Global Variations Research Articles

Unpacking Technostress: A Systematic Review on its Effects and Mitigation

The exponential growth of technology in everyday life has given rise to technostress, a condition marked by negative psychological and physiological effects. This systematic review synthesizes current research on technostress, examining its global definition, regional variations, impacts, opportunities and mitigation strategies. Drawing on established theories such as the Technostress Model, Job Demands-Resources Model, and Person-Environment Fit Model, the review explores the complex interplay between technology use and stress. The technostress model posits that technostress arises from negative reactions to technology use, fueled by information overload, task demands, and lack of control. The job demands-resource model views technology as either a stressor or a resource, impacting well-being based on organizational context and individual traits, while the person-environment fit model links technostress to capability-demand mismatches. Studies link technostress to anxiety, depression, and physical health problems. The review underscores the importance of tailored interventions, emphasizing organizational support, user-centered design, and individual coping mechanisms in managing technostress, especially in regions with high prevalence rates. In addition to these interventions, the review emphasizes the need for ongoing education and awareness campaigns to promote digital literacy and healthy technology habits. By equipping individuals with the knowledge and skills to navigate the complexities of the digital landscape, these initiatives can empower them to make informed decisions and effectively manage technostress in their daily lives. Highlighting the significance of culturally-tailored interventions, future research aims to refine mitigation strategies and investigate the potential benefits of technology use, ultimately fostering a balanced relationship with technology to minimize drawbacks and maximize advantages.

International Linkages of Inflation‐Output Dynamics: Fresh GVAR Evidence from Pakistan and Its Trading Partners

The key purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between inflation and output dynamics in a global macroeconomic framework by utilising time‐series data from Pakistan and thirty‐two trading partners which account for around 95 per cent of foreign trade of Pakistan, over the period 1979Q2–2016Q4. By featuring the GVAR approach, this paper empirically examined the international linkages to account for cross‐country inflationary spillovers. The findings show that both foreign and global variables jointly and significantly matter for the inflation‐output relationship in developing economies, in general and, in particular, in the economy of Pakistan. The findings from general impulse response functions (GIRF) reveal that shocks to the US real output, oil prices and food prices are transmitted and settled quickly, and put forward a significant impact on real GDP and inflation in Pakistan and its trading partner economies. Inflation in Pakistan is driven more strongly by the global changes in oil and food prices than GDP. For monetary policy formulation, the central bank should take into account developments in inflation‐output dynamics of Pakistan's major trading partners.

Geometrically exact 3D beam theory with embedded strong discontinuities for modeling of localized failure in bending

In this work, we propose the elastoplastic model of a three-dimensional (3D) geometrically exact beam, which can capture localized bending deformation leading to a plastic hinge. This is a follow-up work to Tojaga et al. (2023), where we only studied the fracture of fiber-like beam structures that break in mode I or mode II, here extended to handle beam-like behavior with bending failure and the main difficulty of the non-vectorial character of large 3D rotations. The Reissner model is chosen for representing the large elastic and large plastic deformations of such a beam model, which leads to the multiplicative decomposition of the rotation tensor. We shown how to replace this with the corresponding additive decomposition of the rotation vector derivatives, to be performed in the material description in the tangent space of SO(3) manifold in the initial configuration. The plasticity model for which we give a more detailed implementation employs a Rankin-like multi-surface plasticity criteria, where each moment vector component (i.e. torsion or bending) is considered separately. The non-local variational formulation is proposed to deal with the softening phenomena characteristic of localized bending failure, where the fracture energy is introduced as the main parameter for softening. The discrete approximation is built in terms of the embedded-discontinuity finite element method (ED-FEM), which introduces a jump in rotation vector that can be handled at the level of a particular beam element. This kind of approach builds upon the best approximation property of the FEM discrete approximation in the energy norm and provides the best-approximation property for the dissipated energy computations, and thus optimal computational accuracy if the quantity of interest is inelastic dissipation. The computations are carried out by the operator split method, which separates the computations of global state variables (displacements and moments) from local (plastic curvature) variables. Several illustrative examples are provided to confirm an excellent performance of the proposed methodology.

A common curriculum in obstetrics and gynecology for medical students globally.

Global variations in women's health outcomes, increased international migration, and an increase in the number of medical schools underpin the need for global standardization in obstetrics and gynecology curricula for medical students. However, there are currently no recommendations regarding the content of a common curriculum. The aim of this project was to agree the objectives for a common curriculum in obstetrics and gynecology for medical students globally. The curriculum was developed and agreed by an international taskforce of obstetricians and gynecologists. Published curricula for medical students in a variety of regions globally were reviewed and discussed, and the objectives for a common curriculum in obstetrics and gynecology for medical students were agreed by consensus. The content of the proposed curriculum is classified into three domains: clinical skills, professional behaviors, and knowledge. The recommended curriculum covers health conditions that affect women globally in different social and cultural contexts, and addresses important global health issues of relevance to obstetrics and gynecology. The methods and outcomes of a project by an international taskforce of obstetricians and gynecologists to develop a common curriculum in obstetrics and gynecology for medical students globally are presented. More work is required to identify ways in which the curriculum may be adapted to a minimum essential required curriculum in times of man-made or natural disasters. Achieving these will facilitate the intended long-term aims of this curriculum, to improve women's health outcomes globally.

Bivalve tissues as a recorder of multidecadal global anthropogenic and climate‐mediated change in coastal areas

AbstractRecent rapid changes in climate and environmental conditions have significantly impacted coastal ecosystem functioning. However, the complex interplay between global and local effects makes it challenging to pinpoint the primary drivers. In a multi‐ecosystem study, we analyzed pluri‐decadal trends of bivalve‐δ13C as recorder of global environmental changes. These trends were correlated with large‐scale natural and anthropogenic climate proxies to identify whether coastal biota responded to global effects. Our findings revealed decreasing bivalve‐δ13C trends in all sea regions, mainly linked with increased temperature and atmospheric‐CO2 concentrations, the later generating a decrease in atmospheric‐CO2 δ13C values (Suess effect) because of fossil‐fuel burning. After removing the Suess effect from bivalve‐δ13C trends, ongoing global climate variability continues to affect most ecosystems, possibly intensified by combined, interacting regional or local effects. These results highlight the need to consider large‐scale effects to fully understand ecosystem and food web responses to the multiple effects of global change.

Epidemiology of type 1 diabetes mellitus in children and adolescents: A 50-year, single-center experience.

Global variations in epidemiology of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) exist. This study is designed to examine demographic and clinical features of T1DM over the past 3 decades as well as evolving trends in epidemiology over last 50 years. Clinical characteristics of 925 patients with T1DM over last 30 years (1990-2019) were evaluated and compared to previously published data of 477 patients diagnosed between 1969 and 1990 from one of the major referral centers for diabetes in Turkey. Mean age at diagnosis decreased from 9.5 ± 4.0 to 7.1 ± 3.6 years within the past 50 years (p < .001). Age at diagnosis peaked at 12-14 years between 1969 and 1990, then fell to 10-11.9 years between 1990 and 1999, and to 4-5.9 years between 2000-2009 and 2010-2019 (p = .005). Although the percentage of patients diagnosed <6 years of age is gradually increasing, the percentage between the ages of 6 and 11.9 years is decreasing, and the percentage diagnosed ≥12 years remained stable. A total of 47.5% of patients had ketoacidosis, 38.2% had ketosis, and 14.3% had only hyperglycemia. 23% of patients had severe diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), whereas 42% had moderate. Over last 3 decades, there has been no change in frequency of ketoacidosis at presentation, but there has been significant decline in severity (p = .865, and p < .001, respectively). Although the frequency of patients with mild DKA increased over time, frequency of patients with moderate DKA decreased; however, no significant difference was observed among patients with severe ketoacidosis. DKA was more frequent and severe in patients <6 years of age (p = .005, and p < .001, respectively). Age at diagnosis shifted to younger ages in T1DM in the past 50 years. Half of patients had ketoacidosis at diagnosis and frequency of presentation with DKA did not decrease, but severity decreased slightly. Increase in prevalence of T1DM in the younger age group and the fact that half of patients present with DKA indicate that awareness should be increased in terms of early diagnosis and treatment.

Dynamic linkage between environmental segments of stock markets: the role of global risk factors

ABSTRACT This study evaluates the links between representative indices of companies with high environmental performance and the propensity of such indices to economic and financial shocks. Five indices, representing environmental segments and four global macroeconomic and financial variables, were analyzed over a thirteen-year period, which included various crisis moments, such as the sovereign debt crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic and the onset of the Russia/Ukraine conflict. Using dynamic and nonlinear models, our research reveals statistically significant and consistent relationships between the variables under investigation, particularly during periods of global financial and pandemic crises. The analysis revealed that the VIXCLS is the most influential global risk factor, with certain risk factors being influenced by environmental segments, particularly Alternative Energy. This influence can create conditions conducive to contagion risk and diminish the benefits of portfolio diversification. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the connection between environmental investments and their vulnerability to significant global events and risks.

The efficacy of low frequency repetitive transcial magnetic stimulation for treating auditory verbal hallucinations in schizophrenia: Insights from functional gradient analyses

BackgroundAuditory Verbal Hallucinations (AVH) constitute a prominent feature of schizophrenia. Although low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has demonstrated therapeutic benefits in ameliorating AVH, the underlying mechanisms of its efficacy necessitate further elucidation. ObjectiveThis study investigated the cortical gradient characteristics and their associations with clinical responses in schizophrenia patients with AVH, mediated through 1 Hz rTMS targeting the left temporoparietal junction. MethodFunctional gradient metrics were employed to examine the hierarchy patterns of cortical organization, capturing whole-brain functional connectivity profiles in patients and controls. ResultsThe 1 Hz rTMS treatment effectively ameliorated the positive symptoms in patients, specifically targeting AVH. Initial evaluations revealed expanded global gradient distribution patterns and specific principal gradient variations in certain brain regions in patients at baseline compared to a control cohort. Following treatment, these divergent global and local patterns showed signs of normalizing. Furthermore, there was observed a closer alignment in between-network dispersion among various networks after treatment, including the somatomotor, attention, and limbic networks, indicating a potential harmonization of brain functionality. ConclusionLow-frequency rTMS induces alternations in principal functional gradient patterns, may serve as imaging markers to elucidate the mechanisms underpinning the therapeutic efficacy of rTMS on AVH in schizophrenia.

International imports and climatic filtering drive compositional variation in non‐native insect establishments

AbstractAimInvasions of non‐native insects can have substantial impacts on agriculture, forestry, human health and biodiversity with considerable economic and environmental consequences. To understand the causes of these invasions, it is important to quantify the relative influence of principal drivers such as international imports and climatic effects.LocationNorth America, Chile, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.Time Period1881–2020.MethodsTo evaluate the relative contributions of various factors in explaining global variation in numbers of non‐native insect establishments in different world regions, we conducted two multivariate regression analyses to quantify temporal changes in family‐level composition and native ranges of established non‐native species in several world regions.ResultsThere were temporal changes in the family‐level composition of non‐native species assemblages. Prior to 1900, invasions were dominated by scale insects, subsequently shifting to a more diverse set of species, except in North America, which had relatively small compositional change over time compared to other regions. Spatial and temporal variation in the composition of established species was associated with differences in the origin of imports and climatic factors, each explaining 26.3% and 27.4% of the total variation, respectively. The analysis of native ranges of non‐native species indicated that there was no consistent temporal variation across all regions. Established species in New Zealand were predominantly native to Australasia and species in North America and Chile were mainly from Europe. Non‐native species in Europe mainly originated from the Nearctic region while those in Japan and Australia generally originated from multiple regions. Climatic factors in the destination regions had a primary effect (66.3%) on variation in the native range of established species, although imports also had substantial effects (45.4%).Main ConclusionsGeographical variation in climate and imports act together as drivers of establishment success for non‐native insects in all six regions.

Global Analysis of Topographic and Climatic Controls on Drainage Basin Shapes

AbstractDrainage basins are fundamental units of Earth's surface, describing how flows accumulate across landscapes. They are direct expressions of how tectonics and climatic forces alter Earth's surface morphology. Here, we measure the width‐to‐length ratios (WLRs) of 386,931 drainage basins (average area ∼157 km2), covering all continents except Antarctica and Greenland. Global variations in WLRs are correlated with climatic aridity, whole‐basin slope, and local topographic roughness. Basins in arid landscapes tend to be narrower, potentially reflecting a higher prevalence of surface runoff and therefore a stronger slope‐parallel component of the transporting flow. Local topographic roughness is associated with wider basins, potentially reflecting greater dispersion of flow directions. Conversely, whole‐basin topographic gradients, potentially reflecting gradients in uplift, are associated with narrower basins. However, steeper basins are also often rougher, so revealing the effects of whole‐basin slope requires correcting for the confounding effects of roughness variations.

Energy Management Strategy Based on Reinforcement Learning and Frequency Decoupling for Fuel Cell Hybrid Powertrain

This study presents a Two-Layer Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (TL-DDPG) energy management strategy for Hydrogen fuel cell hybrid train, that aims to solve the problem that traditional reinforcement learning strategies require high initial values and are difficult to optimize global variables. Augmenting the optimization capabilities of the inner layer, a frequency decoupling algorithm integrates into the outer layer, furnishing a fitting initial value for strategy optimization. This addition aims to bolster the stability of fuel cell output, thereby enhancing the overall efficiency of the hybrid power system. In comparison with the traditional reinforcement learning algorithm, the proposed approach demonstrates notable improvements: a reduction in hydrogen consumption per 100 km by 16.3 kg, a 9.7% increase in the output power stability of the fuel cell, and a 1.8% enhancement in its efficiency.

Contraction and expansion: global geographical variation in reproductive systems of Primula is driven by different mechanisms

AbstractAimReproductive systems strongly influence plants' evolution and adaption, and the biogeographic pattern of its variation has intrigued biologists and ecologists. Here, to test the impacts of paleoglaciation on plants' reproductive system variation, we compared the geographical pattern and environmental drivers in the proportions of different reproductive systems in Primula in regions affected and unaffected by paleoglaciation.LocationGlobal.Time PeriodSince the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM).Major Taxa Studied Primula. MethodsUsing data on reproductive systems and distributions of 604 Primula taxa around the world and 221 along the elevational gradient of the Himalayas, we demonstrated the global pattern and the elevational pattern in the proportions of homostylous taxa. We employed general linear models to establish the relationship between the proportion of homostylous taxa and environmental variables and hierarchical partitioning to assess the relative contributions of these variables in both regions affected and unaffected by paleoglaciation, respectively.ResultsWe found a higher proportion of homostylous taxa in regions glaciated during the LGM than those unglaciated, with different latitudinal patterns and climate drivers. The proportion of homostylous taxa showed varying trends across different regions: increasing with latitude and temperature anomaly in glaciated regions while concentrating at lower latitudes with higher winter temperatures in unglaciated regions. Additionally, homostylous taxa were more prevalent at lower elevations in the Himalayas.Main ConclusionsOur study provides the first quantitative evidence for the hypothesis that selfers are more prevailing in regions affected by paleoglaciation facilitated by recolonization via comparing the geographic pattern and drivers in regions affected and unaffected by paleoglaciation. Our findings also reveal the concentrated distribution of homostylous taxa in Primula at low latitudes, which may be the result of population shrinkage caused by heat stress, facing a more severe survival crisis under the circumstances of global warming and increasing human activities.

Effective Spatial Degrees of Freedom of Natural Temperature Variability as a Function of Frequency

Abstract A fundamental statistic of climate variability is its spatiotemporal correlation function. Its complex structure can be concisely summarized by a frequency-dependent measure of the effective spatial degrees of freedom (ESDOF). Here we present, for the first time, frequency-dependent ESDOF estimates of global natural surface temperature variability from purely instrumental measurements, using the HadCRUT4 dataset (1850–2014). The approach is based on a newly developed method for estimating the frequency-dependent spatial correlation function from gappy data fields. Results reveal a multicomponent structure of the spatial correlation function, including a large-amplitude short-distance component (with weak time scale dependence) and a small-amplitude long-distance component (with increasing relative amplitude toward the longer time scales). Two frequency-dependent ESDOF measures are applied, each responding mainly to either of the two components. Both measures exhibit a significant ESDOF reduction from monthly to multidecadal time scales, implying an increase of the effective spatial scale of natural surface temperature fluctuations. Moreover, it is found that a good approximation to the global number of equally spaced samples needed to estimate the variance of global mean temperature is given, at any frequency, by the greater one of the two ESDOF measures, decreasing from ∼130 at monthly to ∼30 at multidecadal time scales. Finally, the multicomponent structure of the correlation function together with the detected ESDOF scaling properties indicate that the ESDOF reduction toward the longer time scales cannot be explained simply by diffusion acting on stochastically driven anomalies, as it might be suggested from simple stochastic-diffusive energy balance models.

Strong Oceanic Forcing on Decadal Surface Temperature Variability Over Global Ocean

AbstractSea surface temperature (SST) variability on decadal timescales has been associated with global and regional climate variability and impacts. The mechanisms that drive decadal SST variability, however, remain highly uncertain. Many previous studies have examined the role of atmospheric variability in driving decadal SST variations. Here we assess the strength of oceanic forcing in driving decadal SST variability in observations and state‐of‐the‐art climate models by analyzing the relationship between surface heat flux and SST. We find a largely similar pattern of decadal oceanic forcing across all ocean basins, characterized by oceanic forcing about twice the strength of the atmospheric forcing in the mid‐ and high latitude regions, but comparable or weaker than the atmospheric forcing in the subtropics. The decadal oceanic forcing is hypothesized to be associated with the wind‐driven oceanic circulation, which is common across all ocean basins.

Variable selection methods for Log-Gaussian Cox processes: A case-study on accident data

In order to prevent and/or forecast road accidents, the statistical modeling of spatial dependence and potential risk factors is a major asset. The main goal of this article is to predict the number of accidents on a certain area by considering georeferenced accident locations crossed with variables characterizing the studied geographical area such as road characteristics as well as sociodemographic and global infrastructure variables. We model the accident point pattern by a spatial log-Gaussian Cox process (LGCP). To reduce the computation burden of LGCP models in this high-dimensional setting, we suggest a two-step procedure: to perform first automatic variable selection methods based on Poisson regression, Poisson aggregation and random forest and in a second step, to use the selected variables and perform LGCP model analysis. The dataset consists in road accidents occurred between 2017 and 2019 in the CAGB (urban community of Besançon), France. Based on LGCP analysis, we are able to identify the principal risk factors of road accidents and risky areas from CAGB region.

Evolutionary history shapes variation of wood density of tree species across the world

The effect of evolutionary history on wood density variation may play an important role in shaping variation in wood density, but this has largely not been tested. Using a comprehensive global dataset including 27,297 measurements of wood density from 2621 tree species worldwide, we test the hypothesis that the legacy of evolutionary history plays an important role in driving the variation of wood density among tree species. We assessed phylogenetic signal in different taxonomic (e.g., angiosperms and gymnosperms) and ecological (e.g., tropical, temperate, and boreal) groups of tree species, explored the biogeographical and phylogenetic patterns of wood density, and quantified the relative importance of current environmental factors (e.g., climatic and soil variables) and evolutionary history (i.e., phylogenetic relatedness among species and lineages) in driving global wood density variation. We found that wood density displayed a significant phylogenetic signal. Wood density differed among different biomes and climatic zones, with higher mean values of wood density in relatively drier regions (highest in subtropical desert). Our study revealed that at a global scale, for angiosperms and gymnosperms combined, phylogeny and species (representing the variance explained by taxonomy and not direct explained by long-term evolution process) explained 84.3% and 7.7% of total wood density variation, respectively, whereas current environment explained 2.7% of total wood density variation when phylogeny and species were taken into account. When angiosperms and gymnosperms were considered separately, the three proportions of explained variation are, respectively, 84.2%, 7.5% and 6.7% for angiosperms, and 45.7%, 21.3% and 18.6% for gymnosperms. Our study shows that evolutionary history outpaced current environmental factors in shaping global variation in wood density.

Disparities with global standards about growth references of mid-upper arm circumference-for-age for Pakistani children aged 6-60 months.

Growth reference values about mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) are vital for assessing children's nutritional status. However, Pakistan lacks these reference values and growth charts. This study aims to develop these for children aged 6-60 months and compare them with global standards. The data were acquired from the 2018 National Nutrition Survey of Pakistan, which was conducted by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) during 2018-2019. The final study cohort comprised 57 285 children, with 51% being boys. Percentile values and charts for MUAC-for-age were developed using generalised additive models for location, scale and shape with the Box-Cox power exponential distribution. The mean MUAC was 14.21 cm (±2.07 cm) and 14.13 cm (±2.12 cm) for the boys and girls, respectively. At 60 months of age, the P3 and P97 percentiles for girls were slightly higher than those for boys. The median percentiles of Pakistani children were smaller than the World Health Organisation 2007 standards and with international references. We observed disparities in MUAC-for-age growth references among Pakistani children compared to global standards, highlighting regional, age and gender variations. This underscores the need for developing countries like Pakistan to establish their growth references.

Global Chlorophyll Concentration Distribution and Effects on Bottom Reflectance of Coral Reefs

Despite the limited coverage of coral reefs in the world’s oceans, they play a crucial role in global marine biodiversity and providing essential ecosystem services. This study explores the influence of chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentration in the water column on the estimation of bottom reflectance (rb) in coral reefs monitored by the Allen Coral Atlas coral reef monitoring system, using satellite imagery from a Sentinel-2 MSI sensor. We conducted a comprehensive analysis, considering Chl-a global distribution and variability, and its combined effect with water column depth over rb calculation. Our results demonstrated that the impact of Chl-a on rb estimation becomes significant when the water column depth exceeds 3 m. While suggesting the optionality of using regional Chl-a values, our study highlights potential overestimations of Chl-a in optically complex environments, such as along the Brazilian coast. This research contributes to refining coral reef monitoring systems and underscores the importance of accurate Chl-a assessments for robust environmental evaluations.

Oceanic Pollution and Its Influence on Global Climate Variability in India

Purpose: The aim of the study was to analyze oceanic pollution and its influence on global climate variability. Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: Oceanic pollution, including plastics, oil spills, heavy metals, and chemical contaminants, significantly impacts global climate variability. These pollutants harm marine ecosystems, disrupt food webs, and contribute to climate change. Plastic debris poses a severe threat to marine life, while oil spills devastate coastal environments. Heavy metals and chemical contaminants bio accumulate in marine organisms, posing risks to human health and altering biogeochemical processes essential for climate regulation. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Ocean-atmosphere interaction theory, pollutants as climate forcers theory &amp; feedback loop theory of oceanic pollution may be used to anchor future studies on oceanic pollution and its influence on global climate variability. Implement practical measures to reduce oceanic pollution, including stricter regulations on waste disposal, improved waste management infrastructure, and the promotion of sustainable consumption practices. Foster collaboration among nations to address oceanic pollution on a global scale.

Field Triage Tools in Mass Casualty Incidents: A Narrative Review

Mass casualty incidents (MCIs) pose significant challenges to healthcare systems, requiring rapid and effective triage strategies to optimize patient outcomes and resource utilization. This narrative review explores the evolution, effectiveness, ethical considerations, global perspectives, and future directions of field triage tools in MCIs. Beginning with the historical perspective, milestones in triage development, such as the Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment (START) protocol and its adaptations like Jump START and Sort, Assess, Lifesaving Interventions, Treat/Transport (SALT), are discussed. Current field triage systems are evaluated, including their application, limitations, and impact on patient outcomes. Training and education programs, challenges in triage education, and ethical/legal considerations in resource allocation and informed consent are examined. Global variations in triage systems, cultural factors, collaboration efforts, and standardization initiatives are explored to understand regional differences and promote interoperability. Future directions emphasize enhancing triage accuracy, integrating triage with healthcare systems, and research priorities. The review concludes with implications for practice and policy, calling for continued research, collaboration, and innovation to advance field triage capabilities and improve emergency response worldwide.