This study investigates persuasive strategies used in the writings of Iranian university students in the field of teaching English as foreign language (TEFL). The study utilized the 7 principles of persuasive strategies presented by Cialdini (The psychology of persuasion, Quill William Morrow, New York 1984; Pre-suasion: A revolutionary way to influence and persuade, Simon & Schuster, New York 2016), which include \'reciprocity\', \'commitment and consistency\', \'social proof\', \'liking\', \'authority\', \'scarcity\', and \'unity\'. The results indicate that strategies such as \'liking\', \'unity\', and \'authority\' were used more frequently than other persuasive strategies. On the other hand, \'scarcity\' was the least used strategy by the participants. Significant gender differences were also observed in the data. These findings have important pedagogical implications and suggest the need to incorporate persuasive strategies into instructional materials and teaching practices to enhance the persuasive writing skills of university students. Furthermore, gender differences highlight the importance of considering individual differences when teaching persuasive writing. Finally, the study discusses the pedagogical implications of these findings in the context of learning and teaching.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the political, institutional, and social contexts contributing to a decline in food and beverage industry power and influence over fiscal (soda taxes) and regulatory (sales/advertising restrictions and food labels) policy. This article addresses this issue by exploring why Mexico and Chile eventually saw such a decline in the food and beverage industry\'s influence whereas Brazil was not as successful. I argue that in Mexico and Chile, these outcomes are explained by shifts in presidential, congressional, and bureaucratic interests in pursuing policies that went against industry preferences.
METHODS: This article took a qualitative methodological approach to comparative historical research.
RESULTS: Policymakers\' interest in pursuing stronger food and beverage regulations were shaped by economic and public health concerns, new electoral contexts, epidemiological information, and normative beliefs. In Mexico, the infiltration of nutrition researchers within government facilitated this process. In contrast, Brazil\'s government was divided about pursuing regulatory policies, with presidents favoring partnerships with industry to implement a popular anti-hunger program; industry\'s power endured there with limited progress in policy reforms.
CONCLUSIONS: Governments can eventually overcome industry power and policy influence, but it depends on a whole government commitment to reform.

UNASSIGNED: The aim of this study was to assess the influence of the cesarean section scars on the mean pulsatility index (PI) of the uterine artery Doppler between 20 and 34 weeks of gestation. A secondary objective was to assess the association between previous cesarean section and adverse maternal/perinatal outcomes.
UNASSIGNED: A retrospective cohort study was conducted with pregnant women who had their deliveries between March 2014 and February 2023. PI of the uterine arteries Doppler was performed transvaginally between 20-24 weeks and transabdominally between 28-34 weeks. The following variables were considered adverse perinatal outcomes: birth weight < 10th percentile for gestational age, preeclampsia, premature birth, placental abruption, perinatal death, postpartum hemorrhage, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission.
UNASSIGNED: A total of 479 pregnant women were included in the final statistical analysis, being that 70.6% (338/479) had no (Group I) and 29.4% (141/479) had at least one previous cesarean section (Group II). Pregnant women with a previous cesarean had higher median of mean PI (1.06 vs. 0.97, p = 0.044) and median MoM of mean PI uterine arteries Doppler (1.06 vs. 0.98, p = 0.037) than pregnant women without previous cesarean section at ultrasound 20-24 weeks. Pregnant women with a previous cesarean section had higher median of mean PI (0.77 vs. 0.70, p < 0.001) and mean MoM PI uterine arteries Doppler (1.08 vs. 0.99, p < 0.001) than pregnant women without previous cesarean section at ultrasound 28-34 weeks. Pregnant women with ≥ 2 previous cesarean sections had a higher median of mean PI uterine arteries Doppler than those with no previous cesarean sections (1.19 vs. 0.97, p = 0.036). Group II had a lower risk of postpartum hemorrhage (aPR 0.31, 95% CI 0.13-0.75, p = 0.009) and composite neonatal outcome (aPR 0.66, 95% CI 0.49-0.88, p = 0.006). Group II had a higher risk of APGAR score at the 5th minute < 7 (aPR 0.75, 95% CI 1.49-51.29, p = 0.016).
UNASSIGNED: The number of previous cesarean sections had a significant influence on the mean PI uterine arteries Doppler between 20-24 and 28-34 weeks of gestation. Previous cesarean section was an independent predictor of postpartum hemorrhage and APGAR score at the 5th minute < 7. Pregnancy-associated arterial hypertension and number of previous deliveries influenced the risk of composite neonatal outcome, but not the presence of previous cesarean section alone.
UNASSIGNED: Ziel dieser Studie war es, die Auswirkung von Kaiserschnittnarben auf den mittleren Doppler-Pulsatilitätsindex (PI) der A. uterina zwischen der 20. and 34. Schwangerschaftswoche zu beurteilen. Das sekundäre Ziel war, die Assoziation zwischen vorheriger Kaiserschnittentbindung und dem mütterlichen/perinatalen Outcome zu evaluieren.
UNASSIGNED: Es wurde eine retrospektive Kohortenstudie durchgeführt mit schwangeren Frauen, die zwischen März 2014 und Februar 2023 entbanden. Die Doppler-Sonografie zur Messung des PI der A. uterina wurde vaginal in den 20. –24. Schwangerschaftswochen und abdominal in den 28.–34. Wochen durchgeführt. Die folgenden Variablen wurden als ungünstiges perinatales Outcome bewertet: Geburtsgewicht < 10. Perzentile in Bezug auf das Gestationsalter, Präeklampsie, Frühgeburt, vorzeitige Plazentalösung, perinataler Tod, postpartale Blutungen, Verlegung auf eine neonatale Intensivstation (NICU).
UNASSIGNED: Insgesamt wurden 479 schwangere Frauen in die letzte statistische Analyse eingeschlossen. Davon hatten 70,6% (338/479) keine (Gruppe I) und 29,4% (141/479) mindestens eine (Gruppe II) vorherige Kaiserschnittentbindung. Bei der Ultraschalluntersuchung in den 20.–24. Wochen hatten schwangere Frauen mit vorheriger Kaiserschnittentbindung einen höheren Median des durchschnittlichen PI (1,06 vs. 0,97; p = 0,044) und höheres medianes MoM des durchschnittlichen PI der A. uterina (1,06 vs. 0,98, p = 0,037) verglichen mit schwangeren Frauen ohne vorherige Kaiserschnittentbindung. Bei der Ultraschalluntersuchung in den 28.–34. Schwangerschaftswochen hatten schwangere Frauen mit vorheriger Kaiserschnittentbindung einen höheren Median des durchschnittlichen PI (0,77 vs. 0,70; p < 0,001) und ein höheres durchschnittliches MoM des PI der A. uterina (1,08 vs. 0,99; p < 0,001) verglichen mit schwangeren Frauen ohne vorherige Kaiserschnittentbindung. Schwangere Frauen mit ≥ 2 vorherigen Kaiserschnittentbindungen hatten einen höheren Median des durchschnittlichen PI der A. uterina verglichen mit Frauen ohne vorherige Kaiserschnittentbindung (1,19 vs. 0,97; p = 0,036). Gruppe II hat ein geringeres Risiko für eine postpartale Blutung (aPR 0,31; 95%-KI [0,13–0,75], p = 0,009) und für ein negatives neonatales Outcome (aPR 0,66; 95%-KI [0,49–0,88], p = 0,006). Gruppe II hatte ein höheres Risiko für einen APGAR-Score < 7 nach 5 Minuten (aPR 0,75; 95%-KI [1,49–51,29], p = 0,016).
UNASSIGNED: Die Anzahl vorhergehender Kaiserschnittentbindungen hatte eine signifikante Auswirkung auf den mittleren Doppler-PI der A. uterina zwischen den 20.–24. und 28.–34. Schwangerschaftswochen. Eine vorherige Kaiserschnittentbindung war ein unabhängiger Prädiktor für eine postpartale Blutung und einen APGAR-Score < 7 nach 5 Minuten. Schwangerschaftsassoziierter Bluthochdruck und die Anzahl vorheriger Entbindungen haben Auswirkungen auf das Risiko eines negativen neonatalen Outcomes, nicht aber eine vorherige Kaiserschnittentbindung an sich.

COVID-19 challenged countries in addressing population and raising awareness about mask-wearing during pandemic; Lebanon is a refugee hotspot, with humanitarian responsibility for their protection. The goal of this study is to emphasize the need of raising awareness among vulnerable populations and studying their mask-wearing behavior and intentions. This research draws on findings from a survey characterized by refugees\' representatives from NGO, focusing on the behaviors and implications of refugees\' mask-wearing. To address the study question, a customized survey based on Theory of Interpersonal Behavior was undertaken, in which the behavior of refugees was impacted by their desire to engage in an activity. The findings show that refugees are influenced by other people\'s mask-wearing behavior; they view masks as providing protection and aim to use them in the future provided all enabling conditions are met. Artificial intelligence might be a better monitor for this behavior in the future.

Background Monkeypox is a zoonotic illness that can spread to humans through close contact with infected animals or other individuals. The symptoms are similar to smallpox, and the disease can be severe, particularly in people with weakened immune systems. In recent years, there have been monkeypox outbreaks in several countries, leading to increased concern about its spread and the need for effective management. Materials and methods The data will be collected from an online questionnaire, which will be given in the form of Google Forms. A cross-sectional study design will be used. The study sample will be 384. Results The result will reveal that the general population in the selected area improves their knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions regarding monkeypox. Conclusion This study will reflect on awareness regarding monkeypox in the general population.

If the traits of more successful individuals are more likely to be adopted, the resulting cultural transmission is described as success biased. In contrast, if the traits of \'prestigious\' individuals-those who have already been copied many times-are more likely to be adopted, this is described as prestige-biased cultural transmission. In this case, prestige can be a convenient proxy for success. However, it is unclear how success and prestige biases interact to determine the outcome of cultural evolutionary dynamics. Here, we aim to clarify this using mathematical analysis and stochastic simulations. We find analytic approximations to the stochastic role-model choice process that facilitate the mathematical analysis and reduce the computational complexity of simulations. Approximations are given to the fixation probability and the fixation time of an invading cultural trait in different environments. Our results show that success bias effectively plays the role of natural selection, whereas prestige bias effectively plays the role of genetic drift. Prestige bias, which may be strong in highly social communities, also accelerates the evolutionary dynamics, as expected in a rich-get-richer process. These results signify a step forward in understanding how different cultural transmission biases interact.

BACKGROUND:  Telemedicine expanded rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic, as key policy changes, financial support, and pandemic fears tipped the balance toward internet-based care. Despite this increased support and benefits to patients and clinicians, telemedicine uptake was variable across clinicians and practices. Little is known regarding physician and institutional characteristics underlying this variability.
OBJECTIVE:  This study aimed to evaluate factors influencing telemedicine uptake among frontline physicians in the early pandemic response.
METHODS:  We surveyed a national stratified sample of frontline clinicians drawn from the American Medical Association Physician Professional Data in June or July 2020. The survey inquired about the first month and most recent month (June 2020) of pandemic telemedicine use; sample data included clinician gender, specialty, census region, and years in practice. Local pandemic conditions were estimated from county-level data on COVID-19 rates at the time of survey response. Data were analyzed in a weighted logistic regression, controlling for county-specific pandemic data, and weighted to account for survey data stratification and nonresponse.
RESULTS:  Over the first 3-4 months of the pandemic, the proportion of physicians reporting use of telemedicine in >30% of visits increased from 29.2% (70/239) to 35.7% (85/238). Relative to primary care, odds of substantial telemedicine use (>30%) both during the first month of the pandemic and in June 2020 were increased among infectious disease and critical care physicians and decreased among hospitalists and emergency medicine physicians. At least minimal prepandemic telemedicine use (odds ratio [OR] 11.41, 95% CI 1.34-97.04) and a high 2-week moving average of local COVID-19 cases (OR 10.16, 95% CI 2.07-49.97) were also associated with substantial telemedicine use in June 2020. There were no significant differences according to clinician gender, census region, or years in practice.
CONCLUSIONS:  Prepandemic telemedicine use, high local COVID-19 case counts, and clinician specialty were associated with higher levels of substantial telemedicine use during the early pandemic response. These results suggest that telemedicine uptake in the face of the pandemic may have been heavily influenced by the level of perceived threat and the resources available for implementation. Such understanding has important implications for reducing burnout and preparation for future public health emergencies.

BACKGROUND: Hypocalcemia is highly common in hospitalized patients, especially in those with trauma, On the other hand, abnormal calcium metabolism is an important metabolic challenge; however, it is often neglected and untreated, and certain factors may induce serious neurological and cardiovascular complications.
OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively analyze the impact of hypocalcemia on the prognosis of patients with multiple traumas.
METHODS: The study was conducted from January 2020 to December 2021. Ninety-nine patients with multiple injuries were treated at the critical care medicine department of Fuyang People\'s Hospital. The selected indicators included sex, age, and blood calcium and hematocrit levels. Many indicators were observed, including within 24 h of hospitalization, and the prognosis was collected after 28 d. Based on the blood calcium levels, the patients were divided into the following two groups: Normocalcemia and hypocalcemia. Of the 99 patients included, 81 had normocalcemia, and 18 had hypocalcemia. Separate experiments were conducted for these two groups.
RESULTS: There was an association between serum calcium levels and the prognosis of patients with polytrauma.
CONCLUSIONS: Clinically, the prognosis of patients with multiple traumas can be preliminarily evaluated based on serum calcium levels.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether fear and prejudice in relation to organ donation and the transplantation of organs may influence the decision to become an organ donor.
METHODS: Data were collected through four group interviews using open-ended questions and qualitative content analysis. Forty participants, 16 males and 24 females from seven countries, participated in the focus group interviews.
RESULTS: The analysis resulted in three main categories, and nine subcategories. Fears and prejudice caused by tradition and customs, approval of organ donation by family members, perception of the body as a gift from parents, the influence of religious leaders, knowledge about the religious understanding of organ donation, influence of social ambience on respondents, knowledge of the donation process in the healthcare system, including knowing about life after eventual organ donation, were some of predictors in the decision to agree to organ donation.
CONCLUSIONS: More education on the factors that influence organ donation, more information in schools, health institutions and through the media, as well as more research with the aim of \"dispelling\" fears and prejudice about organ donation would significantly improve the current situation and result in a larger number of potential organ donors.

UNASSIGNED: To determine the angiographic severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) and assess the influence of major cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF).
UNASSIGNED: a cross-sectional, hospital-based study.
UNASSIGNED: the catheterisation laboratory of the National Cardiothoracic Centre, Accra, Ghana.
UNASSIGNED: for 12 months, consecutive patients admitted for coronary angiography were assessed for the presence of CVRFs. Those with significant CAD after angiography were recruited into the study.
UNASSIGNED: The patient\'s angiograms were analysed, and the CAD severity was obtained using the SYNTAX scoring criteria.
UNASSIGNED: The lesion overall severity (SYNTAX) score and the relationship with CVRFs present.
UNASSIGNED: out of the 169 patients that had coronary angiography, 78 had significant CAD. The mean SYNTAX score was 20.18 (SD= 10.68), with a significantly higher value in dyslipidaemic patients (p < 0.001). Pearson\'s correlation between the score and BMI was weak (r= 0.256, p= 0.034). The occurrence of high SYNTAX score lesions in about 18% of the population was significantly associated with hypertension (OR= 1.304, 95% CI [1.13-1.50]; p= 0.017) dyslipidaemia (OR= 5.636, 95% CI [1.17-27.23]; p= 0.019), and obesity (OR= 3.960, 95% CI [1.18-13.34]; p= 0.021). However, after adjusting for confounding factors, only dyslipidaemia significantly influenced its occurrence (aOR= 5.256, 95% CI [1.03-26.96]; p= 0.047).
UNASSIGNED: Even though the most severe form of CAD was found in about one-fifth of the study population, its occurrence was strongly influenced by the presence of dyslipidaemia.
UNASSIGNED: None.