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This study aims to describe Facebook users' beliefs toward physical distancing measures implemented during the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic using the key constructs of the health belief model. A combination of rule-based filtering and manual classification methods was used to classify user comments on COVID-19 Facebook posts of three public health authorities: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States, Public Health England, and Ministry of Health, Singapore. A total of 104,304 comments were analyzed for posts published between 1 January, 2020, and 31 March, 2020, along with COVID-19 cases and deaths count data from the three countries. Findings indicate that the perceived benefits of physical distancing measures (n = 3,463; 3.3%) was three times higher than perceived barriers (n = 1,062; 1.0%). Perceived susceptibility to COVID-19 (n = 2,934; 2.8%) was higher compared with perceived severity (n = 2,081; 2.0%). Although susceptibility aspects of physical distancing were discussed more often at the start of the year, mentions on the benefits of intervention emerged stronger toward the end of the analysis period, highlighting the shift in beliefs. The health belief model is useful for understanding Facebook users' beliefs at a basic level, and it provides a scope for further improvement.

In discourses involving implicit causality, the implicit cause of the event is referentially predictable, that is, it is likely to be rementioned. However, it is unclear how referential predictability is calculated. We test two possible explanations: (1) The frequency account suggests that people learn that implicit causes are predictable through experience with the most frequent patterns of reference in natural language, and (2) the topicality account asks whether implicit causes tend to play topical roles in the discourse, which itself may lead to the perception of discourse accessibility. With two text analyses we show that implicit causes are frequently rementioned, but only if we consider a narrow set of discourse circumstances, which would require comprehenders to track contingent frequencies. We found no evidence for the topicality account: in two experiments, implicit causality affected predictability but not topicality, and in a corpus of natural speech, implicit causes tended to not occupy topical positions.

Two types of social goals associated with students' academic performance have received attention from researchers. One is the social responsibility goal and the other is the social relationship goal. While several scales have been validated for measuring social relationship and social responsibility goals in academic settings, few studies have applied these social goal scales to high school students in physical education settings. The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability, validity, and generalizability of the scores produced by the Social Goal Scale-Physical Education (SGS-PE) in high school settings. Participants were 544 students from two high schools in the southern United States. Reliability analyses, principal components factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and multistep invariance analysis across two school samples revealed that the SGS-PE produced reliable and valid scores when used to assess students' social goal levels in high school physical education settings. (Contains 3 tables.)

The conception of knowledge was studied for 213 14- and 15-year-old students in Singapore and their 37 teachers and 96 students in the United States, with their 10 teachers. Cultural differences, including those in epistemological frameworks, are discussed, and their implications for education considered. (SLD)

• Accuracy of SMOS SSM global operational product across 2 continents is explored. • Ground measurements from different FLUXNET sites are used. • A generally reasonable agreement was found in the 0–5 cm soil moisture layer. • Grassland, shrublands and woody savanna attained best agreement. • Seasonally, summer and autumn underperformed spring and winter. Earth Observation (EO) allows deriving from a range of sensors, often globally, operational estimates of surface soil moisture (SSM) at range of spatiotemporal resolutions. Yet, an evaluation of the accuracy of those products in a variety of environmental conditions has been often limited. In this study, the accuracy of the SMOS SSM global operational product across 2 continents (USA, and Europe) and a range of land use/cover types is investigated. SMOS predictions were compared against near concurrent in-situ SSM measurements from the FLUXNET observational network. In total, 7 experimental sites were used to assess the accuracy of SMOS derived soil moisture for 2 complete years of observations (2010–2011). The accuracy of the SMOS SSM product is investigated in different seasons for the seasonal cycle as well as different continents and land use/cover types. Results showed a generally reasonable agreement between the SMOS product and the in-situ soil moisture measurements in the 0–5 cm soil moisture layer. Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) in most cases was close to 0.1 m3 m−3 (minimum 0.067 m3 m−3). With a few exceptions, Pearson's correlation coefficient was found up to approx. 55%. Grassland, shrublands and woody savanna land cover types attained a satisfactory agreement between satellite derived and in-situ measurements but needleleaf forests had lower correlation. Better agreement was found for the grassland sites in both continents. Seasonally, summer and autumn underperformed spring and winter. Our study results provide supportive evidence of the potential value of this operational product for meso-scale studies in a range of practical applications, helping to address key challenges present nowadays linked to food and water security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates facework strategies of managing face-threatening acts in intercultural interactions where communicators’ cultural backgrounds are different from each other. Based on a pre-study with U.S. ( n = 89) and Chinese ( n = 76) college students, four scenarios featuring intercultural face-threatening acts were developed, where a Chinese student communicated politely and appropriately according to the Chinese culture, but the exact same act was considered otherwise in U.S. culture. In the main study, U.S. college students ( N = 217) were given these scenarios and asked to report the general level of face needs, perceived face threats, and facework strategies in each scenario. Multilevel analyses (i.e., Hierarchical Linear Modeling) were employed to parse out the different levels of influence in order to understand both separate and joint impacts of situational face threats and individual face needs on facework strategies. Results showed that: 1) intercultural communicators use both mitigating (i.e., fleeing) and aggravating (i.e., fighting) facework strategies, and a slight preference is given to mitigating strategies; 2) facework strategies are more sensitive to particular situational conditions than to individual dispositions; and 3) individuals’ value for others’ face moderates the relationship between situational conditions and facework strategies. The current study provides empirical evidence of challenges in establishing meaningful intercultural relationships by identifying the multiple levels of impact on facework strategies in intercultural communication. Further discussion and implications of the findings are also included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study used data ranging from 1960–2010 in order to test the relationship between U.S. foreign trade and its economic growth. The Granger Causality Tests show that there exists a bi-directional relationship between American exports and its GDP, while exists only a single directional relationship between American imports and its GDP. It indicates that American imports didn’t Granger cause American GDP growth. That is to say, even if taking several measures to protect and reduce its imports, U.S. can not achieve the goal of promoting its economic growth. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study investigated student physical activity (PA) and body mass index (BMI) in relation to the Healthy Campus 2010 objectives set by the American College Health Association in 2002. Students (N = 1125) at a U.S. southern state university participated in the study. The percentages of students who were physically active and whose BMI were categorized as overweight and obese were compared with the goals in the Healthy Campus 2010. Only 33.9% and 28.9% of students participated in at least three days of moderate physical activity or MPA, and vigorous physical activity or VPA, respectively, while 25.6% of students were classified as overweight and obese. Students did not meet the goals set out in the Healthy Campus 2010. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper explores differences in the impact of equally large positive and negative surprise return shocks in the aggregate U.S. stock market on: (1) the volatility predictions of asymmetric time-series models, (2) implied volatility, and (3) realized volatility. Following large negative surprise return shocks, both asymmetric time-series models (such as the EGARCH and GJR models) and implied volatility predict an increase in volatility and, consistent with this, ex post realized volatility normally rises as predicted. Following large positive return shocks, asymmetric time-series models predict an increase in volatility (albeit a much smaller increase than following a negative shock of the same magnitude), but both implied and realized volatilities generally fall sharply. While asymmetric time-series models predict a decline in volatility following near-zero returns, both implied and realized volatility are normally little changed from levels observed prior to the stable market. The reasons for the differences are explored. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Inorganic arsenic is a chronic exposure carcinogen. Analysis of UK baby rice revealed a median inorganic arsenic content (n =17) of 0.11mg/kg. By plotting inorganic arsenic against total arsenic, it was found that inorganic concentrations increased linearly up to 0.25mg/kg total arsenic, then plateaued at 0.16mg/kg at higher total arsenic concentrations. Inorganic arsenic intake by babies (4–12 months) was considered with respect to current dietary ingestion regulations. It was found that 35% of the baby rice samples analysed would be illegal for sale in China which has regulatory limit of 0.15mg/kg inorganic arsenic. EU and US food regulations on arsenic are non-existent. When baby inorganic arsenic intake from rice was considered, median consumption (expressed as μg/kg/d) was higher than drinking water maximum exposures predicted for adults in these regions when water intake was expressed on a bodyweight basis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The current study examined one's own independent and interdependent self-construals, as well as the estimation of others' independent and interdependent self-construals. Undergraduate students from the United States and China (n = 269) were recruited to test cultural differences in the relative valuation of attributes reflected in self-construal scale items. As hypothesized, Chinese participants perceived themselves as more interdependent than other Chinese, whereas U.S. participants perceived other Americans as more interdependent than themselves. Contrary to the prediction, both Chinese and U.S. participants viewed themselves as more independent than others in their own culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) causes varicella (chicken pox) and establishes latency in ganglia. A reactivation of latent VZV leads to herpes zoster (shingles). Herpes zoster often causes herpetic pain that can last for months or years after the rash has healed. Prolonged herpetic pain is defined as post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). There is an unmet need to explore novel therapeutic approaches for intractable PHN. Postmortem studies have shown that VZV induces neuro-inflammation and damage to the ganglia and spinal cord. These pathological changes may be critical factors resulting in PHN. Accumulated evidence suggests that stem cells may alleviate neuropathic pain in animal models through immunomodulatory actions and neuronal repair. Unfortunately, exogenous stem cell transplantation has limited clinical use due to safety concerns, immune rejection, and complications. Pharmacological mobilization of endogenous bone marrow stem cells may overcome these obstacles. Plerixafor is a SDF-1/CXCR4 axis blocker which can stimulate the release of stem cells from the bone marrow into blood circulation. We propose a hypothesis that endogenous stem cells mobilized by plerixafor may relieve the symptoms of PHN. If so, it may represent a novel approach for the treatment of intractable PHN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic presents one of the most challenging global crises at the dawn of a new decade. Public health authorities (PHAs) are increasingly adopting the use of social media such as Facebook to rapidly communicate and disseminate pandemic response measures to the public. Understanding of communication strategies across different PHAs and examining the public response on the social media landscapes can help improve practices for disseminating information to the public.Objective: This study aims to examine COVID-19-related outreach efforts of PHAs in Singapore, the United States, and England, and the corresponding public response to these outreach efforts on Facebook.Methods: Posts and comments from the Facebook pages of the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Singapore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States, and Public Health England (PHE) in England were extracted from January 1, 2019, to March 18, 2020. Posts published before January 1, 2020, were categorized as pre-COVID-19, while the remaining posts were categorized as peri-COVID-19 posts. COVID-19-related posts were identified and classified into themes. Metrics used for measuring outreach and engagement were frequency, mean posts per day (PPD), mean reactions per post, mean shares per post, and mean comments per post. Responses to the COVID-19 posts were measured using frequency, mean sentiment polarity, positive to negative sentiments ratio (PNSR), and positive to negative emotions ratio (PNER). Toxicity in comments were identified and analyzed using frequency, mean likes per toxic comment, and mean replies per toxic comment. Trend analysis was performed to examine how the metrics varied with key events such as when COVID-19 was declared a pandemic.Results: The MOH published more COVID-19 posts (n=271; mean PPD 5.0) compared to the CDC (n=94; mean PPD 2.2) and PHE (n=45; mean PPD 1.4). The mean number of comments per COVID-19 post was highest for the CDC (mean CPP 255.3) compared to the MOH (mean CPP 15.6) and PHE (mean CPP 12.5). Six major themes were identified, with posts about prevention and safety measures and situation updates being prevalent across the three PHAs. The themes of the MOH's posts were diverse, while the CDC and PHE posts focused on a few themes. Overall, response sentiments for the MOH posts (PNSR 0.94) were more favorable compared to response sentiments for the CDC (PNSR 0.57) and PHE (PNSR 0.55) posts. Toxic comments were rare (0.01%) across all PHAs.Conclusions: PHAs' extent of Facebook use for outreach purposes during the COVID-19 pandemic varied among the three PHAs, highlighting the strategies and approaches that other PHAs can potentially adopt. Our study showed that social media analysis was capable of providing insights about the communication strategies of PHAs during disease outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This prevalence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become one of the most serious public health crises. Tree-based machine learning methods, with the advantages of high efficiency, and strong interpretability, have been widely used in predicting diseases. A data-driven interpretable ensemble framework based on tree models was designed to forecast daily new cases of COVID-19 in the USA and to determine the important factors related to COVID-19. Based on a hyperparametric optimization technique, we developed three machine learning algorithms based on decision trees, including random forest (RF), eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), and Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM), and three linear ensemble models were used to integrate these outcomes for better prediction accuracy. Finally, the SHapley Additive explanation (SHAP) value was used to obtain the feature importance ranking. Our outcomes demonstrated that, among the three basic machine learners, the prediction accuracy was the following in descending order: LightGBM, XGBoost, and RF. The optimized LAD ensemble was the most precise prediction model that reduced the prediction error of the best base learner (LightGBM) by approximately 3.111%, while vaccination, wearing masks, less mobility, and government interventions had positive effects on the control and prevention of COVID-19., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Context.—: Despite widespread use of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue in clinical and research settings, potential effects of variable tissue processing remain largely unknown., Objective.—: To elucidate molecular effects associated with clinically relevant preanalytical variability, the National Cancer Institute initiated the Biospecimen Preanalytical Variables (BPV) program., Design.—: The BPV program, a well-controlled series of systematic, blind and randomized studies, investigated whether a delay to fixation (DTF) or time in fixative (TIF) affects the quantity and quality of DNA and RNA isolated from FFPE colon, kidney, and ovarian tumors in comparison to case-matched snap-frozen controls., Results.—: DNA and RNA yields were comparable among FFPE biospecimens subjected to different DTF and TIF time points. DNA and RNA quality metrics revealed assay- and time point-specific effects of DTF and TIF. A quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay was superior when assessing RNA quality, consistently detecting differences between FFPE and snap-frozen biospecimens and among DTF and TIF time points. RNA Integrity Number and DV 200 (representing the percentage of RNA fragments longer than 200 nucleotides) displayed more limited sensitivity. Differences in DNA quality (Q-ratio) between FFPE and snap-frozen biospecimens and among DTF and TIF time points were detected with a qPCR-based assay., Conclusions.—: DNA and RNA quality may be adversely affected in some tumor types by a 12-hour DTF or a TIF of 72 hours. Results presented here as well as those of additional BPV molecular analyses underway will aid in the identification of acceptable delays and optimal fixation times, and quality assays that are suitable predictors of an FFPE biospecimen's fit-for-purpose.

Background: Biospecimens are essential resources for advancing basic and translational research. However, there are little data available regarding the costs associated with operating a biobank, and few resources to enable their long-term sustainability. To support the research community in this effort, the National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute's Biorepositories and Biospecimen Research Branch has developed the Biobank Economic Modeling Tool (BEMT). The tool is accessible at http://biospecimens.cancer.gov/resources/bemt.asp., Methods: To obtain market-based cost information and to inform the development of the tool, a survey was designed and sent to 423 biobank managers and directors across the world. The survey contained questions regarding infrastructure investments, salary costs, funding options, types of biospecimen resources and services offered, as well as biospecimen pricing and service-related costs., Results: A total of 106 responses were received. The data were anonymized, aggregated, and used to create a comprehensive database of cost and pricing information that was integrated into the web-based tool, the BEMT. The BEMT was built to allow the user to input cost and pricing data through a seven-step process to build a cost profile for their biobank, define direct and indirect costs, determine cost recovery fees, perform financial forecasting, and query the anonymized survey data from comparable biobanks., Conclusion: A survey was conducted to obtain a greater understanding of the costs involved in operating a biobank. The anonymized survey data was then used to develop the BEMT, a cost modeling tool for biobanks. Users of the tool will be able to create a cost profile for their biobanks' specimens, products and services, establish pricing, and allocate costs for biospecimens based on percent cost recovered, and perform project-specific cost analyses and financial forecasting.