Factorial Study Research Articles

Early-life interventions to prevent feather pecking and reduce fearfulness in laying hens

Severe feather pecking, the pulling out of feathers of conspecifics, is a major welfare issue in laying hens. Possible underlying causes are fearfulness and lack of foraging opportunities. Because early life is a crucial stage in behavioral development, adapting the incubation and rearing environment to the birds' needs may reduce fearfulness and prevent the development of feather pecking. In a 2×2 factorial design study, we investigated whether a green light-dark cycle throughout incubation, which resembles natural incubation circumstances more than the standard dark incubation, and foraging enrichment with live larvae during rearing reduce fearfulness and feather pecking and increase foraging behavior of laying hen pullets from an early age onwards. In this 2-batch experiment, 1,100 ISA Brown eggs were incubated under either 0 h of light/24 h of darkness or 12 h of green LED light/12 h of darkness. After hatching, 400 female chicks (200 per batch) were housed in 44 pens (8-10 chicks per pen). During the entire rearing phase (0-17 wk of age), half of the pens received black soldier fly larvae in a food puzzle as foraging enrichment. We assessed fear of novel objects and humans, feather pecking, plumage condition, foraging behavior, and recovery time after a 3-fold vaccination (acute stressor). A slight increase in the number of foraging bouts was only seen with larvae provisioning (rate ratio 1.19, 95% CI 1.02-1.29, P=0.008). Neither lighted incubation nor larvae provisioning affected fearfulness, feather pecking, plumage condition or recovery time after vaccination. In conclusion, the present study showed no effects of light during incubation and minor effects of foraging enrichment during rearing on the behavior of laying hen pullets. Further research is recommended on other welfare aspects.

Comparison of work efficiency in factory workers: pre & post covid lockdown – a cross sectional study

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic's impact on economies worldwide has caused changes in work patterns, reduced productivity, and job losses, particularly affecting factory workers. Lockdown measures have also led to reduced physical activity levels, which is a significant risk factor for chronic diseases. This study aims to investigate efficiency of factory workers pre and post lockdown periods. The findings will contribute to identifying evidence-based strategies to minimize the negative impact of lockdown measures on factory workers' productivity and health.Materials and methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the work performance of employees in a medicine manufacturing unit. Data was collected from factory workers online and study period was January 2021 to April 2022. Survey includes close ended questions regarding work performance of employees before lockdown period (Before 20/03/2020) and performance after lockdown period (After August 2020). The sample size of 196 employees selected through simple random sampling. A questionnaire consisting of demographic factors, work details, and work performance was prepared using pretested standard tools, including the Individual Work Performance Questionnaire (IWPQ), the World Health Organization Health and Work Performance Questionnaire (HPQ), and the Stanford Presenteeism Scale (SPS-6). The collected data was analysed using descriptive statistics and a paired t-test.ResultsThe study found that prior to lockdown, 99% of employees consistently had higher performance, with 71.4% ranking in the top 10. However, after lockdown, the percentage of employees with high performance decreased to 91.8%, with only 63.3% ranking in the top 10. These differences were statistically significant, indicating a decrease in work efficiency of 8.1%. Before lockdown, employees worked longer hours, including on off days, while after lockdown, a small proportion missed work due to various reasons, resulting in better quality work.ConclusionIn conclusion, the study highlights the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the work efficiency of factory workers. The findings indicate a decrease in work efficiency after the lockdown, coupled with an increase in employee stress. This suggests that the pandemic has brought about unique challenges for factory workers that need to be addressed to maintain their well-being and productivity. This study emphasizes the importance of creating a supportive work environment that prioritizes the mental and physical health of employees, especially during times of crisis.

Priming Bean Seedlings to Boost Natural Plant Defenses Against Common Bacterial Wilt: Gas Exchange, and Fluorescence Results (Part 2)

This greenhouse study evaluated the effects of two chemical primers for kidney bean seedlings against a bacterial wilt (Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. Flaccumfaciens) (CFF). The premise of this study was that the oxidant primers would mimic the signaling properties of radical oxygen species and initiate a cascade of molecular defenses. The factorial study included two levels for the foliar chlorine dioxide treatment, and two levels for the bacterial wilt inoculation treatment, plus two supplemental chemical treatments. The foliage response variables were gas exchange and fluorescence. There was a 36, 154, and 70% reduction in Pn, gs, and E, respectively, at 39 DAT when comparing the inoculated control to the non-inoculated control. The chlorine dioxide primers lowered leaf temperatures and leaf vapor pressure deficit in the CFF wilt inoculated plants. The chlorine dioxide primers improved gas exchange at 39 DAT when compared to the water treatments. Part 1 and 2 of this series conclude that the chlorine dioxide primers can activate a long-term, systemic acquired resistance (SAR) response in kidney bean plants infected with the CFF wilt. The Part 2 article also concludes that the EB treatments caused several inexplicable correlations among the gas exchange responses. A structured water premise was proposed as an explanation for the gas exchange anomalies due to the EB treatments. Intuitively, this study suggests that chlorine dioxide primers can initiate a series of ROS and salicylic acid signals that activate a suite of mechanisms that provide universal, multifaceted plant immunity that is sustained across a crop season.

Preparing for an uncertain future: Merging the strategic foresight toolkit with landscape modeling in northeast Minnesota’s forests

“The Great Acceleration” poses serious challenges to land managers, policy makers, and all who are interested in the global sustainability of socioecological systems. Methods that can effectively address the uncertainty of the future to allow more robust and adaptive planning and management are urgently needed. We present a case study from northeastern Minnesota to highlight how strategic foresight methods and landscape modeling can serve as complementary tools to generate divergent yet plausible participatory scenarios to ultimately model the potential impacts of these scenarios on fundamental ecosystem services over 50 years. The landscape scenarios generated from the scenario process ranged widely, from optimistic futures to dire outcomes; these scenarios were far more divergent than outcomes explored in a traditional factorial landscape modeling study. This greater range in possible futures leads to more useful model outputs to guide the decisions of planners, managers, and policymakers. Our study illustrates advantages of blending the power of multiple strategic foresight tools with landscape modeling to generate alternative future storylines that are enlightening (i.e., expanding the scope of possibilities), useful (via strong contrasts), and yet plausible (i.e., grounded by robust science and stakeholder perspectives). Strategic foresight methods such as horizon scanning can also be useful in on-going monitoring of landscapes to support adaptive management aimed at fostering sustainable futures. Combining these approaches enhances creativity and wide-ranging plausibility (strategic foresight) with science-based assessments of outcomes and trajectories (landscape modeling), increasing the likelihood of creating resilient, preferred futures.

Preliminary study on the significance of pathological characteristics analysis of breast cancer and detection of peripheral blood myeloid-derived suppressor cells in the evaluation of biological characteristics

ABSTRACT To explore the significance of the analysis of pathological characteristics of breast cancer and the detection of myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) levels in peripheral blood for the evaluation of biological characteristics. 138 breast cancer patients were enrolled as the research group, while 138 patients with benign breast diseases were included as the control group. All patients underwent pathological analysis and detection of peripheral blood MDSCs levels, progesterone receptor (PR), estrogen receptor (ER), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2), and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (Ki-67). A factorial study of stage I, II, and III breast cancer patients showed significant differences in clinicopathological characteristics, including age, tumor size, lymph node metastases, histological grading, Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) score, pathological type, and family history (P < 0.05). The research group had higher levels of peripheral blood MDSCs and different cell surface markers compared to the control group (P<0.05). Positive expression of biological molecules in breast cancer, such as PR, ER, HER-2, and Ki-67, had significant differences based on lymph node metastasis and tumor size (P < 0.05). The quality of survival scores was higher in stages I and II compared to stage III (P < 0.05). Age, recurrence, metastasis, and other pathological characteristics of breast cancer have a direct impact on clinical outcomes and survival rates. Peripheral blood levels of MDSCs and other cell surface markers are significantly elevated, serving as a crucial benchmark for the subsequent evaluation of breast cancer progression.

“Reject the Offer”: The Asymmetric Impact of Defense Attorneys’ Plea Recommendations

In two studies, we examined the impact of defense attorney recommendation on defendant plea decision-making. Community members and college students participated in a 2 (guilt status: innocent or guilty) × 2 (defense attorney recommendation: accept or reject offer) between-subjects factorial design study. The plea scenario was conveyed via an interactive computer simulation. In both studies (Study 1, n = 106; Study 2, n = 282), guilty participants were more likely to plead guilty than innocent participants. In Study 2, participants advised to accept the plea were more likely to plead guilty than those advised to reject the plea. Furthermore, being advised to reject the plea resulted in larger changes in willingness to accept a plea (WTAP) than being advised to accept the plea. This asymmetric effect was driven by those participants who were initially inclined to plead guilty but then received advice inconsistent with that inclination.

Multisensory integration by polymodal sensory neurons dictates larval settlement in a brainless cnidarian larva.

Multisensory integration (MSI) combines information from more than one sensory modality to elicit behaviours distinct from unisensory behaviours. MSI is best understood in animals with complex brains and specialized centres for parsing different modes of sensory information, but dispersive larvae of sessile marine invertebrates utilize multimodal environmental sensory stimuli to base irreversible settlement decisions on, and most lack complex brains. Here, we examined the sensory determinants of settlement in actinula larvae of the hydrozoan Ectopleura crocea (Cnidaria), which possess a diffuse nerve net. A factorial settlement study revealed that photo-, chemo- and mechanosensory cues each influenced the settlement response in a complex and hierarchical manner that was dependent on specific combinations of cues, an indication of MSI. Additionally, sensory gene expression over development peaked with developmental competence to settle, which in actinulae, requires cnidocyte discharge. Transcriptome analyses also highlighted several deep homological links between cnidarian and bilaterian mechano-, chemo-, and photosensory pathways. Fluorescent in situ hybridization studies of candidate transcripts suggested cellular partitioning of sensory function among the few cell types that comprise the actinula nervous system, where ubiquitous polymodal sensory neurons expressing putative chemo- and photosensitivity interface with mechanoreceptive cnidocytes. We propose a simple multisensory processing circuit, involving polymodal chemo/photosensory neurons and mechanoreceptive cnidocytes, that is sufficient to explain MSI in actinulae settlement. Our study demonstrates that MSI is not exclusive to complex brains, but likely predated and contextualized their evolution.

Retrofitting passive cooling strategies to combat heat stress in the face of climate change: A case study of a ready-made garment factory in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

The ready-made garment industry is critical to the Bangladesh economy. There is an urgent need to improve current working conditions and build capacity for heat mitigation as conditions worsen due to climate change. We modelled a typical, mid-sized, non-air-conditioned factory in Bangladesh and simulated how the indoor thermal environment is altered by four rooftop retrofits (1. extensive green roof, 2. rooftop shading, 3. white cool roof, 4. insulated white cool roof) on present-day and future decades under different climate scenarios. Simulations showed that all strategies reduce indoor air temperatures by around 2 °C on average and reduce the number of present-day annual work-hours during which wetbulb globe temperature exceeds the standardised limits for moderate work rates by up to 603 h - the equivalent of 75 (8 h) working days per year. By 2050 under a high-emissions scenario, indoor conditions with a rooftop intervention are comparable to present-day conditions. To reduce the growing need for carbon-intensive air-conditioning, sustainable heat mitigation strategies need to be incorporated into a wider range of solutions at the individual, building, and urban level. The results presented here have implications for factory planning and retrofit design, and may inform policies targeting worker health, well-being, and productivity.

Optimasi Konsentrasi Sukrosa dan Propilen Glikol dalam Formulasi Chewable Gummy Tablet Ekstrak Daun Kelor (Moringa oleifera L)

Latar Belakang: Moringa leaves extract is promising to develop into nutraceutical products, especially a chewable gummy. The desirable characteristics of chewable gummies are soft, elastic, springy, and flexible. Gelatin is a widely used gelling agent which has been proven to maintain gel structure during storage. The other ingredients which also determine the chewable gel structure are filler and plasticizer. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of sucrose and propylene glycol concentration on Moringa leaves extract based chewable gummy. Metode: The preparation of chewable gummy tablets was conducted by the pour method. Factorial design study (22) was applied in this study to analyze the effect of two factors herein filler and plasticizer. Two levels of concentration were optimized in each factor, herein sucrose (30% and 35% concentration) and propylene glycol (2% and 4% concentration) on the physical characteristics of the gummy tablet. Hasil: The results of the factorial analysis showed that the increase in sucrose concentration will produce a longer dispersion time and lower swelling ratio. Meanwhile, the increase in propylene glycol decreases the syneresis potency. The alteration of physical characteristics was observed during 14 days of storage, particularly in dispersion time, swelling ratio, and syneresis percentage. Kesimpulan: Based on the results of feasible design space, sucrose concentration (30-35%) and propylene glycol concentration (2-4%) optimized in this study produce the desirable characteristics of chewable gummy.

Combining Behavioral Economics-Based Incentives With the Anchoring Strategy: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Chronic (ie, long-term) elevated stress is associated with a number of mental and physical health conditions. Mindfulness meditation mobile apps are a promising tool for stress self-management that can overcome several barriers associated with in-person interventions; however, to date, poor app-based intervention adherence has limited the efficacy of these mobile health tools. Anchoring, or pairing, a new behavior with an existing routine has been shown to effectively establish habits that are maintained over time, but this strategy typically only works for those with high initial motivation and has yet to be tested for maintaining meditation with a mobile app. This study will test novel combinations of behavioral economics-based incentives with the anchoring strategy for establishing and maintaining adherence to an effective dose of meditation with a mobile app. This 16-week study will use a 5-arm, parallel, partially blinded (participants only), randomized controlled design. We will implement a fractional factorial study design that varies the use of self-monitoring messages and financial incentives to support participants' use of their personalized anchoring strategy for maintaining adherence to a ≥10 minute-per-day meditation prescription during an 8-week intervention period, followed by an 8-week postintervention observation period. Specifically, we will vary the use of self-monitoring messages of either the target behavior (ie, meditation tracking) or the outcome associated with the target behavior (ie, mood symptom tracking). We will also vary the use of financial incentives conditional on either meditation at any time of day or meditation performed at approximately the same time of day as participants' personalized anchors. Continuous meditation app use data will be used to measure weekly meditation adherence over the 16-week study period as a binary variable equal to 1 if participants complete ≥10 minutes of meditation for ≥4 days per week and 0 otherwise. We will measure weekly anchoring plan adherence as a binary variable equal to 1 if participants complete ≥10 minutes of meditation within +1 or -1 hour of the timing of their chosen anchor on ≥4 days per week and 0 otherwise. In addition to these primary measures of meditation and anchoring plan adherence, we will also assess the secondary measures of stress, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, sleep disturbance, and meditation app habit strength at baseline, week 8, and week 16. This study will fill an important gap in the mobile health literature by testing novel intervention approaches for establishing and maintaining adherence to app-based mindfulness meditation. If successful, this study will identify an accessible and scalable stress self-management intervention that can help combat stress in the United States. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05217602; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05217602. DERR1-10.2196/39930.

Associations of HIV and iron status with gut microbiota composition, gut inflammation and gut integrity in South African school-age children: a two-way factorial case-control study.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and iron deficiency (ID) affect many African children. Both HIV and iron status interact with gut microbiota composition and related biomarkers. The study's aim was to determine the associations of HIV and iron status with gut microbiota composition, gut inflammation and gut integrity in South African school-age children. In this two-way factorial case-control study, 8- to 13-year-old children were enrolled into four groups based on their HIV and iron status: (1) With HIV (HIV+) and ID (n = 43), (2) HIV+ and iron-sufficient nonanaemic (n = 41), (3) without HIV (HIV-) and ID (n = 44) and (4) HIV- and iron-sufficient nonanaemic (n = 38). HIV+ children were virally suppressed (<50 HIV RNA copies/ml) on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Microbial composition of faecal samples (16S rRNA sequencing) and markers of gut inflammation (faecal calprotectin) and gut integrity (plasma intestinal fatty acid-binding protein [I-FABP]) were assessed. Faecal calprotectin was higher in ID versus iron-sufficient nonanaemic children (p = 0.007). I-FABP did not significantly differ by HIV or iron status. ART-treated HIV (redundancy analysis [RDA] R2 = 0.009, p = 0.029) and age (RDA R2 = 0.013 p = 0.004) explained the variance in the gut microbiota across the four groups. Probabilistic models showed that the relative abundance of the butyrate-producing genera Anaerostipes and Anaerotruncus was lower in ID versus iron-sufficient children. Fusicatenibacter was lower in HIV+ and in ID children versus their respective counterparts. The prevalence of the inflammation-associated genus Megamonas was 42% higher in children with both HIV and ID versus HIV- and iron-sufficient nonanaemic counterparts. In our sample of 8- to 13-year-old virally suppressed HIV+ and HIV- children with or without ID, ID was associated with increased gut inflammation and changes in the relative abundance of specific microbiota. Moreover, in HIV+ children, ID had a cumulative effect that further shifted the gut microbiota to an unfavourable composition.

Effect of summarizing scaffolding and textual cues on learning performance, mental model, and cognitive load in a virtual reality environment: An experimental study

The effect of summarizing scaffolding on learning for elementary school students in immersive virtual reality settings with textual cues is unknown. To address this research gap, we conducted a 2 * 2 factorial experimental study to investigate the potential effect and interaction of summarizing scaffolding (yes vs. no) and textual cues (yes vs. no) on learning performance, mental model, and cognitive load. A total of 152 participants from a suburban elementary school were randomly assigned to one of four experimental conditions: no textual cues & no summarizing scaffolding (n = 38), textual cues & no summarizing scaffolding (n = 39), no textual cues & summarizing scaffolding (n = 37), and textual cues & summarizing scaffolding (n = 38). ANOVA results showed that (a) textual cues significantly improved learning performance and the mental model; (b) summarizing scaffolding significantly enhanced the mental model; and (c) no significant interaction effects were identified, indicating that young students can benefit from immersive virtual reality with textual cues or summarizing scaffolding. The implications of the findings on the design of effective immersive learning environments are discussed.

An increased weaning age and liquid feed enhances weight gain compared to piglets fed dry feed pre-weaning

Increasing age and providing liquid creep feed could potentially increase the solid feed intake in pre-weaning piglets, which may in turn promote gut maturation and post-weaning feed intake, possibly lessening the severity of the growth-check associated with the suckling-to-weaning transition. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate if feeding dry- versus liquid creep feed (DF vs. LF) and weaning in week 4 or 5 (4W or 5W) could accelerate maturational changes to the small intestines of pre-weaning piglets by increasing digestive and absorptive capacity. In a 2 × 2 factorial study the effect of weaning age (WA) and feeding strategy (FS) on weaning weight, pre-weaning accumulated gain (AG), and average daily gain was measured for 12 923 piglets. A subpopulation of 15 piglets from each treatment group (4WDF, 4WLF, 5WDF and 5WLF; n = 60) were sacrificed to assess the effects of WA and FS on weight of digestive organs, activity of maltase, lactase and sucrase, and gene expression level of sodium-glucose linked transporter 1 (SGLT-1), glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) and peptide transporter 1 (PepT1) in the proximal part of the small intestine (SI). No interactions were found but average weaning weight was affected by WA (P < 0.001) and FS (P < 0.001), where 5W were heavier than 4W and LF were heavier than DF. Correspondingly, the average daily gain (ADG) was affected by both WA (P = 0.003) and FS (P < 0.001). Only WA affected the relative weight of the digestive organs, where stomach weight, weight of SI and colon weight were heavier in 5W piglets compared to 4W. Lactase activity tended to decrease with age (P = 0.061), but there was no difference in the activity of maltase or sucrase between any of the treatment groups. Similarly, there was no differences in gene expression level of SGLT1, GLUT2 or PepT1 between neither the two ages nor feeding strategies. In conclusion, both WA and FS affect weaning weight and weight gain of piglets in the pre-weaning period.

The role of fertilizer sources and water stress on the growth and yield sambiloto (Andrographis paniculata Ness.)

Sambiloto is medicine plant that has great potential as base material of traditional medicine. The aim of the study was to examine the response of Sambiloto growth and yield to fertilizer and water stress. Factorial study with completely randomized design consisting of two treatment factors. The first factor is the kind of fertilizer, consist from without fertilizer treatment, chemical fertilizer, chicken manure, and azolla compost fertilizer. The second factor is available water. The result of research showed that fertilizer sources and water stress have effect to leaves amount, fresh weight of shoot, and dry weight of shoot, simultanously. Combination of treatments that gived the highest dry weight of shoot (simplicia) are chemical fertilizer on 100% of field capacity and azolla compost fertilizer on 100% of field capacity. The using of organic fertilizer (chicken manure and azolla compost fertilizer) can subtitute the using of chemical fertilizer. Water stress has happen to 50% of field capacity of available water and decrease result significantly to all variable except clorophyl amount and amount of pods.

Role of Carrier Media and Types of Indigenous MVA Isolates on Soil Quality in Corn Plants in the Dry Land of West Nusa Tenggara

Corn plants have many benefits and are needed by the government as a national food reserve. West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) maize production fluctuated. If managed optimally, dry land agriculture in NTB can provide benefits for increasing agricultural production, especially corn production. The sustainability of dry land farming systems must be continuously improved even with various farming strategies with the main objective of improving soil fertility and overcoming drought stress constraints. One of the efforts to increase the productivity of NTB's dry land is the use of arbuscular vesicular mycorrhizal biofertilizers which are an alternative to improve the quality of soil and plants. Arbuscular vesicular mycorrhiza will colonize and infect roots maximally if using a carrier media that is compatible with MVA inoculant. Appropriate MVA carrier media will provide optimal environmental conditions for host plant growth. The aim of the research was to determine the role of Indigenous MVA and carrier media on soil quality in dryland maize. The research was carried out on corn plants using different carrier media and native MVA types. The study was designed as a factorial study using a completely randomized design (CRD) with 2 factors, namely the type of indigenous MVA isolates with 3 treatment levels and the Carrier Media Type factor with 4 treatment levels. There were 12 treatment combinations that were repeated 3 times so that 36 treatment combinations were obtained which were carried out at the Green House of the Faculty of Agriculture, Nahdhatul Wathan University, Mataram from December 2020 to February 2021. The results showed that the MVA type factor, the MVA isolate had a significantly different effect for all observation parameters, namely soil water content, soil pH, soil total N content and soil available P content, the best isolate was Glomus sp. The carrier media factor gives the result that the type of carrier media has a significant effect on the parameters of observing soil water content, soil total N content and soil pH with the best carrier media being rice husk charcoal biochart

Training as a Vital Safety Intervention Activity for Employees’ Job Commitment: A Case Study of Steel Factory

The need for human resources, otherwise referred to as employees, in the effective running of any establishment cannot be over-emphasized, especially in steel factories. Likewise, the effect of training as one of the vital safety intervention activities on accident rate reduction is highly imperative. Thus, its effect on the rate of employees' commitment to the job is understudied. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of training as one of the key safety intervention activities on the employees' commitment to the job. This study adopted the participatory approach, and the stakeholders, who are 67 employees of the steel factory, were considered for questionnaire administration and interview. This study sought information on the respondents' demographic characteristics, activities carried out, safety management, and influence on job commitments. Data collected were statistically analyzed using the SPSS 20.0 version. The respondents' ages are normally distributed around 26 – 35 and 36 – 45 age brackets, with 56.72 and 31.34 %, respectively. The majority (36 %) of this factory’s employees were in the manufacturing and melting unit, while the least (16 %) were in the packaging unit. The following percent, 7.46 and 44.78 %, strongly agreed and agreed to the management's provision of safety induction and training, while only 37.31 % disagreed. The study established that training intervention has a positive influence on the job commitment of factory employees. Thus, about 93% of the workers believed that safety training should be given priority over PPE or incentive/motivation. Keywords: Safety Management, Job Commitment, Factory Employees, Influence, Steel. Aims Research Journal Reference Format: Ajayeoba A. O., Fajobi M. O., Raheem W. A., Adebiyi K. A., Okuma S. O., Fatukasi S. O. &amp; Ajayeoba, A.S. (2022): Training as a Vital Safety Intervention Activity for Employees’ Job Commitment. Advances in Multidisciplinary and Scientific Research. Vol. 9. No. 1, Pp 37-50. www.isteams.net/aimsjournal. dx.doi.org/10.22624/AIMS/V9N1P3x

Neuromodulation Through Spinal Cord Stimulation Restores Ability to Voluntarily Cycle After Motor Complete Paraplegia.

Abstract Epidural spinal cord stimulation (eSCS) of the lower thoracic spinal cord has been shown to partially restore volitional movement in patients with complete chronic spinal cord injury (cSCI). Combining eSCS with intensive locomotor training improves motor function, including standing and stepping, but many patients with cSCI suffer from long-standing muscle atrophy and loss of bone mineral density, which may prohibit safe implementation. Safe, accessible, and effective avenues for pairing neuromodulation with activity-based therapy remain unexplored. Cycling is one such option that can be utilized as an eSCS therapy given its low-risk and low-weight-bearing requirement. We investigated the feasibility and kinematics of motor-assisted and passive cycle-based therapy for cSCI patients with epidural spinal cord stimulation. Seven participants who underwent spinal cord stimulation surgery in the Epidural Stimulation After Neurologic Damage (E-STAND) trial (NCT03026816) participated in a cycling task using the motor assist MOTOmed Muvi 300. A factorial design was used such that participants were asked to cycle with and without conscious effort with and without stimulation. We used mixed effects models assessing maximum power output and time pedaling unassisted to evaluate the interaction between stimulation and conscious effort. Cycling was well-tolerated and we observed no adverse events, including in participants up to 17 years post-initial injury and up to 58 years old. All participants were found to be able to pedal without motor assist, which primarily occurred when stimulation and effort were applied together (p = 0.001). Additionally, the combination of stimulation and intention was significantly associated with higher maximum power production (p < 0.0001) and distance pedaled (p = 0.0001). No association was found between volitional movement and participant factors: age, time since injury, and spinal cord atrophy. With stimulation and conscious effort, all participants were able to achieve active cycling without motor assistance. Thus, our stationary cycling factorial study design demonstrated volitional movement restoration with eSCS in a diverse study population of cSCI participants. Further, motor-assist cycling was well-tolerated without any adverse events. Cycling has the potential to be a safe research assessment and physical therapy modality for cSCI patients utilizing eSCS who have a high risk of injury with weight bearing exercise. The cycling modality in this study was demonstrated to be a straightforward assessment of motor function and safe for all participants regardless of age or time since initial injury.

Do employees find inclusive talent management fairer? It depends. Contrasting self‐interest and principle

AbstractIn this paper, we critically examine the assumption that most employees, and especially those not identified as talents, find exclusive talent management less fair than inclusive talent management. Across two factorial survey studies—one of which manipulates talent status experimentally (N = 300), the other using field data on meta‐perceived talent ratings (N = 209)—we examine the extent to which the perceived fairness of talent management is predicted by self‐interest (i.e., the extent to which you yourself are seen as talented) versus principle (i.e., a dispositional preference for equality‐vs. merit‐based allocations). We found a clear effect of talent status, indicating that perceived fairness is at least partly determined by self‐interest (i.e., whether one personally stands to gain or lose from exclusive talent management). We also found an effect for preferred allocation norm—implying that fairness perceptions are influenced by matters of principle, independently from self‐interest—but only on the boundary condition that organizations provide a transparent justification for their chosen (inclusive or exclusive) talent philosophy. Two major gaps are addressed: the lack of data on how employees perceive and experience talent management practices, and the inability of common study designs to make causal claims.

Fast-, Light-Cured Scintillating Plastic for 3D-Printing Applications

Additive manufacturing techniques enable a wide range of possibilities for novel radiation detectors spanning simple to highly complex geometries, multi-material composites, and metamaterials that are either impossible or cost prohibitive to produce using conventional methods. The present work identifies a set of promising formulations of photocurable scintillator resins capable of neutron-gamma pulse shape discrimination (PSD) to support the additive manufacturing of fast neutron detectors. The development of these resins utilizes a step-by-step, trial-and-error approach to identify different monomer and cross-linker combinations that meet the requirements for 3D printing followed by a 2-level factorial parameter study to optimize the radiation detection performance, including light yield, PSD, optical clarity, and hardness. The formulations resulted in hard, clear, PSD-capable plastic scintillators that were cured solid within 10 s using 405 nm light. The best-performing scintillator produced a light yield 83% of EJ-276 and a PSD figure of merit equaling 1.28 at 450–550 keVee.

Optimising psychological treatment for pain after breast cancer: a factorial design study protocol in Denmark

IntroductionOne in five breast cancer (BC) survivors are affected by persistent pain years after completing primary treatment. While the efficacy of psychological interventions for BC-related pain has been documented in...