Health Indicators Research Articles

Cluster-Based White Matter Signatures and the Risk of Dementia, Stroke, and Mortality in Community-Dwelling Adults.

Markers of white matter (WM) injury on brain MRI are important indicators of brain health. Different patterns of WM atrophy, WM hyperintensities (WMHs), and microstructural integrity could reflect distinct pathologies and disease risks, but large-scale imaging studies investigating WM signatures are lacking. This study aims to identify distinct WM signatures using brain MRI in community-dwelling adults, determine underlying risk factor profiles, and assess risks of dementia, stroke, and mortality associated with each signature. Between 2005 and 2016, we measured WMH volume, WM volume, fractional anisotropy (FA), and mean diffusivity (MD) using automated pipelines on structural and diffusion MRI in community-dwelling adults aged older than 45 years of the Rotterdam study. Continuous surveillance was conducted for dementia, stroke, and mortality. We applied hierarchical clustering to identify separate WM injury clusters and Cox proportional hazard models to determine their risk of dementia, stroke, and mortality. We included 5,279 participants (mean age 65.0 years, 56.0% women) and identified 4 distinct data-driven WM signatures: (1) above-average microstructural integrity and little WM atrophy and WMH; (2) above-average microstructural integrity and little WMH, but substantial WM atrophy; (3) poor microstructural integrity and substantial WMH, but little WM atrophy; and (4) poor microstructural integrity with substantial WMH and WM atrophy. Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, lacunes, and cerebral microbleeds was higher in clusters 3 and 4 than in clusters 1 and 2. During a median 10.7 years of follow-up, 291 participants developed dementia, 220 had a stroke, and 910 died. Compared with cluster 1, dementia risk was increased for all clusters, notably cluster 3 (hazard ratio [HR] 3.06, 95% CI 2.12-4.42), followed by cluster 4 (HR 2.31, 95% CI 1.58-3.37) and cluster 2 (HR 1.67, 95% CI 1.17-2.38). Compared with cluster 1, risk of stroke was higher only for clusters 3 (HR 1.55, 95% CI 1.02-2.37) and 4 (HR 1.94, 95% CI 1.30-2.89), whereas mortality risk was increased in all clusters (cluster 2: HR 1.27, 95% CI 1.06-1.53, cluster 3: HR 1.65, 95% CI 1.35-2.03, cluster 4: HR 1.76, 95% CI 1.44-2.15), compared with cluster 1. Models including clusters instead of an individual imaging marker showed a superior goodness of fit for dementia and mortality, but not for stroke. Clustering can derive WM signatures that are differentially associated with dementia, stroke, and mortality risk. Future research should incorporate spatial information of imaging markers.

Trends in Gaps of Care for Patients With Congenital Heart Disease: Implications for Social Determinants of Health and Child Opportunity Index.

Lifelong continuity of care is essential for patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) to maximize health outcomes; unfortunately, gaps in care (GIC) are common. Trends in GIC and of social determinants of health factors contributing to GIC are poorly understood. This retrospective cohort study included patients with CHD, aged 0 to 34 years, who underwent surgery between January 2003 and May 2020, followed up at a pediatric subspeciality hospital. Patients were categorized as having simple, moderate, and complex CHD based on 2018 American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology guidelines. Social determinants of health, such as race, ethnicity, language, insurance status, and Child Opportunity Index, based on home address zip code, were analyzed. Of 2012 patients with CHD, a GIC of ≥3 years was identified in 56% (n=1119). The proportion of patients with GIC per year increased by 0.51% (P<0.001). Multivariable longitudinal models showed that the odds of GIC were higher for patients who were ≥10.5 years old, had simple CHD, lived out of state, lived farther from care site, received public insurance, had less protection with additional insurance plans, and with low Child Opportunity Index. A separate model for patients with only moderate/complex CHD showed similar findings. Race and ethnicity were not associated with the odds of experiencing GIC over time. GIC have increased over time for patients with CHD. Social determinants of health, like insurance, access, and neighborhood opportunity, are key risk factors for increasing GIC. Efforts to reduce GIC in patients with CHD should focus on addressing the impact of specific social determinants of health.

Differences in Exposures to Adverse Childhood Experiences by Primary Source of Health Care, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 2019-2020.

To estimate the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among a population-based sample of adults in the United States by their primary source of health care. Debate continues around the effectiveness and implementation of health care-based screening of ACEs. However, it is unclear how the burden of ACEs would be distributed across different sources of health care (ie, what a health system might expect should it implement ACEs screening). Data are from 8 U.S. states that include optional modules for ACEs and health care utilization in their 2019 or 2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey. The analytic sample includes respondents with completed interviews (n = 45,820). ACEs were categorized into ordinal categories of 0, 1, 2, 3, or ≥4, and the prevalence of ACEs was summarized across 5 sources of health care: (1) employer-based or purchased plan, (2) Medicare, Medicaid, or other state programs, (3) TRICARE, Veterans Affairs, or military (ie, military-related health care), (4) Indian Health Service, or (5) some other source. All estimates were weighted to account for the complex sampling design. Across all health insurance types, at least 60% of individuals reported at least one ACE. The greatest prevalence of patients reporting ≥4 ACEs occurred for military-related health care (21.6%, 95% CI = 18.2-25.5) and Indian Health Service (45.4%, 95% CI = 22.6-70.3). ACEs are extremely common across sources of health care, but some health systems have greater proportions of patients with high ACE exposures. The unique strengths and challenges of specific health care systems need to be integrated into the debate about clinical ACEs screening.

Determination of Health Concepts in β-Propeller Protein-Associated Neurodegeneration.

β-Propeller protein-associated neurodegeneration (BPAN) is a rare, X-linked condition caused by pathogenic variants in the WDR45 gene that result in a defect of autophagy. Classified as a disorder of neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation, β-propeller protein-associated neurodegeneration is associated with severe neurologic impairments. With the anticipation of future therapeutic trials, this project characterizes the family's perspective of the impact of disease and defines Health Concepts (HC).Children with a molecularly confirmed diagnosis of β-propeller protein-associated neurodegeneration were enrolled in a prospective natural history study. We administered the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-Third Edition and provided health-related quality of life questionnaires to 42 caregivers. Questionnaires included Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory-Generic Core and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory-Family Impact modules, Caregiver Priorities and Child Health Index of Life with Disabilities, and Caregiver TBI-CareQoL.The Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-Third Edition (n = 42) captured the family's perspective that communication was more affected compared with socialization, activities of daily living (ADL), and motor skills (P < .0001, P < .0001, P = .0053, respectively). Similarly, on the Caregiver Priorities and Child Health Index of Life with Disabilities (n = 26), Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory-Generic Core (n = 27), CareQol (n = 26), and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory-Family Impact (n = 27), communication abilities, as well as social functioning and activities of daily living, were noted to be most impacted.Through the use of standardized surveys and outcome assessments, we establish the effects of β-propeller protein-associated neurodegeneration on caregiver quality of life. Key health concepts identified by families included overall health, comfort, and communication. The identified HC will inform the future identification of concept of interest and selection of appropriate clinical outcome assessments through the administration of patient-reported outcomes.

The efficacy of different biomarkers and endpoints to refine referrals for suspected prostate cancer: the TARGET study (Tiered integrAted tests for eaRly diaGnosis of clinically significant ProstatE Tumours).

The majority of men referred with a raised PSA for suspected prostate cancer will receive unnecessary tertiary investigations including MRI and biopsy. Here, we compared different types of biomarkers to refine tertiary referrals and when different definitions of clinically significant cancer were used. Data and samples from 798 men referred for a raised PSA (≥ 3ng/mL) and investigated through an MRI-guided biopsy pathway were accessed for this study. Bloods were acquired pre-biopsy for liquid biomarkers and germline DNA. Variables explored included PSA + Age (base model), free/total PSA (FTPSA), Prostate Health Index (phi), PSA density (PSAd), polygenic risk score (PRS) and MRI (≥ LIKERT 3). Different diagnostic endpoints for significant cancer (≥ grade group 2 [GG2], ≥ GG3, ≥ Cambridge Prognostic Group 2 [CPG2], ≥ CPG3) were tested. The added value of each biomarker to the base model was evaluated using logisticregression models, AUC and decision curve analysis (DCA) plots. The median age and PSA was 65years and 7.13ng/mL respectively. Depending on definition of clinical significance, ≥ grade group 2 (GG2) was detected in 57.0% (455/798), ≥ GG3 in 27.5% (220/798), ≥ CPG2 in 61.6% (492/798) and ≥ CPG3 in 42.6% (340/798). In the pre-MRI context, the PSA + Age (base model) AUC for prediction of ≥ GG2, ≥ GG3, ≥ CPG2 and ≥ CPG3 was 0.66, 0.68, 0.70 and 0.75 respectively. Adding phi and PSAd to base model improved performance across all diagnostic endpoints but was notably better when the composite CPG prognostic score was used: AUC 0.82, 0.82, 0.83, 0.82 and AUC 0.74, 0.73, 0.79, 0.79 respectively. In contrast, neither FTPSA or PRS scores improved performance especially in detection of ≥ GG3 and ≥ CPG3 disease. Combining biomarkers did not alter results. Models using phi and PSAd post-MRI also improved performances but again benefit varied with diagnostic endpoint. In DCA analysis, models which incorporated PSAd and phi in particular were effective at reducing use of MRI and/or biopsies especially for ≥ CPG3 disease. Incorporating phi or PSAd can refine and tier who is referred for tertiary imaging and/or biopsy after a raisedPSA test. Incremental value however varied depending on the definition of clinical significance and was particularly useful when composite prognostic endpoints are used.

Energy burden and mental health: A national study in the United States

The prevalence of mental health issues in the US has significantly risen over the past decade, and it is presumably linked to an energy burden issue that has recently gained attention as a critical social determinant of mental health. Utilizing extensive nationwide datasets at the census tract, we found that the census tract level energy burden is positively associated with two key mental health indicators even after accounting for living, housing, and sociodemographic characteristics: the prevalence of frequent mental distress and physician-diagnosed depression, across all US urban areas. We also observe that these associations are consistent across various climate regions. The findings highlight that energy burden has a detrimental impact on mental health, and that it should be e considered a significant social determinant of health in future studies. Lastly, our study advocates for national policies to achieve energy justice and address disparities in mental health.

Risks for the Development of the Russian Human Capital in the Context of Geoeconomic Fragmentation

Geopolitical tensions, increasing sanction pressure, inequality, and the slowdown of globalization serve as signals of fragmentation in the world economy. However, research on the social consequences of fragmentation remains limited. This study aims to identify the risks to the development of the Russian human capital in the context of geoeconomic fragmentation. Research methods include a systematic literature review and a comparative analysis of the country blocks based on the key indicators of technology development and human capital using World Bank data from 2011 to 2022. Based on political preferences and the level of socio-economic development, Western, Eastern, and Neutral blocks were identified and analyzed among 149 advanced and emerging economies. The results showed significant differences among the blocks in the level of human capital development and indicators of technological development. Russia has advantages in formal education at the level of Western block countries; however, health indicators of the population and the share of investment in science and education remain relatively low. Key risks in the context of fragmentation include further devaluation of human capital, losses associated with migration and health capital, a decrease in the share of high-tech sectors in the structure of value-added, and the proportion of scientific personnel

Long-Run Impacts of an Early-life Nutrition Program: Evidence from the Introduction of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

To study how access to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) during the prenatal and early childhood periods affects long-term health outcomes of the affected cohorts. In order to identify the effects of the WIC program, we exploit variations in the timing of its introduction in different counties and analyze future health indicators of affected cohorts. We use the restricted version of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, which includes county-level identifiers through the interview year 2019. Our findings suggest that extending WIC access by one month correlates with a 0.2-0.3% point decrease in asthma incidence (p < 0.1 to p < 0.01) of affected cohorts. Although the connection between WIC and asthma is not fully understood, existing studies suggest potential pathways. Micronutrient deficiencies during early life can impact immune function and inflammation, both relevant to asthma. Moreover, adopting healthier dietary habits may improve microbiome composition, lowering asthma risk. Other indirect benefits of WIC, such as increased use of preventive healthcare services, may also contribute to the prevention of asthma. Despite uncertainties, these estimates remain robust across various model specifications. Our study implies that early-life nutritional support programs such as WIC may alleviate the burden of asthma, although the specific mechanisms and effect sizes remain unclear. Given the substantial impact of asthma in the U.S., our findings underscore the potential long-term benefits of early-life nutritional support programs for lifelong health.

Remaining Useful Life of the Rolling Bearings Prediction Method Based on Transfer Learning Integrated with CNN-GRU-MHA

To accurately predict the remaining useful life (RUL) of rolling bearings under limited data and fluctuating load conditions, we propose a new method for constructing health indicators (HI) and a transfer learning prediction framework, which integrates Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), Gated Recurrent Units (GRU), and Multi-head attention (MHA). Firstly, we combined Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) with Gated Recurrent Units (GRU) to fully extract temporal and spatial features from vibration signals. Then, the Multi-head attention mechanism (MHA) was added for weighted processing to improve the expression ability of the model. Finally, a new method for constructing Health indicators (HIs) was proposed in which the noise reduction and normalized vibration signals were taken as a HI, the L1 regularization method was added to avoid overfitting, and the model-based transfer learning method was used to realize the RUL prediction of bearings under small samples and variable load conditions. Experiments were conducted using the PHM2012 dataset from the FEMTO-ST research institute and XJTU-SY dataset. Three sets of 12 migration experiments were conducted under three different operating conditions on the PHM2012 dataset. The results show that the average RMSE of the proposed method was 0.0443, indicating high prediction accuracy under variable loads and small sample conditions. Three different operating conditions and two sets of four migration experiments were conducted on the XJTU-SY dataset, and the results show that the average RMSE of the proposed method was 0.0693, verifying the good generalization of the model under variable load conditions. In summary, the proposed HI construction method and prediction framework can effectively reduce the differences between features, with high stability and good generalizability.

Prediction of machine state for non-Gaussian degradation model using Hidden Markov Model approach

Machinery health management becomes an essential issue in many sectors. The ultimate goal is to predict machinery degradation and accordingly plan maintenance actions. However, prediction becomes much harder if data is noisy. We propose a procedure for on-line prediction of the forthcoming machine state. This procedure is dedicated to the non-Gaussian (impulsive) health index (HI) data. It is based on a simplified degradation model with three machine states, i.e. healthy, warning and alarm, described in terms of a Hidden Markov Model (HMM). Using simulated trajectories we demonstrate that the α-stable HMM dedicated to time series with impulsive behaviour outperforms the classical Gaussian approach and can be an efficient alternative in such a case. In particular, the percentage errors of the predicted alarm state transition points decrease from 20%−45% to 1%−6%, if the α-stable HMM is used instead of the Gaussian one. We illustrate the proposed methodology for two datasets acquired during experiment on the VIBstand test rig and for a benchmark FEMTO dataset.

Basketball-Based Physical Education on Students’ Physical Fitness in a Selected Technical Vocational College, Fujian, China

The role of basketball-based physical education in enhancing students' physical fitness has been extensively documented, with numerous studies highlighting its benefits. In China, where sports and physical education are integral components of the educational curriculum, the importance of understanding the specific impacts of basketball-based physical education cannot be overstated. This study focuses on the technical vocational college setting in Fujian, China, aiming to fill a crucial research gap and address the need for tailored physical education programs. Basketball has been widely promoted and accepted in major universities across China, garnering broad support from both students and faculty. Wang (2024) emphasizes that with its increasing incorporation into university physical education programs, basketball significantly impacts students' physical fitness and athletic abilities. The current educational reforms in China necessitate the continual optimization of teaching methods and approaches to establish a solid foundation for the physical and mental development of students. Sui (2024) explores the impact of community basketball programs on high school students' physical and mental health in Guangzhou, highlighting improvements in physical fitness, social skills, and mental well-being. This study underscores the broader benefits of basketball beyond mere physical health, emphasizing its role in fostering social interaction and emotional resilience. Additionally, Shao et al. (2022) examine the individual characteristics of physical and mental development and their connection with regular physical exercises when playing basketball. Their findings suggest that basketball enhances motor fitness, moral, volitional, and mental qualities, as well as creativity and decision-making skills in rapidly changing circumstances. This holistic development is crucial for students, particularly in a competitive and fast-paced society like China. Butenko (2023) presents the effectiveness of a comprehensive use of sports games, including basketball, during extracurricular activities for high school students. The study found significant improvements in physical performance, physical qualities, and health indicators, demonstrating the high potential of integrating sports games into physical education programs to enhance students' overall fitness and health. As a teacher and coach in a technical vocational college in Fujian, China, the researcher has observed the transformative impact of sports, particularly basketball, on students' lives. Professional experience has shown that students engaged in basketball not only develop better physical fitness but also exhibit improved teamwork, leadership skills, and emotional resilience. These observations have fueled the researcher's passion for integrating basketball into the physical education curriculum and inspired a systematic exploration of its broader impacts. The researcher's personal motivation stems from a deep-seated belief in the power of sports to shape character and foster holistic development. Having been a basketball player, the researcher has experienced the discipline, dedication, and camaraderie that the sport instills. These values are essential for students, especially those in technical vocational education, as they prepare for their future careers and personal lives. Despite the known benefits of basketball-based physical education, there is a significant gap in research specifically targeting technical vocational colleges in China. Most existing studies focus on general high school or university settings, leaving a void in understanding how basketball impacts students in technical vocational education, who may have different needs and challenges. This study addresses this gap by focusing on a technical vocational college in Fujian, China. It aims to provide evidence-based insights into how basketball-based physical education influences various aspects of students' physical fitness, including physical attributes development, motor skills enhancement, cardiovascular fitness, strength and power development, flexibility and agility, coordination and balance, mental and emotional benefits, social interaction and teamwork, skill development and performance, and health and fitness awareness. By filling this research gap, the study seeks to inform policy and practice in physical education, providing valuable recommendations for optimizing physical education programs to enhance the health and fitness outcomes of vocational students.

A novel performance prediction method for harmonic reducers based on the trend-enhanced Fisher’s discriminant ratio-Wiener process

Abstract Harmonic reducers, as core components of industrial robots, play a critical role in maintaining robot health. Performance degradation assessment (PDA) and remaining useful life (RUL) prediction are essential for ensuring the operational reliability of such robots. To address the multistage characteristics and stochastic uncertainties in the performance degradation of harmonic reducers, a performance prediction method based on Fisher’s discriminant ratio and Wiener process is proposed. Firstly, the health indicator (HI) construction is defined as an optimization problem based on Fisher’s discriminant ratio and trend monotonicity constraints. By leveraging the sum of the multiplication of frequency amplitudes and optimized weights, precise segmentation of the multistage degradation process over the entire lifecycle is achieved. Notably, the optimized weights can automatically identify the resonance frequency bands caused by damage. Subsequently, a nonlinear Wiener process model with a drift coefficient in the form of a power function is established. The probability density function (PDF) expression for RUL is derived based on the concept of first hit time (FHT). Additionally, a logarithmic likelihood function (Log-LF) for the unknown parameters in the degradation model is constructed. The experimental results indicate that the proposed method surpasses the other two Wiener process models in terms of root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), and cumulative relative accuracy (CRA). This provides robust support for preventive maintenance decision-making for harmonic reducers.

Psychological well-being and the reversal of childhood overweight and obesity in the UK: a longitudinal national cohort study.

This study aimedto examine the prospective association between psychological well-being and overweight and obesity reversal. We analyzed data of UK children with overweight or obesity at ages 11 (n = 4556, baseline), 14 (n = 3791, baseline), and 17 years (follow-up). Psychological well-being-related measures were characterized into indexes of caregiver-reported child mental health and child-reported psychosocial well-being, with a higher score indicating better mental health or psychosocial well-being. Weight changes were presented as reversal versus persistence of overweight or obesity and residualized-change BMI z scores. Data were analyzed using regression analysis. Better child mental health and psychosocial well-being at age 11 years were independently associated with increased odds of reversal versus persistence (odds ratio [OR] = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.03 to 1.29; OR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.15 to 1.44, respectively) and decreased BMI z scores (β = -0.08, 95% CI: -0.13 to -0.03; β = -0.07, 95% CI: -0.11 to -0.03, respectively) at age 17 years. However, neither of the indexes was associated with weight changes when measured at age 14 years. Analyses between psychological well-being-related measures and timing of measures indicated that psychological well-being-related measures were more likely to prospectively predict weight changes when measured at age 11 versus age 14 years. Better psychological well-being at age 11 years is a prognostic factor that may be associated with an increased likelihood of reversing childhood overweight and obesity by age 17 years.

Health risks associated with urinary incontinence among older Korean Americans living in subsidized senior housing.

We examined the association of urinary incontinence (UI) with physical, mental, and social health among older Korean Americans living in subsidized senior housing. Data were obtained from surveys conducted in 2023 with older Korean Americans residing in subsidized senior housing in the Los Angeles area (n = 313). UI was measured using a question about the frequency of involuntary urine loss. Physical, mental, and social health risks were assessed with a single item for self-rated health (fair/poor rating), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (probable depression), and the Lubben Social Network Scale-6 (isolation from family and friends). Over half of the sample reported UI, with 46.3% experiencing it infrequently (i.e. seldom) and 10.3% frequently (i.e. sometimes or often). UI was significantly associated with physical and mental health indicators; the odds of reporting fair or poor health and having probable depression were 1.94-7.32 times higher among those with either infrequent or frequent UI compared to those without UI. While family isolation was not associated with UI, the odds of being isolated from friends were 2.85 times greater among those with frequent UI compared to those without UI. Our findings confirm the adverse impact of UI on physical and mental health and highlight its unique role in social health. UI-associated social isolation was significant only in relationships with friends, providing new insights into the distinction between isolation from family and friends. These findings enhance our understanding of the health risks associated with UI and inform strategies for health management and promotion within the senior housing context.

Positivity as a moderator of the association between enacted stigma and mental health among lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals.

In this study, we investigated the association between enacted stigma and adverse mental health outcomes in Israeli lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals. Additionally, we explored the moderating effect of positivity, namely the inclination to perceive oneself, one's life, and one's future in a generally positive outlook, in this association. For this purpose, we surveyed 520 cisgender LGB Israelis (Mage = 33.20, SD = 8.68; 30.8% self-reported as lesbian women, 48.8% self-reported as gay men, 20.4% self-reported as bisexual individuals), and assessed enacted stigma, depressive symptoms, anxiety, negative affect, and positivity. The results of the hierarchical regressions and simple slope analyses indicated that enacted stigma was associated with higher depressive symptoms, anxiety, and negative affect. As hypothesized, positivity played a moderating role in the association between enacted stigma and adverse mental health indicators, whereby the association was weaker among participants with higher positivity scores and stronger among those with lower positivity scores. The findings contribute novel insights to the sexual minority literature within the field of mental health by unfolding the role played by positivity in mitigating the detrimental effects of enacted stigma. The results underscore that practitioners should not only be knowledgeable about the negative repercussions of enacted stigma, but they should also monitor positivity and integrate interventions aimed at enhancing positivity into their clinical work with sexual minority individuals. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

From Life's Essential 8 to metabolic syndrome: insights from NHANES database and network pharmacology analysis of quercetin.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS), or syndrome X, is a collection of metabolic illnesses that affect the body's health, particularly insulin resistance and obesity. The prevalence of MetS is on the rise, particularly among younger individuals. Quercetin, a natural flavonoid found in many traditional Chinese medicines, can impact various pathways to disrupt the pathological advancement of MetS with few negative effects. The American Heart Association recently introduced a cardiovascular health assessment termed Life's Essential 8 (LE8), which might impact the treatment of MetS. Quercetin targets and their functions in MetS pathways were identified using a network pharmacology method and molecular docking techniques. The study examined quercetin's direct and indirect interactions with proteins linked to the pathogenic processes of MetS. Data were collected regarding the American Heart Association's LE8 cardiovascular health indicators, which include health behaviors (diet, physical activity, nicotine exposure, and sleep) and health factors (body mass index, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, blood glucose, and blood pressure). The study assessed the connection between LE8 and the occurrence of MetS, taking into account dietary quercetin consumption as a variable of interest. The negative correlation between MetS and LE8 indicates that individuals with higher LE8 scores are less likely to develop MetS. Individuals in the fully adjusted highest group (LE8 ≥ 80) demonstrated a 79% lower likelihood of developing MetS than those in the lowest group (OR = 0.21; 95% CI, 0.17-0.26, p < 0.0001). Network pharmacology and molecular docking results show that quercetin may exert its therapeutic effects by modulating various biological response processes, including those related to xenobiotic stimuli, bacterial molecules, lipopolysaccharides, and oxidative stimuli. These processes involve key pathways associated with diabetic complications, such as the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway, pathways related to diabetic complications, and pathways involved in lipids and atherosclerosis. Therefore, quercetin may reduce cardiovascular risk, improve glucose-lipid metabolism, and alleviate insulin resistance and other biological processes by influencing multiple aspects of the lipid profile, blood glucose, and insulin resistance, ultimately impacting the links between LE8 score and MetS. This study discovered that an optimal LE8 score is a marker of adopting a lifestyle of wellness and is connected with a reduced likelihood of developing MetS. Quercetin acts on core targets such as IL6, BCL2, TP53, IL1B, MAPK1, and CCL2, and then plays a therapeutic role in regulating lipid metabolism, anti-inflammation, immunomodulation, autophagy, etc., through the pathways of diabetic complications, lipids, atherosclerosis, etc., and has the characteristics of multi-targets, multi-pathways, and multi-functions in regulating interventions for MetS.

Condition assessment and predictive maintenance for contact probe using health index and encoder‐decoder LSTM model

AbstractContact probe is broadly used for the continuous monitoring of microelectronic components in manufacturing industries. False rejection of fine product due to defective contact probe significantly reduces the yield in production. Traditionally, defect detection for contact probes heavily depends on a valid range manually defined by engineers over the measured value of certain parameters. However, the subjective range defined according to engineer experience is prone to trigger a high rate of false alarms due to the inherent noise in the measured parameters. To address this issue, we construct a health index (HI) with the contact resistance‐directly‐related features to help monitor and assess the condition of contact probe. Based on the established HI, we develop Long Short‐Term Memory (LSTM) encoder‐decoder machine learning model to assess the condition of contact probe by forecasting the HI value in the future. Encoders from LSTM and convolutional neural network (CNN) are selected as the encoder‐decoder architecture for the sequence‐to‐sequence prediction due to their advantage in extracting the correlation of features at different scales. An explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) technique named Local interpretable model‐agnostic explanations (LIME) is used to quantify the contribution of each feature to the model prediction. The encoder from CNN is found to outperform the LSTM encoder in extracting the inter‐feature correlation. Finally, the predicted HI is used to signal the alarm for the maintenance action of contact probe when its value is below a predefined threshold. Comparison between the action alarm triggered by the developed HI and the actual maintenance records suggests that the proposed approach achieves at least 75% accuracy for the triggered alarm in the next 15 mins.

Relationship between sexist parenting, parental self-efficacy and life satisfaction in Colombian mothers: the moderating effect of gender-role-based parenting

ABSTRACT The relationship between parenthood, parental self-efficacy, and life satisfaction depends on several factors, such as financial burden, time investment and children’s challenging behaviour. Parental self-efficacy may play a mediating role in the relationship between life satisfaction and mental health. Hence, this research seeks (1) to examine the relationship between gendered parenting and childcare self-efficacy and life satisfaction in Colombian mothers of children aged 0–5 years, and (2) to establish the possible moderating effect of gender role-based parenting on the relationship between parental self-efficacy and life satisfaction. We used life satisfaction as an indicator of mental health. Psychometric analyses of the scales were performed using structural equation modelling and Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient, and gamma regression models were used to evaluate the study hypotheses. The findings indicate that parental sexism and maternal self-efficacy significantly influence women’s life satisfaction, with differences based on urban versus rural residence and education level, highlighting the complex relationship between gender norms, parental self-efficacy, and life satisfaction.

Does Company Size and Profitability Matter? Investigating the Moderating Effects of Growth in Cash Flow on Stock Performance

This research examines the intricate relationships between company size, growth in cash flow, and stock performance, revealing complexities that challenge traditional financial analysis. While company size is often associated with stable stock performance due to advantages such as economies of scale and market power, the findings indicate that size alone does not positively impact stock performance. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that growth in cash flow does not significantly moderate the relationship between company size and stock performance. This suggests that external factors, such as regulatory changes or market sentiment, may play a more decisive role. The results underscore that cash flow, while an important indicator of financial health, does not enhance the influence of company size on stock performance, particularly in certain industries where external conditions prevail. This underscores the need for a more comprehensive evaluation approach that considers a broader range of factors when assessing stock performance. It's time to move beyond traditional metrics like profitability and cash flow growth and equip ourselves with a more robust set of tools for analysis. Ultimately, this research advocates for a multifactorial approach to stock performance evaluation, emphasizing the importance of understanding the interplay between various variables, including industry trends and macroeconomic conditions. By adopting this comprehensive perspective, investors and analysts can make more informed decisions and strategies, enhancing their ability to navigate the complexities of the financial markets.

Mental Health of Servicemen, POWs, and Civilians in Ukraine: A Comparative Study

This study aims to investigate the mental health differences among servicemen, POWs, and civilians affected by the war in Ukraine. Data were collected from three samples: (1) 149 servicemen from an elite combat troop of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (all men aged 22–59 years); (2) 217 POWs (209 men and 8 women aged 19–64 years); and (3) 330 civilian men aged 19–60 years. Participants completed self-report scales assessing three positive aspects of mental health (resilience, self-efficacy, and post-traumatic growth) and two negative aspects (PTSD symptoms and physical complaints). We observed significant differences between the three samples. POWs had the highest post-traumatic growth scores and reported the most physical complaints, reflecting the long-term effects of captivity. Civilians exhibited the highest levels of PTSD symptoms, likely due to continuous exposure to war-related stressors, while servicemen displayed the lowest negative mental health indicators. Contrary to expectations, resilience levels were similar between POWs and servicemen. This study expands current knowledge on the impact of modern war on mental health and suggests that targeted interventions should address both the unique challenges faced by POWs and the pervasive psychological distress experienced by civilians. These findings may inform the development of training programs for military personnel, healthcare specialists, and social service professionals to support those affected by war.