Attitudes of registered physiotherapists in Israel toward people identifying as lesbian, gay, and bisexual: a cross-sectional survey

Background This study aimed to explore the attitudes of registered physiotherapists (PTs) in Israel toward people identifying as lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) and to identify background characteristics associated with their attitudes toward LGB individuals. Methods This nationwide study in Israel employed an observational design. Participants completed an anonymous online questionnaire which included demographic characteristics (e.g., age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, and religiousness) and questions regarding sources of knowledge about LGB individuals, and type of acquaintance with an LGB individual. In addition to two self-assessment questions regarding levels of homophobia (active engagement against LGB individuals) and heterosexism (holding negative opinions regarding LGB individuals) answered on a five point Likert scale (1 – not at all homophobic/ heterosexist, 5- very homophobic/ heterosexist) and the Hebrew version of the Attitudes Toward Homosexuality Scale (ATHS). Participants were recruited through professional organizations, social media, and word of mouth. Results The data of 383 registered PTs practicing in Israel were analyzed. The median score regarding level of homophobia and heterosexism was one (“not at all”). ATHS scores ranged between 32 and 110 (out of 110), with a median score of 106 and 41% scoring below the median. Multivariant logistic regression indicated that identifying as men, heterosexual orientation, and religiousness were significantly associated with less positive attitudes toward LGB individuals. Only 2% of the participants reported having been introduced to issues regarding the LGB community during their professional physiotherapy education. Conclusions Registered PTs in Israel demonstrated favorable attitudes toward LGB individuals, as reflected both by ATHS scores and levels of self-reported homophobia and heterosexism. Based on the current results regarding sources of knowledge, updating the physiotherapy curriculum to include information regarding sexual orientation and health of the LGB community is suggested.

Presence of Witchcraft in the Contemporary Udmurt Village

Based on the author’s fieldwork materials (2007–2021) as well as on sources from scientific literature, this article examines how wizards and witches are seen in today’s Udmurt village. It analyses the characters of these magic specialists within the framework of folk understanding. It explains their role, their activities and their status in the village community, it presents magical methods of combat and self-defence, as well as some trends of late years. The latest field materials show the present narratives about people who master magic strength and secret knowledge, updating the research. This new material highlights the innovative character of the research. The results allow us to say that alongside traditional understandings, there are relatively new cultural phenomena appearing at practically all the levels of the village perception of wizards and witches. The changes in the present world and the ‘fashion’ for magic knowledge give the village community a new focus on tradition. For example, people think that electricity cables, as well as mobile phone networks and satellite antennas, have started to disturb the flights of wizards and witches, and elements from other cultures have been added to magic apotropaic repertoire, etc. Thus, this article follows what is happening presently in Udmurt village communities with regard to the cultural mythical phenomena surrounding the worldview of magical specialists. The results of this research may be a useful basis for further research, and it will be important to observe the further evolution in the village reception of these phenomena.

Professional training of physical culture teachers for sports work

The article presents the generalized results of research on the formation of professional preparation of future physical education teachers for organizing sports events in the context of the leading trends in the development of physical-pedagogical education and physical education in the framework of extra-curricular sports activity. The content of education is enriched with new methodological skills, the development of the ability to operate with information, the creative solution of problems of science and pedagogical practice with an emphasis on the individualization of educational programs, the role of pedagogical science in the creation of educational technologies that are adequate to the level of public knowledge. Updating the content of education and teaching technologies, the emergence of many problems in improving the quality of teaching physical education lessons, the development of extracurricular sports and the management of the process of physical education require the restructuring of the education system, the improvement of which ultimately depends on the level of professional training of teachers.

Diminished Feedback Evaluation and Knowledge Updating Underlying Age-Related Differences in Choice Behavior During Feedback Learning

In our daily lives, we continuously evaluate feedback information, update our knowledge, and adapt our behavior in order to reach desired goals. This ability to learn from feedback information, however, declines with age. Previous research has indicated that certain higher-level learning processes, such as feedback evaluation, integration of feedback information, and updating of knowledge, seem to be affected by age, and recent studies have shown how the adaption of choice behavior following feedback can differ with age. The neural mechanisms underlying this age-related change in choice behavior during learning, however, remain unclear. The aim of this study is therefore to investigate the relation between learning-related neural processes and choice behavior during feedback learning in two age groups. Behavioral and fMRI data were collected, while a group of young (age 18–30) and older (age 60–75) adults performed a probabilistic learning task consisting of 10 blocks of 20 trials each. On each trial, the participants chose between a house and a face, after which they received visual feedback (loss vs. gain). In each block, either the house or the face image had a higher probability of yielding a reward (62.5 vs. 37.5%). Participants were instructed to try to maximize their gains. Our results showed that less successful learning in older adults, as indicated by a lower learning rate, corresponded with a higher tendency to switch to the other stimulus option, and with a reduced adaptation of this switch choice behavior following positive feedback. At the neural level, activation following positive and negative feedback was found to be less distinctive in the older adults, due to a smaller feedback-evaluation response to positive feedback in this group. Furthermore, whereas young adults displayed increased levels of knowledge updating prior to adapting choice behavior, we did not find this effect in older adults. Together, our results suggest that diminished learning performance with age corresponds with diminished evaluation of positive feedback and reduced knowledge updating related to changes in choice behavior, indicating how such differences in feedback processing at the trial level in older adults might lead to reduced learning performance across trials.

Data elektronik; kejahatan duniamaya; perpustakaan digital

Perkembangan teknologi informasi saat ini semakin cepat berkembang. Perpustakaan digital dapat dibilang sebagai bentuk baru dalam pelayanan informasi untuk penguna perpustakaan, sehinga dalam bentuk pelayanan dapat dirambah oleh hal layak. Modus dan motif kian kompleks,dan tidak ada jaminan keamanan cyberspace, dan tidak ada sistem keamanan komputer yang mampu melindungi data yang ada yang dimiliki perpustakaan. Langkah yang baik untuk menghadapi hal tersebut adalah dengan memutakhirkan pengetahuan SDM perpustakaan digital, meng-update dan mengupgrade sistem keamanan komputer, dan kerjasama dengan dengan instansi terkait dalam menangani masalah cybercrime.The development of information technology is now growing rapidly. Digital libraries can be regarded as a new form of information services for library users, so that in the form of services can be encroached by decent things. The mode and motive are increasingly complex, and there is no guarantee of cyberspace security, and no computer security system is able to protect the existingdata the library has. A good way to deal with this is by updating the digital library’s human resource knowledge, updating and upgrading computer security systems, and cooperation with relevant agencies in handling cybercrime issues

Survey on Tunisian Dentists’ Anti-Inflammatory Drugs’ Prescription in Dental Practice

Dentists prescribe several types of drugs such as anti-inflammatory medicines in their practice in order to manage pain. An adequate knowledge of anti-inflammatory drugs’ characteristics is mandatory for a reasonable prescription to ensure patients safety. The study aimed to describe dentists’ anti-inflammatory drugs prescription in dental practice. Materials and Methods. This study was conducted on independent practice dentists working in the region of Tunis. A questionnaire was made on “Google forms” and sent to all of them via personal emails. The questionnaire included demographic data and 13 questions about anti-inflammatory medicines: indications and contraindications, the side effects, and their prescription in dental practice. Data analysis was performed on SPSS software version 20.0 (trial version), using the χ2 test for statistical analysis. Results. Two hundred dentists participated to the survey. The female gender was predominant (70%). More than half of the responders were recently graduated and working in their own dental offices. The present study showed that 60% of dentists rarely prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs. Ibuprofen was prescribed by 82% of the dentists. Next came dexamethasone acetate (68.2%). The most frequent indication was postoperative pain (65%). Gastric problem was found to be the most mentioned adverse effect (69%). Thus, 72% of the dentists prescribed proton pump inhibitors with AI. Conclusion. According to this study, dentists have a lack of knowledge and awareness about some contraindications, side effects, and drugs interactions. Thus, knowledge updating, practices assessment, and continuous education are always required to avoid drug iatrogenesis.

Examining the Role of Aging Education: Educational Themes Across 2013-2019 GSA Conference Presentations

Gerontology education and the goal of “geriatric competence” are considered invaluable within the field but barriers exist in communicating ideas and training needs across areas of specialization. The main challenge of higher education institutions throughout the world is to develop professionals capable of understanding and responding to the current issues of diverse aging populations. The specific focus of the presentation will be the examination of aging education “themes” within and across different conference sections’ presentations in GSA conference proceedings across the last six years. Specifically, this presentation will review the outcomes of qualitative content analyses from several GSA conferences’ research presentations regarding the role of education across different disciplines in the gerontology field. Thematic analysis of several past years GSA conference programs of 2013 through 2019 yielded some of the following education-related themes (sample): theme #1: community education for clients, practitioners and applied service providers, theme #2: intergenerational educational mentoring/programming among researchers and practitioners in the field, and theme #3: professional knowledge updating for geriatric professionals. The implications for increasing emphasis on ongoing geriatric education for all professionals in the field and those they serve (older adults, families, and community members) will be discussed. This presentation offers insights regarding trends in educational issues within the field as well as the unique valuation of gerontology education within different areas of field specialization. The importance of examining different areas of specialization exists because different aging-related disciplines can share knowledge and resources in providing an integrated array of educational and training options.

Organizing Intellectual Competitions of Students in Universities: Forms and Areas for Improvement

The article outlines the tasks facing higher education institutions in the context of digitalization and acceleration of the knowledge updating process, which are aimed at creating a sustainable system for acquiring competencies, entrepreneurial skills and civic duties among students, teachers and employees. Performance indicators of all-Ukrainian student Olympiads, All-Ukrainian competitions of research works in Ukraine in 2009–2019 analyzed, to find out the patterns of organization of various intellectual competitions of students and their regional features. The factors contributing in the growth of participation of students from higher education institutions in these events were determined. It is indicated that the share of new organizational forms of Olympiads such as business games, blitz tournaments, solving situational problems, performing essay tasks, practical tours with employers’ support and participation is increasing. The results of a survey of 200 higher education institutions on student participation in international competitions held abroad and their prizes in 2015 and 2019 are presented. The tendencies of student involvement in international competitions abroad, in international, all-Ukrainian conferences, seminars for students and young researchers are outlined. Areas for improvement of intellectual competitions of students with account to priorities of modernization and technological development of the Ukrainian economy, employer needs and social demands are formulated. It is proposed to introduce comprehensive forms and methods for stimulating students' interest in learning and self-development, obtaining high-quality education through intellectual games such as scholarship, grant or competitive ones. Evidence is given of the need to reform the nomenclature of specialties with highlighting the disciplines or the modules of disciplines in which the following types of all-Ukrainian intellectual competitions of students should be held: subject Olympiads, competitions of student research works, professional competitions.

Bayesian Thinking for Toddlers

Bayesian thinking is easy, and toddlers do it all the time. The fundamental principle is learning from experience: hypotheses that predict the data well receive a boost in plausibility, whereas hypotheses that predict the data poorly suffer a decline. For example, hypothesis A could state “At 6 am my parents will generally be asleep” and hypothesis B could state “At 6 am my parents will generally be awake”. When a toddler then wakes up at 6 am and notices that both parents are still sound asleep, this observation increases the plausibility of hypothesis A and decreases that of hypothesis B. Easy! Knowledgeable readers will discover that the dinosaur cover story hints at concepts such as Ockham’s razor, coherent knowledge updating, and probability as degree of reasonable belief. Statisticians may recognize Phil Dawid's prequential principle in action. Toddlers may just want to look at the dinosaurs.