We propose utilizing match-level suspense and surprise - which capture the entertainment utility created by competitive balance and outcome uncertainty for sports spectators - as alternative policy targets for league organizers and managers. Through simulations, we derive a benchmark range for suspense and surprise based on a perfectly balanced match before analyzing over 25,000 men's matches (2010/11-2023/24) and 725 women's matches (2023/24) from Europe's top football leagues. Our findings reveal that an average match generates lower suspense compared to the benchmark range, particularly for top teams, while surprise values consistently align with the benchmark. Moreover, we observe nuanced trends over time in men's football and highlight notable differences across leagues and clubs in both men's and women's competitions. These insights enhance our understanding of how the attractiveness of matches arises from competitive balance and carry important policy implications.
Egshiglen Batbayar, Christoph Breunig, Peter Haan
et al.
We propose a new approach to estimate selection-corrected quantiles of the gender wage gap. Our method employs instrumental variables that explain variation in the latent variable but, conditional on the latent process, do not directly affect selection. We provide semiparametric identification of the quantile parameters without imposing parametric restrictions on the selection probability, derive the asymptotic distribution of the proposed estimator based on constrained selection probability weighting, and demonstrate how the approach applies to the Roy model of labor supply. Using German administrative data, we analyze the distribution of the gender gap in full-time earnings. We find pronounced positive selection among women at the lower end, especially those with less education, which widens the gender gap in this segment, and strong positive selection among highly educated men at the top, which narrows the gender wage gap at upper quantiles.
Mobarak Abumohsen, Enrique Costa-Montenegro, Silvia García-Méndez
et al.
Lung cancer (LC) ranks among the most frequently diagnosed cancers and is one of the most common causes of death for men and women worldwide. Computed Tomography (CT) images are the most preferred diagnosis method because of their low cost and their faster processing times. Many researchers have proposed various ways of identifying lung cancer using CT images. However, such techniques suffer from significant false positives, leading to low accuracy. The fundamental reason results from employing a small and imbalanced dataset. This paper introduces an innovative approach for LC detection and classification from CT images based on the DenseNet201 model. Our approach comprises several advanced methods such as Focal Loss, data augmentation, and regularization to overcome the imbalanced data issue and overfitting challenge. The findings show the appropriateness of the proposal, attaining a promising performance of 98.95% accuracy.
Kao Tanang Salaka, Anne Thomas, Abdoukarim Naba Mouchedou
et al.
Abstract Background In Togo, community health workers (CHWs) provide primary healthcare to people living more than 5 km from a health centre or who are geographically difficult to reach. This study presents the geographical coverage of CHWs, as well as their socio-demographic characteristics and, more specifically, the dominant profiles that make them up, in order to inform decision-makers and help them define priorities for managing this workforce. Methods Data were provided by the Community Health and Elderly Division of the Togolese Ministry of Health. The coverage of government CHWs in Togo was described by region and district using the number of CHWs, the area of regions and districts, and the number of CHWs per 10,000 inhabitants. The variables “sex”, “main occupation” and “secondary income-generating activity” were used to determine the dominant socio-demographic profiles of CHWs. The results were presented overall and by health region. Results The results show major disparities in CHW coverage between regions, but also between districts. Regional coverage varies from 1.0 to 15.5 CHWs per 10,000 inhabitants. CHWs are mainly men (81%) with a median age of 41. The most common profile of CHWs in Togo and in all regions is that of men working in farming, except in the Grand Lomé region where the dominant profile is that of female retailers. Furthermore, 3.3% of CHWs are housewives with no secondary income-generating activity. Conclusions This study contributes to a better understanding of the geographical coverage and socio-demographic characteristics of government CHWs in Togo. Optimising the size and coverage of CHWs to ensure people’s access to primary healthcare would merit further investigation, as would the issues of gender equity, remuneration and the working hours of CHWs.
<p dir="ltr">Introduction:</p><p dir="ltr">Men who have sex with men (MSM) in Vietnam remain a key population disproportionately affected by HIV and emerging infections such as mpox. Despite the availability of prevention tools such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and digital health technologies, uptake remains low due to complex psychosocial and structural barriers. In this context, understanding behavioral, informational, and systemic factors influencing prevention readiness is essential to strengthen Vietnam's public health response.</p><p dir="ltr">Aim:</p><p dir="ltr">This thesis aims to explore knowledge, perceptions, and access to HIV and mpox prevention among MSM in Vietnam. Using a multi-method approach, the research investigates the role of eHealth, behavioral predictors, stigma, and healthcare trust in shaping uptake and engagement with prevention strategies such as PrEP and vaccination.</p><p dir="ltr">Methods:</p><p dir="ltr">This thesis employed a multi-method research design, integrating systematic review, qualitative inquiry, and quantitative surveys to generate a comprehensive understanding of HIV and mpox prevention dynamics among MSM in Vietnam. Study I was a systematic review conducted following PRISMA guidelines, incorporating 54 eHealth interventions targeting HIV/STI prevention among MSM globally. These interventions were assessed using the ICROMS quality appraisal tool, with thematic synthesis used to analyze behavioral, psychosocial, and technological outcomes. Particular attention was paid to the duration, mode of delivery, and sustainability of behavior change effects.</p><p dir="ltr">Studies II and III utilized qualitative focus group discussions (FGDs) in Hanoi, Vietnam. Study II explored eHealth preferences with 35 MSM across five stratified FGDs, while Study III examined PrEP acceptability, perceived barriers, and service design preferences among 30 HIV-negative or status-unknown MSM. The FGDs were transcribed, translated, and analyzed using directed content analysis to identify themes related to digital engagement, privacy, stigma, and trust. Studies IV and V were nationwide online cross-sectional surveys conducted between August and November 2022. Study IV involved 1,422 MSM and focused on awareness, access, and willingness to use PrEP. Study V involved 1,549 MSM and assessed mpox-related knowledge, misconceptions, and vaccine willingness. Participants were recruited using a snowball sampling strategy via trusted MSM community leaders. Surveys were administered anonymously using structured online questionnaires covering sociodemographic, behavioral, and psychosocial domains. Multivariable logistic and Tobit regression models were applied to identify predictors of prevention behavior and knowledge.</p><p dir="ltr">Findings:</p><p dir="ltr">The systematic review (Study I) synthesized 54 eHealth interventions for HIV/STI prevention among MSM globally. Most were randomized controlled trials conducted in high-income countries, predominantly web-based, and aimed at reducing sexual risk behaviors and increasing HIV/STI testing. About two-thirds employed behavioral theories, but methodological quality varied. The review highlighted that sustained behavior change remains a challenge, with limited long- term follow-up and a lack of booster interventions. Interventions integrating interactivity, personalization, and multi-platform access were associated with higher engagement and effectiveness.</p><p dir="ltr">Qualitative studies (Study II and III) conducted in Hanoi provided contextual depth on MSM's preferences for digital tools and perceptions of PrEP. MSM preferred smartphone-based, interactive, and discreet eHealth platforms, favoring private channels such as Facebook groups or encrypted chat over SMS, which was viewed as spam-like or privacy-threatening. Participants emphasized trust in content source, short and engaging formats, and integration with real-time services such as booking and counseling. Regarding PrEP, while participants acknowledged its value in reducing HIV risk and enhancing sexual agency, concerns about daily adherence, side effects, stigma, and cost were common. PrEP was seen as a complement-not a replacement-for condoms, and participants favored accessing PrEP through MSM-friendly CBOs or trusted clinics.</p><p dir="ltr">Survey findings (Study IV and V) reinforced and extended these insights. Among 1,422 MSM across 62 provinces (Study IV), 56.1% were aware of PrEP, and 67.2% expressed willingness to use it. Willingness was higher among younger, better- educated MSM, those with higher income, and those open about their sexual orientation. However, recent experiences of sexual violence and stigma significantly reduced willingness, indicating psychological and structural barriers. Notably, inconsistent condom users and those engaging in group sex were more likely to express PrEP interest-suggesting risk-awareness as a motivating factor. In the context of emerging infections, Study V surveyed 1,549 MSM and found low mpox awareness despite high vaccine willingness (72.4%). Misconceptions about transmission were widespread, and only one in four participants knew where to get tested for mpox. Higher awareness was associated with youth, education, risk behaviors, and social support. Predictors of vaccine acceptance included general mpox knowledge, perceived necessity of vaccination, group sex engagement, and perceived HIV risk. These results emphasize the need for integrated communication strategies that align sexual health education with outbreak preparedness, particularly using trusted digital and peer-based channels.</p><p dir="ltr">Together, the five studies revealed that while prevention interest among MSM in Vietnam is high-especially for PrEP and mpox vaccination-significant gaps in digital engagement, structural access, and trust must be addressed to translate willingness into action.</p><p dir="ltr">Conclusion:</p><p dir="ltr">This thesis provides an integrated understanding of HIV and emerging infectious disease prevention among MSM in Vietnam, drawing on findings from a systematic review, two qualitative studies, and two national surveys. Together, the studies highlight the readiness of MSM to engage with digital and biomedical prevention tools-such as eHealth platforms, PrEP, and vaccines-while also revealing substantial barriers related to stigma, disclosure, service trust, and knowledge gaps. The systematic review affirmed the short-term effectiveness of eHealth interventions when grounded in behavioral theory, but also pointed to limitations in long-term impact and sustainability. Qualitative findings showed that MSM valued credible, interactive, and private online interventions, yet remained concerned about information overload and inadvertent disclosure. Surveys confirmed a high willingness to use PrEP and accept mpox vaccination but revealed low awareness and structural obstacles to access. Psychosocial factors such as stigma, mental health distress, and sexual violence were consistently associated with lower prevention engagement. To close the gap between willingness and action, future health programs must prioritize integrated, stigma- free, and community-centered service models. This thesis offers key recommendations for designing inclusive digital and biomedical interventions, improving policy, and ensuring that MSM in Vietnam are equitably reached by national HIV and infectious disease prevention strategies.</p><h3>List of scientific papers</h3><p dir="ltr">I. A systematic review of eHealth interventions addressing HIV/STI prevention among men who have sex with men. <b>Long Hoang Nguyen</b>, Bach Xuan Tran, Luis EC Rocha, Huong Lan Thi Nguyen, Cui Yang, Carl A Latkin, Anna Thorson, Susanne Strömdahl. AIDS and behavior, 23(9), 2253-2272. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-019-02626-1" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-019-02626-1</a></p><p dir="ltr">II. An exploratory assessment of the preference for eHealth interventions to prevent HIV and sexually transmitted infections among men who have sex with men in Hanoi, Vietnam. <b>Long Hoang</b> <b>Nguyen, </b>Huong Lan Thi Nguyen, Mattias Larsson, Bach Xuan Tran, Mart L. Stein, Luis EC Rocha, Susanne Strömdahl. BMC public health, 20(1), 1387. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09449-z" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09449-z</a></p><p dir="ltr">III. A qualitative assessment in acceptability and barriers to use pre- exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among men who have sex with men: implications for service delivery in Vietnam. <b>Long Hoang</b> <b>Nguyen, </b>Huong Lan Thi Nguyen, Bach Xuan Tran, Mattias Larsson, Luis EC Rocha, Anna Thorson, Susanne Strömdahl. BMC infectious diseases, 21(1), 472. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-021-06178-5" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-021-06178-5</a></p><p dir="ltr">IV. Empowering Wellness: Exploring PrEP Access, Utilization, and Willingness among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Vietnam. <b>Long Hoang</b> <b>Nguyen, </b>Huong Lan Thi Nguyen, Tham Thi Nguyen, Mattias Larsson, Luis E. C. Rocha, Anna Thorson, and Susanne Strömdahl. [Manuscript]</p><p dir="ltr">V. Exploring Awareness of the Disease, Attitude, and Acceptance Towards Vaccine against Monkeypox among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Vietnam. <b>Long Hoang</b> <b>Nguyen, </b>Huong Lan Thi Nguyen, Mattias Larsson, Luis E. C. Rocha, Anna Thorson, Susanne Strömdahl. [Manuscript]</p>
<p dir="ltr">Introduction:</p><p dir="ltr">Men who have sex with men (MSM) in Vietnam remain a key population disproportionately affected by HIV and emerging infections such as mpox. Despite the availability of prevention tools such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and digital health technologies, uptake remains low due to complex psychosocial and structural barriers. In this context, understanding behavioral, informational, and systemic factors influencing prevention readiness is essential to strengthen Vietnam's public health response.</p><p dir="ltr">Aim:</p><p dir="ltr">This thesis aims to explore knowledge, perceptions, and access to HIV and mpox prevention among MSM in Vietnam. Using a multi-method approach, the research investigates the role of eHealth, behavioral predictors, stigma, and healthcare trust in shaping uptake and engagement with prevention strategies such as PrEP and vaccination.</p><p dir="ltr">Methods:</p><p dir="ltr">This thesis employed a multi-method research design, integrating systematic review, qualitative inquiry, and quantitative surveys to generate a comprehensive understanding of HIV and mpox prevention dynamics among MSM in Vietnam. Study I was a systematic review conducted following PRISMA guidelines, incorporating 54 eHealth interventions targeting HIV/STI prevention among MSM globally. These interventions were assessed using the ICROMS quality appraisal tool, with thematic synthesis used to analyze behavioral, psychosocial, and technological outcomes. Particular attention was paid to the duration, mode of delivery, and sustainability of behavior change effects.</p><p dir="ltr">Studies II and III utilized qualitative focus group discussions (FGDs) in Hanoi, Vietnam. Study II explored eHealth preferences with 35 MSM across five stratified FGDs, while Study III examined PrEP acceptability, perceived barriers, and service design preferences among 30 HIV-negative or status-unknown MSM. The FGDs were transcribed, translated, and analyzed using directed content analysis to identify themes related to digital engagement, privacy, stigma, and trust. Studies IV and V were nationwide online cross-sectional surveys conducted between August and November 2022. Study IV involved 1,422 MSM and focused on awareness, access, and willingness to use PrEP. Study V involved 1,549 MSM and assessed mpox-related knowledge, misconceptions, and vaccine willingness. Participants were recruited using a snowball sampling strategy via trusted MSM community leaders. Surveys were administered anonymously using structured online questionnaires covering sociodemographic, behavioral, and psychosocial domains. Multivariable logistic and Tobit regression models were applied to identify predictors of prevention behavior and knowledge.</p><p dir="ltr">Findings:</p><p dir="ltr">The systematic review (Study I) synthesized 54 eHealth interventions for HIV/STI prevention among MSM globally. Most were randomized controlled trials conducted in high-income countries, predominantly web-based, and aimed at reducing sexual risk behaviors and increasing HIV/STI testing. About two-thirds employed behavioral theories, but methodological quality varied. The review highlighted that sustained behavior change remains a challenge, with limited long- term follow-up and a lack of booster interventions. Interventions integrating interactivity, personalization, and multi-platform access were associated with higher engagement and effectiveness.</p><p dir="ltr">Qualitative studies (Study II and III) conducted in Hanoi provided contextual depth on MSM's preferences for digital tools and perceptions of PrEP. MSM preferred smartphone-based, interactive, and discreet eHealth platforms, favoring private channels such as Facebook groups or encrypted chat over SMS, which was viewed as spam-like or privacy-threatening. Participants emphasized trust in content source, short and engaging formats, and integration with real-time services such as booking and counseling. Regarding PrEP, while participants acknowledged its value in reducing HIV risk and enhancing sexual agency, concerns about daily adherence, side effects, stigma, and cost were common. PrEP was seen as a complement-not a replacement-for condoms, and participants favored accessing PrEP through MSM-friendly CBOs or trusted clinics.</p><p dir="ltr">Survey findings (Study IV and V) reinforced and extended these insights. Among 1,422 MSM across 62 provinces (Study IV), 56.1% were aware of PrEP, and 67.2% expressed willingness to use it. Willingness was higher among younger, better- educated MSM, those with higher income, and those open about their sexual orientation. However, recent experiences of sexual violence and stigma significantly reduced willingness, indicating psychological and structural barriers. Notably, inconsistent condom users and those engaging in group sex were more likely to express PrEP interest-suggesting risk-awareness as a motivating factor. In the context of emerging infections, Study V surveyed 1,549 MSM and found low mpox awareness despite high vaccine willingness (72.4%). Misconceptions about transmission were widespread, and only one in four participants knew where to get tested for mpox. Higher awareness was associated with youth, education, risk behaviors, and social support. Predictors of vaccine acceptance included general mpox knowledge, perceived necessity of vaccination, group sex engagement, and perceived HIV risk. These results emphasize the need for integrated communication strategies that align sexual health education with outbreak preparedness, particularly using trusted digital and peer-based channels.</p><p dir="ltr">Together, the five studies revealed that while prevention interest among MSM in Vietnam is high-especially for PrEP and mpox vaccination-significant gaps in digital engagement, structural access, and trust must be addressed to translate willingness into action.</p><p dir="ltr">Conclusion:</p><p dir="ltr">This thesis provides an integrated understanding of HIV and emerging infectious disease prevention among MSM in Vietnam, drawing on findings from a systematic review, two qualitative studies, and two national surveys. Together, the studies highlight the readiness of MSM to engage with digital and biomedical prevention tools-such as eHealth platforms, PrEP, and vaccines-while also revealing substantial barriers related to stigma, disclosure, service trust, and knowledge gaps. The systematic review affirmed the short-term effectiveness of eHealth interventions when grounded in behavioral theory, but also pointed to limitations in long-term impact and sustainability. Qualitative findings showed that MSM valued credible, interactive, and private online interventions, yet remained concerned about information overload and inadvertent disclosure. Surveys confirmed a high willingness to use PrEP and accept mpox vaccination but revealed low awareness and structural obstacles to access. Psychosocial factors such as stigma, mental health distress, and sexual violence were consistently associated with lower prevention engagement. To close the gap between willingness and action, future health programs must prioritize integrated, stigma- free, and community-centered service models. This thesis offers key recommendations for designing inclusive digital and biomedical interventions, improving policy, and ensuring that MSM in Vietnam are equitably reached by national HIV and infectious disease prevention strategies.</p><h3>List of scientific papers</h3><p dir="ltr">I. A systematic review of eHealth interventions addressing HIV/STI prevention among men who have sex with men. <b>Long Hoang Nguyen</b>, Bach Xuan Tran, Luis EC Rocha, Huong Lan Thi Nguyen, Cui Yang, Carl A Latkin, Anna Thorson, Susanne Strömdahl. AIDS and behavior, 23(9), 2253-2272. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-019-02626-1" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-019-02626-1</a></p><p dir="ltr">II. An exploratory assessment of the preference for eHealth interventions to prevent HIV and sexually transmitted infections among men who have sex with men in Hanoi, Vietnam. <b>Long Hoang</b> <b>Nguyen, </b>Huong Lan Thi Nguyen, Mattias Larsson, Bach Xuan Tran, Mart L. Stein, Luis EC Rocha, Susanne Strömdahl. BMC public health, 20(1), 1387. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09449-z" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09449-z</a></p><p dir="ltr">III. A qualitative assessment in acceptability and barriers to use pre- exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among men who have sex with men: implications for service delivery in Vietnam. <b>Long Hoang</b> <b>Nguyen, </b>Huong Lan Thi Nguyen, Bach Xuan Tran, Mattias Larsson, Luis EC Rocha, Anna Thorson, Susanne Strömdahl. BMC infectious diseases, 21(1), 472. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-021-06178-5" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-021-06178-5</a></p><p dir="ltr">IV. Empowering Wellness: Exploring PrEP Access, Utilization, and Willingness among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Vietnam. <b>Long Hoang</b> <b>Nguyen, </b>Huong Lan Thi Nguyen, Tham Thi Nguyen, Mattias Larsson, Luis E. C. Rocha, Anna Thorson, and Susanne Strömdahl. [Manuscript]</p><p dir="ltr">V. Exploring Awareness of the Disease, Attitude, and Acceptance Towards Vaccine against Monkeypox among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Vietnam. <b>Long Hoang</b> <b>Nguyen, </b>Huong Lan Thi Nguyen, Mattias Larsson, Luis E. C. Rocha, Anna Thorson, Susanne Strömdahl. [Manuscript]</p>
Malte Rippa, Ruben Schulze, Marian Himstedt
et al.
Prostate cancer is a commonly diagnosed cancerous disease among men world-wide. Even with modern technology such as multi-parametric magnetic resonance tomography and guided biopsies, the process for diagnosing prostate cancer remains time consuming and requires highly trained professionals. In this paper, different convolutional neural networks (CNN) are evaluated on their abilities to reliably classify whether an MRI sequence contains malignant lesions. Implementations of a ResNet, a ConvNet and a ConvNeXt for 3D image data are trained and evaluated. The models are trained using different data augmentation techniques, learning rates, and optimizers. The data is taken from a private dataset, provided by Cantonal Hospital Aarau. The best result was achieved by a ResNet3D, yielding an average precision score of 0.4583 and AUC ROC score of 0.6214.
Adam J. Sterczala, Nathaniel Rodriguez‐Ortiz, Evan D. Feigel
et al.
Abstract This study compared the structural and cellular skeletal muscle factors underpinning adaptations in maximal strength, power, aerobic capacity, and lean body mass to a 12‐week concurrent resistance and interval training program in men and women. Recreationally active women and men completed three training sessions per week consisting of high‐intensity, low‐volume resistance training followed by interval training performed using a variety upper and lower body exercises representative of military occupational tasks. Pre‐ and post‐training vastus lateralis muscle biopsies were analyzed for changes in muscle fiber type, cross‐sectional area, capillarization, and mitochondrial biogenesis marker content. Changes in maximal strength, aerobic capacity, and lean body mass (LBM) were also assessed. Training elicited hypertrophy of type I (12.9%; p = 0.016) and type IIa (12.7%; p = 0.007) muscle fibers in men only. In both sexes, training decreased type IIx fiber expression (1.9%; p = 0.046) and increased total PGC‐1α (29.7%, p < 0.001) and citrate synthase (11.0%; p < 0.014) content, but had no effect on COX IV content or muscle capillarization. In both sexes, training increased maximal strength and LBM but not aerobic capacity. The concurrent training program was effective at increasing strength and LBM but not at improving aerobic capacity or skeletal muscle adaptations underpinning aerobic performance.
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted routine healthcare services, including testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). At the same time, it fostered optimism about the potential of direct-to-consumer (DTC) self-testing solutions, fueled by remarkable progress in self-sampling practices, rapid testing technologies, and the adaptation of regulatory frameworks. Direct-to-consumer (DTC) self-testing and self-sampling for STIs became then still a more critical alternative, offering privacy, accessibility, and the potential to address testing gaps, especially for underserved, at-risk groups. This review critically analyzed the literature published since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. DTC testing has evolved significantly since the pandemic, with notable advances in technology, availability, and disease and geographical coverage. It has increased STI testing uptake among underserved or hesitant populations, including men who have sex with men and young adults. However, issues around cost, data reporting, and follow-up care persist, and many at-risk groups still lack access. While these solutions have improved testing uptake and public health outcomes, anticipated widespread adoption and advances have been slower than expected. Limited market options, weak research, and regulatory challenges have hindered growth. Research has often focused on potential user acceptance rather than real-world usage. Future directions should leverage trendy approaches in medical ethnography and transformational marketing to emphasize user- and data-driven innovation, affordability, and regulatory support based on private provider accountability.
Tahereh Bakhshandeh Amnieh, Zohreh Reisi, Zohreh Ranjbarkohan
et al.
The purpose of this research was to examine the effectiveness of mindfulness-based psychotherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological well-being and perceived tension of patients diagnosed with Corona anxiety pandemic. It was a quasi-experimental study with pretest, posttest, control group and three-month follow-up period. The study's statistical population comprised individuals referred to telephone counseling centers in the city of Isfahan in 2021 due to Corona anxiety. An intentional and random selection process was employed to allocate 33 individuals (19 women and 14 men) into the experimental and control groups. Over the course of two months, individuals in the experimental group were engaged in mindfulness-based psychotherapy. The applied questionnaires included Perceived Stress Scale (PSS(, Psychological Wellbeing Questionnaire (PWBQ) and the Corona Anxiety Questionnaire (CDAS). The data were analyzed through mixed ANOVA method via SPSS-23 software. The results showed that mindfulness-based psychotherapy has been effective on the perceived stress (F=44.99; Eta=0.59; P<0001) and psychological wellbeing (F=66.28; Eta=0.68; P<0001) in the patients with Corona anxiety. According to the findings of the present study, mindfulness-based psychotherapy can be applied as an effective method to decrease perceived stress and improve psychological wellbeing in the patients with Corona anxiety through employing techniques such as mindful attitude, mindful activities, addressing problem-making feelings and emotions and breathing exercises.
Zahra Tabatabaei, Adrian colomer, Kjersti Engan
et al.
According to GLOBOCAN 2020, prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men worldwide and the fourth most prevalent cancer overall. For pathologists, grading prostate cancer is challenging, especially when discriminating between Grade 3 (G3) and Grade 4 (G4). This paper proposes a Self-Supervised Learning (SSL) framework to classify prostate histopathological images when labeled images are scarce. In particular, a tailored Convolutional Auto Encoder (CAE) is trained to reconstruct 128x128x3 patches of prostate cancer Whole Slide Images (WSIs) as a pretext task. The downstream task of the proposed SSL paradigm is the automatic grading of histopathological patches of prostate cancer. The presented framework reports promising results on the validation set, obtaining an overall accuracy of 83% and on the test set, achieving an overall accuracy value of 76% with F1-score of 77% in G4.
Md Ishtyaq Mahmud, Muntasir Mamun, Ahmed Abdelgawad
Breast cancer is one of the most common and dangerous cancers in women, while it can also afflict men. Breast cancer treatment and detection are greatly aided by the use of histopathological images since they contain sufficient phenotypic data. A Deep Neural Network (DNN) is commonly employed to improve accuracy and breast cancer detection. In our research, we have analyzed pre-trained deep transfer learning models such as ResNet50, ResNet101, VGG16, and VGG19 for detecting breast cancer using the 2453 histopathology images dataset. Images in the dataset were separated into two categories: those with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) and those without IDC. After analyzing the transfer learning model, we found that ResNet50 outperformed other models, achieving accuracy rates of 90.2%, Area under Curve (AUC) rates of 90.0%, recall rates of 94.7%, and a marginal loss of 3.5%.
Minoo Sisakhti, Seyed Amir Hossein Batouli, Hassan Farrahi
Purpose: Memory and learning have particular importance due to their ubiquitous nature in everyday life and the high prevalence of related complaints. The present study aimed to provide normative data for one of the most widely used tests of verbal memory and learning in Iran and to assess the effect of demographic variables of age, gender, and education on its various measures.
Materials and Methods: The study was conducted as part of the Iranian Brain Imaging Database (IBID) project. The sample consisted of 300 normal individuals in the age range of 20 to 70 years, with an equal number of participants in each age decade (#60). The sample was classified by five decades, including 20-30-year-olds, 31-40-year-olds, 41-50-year-olds, 51-60-year-olds, and 61-70-year-olds. Each age decade was divided equally between the genders. The Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), which was defined in terms of 10 scores on learning, recall, and recognition, was used to assess verbal learning and memory.
Results: The correlation matrix among the variables shows that all three variables of age, gender, and education had a significant correlation with most RAVLT measures. Among the three demographic variables, age had the strongest correlation with most RAVLT scores. Three-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) showed that the effect of age and gender on memory and learning measures was significant. On the other hand, the effect of education on some measures was statistically significant. In addition, the mean and standard deviation of 10 RAVLT measures classified by gender and education years in the five age groups are provided.
Conclusion: The findings show that while increasing age, verbal memory, and learning performance decline, women outperform men, and education affects some indicators of learning and memory. These findings emphasize the importance of using age-, gender- and education-related normative data in clinical, educational, and research settings.
Public health and safety are increasingly concerned as public awareness of health-related issues grows. To find a rapid, convenient, and non-destructive testing method for detecting human nutritional toxicology detection, this study selects sildenafil, phenolphthalein, and metformin hydrochloride—commonly found additives in health products—as the focal point. The research endeavors to tackle the paramount issue of public health and safety. The study begins by elucidating the public health and safety concept and then outlines the computational process for determining the terahertz (THz) optical properties. Subsequently, it provides a brief overview of deep learning (DL) methods, including the Back Propagation Neural Network (BPNN), Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), Residual Network (ResNet), and MobileNet model. Finally, the study compares and tests the THz absorption spectrum data of 22 pure samples containing sildenafil, phenolphthalein, and metformin hydrochloride by DL technique to evaluate the model’s classification performance. The findings demonstrate that, with increased training iterations, the model’s accuracy consistently improves and stabilizes. For instance, after 12 training iterations, CNN’s accuracy under the verification set stabilizes, frequently reaching nearly 100%. After 83 iterations, the accuracy remains steady at 98.96%. Similarly, the MobileNet model reaches stability after 17 iterations, achieving 100% accuracy. The BPNN demonstrates the fastest prediction time among the four DL algorithm models, at 310–5 seconds. Meanwhile, the MobileNet model exhibits the highest accuracy and stability. This study using THz waves to identify contaminants in medical items can significantly enhance public health and safety.
BackgroundUrticaria presents a significant global health challenge due to its sudden onset and potential for severe allergic reactions. Past data on worldwide prevalence and incidence is inconsistent due to differing study methodologies, regional differences, and evolving diagnostic criteria. Past studies have often provided broad ranges instead of specific figures, underscoring the necessity for a cohesive global perspective to inform public health strategies.
ObjectiveWe aimed to assess the global burden of urticaria using the 2019 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study data and systematically analyze urticaria prevalence, incidence, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) at global, regional, and national levels, thereby informing more effective prevention and treatment strategies.
MethodsWe analyzed the global, regional, and national burden of urticaria from 1990 to 2019 using the 2019 GBD study coordinated by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. Estimations of urticaria prevalence, incidence, and DALYs were derived using DisMod-MR 2.1, a Bayesian meta-regression tool. The Socio-demographic Index (SDI) was used to correlate development status with health outcomes. The GBD’s division of the world into 21 regions and 204 countries and territories facilitated a comprehensive assessment. Age-standardized estimated annual percentage changes were generated for urticaria metrics to quantify temporal trends, with age standardization adjusting for potential confounding from age structure.
ResultsFrom 1990 to 2019, the global age-standardized prevalence, incidence, and DALY rates of urticaria showed marginal changes. In 2019, 65.14 million individuals were affected, with a prevalence rate of 841.88 per 100,000 population. The DALY rate was 50.39 per 100,000 population. Compared to 1990, the global age-standardized prevalence, incidence, and DALY rates saw increases of 2.92, 4.84, and 0.31 per 100,000 population, respectively. Women persistently had higher rates than men. At a regional level in 2019, low-middle SDI regions exhibited the highest age-standardized metrics, whereas high SDI regions reported the lowest. Central Europe showed the highest rates, contrasting with Western Europe’s lowest rates. Nationally, urticaria prevalence in 2019 varied dramatically, from a low of 27.1 per 100,000 population in Portugal to a high of 92.0 per 100,000 population in Nepal. India reported the most DALYs at 749,495.9, followed by China, Pakistan, and the United States. Agewise data showed higher rates in younger age groups, which diminished with age and then experienced a slight resurgence in the oldest populations. This pattern was pronounced in women and younger populations, with the largest rises seen in those aged less than 40 years and the smallest in those aged more than 70 years.
ConclusionsUrticaria remains a significant global health issue, with considerable variation across regions, countries, and territories. The increased burden among women, the rising burden in younger populations, and the regional differences in disease burden call for tailored interventions and policies to tackle this emerging public health issue.