Specific Communication Research Articles

METHODOLOGY OF TEACHING STUDENTS TO OVERCOME BARRIERS IN BUSINESS COMMUNICATION

The article concerns effective communication as an essential component of business success. The aim of research is to identify the specific communication barriers that students encounter in business contexts, such as cultural differences, language proficiency, and technological challenges; to develop effective teaching methodologies and techniques that can help students overcome these communication barriers, such as intercultural training, language instruction, and the use of technology. It was highlighted that effective communication is vital for business success, and communication barriers such as cultural differences, language, and technology can hinder effective communication. When communication barriers exist, it can have a significant negative impact on a business's performance. Therefore, it is crucial for educators to teach students how to overcome barriers in business communication. The author claims that communication barriers are obstacles that prevent people from effectively conveying and receiving information. Consequently, there are many types of communication barriers, including language barriers, cultural differences, physical barriers, emotional barriers, and perceptual barriers. It has been suggested the methodology for teaching students how to overcome barriers in business communication containing exact steps. The methodology outlined in this article, which includes identifying communication barriers, developing intercultural communication skills, enhancing language proficiency, teaching effective use of technology, and providing feedback, can help students develop the necessary skills to overcome communication barriers in a business setting. It has been stated that developing intercultural communication skills takes time and effort. It requires an open mind, willingness to learn, and respect for cultural differences. The author concludes that the field of teaching students to overcome barriers in business communication is dynamic and evolving, and there is significant potential for further research to enhance our understanding of effective teaching practices in this area.

P048 Assessing the health equity impacts of smartphone-based remote monitoring in people with rheumatoid arthritis: a stakeholder engagement workshop

Abstract Background/Aims REmote Monitoring of Rheumatoid Arthritis (REMORA) is a smartphone-app for daily symptom-tracking which is linked to the electronic health record, aiming to improve clinical decision-making and disease activity in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Given well-established sociodemographic inequities which influence access to smartphones and the ability to utilise and benefit from them for health purposes, we engaged with stakeholder-representatives to assess the potential impact of REMORA on health equity and identify mitigation strategies. Methods We organised a 3-hour stakeholder-engagement workshop, inviting people with RA, healthcare professionals (HCPs) and digital health researchers. The workshop was guided by the validated Health Equity Impact Assessment-Digital Health Supplement (HEIA-DH), aiming to explore for REMORA: Groups at-risk of digital health inequities; Potential inadvertent positive/negative impacts; Strategies to mitigate negative impacts. We captured suggestions on a virtual whiteboard and kept field-notes using a pre-defined template for thematic analysis. Results Table 1 presents the workshop results. We identified multiple groups at-risk of digital health inequities (e.g., people with physical disabilities; non-native English speakers; people with information-processing difficulties) for whom stakeholders also highlighted unintended positive impacts (e.g., reduced travel to appointments; supporting verbal discussions with HCPs; opportunities to prepare for consultations). Suggested strategies to mitigate negative impacts included: ensuring app compatibility with larger devices; early explanation of medical terminology; adapting data-inputting/data-summary design features. Conclusion Our results highlight important considerations relevant to the wider field of smartphone-based remote monitoring for long-term conditions. In addition to identifying sociodemographic groups at-risk of digital health inequities, we recognised risks for groups with specific health problems such as physical/sensory disabilities. Our proposed mitigation strategies can be broadly classified into: app adaptations; considerations during app prescription; sign-posting users towards sources of support. We also found that whilst REMORA aims to improve communication between all patients and HCPs, there may be an unexpected additional benefit for groups with specific communication challenges. Our findings demonstrate the utility of HEIA-DH in assessing the potential health equity impact of smartphone-based remote monitoring; further workshops are planned with specific at-risk groups. Regular re-evaluation will help gauge the effectiveness of our strategies and identify further unanticipated equity impacts of REMORA. Disclosure M. Al-Attar: None. A. Crawford: None. A. Gambin: None. S.M. Ali: None. W.G. Dixon: Consultancies; W.G.D. has received consultancy from Google, unrelated to this work. S.N. van der Veer: None.

Abstract LB161: Single cell bioprinted cell circuits for the systematic assessment of cell-cell communication in the early tumor microenvironment

Abstract The specific communication of multiple cell types in the tumor microenvironment plays a critical role in cancer progression. Current engineering methods have failed to adequately replicate the complexities of the tumor microenvironment (TME). In particular, generating engineered tissue-like environments with multiple TME cell types has remained challenging. Here we demonstrate the capability to pattern complex single cell circuit configurations, using a novel microfluidic bioprinting method, to study cell-cell communication in the early TME. A microfluidic dispenser (Biopixlar, Fluicell AB) was optimized to determine the delivery pressure (5 – 80 mbar), internal vacuum (0 – 80 -mbar), and external vacuum (0 – 80 -mbar) to enable highly controllable deposition of single cells suspended in complete media supplemented with polyethylene glycol (15 mg/mL, 1:1) at 1 × 106 cells/mL. Flow conditions were optimized for human cells: MDA-MB-231, MCF7, PC3, breast epithelial cells (MCF10a), fibroblasts, cancer associated fibroblasts, THP-1 derived macrophages, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and mesenchymal stem cells. As proof of concept, the optimized settings were used to replicate a 2D tumor biopsy region of interest with high spatial precision. Next, cell-cell communication circuits were fabricated with cancer cells (PC3 or MDA-MB-231) and HUVECs. Communication circuits were bioprinted as 4 by 4 cell arrays, with 100 µm spacing between each cell, equal number of HUVECs and cancer cells, and three different cellular arrangements: alternating cell types, like cell types grouped, and groups of four like cell types. The circuits were live cell imaged for up to 30 hours to observe cell migration patterns, proliferation, and morphological changes as a function of cell-cell communication circuit arrangements. Optimal printing parameters were identified as 80 mbar delivery pressure, -25 mbar internal vacuum, and -55 mbar external vacuum. These parameters maintained >99% cell viability and ±10 µm spatial precision of printed cells. Live cell imaging of circuits containing PC3s or MDA-MB-231s with HUVECs on collagen substrates revealed changes in migration patterns, proliferation, and morphology depending on the surrounding cellular arrangement. HUVECs were highly migratory throughout the duration of the experiment, frequently extended protrusions towards nearby HUVECs, but did not display the same level of interaction with PC3s as they did with MDA-MB-231s. In MDA-MB-231 circuits, irrespective of patterning, we identified clear tendencies of HUVECs to herd MDA-MB-231s, travel overtop of MDA-MB-231s, collect and carry visible particles released from MDA-MB-231s, and maintain dendritic morphology instead of undergoing the expected vascular tubulogenesis. We found that HUVECs had the best morphology when clustered in groups of four and proliferated most when surrounded by MDA-MB-231s (alternating pattern). We found that MDA-MB-231s only proliferated when surrounded by HUVECs and had the least displacement when surrounded by like cells. These results demonstrate a method to precisely bioprint single cell circuits, enabling the investigation of cellular spatial organization and composition within the tumor microenvironment as it relates to tumor initiation and progression. Citation Format: Haylie R. Helms, Alexander E. Davies, Rebekka Duhen, Joshua M. Moreau, Ellen M. Langer, Luiz E. Bertassoni. Single cell bioprinted cell circuits for the systematic assessment of cell-cell communication in the early tumor microenvironment [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 2 (Clinical Trials and Late-Breaking Research); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(8_Suppl):Abstract nr LB161.

Problemy tłumaczenia elementów kulturowych. O podejściu interkulturowym w nauczaniu języka obcego przez przekład

Didactic translations and translation projects are one of the ways of familiarising students simultaneously with a foreign language and culture, allowing them to develop language competences and learn about cultural similarities and differences. The aim of this article is to present a way of acquainting students with elements of foreign culture through translation, show the benefits of working with translation for language learning and present difficulties related to the translation of cultural elements and solutions used by translators. Teaching language and culture through translation has many advantages. First of all, working with the original text gives students access to the elements of the source culture in a specific communication context. Moreover, the translation assumes an in-depth understanding of the original, including intercultural allusions and intertextual references. The effort put into the translation process by the students makes them better memorize foreign elements and structures.

Thank You All!

Please review the many names on our list of reviewers for 2022. We have a record of 283 reviewers for 2022! This reflects, in part, the increased number of manuscripts submitted. It is through the reviewers' and the editorial team's dedication and commitment to peer review that Pediatric Physical Therapy thrives! Join me in congratulating the award winners for publications in Pediatric Physical Therapy for 2022: The Toby Long Award is given each year to the author of the article deemed the best of the year. This year's recipient is Dr. Kari Kretch and team for “Learn the Signs. Act Early.”: Updates and Implications for Physical Therapists” https://journals.lww.com/pedpt/Fulltext/2022/10000/_Learn_the_Signs__Act_Early____Updates_and.2.aspx The Jeanne Fisher Award is given each year to the author of an article deemed the best of the year written while the first author was a student. This year's recipient is Dr. Diana Early and team for “The Journey: Parental Expectations and Perceptions of Therapy Services for Children with Down Syndrome” https://journals.lww.com/pedpt/Fulltext/2022/07000/The_Journey__Parental_Expectations_and_Perceptions.9.aspx Our collective thanks should go to Adrianna Castilla, Mariah Gonzalez, Lynn Kysh, and Barbara Sargent for their update to the literature on physical therapy management of congenital muscular torticollis. This effort helps keep the clinical practice guideline on torticollis informed with recent research. The Special Communication on pediatric physical therapy education authored by Marisa Birkmeier, Heather Lundeen, Jennifer Furze, James G. Moore, Lisa Dannemiller and Deborah Anderson offers evidence for best practice pediatric education for future students. My thanks for reviewers, authors and all of our readers! Linda Fetters, PhD, PT, FAPTA Editor-in-Chief Santa Barbara, CA

Constructiveness of constructive journalism in a conflict-generating social-communication environment

The article considers the potential communication possibilities of such a new media phenomenon as constructive journalism / solution journalism in relation to its impact on the level of conflict-genicity of the social-communication space. the prospects of constructive journalism / solution journalism in overcoming the competition of classical journalism with social media and overcoming the crisis of traditional journalism are also analyzed. Reflections on the potential of traditional journalism in the aspect of reducing the level of conflict-genicity of the social and communication environment in the article unfold against the background of ideas about the receptive requests of the modern media audience for quality, verified, exclusive and useful information and appear to be justified and relevant in the context of the analysis of the communication potential of constructive journalism / solution journalism as a new media phenomenon. Constructive journalism / solution journalism is a new trend in the field of journalism, which is characterized by several fundamental features that give grounds for asserting that it is able to provide a new impetus to overcome competition with non-professional journalism and help professional media activity to get out of the crisis in which it found itself and satisfy the above-described audience requests. 1. Constructive journalism is a “revision” of journalistic intentions and opportunities for communicating with the media audience and restoring social dialogue. 2. Constructive journalism is a new approach to journalism. 3. Constructive journalism is a new journalistic proposal regarding the communicator in the process of mass communication. 4. Constructive journalism is an effective competition of professional mass media activity with the information activity of social media. Constructive journalism / solution journalism can be implemented in the form of separate materials in traditional mass media, separate sections in traditional mass media with the appropriate name, and also as separate media projects. Constructive journalism / solution journalism is able to reduce the conflict-genicity of the social communication environment because it has the potential and prospects to make the position of the media audience more adequate, reducing the level of its emotional instability and expanding the field of perceived and adequately seen phenomena, processes, issues of the current socio-cultural life. In the variant of constructive journalism, professional mass media activity can show, explain, explain the position of the “other”, so that it becomes less distant, less unacceptable, more tolerated where there is a prospect of avoiding collision and confrontation. Reducing the level of conflict-genicity of the social-communication space should become a special communication intention, which fits constructive journalism in particular.

Documentary narrative of the communicator as a way of understanding and representing military reality (on the example of the collection by E. Shishatskyi «A journey to the afterlife. Mariupol»)

The article emphasizes that modern Ukrainian military documentary literature is developing at a fast pace, which is due to the modern social context – a full-scale war in Ukraine due to the invasion of the Russian Federation. A long stay in wartime conditions requires understanding, evaluation of events, actualization and explanation for both Ukrainian and foreign audiences, which explains the authors’ interest in this way of reflecting wartime reality. The research focuses on identifying the potential of the narrative method of organizing material in documentary collections about the war in Ukraine. It is emphasized that the specificity of understanding the military reality and its representation by the authors depends on the status of the communicator as an author-observer of the events and the author-participant of the events. If the authors-observers of the events are clearly aware of their communication intentions to achieve specific communication effects (in particular, influence on public opinion), then the participating authors first of all strive to actualize the personal experience of specific events, to think about it, to share it with the audience, to reflect. It was revealed that the collection of e. Shishatskyi «Journey to the Beyond. Mariupol» in the form of «diary entries» – demonstrates the subjective experience of the author, which he experienced during a trip to Mariupol with a volunteer mission, – to help his relatives and countrymen. the experience gained had a significant impact on the author’s value orientations, because he retrospectively spoke about the obstacles he encountered on his way and which he was unable to overcome, about the peculiarities of adaptation to the new reality – the military.

A Sociolinguistic Study of the Dynamics of Taboo Language in Intercultural Communication

The prevalence of intercultural communication is underpinned by the ongoing globalisation of contemporary communication. As an important branch of sociolinguistics, the issue of Chinese-English taboos has become typical of the study of intercultural communication. Based on the different linguistic features of the Chinese and English languages, and the obvious differences in such features, the two are constantly confronted with the confrontation and challenge of taboo language in intercultural communication, not to mention the new vocabulary of communication that has emerged as a result of the development of the Internet. When taboo language and specific communication situations on both sides are accurately analysed, it is more likely that the root of the problem can be identified and avoided in order to ensure the progress and quality of intercultural communication. The analysis of regular cases from recent years has shown that the active avoidance of the direct use of taboo language and the reinforcement of linguistic knowledge for reasons of cultural sensitivity are effective in preventing intercultural communication errors.

Predicting Parent Trust Based on Professionals’ Communication Skills

Trust is critical to the establishment and maintenance of working relationships between the parents of children with disabilities and their child’s professional. Knowledge of the specific communication skills needed to secure trust is unclear. The current study investigated the relationship between parent evaluation of professionals’ communication skills and parent trust of professionals. A total of 165 parents responded to an online survey during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results indicated that professionals’ communication skills had a significant and moderately positive relationship with the parent trust of professionals. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that parents’ ratings of professionals’ communication competence, and professionals’ use of in-person communication were the only predictors of parent trust of special education professionals, even when other factors were considered. This study’s findings draw attention to the importance communication skills may have in establishing and maintaining trusting relationships with parents.

#politicalcommunicationsowhite: Race and Politics in Nine Communication Journals, 1991-2021

ABSTRACT Race has been a consequential factor in politics for centuries, yet our review of the political communication literature finds only sporadic interest in the topic. To examine systematically how and how much political communication research has addressed race, we analyze author-supplied keywords in nine journals within three broad categories (political communication, generalist communication, and critical communication) over 31 years. Combining computational methods and traditional content analysis, we find that political communication and generalist journals engaged with race substantially less than critical journals, and that this level of engagement has remained essentially flat since the mid-1990s. Political communication journals discussed racism least among the three journal types, and specific political communication theories appeared rarely across the board. Finally, addressing race did not predict journal impact factor.

Profiles of People Who Carried Out Late Primary Vaccination against COVID-19 in the Region of Murcia.

Despite the impact of the COVID-19 vaccination, vaccine hesitancy is a matter of concern. Despite a lower disease incidence, people continue to start primo-vaccination late. The aim of this study is to characterize people late primo-vaccinated and the reasons that led them to start vaccination. A quantitative, descriptive and prospective study was performed on the basis of phone surveys of people vaccinated from February to May 2022 in the Region of Murcia (Spain). The survey included socio-demographic and COVID-19 information, self-perception risk, vaccine security, Fear of COVID-19 Scale, reasons for not being vaccinated and reasons that have led them to vaccination. From a total of 1768 people receiving primo-vaccination, 798 people were contacted, and 338 people completed the survey. Among the interviewed people, 57% reported non-health-related reasons to get vaccinated, travel reasons being the primary one. The most reported health-related reason was a fear of COVID-19. There was a significant positive association between vaccination for health-related reasons and female gender (β = 0.72), cohabiting with a vulnerable person (β = 0.97), higher self-perceived risk (β = 0.13) and vaccine security dimension (β = 0.14). We identified two different profiles of people with late COVID-19 primo-vaccination, with health-related or non-health-related reasons. This work can be useful in designing specific communication strategies.

A Novel Computation of Delay Margin Based on Grey Wolf Optimisation for a Load Frequency Control of Two-Area-Network Power Systems

In classical power systems, frequency measurements are transferred via a specialised communication channel, resulting in time delay. The time delay plays a major role in a power system, which can reduce the dynamic performance of the load–frequency control (LFC) system and can destabilise the system. The research to date has tended to focus on developing a new algorithm to determine the delay margin (DM) rather than looking into a hybrid algorithm which includes a nature-inspired metaheuristic optimisation technique. This paper introduces a novel method for computing the DM based on grey wolf optimisation (GWO), specifically for the constant time delay. In the proposed method, GWO is employed to optimise the minimum error of the spectral radius and to determine the best design variable of the crossing frequency. With the help of the proposed method, the sweeping range is no longer required, which improves the accuracy of the result. To evaluate the proposed method, a two-area network power system is considered as a case study. Furthermore, the effect of the PI controller gains on the DM is taken into account. The proposed method efficacy is demonstrated by comparing it with the most recently published methods. The results demonstrate that the proposed method is remarkably better than the existing methods found in the literature, where the smallest percentage inaccuracy using the simulation-based DM based on GWO is found to be 0.000%.

Dynamics of Friendliness of Communication Regimes of Neighboring Countries (Based on the Results of Annual Monitoring)

The article contains the results of monitoring the friendliness of communication regimes in the post-Soviet countries and an analysis of the friendliness rating of these countries for 2022. The author identifies a number of trends: the strengthening of the polarization of friendly and unfriendly communication regimes; strengthening state control over information content and communication channels; reducing the subjectivity of civil society institutions as actors of communication regimes; increased pressure on the Orthodox Church. Fluctuating type of communication regimes are revealed, in which, according to the author, one should expect changes in the conditions of communications with Russia. It spoken about critically significant factor in the successful promotion of Russia's interests – the development of special communication strategies for intercountry interactions. The author argues that the phenomenon of "post-Soviet" is alive and is used by different countries either to build up friendly communications or to increase hostility towards Russia.

5G Frequency Standardization, Technologies, Channel Models, and Network Deployment: Advances, Challenges, and Future Directions

The rapid increase in data traffic caused by the proliferation of smart devices has spurred the demand for extremely large-capacity wireless networks. Thus, faster data transmission rates and greater spectral efficiency have become critical requirements in modern-day networks. The ubiquitous 5G is an end-to-end network capable of accommodating billions of linked devices and offering high-performance broadcast services due to its several enabling technologies. However, the existing review works on 5G wireless systems examined only a subset of these enabling technologies by providing a limited coverage of the system model, performance analysis, technology advancements, and critical design issues, thus requiring further research directions. In order to fill this gap and fully grasp the potential of 5G, this study comprehensively examines various aspects of 5G technology. Specifically, a systematic and all-encompassing evaluation of the candidate 5G enabling technologies was conducted. The evolution of 5G, the progression of wireless mobile networks, potential use cases, channel models, applications, frequency standardization, key research issues, and prospects are discussed extensively. Key findings from the elaborate review reveal that these enabling technologies are critical to developing robust, flexible, dependable, and scalable 5G and future wireless communication systems. Overall, this review is useful as a resource for wireless communication researchers and specialists.

Marketing by Design: The Influence of Perceptual Structure on Brand Performance

Visual marketing communications consist of two components: (1) semantic content (e.g., headings, images, copy) that communicates a brand's positioning, benefits, and personality and (2) visual design (e.g., font selection, image size, the organization of the content) that encourages inferences about brand claims. The authors investigate how visual design can be used to encourage inferences that support brand claims and improve brand performance. They find that brands with a utilitarian positioning perform better when the visual design of their marketing communications encourages structured perceptions, whereas brands with a hedonic positioning perform better when the visual design of their marketing communications encourages unstructured perceptions. In both cases, (un)structured perceptions encourage inferences that reinforce brand claims and, consequently, improve brand performance. This research offers actionable insights into how marketing communication specialists can coordinate logo design, product design, package design, visual merchandising, and retail environments to reinforce brand claims.

Participatory Design Workshops: Interdisciplinary Encounters within a Collaborative Digital Heritage Project

This article aims to investigate how participatory design influences interdisciplinary relationships in digital heritage projects. In particular, the article reflects on opportunities and challenges of interdisciplinary encounters in participatory design, with the cross-border project “Terra Mosana” as a case study, which aims to investigate, digitalize, and communicate the shared heritage of the Meuse–Rhine Euregion (EMR). Terra Mosana is a collaboration between multiple partners from municipalities, museums, cultural heritage sites, and universities in different EMR cities. Partners of the project have different backgrounds that vary from archaeologists, historians, and heritage professionals to computer scientists, developers, and communication specialists. My role in this project focused on designing and organizing several participatory design workshops with citizens of the EMR, aiming to empower and enable them to share their views about their shared history, and what they want from museums and other cultural institutions. Those workshops play a crucial role in the project by creating meaningful connections across the different disciplines involved in the project. In this article, I focus on the negotiation processes between the partners involved: What challenges were they confronted with? How did they arrive at creative solutions, and which issues remained unresolved? My analysis does not draw only on my participatory observation of workshops, but also on a focus group discussion that invited the partners to reflect on and assess the collaborative process.

Communication inequalities and health disparities among vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 pandemic - a scoping review of qualitative and quantitative evidence

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated health disparities in vulnerable groups (e.g., increased infection, hospitalization, and mortality rates in people with lower income, lower education, or ethnic minorities). Communication inequalities can act as mediating factors in this relationship. Understanding this link is vital to prevent communication inequalities and health disparities in public health crises. This study aims to map and summarize the current literature on communication inequalities linked with health disparities (CIHD) in vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify research gaps.MethodsA scoping review of quantitative and qualitative evidence was conducted. The literature search followed the guidelines of PRISMA extension for scoping reviews and was performed on PubMed and PsycInfo. Findings were summarized using a conceptual framework based on the Structural Influence Model by Viswanath et al.ResultsThe search yielded 92 studies, mainly assessing low education as a social determinant and knowledge as an indicator for communication inequalities. CIHD in vulnerable groups were identified in 45 studies. The association of low education with insufficient knowledge and inadequate preventive behavior was the most frequently observed. Other studies only found part of the link: communication inequalities (n = 25) or health disparities (n = 5). In 17 studies, neither inequalities nor disparities were found.ConclusionsThis review supports the findings of studies on past public health crises. Public health institutions should specifically target their communication to people with low education to reduce communication inequalities. More research about CIHD is needed on groups with migrant status, financial hardship, not speaking the language in the country of residence, sexual minorities, and living in deprived neighborhoods. Future research should also assess communication input factors to derive specific communication strategies for public health institutions to overcome CIHD in public health crises.

ОСОБЛИВОСТІ ВИКЛАДАННЯ ДИСЦИПЛІН ХІМІЧНОГО СПРЯМУВАННЯ В УМОВАХ ДИСТАНЦІЙНОГО НАВЧАННЯ В ЗАКЛАДАХ ВИЩОЇ ОСВІТИ

The article reveals the peculiarities of teaching the disciplines of chemical direction, in particular “Organic Chemistry” and “Biochemistry”, in distance learning in higher educational institutions from the point of view of practice. It was determined that computers with special software, communication and remote sources of information are the main means of learning in distance learning of chemical disciplines. Forms of teaching chemical disciplines in conditions of distance learning in higher educational institutions are considered. The advantages and disadvantages of distance learning in the course of studying the disciplines of chemical direction in higher educational institutions are highlighted. The peculiarities of using virtual laboratories in the conditions of distance learning in higher educational institutions are considered. The programs with which the distance learning process takes place are identified, in particular, special attention is paid to the Moodle program, which is used by most higher educational institutions for teaching chemistry disciplines in distance learning conditions.According to the results of research conducted during remote work with students, it was determined that the formation of high-quality chemical knowledge, skills and abilities that will become the basis of the future professional competence of students of higher education is possible in the conditions of distance learning, where students study theory with the help of modern ICT, and laboratory work performed with the help of virtual chemical laboratories. Distance education can be considered an alternative to classical education, as students have the opportunity to qualitatively learn the material of the educational components of the curriculum, in particular, “Organic Chemistry” and “Biochemistry”.

Importance of Communication Skills Training and Meaning Centered Psychotherapy Concepts among Patients and Caregivers Coping with Advanced Cancer.

Latinos are more likely to be diagnosed with advanced cancer and have specific existential and communication needs. Concepts within Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy (MCP) interventions and Communications Skills Training (CST) assist patients in attending to these needs. However, Latino-tailored MCP interventions have yet to be adapted for advanced cancer patients and caregivers. A cross-sectional survey was administered to Latino advanced cancer patients and caregivers where participants rated the importance of the goals and concepts of MCP and CST. Fifty-seven (n = 57) Latino advanced cancer patients and fifty-seven (n = 57) caregivers completed the survey. Most participants rated MCP concepts as extremely important, ranging from 73.75% to 95.5%. Additionally, 86.8% favored finding meaning in their life after a cancer diagnosis. Participants (80.7%) also selected the concept of finding and maintaining hope to cope with their cancer diagnosis. Finally, participants found CST concepts and skills acceptable, ranging from 81.6% to 91.2%. Results indicate the acceptability of Meaning-Centered Therapy and Communication Skills Training among Latino advanced cancer patients and caregivers coping with advanced cancer. These results will inform the topics to be discussed in a culturally adapted psychosocial intervention for advanced cancer patients and their informal caregivers.

Consumer analysis and the role of information in sustainable choices: A natural experiment

“I shop therefore I am” (R. Campbell), or putting it differently, we are what we buy, and the way we make our purchases influences the future choices of economic decision-makers. Therefore, our decisions are crucial in defining the future sustainability of the whole system. Despite the plethora of initiatives introduced to enhance consumers' consciousness, the gap between ideal and real consumption attitude still exists and is a non-negligible problem, since subjects' sustainability intention is not always followed by sustainable consumption. Therefore, by employing a natural field experiment, the present work explores consumers' real behavior toward sustainable switching. Specifically, this study examines how the impact of targeted communication leads to a market basket sustainable shift. Indeed, we observe how the consumer's basket composition varies from control (where no targeted communication is included) to treatment (where specific and detailed communication is introduced through ad-hoc on-site banner signals). Results show the positive impact of the communication; after the introduction of the communication, the share of sustainable products is higher compared with the non-sustainable set of products. As a further extension, we consider the role played by product aesthetics: even if the effect is marked for sustainable products preserving the characteristics of the conventional substitute, such effect vanishes when a subset of radically different products is considered.