Awareness, Practice and Intention to Practice Testicular Self-Examination among Professional Working Males in Ghana

Background: The aetiology of Testicular Cancer (TC) is still unknown to researchers but many of the associated risk factors have been identified. These include family history, age, racial origin, cryptorchidism, urogenital malformations, testicular atrophy, and infertility. Given the lack of scientific data on the causes of the disease, it has been asserted in previous studies that the promotion of awareness and early detection are prerequisites to mitigating risks of metastasis as well as improving survival. This study is to assess the awareness, practice, and intention to practice testicular self-examination among professional working males in Accra. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional design with a structured research instrument was used to collect data from respondants. The purposive and convenience sampling techniques were used to collect data from 300 men at Accra in Ghana. The study was conducted at two (2) Universities and a Senior High school at Accra in Ghana. The data was then analysed using descriptive statistics, logistic regression, multiple linear regression, and structural equation modeling. Results: From the study findings, 37% of male participants rated their knowledge of testicular self-examination and related symptoms as good, 28% of participants practised testicular self-examination monthly, while 65% of respondents expressed their intention to practice monthly testicular self-examination. The findings from logistic regression demonstrated that level of education, age, and marital status of participants had a significant influence on testicular self-examination. Additionally, the multiple linear regression results revealed knowledge and self-efficacy significantly predict testicular self-examination intention. The path coefficient results from the structural equation model are consistent with results from the regression models. Conclusion: This research is the first to investigate testicular self-examination among men in Ghana. The findings revealed awareness and practice of TSE are low among participants. Therefore, the research findings would improve the expertise of physicians and nurses in providing counsel, intervention, and support for patients at risk of testicular cancer.

Breast Self-Examination (BSE): Association between “Belief in BSE” and “Awareness of BSE” among University Female Students in Uganda

Background: Regular breast self-examination (BSE) has been known to effectively detect breast cancer occurrence early. Are Women who consider BSE effective in detecting breast cancer more likely to be aware of BSE, or vice versa? The present study was an attempt to answer this question. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed for 259 female University students in Kampala, Uganda. Data were analyzed using SPSS. Univariate and bivariate analyses were carried out. Results: The majority (64.1%) were aware of the BSE technique. Women considering BSE to be effective for early cancer detection were significantly more likely to be aware of the BSE technique. Conclusions: University students who believed in the benefits of BSE were more likely to be aware of BSE than those who did not. More emphasis should be placed on health education for women of younger ages to increase the knowledge of the practice of BSE.

Awareness, self-management behaviors, health literacy and kidney function relationships in specialty practice

AIM To determine the relationship between chronic kidney disease(CKD) awareness(CKD-A), self-management behaviors(CKD-SMB) knowledge, performance of CKDSMBs, health literacy(HL) and kidney function. METHODS Participants were eligible patients attending an outpatient nephrology clinic. Participants were administered: Newest Vital Sign to measure HL, CKD self-managementknowledge tool(CKD-SMKT) to assess knowledge, past performance of CKD-SMB, CKD-A. Estimated GFR(e GFR) was determined using the MDRD-4 equation. Duration of clinic participation and CKD cause were extracted from medical charts. RESULTS One-hundred-fifty patients participated in the study. e GFRs ranged from 17-152 m L/min per 1.73 m2. Majority(83%) of respondents had stage 3 or 4 CKD, low HL(63%), and were CKD aware(88%). Approximately 40%(10/25) of patients in stages 1 and 2 and 6.4%(8/125) in stages 3 and 4 were unaware of their CKD. CKD-A differed with stage(P < 0.001) but not by HL level, duration of clinic participation, or CKD cause. Majority of respondents(≥ 90%) correctly answered one or more CKD-SMKT items. Knowledge of one behavior, "controlling blood pressure" differed significantly by CKD-A. CKD-A was associated with past performance of two CKD-SMBs, "controlling blood pressure"(P = 0.02), and "keeping healthy body weight"(P = 0.01). Adjusted multivariate analyses between CKD-A and:(1) HL; and(2) CKD-SMB knowledge were nonsignificant. However, there was a significant relationship between CKD-A and kidney function after controlling for demographics, HL, and CKD-SMB(P < 0.05). CONCLUSION CKD-A is not associated with HL, or better CKD-SMBs. CKD-A is significantly associated with kidney function and substantially lower e GFR, suggesting the need for focused patient education in CKD stages 1.

Self-Adaptive QoS Control in Cognitive Networks That Is Based on Service Awareness

This paper analyzes a self-adaptive Quality of Service （QoS） control architecture for cognitive networks （CNs） that is based on intelligent service awareness. In this architecture, packets can be identified and classified using an intelligent service-aware classification model. Drawing on Control Theory, network traffic can be controlled with a self-adaptive QoS control mechanism that has side-road collaboration. In this architecture, perception, analysis, correlation, feedback, decision making, allocation, and implementation QoS mechanisms are created automatically. These mechanisms can adjust resource allocation, adapt to a changeable network environment, optimize end-to-end performance of the network, and ensure QoS.

Awareness and Practice of Proper Health Seeking Behaviour and Determinant of Self-Medication among Physicians and Nurses in a Tertiary Hospital in Southwest Nigeria

Background: There is generally a lack of good health-seeking practices among health professionals due to a variety of factors, including the intensity of the medical practice itself. Doctors and nurses are perceived to have a good knowledge of ideal health-seeking behaviors and as such, it is important to determine the level of their awareness and estimate whether this knowledge is put into practice. This study, therefore, aimed to determine the level of awareness and practices of proper health-seeking behavior and to identify the factors responsible for self-medication among doctors and nurses in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria. Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted between April and may 2018 among 106 doctors and 164 nurses in a tertiary health facility in Ido-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Southwestern Nigeria. A simple random sampling technique by balloting was performed from the list of doctors and nurses in the hospital to select doctors and nurses that participated in the study. A pretested semi-structured self-administered questionnaire was designed and used to collect data. The data were entered into the computer software and analyzed using SPSS version 20. P ≤ 0.05 was taken as significant. Result: Out of 106 doctors and 164 nurses recruited, only 102 doctors and 143 nurses filled the questionnaire completely and returned for analysis. One hundred and four respondents (42.4%) fall within the ages of 31 - 40 years with a male to female ratio of 1:1.23. Awareness of proper health seeking behavior among both doctors and nurses was high among the two groups with no statistically significant difference between them. Twenty-nine (28.0%) doctors compared with thirty-four (23.8%) nurses go for a regular medical check-up with no statistically significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.411). Out of these, 5 (17.2%) doctors and 7 (23.8%) nurses visit at an interval of less than 6 month (p = 0.736). There is a statistically significant difference in the number of doctors (60.8%) compared with nurses (41.3%) that have consulted a doctor in the last one year (p = 0.003). More than half (51.6%) of this consultation among doctors was over the phone whereas 64.4% of such among nurses were via clinic appointment (p = 0.008). More doctors (90.2%) comply with their treatment prescription from physicians compared with nurses (77.6%) (p = 0.010). More nurses compared with doctors self-medicate when ill [Doctor 61.8% (63), Nurses 78.3% (112)] (p = 0.005) and had also self-medicated in the last one year [Doctor 34.3% (35), Nurses 42.7% (61)] (p = 0.187). Decreasing age, decreasing years of experience, increasing working hours, lack of health insurance, fear of confidentiality and lack of satisfaction with health services are factors that significantly increased the likelihood of self-medication among doctors and nurses within the last one year. Conclusion: Awareness of proper health seeking behavior was high but this did not translate into proper health-seeking practices among doctors and nurses. There is apathy for regular medical check-up and self-medication was also high among this group of health workers. Decreasing age and years of experience, increasing working hours, lack of health insurance, fear of confidentiality and lack of satisfaction with health services were factors were identified to significantly increase the likelihood of self-medication.

Features of Self-Awareness in Patients with Schizophrenia

This paper discusses in detail the concept of “self-awareness” and its main components, and describes the features of self-consciousness and the course of the disease in people with schizophrenia. The specific features inherent in the self-awareness of people who have schizophrenia are revealed. The paper presents the experience of modern researchers who studied the features of self-awareness of patients with schizophrenia by analyzing documentary sources, analyzing the major psychometric scales of the subjects, studying their ideas about their psychological well-being and their own psychological space, and analyzing the self-descriptions of patients.

村落共同体的传承及其文化转型--基于冀中平原一医神庙宇形态变迁的田野考察

在城市化、现代化进程逐步加速的背景下,当前中国乡村社会出现重大变局,乡村文化同时面临着挑战与机遇。促进乡村文化的发展与转型是乡村振兴战略的题中要义。冀中平原师素村的个案展示了一个对所持文化传统有强烈觉知意识的村落共同体,积极进行文化传承及转型以凝聚共同力量谋求自身发展的实践历程。通过分析发现,村落共同体实践乡村文化传承与转型的内在影响要素主要有三个方面:村落共同体的文化自觉是践行乡村文化传承与转型的前提;乡村文化是否契合村落共同体的生存发展需求,是乡村文化传承与转型的关键;乡村精英引领下的村落共同体是乡村文化传承与转型实践的主体。基于此,充分发挥村落共同体在乡村传承与转型中的主体性作用是促进乡村文化良性发展的重要突破口,有利于推动实现乡村振兴战略。

Determinants of Sexual Awareness among High School Students in Tokyo, Japan―Post-Interventional Comparison Analysis in Relation to Social Capital

Purpose: This study was to clarify the association of sexual awareness of high school students with cognitive social capital (SC) in Tokyo, Japan. Method: In September 2017, we conducted a survey of 1073 third-grade high school students who were the same students who had participated in the same questionnaire survey at the prior academic year when they were second-grade students. A total of 1073 students were surveyed and 956 students responded. From six to eight weeks prior to this September 2017 survey, we implemented an educational intervention in the students. Then we compared the results of this survey with the previous survey of February 2017. We used logistic regression to assess sexual awareness and sex knowledge, sexually experienced surrounding peers and Self-Esteem score. The study was approved by the Ethical Review Board. Result/Discussion: Sexual awareness of high school students was significantly associated with SC both before and after the intervention. The higher SC one had, the higher sexual awareness was shown and the greater the sexual caution among both boys and girls was indicated. The study clarified the Determinants of Sexual Awareness of High School Students in Tokyo before and after the educational intervention. Conclusion: SC was found to be significantly associated with sexual awareness. SC should be emphasized in promoting adolescent reproductive health for the future.

On Female Awareness through the Analysis of Jane Eyre's Character

In Jane Eyre,the author described a heroine Jane Eyre who showed her rebelliousness to the indifferent and unequal society in that time and revealed the tragedy life of common people under the Capitalism especially of the women and children.Meanwhile,this work also provided such an important subject that the women should enjoy the equal position both in family and social life.Therefore Jane Eyre became the typical figure with female awareness.

Parameter Self - Learning of Generalized Predictive Control Using BP Neural Network

This paper describes the self—adjustment of some tuning-knobs of the generalized predictive controller(GPC).A three feedforward neural network was utilized to on line learn two key tuning-knobs of GPC,and BP algorithm was used for the training of the linking-weights of the neural network.Hence it gets rid of the difficulty of choosing these tuning-knobs manually and provides easier condition for the wide applications of GPC on industrial plants.Simulation results illustrated the effectiveness of the method.

Self - Crosslinking Behavior of Self - Emulsion Water - Based Polyure-thane Coating Agents

The relation between structures and properties of polyurethane are investigated by modern physical and chemical methods.The results obtained are as follows:the effects of the content of self-crosslinking agent on the properties of polyurethane,i.e.,dispersion stability,dynamical viscoelasticity and mechanical properties are discussed.It is found that the optimum molar ratio of epichlorohydrin and diethylenetriamine is 1:2.A mois-

Culture Self- Consciousness in Transmission of Chinese Philosophy from the Perspective of English Globalization -- Taking the Belt and Road Initiative for Example

The Belt and Road Initiative contains the aspiration of Chinese nation to pursue ideological freedom and desire of strengthening international exchanges and cooperation. This paper takes the Belt and Road Initiative for example,emphasizing the interpretation of the inheritance and development of Chinese culture so as to study the importance of Culture Self-Consciousness in Chinese Philosophy,in the context of English globalization. That is to say,this paper stresses the spirits and the stand of nation 's demonstration on pursuing peace,cooperation and sustainable development in the civilization continuity from traditional China to the contemporary China,with practical philosophic view.

Knowledge and Awareness of Breast Cancer among Young Women in the United Arab Emirates

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among females in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It carries poor prognosis when detected late. Patients usually present at late stages due to lack of awareness of various aspects of breast cancer. Aim: The objective of this study is to gain insight into the level of knowledge of breast cancer among young adult females in UAE. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among females aged 25 to 45. A total of 492 females were selected using a convenience sampling method. Data were collected through an interview-based questionnaire. Frequency distributions and percentages were used to describe the knowledge tested within the questionnaire. Results: The mean age of the participants was 33.5 years. Almost 27% of our participants received a high school degree. The average total knowledge of our population was 51%. The majority (89%) knew that breast cancer is common and 45% knew that it affects ages above forty. The knowledge of signs and symptoms was 53%, and more than half (57%) knew that the most common presenting sign is a breast lump. The knowledge of risk factors was 43%. Almost 94% knew that cancer can be detected early, and 93% knew that early diagnosis improves outcome. The total knowledge of screening methods was 67%. Conclusion: The study revealed that respondents’ knowledge of breast cancer is less than expected. The increased burden of the disease should be accompanied by powerful means of spreading awareness by implementing campaigns that would improve knowledge deficits.

The Cross Sectional Study on the Association between Sexual Awareness and Cognitive Social Capital among High School Students in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Purpose: We aimed to reveal the association between cognitive social capital and sexual awareness among high school students in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, where adolescent premarital sex is considered to be wide-spreading as consequence of socioeconomic changes, in comparison to our previous study in Hanoi, 2012. Methods: We conducted a questionnaire-based survey and a cross sectional study in late 2014, with 2051 eleventh graders at three high schools in Ho Chi Minh City. Complete data was received from 1935 respondents (94.3%). We assessed basic attributes, sexual knowledge, sexual awareness, sexual experience of peers, cognitive social capital such as a sense of community belonging, and Rosenberg Self-Esteem score. After the independent t-test and multiple logistic regression analyses on sexual awareness were performed assigning trivalent Rosenberg Self-Esteem score, sexual knowledge, and sexual experience of peers as independent variables (model 1), followed by analysis adjusted for cognitive social capital (model 2). This study was approved by Japanese Red Cross Akita College of Nursing (No. 24-003). Results: Of 1935 respondents, 99.9% were 16 or 17 years old and mostly from nuclear families (71.1%). Of all participants, 45.8% in males and 49.4% in females correctly answered on sexual knowledge, 47.6% of males and 28.3% of females accepted premarital sex, 60.0% of male and 65.0% of females knew peers with sexual intercourse experience, and 78.1% of males and 79.1% of females agreed with a sense of community belonging. When multiple logistic regression analyses performed, in model 1, sexual awareness was significantly associated with Rosenberg Self-Esteem score in female. In model 2, above association disappeared but significant association was found between sexual awareness and cognitive social capital in both sexes OR (95% CI), male 1.39 (1.05 - 1.84), female 1.99 (1.49 - 2.65). Discussion: The conservative traditional culture in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City seems to be similar to the concept of cognitive social capital and it is considered to have influenced sexual awareness of high school students in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Conclusion: Cognitive social capital is significantly associated with sexual awareness among high school students in urban areas of Vietnam.

Determinants of Sexual Awareness among High School Students in Tokyo, Japan—Cross Sectional Analysis in Relation to Social Capital

Purpose: The study aimed to clarify the relationship between cognitive social capital and sexual awareness in high school students in Tokyo, Japan. Method: The self-administered questionnaire survey was administered to 1073 high school junior students in Tokyo in Feb. 2017 (collection rate 94.5%). Final analysis subjects totaled 1011 boys and girls (94.2%). True/false questions on timing to wear condom for sex knowledge, acceptability to sexual behavior of high school students for sexual awareness, sense of community belonging for social capital, existence of sexually experienced peers, and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale score (binarized with the mean value) were verified. Multiple logistic regression analysis assigning sexual awareness for dependent variable and sex knowledge, sexually experienced peers and Self-Esteem score for independent variable [model 1], including social capital for independent variable [model 2] was performed. The study was approved by Ethical Review Board of sub-organ. Results and Discussion: Out of subjects, 52.6% answered correctly questions on sex knowledge, 33.2% showed tolerance to sexual behavior of high school students, 68.6% had many peers with sex experience, and 75.9% had a sense of community belonging. In model 1, in both genders, having sex knowledge, high Self-Esteem score, and existence of sexually experienced peers was associated with a sense of intolerance to sexual behavior of high school students. In model 2, in both genders, having a sense of community belonging was associated with a sense of intolerance to sexual behavior of high school students [OR (95% CI): boy 1.11 (0.81 - 1.53), girl 1.14 (0.72 - 1.79)]. Persons with high cognitive social capital were likely to have a cautious sense toward sexual behavior. Conclusion: Cognitive social capital was found to be associated with sexual awareness. Cognitive social capital should be emphasized in promoting adolescent reproductive health for the future.

Higher Order Self-Induced Self-Interacting Field

The genesis of physical particles is essentially a mystery. Quantum field theory creation operators provide an abstract mechanism by which particles come into existence, but quantum fields do not possess energy density. I reference several recent treatments of this problem and develop ideas based on self-stabilizing field structures with focus on higher order self-induced self-stabilizing field structures. I extend this treatment in this paper to related issues of topological charge.

“综合刊”的独特性质及其高质量发展的目标与关键

综合性中文社科学术期刊,是一种具有鲜明中国特色的期刊类型,不仅在历史上渊源有自,而且在以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业,甚至在影响人类社会未来前进方向上具有举足轻重的地位。从精神气质上说,综合性中文社科学术期刊具有紧跟时代步伐,贯通人文和社科领域,整体性地研究经济社会发展和国家现代化建设进程的学术抱负。“综合刊”之为“综合刊”的“综合性”,不仅与马克思主义理论和中华传统文化重视整体性、系统性的思维特质相契合,而且与中华民族伟大复兴和社会主义现代化国家建设当前阶段特别重视全局性、战略性问题的内在要求相适应,这些基本性质决定了综合性中文社科学术期刊在中国特色哲学社会科学构建和当代中国学术评价体系重塑过程中具有无可替代的独特作用。综合性中文社科学术期刊应当立足于自身独特定位倡导一种思想性、学术性、时代性和典范性并重的“综合刊”文体,并以此为枢纽推动中国特色哲学社会科学的整体性创新、培养和扶持与综合刊历史地位相匹配的核心作者群,以及通过集中呈现当代中国学术“拎得起来”和“看得见”的标志性成果来推动中外学术交流。综合性中文社科学术期刊高质量发展基本目标的实现,关键在于能否立足于自身独特定位自觉参与当代中国学术评价体系的革命性重塑,建立“综合刊”之间更自觉的联盟与协作,在期刊之间和编者作者之间建立“亲清”刊刊和刊学关系,在恰当认识与正确把握期刊发展数字化及国际化趋势的基础上坚守“内容为王”和“中文为本”。

照片艺术治疗在高职大学生自我意识完善与发展中的应用研究

目的:以高职大学生为对象,以照片艺术治疗活动为介质,探讨其对促进高职大学生自我意识完善与发展的影响。方法:实验时间分为两个阶段,分别是:2022年3月至6月和2023年3月至6月,通过发布招募信息,学生主动报名,采取随机分组的方式分为实验组(20人)和控制组(20人)。主要观察指标为:自我接纳问卷、自尊量表、自我调控能力问卷、自我认同量表、田纳西自我概念量表。实验组接受8次照片艺术治疗团体心理辅导;控制组不接受任何实验处理。结果:实验组成员经过照片艺术治疗团体心理辅导后其自我意识发生了显著的提升(p<0.05),相较于控制组也呈现出显著性差异(p<0.05)。此外,四周后的追踪结果显示照片艺术治疗团体辅导对学生自我意识的完善与发展方面仍具有持续作用(p<0.05),但这取决于学生通过团体辅导对照片治疗的理念和方法内化于心、外化于行的效果。结论:照片艺术治疗是促进高职大学生自我意识完善与发展的有效途径。

情感生产与传播:高校思政课教学情感互动机理

道德自我意识、情感公共性特征、情感互动性流等共同构成“反射式环绕”思政课教学情感互动结构。思政课教学中的师生共同塑造着教学情感的进程,表现为“交换-回报”“交互-承诺”“交往-依赖”的递进式节奏,思政课教学相关部门应通过营造思政课情感教学文化,提升师生“默会”认知能力;创建思政课情感体验空间,增加师生情感能量储备;运用思政课教学情感仪式,构建师生教学情感秩序等策略提升思政课教学情感互动效果,进而实现思政课教学高质量发展。