Perception and Attitude of the General Population on the Risk of Infection with SARS-CoV-2

Current state of knowledge on the impact of emotions and perceptions of the population towards the risk of infection with the SARS-CoV-2 should be the basis for disease control measures as well as for community awareness programs. Due to differences in perceptions, concerns, culture, beliefs, different populations may react differently to the same challenges. Ninety adults were interviewed, without symptoms suggestive of SARS-CoV-2 infection, using the Romanian version of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale. The emotional reactions expressed by various psychotic or mental disorders, the main actions are taken to protect against the SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as the hypothetical illness behavior were investigated. The total score, as well as each item of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, indicates a low-to-moderate emotional level regarding to the risk of coronavirus infection. The data are supported by the choice to be treated at home in case of illness. There are differences in perception between sexes and between professional categories (employees vs. retirees). Knowledge of social phenomena caused by major epidemiological crises such as SARS-CoV-2 infection should be the basis of education, disease prevention and control programs to avoid the occurrence of psychosocial risks in the population.

The fossil record of Antarctic land mammals:commented review and hypotheses for future research

The fossil record of terrestrial mammals in Antarctica is temporally and geographically constrained to the Eocene outcrops of La Meseta and Submeseta formations in Seymour(Marambio)Island in West Antarctica.The faunal assemblage indicates a clear South American imprint since all the groups have a close phylogenetic relationship with Cretaceous and Paleogene mammals from Patagonia.Despite the presence of several mammalian taxonomic groups:Dryolestida,Gondwanatheria,Eutheria and Metatheria,the presence of other major mammalian taxa should be expected and will probably be confirmed by new findings.Placental mammals with an inferred body mass between 10 to 400 kg in size,are represented by xenarthrans,and two groups of the so called South American native ungulates:Astrapotheria and Litopterna.The Metatheria are the smaller(less than 1 kg)and most abundant components of the fauna.Marsupials are represented by derorhynchid ameridelphians,several microbiotherian australidelphians(both microbiotheriids and woodburnodontids),and?glasbiid prepidolopod and polydolopid polydolopimorphians.Plus,there are remains of several mammalian teeth of indeterminate phylogenetic affinities.The present knowledge of the Southern Hemisphere mammalian evolution and paleogeographic change through time,indicates that Antarctica played a major role for land mammals,at least since the Jurassic.The actual representation of Paleogene terrestrial mammals in Antarctica is most probably biased,as all the evidence indicates that australosphenidan mammals should be present in this continent since the Jurassic.

The COVID-19 Pandemic’s Consequences on Medical Students’ Sleep Patterns and Technology Addiction

Introduction: Sleep disorders are an important public health problem. In the case of young people, and especially students, due to both academic demands and social life, many situations can lead to sleep disturbances. Aim: To evaluate the quality of sleep in medical students and its relationships with technology addiction. Background: Current research indicates that the technology usage by the university students determined an impaired sleep quality and a shortened sleep duration. Method: One hundred eleven second-year students attending medical education were included in the study. Its dependent variable was low sleep quality and independent variables were behavioral factors, smartphone addiction, computer usage, watching TV and other questioned features. A sleep questionnaire to assess the sleep quality in medical students was provided to medical students. This study was conducted in the University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi, Romania. Results: The majority of medical students had shorter, irregular sleep duration and consumed energizing and stimulating drinks. Conclusions: In COVID-19 pandemic, the students’ tech addiction associated with the behavioral factors was found as risk factors for poor sleep quality.

The Impact of Sleep Patterns on Academic Performance and Social Integration among Medical Students

Introduction: The impact of sleep on student life is crucial, particularly for those in demanding fields such as medicine. This study examines the relationships between sleep patterns, academic performance, and social integration among medical students, who often face irregular sleep cycles and sleep deprivation due to rigorous academic demands. Aim: This study aims to assess how sleep issues affect academic achievement and social relationships among medical students. Method: Data were collected from 215 medical students through surveys and academic records. Quantitative data provided insights into sleep quality and academic performance, while qualitative interviews explored the effects of sleep on social interactions. Results: The findings revealed a significant correlation between sleep quality and academic performance, with students reporting better sleep hygiene achieving higher grades. Qualitative data indicated that poor sleep negatively impacts social interactions, leading to feelings of isolation and reduced social participation. Conclusions: The study highlights the importance of promoting good sleep practices in medical schools to enhance academic success and social well-being. Interventions aimed at improving sleep quality may help reduce burnout and improve overall well-being among medical students. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies to better understand the long-term effects of sleep on academic and social outcomes in this population.

Sexual signal conspicuity is correlated with tail autotomy in an anoline lizard

Sexual selection favors conspicuous signals that animals can use to communicate with conspecifics and/or to attract mates.However,natural and sexual selection are often in opposition,as conspicuous sexual signals can also be detected by eavesdropping predators,forcing these signals to also evolve in light of natural selection(Andersson 1994).

WWW Business Applications Based on the Cellular Model

A cellular model based on the Incrementally Modular Abstraction Hierarchy （IMAH） is a novel model that can represent the architecture of and changes in cyberworlds, preserving invariants from a general level to a specific one. We have developed a data processing system called the Cellular Data System （CDS）. In the development of business applications, you can prevent combinatorial explosion in the process of business design and testing by using CDS. In this paper, we have first designed and implemented wide-use algebra on the presentation level. Next, we have developed and verified the effectiveness of two general business applications using CDS： 1） a customer information management system, and 2） an estimate system.