Attitudes Toward Four Levels of Self-Driving Technology Among Elderly Drivers

Automatization and autonomous vehicles can drastically improve elderly drivers' safety and mobility, with lower costs to the driver and the environment. While autonomous vehicle technology is developing rapidly, much less attention and resources have been devoted to understanding the acceptance, attitudes, and preferences of vehicle automatization among driver groups, such as the elderly. In this study, 236 elderly drivers (≥65 years) evaluated four vehicles representing SAE levels 2–5 in terms of safety, trustworthiness, enjoyment, reliability, comfort, ease of use, and attractiveness, as well as reporting preferences for vehicles employing each of the four levels of automation. The results of a repeated-measures ANOVA showed that the elderly drivers rated the SAE level 2 vehicle highest and the fully automated vehicle (SAE 5) lowest across all attributes. The preference for the vehicle declined as a function of increasing automatization. The seven attributes formed an internally coherent “attitude to automatization” scale, a strong correlate of vehicle preference. Age or annual mileage were not related to attitudes or preferences for automated vehicles. The current study shows that elderly drivers' attitudes toward automatization should be studied further, and these results should be taken into account when developing automated vehicles. The full potential of automatization may not be realized if elderly drivers are ignored.

Altitudinal Zonation of Green Algae Biodiversity in the French Alps

Mountain environments are marked by an altitudinal zonation of habitat types. They are home to a multitude of terrestrial green algae, who have to cope with abiotic conditions specific to high elevation, e.g., high UV irradiance, alternating desiccation, rain and snow precipitations, extreme diurnal variations in temperature and chronic scarceness of nutrients. Even though photosynthetic green algae are primary producers colonizing open areas and potential markers of climate change, their overall biodiversity in the Alps has been poorly studied so far, in particular in soil, where algae have been shown to be key components of microbial communities. Here, we investigated whether the spatial distribution of green algae followed the altitudinal zonation of the Alps, based on the assumption that algae settle in their preferred habitats under the pressure of parameters correlated with elevation. We did so by focusing on selected representative elevational gradients at distant locations in the French Alps, where soil samples were collected at different depths. Soil was considered as either a potential natural habitat or temporary reservoir of algae. We showed that algal DNA represented a relatively low proportion of the overall eukaryotic diversity as measured by a universal Eukaryote marker. We designed two novel green algae metabarcoding markers to amplify the Chlorophyta phylum and its Chlorophyceae class, respectively. Using our newly developed markers, we showed that elevation was a strong correlate of species and genus level distribution. Altitudinal zonation was thus determined for about fifty species, with proposed accessions in reference databases. In particular, Planophila laetevirens and Bracteococcus ruber related species as well as the snow alga Sanguina genus were only found in soil starting at 2,000 m above sea level. Analysis of environmental and bioclimatic factors highlighted the importance of pH and nitrogen/carbon ratios in the vertical distribution in soil. Capacity to grow heterotrophically may determine the Trebouxiophyceae over Chlorophyceae ratio. The intensity of freezing events (freezing degree days), proved also determinant in Chlorophyceae distribution. Guidelines are discussed for future, more robust and precise analyses of environmental algal DNA in mountain ecosystems and address green algae species distribution and dynamics in response to environmental changes.

A point-of-care lateral flow assay for neutralising antibodies against SARS-CoV-2

As vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 are now being rolled out, a better understanding of immunity to the virus; whether through infection, or passive or active immunisation, and the durability of this protection is required. This will benefit from the ability to measure SARS-CoV-2 immunity, ideally with rapid turnaround and without the need for laboratory-based testing. Current rapid point-of-care (POC) tests measure antibodies (Ab) against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, however, these tests provide no information on whether the antibodies can neutralise virus infectivity and are potentially protective, especially against newly emerging variants of the virus. Neutralising Antibodies (NAb) are emerging as a strong correlate of protection, but most current NAb assays require many hours or days, samples of venous blood, and access to laboratory facilities, which is especially problematic in resource-limited settings. We have developed a lateral flow POC test that can measure levels of RBD-ACE2 neutralising antibodies from whole blood, with a result that can be determined by eye (semi-quantitative) or on a small instrument (quantitative), and results show high correlation with microneutralisation assays. This assay also provides a measure of total anti-RBD antibody, thereby providing evidence of exposure to SARS-CoV-2, regardless of whether NAb are present in the sample. By testing samples from immunised macaques, we demonstrate that this test is equally applicable for use with animal samples, and we show that this assay is readily adaptable to test for immunity to newly emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. Accordingly, the COVID-19 NAb-testTM test described here can provide a rapid readout of immunity to SARS-CoV-2 at the point of care.

The Partisan Mask: Political Orientation, Collectivism, and Religiosity Predict Mask Use During COVID-19

In the United States, the COVID-19 pandemic became an unconventional vehicle to advance partisan rhetoric and antagonism. Using data available at the individual- (Study 1; N = 4,220), county- (Study 2; n = 3,046), and state-level (n = 49), we found that partisanship and political orientation was a robust and strong correlate of mask use. Political conservatism and Republican partisanship were related to downplaying the severity of COVID-19 and perceiving masks as being ineffective that, in turn, were related to lower mask use. In contrast, we found that counties with majority Democrat partisanship reported greater mask use, controlling for various socioeconomic and demographic factors. Lastly, states with strong cultural collectivism reported greater mask use while those with strong religiosity reported the opposite. States with greater Democrat partisanship and strong cultural collectivism subsequently reported lower COVID-19 deaths, mediated by greater mask use and lower COVID-19 cases, in the five months following the second wave of COVID-19 in the US during the Summer of 2020. Nonetheless, more than the majority for Democrats (91.58%), Republicans (77.52%), and third-party members (82.48%) reported using masks. Implications for findings are discussed.

Differential associations of neurobehavioral traits and cognitive ability to academic achievement in higher education

BackgroundPeople vary between each other on several neurobehavioral traits, which may have implications for understanding academic achievement.MethodsUniversity-level Psychology or Engineering students were assessed for neurobehavioral traits, intelligence, and current psychological distress. Scores were compared with their grade point average (GPA) data.ResultsFactors associated with higher GPA differed markedly between groups. For Engineers, intelligence, but not neurobehavioral traits or psychological distress, was a strong correlate of grades. For Psychologists, grades were not correlated with intelligence but they were with the neurobehavioral traits of executive dysfunction, disinhibition, apathy, and positive schizotypy. However, only the latter two were associated independently of psychological distress. Additionally, higher mixed-handedness was associated with higher GPA in the combined sample.ConclusionsNeurological factors (i.e., neurobehavioral traits and intelligence), are differentially associated with university-level grades, depending on the major studied. However, mixed-handedness may prove to be a better general predictor of academic performance across disciplines.

Glycine administration attenuates progression of dystrophic pathology in prednisolone-treated dystrophin/utrophin null mice

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked genetic disease characterized by progressive muscle wasting and weakness and premature death. Glucocorticoids (e.g. prednisolone) remain the only drugs with a favorable impact on DMD patients, but not without side effects. We have demonstrated that glycine preserves muscle in various wasting models. Since glycine effectively suppresses the activity of pro-inflammatory macrophages, we investigated the potential of glycine treatment to ameliorate the dystrophic pathology. Dystrophic mdx and dystrophin-utrophin null (dko) mice were treated with glycine or L-alanine (amino acid control) for up to 15 weeks and voluntary running distance (a quality of life marker and strong correlate of lifespan in dko mice) and muscle morphology were assessed. Glycine increased voluntary running distance in mdx mice by 90% (P < 0.05) after 2 weeks and by 60% (P < 0.01) in dko mice co-treated with prednisolone over an 8 week treatment period. Glycine treatment attenuated fibrotic deposition in the diaphragm by 28% (P < 0.05) after 10 weeks in mdx mice and by 22% (P < 0.02) after 14 weeks in dko mice. Glycine treatment augmented the prednisolone-induced reduction in fibrosis in diaphragm muscles of dko mice (23%, P < 0.05) after 8 weeks. Our findings provide strong evidence that glycine supplementation may be a safe, simple and effective adjuvant for improving the efficacy of prednisolone treatment and improving the quality of life for DMD patients.

IT Project Communication

The critical nature of information flow as a precursor to project success has been affirmed by both scholars and project management professionals. The data analyzed in this study represent the perceptions of 91 IT project professionals regarding the importance of 18 different aspects of project communication to project success. The relationship of these data vis-a-vis project manager demographics and project/organizational characteristics is explored. Despite a relatively high level of agreement across the respondents regarding which communications are perceived critical to project success, there are clear project and stakeholder circumstances that warrant consideration. The data reveal both statistical and practical dimensions of communication that attribute importance to project success differently for internal as compared to external communication. Furthermore, the emergence of average project duration as a consistently strong correlate of perceived importance of communication to project success is an area of research deserving greater attention.

Effect of intervention management care program on improving quality of life outcome among mastectomy women with diabetic: A comparative study

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of intervention management care program on improving quality of life outcome among mastectomy women with diabetic.Subjects and Methods: Design: A quasi-experimental deign was used. Setting: It was selected from two settings Port Said oncology outpatient clinic and Damietta oncology outpatient clinic. Sampling: A purposive sample of mastectomy diagnosed with diabetic. The total sample was 50 women. They were 20 women from Port Said and 30 mastectomy women from Damietta Tools: The study data were collected by using three tools: The first tool-A women Structure interviewing questionnaire Sheet-its consisted of three parts: part one, demographic characteristics; part two, past and present medical history, complications related to diabetes and cancer and obstetrics characteristics; part three, knowledge about diabetes and mastectomy. The second tool-self-reported practices. The third tool-quality of life scale.Results: The study sample age ranged between 35 to more than 60 years with a mean of (50.3 ±8.6 and 48.3 ± 9.4) respectively in Damietta and Port-Said. There was statistically significant positive but strong correlate on among the three variables the strongest being between total scores knowledge and practices (r = 0.466) and strongest between knowledge and quality of life (r = 0.367) especially psychological aspects.Conclusions: The present study concluded that there is a marked gap between knowledge, practice and quality of life among the mastectomy women with diabetic before implement the program. There was an improvement in mastectomy women of all groups' knowledge and practice after the program. Also there were positive changes in quality of life in psychological, spiritual, emotional and social aspects. Furthermore, there were improvement in knowledge practice and positive change in quality of life after the implementation of the program of Damietta group more than port Said group.

Constructing a Multidimensional Socioeconomic Index and the Validation of It With Early Child Developmental Outcomes

The chapter focuses on the development of a socioeconomic index (SEI) using a Principal Components Analysis (PCA) of 26 variables at the Dissemination Area (DA) level for Alberta. First, the importance of socioeconomic factors in understanding child development outcomes is discussed, addressing the micro-macro level influences. Second, a description of the framework is provided along with the statistical procedures. Third, the results are presented, followed by a discussion of the benefits of having a summary measure in understanding kindergartners' developmental outcomes. The five components of SEI explained 56 per cent of the total variation in the overall index. The SEI patterns across Alberta were examined and the index was validated for its associations to the five domains of early child developmental outcomes, physical, social, emotional, language and cognitive skills, and communication and general knowledge. The index emerged as a strong correlate of all five domains with the strength of relationships varying across developmental domains and geography. A major strength of the procedure presented in the study is that it can be applied to different levels of geography and provides meaningful information to developmental research.

Work Preferences and General Abilities Among US Pharmacy Technicians and Danish Pharmaconomists

Introduction: The importance of pharmacy support personnel is increasingly recognized. Studies have evaluated workplace issues and evolving roles; however, needed information from technicians themselves is scarce. The purpose of this study was to examine preferences for work activities and the general abilities of US pharmacy technicians and Danish pharmaconomists. Methods: Surveys were administered to random samples of US technicians in 8 states and the general population of Danish pharmaconomists. Respondents indicated their preference for involvement in a set of work activities in community or hospital pharmacy on numeric scales. They also self-assessed their level of ability on facets associated with professional practice, in general. Descriptive results were tabulated, and bivariate tests were conducted on total general abilities ratings. Results: The 494 technicians and 313 pharmaconomists provided similar ratings on many activities. In community pharmacy, US technician ratings for performance of activities were generally higher than those of pharmaconomists; however, pharmaconomists rated certain “higher order” communication activities quite highly, such as discussing lifestyle changes with the patient. In hospital practice, Danish pharmaconomists provided low preferences for medication handling but high preferences for communication activities. General ability ratings were given high self-evaluations, but lower on some components, such as keeping up with the profession. Employer commitment was a strong correlate for both. Conclusions: Evaluation of preferred work activities and general abilities were likely reflected in different scopes of practice between the two and could be insightful for education and work redesign in both countries, particularly the United States, as leaders evaluate shifts in technician professionalization.