scholarly journals Understanding the Role of Communication Technology in Facilitating Social Connectivity and Addressing Loneliness

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 995-995
Author(s):  
George Mois ◽  
Kerstin Emerson ◽  
Tiffany Washington ◽  
Jenay Beer
Keyword(s):  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Total Sample ◽  
The United States ◽  
Amazon Mechanical Turk ◽  
User Characteristics ◽  
Social Connectivity ◽  
Sense Of Presence ◽  
Emotional Loneliness ◽  
Significant Difference

Abstract In the United States, two out of five adults report feelings of loneliness. The evolvement of communication technologies presents a promising potential in helping improve social connectivity and address the experience of loneliness. However, the sense of presence (embodiment) users are able to achieve through the technologies can vary depending on their abilities and functions. The present study identified user characteristics associated with an interest to adopt telepresence technologies (e.g., videoconferencing, smart displays, robots) across various levels of embodiment. The data for this study were collected using a Qualtrics survey which was distributed via Amazon Mechanical Turk. The participants recruited for this study were between the ages of 18-78 years old, constituting a total sample size of 384 participants. The data were analyzed using four logistics regression models. The dependent variables aimed to identify participants' interest to adopt telepresence technologies across varying embodiment levels. Across the lifespan older adults were significantly more likely to report lower rates of overall loneliness than young and middle-aged adults. Our findings indicate that those interested in adopting communication technologies with higher levels of embodiment had significantly higher odds of reporting being divorced or widowed (OR=4.12, p<.05), reside in a rural community (OR=2.20, p<.05), and report higher rates of emotional loneliness (OR=1.20, p<.05). Across the four models, there was no significant difference in participants' interest to adopt telepresence technologies. These results suggest that the sense of presence achieved across the various types of communication technologies may help address feelings of loneliness and support healthy aging.

Pancreas cancer: Influence of gender and other demographic and clinical parameters on survival.

2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 200-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Renee Blank ◽  
Thomas D. Szucs
Keyword(s):  
Pancreas Cancer ◽  
Total Sample ◽  
The United States ◽  
Kaplan Meier ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazard Models ◽  
Male Patients ◽  
Disease Stages ◽  
Relationship Of

200 Background: Research suggests that lower excess mortality risk for females compared to men do exist for several cancer types. The primary aim of this study was to investigate whether gender affects pancreas cancer (PC) prognosis. In addition, the relationship of gender and survival adjusted for clinical and demographic factors was assessed. Methods: The SEER database (version 1973-2009) was used to identify patients with primary histological confirmed PC (≥18 years, 80,689 males and 82,356 females) in the United States. The analysis was stratified by five different stages according to the categories of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (in situ, locally invasive, regional, distant, unstaged). The crude effect of gender was assessed in the total sample and in age-stratified Kaplan-Meier Curves (<55 years) in all five stages, respectively. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard models were run within the local stage at diagnosis. The predictors included in the models were demographic and clinical factors based on a prior clinical and scientific knowledge. Two-sided p-values of 0.05 were assumed as statistical significant. Results: In total, 128,645 PC-related deaths were reported with a median follow-up time of 13 months (censored patients). Kaplan-Meier curves showed a significant difference in survival among men and female in the locally invasive group (median survival in male and female: 7 months; 1-year survival: 35.5% and 35.1% among female and men, respectively; Log-Rank: p=0.0072). The remaining strata had non-significant differences (p= <.0001), except the unstaged group. The local recurrence group had a 5.6% (95%CI: 1.4%, 9.9%, p=0.0081) higher rate of dying among men compared to female. Among the population <55 years, the gender difference was significant across all disease stages, except the in situ group. Histology grade, age, race, and marital status was associated with survival from PC in the multivariate analysis. Conclusions: The present study indicates that male patients with PC have a worse prognosis than female patients. However, these results need validation and further studies are needed in the research on the prognostic value of gender in PC survival.

Validity and Reliability of the TGMD-2 in 7–10-Year-Old Flemish Children with Intellectual Disability

2008 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Simons ◽  
Daniel Daly ◽  
Fani Theodorou ◽  
Cindy Caron ◽  
Joke Simons ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intellectual Disability ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Total Sample ◽  
The United States ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Mild Intellectual Disability ◽  
Object Control ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Locomotor Ability ◽  
Children With Intellectual Disability

The purpose of this study was to assess validity and reliability of the TGMD-2 on Flemish children with intellectual disability. The total sample consisted of 99 children aged 7-10 years of which 67 were boys and 32 were girls. A factor analysis supported a two factor model of the TGMD-2. A low significant age effect was also found for the object control skill but not for locomotor ability. Furthermore, a significant difference was observed between the results of the children of the United States without intellectual disability and Flemish children with mild intellectual disability.

scholarly journals Protective Effectiveness of Long-Lasting Permethrin Impregnated Clothing Against Tick Bites in an Endemic Lyme Disease Setting: A Randomized Control Trial Among Outdoor Workers

2020 ◽  
Vol 57 (5) ◽  
pp. 1532-1538
Author(s):  
Cedar Mitchell ◽  
Megan Dyer ◽  
Feng-Chang Lin ◽  
Natalie Bowman ◽  
Thomas Mather ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Rhode Island ◽  
The United States ◽  
Amblyomma Americanum ◽  
Adverse Outcomes ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Tick Bites ◽  
Outdoor Workers ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Protective Effectiveness

Abstract Tick-borne diseases are a growing threat to public health in the United States, especially among outdoor workers who experience high occupational exposure to ticks. Long-lasting permethrin-impregnated clothing has demonstrated high initial protection against bites from blacklegged ticks, Ixodes scapularis Say (Acari: Ixodidae), in laboratory settings, and sustained protection against bites from the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum (L.) (Acari: Ixodidae), in field tests. However, long-lasting permethrin impregnation of clothing has not been field tested among outdoor workers who are frequently exposed to blacklegged ticks. We conducted a 2-yr randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded trial among 82 outdoor workers in Rhode Island and southern Massachusetts. Participants in the treatment arm wore factory-impregnated permethrin clothing, and the control group wore sham-treated clothing. Outdoor working hours, tick encounters, and bites were recorded weekly to assess protective effectiveness of long-lasting permethrin-impregnated garments. Factory-impregnated clothing significantly reduced tick bites by 65% in the first study year and by 50% in the second year for a 2-yr protective effect of 58%. No significant difference in other tick bite prevention method utilization occurred between treatment and control groups, and no treatment-related adverse outcomes were reported. Factory permethrin impregnation of clothing is safe and effective for the prevention of tick bites among outdoor workers whose primary exposure is to blacklegged ticks in the northeastern United States.

scholarly journals Testing telediagnostic thyroid ultrasound in Peru: a new horizon in expanding access to imaging in rural and underserved areas

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. J. Marini ◽  
S. L. Weiss ◽  
A. Gupta ◽  
Y. T. Zhao ◽  
T. M. Baran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Nodule ◽  
Standard Of Care ◽  
The United States ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Thyroid Ultrasound ◽  
Target Region ◽  
Experienced Radiologist ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Size Evaluation

Abstract Purpose Thyroid ultrasound is a key tool in the evaluation of the thyroid, but billions of people around the world lack access to ultrasound imaging. In this study, we tested an asynchronous telediagnostic ultrasound system operated by individuals without prior ultrasound training which may be used to effectively evaluate the thyroid and improve access to imaging worldwide. Methods The telediagnostic system in this study utilizes volume sweep imaging (VSI), an imaging technique in which the operator scans the target region with simple sweeps of the ultrasound probe based on external body landmarks. Sweeps are recorded and saved as video clips for later interpretation by an expert. Two operators without prior ultrasound experience underwent 8 h of training on the thyroid VSI protocol and the operation of the telemedicine platform. After training, the operators scanned patients at a health center in Lima. Telediagnostic examinations were sent to the United States for remote interpretation. Standard of care thyroid ultrasound was performed by an experienced radiologist at the time of VSI examination to serve as a reference standard. Results Novice operators scanned 121 subjects with the thyroid VSI protocol. Of these exams, 88% were rated of excellent image quality showing complete or near complete thyroid visualization. There was 98.3% agreement on thyroid nodule presence between VSI teleultrasound and standard of care ultrasound (Cohen’s kappa 0.91, P < 0.0001). VSI measured the thyroid size, on average, within 5 mm compared to standard of care. Readers of VSI were also able to effectively characterize thyroid nodules, and there was no significant difference in measurement of thyroid nodule size (P = 0.74) between VSI and standard of care. Conclusion Thyroid VSI telediagnostic ultrasound demonstrated both excellent visualization of the thyroid gland and agreement with standard of care thyroid ultrasound for nodules and thyroid size evaluation. This system could be deployed for evaluation of palpable thyroid abnormalities, nodule follow-up, and epidemiological studies to promote global health and improve the availability of diagnostic imaging in underserved communities.

scholarly journals Intimate Partner Cyberstalking, Sexism, Pornography, and Sexting in Adolescents: New Challenges for Sex Education

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 2181
Author(s):  
Yolanda Rodríguez-Castro ◽  
Rosana Martínez-Román ◽  
Patricia Alonso-Ruido ◽  
Alba Adá-Lameiras ◽  
María Victoria Carrera-Fernández
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Sex Education ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Total Sample ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Ambivalent Sexism ◽  
Hostile Sexism ◽  
Sexist Attitudes ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
And Gender

Background: Within the context of the widespread use of technologies by adolescents, the objectives of this study were to identify the perpetrators of intimate partner cyberstalking (IPCS) in adolescents; to analyze the relationship between IPCS and gender, age, sexting behaviors, pornography consumption, and ambivalent sexism; and to investigate the influence of the study variables as predictors of IPCS and determine their moderating role. Methods: Participants were 993 Spanish students of Secondary Education, 535 girls and 458 boys with mean age 15.75 (SD = 1.47). Of the total sample, 70.3% (n = 696) had or had had a partner. Results: Boys perform more sexting, consume more pornographic content, and have more hostile and benevolent sexist attitudes than girls. However, girls perpetrate more IPCS than boys. The results of the hierarchical multiple regression indicate that hostile sexism is a predictor of IPCS, as well as the combined effect of Gender × Pornography and Benevolent Sexism × Sexting. Conclusions: it is essential to implement sexual affective education programs in schools in which Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) are incorporated so that boys and girls can experience their relationships, both offline and online, in an egalitarian and violence-free way.

scholarly journals Assessing Diazinon Pollution in the Three Major Rivers Flowing into the Caspian Sea (Iran)

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 335
Author(s):  
Reza Dahmardeh Behrooz ◽  
Abbas Esmaili-sari ◽  
Magdalena Urbaniak ◽  
Paromita Chakraborty
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Organophosphorus Pesticides ◽  
Aquatic Organisms ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Caspian Sea ◽  
Worst Case ◽  
Pollution Levels ◽  
Haraz River ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Medium Risk

The aim of this study was to investigate the seasonal and spatial variations in the concentrations of a widely used organophosphorous pesticide (OPP), diazinon, and the associated risk posed by this OPP in the surface water from the three largest rivers located in the northern province of Iran: the Haraz, the Talar and the Babolrood rivers. These rivers are located in the agriculture province of Mazandaran, and are exposed to high doses of organophosphorus pesticides, especially diazinon. The concentration of diazinon was determined using gas chromatography, while the potential risk posed by diazinon was elucidated using a Risk Quotient (RQ) calculated for general (RQm) and worst-case (RQex) scenarios. The obtained results demonstrated that the average diazinon concentrations ranged from 41 ± 76 ng/L in the Talar River and 57 ± 116 ng/L in the Haraz River, to 76.5 ± 145 ng/L in the Babolrood River, with a significant difference noted between summer and autumn seasons for all three rivers. For some stations, the concentration of diazinon is higher than the standard guidelines of Australian/New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (FMWQ) and the United States Criteria Maximum Concentration (CMC). The calculated RQs indicated a medium risk of diazinon, RQm = 0.73 and RQex = 2.27, in the Talar River; RQm = 1.02 and RQex = 2.49 in the Haraz River; and RQm = 1.35 and RQex = 4.54 in the Babolrood River. The overall exposure of diazinon was defined to have a high risk (RQm and RQex > 1); however, the summer sampling revealed a high risk (RQm and RQex > 1), while the autumn had a medium risk (RQm and RQex < 1). The obtained results revealed not only elevated concentrations of diazinon in the studied rivers but most importantly the high risk posed by this OPP for the aquatic organisms and the wellbeing of the whole river ecosystem. The current study showed that development and implementation of appropriate standards and regulations toward diazinon in countries such as Iran are required to reduce the pollution levels and risks related to elevated concentrations of the studied pesticide.

scholarly journals Bibliometric Study of Technology and Occupational Health in Healthcare Sector: A Worldwide Trend to the Future

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (18) ◽  
pp. 6732
Author(s):  
Esther Vaquero-Álvarez ◽  
Antonio Cubero-Atienza ◽  
Pilar Ruiz-Martínez ◽  
Manuel Vaquero-Abellán ◽  
María Dolores Redel Mecías ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
The United States ◽  
Bibliometric Study ◽  
Healthcare Sector ◽  
Hospital Epidemiology ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
Safety And Health ◽  
Information And Communication

Since the eighties, technological tools have modified how people interact in their environment. At the same time, occupational safety and health measures have been widely applied. The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work considers that information and communication technologies are the main methods to achieve the goals proposed to improve working life and the dissemination of good practices. The principal objective was to determine the trends of publications focused on these technologies and occupational safety in the healthcare sector during the last 30 years. A bibliometric study was carried out. The 1021 documents showed an increased trend per country, especially for the United States (p < 0.001) and year (p < 0.001). The citations per year showed significant differences between citations of articles published before 2007 (p < 0.001). The year was also linked to the increase or decrease of articles (72.2%) and reviews (14.9%) (p < 0.001). The analysis of journal co-citations also showed that the main journals (such as Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology) were linked to other important journals and had a major part in the clusters formed. All these findings were discussed in the manuscript and conclusions were drawn.

scholarly journals Ampicillin-Ceftriaxone vs Ampicillin-Gentamicin for Definitive Therapy of Enterococcus faecalis Infective Endocarditis: A Propensity Score–Matched, Retrospective Cohort Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Niyati H Shah ◽  
Kathleen A Shutt ◽  
Yohei Doi
Keyword(s):  
Infective Endocarditis ◽  
Propensity Score ◽  
Adverse Events ◽  
Cohort Analysis ◽  
Hospital Readmissions ◽  
Length Of Hospital Stay ◽  
The United States ◽  
Aminoglycoside Resistance ◽  
Definitive Therapy ◽  
Significant Difference

Abstract Background Ampicillin-ceftriaxone (AC) has emerged as an alternative antibiotic regimen for enterococcal infective endocarditis (EIE) with reduced toxicity compared with ampicillin-gentamicin (AG), but evidence regarding its success in reducing EIE-associated death in the United States is limited. Methods We conducted a retrospective, propensity score–matched cohort analysis of EIE patients treated with AC or AG between 2010 and 2017 at 3 hospitals in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. We assessed all-cause 90-day mortality as the primary outcome and in-hospital mortality, length of hospital stay, hospital readmissions, adverse events, and relapse of bacteremia as the secondary outcomes. Results A total of 190 patients with EIE (100 treated with AC and 90 with AG) were included. Ninety-day mortality was significantly higher with AC than AG (21% vs 8%; P = .02). After propensity score matching, 56 patients in each group remained for the outcomes analysis. Documented aminoglycoside resistance, presence of annular or aortic abscess, and complete pacemaker removal were the significantly different variables between the 2 matched cohorts. We observed no statistically significant difference in 90-day mortality between the 2 treatment groups (11% vs 7%; P = .55). Adverse events were more common in patients treated with AG (25 vs 39; P = .0091), and more patients in the propensity score–matched AG cohort switched antibiotic regimens than in the AC group (10% vs 49%; P &lt; .0001). Conclusions Patients treated with AC demonstrate no significant differences in mortality, treatment failure, or bacteremia relapse compared with AG in a propensity score–matched EIE cohort.

scholarly journals Loneliness and Its Association With Social Media Use During the COVID-19 Outbreak

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 205630512110338
Author(s):  
Tore Bonsaksen ◽  
Mary Ruffolo ◽  
Janni Leung ◽  
Daicia Price ◽  
Hilde Thygesen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
The United States ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Social And Emotional ◽  
Emotional Loneliness ◽  
Social Loneliness

Social distancing rules during the COVID-19 pandemic changed social interaction for many and increased the risk of loneliness in the general population. Social media use has been ambiguously related to loneliness, and associations may differ by age. The study aimed to examine loneliness and its association with social media use within different age groups during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in Norway, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia during April/May 2020, and 3,810 participants aged 18 years or above were recruited. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between social media use and social and emotional loneliness within separate age groups. Emotional loneliness was higher among young adults and among those who used social media several times daily. Adjusting by sociodemographic variables, using more types of social media was associated with lower social loneliness among the oldest participants, and with higher emotional loneliness among the youngest participants. Among middle-aged participants, using social media more frequently was associated with lower social loneliness. We found that the associations between social media use and loneliness varied by age. Older people’s engagement on social media may be a resource to reduce loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic. We observed higher levels of loneliness among high-frequent social media users of younger age.

How Universal Is a Construct of Loneliness? Measurement Invariance of the UCLA Loneliness Scale in Indonesia, Germany, and the United States

Assessment ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 107319112110345
Author(s):  
Joevarian Hudiyana ◽  
Tania M. Lincoln ◽  
Steffi Hartanto ◽  
Muhammad A. Shadiqi ◽  
Mirra N. Milla ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Measurement Invariance ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Total Sample ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Model Fit ◽  
Short Version ◽  
Loneliness Scale ◽  
The One

The UCLA Loneliness Scale (ULS-20) and its short version (ULS-8) are widely used to measure loneliness. However, the question remains whether or not previous studies using the scale to measure loneliness are measuring the construct equally across countries. The present study examined the measurement invariance (MI) of both scales in Germany, Indonesia, and the United States ( N = 2350). The one-, two-, and three-factor structure of the ULS-20 did not meet the model fit cut-off criteria in the total sample. The ULS-8 met the model fit cut-off criteria and has configural, but not metric invariance because two items unrelated to social isolation were not MI. The final six items (ULS-6) exclusively related to social isolation had complete MI. Participants from the United States scored highest in the ULS-6, followed by participants from Germany and then Indonesia. We conclude that the ULS-6 is an appropriate measure for cross-cultural studies on loneliness.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document