Critical Gaps Research Articles

Bringing the circular economy home – Insights from socio-technical perspectives on everyday consumption

Transitions toward a circular economy require a nuanced understanding of how change plays out in households in relation to the role of consumers and daily consumption practices. However, little policy and research attention has been paid to the complexities of achieving necessary transformations in everyday cultures of consumption and the possible challenges faced by citizens and householders in achieving a circular economy. As a result, we know little about how circular consumption practices are already emerging in everyday life and can be scaled up across society. Additionally, critical gaps in understanding exist concerning how rebound and spillover effects occur in daily practices and the role of social and material contexts in configuring possibilities for circular consumption. Addressing these gaps, we develop an agenda for attending to the social embeddedness and complexity of participating in the circular economy. This agenda includes several critical elements, including the examination of routine and habitual aspects of social life, dynamics of rebound and spillover effects within interconnected practices, and the impact of institutional-material arrangements and provisioning systems on how consumers use services and products in the performance of social practices. In discussing these elements we outline research gaps and recommendations for future CE policy and research that better appreciates the social and material dynamics of everyday life, with the aim of addressing critical scientific and societal knowledge gaps concerning circular consumption transformations.

A Review of Prospects and Opportunities in Disassembly With Human–Robot Collaboration

Abstract Product disassembly plays a crucial role in the recycling, remanufacturing, and reuse of end-of-use (EoU) products. However, the current manual disassembly process is inefficient due to the complexity and variation of EoU products. While fully automating disassembly is not economically viable given the intricate nature of the task, there is potential in using human–robot collaboration (HRC) to enhance disassembly operations. HRC combines the flexibility and problem-solving abilities of humans with the precise repetition and handling of unsafe tasks by robots. Nevertheless, numerous challenges persist in technology, human workers, and remanufacturing work, which require comprehensive multidisciplinary research to address critical gaps. These challenges have motivated the authors to provide a detailed discussion on the opportunities and obstacles associated with introducing HRC to disassembly. In this regard, the authors have conducted a review of the recent progress in HRC disassembly and present the insights gained from this analysis from three distinct perspectives: technology, workers, and work.

European recommendations for short-term surveillance of health problems in childhood, adolescent and young adult cancer survivors from the end of treatment to 5years after diagnosis: a PanCare guideline.

Childhood, adolescent and young adult (CAYA) cancer survivors require ongoing surveillance for health problems from the end of cancer treatment throughout their lives. There is a lack of evidence-based guidelines on optimal surveillance strategies for the period from the end of treatment to 5years after diagnosis. We aimed to address this gap by developing recommendations for short-term surveillance of health problems based on existing long-term follow-up (LTFU) care guidelines. The guideline working group, consisting of healthcare professionals, parents and survivor representatives from 10 countries, worked together to identify relevant health problems that may occur in survivors between the end of treatment and 5years after diagnosis and to develop recommendations for short-term surveillance of health problems. The recommendations were drawn from existing LTFU guidelines and adapted where necessary based on clinical expertise. The working group developed 44 recommendations for short-term surveillance of health problems, which were divided into four categories based on the level of surveillance required: awareness only (n = 11), awareness, history and/or physical examination without surveillance test (n = 15), awareness, history and/or physical examination with potential surveillance test (n = 1) and awareness, history and/or physical examination with surveillance test (n = 17). The development of a guideline for short-term surveillance of health problems fills a critical gap in survivorship care for CAYA cancer survivors, providing much-needed support immediately after treatment up to 5years after diagnosis. This guideline will support healthcare professionals to provide appropriate follow-up care and improve the quality of life of CAYA cancer survivors.

Knowledge, Health Practices and Policies for Hepatitis for Midwifery and Nurses in Allied and District Hospital Faisalabad

Background: Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) is a critical global health concern with significant morbidity and mortality. Nurses and midwives, as frontline healthcare professionals, are particularly vulnerable to HBV infection. This study focuses on evaluating the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to HBV among these groups in Faisalabad, Pakistan, a region with limited existing research on this topic. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in two major public maternity hospitals in Faisalabad (District and Allied hospitals). A structured questionnaire, pre-tested for validity, was administered to assess the KAP towards HBV. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Version 21, applying chi-square tests to explore associations between categorical variables. Results: The study sampled 110 healthcare workers (nurses and midwives). Key findings included Knowledge to be 58.2% of participants had an average level of HBV knowledge, Attitudes to be A majority displayed a positive attitude towards HBV prevention, Practices to be 65.5% reported adhering to safe practices. However, a clear percentage of 51.8% had experienced needlestick injuries. Vaccination and PEP found to be only 40.9% completed the HBV vaccination series, and 50% held misconceptions regarding HBV post-exposure prophylaxis. Conclusion: The study reveals a considerable awareness of HBV among nurses and midwives in Faisalabad hospitals, yet highlights critical gaps in both knowledge, particularly concerning PEP, and practices, as evidenced by high rates of needlestick injuries and low vaccination completion. These findings call for intensified efforts in occupational safety, education on HBV, and increasing vaccination coverage among healthcare workers.

Development and validation of analytical method by micro-solid-phase extraction followed by ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry analysis for the quantification of Phomopsin A in lupin samples

Phomopsin A (PHO-A), a potent mycotoxin produced by the pathogenic fungus Diaporthe toxica, is a growing international concern due to the high toxicity and prevalence in lupin plants, a vital source of food and feed. This hexapeptide mycotoxin has raised health concerns for both animals and humans, prompting regulatory bodies to set maximum allowable levels in lupin products.Different analytical methods have been developed for PHO-A detection, including Enzyme-Linked Immuno-Sorbent Assay (ELISA) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with different detectors; they often lack sensitivity and selectivity required to meet maximum regulatory limits (MRL). In this work, we present a robust and sensitive method for PHO-A quantification and determination, developed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS).This method incorporates a selective clean-up step using Micro Solid Phase Extraction (µ-SPE) to efficiently purify samples, ensuring a rapid, efficient, and selective recovery of PHO-A from the complex lupin matrix. The clean-up step not only helps in achieving lower detection limits but also minimizes matrix effects and contamination. The proposed method was validated following international guidelines, demonstrating reliable recovery, matrix effects, linearity, accuracy, and precision.Additionally, this method was successfully applied to artificially contaminated Lupinus albus L. samples, confirming the suitability for assessing PHO-A contamination. This analytical approach fills a critical gap in the literature by providing a specific, sensitive, and selective method for PHO-A analysis, contributing to the safety of lupin products and field monitoring.

Influence of Coulomb interactions on Einstein phonons in a three-dimensional electron gas and superconductivity

This study investigates the influence of Coulomb interactions on Einstein phonons in a three-dimensional electron gas (3DEG) and their impact on superconducting properties. By considering Coulomb effects in all contributions to the phonon self-energies, we explore the renormalization of phonons and its implications for superconductivity. Numerical solutions of the isotropic Eliashberg equations are used to determine the gap functions, providing valuable insights into the behavior of renormalized phonons. Our analysis reveals that while the frequencies of renormalized phonons are lower compared to non-interacting Einstein phonons, their inclusion leads to higher superconducting critical temperatures and maximum gap functions. However, as the strength of Coulomb interactions increases, a decrease in the superconducting critical temperature and gap is observed. These findings highlight the significant role of Coulomb interactions in determining the behavior of phonons and the emergence of superconductivity in three-dimensional electron gases.

Abstract B044: Avanzando Caminos (Leading Pathways): The Hispanic/Latino cancer survivorship cohort study

Abstract Background: Advances in prevention, early detection, and treatment have resulted in a 29% reduction in cancer mortality since 1990 and unprecedented increases in the number of cancer survivors. There are more than 16.9M survivors living in the US today and 22.1M are expected by 2030. Cancer survivorship outcomes vary by race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status (SES), and more. Cancer is the leading cause of deaths in Hispanics/Latinos (H/Ls), a critical issue given that H/Ls are the largest ethnic minority group in the US and will account for 30% of the US population by 2060. H/Ls are disproportionately impacted by cancer due to inequities in SES and healthcare access, which leads to differences in risk factors/exposures and barriers to high-quality cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment. Although H/Ls have lower incidence rates for most common cancer types, significant disparities exist in prevalence, invasiveness, and mortality in specific cancers and across multiple patient-reported outcomes, such as quality of life and symptom burden. However, there is limited work documenting survivorship experiences among H/Ls. Purpose: The Avanzando Caminos multisite cohort study was established to address critical gaps in the science of H/L survivorship. It aims to examine the influence of sociocultural, medical, stress, psychosocial, lifestyle, behavioral, and biological factors on symptom burden, health-related quality of life, and clinical outcomes among H/Ls who have been previously treated for cancer. Methods: Avanzando Caminos, a collaboration between the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami and the Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio, is a 6-year prospective, cohort-based study of 3,000 H/Ls (1,500 in South Florida and 1,500 in South Texas) who completed primary cancer treatment within the past five years for stomach, liver, cervical, colorectal, lung, breast, kidney, or prostate cancers. Participants will complete self-report measures at baseline, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, 4 years, and 5 years. Blood draws to assess leukocyte gene expression, cardiometabolic markers, and genetic admixture will be collected at baseline, 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years. Medical and cancer characteristics and clinical outcomes will be extracted from the electronic medical record and/or state cancer registry at each time point. Data analysis will include general latent variable modeling with maximum likelihood robust variance estimation. Results: So far, we have recruited 398 H/L participants with a mean age of 59.49 years, 62% are female, 35% are Mexican, 57% Cuban, 24% Central/South American, 78% Puerto Rican, and 7% other. Preliminary results will include sociocultural, quality of life, stress, and other factors impacting H/Ls survivors. Conclusions: Avanzando Caminos is expected to fill critical gaps in knowledge to guide future secondary and tertiary prevention efforts to mitigate cancer disparities and optimize health-related quality of life among Hispanic/Latino cancer survivors. Citation Format: Amelie G. Ramirez, Patricia Chalela, Stephanie Rowan, Ysabel R. Lew, Victoria C. Garza, Natalie Rodriguez, Myriam N. Gonzalez, Britney E. Ortiz, Dorothy Long Parma, Edgar Muñoz, Yidong Chen, Chen-Pin Wang, Adolfo E. Diaz Duque, Luz M. Garcini, Dolores M. Perdomo, Stefanie V. Beltran, Gabrielle Montes de Oca, Maria Baraya, Akina Natori, Madeline H. Krause, Paulo S. Pinheiro, Patricia I. Moreno, Michael H. Antoni, Carmen Calfa, Olveen Carrasquillo, Gilberto Lopes, Steve Cole, Frank J. Penedo. Avanzando Caminos (Leading Pathways): The Hispanic/Latino cancer survivorship cohort study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr B044.

Time Together: An Intergenerational Respite, Mentorship and Training Program

AbstractPeople living with dementia (PLWD) and their care partners (CP) experience physical and emotional stressors that are exacerbated by social isolation. Paying for in‐home respite care can be out of reach for many; the average cost of in‐home care is $28.00 with a three‐hour minimum. Furthermore, there is a critical gap in the dementia workforce (Weiss, 2020), leaving CP without access to affordable respite care, and PLWD without access to social engagement. The Penn Memory Center’s (PMC) Time Together (TT) and Weekly Smile (WS) programs are two low‐cost intergenerational respite and engagement programs that aim to increase social engagement for PLWD, reduce CP burden, and develop a geriatric care workforce. College students are trained to provide respite care and engagement for community‐dwelling PLWD and their CP. Families pay up to $10.00 (sliding scales offered) for up to 10 hours/week of companion/respite care. The student receives $10.00 an hour for their service. The PMC launched Time Together in 2019, delivering respite services in‐person. In 2020, the pandemic forced the program to pivot to a virtual model called WS. In January 2023 we began offering TT both in‐person and virtually to maximize accessibility and flexibility. Both the in‐person and virtual component are now called Time Together (TT).To assess the impact of the WS model we used a mixed‐methods design, using qualitative and quantitative assessments. The exploratory qualitative arm used conventional content analysis methods to describe the experiences of PLWD, CP, and student participants through semi‐structured interviews. In our findings from interviews with 3 PLWD, 3 CP, and 3 student participants, PLWD cited meaningful engagement and improved mood. CPs described the importance of protected time for self‐care. Student respite workers appreciated learning about aging and dementia and especially enjoyed developing empathy and relational practice. Participation was mutually beneficial to all and created a lasting impact.We continue to collect additional qualitative and quantitative to further evaluate findings from both the virtual and in‐person arms of Time Together for this updated abstract submission. Policy implications include recommendations for respite program structure and composition.

Abstract B015: Enhancing knowledge of cancer survivorship care among primary care clinicians serving underserved populations: Lessons from an ECHO project

Abstract Background: Primary care clinicians (PCCs), especially those practicing at Community Health Centers (CHCs) serving underserved populations, provide medical care for a substantial number of patients with cancer. PCCs often lack formal medical training in cancer survivorship care in the context of their various chronic conditions, creating an opportunity for knowledge sharing through Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes). This is a critical gap because of the growing number of cancer survivors in the United States (US) needing high-quality and comprehensive care. This study partnered with CHC PCCs to enhance cancer survivorship knowledge through a Cancer Survivorship ECHO Project – a peer-to-peer telementoring approach. Methods: Nine ECHO sessions were conducted from Oct 2022 - June 2023 in partnership with two CHCs covering cancer survivorship topics, such as breast and prostate cancer survivorship, late and long-term effects of cancer and its treatments, and psychosocial distress. Each session featured a case-based presentation by a PCC followed by a didactic presentation from oncology and primary care content experts. An online pre-ECHO project survey was distributed to evaluate PCCs' cancer survivorship knowledge and training. Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted to assess PCCs' barriers and facilitators in providing survivorship care and experiences with participating in the ECHO sessions with eight PCCs. Results: Out of the 12 eligible PCCs from two CHCs, the response rate for the pre-ECHO project survey was 58.3% (n=7). Preliminary findings revealed that 83.3% of the PCCs reported a lack of training in cancer survivorship. Qualitative analysis of the eight PCC interviews identified specific barriers to providing high-quality care, such as the lack of accessible survivorship resources in the electronic medical records and means to quickly communicate with oncologists and the need for survivorship training to assist with managing their patient's side effects from late and long term effects of cancer. In this context, PCCs reported the positive impact of ECHO sessions on enhancing survivorship knowledge and training to deliver high-quality cancer survivorship care. Conclusion: Enhancing knowledge and building capacity among PCCs are important components in improving the delivery of cancer survivorship care in an underserved patient population. ECHO-based telementoring approaches have the potential to engage PCCs collaboratively in addressing the knowledge gap and consequently improving patient outcomes. Citation Format: Maram Museitif, Bijal A. Balasubramanian, Hilary Ma, Rebecca Eary. Enhancing knowledge of cancer survivorship care among primary care clinicians serving underserved populations: Lessons from an ECHO project [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr B015.

Unraveling the Fate of Impacted Ice Particles and the Consequences for Plume Fly‐Through Missions

AbstractPlanetary exploration mission concepts that include flying directly through material for collection and/or analysis are becoming increasingly common, with Enceladus water ice particles offering a particularly high‐value target. Despite this interest, understanding and predicting what happens to ice samples upon impacting a surface at the high‐ and hyper‐velocities expected for these missions remains a critical knowledge gap. We describe a set of custom simulations using the Hot Optimal Transportation Meshfree method that was implemented to better understand ice impacts. We then compare the simulations with relevant experimental results from the Aerosol Impact Spectrometer. These simulations and experiments illustrate the complex relationship between different energy dissipation mechanisms and how they affect the fate of the particle. These results highlight the importance of understanding the implications of this complex physics on successful sample collection and transfer in order to achieve the scientific goals of the mission.

Predictors of Successful Brain Aging: An Autopsy Study

AbstractBackgroundThe neuropathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), including amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, also accumulate in the brains of aging individuals. However, some individuals are able to age successfully without significant degenerative neuropathology or cognitive impairment, a phenomenon referred to as “successful aging”. The predictors of successful “neuropathologic” and “cognitive” aging are not fully understood, creating a critical knowledge gap. Factors such as resistance, resilience, and reserve are believed to play important roles. Furthermore, the relationship between neuropathological changes, such as tau pathology and amyloid pathology, and cognitive impairment in the oldest old population remains unclear, and the concept of amyloid plaques causing tau pathology may not be universally valid. The association between amyloid plaques and dementia also continues to be debated.MethodsIn this study, we utilized a collection of 414 post‐mortem brain tissues (171 female, 241 male) from aged individuals (average age 90, range 80‐108) with neuropathological and clinical data (215 without cognitive impairment and 161 with cognitive impairment) to perform a cross‐sectional analysis. Our cohort included subjects who had cognitive assessments available and included those with no amyloid plaque pathology or mild burden based on neuropathological criteria. Variables (including new traits derived from A.I. based feature extraction) associated with the cognitive measures were determined using multivariable logistic regression.ResultsOur results revealed that age of death and Braak neurofibrillary tangle stage were significant predictors of cognitive impairment (p<0.05), while amyloid positivity was not. These findings suggest that tau pathology may have a stronger association with cognitive impairment in the oldest old population compared to amyloid plaques.ConclusionUnderstanding the neuropathological factors associated with successful brain and cognitive aging will contribute to our knowledge of the underlying mechanisms and may pave the way for the development of interventions to promote successful aging and prevent cognitive decline in old age. Further research in this area is warranted to elucidate the complex relationship between neuropathology, cognitive function, and aging in the oldest old population.

Abstract B022: Understanding and addressing disparities in cancer therapy induced inflammation and associated endothelial dysfunction

Abstract Nearly 4 million breast cancer survivors live in the United States (U.S.). Continued improvements of cancer therapies (CTx), including targeted treatment options such as anti-HER2 therapy combined with traditional systemic CTx like anthracyclines (ANTs) have made adverse cardiovascular events the leading cause of non-cancer related mortality among BC survivors. Toxicities can be acute and/or reversible (e.g., anti-her2) or may persist for years (ANTs)). Most efforts focus on managing and defining the mechanism of cardiac damage in response to CTx. Yet, systemic vascular function, including microvascular endothelial function, is not only a predictor but also a contributor to a significant number of cardiovascular complications that is mostly overlooked in response to CTx. Little to no mechanistic evidence exists how CTx impacts the human circulation and endothelial function. Systemic inflammation (e.g., Interleukin levels or TLR signaling) is elevated in cancer and CV disease alike, yet the connection of CTx induced endothelial dysfunction has not been explored in breast cancer patients. Black/African American women are at higher risk for cardio-toxicity. Existing literature suggest significant racial differences in immune signaling and microvascular function perhaps explaining varying risk for CV toxicity post-CTx. However, contributing biological, social and environmental factors remain ill defined. The Discovery and Elimination of Cardio-Oncology Disparities for Equity (DECODE) in the Heartland center addresses critical gaps in the literature by testing if an exercise intervention can lower systemic inflammatory load to improve endothelial function and CV risk itself. We propose to: 1) quantify physiological and molecular differences in inflammation and endothelial function before and following CTx among 120 Black/African American and non-Hispanic White women with invasive, non-metastatic BC; 2) test the feasibility and efficacy of an exercise intervention during CTx designed to mitigate the adverse effects of treatment on exercise capacity and QoL; and 3) examine the influence of multi-level socio-ecological factors (individual, interpersonal, institutional, environmental) on inflammation, microvascular endothelial function, QoL and response to the exercise intervention among participants. This presentation presents DECODE’s novel translational study design and methodologies. Citation Format: Melinda Stolley, Andreas Beyer, Kirsten Beyer, Alison Kriegel, David Gutterman, Shane Phillips, Sherry Ann Brown, Kent Hoskins, Rodney Sparapani, Michael Widlansky, Amanda Kong. Understanding and addressing disparities in cancer therapy induced inflammation and associated endothelial dysfunction [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr B022.

Long noncoding RNA MALAT1; A novel and potential therapeutic target for Alzheimer’s disease

AbstractBackgroundAlzheimer disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, characterized pathologically by amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Despite considerable advances in the knowledge of AD pathogenesis, we know little about preventing or delaying the ongoing neurodegenerative process, indicating that there remain critical gaps in our understanding of disease mechanisms and opportunities for new treatment approaches. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are larger than 200 nucleotides, structurally resemble mRNAs but do not encode proteins. LncRNAs participate in regulation of several physiological and pathophysiological processes by modulating gene expression and have been documented in several neurodegenerative diseases. Among them, metastasis associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) is a highly abundant and evolutionary conserved lncRNA and regulates a subset of genes involved in synaptic plasticity, cognitive function and memory.MethodTo test the hypothesis that lncRNA MALAT1 plays an important role in AD pathology, we quantified expression levels of lncRNA MALAT1 in the brains of age‐matched AD patients and cognitively normal controls (Non‐AD) by QRT‐PCR and RNAScope in situ hybridization assays, respectively. We further examined the lncRNA MALAT1 expressions and AD‐related neuropathology in the brains of 5XFAD transgenic mouse model of AD and their WT littermates using dual RNAScope/Immunofluorescence technique.ResultWe observed reduced expressions of lncRNA MALAT1 in the hippocampus of AD brains compared to the non‐AD control brains. Next, we found marked reduced expression of lncRNA MALAT1 in the brain of 5xFAD mice compared to non‐transgenic mice. Interestingly, decreased expression levels of lncRNA MALAT1 are correlated with AD‐related neuropathology and memory deficits in 5xFAD mice.ConclusionThese findings provided compelling evidence that AD is associated with altered expression of lncRNA MALAT1 which may influence several pathways related to neural damage and memory deficits in AD. Because expression patterns, interacting proteins, pathways, and biological functions of lncRNA MALAT1 are remain largely unexplored in AD, understanding how lncRNA MALAT1 regulates AD‐related neuropathology may allow development of effective therapies for this incurable disease.

A Genome-wide association study identifies candidate genes for heat tolerance in adult cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) plants

Heat stress causes overgrowth, leaf dryness and fruit malformation, which negatively impacts cucumber quality and yield. Yet, in spite of the devastating consequences of this abiotic stress, few genes for heat tolerance in cucumber have been identified. Here, the heat injury indices of 88 cucumber accessions representing diverse ecotypes were collected in two open-field environments, with naturally occurring high temperatures over two years. Seventeen of the 88 accessions were identified as highly heat-tolerant. Using a genome-wide association study, five loci (gHII3.1, gHII3.2, gHII3.3, gHII4.1 and gHII6.1) on three chromosomes associated with heat tolerance were detected. Pairwise linkage disequilibrium correlation, sequence polymorphisms, and qRT-PCR analyses at these loci, identified five candidate genes predicted to be casual for heat stress response in cucumber. CsaV3_3G04883, CsaV3_4G029050 and CsaV3_6G005370 each had nonsynonymous SNPs, and were significantly up-regulated by heat stress in the heat-tolerant genotypes. CsaV3_3G031890 was also induced by heat stress, but in the heat-sensitive genotypes, and sequence polymorphism was only found in the promoter region. Identifying these candidate genes lays a foundation for understanding cucumber thermotolerance mechanisms. Our study is one of the few to examine heat stress in adult cucumber plants and it therefore fills a critical gap in knowledge. It is also an important first-step towards accelerating the breeding of robust heat-tolerant varieties.

FC13: A qualitative exploration of older people’s lived experiences of homelessness and memory problems – Stakeholder perspectives

Background:The numbers of older people experiencing both homelessness and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias are growing, yet their complex health, housing and care needs remain undelineated and unmet. Older people experiencing homelessness have high levels of memory and cognitive impairment relative to stably housed age equivalent populations. In this study we aim to address a critical gap in understanding what can improve the care, support and experiences of older people experiencing homelessness with memory and other cognitive impairments.Objectives:To explore how stakeholders understand and experience memory problems among older people experiencing homelessness. We consider what they perceive to be meaningful outcomes for those living with memory problems and those supporting them and what gets in the way of achieving good care and support for these individuals.Method:We conducted reflexive thematic analysis of qualitative interviews (n=49) with 17 older people (aged ≥50 years) experiencing memory and other cognitive problems and homelessness, 15 hostel staff and managers, and 17 health, housing and social care practitioners working in England.Results:We identified four overarching themes. The population is not taken seriously; you ‘can’t see the wood for the trees’; risk of exploitation and vulnerability; and (dis)connection and social isolation. The transience of homelessness intensified the disorienting nature of memory and cognitive impairment. Older people experiencing homelessness and memory problems fall through gaps in service provision further fragmenting their lived experiences and intensified by cognitive difficulties. Those providing direct and indirect support required flexibility and persistence to advocate, provide care and safeguard individuals, with staff moving beyond traditionally commissioned roles to advocate, provide care and safeguard individuals.Conclusions:Efforts to meet the needs of older people living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and experiencing homelessness must reflect the complexity their lives and current service provision. These findings have been used to co-design a psychosocial care and support intervention for hostel staff to be tested in a feasibility trial.

Recognition of Bangladeshi Sign Language (BdSL) Words using Deep Convolutional Neural Networks (DCNNs)

In a world where effective communication is fundamental, individuals who are Deaf and Dumb (D&D) often face unique challenges due to their primary mode of communication—sign language. Despite the interpreters' invaluable roles, their lack of availability causes communication difficulties for the D&D individuals. This study explores whether the field of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) could be a potential solution. The primary objective is to assist D&D individuals with computer applications that could act as mediators to bridge the communication gap between them and the wider hearing population. To ensure their independent communication, we propose an automated system that could detect specific Bangla Sign Language (BdSL) words, addressing a critical gap in the sign language detection and recognition literature. Our approach leverages deep learning and transfer learning principles to convert webcam-captured hand gestures into textual representations in real-time. The model's development and assessment rest upon 992 images created by the authors, categorized into ten distinct classes representing various BdSL words. Our findings show the DenseNet201 and ResNet50-V2 models achieve promising training and testing accuracies of 99% and 93%, respectively. Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2023-07-06-019 Full Text: PDF

Abstract A024: Mind Your BEAT: A culturally adapted intervention to increase physical activity and reduce psychosocial distress among rural breast cancer survivors

Abstract Purpose: Rural cancer survivors are less likely to meet physical activity recommendations than urban cancer survivors, contributing to physical inactivity-related cancer health disparities. Evidence-based interventions to reduce psychosocial distress and increase physical activity in cancer survivors were developed in urban or clinical settings and often fail when implemented in rural community settings. The purpose of this study was to use a community-engaged approach to develop and evaluate an intervention to reduce psychosocial stress and increase physical activity in rural breast cancer survivors in Northeast Texas. Method: We conducted interviews with community partners and rural breast cancer survivors to adapt an evidence-based program for rural cancer survivors and for implementation in a rural community setting. The Mind Your BEAT (MYB) intervention combined aerobic exercise, group education, and mind-body strategies to increase physical activity and reduce psychosocial distress in rural breast cancer survivors. Participants were recruited through FitSteps for Life, an existing evidence-based exercise program, and randomized to participate in MYB or FitSteps as usual (control group). Self-reported weekly leisure time physical activity (WLA) was assessed using the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire, and psychosocial distress was assessed using the NCCN distress thermometer. All measures were completed at baseline and following the 3-month intervention. Participants were categorized as meeting physical activity recommendations or not (WLA score ≥24 or <24) and reporting high or low psychosocial distress (NCCN score ≥4 or <4). Results: To date, 29 rural breast cancer survivors (M age=65.8±10.3 years) have enrolled in the study, and 24 (83%) were retained at post-intervention. Most participants completed a bachelor degree or more (62%), reported an annual household income >$40,000 (80%), reported their cancer stage at diagnosis was 0-II (95.9%), and were over 5 years post-treatment (M=5.9±8.4 years). In the MYB intervention, the percent of rural breast cancer survivors who met physical activity recommendations increased from 53.3 to 90.9% compared to the control group, which decreased from 64.3 to 50%. The percent of rural cancer survivors who reported high psychosocial distress decreased from 66.7 to 27.3% in the MYB group and from 57.1 to 41.7% in the control group. Conclusions: MYB integrates physical and psychological health and wellbeing and is feasible among rural breast cancer survivors who are insufficiently active. Furthermore, MYB improved physical activity and reduced psychosocial distress among rural cancer survivors who experience poorer cancer survivorship outcomes and are at greater risk of recurrence, comorbidity and death. Findings from this study fill a critical gap in the literature on the translation of evidence-based interventions into sustained practice in rural community settings. Citation Format: Scherezade K. Mama, Lily Ju, Brandy Friendly, Ian Leavitt, Laura Q. Rogers, Kathryn H. Schmitz, Lorna H. McNeill. Mind Your BEAT: A culturally adapted intervention to increase physical activity and reduce psychosocial distress among rural breast cancer survivors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr A024.

Driver–passenger guidance model for Chinese freeway service areas based on path selection and parking delay

The driver–passenger guidance model proposed in this article is designed for large-scale freeway service areas that integrate various services such as shopping, leisure and catering. The model focuses on analyzing the impact of perceived travel distance and parking delay on path selection and parking space selection to optimize passenger flow efficiency. A perceived travel distance function is used to construct a pedestrian path selection model whose parameters are calibrated by a stated preference survey. An optimal parking space selection model is established based on the analytic hierarchy process-technique for order of preference based on similarity to the ideal solution method and considers parking distance, outdoor walking distance, indoor perceived travel distance after parking, and the impact of pedestrian crossings on parking delays. The model also calculates the vehicle arrival rate with parking time and the critical gap to ensure pedestrian safety. A parking delay calculation model is established based on the acceptable gap theory. The model is verified using the Yihezhuang service area of the Xiongan freeway as an example. The results show that the pedestrian path selection model improves passenger flow balance and reduces the variance in road passenger flow by 12% and per capita travel time by 9%. The proposed parking delay calculation model reduces parking delays by 30 s compared to models that do not consider pedestrian crossings, indicating its smoothness and convenience.

Real‐Time Fault Tracking and Ground Motion Prediction for Large Earthquakes With HR‐GNSS and Deep Learning

AbstractEarthquake early warning (EEW) systems aim to forecast the shaking intensity rapidly after an earthquake occurs and send warnings to affected areas before the onset of strong shaking. The system relies on rapid and accurate estimation of earthquake source parameters. However, it is known that source estimation for large ruptures in real‐time is challenging, and it often leads to magnitude underestimation. In a previous study, we showed that machine learning, HR‐GNSS, and realistic rupture synthetics can be used to reliably predict earthquake magnitude. This model, called Machine‐Learning Assessed Rapid Geodetic Earthquake model (M‐LARGE), can rapidly forecast large earthquake magnitudes with an accuracy of 99%. Here, we expand M‐LARGE to predict centroid location and fault size, enabling the construction of the fault rupture extent for forecasting shaking intensity using existing ground motion models. We test our model in the Chilean Subduction Zone with thousands of simulated and five real large earthquakes. The result achieves an average warning time of 40.5 s for shaking intensity MMI4+, surpassing the 34 s obtained by a similar GNSS EEW model. Our approach addresses a critical gap in existing EEW systems for large earthquakes by demonstrating real‐time fault tracking feasibility without saturation issues. This capability leads to timely and accurate ground motion forecasts and can support other methods, enhancing the overall effectiveness of EEW systems. Additionally, the ability to predict source parameters for real Chilean earthquakes implies that synthetic data, governed by our understanding of earthquake scaling, is consistent with the actual rupture processes.

Reassessing the Impact of Fear Appeals in Sustainable Consumption Communication: An Investigation into Message Types and Message Foci

In the face of escalating environmental challenges, effective communication has assumed unprecedented significance. This study addresses a critical research gap concerning the utilization of fear appeal in promoting sustainable consumer behavior. Rather than treating fear appeals as a singular construct, this research decomposes them into distinct components to explore the nuanced impacts of various fear appeal aspects. Additionally, we investigate how different message foci influence the effectiveness of various fear appeals in promoting sustainable consumption. To achieve these objectives, we designed an experimental study encompassing eight distinct scenarios, achieved through the manipulation of four types of fear appeal and two types of message focus. Participants were randomly assigned to one of these scenarios. Our findings reveal noteworthy differences in purchasing intentions, particularly in the context of various fear appeal types. Specifically, we observed significant variations between the economic fear appeal and the physical fear appeal, as well as between the self-esteem fear appeal and the physical fear appeal. Surprisingly, our analysis of the moderating effect of different message foci did not align with our initial expectations. The outcomes of this research offer valuable insights for green marketers, empowering them to employ diverse facets of fear appeal in their marketing strategies with greater flexibility and efficiency. These findings underscore the evolving landscape of sustainable consumer behavior and the evolving role of communication in addressing environmental challenges.