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Kim, So-Yeon, and Jeong-Ryeol Kim. "The Effect of Digital English Textbook-based International Exchange and Cooperative Learning Program on Elementary School Students' WTC and Cultural Sensitivity." Korean Association For Learner-Centered Curriculum And Instruction 22, no. 21 (November 15, 2022): 1–16. http://dx.doi.org/10.22251/jlcci.2022.22.21.1.
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Objectives The purposes of this study were to conduct international exchange cooperative learning program based on cultural activities provided by English digital textbook and to investigate students’ responses and the effect of elementary school students’ in the 4th to 5th grades on WTC and cultural sensitivity. Methods After 18 students in the 4th to 5th grades of elementary schools in Daejeon participated in the activity for 8 months from March to November 2021, followed by pre and post structured WTC and cultural sensitivity questionnaires, and analyzed learners' follow up responses and interviews. Results The international exchange cooperative learning program based on English digital textbook had a positive effect on the WTC frequency and cultural sensitivity of elementary school students. In addition, there were many positive and helpful responses in post survey and interviews. Conclusions Through this study, international exchange cooperative learning programs based on English digital textbooks will be widely applied to the field to develop various classes and follow-up studies to improve students' English WTC and cultural sensitivity.
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Anwar, Indry Widyasti, Min Jung Jee, Sutisno Adam, and Sartika Sailuddin. "WILLINGNESS TO COMMUNICATE AND ITS INFLUENCING FACTORS AMONG INDONESIAN PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS." Journal of Languages and Language Teaching 9, no. 4 (October 25, 2021): 385. http://dx.doi.org/10.33394/jollt.v9i4.4201.
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Willingness to communicate (WTC) can be defined as the readiness of a language learner to enter communication situation. This study aims to identify factors affecting pre-service teachers’ WTC and to explore their perspective on the importance of WTC in relation to the study program. The study implemented both quantitative and qualitative method in order to gain deeper understanding from questionnaires and interview data. Questionnaires were used to explain interrelated relationship between variables affecting WTC among pre-service teachers. Interview data were used to report their perspective on the significance of WTC in relation to their study program. The result inferred that pre-service teachers have relatively high WTC. Motivation variable scale indicated direct positive relation to pre-service teachers’ WTC while anxiety showed a negative relationship. Language learning beliefs items were reported to be moderately agreed upon among pre-service teachers influencing their WTC. Interview result inferred that pre-service teachers mostly agreed upon the significance of enhancing WTC among learners. Implications for learning as a result from this study suggested that teachers and curriculum makers to improve teaching techniques and approaches in order to enhance learners’ WTC.
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Auliyah, Zumrotul, and Wahyu Diny Sujannah. "Factors Contributing to Students' Willingness to Communicate during English Day Program." SALEE: Study of Applied Linguistics and English Education 4, no. 2 (July 10, 2023): 393–408. http://dx.doi.org/10.35961/salee.v4i2.845.
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A lot of habituations are needed to get students accustomed to communicating using a foreign language. One of the habits that schools can hold is through outside classroom program, such as English Day program by SMK Putra Indonesia Malang, held weekly to create an English environment for students to develop their speaking skills. However, in practice, students’ willingness to communicate (WTC) was considered low based on the initial observations conducted by one of the researchers. The present study aimed to investigate the factors contributing to WTC during the English Day program. Using a case study through interview and observations, the participants were eight tenth grade students of Industrial Chemical and Industrial Pharmacy classes represented by high and low achievers. The results showed that there were five factors influence their WTC during the English Day Program, including their surroundings, being afraid of committing grammatical mistakes, lack of vocabulary knowledge, lack of pronunciation mastery, and shyness. Thus, English teachers are recommended to encourage students to speak more through fun learning activities in the classroom. Moreover, further researchers are suggested to conduct research on a wider sample to know the main factor contributing to low WTC during the English Day program.
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Calvert, Geoffrey. "SS49-01 INTRODUCTION TO THE 9/11 ATTACKS AND THE WORLD TRADE CENTER HEALTH PROGRAM." Occupational Medicine 74, Supplement_1 (July 1, 2024): 0. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqae023.0289.
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Abstract Introduction The September 11, 2001 (9/11) terrorist attacks in New York City, at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and at the crash site near Shanksville, Pennsylvania adversely affected the physical and mental health of hundreds of thousands. Materials and Methods This session will describe the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the resulting exposures to physical agents and severe psychological stressors. An overview of the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program will also be provided. Information to be presented was derived from peer-reviewed published articles, and from publicly available documents produced by the WTC Health Program. Results The collapse and burning of the WTC and neighboring buildings released a complex mixture of neurotoxin-containing irritant and alkaline dust, smoke, gaseous materials, heavy metals, asbestos, and other substances. Similar exposures also occurred at the Pentagon and at the Shanksville crash site. The disaster sites were also psychologically traumatizing. To address the health concerns that arose, the WTC Health Program was created by federal law and commenced on July 1, 2011. It provides health screenings and treatment for those directly affected by the September 11th terrorist attacks. The WTC Health Program is a limited federal healthcare program. That is, medical treatment benefits are provided only for those conditions determined to be related to 9/11 exposures. Conclusions This special session will summarize the psychiatric and cognitive effects observed among persons with 9/11 exposures, reflect on the possible role of those exposures in causing/contributing to those health outcomes, and discuss the importance of ongoing clinical surveillance and the role of prevention.
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Santiago-Colón, Albeliz, Robert Daniels, Dori Reissman, Kristi Anderson, Geoffrey Calvert, Alexis Caplan, Tania Carreón, et al. "World Trade Center Health Program: First Decade of Research." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 19 (October 6, 2020): 7290. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17197290.
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The terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001 placed nearly a half million people at increased risk of adverse health. Health effects research began shortly after and continues today, now mostly as a coordinated effort under the federally mandated World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program (WTCHP). Established in 2011, the WTCHP provides medical monitoring and treatment of covered health conditions for responders and survivors and maintains a research program aimed to improve the care and well-being of the affected population. By 2020, funds in excess of USD 127 M had been awarded for health effects research. This review describes research findings and provides an overview of the WTCHP and its future directions. The literature was systematically searched for relevant articles published from 11 September 2001 through 30 June 2020. Synthesis was limited to broad categories of mental health, cancer, respiratory disease, vulnerable populations, and emerging conditions. In total, 944 WTC articles were published, including peer-reviewed articles funded by the WTCHP (n = 291) and other sources. Research has focused on characterizing the burden and etiology of WTC-related health conditions. As the program moves forward, translational research that directly enhances the care of individuals with chronic mental and physical health conditions is needed.
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Arslan, Alan A., Yian Zhang, Nedim Durmus, Sultan Pehlivan, Adrienne Addessi, Freya Schnabel, Yongzhao Shao, and Joan Reibman. "Breast Cancer Characteristics in the Population of Survivors Participating in the World Trade Center Environmental Health Center Program 2002–2019." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 14 (July 15, 2021): 7555. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18147555.
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The destruction of World Trade Center on 11 September 2001 exposed local community members to a complex mixture of known carcinogens and potentially carcinogenic substances. To date, breast cancer has not been characterized in detail in the WTC-exposed civilian populations. The cancer characteristics of breast cancer patients were derived from the newly developed Pan-Cancer Database at the WTC Environmental Health Center (WTC EHC). We used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program breast cancer data as a reference source. Between May 2002 and 31 December 2019, 2840 persons were diagnosed with any type of cancer at the WTC EHC, including 601 patients with a primary breast cancer diagnosis (592 women and 9 men). There was a higher proportion of grade 3 (poorly differentiated) tumors (34%) among the WTC EHC female breast cancers compared to that of the SEER-18 data (25%). Compared to that of the SEER data, female breast cancers in the WTC EHC had a lower proportion of luminal A (88% and 65%, respectively), higher proportion of luminal B (13% and 15%, respectively), and HER-2-enriched (5.5% and 7%, respectively) subtypes. These findings suggest considerable differences in the breast cancer characteristics and distribution of breast cancer intrinsic subtypes in the WTC-exposed civilian population compared to that of the general population. This is important because of the known effect of molecular subtypes on breast cancer prognosis.
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Durmus, Nedim, Yongzhao Shao, Alan A. Arslan, Yian Zhang, Sultan Pehlivan, Maria-Elena Fernandez-Beros, Lisette Umana, et al. "Characteristics of Cancer Patients in the World Trade Center Environmental Health Center." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 19 (October 1, 2020): 7190. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17197190.
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The destruction of the World Trade Center (WTC) towers on 11 September 2001 released many tons of aerosolized dust and smoke with potential for carcinogenic exposures to community members as well as responders. The WTC Environmental Health Center (WTC EHC) is a surveillance and treatment program for a diverse population of community members (“Survivors”), including local residents and workers, present in the NYC disaster area on 9/11 or in the days or weeks following. We report a case series of cancers identified in the WTC EHC as of 31 December 2019. Descriptive characteristics are presented for 2561 cancer patients (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) and 5377 non-cancer WTC-EHC participants who signed informed consent. We identified a total of 2999 cancer diagnoses in 2561 patients: 2534 solid tumors (84.5%) and 465 lymphoid and hematopoietic tissue cancers (15.5%) with forty-one different cancer types. We describe the distribution, frequency, median age of cancer diagnosis and median latency from 9/11 by cancer site. In addition to common cancer types, rare cancers, including male breast cancers and mesotheliomas have been identified. The current study is the first report on cancer characteristics of enrollees at WTC EHC, a federally designated treatment and surveillance program for local community members affected by the 9/11 terrorist attack on the WTC.
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Florsheim, Rebecca Lynn, Qiao Zhang, Nedim Durmus, Yian Zhang, Sultan Pehlivan, Alan A. Arslan, Yongzhao Shao, and Joan Reibman. "Characteristics of Cancers in Community Members Exposed to the World Trade Center Disaster at a Young Age." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19, no. 22 (November 17, 2022): 15163. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192215163.
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The destruction of the World Trade Center (WTC) towers on 11 September 2001 (9/11) released tons of dust and smoke into the atmosphere, exposing hundreds of thousands of community members (survivors) and responders to carcinogens. The WTC Environmental Health Center (WTC EHC) is a federally designated surveillance and treatment program for community members who were present in the New York City disaster area on 9/11 or during the months that followed. WTC EHC enrollment requires exposure to the WTC dust and fumes and a federally certifiable medical condition, which includes most solid and blood cancers. Several studies have described the prevalence and characteristics of cancers in responders and survivors exposed to the WTC dust and fumes as adults. Cancers in those exposed at a young age warrant specific investigation since environmental toxin exposure at a younger age may change cancer risk. We describe the characteristics of 269 cancer patients with 278 cancer diagnoses among WTC EHC enrollees who were young in age (aged 0 to 30) on 9/11. These include 215 patients with a solid tumor (79.9%) and 54 with a lymphoid and/or hematopoietic cancer (20.1%). Among them, 9 patients had a known second primary cancer. A total of 23 different types of cancer were identified, including cancer types rare for this age group. Many were diagnosed in individuals lacking traditional cancer-specific risk factors such as tobacco use. The current study is the first to report specifically on cancer characteristics of younger enrollees in the WTC EHC program.
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Karnchanachari, Samertip. "An Investigation into Learners’ Willingness to Communicate in English in the Classroom: A Study of Thai EFL Students in the Thai and International Programs." rEFLections 26, no. 2 (December 30, 2019): 83–106. http://dx.doi.org/10.61508/refl.v26i2.241757.
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Willingness to Communicate (WTC) is among the concepts that has received considerable attention in EFL/ESL research in recent years as it brings together a myriad of factors that explain why L2 learners do or do not engage in L2 communication. An EFL classroom provides an environment that promotes use of the target language, yet Thai learners are often reluctant to communicate in English in the classroom. The present study aimed to investigate the possible factors that influence Thai learners’ WTC in the EFL classroom context. Participants included Thai students in both the Thai and International Engineering programs at a public university in Bangkok, Thailand, as well as both Thai and foreign instructors. The assumption underlying the investigation was that WTC in English in the classroom of Thai students in both Thai and international programs was is influenced by variables other than their English proficiency. Likert-type WTC questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were used to collect the data, and a quantitative descriptive approach was employed. Content analysis was also used to analyze qualitative data and provide more in-depth answers to the research questions. Statistically significant differences in WTC between Thai EFL learners in the Thai and international programs were found both in degrees of willingness and reported factors influencing the WTC. The results have been used to develop evidence-based guidelines for English instructors in the implementation of classroom activities and teaching methods to promote Thai learners’ WTC in the classroom.
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Wirjawan, John Kevin, and Mieke Choandi. "IMPLEMENTASI ARSITEKTUR BERKELANJUTAN DENGAN PENGELOLAAN SAMPAH MELALUI SISTEM TEKNOLOGI WASTE TO ENERGY (WTE)." Jurnal Sains, Teknologi, Urban, Perancangan, Arsitektur (Stupa) 6, no. 1 (April 30, 2024): 295–310. http://dx.doi.org/10.24912/stupa.v6i1.27474.
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Waste processing with a sustainable architectural system essentially develops side by side, in order to achieve current needs and future sustainability. Fossil fuels are one of the factors triggering increasing global warming. Many developed countries are starting to innovate in developing waste processing systems. Apart from that, they are also trying to allocate investment in alternative energy. One that is relevant is waste to energy (WtE), a sustainable energy source that can reduce waste problems with technology. Developing countries find it difficult to get out of this serious threat that has never found a solution, such as Indonesia. Developed countries in Asia and Europe have started to implement technological systems and are growing rapidly to 29% in the European Union in 2018. It is clear that this application can reduce piles of waste, minimize accumulation in landfills, and produce recycling systems and technological processing into energy. But this development must be supported and involve the community and the government through appropriate habits, education, communities, programs and regulations. The WtE system is very possible to be implemented, because the high demand for energy and waste can be managed, so that the problem of waste that has been piled up for years can be reduced. Sustainable architecture with WtE technology innovation as a forum from the smallest community level programs to the development of private projects, can create architecture that prioritizes the environment by paying attention to healthy environmental issues where the architecture stands, as an inspiration for society and its behavior. Keywords: energy; sustainable architecture; waste management; waste technology; waste to energy Abstrak Pengolahan sampah dengan sistem arsitektur berkelanjutan hakikatnya berkembang berdampingan, guna mencapai kebutuhan masa kini dan keberlangsungan masa depan. Bahan bakar fosil merupakan salah satu faktor pemicu meningkatnya pemanasan global. Banyak negara maju mulai berinovasi dalam pengembangan sistem pengolahan sampah. Selain itu, pengalokasian investasi pada energi alternatif pun turut mereka upayakan. Salah satu yang relevan adalah waste to energy (WtE), sumber energi berkelanjutan yang dapat mengurangi permasalahan sampah dengan teknologi. Negara berkembang sulit untuk keluar dari ancaman serius ini yang tak kunjung menemukan solusi, seperti Negara Indonesia. Negara maju di Asia dan Eropa sudah mulai menerapkan sistem teknologi dan berkembang pesat hingga 29% di Uni Eropa 2018. Jelas penerapan ini dapat mengurangi tumpukan sampah, meminimalisir penumpukan di TPA, serta menghasilkan sistem daur ulang dan pengolahan teknologi menjadi energi. Tetapi pengembangan ini harus didukung dan melibatkan masyarakat sampai pemerintah melalui kebiasaan, pendidikan, komunitas, program, dan regulasi yang tepat. Sistem WtE sangat mungkin diterapkan di Indonesia, karena kebutuhan yang tinggi akan energi dan sampah dapat dikelola, sehingga masalah sampah yang sudah tertimbun bertahun-tahun dapat dikurangi. Arsitektur berkelanjutan dengan inovasi teknologi WtE sebagai wadah dari program tingkat terkecil masyarakat sampai pengembangan proyek swasta, dapat menciptakan arsitektur yang mengedepankan lingkungan dengan memperhatikan masalah lingkungan hidup sehat dimana aristektur itu beridiri, sebagai inspirasi bagi masyarakat dan perilakunya.
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Bover Manderski, Michelle T., Kathleen Black, Iris G. Udasin, Anna R. Giuliano, Michael B. Steinberg, Pamela Ohman Strickland, Taylor M. Black, et al. "Risk factors for head and neck cancer in the World Trade Center Health Program General Responder Cohort: results from a nested case–control study." Occupational and Environmental Medicine 76, no. 11 (September 12, 2019): 854–60. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2019-105890.
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ObjectivesHead and neck cancers (HNCs) may be among the health consequences of involvement in the World Trade Center (WTC) response on and after 11 September 2001. We conducted a nested case–control study of WTC Health Program (WTCHP) general responders to examine the effects of WTC exposures and behavioural risk factors on HNC.MethodsWe enrolled 64 cases and 136 controls, matched on age, sex and race/ethnicity within risk sets. We assessed tobacco and alcohol use, sexual activity, and occupational exposures prior to, during and after WTC exposure until case diagnosis via questionnaire. We obtained WTC exposure information (duration (first to last day), total days and location of work) from the WTCHP General Responder Data Center. We assessed associations with HNC, and interaction among exposures, using conditional logistic regression.ResultsResponders in protective services versus other occupations had increased odds (OR: 2.51, 95% CI 1.09 to 5.82) of HNC. Among those in non-protective services occupations, arriving to the WTC effort on versus after 11 September 2001 was significantly associated with HNC (OR: 3.77, 95% CI 1.00 to 14.11). Duration of work was not significantly associated with HNC. Lifetime and post-WTC years of cigarette smoking and post-WTC number of sex partners were positively and significantly associated with HNC, while alcohol consumption was not.ConclusionsThese findings suggest opportunities for HNC risk factor mitigation (eg, smoking cessation, human papillomavirus vaccination) and contribute to a risk factor profile which may assist WTCHP clinicians with identifying high-risk responders and improve detection and treatment outcomes in this population.
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Farizal, Nadya Amalin, and Amar Rachman. "A new funding scheme for MSW management to support WtE program." E3S Web of Conferences 116 (2019): 00020. http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/201911600020.
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Among many approaches to manage municipal solid waste (MSW), waste to energy (WtE) program through running a landfill gas plant is believed the best way. It deals with waste and energy problems simultaneously. However, even though it offers inevitable benefits, in Indonesia WtE program implementation is stagnant. This study proposes an alternative funding scheme to run the program, i.e. based on resident participation. The study used willingness to pay from Contingent Valuation Method to disclose the participation level. For the purpose, a case study was taken place at City of Depok, West Java Province. The result reveals that the proposed funding scheme is an applicable way for the program. As much as 86% of Depok resident were willing to participate funding the project with the participation range of 20,000 to 200,000 IDR per month. The percentage is even higher, 88%, if there is an incentive such as electricity bill discount to the participants.
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Masterson-Duva, Melissa, Peter Haugen, Aditi Werth, Alyce Foster, Emily Chassman, Kailey Roberts, Jonathan DePierro, et al. "Adapting meaning-centered psychotherapy for World Trade Center responders." Palliative and Supportive Care 18, no. 6 (March 2, 2020): 636–43. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1478951520000061.
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AbstractObjectiveTo date, nearly 10,000 World Trade Center (WTC) responders have been diagnosed with at least one type of WTC-related cancer, and over 70 types of cancer have been related to WTC occupational exposure. Due to the observed latency period for malignancies, the WTC Health Program anticipates increases in rates of new cancer diagnoses. Given the growing number of cancer diagnoses in this population, there is an urgent need to develop a novel intervention to address the psychosocial needs of WTC responders with cancer. Meaning-centered psychotherapy (MCP) is a structured psychotherapeutic intervention originally developed to help patients with advanced cancer find and sustain meaning in life despite illness-related limitations. Existential distress and loss of meaning are critical and understudied elements of psychological health that have been widely overlooked among WTC responders with cancer.MethodWe have adapted MCP for WTC responders (MCP-WTC) for the treatment of WTC responders who have been diagnosed with WTC-certified cancers. MCP-WTC aims to target the complex crisis in meaning faced by those responders who responded to the 9/11 attacks and subsequently were diagnosed with cancer as a result of their service.ResultsWe describe the adaptation of MCP-WTC and the application of this intervention to meet the unique needs of those exposed to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 (9/11), participated in the rescue, recovery, and clean-up effort at Ground Zero, and were diagnosed with WTC-related cancer. We highlight the novel aspects of this intervention which have been designed to facilitate meaning-making in the context of the patient's response to 9/11 and subsequent diagnosis of cancer.Significance of resultsThis work provides a rationale for MCP-WTC and the potential for this intervention to improve the quality of life of WTC responders and help these patients navigate life after 9/11 and cancer.
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Ornstein, Katherine, Fred Ko, Amy Park, Ahmad Sabra, Katelyn Ferreira, William Hung, Roberto Lucchini, and Erin Thanik. "FRAILTY AND AGE-RELATED CONDITIONS AMONG WORLD TRADE CENTER GENERAL RESPONDERS." Innovation in Aging 6, Supplement_1 (November 1, 2022): 47. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igac059.181.
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Abstract As WTC exposure may precipitate frailty, we examined patterns of frailty in the general responders cohort. We used two methods to assess frailty: a Clinical Frailty Index (FI) developed using a deficit accumulation approach utilizing clinical assessments performed during routine annual visits to a WTC clinical program in New York City; and a frailty questionnaire (5-point FRAIL scale) collected from a subsample of responders. Using a Clinical FI cutoff score of 0.25, over 25% of the 7,679 participants, median age 58.3 years (IQR 9.3), who had any visit to the WTC clinical program from 2017 to 2019, were frail. In a subsample of 100 participants with additional frailty assessment (FRAIL scale), we found that 27% were pre-frail, 5% were frail, 14% had recent falls, 9% had ADL dependencies; 34% had mild cognitive impairment. These data suggest that frailty and its related conditions are prevalent among the cohort despite younger age.
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van Gerwen, Maaike A. G., Stephanie Tuminello, Gregory J. Riggins, Thais B. Mendes, Michael Donovan, Emma K. T. Benn, Eric Genden, Janete M. Cerutti, and Emanuela Taioli. "Molecular Study of Thyroid Cancer in World Trade Center Responders." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16, no. 9 (May 7, 2019): 1600. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16091600.
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Thyroid cancer incidence is higher in World Trade Center (WTC) responders compared with the general population. It is unclear whether this excess in thyroid cancer is associated with WTC-related exposures or if instead there is an over-diagnosis of malignant thyroid cancer among WTC first responders due to enhanced surveillance and physician bias. To maximize diagnostic yield and determine the false positive rate for malignancy, the histological diagnoses of thyroid cancer tumors from WTC responders and age, gender, and histology matched non-WTC thyroid cancer cases were evaluated using biomarkers of malignancy. Using a highly accurate panel of four biomarkers that are able to distinguish benign from malignant thyroid cancer, our results suggest that over-diagnosis by virtue of misdiagnosis of a benign tumor as malignant does not explain the increased incidence of thyroid cancer observed in WTC responders. Therefore, rather than over-diagnosis due to physician bias, the yearly screening visits by the World Trade Center Health Program are identifying true cases of thyroid cancer. Continuing regular screening of this cohort is thus warranted.
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Li, Jiehui, James Cone, Robert Brackbill, Ingrid Giesinger, Janette Yung, and Mark Farfel. "Pulmonary Fibrosis among World Trade Center Responders: Results from the WTC Health Registry Cohort." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16, no. 5 (March 7, 2019): 825. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16050825.
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Dust created by the collapse of the World Trade Center (WTC) towers on 9/11 included metals and toxicants that have been linked to an increased risk of pulmonary fibrosis (PF) in the literature. Little has been reported on PF among WTC responders. This report used self-reported physician diagnosis of PF with an unknown sub-type to explore the association between levels of WTC dust exposure and PF. We included 19,300 WTC responders, enrolled in the WTC Health Registry in 2003–2004, who were followed for 11 years from 2004 to 2015. Exposure was defined primarily by intensity and duration of exposure to WTC dust/debris and work on the debris pile. Stratified Cox regression was used to assess the association. We observed 73 self-reported physician-diagnosed PF cases, with a PF incidence rate of 36.7/100,000 person-years. The adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) of PF was higher in those with a medium (AHR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.1–5.8) and very high level of exposure (AHR = 4.5, 95% CI = 2.0–10.4), compared to those with low exposure. A test for exposure—response trend was statistically significant (Ptrend = 0.004). Future research on WTC dust exposure and PF would benefit from using data from multiple WTC Health Program responder cohorts for increased statistical power and clinically confirmed cases.
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Madrigano, Jaime, Thomas W. Concannon, Sean Mann, Sameer M. Siddiqi, Ramya Chari, and Laura J. Faherty. "Impact of World Trade Center-Related Health Research: An Application of the NIEHS Translational Framework." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 5 (March 6, 2021): 2659. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18052659.
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The World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) has a research mission to identify physical and mental health conditions that may be related to the 9/11 terrorist attacks as well as effective diagnostic procedures and treatments for WTC-related health conditions. The ability of the WTCHP to serve its members and realize positive impacts on all of its stakeholders depends on effective translation of research findings. As part of an ongoing assessment of the translational impact of World Trade Center (WTC)-related research, we applied the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) translational framework to two case studies: WTC-related research on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and cancer. We conducted a review of 9/11 health-related research in the peer-reviewed literature through October 2017, grey literature, and WTCHP program documentation. We mapped peer-reviewed studies in the literature to the NIEHS framework and used WTCHP program documentation and grey literature to find evidence of translation of research into clinical practice and policy. Using the NIEHS framework, we identified numerous translational milestones and bridges, as well as areas of opportunity, within each case study. This application demonstrates the utility of the NIEHS framework for documenting progress toward public health impact and for setting future research goals.
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Wisnivesky, Juan P., Nikita Agrawal, Jyoti Ankam, Adam Gonzalez, Alex Federman, Steven B. Markowitz, Janette M. Birmingham, and Paula J. Busse. "Inflammatory markers in world trade center workers with asthma: Associations with post traumatic stress disorder." PLOS ONE 19, no. 2 (February 13, 2024): e0297616. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0297616.
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Background Post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) is associated with worse asthma outcomes in individuals exposed to the World Trade Center (WTC) site. Research question Do WTC workers with coexisting PTSD and asthma have a specific inflammatory pattern that underlies the relationship with increased asthma morbidity? Study design and methods We collected data on a cohort of WTC workers with asthma recruited from the WTC Health Program. Diagnosis of PTSD was ascertained with a Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel of Mental Disorders) and the severity of PTSD symptoms was assessed with the PTSD Checklist 5. We obtained blood and sputum samples to measure cytokines levels in study participants. Results Of the 232 WTC workers with diagnosis of asthma in the study, 75 (32%) had PTSD. PTSD was significantly associated with worse asthma control (p = 0.002) and increased resource utilization (p = 0.0002). There was no significant association (p>0.05) between most blood or sputum cytokines with PTSD diagnosis or PCL-5 scores both in unadjusted and adjusted analyses. Interpretation Our results suggest that PTSD is not associated with blood and sputum inflammatory markers in WTC workers with asthma. These findings suggest that other mechanisms likely explain the association between PTSD and asthma control in WTC exposed individuals.
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Hena, Murphy, Zhang, Shao, Kazeros, and Reibman. "Clinical Evaluation of Sarcoidosis in Community Members with World Trade Center Dust Exposure." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16, no. 7 (April 10, 2019): 1291. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16071291.
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Background: Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous disease involving intrathoracic and extrathoracic organs. Genetic and environmental factors, such as exposure to World-Trade Center (WTC) dust after 9/11, may play a role in clinical presentation. Characterization of sarcoidosis in community members with exposure to the WTC dust can provide further insight into the relationship between environmental exposure and sarcoidosis. Methods: Patients with documented sarcoidosis were identified in the WTC Environmental Health Center (EHC), a treatment program for community members. Demographic and clinical data were collected from standardized questionnaires and chart review. Organ involvement was assessed with a standard instrument. Results: Among patients in the WTC EHC, 87 were identified with sarcoidosis after 9/11. Sarcoidosis cases were more likely African-American, local workers, and had more respiratory symptoms, compared with non-sarcoidosis WTC EHC patients. Many (46%) had ≥ Scadding stage 3 on chest imaging, and had reduced lung function measures. Extrathoracic involvement was identified in 33/87 (38%) with a diversity of organs involved. Conclusions: WTC-exposed sarcoidosis in community members is often characterized by severe pulmonary disease and a high rate of diverse extrathoracic involvement. Further analysis is required to characterize the course of disease progression or resolution.
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McNerney, G. M., C. P. van Dam, and D. T. Yen-Nakafuji. "Blade-Wake Interaction Noise for Turbines With Downwind Rotors." Journal of Solar Energy Engineering 125, no. 4 (November 1, 2003): 497–505. http://dx.doi.org/10.1115/1.1627830.
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The interaction between the rotor and the tower wake is an important source of noise for wind turbines with downwind rotors. The tower wake modifies the dynamic pressure and the local flow incidence angle as seen by the blades and, hence, modifies the aerodynamic loading of the blade during blade passage. The resulting n per revolution fluctuation in the blade loading (where n is the number of blades) is the source of low frequency but potentially high amplitude sound levels. The Wind Turbine Company (WTC) Proof of Concept 250 kW (POC) wind turbine has been observed by field personnel to produce low-frequency emissions at the National Wind Technology Center (NWTC) site during specific atmospheric conditions. Consequently, WTC is conducting a three-phase program to characterize the low frequency emissions of its two-bladed wind turbines and to develop noise mitigation techniques if needed. This paper summarizes the first phase of this program including recent low-frequency noise measurements conducted on the WTC POC250 kW wind turbine, a review of the wake characteristics of circular towers as they pertain to the blade-wake interaction problem, and techniques to attenuate the sound pressure levels caused by the blade-wake interaction.
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Kholis, Muhammad Nur, Burhan Yusuf Habibi, Muhammad Zaenuri, and Luthfi Qoriatul Hasanah. "Willingness to Communicate (WTC) in Arabic for Students of State Islamic University." Alsinatuna 9, no. 1 (December 31, 2023): 51–64. http://dx.doi.org/10.28918/alsinatuna.v9i1.2206.
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Willingness to Communicate (WTC) stands as a crucial factor influencing language usage intensity, particularly in the pursuit of language learning objectives. This study investigates the WTC levels of students enrolled in Arabic Language Education (PBA) and Arabic Language and Literature (BSA) programs across three distinct contexts: inside the classroom (IC), outside the classroom (OC), and in the digital context (DC). Furthermore, the research seeks to identify the contributing factors affecting WTC in Arabic. Employing both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, the study assesses the WTC of PBA and BSA students. A sample size of n = 213 (PBA = 110, BSA = 103) is utilized for the quantitative analysis, employing questionnaires to collect data, subsequently analyzed through descriptive statistics. The qualitative approach delves deeper into understanding the factors influencing WTC in Arabic among PBA and BSA students. The findings reveal that BSA students exhibit a higher WTC rate compared to PBA students across all three contexts: IC, OC, and DC. Notably, the most elevated WTC levels are observed inside the classroom (IC). Multiple factors, including environmental conditions, Arabic language proficiency, and psychological states, contribute to this variance. Consequently, the study recommends that educators implement engaging learning methodologies within the classroom to foster increased Arabic language acquisition and a heightened willingness to utilize Arabic among students.
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Pietrzak, R. H., A. Feder, R. Singh, C. B. Schechter, E. J. Bromet, C. L. Katz, D. B. Reissman, et al. "Trajectories of PTSD risk and resilience in World Trade Center responders: an 8-year prospective cohort study." Psychological Medicine 44, no. 1 (April 3, 2013): 205–19. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0033291713000597.
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BackgroundLongitudinal symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are often characterized by heterogeneous trajectories, which may have unique pre-, peri- and post-trauma risk and protective factors. To date, however, no study has evaluated the nature and determinants of predominant trajectories of PTSD symptoms in World Trade Center (WTC) responders.MethodA total of 10835 WTC responders, including 4035 professional police responders and 6800 non-traditional responders (e.g. construction workers) who participated in the WTC Health Program (WTC-HP), were evaluated an average of 3, 6 and 8 years after the WTC attacks.ResultsAmong police responders, longitudinal PTSD symptoms were best characterized by four classes, with the majority (77.8%) in a resistant/resilient trajectory and the remainder exhibiting chronic (5.3%), recovering (8.4%) or delayed-onset (8.5%) symptom trajectories. Among non-traditional responders, a six-class solution was optimal, with fewer responders in a resistant/resilient trajectory (58.0%) and the remainder exhibiting recovering (12.3%), severe chronic (9.5%), subsyndromal increasing (7.3%), delayed-onset (6.7%) and moderate chronic (6.2%) trajectories. Prior psychiatric history, Hispanic ethnicity, severity of WTC exposure and WTC-related medical conditions were most strongly associated with symptomatic trajectories of PTSD symptoms in both groups of responders, whereas greater education and family and work support while working at the WTC site were protective against several of these trajectories.ConclusionsTrajectories of PTSD symptoms in WTC responders are heterogeneous and associated uniquely with pre-, peri- and post-trauma risk and protective factors. Police responders were more likely than non-traditional responders to exhibit a resistant/resilient trajectory. These results underscore the importance of prevention, screening and treatment efforts that target high-risk disaster responders, particularly those with prior psychiatric history, high levels of trauma exposure and work-related medical morbidities.
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Zhang, Yian, Rebecca Rosen, Joan Reibman, and Yongzhao Shao. "Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Mediates the Association between Traumatic World Trade Center Dust Cloud Exposure and Ongoing Systemic Inflammation in Community Members." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19, no. 14 (July 15, 2022): 8622. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19148622.
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Exposure to World Trade Center (WTC) dust/fumes and traumas on 11 September 2001 has been reported as a risk factor for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental/physical health symptoms in WTC-affected populations. Increased systemic inflammation and oxidative stress from the exposure and subsequent illnesses have been proposed as contributors to the underlying biological processes. Many blood-based biomarkers of systemic inflammation, including C-reactive protein (CRP), are useful for non-invasive diagnostic and monitoring of disease process, and also potential targets for therapeutic interventions. Twenty years after 9/11, however, the relationships between WTC exposure, chronic PTSD, and systemic inflammation are only beginning to be systematically investigated in the WTC-affected civilian population despite the fact that symptoms of PTSD and systemic inflammation are still common and persistent. This paper aims to address this knowledge gap, using enrollees of the WTC Environmental Health Center (EHC), a federally designated treatment and surveillance program for community members (WTC Survivors) exposed to the 9/11 terrorist attack. We conducted a mediation analysis to investigate the association between acute WTC dust cloud traumatic exposure (WDCTE) on 9/11, chronic PTSD symptoms, and levels of systemic inflammation. The data indicate that the chronic PTSD symptoms and some specific symptom clusters of PTSD significantly mediate the WDCTE on systemic inflammation, as reflected by the CRP levels. As both chronic PTSD and systemic inflammation are long-term risk factors for neurodegeneration and cognitive decline, further research on the implications of this finding is warranted.
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Cen, Qiuyan, Li Jinyan, and Qiumei Wang. "Assessing English Communication Willingness Among EFL Undergraduates: A Multi-University Study in Guangxi, China." Asian Journal of Current Research 9, no. 2 (May 22, 2024): 265–74. http://dx.doi.org/10.56557/ajocr/2024/v9i28706.
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Within the domain of English language learning, there exists a notable perspective among some undergraduates in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) programs, who believe that achieving high scores in written assessments suffices, thereby undervaluing the importance of oral proficiency. It is essential to recognize that the willingness to engage in communication (WTC) is a pivotal element that directly influences learners’ active participation in second-language interactions. This research employs a quantitative methodology to examine the WTC among EFL undergraduates at three universities in Guangxi. Through the administration of a structured questionnaire and the application of SPSS for data analysis, the study seeks to assess the current levels of WTC and to determine the impact of gender on these levels. The investigation is guided by the objective to elucidate: (1) the prevailing WTC in English among EFL undergraduates, and (2) the existence of any significant gender-based disparities in WTC. The findings from this study reveal that the general WTC among the surveyed EFL undergraduates is moderate. Notably, the WTC within classroom environments is discernibly lower than that observed in contexts outside of the classroom. Furthermore, the analysis indicates a minor, though not statistically significant, increase in WTC among male students when compared to their female counterparts. These insights not only shed light on the dynamics of language learning engagement but also offer a foundation for developing targeted instructional strategies aimed at fostering oral communicative skills.
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Pietrzak, R. H., A. Feder, C. B. Schechter, R. Singh, L. Cancelmo, E. J. Bromet, C. L. Katz, et al. "Dimensional structure and course of post-traumatic stress symptomatology in World Trade Center responders." Psychological Medicine 44, no. 10 (December 2, 2013): 2085–98. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0033291713002924.
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BackgroundPost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in response to the World Trade Center (WTC) disaster of 11 September 2001 (9/11) is one of the most prevalent and persistent health conditions among both professional (e.g. police) and non-traditional (e.g. construction worker) WTC responders, even several years after 9/11. However, little is known about the dimensionality and natural course of WTC-related PTSD symptomatology in these populations.MethodData were analysed from 10 835 WTC responders, including 4035 police and 6800 non-traditional responders who were evaluated as part of the WTC Health Program, a clinic network in the New York area established by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) were used to evaluate structural models of PTSD symptom dimensionality; and autoregressive cross-lagged (ARCL) panel regressions were used to examine the prospective interrelationships among PTSD symptom clusters at 3, 6 and 8 years after 9/11.ResultsCFAs suggested that five stable symptom clusters best represent PTSD symptom dimensionality in both police and non-traditional WTC responders. This five-factor model was also invariant over time with respect to factor loadings and structural parameters, thereby demonstrating its longitudinal stability. ARCL panel regression analyses revealed that hyperarousal symptoms had a prominent role in predicting other symptom clusters of PTSD, with anxious arousal symptoms primarily driving re-experiencing symptoms, and dysphoric arousal symptoms primarily driving emotional numbing symptoms over time.ConclusionsResults of this study suggest that disaster-related PTSD symptomatology in WTC responders is best represented by five symptom dimensions. Anxious arousal symptoms, which are characterized by hypervigilance and exaggerated startle, may primarily drive re-experiencing symptoms, while dysphoric arousal symptoms, which are characterized by sleep disturbance, irritability/anger and concentration difficulties, may primarily drive emotional numbing symptoms over time. These results underscore the importance of assessment, monitoring and early intervention of hyperarousal symptoms in WTC and other disaster responders.
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Kim, Jeongmin, Helen Zhao, and Chloé Diskin-Holdaway. "Willingness to Communicate and Second Language Fluency: Korean-Speaking Short-Term Sojourners in Australia." Languages 7, no. 2 (May 6, 2022): 112. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/languages7020112.
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The current mixed-method study investigated two groups of Korean-speaking short-term sojourners in Australia. One group (students) was composed of learners enrolled in English training programs, whereas the other group (workers) was of learners in the workplace. We administered questionnaires and a semi-structured interview to examine their willingness to communicate (WTC) in English as their second language (L2) and explored the relationship between this variable and the sojourners’ amount of L2 contact and their oral fluency in English. Our quantitative analyses show that the student group showed a higher level of WTC and amount of L2 exposure than the worker group. For both groups, WTC significantly predicted sojourners’ amount of L2 exposure. However, oral fluency was found neither to be associated with WTC nor with the amount of L2 exposure. Qualitative theme-based analysis suggests that the two sojourn groups demonstrated similarities and differences in their attitudes and motivations related to WTC and unwillingness to communicate (unWTC). The students demonstrated a stronger tendency to engage in L2 interaction than the workers, aligning with their significantly higher frequency of reported L2 exposure. The workers’ attitudes were characterized by feelings of ambivalence, with co-existence of both WTC and unWTC.
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Santiago-Colãn, Albeliz, Alan Katruska, and Kristen Iker. "140 Scoping Review of the Health Effects of Youth Due to the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks." Journal of Clinical and Translational Science 7, s1 (April 2023): 42–43. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/cts.2023.222.
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OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Use the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program Health Effects Library to identify the breadth and depth of research on the health effects of youth due to exposures from the events of September 11, 2001, to track the research trajectories by study population, and to identify gaps and define needs for future research. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: We selected references from the WTC Health Effects Library. This curated library includes research publications that measure, report, or discuss health effects of 9/11 at the three disaster sites. Articles included had to evaluate people under 18 years old on 9/11/2001, including those in-utero. Of the 1,813 references considered, 195 were included in our study. Data from each reference was extracted using DistillerSR software and organized in four topics: overview, methods, conditions, and results. Each publication was abstracted independently by a team of two health scientists and conflicts were resolved by the four-person team. All data was then exported from DistillerSR into Microsoft Excel for analysis. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: The 195 articles included were published between 2002 through 2021, of which 29 were funded by the WTC Health Program. The study population represented ranged from in-utero to 18 years old. Research trajectories will be developed by assessing chronological research by outcome groups (physical, mental and behavioral, interventions, and biomarkers), study population categories, as well as exposure location and mechanism. Demographic data extracted will be used to assess whether there are disparities in the research conducted to date for this population and if so, in what areas. Research recommendations and clinical implication extracted from references will be used to assess whether more recent research has addressed research from the early post 9/11 years. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: WTC research strengthens our understanding of 9/11 health effects and provides a way to improve healthcare for the people afflicted from 9/11 exposures. The anticipated results from this scoping review can lead us to identify past research challenges and current knowledge gaps that the Program can address in future research grants.
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Chuang, Zhenju, Hui Yi, Xin Chang, Hongxiang Liu, Haidian Zhang, and Lulin Xia. "Comprehensive Analysis of the Impact of the Icing of Wind Turbine Blades on Power Loss in Cold Regions." Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 11, no. 6 (May 26, 2023): 1125. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/jmse11061125.
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Blade icing often occurs on wind turbines in cold climates. Blade icing has many adverse effects on wind turbines, and the loss of output power is one of the most important effects. With the increasing emphasis on clean energy around the world, the design and production of wind turbines tend to be large-scale. So this paper selected the 15 MW wind turbine provided by NREL (American Renewable Energy Laboratory) to study the influence of blade icing on output power. In this paper, a multi-program coupled analysis method named CFD-WTIC-ILM (CFD: Computational fluid dynamics; WTIC: Wind Turbine Integrated Calculation; ILM: Ice loss method) was proposed to analyze the whole machine wind turbine. Firstly, Fensap-ice was used to simulate the icing of the wind turbine blades, and then the icing results were input into WTIC for the integrated calculation and analysis of the wind turbine. Then, the WTIC calculation results were used to simulate SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) data and input into ILM to calculate the power loss. Finally, this paper analyzed the comprehensive influence of icing on output power. The calculation results show that the ice mainly accumulates on the windward side of the blade. Icing has a great influence on the aerodynamic characteristics of the airfoil, leading to a significant decrease in the power curve. The rated wind speed is pushed from 10.59 m/s to 13 m/s. The power loss of the wind turbine in the wind speed optimization stage is as high as 37.48%, and the annual power loss rate caused by icing can reach at least 22%.
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Rosen, Rebecca, Zhaoyin Zhu, Yongzhao Shao, Mengling Liu, Jia Bao, Nomi Levy-Carrick, and Joan Reibman. "Longitudinal Change of PTSD Symptoms in Community Members after the World Trade Center Destruction." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16, no. 7 (April 4, 2019): 1215. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16071215.
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The World Trade Center (WTC) Environmental Health Center (EHC) is a treatment program for community members with exposure to the 9/11 terrorist attack and its physical and emotional aftermath. Compared to the general responders program, the WTC EHC is diverse with equal gender distribution, representation of many races and ethnicities, and a wide range of social economic status. Patients in the WTC EHC were initially enrolled for physical symptoms, most of which were respiratory, however a large portion of the enrollees scored positive for probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this paper we identify patient characteristics associated with probable PTSD. We also determine the characteristics associated with the longitudinal change of PTSD symptoms, including persistence and remittance, using the widely used Posttraumatic Check List-17 (PCL) cut-off value of 44, as well as changes in PCL total score and symptom cluster scores in patients of Low and High PTSD symptom severity. Few patients with elevated scores achieved a score below 44. However, longitudinal improvement in PCL score at follow-up was identified for patients with High PTSD scores (PCL > 57.5). Changes in PCL symptom clusters differed between those with High and Low PCL scores. These data suggest improvement over time in PCL score that differs depending on the severity of the score and variable responses in the PCL symptom clusters.
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Allen, Steven L., Ruthee-Lu Bayer, Dilip Patel, and Jonathan E. Kolitz. "Acute Myeloid Leukemia Occurring in Responders to the 9/11 Attack on the World Trade Center: A Single Institution Case Series." Blood 112, no. 11 (November 16, 2008): 3997. http://dx.doi.org/10.1182/blood.v112.11.3997.3997.
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Abstract Responders to the 9/11/01 attack on the World Trade Center (WTC) were exposed to a variety of toxins resulting from the combustion of jet fuels, collapse of the towers, smoldering fires, and diesel exhaust generated by heavy equipment during debris removal. These toxins included polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls and furans, and dioxins. The potential for subsequent development of secondary malignancies has been of concern. We report a single institution series of 6 cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) occurring in responders to the WTC disaster. All spent extended periods of time at Ground Zero. Case Age WTC Role 9/11 to Dx (months) FAB Karyotype Response Status 1 38 Construction worker 29 M2 46, XY CR Relapse at 33 mos; expired 2 43 Bus driver 57 M4 48, XY, +8, +11 CMMoL Alive s/p allo SCT 3 38 Glass cutter 71 M3 46, XY, t (15;17) CR Alive 4 53 Police 74 M4 46, XY CR Relapse at 8 mos; alive 5 45 Police 79 M1 46, XY CR Alive 6 62 Police 79 M5a 46, XY CR Alive AML arising in WTC responders after a latency period of at least 29 months raises the possibility of an association. There are no distinctive characteristics apparent in this small single institution series. Case 2 has myelodysplasia at a relatively young age, consistent with a possible toxic etiology. AML patients should be questioned regarding activity at Ground Zero and identified cases should be asked about the duration and types of exposure at the WTC, in addition to other occupational or environmental exposures. Clinicians should report cases of hematologic malignancy in WTC responders to the appropriate state cancer registry to facilitate epidemiologic investigation. Studies of cancer among persons exposed to the 9/11 disaster are ongoing by the New York City Fire Department, the WTC Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program and the WTC Health Registry.
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Bello, Ghalib A., Roberto G. Lucchini, Susan L. Teitelbaum, Moshe Shapiro, Michael A. Crane, and Andrew C. Todd. "Development of a Physiological Frailty Index for the World Trade Center General Responder Cohort." Current Gerontology and Geriatrics Research 2018 (2018): 1–12. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/3725926.
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Responders to the 9/11/2001 WTC attacks were exposed to multiple toxic pollutants. Since 2002, the health of the responder cohort has been continuously tracked by the WTC Health Monitoring Program. However, no assessments have been made of frailty, an important health metric given the current average age of the WTC responder cohort (55 years). In this study, we use laboratory test results and other physiological parameters to construct a physiological frailty index (FI-Lab) for this cohort. The study sample comprised responders aged 40 years or older who completed a health monitoring visit at Mount Sinai Center within the past 5 years. For each subject, FI-Lab was computed as the proportion of 20 physiological parameters (lab tests, pulmonary function, and blood pressure) on which the subject had abnormal values. Using negative binomial regression models, we tested FI-Lab’s association with the SF-12 wellbeing score and various demographic characteristics. FI-Lab showed strong associations with the physical and mental components of the SF-12 as well as age, race, and smoking status. Using a cutoff of 0.25 to define presence of physiological/preclinical frailty, we found frailty prevalence in the study sample to be approximately 12%. This study demonstrates the feasibility of assessing preclinical frailty in the WTC responder cohort.
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Perritt, Kara R., Robin Herbert, Stephen M. Levin, and Jacqueline Moline. "Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses Reported by World Trade Center Response Workers and Volunteers." Prehospital and Disaster Medicine 26, no. 6 (December 2011): 401–7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1049023x12000143.
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AbstractIntroduction: In 2002, the Mount Sinai Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, with support from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), began coordinating the World Trade Center (WTC) Worker and Volunteer Medical Screening Program (MSP) to monitor the health of qualified WTC responders. Enrolled participants were offered a clinical examination; interviewed to collect medical, mental health, and exposure information; and requested to complete a self-administered medical questionnaire. The objective of this study was to better understand work-related injuries and illnesses sustained on-site by WTC responders.Methods: A descriptive analysis of select data from the MSP self-administered medical questionnaire was conducted. Data collected July 2002 through April 2004 from MSP participants enrolled at the Mount Sinai clinic were reviewed using univariate statistical techniques.Results: Records from 7,810 participants were analyzed, with most participants associated with either the construction industry (n = 2,623, 34%) or law enforcement (n = 2,036, 26%). Approximately a third of the participants (n = 2,486, 32%) reported at least one injury or illness requiring medical treatment that was sustained during WTC work/volunteer activities. Of the total 4,768 injuries/illnesses reported by these participants, respiratory complaints were most common (n = 1,350, 28%), followed by traumatic injuries excluding eye injuries (n = 961, 20%), eye injuries/ailments (n = 709, 15%), chest pain (n = 375, 8%), headaches (n = 359, 8%), skin conditions (n = 178, 4%), and digestive system conditions (n = 163, 3%). Participants reported that 36% of injuries/illnesses were treated off-site and 29% were treated on-site, with the remaining not specifying treatment location. Off-site treatment was prevalent for respiratory complaints, psychological stress, and chest pain. On-site treatment was predominate for eye injuries/ailments and traumatic injuries excluding eye injuries.Conclusion: Study results underscore the need for rapid deployment of personal protective equipment for disaster responders and medical care stations mobilized near disaster worksites. Additionally, the results, many of which are comparable to findings from previous WTC studies where data were collected in real-time, indicate that a screening program such as the MSP may be effective in retrospectively providing general information on disaster responder demographics and work-related injuries and illnesses.
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Moline, Jacqueline M., Robin Herbert, Stephen Levin, Diane Stein, Benjamin J. Luft, Iris G. Udasin, and Philip J. Landrigan. "WTC medical monitoring and treatment program: Comprehensive health care response in aftermath of disaster." Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine: A Journal of Translational and Personalized Medicine 75, no. 2 (2008): 67–75. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/msj.20022.
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Lucchini, Roberto. "SS49-03 DELAYED NEUROCOGNITIVE EFFECTS OF 9/11 EXPOSURES TO CHEMICAL MIXTURES AND INTENSE PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMAS." Occupational Medicine 74, Supplement_1 (July 1, 2024): 0. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqae023.0291.
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Abstract Introduction The World Trade Center (WTC) disaster caused exposure of responders [operating in rescue and recovery operations] and survivors [individuals who were present in the disaster area as a result of their work, residence, attendance to school, childcare, adult care] to a mixture of known neurotoxicants. Chemicals included polychlorinated biphenyls and metals (lead, manganese, copper, zinc) carried by the dust, and volatile organic compounds (styrene, toluene, xylene, perchloroethylene, 1-3 butadiene, trichloroethylene, vinyl chloride, polycyclic aromatic compounds, acrylonitrile, formaldehyde, dioxins, diesel fumes) generated by the combustion of jet fuel. Co-exposure to intensive psychological trauma was concurrent. Materials and Methods A review was conducted on studies located in Medline and in the online publication repository of the WTC Health Program, using various identifiers including ‘WTC exposure’ and ‘cognitive functions’. Results A total of 38 articles were published from 2007 to August 2023. Most studies targeted responders (n=31 [82%]), the WTC registry of responders and survivors [n=3], survivors [n=1], children [n=2], or animal models [n=1]. Assessment included neuropsychological testing [n=15], brain imaging [n=11], biomarkers [n=7], and imaging [n=5]. Most studies included mental health data to assess the hypothesis of cognitive impacts as mediated by PTSD, or as an independent long-term effect of the exposure to neurotoxicants, yielding non univocal results, likely depending on different approaches for neuropsychological testing. Conclusions Cognitive impacts are increasingly observed in the WTC cohort, as mediated by mental health symptoms, but also as a direct consequence of the exposure to a neurotoxicants mixture generated on 9/11.
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Gunathilaka, Nayana, Menaka Hapugoda, Wimaladharma Abeyewickreme, and Rajitha Wickremasinghe. "Entomological Investigations on Malaria Vectors in Some War-Torn Areas in the Trincomalee District of Sri Lanka after Settlement of 30-Year Civil Disturbance." Malaria Research and Treatment 2015 (February 19, 2015): 1–11. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/367635.
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Background. Malaria was an endemic problem in Trincomalee District, Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. Very few recent data concerning Anopheles are available which transmit malaria. Therefore, the aim of this study is to identify various Anopheles species and the dynamics of anophelines including malaria vectors in Trincomalee District for effective vector control under the current malaria elimination program embarked in the country. Method. Entomological surveys were conducted on a monthly basis, using five entomological techniques, namely, indoor hand collection (HC), window trap collection (WTC), cattle-baited net collection (CBNC), and cattle-baited hut collection (CBHC) from June 2010 to June 2012 in 32 study areas under five entomological sentinel sites. Results. Seventeen anopheline species were encountered, of which Anopheles subpictus was the predominant species in all sampling methods. It is noted that A. culicifacies and A. subpictus have adapted to breed in polluted water in urban settings which may cause serious implications on the epidemiology of malaria in the country. Conclusions. It is important to determine the abundance, biology, distribution, and relationship with climatic factors of main and secondary malaria vectors in Sri Lanka in order to initiate evidence based controlling programs under the current malaria elimination program in Sri Lanka.
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Parekh, Ankit, Bresne Castillo, Do Hyung Kim, Kathleen Black, Rafael de la Hoz, David Rapoport, Jag Sunderram, and Indu Ayappa. "401 Clinical Phenotypes of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in World Trade Center Responders." Sleep 44, Supplement_2 (May 1, 2021): A159—A160. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsab072.400.
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Abstract Introduction The heterogeneity of symptoms in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients has been recently formalized into 3 distinct clusters: Sleepy, Disturbed Sleep, and Minimally Symptomatic. Our previous data showed that OSA is highly prevalent (>75%) in World Trade Center (WTC) responders, and positive airway pressure (PAP) treatment adherence is very poor (<20%). To better understand the heterogeneity of OSA in the WTC cohort, here we sought to examine the distribution of these distinct clinical phenotypes. Methods 643 subjects with no history of OSA or reported loud and frequent snoring before 9/11/2001 from the WTC health program clinical centers at Rutgers RWJMS, New Jersey, NYU School of Medicine, and Icahn School Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York underwent 2 nights of home sleep testing using the ARES unicorder (SleepMed, Inc., West Palm Beach, FL, USA). Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), sleep onset insomnia, and sleep maintenance insomnia were assessed with questionnaires. OSA was defined as (AHI4%>=5 or RDI>=15/hr). The three clusters were defined as 1) Sleepy (ESS>10 and/or sleep onset/maintenance insomnia); 2) Disturbed Sleep (not sleepy (ESS<=10) and sleep onset/maintenance insomnia); and 3) Minimally Symptomatic (not sleepy (ESS<=10) and no sleep onset/maintenance insomnia). Distribution of clusters in the WTC cohort was compared to published data from the Sleep Apnea Global Interdisciplinary Consortium (SAGIC) and the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL). Results Among the subjects diagnosed with OSA (N 440; AHI4%=13(15); RDI =28(19); median(iqr); 81% men; age, 33–87 years; BMI, 27.4±3.7 kg/m2), the distribution of clinical phenotypes was 31.4% sleepy, 48.9% disturbed sleep, and 19.7% minimally symptomatic, and did not differ between OSA severity groups. In comparison to SAGIC and HCHS/SOL, the WTC cohort exhibited significantly increased prevalence of the disturbed sleep phenotype (WTC vs SAGIC: 48.9% vs. 19.8%, □2=54.9; p<0.001; WTC vs. HCHS/SOL: 48.9% vs. 38.1%, □2=26.1, p<0.001). Conclusion The predominant clinical phenotype of OSA in the WTC cohort is disturbed sleep (insomnia) and its prevalence is significantly greater than what has been observed in other large OSA cohorts. These findings may help explain the poor adherence to PAP treatment observed in the WTC cohort. Support (if any) NIOSH U01OH01415; AASM Foundation 233-BS-20.
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Luft, B. J., C. Schechter, R. Kotov, J. Broihier, D. Reissman, K. Guerrera, I. Udasin, et al. "Exposure, probable PTSD and lower respiratory illness among World Trade Center rescue, recovery and clean-up workers." Psychological Medicine 42, no. 5 (November 18, 2011): 1069–79. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s003329171100256x.
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BackgroundThousands of rescue and recovery workers descended on the World Trade Center (WTC) in the wake of the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001 (9/11). Recent studies show that respiratory illness and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are the hallmark health problems, but relationships between them are poorly understood. The current study examined this link and evaluated contributions of WTC exposures.MethodParticipants were 8508 police and 12 333 non-traditional responders examined at the WTC Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program (WTC-MMTP), a clinic network in the New York area established by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). We used structural equation modeling (SEM) to explore patterns of association among exposures, other risk factors, probable WTC-related PTSD [based on the PTSD Checklist (PCL)], physician-assessed respiratory symptoms arising after 9/11 and present at examination, and abnormal pulmonary functioning defined by low forced vital capacity (FVC).ResultsFewer police than non-traditional responders had probable PTSD (5.9% v. 23.0%) and respiratory symptoms (22.5% v. 28.4%), whereas pulmonary function was similar. PTSD and respiratory symptoms were moderately correlated (r=0.28 for police and 0.27 for non-traditional responders). Exposure was more strongly associated with respiratory symptoms than with PTSD or lung function. The SEM model that best fit the data in both groups suggested that PTSD statistically mediated the association of exposure with respiratory symptoms.ConclusionsAlthough longitudinal data are needed to confirm the mediation hypothesis, the link between PTSD and respiratory symptoms is noteworthy and calls for further investigation. The findings also support the value of integrated medical and psychiatric treatment for disaster responders.
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Korolyova, Lyudmila, Elena Voyakina, and Laula Zherebayeva. "Developing soft skills for sustainable development in environmental engineering students through foreign language learning." E3S Web of Conferences 295 (2021): 05005. http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202129505005.
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The paper focuses on education for sustainable development (ESD) as an integral part of the sustainable development program with its main principles defined by UNESCO. The key competencies that must be developed in accordance with ESD are outlined. Learning a foreign language is considered from the point of view of its contribution to the process of attaining ESD goals in general and developing soft skills in environmental engineering students in particular that is closely connected with students’ willingness to communicate (WTC) and integrated with their expectations. The research is done on learners’ beliefs and expectations concerning studying a foreign language at the beginning of the academic year in order to choose the most appropriate teaching strategies for developing soft skills, WTC in L2 within the framework of ESD.
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Tuminello, Stephanie, Maaike van Gerwen, Eric Genden, Michael Crane, Wil Lieberman-Cribbin, and Emanuela Taioli. "Increased Incidence of Thyroid Cancer among World Trade Center First Responders: A Descriptive Epidemiological Assessment." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16, no. 7 (April 9, 2019): 1258. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16071258.
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An increased incidence of thyroid cancer among 9/11 rescue workers has been reported, the etiology of which remains unclear but which may, at least partly, be the result of the increased medical surveillance this group undergoes. This study aimed to investigate thyroid cancer in World Trade Center (WTC) responders by looking at the demographic data and questionnaire responses of thyroid cancer cases from the Mount Sinai WTC Health Program (WTCHP). WTCHP thyroid cancer tumors were of a similar size (p = 0.4), and were diagnosed at a similar age (p = 0.2) compared to a subset of thyroid cancer cases treated at Mount Sinai without WTC exposure. These results do not support the surveillance bias hypothesis, under which smaller tumors are expected to be diagnosed at earlier ages. WTCHP thyroid cancer cases also reported a past history of radiation exposure and a family history of thyroid conditions at lower rates than expected, with higher than expected rates of previous cancer diagnoses, family histories of other cancers, and high Body Mass Indexes (BMIs). Further research is needed to better understand the underlying risk factors that may play a role in the development of thyroid cancer in this group.
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Chou, Mu-Hsuan. "The Role of Goal Orientations and Communication Strategies in Willingness to Communicate in EMI Classrooms." Journal of Language and Education 9, no. 3 (September 30, 2023): 24–37. http://dx.doi.org/10.17323/jle.2023.17207.
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Background: In English-medium instruction (EMI) classrooms, goal orientations, strategies, and communication play pivotal roles in facilitating effective learning. Achievement goal orientations (AGOs) guide and control learner competence-relevant behavior in academic performance. Communication strategies (CSs) are communication aids for learners to cope with problems or breakdowns while speaking the target language. Strategic competence is an indispensable affective-cognitive factor that promotes learners’ willingness to communicate (WTC) in a target language.
Purpose: This study aims to investigate the role of AGOs and CSs in predicting WTC and the effect of English proficiency on AGOs and CSs in EMI classrooms.
Methods: An online questionnaire survey regarding the perception of AGOs, CSs, and WTC was conducted with 595 university students taking one EMI course in social science and humanity domains in Taiwan. The items were on a 6-point Likert scale ranging from ‘strongly disagree’ to ‘strongly agree’. Hierarchical multiple regression was adopted to predict WTC in EMI classrooms. One-way between-group MANOVAs were adopted to examine the individual and joint effect of English proficiency on the AGOs and CSs.
Results: The hierarchical multiple regression model showed that task goal orientations and social affective strategies strongly and positively predicted the university students’ WTC in the EMI classroom. Performance-avoidance goal orientations and message reduction and alteration strategies were found to negatively predict WTC in EMI settings. Students’ English proficiency neither predicted their WTC nor affected their AGOs in the EMI classroom. High-proficiency students adopted accuracy-oriented, fluency-oriented, and negotiation for meaning while speaking strategies more frequently than low-proficiency students.
Conclusion: It is suggested that a supportive and dynamic classroom environment with higher-order learning tasks involving cooperation, reflection, and objective assessment criteria can be incorporated into EMI programs. Besides, instruction in CSs and the use of multimedia teaching aids can facilitate EFL learners’ comprehension of subject-specific materials and encourage them to engage more in EMI classrooms.
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Watjanatepin, Napat. "Data Monitoring System for Micro-Wind Turbine Experimental Set Based on LabVIEW." International Journal of Engineering & Technology 7, no. 3.7 (July 4, 2018): 160. http://dx.doi.org/10.14419/ijet.v7i3.7.16262.
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The Wind Turbine Energy System (WTES) was applied to a micro-scale laboratory experimental set. Thus, there is a need to develop a data monitoring system in order to be applicable with the Wind Turbine Energy System. The aim of this study is to design and develop the data monitoring system for the Micro-Wind Turbine (MWT) experimental set, and to test the real time output and analyse the obtained results. The MWT output power is 100 watts 12 VDC with the cut-in speed is 3 m/s. The WTES consists of MWT, DC converter, and a Grid-connected inverter. This data monitoring system will be based on LabVIEW environment. The NI-9215 NI-9226, NI 9203, NI 9225, NI 9401 with chassis NI 9178 data acquisition devices were applied. The data monitoring program was developed by LabVIEW2013. The LabVIEW based data monitoring system has successfully met the objective of this study. It is capable of providing real time acquisition of the wind speed, electrical current, voltage and power of the Micro-Wind Turbine Energy System. Moreover, the software can generate a report from the MySQL data based via Microsoft office automatically.
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Bellehsen, Mayer, Jacqueline Moline, Rehana Rasul, Kristin Bevilacqua, Samantha Schneider, Jason Kornrich, and Rebecca M. Schwartz. "A Quality Improvement Assessment of the Delivery of Mental Health Services among WTC Responders Treated in the Community." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16, no. 9 (April 30, 2019): 1536. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16091536.
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The World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) provides mental health services through diverse service delivery mechanisms, however there are no current benchmarks to evaluate utilization or quality. This quality improvement (QI) initiative sought to examine the delivery and effectiveness of WTCHP mental health services for World Trade Center (WTC) responders who receive care through the Northwell Health Clinical Center of Excellence (CCE), and to characterize the delivery of evidence-based treatments (EBT) for mental health (MH) difficulties in this population. Methods include an analysis of QI data from the Northwell CCE, and annual WTCHP monitoring data for all responders certified for mental health treatment. Nearly 48.9% of enrolled responders with a WTC-certified diagnosis utilized treatment. The majority of treatment delivered was focused on WTC-related conditions. There was significant disagreement between provider-reported EBT use and independently-evaluated delivery of EBT (95.6% vs. 54.8%, p ≤ 0.001). EBT delivery was associated with a small decrease in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms over time. Providers engaged in the process of data collection, but there were challenges with adherence to outcome monitoring and goal setting. Data from this report can inform continued QI efforts in the WTCHP, as well as the implementation and evaluation of EBT.
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Reibman, Joan, Caralee Caplan-Shaw, Yinxiang Wu, Mengling Liu, Milan R. Amin, Kenneth I. Berger, Maria L. Cotrina-Vidal, et al. "Characterization of Persistent Uncontrolled Asthma Symptoms in Community Members Exposed to World Trade Center Dust and Fumes." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 18 (September 11, 2020): 6645. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186645.
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The destruction of the World Trade Center (WTC) towers on the 11th of September, 2001 released a vast amount of aerosolized dust and smoke resulting in acute and chronic exposures to community members as well as responders. The WTC Environmental Health Center (WTC EHC) is a surveillance and treatment program for a diverse population of community members, including local residents and local workers with WTC dust exposure. Many of these patients have reported persistent lower respiratory symptoms (LRS) despite treatment for presumed asthma. Our goal was to identify conditions associated with persistent uncontrolled LRS despite standard asthma management. We recruited 60 patients who were uncontrolled at enrollment and, after a three-month run-in period on high-dose inhaled corticosteroid and long acting bronchodilator, reassessed their status as Uncontrolled or Controlled based on a score from the Asthma Control Test (ACT). Despite this treatment, only 11 participants (18%) gained Controlled status as defined by the ACT. We compared conditions associated with Uncontrolled and Controlled status. Those with Uncontrolled symptoms had higher rates of upper airway symptoms. Many patients had persistent bronchial hyper-reactivity (BHR) and upper airway hyper-reactivity as measured by paradoxical vocal fold movement (PVFM). We found a significant increasing trend in the percentage of Controlled with respect to the presence of BHR and PVFM. We were unable to identify significant differences in lung function or inflammatory markers in this small group. Our findings suggest persistent upper and lower airway hyper-reactivity that may respond to standard asthma treatment, whereas others with persistent LRS necessitate additional diagnostic evaluation, including a focus on the upper airway.
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Bromet, E. J., M. J. Hobbs, S. A. P. Clouston, A. Gonzalez, R. Kotov, and B. J. Luft. "DSM-IV post-traumatic stress disorder among World Trade Center responders 11–13 years after the disaster of 11 September 2001 (9/11)." Psychological Medicine 46, no. 4 (November 25, 2015): 771–83. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0033291715002184.
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BackgroundPost-traumatic symptomatology is one of the signature effects of the pernicious exposures endured by responders to the World Trade Center (WTC) disaster of 11 September 2001 (9/11), but the long-term extent of diagnosed Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV) post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its impact on quality of life are unknown. This study examines the extent of DSM-IV PTSD 11–13 years after the disaster in WTC responders, its symptom profiles and trajectories, and associations of active, remitted and partial PTSD with exposures, physical health and psychosocial well-being.MethodMaster's-level psychologists administered sections of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV and the Range of Impaired Functioning Tool to 3231 responders monitored at the Stony Brook University World Trade Center Health Program. The PTSD Checklist (PCL) and current medical symptoms were obtained at each visit.ResultsIn all, 9.7% had current, 7.9% remitted, and 5.9% partial WTC-PTSD. Among those with active PTSD, avoidance and hyperarousal symptoms were most commonly, and flashbacks least commonly, reported. Trajectories of symptom severity across monitoring visits showed a modestly increasing slope for active and decelerating slope for remitted PTSD. WTC exposures, especially death and human remains, were strongly associated with PTSD. After adjusting for exposure and critical risk factors, including hazardous drinking and co-morbid depression, PTSD was strongly associated with health and well-being, especially dissatisfaction with life.ConclusionsThis is the first study to demonstrate the extent and correlates of long-term DSM-IV PTSD among responders. Although most proved resilient, there remains a sizable subgroup in need of continued treatment in the second decade after 9/11.
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Al-Murtadha, Mutahar. "Increasing EFL learner self-confidence with visualization tasks." ELT Journal 74, no. 2 (March 19, 2020): 166–74. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/elt/ccaa009.
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Abstract L2 linguistic self-confidence has been considered a constituent of L2 motivation, a predictor of L2 proficiency, and part of the willingness to communicate construct (WTC). However, little is known about how to increase it. This intervention study examined whether helping EFL learners visualize their ideal L2 selves enhances their L2 linguistic self-confidence. Two hundred and six Yemeni EFL learners formed the experimental and control groups. The experimental group received one visualization lesson a week for six weeks, whereas the control group received their regular lessons. The intervention structure followed the six steps of the Possible Selves Tree Program: discover, think, sketch, reflect, grow, and perform. A one-way analysis of covariance revealed that the self-confidence of the experimental group increased significantly. Qualitative data indicated that the intervention enhanced L2 linguistic self-confidence in four ways: considering the future, emulating L2 role models, increasing WTC, and using English and measuring progress. Pedagogical implications are provided.
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Gull, Colby, and Leslie Rush. "Mentors’ recommendations for work-life balance." Phi Delta Kappan 105, no. 5 (January 30, 2024): 54–57. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/00317217241230786.
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New teachers benefit from mentoring from more experienced colleagues, and the Wyoming Teacher Mentor Corps (WTMC) provides high-quality training for master teachers to provide this mentoring support. As part of the program, mentors learn about assessment, communication, feedback, and work-life balance. Colby Gull and Leslie Rush describe how, as part of the training, mentors identified and prioritized critical principles for maintaining work-life balance. Strategies include shutting down and disconnecting from work, acknowledging one’s own humanity when making mistakes, and prioritizing and saying no when needed. The authors discuss these and other suggestions and how they might be used in school settings.
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Mueller, Charles, and Allen Walzen. "Is Willingness to Communicate Associated With More Positive Online Chat Experiences?" JALT Journal 42, no. 2 (November 1, 2020): 103. http://dx.doi.org/10.37546/jaltjj42.2-1.
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Willingness to Communicate (WTC) has been put forth as a model (MacIntyre et al., 1998) of situations and attitudes that facilitate L2 learners’ openness to opportunities for L2 use and concomitant behaviors. In the current study, this model’s criterion-related validity was examined through a comparison of WTC survey results with results of a subsequently administered survey regarding the online chat experiences of Japanese and Taiwanese learners of English. The participants (N = 190) were Japanese and Taiwanese EFL students who took part in an online chat program, in class and/or as homework. Results showed a consistent association between WTC components and participants’ perception that the chats had been useful in promoting English proficiency as well as knowledge and interest in their chat partner’s culture. The study suggests that WTC may serve as a valuable construct for predicting learners’ perceptions of telecollaboration as a language-learning platform. Willingness to Communicate（以下，WTCと略す）は、第二言語学習者の第二言語の使用やそれに付随した行動の機会に対する開放性を促す状況および態度のモデルとして提唱されてきた（MacIntyre et al., 1998）。本研究では、日本人・台湾人英語学習者のWTCの調査結果とオンライン・チャット体験に関する事後調査結果の比較を通して、当該モデルの基準関連妥当性を調査した。被験者（N = 190）は外国語として英語を学ぶ日本人・台湾人学生のうち、授業中または宿題としてオンライン・チャット・プログラムに参加した者である。その結果、英語の習熟ならびにチャット相手の文化に関する知識・興味の深化にチャットが有効だったという参加者の認識とWTCの構成要素との間に一貫した関連を認めた。本研究は，言語学習のプラットフォームとしてのテレコラボレーションに対する学習者の認識を推測するのにWTCが価値ある構成概念として利用できる可能性を示唆した。
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Otsuki, Yuki. "JHS Online-communication Experience: Enhancing Willingness to Communicate." JALT Postconference Publication - Issue 2021.1; August 2022 2021, no. 1 (August 1, 2022): 243. http://dx.doi.org/10.37546/jaltpcp2021-28.
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An online international exchange program was conducted at a public junior high school. Three Zoom sessions with Norwegian junior high school students and 11 English practice sessions were held. The goal was to investigate changes in students’ perceptions of using English, with emphasis on their WTC (willingness to communicate) through this activity. In addition, factors contributing to these changes were elucidated by employing questionnaires, reflective writing, and interviews. Analyzing the resulting multiple datasets showed that the overall WTC level increased, though with individual variations. Qualitative analysis revealed task type, peer relationships, and support systems to be influencing factors. 公立中学校においてオンライン国際交流を課外活動として実施した。ノルウェーの中学生とZoom上で3回交流し、英会話練習を11回実施した。この活動を通して、生徒たちのコミュニケーションへの意欲 (WTC) にどのような変化があったのかを捉えることを目的とした。また変化の要因をアンケートと振返り記述、インタビューを通して明らかにした。結果として、全体的にWTCに好影響が認められたが、 個人差があることも明らかになった。特に、活動の種類、 仲間との関係、 支援の体制などの影響が明らかになった。
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Iyengar-Kapuganti, Rupa Lakshmi, Cynara S. Maceda, Lori B. Croft, Simonette T. Sawit, Laura E. Crowley, Mark Woodward, and Mary Ann McLaughlin. "Obstructive sleep apnoea and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction among first responders to the 9/11 World Trade Center terrorist attack: a cross-sectional study." BMJ Open 12, no. 4 (April 2022): e058366. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-058366.
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ObjectivesObstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is often linked to cardiovascular disease. A limited number of studies have reported an association between OSA and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD). However, prior studies were performed on small patient populations. Studies have shown a high prevalence of OSA among first responders to the 9/11 World Trade Center (WTC) terrorist attack. We investigated the relationship between OSA and LVDD in a large population of WTC responders.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingOne-time screening programme as part of the WTC-CHEST Study (NCT10466218), performed at a quaternary medical centre in New York City, from November 2011 to June 2014.ParticipantsA total of 1007 participants with mean age of 51 years of mostly non-Hispanic white men were evaluated. Patients from the WTC Health Program-Clinical Center of Excellence, who were over the age of 39 years, were eligible to participate.ResultsEvaluation of those without OSA diagnosis showed no significant association with LVDD when comparing those screened (Berlin Questionnaire) as OSA high risk versus OSA low risk (p=0.101). Among those diagnosed with LVDD, there was a significant association when comparing those with and without patient-reported OSA (OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.13 to 2.00, p=0.005), but the significance was not maintained after adjusting for pertinent variables (OR 1.3, 0.94 to 1.75, p=0.119). Notably, comparing those with OSA diagnosis and those low risk of OSA, the OR for LVDD was significant (1.69, 1.24 to 2.31, p=0.001), and after adjusting for waist–hip ratio, diabetes and coronary artery calcium score percentile, the relationship remained significant (OR 1.45, 1.03 to 2.04, p=0.032).ConclusionThe strong association of OSA with LVDD in this population may inform future guidelines to recommend screening for LVDD in high-risk asymptomatic patients with OSA.
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Alqahtani, B., and K. M. Alkhathami. "Does Weight Training Impact People With Osteoarthritis- a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis." Journal of Pioneering Medical Science 13, no. 4 (July 30, 2024): 102–11. http://dx.doi.org/10.61091/jpms202413416.
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Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common and debilitating musculoskeletal condition that significantly impacts the quality of life of affected individuals. Various interventions, including weight training and exercise (WTE), have been explored to alleviate pain and improve mobility in knee OA patients. This study aimed to comprehensively analyze the existing literature to evaluate the effects of different WTE interventions on pain, mobility, knee function, and quality of life in individuals with knee OA. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted, with clinical trials being the primary type of studies included in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. The primary outcomes of interest were pain reduction and improvements in mobility, assessed through various validated measures. Results: A total of 15 clinical trials were included in this review. The meta-analysis revealed mixed findings regarding the effects of WTE on pain and mobility in knee OA patients. While some interventions, such as high-intensity resistance training, demonstrated significant reductions in pain and improvements in mobility, others showed no substantial differences compared to control groups. The diversity of exercise modalities and intervention durations across studies contributed to this variability. Nevertheless, the overall analysis indicated that WTE interventions have the potential to positively impact pain and mobility in knee OA, with variations depending on the specific exercise type and duration. Conclusion: The findings underscore the importance of tailoring exercise programs to individual patient needs and preferences. While certain exercise modalities yielded significant improvements, future research should focus on optimizing exercise protocols, conducting long-term follow-up assessments, and evaluating cost-effectiveness. These insights hold significant implications for healthcare providers seeking evidence-based strategies to enhance the well-being of knee OA patients.