Role of information sources in adherence to COVID-19-related safety measures among college students in the USA.

OBJECTIVE: During the COVID-19 pandemic, information sources such as public officials, national/international media, social media, public health agencies, college/university officials, etc., played a vital role in adherence to safety measures, including hygiene practices, social distancing, and mask-wearing. We analyze the role of trusted sources of information in adherence to safety measures and explore potential disparities among US college students during the pandemic. METHODS: We analyze Healthy Minds Study (HMS) 2020-2021 COVID Module data and utilize multivariable logistic regressions controlling for sociodemographic and COVID-19-related factors. Subgroup analyses were conducted by gender, citizenship status, race, and educational level. RESULTS: Significant differences were found in adherence to safety measures when information was received from different sources. Demographic subgroups within the college student population depended on different sources of COVID-19-related information. Adherence to COVID-19-related safety measures also differed by demographic characteristics. CONCLUSION: This analysis supports the necessity for targeted health-related messaging among US college students.

SkinAid: A Wirelessly Powered Smart Dressing Solution for Continuous Wound-Tracking Using Textile-Based Frequency Modulation.

In this article, SkinAid, a battery-free, low-cost, robust, and user-friendly smart bandage for electrochemical monitoring and sensing of chronic wounds is proposed. The working principle of the bandage is based on direct frequency modulation of a tri-electrode electrochemical sensing of wound data. The electronics and biotelemetry links were realized using low-cost manufacturing process of textile embroidery onto fabric substrate. The transmitter was represented by a bedsheet with novel corrugated crossed-dipole made of Elektrisola-7 embroidered onto gauze fabric. An input RF signal of 1 W was transmitted at 462 MHz from the bedsheet to the all-textile bandage featuring a rectifying circuit, a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), an electrochemical sensor, and a 915-MHz dipole for re-transmission of the modulated wound data. We demonstrate that for wound fluid emulated by various uric acid concentrations from 0.2 mM to 1.2 mM, corresponding modulated frequency varies from 1090 MHz to 1145 MHz for signals captured at 25 cm away from the bandage. For pH modulation ranging from 2 to 10, the corresponding modulated frequency was between 800 MHz and 830 MHz for signals received at more than 6 feet away from the bandage. For quick and reliable assessment, two empirical models were developed for the direct frequency modulation as a function of uric acid and pH. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time an all-textile (fabric-integrated), battery-free and wirelessly powered smart bandage have been proposed for wound monitoring. This result can be used as a first step in developing RFID-type, battery-free, and low-cost 5G/6G smart bandages using millimeterwave and terahertz frequencies where the bedsheet can be host to a MIMO-aided beamforming.

Generation of vector vortex wave modes in cylindrical waveguides.

In this paper, we propose a method to generate Vector Vortex Modes (VVM) inside a metallic cylindrical waveguide at microwave frequencies and demonstrate the experimental validation of the concept. Vector vortex modes of EM waves can carry both spin and orbital angular momentum as they propagate within a tubular medium. The existence of such waves in tubular media can be beneficial to wireless communication in such structures. These waves can carry different orbital angular momentum and spin angular momentum, and therefore, they feature the ability to carry multiple orthogonal modes at the same frequency due to spatial structure of the phase and polarization. In essence, high data rate channels can be developed using such waves. In free space, Orbital Angular Momentum carrying vortex waves have beam divergence issues and a central field-minima, which makes these waves unfavorable for free space communication. But vector vortex mode waves in guided structures do not suffer from these drawbacks. This prospect of enhancement of communication spectrum in waveguides provides the background for the study of vortex wave in circular waveguides. In this work, new feed structures and a radial array of monopoles are designed to generate the VVM carrying waves inside the waveguide. The experimental findings on the distribution of the amplitude and phase of the electromagnetic fields inside the waveguide are presented and the relationship between the waveguide fundamental modes and VVMs are discussed for the first time. The paper also presents methods for varying the cutoff frequency of the VVMs by introducing dielectric materials in the waveguide.

Determinants of Bangladeshi patients' decision-making process and satisfaction toward medical tourism in India.

Objectives: The aims are to explore the factors influencing Bangladeshi patients' decision-making process and their satisfaction level toward medical tourism in India. Methods: The study used a quantitative research approach with a cross-sectional survey. Data were collected from the patients or their relatives (N = 388) who would have decided to travel to India for medical and treatment purposes at the Chittagong Indian visa center (IVAC). Data were collected using a structured, pre-tested, and facilitator-administered questionnaire, which mainly included the social demographic characteristics, health status, medical tourism information and medical tourism index. Hierarchical regression analysis was performed to explore the factors influencing their satisfaction level toward medical tourism in India. Results: More than three-fourths of the participants had visited India for self-treatment. Of the participants, 14% were cardiology patients, and 13% suffered from cancer. The relatives were the key source of information regarding medical tourism for more than one-fourth of the respondents. India's availability of well-experienced doctors, hospital/medical facilities with high standards, well-trained doctors, reputable doctors, and quality treatments and medical materials were top-ranked items. Regression results depict that facility and services appeared as the strongest factor (ß = 0.24, t = 4.71, p < 0.001) followed by tourism destination factor (ß = 0.16, t = 3.11, p = 0.002), medical tourism costs factor (ß = 0.16, t = 3.24, p = 0.001) and country environment factor (ß = 0.15, t = 2.69, p = 0.007). Conclusions: We found that the factor related to facility and services is one of the strongest predictors in our models. Therefore, home countries must strengthen the health care providers' advanced professional training, including service attitudes. Moreover, it is important to lessen the language barrier, reduce the airfare for medical tourists, and make the treatment cost more affordable for patients.