Objectives
Rates of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) infections have rapidly increased worldwide and reached pandemic proportions. A suite of preventive behaviours have been recommended to ...minimize risk of COVID‐19 infection in the general population. The present study utilized an integrated social cognition model to explain COVID‐19 preventive behaviours in a sample from the Iranian general population.
Design
The study adopted a three‐wave prospective correlational design.
Methods
Members of the general public (N = 1,718, Mage = 33.34, SD = 15.77, male = 796, female = 922) agreed to participate in the study. Participants completed self‐report measures of demographic characteristics, intention, attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioural control, and action self‐efficacy at an initial data collection occasion. One week later, participants completed self‐report measures of maintenance self‐efficacy, action planning and coping planning, and, a further week later, measures of COVID‐19 preventive behaviours. Hypothesized relationships among social cognition constructs and COVID‐19 preventive behaviours according to the proposed integrated model were estimated using structural equation modelling.
Results
The proposed model fitted the data well according to multiple goodness‐of‐fit criteria. All proposed relationships among model constructs were statistically significant. The social cognition constructs with the largest effects on COVID‐19 preventive behaviours were coping planning (β = .575, p < .001) and action planning (β = .267, p < .001).
Conclusions
Current findings may inform the development of behavioural interventions in health care contexts by identifying intervention targets. In particular, findings suggest targeting change in coping planning and action planning may be most effective in promoting participation in COVID‐19 preventive behaviours.
Statement of contribution
What is already known on this subject?
Curbing COVID‐19 infections globally is vital to reduce severe cases and deaths in at‐risk groups.
Preventive behaviours like handwashing and social distancing can stem contagion of the coronavirus.
Identifying modifiable correlates of COVID‐19 preventive behaviours is needed to inform intervention.
What does this study add?
An integrated model identified predictors of COVID‐19 preventive behaviours in Iranian residents.
Prominent predictors were intentions, planning, self‐efficacy, and perceived behavioural control.
Findings provide insight into potentially modifiable constructs that interventions can target.
Research should examine if targeting these factors lead to changes in COVID‐19 behaviours over time.
The biological functions of short open reading frame (sORF)‐encoded micropeptides remain largely unknown. Here, we report that LINC00998, a previously annotated lncRNA, was upregulated in multiple ...cancer types and the sORF on LINC00998 encoded a micropeptide named SMIM30. SMIM30 was localized in the membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria. Silencing SMIM30 inhibited the proliferation of hepatoma cells in vitro and suppressed the growth of tumor xenografts and N‐nitrosodiethylamine‐induced hepatoma. Overexpression of the 5′UTR‐sORF sequence of LINC00998, encoding wild‐type SMIM30, enhanced tumor cell growth, but this was abolished when a premature stop codon was introduced into the sORF via single‐base deletion. Gain‐ and loss‐of‐function studies revealed that SMIM30 peptide but not LINC00998 reduced cytosolic calcium level, increased CDK4, cyclin E2, phosphorylated‐Rb and E2F1, and promoted the G1/S phase transition and cell proliferation. The effect of SMIM30 silencing was attenuated by a calcium chelator or the agonist of sarco/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase (SERCA) pump. These findings suggest a novel function of micropeptide SMIM30 in promoting G1/S transition and cell proliferation by enhancing SERCA activity and reducing cytosolic calcium level.
LINC00998, a previously annotated lncRNA, encodes an ER‐localized micropeptide named SMIM30. The authors found that the peptide, but not the lncRNA, reduced cytosolic calcium level by enhancing SERCA activity, then increased CDK4, cyclin E2 and E2F1 levels, and consequently promoted the G1/S phase transition and cell proliferation. These data unravel a new function of SMIM30 in regulating cytosolic calcium and G1/S transition.
Black hole/black ring transition Halder, Indranil; Lin, Ying-Hsuan
The journal of high energy physics,
01/2024, Volume:
2024, Issue:
1
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
A
bstract
We consider BPS states in M theory compactified on a Calabi-Yau threefold with one Kähler parameter, and investigate their relation to black holes and black rings. On the microscopic side, ...a characterization of the BPS degeneracy can be obtained from the non-perturbative part of the topological string free energy according to the Gopakumar-Vafa conjecture. On the macroscopic side, the Wald entropy of relevant black objects in the four-dimensional IIA description is computed from the perturbative part of the same topological string free energy following the work of Cardoso-de Wit-Mohaupt and then lifted to five-dimensional M theory through the Gaiotto-Strominger-Yin correspondence. For a given value of the M2 brane charge, we find that for small angular momenta, the microscopic BPS degeneracy matches the entropy of a rotating black hole, whereas an apparent transition occurs at a critical value of the angular momentum. Beyond this value, we find encouraging evidence that the microscopic counting is well approximated by the entropy of a black ring. We conclude by formulating a new puzzle involving the corrections due to degenerate worldsheet instantons.
A
bstract
We combine supersymmetric localization and the conformal bootstrap to study five-dimensional superconformal field theories. To begin, we classify the admissible counter-terms and derive a ...general relation between the five-sphere partition function and the conformal and flavor central charges. Along the way, we discover a new superconformal anomaly in five dimensions. We then propose a precise triple factorization formula for the five-sphere partition function, that incorporates instantons and is consistent with flavor symmetry enhancement. We numerically evaluate the central charges for the rank-one Seiberg and Morrison-Seiberg theories, and find strong evidence for their saturation of bootstrap bounds, thereby determining the spectra of long multiplets in these theories. Lastly, our results provide new evidence for the
F
-theorem and possibly a
C
-theorem in five-dimensional superconformal theories.
Banana (Musa sp.) is cultivated worldwide and is one of the most popular fruits. The soil-borne fungal disease Fusarium wilt of banana (FWB), commonly known as Panama disease, is caused by Fusarium ...oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) and is a highly lethal vascular fungal disease in banana plants. Raman spectroscopy, an emerging laser-based technology based on Raman scattering, has been used for the qualitative characterization of biological tissues such as foodborne pathogens, cancer cells, and melamine. In this study, we describe a Raman spectroscopic technique that could potentially be used as a method for diagnosing FWB. To that end, the Raman fingerprints of Foc (including mycelia and conidia) and Foc-infected banana pseudostems with varying levels of symptoms were determined. Our results showed that eight, eleven, and eleven characteristic surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy peaks were observed in the mycelia, microconidia, and macroconidia of Foc, respectively. In addition, we constructed the Raman spectroscopic fingerprints of banana pseudostem samples with varying levels of symptoms in order to be able to differentiate Foc-infected bananas from healthy bananas. The rate at which FWB was detected in asymptomatic Foc-infected samples by using the spectral method was 76.2%, which was comparable to the rates previously reported for other FWB detection methods based on real-time PCR assays, suggesting that the spectral method described herein could potentially serve as an alternative tool for detecting FWB in fields. As such, we hope that the developed spectral method will open up new possibilities for the on-site diagnosis of FWB.
A (SrTiO 3 + Li 2 CO 3 )/(0.94Bi 0.54 Na 0.46 TiO 3 − 0.06BaTiO 3 ) (STL/BNBT) lead-free ceramic with a multilayer structure was shaped via the tape-casting and subsequent lamination technique, and ...sintered using the conventional solid state sintering method. The dielectric constant of the ceramic is larger than that of pure STL or BNBT and reveals excellent frequency-stability, and the dielectric loss is smaller than 0.15 for the STL/BNBT multilayer ceramic at 1 kHz–1 MHz and room temperature. Meanwhile, dielectric measurement results reveal that the STL/BNBT multilayer ceramic possesses relaxor behavior. In addition, the STL/BNBT multilayer ceramic possesses large maximum polarization ( P max ) and low remnant polarization ( P r ). An optimal energy storage density ( W ) of 3.55 J cm −3 and a recoverable energy storage density ( W rec ) of 2.41 J cm −3 can be obtained under 237 kV cm −1 for the STL/BNBT multilayer ceramic. Numerical simulations based on the finite element analysis method present the breakdown process vividly and agree well with the experimental results. Moreover, the energy storage properties of STL/BNBT multilayer ceramic exhibit excellent frequency stability and temperature stability. The STL/BNBT multilayer structure significantly enhances the electric breakdown strength ( E b ) and energy storage properties of lead-free ceramics for pulsed power system applications.
The literature regarding esophageal fistula after definitive concurrent chemotherapy and intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains lacking. We ...aimed to investigate the risk factors of esophageal fistula among ESCC patients undergoing definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) via IMRT technique.
A total of 129 consecutive ESCC patients receiving definitive CCRT with IMRT between 2008 and 2018 were reviewed. The cumulative incidence of esophageal fistula and survival of patients were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared between groups by the log-rank test. The risk factors of esophageal fistula were determined with multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis.
Median follow-up was 14.9 months (IQR, 7.0-28.8). Esophageal perforation was identified in 20 (15.5%) patients, resulting in esophago-pleural fistula in nine, esophago-tracheal fistula in seven, broncho-esophageal fistula in two, and aorto-esophageal fistula in two patients. The median interval from IMRT to the occurrence of esophageal fistula was 4.4 months (IQR, 3.3-10.1). Patients with esophageal fistula had an inferior median overall survival (10.0 vs. 17.2 months, p = 0.0096). T4 (HR, 3.776; 95% CI, 1.383-10.308; p = 0.010) and esophageal stenosis (HR, 2.601; 95% CI, 1.053-6.428; p = 0.038) at baseline were the independent risk factors for esophageal fistula. The cumulative incidence of esophageal fistula was higher in patients with T4 (p = 0.018) and pre-treatment esophageal stenosis (p = 0.045). There was a trend toward better survival after esophageal fistula among patients receiving repair or stenting for the fistula than those only undergoing conservative treatments (median survival, 5.9 vs. 0.9 months, p = 0.058).
T4 and esophageal stenosis at baseline independently increased the risk of esophageal fistula in ESCC treated by definitive CCRT with IMRT. There existed a trend toward improved survival after the fistula among patients receiving repair or stenting for esophageal perforation.
A
bstract
We study five-dimensional superconformal field theories and their holographic dual, matter-coupled Romans supergravity. On the one hand, some recently derived formulae allow us to extract ...the central charges from deformations of the supersymmetric five-sphere partition function, whose large
N
expansion can be computed using matrix model techniques. On the other hand, the conformal and flavor central charges can be extracted from the six-dimensional supergravity action, by carefully analyzing its embedding into type I’ string theory. The results match on the two sides of the holographic duality. Our results also provide analytic evidence for the symmetry enhancement in five-dimensional superconformal field theories.
The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected the mental health of university students.
This study examined the psychological responses toward COVID-19 among university students from 3 ...countries-Indonesia, Taiwan, and Thailand.
We used a web-based, cross-sectional survey to recruit 1985 university students from 5 public universities (2 in Indonesia, 1 in Thailand, and 1 in Taiwan) via popular social media platforms such as Facebook, LINE, WhatsApp, and broadcast. All students (n=938 in Indonesia, n=734 in Thailand, and n=313 in Taiwan) answered questions concerning their anxiety, suicidal thoughts (or sadness), confidence in pandemic control, risk perception of susceptibility to infection, perceived support, resources for fighting infection, and sources of information in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Among the 3 student groups, Thai students had the highest levels of anxiety but the lowest levels of confidence in pandemic control and available resources for fighting COVID-19. Factors associated with higher anxiety differed across countries. Less perceived satisfactory support was associated with more suicidal thoughts among Indonesian students. On the other hand, Taiwanese students were more negatively affected by information gathered from the internet and from medical staff than were Indonesian or Thai students.
Our findings suggest that health care providers in Thailand may need to pay special attention to Thai university students given that high levels of anxiety were observed in this study population. In addition, health care providers should establish a good support system for university students, as the results of this study indicate a negative association between support and suicidal thoughts.
Internet addiction has been found to be prevalent worldwide, including Asian countries, and related to several negative outcomes and other behavioral addictions. The Bergen Social Media Addiction ...Scale (BSMAS), Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale (SABAS), and nine-item Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form (IGDS-SF9) have been extensively used to assess internet-related addictions. However, the three aforementioned instruments have rarely been used in Asian countries. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the BSMAS, SABAS, and IGDS-SF9 were appropriate for use in heterogeneous subsamples from Hong Kong and Taiwan. University students from Hong Kong (n = 306) and Taiwan (n = 336) were recruited via an online survey. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (MGCFA) was used to assess measurement invariance of the BSMAS, SABAS, and IGDS-SF9 across the two subcultures. The original unidimensional structures of BSMAS, SABAS and IGDS-SF9 were confirmed through confirmatory factorial analysis in both subcultures. The MGCFA results showed that the unidimensional structures of the BSMAS and IGDS-SF9 were invariant across the two Chinese cultural areas (Hong Kong and Taiwan). However, the measurement invariance of the SABAS was established after some model modifications. In conclusion, the present study found that the Chinese BSMAS, SABAS, and IGDS-SF9 were all adequate instruments to validly assess internet-related addictions among university students. The three brief instruments used for assessing addictions to social media, smartphone applications, and online gaming are valid and psychometrically robust across two Chinese subcultures and can be used by healthcare professionals in these regions.
•Chinese Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale has unidimensional structure.•Chinese Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale has unidimensional structure.•Chinese Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form has unidimensional structure.
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