18624 research outputs found
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Feasibility and preliminary efficacy of iConquerFear: a self-guided digital intervention for fear of cancer recurrence
Get PDFPurpose: Approximately 50% of cancer survivors experience moderate-severe fear of cancer recurrence (FCR). Self-guided digital interventions have potential to address the high level of FCR-related unmet needs at scale, but existing digital interventions have demonstrated variable engagement and efficacy. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of iConquerFear, a five-module self-guided digital FCR intervention. Methods: Eligible curatively treated breast cancer survivors were recruited. Participants reporting clinically significant FCR
Impact of Velocity of detonation and charge per bank cubic meters on flyrock throw prediction using support vector machine
Get PDFOne of the ambient effects of production blasting is flyrock. To effectively manage flyrock throw distance in mining, there is the necessity to successfully envisage blasting output without sacrificing the hazardous impact of flyrock which may result in fatality and operational shutdown. For flyrock throw distance prediction, velocity of detonation (VOD) and charge per bank cubic meter (CPBCM) are not usually included. This paper focuses on the use of support vector machine (SVM) regression to ascertain the impact of VOD and CPBCM on flyrock throw predictions. The machine learning models were linear support vector machine (LSVM), quadratic Gaussian support vector machine (QGSVM), fine Gaussian support vector machine (FGSVM), medium Gaussian support vector machine (MGSVM), and cubic Gaussian support vector machine (CGSVM). The outcome indicates that FGSVM was the most sensitive with a 4% improvement when VOD and CPBCM were included. As a result, the LSVM model provides a suitable AI competitive alternative tool for flyrock throw prediction in mining operations by incorporating VOD and CPBCM. © The Author(s) 2024
An empirical study on Lean and its impact on sustainability in services
Get PDFPurpose: Lean implementation has become popular over the past three decades in the industry and is becoming more prevalent in, service organizations. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of social and technical Lean practices on sustainable performance (i.e. economic, environmental and social) in service organizations. Design/methodology/approach: The methodology includes the analysis of global results obtained from 139 managers from the service sector. Findings: The results demonstrate that Lean practices have a positive effect on the three perspectives of sustainable performance, regardless of the company size and duration of Lean implementation. Furthermore, both social and technical Lean practices have a similar impact on environmental and economic performance, but their impact on social performance differs, since social Lean practices have a stronger impact on social performance. Practical implications: This study has a significant contribution to Lean practitioners in service sectors, as it demonstrates that efforts to apply Lean practices can benefit economic results as well as environmental and social performance. Originality/value: Majority of existing studies focused on the isolated impact of Lean on one of the triple bottom line performance aspects and with a scarcity of studies within the context of services. The intersection of these three strategic areas – Lean, sustainability and services – has not been extensively addressed. There is also a lack of studies that observe sustainability in environmental, social and economic performance, mainly in the service sector. © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited
Acupuncture for primary insomnia : effectiveness, safety, mechanisms and recommendations for clinical practice
No full textPrimary insomnia (PI) is an increasing concern in modern society. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia is the first-line recommendation, yet limited availability and cost impede its widespread use. While hypnotics are frequently used, balancing their benefits against the risk of adverse events poses challenges. This review summarizes the clinical and preclinical evidence of acupuncture as a treatment for PI, discussing its potential mechanisms and role in reliving insomnia. Clinical trials show that acupuncture improves subjective sleep quality, fatigue, cognitive impairments, and emotional symptoms with minimal adverse events. It also positively impacts objective sleep processes, including prolonging total sleep time, improving sleep efficiency, reducing sleep onset latency and wake after sleep onset, and enhancing sleep architecture/structure, including increasing N3% and REM%, and decreasing N1%. However, methodological shortcomings in some trials diminish the overall quality of evidence. Animal studies suggest that acupuncture restores circadian rhythms in sleep-deprived rodents and improves their performance in behavioral tests, possibly mediated by various clinical variables and pathways. These may involve neurotransmitters, brain-derived neurotrophic factors, inflammatory cytokines, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, gut microbiota, and other cellular events. While the existing findings support acupuncture as a promising therapeutic strategy for PI, additional high-quality trials are required to validate its benefits. © 2023 Elsevier Lt
Postprandial plasma glucose measured from blood taken between 4 and 7.9 h is positively associated with mortality from hypertension and cardiovascular disease
Get PDFIt is unknown whether postprandial plasma glucose measured from blood taken between 4 and 7.9 h (PPG4–7.9h) is associated with mortality from hypertension, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study aimed to investigate these associations in 4896 US adults who attended the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of PPG4–7.9h for mortality. This cohort was followed up for 106,300 person-years (mean follow-up, 21.7 years). A 1-natural-log-unit increase in PPG4–7.9h was associated with a higher risk of mortality from hypertension (HR, 3.50; 95% CI, 2.34–5.24), diabetes (HR, 11.7; 95% CI, 6.85–20.0), and CVD (HR, 2.76; 95% CI, 2.08–3.68) after adjustment for all the tested confounders except hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). After further adjustment for HbA1c, PPG4–7.9h remained positively associated with mortality from both hypertension (HR, 2.15; 95% CI, 1.13–4.08) and CVD (HR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.05–2.51), but was no longer associated with diabetes mortality. Subgroup analyses showed that similar results were obtained in the sub-cohort of participants without a prior diagnosis of myocardial infarction or stroke. In conclusion, PPG4–7.9h predicts mortality from hypertension and CVD, independent of HbA1c. © 2024 by the author
Potential for person-to-person transmission of Henipaviruses : a systematic review of the literature
Get PDFNipah virus Bangladesh (NiVB) is a bat-borne zoonosis transmitted between people through the respiratory route. The risk posed by related henipaviruses, including Hendra virus (HeV) and Nipah virus Malaysia (NiVM), is less clear. We conducted a broad search of the literature encompassing both human infections and animal models to synthesize evidence about potential for person-to-person spread. More than 600 human infections have been reported in the literature, but information on viral shedding was only available for 40 case-patients. There is substantial evidence demonstrating person-to-person transmission of NiVB, and some evidence for NiVM. Less direct evidence is available about the risk for person-to-person transmission of HeV, but animals infected with HeV shed more virus in the respiratory tract than those infected with NiVM, suggesting potential for transmission. As the group of known henipaviruses continues to grow, shared protocols for conducting and reporting from human investigations and animal experiments are urgently needed. © The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America
Athlete mental health help-seeking : a systematic review and meta-analysis of rates, barriers and facilitators
Get PDFAthletes are vulnerable to a range of mental health symptoms, in part due to stressors within the sport environment. An early intervention framework suggests the benefits of routine screening and referral for mental health, however, greater understanding around athlete help-seeking is needed to support referral uptake. This review examined rates of formal help-seeking behaviour as well as barriers and facilitators to help-seeking in sport settings. Relevant studies were retrieved from SportDiscus, PubMed and PsycInfo, with unpublished studies identified through contacting authors. Help-seeking rates were meta-analysed and barriers and facilitators were meta-synthesised. Twenty-two studies were included. Help-seeking rates were reported in 11 studies (N = 3415) and the pooled proportion of help-seeking was 22.4 % (95 % CI 16.2–30.2, I2 = 95.7 %). Barriers were reported in 13 studies and facilitators in six, highlighting a range of sporting-specific factors, such as stigma in relation to athlete identity and sport culture, fear of deselection, and concerns around confidentiality in sport settings, in addition to lack of awareness, low mental health literacy, and negative attitudes to services. Normalising experiences of mental health in sport settings, including through role models, was a key facilitator to help-seeking. Results provide implications for sport organisations to promote help-seeking and athlete mental health, such as through the use of role models, ensuring clarity around confidentiality, stigma reduction interventions, and fostering team cultures that promote mental health. Findings also support the value of sport staff in facilitating help-seeking, and organisational culture changes to foster wellbeing. © 202
Artificial intelligence approaches for advanced battery management system in electric vehicle applications : a statistical analysis towards future research opportunities
Get PDFIn order to reduce carbon emissions and address global environmental concerns, the automobile industry has focused a great deal of attention on electric vehicles, or EVs. However, the performance and health of batteries can deteriorate over time, which can have a negative impact on the effectiveness of EVs. In order to improve the safety and reliability and efficiently optimize the performance of EVs, artificial intelligence (AI) approaches have received massive consideration in precise battery health diagnostics, fault analysis and thermal management. Therefore, this study analyzes and evaluates the role of AI approaches in enhancing the battery management system (BMS) in EVs. In line with that, an in-depth statistical analysis is carried out based on 78 highly relevant publications from 2014 to 2023 found in the Scopus database. The statistical analysis evaluates essential parameters such as current research trends, keyword evaluation, publishers, research classification, nation analysis, authorship, and collaboration. Moreover, state-of-the-art AI approaches are critically discussed with regard to targets, contributions, advantages, and disadvantages. Additionally, several significant problems and issues, as well as a number of crucial directives and recommendations, are provided for potential future development. The statistical analysis can guide future researchers in developing emerging BMS technology for sustainable operation and management in EVs. © 2023 by the authors
Perspectives and advances in consolidated bioprocessing strategies for lignin valorization
No full textComplex and heterogeneous aromatic structures present limitless opportunities for the valorization of abundant residual lignin resources in nature and industry. The consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) of lignin valorization, which integrates bio-depolymerization and aromatic catabolism modules in a microbial cell, is an advanced and promising strategy that can significantly reduce the processing steps and cost. Given the efficiency and yield limitations of native strains, rational development and design strategies represent fundamental and necessary approaches to constructing appropriate bacterial hosts for lignin CBP. This manuscript provides a summary of the history and latest progress in lignin CBP, with a primary focus on the developments of native microbial hosts, metabolic engineering, and synthetic biology strategies. The key technological bottleneck was analyzed, leading to the expectation that direct and efficient bioconversion of lignin, which is a significant component of abundant lignocellulosic biomass, will be possible in the future. © 2024 The Royal Society of Chemistry
Personality and internet trolling : a validation study of a representative sample
Get PDFTo date, characteristics of the internet “troll” have largely been explored in general community samples, which may lack representation of the sample of interest. In this brief report, we aimed to evidence the role of gender and the personality traits of sadism, psychopathy, extraversion, conscientiousness, and agreeableness in a sample of individuals who self-report having perpetrating trolling behaviours. Participants (N = 163; 50.3% women; Mage = 27.35, SD = 8.78) were recruited via social media advertisements and completed an anonymous online questionnaire. The variables explained 55.5% of variance in trolling. We found self-reported trolls were more likely to be men and have higher psychopathy, higher sadism, and lower agreeableness. Findings of this representative sample have implications for understanding, managing, and preventing this antisocial online behaviour. © The Author(s) 2023