Smartphone usage and overdependence risk among middle-aged and older adults: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have predominantly focused on smartphone overdependence among adolescents and young adults. However, as smartphone usage has recently surged among South Korean middle-aged and older adults, the risk of smartphone overdependence cannot be overlooked among this population. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine the smartphone usage pattern and the associated risk of overdependence in this specific age group. METHODS: The data for individuals who aged 50 or older were extracted from the dataset of a nationwide survey, "The Survey on Smartphone Overdependence, 2021," and the usage of each type of smartphone content and risk of smartphone overdependence among individuals in their 50 s and 60 s were investigated. Age-group-based differences in demographic characteristics, Smartphone Overdependence Scale scores, self-awareness of smartphone overdependence, digital literacy, and psychosocial factors were analyzed. Additionally, a multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore the factors associated with the potential-to-high risk of smartphone overdependence in both age groups. RESULTS: Individuals in their 50s had significantly higher digital literacy, social relations, life satisfaction, and smartphone overdependence scores than those in their 60s, and the percentage of individuals in the high-risk group was also higher in the 50s age group. For both age groups, the most used content was "messenger," "news," and "movies/TV/videos," whereas the least used content was e-learning, gambling, and adult content. The multivariable analysis indicated that, for individuals in their 50s, having a lower educational level was associated with significantly higher odds, whereas having a job and utilizing e-commerce-related contents on smartphone were associated with significantly lower odds of potential-to-high risk for smartphone overdependence. Concerning individuals in their 60s, having a lower educational level and using adult content or gambling were significantly associated with higher odds of potential-to-high risk for smartphone overdependence. CONCLUSION: This study reveals the risk of smartphone overdependence among middle-aged and older adults in South Korea as well as the associated risk factors. This will assist policymakers in developing policies for the appropriate use of smartphones by these age groups.

QTL mapping for pre-harvest sprouting resistance in japonica rice varieties utilizing genome re-sequencing.

Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) leads to serious economic losses because of reductions in yield and quality. To analyze the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for PHS resistance in japonica rice, PHS rates on panicles were measured in 160 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross between the temperate japonica varieties Odae (PHS resistant) and Unbong40 (PHS susceptible) under two different environmental conditions-field (summer) and greenhouse (winter) environments. Genome re-sequencing of the parental varieties detected 266,773 DNA polymorphisms including 248,255 single nucleotide polymorphisms and 18,518 insertions/deletions. We constructed a genetic map comprising 239 kompetitive allele-specific PCR and 49 cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence markers. In the field environment, two major QTLs, qPHS-3FD and qPHS-11FD, were identified on chromosomes 3 and 11, respectively, whereas three major QTLs, qPHS-3GH, qPHS-4GH, and qPHS-11GH, were identified on chromosomes 3, 4, and 11, respectively, in the greenhouse environment. qPHS-11GH and qPHS-11FD had similar locations on chromosome 11, suggesting the existence of a gene conferring stable PHS resistance effects under different environmental conditions. The QTLs identified in this study can be used to improve the PHS resistance of japonica varieties, and they may improve our understanding of the genetic basis of PHS resistance.

Etiologic Factors of Rotator Cuff Disease in Elderly: Modifiable Factors in Addition to Known Demographic Factors.

With the aging society, musculoskeletal degenerative diseases are becoming a burden on society, and rotator cuff disease is one of these degenerative diseases. The purpose of this study was to examine the incidence of shoulder osteoarthritis and the etiologic factors of rotator cuff disease in the Korean elderly population. A total of 102 patients performing ultrasonography were recruited, and their demographic factors were analyzed. As functional factors, visual analog scale and the peak torque of external and internal rotators of the shoulder using an isokinetic dynamometer were measured. As an anatomical factor, the acromiohumeral distance in the plain radiograph of the glenohumeral anterior-posterior view was used. There were more female patients (65.7%) than male patients (34.3%). The age range with the highest number of respondents was 50-59 years old. The mean visual analogue score was 4.09 (Min 1 to Max 9). Age and dominant hand side factors appear to be the crucial etiologic factors of the presence and severity of rotator cuff disease. The lower net value of the external rotator strength is weakly related to the presence of rotator cuff disease after adjusting for age, and this is the only modifiable factor in the study.