bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamic Capabilities and an ESG Strategy for Sustainable Management Performance
Authors: Liang Yi , Lee Min Jae , Jung Jin Sup
Published: June 2022

This research explores the dynamic capabilities required for firms to implement environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies, and investigates sustainable management performance that can be created based on them. By using dynamic capabilities theory, we integrate sustainable management and the ESG literature to suggest a research model and identify the factors that act as the catalysts achieving sustainability. The data used for the analysis were collected from 78 firms listed on the Korea Exchange (KRX) with assets totaling more than 2 trillion Korean won. In this study, the partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM) is applied. We found that absorptive capability and adaptive capability significantly affect sustainable management performance through implementation of the ESG strategy as a mediating variable. In particular, a firm’s implementation of an ESG strategy is a significant determinant that impacts sustainable management performance. We also believe our model contributes to the current knowledge by filling several research gaps, and our findings offer valuable and practical implications not only for achieving sustainable growth but also for creation of competitive advantage.
Integrating Observation and Network Analysis to Identify Patterns of Use in the Public Space: A Gender Perspective
Authors: Valera Sergi , Casakin Hernan
Published: June 2022

In the last few decades, increasing attention has been given to gender issues in urban design. However, research on the urban environment continues to show large gender inequalities, which are especially evident when studying the use and enjoyment of the public space. This study aims to identify predominant patterns of use in public places and to explore the possible existence of traditional gender roles in the urban space. The study uses, three public spaces in the city of Barcelona as a case study, an innovative combination of systematic observation techniques and network analysis procedures. Variables collected by EXOdES, a dedicated software analysis tool for systematic observation, are represented as nodes of a network system and analyzed using network analysis tools. Findings confirmed that, in spite of the progressive consolidation of feminist urbanism, uses in the public realm resulting from traditional gender roles remained explicitly recognizable. Whereas women’s occupation of space was related to playground and resting areas, generally involving care activities concerned with children or elderly people, men were primarily located in resting and sports areas, practicing sports, or participating in leisure activities. These patterns of use were more prone to emerge when users were part of a group than when they were alone. From a gender perspective, a contribution of the study is that it informed about main aspects of the analyzed public spaces reconfirming the existence of traditional roles in society, and the significance of exploring the public space as a key scenario where social features are explicitly exposed. From a methodological perspective, the processing of observational data with network analysis tools proved to be relevant and suitable for dealing with the intricacies of urban place analysis. Compared to more classical approaches and systems, these techniques allowed to identify and interpret complex systems composed of many variables and relationships in a relatively straightforward manner, which turns it into a useful aid for urban designers and architects.
Inter-Firm Executive Mobility and Corporate Social Responsibility: Evidence From China
Authors: Wang Jun , Cao Jieling
Published: June 2022

The executives of listed firms play an important role in the fulfillment of corporate social responsibility (CSR). Based on behavioral consistency theory, this study examines the association of CSR performance among multiple firms for the same executive served at different times. By tracking the movement of executives across Chinese listed firms over the period 2010–2019, we find that there is a significantly positive association between the predecessor and the successor firm’s CSR performance for the same executive, implying that an individual’s value and preference for CSR maintain consistency within a certain period of time. We also find that a longer employment gap and lower internal control effectiveness will damage the association of CSR performance between the predecessor and the successor firm. Our results are robust to testing in subsamples and controlling the endogeneity problems. Our conclusion provides a new perspective to understand the influence mechanism of CSR performance in the context of inter-firm executive mobility and provides empirical evidence for listed firms to improve their decision-making in hiring and evaluating executives.
Prediction Algorithm of User's Brand Conversion Intention Based on Fuzzy Emotion Calculation
Authors: Ma Youwen
Published: June 2022

Branding is a magic weapon for enterprises to participate in international competition, and empowering enterprises through branding has become a national strategy in the new era. Economic and social development has won wide acclaim from the international community, but enterprises generally have the problem of being “big but not strong”, which is not matching with long history and great power influence. The brand bottleneck of Chinese enterprises has been highlighted. Recent brand theory research has been fruitful on the whole, but there are also some weak links, among which “the mechanism of enterprise brand value formation” is a research theme to be strengthened. This paper presents a number of suggestions for the formation of corporate brand value. The empirical analysis was conducted using valid data. The results found that: customer involvement behavior has a significant positive influence on customer citizenship behavior and customer experience value. Customer experience value has a significant positive influence on customer satisfaction and customer commitment. It plays a mediating effect in the relationship between the influence of customer involvement behavior on customer satisfaction and customer commitment, respectively. Customer satisfaction has a significant positive influence on customer commitment, and plays a mediating customer commitment has a significant positive effect on customer citizenship behavior and mediates the effect of customer experience value on customer citizenship behavior. The experimental results show that: the accuracy of crop color recognition by this method is high, and it has the advantages of faster computational efficiency and higher computational accuracy compared with other algorithms, thus verifying the reliability of the algorithm. Based on the fuzzy sentiment of online reviews, this paper improves the continuous use model ECM-ISC and formulates the inference rules of fuzzy affiliation function, and verifies the brand conversion intention and brand conversion type of cell phones by example calculation, which has good accuracy and generality and has important practical significance for brand marketing and early warning management. In addition, the use of brand economics in the study of corporate brand positioning is a development and innovation of brand economics.
Social and Moral Practices of the Organizations and Employee-Based Brand Equity: Female Digital Labor Perspective
Authors: Hu Sha
Published: June 2022

This study investigates the role of socially responsible management as a significant determining factor for employees’ morale engagement (EME), employee vitality (EV), and employee-based brand equity (EBBE). Human resource management policies and strategies are important for addressing the interests of the employees and boosting the overall effectiveness of the organization. To examine this, this study analyzes the role of socially responsible management and organizational morality on EME with the mediation of EV. Also, the study examines the role of EME in EBBE. To conduct this study, the data were obtained from 310 female employees working in software houses from home in China. The sampling technique used in the study is purposive sampling. A partial least square structural equation modeling technique is used to analyze the data of the study. The study found that socially responsible management has a positive effect on both EME and EV. The study also reveals that organizational morality has a positive impact on EME and consequently impacts the EBBE in a positive way. The results of the mediation analysis show that EV mediates the relationship between socially responsible management and EME. The study provides practical implications, explaining the strategies and policies that can be adopted by the HR department of the organization to boost employee interests. The study also provides some limitations and future recommendations, such as sample size, the context of the study, and adding new variables to the existing framework.
Can Psychological Contracts Decrease Opportunistic Behaviors?
Authors: Zhang Leinan , Zeng Qingyan , Yang Liu , Han Yan , Xu Yixin
Published: June 2022

Behavioral psychology is increasingly important in relationship marketing. As key factors of emotional interactions between buyer and seller, psychological contracts and opportunistic behaviors play a critical role in interorganizational relationships which are based on personal relationships of boundary spanners and top management. Most of the existing research mainly focus on positive performance of cooperation but ignoring the dark side of relationships. This study introduces the psychological contract into the exploration of why formal contracts cannot completely avoid opportunistic behaviors. It mainly investigates whether psychological contracts in relationships can reduce the occurrence of opportunistic behaviors. The results show that psychological contract has a significant positive effect on the relationship quality, and negatively affect opportunistic behavior through trust and commitment. The positive relationship between psychological contracts and relationship quality is moderated by dependence. This study enriches and expands the domestic and foreign research on psychological contracts and opportunistic behaviors in relationship marketing.
Virtual Clinical Listening Groups for Psychological Intervention With University Students in the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Bloc Lucas , de Araújo Juliana Lima , Leite João Marcos , Barreto Sarah Rebeca , Carneiro Karla , Melo Anna Karynne , Boris Georges , Moreira Virginia
Published: June 2022

The pandemic has affected people's mental health and university students are considered one of the most vulnerable groups, encouraging the development of psychological interventions that can minimize the suffering and illness of this public. Among the possibilities of intervention, virtual clinical listening groups were created which, during the period of social isolation, had the purpose of opening up a listening space for university students suffering from emotional distress. The focus of the group meetings was how university students were experiencing the pandemic, as well as the consequences of this experience. In this article, we discuss virtual clinical listening groups as a form of psychological intervention in the mental health care of university students during the COVID-19 pandemic at a university in northeastern Brazil. This is a qualitative study that began with 274 university students and 5 psychologists who facilitated the listening groups. We used as instruments the registration forms, the participation records of the virtual clinical listening groups and the field diaries written by the facilitators after each meeting. We described in the results the collected data and, from the field diaries, the themes that emerged in the various meetings were listed and analyzed in dialogue with the literature. At the end of the psychological screening process, 117 students participated in the 17 organized groups, with an average of 8 university students per group. Among the main motivations for participating in virtual clinical listening groups, we highlight: the desire to share experiences, a search for control of anxiety, depression and stress, care for mental health, a willingness to promote listening to psychological support for themselves and for others, and self-knowledge. We discuss the nuances in the process of forming the listening groups and the characteristics of the participants, as well as a central element of the group process, which is the establishment of bonds and mutual help among the participants. Feeling vulnerable and the fear of contamination is an element of suffering and, above all, of stress experienced by university students. The group presented itself as an alternative of mutual care in the pandemic context.
Disclosing Child Sexual Abuse to a Health Professional: A Metasynthesis
Authors: Manolios Emilie , Braoudé Ilan , Jean Elise , Huppert Thomas , Verneuil Laurence , Revah-Levy Anne , Sibeoni Jordan
Published: June 2022

Objective

Sexual abuse is a major public health problem. Its disclosure to a health professional could help to reduce its impact on survivors’ lives. The objective of this metasynthesis, combining a systematic review and an analysis of the qualitative studies, was to explore the qualitative literature concerning the experience of a survivor disclosing sexual violence experienced in childhood to a health professional, from the perspective of both.

Methods and Data Sources

We used four databases and two journals (Medline, PsycINFO, EMBASE, and SSCI, and the Journal of Sexual Abuse and Child Abuse and Neglect) to identify studies concerning this disclosure of sexual abuse to healthcare professionals from the point of view of the survivors and the health professionals. After assessing the methodological quality of the articles with the “Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP),” we conducted a thematic analysis of the data extracted during the review.

Results

This review includes 20 articles, covering the data of 612 participants: 291 who were adults at the time of the study but abused in childhood, 152 minors, 14 parents of adolescents, and 155 healthcare professionals. Two themes emerged from the analysis: (1) the disclosure as experienced by the professionals, and (2) the disclosure as experienced by the survivors.

Conclusion

Our results show that survivors had a diachronic approach to the experience of disclosure. They suggest a change over time in how survivors experience disclosure: relief and release were seen only among the adult participants, at a distance from — long after — the disclosure. This study made it possible to identify new perspectives for research in the field of child psychiatry and to formulate concrete clinical proposals, in particular, by applying the principle of patient experts to involve now-adult survivors in training and increase the awareness of the healthcare professionals concerned.
Behavioral Inhibition in the Second Year of Life Is Predicted by Prenatal Maternal Anxiety, Overprotective Parenting and Infant Temperament in Early Infancy
Authors: Mudra Susanne , Göbel Ariane , Möhler Eva , Stuhrmann Lydia Yao , Schulte-Markwort Michael , Arck Petra , Hecher Kurt , Diemert Anke
Published: June 2022

Background

Behavioral inhibition, characterized by shyness, fear and avoidance of novel stimuli, has been linked with internalizing personality traits in childhood, adolescence and early adulthood, and particularly later social anxiety disorder. Little is known about the relevance of potential prenatal precursors and early predictors for the development of inhibited behavior, such as infant vulnerability and family risk factors like parental anxiety and overprotection. Pregnancy-related anxiety has been associated with both infant temperament and maternal overprotective parenting. Thus, the aim of this study was investigating the predictive relevance of prenatal pregnancy-related anxiety for behavioral inhibition in toddlerhood, by considering the mediating role of maternal overprotection and infant distress to novelty.

Materials and Methods

As part of a longitudinal pregnancy cohort, behavioral inhibition at 24 months postpartum was assessed in N = 170 mother-child pairs. Maternal pregnancy-related anxiety was examined in the third trimester of pregnancy, and maternal overprotection and infant distress to novelty at 12 months postpartum.

Results

Mediation analysis with two parallel mediators showed that the significant direct effect of pregnancy-related anxiety on child behavioral inhibition was fully mediated by infant distress to novelty p < 0.001 and maternal overprotection (p < 0.05). The included variables explained 26% of variance in behavioral inhibition. A subsequent explorative mediation analysis with serial mediators further showed a significant positive association between distress to novelty and maternal overprotective parenting (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Results indicate a predictive relevance of both infant and maternal factors for the development of behavioral inhibition in toddlerhood. Mothers who perceived more pregnancy-related anxiety showed more overprotective parenting and had infants with more distress to novelty. Further, mothers being more overprotective reported their child to be more inhibited in toddlerhood. Our findings also indicate the stability of reported infant distress to novelty as one aspect of later behavioral inhibition. Addressing specific forms of parental anxiety from pregnancy on and in interaction with child-related variables seems to be a promising approach for future studies and clinical interventions.
Differences in the Optimal Motion of Android Robots for the Ease of Communications Among Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Kumazaki Hirokazu , Muramatsu Taro , Yoshikawa Yuichiro , Matsumoto Yoshio , Kuwata Masaki , Takata Keiji , Ishiguro Hiroshi , Mimura Masaru
Published: June 2022

Android robots are employed in various fields. Many individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have the motivation and aptitude for using such robots. Interactions with these robots are structured to resemble social situations in which certain social behaviors can occur and to simulate daily life. Considering that individuals with ASD have strong likes and dislikes, ensuring not only the optimal appearance but also the optimal motion of robots is important to achieve smooth interaction and to draw out the potential of robotic interventions. We investigated whether individuals with ASD found it easier to talk to an android robot with little motion (i.e., only opening and closing its mouth during speech) or an android robot with much motion (i.e., in addition to opening and closing its mouth during speech, moving its eyes from side to side and up and down, blinking, deeply breathing, and turning or moving its head or body at random). This was a crossover study in which a total of 25 participants with ASD experienced mock interviews conducted by an android robot with much spontaneous facial and bodily motion and an android robot with little motion. We compared demographic data between participants who answered that the android robot with much motion was easier to talk to than android robot with little motion and those who answered the opposite. In addition, we investigated how each type of demographic data was related to participants' feeling of comfort in an interview setting with an android robot. Fourteen participants indicated that the android robot with little motion was easier to talk to than the robot with much motion, whereas 11 participants answered the opposite. There were significant differences between these two groups in the sensory sensitivity score, which reflects the tendency to show a low neurological threshold. In addition, we found correlations between the sensation seeking score, which reflects the tendency to show a high neurological threshold, and self-report ratings of comfort in each condition. These results provide preliminary support for the importance of setting the motion of an android robot considering the sensory traits of ASD.
Australian State and Territory Eclectic Approaches to Obesity Prevention in the Early Years: Policy Mapping and Perspectives of Senior Health Officials
Authors: Esdaile Emma K. , Gillespie James , Baur Louise A. , Wen Li Ming , Rissel Chris
Published: June 2022

Background

The international increase in the prevalence of childhood obesity has hastened in recent decades. This rise has coincided with the emergence of comorbidities in childhood—such as type II diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, metabolic syndrome, sleep apnoea and hypertension—formerly only described in adulthood. This phenomenon suggests global social and economic trends are impacting on health supportive environments. Obesity prevention is complex and necessitates both long-term and systems approaches. Such an approach considers the determinants of health and how they interrelate to one another. Investment in the early years (from conception to about 5 years of age) is a key life stage to prevent obesity and establish lifelong healthy habits relating to nutrition, physical activity, sedentary behavior and sleep. In Australia, obesity prevention efforts are spread across national and state/territory health departments. It is not known from the literature how, with limited national oversight, state and territory health departments approach obesity prevention in the early years.

Methods

We conducted a qualitative study including policy mapping and interviews with senior officials from each Australian state/territory health department. A series of questions were developed from the literature to guide the policy mapping, drawing on the World Health Organisation Ending Childhood Obesity Report, and adapted to the state/territory context. The policy mapping was iterative. Prior to the interviews initial policy mapping was undertaken. During the interviews, these policies were discussed, and participants were asked to supply any additional policies of relevance to obesity prevention. The semi-structured interviews explored the approaches to obesity prevention taken in each jurisdiction and the barriers and enablers faced for policy implementation. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data, using NVivo software.

Results

State and territory approaches to obesity prevention are eclectic and while there are numerous similarities between jurisdictions, no two states are the same. The diversity of approaches between jurisdictions is influenced by the policy culture and unique social, geographic, and funding contexts in each jurisdiction. No Australian state/territory had policies against all the guiding questions. However, there are opportunities for sharing and collaborating within and between Australian jurisdictions to establish what works, where, and for whom, across Australia's complex policy landscape.

Conclusions

Even within a single country, obesity prevention policy needs to be adaptable to local contexts. Opportunities for jurisdictions within and between countries to share, learn, and adapt their experiences should be supported and sustained funding provided.
Are Malaysians Ready to Resume the New Norm? Findings From a Nationwide Study
Authors: Suet Sherilyn Pak Cheng , Farrukh Muhammad Junaid , Qi Hee Mei , Saleem Zikria , Salman Muhammad , ur Rahman Aziz , Goh Khang Wen , Ming Long Chiau
Published: June 2022

Objective

The study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practices toward the prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among the public in Malaysia.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted online among the general public in Malaysia from June 2020 to August 2020 between the second and third wave (Phase 3 of the Recovery Movement Control Order). Participants were conveniently recruited through multiple social media platforms to encourage nationwide participation. A patient-administered questionnaire was used to assess their knowledge, attitude, and practice toward the prevention of COVID-19. For descriptive analysis, percentage, mean, and standard deviation (SD) were used to report demographic characteristics and knowledge, attitude, and practice scores. For inferential analysis, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation, Spearman's correlation, Chi-square test, and Binary Logistic Regression was used to analyze the study variables' differentiation, association, and correlations. The confidence interval selected for this study was 95%.

Results

A total of 420 respondents participated in this survey. The majority of the participants (n = 412, 98%) were aware of COVID-19. Most participants (60%) learned about the pandemic through social media. About half of the participants had poor knowledge (45.5%) and a negative attitude (43.3%). Participants residing in urban areas showed good preventive practices as compared to those residing in rural areas (P < 0.05). There was a significant association between participants' attitudes and preventive practices toward COVID-19, where the majority of the participants (57.4%) who showed negative attitudes were more likely to follow poor preventive practices.

Conclusion

Despite having good knowledge, participants with a negative attitude toward COVID-19 were less likely to follow the preventive practices of COVID-19. People's mindset and willingness may play an important role to influence their practices. Thus, these are the vulnerable groups, and strategies should be made to change their mindset through proper counseling and education.
Investigating Frontline Nurse Stress: Perceptions of Job Demands, Organizational Support, and Social Support During the Current COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Ali Haneen , Fatemi Yasin , Ali Duha , Hamasha Mohammad , Hamasha Sa'd
Published: June 2022

Background

While frontline nurses employ coping alternatives to help deal with occupational stress resulting from unprecedented challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, their access to necessary resources is unclear.

Objective

This study aims to explore nurses' mental health in Alabama hospitals during the COVID-19 outbreak and investigate the impact of organizational and community support on nurse stressor levels, physio-psychosocial responses, and coping strategies employed.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was developed to bridge our understanding of stress, support, and coping mechanisms and distributed to nurses working with COVID-19-infected patients in hospital settings in Alabama. A total of 232 frontline nurses responded to 79 items in four domains (stressors, physio-psychosocial symptoms, coping, and support) between May 6, 2020, and June 30, 2020. A two-way ANOVA, regression analysis, and mediation of effects were used to analyze the data.

Results

This study found that both social support and use of coping strategies contributed to the reduction of physio-psychosocial symptoms. Differences were found in how older frontline nurses perceived the efficacy of social support and certain coping strategies. This study provides further evidence of the importance of organizational support in addressing the harmful physio-psychosocial symptoms experienced by nurses.
Ready for Vaccination? COVID-19 Vaccination Willingness of Older People in Austria
Authors: Richter Lukas , Schreml Stephan , Heidinger Theresa
Published: June 2022

In spite of findings highlighting higher health risk from infection compared to younger people, a certain percentage of older people in Austria still lack a valid vaccination certificate. The current gaps in vaccination coverage in countries such as Austria are likely to be in large part due to vaccination refusal and pose or will pose problems for the health system and consequently for all of society should the initial findings on Omicron coronavirus infectivity prove true. Surprisingly, only a few studies around the globe explicitly address older people's COVID-19 vaccination willingness. The present work therefore intends to contribute to this field by identifying factors associated with the decision for or against a vaccination among the older population in Austria. Data collected between late 2020 and early 2021 via the cross-national panel study Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) are used to perform multinomial logistic regression to analyse differences between COVID-19 vaccination supporters, undecided persons and rejectors. The results show that persons exhibiting a low risk assessment toward COVID-19, less health protection behaviors, lower education and belonging to households with financial burdens are significantly more likely to refuse vaccination or be ambivalent. Although multimorbidity reduces risk of vaccination refusal, poor subjective health was significantly related to a higher risk of refusing vaccination. The results point to the importance of addressing the factors related to refusal. Only by understanding these factors will it be possible to increase vaccination rates and thus minimize other restrictive measures.
The Burden of COPD in China and Its Provinces: Findings From the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019
Authors: Yin Peng , Wu Jiayuan , Wang Lijun , Luo Chaole , Ouyang Lihuan , Tang Xiantong , Liu Jiangmei , Liu Yunning , Qi Jinlei , Zhou Maigeng , Lai Tianwen
Published: June 2022

In China, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was accounted for a quarter of the global COPD population and has become a large economic burden. However, the comprehensive picture of the COPD burden, which could inform health policy, is not readily available for all of the provinces of China. Here, we aimed to describe the burden of COPD in China, providing an up-to-date and comprehensive analysis at the national and provincial levels, and time trends from 1990 to 2019. Following the methodology framework and general analytical strategies used in the GBD 2019, we analyzed the incidence, prevalence, mortality, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), years lived with disability (YLDs), and years with life lost (YLLs) attributable to COPD across China and the corresponding time trends from 1990 to 2019, stratified by age and province. In order to quantify the secular trends of the burden of COPD, the estimated annual percentage changes were calculated by the linear regression model of age-standardized rates (ASRs) and calendar years. We also presented the contribution of risk factors to COPD-related mortality and DALYs. The association between COPD burden and socio-demographic index (SDI) were also evaluated. From 1990 to 2019, the incidence and prevalence numbers of COPD increased by 61.2 and 67.8%, respectively, whereas the number of deaths and DALYs owing to COPD decreased. The ASRs of COPD burden, including incidence, prevalence, mortality, DALYs, YLDs, and YLLs continuously decreased from 1990 to 2019. The crude rates of COPD burden dramatically increased with age and reached a peak in the older than 95 years age group. In 2019, the leading risk factor for COPD mortality and DALYs was tobacco use in the whole population, but ambient particulate matter pollution was the most significant risk factor in females. At the provincial level, the ASRs of COPD burden was significantly associated with the SDIs, with the highest ASRs in the western provinces with low SDIs. Collectively, our study indicated that COPD remains an important public health problem in China. Geographically targeted considerations should be developed to enhance COPD health and reduce the COPD burden throughout China and in specific provinces.
The Association of Sports Participation With Depressive Symptoms and Anxiety Disorder in Adolescents
Authors: Chi Guijun , Wang Lei
Published: June 2022

Aim

An increasing body of evidence has evidenced that physical activity is negatively associated with depression and anxiety in adolescents, although the associations between various modalities of PA with depression and anxiety have yet to be effectively explored. This study aimed to investigate the associations between sports participation and depression and anxiety among a sample of Chinese adolescents.

Methods

2,374 adolescents from eight schools were invited to participate in this survey, of whom 1,714 adolescents from grades 7, 8, 10 and 11 were included for final analysis. Depressive symptoms and anxiety disorder were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire−9 (PHQ-9), as well as the Generalized Anxiety Disorder−7 (GAD-7), respectively. Sport participation was assessed using a single question. Additionally, sociodemographic factors were assessed using a self-reported questionnaire. Ordinal logistic regression was used to estimate sport participation's associations with depressive symptoms and anxiety disorders separately, having controlled for all sociodemographic covariates.

Results

Among all study participants, those with less participation in sport-related activities had a greater likelihood of reporting depressive symptoms (Odd ratio [OR] for never = 2.07; OR for 1–3 times per month = 1.77; OR for 1–2 times per week = 1.77), as well as anxiety disorders (OR for never = 1.61; OR for 1–3 times per month = 1.69; OR for 1–2 times per week = 1.38).

Conclusion

Encouraging adolescents to engage in more sports participation would provide an effective and feasible approach for mental health promotion. Despite this study having found promising evidence, the research findings should be replicated using more improved research with an enhanced study design. Future researchers are encouraged to design and implement sports participation interventions aimed at promoting mental health among adolescents, while future China-based studies are encouraged to replicate or negate our study findings.
Predicting COVID-19 Cases in South Korea Using Stringency and Niño Sea Surface Temperature Indices
Authors: Necesito Imee V. , Velasco John Mark S. , Jung Jaewon , Bae Young Hye , Yoo Younghoon , Kim Soojun , Kim Hung Soo
Published: June 2022

Most coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) models use a combination of agent-based and equation-based models with only a few incorporating environmental factors in their prediction models. Many studies have shown that human and environmental factors play huge roles in disease transmission and spread, but few have combined the use of both factors, especially for SARS-CoV-2. In this study, both man-made policies (Stringency Index) and environment variables (Niño SST Index) were combined to predict the number of COVID-19 cases in South Korea. The performance indicators showed satisfactory results in modeling COVID-19 cases using the Non-linear Autoregressive Exogenous Model (NARX) as the modeling method, and Stringency Index (SI) and Niño Sea Surface Temperature (SST) as model variables. In this study, we showed that the accuracy of SARS-CoV-2 transmission forecasts may be further improved by incorporating both the Niño SST and SI variables and combining these variables with NARX may outperform other models. Future forecasting work by modelers should consider including climate or environmental variables (i.e., Niño SST) to enhance the prediction of transmission and spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
The Extent of Alcohol-Related Problems Among College and University Students in Norway Prior to and During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Heradstveit Ove , Sivertsen Børge , Lønning Kari-Jussie , Skogen Jens Christoffer
Published: June 2022

Aim

To provide estimates of the distribution of alcohol-related problems in a national sample of college and university students in 2021, i.e., during the COVID-19 pandemic, in comparison with pre-pandemic data from 2018.

Design

Longitudinal data from linkage of two recent national health surveys from 2018 to 2021.

Setting

Students in higher education in Norway (the SHoT-study).

Participants

8,287 fulltime students (72.5% women, 27.6% men) that were 18 years or more at the time of the first survey in 2018, and 21 years or more at the time of the second survey in 2021.

Measurements

The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) was used to assess potential alcohol-related problems.

Findings

37.0% of male students and 24.1% of female students reported either risky, harmful, or dependent alcohol use in 2021, compared with 55.0% of male students and 43.6% of female students in 2018. This decrease in alcohol-related problems was most pronounced for dependent alcohol use, where we observed a 57% relative reduction among male students (from 3.5% in 2018 to 1.5% in 2021) and a 64% relative reduction among female students (from 1.4% in 2018 to 0.5% in 2021).

Conclusions

The present study demonstrated a sharp decline in alcohol-related problems among students during the COVID-19 pandemic, that were present across gender, age groups, and geographical study locations. Universal preventive measures to limit students' alcohol use should be considered when restrictions related to the pandemic is lifted.
Booster Vaccination Strategies for “Living With COVID-19”
Authors: Kim Jung Eun , Lee Sunmi , Kim Hee-Sung
Published: June 2022

Although the primary and secondary vaccination rates in Korea account for over 75% of the total population, confirmed cases of COVID-19 are dramatically increasing due to immune waning and the Omicron variant. Therefore, it is urgent to evaluate the effectiveness of booster vaccination strategies for living with COVID-19. In this work, we have developed an age-specific mathematical model with eight age groups and included age-specific comorbidities to evaluate the effectiveness of age-specific vaccination prioritization strategies to minimize morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, we have investigated the impacts of age-specific vaccination strategies for different vaccine supplies and non-pharmaceutical intervention levels during two periods: (1) when vaccine supply was insufficient and (2) after the emergence of the omicron variant. During the first period, the best option was to vaccinate the 30–49 year age group and the group with comorbidities to minimize morbidity and mortality, respectively. However, a booster vaccination should prioritize the 30–49 year age group to promote both minimal morbidity and mortality. Critical factors, such as vaccination speed, vaccine efficacy, and non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), should be considered for effective vaccination prioritization as well. Primary, secondary vaccinations, and a booster shot vaccinations require different age prioritization strategies under different vaccination rates, vaccine efficacies, and NPI levels.
The Mediating Role of Emotion Regulation Strategies in the Relationship Between Big Five Personality Traits and Anxiety and Depression Among Chinese Firefighters
Authors: Tao Yanqiang , Liu Xiangping , Hou Wenxin , Niu Haiqun , Wang Shujian , Ma Zijuan , Bi Dan , Zhang Liang
Published: June 2022

Identification of protective factors to prevent firefighters' anxiety and depression is meaningful. We explored whether emotion-regulation strategies mediate the relationship between personality traits and anxiety and depression among Chinese firefighters. Approximately, 716 Chinese firefighters were recruited and completed the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), and Big Five Inventory−2 (BFI-2) Scale. Results (N = 622) indicated that only negative emotionality traits could predict anxiety symptoms. Meanwhile, the multilevel mediation effect analyses showed that conscientiousness through cognitive reappraisal could reduce anxiety and depression symptoms in Chinese firefighters. Our findings clarify Chinese firefighters' underlying emotion-regulation process between personality traits and anxiety and depression. Implications, limitations, and future directions are discussed.
Characteristics of Body Composition Estimated by Air-Displacement Plethysmography in Chinese Preschool Children
Authors: Chen Fangfang , Wang Jing , Liu Junting , Huang Guimin , Hou Dongqing , Liao Zijun , Zhang Ting , Liu Gongshu , Xie Xianghui , Tai Jun
Published: June 2022

Objective

To describe the characteristics of body composition by air-displacement plethysmography (ADP) among Chinese preschool children.

Methods

Preschool children were recruited from three kindergartens. Adiposity indices were evaluated using the ADP method. BMI, fat mass index (FMI), fat-free mass index (FFMI) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were calculated. Overweight and obesity were diagnosed using the WHO reference. Analyses were executed by SPSS and MedCalc software. Smoothed curves were constructed using the lambda-mu-sigma (LMS) method.

Results

This study evaluated the growth trend for body composition of ADP-based body fat indices based on a relatively large sample of preschool children, the first ever reported in China. A total of 1,011 children aged 3–5 years comprised our study population. BMI and FFMI increased with age, but the slope (P= 0.710) and y intercept (P= 0.132) in the BMI trend analysis demonstrated no differences between boys and girls. For the FFMI trend lines, the slope was significantly higher for boys than for girls (P= 0.013). The percentage of fat mass (FM%), FMI, and WHtR were negatively correlated with age for both sexes, except for FMI in girls (P= 0.094). The 95% CI regression lines for FM% according to different weight statuses intersected.

Conclusions

ADP is applicable to estimating body composition among Chinese preschool children. Misclassifications might occur when overweight/obese status is defined based on surrogate indices.
Public and Patient Involvement in Doctoral Research During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Reflections on the Process, Challenges, Impact and Experiences From the Perspectives of Adults With Cerebral Palsy and the Doctoral Researcher
Authors: Manikandan Manjula , Foley Kevin , Gough Jessica , Harrington Sarah , Wall Éabha , Weldon Fiona , Ryan Jennifer M. , Kerr Claire , Walsh Aisling , Fortune Jennifer
Published: June 2022

Introduction

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a lifelong condition, where people may experience complications as they age. Including the views of people with CP through Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) ensures that research into the condition is relevant and meaningful in addressing their concerns. However, there is a lack of evidence on incorporating the voices of adults with CP in the doctoral research process. Therefore, this paper aims to provide an overview of how adults with CP were involved in a doctoral research process during the pandemic.

Methods

This paper describes the PPI process and its impact at various stages of the doctoral research process and reflects on the experiences from the perspective of the doctoral researcher and adults with CP using the INVOLVE Values and Principles framework. Five adults with CP were consulted throughout the doctoral research programme. The data for this paper is a combination of reflection notes, email exchanges, meeting minutes and informal discussions with the PPI team on their experiences of being involved in the PPI process. The content of this paper is informed by GRIPP 2 checklist.

Results

The doctoral researcher and adult reflections highlighted the value of collaboration and the positive impact on research at each stage of the doctoral research process. Although meetings were adapted due to the pandemic, the values of PPI were adhered to throughout the doctoral research.

Conclusion

Involving adults with CP positively impacted the doctoral research process. It is recommended to consider individual access needs to ensure meetings and information are accessible for disabled adults. Our reflective findings and recommendations may help other researchers who plan to involve adults with CP in doctoral research.
Optimization-Based Motion Generation for Buzzwire Tasks With the REEM-C Humanoid Robot
Authors: Lee Peter Q. , Rajendran Vidyasagar , Mombaur Katja
Published: June 2022

Buzzwire tasks are often used as benchmarks and as training environments for fine motor skills and high precision path following. These tasks require moving a wire loop along an arbitrarily shaped wire obstacle in a collision-free manner. While there have been some demonstrations of buzzwire tasks with robotic manipulators using reinforcement learning and admittance control, there does not seem to be any examples with humanoid robots. In this work, we consider the scenario where we control one arm of the REEM-C humanoid robot, with other joints fixed, as groundwork for eventual full-body control. In pursuit of this, we contribute by designing an optimal control problem that generates trajectories to solve the buzzwire in a time optimized manner. This is composed of task-space constraints to prevent collisions with the buzzwire obstacle, the physical limits of the robot, and an objective function to trade-off reducing time and increasing margins from collision. The formulation can be applied to a very general set of wire shapes and the objective and task constraints can be adapted to other hardware configurations. We evaluate this formulation using the arm of a REEM-C humanoid robot and provide an analysis of how the generated trajectories perform both in simulation and on hardware.
Novel Neurostimulation-Based Haptic Feedback Platform for Grasp Interactions With Virtual Objects
Authors: Shell Aliyah K. , Pena Andres E. , Abbas James J. , Jung Ranu
Published: June 2022

Haptic perception is a vital part of the human experience that enriches our engagement with the world, but the ability to provide haptic information in virtual reality (VR) environments is limited. Neurostimulation-based sensory feedback has the potential to enhance the immersive experience within VR environments by supplying relevant and intuitive haptic feedback related to interactions with virtual objects. Such feedback may contribute to an increase in the sense of presence and realism in VR and may contribute to the improvement of virtual reality simulations for future VR applications. This work developed and evaluated xTouch, a neuro-haptic platform that extends the sense of touch to virtual environments. xTouch is capable of tracking a user’s grasp and manipulation interactions with virtual objects and delivering haptic feedback based on the resulting grasp forces. Seven study participants received haptic feedback delivered via multi-channel transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the median nerve at the wrist to receive the haptic feedback. xTouch delivered different percept intensity profiles designed to emulate grasp forces during manipulation of objects of different sizes and compliance. The results of a virtual object classification task showed that the participants were able to use the active haptic feedback to discriminate the size and compliance of six virtual objects with success rates significantly better than the chance of guessing it correctly (63.9 ± 11.5%, chance = 16.7%, p < 0.001). We demonstrate that the platform can reliably convey interpretable information about the physical characteristics of virtual objects without the use of hand-mounted devices that would restrict finger mobility. Thus, by offering an immersive virtual experience, xTouch may facilitate a greater sense of belonging in virtual worlds.