Subjective Perception Research Articles

Association of neuroimaging measures with facial emotional processing in healthy adults: a task fMRI study.

Investigating the neural processing of emotion-related neural circuits underlying emotional facial processing may help in understanding mental disorders. We used two subscales of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale to assess the emotional cognitive of 25 healthy participants. A higher score indicates greater difficulty in emotional perception. In addition, participants completed a n-back task during functional magnetic resonance imaging. Psychophysiological interaction analysis was used to explore the functional connectivity (FC) of neural circuits. Next, we used elastic-net regression analysis for feature selection and conducted correlation analysis between the neuroimaging measures and questionnaire scores. Following a 3-fold cross-validation, 5 neuroimaging measures emerged as significant features. Results of correlation analysis demonstrated that participants with higher TAS scores exhibited increased FC between the amygdala and occipital face area (OFA) during facial stimulus processing, but decreased connectivity during emotional processing. These findings suggested that individuals with poor emotional recognition exhibited increased connectivity among face-related brain regions during facial processing. However, during emotional processing, decreasing neural synchronization among neural circuits involved in emotional processing affects facial expression processing. These findings suggest potential neural marker related to subjective emotional perception, which may contribute to the diagnosis and treatment of emotional dysregulation in individuals with psychiatric conditions.

Redefining space pharmacology: bridging knowledge gaps in drug efficacy and safety for deep space missions

The space environment is incredibly hostile, and humans are vulnerable in such conditions. Astronauts encounter various stress factors during a space journey, including radiation, microgravity, forceful acceleration during launch, altered magnetic fields, and confinement. These stressors significantly impact the human body homeostasis, leading to physio-pathological adaptations, loss of bone density, muscle atrophy, cardiovascular deconditioning, alterations in liver function, vestibular adaptations, and immune system dysregulation. These alterations can potentially influence drug pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, affecting the efficacy and safety of medications administered to astronauts. Due to the limited number of studies on pharmaceuticals conducted in microgravity conditions, it’s challenging to assess the effectiveness and stability of these medications during spaceflight. The objective of the present work is to compare the state-of-the-art knowledge on PK/PD changes and factors likely to affect them during spaceflight, with the subjective perception of the problem by a collection of separate interviews conducted with seven experts in the field. The interviewees were chosen as “experts,” i.e., representatives in a specific discipline, who possess knowledge and experience in space pharmacology, physiology, or biology. Thus, our panel included astronauts, space surgeons, and scientists aiming to bridge the lack of experimental data in the literature. Each interview explores assorted aspects of space physiology and pharmacology, including drug use and storage onboard the ISS; notable consideration has arisen regarding the current research gaps and future space expeditions. All the interviews were held remotely using online conferencing software. None of the interviewees could provide a comprehensive overview regarding potential changes in drugs PK/PD in microgravity conditions. Further, any medication brought on board (whether as part of an astronaut’s medical kit or stored in the ISS pharmacy) is destroyed, thereby suppressing the possibility of analyzing any degradation products resulting from long-term exposure to microgravity and radiation. According to these results, the use of drugs without understanding how they are genuinely absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted in microgravity conditions is concerning, posing risks for drug effectiveness. Conducting genotyping and phenotyping on astronauts would be beneficial for developing personalized pharmacological countermeasures for each astronaut and anticipating expected drug metabolism changes during space missions.

Urban Color Perception and Sentiment Analysis Based on Deep Learning and Street View Big Data

The acceleration of urbanization has resulted in a heightened awareness of the impacts of urban environments on residents’ emotional states. This present study focuses on the Lixia District of Jinan City. By using urban street view big data and deep learning methods, we undertook a detailed analysis of the impacts of urban color features on residents’ emotional perceptions. In particular, a substantial corpus of street scene image data was extracted and processed. This was performed using a deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) and semantic segmentation technology (PSPNet), which enabled the simulation and prediction of the subjective perception of the urban environment by humans. Furthermore, the color complexity and coordination in the street scene were quantified and combined with residents’ emotional feedback to carry out a multi-dimensional analysis. The findings revealed that color complexity and coordination were significant elements influencing residents’ emotional perceptions. A high color complexity is visually appealing, but can lead to fatigue, discomfort, and boredom; a moderate complexity stimulates vitality and pleasure; high levels of regional harmony and aesthetics can increase perceptions of beauty and security; and low levels of coordination can increase feelings of depression. The environmental characteristics of different areas and differences in the daily activities of residents resulted in regional differences regarding the impacts of color features on emotional perception. This study corroborates the assertion that environmental color coordination has the capacity to enhance residents’ emotions, thereby providing an important reference point for urban planning. Planning should be based on the functional characteristics of the region, and color complexity and coordination should be reasonably regulated to optimize the emotional experiences of residents. Differentiated color management enhances urban aesthetics, livability, and residents’ happiness and promotes sustainable development. In the future, the influences of color and environmental factors on emotions can be explored in depth, with a view to assist in the formulation of fine urban design.

Investigating the Kappa Effect Elicited Through Concurrent Visual and Tactile Stimulation.

The experience of time and space in subjective perception is closely connected. The Kappa effect refers to the phenomenon where the perceived duration of the time interval between stimuli is influenced by the spatial distance between them. In this study, we aimed to explore the Kappa effect from a psychophysical perspective. We investigated participants' perception of temporal duration in the sub-second range by delivering visual and tactile inputs through wearable devices placed on both the palm and the forearm. We compared the impact of unimodal sensory stimulation, involving either visual or tactile stimuli, with different bimodal stimulation conditions. Our results revealed that the illusory effect on inter-stimulus duration perception can be observed in both unimodal conditions, although the distortions were significantly more pronounced in vision. In the multimodal stimulation condition, where visual stimuli were presented at non-equidistant spatial locations, the integration of tactile input did not reduce the Kappa effect, regardless of the spatial location of the tactile stimuli. However, when the visual stimuli were equidistant in space, regardless of the spatial location of the tactile stimuli, the Kappa effect disappeared. These results can shed light on the effect played by multimodality on the perception of space and time.

Enlightening discourses in environmental economic policies using Q- studies: the case of water management

Enlightening discourses and subjective perceptions is a crucial issue for policy makers to improve public acceptance and better understand social conflicts. This paper offers an overview of reasons to use Q methodology in environmental economic policy and an example on water governance. Based on 35 face-to face interviews with French water stakeholders, this study highlights consensus and disagreements on the controversial use of water. Participants sorted statements representing means to manage the resource in a better way, associated with domestic, agricultural, and industrial consumption reduction, preservation of the resource in quality and quantity, city planning and innovation, water governance and information, solidarity, and shared initiatives. This study identifies five prevailing stakeholder perspectives. They rely on the trade-off between quality and quantity, collective involvement, knowledge of water resources, technological optimisation and pricing and regulation. These perspectives are then developed to inform decision-making of various stakeholders such as policy makers and water experts.

Prescription criteria and effects of explosive strength training in indoor soccer players: a systematic review.

Explosive strength is fundamental in the performance of athletes. The objective is to identify the criteria used for the prescription of Explosive Strength Training (EST) and to verify the changes it produces in futsal players. A systematic review of studies analyzing the criteria used for the prescription of explosive strength training was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE and Scielo, considering the period between 2017 and 2023. The search strategy used the terms: players, Futsal, Futsal training, strength, physical exercise, explosive strength, intervention, experimental study. Data extraction included: year of publication, country, sample, protocol performed (content and activity developed, duration, intensity, frequency, total weeks). A total of six studies were identified. Fifty percent of the studies were developed in Brazil, the others in Italy, Spain and Portugal. Five studies applied a training of 2 sessions per week and one indicated 2-3 sessions. Three studies describe the training sessions (study 1: 15-30 minutes, study 2: 20-25 minutes, study 3: 1 hour). Five studies used 1RM and one study used subjective perception of exertion (PSE). The contents of the interventions were varied, from squats with weights, accelerations and decelerations, leg press, leg extension, plyometrics. The training criteria for explosive strength were: intensity controlled by a 1RM, frequency of 2 to 3 sessions per week, duration of 15 to 30 minutes per session and the training contents were varied. These results suggest positive changes in CMJ, increasing explosive strength from ∼2.0 to 4.6 cm (5.8 to 13.7%). These findings highlight the need to develop a more standardized protocol to optimize the benefits of explosive strength training in this athletic population.

Influence of personal and career burnout on female employers' subjective evaluation of workplace acoustic environment.

Burnout is an increasingly common problem in modern work settings that significantly affects people's health and well-being. Several studies have emphasized the impact of career burnout on employees' performance and efficiency. It is unknown whether career burnout mediated by personal burnout may affect employees' perception of their workplace physical environment attributes. This research aims to understand if personal and career burnout can affect employers' acoustic environment evaluation of their workplace. Considering commonly experienced or highly experienced personal and career burnout among working women, the study targeted female university faculty members. The research involved stratified sampling and employed data from 272 individuals across five public and private universities in Tehran. Collected data were analyzed using SmartPLS (latest release 4.1). The results revealed a significant link between personal and career burnout and the subjective evaluation of workplace acoustic environment. Career burnout mediated the relationship between personal burnout and negative evaluation of the workplace acoustic environment. This study provides compelling evidence that experiences of burnout, whether related to personal or career aspects, substantially impact the subjective assessment of the acoustic environment within the workplace. The results underscore the complex interplay between an individual's degree of burnout and their subjective perception of the acoustic dimensions of their work environment. The findings extend our understanding of how psychological factors might shape our interpretation of the physical workplace.

Breathlessness, but not breathing instability varies with posttraumatic stress symptoms in University students.

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a chronic sleep-related breathing disorder that is highly prevalent in individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The reason for this high prevalence remains unclear. We hypothesised that breathing instability, , one of the key contributors to OSA, may be altered in PTSD and predispose OSA. Healthy participants (214 females, 98 males) aged 17 to 42 (M = 19.92; SD = 2.85) completed online questionnaires measuring PTSD symptomatology, sleep disturbances, and self-reported breathlessness. A subset of these participants (16 females, 14 males) aged 18 to 42 (M = 23.50; SD = 7.18) completed an in-lab breathing instability assessment, whereby they performed a series of 20-second and maximal duration breath-holds. PTSD severity positively predicted subjective perceptions of breathlessness (p<.001) but not objective measures of breathing instability, namely ventilation following 20-second breath-holds (p=.93) and maximal breath-hold duration (p=.41). These results suggest that breathing instability may not be the driving factor behind the high prevalence of OSA in PTSD. Instead, other factors such as a low arousal threshold, elevated ventilatory responses to arousal, or coexisting insomnia may explain the high rates of OSA in PTSD. One explanation for the discrepancy between subjective breathlessness and breathing stability measures relating to PTSD severity may be that hypervigilance and increased anxiety impacted self-perceptions of breathlessness while not altering breathing instability per se.

Efficacy of Intraoperative vs Preoperative Indocyanine Green Administration for Near-Infrared Cholangiography During Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: An Open-Label, Non-Inferiority, Randomized Controlled Trial.

Near-infrared fluorescence cholangiography (NIRFC) improves the clinical effects of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. However, the administration of indocyanine green (ICG) remains controversial. Both the intraoperative (IS, 0.05mg) and preoperative (PS, 0.25mg/kg body weight, 1 day before operation) strategies have been shown to be superior to standard strategy (2.5mg, intraoperative). This trial was designed to determine whether IS offers non-inferior visualization of biliary ducts compared to PS. A total of 168 eligible patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy were enrolled in this non-inferiority, open-label, randomized controlled trial at Zhujiang hospital between August 2023 and November 2023. Participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio into PS and IS groups after stratification by BMI and inflammation level. The fluorescence visualization of biliary structures was assessed by comparing the signal-to-background ratio (SBR) and surgeon evaluations. The common bile duct-liver SBR did not significantly differ between IS and PS groups (3.0±0.8 vs 3.1±1.2; p=0.636). The liver fluorescence intensity (FI) of the IS group was significantly lower than that of the PS group (46.3±12.9 vs 70.4±26.2; p<0.01). The visualization score of common hepatic ducts was significantly greater in the IS than in the PS group (4.1±0.7 vs 3.7±0.6; p＜0.01). The critical view of safety (CVS) was achieved more rapidly in the IS group compared to the PS group (9.4 vs 11.0 minutes, p<0.01). While IS did not improve the SBR, it significantly reduced the FI of the liver background, potentially enhancing the surgeon's subjective perception and thereby increasing the visualization score. Compared to PS, IS offers greater convenience and is more effective in facilitating CVS exposure.

The mask paradox between perception of discomfort and reality of physiological effects in healthy college students in China: a panel study

BackgroundDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, masks proved to be an effective measure in preventing virus transmission. However, many people have reported discomfort and negative perceptions toward wearing masks, especially during physical activity. This study aims to evaluate the discomfort and adverse perceptions related to various mask types among young, healthy adults during light exercise, including sitting, stationary stepping, and stair climbing. The study also examines the extent to which masks influence physiological indicators of physical well-being.MethodsThe study was conducted in two stages at the campus hospital of Shantou University. In Stage 1, 20 healthy college students (10 males, 10 females) were recruited to identify the mask with the most substantial physiological and psychological impact among four types: KN95 respirators, surgical masks, cloth masks, and 3D medical masks. These specific types were chosen due to their widespread use and varying levels of filtration and breathability. In Stage 2, 14 healthy college students (7 males, 7 females) were included to examine the effects of the identified mask across various levels of physical exertion. Subjective perceptions were measured using the Mask-Related Discomfort and Perception Score (MRDPS), and physiological parameters such as body temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate, and vital capacity were recorded.ResultsThe KN95 respirator and cloth mask were associated with the highest MRDPS, indicating significant discomfort among wearers (p < 0.05). The use of KN95 respirators had the largest impact on MRDPS during stair stepping (β = 10.357, 95% CI [5.755, 14.959]). Physiological parameters showed minor variations across different masks, with KN95 respirators significantly associated with reduced diastolic blood pressure (β=-7.806, 95% CI [-12.294, -3.318]) and pulse rate (β=-10.661, 95% CI [-18.896, -2.425]) in Stage 1. However, after controlling for exercise pace in Stage 2, wearing a KN95 respirator did not significantly affect these parameters.ConclusionsKN95 respirators and cloth masks were found to cause the most discomfort during light physical activity, with males reporting higher discomfort levels than females. While these masks are associated with varying levels of perceived discomfort, their impact on physiological indicators is relatively modest. Future research should include larger and more diverse samples , continuous monitoring of physiological parameters during exercise, and exploration of the underlying mechanisms of gender differences in mask discomfort.

Qualitative exploration of determinants of active mobility and social participation in Urban neighborhoods: individual perceptions over objective factors?

BackgroundUrban neighborhood environments play an important role in facilitating or hindering residents to engage in active mobility and social participation. However, while there is much quantitative research, in-depth knowledge that contextualizes residents’ subjective perceptions of barriers and facilitators of active mobility and social participation is still insufficient. Therefore, a qualitative approach was used to collect subjectively perceived barriers and facilitators of active mobility and social participation of residents from different neighborhoods with objectively determined high vs. low walkability. Furthermore, to better understand (non) concordance of objective environmental characterizations and actual levels of behavior, low and high walkability neighborhood-specific barriers, proposed improvements, and particularities that determine (non) engagement in active mobility and social participation were explored.MethodsThree focus groups (N = 6, N = 6, and N = 5) with 17 participants (7 women, 10 men) aged 21–64 (mean age 43.4 ± 14,6 years) were conducted utilizing a pre-structured interview guideline. Participants lived in 11 different neighborhoods with either high or low objectively determined walkability. The focus groups were transcribed verbatim, followed by a thematic analysis of the content with deductive and inductive code categories, utilizing the MAXQDA software.ResultsNotable was the consensus of many perceived barriers and facilitators of active mobility and social participation along with their assignability to the same context (points-of-interest, infrastructure; safety, communication, community; topography, physical compositions, weather, aesthetics; personal / individual attitudes, influences, evaluations). Another main finding was that high and low walkability neighborhood-specific particularities were revealed that are in contrast to some objective characterizations of walkability: For example, too high density can inhibit active mobility, and too many options can inhibit social participation.ConclusionsThe consensus of many barriers and facilitators of active mobility and social participation suggests that valuable synergies could be created by coordinating interventions aiming to promote both active mobility and social participation in urban neighborhoods. Also, considering subjective perceptions of residents helps to identify neighborhood-specific factors that determine (non) engagement in active mobility and social participation. The findings can help city planners and public health officials improve the promotion of active mobility and social participation in the creation of health-enhancing urban neighborhoods.

Clinical course of atrial fibrillation in patients who experienced coronavirus disease (COVID-19): results of a 6-month follow-up

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common extrapulmonary complication of the past SARS-CoV-2 infection. According to experts, almost 20% of patients with past COVID-19 have a history of atrial fibrillation and the incidence of new paroxysms of this arrhythmia ranges from 10 to 18%. Referring to the studied patients who experienced COVID-19 more than 6 months ago, the subjective perception of cardiac arrhythmia is the most frequent complaint, reported by approximately two-thirds of patients. The aim of our study was to determine the course of atrial fibrillation in patients after past 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) during a dynamic 6-month follow-up after the initial hospitalization for atrial fibrillation in the specialized department of cardiac arrhythmias of the SI “National Scientific Center” “M.D. Strazhesko Institute of cardiology, clinical and regenerative medicine of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine” depending on the clinical and anamnestic, demo­graphic, anthropometric factors, the results of laboratory research methods and the received treatment. 36 patients were included in the study, 27 of them formed the first group, which included patients in whom the course of atrial fibrillation improved against the background of recommended antiarrhythmic treatment after initial hospitalization for AF and past COVID-19, who at the time of hospitalization had a negative PCR test, of which 17 were women and 10 were men, aged 62.38±1.83 years. The second group consisted of 9 patients including 4 women and 5 men, aged 69.88±2.60 years in whom the course of atrial fibrillation neither changed nor worsened. We determined that the number of patients in whom the course of atrial fibrillation improved during the 6-month follow-up was three times greater than those in whom the course of this arrhythmia neither changed nor worsened (75% and 25%, respectively). Patients with a more favorable course of atrial fibrillation were younger (on average by 7.5 years), three times less likely to suffer from diabetes and not often had arterial hypertension of the III stage, than those examined, in whom the course of this arrhythmia did not change or worsen. Systemic inflammation and severity of heart failure significantly worsen the course of AF within 6 months after the hospital stage of treatment. However signs of deterioration of lipid metabolism are characteristic of patients with an unfavorable course of atrial fibrillation during 6 months after hospitalization, which is probably caused by the activation of systemic inflammation in them. The improvement of the prognosis of the examined patients was probably influenced by the appointment of antiarrhythmic drugs, such as: amiodarone, flecainide, beta-blockers, statins – from the "up-stream" therapy drugs.

Indoor environmental quality and subjective perceptions in multi-chair dental offices

Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in multi-chair dental offices is strongly related to treatment effectiveness, patient comfort, and dental professionals’ occupational exposure. This study conducts comprehensive field measurements and questionnaire surveys to assess the IEQ in two multi-chair dental offices of the Periodontal Department (PD) and the Endodontics Department (ED) in a stomatological hospital in Changsha during the transitional season, summer, and winter. It first reveals the IEQ status and then examines its impact on the perceptions of both dental professionals and patients. The results indicate no considerable difference in IEQ between the PD and the ED. For the measurement, the worst IEQ is observed in winter, with air temperature, relative humidity, PM2.5 concentration, and sound pressure level not meeting the prescribed limits. The worst case is for the PM2.5 concentration, where the highest daily average level is 1.6–4.0 times higher than the limit. However, according to the questionnaire surveys, the highest participant satisfaction score of the overall environment is also observed in winter (i.e., 1.0). The inconsistent results reflected from the measurements and surveys demonstrate the complex influence of a multi-parameter environment on subjective perceptions. Additionally, dental professionals as long-term occupants of the dental offices, report a lower level of overall environmental satisfaction (i.e., 0.38) compared to patients (i.e., 0.86), especially regarding air quality and acoustic environment. These findings are important information for improving environmental standards and formulating accurate environmental control methods, which then contribute to enhanced health, well-being, and performance of both dental professionals and patients.

Hygienic Aspects of the Quality of Life of Residents of Yaroslavl and the Yaroslavl Region

Introduction. The relevance of the study is due to the need to conduct a scientific analysis of the quality of the country’s population life, improve the standard of citizens living through the implementation of medical measures, including medical and preventive work.The purpose of the work is to conduct a comparative analysis of the quality of life of urban and rural residents of the Yaroslavl Region based on physical and psychological well-being, determine the level of general health indicators of the working-age population, and analyze the role of organizational and preventive measures in improving the quality of life.Materials and methods. The SF‑36 questionnaire was used in the study to assess the quality of life. 600 residents (age (25.1±0.8) years) of Yaroslavl and the Yaroslavl Region took part in the survey. The ratio of men and women was 50 % and 50 %, respectively.Results. It was revealed that the quality of life of rural residents has lower values compared to city residents. This difference is especially noticeable in indicators that are directly dependent on the emotional and physical state of a person.Discussion. The conducted comprehensive analysis shows that as a result, the assessment of the quality of life of the population of the respondents was based on their subjective understanding and perception of their own situation in life, which is also typical for studies in other regions of the country. The indicators of the general health of the rural population of working age indicated insufficient access to medical care and a low level of literacy of the population in matters of maintaining and strengthening their own health, as well as medical activity.Conclusion. Hygienic assessment of the quality of the population life in terms of physical and psychological well-being made it possible to identify a number of differences in the assessment of the quality of urban and rural areas residents life at Yaroslavl and the Yaroslavl Region. Most of the considered characteristics of the quality of rural residents life had reliably significant low values in comparison with city residents.

Hygienic Aspects of the Quality of Life of Residents of Yaroslavl and the Yaroslavl Region

Introduction. The relevance of the study is due to the need to conduct a scientific analysis of the quality of the country’s population life, improve the standard of citizens living through the implementation of medical measures, including medical and preventive work.The purpose of the work is to conduct a comparative analysis of the quality of life of urban and rural residents of the Yaroslavl Region based on physical and psychological well-being, determine the level of general health indicators of the working-age population, and analyze the role of organizational and preventive measures in improving the quality of life.Materials and methods. The SF‑36 questionnaire was used in the study to assess the quality of life. 600 residents (age (25.1±0.8) years) of Yaroslavl and the Yaroslavl Region took part in the survey. The ratio of men and women was 50 % and 50 %, respectively.Results. It was revealed that the quality of life of rural residents has lower values compared to city residents. This difference is especially noticeable in indicators that are directly dependent on the emotional and physical state of a person.Discussion. The conducted comprehensive analysis shows that as a result, the assessment of the quality of life of the population of the respondents was based on their subjective understanding and perception of their own situation in life, which is also typical for studies in other regions of the country. The indicators of the general health of the rural population of working age indicated insufficient access to medical care and a low level of literacy of the population in matters of maintaining and strengthening their own health, as well as medical activity.Conclusion. Hygienic assessment of the quality of the population life in terms of physical and psychological well-being made it possible to identify a number of differences in the assessment of the quality of urban and rural areas residents life at Yaroslavl and the Yaroslavl Region. Most of the considered characteristics of the quality of rural residents life had reliably significant low values in comparison with city residents.

Economic Assessment of Meteorological Information Services for Capture Fisheries in Taiwan

This study evaluates the economic benefits of meteorological information services (MISs) provided by the Central Weather Administration (CWA) in Taiwan, specifically for Taiwan’s capture fishery industry. Using the contingent valuation method (CVM) and conducting in-person interviews, we collected questionnaires from capture fishery practitioners nationwide to gather their subjective evaluations of the meteorological information services provided by the CWA. Based on these evaluations, we further investigated the respondents’ willingness to pay (WTP) for the CWA’s meteorological information services. An empirical analysis of the bid function was conducted to identify the key factors influencing the respondents’ bidding behavior. The empirical findings indicate that the primary factors affecting bids include subjective perceptions (such as forecast accuracy ratings and the ratings of the impacts on fishing production), working location, fishing vessel tonnage, and fishing methods. The median WTP for Taiwanese capture fishery practitioners is Taiwan dollar (TWD) 2111.12 per person per year. Based on the number of capture fishery practitioners in Taiwan in 2019, the total annual economic value of applying MIS in coastal and offshore fisheries is estimated to be between TWD 376 million and TWD 496 million per year.

The pop-up pain: reconceptualizing the perception of short-lived pain among non-injured recreational marathoners

Multiple forms of short-lived pain are common experiences among non-injured recreational marathoners, yet there remains little in-depth qualitative research on the lived experience regarding the sociology of transient pain. This study seeks to fill the lacuna by exploring the relationship between transient pain and its multifaceted consequences within the running social world. Drawing on Leder’s notion of the dys-appearing body, the study investigates how non-injured runners interpret and attribute context-dependent significance to transient pain due to their runs. An ethnographic research design of two years was implemented in two running groups, using participant observation and semi-structured interviews. Three categories of transient pain were identified: (1) “Pre-flow pain” - discomfort at the start of a run before easing into a relaxed state, (2) “Impromptu pain” - unexpected, sharp pain that occurs during the run and (3) “Resurgent pain” - an ache that manifests after the end of a running session as a result of lingering effects from prior injuries. The data presented suggest that transient pain cannot be approached as a self-evident phenomenon occurring in a vacuum. Instead, it should be viewed as a nuanced pain epistemology that encompasses the lived experience of bodily pain within the subjective perception.

Non-orthogonal spectacle correction for irregular astigmatism.

To investigate the potential improvement in visual acuity and subjective perception of image quality in patients with keratoconus using non-orthogonal correction (NOC) cylinder trial lenses where the steep and flat power meridians are set at angles less or greater than 90°. A set of NOC plano/cylindrical trial lenses, where the axes between the power meridians were set at a range of non-orthogonal angles, were used to refract 18 participants with keratoconus in whom 23 eyes were used for testing. Corneal elevation data were processed by bespoke MATLAB code from Pentacam Scheimpflug tomographer scans. Each participant first underwent subjective refraction using standard orthogonal cylinder trial lenses, and the monocular best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA, logMAR) was recorded for each eye. They then underwent a second subjective refraction using NOC cylinder trial lenses created for the study and completed a questionnaire to elicit their subjective appraisal of letter clarity and ghosting. Fourteen (61%) eyes demonstrated an increase in objective BCVA with the NOC versus the orthogonal correction; seven (30%) eyes showed no change and in two (9%) eyes, the BCVA was slightly worse. Further, 87% and 79% experienced an increase in letter clarity and a reduction in ghosting, respectively, independent of changes in BCVA. The majority of non-orthogonal angles were in the range of 80°-85°, and it was possible to refine the cylinder and axis of the NOC further compared with the orthogonal correction. All but one of the participants said they would be interested in trying non-orthogonal spectacles if the opportunity arose. Correcting irregular astigmatism in keratoconic individuals with non-orthogonal spectacle correction may provide benefit in terms of increased visual acuity, improvements in letter clarity and a reduction of ghosting effects. This type of correction has the potential to improve the overall quality of life for patients with keratoconus.

Investigation of the Effect of Parametric Patterned Façade and Resulting Daylight Illuminance on Students’ Mood and Task Performance in Architecture Studio-Based Tutoring

Parametric design is one of the thriving contemporary architectural treatments that not only has an influence on the design of building envelopes but is capable of affecting the users physically and psychologically. The efficiency of the daylight resulting from the facade is greatly affected by the envelope’s perforation shapes, sizes, and distribution. This research builds upon a prior study which investigated the effect of Parametric Patterned Façade on daylight performance, quality, and visual comfort concluding with the choice of the highest-performing pattern for daylight metrics. The chosen pattern is the “Triangles Pattern” which was put in situ where the field experiment took place. The current study analyzed the effect of illuminance, and illuminance distribution resulting from the parametric patterned facade on architecture students’ mood and task performance in the setting of an architecture studio-based tutoring. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods were adopted; quantitative through the utilization of a Spatial Ability Test to assess students’ task performance, and qualitative through a self-reporting mood assessment, and subjective daylight perception questionnaire. The analysis was conducted through three types of tests to investigate the research hypothesis; statistical analysis of hypothesis (t-test), PANAS schedule for mood assessment, and comparative analysis of the subjective questionnaire between the base case condition and the parametric patterned façade condition. The results of paired sample study indicated that the students’ performance was enhanced after the exposure to the second condition (PPF condition) over the first (BC condition). Also, for the NA assessment, both PANAS assessment and t-test analysis results showed a difference in means between the two conditions indicating that there was an enhancement of the NA. Finally, a framework is proposed for the utilization of a Parametric Patterned façade in an educational setting. The implications of this experiment inform architects of the importance of daylighting techniques to enrich the educational environment, and how to establish a research methodology for the enhancement of daylight design using both technical and psychological approaches.

Comparative study on health behaviors among adolescents with chronic allergic disease before and during COVID-19 using data from the Korean Youth Health Panel Surveys

BackgroundThis study aimed to investigate the changes in the health behaviors and subjective health perception of adolescents with chronic allergic disease, including atopic dermatitis, asthma, and allergic rhinitis, amidst the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in South Korea.MethodsThis study used the 15th (2019) and 17th (2021) raw data obtained from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (KYRBWS), conducted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare of South Korea. Data were analyzed using multiple logistic regression with complex sampling using weighted values. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals for six health behaviors and subjective health perception were used as the major variables.ResultsSix health behaviors (dietary habits, weight gain, smoking, alcohol consumption, sleep time, and physical activity) changed substantially during COVID-19. There was an increase in the duration of sedentary activities, a slight increase in BMI, and improvements in mental health. Concurrently, there was a decrease in alcohol consumption, sleep duration, and the consumption of sweetened beverages. Despite these improvements in big six health behaviors, adolescents with chronic illnesses continue to perceive themselves as unhealthy.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that the follow-up and monitoring of health behaviors and subjective health perception in adolescents with chronic allergic diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic are necessary. Understanding the mechanisms underlying sustained behavioral change can inform the development of interventions to promote healthy behavior after the pandemic has passed.