFDMA communications

Intelligent computing for WPT–MEC-aided multi-source data stream

Due to its low latency and energy consumption, edge computing technology is essential in processing multi-source data streams from intelligent devices. This article investigates a mobile edge computing network aided by wireless power transfer (WPT) for multi-source data streams, where the wireless channel parameters and the characteristic of the data stream are varied. Moreover, we consider a practical communication scenario, where the devices with limited battery capacity cannot support the executing and transmitting of computational data streams under a given latency. Thus, WPT technology is adopted for this considered network to enable the devices to harvest energy from the power beacon. In further, by considering the device’s energy consumption and latency constraints, we propose an optimization problem under energy constraints. To solve this problem, we design a customized particle swarm optimization-based algorithm, which aims at minimizing the latency of the device processing computational data stream by jointly optimizing the charging and offloading strategies. Furthermore, simulation results illustrate that the proposed method outperforms other benchmark schemes in minimizing latency, which shows the proposed method’s superiority in processing the multi-source data stream.

Occurrence of Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria Resulting from the Selective Pressure of Antibiotics: A Comprehensive Analysis of ESBL K. pneumoniae and MRSP Isolated in a Dog with Rhinorrhea.

Because of public health concerns, much greater scrutiny is now placed on antibiotic use in pets, especially for antimicrobial agents that have human analogs. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize the phenotypic and genotypic profiles of multidrug-resistant bacteria isolated from nasal swabs samples taken from a one-year-old male Serra da Estrela dog with rhinorrhea that was treated with amikacin. An extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) Klebsiella pneumoniae was isolated in the first sample taken from the left nasal cavity of the dog. Seven days later, methicillin-resistant (MRSP) Staphylococcus pseudintermedius was also isolated. Nevertheless, no alterations to the therapeutic protocol were performed. Once the inhibitory action of the antibiotic disappeared, the competitive advantage of the amikacin-resistant MRSP was lost, and only commensal flora was observed on both nasal cavities. The genotypic profile of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae revealed the same characteristics and close relation to other strains, mainly from Estonia, Slovakia and Romania. Regarding MRSP isolates, although resistance to aminoglycosides was present in the first MRSP, the second isolate carried aac(6')-aph(2″), which enhanced its resistance to amikacin. However, the veterinary action was focused on the treatment of the primary agent (ESBL K. pneumoniae), and the antibiotic applied was according to its phenotypic profile, which may have led to the resolution of the infectious process. Therefore, this study highlights the importance of targeted therapy, proper clinical practice and laboratory-hospital communication to safeguard animal, human and environmental health.

Lessons from a cross-institutional online professional development pilot

PurposeTo reflect on a collaborative approach used by a group of faculty and administrators from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU) and predominantly Black institution (PBI) pharmacy programs to provide high quality, multiple institution, faculty development programming in online environments. DescriptionA pilot for a shared online professional development initiative between pharmacy programs at five HBCUs and one PBI was implemented as a two-hour combined video conference and webinar, with structured networking, instructional programming, and breakout group sessions. Learning outcomes focused on increasing knowledge and awareness of mindsets in faculty and students with additional project goals of beta-testing interactive web conference formats, developing cross-institutional networking, and identifying avenues for sharing resources and expertise. Analysis/interpretationKolb's Cycle of Experiential Learning (Concrete Experience, Reflective Observation, Abstract Conceptualization, and Active Experimentation) was used to guide reflection on the joint workshop. The instructional design, delivery, and learning experiences of the program itself were analyzed using Garrison's Community of Inquiry Framework. ConclusionsAction research approaches can be applied to facilitate the continuous quality improvement cycle in multi-institution initiatives, such as joint faculty development programming. ImplicationsLessons related to cross-institutional collaboration, communities of practice development, networking, and communication can be used for future joint faculty development sessions and other shared initiatives for institutions serving minoritized students as well as other multiple institution consortiums.

Multi-panel extra-large scale MIMO based joint activity detection and channel estimation for near-field massive IoT access

The extra-large scale multiple-input multiple-output (XL-MIMO) for the beyond fifth/sixth generation mobile communications is a promising technology to provide Tbps data transmission and stable access service. However, the extremely large antenna array aperture arouses the channel near-field effect, resulting in the deteriorated data rate and other challenges in the practice communication systems. Meanwhile, multi-panel MIMO technology has attracted extensive attention due to its flexible configuration, low hardware cost, and wider coverage. By combining the XL-MIMO and multi-panel array structure, we construct multi-panel XL-MIMO and apply it to massive Internet of Things (IoT) access. First, we model the multi-panel XL-MIMO-based near-field channels for massive IoT access scenarios, where the electromagnetic waves corresponding to different panels have different angles of arrival/departure (AoAs/AoDs). Then, by exploiting the sparsity of the near-field massive IoT access channels, we formulate a compressed sensing based joint active user detection (AUD) and channel estimation (CE) problem which is solved by AMP-EM-MMV algorithm. The simulation results exhibit the superiority of the AMP-EM-MMV based joint AUD and CE scheme over the baseline algorithms.

Outcome of Communication Training in Veterinary Studies: Influence on the Perception of the Relevance of Veterinary Competencies and Self-Assessment of Communication Skills.

Since communication skills contribute significantly to professional success among veterinarians, there is a particular focus on developing communication classes in veterinary curricula. At Freie Universität Berlin, an e-learning course covering the basics of communication and a practical communication course based on role plays with and without simulation persons have been established. The outcome of these communication courses on the assessment of the relevance of several veterinary competencies and on the self-assessment of communication skills using the SE-12 questionnaire was investigated. For this purpose, students were surveyed before and after the e-learning course as well as before and after the practical course. Veterinarians were also surveyed on the relevance of veterinary competencies. The relevance of communicative competencies for professional success was rated significantly higher by the students after completing the practical course than by the other students and the veterinarians. Self-assessment of communication skills showed little increase after the e-learning course, but a significant increase after the practical course. Thus, an effective outcome of the communication classes was observed mainly after the practical course. However, the effect of the e-learning course cannot be ruled out since the students participating in the practical course have also completed the e-learning course beforehand.

Training of Paralegal Communication Technique at PDNA Ngawi

Communication is the most important thing in everyday life. Paralegals need skills in communication to optimize the services they provide. So, this activity aims to equip paralegals with good and correct communication techniques, which are a basic requirement, so that they can optimize their abilities. The method applied in this training activity was socialization, which was organized by the UMS Master of Law program in collaboration with PDNA Ngawi. Each paralegal in this training receives an explanation of the theory and practices communication techniques. This training has a positive impact on paralegals, who will be in charge of carrying out their main duties and functions in providing legal aid services to the wider community.

Debates as an Active Learning Strategy to Enhance Students' Knowledge of Ethics in Professional Nursing Practice and Health Care.

Ethical debates as an active learning strategy encourage students to think critically through complex ethical issues while using evidence-based literature to compare views and support decision-making actions that affect patient outcomes. The current complexity of health care implies that nurses will continue to encounter ethical dilemmas that demand essential knowledge of ethical principles, critical thinking strategies, and practical communication skills. Student groups were assigned a health care-related ethical issue and collaborated to present their pro or con position. The American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Baccalaureate Essentials guided the structure of the student debates. Utilizing the ANA Code and AACN Essentials as supportive frameworks to guide students' ethical debate preparation and execution enhanced students' knowledge and supported their critical thinking about ethical issues in health care.

Experimental quantum secret sharing based on phase encoding of coherent states

Quantum secret sharing (QSS) is one of the basic communication primitives in future quantum networks which addresses part of the basic cryptographic tasks of multiparty communication and computation. Nevertheless, it is a challenge to provide a practical QSS protocol with security against general attacks. A QSS protocol that balances security and practicality is still lacking. Here, we propose a QSS protocol with simple phase encoding of coherent states among three parties. Removing the requirement of impractical entangled resources and the need for phase randomization, our protocol can be implemented with accessible technology. We provide the finite-key analysis against coherent attacks and implement a proof-of-principle experiment to demonstrate our scheme's feasibility. Our scheme achieves a key rate of 85.3 bps under a 35 dB channel loss. Combined with security against general attacks and accessible technology, our protocol is a promising candidate for practical multiparty quantum communication networks.

How Motivation to Reduce Uncertainty Predicts COVID-19 Behavioral Responses: Strategic Health Communication Insights for Managing an Ongoing Pandemic

During highly uncertain times such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, it is vital to understand and predict individuals’ responses to governments’ crisis and risk communication. This study draws on the Orientation-Stimulus-Orientation-Response (O-S-O-R) model to examine (1) whether uncertainty reduction motivation (a pre-orientation factor) drove Americans to turn to traditional news media and/or social media (stimuli) to obtain COVID-19 information; (2) if these media preferences shaped their COVID-19 knowledge, cognitive information vetting, and trust in government communication (post-orientation factors); and finally (3) whether these factors contributed to their intended and actual behaviors (responses), such as getting vaccinated. Thus, this study explores how multiple communicative and cognitive mechanisms contribute to public compliance with government health recommendations during a pandemic. Mediation analyses showed positive indirect effects between uncertainty reduction motivation and behavioral outcomes via use of social media (in relation to traditional news media) and COVID-19 knowledge and cognitive information vetting. This study discusses theoretical and practical health communication implications of these findings.

Turbulence-resistant high-capacity free-space optical communications using OAM mode group multiplexing.

Twisted light carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM), which features a helical phase front, has shown its potential applications in diverse areas, especially in free-space optical (FSO) communications. Multiple orthogonal OAM beams can be utilized to enable high-capacity FSO communication systems. However, for practical OAM-based FSO communication links, atmospheric turbulence will cause serious power fluctuations and inter-model crosstalk between the multiplexed OAM channels, impairing link performance. In this paper, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a novel OAM mode-group multiplexing (OAM-MGM) scheme with transmitter mode diversity to increase system reliability under turbulence. Without adding extra system complexity, an FSO system transmitting two OAM groups with a total of 144 Gbit/s discrete multi-tone (DMT) signal is demonstrated under turbulence strength D/r0 of 1, 2, and 4. In our experiments, the proposed OAM-MGM scheme helps to achieve bit-error-rate (BER) mostly less than 3.8 × 10-3 under turbulence strength D/r0 of 1 and 2 with a total transmitted power of 10 dBm. Compared with the conventional OAM mode multiplexed system, the system interruption probability decreases from 28% to 4% under moderate turbulence strength D/r0 of 2.

Telemedicine in Selected Military Medical Centers: What and How It Is Being Done

Background: Telemedicine is considered a remote diagnosis and treatment of patients using telecommunication. Objectives: This study aimed to share the experience of using telemedicine in selected military medical centers. Methods: Telemedicine includes medical practice and information and communication technology. It has proven to be very effective for telehealth care, especially in areas with poor health facilities. However, the implementation of these technologies is often hampered by various issues. However, due to the spread of military personnel in the vastness of Iran's geography and the need to handle and receive medical care and treatment, telemedicine has been considered for more than a hundred centers since 2019. Results: Telemedicine provides various types of health care services, such as psychological consultations, educational services, health care delivery and management, disease screening, and disaster management services across selected military medical centers. Conclusions: Although telemedicine cannot be a solution to all problems, it can certainly go a long way in reducing the burden on the health care system through safe and effective communication.

Social Media, the changing Newsroom and Electoral Politics in Zimbabwe

The rise of social media in Zimbabwe has instigated changes in journalism practice, politics and political communication. This paper examines the nexus between social media, journalism practice and politics in Zimbabwe, focusing on the 2018 general elections. The study is informed by the realisation that past studies on how social media interacts with society have tended to focus on a single dimension. Such single dimensions have included social media and newsroom changes, social media and journalism ethics, together with social media and political communication (Mabweazara 2014). No study, however, has attempted to show the connections between all these dimensions, which is a gap that is observable in social media studies. Using interviews with mainstream journalists in Zimbabwe and content analysis of political social media posts, the study shows that newsroom changes are tied to changes in political communication. The results also show that newsroom changes in Zimbabwe cannot be disconnected from political dynamics because journalism practice itself, even before the rise of social media, is shaped and structured by political dynamics so much that contrary to Marxian theorisation, in Zimbabwe, it is the political-consciousness base that determines the economic and other facets of the superstructure.

Therapeutic strategy in the form of communication in the children with the autism spectrum disorders - narrative review

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder influenced by a number of genetic and environmental factors. It is characterized by a broad range of symptoms, particularly in the areas of communication and language, which pose a therapeutic challenge for both parents and therapists. This article, based on a review of available studies on PubMed, presents therapeutic methods based on functional communication strategies and ways to implement them as a form of treatment for children with the autism spectrum disorders. The major goals of ASD treatment are socialization and communication skills improvement and current treatments are not based on pharmacological therapies, but on behavioral therapies. Through appropriate speech development and practical communication strategies that are based on techniques like motivating the child to create eye contact with an adult, it is possible to realize the development of proper communication. These strategies are a form of therapy and allow for the improvement of the child's communication on multiple levels and shaping the social attitudes. Incorporating suitable therapeutic communication techniques enables the development and enhancement of social skills in children with autism spectrum disorders. Children with ASD benefit from appropriate communication because it helps them communicate their needs, understand the social norms, and improve their quality of life.

Socio-cultural risks of "big user data" of Russian citizens

The subject of the article is the current socio-cultural risks of Russian citizens as users of computer and telecommunication technologies and Internet communications. The object of the study is the consequences of digital transformation, such as the advantages and threats of automating the generation, collection and analysis of "big user data". The relevance of the topic is due to the adoption by the Russian Government of the "Concept of formation and development of the culture of information security of citizens of the Russian Federation" on December 22, 2022. Socio-cultural risks and threats, including traditional values and identity, associated with being in a "digital" environment and user actions are considered. Special attention is paid to the analysis of threats to Russian citizens from the "electronic totalitarianism" of unfriendly countries and global corporate digital platforms, as well as the possibilities of counteraction. The novelty of the study of socio-cultural risks of information security in the application of the profile system-dynamic culturological approach, evolutionary and structural-functional methods. Taking into account the rapid changes in the landscape of socio-cultural digital risks in recent years, the research materials were Russian scientific publications in the journals of the list of HAC (categories K1, K2) and foreign ones in the international database Scopus (quartiles Q1, Q2) 2021&amp;#8722;2023, "critical" for the formation of modern digital threats. A special contribution is the use of developments obtained in the course of research of scientific and practical communications in the information security of the financial sector, conducted under the guidance of the author in 2010-2023. The results of the study are conclusions about the need to take into account the balance of advantages and threats of "digitalization", the management of socio-cultural risks of "big user data" in the interests of Russian citizens. The main conclusion is to determine the decisive role in the development and improvement of the general civil culture of information security not only of the professional activities of state bodies and specialized organizations, but also of all citizens.

Passivity-Based Adaptive Fuzzy Control for Stochastic Nonlinear Switched Systems via T–S Fuzzy Modeling

In this paper, state-estimator-based adaptive control is under consideration for a sort of nonlinear stochastic switched systems by Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy modeling and sliding mode technique. A new fuzzy sliding surface is established by a reformed state estimator, and a novel adaptive fuzzy reaching motion controller synthesis is carried out to force the state trajectories onto the designated sliding surface in limited moments. A new mean-square exponential stability of the resultant plant with passivity is ensured under the average dwell time method and stochastic stability theory. The key challenge overcome here is that one conditional assumption involved in the previous sliding mode control-based strategies for the considered systems is no longer required despite the unavailable states, unknown perturbations and specified switching signal. At last, a practical data communication network model (DCNM) with simulation is offered to verify the feasibility of the theoretical result.