A Feasibility Study of the WHO Digital Mental Health Intervention Step-by-Step to Address Depression Among Chinese Young Adults

Background: Chinese young adults experience barriers to mental health treatment, including the lack of treatment providers and stigma around treatment seeking. Evidence-based digital mental health interventions are promising and scalable alternatives to face-to-face treatment for this population, but lack rigorous evidence to support scale-up in China.Aim: The study was a feasibility study for a large-scale RCT of Step-by-Step, a behavioral activation-based, mental health intervention to address depression and anxiety symptoms in Chinese young adults. It sought to assess feasibility of recruitment and of delivery of Step-by-Step in a University setting, to assess acceptability of the intervention, and to examine potential effectiveness.Method: An uncontrolled, feasibility trial was conducted to assess the feasibility and acceptability of Chinese Step-by-Step for Chinese University students with elevated depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 scores at or above 10) in Macao, China. Data was collected at two different time points (i.e., baseline and 8-weeks after baseline), administered via questionnaires embedded in an interventional mobile application. Participation rate and dropout rate were measured. Depressive and anxiety symptom severity, well-being, and self-defined stress were assessed. Satisfaction with the program was assessed using qualitative interviews.Results: A total of 173 students were screened, 22.0% (n = 38) were eligible, and 63.2% of them (n = 24) started the intervention. The dropout rate by post-test was 45.8%. Results from completers showed that Step-by-Step was potentially effective in reducing depressive and anxiety symptom severity, and self-defined stress. Students were generally satisfied with the program, but also offered suggestions for continued improvement. Qualitative feedback was reported within the RE-AIM framework, covering recruitment, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance. Amendments to the program were made according to the feedback (e.g., adding notification for new session, modify the time zone).Conclusion: A minimally guided Step-by-Step protocol and the study procedure were successfully pilot tested for use for Chinese University students. The intervention was acceptable and no adverse events were reported. The results support the potential effectiveness and feasibility of a large-scale evaluation of the program.

Effect of Memantine on Prolonging Safe Driving in Early AD: a Pilot Study

Background To determine the feasibility of conducting an RCT on the potential effectiveness of memantine hydrochloride in prolonging safe driving in mild AD. Methods A placebo-controlled, double blind randomized trial was conducted. Forty-three individuals ≥60 with mild AD met screening criteria and were randomized. Driving ability was measured by a standardized on-road driving test. Outcomes were driving capacity at 6 and 12 months and completion of the 12-month intervention. Results Of 43 participants randomized, 59% of the memantine group and 52% of the placebo group completed the on-road test at 12 months (p = .66). All 13 memantine group participants maintained their driving status at 12 months, whereas only 8 of the 11 placebo group participants did (p = .040, OR = 4.45). Conclusions Results provide the framework for designing a rigorous multisite clinical trial of memantine effect on maintaining driving capacity in mild AD.

Environmental Stress in Chickens and the Potential Effectiveness of Dietary Vitamin Supplementation

Environmental stressors can promote the vulnerability of animals to infections; it is therefore, essential to understand how stressors affect the immune system, the adaptive capacity of animals to respond, and effective techniques in managing stress. This review highlights scientific evidence regarding environmental stress challenge models and the potential effectiveness of vitamin supplementation. The major environmental stressors discussed are heat and cold stress, feed restriction, stocking density, and pollutants. Much work has been done to identify the effects of environmental stress in broilers and layers, while few involved other types of poultry. Studies indicated that chickens' performance, health, and welfare are compromised when challenged with environmental stress. These stressors result in physiological alterations, behavioral changes, decreased egg and meat quality, tissue and intestinal damage, and high mortalities. The application of vitamins with other nutritional approaches can help in combating these environmental stressors in chickens. Poultry birds do not synthesize sufficient vitamins during stressful periods. It is therefore suggested that chicken diets are supplemented with vitamins when subjected to environmental stress. Combination of vitamins are considered more efficient than the use of individual vitamins in alleviating environmental stress in chickens.

Forest land tax reductions – an effective payment for forest ecosystem services in Slovakia?

Preferential land tax programs are used over 50 years and are mainly connected with nature protection and environmental goals. Nowadays, they are also considered as a way how to promote and support forest ecosystem services that arise from exempted forest land. In Slovak Republic national forest land tax reduction scheme exists for special purpose and protection forests, as well for other forests with special importance. The goal of the paper was to develop a multidimensional evaluation of this economic instrument for ecosystem service support in Slovakia. We evaluated how the forest land tax reduction fits into the payments for ecosystem services theory, which services are supported and what is the potential and implementation effectiveness according to theory of policy analysis. Even though, the forest owners and enterprises benefit from tax reductions, evidence regarding its visibility as payment for ecosystem service is low. Forest land tax reductions are considered as other economic incentive for ecosystem services support with moderate potential effectiveness. Despite the instrument have low visibility of FES supported from both sides – sellers and beneficiaries, its potential effectiveness is high, due its automatic and stable implementation without relevant implementation gaps.

Current Understanding of the Innate Control of Toll-Like Receptors in Response to SARS-CoV-2 Infection

The global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, threatens the entire world. It has affected every aspect of life and increased the burden on both healthcare and socioeconomic systems. Current studies have revealed that excessive inflammatory immune responses are responsible for the severity of COVID-19, which suggests that anti-inflammatory drugs may be promising therapeutic treatments. However, there are currently a limited number of approved therapeutics for COVID-19. Toll-like receptors (TLRs), which recognize microbial components derived from invading pathogens, are involved in both the initiation of innate responses against SARS-CoV-2 infection and the hyperinflammatory phenotype of COVID-19. In this review, we provide current knowledge on the pivotal role of TLRs in immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 infection and demonstrate the potential effectiveness of TLR-targeting drugs on the control of hyperinflammation in patients with COVID-19.

Analisis Potensi, Efektivitas Dan Laju Pertumbuhan Penerimaan Retribusi Parkir Pada Dinas Perhubungan Kabupaten Malang

<div class="page" title="Page 1"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><p><span>This study aims to determine the acceptance of parking fees at the Malang district transportation service by analyzing the potential, effectiveness and growth rate during the period 2016 to 2019. The research design used uses a quantitative approach. The sample used is the parking fee receipt data for the period 2016 to 2019 at the Malang Regency Transportation Service. Secondary data that had been collected were analyzed by means of potential, effectiveness and growth rate. From the results of research that has been done, the results of the potential for receiving parking fees are in prime and developing categories, have very potential results with increased growth rates (positive). The results of the effectiveness of receiving parking fees are in the very effective category. This category defines and shows that the performance of the Malang Regency Government at the Department of Transportation in the parking fees section is capable of managing and managing its retribution receipts for the four periods. The results for four years show the growth rate of parking fees with a positive growth coefficient. </span></p><p> </p></div></div></div>

Influence of the technical level of production on the possibility of manufacturing of new products

A methodological approach to assessing the influence of the technical level of production on the possibility of manufacturing of new products is considered. An integral indicator of the technical level is proposed, which is determined on the basis of an analysis of the potential effectiveness of the work performed by the organization throughout all stages of the product life cycle. Keywords: new products, technical level of production, methodology of complex activities. [email protected]

In Stars We Trust – A Note on Reputation Portability Between Digital Platforms

Complementors accumulate reputation on an ever-increasing number of online platforms. While the effects of reputation within individual platforms are well-understood, its potential effectiveness across platform boundaries has received much less attention. This research note considers complementors’ ability to increase their trustworthiness in the eyes of prospective consumers by importing reputational data from another platform. The study evaluates this potential lever by means of an online experiment, during which specific combinations of on-site and imported rating scores are tested. Results reveal that importing reputation can be advantageous – but also detrimental, depending on ratings’ values. Implications for complementors, platform operators, and regulatory bodies concerned with online reputation are considered.

Dual Mode Module as New Innovation in Learning Chemistry: Project Based Learning Oriented

<p class="0abstract">Chemistry is branch of science that is different because of chemical representations. The chemical representation made students assumed that chemistry is difficult. Students must master chemical representation to be able understand chemistry deeply. Besides, science process skills are crucial skills in learning chemistry, however, the students’ science process skills are rare to be involved. Chemical representation and science process skills have relationship each other. Nowadays, it was still difficult to find module could be used either face-to-face learning or online learning. Therefore, this study aimed to develop valid module integrated chemical representation and science process skills, and can be used in face-to-face learning and online learning (dual mode module) and to investigate teachers’ response about module. The research design used was ADDIE, data collected by using online validation form that was given to 6 validators to assess module based on suitability content, potential effectiveness, and overall satisfaction. To investigate chemistry teachers’ response to module, the online questionnaire given to teachers and it was further analyzed using percentage and compare to criteria of validity and criteria of response user. Th result found that module developed is valid with suitability content is 90.7%, potential effectiveness is 92%, and overall satisfaction is 92.5%. The chemistry teachers’ response showed that this module is very good criteria (92.36%). Therefore, dual mode module hopefully would be used in learning chemistry as media in face-to-face learning and online learning and also support chemical representation and science process skills among students. </p>