Does Viral Anxiety Influence the Insomnia Severity Among Patients With Insomnia Disorder During COVID-19 Pandemic?

Background and Objective We aimed to investigate whether viral anxiety affects insomnia severity in patients with insomnia disorder during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In addition, we examined whether viral anxiety mediates the influence of dysfunctional beliefs about sleep on insomnia severity. Methods The medical records of 111 patients who visit the sleep clinic from September 2021 to May 2022 were reviewed. Patients’ symptoms were rated with rating scales including Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemics-6 items (SAVE-6), Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep-16 items (DBAS-16), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 items (PHQ-9), Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and discrepancy between desired time in bed and desired total sleep time (the DBST index). Results The SAVE-6 score was not significantly correlated with ISI score among insomnia patients. Linear regression analysis showed that the ISI score was expected by PHQ-9 (β = 0.21, p = 0.038) and DBAS-16 (β = 0.42, p < 0.001). Mediation analysis showed that viral anxiety did not mediate the influence of dysfunctional beliefs about sleep on insomnia severity. Conclusions We could not observe the mediating effect of viral anxiety on the association between dysfunctional beliefs about sleep on insomnia severity. Though COVID-somnia was one of big issues in this COVID-19 pandemic, the influence of virus on the severity of insomnia among insomnia patients needs to be interpreted cautiously

On-chip Brillouin lasers based on 10 million-Q chalcogenide resonators without direct etch process

We present a new device platform which defines on-chip chalcogenide waveguide/resonators without directly etching chalcogenide. Using our platform, we have demonstrated chalcogenide ring resonators with record high Q-factor exceeding 1.1x107 which is 10 times larger than previous record on on-chip chalcogenide resonators. A ring cavity is designed and fabricated for Stimulated Brillouin lasing on our platform. Thanks to the high-Q factor, Brillouin lasing with threshold power of 1 mW is demonstrated. This value is more than an order of magnitude improvement than previous world record for on-chip chalcogenide Brillouin lasers. We also developed an efficient and flexible method for resonator waveguide coupling with our device platform. Coupling between a resonator and a waveguide can be varied from under coupled region to over-coupled regio

Universal light-guiding geometry for on-chip resonators having extremely high Q-factor

By providing an effective way to leverage nonlinear phenomena in integrated devices, high-Q optical resonators have led to recent advances in on-chip photonics. However, developing fabrication processes to shape any new material into a resonator with extremely smooth surfaces on a chip has been an exceptionally challenging task. Here, we describe a universal method to implement ultra-high-Q resonators with any new material having desirable properties that can be deposited by physical vapor deposition. Using this method light-guiding cores with surface roughness on the molecular-scale are created automatically on pre-patterned substrates. Its efficacy has been verified using As2S3, a chalcogenide glass that has high-nonlinearity. The Q-factor of the As2S3 resonator so-developed approached the propagation loss record achieved in chalcogenide fibers which were limited by material losses. Owing to the boosted Q-factor, lasing by stimulated Brillouin scattering has been demonstrated with 100 times lower threshold power than the previous record.This work was supported by Samsung Research Funding & Incubation Center of Samsung Electronics under Project Number SRFC-IT1801-03

Psychometric properties of the Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemics-9 scale among frontline nursing professionals working in the COVID-19 inpatients ward

This study examined the reliability and validity of the Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemics-9 (SAVE-9) scale among nursing professionals working in a COVID-19 inpatient ward. An anonymous, online survey was conducted among working frontline nursing professionals between April 7 and 18, 2022. We collected information about the participants' age, sex, years of employment, shift work, and marital status. In addition, the participants were asked whether they had dealt with infected patients recently, and whether they had been quarantined, infected, or vaccinated. SAVE-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) were used to evaluate symptoms. We used the Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to determine the validity of the two-factor model of the SAVE-9 scale. We also tested reliability and convergent validity using the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scales. A total of 136 responses was analyzed, and CFA for two-factors model of the SAVE-9 scale showed a good model fit among frontline nursing professionals (CFI = 1.000, TLI = 1.040, RMSEA = 0.000, RSMR = 0.060). Multi-group CFAs revealed that the SAVE-9 scale can measure work-related stress and viral anxiety in the same way across sex, having depression, or having generalized anxiety. The internal consistency was shown to be good, and the SAVE-9 scale was significantly correlated with the GAD-7 (r = 0.328, p &lt; 0.001) and PHQ-9 score (r = 0.361, p &lt; 0.001). The two-factor model of the SAVE-9 is a valid and reliable scale for frontline nursing professionals

Universal light-guiding geometry for on-chip resonators having extremely high Q-factor

By providing an effective way to leverage nonlinear phenomena in integrated devices, high-Q optical resonators have led to recent advances in on-chip photonics. However, developing fabrication processes to shape any new material into a resonator with extremely smooth surfaces on a chip has been an exceptionally challenging task. Here, we describe a universal method to implement ultra-high-Q resonators with any new material having desirable properties that can be deposited by physical vapor deposition. Using this method light-guiding cores with surface roughness on the molecular-scale are created automatically on pre-patterned substrates. Its efficacy has been verified using As2S3, a chalcogenide glass that has high-nonlinearity. The Q-factor of the As2S3 resonator so-developed approached the propagation loss record achieved in chalcogenide fibers which were limited by material losses. Owing to the boosted Q-factor, lasing by stimulated Brillouin scattering has been demonstrated with 100 times lower threshold power than the previous record. © 2020, The Author(s).1

Novel approach for the detection of intraperitoneal micrometastasis using an ovarian cancer mouse model

Patients with epithelial ovarian cancer have the best overall survival when maximal surgical effort is accomplished. However, despite numerous technological advances, surgery still relies primarily on white-light reflectance and the surgeon’s vision. As such, micrometastases are usually missed and most patients clinically classified as a complete responder eventually recur and succumb to the disease. Our objective is to develop optical enhancers which can aid in the visualization of ovarian cancer micrometastasis. To this end we developed a nanoparticle (NP) platform, which is specifically targeted to the tumor microenvironment. Targeting is achieved by coating FDA-approved PLGA-PEG NP with the peptide sequence RGD, which binds with high affinity to αVβ3 integrins present in both the tumor-associated neovasculature and on the surface of ovarian cancer cells. Administration of the NP platform carrying fluorescent dyes to mice bearing intraperitoneal ovarian cancer allowed visualization of tumor-associated vasculature and its contrast against normal blood vessels. More importantly, we demonstrate the visualization of intraperitoneal ovarian cancer micrometastasis as small as 100 μm with optimal resolution. Finally, we demonstrate that the fluorescent dye cargo was able to penetrate intra-tumorally. Such modality could be used to allow microscopic surgical debulking to assure maximal surgical effort

Minimal information for studies of extracellular vesicles (MISEV2023): From basic to advanced approaches

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), through their complex cargo, can reflect the state of their cell of origin and change the functions and phenotypes of other cells. These features indicate strong biomarker and therapeutic potential and have generated broad interest, as evidenced by the steady year-on-year increase in the numbers of scientific publications about EVs. Important advances have been made in EV metrology and in understanding and applying EV biology. However, hurdles remain to realising the potential of EVs in domains ranging from basic biology to clinical applications due to challenges in EV nomenclature, separation from non-vesicular extracellular particles, characterisation and functional studies. To address the challenges and opportunities in this rapidly evolving field, the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) updates its 'Minimal Information for Studies of Extracellular Vesicles', which was first published in 2014 and then in 2018 as MISEV2014 and MISEV2018, respectively. The goal of the current document, MISEV2023, is to provide researchers with an updated snapshot of available approaches and their advantages and limitations for production, separation and characterisation of EVs from multiple sources, including cell culture, body fluids and solid tissues. In addition to presenting the latest state of the art in basic principles of EV research, this document also covers advanced techniques and approaches that are currently expanding the boundaries of the field. MISEV2023 also includes new sections on EV release and uptake and a brief discussion of in vivo approaches to study EVs. Compiling feedback from ISEV expert task forces and more than 1000 researchers, this document conveys the current state of EV research to facilitate robust scientific discoveries and move the field forward even more rapidly

Kazakistan’daki Korelilerin Sosyo-Kültürel Yapısı

In this study, which was prepared under the title of "Sociocultural Structure of the Koreans of Kazakhstan", the history of forced migration and the current sociocultural status of the Koreans in Kazakhstan society was discussed. In this study, which collected data by using quantitative and qualitative research methods, the information about language, religion, ethnic identity, education, economic and social life status of Korean Kazakhs were investigated. The culture of the Koreans in Kazakhstan is in close contact with the past and present geography, state policies, other communities in the region and their cultures. Due to the lack of the Korean population of this region, lack of national autonomy, high urban settlement rate and due to rapid socioeconomic development, Koreans has adapted to Kazakh culture, especially Russian culture. Especially they have almost forgotten Korean language which is their mother tongue. One of the characteristics of the state of religion is the distribution of people to various religions without having a main religion like most other ethnic groups. The educational and economic situation is higher and stable than the other nations in the Kazakhstan society. In contrast to the state of language and religion, some of traditional rituals and cultural elements are still preserved in their daily lives.KABUL VE ONAY YAYIMLAMA VE FİKRİ MÜLKİYET HAKLARI BEYANI ETİK BEYAN TEŞEKKÜR ÖZET ABSTRACT İÇİNDEKİLER GRAFİKLER VE TABLOLAR DİZİNİ GİRİŞ 1. BÖLÜM: ARAŞTIRMANIN KONUSU, AMACI VE YÖNTEMİ 1.1. Araştırmanın Konusu, Amacı Ve Önemi 1.2. Araştırmanın Kapsamı Ve Sınırlıkları 1.3. Araştırmanın Yöntemi 1.3.1. Araştırmanın Veri Toplama ve Veri Analiz Teknikleri 1.3.2. Araştırmada Kullanılan Anketler ve Sorular 1.3.3. Katılımcılar 1.3.4. Araştırmada Karşılaşılan Güçlükler 2. BÖLÜM: ARAŞTIRMANIN KURAMSAL VE KAVRAMSAL ÇERÇEVESİ 2.1. KÜLTÜR 2.2. ÇOKKÜLTÜRLÜLÜK 2.3. KİMLİK 2.4. ETNİSİTE 2.5. DİASPORA 3. BÖLÜM: KAZAKİSTAN KORELİLERİNİN TARİHİ, YAŞADIKLARI COĞRAFYA VE NÜFUSU 3.1. GÖÇ VE YERLEŞİM SÜRECİ 3.1.1. Kore’den Göç ve Uzak Doğu Rusyası’na Yerleşme ( - 1937) 3.1.1.1. İlk Ekonomik Göç (1864-1905) 3.1.1.2. Siyasi Göç ve Göçmen Toplumu Gelişimi (1905-1937) 3.1.2. Orta Asya'ya Zorunlu Göç (1937 - 1956) 3.1.2.1. Stalin Döneminde Kazakistan Korelileri 3.1.2.2. Zorla Göçten Sonra Sovyet Özel Halkının Hayatı 3.1.3. Post Stalin Dönemi: Sovyetler Birliği Halkı (1956 - 1991) 3.1.4. Sovyetler Birliği'nin Çöküşü Sonrası (1991 - ) 3.2. KAZAKİSTAN KORELİLERİNİN YAŞADIKLARI COĞRAFYA VE NÜFUSU 3.2.1. Kazakistan Korelilerinin İlk Ortaya Çıktığı Coğrafya 3.2.2. Çarlık Rusyası’ndan Sovyetler Birliği’ne Geçiş Dönemi 3.2.3. 1937 Yılında Uzak Doğu’dan Orta Asya’ya Büyük Göç Hareketleri 3.2.4. Kazakistan Cumhuriyeti’nin Kuruluşundan Sonra Uzak Doğu’ya ve Diğer Ülkelere Yeniden Göç Hareketleri 3.2.5. Güney Kore’ye Dönüş Hareketleri 3.2.6. Kazakistan’daki Korelilerin Bugünkü Nüfus Durumu 4. BÖLÜM: ARAŞTIRMANIN BULGULARI 4.1. DİL DURUMU 4.1.1. Ana Dili Tanıtımı 4.1.2. Dil Kullanım Sıklığı 4.1.3. Dil Kullanım Düzeyi 4.1.3.1. Rusça Kullanım Düzeyi 4.1.3.2. Korece Kullanım Düzeyi 4.1.3.3. Kazakça Kullanım Düzeyi 4.1.3.4. İngilizce Kullanım Düzeyi 4.2. İNANÇ DURUMU 4.3. EĞİTİM DURUMU 4.4. EKONOMİ DURUMU 4.5. ETNİK KİMLİK DUYGUSU 4.5.1. Etnik Kimlik Tanıma Düzeyi 4.5.2. Ana Dili Bakım Derecesi 4.5.3. Güney Kore Kültürüyle Teması ve Etnik Kimlik Duygusu 4.6. SOSYAL ADAPTASYON 4.6.1. Kazakistan Korelilerinin Yerel Kültür ve Değerlere Yönelik Tutumu 4.6.2. Etnik Ayrımcılık Farkındalığı 5. BÖLÜM: ARAŞTIRMANIN SOSYAL YAŞAMLAR 5.1. GÜNDELİK HAYAT 5.1.1. Yemek Kültürü 5.1.2. Barınma Kültürü 5.1.3. Giyim Kültürü 5.2. RİTÜELLER 5.2.1. Doljanchi Töreni (Birinci Doğum Günü Töreni) 5.2.2. Düğün Töreni 5.2.3. Hwangab Töreni (Altmışıncı Doğum Günü Töreni) 5.2.4. Cenaze Töreni 5.3. BAYRAMLAR VE OYUN KÜLTÜRÜ 5.3.1. Bayramlar 5.3.2. Oyun Kültürü 5.3.3. Sanat Kültürü SONUÇ VE DEĞERLENDİRMELER KAYNAKÇA EK 1. KATILIMCI LİSTESİ (MÜLAKAT) EK 2. KATILIMCI LİSTESİ (ANKET) EK 3. ANKET FORMU EK 4. FOTOĞRAFLAR EK 5. ETİK KURUL İZNİ EK 6. ORJİNALLİK RAPORU ÖZ GEÇMİŞ“Kazakistan’daki Korelilerin Sosyo-Kültürel Yapısı” başlığı altında hazırlanmış olan bu tezde, Kazakistan’da yaşayan Kore topluluğunun zorunlu göç tarihi ele alınarak, günümüzdeki durumu, özellikle de sosyo-kültürel yapısı irdelenmiştir. Nicel ve nitel araştırma yöntemleri kullanılarak veri toplanan bu çalışmada, Kazakistan Korelilerinin dil, din, eğitim, ekonomik durum, etnik kimlik duygusu, sosyal hayat durumu anket ve mülakat yolu ile araştırılmıştır. Kazakistan Korelilerinin kültürü, geçmişte ve günümüzde yaşadıkları coğrafya, devlet politikaları, bölgede bulunan diğer topluluklar ve bunların kültürleri ile sıkı bir etkileşim içindedir. Bu bölgedeki Koreli nüfusun azlığı, ulusal özerklik eksikliği, yüksek kentsel yerleşim oranı gibi sebeplerden dolayı ve hızlı sosyo-ekonomik gelişmeye bağlı olarak Koreliler, yoğun olarak başta Rus kültürü olmak üzere Kazak kültürüne de adapte olmuşlardır. Özellikle dil konusuna değinecek olursak, Kazakistan Korelileri anadilleri olan Koreceyi neredeyse unutmuşlardır. Din durumunun özelliklerinden biri, diğer çoğu etnik gruplar gibi bir ana din oluşturmadan halkın çeşitli dinlere dağılım göstermesidir. Eğitim ve ekonomik durumu ise aynı coğrafyada bulunan diğer milletlerden daha yüksek ve istikrarlıdır. Dil ve din durumunun aksine günlük hayatta geleneksel ritüeller ve öz kültürel unsurların bir kısmını hâlâ korudukları gözlemlenmektedir