Individual Environmental Factors Research Articles

Tackling Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in Young Adults: From Risk Factors and Genetic Susceptibility to Lung Cancer Profile and Outcomes.

Lung cancer has traditionally been associated with advanced age; however, its increasing incidence among young adults raises concerning questions regarding its etiology and unique considerations for this population. In contrast to the older population, the onset of lung cancer at younger age may be attributed to a complex interplay of incompletely understood individual susceptibility and prevalent environmental risk factors beyond tobacco smoke exposure, such as radon gas and air pollution, which are widespread globally. Consequently, this leads to distinct clinical and molecular profiles, requiring a tailored approach. Furthermore, a diagnosis of cancer represents a threatening event during the prime years of a young person's life, prompting concern about career development, social aspects, fertility aspirations, and physical independence. This poses significant additional challenges for health care professionals in a field that remains underexplored. This comprehensive review recognizes lung cancer in young adults as a distinct entity, exploring its clinical and molecular characteristics, diverse predisposing factors, and priorities in terms of quality of life, with the aim of providing practical support to oncologists and enhancing our understanding of this under-researched population.

Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with bovine tuberculosis in cattle in Eastern Bhutan.

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a chronic zoonotic disease affecting cattle of all age groups including wild animals. It poses a significant threat to public health and high economic losses to dairy farmers. While the disease has been eradicated from most of the developed countries through extensive surveillance, testing and culling strategy, it is endemic in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East countries. Currently, there is limited research regarding the prevalence of bTB in cattle in Bhutan. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of bTB in cattle in six districts of eastern Bhutan. A two-stage probability proportional to size (PPS) sampling strategy was used to determine the number of animals from which serum samples needed to be collected in each district and sub-district. All farms and cattle for sampling were randomly selected from the data in the annual livestock census of 2020. The samples were tested using bTB ELISA test kit. The seroprevalence and their 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Logistic regression models were constructed to assess the influence of various individual animal and environmental risk factors (breed, age, sex, source of animal, body condition scores of animals, respiratory system status) associated with sero-positivity in animals. The study revealed an apparent seroprevalence of 2.57% (25/971 cattle; 95% CI:1.58-3.57), with an estimated true seroprevalence of 0.91% (95% CI: 0.0-2.81). However, none of the variables were found to be significantly associated with bTB seroprevalence in cattle. We recommend, further sampling and employment of confirmatory testing to fully ascertain the extent of bTB in the cattle herds in eastern Bhutan for prevention and control.

The effects of mobile phone dependence on athletic performance and its mechanisms

Mobile phone dependence (also known as internet dependence, MPD), defined as a problematic behavior characterized by excessive use or intermittent craving to use a mobile phone, results in various social, behavioral, and affective problems in daily life. In sports, MPD is directly related to the physical and mental health and sports performance of athletes. The individual and environmental factors, neurobiological mechanisms and theoretical models of MPD affecting athletic performance were analyzed by reviewing previous studies, aiming to construct effective training and development protocols to prevent and control the occurrence of MPD in athletes. At present, athletic performance can be affected by MPD through individual factors and environmental factors. The neurobiological mechanisms between the two are based on the brain reward system and microwave radiation from mobile phones, with athletic performance being restricted by alterations in the corresponding brain regions. Relevant theoretical models mainly include the social cognitive model of self-regulation and the integrative model of self-control, which explain the interrelationship between MPD and athletic performance from the perspectives of athletes’ self-regulation and self-control, respectively. As an emerging phenomenon, the influence pathways and mechanisms by which MPD affects athletic performance need to be further investigated. A longitudinal perspective should be adopted to trace the dynamic impact relationship between the two, and developing relevant theoretical frameworks from an interdisciplinary research perspective should be valuable for providing theoretical support for coaches and sports administrators to formulate scientific training protocols and thus improve the mental health of athletes.

A study of factors affecting the employment quality of contemporary college students through a structural equation model

OBJECTIVES: This paper aims to analyze factors affecting the employment quality of contemporary college students to improve it. METHODS: Data related to the influencing factors and employment quality were collected by means of a questionnaire. After verifying the effectiveness of the data, a structural equation model of employment quality was constructed. FINDINGS: The data collected by the questionnaire were effective. The structural equation model analysis results showed that individual factors, educational factors, and environmental factors were all significantly related to employment quality. NOVELTY: The novelty of this article lies in the use of a structural equation model to quantitatively analyze the relationship between influencing factors and employment quality, providing an effective reference for improving the employment quality of college students.

Harnessing Resilience in the Healthy Ageing Discourse: Insights from Attappadi Indigenous Older Adults, Kerala, India

ABSTRACT In this “Decade of Healthy Ageing,” the integration of resilience into the healthy aging discourse becomes paramount, particularly in the context of indigenous communities grappling with the enduring effects of historical oppression, persistent poverty, and health disparities in their aging journey. Employing a phenomenological lens, this study seeks to derive the resilient characteristics exhibited by the Attappadi indigenous older adults of Kerala, aiming to explore the role of resilience in their pursuit of healthy aging. In-depth phenomenological interviews (n = 34), observation, and document analysis have revealed four key themes: A life course marked by adversities, Embracing the unyielding strength within, Personal resilience catalysts, and Extrinsic resilience catalysts. The participants exhibited a reasonably well-functioning collective, given their persistent adversities in their life course. Narratives illuminated a notable connection between the presence of resilience characteristics and the overall functioning of older adults. From a social work standpoint on resilience, this article underscores the vital interplay between individual agency and environmental factors in addressing adversity. The article advocates culturally sensitive, asset-based strategies to strengthen indigenous older adults’ intrinsic and extrinsic resilience to ensure that they are not left behind in the global pursuit of healthy aging.

Endothelial Function in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: From Bench to Bedside.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a complex pathology whose etiology is still not completely well clarified. The pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension involves different molecular mechanisms, with endothelial dysfunction playing a central role in disease progression. Both individual genetic predispositions and environmental factors seem to contribute to its onset. To further understand the complex relationship between endothelial and pulmonary hypertension and try to contribute to the development of future therapies, we report a comprehensive and updated review on endothelial function in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Analysis of High Levels of Urine Proteins as a Sign of Impaired Kidney Function in Communities Around a Nickel Mining Industry in Morosi District, Southeast Sulawesi

The study is proposed to analyse the influence of individual and environmental factors on protein urine levels as a parameter for impaired kidney function in the community around Nickel mining industry in Morosi Sub-District, Southeast Sulawesi Indonesia. This quantitative study used a cross sectional study design. The population was people in 3 villages around the nickel mining industry aged 20-59 years. The sample size was 61 people using simple random sampling technique. Independent variable was age as representation of individual factor and environmental factors including house condition, water quality, waste management and household liquid waste. Protein urine as a parameter for impaired kidney function as the dependent variable. Data was collected by questionnaire and taking urine samples. Data were analysed using the multinomial logistic regression test with a significance level of 95%. The results show that the determinant of proteinuria levels in communities around the Morosi nickel mining industry was age (p=0.038<0.05), the water source quality (p=0.002<0.05). Solid waste management (p=0.05) and waste water management (p-value=0.045< 0.05). Meanwhile, the house condition had no effect on high proteinuria levels (p value> 0.05). In conclusion, impaired kidney function in communities around the Morosi nickel mining industry due to age, poor quality of water sources and poor management of solid waste and household liquid waste.

Precision medicine for respiratory diseases: A current viewpoint.

In the realm of respiratory illnesses, despite the immense costs and efforts invested in diagnosis and treatment, numerous patients with chronic respiratory conditions or malignancies do not respond well to existing therapies. Delayed diagnoses and inadequate treatments contribute to these challenges, along with adverse reactions or treatment limitations due to side-effects. However, recent advancements in understanding respiratory diseases have paved the way for personalized medical treatments, considering individual genetic, molecular and environmental factors. Precision medicine, which accommodates individual differences in disease susceptibility and response to treatments, aims to improve patient care by aligning medical research with tailored therapies. Innovative technologies, such as genomic sequencing and biomarker identification contribute to this approach, allowing for customized treatments and the identification of effective therapies. Additionally, the application of precision medicine in lung cancer treatment exemplifies the forefront of individualized care within respiratory medicine. Several studies have explored the role of precision medicine in managing respiratory infectious diseases, asthma and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, aiming to categorize diseases more accurately and design targeted therapies. The ultimate goal is to enhance treatment effectiveness, minimize adverse events, and shift towards a patient-centered approach to managing respiratory conditions. Despite limitations, precision medicine holds promise for improving patient outcomes and emphasizing personalized care in respiratory medicine.

HUBUNGAN USIA, MASA KERJA, WAKTU KERJA, SIKAP KERJA DAN AKTIVITAS PEKERJAAN DENGAN KEJADIAN NYERI PUNGGUNG BAWAH PADA PETANI PADI DESA SEMEN

Indonesia is an agrarian country so that agriculture is one of the sectors with the largest number of workers. Agriculture is an informal sector job that still uses a lot of manual handling methods so that it has the potential to cause complaints of low back pain. Low back pain is a health problem in the form of acute pain that is felt in the lower back (lumbosacral) area in the form of local or radicular pain. Risk factors for low back pain include individual factors, occupational factors and environmental factors. This research is a quantitative-research with analytic observational method and cross-sectional approach. The population is farmers from of Semen village and registered on rukun tani group. The sample is 30 people using total sampling. Independent variables is age, working period, working time, work attitudes and work activities with dependent variable Low Back Pain. Data collection techniques used individual characteristic questionnaires, nordic body map, VAS scale and OWAS method. Data analysis technique uses Fisher’s Exact Test statistical test. The results showed a greater distribution of independent variables age > 35 years, work experience > 5 years, work attitudes requiring improvement, and heavy work activities. The results of the bivariate analysis showed that there was a significant relationship between age (p-value = 0.035), working period (p-value = 0.002) and working time (p-value = 0.004) with complaints of low back pain in rice farmers in hamlet X Semen Village as evidenced by p-value <0.05. Keywords: Low Back Pain, Rice Farmes, VAS scale, OWAS method.

Faktor–Faktor Yang Memengaruhi Kinerja Usaha Pelaku Usaha Tempe Kampung Rawa Jakarta Pusat

Entrepreneurship is closely related to the development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), including SMEs processing soybeans into tempeh. Tempeh is a source of protein that is popular with people because it is cheap. However, it cannot be denied that fluctuations in the price of imported soybeans, limited capital and simple technology are still problems for tempe business players. This research aims to analyze the factors that influence the business performance of tempe entrepreneurs in Kampung Rawa, Central Jakarta. This research was analyzed descriptively and using SEM-PLS analysis using a purposive sampling technique and 40 respondents. The results of the analysis show that individual factors and environmental factors directly influence entrepreneurial behavior. Then, business performance is directly influenced by entrepreneurial behavior and environmental factors, and indirectly influenced by individual factors and environmental factors through entrepreneurial behavior. Based on the results of the study, tempe business actors can increase their motivation to produce tempeh, carry out brand innovation as a form of branding and innovate as healthy tempeh so that it becomes an advantage compared to other tempe products.

Understanding Risk Factors for Complaints Against Pharmacists: A Content Analysis.

Pharmacists constitute a crucial component of the healthcare system, significantly influencing the provision of medication services and ensuring patient safety. This study aims to understand the characteristics and risk factors for complaints against pharmacists through Health and Disability Commissioner (HDC) published decisions. This study adopts a retrospective, qualitative approach. An inductive content analysis technique was used to analyze 37 complaints against pharmacists published decisions from the New Zealand Health and Disability Commissioner website to investigate a range of underlying risk factors contributing to the occurrence of complaints against pharmacists. A set of 20 categories of risk factors emerged through the content analysis and were subsequently grouped into five overarching themes: pharmacist individual factors, organizational factors, system factors, medication-specific factors, and external environmental factors. The findings of this study provide valuable insights that expand the understanding of risk management in pharmacist practice, serving as a valuable resource for regulatory bodies, policymakers, educators, and practitioners. It is recommended not only to focus solely on individual pharmacists but also to consider integrating their environment and individual behaviors to proactively address situations prone to errors and subsequent complaints.

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF MALIGNANT NEOPLASMS IN THE POPULATION OF THE MYKOLAIV REGION

In order to study the epidemiological features of malignant neoplasms, methods of the statistical analysis were applied to assess the spread of malignant neoplasms in the population of the Mykolaiv region. This is a description of the regions characterized by statistically significant differences in the incidence of malignant neoplasms. An in-depth analysis of factors that potentially influence the development of cancer in areas with an increased risk of the occurrence and development of malignant tumors was conducted. For the epidemiological characteristics of malignant neoplasms in the population of the Mykolaiv region, the indicators of the National Cancer Registry, the Mykolaiv Regional Cancer Registry, and the statistics department of the Mykolaiv Regional Oncology Dispensary for the period from 2019 to 2021 were analyzed. Regional features of the development of malignant neoplasms in the population of the Mykolaiv region were revealed based on the analysis of statistical data on the primary detection of cancer in 19 regions, 3 cities and the regional center - Mykolaiv for 2019-2021. The improved method of assessing the medical and ecological situation at different territorial levels was based on a combination of traditional methods of research on cancer incidence and the use of information technologies. Correlation, factor and cluster analysis methods were used to assess the impact of individual environmental factors on the incidence of malignant neoplasms. Territorial regularities of the studied territories were investigated with the help of statistical analysis. Territorial statistics made it possible to analyze trends in the spread of disease, to identify cause-and-effect relationships between environmental factors and health indicators.

Quantifying the environmental synergistic effect of cooling-air purification-carbon sequestration from urban forest in China

Urban forest is considered nature-based solution for mitigating the adverse impacts of climate change. However, large-scale quantification of urban forest synergistic effect is still limited. This study integrated multi-source remote sensing data, machine learning, and geospatial methods to quantify the synergistic effect (i.e., spatial interaction) of urban forest on urban heat island, PM2.5 concentration, and carbon stock and its driving mechanism in China. Results showed that urban forest explained 60–71% of the synergistic effect, which was greater than on the individual environmental factors, but decreased by 15.62% from 2000 to 2020. Moreover, urban forest synergistic effect exhibited an obvious spatial-temporal patterns of north-south heterogeneity and was dominated by anthropogenic factors. We further identified the “evolutionary gene” of urban forest, i.e., the similarity rule in the synergistic effect among cities during their development process. This knowledge contributes to the sustainable resource development of climate change adaptation strategies.

New Horizons in Understanding and Developing Treatments for Human Reproductive Physiology

This comprehensive review delves into the cutting-edge advancements and emerging trends in the field of human reproductive physiology. It aims to shed light on the intricate processes governing human reproduction and the novel therapeutic approaches being developed to address various reproductive health issues. The review begins with a detailed exploration of the fundamental aspects of human reproductive systems, including hormonal regulation, gametogenesis, and the genetic underpinnings of reproductive functions. Significant attention is given to recent breakthroughs in treating infertility, highlighting new findings in both male and female reproductive health. The review discusses the evolution and current state of assisted reproductive technologies (ART), such as IVF, and their increasingly successful application in overcoming infertility. Furthermore, it explores the potential of personalized medicine in tailoring treatments to individual reproductive disorders, considering genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Innovations in contraceptive technologies and their implications for reproductive health management are also examined. The review extends into the realm of reproductive genetics, emphasizing how genomic studies have enhanced our understanding of reproductive disorders and congenital anomalies. Ethical, social, and legal considerations surrounding the latest reproductive technologies are critically analyzed, recognizing the complex interplay between scientific advancements and societal norms. The review concludes by identifying future research directions, underscoring the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in advancing our understanding and treatment of human reproductive physiology. This article serves as a vital resource for researchers, clinicians, and policymakers, offering a comprehensive overview of the current landscape and future prospects in human reproductive health and medicine.

Predicting Individual Tree Mortality of Larix gmelinii var. Principis-rupprechtii in Temperate Forests Using Machine Learning Methods

Accurate prediction of individual tree mortality is essential for informed decision making in forestry. In this study, we proposed machine learning models to forecast individual tree mortality within the temperate Larix gmelinii var. principis-rupprechtii forests in Northern China. Eight distinct machine learning techniques including random forest, logistic regression, artificial neural network, generalized additive model, support vector machine, gradient boosting machine, k-nearest neighbors, and naive Bayes models were employed, to construct an ensemble learning model based on comprehensive dataset from this specific ecosystem. The random forest model emerged as the most accurate, demonstrating 92.9% accuracy and 92.8% sensitivity, making it the best model among those tested. We identified key variables impacting tree mortality, and the results showed that a basal area larger than the target trees (BAL), a diameter at 130 cm (DBH), a basal area (BA), an elevation, a slope, NH4-N, soil moisture, crown density, and the soil’s available phosphorus are important variables in the Larix Principis-rupprechtii individual mortality model. The variable importance calculation results showed that BAL is the most important variable with an importance value of 1.0 in a random forest individual tree mortality model. By analyzing the complex relationships of individual tree factors, stand factors, environmental, and soil factors, our model aids in decision making for temperate Larix gmelinii var. principis-rupprechtii forest conservation.

Movement patterns of the rodent Trinomys dimidiatus in Atlantic Forest

AbstractAnimal movements of wild species are in theory related to individual and species' traits such as sex and reproductive condition, and temporal variation in resource availability or population density. Understanding how individuals move within an area throughout life, how frequent exploratory and dispersive movement are in the population and which individual traits and environmental conditions influence movement are of great importance for understanding how animals respond to environmental changes. Using capture‐mark‐recapture data of Trinomys dimidiatus gathered for 8 years in a montane Atlantic Forest area, we describe movement patterns by comparing two distance metrics (ORL—Observed Range Length and SDT—Mean Successive Distance/Time); we also evaluate the influences of sex on these distance metrics and residence time and number of captures on ORL. Additionally, model selection was used to evaluate the role of individual traits and environmental factors on T. dimidiatus' movements. We recorded 44 individuals (60.27%) with restricted movement pattern and 29 individuals (39.73%) with broad movement pattern within our grid. Broad movement pattern was observed in individuals with both long and short residence time. Males presented larger distance metrics and movements than females. Individuals with greater residence time presented larger ORL, mainly males. Heavier individuals of both sexes presented larger movements than lighter ones, especially males. Males presented shorter movements in periods of increased rainfall, but females' movements did not respond to rainfall variations. Overall, body mass was more important than rainfall in determining movements. The results here show that T. dimidiatus may present different movement patterns, including exploratory or dispersive movements to a new core area. Also, we highlight the importance of individual traits and environmental factors and reinforce sexual differences in individuals' movements and lifetime use of space.

The Influence of Job Stress and Psychosocial Factors on Employee Performance through Leadership Quality

The development of Indonesia's industry is currently changing from commodity-based to manufacture-based. The manufacturing industry cannot be separated from the role of the packaging industry. So it is necessary to have Human Resources with good performance to be able to help achieve the goals and vision and mission of the company. Employee performance comes from two factors, namely individual factors and organizational environmental factors. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of work stress and psychosocial factors consisting of job demands and work organization on employee performance in packaging companies through leadership quality. The method used is PLS-SEM with a sample of 75 people. The results showed that work stress had a significant effect on employee performance (p-value = 0.000), job demands and work organization had no significant effect on employee performance (p-value = 0.501 on job demands and p-value = 0.658 on work organization) , leadership quality has no significant effect on employee performance (p-value = 0.685), work stress has no significant effect on employee performance through leadership quality (p-value = 0.740), and job demands and work organization have no significant effect on employee performance through quality leadership (p-value=0.877 on job demands and p-value=0.725 on work organization). While the r-square value which shows the influence of work stress variables, job demands, work organization, and leadership quality on employee performance is 63.7%.

Development and Evaluation of the Plankton Biological Integrity Index (P-IBI) in Dry and Wet Seasons for Dianchi Lake

As an important component of lake ecosystems, plankton are often used as indicators to evaluate the health of aquatic ecosystems, such as lakes and reservoirs. The plankton integrity index (P-IBI) is a highly utilized method for evaluating the ecological health of the lakes. This study took Dianchi Lake, located in the Yangtze River Basin, as the research object and analyzed the phytoplankton, zooplankton communities, and environmental factors at 11 sampling points in this lake during the wet season (July) in 2022 and the dry season (February) in 2023. The P-IBI was established to evaluate the health status of this lake ecosystem. The results showed that a total of 83 species of phytoplankton and 31 species of zooplankton were identified in Dianchi Lake, and the number of plankton species in the dry season was significantly higher than that in the wet season. The P-IBI evaluation results for the two hydrological periods were generally “good”. Linear regression analysis showed that there was a certain negative correlation between the P-IBI value and the comprehensive trophic level index (TLI), and the evaluation results were generally in line with the actual situation of the water body. Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that there was a significant correlation between the P-IBI and its constituent parameters and individual water quality environmental factors, such as total nitrogen (TN) and electrical conductivity (EC). In summary, by reducing errors caused by spatial and temporal changes across various hydrological periods, P-IBI represents a more scientifically rigorous technique for lake water ecological health assessments within a certain time range.

Preliminary Research on Outdoor Thermal Comfort Evaluation in Severe Cold Regions by Machine Learning

The thermal comfort evaluation of the urban environment arouses widespread concern among scholars, and research in this field is mostly based on thermal comfort evaluation indexes such as PMV, PET, SET, UTCI, etc. These thermal comfort index evaluation models are complex in the calculation process and poor in operability, which makes it difficult for people who lack a relevant knowledge background to understand, calculate, and apply them. The purpose of this study is to provide a simple, efficient, and easy-to-operate outdoor thermal comfort evaluation model for severe cold areas in China using a machine learning method. In this study, the physical environment parameters are obtained by field measurement, and individual information is obtained by a field questionnaire survey. The applicability of four machine learning models in outdoor thermal comfort evaluation is studied. A total of 320 questionnaires are collected. The results show that the correlation coefficients between predicted values and voting values of the extreme gradient lifting model, gradient lifting model, random forest model, and neural network model are 0.9313, 0.7148, 0.9115, and 0.5325, respectively. Further analysis of the extreme gradient model with the highest correlation coefficient shows that individual factors (such as residence time, distance between hometown and residence, clothing, age, height, and weight) and environmental factors (such as air humidity (RH), wind speed (v), air temperature (Ta), and black bulb temperature (Tg)) have different influences on thermal comfort evaluation. In summary, using a machine learning method to evaluate outdoor thermal comfort is simpler, more direct, and more efficient, and it can make up for the lack of consideration of complex individual factors in the evaluation method of thermal comfort index. The results have reference value and application value for the research of outdoor thermal comfort evaluation in severe cold areas of China.

Obesity and Cardiovascular Health.

Obesity has risen to epidemic levels worldwide over the past few decades and has become a huge global health burden owing to its direct contribution to the development of some of the most prevalent chronic diseases including diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and other cardiovascular diseases. Obesity is a disease of positive energy balance resulting from complex interactions between abnormal neurohumoral responses and an individual's socioeconomic, environmental, behavioral, and genetic factors leading to a state of chronic inflammation. Understanding the complex nature of the disease is crucial in determining the best approach to combat its rising numbers. Despite recent advancements in pharmacological therapy for treatment of obesity, reversing weight gain and maintaining weight loss is challenging due to the relapsing nature of the disease. Prevention, therefore, remains the key which needs to start in-utero and continued throughout life. This review summarizes the role obesity plays in pathophysiology of various cardiovascular diseases both by directly affecting endothelial and myocyte function and indirectly by enhancing major cardiovascular risk factors like diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. We highlight the importance of a holistic approach needed to prevent and treat this debilitating disease. Particularly, we analyze the effects of plant-based diet, regular exercise, and non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) on obesity and overall cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). Moreover, we discuss the significance of individualizing obesity management with a multimodal approach including lifestyle modifications, pharmacotherapy, and bariatric surgery to tackle this chronic disease.