Significant Pearson Correlation Research Articles

Air pollution mitigation and suspended particulate matter retention potential of selected plant species across seasonal variation in the urban area.

Air pollution is a pressing environmental concern in urban areas, especially in densely populated cities like Delhi, India. However, plant species can effectively capture airborne suspended pollutants. Given this, the present study aimed to investigate the seasonal variations (pre- and post-monsoon) in the pollution-mitigating potential, biochemical characteristics, and suspended particulate matter (SPM) capturing capacities of select plant species in Delhi. Also, using biochemical parameters, plant morphology, and socioeconomic factors, the study computed tolerance indices such as the Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) and Anticipated Performance Index (API). Ficus religiosa L. exhibited the highest APTI value of 11.94, while Polyalthia longifolia (Sonn.) Thwaites displayed the lowest 7.99 APTI value during the pre-monsoon. Ficus benghalensis L. showed the maximum SPM adhesion on the leaves, with a deposition of 1305.46µg/cm2, whereas F. religiosa exhibited the lowest SPM deposition of 56.62µg/cm2. Moreover, the statistical analysis indicated a positive correlation between ascorbic acid and chlorophyll content (R2 > 0.6) with APTI. Also, F. religiosa demonstrated a significant Pearson's correlation (P < 0.05) between chlorophyll content and SPM deposition during the pre-monsoon. The study highlighted the dynamic nature of plant-based air pollution mitigation. It offered valuable insights into the potential of green infrastructure as a sustainable solution for addressing air quality concerns in urban environments. The results emphasized the significance of selecting adequate plant species and considering seasonal variations in developing urban greening strategies to combat air pollution.

Heritability estimates for growth and salt-resistance traits of Urechis unicinctus

The echiura worm Urechis unicinctus has high economic and nutritional value and has emerged as a promising species for aquaculture development. Selective breeding plays a crucial role in enhancing growth and production, and estimating the narrow-sense heritability is the initial step in implementing selective breeding programs. To assess the proportion of additive genetic variation in growh and salt-tolerance traits, this study used 20 families to measure genetic parameters for growth traits at the 100-day and 200-day stages (weight, length, and width) and two salinity conditions (high and low salt). For growth traits, moderate to high heritability estimates were observed at both the 100-day and 200-day stages, ranging from 0.24 ± 0.08 (body width) to 0.42 ± 0.12 (body weight) and 0.40 ± 0.11 (body width) to 0.72 ± 0.16 (body weight), respectively. The genetic and phenotypic correlation coefficients between these traits were found to be intermediate to high across the two testing periods, and these results were supported by significant Pearson correlation (P < 0.01). Regarding salt-tolerance traits, different families exhibited varying survival times under salinity stress, indicating distinct viability responses. The heritability estimates for high-salt and low-salt tolerance were 0.73 ± 0.22 and 0.16 ± 0.06, respectively. The genetic correlation coefficients between salt tolerance and body weight were 0.39 ± 0.16 and 0.89 ± 0.05. Additionally, a positive Pearson correlation was observed between these traits (P < 0.01), suggesting the feasibility of indirect breeding. Overall, these findings indicate the presence of genetic variation in the growth and salt-tolerance traits of U. unicinctus and highlight the potential for genetic improvement through selective breeding techniques. The results provide valuable information to guide effective selection of U. unicinctus.

Evaluating the precision of an online visual acuity test tool.

The aim of this study was to assess the precision of a web-based tool in measuring visual acuity (VA) in ophthalmic patients, comparing it to the traditional in-clinic evaluation using a Snellen chart, considered the gold standard. We conducted a prospective and in-clinic validation comparing the Eyecare Visual Acuity Test® to the standard Snellen chart, with patients undergoing both tests sequentially. Patients wore their standard spectacles as needed for both tests. Inclusion criteria involved individuals above 18 years with VA equal to or better than +1 logMar (20/200) in each eye. VA measurements were converted from Snellen to logMAR, and statistical analyses included Bland-Altman and descriptive statistics. The study, encompassing 322 patients and 644 eyes, compared Eyecare Visual Acuity Test® to conventional methods, revealing a statistically insignificant mean difference (0.01 logMAR, P = 0.1517). Bland-Altman analysis showed a narrow 95% limit of agreement (0.22 to -0.23 logMAR), indicating concordance, supported by a significant Pearson correlation (r = 0.61, P < 0.001) between the two assessments. The Eyecare Visual Acuity Test® demonstrates accuracy and reliability, with the potential to facilitate home monitoring, triage, and remote consultation. In future research, it is important to validate the Eyecare Visual Acuity Test® accuracy across varied age cohorts, including pediatric and geriatric populations, as well as among individuals presenting with specific comorbidities like cataract, uveitis, keratoconus, age-related macular disease, and amblyopia.

Assessment of the surface water quality and primary health risk in urban wastewater and its receiving river Kathajodi, Cuttack of eastern India.

Kathajodi, the principal southern distributary of the Mahanadi River, is the vital source of irrigation and domestic water use for densely populated Cuttack city which receives anthropogenic wastes abundantly. This study assesses the contamination level and primary health status of urban wastewater, and its receiving river Kathajodi based on the physicochemical quality indices employing inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy and aligning with guidelines from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and WHO. The high WQI, HPI, and HEI in the catchment area (KJ2, KJ3, and KJ4) indicate poor water quality due to the influx of domestic waste through the primary drainage system and effluents of healthcare units. A high BOD (4.33-19.66mg L-1) in the catchment indicates high organic matter, animal waste, bacteriological contamination, and low DO, resulting in deterioration of water quality. CR values beyond limits (1.00E - 06 to 1.00E - 04) in three locations of catchment due to higher Cd, Pb, and As indicate significant carcinogenic risk, while high Mn, Cu, and Al content is responsible for several non-carcinogenic ailments and arsenic-induced physiological disorders. The elevated heavy metals Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Zn, in Kathajodi, could be due to heavy coal combustion, vehicle exhaust, and industrial waste. On the other hand, Cu, Fe, K, and Al could be from agricultural practices, weathered rocks, and crustal materials. Positive significant (p ≤ 0.05) Pearson correlations between physicochemical parameters indicate their common anthropogenic origin and similar chemical characteristics. A strong correlation of PCA between elements and physiological parameters indicates their role in water quality deterioration. Assessing the surface water quality and heavy metal contents from this study will offer critical data to policymakers for monitoring and managing public health concerns.

Correlations of the CNR1 Gene with Personality Traits in Women with Alcohol Use Disorder.

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a significant issue affecting women, with severe consequences for society, the economy, and most importantly, health. Both personality and alcohol use disorders are phenotypically very complex, and elucidating their shared heritability is a challenge for medical genetics. Therefore, our study investigated the correlations between the microsatellite polymorphism (AAT)n of the Cannabinoid Receptor 1 (CNR1) gene and personality traits in women with AUD. The study group included 187 female subjects. Of these, 93 were diagnosed with alcohol use disorder, and 94 were controls. Repeat length polymorphism of microsatellite regions (AAT)n in the CNR1 gene was identified with PCR. All participants were assessed with the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview and completed the NEO Five-Factor and State-Trait Anxiety Inventories. In the group of AUD subjects, significantly fewer (AAT)n repeats were present when compared with controls (p = 0.0380). While comparing the alcohol use disorder subjects (AUD) and the controls, we observed significantly higher scores on the STAI trait (p < 0.00001) and state scales (p = 0.0001) and on the NEO Five-Factor Inventory Neuroticism (p < 0.00001) and Openness (p = 0.0237; insignificant after Bonferroni correction) scales. Significantly lower results were obtained on the NEO-FFI Extraversion (p = 0.00003), Agreeability (p < 0.00001) and Conscientiousness (p < 0.00001) scales by the AUD subjects when compared to controls. There was no statistically significant Pearson's linear correlation between the number of (AAT)n repeats in the CNR1 gene and the STAI and NEO Five-Factor Inventory scores in the group of AUD subjects. In contrast, Pearson's linear correlation analysis in controls showed a positive correlation between the number of the (AAT)n repeats and the STAI state scale (r = 0.184; p = 0.011; insignificant after Bonferroni correction) and a negative correlation with the NEO-FFI Openness scale (r = -0.241; p = 0.001). Interestingly, our study provided data on two separate complex issues, i.e., (1) the association of (AAT)n CNR1 repeats with the AUD in females; (2) the correlation of (AAT)n CNR1 repeats with anxiety as a state and Openness in non-alcohol dependent subjects. In conclusion, our study provided a plethora of valuable data for improving our understanding of alcohol use disorder and anxiety.

Whey Protein Isolate Supplementation Effects on Cortisol Awakening Response, Profile of Mood States, and Heart Rate Variability

INTRODUCTION: Decreases in heart rate variability (HRV), disruptions in cortisol awakening response (CAR), and changes in Profile of Mood States (POMS), have been associated with fatigue and strenuous physical exercise. Whey protein isolate can affect stress responses. PURPOSE: To determine the effects of whey protein isolate supplementation on CAR, POMS, and HRV after strenuous exercise. Methods: Eleven recreationally active women (19 ± 2 yrs) completed a double blinded, crossover trial. Placebo was maltodextrin (PL), intervention was 25 g of maltodextrin and 25 g of whey protein isolate (WH). Exercise was 30 min at 70-75% VO2peak (21.7 ± 0.1 ml/kg/min), 5 min rest, and 30 s Wingate anaerobic test (WAnT). HRV and POMS were recorded. Repeated measures ANOVA were used to determine differences (p &lt; 0.05) in salivary cortisol AUCg, POMS, HRV, and WAnT fatigue index (FI). Pearson correlation and multiple regression determined associations between CAR, POMS, and HRV to FI. Results: Cortisol AUC were significantly different (p = 0.033) between PL (33.4 ± 2.0 μg*hr/dL) and WH (30.9 ± 0.8 μg*hr/dL), with no significant differences in POMS, HRV, or FI (p &gt; 0.05). Significant Pearson correlation on Day 3 during the PL, between POMS and FI (r = -.582, p = 0.030). Neither CAR, POMS, nor HRV was able to predict FI (all p &gt; 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Whey protein isolate may decrease CAR, but may have no effect on POMS, HRV, or FI, and no effect on short-duration sprint cycling performance, and or reduction in central fatigue may be minimal. No supporting funding. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Alarm fatigue and perceived stress among critical care nurses in the intensive care units: Palestinian perspectives

ObjectiveThe frequency of alarms generated by monitors and other electro-medical devices is undeniably valuable but can simultaneously escalate the workload for healthcare professionals, potentially subjecting intensive care unit nurses to alarm fatigue. The aim of this study is to investigate alarm fatigue and stress levels among critical care nursing personnel. Additionally, the study aims to assess predictors for both alarm fatigue and perceived stress.Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study recruited 187 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurses from hospitals located in the northern and central regions of the West Bank, Palestine. Data were gathered through online surveys due to logistic concerns using the Alarm Fatigue Scale and the Perceived Stress Scale. The research was conducted between November 2023 and January 2024.ResultsThe mean overall alarm fatigue score was 23.36 (SD = 5.57) out of 44. The study showed that 62.6% of the participating ICU nurses experience average to high degree of alarm fatigue, while 69.5% experience average to high levels of perceived stress. A significant positive Pearson correlation was found between stress and alarm fatigue (0.40, P < 0.01). Important predictors of alarm fatigue include perceived stress, nurse-to-patient ratio, gender, and years of experience, while important predictors of perceived stress include alarm fatigue, type of working shift and hospital unit.ConclusionAlarm fatigue can compromise the timely intervention required to prevent adverse outcomes by causing delayed responses or missed critical alarm, which can have major ramifications for patient safety. Addressing stress is crucial for mitigating alarm fatigue and fostering a supportive work environment to ensure optimal patient care. Consequently, exploring strategies to alleviate the negative impacts of alarm fatigue on critical care nurses’ stress merits further investigation in future research studies.

Low Dietary Betaine Intake Is Associated with Increased Blood Cholesterol in Mexican Subjects.

Betaine, an osmolyte derivative of the metabolite choline and the amino acid glycine, acts as a methyl donor in the conversion of homocysteine to methionine and is involved in the maintenance of adequate lipid metabolism. There is growing evidence for the role of betaine in the development of various lipid-related diseases, including dyslipidemia and cardiovascular risk. This study aimed to analyze associations between betaine intake and blood lipid profiles in Mexican subjects. A total of 212 adults were randomly recruited in the city of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. Betaine intake was estimated using Nutritionist Pro software. Body composition and metabolic measurements were obtained by conventional methods. In the total sample, the average intake of betaine was 14.32 mg/d. Individuals were categorized into three groups according to tertiles of betaine consumption: tertile/group 1 (<4.16 mg/d), tertile/group 2 (4.16-12.02 mg/d), and tertile/group 3 (>12.02 mg/d). Compared to group 3, subjects within group 1 had higher serum levels of total cholesterol (p = 0.001), LDL-c (p = 0.026), and non-HDL-c (p = 0.021). In addition, significant negative Pearson correlations were found between betaine intake and the serum levels of total cholesterol (r = -0.432, 95% CI, -0.684, -0.185, p = 0.001), LDL-c (r = -0.370, 95% CI, -0.606, -0.134, p = 0.002), and non-HDL-c (r = -0.351, 95%CI, -0.604, -0.098, p = 0.007). Our results show that a low intake of betaine is associated with elevated blood cholesterol levels in Mexican subjects. On this basis, betaine consumption could be used as an additional dietary measure for cardiovascular care. However, additional studies are required to confirm our results in other Mexican regions as well as in other populations worldwide.

The Impact of Parental Electronic Health Literacy on Disease Management and Outcomes in Pediatric Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: Cross-Sectional Clinical Study.

Despite the growing uptake of smart technologies in pediatric type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) care, little is known about caregiving parents' skills to deal with electronic health information sources. We aimed to assess the electronic health literacy of parents caring for children with T1DM and investigate its associations with disease management and children's outcomes. A cross-sectional survey was performed involving 150 parent-child (8-14 years old with T1DM) dyads in a university pediatric diabetology center. Parents' electronic health literacy (eHealth Literacy Scale [eHEALS]), general health literacy (Chew questionnaire and Newest Vital Sign [NVS]), and attitudes toward T1DM care (Parental Self-Efficacy Scale for Diabetes Management [PSESDM] and Hypoglycemia Fear Survey [HFS]) were investigated. Children's treatment, HbA1c level, and quality of life (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Diabetes Module [PedsQL Diab] and EQ-5D-Y-3L) were assessed. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to investigate the determining factors of 6-month average HbA1c. Of the 150 children, 38 (25.3%) used a pen, 55 (36.7%) used a pen plus a sensor, 6 (4.0%) used an insulin pump, and 51 (34.0%) used an insulin pump plus a sensor. Parents' average eHEALS score (mean 31.2, SD 4.9) differed significantly by educational level (P=.04) and the children's treatment (P=.005), being the highest in the pump + sensor subgroup. The eHEALS score showed significant Pearson correlations with the Chew score (r=-0.45; P<.001), NVS score (r=0.25; P=.002), and PSESDM score (r=0.35; P<.001) but not with the children's HbA1c (r=-0.143; P=.08), PedsQL Diab (r=-0.0002; P>.99), and EQ-5D-Y-3L outcomes (r=-0.13; P=.12). Regression analysis revealed significant associations of the child's HbA1c level with sex (β=0.58; P=.008), treatment modality (pen + sensor: β=-0.66; P=.03; pump + sensor: β=-0.93; P=.007), and parents' self-efficacy (PSESDM; β=-0.08; P=.001). Significantly higher parental electronic health literacy was found in T1DM children using a glucose sensor. The electronic health literacy level was associated with parents' diabetes management attitude but not with the child's glycemic control. Studies further investigating the role of parental electronic health literacy in T1DM children managed at different levels of care and the local context are encouraged.

Identification of Predictors of a Meaningful Avoidance Strategy

Introduction. In this section the authors present the relevance of the study of the semantic avoidance strategy which is maladaptive when coping with crisis and uncertain situations. We consider the assumption of the presence of predictors of a sense-forming avoidance strategy as a hypothesis that has significant correlations with the scales of the questionnaire for the study of avoidance.Objective. Presentation of the results of empirical identification of predictors of a meaningful avoidance strategy.Materials and methods. The author’s verbal questionnaire is presented and applied to study the avoidance strategy. It consists of 9 semantic scales of personality traits to study the specifics of avoidance. To identify its predictors, the battery of tests includes proven methods from the related fields of semantic regulation: the test of life orientations (D. A. Leontiev), the “New Questionnaire of tolerance-tolerance to uncertainty” (T. V. Kornilova).Results. The indicators for verifying the normality of the distribution of empirical indicators are presented as well as data from the correlation analysis of the battery of tests in the sample n = 282. Empirically established values of the Shapiro-Wilk coefficient have values higher than the required level of statistical significance ,05 for indicators of all scales of this battery of tests. Correlation analysis has established that there are three indicators of the scales of the tested tests, which have values of statistically significant empirical Pearson correlation coefficients with the scales of the author’s questionnaire.Discussion. Empirically calculated values of the Shapiro-Wilk criterion with respect was based on the satisfaction to a specified level of statistical significance ,05 it was found that all the studied indicators have a normal distribution character. This confirms the representative nature of the sample. According to the results of the correlation analysis conducted at the significance level ,05, the scales “process” and “locus of control – I” of the test “Life orientations” (D. A. Leontiev) were adopted as the main predictors of avoidance, and the scale “tolerance to uncertainty” according to the “New questionnaire of tolerance to uncertainty” was used as an auxiliary predictor (T. V. Kornilova). The stated hypothesis has been confirmed. Limitations of the study – testing did not affect respondents under the age of 18, as well as over the age of 47, and was conducted only for the types of profession “human – human” and “human – sign”. It is possible to conduct low-cost testing and build multifactorial personal avoidance profiles with the help of the identified predictors.

Moonless night sky increases Isistius species (cookiecutter shark) and live human contact.

The nocturnal feeding behavior and zoogeographical habitat of cookiecutter sharks Isistius brasiliensis and Isistius plutodus (Isistius spp.) greatly reduces interaction of this species with live humans. Attacks on live humans are exceedingly rare with 7 cases reported worldwide, 6 of them in Hawai'i, and 5 of these occuring among channel swimmers. Published research suggests that periods of bright moonlight may increase Isistius spp. contact with live humans and does not otherwise identify significant trends or risk factors. Yet 5 of the 6 Isistius spp. bites on live humans in Hawai'ian waters occurred with the moon set and after nautical twilight end and before nautical twilight start. From 1961-2023 in Hawai'i, 129 successful solo channel crosses and 5 Isistius spp. related injuries in the habitat of cookiecutter sharks were analyzed across two groups: one where both the moon and sun were set (dark group) and one where the moon and/or sun was in the sky (light group). There was a significant difference for swimmers bitten by Isistius spp. in the dark 4 (12%) versus light groups 1 (1%), p = 0.012, RR 12.6 (95% confidence interval: 1.5-108.9). Swim start time and year was also significant (Pearson correlation 0.566, p <0.001). Swimmer gender and use of shark deterrent devices and artificial illumination were not significant. The growing popularity of channel swimming in Hawai'i and swim start times have contributed to an increasing likelihood of live human and Isistius spp. contact and a moonless night sky is a significant risk factor for this interaction.

Validation of the Return-to-Work Obstacles and Self-Efficacy Scale for Women on Sick Leave Due to Breast Cancer (ROSES-BC).

Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women. Approximately 40% of BC survivors are diagnosed during the peak years of their professional career. Women face numerous obstacles when returning to work (RTW) after BC. Their decision-making process and self-efficacy to overcome these barriers may undergo alterations. The objective of this study was to validate the Return-to-work Obstacles and Self-Efficacy Scale (ROSES) for BC survivors, with a focus on three psychometric properties: construct validity, test-retest reliability, and predictive validity. This prospective study consists of three phases: Phase 1 (baseline, during sick leave) was conducted to evaluate construct validity, Phase 2 (2 weeks later) assessed test-retest reliability, and Phase 3 (6-month follow-up, RTW or not) aimed to evaluate predictive validity. A total of 153 BC survivors participated in Phase 1 of the study, where they completed the 10 dimensions of the ROSES (e.g., fear of relapse, cognitive difficulties). Confirmatory factor analyses (CFA), Pearson correlations, and Cox regressions were performed, with respect to each phase. The mean duration for RTW with the same employer was 62.7 weeks. CFAs confirmed the ROSES structure, which had previously been established for other health conditions, showing satisfactory coefficients. Significant Pearson correlation coefficients were observed between the ROSES dimensions from Phase 1 to Phase 2, ranging from 0.66 to 0.88. When considering various confounding variables, chemotherapy treatment and cognitive difficulties (ROSES dimension) emerged as the only significant predictors of RTW. These findings support the utilization of the ROSES in clinical and research settings for BC survivors to improve their successful RTW. After an initial screening using the ROSES, occupational health professionals can further conduct a focused and thorough evaluation of specific dimensions, such as cognitive difficulties. Additional research and information are required to assist BC survivors in dealing with cognitive impairments induced by chemotherapy when they return to work.

LoopSage: An energy-based Monte Carlo approach for the loop extrusion modeling of chromatin

The connection between the patterns observed in 3C-type experiments and the modeling of polymers remains unresolved. This paper presents a simulation pipeline that generates thermodynamic ensembles of 3D structures for topologically associated domain (TAD) regions by loop extrusion model (LEM). The simulations consist of two main components: a stochastic simulation phase, employing a Monte Carlo approach to simulate the binding positions of cohesins, and a dynamical simulation phase, utilizing these cohesins' positions to create 3D structures. In this approach, the system's total energy is the combined result of the Monte Carlo energy and the molecular simulation energy, which are iteratively updated. The structural maintenance of chromosomes (SMC) protein complexes are represented as loop extruders, while the CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) locations on DNA sequence are modeled as energy minima on the Monte Carlo energy landscape. Finally, the spatial distances between DNA segments from ChIA-PET experiments are compared with the computer simulations, and we observe significant Pearson correlations between predictions and the real data. LoopSage model offers a fresh perspective on chromatin loop dynamics, allowing us to observe phase transition between sparse and condensed states in chromatin.

How Nutritious Are French Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) from the Citizen Science Experiment?

French beans are tender, immature, edible pods that are harvested early in the plant's growth cycle and are usually eaten cooked. The growth habits of French beans were studied for the first time in a Citizen Science experiment, and 19 pod samples were collected for further nutritional analysis. Various macronutrients (e.g., protein, ash, fat, carbohydrates, amino acids) and multi-element profiles were determined. A survey of their growing habits revealed that beans are usually planted once or twice a year in May and June at a length of 5-10 m, with a predominance of dwarf beans cultivation over climbing varieties, and pest resistance and stringless pods are the most important characteristics when deciding on a bean. Homogenised freeze-dried pod samples contained 16.1-23.1% protein, 4.5-8.2% ash, 0.1-1.1% fat, and 62.0-70.6% carbohydrates and had a caloric value of 337-363 kcal/100 g. Of the 17 free amino acids identified, 8 were essential (histidine, threonine, methionine, valine, lysine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine) and 9 were non-essential (cysteine, aspartic acid, serine, glutamic acid, glycine, arginine, alanine, proline, tyrosine); meanwhile, of the 12 elements, 5 were macroelements and 7 were microelements. The predominant free amino acids were aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and serine. In the multiple comparisons (Box and Whisker plot), the parameters caloric value and iron showed the strongest response. A very strong positive significant Pearson correlation (≥0.95) was found for five pairs of variables within the free amino acids. Comparison of the nutrient data obtained in the pods showed near-perfect or high complementarity (85.2-103.4%) with the food composition databases for half of the parameters, suggesting that the home-grown French beans from the Citizen Science experiment are a highly nutritious vegetable.

State Resident Handedness, Ideology, and Political Party Preference: U.S. Presidential Election Outcomes Over the Past 60 Years.

Pearson correlation, partial correlation, and multiple regression strategies determined the degree to which estimates of the level of left-handedness in each of the 48 contiguous American states related to citizen political ideology and to Democratic-Republican presidential popular vote over the past 60years. Higher state levels of left-handedness were associated significantly with liberal ideology in each of the presidential election years from 1964 to 2016. Comparable ideology data were not available for 2020. Higher state levels of left-handedness also were associated with a greater degree of Democratic candidate popular vote support in each of the presidential election years from 1964 to 2020 except for 1976. The mean size of these 28 significant Pearson correlations involving the two political criteria was .62 (SD = .12) with a range of .38-.80, indicating handedness alone could account for a mean of 40.1% (SD = 14.9) of the variance in the two political preference variables. Corresponding multiple regressions showed that when state-level Big Five personality, White population percent, urbanization, and income variables were given the opportunity to enter the equations, handedness still emerged with a significant regression coefficient in 26 of the 28 equations. The two exceptions occurred for 1968 with either political preference criterion. It is speculated that such relations are grounded in hypothesized but poorly understood genetic links between handedness, personality, and political beliefs and attitudes, and, that a foundational genetic predisposition to left-handedness in a population may have much greater impact on correlates than overt levels of left-handedness.

Improving safety performance in the Nigerian oil and gas construction industry through human factor engineering

Background The Nigerian Oil and Gas construction industry faces challenges in incident prevention due to conflicting factors, including inadequate resource allocation, prioritization of quality and production over safety, communication gaps, insufficient supervision, poor workplace design, low risk perception, limited management commitment, worker incompetence, deficient design systems, and planning deficiencies. This research aims to develop a human factor engineering (HFE) model that supports the prevention of losses in Oil and Gas construction activities in Nigeria by assessing the influence of human factors on workers' behavior and organizational safety culture. Methods The study involved skilled construction workers with a minimum of two years of experience in upstream, downstream, and midstream sectors. Data collection utilized a descriptive study design with self-administered, structured questionnaires. IBM SPSS AMOS Structural Equation Modeling software was used for data analysis. Results The results indicate statistically significant Pearson's correlation coefficients between human factors and organizational safety culture, with p-values of 0.003, 0.002, 0.004, 0.009, and 0.002 for workplace, task, personal, organizational, and design factors, respectively. The structural equation regression model reveals statistically significant human factors and organizational safety culture, with path coefficients of -0.888, 2.630, -1.59, 4.645, and 0.492 for personal, organizational, workplace, design, and task factors, respectively. Conclusions The research concludes that engineered human factors contribute to improved safety performance in the Oil and Gas construction industry. To enhance safety, the study recommends that the Nigerian government establishes a construction safety board, organizations implement integrated contractor construction health and safety management systems, and workers take personal responsibility for their safety.

Tracing the origins of plastics in biosolids: The role of sewerage pipe materials and trade waste

Plastics are ubiquitous in virtually every environment on earth. While the specific sources of plastics entering wastewater are not well known, growing evidence suggests sewage sludge (biosolids) can be a sink for plastics. One potential source could be the sewerage pipe materials used to transport sewage between premises and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). To evaluate the significance of sewerage piping as a source of biosolids plastics concentrations, we compared the proportion of the total network (by length and surface area) of polyethylene (PE), polyvinylchloride (PVC), and polypropylene (PP) pipes from 10 WWTPs against their biosolids mass concentrations (mg plastic/g biosolid). Among the 10 catchments, the percentage of the network consisting of PP piping ranged from 0 to 1 %, with 0.8–21 % for PE, and 8–73 % for PVC. Biosolids plastics concentrations ranged from 0.09 to 8.62 mg/g (mg plastic/g biosolid) for PP and PE, respectively. For all three plastics, there was no significant Pearson correlation (r < 0.4) between the biosolids concentration (dry weight mg/g) and the proportion of the network material of the sewerage piping as plastic (either length or surface area). A comparison of trade waste entering a subset of 6 WWTP showed the highest biosolid principal components analysis (PCA) associations between loads of plastics (g/day) and automotive wash bays, general manufacturing, hospitals, laboratories, food manufacturing, laundry and dry cleaning, and cooling towers. A stepwise regression analysis indicated pipe length and surface area, as well as automotive wash bays and food manufacturing may be significant. While our data gave mixed results on the attribution of the sources of plastics entering WWTPs, it suggests that sewerage infrastructure and trade waste may play some role. Future studies should investigate the leachability of sewerage infrastructure and contributions from specific trade waste categories to determine their significance in plastics entering WWTPs.

An AIGC-empowered methodology to product color matching design

With the emergence of various generative AI applications, artificial intelligence-generated content (AIGC) demonstrates positive potential for design activities. However, few scholars have proposed a practical AIGC-based design methodology. This paper introduces an AIGC-empowered methodology for product color-matching design. ChatGPT generates target imageries describing the design features, and Midjourney constructs a shape sample database based on these imageries, identifying representative shapes through consumer perceptual questionnaires. Meanwhile, three Midjourney-based color image generation methods are proposed to generate color images that match the target imageries, and an application is developed to extract the dominant colors from these images. Finally, based on the color harmony theory, the optimal color combinations are derived from the extracted dominant colors and applied to the representative shape to generate color-matching alternatives. AHP-based expert evaluation (Evaluation_1) and consumer perceptual evaluation (Evaluation_2) are employed to ascertain the optimal design solution. This paper uses the household vacuum cleaner as an example to demonstrate the proposed color-matching methodology. Consistent evaluation results are obtained, supported by a significant Pearson correlation coefficient. Research findings suggest that AIGC has the potential to revolutionize traditional product color-matching design. Additionally, the methodology highlights the collaborative potential between generative AIs and conventional computer-aided design tools.

Factors related to the performance of laypersons diagnosing pigmented skin cancer: an explorative study

It is important but challenging for prospective health professionals to learn the visual distinction between potentially harmful and harmless skin lesions, such as malignant melanomas and benign nevi. Knowledge about factors related to diagnostic performance is sparse but a prerequisite for designing and evaluating evidence-based educational interventions. Hence, this study explored how the characteristics of 240 skin lesions, the number of classified lesions and the response times of 137 laypeople were related to performance in diagnosing pigmented skin cancer. Our results showed large differences between the lesions, as some were classified correctly by more than 90% and others by less than 10% of the participants. A t-test showed that for melanomas, the correct diagnosis was provided significantly more often than for nevi. Furthermore, we found a significant Pearson correlation between the number of solved tasks and performance in the first 50 diagnostic tasks. Finally, t-tests for investigating the response times revealed that compared to true decisions, participants spent longer on false-negative but not on false-positive decisions. These results provide novel knowledge about performance-related factors that can be useful when designing diagnostic tests and learning interventions for melanoma detection.

Correlation Between Vitreous Level of Angiogenic Growth Factors and Oxygen Saturation in Retinal Vessels in Diabetic Retinopathy.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is any association between the levels of the angiogenic growth factors and the vascular oxygen saturation in eyes with diabetic retinopathy. The study was designed as a prospective trial. The cohort consisted of 29 diabetic patients with scheduled vitreous procedures (intravitreal injection or pars plana vitrectomy). The control group included 30 patients scheduled for macular surgery (macular hole or epiretinal membrane). Nine patients (four from the diabetic maculopathy [DM] group and five from the control group) were excluded from the study because of unsuccessful vitreous samples. Retinal oximetry was performed several hours before the vitreous procedure was performed, and vitreous samples were obtained during the procedure. The concentrations of VEGF, Serpin F1/pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), and placental growth factor (PlGF) were measured by ELISA. A negative correlation between level of VEGF and arteriovenous (AV) saturation difference was determined in the DM group (Pearson correlation coefficient r = -0.607; two-tailed test, P = 0.002). Also a negative correlation between level of PlGF and AV saturation difference was determined in the DM group (Pearson correlation coefficient r = -0.521; two-tailed test, P = 0.011) A positive correlation between PlGF level and the vein saturation was not statistically significant (Pearson correlation coefficient r = 0.325; two-tailed test, P = 0.130). We did not find any correlation between vitreous level of PEDF and vascular saturation within the DM group. Our findings in diabetic patients suggests a correlation between the intravitreal level of proangiogenic factors and the AV difference measured by retinal oximetry.