bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Meaning Analysis and Alienation: A Method of Immanent Critique in Acute Psychiatry
Authors: Dechent Frieder , Moeller Julian , Huber Christian G.
Published: December 2022

In acute psychiatry, where people with severe mental disorders are frequently treated, there can be contradictions between concepts of illness among, e.g., patients and healthcare professionals, and also between medical and legal aspects. These contradictions do not manifest themselves openly but are immanent in the social practices of the treatment teams as contradictions between the social level and the individual level. They can lead to alienation, which may be reflected in poorer quality of treatment, such as the more frequent use of coercive measures or poorer adherence to therapy in patients. In the normal daily routine of a clinic, these contradictions are mostly hidden by hierarchical structures or by unbalanced concepts of psychiatric illness, or external critique is used to try to solve these contradictions. However, another way of dealing with these contradictions could be to analyze the potential and causes for alienation through systematic analysis and transformation of the whole system of a psychiatric ward to reduce the level of contradiction within it. The aim of this work is to use the concept of meaning elaborated by Luhmann to identify and recognize alienation potentials as concretely as possible and thus make them accessible to immanent critique. Meaning in Luhmann’s use of the term serves to reduce complexity in a social context and always opens up consequential possibilities for action. Consequential limited possibilities at the level of action in a rigid social system (which psychiatric wards can be) can—at an individual level—lead to people subordinating themselves to the rigid system to an excessive degree and thus alienating themselves from the system. Thus, a rigid system with a narrowing of consequential possibilities excludes meaningful consequential possibilities. This leads to alienating contradictions and to possibilities of world appropriation being missed. The aim of the current analysis is not to make a general critique of psychiatry but to improve the theoretical basis to better understand the problem of alienation in acute psychiatry as a symptom of system-immanent contradictions and thus open up the possibility of transforming systems, e.g., psychiatric acute care units, by means of immanent critique.
The Occurrence and Co-Occurrence of Harsh Parenting and Family Conflict in Hong Kong
Authors: Chen Qiqi , Lo Camilla , Chen Mengtong , Chan Ko , Ip Patrick
Published: December 2022

The violation of children’s right to a safe home environment is a major public health problem in need of serious attention. Evidence has been limited about the family characteristics that go with the co-occurrence of harsh parenting and family conflict. By using a representative community sample of Hong Kong families, this study aims to examine the prevalence and risk factors of harsh parenting and family conflict. This study was conducted using a secondary analysis obtained from the 2017 Hong Kong Family Survey with a sample size of 1926 respondents who have children. Results showed that participants’ ages are negatively related to the occurrence and co-occurrence of harsh parenting and/or family conflict. Married mothers reported less family conflict. Fathers with lower education levels reported more experiences of family violence. Mothers reporting a higher level of family satisfaction were less associated with harsh parenting. This study provides insights into the unique and shared familial elements that prevent harsh parenting and family conflict and help facilitate the development of effective intervention strategies for family violence co-occurrence. Family-based prevention for family violence may screen for the presence of harsh parenting and family conflict and take into consideration these signals to better support families in need.
Study on the Evaluation of Emergency Management Capacity of Resilient Communities by the AHP-TOPSIS Method
Authors: Wang Kai , Wang Zhe , Deng Jun , Feng Yuanyuan , Li Quanfang
Published: December 2022

Community emergency management is directly related to the safety of people’s lives and properties and is concerned with economic development and social stability. This paper established an evaluation model of community emergency management capacity from the perspective of resilience based on hierarchical analysis (AHP) and distance between superior and inferior solutions (TOPSIS). In terms of infrastructure resilience, community organizational resilience, risk, and hidden danger management, emergency material security, emergency force construction, emergency literacy, and the evaluation index system of resilient community emergency management capacity were improved. By the AHP method, the weights of all indexes were determined scientifically. Combined with the TOPSIS method, the fit of the evaluated object which between the positive and negative ideal solution was calculated to determine the optimal evaluation among multiple experts. According to the validated assessment, the low-scoring indicators were analyzed to make practical suggestions for improvement. The results provide new theoretical methods and technical support for the assessment of community emergency response capacity, which also provides reference for the assessment of emergency response capacity in other fields.
Development of a Cyclic Voltammetry-Based Method for the Detection of Antigens and Antibodies as a Novel Strategy for Syphilis Diagnosis
Authors: Barros Gabriel M. C. , Carvalho Dionísio D. A. , Cruz Agnaldo S. , Morais Ellen K. L. , Sales-Moioli Ana Isabela L. , Pinto Talita K. B. , Almeida Melise C. D. , Sanchez-Gendriz Ignacio , Fernandes Felipe , Barbalho Ingridy M. P. , Santos João P. Q. , Henriques Jorge M. O. , Teixeira César A. D. , Gil Paulo , Gama Lúcio , Miranda Angélica E. , Coutinho Karilany D. , Galvão-Lima Leonardo J. , Valentim Ricardo A. M.
Published: December 2022

The improvement of laboratory diagnosis is a critical step for the reduction of syphilis cases around the world. In this paper, we present the development of an impedance-based method for detecting T. pallidum antigens and antibodies as an auxiliary tool for syphilis laboratory diagnosis. We evaluate the voltammetric signal obtained after incubation in carbon or gold nanoparticle-modified carbon electrodes in the presence or absence of Poly-L-Lysine. Our results indicate that the signal obtained from the electrodes was sufficient to distinguish between infected and non-infected samples immediately (T0′) or 15 min (T15′) after incubation, indicating its potential use as a point-of-care method as a screening strategy.
Reduction Effect of Carbon Emission Trading Policy in Decreasing PM2.5 Concentrations in China
Authors: Weng Zhixiong , Cheng Cuiyun , Xie Yang , Ma Hao
Published: December 2022

Carbon emissions trading is a market-based tool for solving environmental issues. This study used a difference-in-differences (DID) approach to estimate China’s carbon trading pilots to reduce PM2.5 concentrations. The results of this quasi-natural experiment show that the carbon trading policy effectively reduces PM2.5 by 2.7 μg/m3. We used a propensity score matching (PSM-DID) method to minimize selection bias to construct a treatment and a control group. The results show the policy effect is robust, with a PM2.5 concentration reduction of 2.6 μg/m3. Furthermore, we employed a series of robustness checks to support our findings, which notably indicate that the effect of carbon trading on reducing PM2.5 differs across regions over the years. The western region of China tends to be the most easily affected region, and the early years of carbon trading show slightly greater reduction effects. Our findings provide valuable policy implications for establishing and promoting carbon trading in China and other countries.
Coping with Workplace Incivility in Hospital Teams: How Does Team Mindfulness Influence Prevention- and Promotion-Focused Emotional Coping?
Authors: Farley Samuel , Wu David Wei , Song Lynda Jiwen , Pieniazek Rebecca , Unsworth Kerrie
Published: December 2022

Incivility is a growing concern for researchers and practitioners alike, yet we know little about how the team context is related to the way that employees respond to it. In this study, we examined the role of team mindfulness and its direct and buffering effects on individual-level promotion- and prevention-focused emotional coping. We also examined how these forms of coping were related to individual work engagement. In a temporally lagged study of 73 hospital teams (involving 440 team members), multi-level analyses showed that team mindfulness was directly negatively associated with individual-level prevention-focused emotional coping (behavioral disengagement, denial, and venting); however, it was not positively related to individual-level promotion-focused forms of coping (positive reframing and acceptance). In addition, a cross-level interaction effect was identified whereby team mindfulness reduced the positive relationship between incivility and venting, meaning there was less individual-level venting following incivility in the context of higher team mindfulness. These findings may have implications for work engagement, which was shown to be negatively related to venting and behavioral disengagement. Our findings are useful for managers of teams that regularly experience customer incivility as it uncovers how they can develop a team context that discourages ineffective coping responses.
16 Years (2006–2021) of Surface Ozone Measurements in Córdoba (Southern Spain): Trends and the Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown
Authors: Hernández-Ceballos Miguel A. , Jiménez-Solano Alberto , Torres-Fernández Julio
Published: December 2022

Surface ozone concentrations (O3) during the period 2006–2021 are analysed at Córdoba city (southern Iberian Peninsula) in suburban and urban sampling sites. The aims are to present the levels and temporal variations, to explore trends and to quantity the variation in O3 concentrations in the context of the COVID-19 lockdown. The O3 means are higher in the suburban station (62 µg m−3 and 51.3 µg m−3), being the information level threshold only exceeded twice during this period. The daily evolution shows a maximum at about 17:00 UTC, whereas the minimum is reached at about 9:00 UTC, with higher levels in the suburban station. The seasonal evolution of this daily cycle also presents monthly differences in shape and intensity between stations. The trends are analysed by means of daily averages and daily 5th and 95th percentiles, and they show a similar increase in all of these parameters, with special emphasis on the daily P95 concentrations, with 0.27 µg m−3 year−1 and 0.24 µg m−3 year−1. Finally, the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown shows a decline in O3 concentrations over 10%.
Psychological Impact of COVID-19 in the Setting of Dentistry: A Review Article
Authors: De Haro Juan Carlos , Rosel Eva María , Salcedo-Bellido Inmaculada , Leno-Durán Ester , Requena Pilar , Barrios-Rodríguez Rocío
Published: December 2022

The worldwide pandemic has exposed healthcare professionals to a high risk of infection, exacerbating the situation of uncertainty caused by COVID-19. The objective of this review was to evaluate the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on dental professionals and their patients. A literature review was conducted using Medline-Pubmed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases, excluding systematic reviews, narratives, meta-analyses, case reports, book chapters, short communications, and congress papers. A modified version of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to evaluate the quality of the selected studies. The search retrieved 3879 articles, and 123 of these were selected for the review (7 longitudinal and 116 cross-sectional studies). Elevated anxiety levels were observed in dental professionals, especially in younger and female professionals. Except for orthodontic treatments, patients reported a high level of fear that reduced their demand for dentist treatment to emergency cases alone. The results suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic has had psychological and emotional consequences for dental professionals and their patients. Further research is necessary to evaluate the persistence of this problem over time.
How to Use Biomechanical Job Exposure Matrices with Job History to Access Work Exposure for Musculoskeletal Disorders? Application of Mathematical Modeling in Severe Knee Pain in the Constances Cohort
Authors: Deltreil Guillaume , Tardivel Patrick , Graczyk Piotr , Escobar-Bach Mikael , Descatha Alexis
Published: December 2022

Introduction: Musculoskeletal disorders related to work might be caused by the cumulative effect of occupational exposures during working life. We aimed to develop a new model which allows to compare the accuracy of duration of work and intensity/frequency associations in application to severe knee pain. Methods: From the CONSTANCES cohort, 62,620 subjects who were working at inclusion and coded were included in the study. The biomechanical job exposure matrix “JEM Constances” was used to assess the intensity/frequency of heavy lifting and kneeling/squatting at work together with work history to characterize the association between occupational exposure and severe knee pain. An innovative model G was developed and evaluated, allowing to compare the accuracy of duration of work and intensity/frequency associations. Results: The mean age was 49 years at inception with 46 percent of women. The G model developed was slightly better than regular models. Among the men subgroup, odds ratios of the highest quartile for the duration and low intensity were not significant for both exposures, whereas intensity/duration were for every duration. Results in women were less interpretable. Conclusions: Though higher duration increased strength of association with severe knee pain, intensity/frequency were important predictors among men. Exposure estimation along working history should have emphasis on such parameters, though other outcomes should be studied and have a focus on women.
Pre-Service University Training, Body Expression and Self-Concept
Authors: Romero-Martín Maria Rosario , Caballero-Julia Daniel
Published: December 2022

Body Expression (BE) has been defined in the past few decades as a discipline within Physical Education (PE) with very particular characteristics and a strong emotional component. In this study, a BE program was applied with university Physical Activity and Sports Sciences (PASS) students from six consecutive academic years: three prior to and three during the COVID-19 pandemic. A pre-post design was used to determine how the BE program affected the university students’ self-concept (SC). Thus, a questionnaire with a multidimensional approach to this construct was administered, with dimensions closely related to the BE program characteristics. The results revealed significant improvements in the final SC, compared to the initial SC. The men reported lower SC values than the women before the program’s implementation, but higher at the end. Therefore, the change was greater in the men, so the program may have had an equalizing effect between the groups. It was also verified that the pandemic had particularly affected the women.
Suit the Remedy to the Case—The Effectiveness of COVID-19 Nonpharmaceutical Prevention and Control Policies Based on Individual Going-Out Behavior
Authors: Shan Siqing , Zhao Feng , Sun Menghan , Li Yinong , Yang Yangzi
Published: December 2022

Nonpharmaceutical policies for epidemic prevention and control have been extensively used since the outbreak of COVID-19. Policies ultimately work by limiting individual behavior. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of policies by combining macro nonpharmaceutical policies with micro-individual going-out behavior. For different going out scenarios triggered by individual physiological safety needs, friendship needs, and family needs, this paper categorizes policies with significant differences in intensity, parameterizes the key contents of the policies, and simulates and analyzes the effectiveness of the policies in different going-out scenarios with simulation methods. The empirical results show that enhancing policy intensity can effectively improve policy effectiveness. Among different types of policies, restricting the times of going out is more effective. Further, the effect of controlling going out based on physiological safety needs is better than other needs. We also evaluate the policy effectiveness of 26 global countries or regions. The results show that the policy effectiveness varies among 26 countries or regions. The quantifiable reference provided by this study facilitates decision makers to establish policy and practices for epidemic prevention and control.
Analyst Site Visits and Corporate Environmental Information Disclosure: Evidence from China
Authors: Fan Linyan , Yao Sheng
Published: December 2022

Compared with developed countries, emerging economy countries are facing more severe environmental challenges. Therefore, effective disclosure of corporate environmental information is an important concern for emerging economies to cope with environmental issues. There is a growing volume of literature documenting that analyst site visits can urge corporations to provide high-quality financial information to investors. However, whether analyst site visits can also improve the quality of environmental information is still unclear. In the Chinese setting, where environmental information has attracted much attention, we explore the interaction between analyst site visits and environmental information disclosure. With three regression methods of the ordinary least squares model, two-stage least square model, and difference-in-difference model, we establish regressions to verify the relationships between them by using empirical data from 2012 to 2019 in China. The results show that analyst site visits are significantly positively correlated with corporate environmental information disclosure. This positive relation is more pronounced when corporations are in economically developed and highly market-oriented areas, in poor air quality areas, and for corporations with good, reasonable internal governance. In addition, we find that analyst site visits affect the quality of environmental information disclosure through the intermediary effect of media attention. In the robustness test, further evidence also indicates that the interaction between analyst site visits and corporate environmental information disclosure was more significant before the COVID-19 lockdown policy was implemented in Wuhan. Our findings suggest that governments should provide support for analysts to conduct site visits and formulate regulations on mandatory disclosure of environmental information by different regions as soon as possible.
Spatial Accessibility Analysis of Medical Facilities Based on Public Transportation Networks
Authors: Liu Ying , Gu Han , Shi Yuyu
Published: December 2022

Aiming to look at the problems of the unreasonable layout of medical facilities and low coverage of primary medical services. This paper selects tertiary grade A hospitals, general hospitals, specialized hospitals, community-level hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies in the main urban areas of Chongqing as research objects. The nearest analysis, kernel density, mean center, and standard deviational ellipse method were used to analyze the spatial differentiation characteristics of medical facilities and public transportation stations. Spatial accessibility was assessed from the perspective of service area ratios and service population ratios by constructing multiple modes of transportation (pedestrian systems, bus lines, rail lines). The results show that (1) the spatial layout of medical facilities in the main urban area of Chongqing is unbalanced; and the spatial distribution of medical facilities is characterized by “large agglomeration, small dispersion” and “multi-center group”; (2) the sub-core circle is centered on the Southwest University Area in Beibei District, the University Town Area in Shapingba, the Yudong Area and Lijiatuo Area in Banan District, the Pingan Light Rail Station Area in Dadukou District, the Chongqing No. 8 Middle School Area in Jiulongpo District, the Tea Garden Area in Nanan District, and the Jiangbei Airport Area in Yubei District; (3) the medical facilities with the weakest average accessibility are tertiary grade A hospitals, and the strongest are pharmacies; (4) the areas with vital average accessibility are Yuzhong District, Shapingba District, Dadukou District, and Nanan District.
Does Back Squat Exercise Lead to Regional Hypertrophy among Quadriceps Femoris Muscles?
Authors: Kojic Filip , Ranisavljev Igor , Obradovic Milos , Mandic Danimir , Pelemis Vladan , Paloc Milos , Duric Sasa
Published: December 2022

The present study investigated effects of squat resistance training on intermuscular hypertrophy of quadriceps femoris muscles (i.e., rectus femoris, RF; vastus intermedius, VI; vastus medialis, VM; and vastus lateralis, VL). Eighteen university students (age: 24.1 ± 1.7 years, 9 females) underwent 7 weeks of parallel squat training (2 days/week) preceded by a 2-week familiarization period. Squat strength (1RM) and cross-sectional area (CSA) of four quadriceps muscles were assessed at baseline and at the end of the study. At posttest, 1RM and CSA of quadriceps muscles significantly increased (p < 0.01), with moderate-to-large effect (ES = 1.25–2.11) for 1RM (8.33 ± 6.64 kg), VM CSA (0.12 ± 0.08 cm2), and VL CSA (0.19 ± 0.09 cm2) and small effect (ES = 0.89–1.13) for RF CSA (0.17 ± 0.15 cm2) and VI CSA (0.16 ± 0.18 cm2). No significant differences were found in the changes of CSA between muscles (F = 0.638, p = 0.593). However, the squat 1RM gain was significantly associated only with the changes in CSA of the VL muscle (r = 0.717, p < 0.001). The parallel squat resulted in significant growth of all quadriceps muscles. However, the novelty of this study is that the increase in strength is associated only with hypertrophy of the VL muscle.
Comparison of Skinfold Thickness Measured by Caliper and Ultrasound Scanner in Normative Weight Women
Authors: Lewandowski Zdzisław , Dychała Ewelina , Pisula-Lewandowska Agnieszka , Danel Dariusz P.
Published: December 2022

Obesity is a major issue affecting not only adults but also children in many places of the world. There are numerous methods for estimating the body fat percentage, however, all of those methods are different in terms of availability, accuracy, and the cost of an individual examination. The aim of this study was to compare two relatively easy and widespread measurement methods for assessing skinfold thickness: the BodyMetrix BX2000 ultrasound machine and a classic GPM caliper. Fifty-eight young women aged 19–24 years with normative body weight participated in the study. We found that although the measurements performed by both methods are positively correlated, the obtained values were different. In seven out of nine measured points, these differences were statistically significant. The measurements of skin fat folds with a caliper showed a higher value of subcutaneous tissue compared to ultrasound measurements. Only the values of measurements on the pectoral and mid-axillary did not differ between the methods. We conclude that due to the significant discrepancies in the values of measured skinfold thickness, appropriate measurement tools and dedicated formulas estimating the amount of body fat should be used.
The Belt and Road Initiative, Public Health Expenditure and Economic Growth: Evidence from Quasi-Natural Experiments
Authors: Cao Xin , Li Peng , Li Shi , Zhang Heng , Qin Mengni
Published: December 2022

The United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) involve society, economy, and environment, and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is an important path to implement the SDGs. Moreover, the BRI is a vision for economic development of countries along the route. Although many studies documented the effect of the BRI on environment and economic performance, few studies have discussed the effect of the BRI on social and economic benefits. Therefore, we introduce the public health expenditure to explore the relationship between the BRI and the public health and economic growth of countries along the route from the dual perspective of social development and economic growth. Based on a panel data from 171 countries from 2010 to 2018, the current research explores whether the BRI can boost public health and promote economic growth in the belt-road countries. As a result, we found that the BRI boosted the expenditure of public health and effectively spurred economic growth in the belt-road countries. Furthermore, the effect of the BRI on the economic growth in the countries along the route depends on the level of public health expenditure in each country; the positive effect of the BRI on economic growth is significant when the public health expenditure level is moderate instead of low or high. The findings provide theoretical and practical insights into the SDGs of the BRI.
A Low-Cost Method Shows Potentially Toxic Element Levels in Dust Correlated with Elevated Blood Levels of These Chemicals in Children Exposed to an Informal Home-Based Production Environment
Authors: Barrozo Fairah , Almeida Gilmar Alves de , Luz Maciel Santos , Olympio Kelly Polido Kaneshiro
Published: December 2022

Dust is recognized as a route of exposure to environmental pollutants. The city of Limeira, Sao Paulo state, Brazil, is a production center for jewelry and fashion jewelry, where part of this jewelry production is home-based, informal, and outsourced. The aim of this study was to evaluate exposure to Potentially Toxic Elements (PTE: Cr, Sn, Mn, Sb, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, and As) in dust among children from households of informal workers using electrostatic dust cloths (EDC). Dust samples were collected in 21 exposed and 23 control families using EDC from surfaces where dust deposits had accumulated for approximately 14 days. In exposed families, dust samples were also collected from welders’ workstations. PTE concentrations were then determined using inductively coupled mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results raised concerns in relation to Cr, As, and Cd exposure among children within the informal home-based production environment. Blood PTE concentrations in children showed a moderate correlation with levels of Cr (Rho 0.40), Zn (Rho −0.43), and As (Rho 0.40), and a strong correlation with Cd (Rho 0.80) (p < 0.05), detected in dust. In conclusion, analyzing dust collected using EDC proved a potentially low-cost tool for determining PTE in dust. In addition, the results confirmed that informal home-based work poses a risk for children residing in these households. Public policies are needed to assist these families and promote better conditions of occupational health and safety for the whole family.
Motives and Barriers for Regular Physical Activity among Medical Students from the Western Balkans (South-East Europe Region)
Authors: Ilić Miloš , Pang Huiwen , Vlaški Tomislav , Grujičić Maja , Novaković Budimka
Published: December 2022

Regular physical activity (PA) has multiple beneficial effects on students’ health, effectively reducing the risk of various non-communicable diseases. Various factors play a role in an individual’s motivation to engage in and maintain regular PA. So far, no research dealing with the motives and barriers for regular PA among medical students has been conducted in the countries of the Western Balkans. The aim of this study was to identify the motives and barriers related to regular PA and compare them with different demographic, socioeconomic, and individual lifestyle factors among Western Balkans medical students. The research was conducted in a form of a cross-sectional study. It included 2452 medical students from 14 faculties in five countries (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Serbia). The most commonly reported motive of medical students for regular PA is to feel better, followed by stress reduction, to look better, the desire to lose weight, and to control chronic disease. PA improvement motives are more frequently associated with the female gender, more advanced years of study, a normal weight, above average household income, and a non-smoking status. Faculty obligations are the most common barrier for regular PA among medical students, followed by other barriers, such as financial situation, current life situation, and health conditions. Barriers are more frequently reported by male students who are overweight or obese, who have a below average income, and are smokers. It is necessary for public health authorities to examine and take into account the perceived motives and barriers when forming activities and policies that aim at increasing the level of PA, in order to enhance the health of the student population.
Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice in a Sample of the Lebanese Population Regarding Cholera
Authors: Malaeb Diana , Sallam Malik , Younes Samar , Mourad Nisreen , Sarray El Dine Abir , Obeid Sahar , Hallit Souheil , Hallit Rabih
Published: December 2022

The evaluation of knowledge, attitude, and practices towards an emerging disease is an essential component of public health preventive measures during an outbreak. In October 2022, an outbreak of cholera was reported in Lebanon, which is the first to be reported in the Middle Eastern country for 30 years. This study aimed to explore the level of knowledge as well as attitude and practice of the general public in Lebanon towards cholera. A self-administered structured questionnaire was distributed via an online link to individuals living in Lebanon during October–November 2022. The survey instrument comprised items to assess the sociodemographic data; questions on knowledge about cholera symptoms, transmission, and prevention; as well as attitude and practice questions. Our study involved 553 participants, with a median age of 24 years and a majority of females (72.5%). The results showed that the majority of respondents correctly identified diarrhea as a symptom of cholera and recognized the spread via contaminated water and food. Having a university level education compared with secondary school or less (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.09), being married compared with single (aOR = 1.67), and working in the medical field compared with unemployed (aOR = 4.19) were significantly associated with higher odds of having good cholera knowledge. Having good knowledge compared with having a poor level of cholera knowledge (aOR = 1.83) and older age (aOR = 1.03) were significantly associated with higher odds of having a good attitude towards cholera. The current study showed an overall high knowledge score on cholera among the Lebanese population. Nevertheless, gaps in cholera knowledge were identified and should be addressed, particularly among workers in the medical field. Thus, we recommend targeted health education to the general population that aims to strengthen the health resilience in the community.
Private Health Insurance and Financial Risk Taking in Spain—The Moderating Effect of Subjective Risk Tolerance
Authors: Aguiar-Díaz Inmaculada , Ruiz-Mallorqui María Victoria
Published: December 2022

This study focuses on the effect of private health insurance on financial risk taking in Spanish households. According to the arguments related to the background risk, we propose two hypotheses: the first predicts a positive relationship between health insurance and risk taking and the second asserts that attitude to risk moderates this relationship. Spain is a good laboratory because it has a National Health System (NHS) that offers healthcare coverage to the entire population, which could eliminate the effect of health insurance on risk taking. Based on a sample of 6110 households obtained from the Household Finance Survey (EFF), our results confirm both hypotheses. Specifically, we show that private health insurance significantly increases a household’s portfolio risk, especially in households with greater risk aversion. The results are concordant with the scarce amount of previous empirical evidence obtained in other contexts and are robust for different subsamples and estimation methods.
The Effect of Halliwick Method on Aquatic Skills of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Vodakova Eliska , Chatziioannou Dimitrios , Jesina Ondrej , Kudlacek Martin
Published: December 2022

Background: Swimming and the skills associated with participation in the aquatic environment tend to be an integral part of the movement literacy complex. Non-participation then affects the safety of movement in the aquatic environment and may also be the reason for the limitation of movement, psychological, and social development compared to peers. Methods: This study is a single-subject research study. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of a seven-week intervention program of the Halliwick method in the development of aquatic skills, gross motor skills, and mental skills relevant for aquatic competence for children with autism spectrum disorder. Seven children with autism spectrum disorder participated in swimming classes for a two-week baseline period and a seven-week intervention program of the Halliwick method, one time per week. To measure the effect in the field of aquatic skills, we used the Alyn Water Orientation Test 1. To determine the level of gross motor skills, we used the Gross Motor Function Measure test. Results: There was an improvement in aquatic skills and gross motor skills in seven participants; two of them did not improve in mental adjustment oriented to the breathing control sections in the water.
Combining Exercise and Carbohydrate Restriction in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus—A Critical Look at Possible Intervention Effects
Authors: Akrimi Samir , Brinkmann Christian
Published: December 2022

Combining regular exercise and a healthy diet is recommended in international guidelines to fight type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Low- and very low-carbohydrate diets have attracted attention in the last years. This article takes a critical look at the possible effects when regular exercise and carbohydrate restriction are combined. An increased intervention effect on the oxidative capacity as well as glucose and lipid profiles can be assumed (at least for a short period of time). However, anabolic signaling pathways might be blunted during a very low-carbohydrate diet and increasing ketosis. Thus, muscle build-up can become difficult or impossible. Furthermore, maximal performance during high-intensity workouts may be attenuated due to a possible reduced anaerobic glycolysis and metabolic inflexibility in T2DM patients. However, more studies are needed to evaluate the effects of this combination in comparison to those of exercise and other types of diet.
Evacuation in Buildings Based on BIM: Taking a Fire in a University Library as an Example
Authors: Zheng Haotian , Zhang Shuchuan , Zhu Junqi , Zhu Ziyan , Fang Xin
Published: December 2022

As a typical public place, a university library has a large collection of books with heavy fire load, dense population, and large flow of people. The situation of safe evacuation in case of fire is very serious. This study utilizes Revit, Pyrosim, and Pathfinder software to research evacuation of a university library. First, a Building Information Modeling (BIM) is constructed based on Revit software in 1:1 scale. Second, the evacuation passage with the highest utilization rate was determined through Pathfinder software. According to the “most unfavorable principle,” the location near it was assumed to be where the fire occurred. Pyrosim software was used to determine the smoke spread, visibility, CO concentration, temperature, and other conditions at each stairway exit in case of fire. Finally, the evacuation situation is compared with that after man-made route planning. The results indicate that evacuation exits 1#, 7#, 13#, 19#, and 23# have the highest utilization rate. The safe evacuation time was 739.275 s, which was shortened to 638.025 s after man-made route planning, a 13.67% increase in evacuation efficiency. Evacuation efficiency can be significantly improved by increasing broadcast guidelines, adding signs, widening staircases, and other optimization suggestions, which can provide reference for the study of evacuation effects in public places and the improvement of the layout of public facilities.
Dietary Problems Are Associated with Frailty Status in Older People with Fewer Teeth in Japan
Authors: Miyano Takashi , Kaneko Ryosuke , Kimura Toshihide , Maruoka Misa , Kishimura Akihiro , Kato Koichiro , Furuta Michiko , Yamashita Yoshihisa
Published: December 2022

This study aimed to investigate the association between dietary problems and frailty according to tooth loss in older Japanese people. This cross-sectional study included 160 older people (mean age 82.6 years) from Japan. Frailty status was assessed using the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures (SOF) criteria, which consists of (i) weight loss > 5% in the past year, (ii) inability to perform five chair stands, and (iii) self-perceived reduced energy level. Frailty was defined as the presence of ≥2 items of SOF criteria. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed with frailty as the dependent variable and dietary problems as the independent variable, stratified according to having <20 teeth. Low appetite and no enjoyment of eating were associated with frailty after adjusting for covariates in participants with <20 teeth. Dietary problems, including low appetite, eating alone, and negative attitudes toward enjoyment of eating were associated with a self-perceived reduced energy level in participants with <20 teeth. However, this association was not observed in participants with ≥20 teeth. In older people with fewer teeth, dietary problems have been suggested to be associated with frailty. Therefore, it may be necessary to pay attention to dietary problems, especially in older people with tooth loss.
Changes in Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Heart Failure: A Nationwide Population-Based Study in Korea
Authors: Yeo Yohwan , Jeong Su-Min , Shin Dong Wook , Han Kyungdo , Yoo Juhwan , Yoo Jung Eun , Lee Seung-Pyo
Published: December 2022

Background: The association between alcohol intake and newly developed heart failure remains unclear. We aimed to measure the change in alcohol intake between two timepoints to evaluate the association of alcohol consumption with incident heart failure using a population-based study in Korea. Methods: Using the Korean National Health Insurance database, participants who underwent two subsequent national health examinations in 2009 and 2011 were included. Participants were classified into four groups according to total alcohol intake (none: 0 g alcohol/day; light: <15 g alcohol/day; moderate: 15–30 g alcohol/day; and heavy: ≥30 g alcohol/day), and changes in alcohol consumption between the two health exams were grouped into the following five categories: abstainers, sustainers (those who maintained their first examination drinking level), increasers, reducers, and quitters. After adjustment for age, sex, smoking status, regular exercise, socioeconomic information, and comorbidities, the Charlson Comorbidity Index, systolic blood pressure, and laboratory results, a Cox proportional hazards model was used to find the risk of newly diagnosed heart failure (according to ICD-10 code I50 from claims for the first hospitalization) as the primary endpoint. A subgroup analysis among those with a third examination was conducted to reflect further changes in alcohol consumption. Results: Among 3,842,850 subjects, 106,611 (3.0%) were diagnosed with heart failure during the mean follow-up period of 6.3 years. Increasers to a light level of drinking had a lower HF risk compared with abstainers (aHR = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.89–0.94). Those who increased their alcohol intake to a heavy level had a higher HF risk (from light to heavy (aHR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.12–1.26) and from a moderate to heavy level (aHR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.07–1.19). Reducing alcohol from a heavy to moderate level was associated with lower HF risk (aHR = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.86–0.95). Conclusion: This study found that light and moderate sustainers had lower incident heart failure risk compared with abstainers. Increased alcohol consumption from light to moderate to heavy was associated with a higher incident heart failure risk.
Correction: Javed et al. The Potential Impact of Smog Spell on Humans’ Health Amid COVID-19 Rages. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 11408
Authors: Javed Ammar , Aamir Farheen , Gohar Umar Farooq , Mukhtar Hamid , Zia-UI-Haq Muhammad , Alotaibi Modhi O. , Bin-Jumah May Nasser , Marc (Vlaic) Romina Alina , Pop Oana Lelia
Published: December 2022

There was an error in the original publication [...]
Exclusion or Inclusion: National Differential Regulations of Migrant Workers’ Employment, Social Protection, and Migrations Policies on Im/Mobilities in East Asia-Examples of South Korea and Taiwan
Authors: Kwak Yoon Kyung , Wang Ming Sheng
Published: December 2022

Low fertility rates and an aging society, growing long-term care needs, and workforce shortages in professional, industrial, and care sectors are emerging issues in South Korea and Taiwan. Both governments have pursued economic/industrial growth as productive welfare capitalism and enacted preferred selective migration policies to recruit white-collar migrant workers (MWs) as mobile elites, but they have also adopted regulations and limitations on blue-collar MWs through unfree labor relations, precarious employment, and temporary legal status to provide supplemental labor. In order to demonstrate how multiple policy regulations from a national level affect MWs’ precarity of labor in their receiving countries, which in turn affect MWs’ im/mobilities, this article presents the growing trends of transnational MWs, regardless of them being high- or low-skilled MWs, and it evaluates four dimensions of labor migration policies—MWs’ working and employment conditions, social protection, union rights and political participation, and access to permanent residency in both countries. We found that the rights and working conditions of low-skilled MWs in Korea and Taiwan are improving slowly, but still lag behind those of high-skilled MWs which also affects their public health and well-being. The significant difference identified here is that MWs in Taiwan can organize labor unions, which is strictly prohibited in Korea; pension protection also differs between the nations. Additionally, an application for permanent residency is easier for high-skilled migrant workers compared with low-skilled MWs and both the Korean and Taiwanese immigration policies differentiate the entry and resident status for low-skilled and professional MWs from dissimilar class backgrounds. Policy recommendations for both countries are also discussed.
Industry Competition, Corporate Governance, and Voluntary Disclosure of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Information: Evidence from South Korea
Authors: Lee Hyunah , Lee Jaehong
Published: December 2022

This study investigates the relationship between industry competition and managers’ voluntary disclosure policies and examined how the corporate governance structure affects this relationship in South Korean companies. The fiercer the competition within the industry to which the company belongs, the higher the incentive for managers to perform strategic actions to improve their competition status. This increase in the strategic incentives of managers can be seen through voluntary disclosure policies. The empirical results of this study are as follows. First, it was found that there was a negative relationship between the degree of industry competition and the level of voluntary disclosure of greenhouse gas emissions information. This means that managers perform less disclosure to maximize the value of the company because the more competition within the industry intensifies, the higher the proprietary cost of disclosing information on greenhouse gas emissions information. Second, it was found that the corporate governance structure weakened the relationship between the degree of industry competition and the level of corporate voluntary disclosure. These results can be interpreted as that a good governance structure supports such managers’ disclosure decisions because managers are more likely to choose disclosure policies to maximize the value of the company than personal benefits even in the fierce industry competition.
Structural and Functional Neural Correlates in Individuals with Excessive Smartphone Use: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Lin Hsiu-Man , Chang Yu-Tzu , Chen Meng-Hsiang , Liu Shu-Tsen , Chen Bo-Shen , Li Lin , Lee Chiao-Yu , Sue Yu-Ru , Sung Tsai-Mei , Sun Cheuk-Kwan , Yeh Pin-Yang
Published: December 2022

Background: Despite known association of internet addiction with a reduced brain volume and abnormal connectivity, the impact of excessive smartphone use remains unclear. Methods: PubMed, Embase, ClinicalTrial.gov, and Web of Science databases were systematically searched from inception to July 2022 using appropriate keywords for observational studies comparing differences in brain volumes and activations between excessive smartphone users and individuals with regular use by magnetic resonance imaging. Results: Of the 11 eligible studies retrieved from 6993 articles initially screened, seven and six evaluated brain volumes and activations, respectively. The former enrolled 421 participants (165 excessive smartphone users vs. 256 controls), while the latter recruited 276 subjects with 139 excessive smartphone users. The results demonstrated a smaller brain volume in excessive smartphone users compared to the controls (g = −0.55, p < 0.001), especially in subcortical regions (p < 0.001). Besides, the impact was more pronounced in adolescents than in adults (p < 0.001). Regression analysis revealed a significant positive association between impulsivity and volume reduction. Regarding altered activations, the convergences of foci in the declive of the posterior lobe of cerebellum, the lingual gyrus, and the middle frontal gyrus were noted. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrated a potential association of excessive smartphone use with a reduced brain volume and altered activations.
Perceived Factors Contributing to the Subjective Wellbeing of Undergraduate Engineering Students: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Asghar Muhammad , Minichiello Angela , Iqbal Assad
Published: December 2022

Engineering education is perceived to be a tough field of study with detrimental effects on the mental health of undergraduate engineering students. High levels of anxiety and depression are reported among this population. Overall, mental health research is often biased toward looking at mental health from a deficit perspective and investigating mental health as a negative phenomenon. This trend also persists in engineering education research. The purpose of this exploratory study, therefore, is to investigate the condition of subjective wellbeing (SWB) of undergraduate engineering students to understand the factors that they perceive as positively contributing to their overall wellbeing in an engineering college environment. Qualitative data from eight undergraduate engineering students interviewed in fall 2021 in the college of engineering at a land grant public institution in the western USA were thematically analyzed. The resulting 11 themes were then re-grouped and conceptualized into 7 factors (faculty support, learning experiences, support environment, financial support, engineering practice opportunities, task organization, and task orientation) for clear mapping, understanding, and explanation. The outcomes from this research have positive implications for the SWB of undergraduate engineering students, with support from their educational institutions.