Total Number Of Participants Research Articles

On the Relationship Between Alexithymia and Social Cognition: A Systematic Review.

This systematic review summarises the studies that have investigated the relationship between dimensions of social cognition (i.e., Theory of Mind - ToM, emotion recognition, and empathy) and alexithymia in the general adult non-clinical population. PubMed, PsycINFO, and Scopus databases were screened, using the following strings: ("alexithymi*") AND ("theory of mind" OR "ToM"); ("alexithymi*") AND ("empath*"); ("alexithymi*") AND ("emotion recognition"); ("alexithymi*") AND ("social cognition"). A total of 117 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. The total number of participants included in the reviewed studies was 40,231. Mixed results were found for alexithymia and ToM, while the relationship between emotion recognition or empathy and alexithymia was more homogeneous. Alexithymia was found to be significantly associated with both a reduced ability to recognise emotions and empathy. These results support the existence of significant relationships between alexithymia and altered social cognitive abilities. Future research is needed to confirm the present findings and further elucidate the complex relationship between these processes. Suggestions are made on how to overcome some of the theoretical and methodological problems in the literature.

A study to evaluate the effectiveness of Xyzal UC cream in participants with urticaria

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and acceptability of Xyzal UC cream, containing the active component Tazman pepper (Tasmanian pepper berry), in alleviating the symptoms of urticaria. Materials and Methods: A prospective, single-center trial was conducted, involving 30 volunteers aged between 18 and 55 years with mild-to-moderate urticaria. Participants were chosen based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, which included a recent history of urticaria episodes supported by photographic evidence. The participants were instructed to apply a sufficient quantity of Xyzal UC cream on affected areas during urticaria episodes. Primary endpoints included grading for urticarial symptoms (redness, swelling, and itching) over 90 min and instant cooling and soothing effects of the cream over 15 min post-application using a Likert scale questionnaire. The secondary endpoint was to assess the tolerability of the test product. Photographs of the same site were taken at baseline (before product application), post-application, and after 90 min (or earlier, whenever resolved) by the participants. Results: The average age of participants as per the demographic data was found to be 33.33 years. The study found significant improvements in urticaria symptoms post-application of Xyzal UC cream. At 15 min post-application, 60% of participants agreed that redness had reduced, increasing to 93.3% of the total number of participants at 90 min. Similarly, 66.6% agreed to strongly agreed to a reduction in swelling at 15 min, with this figure rising to 93.3% at 90 min. The itching was notably reduced, with 83.4% of participants agreeing to strongly agreeing for relief from itching at 15 min, and 96.7% at 90 min. Participants also experienced a strong cooling and soothing effect immediately within 1 min post-application with 100% patient agreement. No adverse events or serious adverse events were reported, indicating a good tolerability profile for the cream. Conclusion: Xyzal UC cream exhibited substantial efficacy in promptly alleviating urticaria symptoms, including redness, swelling, and itching, with high levels of participant satisfaction and a positive tolerance profile. The instant cooling and soothing properties of the cream offer immediate relief, positioning it as a promising substitute for conventional therapies often associated with adverse effects. These findings highlight the potential of Xyzal UC cream as a viable and patient-compliant choice for managing mild-to-moderate urticaria.

Measuring English Abilities of Junior High School Students

Students’ problems in learning English often stem from a lack of exposure to the language, insufficient practice opportunities, and challenges with grammar and vocabulary, which collectively hinder their overall proficiency and confidence. The purpose of this study is to measure students’ ability in mastering English. The method used in this study is a descriptive quantitative approach, conducted at SMP Negeri 3 Kuala Batee. The total number of participants was 27 students, and the data were collected using a test with 50 questions. The results of the study indicated that the students’ ability in mastering English was classified into high, moderate, and low categories. High abilities were evident in mastering main idea identification, understanding text purposes, and recognizing text types. Moderate abilities were observed in conversational skills, identifying supporting details in reading, pronoun reference, passive voice, and word meanings. Low abilities were noted in expressing congratulations and hope, understanding text structure and genres, conversations, simple past tense, comprehension of advertisements, word meanings, and using "to be" and pronouns. These findings suggest that while students have a good grasp of certain aspects of English, significant gaps remain, particularly in grammatical rules and expressive language. The students should learn more about English grammatical rules because this area was categorized into low ability, indicating a need for targeted instructional strategies to address these deficiencies and improve overall language proficiency.

Barriers to HPV vaccine series completion among a predominantly hispanic border population: a mixed method evaluation

BackgroundHuman Papillomavirus (HPV) infections are the most common sexually transmitted infections in the United States. The HPV vaccine is a vital tool to prevent against several cancers, namely cervical cancer. Unfortunately, the uptake of the HPV vaccine among Hispanics is relatively low. Some barriers to uptake include language barriers, cultural taboos, and cost.PurposeThis study aims to explore barriers to HPV vaccination in a predominantly Hispanic US-Mexico border county between June 2015 and March 2018.MethodsA mixed-method approach was used to analyze covariates associated with HPV vaccine uptake and to evaluate barriers to HPV vaccination from participant follow-up calls or reminder notes.ResultsThe total number of participants was 1,787. Young adults were less likely to complete the vaccination series than those aged 9-17, while individuals born in Mexico were more likely to do so. Failure to contact was the most common barrier (n=1,801, 86.42%), followed by scheduling concerns (n=99, 4.5%), being ineligible (74, 3.55%), completing series outside of the program (40, 1.92%), having medical concerns (36, 1.73%), and other reasons (34, 1.63%).ConclusionWe predominantly identified structural barriers and various health-related determinants regarding healthcare access and quality.

May Measurement Month 2021: an analysis of blood pressure screening results from Mexico.

May Measurement Month 2021 (MMM21) in Mexico was an opportunistic survey that aimed to improve blood pressure awareness at the individual and population levels and to analyse the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence, knowledge, and rates of hypertension in the country. This survey followed the methodology of MMM, previously published. The total number of participants screened was 77 547, of which 47 793 (61.6%) were female and 29 178 (37.6%) were male. The mean age (SD) was 46.2 (16.6) years. Of all 77 547 participants, 14 939 (19.3%) had hypertension, of which 48% were aware. The frequency and awareness of hypertension in this survey are similar to those reported before the pandemic (MMM19-Mexico and the 2019 National Health Survey), suggesting that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in these parameters of arterial hypertension was not as important as expected. These data are concordant with the official reports in Mexico that showed that the pandemic had a severe impact on cardiovascular mortality but did not modify mortality due to hypertension or stroke.

The Association between Problematic Instagram Use, Psychological Distress, and Well-Being: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Recent studies have indicated the potential detrimental psychological effects of Instagram use (IU) and problematic Instagram use (PIU). PIU and IU have been associated with depression, anxiety, and negative general well-being. This study aimed to investigate that correlation through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sevendatabases, including PubMed/MEDLINE, were explored in February of 2023. Studies that assessed the association between IU and/or PIU with depression, anxiety, other psychological distresses, and/or general well-being were deemed eligible. The Hunter-Schmidt random effects model and multilevel meta-analysis were appliedto assess the outcomes of interest. A total of 1,927 hits were identified with 37 studies included in the quantitative analysis after removal of duplicates and screening of abstracts and full texts, with the total number of participants at 14,305. The obtained correlations between PIU and depression, anxiety, and well-being with 95% confidence interval were found to be r = 0.35, [0.25, 0.44], r = 0.31, [0.22, 0.40], r = -0.17, [-0.24, -0.10], respectively. Similarly, for IU and depression r = 0.11, [0.06, 0.16], p < 0.05 for all of the aforementioned results. The association between IU and anxiety was found to be r = 0.12, [0.04, 0.21], p < 0.05. The present meta-analysis found significant conceptual heterogeneity across the studies included due to different study designs and population heterogeneity. The results show a positive association of PIU and IU with depression, anxiety, and other psychological distress(es). There is a need for robust designed longitudinal research to explore this association.

Converting From Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy to Open Cholecystectomy: A Systematic Review of Its Advantages and Reasoning.

Cholecystectomy is the standard treatment for symptomatic cholelithiasis and asymptomatic impending biliary obstruction, which is typically carried out laparoscopically. However, difficult gallbladders, due to distorted anatomy or increased risk of bleeding, can necessitate conversion to open surgery. This systematic review evaluates the advantages, disadvantages, complications, and outcomes of laparoscopic versus converted open cholecystectomy. We screened articles published from 2011 to 2024 by utilizing advanced filters of PubMed, Cochrane, and Scholar databases. Exclusion criteria included non-English language articles, duplicates, and animal studies. After analyzing relevant articles, 31 articles were included in this study. The total number of participants who underwent laparoscopic procedures was 28,054, of which 5,847 were converted from laparoscopic to open procedures. Conversions were primarily due to bleeding, adhesions, and obscured anatomy, with bile leakage being the most common short-term complication. Converted cases showed higher rates of long-term complications, increased hospital stays, and higher morbidity and mortality. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy remains safe and effective, but identifying high-risk patients for conversion is important. Preoperative identification of high-risk patients and recognizing predictive factors for conversion can enhance surgical outcomes and cost-effectiveness. While laparoscopic cholecystectomy is generally preferred, timely conversion to open surgery is essential for patient safety.

Is the frequency of breakfast consumption associated with life satisfaction in children and adolescents? A cross-sectional study with 154,151 participants from 42 countries

BackgroundThe promotion of daily breakfast consumption and the importance of making appropriate breakfast choices have been underscored as significant public health messages. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between breakfast frequency and life satisfaction in large and representative samples of school-going children and adolescents aged 10–17 years from 42 different countries.MethodsThis study used information from the 2017/2018 Health Behavior in School-aged Children study, comprising nationally representative samples of children and adolescents aged 10–17 years who were attending school. The total number of participants from the 42 countries included in the study was 155,451 (51.3% girls). The evaluation of breakfast consumption in this study involved a specific question: “How often do you typically have breakfast (more than a glass of milk or fruit juice)?”. To measure life satisfaction, a subjective assessment scale was used in the form of a ladder, visually spanning from 0 to 10. On this scale, the topmost point (10) denotes the highest conceivable quality of life, whereas the bottom point (0) represents the worst imaginable quality of life.ResultsAfter adjusting for several covariates, the lowest estimated marginal mean of life satisfaction was identified in those participants who skipped breakfast (mean [M] = 5.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 5.5 to 5.8). Conversely, the highest estimated marginal mean of life satisfaction was observed in those who had breakfast every day (M = 6.5, 95% CI 6.3 to 6.6). Overall, a nearly linear relationship between higher frequency of breakfast and greater life satisfaction in children and adolescents was identified (p-for-trend < 0.001). In addition, the highest estimated marginal mean of life satisfaction score was identified in those participants from Portugal who had breakfast every day (M = 7.7; 95% CI 6.9 to 8.5 points). Conversely, the lowest estimated marginal mean of life satisfaction was observed in those participants from Romania who no breakfast (M = 3.5; 95% CI 2.6 to 4.4 points).ConclusionsThere is a nearly linear relationship between higher frequency of breakfast and greater life satisfaction in children and adolescents. Considering the potential health advantages associated with breakfast during this critical age phase, these findings imply the necessity for additional global efforts to promote increased breakfast consumption among children and adolescents.

To neutrally offer or strongly recommend? General practitioners’ perspectives on screening for gestational diabetes according to the national guideline in Norway

Objective To explore general practitioners’ experiences and reflections on how the current Norwegian guideline for screening for gestational diabetes affects their clinical practice. Design A qualitive study in which data were collected through semi-structured focus group interviews and analyzed thematically. Setting and subjects Five focus groups conducted in 2020 among GPs in Norway; three interviews took place face-to-face and two were held digitally. The total number of participants was 31. Results GPs acknowledged the potential benefits of more extensive screening, but had concerns about the medicalization of pregnancy, stating that some women experienced considerable anxiety. The GPs expressed doubts about the guideline’s evidence base but differed in how they interpreted what the guideline was asking them to do. Some offered eligible women the opportunity to be screened, while other set up a screening appointment without consulting the women first. For some, fear of incrimination made them recommend screening without being convinced that it was the right thing for the patient. Conclusions It is unclear whether the guideline for gestational diabetes requires GPs to recommend screening to pregnant women or if they should provide neutral information about the availability of screening. This ambiguity should be addressed, and the guideline evaluated against the core principles of general practice.

Efficacy and safety of oral semaglutide monotherapy vs placebo in a predominantly Chinese population with type 2 diabetes (PIONEER 11): a double-blind, Phase IIIa, randomised trial

Aims/hypothesisThe aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral semaglutide monotherapy vs placebo in a predominantly Chinese population with type 2 diabetes insufficiently controlled with diet and exercise alone.MethodsThe Peptide Innovation for Early Diabetes Treatment (PIONEER) 11 trial was a double-blind, randomised, Phase IIIa trial conducted across 52 sites in the China region (mainland China and Taiwan), Hungary, Serbia and Ukraine. Eligible participants were ≥18 years (≥20 years in Taiwan), had a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes with HbA1c 53–86 mmol/mol (7.0–10.0%) and were not receiving any glucose-lowering drugs. After a 4-week run-in period in which participants were treated with diet and exercise alone, those who fulfilled the randomisation criteria were randomised (1:1:1:1) using a web-based randomisation system to receive once-daily oral semaglutide 3 mg, 7 mg or 14 mg or placebo for 26 weeks (using a 4-week dose-escalation regimen for the higher doses). Randomisation was stratified according to whether participants were from the China region or elsewhere. The primary and confirmatory secondary endpoints were change from baseline to week 26 in HbA1c and body weight (kg), respectively. Safety was assessed in all participants exposed to at least one dose of the trial product.ResultsBetween October 2019 and October 2021, a total of 774 participants were screened and 521 participants were randomised to oral semaglutide 3 mg (n=130), 7 mg (n=130), 14 mg (n=130) or placebo (n=131); most participants (92.5%, n=482) completed the trial, with 39 participants prematurely discontinuing treatment. The number of participants contributing to the trial analyses was based on the total number of participants who were randomised at the beginning of the trial. The majority of participants were male (63.7%), and the mean age of participants was 52 years. At baseline, mean HbA1c and body weight were 63 mmol/mol (8.0%) and 79.6 kg, respectively. Oral semaglutide resulted in significantly greater reductions in HbA1c than placebo at week 26 (p<0.001 for all doses). The estimated treatment differences (ETDs [95% CIs]) for oral semaglutide 3 mg, 7 mg and 14 mg vs placebo were –11 (–13, –9) mmol/mol, –16 (–18, –13) mmol/mol and –17 (–19, –15) mmol/mol, respectively. The corresponding ETDs in percentage points (95% CI) vs placebo were –1.0 (–1.2, –0.8), –1.4 (–1.6, –1.2) and –1.5 (–1.8, –1.3), respectively. Significantly greater reductions in body weight were also observed for oral semaglutide 7 mg and 14 mg than for placebo at week 26 (ETD [95% CI] –1.2 kg [–2.0 kg, –0.4 kg; p<0.01] and –2.0 kg [–2.8 kg, –1.2 kg; p<0.001], respectively), but not for oral semaglutide 3 mg (ETD [95% CI] –0.0 kg [–0.9 kg, 0.8 kg; not significant]). Similar reductions in HbA1c and body weight were observed in the Chinese subpopulation, which represented 74.9% of participants in the overall population. Adverse events (AEs) occurred in between 65.4% and 72.3% of participants receiving oral semaglutide (for all doses) and 57.3% of participants with placebo. Most AEs were mild to moderate in severity, with few serious AEs reported; the most commonly reported AEs were gastrointestinal-related and were more frequent with semaglutide (all doses) than with placebo. The proportion of AEs was slightly higher in the Chinese subpopulation.Conclusions/interpretationOral semaglutide resulted in significantly greater reductions in HbA1c across all doses and in significant body weight reductions for the 7 mg and 14 mg doses when compared with placebo in predominantly Chinese participants with type 2 diabetes insufficiently controlled by diet and exercise alone. Oral semaglutide was generally well tolerated, with a safety profile consistent with that seen in the global PIONEER trials.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT04109547.FundingNovo Nordisk A/S.Graphical

The Role of Art Education in Developing Creativity and Expression in Early Childhood

The purpose of this article is to explore the role of art education in developing creativity and emotional expression in early childhood. This research uses a qualitative approach. The research design is a case study, which allows for in-depth analysis of the phenomenon of art education in early childhood education environments. The participants in this study are teachers and caregivers who teach art in the school. The expected total number of participants is 50 teachers. The data collection techniques used include observation, in-depth interviews, and document analysis. The results of the study show that art education significantly enhances children's ability to generate new ideas, take creative risks, and solve problems in innovative ways. Art activities have also been proven to help children express emotions and enhance emotional well-being. In addition, art education contributes to understanding basic concepts in academic subjects and the development of fine and gross motor skills. The implications of this research indicate that art education is a key element in supporting the holistic development of early childhood. Therefore, it is important for educators, parents, and communities to integrate art into children's daily lives..

Prevalence of Career Indecision and Factors Influencing It Among Medical Students and Interns in Oman: A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study.

Career indecision is a broad term that refers to the uncertainty and difficulty of decision-making regarding future careers among junior professionals. This study aims primarily to estimate the prevalence of career indecisiveness among senior medical students and medical interns in Oman. Secondly, it assesses the association of sociodemographic factors influencing it. Finally, it examines the association between participation in career development activities and career indecision among them during the academic year of 2022-2023. A cross-sectional study was conducted using an anonymous self-administered questionnaire in the English language. Unpaired t-test and ANOVA test were used to compare means between groups. A 21-item Career Factors Inventory (CFI) was used to determine thecareer indecision score. These scores were further classified as low-level (score 27-71) and high-level (score 72-105). Results: The total number of participants was 161. The minimum sample size calculated was 153 participants for 95% confidence intervals. The prevalence of high-level career indecision was 63.4% (95%CI 55.4%-70.8%) among the participants. Participants with one of their parents in healthcare professions and those who did not participate in career development activities had high career indecision scores with P-values of 0.002 and 0.022, respectively. Moreover, participants younger than 25 years of age in comparison to older participants had higher need-for-self-knowledge (NSK) scores (p-value 0.018). A high prevalence of high-level career indecision was seen among senior medical students and medical interns in Oman. Few factors were found to be statistically associated with career indecision, especiallyparticipation in career development activities.Further studies are recommended to investigate the causality of high-level career indecision among junior professionals in Oman and the contributing factors. Curricular and extra-curricular career development activities and counseling may reduce career indecision.

EDUKASI KEPATUHAN PAJAK: MEMBANGUN KESADARAN PAJAK PADA GENERASI Z DAN PRAKTIK PENGISIAN SPT DENGAN APLIKASI E-FILING

The purpose of community service (PMM) is to provide tax education to the Z generation in Ternate City about the importance of taxes for the nation and state. This PKM also provides training about how to fill out and report SPT via the e-filing application. This PKM is provided by a collaborative PKM team consisting of lecturers and students from the sharia accounting study program. The PKM method is Participatory Action Research (PAR). Based on the pre-test carried out, it was discovered that from 42 participants, only 40% of them had a good basic understanding of the importance of taxes and none of the participants knew how to use the e-filing application. And after PKM inished, total number of participants who understood the total importance of taxes and how to use the e-filing application increased to 96%.Keywords: Education; Tax; E-filing; Z Generation.

Training of Tutors in Problem Based Learning: Feedback of Participants

Background The faculty members should have knowledge on PBL process and must be familiar with the changing role of teacher to facilitator to adopt PBL as a teaching/learning strategy. The transition from the role of teacher to tutor is critical for the success of PBL. The objective of this study was to describe the process of proceedings of training workshop at the outset of introduction of PBL in Gandaki Medical College Nepal and assess the feedback of the tutors towards PBL training workshop.MethodsTwo one-day training workshops were organized at GMC; first on November 28, 2021, and second on October 16, 2022. Feedback of the participants was taken on valid semi-structured self-administered questionnaire at the end of proceedings of training workshops. Data was analyzed for frequency and central tendency. ResultsThe response rate was 100% (Total number of participants =37). The training workshops were rated for usefulness (7.89±0.90), content (7.83±0.76), relevance (7.83±0.98), facilitation (7.91±1.11) and overall process (8.13±0.82) using scale 1-10(1=Poor, 10= Excellent). Most of the participants found the sessions moderately important ("PBL Process" 70.3%, "Role of Tutor" 75.7%, "Designing PBL problem package" 48.6%, and “Conducting PBL" 70.3%). The majority of the participants recommended increasing the duration of workshop, allocate adequate time for the practice session and arrange other types of training workshops in medical education. Conclusions The significance of PBL trainings was recognized by the participants. Overall, their feedback on training workshops were positive.

Academic Self Efficacy and Student Academic Stress in the Pandemic Transition Period

The first year of college is a transition period from secondary education to higher education. The demand to be an independent learner, as well as the transition from distance learning to face-to-face meetings, can certainly cause academic stress. On the other hand, some factors influence the extent to which students can survive in the face of stress, one of which is self-efficacy. This research aims to look at the relationship between academic self-efficacy and academic stress in first-year students during the pandemic transition period using quantitative methods. The total number of participants in this research was 210 active first-year students. The research instruments used were the Academic Self-Efficacy Scale and the Academic Stress Inventory. The results of research using Spearman's rho correlation test technique show that the variables academic self-efficacy and academic stress (rs = -.667, p &lt; .001) have a significant negative correlation. Thus, the higher the academic self-efficacy, the lower the academic stress experienced by students.

Assessing Pedagogical Innovations: Empowering Excellence with OSVE in Undergraduate MBBS Students at Rai Medical College,Sargodha

Objectives: To explores the perception &amp; effectiveness of objectively structured viva examinations (OSVE) in 3rd year MBBS students as compared to routine general viva for future implementation at Rai Medical College, Sargodha. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was performed at Rai Medical College (RMC), Sargodha The total number of participants were 120 third-year MBBS students.Routine objectively structured viva examinations (OSVE) of forensic medicine was conducted. During the OSVE, each student was assigned to specific stations. The students' viewpoints were evaluated before and after the OSVE through a customize structured questionnaire.Categorical variables including the responses strongly agree, agree, neutral, strongly disagree, disagree are presented as frequencies and percentages. Chi square test was used to check the differences in proportions of perception of male and female concerning various aspects of OSVE. Results: This study was comprised of 120 medical students, of which 65(54.16%) and 55(45.93%) were female and male student respectively. Of total participants 39.2 and 25% of students were felt that structured viva format was more convenient than routine unstructured viva. Of total students 47.5 % of students agreed that the allocated time for answering questions in OSVE was appropriate. Concerning encouragement from teacher to give relevant answer during OSVE, 48.3 % and 45.0% of students were strongly disagreed and disagreed respectively rest were agreed or remain neutral. Only19.2 and 23.3% of students were strongly agreed and agreed presence of bias in unstructured oral viva. Most of students were strongly agreed (37.5 %) or agreed (29.2%) for implementation of OSVE for all academic years for all medical subjects. Significant statistical difference was observed in opinions of male and female with respect to encouragement in OSVE from examiner and biasness during unstructured viva with p values0.002 and 0.027, whereas we did not find any significant difference among gender point of views for all other aspects of OSVE. Conclusion: Objectively structured viva examinations, as perceived by the participants, was mostly convenient and bias free mode of assessment compared to traditional unstructured oral viva examination. OSVE should be implemented in all academic years for all subjects.

Assessment of adolescent physical development using body mass index and body self-perception

Underweight or overweight in children and adolescents is a serious public health problem. Self-perception is an important factor in promoting health, especially during adolescence. The purpose of this study is to assess the characteristics of self-perception of children with low body weight, normal body weight, overweight and obesity. This study was conducted in Kharkiv secondary schools in November 2021. The total number of participants was 14,853, of which 8,290 were girls and 6,563 were boys, aged 10-17 years. Using an online questionnaire, adolescents indicated their body weight and height, and also assessed their own health preserving activities. Diagnosis of being underweight, overweight and obesity was carried out in accordance with World Health Organization (WHO) standards. Body self-esteem was assessed using the following questions: “What do you think about your body?”; “How satisfied are you with your health?”; “How satisfied are you with yourself?”; “How can you assess your own health?”. According to the results of the examination based on BMI, it was found that 63.1±2.4% of adolescents have normal body weight. Overweight was detected in 12.3±1.1%, obesity – in 2.4±0.5%. 17.4±1.3% of participants were underweight, and 4.8±0.7% had body mass deficit. By their own assessment, 75.0% of children considered themselves to have “normal” body weight, another 15.0% considered their weight “more than normal,” and about 10.0% of adolescents considered themselves “lean.” Among boys, 61.0% had normal body weight. About 16.5% of boys were considered overweight, and 3.8% of boys were obese. Insufficient body weight was found in 14.08% of respondents, and 4.6% had big body mass deficit. Among girls, the percentage of participants with normal body weight was 64.8%. 8.95% of participants were considered overweight, 1.35% were obese. Almost 20.0% were underweight; a large deficiency was detected in 5.0% of girls. In order to carry out health promotion activities among schoolchildren, the sexual characteristics of self-perception of one's own body and health problems among adolescents should be taken into account. Boys were almost twice as more satisfied with themselves and their health than girls, regardless of how they perceived their body (p&lt;0.01). The number of boys with overweight and obesity was twice as high as girls (20.0% vs. 10.0%). At the same time, almost one in four girls and one in five boys were underweight and/or had body mass deficit. The systematic collection and analysis of data on the health-preserving behavior of adolescents is an important component of the development and creation of health care programs for the children's population of Ukraine.

Russia’s Regional Parliamentary Elections (2021): Cleavage Structure and Trends of Changes

Abstract The article studies the cleavage structures of Russian regions based on the results of elections to regional assemblies in 2021 and analyzes changes compared to previous elections. Factor analysis reveals factors of territorial differences in party voting (electoral cleavages), issue dimensions and sub-dimensions of political space, as well as factors of demographic and socio-economic inter-territorial differentiation. Correlation analysis and multiple regression (OLS) help determine whether electoral cleavages have a political interpretation and a social basis. It demonstrates that the regional elections of 2021 largely reproduced the cleavage structure of 2016, but with some changes. What was common was the almost identical total number of participants and the factors of territorial differences in party voting. The difference was the increase in the number of ‘complete’ electoral cleavages and political subdimensions; the emergence of new actors; expansion of the agenda. It is also noted, that the confrontation between the ‘party of power’ and other participants in domestic politics and the socio-economic sphere constituted the political content of the main electoral cleavage, while the confrontation between market liberals and protectionists in the socio-economic sphere competed for second place with the socio-cultural confrontation. The most common social background of electoral cleavages remained urbanization, which was the main predictor in most cases. At the same time, the importance of economic activity of the population has increased, displacing the factor of demographic characteristics from second place.

Distance Advanced Training of Preschool Teachers in Ukraine: Quantitative Indicators

The study highlights the stages of organizing distance learning advanced training courses. It is a quantitative analysis of preschool teachers who have completed advanced training courses under the «Education Care» educational program. For this research, theoretical empirical methods and the quantitative analysis of statistical data were used. It has been revealed that preschool teachers are responsible for teaching children in preschool and must periodically improve their skills. Most advanced training courses in Ukraine are held in a distance format. The article describes the stages that need to be implemented to organize advanced training courses in a distance format. For the quantitative analysis, Google Forms were used, which contained information about the registered participants. The data for the period July-September 2023 was analyzed. It has been found that 13456 people (preschool educational institution principals, methodologists, preschool teachers) have completed advanced training courses on the "EducationCare" educational program in Ukraine within three months. Most advanced training course participants are preschool teachers (9498 participants), 71% of the total participants. Based on the results of the advanced training courses, 958 participants received certificates, which is 7% of the total number of participants in three months. We believe that a survey of preschool education staff who have completed advanced training on the "EducationCare" educational program is a prospective study.

Language Policy Dynamics in Early Childhood Education through Basil Bernstein’s Lens

This paper examined the implementation of local language policy in privately owned early childhood centers through Bernstein’s lens theory. It focuses on the benefits and implications of using local languages as media of instruction in early grades drawing on Basil Bernstein’s framing and control lens. This study is qualitative in nature and it used descriptive research design to examine the implementation of local language policy in privately owned early childhood centers through Bernstein’s lens theory. Simple random sampling technique was used to select ten (10) privately owned centers and ten (10) teachers that formed the sample. Ten (10) center managers were purposely selected bringing the total number of participants to twenty (20). The study used participant and non-participant observation and interviews to collect data and a total of 10 lessons were observed with a focus on the language of the instruction used. The results of the study show that there are major divides that linger among the classes in society which are visible in geographical locations of schools and have a great influence on the language of instruction. The results further show that local languages are not taught in private schools due to limitations in language command and skill set required to adequately teach. The study recommends that the pre service training programs should equip early childhood education teachers with adequate skills in local language teaching. Further, there is need for wider consultation with all stakeholders if issues of medium of instruction are to be a consensus at pre-grade.