Previous Literature Research Articles

A single all-out bout of 30-s sprint-cycle performed on 5 consecutive days per week over 6weeks does not enhance cardiovascular fitness, maximal strength, and clinical health markers in physically active young adults.

This study examined the effects of a single all-out bout of 30-s sprint-cycle performed daily for 5 consecutive days per week for 6weeks, on aerobic fitness, muscle strength and metabolic-health markers in physically active young males and females. Healthy, physically active 20-28year olds, were randomly assigned to either experimental (EXP, N = 11) or non-training control (CON, N = 8) group. With supervision, the EXP group performed one bout of 30-s sprint-cycle daily, Mondays to Fridays over 6weeks, while CON group continued with their usual lifestyle. The followings were measured at pre- and post-intervention: maximal aerobic power, peak torque of knee extensors and flexors at velocities 30°s-1 and 300°s-1, resting heart rate, resting blood pressure, body fat percentage, fasting lipid profile, fasting blood glucose, and fasting insulin levels. There were no significant improvements in the EXP group for all the measured variables (all P > 0.05); except for significant interaction effects in peak torque of knee extensors at 30°s-1 (P = 0.044) and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (P = 0.046). Post hoc test indicate that CON group showed decline in their low-density lipo-proteins levels (P = 0.024). Six weeks of one all-out bout of 30-s sprint-cycle per day, for 5 consecutive days per week, was ineffective in improving cardiovascular fitness, maximal strength, and most health markers in physically active young adults. The present results when combined with the previous literature suggest that there is a possibility of a minimum threshold for a number of sprint-cycle bouts needed to be performed before any form of cardio-metabolic-health benefit is accrued.

A Role for Visual Art Therapy in the Management of Migraine.

Migraine is a disabling disorder that adversely affects the whole person and requires multimodal management. Through a brief historical overview of migraine as a subject for visual art, benefits reported from art therapy used in the management of other types of chronic pain, and a summary of the limited research involving art therapy for migraine, we aim to provide support for art therapy's potential role in the management of migraine. As art therapy has been shown to be effective in the management of other chronic pain conditions, providing insight into the individual's pain experience and perception of pain, ameliorating pain by means of distraction, and improving psychosocial health, by extension, it may be of benefit in the migraine population as well. Migraine is disabling, and previous literature has shown efficacy in lifestyle modifications as well as complementary and alternative medicine. Based on its efficacy in other pain conditions, we suggest art therapy as an additional tool for the preventive management of migraine.

Short-Term Modulation of Online Monocular Visuomotor Function

Previous literature suggests that correcting ongoing movements is more effective when using the dominant limb and seeing with the dominant eye. Specifically, individuals are more effective at adjusting their movement to account for an imperceptibly perturbed or changed target location (i.e., online movement correction), when vision is available to the dominant eye. However, less is known if visual-motor functions based on monocular information can undergo short-term neuroplastic changes after a bout of practice, to improve online correction processes. Participants (n = 12) performed pointing movements monocularly and their ability to correct their movement towards an imperceptibly displaced target was assessed. On the first day, the eye associated with smaller correction amplitudes was exclusively trained during acquisition. While correction amplitude was assessed again with both eyes monocularly, only the eye with smaller correction amplitudes in the pre-test showed significant improvement in delayed retention. These results indicate that monocular visuomotor pathways can undergo short-term neuroplastic changes.

Co-volatility dynamics in global cryptocurrency and conventional asset classes: a multivariate stochastic factor volatility approach

Purpose This study aims to investigate the co-volatility patterns between cryptocurrencies and conventional asset classes across global markets, encompassing 26 global indices ranging from equities, commodities, real estate, currencies and bonds. Design/methodology/approach It used a multivariate factor stochastic volatility model to capture the dynamic changes in covariance and volatility correlation, thus offering empirical insights into the co-volatility dynamics. Unlike conventional research on price or return transmission, this study directly models the time-varying covariance and volatility correlation. Findings The study uncovers pronounced co-volatility movements between cryptocurrencies and specific indices such as GSCI Energy, GSCI Commodity, Dow Jones 1 month forward and U.S. 10-year TIPS. Notably, these movements surpass those observed with precious metals, industrial metals and global equity indices across various regions. Interestingly, except for Japan, equity indices in the USA, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, India and China exhibit a co-volatility movement. These findings challenge the existing literature on cryptocurrencies and provide intriguing evidence regarding their co-volatility dynamics. Originality This study significantly contributes to applying asset pricing models in cryptocurrency markets by explicitly addressing price and volatility dynamics aspects. Using the stochastic volatility model, the research adding methodological contribution effectively captures cryptocurrency volatility's inherent fluctuations and time-varying nature. While previous literature has primarily focused on bitcoin and a few other cryptocurrencies, this study examines the stochastic volatility properties of a wide range of cryptocurrency indices. Furthermore, the study expands its scope by examining global asset markets, allowing for a comprehensive analysis considering the broader context in which cryptocurrencies operate. It bridges the gap between traditional asset pricing models and the unique characteristics of cryptocurrencies.

Determinants of Variables That Affect Electrical Energy Consumption in Indonesia 2011-2020

This study aims to analyze the determinants of variables that affect electricity consumption in Indonesia 2011-2020. There are 4 variables that are used as determinant variables, namely (1) economic growth, (2) population growth, (3) Human Development Index (HDI), and (4) internet access. This study uses a random effect model regression method using data that is panel data consisting of 34 provinces in Indonesia in the span of 2011 - 2020. Secondary data were obtained from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), a statistical report of PT. PLN (Persero) and previous research literature studies. The results of this study found that (1) the variable of economic growth did not affect electricity consumption, (2) the population growth variable also did not affect the consumption of electricity, (3) the variable Human Development Index (HDI) had a positive effect on electricity consumption and (4) internet access variable has a negative effect on electricity consumption. Suggestions that the author can convey are: (1) optimizing the potential of New Renewable Energy (EBT), (2) conserving electricity and making efficient use of electricity, (3) increasing the electrification ratio so that electricity can be enjoyed by the entire community.

HSCs-derived exosomes regulate the levels of inflammatory cytokines in HIBECs through miR-122-5p mediated p38 MAPK signaling pathway

PBC is an autoimmune-mediated liver disease, and intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells (IBECs) are the target cells of early damage. Previous studies found that miRNAs and inflammation is closely related to PBC. In this study, we extracted exosomes from serum and human IBECs supernatant, and RNA-sequence analyzed the expression profiles of miRNAs. Elisa measured the levels of inflammatory cytokines. RT- qPCR and western blot detected the levels of miR-122-5p, p38 and p-p38. The results showed that 263 differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs were identified in serum exosomes of PBC patients. The levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12, IL-17 A, IFN-γ, TNF-α and TGF-β1 in peripheral blood of PBC patients were higher than those of normal controls. According to the validation results and previous literature, exosomal miR-122-5p was finally selected as the study object, and correlated with inflammatory factors. In vitro experiments further found that exosomal miR-122-5p may derive from hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), and can be HIBECs intake, and influence HIBECs inflammatory factor levels though p38 MAPK signaling pathways. This may provide a new strategy for the treatment of PBC.

Sustainable development goals and corporate strategy: A map of the field

AbstractThe Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure peace and prosperity, call on companies everywhere to advance sustainable development through the investments they make, the solutions they develop, and the business practices they adopt. This research work carries out a systematic review of the previous literature related to the adoption of SDGs as a corporate strategy in companies, that shows an exponential increase in the papers related to this topic during the first years after the adoption of the 2030 Agenda. Our findings show that the economic dimension of sustainability has lost lightly interest in the academic world since then, with the spheres of governance and society being predominant, without forgetting the field of protecting the planet, especially about the fight against Climate Change (SDG13/ESG). And despite the importance of the 2023 Agenda for the future of the world, even today there are few reference authors in this field of study.

GC/MS Analysis and Isolation of Stigmasterol from Viola Odorata Cultivated in Iraq

Viola odorata is a viola family flowering plant native to Europe and Asia. This is a small, hardy, herbaceous, perennial plant. It is also known as sweet violet and English violet. Numerous pharmacological properties of this flowering plant include anticancer, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antipyretic properties. Previous literature review of different parts of Viola odorata resulted in detection of different chemical constituents such as flavonoids (Quercetin, kaempferol), glycosides (Rutin) and terpenoids (stigma sterol). Stigmasterol was detected using TLC and GC-MS in this study. It was isolated from Viola odorata using preparative layer chromatography. HPLC and FTIR analysis confirmed the isolated Stigmasterol

A novel lotus-seedpod shaped separation membrane with efficient oil harvesting function for oil/water system

Facing the energy crisis and environmental problems, the technologies of harvesting oil from offshore oil spills are attracting worldwide attention. In the current study, a novel biomimetic acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) @ polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) -g- polyvinylpyrrolidone methacrylic acid (PMAA) membrane was constructed by the combination of three-dimensional (3D) printing and gamma-ray irradiation strategies. The prepared ABS@ PVDF-g-PMAA membrane presented a “lotus seedpod” shape. The water contact angle (WCA) of the membrane surface was decreased to 62.3°, which indicated hydrophilicity. The experimental data showed that the membrane displayed a flux of 22,413 L·m−2·h−1 and a harvesting efficiency of over 99 % from the oil/water mixture, which exceeded the previous literature. Moreover, the 10 cycles filtration tests verified the stability and antifouling ability of the membrane. Meanwhile, the membrane occupied a harvesting rate of 98.1 % and a flux of 9561 L·m−2·h−1 bar−1 for the oil/water emulsion system, exhibiting excellent filtration and anti-fouling performance after 5 cycles of filtration tests. This study not only supplied a novel biomimetic separation membrane but also pointed out a potential solution for offshore oil spills.

Off-premises demand elasticities for pure alcohol in five Latin American countries: The case of Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Uruguay

Background and AimsThere is ample evidence from high-income countries that fiscal policies such as alcohol taxes can affect the consumption of alcohol by increasing alcohol prices. In the case of Latin American countries, much less is known about how sensitive alcohol demand is to alcohol price changes. This study aims to expand the evidence base on the sensitivity of off-premises pure alcohol demand to price and expenditure increases in five Latin American countries: Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Uruguay, which have different socioeconomic profiles and alcohol consumption patterns. Design and settingCross-sectional study MeasurementsThe price and expenditure elasticities were estimated using an Almost Ideal Demand System (AIDS). Own price and expenditure elasticities for off-premises pure alcohol were estimated using representative household surveys, which collect data on households' expenses to construct the consumer basket of goods and services used to calculate the consumer price index (CPI) for the country. FindingsOwn price elasticities of off-premises pure alcohol for all countries were negative, inelastic, and significant at 1 %. They were -0.418 for Argentina; -0.656 for Chile; and for Costa Rica, Honduras, and Uruguay, they were equal to -0.608, -0.509, and -0.32, respectively. Expenditure elasticities were positive and significant at 1 %, except for Costa Rica, which was significant at 10 %. They were equal to 0.865 in Argentina; 0.943 in Chile; 1.182 in Costa Rica; 0.874 in Honduras; and 0.857 in Uruguay. Elasticities for Costa Rica should be interpreted cautiously, as there is insufficient geographical price variability to identify the demand correctly. ConclusionsResults were consistent with previous literature for countries from other regions. Governments should expand this study to measure total demand elasticities to improve the design of alcohol tax policies.

Redesigning product line for integrated manufacturer-supplier ecosystem in a centralized supply chain: Case of an industrial consumer product

To produce quality products rapidly to derive competitive advantage, the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) must work closely with its suppliers in product redesign processes. Previous literature has emphasized that quality products can be produced effectively and will provide better customer service if product redesign is performed considering the broad OEM-supplier(s) ecosystem. To this end, we seek to develop a mathematical model focused on maximizing the objectives of the OEM-supplier(s) ecosystem considering a centralized supply chain in such a manner that operational-level financial objectives are mapped in terms of product line design decisions and attribute-level assignments. By including operational-level supply chain considerations such as service levels and consumers' preferences, we seek to capture key aspects related to customers’ requirements. This research links product-level technical decisions with enterprise-level business objectives, thus bridging engineering and enterprise-level financial nuances. The problem for the manufacturer pertains to the minimization of the manufacturing cost and maximization of the product premium. The problem for the suppliers pertains to maximization of salvage value, minimization of shortage cost, and maximization of sales revenue. These two problems are then sewed together, and a chemical reaction optimization (CRO) based solution methodology has been deployed. To solve and analyze the devised problem, a case study based on an industrial consumer product is conducted. We evolve a comprehensive mathematical framework that mimics the facets related to product line redesign encapsulating considerations pertaining to functional level design, supply chain dimensions, and manufacturer-supplier profitability. Several novel findings are reported based on the study. For instance, we demonstrate that product configurations for respective segments after the redesign process are contingent upon the service level. Further, we demonstrate that in the industrial consumer product market, higher profit for the OEM-supplier(s) ecosystem is achieved at a slightly lower service level as opposed to a higher theoretical service level. The study has important implications for design and product management.

The “Legendre scalarization” of nonlinear gravity theories

We discuss the proposal of a new method to transform an [Formula: see text] metric gravity theory into a general relativistic theory including an auxiliary scalar field, recently introduced by Cotsakis et al. We argue that (i) the fact that the fourth-order equations of [Formula: see text] metric gravity can be recast (via a Legendre transformation) into Einstein equations without any conformal rescaling has been thoroughly clarified in the previous literature, and (ii) the newly proposed method produces a set of equations that are not equivalent to the original theory. In the conclusion, a comment is added on another aspect of the Legendre transformation which seems to be generally overlooked.

Occurrence of traffic related trace elements and organic micropollutants in tunnel wash water

Substantially polluted tunnel wash water (TWW) is produced during road tunnel maintenance. Previous literature has reported the presence of trace elements and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). However, it was hypothesized that other organic pollutants are present, and more knowledge is needed to prevent environmental harm. This study reveals for the first time the presence of four short- and 17 long-chained per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), three benzothiazoles (BTHs), six benzotriazoles (BTRs), four bisphenols, and four benzophenones in TWW from a Norwegian road tunnel over a period of three years. Concentrations of PAHs, PFASs, BTHs, and BTRs were higher than previously reported in e.g., road runoff and municipal wastewater. Trace elements and PAHs were largely particulate matter associated, while PFASs, BTHs, BTRs, bisphenols, and benzophenones were predominantly dissolved. 26 of the determined contaminants were classified as persistent, mobile, and toxic (PMT) and are of special concern. It was recommended that regulations for TWW quality should be expanded to include PMT contaminants (such as PFPeA, PFBS, BTR, and 4-OH-BzP) and markers of pollution (like 2-M-BTH, 2-OH-BTH, and 2-S-BTH from tire wear particles). These findings highlight the need to treat TWW before discharge into the environment, addressing both, particulate matter associated and dissolved contaminants.

The IFSD Score-A Practical Prognostic Model for Invasive Fungal Spondylodiscitis.

Objectives: Invasive fungal spondylodiscitis (IFSD) is rare and could be lethal in certain circumstances. The previous literature revealed limited data concerning its outcomes. This study aimed to establish a risk-scoring system to predict the one-year mortality rate of this disease. Methods: A total of 53 patients from a multi-centered database in Taiwan were included in this study. All the clinicopathological and laboratory data were retrospectively analyzed. Variables strongly related to one-year mortality were identified using a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to express the performance of our IFSD scoring model. Results: Five strong predictors were included in the IFSD score: predisposing immunocompromised state, the initial presentation of either radiculopathy or myelopathy, initial laboratory findings of WBC > 12.0 or <0.4 103/µL, hemoglobin < 8 g/dL, and evidence of candidemia. One-year mortality rates for patients with IFSD scores of 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 0%, 16.7%, 56.3%, 72.7%, and 100%, respectively. The area under the curve of the ROC curve was 0.823. Conclusions: We developed a practical scoring model with easily obtained demographic, clinical, and laboratory parameters to predict the probability of one-year mortality in patients with IFSD. However, more large-scale and international validations would be necessary before this scoring model is commonly used.

An in silico study of the effects of cardiovascular aging on carotid flow waveforms and indexes in a virtual population.

Cardiovascular aging is strongly associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. Moreover, health and lifestyle factors may accelerate age-induced alterations, such as increased arterial stiffness and wall dilation, beyond chronological age, making the clinical assessment of cardiovascular aging an important prompt for preventative action. Carotid flow waveforms contain information about age-dependent cardiovascular properties, and their ease of measurement via noninvasive Doppler ultrasound (US) makes their analysis a promising tool for the routine assessment of cardiovascular aging. In this work, the impact of different aging processes on carotid waveform morphology and derived indexes is studied in silico, with the aim of establishing the clinical potential of a carotid US-based assessment of cardiovascular aging. One-dimensional (1-D) hemodynamic modeling was employed to generate an age-specific virtual population (VP) of N = 5,160 realistic carotid hemodynamic waveforms. The resulting VP was statistically validated against in vivo aging trends in waveforms and indexes from the literature, and simulated waveforms were studied in relation to age and underlying cardiovascular parameters. In our study, the carotid flow augmentation index (FAI) significantly increased with age (with a median increase of 50% from the youngest to the oldest age group) and was strongly correlated to local arterial stiffening (r = 0.94). The carotid pulsatility index (PI), which showed less pronounced age variation, was inversely correlated with the reflection coefficient at the carotid branching (r = -0.88) and directly correlated with carotid net forward wave energy (r = 0.90), corroborating previous literature where it was linked to increased risk of cerebrovascular damage in the elderly. There was a high correlation between corrected carotid flow time (ccFT) and cardiac output (CO) (r = 0.99), which was not affected by vascular age. This study highlights the potential of carotid waveforms as a valuable tool for the assessment of cardiovascular aging.NEW & NOTEWORTHY An age-specific virtual population was generated based on a 1-D model of the arterial circulation, including newly defined literature-based specific age variations in carotid vessel properties. Simulated carotid flow/velocity waveforms, indexes, and age trends were statistically validated against in vivo data from the literature. A comprehensive study of the impact of aging on carotid flow waveform morphology was performed, and the mechanisms influencing different carotid indexes were elucidated. Notably, flow augmentation index (FAI) was found to be a strong indicator of local carotid stiffness.

Impact of China’s economic policy uncertainty on “carbon-commodity-finance” system: a time-frequency analysis

ABSTRACT This study delves into the ‘Carbon-Commodity-Finance’ system’s dynamics, employing the quantile frequency connectedness approach to analyse the Total Connectedness Index (TCI) across different frequencies. Our findings reveal that the TCI’s sensitivity to market fluctuations varies across frequencies, with short-term TCI being more reactive than its long-term counterpart. Moreover, while previous literature suggests a positive correlation between China’s economic policy uncertainty (CNEPU) and spillover, our research uncovers a more intricate relationship that varies based on quantile positions. These insights provide a deeper understanding of market interconnectedness, emphasizing the need for a nuanced approach in policymaking and market strategies.

The mechanics of risk adjustment and incentives for coding intensity in Medicare.

To study diagnosis coding intensity across Medicare programs, and to examine the impacts of changes in the risk model adopted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for 2024. Claims and encounter data from the CMS data warehouse for Traditional Medicare (TM) beneficiaries and Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollees. We created cohorts of MA enrollees, TM beneficiaries attributed to Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), and TM non-ACO beneficiaries. Using the 2019 Hierarchical Condition Category (HCC) software from CMS, we computed HCC prevalence and scores from base records, then computed incremental prevalence and scores from health risk assessments (HRA) and chart review (CR) records. We used CMS's 2019 random 20% sample of individuals and their 2018 diagnosis history, retaining those with 12 months of Parts A/B/D coverage in 2018. Measured health risks for MA and TM ACO individuals were comparable in base records for propensity-score matched cohorts, while TM non-ACO beneficiaries had lower risk. Incremental health risk due to diagnoses in HRA records increased across coverage cohorts in line with incentives to maximize risk scores: +0.9% for TM non-ACO, +1.2% for TM ACO, and + 3.6% for MA. Including HRA and CR records, the MA risk scores increased by 9.8% in the matched cohort. We identify the HCC groups with the greatest sensitivity to these sources of coding intensity among MA enrollees, comparing those groups to the new model's areas of targeted change. Consistent with previous literature, we find increased health risk in MA associated with HRA and CR records. We also demonstrate the meaningful impacts of HRAs on health risk measurement for TM coverage cohorts. CMS's model changes have the potential to reduce coding intensity, but they do not target the full scope of hierarchies sensitive to coding intensity.

Link between Internet addiction and depression and roles of social withdrawal and school belonging

AbstractDepression and Internet addiction are common public health problems among adolescents. Previous literature has examined this association, but its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The present study aims at identifying the influencing mechanisms of this association by constructing a moderated mediation model focusing on social withdrawal and school belonging. A sample of 616 Chinese middle and high school adolescents are surveyed regarding Internet addiction, depression, social withdrawal and school belonging. The Macro PROCESS was used to examine the proposed theoretical model. Results reveal that social withdrawal partially mediates the nexus between Internet addiction and adolescent depression. In addition, school belonging significantly moderates the association of social withdrawal with adolescent depression. These findings may guide future prevention and intervention strategies for depressed teenagers affected by Internet addiction.

Thermal analysis for laminated plates with arbitrary supports under non-uniform temperature boundary conditions

This paper aims to investigate thermal behaviors of composite laminated plates with different supports under non-uniform temperature boundary conditions. The thermo-elastic solutions of temperature, displacements, and stresses for the laminated plate with arbitrary layer numbers and thickness are obtained based on the three-dimensional theory of thermoelasticity. By applying the Fourier law of heat conduction and the thermoelastic equations, the state-space equations are established by employing the temperature, heat flux, displacements, and stresses as state variables without the hypothesis of displacement form. The differential quadrature method is introduced to discretize the in-plane state variables. On the basis of the continuities of state variables at the interfaces in the laminated plate, the relationships of temperature, heat flux, displacements, and stresses between the top and bottom surfaces can be derived. By simultaneously considering temperature and mechanical boundary conditions applied to the surfaces of the laminated plate, the initial state variables for temperature, displacements, and stresses can be determined uniquely. The errors in the temperature, displacements and stresses resulting from the differential quadrature method can be eliminated by incrementally augmenting the number of sampling points in the convergence study. The accuracy of the present method is thoroughly verified by comparing the current results with both the finite element solutions and the findings reported in previous literature. Finally, the influences of surface temperature, length-to-thickness ratios, material properties, layer numbers, and support types for the distributions of the temperature field, displacements, and stresses in the laminated plate are discussed in detail.

The impact of sustainable internal branding on teaching staff’s commitment: application on private higher education institutions

ABSTRACT This study aims to extend the boundary of knowledge about internal branding, which touches on two disciplines: marketing and human resources management in an attempt to understand the constructs of internal branding and their impact on the commitment of service providers (higher education teaching staff members) so that they support the brand promise of the university and maintain a competitive edge for private universities in Egypt that function in a very competitive market. Data were collected from 402 members of teaching staff to test the proposed model and hypotheses using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results prove the fitness of the suggested model and that the constructs of internal branding (supervisory support, effective internal communication, clear vision and values) do have a significant impact on teaching staff commitment except for the construct of directed training programs (DTP), contrary to previous literature which might be because teaching staff commitment may require variables other than training programs which in turn rings a bell for private universities’ management to partially reconsider the budgets directed to training for teaching staff or it could be due to cultural differences as previous literature was mostly conducted in different cultures, thus a value addition of this study.