The Impact of Social Media in Afghanistan: A Multi-Disciplinary Study.

Background: The rapid growth of social media has profoundly transformed communication, community building, and information sharing worldwide. In Afghanistan, the proliferation of social media platforms has significantly impacted the social, cultural, and political landscape, particularly among the youth. Objective: This multi-disciplinary study aims to explore the diverse effects of social media on Afghan youth, focusing on usage patterns, mental health implications, entertainment-driven time allocation, financial expenditures, exposure to explicit content, and academic performance. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between September and December 2023, gathering responses from 1556 participants (67% males, 33% females) through various social media platforms. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0, employing statistical tests such as ANOVA and Chi-Square to examine relationships between social media usage and its impacts. Results: The study reveals significant links between social media usage and demographic, behavioral, and mental health factors. Key findings include Facebook as the most used platform (83.6%), with the majority of participants spending 1-3 hours daily on social media. Age differences in time spent were significant (F=15.64, p<0.001). Entertainment was the primary use (45.5%), with gender differences in engagement levels. High anxiety (78.5%) and moderate depression (38.3%) were reported. Significant associations between social media use and mental health were found (eg, χ2=591.87, p<0.001 for nervousness). Excessive use negatively impacted study habits, with 25.7% feeling it hindered their academic performance. Conclusion: This study highlights the multifaceted impacts of social media on Afghan youth, including both positive aspects like enhanced communication and empowerment and negative aspects such as mental health issues and academic challenges. The significant relationships between social media usage and various life aspects underscore the need for targeted interventions to promote healthy digital habits and mitigate adverse effects. Further research is recommended to explore long-term impacts and effective strategies for managing social media use among Afghan youth.

Comparison of Traditional and Web-Based Medical Student Teaching by Radiology Residents.

PURPOSE: Web-based learning tools are increasingly available for use and have been described in the pedagogical literature. However, rigorous comparisons between traditional learning methods and newer collaborative online tools have not been performed. Herein, we describe a web-based curriculum hosted on the collaborative Radiopaedia.org website. This curriculum was compared with traditional learning tools in a randomized, controlled fashion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical students rotating through inpatient pediatrics were offered a 1-hour case-based learning session led by radiology residents. Students were randomized to receive online (Radiopaedia.org) versus traditional supplemental educational materials (reading material covering the same content) for review before the in-class session. A 15-point questionnaire was administered at two different points during the rotation: at the beginning of the clinical rotation and at the end of the classroom session. RESULTS: Fifty-eight students were approached for enrollment and a total of 47 (81%) consented to participation and completed the study requirements. Students who completed the web-based module had higher mean knowledge scores (74%) compared with those who were provided the traditional learning material (68%) (P = .06). Specifically, they demonstrated increased knowledge of the ACR Appropriateness Criteria and the "silhouette sign." CONCLUSIONS: A randomized, controlled, nonblinded evaluation of a novel radiology curriculum intervention hosted on Radiopaedia.org demonstrates improved test scores compared with traditional teaching methods.

Kinetochore Components Required for Centromeric Chromatin Assembly Are Impacted by Msc1 in Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

Eukaryotic chromosome segregation requires a protein complex known as the kinetochore that mediates attachment between mitotic spindle microtubules and centromere-specific nucleosomes composed of the widely conserved histone variant CENP-A. Mutations in kinetochore proteins of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe lead to chromosome missegregation such that daughter cells emerge from mitosis with unequal DNA content. We find that multiple copies of Msc1-a fission yeast homolog of the KDM5 family of proteins-suppresses the temperature-sensitive growth defect of several kinetochore mutants, including mis16 and mis18, as well as mis6, mis15, and mis17, components of the Constitutive Centromere Associated Network (CCAN). On the other hand, deletion of msc1 exacerbates both the growth defect and chromosome missegregation phenotype of each of these mutants. The C-terminal PHD domains of Msc1, previously shown to associate with a histone deacetylase activity, are necessary for Msc1 function when kinetochore mutants are compromised. We also demonstrate that, in the absence of Msc1, the frequency of localization to the kinetochore of Mis16 and Mis15 is altered from wild-type cells. As we show here for msc1, others have shown that elevating cnp1 levels acts similarly to promote survival of the CCAN mutants. The rescue of mis15 and mis17 by cnp1 is, however, independent of msc1 Thus, Msc1 appears to contribute to the chromatin environment at the centromere: the absence of Msc1 sensitizes cells to perturbations in kinetochore function, while elevating Msc1 overcomes loss of function of critical components of the kinetochore and centromere.