Reproductive health of medical students: exploring knowledge, experiences, and behaviors

 Introduction: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) along with unintended pregnancies, gender-based violence, and gender inequality represent a serious risk to reproductive health in adolescent age. Comprehensive Sexual Education (CSE) plays a central role among public health interventions designed to prepare young people for these challenges. The aim of our research was to examine knowledge, experience, and behaviors regarding reproductive and sexual health among the population of medical students, as well as the possible connection between reproductive health, information, and study success. Material and methods: A total of 186 second-year and 214 fifth-year medical students were included in the study as a convenient sample taken by random selection. We used a questionnaire of the World Health Organization designed for adolescent sexual and reproductive health. Data were analyzed with the IMB SPSS 25 software. Results: For the second-year students, primary source of information about sex are conversations with their family and friends (37.6%), while for the fifth-year students it is the faculty curriculum (34.7%). Students with personal experience of STIs showed higher average level of knowledge about STIs and reproductive health (p=0.011). Significant positive correlation between the average grade and the level of knowledge about reproductive health was found (r=0.150; p=0.03). Conclusion: This study has shown the diverse sexual life of young medical students in Serbia, combined with risky habits and attitudes, also similarly represented in the world. Further research is needed in order to formulate public health policies adjusted to the needs of the Serbian youth

Improved Composite Q-Function Approximation and its Application in ASEP of Digital Modulations over Fading Channels

In this paper, capitalizing on Mils ratio for Qfunction approximation, we have presented novel improved composite Q-function approximation. Based on our improved approximation, we have further presented tight approximation for the average symbol error probability (ASEP) expressions of digital modulations over Nakagami-m fading channels. First, comparison to other known Q-function closed-form approximations has been performed, and it has been shown that accuracy improvement has been achieved in the observed range of values. Further, it has been shown that by using proposed approximation, values of average symbol error probability (ASEP) for some applied modulation formats could be efficiently and accurately evaluated when transmission over Nakagami-m fading channels is observed. Also, it has been shown in the paper that by using proposed approximation, observed ASEP measures are bounded more closely, than by using other known Q-function closed-form approximations

A Novel Method for Determination of Kinetic Friction Coefficient using Inclined Plane

Presented in this paper is the theoretical background for a novel method for determination of kinetic friction coefficient. The method is based on the equation of movement of a rigid body along an inclined plane and has not been previously discussed in literature. According to the theoretical results presented in this paper, mean kinetic friction coefficient can be determined based on the time it takes a rigid body to travel a distance along an inclined plane. Experimental results show that the mean kinetic friction coefficient increases with increasing mean sliding velocity, i.e. with decreasing sliding time. Increasing sliding velocity increases deviation of friction coefficients. This method also allows the determination of energy consumed due to friction along the travelled distance. Increasing mean kinetic friction coefficient and mean sliding velocity increases energy consumed due to friction. Practical calculation requires application of the distance law, which, in turn, requires accurate measurement of the sliding time and distance

MICROSTRUCTURE INFLUENCE ON FRICTION BEHAVIOR OF THE TI6AL4V BIOMEDICAL ALLOY AT LOW LOADS

Dynamic friction coefficient (COF) between Ti6Al4V and Al2O3 was analyzed under low loads (100 mN, 250 mN, 500 mN, 750 mN, 1000 mN), sliding speed (4 mm/s, 8 mm/s, 12 mm/s) at dry contact and in the Ringer's solution. Different Ti6Al4V microstructures were studied: Sample 1 - fully lamellar; Sample 2 - martensitic; sample 3 - equiaxed; and sample 4 - globular microstructure. The maximum COF values varied as: 0.4 - 1.23 (Sample 1), 0.5 – 2.8 (Sample 2), 0.4 – 1.1 (Sample 3), and 0.4 – 2.3 (Sample 4). Lamellar and martensitic microstructures were not beneficial for the tribological response since they exhibited severe wear and very high COF values. The globular Ti alloy microstructure showed extremely high COF and wear under dry conditions. In general, water quenching was not a favorable treatment for tribological behavior. The lowest COF values and wear volumes were exhibited in the case of equiaxed microstructure

Heat generation during plunge stage in friction stir welding

This paper deals with the heat generation in the Al alloy Al2024-T3 plate under different rotating speeds and plunge speeds during the plunge stage of friction stir welding. A 3-D finite element model is developed in the commercial code ABAQUS/Explicit using the arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian formulation, the Johnson- Cook material law, and Coulomb's Law of friction. The heat generation in friction stir welding can be divided into two parts: frictional heat generated by the tool and heat generated by material deformation near the pin and the tool shoulder region. Numerical results obtained in this work indicate a more prominent influence from the friction-generated heat. The slip rate of the tool relative to the workpiece material is related to this portion of heat. The material velocity, on the other hand, is related to the heat generated by plastic deformation. Increasing the plunging speed of the tool decreases the friction-generated heat and increases the amount of deformation-generated heat, while increasing the tool rotating speed has the opposite influence on both heat portions. Numerical results are compared with the experimental ones, in order to validate the numerical model, and a good agreement is obtained

Comparative model analysis of two types of clamping elements in dynamic conditions

U radu se razmatra popustljivost sustava naprava-izradak. Razmatra se slučaj stezanja izratka s dva tipa elemenata za stezanje. Prvi tip elementa za stezanje je sa standardnim ravnim čelom. Drugi tip elementa za stezanje je specijalne izvedbe s čelom u obliku kružnog klina. Analiziran je slučaj stezanja malim vrijednostima sila stezanja pri čemu se deformacije u zonama kontakta između elemenata za stezanje i izratka pretežno odvijaju u zonama visine neravnina. Također je prikazana komparativna analiza, predhodno spomenuta, dva načina stezanja izradaka u uvjetima dinamičkih opterećenja. Specijalno dizajnirani element za stezanje s čelom oblika kružnog klina u odnosu na standardni element za stezanje s ravnim čelom ima izrazito veću steznu učinkovitost po pitanju tangencijalne nosivosti i popustljivosti.This paper studies the compliance of the fixture-workpiece system. Workpiece clamping case with two types of clamping elements is considered. The first type of clamping element is standard, with flat top, while the second one is specially designed, with round cutting insert. Analyzed was the case of workpiece clamping using small forces, whereby the deformations in the workpiece/clamping element interface are predominantly on the order of magnitude of roughness height. A comparative analysis of dynamic behaviour of both types of clamping elements is also presented. In comparison with its standard counterpart, the specially designed clamping element with round cutting insert has superior clamping performance regarding both tangential load capacity and compliance

Comparative model analysis of two types of clamping elements in dynamic conditions

U radu se razmatra popustljivost sustava naprava-izradak. Razmatra se slučaj stezanja izratka s dva tipa elemenata za stezanje. Prvi tip elementa za stezanje je sa standardnim ravnim čelom. Drugi tip elementa za stezanje je specijalne izvedbe s čelom u obliku kružnog klina. Analiziran je slučaj stezanja malim vrijednostima sila stezanja pri čemu se deformacije u zonama kontakta između elemenata za stezanje i izratka pretežno odvijaju u zonama visine neravnina. Također je prikazana komparativna analiza, predhodno spomenuta, dva načina stezanja izradaka u uvjetima dinamičkih opterećenja. Specijalno dizajnirani element za stezanje s čelom oblika kružnog klina u odnosu na standardni element za stezanje s ravnim čelom ima izrazito veću steznu učinkovitost po pitanju tangencijalne nosivosti i popustljivosti.This paper studies the compliance of the fixture-workpiece system. Workpiece clamping case with two types of clamping elements is considered. The first type of clamping element is standard, with flat top, while the second one is specially designed, with round cutting insert. Analyzed was the case of workpiece clamping using small forces, whereby the deformations in the workpiece/clamping element interface are predominantly on the order of magnitude of roughness height. A comparative analysis of dynamic behaviour of both types of clamping elements is also presented. In comparison with its standard counterpart, the specially designed clamping element with round cutting insert has superior clamping performance regarding both tangential load capacity and compliance

Impact of safety-related dose reductions or discontinuations on sustained virologic response in HCV-infected patients: Results from the GUARD-C Cohort

BACKGROUND: Despite the introduction of direct-acting antiviral agents for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, peginterferon alfa/ribavirin remains relevant in many resource-constrained settings. The non-randomized GUARD-C cohort investigated baseline predictors of safety-related dose reductions or discontinuations (sr-RD) and their impact on sustained virologic response (SVR) in patients receiving peginterferon alfa/ribavirin in routine practice. METHODS: A total of 3181 HCV-mono-infected treatment-naive patients were assigned to 24 or 48 weeks of peginterferon alfa/ribavirin by their physician. Patients were categorized by time-to-first sr-RD (Week 4/12). Detailed analyses of the impact of sr-RD on SVR24 (HCV RNA <50 IU/mL) were conducted in 951 Caucasian, noncirrhotic genotype (G)1 patients assigned to peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin for 48 weeks. The probability of SVR24 was identified by a baseline scoring system (range: 0-9 points) on which scores of 5 to 9 and <5 represent high and low probability of SVR24, respectively. RESULTS: SVR24 rates were 46.1% (754/1634), 77.1% (279/362), 68.0% (514/756), and 51.3% (203/396), respectively, in G1, 2, 3, and 4 patients. Overall, 16.9% and 21.8% patients experienced 651 sr-RD for peginterferon alfa and ribavirin, respectively. Among Caucasian noncirrhotic G1 patients: female sex, lower body mass index, pre-existing cardiovascular/pulmonary disease, and low hematological indices were prognostic factors of sr-RD; SVR24 was lower in patients with 651 vs. no sr-RD by Week 4 (37.9% vs. 54.4%; P = 0.0046) and Week 12 (41.7% vs. 55.3%; P = 0.0016); sr-RD by Week 4/12 significantly reduced SVR24 in patients with scores <5 but not 655. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, sr-RD to peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin significantly impacts on SVR24 rates in treatment-naive G1 noncirrhotic Caucasian patients. Baseline characteristics can help select patients with a high probability of SVR24 and a low probability of sr-RD with peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin

The Design of Perovskites for Light-Emitting Applications

In the last decade, perovskite quantum dots have emerged as next-generation active materials for optoelectronics. They have tunable bandgaps, good charge carrier mobility and low defect density, and are readily synthesized. They exhibit high photoluminescence quantum yields and bandgaps tuned throughout the visible range via compositional engineering and nanostructure modulation. This positions perovskites for applications in red, green and blue light-emitting diodes. They must achieve narrow emission linewidths, as well as increased stability and efficiencies under operating conditions, to realize their potential in displays.In this thesis, I explore the design and prediction of novel perovskite materials through experimental and computational methods; and I find new optoelectronic materials with promise as narrowband light-emitters. Mixed anion approaches used by prior researchers to tune bandgap suffer from halide segregation and resultant spectral instability. I designed a mixed cation strategy whereby Rb+ is directly incorporated during synthesis into CsPbBr3 nanocrystals, forming the alloyed RbxCs1-xPbBr3. This resulted in tunable blue-emitting perovskite quantum dots and devices with stable photoluminescence and electroluminescence ranging from 460 – 500 nm and narrow emission linewidths (Ph.D