A Survey on Imminent Effects of the COVID-19 on Chinese Students' Willingness of Studying Abroad

Since its outbreak in late 2019, the COVID-19 (the new coronavirus pandemic disease) has spread throughout the globe at an unexpectedly rapid pace. It brought severe negative effects to all walks of life, and this paper analyzes especially its impacts on Chinese students studying or planning to study abroad by sending out a survey. As the United States has become the country with most confirmed cases as well as most related deaths since May 27th, 2020, the survey mainly focused on the Chinese students planning to study in the U.S. It asked the respondents about their decisions regarding their plan of studying abroad, and the reasons behind them by different scales of significance. Considering that the questions of the survey are relatively detailed and that the number of respondents (269) is limited, this paper applied qualitative analysis to the study. The hypothesis is that students making different decisions (generally either choosing in-person study or virtual/online study) are impacted by different considerations, which is generally tested as effective. However, the epidemic-related elements are the most influential among all options for those who decide not to go abroad for their studies. The result of the study is partially consistent with the hypothesis that the number of students staying home exceeds that of students going abroad. There are also unexpected outcomes, including that the deteriorating U.S.-China relationship plays an overwhelming part in the avoidance of going to the States.

Temporally precise movement-based predictions in the mouse auditory cortex

Many of the sensations experienced by an organism are caused by their own actions, and accurately anticipating both the sensory features and timing of self-generated stimuli is crucial to a variety of behaviors. In the auditory cortex, neural responses to self-generated sounds exhibit frequency-specific suppression, suggesting that movement-based predictions may be implemented early in sensory processing. Yet it remains unknown whether this modulation results from a behaviorally specific and temporally precise prediction, nor is it known whether corresponding expectation signals are present locally in the auditory cortex. To address these questions, we trained mice to expect the precisely timed acoustic outcome of a forelimb movement using a closed-loop sound-generating lever. Dense neuronal recordings in the auditory cortex revealed suppression of responses to self-generated sounds that was specific to the expected acoustic features, specific to a precise time within the movement, and specific to the movement that was coupled to sound during training. Predictive suppression was concentrated in L2/3 and L5, where deviations from expectation also recruited a population of prediction-error neurons that was otherwise unresponsive. Recording in the absence of sound revealed abundant movement signals in deep layers that were biased toward neurons tuned to the expected sound, as well as temporal expectation signals that were present throughout the cortex and peaked at the time of expected auditory feedback. Together, these findings reveal that predictive processing in the mouse auditory cortex is consistent with a learned internal model linking a specific action to its temporally precise acoustic outcome, while identifying distinct populations of neurons that anticipate expected stimuli and differentially process expected versus unexpected outcomes.

The answerability of false hope: Examining the unexpected outcomes of the Finnexia® public art intervention

This article examines the unexpected ethical issues that emerged from Finnexia®, a performance art intervention. Finnexia consisted of an advertisement campaign for a fictitious medication that helps people learn the Finnish language. Presented in the Helsinki Central Railway Station, the Finnexia performance aimed to generate a space for public dialogue about the experience of immigrants in Finland and the process of learning the Finnish language. On a secondary level, Finnexia presented a satirical critique towards the excess of medicalization in society. Through a detailed description of the Finnexia performance and its outcomes, the author examines the complexity of ethical issues that emerged from the Finnexia performance. The responsibility of the artist is discussed in the context of public performance in art practice and in artistic research. The author proposes that artists approach ethical considerations during the creative process through self-reflection, dialogue with fellow performers and in consultation with experts in the field.

Cardiovascular system and coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19): mutual injuries and unexpected outcomes

Background Cardiovascular system involvement in coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has gained great interest in the scientific community. Main body Several studies reported increased morbidity and mortality among COVID-19 patients who had comorbidities, especially cardiovascular diseases like hypertension and acute coronary syndrome (ACS). COVID-19 may be associated with cardiovascular complications as arrhythmia, myocarditis, and thromboembolic events. We aimed to illustrate the interactions of COVID-19 disease and the cardiovascular system and the consequences on clinical decision as well as public health. Conclusions COVID-19 has negative consequences on the cardiovascular system. A high index of suspicion should be present to avoid poor prognosis of those presenting with unusual presentation.

Teaching Global Communication During COVID-19: Challenges, Mitigation, and Lessons Learned

Higher education institutions in the United States resorted to remote instruction after the disruption caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The disjointed nature of this transition of managing the academic crisis needs to be critically engaged. By examining the experiences of global communication faculty at a midsize Midwestern university, this study attempts to reflect on the circumstances, challenges, and some unexpected outcomes of the phenomenon. Based on testimonies generated from the authors’ experiences and interviews conducted with instructors, the study outlines lessons learned from the adoption of media technology and offers insights on reimagining global communication pedagogy in the post-pandemic period.

Unexpected Outcomes of Renal Function after Radical Nephrectomy: Histology Relevance along with Clinical Aspects

Acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are common events after radical nephrectomy (RN). In this study we aimed to predict AKI and CKD after RN relying on specific histological aspects. We collected data from a cohort of 144 patients who underwent radical nephrectomy. A histopathological review of the healthy part of the removed kidney was performed using an established chronicity score (CS). Logistic regression analyses were performed to predict AKI after RN, while linear regression analysis was adopted for estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) variation at 1 year. The outcomes of the study were to determine variables correlated with AKI onset, and with eGFR decay at 1 year. The proportion of AKI was 64%. Logistic analyses showed that baseline eGFR independently predicted AKI (odds ratio 1.04, 95%CI 1.02:1.06). Moreover, AKI (Beta −16, 95%CI −21:−11), baseline eGFR (Beta −0.42, 95%CI −0.52:−0.33), and the presence of arterial narrowing (Beta 10, 95%CI 4:15) were independently associated with eGFR decline. Our findings showed that AKI onset and eGFR decline were more likely to occur with higher baseline eGFR and lower CS, highlighting that RN in normal renal function patients represents a more traumatic event than its CKD counterpart.

Update on Neurodegenerative Diseases and Glutamate: A PMHNP Single Case Study Report of a Diagnostically Complex Adult Patient, Interventions, and Unexpected Outcomes

OBJECTIVE: While dysfunction of serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitters has been studied in depth, in regard to the etiology of mental illness, the neurotransmitter glutamate and its dysfunction is now being explored as contributing to neurodegenerative psychiatric diseases, schizophrenia, autism, depression, and Alzheimer’s disease. This article explains its synthesis, neurotransmission, and metabolism within the brain and subsequent dysfunction that is responsible for neurocognitive loss associated with several psychiatric disorders. METHOD: The case study will report on the screening for pseudobulbar affective (PBA) disorder in a 29-year-old male with bipolar disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and intellectual developmental disability who was experiencing extreme, uncontrolled emotional outbursts requiring continuous family isolation (pre-COVID-19) for safety. With the positive screen for PBA, the patient was subsequently treated with a glutamatergic drug, dextromethorphan/quinidine. RESULTS: The patient’s unexpected response to this treatment including the acquisition of language, increased cognition, and improved executive functioning is presented. At 2 years post the initiation of treatment, his PBA screening score is reduced, uncontrolled outbursts and aggression have subsided, and the family can spend time outside of their home. CONCLUSIONS: Neurodegeneration and its impact is being researched and treated with medications affecting glutamate. The addition of a glutamatergic medication to this young man’s medication regimen has improved both his and his family’s quality of life. The psychiatric diagnoses, medications, and treatments associated with glutamate are explained in depth. The importance of nurses’ understanding of glutamate, its synthesis, transmission, and dysfunction causing excitotoxicity and brain cell death and its impact on patients’ behavior and safety is explained.