bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Science and philosophy of Korea traditional foods (K-food)
Authors: Kwon Dae Young , Soon-Hee Kim , Chung Kyung Rhan , Daily James W. , Park Sunmin
Published: July 2023

The foods, diets, lifestyles, and cultures that can be encountered throughout the world are different depending on the environment of each region and each ethnic group. Ethnic food has been developed according to the constraints of the given environment in terms of philosophical, agricultural, and geohistorical conditions. In other words, ethnic food is a product of efforts to cope with and overcome food safety, desirability, and the need for food storage for periods of famine. It would be a tradition and emergence created by accumulated wisdom that actively utilizes the given geographical and natural environment. Since the Ice Age, the development of all ethnic foods on the Earth has been unique in terms of their characteristics, due to the natural agro-ecological background of the region, through the movement and settlement of primitive mankind and wars of the Bronze Age. Therefore, it is impossible to understand the development of a particular ethnic food without understanding its historical background and geographical and agro-ecological characteristics. The same applies to Korean foods, which should be studied from this perspective. Nevertheless, until now, the history of food on the Korean Peninsula has been mainly studied by history scholars who can read Chinese characters rather than by natural scientists, resulting in errors and distortions in our understanding of the identity, history, and originality of Korean food. In this paper, we aim to correct these errors and distortions and to present scientifically validated research and the developmental background of Korean food in terms of its anthropological, historical, geographical, and cultural values, which is essential for K-food (Korean Traditional foods) to be known as a distinctly different world food rather than as a regional variant of Northeast Asian foods. Furthermore, we also aim to provide scientific truths by researching the health functionalities and cultural values of Korean food so that it can develop as a global food worldwide.
The Organophosphate Esters Used as Flame Retardants and Plasticizers Affect H295R Adrenal Cell Phenotypes and Functions
Authors: Li Zixuan , Robaire Bernard , Hales Barbara F
Published: July 2023

Adverse effects associated with exposure to brominated flame retardants have led to regulations for their use and their replacement with organophosphate esters (OPEs). However, little is known about the impact of OPEs on the adrenal, a vital endocrine gland. Here, we used a high-content screening approach to elucidate the effects of OPEs on H295R human adrenal cell phenotypic endpoints and function. The effects of 2,2′,4,4′-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47), a legacy brominated flame retardant, on H295R cell cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, mitochondria, lysosomes, and lipid droplets were compared with those of 6 OPEs. Most OPEs reduced oxidative stress, increased the numbers of mitochondria, decreased lysosomes, and increased lipid droplets. Two potency ranking approaches, the lowest benchmark concentration/administered equivalent dose methods and Toxicological Prioritization Index analyses, revealed that the triaryl-OPEs (isopropylated triphenyl phosphate [IPPP], tris(methylphenyl) phosphate [TMPP], and triphenyl phosphate [TPHP]) and 1 nontriaryl OPE (tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate [TDCIPP]) were more potent than BDE-47. The steroidogenic activity of adrenal cells in the presence or absence of forskolin, a steroidogenic stimulus, was determined after exposure to triaryl-OPEs. The basal production of cortisol and aldosterone was increased by IPPP but decreased by TPHP or TMPP exposure; the response to forskolin was not affected by these OPEs. All 3 triaryl OPEs altered the expression of rate-limiting enzymes involved in cholesterol and steroid biosynthesis; CYP11B1 and CYP11B2 were the most prominently affected targets. The OPE chemical-specific effects on cortisol and aldosterone production were best explained by alterations in STAR expression. Thus, the adrenal may be an important target for these endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
Commentary on “The Impact of Vertical Integration on Physician Behavior and Healthcare Delivery: Evidence from Gastroenterology Practices”
Authors: Shah Eric D.
Published: July 2023

This paper was accepted by Stefan Scholtes, healthcare management.

Conflict of Interest Statement: E. D. Shah has consulted or served on advisory boards for Ardelyx, GI Supply, Mahana, Mylan, Neuraxis, Salix, Sanofi, and Takeda.

Funding: E. D. Shah is funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases [Grant NIH 1K23DK134752].
The Traveling Salesman Problem with Stochastic and Correlated Customers
Authors: Wissink Pascal L. J.
Published: July 2023

It is well-known that the cost of parcel delivery can be reduced by designing routes that take into account the uncertainty surrounding customers’ presences. Thus far, routing problems with stochastic customer presences have relied on the assumption that all customer presences are independent from each other. However, the notion that demographic factors retain predictive power for parcel-delivery efficiency suggests that shared characteristics can be exploited to map dependencies between customer presences. This paper introduces the correlated probabilistic traveling salesman problem (CPTSP). The CPTSP generalizes the traveling salesman problem with stochastic customer presences, also known as the probabilistic traveling salesman problem (PTSP), to account for potential correlations between customer presences. I propose a generic and flexible model formulation for the CPTSP using copulas that maintains computational and mathematical tractability in high-dimensional settings. I also present several adaptations of existing exact and heuristic frameworks to solve the CPTSP effectively. Computational experiments on real-world parcel-delivery data reveal that correlations between stochastic customer presences do not always affect route decisions, but could have a considerable impact on route cost estimates.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/trsc.2022.0005 .
Subterranean Roads Solution
Authors: Knight Helen
Published: July 2023

Carriageways built in deep channels could relieve congestion and pollution
Conservation Transformation
Authors: Wade Andrew
Published: July 2023

How drones, AI and citizen science are helping to protect endangered wildlife
Supercharging STEM
Authors: Excell Jon
Published: July 2023

A recent event explored the benefits and challenges of a more joined-up approach to inspiring the next generation.
Uncertainty is the Only Thing Certain with Brexit
Authors: O'Donnell MTA's Paul
Published: July 2023

While there are plenty of success stories to celebrate in UK manufacturing, the fear of no deal has created a real-world squeeze on business investment
Engines Benefit from Measures Taken
Authors: Metrology Nikon
Published: July 2023

Rapid non-contact measurement system helps keep NASCAR engine supplier on track for success.
Validation of the Adolescent Social Identity Measure: Adolescents’ Perception of Themselves in a Social Context
Authors: Carroll Annemaree , Bower Julie M. , Povey Jenny , Muspratt Sandy , Chen Holly
Published: July 2023

Social identity is an important social determinant of student outcomes such as mental health and well-being. Currently, no validated social identity measures exist for adolescents in secondary school settings. A new ‘Adolescent Social Identity’ measure was developed by adapting two social identity dimensions from a validated reputation enhancement scale. The Social Identity Measure comprises two scales of 10 items each to measure how adolescents think their peers view them (e.g., reputational status) in terms of their conforming and nonconforming behaviour (Self-perception of Public Self) and how adolescents would ideally like to be viewed (Ideal Public Self) by peers. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted along with assessments of reliability, validity, and measurement invariance. Conforming and Nonconforming subscales for both scales were shown to be reliable, valid, and invariant across age and gender groupings. There were significant but small differences in the latent means for gender.
Collaborative e-Portfolios Use in Higher Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Co-Design Strategy
Authors: Zhang Peng , Tur Gemma
Published: July 2023

As the globe gradually entered the post-pandemic phase, electronic portfolio practises during the COVID-19 pandemic should be examined for future implementation. During the lockdown, electronic portfolio use was observed in higher education institutions by urging the provision of teaching and learning in a virtual mode. Under these conditions, the study analyses empirical e-portfolio practices and proposes a co-design model for effective e-portfolio implementation. This study is based on a systematic review, which included searching for and retrieving 221 papers from academic paper databases in English, Chinese, and Spanish; systematic screening using the Rayyan tool and the PRISMA model; and finally, extracting 12 publications, which were analysed by VOS Viewer and Nvivo, focusing on collaboration. The data collected allows for gathering several patterns of collaboration in e-portfolio practice. Based on the results obtained, a co-design strategy is suggested, which includes collaborative frameworks in e-portfolio implementation processes such as the community of inquiry (CoI) and community of practice (CoP). The co-design strategy provides the formulation of implementation recommendations related to collaborative e-portfolio. Conclusions reflect on utilising e-portfolios collaboratively in higher education settings by presenting a co-design strategy that is supported by the CoI and CoP frameworks.
Chatbot Gamified and Automated Management of L2 Learning Process Using Smart Sender Platform
Authors: Nozhovnik Oleh , Harbuza Tetiana , Teslenko Natalia , Okhrimenko Olena , Zalizniuk Viktoriia , Durdas Alla
Published: July 2023

The purpose of this study was to examine the potential impact of integrating the Smart Sender platform to gamify and automate L2 e-classes on students’ motivation, English language proficiency in reading and language use, engagement, and attitudes towards the platform. This experimental research employed a quasi-experimental design, specifically a non-equivalent control group design of a pre-test-post-test type. The study found that the use of chatbot-driven e-classes on the Smart Sender platform increased student motivation, improved their English language proficiency in reading and language usage, and enhanced their engagement within L2 e-classes. Students expressed their appreciation for the ease of use and usefulness of this chatbot-based tool for improving their English language skills. The findings showed that the scores for motivation, engagement, and English language proficiency increased for both the experimental and control groups from pre-test to post-test, with a large effect size observed for the experimental group and a medium effect size observed for the control group. The statistically significant difference in the mean scores between the experimental and control groups indicates the positive impact of incorporating gamified chatbot-driven sessions within L2 e-classes on the Smart Sender platform.
Coolitude
Authors: Durgahee Reshaad
Published: July 2023

In this short essay, the author examines the influence of the concept of Coolitude on his understanding of the Indian indenture experience. Parallels between patterns of immigration are alluded to – whether the indentured immigration of the nineteenth and early twentieth century or post-colonial immigration from those sugar colonies of empire to their former metropoles. Coolitude’s recognition of the role of space and place is at the fore and the author asks us to take this into account in our exploration of the global indentured story, making the case for a more concentrated address of the geography of indenture.
From Calcutta to Kingston
Authors: Persard Suzanne
Published: July 2023

‘From Calcutta to Kingston: A cartography of Coolitude’ meditates on the ancestral inheritance of the indentured Indian diaspora through coordinates mapping time and space, tasks historically completed by imperial powers upon seizing colonial lands. In this poetic-prose, coordinates anchor an origin – yet sugarcane becomes a new set of coordinates, following the call to unmoor the geographical fixity of origins invoked by Khal Torabully in his theorizing of Coolitude. This specific piece conjures the coordinates of indentured Indian descent among Indo-Jamaicans, a diaspora that has remained eclipsed within histories of Indian indentureship. Mapping the coordinates of places like Ashoka Road and Cockburn Pen in Kingston, Jamaica – significant sites of the indentured Indian diaspora – to the coordinates of the indentured Indian diaspora in New York City, the piece engages in its own kind of map-making: one that threads the echoes of indenture alongside its geographical uprooting, yet an uprooting that has generated a new form of survival among descendants of the indentured.
Origin and evolution of Neoproterozoic metaophiolitic mantle rocks from the eastern Desert of Egypt: Implications for tectonic and metamorphic events in the Arabian-Nubian Shield
Authors: Ali Shehata , Azer Mokhles , Abdel-Karim Abdel-Aal
Published: July 2023

The mantle rocks from Kadaboura and Madara areas represent sections of dismembered ophiolitic complexes developed during the Neoproterozoic in the Eastern Desert of Egypt, which is located in the northwestern corner of the Arabian–Nubian Shield. The Kadaboura mantle rocks comprise serpentinites and serpentinized dunites, whereas those of the Madara consist of serpentinites and serpentinized pyroxenites.Despite the serpentinization of the studied mantle rocks, few relicts of primary chromite, olivine and pyroxene are preserved. Chromite is partly altered having unaltered Al-rich chromite cores surrounded by Fe-rich chromite and Cr-rich magnetite rims. The unaltered Al-rich chromite cores show compositions equilibrated at temperatures mostly below ~500-600°C, which is a temperature comparable to that estimated for primary chromite in greenschist up to lower amphibolite facies rocks. The high Cr# [100×Cr/(Cr+Al)= 47-76] of the unaltered chromite cores and the Mg-rich nature of the olivine relicts (Fo91–94) indicate that the studied mantle rocks were produced from a highly depleted mantle that experienced high degrees of melt extraction (mostly ~30-40%). This range of melt extraction resembles that estimated for supra-subduction zone peridotites, but higher than that in abyssal and passive margin peridotites. Furthermore, the clinopyroxene relicts show compositions comparable to those from the Mariana forearc peridotites. Bulk-rock geochemistry also reflects derivation from an extremely depleted and a highly refractory mantle source. Modelling of rare-earth elements suggests that the studied mantle rocks were possibly formed by the interaction of their highly depleted harzburgitic mantle precursors with subduction-related melts/fluids during their evolution in a fore-arc basin of the supra-subduction zone.The proposed geodynamic model suggests that the oceanic lithosphere generated during the seafloor spreading of the Mozambique Ocean was emplaced in the upper plate of the intra-oceanic subduction zone, in which the formely depleted Neoproterozoic mantle of the Arabian-Nubian Shield experienced mature phases of hydrous melting, extreme depletion and enrichment.
Rural Children's First Experiences of Urban Elementary School Space: A Child-Centered Multi-Method Case Study in Brazil
Authors: Stencel Letícia Michele , Park-Cardoso JungJa , da Silva Ana Paula Soares
Published: July 2023

Abstract: We explored Brazilian rural children's first experiences of urban elementary school spaces, through observations and a child-centered multi-method approach, which included conversation circles and individual interviews with six children based on their drawings and photographs. Data showed participants had a fragile relationship with the school spaces and difficulty in constructing new meanings for the spaces due to the restrictive and controlling nature of the school environment. The study suggests that educators should consider offering opportunities for children to shape and manage certain spaces to support their development possibilities, enhance their satisfaction with the school environment, and ease their transition to this new setting.
Ladin in Lineage: Through the Doors of Jewish Gendered Life at Yeshiva University's Stern College for Women
Authors: Schwartz Shira E.
Published: July 2023

Abstract: This article traces the crossings of religion and gender, American Orthodox and secular Judaism, teachers and students, religious educational institutions and the lives that inhabit them. Highlighting Jewishness and transness as intersecting forms of crossing, it explores periods of personal and institutional transition in the lives of Professor Joy Ladin, Yeshiva University's first openly transgender employee, and three of her former students. Experimenting methodologically with form and source, this piece combines interview with textual and theoretical analysis to link the Jewish gendered lives of its interlocutors—who emerge from different locations across the Orthodox-secular Jewish spectrum—with one another, and with larger communal and institutional forms of American Judaism they index. In doing so, this essay connects gender, religion, and education as intersecting forms of lineage, which pass through the interlocutors' and institution's historical and contemporary worlds. Activating crossing as a form of Jewish learning and queer scavenging, the piece enacts a method of Jewish institutional and embodied knowledge production that moves across lived and textual religion, articulating an alternate path through current struggles for queer/trans religious lives. This path does not opt to lose or loosen these lives from American Orthodox life and its textual discourse, but rather, it links them to both, and to one another.
Noninvasive measurement of local temperature using ultrasound-switchable fluorescence
Authors: Ren Liqin , Yao Tingfeng , Nguyen Kytai T. , Yuan Baohong
Published: July 2023

Measuring the local background temperature in diseased and inflamed tissues is highly desirable, especially in a non-invasive way. In this work, ultrasound-switchable fluorescence (USF) technique was utilized to estimate the local background temperature for the first time by analyzing the temperature dependence of fluorescence emission from USF contrast agents induced by a focused ultrasound (FU) beam. First, temperature-sensitive USF agents with distinct temperature switching-on thresholds were synthesized, and their thermal switching characteristics were quantified using an independent spectrometer system. Second, the USF contrast agent suspension was injected into a microtube that was embedded into a phantom and the dynamic USF signal was acquired using a camera-based USF system. The differential profile of the measured dynamic USF signal was computed and compared with the thermal switching characteristics. This allowed for the calculation of the local background temperature of the sample in the FU focal volume based on the estimation of heating speed. An infrared (IR) camera was used to acquire the surface temperature of the sample and further compare it with the USF system. The results showed that the difference between the temperatures acquired from the USF thermometry and the IR thermography was 0.64 ± 0.43 °C when operating at the physiological temperature range from 35.27 to 39.31 °C. These results indicated the potential use of the USF system for measuring the local temperature in diseased tissues non-invasively. The designed USF-based thermometry shows a broad application prospect in high spatial resolution temperature imaging with a tunable measurement range in deep tissue.
Non-contact measurement of neck pulses achieved by imaging micro-motions in the neck skin
Authors: He Qinghua , Geng Wenqian , Li Wanyu , Wang Ruikang K.
Published: July 2023

We report a method and system of micro-motion imaging (µMI) to realize non-contact measurement of neck pulses. The system employs a 16-bit camera to acquire videos of the neck skin, containing reflectance variation caused by the neck pulses. Regional amplitudes and phases of pulse-induced reflection variation are then obtained by applying a lock-in amplification algorithm to the acquired videos. Composite masks are then generated using the raw frame, amplitude and phase maps, which are then used to guide the extraction of carotid pulse (CP) and jugular vein pulse (JVP) waveforms. Experimental results sufficiently demonstrate the feasibility of our method to extract CP and JVP waves. Compared with conventional methods, the proposed strategy works in a non-contact, non-invasive and self-guidance manner without a need for manual identification to operate, which is important for patient compliance and measurement objectivity. Considering the close relationship between neck pulses and cardiovascular diseases, for example, CA stenosis, the proposed µMI system and method may be useful in the development of early screening tools for potential cardiovascular diseases.
Fabrication and mechanical characterization of hydrogel-based 3D cell-like structures
Authors: Kumar Randhir , Dzikonski Dustin , Bekker Elena , Vornhusen Robert , Vitali Valerio , Imbrock Jörg , Denz Cornelia
Published: July 2023

In this article, we demonstrate the fabrication of 3D cell-like structures using a femtosecond laser-based two-photon polymerization technique. By employing poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate monomers as a precursor solution, we fabricate 3D hemispheres that resemble morphological and biomechanical characteristics of natural cells. We employ an optical tweezers-based microrheology technique to measure the viscoelastic properties of the precursor solutions inside and outside the structures. In addition, we demonstrate the interchangeability of the precursor solution within fabricated structures without impairing the microstructures. The combination of two-photon polymerization and microrheological measurements by optical tweezers demonstrated here represents a powerful toolbox for future investigations into cell mimic and artificial cell studies.
Computational refocusing in phase-resolved confocal microscopy
Authors: Schnell Martin , King Melanie , Buercklin Sam , Sarriugarte Paulo , Hillenbrand Rainer , Carney P. Scott
Published: July 2023

We demonstrate numerical refocusing in coherent confocal laser scanning microscopy based on synthetic optical holography. In this physics-based approach, computational propagation is implemented on the complex signal recovered in synthetic holography, consistent with wave physics and the parameters of the microscope. An experimental demonstration is shown to restore an in-focus image of a test object from data acquired at several focal plane off-sets. Numerical refocusing can provide focused views on samples with large height variation, with a potential application in confocal optical surface profiling.
Generation of discrete higher-order optical vortex lattice at focus
Authors: Wang Yakun , Ma Haixiang , Tai Yuping , Li Xinzhong
Published: July 2023

Higher-order vortices (HOVs) extend the dimensions of optical vortex regulation, which is of great significance in optical communication and optical tweezers. Herein, we demonstrate an alternative scheme to produce a HOV in the focus plane using multiple Laguerre–Gaussian (LG) beam interference, termed a discrete higher-order optical vortex lattice (DHOVL). The modulation depth of the DHOVL exceeds 2π. In this case, the topological charge (TC) of the DHOVL is determined by the difference of the phase period between the innermost and the outermost interference beams. Compared with a conventional HOV (CHOV), the vortex exists in a form of multiple unit singularities sharing a dark core. In addition, the average orbital angular momentum per photon of the DHOVL increases with increasing TC, surpassing that of the CHOV. This work provides a novel, to the best of our knowledge, scheme to produce a HOV, which will facilitate several advanced applications, including optical micromanipulation, optical sensing and imaging, and optical fabrication.
Envelope peak detection algorithm based on the CEEMDAN in white light interferometry
Authors: Li Yinrui , Yang Yingzhe , Zhang Jiale , Yuan Qun , Liang Yiyong
Published: July 2023

White light scanning interferometry (WLSI) is a key non-contact
three-dimensional (3D) morphometry method. The traditional envelope
peak detection (EPD) algorithm is a typical WLSI surface recovery
algorithm without phase calculation, but its accuracy is susceptible
to noise and fitting errors. In this paper, we propose an improved EPD
algorithm based on the complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition
with adaptive noise (CEEMDAN) to solve the above problem. The proposed
algorithm can accurately locate the position of the envelope peak. The
simulation and experiment results demonstrate that the proposed method
is effective in improving the accuracy of the measurements.
DHX38 restricts chemoresistance by regulating the alternative pre-mRNA splicing of RELL2 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Li Zeru , Qin Cheng , Zhao Bangbo , Wang Yuanyang , Li Tianyu , Zhao Yutong , Wang Weibin
Published: July 2023

Intron retention plays an important role in cancer progression and chemotherapy resistance and seems to be essential for the maintenance of genome stability in cancer. Here, our goal was to analyze the role of receptor expressed in lymphoid tissue (Relt)-like 2 (RELL2) intron 4 retention in promoting pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) progression. Our results showed that intron retention (IR) occurs at the fourth intron of RELL2 transcript in gemcitabine resistant PDAC cells, however, the regulatory mechanism and the clinical implications of IR of RELL2 are unclear. Firstly, we found that RELL2 plays an anti-oncogenic role in PDAC by performing in vitro functional assays including cell proliferation, GEM cytotoxicity assay and apoptosis. Subsequently, we identified the upstream gene of RELL2, DEAH-Box Helicase 38 (DHX38), and demonstrated the direct interaction between DHX38 and RELL2 by RIP-qPCR. We also found that altered expression of DHX38 resulted in corresponding changes in intron 4 retention of RELL2. Importantly, we unveiled that overexpression of DHX38 on the basis of knocking down of the fourth intron of RELL2 resulted in an impaired intron 4 intention. Overall, our study identified a new IR site in PDAC, which could be a possible target for PDAC therapy.
Knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) on COVID-19 among the general population in most affected districts of Nepal
Authors: Shrestha Salina , Malla Rabin , Shrestha Sadhana , Singh Pallavi , Sherchand Jeevan B.
Published: July 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has become one of the global health challenges in the current context. In Nepal, the first confirmed case was reported on 23 January 2020, and since then, it has resulted in several negative impacts, including economic disruption and deterioration of physical and mental health. In such a pandemic, it is indispensable to understand the knowledge and behavioral patterns of the general population regarding COVID-19. Therefore, our study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices on COVID-19 among the general population in most affected districts and its relationship with socio-demographic conditions. The cross-sectional study was conducted among the general population above the age of 18 years from eight districts of Nepal including Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Morang, Sunsari, Rupandehi, Chitwan, and Kaski. A convenient non-probability sampling method was considered with total sample size of 702. The questionnaire survey was conducted to collect data. Descriptive statistics, non-parametric statistical tests, and a logistic regression model were used for analysis. The study showed that 93.3% of respondents had knowledge of overall preventive practices, whereas only 32% had knowledge of overall symptoms of COVID-19. Regarding attitudes, only 14.3% strongly believed that the COVID-19 pandemic would end soon. The preventive practice was reduced after the lockdown compared to that of during the lockdown. The respondents with white-collar occupations, high-income, and unmarried were good at KAP. Similarly, highly educated and those residing in urban areas had good knowledge and practice. The study findings will help in the development of targeted programs to improve the general population’s knowledge, attitudes and practices on COVID-19, which is paramount to dealing with the existing pandemic and also such possible future waves of the pandemic.
Application of mendelian randomization to study the causal relationship between smoking and the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Huang Yuenuo , Li Xianchao , Ye Wei
Published: July 2023

Background

Smoking is a risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Few studies have assessed the causal relationship between smoking and COPD using Mendelian randomization.

Methods

Exposure and outcome datasets were obtained from the IEU Open GWAS project (https://gwas.mrcieu.ac.uk/). The exposure data set includes smoking (ever smoke, smoking/smokers in household, exposure to tobacco smoke at home). The outcome data set includes COPD susceptibility and acute COPD admissions. The main methods of Mendelian randomization analysis are weighted median method and MR-Egger method. Heterogeneity and polymorphism analyses were performed to ensure the accuracy of the results.

Resluts

ever smoke increased the risk of COPD prevalence, and ever smoke and smoking/smokers in household increased the risk of acute COPD admission. Conclusion

Therefore, we should enhance the management of nonpharmacological prescription of COPD to reduce the individual incidence.
Psychosocial impact at the time of a rare disease diagnosis
Authors: Benito-Lozano Juan , Arias-Merino Greta , Gómez-Martínez Mario , Arconada-López Beatriz , Ruiz-García Begoña , Posada de la Paz Manuel , Alonso-Ferreira Verónica
Published: July 2023

Over half of all persons with rare diseases (RDs) in Spain experience diagnostic delay (DD) but little is known about its consequences. This study therefore aimed to analyze the psychological impact of obtaining a diagnosis of an RD, and to ascertain what social determinants are influenced and what the personal consequences are, according to whether or not patients experienced DD. Data were obtained from a purpose-designed form completed by persons registered at the Spanish Rare Diseases Patient Registry. The following were performed: a descriptive analysis; a principal component analysis (PCA); and logistic regressions. Results revealed that while searching for a diagnosis, people who experienced DD were more in need of psychological care than those diagnosed in less than one year (36.2% vs 23.2%; p = 0.002; n = 524). The PCA identified three principal components, i.e., psychological effects, social implications, and functional impact. Reducing DD would improve psychological effects, such as irritability (OR 3.6; 95%CI 1.5–8.5), frustration (OR 3.4; 95%CI 1.7–7.1) and concentration on everyday life (OR 3.3; 95%CI 1.4–7.7). The influence of the social implications and functional repercussions of the disease was greater in persons with DD (scores of 22.4 vs 20 and 10.6 vs 9.4, respectively) in terms of the difficulty in explaining symptoms to close friends and family (3.3 vs 2.9), and loss of independence (3.3 vs 2.9). In conclusion, this is the first study to analyze the psychosocial impact of diagnosis of RDs in Spain and one of few to assess it in the patients themselves, based on data drawn from a purpose-designed form from a national registry open to any RD. People affected by RDs who underwent DD experienced greater psychosocial impact than did those who were diagnosed within the space of one year.
Economic analysis of open versus laparoscopic versus robot-assisted versus transanal total mesorectal excision in rectal cancer patients: A systematic review
Authors: Geitenbeek Ritchie T. J. , Burghgraef Thijs A. , Broekman Mark , Schop Bram P. A. , Lieverse Tom G. F. , Hompes Roel , Havenga Klaas , Postma Maarten J. , Consten Esther C. J. ,   on behalf of the MIRECA study group
Published: July 2023

Objectives

Minimally invasive total mesorectal excision is increasingly being used as an alternative to open surgery in the treatment of patients with rectal cancer. This systematic review aimed to compare the total, operative and hospitalization costs of open, laparoscopic, robot-assisted and transanal total mesorectal excision.

Methods

This systematic review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement (PRISMA) (S1 File) A literature review was conducted (end-of-search date: January 1, 2023) and quality assessment performed using the Consensus Health Economic Criteria.

Results

12 studies were included, reporting on 2542 patients (226 open, 1192 laparoscopic, 998 robot-assisted and 126 transanal total mesorectal excision). Total costs of minimally invasive total mesorectal excision were higher compared to the open technique in the majority of included studies. For robot-assisted total mesorectal excision, higher operative costs and lower hospitalization costs were reported compared to the open and laparoscopic technique. A meta-analysis could not be performed due to low study quality and a high level of heterogeneity. Heterogeneity was caused by differences in the learning curve and statistical methods used.

Conclusion

Literature regarding costs of total mesorectal excision techniques is limited in quality and number. Available evidence suggests minimally invasive techniques may be more expensive compared to open total mesorectal excision. High-quality economical evaluations, accounting for the learning curve, are needed to properly assess costs of the different techniques.
Physical well-being recovery trajectories by reconstruction modality in women undergoing mastectomy and breast reconstruction: Significant predictors and health-related quality of life outcomes
Authors: Xu Cai , Lu Peiyi , Pfob André , Pusic Andrea L. , Hamill Jennifer B. , Sidey-Gibbons Chris
Published: July 2023

Objectives

We sought to identify trajectories of patient-reported outcomes, specifically physical well-being of the chest (PWBC), in patients who underwent postmastectomy breast reconstruction, and further assessed its significant predictors, and its relationship with health-related quality of life (HRQOL).

Methods

We used data collected as part of the Mastectomy Reconstruction Outcomes Consortium study within a 2-year follow-up in 2012–2017, with 1422, 1218,1199, and 1417 repeated measures at assessment timepoints of 0,3,12, and 24 months, respectively. We performed latent class growth analysis (LCGA) in the implant group (IMPG) and autologous group (AUTOG) to identify longitudinal change trajectories, and then assessed its significant predictors, and its relationship with HRQOL by conducting multinomial logistic regression.

Results

Of the included 1424 patients, 843 were in IMPG, and 581 were in AUTOG. Both groups experienced reduced PWBC at follow-up. LCGA identified four distinct PWBC trajectories (χ2 = 1019.91, p<0.001): low vs medium high vs medium low vs high baseline PWBC that was restored vs. not-restored after 2 years. In 76.63%(n = 646) of patients in IMPG and 62.99% (n = 366) in AUTOG, PWBC was restored after two years. Patients in IMPG exhibited worse PWBC at 3 months post-surgery than that in AUTOG. Patients with low baseline PWBC that did not improve at 2-year follow up (n = 28, 4.82% for AUTOG) were characterized by radiation following reconstruction and non-white ethnicity. In IMPG, patients with medium low-restored trajectory were more likely to experience improved breast satisfaction, while patients developing high-restored trajectories were less likely to have worsened psychosocial well-being.

Conclusion

Although more women in IMPG experienced restored PWBC after 2 years, those in AUTOG exhibited a more favorable postoperative trajectory of change in PWBC. This finding can inform clinical treatment decisions, help manage patient expectations for recovery, and develop rehabilitation interventions contributing to enhancing the postoperative quality of life for breast cancer patients.
Cattle-related occupational accidents in Japan
Authors: Iwai Hilomi , Yamamoto Hideki
Published: July 2023

Cattle-related injuries are a significant contributing factor in 84.3% of livestock-related incidents in Hokkaido Japan. The specific countermeasures to respond to its characteristics are needed because cattle move freely. This study examined the JA Kyosai mutual aid payment claim form data of the agricultural work-related incidents that occurred from 1st January 2013 to 31st December 2016. We extracted incidents coded ‘Cattle’ term on the ‘Causing Stuffs/Animals’ column as cattle-related injuries and analysed them. In four years, there were 227 cattle-related incidents and all were non-fatal cases. The most common age group of victims were in their 60s (37.9%). The Therapy duration was 1 to 243 days, with one day being the most common (10.1%); however, in 51.5% of the cases it required more than 30 days. The most common Activity at the moment of the incident was ‘bringing the cattle’ (22.5%), of which ‘leading the cattle by rope’ (56.9% of bringing) was most frequently mentioned. Even farmers with significant experience with cattle cannot control cattle proficiently. Neither can they predict cattle behaviour. Hence, cattle should be kept under protected contact. Since prevention of incidents has limits, harm reduction to farmers must be considered. In the short-term planning, isolated pathways and shock-absorbing lead rope are effective in preventing injuries. However, a more long-term perspective must consider, a fully automated system that reduces human contact with cattle on farms.
3D modeling of vector/edge finite element method for multi-ablation technique for large tumor-computational approach
Authors: Boregowda Gangadhara , Mariappan Panchatcharam
Published: July 2023

Microwave ablation (MWA) is a cancer thermal ablation treatment that uses electromagnetic waves to generate heat within the tissue. The goal of this treatment is to eliminate tumor cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed. During MWA, excess heat generation can kill healthy cells. Hence, mathematical models and numerical techniques are required to analyze the heat distribution in the tissue before the treatment. The aim of this research is to explain the implementation of the 3D vector finite element method in a wave propagation model that simulates the specific absorption rate in the liver. The 3D Nedelec elements from H(curl; Ω) space are used to discretize the wave propagation model, and this implementation is helpful in solving many real-world problems that involve electromagnetic propagation with perfect conducting and absorbing boundary conditions. One of the difficulties in ablation treatment is creating a large ablation zone for a large tumor (diameter greater than 3 cm) in a short period of time with minimum damage to the surrounding tissue. This article addresses the aforementioned issue by introducing four antennas into the different places of the tumor sequentially and producing heat uniformly over the tumor. The results demonstrated that 95.5% of the tumor cells were killed with minimal damage to the healthy cells when the heating time was increased to 4 minutes at each position. Subsequently, we studied the temperature distribution and localised tissue contraction in the tissue using the three-dimensional bio-heat equation and temperature-time dependent model, respectively. The local tissue contraction is measured at arbitrary points in the domain and is more noticeable at temperatures higher than 102°C. The thermal damage in the liver during MWA treatment is investigated using the three-state cell death model. The system of partial differential equations is solved numerically due to the complex geometry of the domain, and the results are compared with experimental data to validate the models and parameters.
Sensorimotor synchronization to music reduces pain
Authors: Werner Lucy M. , Skouras Stavros , Bechtold Laura , Pallesen Ståle , Koelsch Stefan
Published: July 2023

Pain-reducing effects of music listening are well-established, but the effects are small and their clinical relevance questionable. Recent theoretical advances, however, have proposed that synchronizing to music, such as clapping, tapping or dancing, has evolutionarily important social effects that are associated with activation of the endogenous opioid system (which supports both analgesia and social bonding). Thus, active sensorimotor synchronization to music could have stronger analgesic effects than simply listening to music. In this study, we show that sensorimotor synchronization to music significantly amplifies the pain-reducing effects of music listening. Using pressure algometry to the fingernails, pain stimuli were delivered to n = 59 healthy adults either during music listening or silence, while either performing an active tapping task or a passive control task. Compared to silence without tapping, music with tapping (but not simply listening to music) reduced pain with a large, clinically significant, effect size (d = 0.93). Simply tapping without music did not elicit such an effect. Our analyses indicate that both attentional and emotional mechanisms drive the pain-reducing effects of sensorimotor synchronization to music, and that tapping to music in addition to merely listening to music may enhance pain-reducing effects in both clinical contexts and everyday life. The study was registered as a clinical trial at ClinicalTrials.gov (registration number NCT05267795), and the trial was first posted on 04/03/2022.
Identifying adolescents’ gaming preferences for a tobacco prevention social game: A qualitative study
Authors: Khalil Georges Elias , Kim Jeanie , McLean David , Ramirez Erica , Zhao Bairu , Salloum Ramzi G.
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Considering the dangers of adolescent tobacco use, the successful design of behavioral programs is crucial for tobacco prevention. According to preliminary research, social game interventions can improve adolescent tobacco outcomes. The current qualitative study aims to (1) uncover the gaming elements that adolescents deem important for a positive learning experience, and (2) confirm these gaming elements with adolescents who are presented with a tobacco prevention game concept that applies these elements.

Methods

Findings from this study are drawn from two phases. Phase 1 involved in-person focus group discussions (n = 15) and Phase 2 included three online focus groups and a paired interview with another set of adolescents (n = 15). The study was conducted under a project that aimed to design and test a social game-based tobacco prevention program for adolescents (Storm-Heroes). With open coding and thematic analysis, two research team members identified repeated topics and relevant quotes to organize them into themes. The themes evolved as new content was identified during the process. This process was repeated until thematic saturation was reached.

Results

Thematic analysis across Phase 1 and Phase 2 revealed four major themes: 1) Balance during gaming challenges, 2) Healthy social interaction, 3) Performance and creative freedom, and 4) Fictional world and game mechanics for tobacco prevention.

Conclusion

This study identified specific intervention features that best fit the needs of adolescents in the context of a social game for tobacco prevention. For future research, we will use a participatory approach to allow adolescents to take part in the design process, improve Storm-Heroes, and develop health promotional messages that can be incorporated into the program. Ultimately, a board game for tobacco prevention is expected to bring adolescents together to create lasting memories that nudge them away from tobacco use and the harm it can cause.
Environmental policy and equity prices
Authors: Lehnert Thorsten
Published: July 2023

The information quality hypothesis suggests that, theoretically, the relationship between expected returns and conditional volatility is ambiguous and depends on the precision of the information signal, hence, it is affected by investors’ level of uncertainty. When investors’ uncertainty increases, the relationship may become negative. Using environmental policy as an imprecise signal of future economic performance, I find that a newspaper-based environmental policy-related uncertainty indicator (EPN) has a low correlation with equity market volatility, but has a significant negative impact on expected returns. A managed equity market portfolio that takes less (more) risk when the past EPN-related uncertainty is high (low) produces significant equity-risk-adjusted alphas. In particular, I show that EPN-timing is profitable, because it foresees the attractiveness of the mean-variance trade-off. Overall, an EPN-managed equity portfolio generates an annualized equity-risk-adjusted alpha of 5–6%. Interestingly, I find that the uncertainty around environmental policy is on average lower and, therefore, the strategy performs better during periods when the Republicans control the senate.
Immediate and short-term effects of eccentric muscle contractions on structural, morphological, mechanical, functional and physiological properties of peripheral nerves: A protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Lungu Dorina , Neto Tiago , Andrade Ricardo J. , Coppieters Michel W. , Oliveira Raúl , Freitas Sandro R.
Published: July 2023

Background

It is widely acknowledged that eccentric muscle contractions may cause skeletal muscle damage. However, there is little knowledge about the impact of eccentric contractions on non-muscular structures. Animal and human studies revealed that eccentric contractions can also induce immediate and short-term nerve dysfunction. The purpose of this review is to examine whether eccentric muscle contractions induce immediate and short-term effects on structural, morphological, mechanical, functional and physiological properties of peripheral nerves, from both animal and human studies.

Methods and analysis

A systematic review of randomised (RCTs) and non-randomised controlled trials will be conducted. Four electronic databases (i.e., Medline/Pubmed, Science Direct, PEDro and Cochrane) will be searched using predefined search terms to identify relevant studies. Eligible studies have to comprise any type of eccentric contraction of upper or lower limb muscles. Primary outcomes will include measures related to structure, morphology, mechanical, functional and physiological properties of peripheral nerves. Two independent reviewers will assess eligibility, evaluate risk of bias, and extract relevant data. In human studies, the risk of bias will be assessed by the Cochrane Collaboration risk of bias tool (RoB 2.0 tool) for RCTs and by risk of bias in non-randomised studies of interventions (ROBINS-I) for non-randomised controlled trials; while for animal studies, the risk of bias will be assessed using the SYRCLE’s RoB tool. A narrative synthesis will be conducted for all included studies. Also, if appropriate, a meta-analysis will be performed, where the effect size of each outcome will be determined by the standardized mean difference as well as the 95% confidence intervals. I2 statistics will be used to assess heterogeneity.

Ethics and dissemination

For this study, no ethical approval is required. Findings will be disseminated widely through peer-reviewed publication and conference presentations.

Systematic review registration

The protocol has been registered at the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO). Registration number: CRD42021285767.