Un análisis integrado entre la calidad de vida y las necesidades de apoyo de personas adultas con discapacidad intelectual en Chile / An integrated analysis between the quality of life and the support needs of adults with intellectual disabilities in Chile

El paradigma de apoyos y el de calidad de vida se han transformado en guías fundamentales para los avances en el ámbito de la discapacidad intelectual (DI). Con base en una muestra de 93 personas adultas con DI, se analiza, desde un enfoque cuantitativo no experimental, la relación entre la calidad de vida y las necesidades de apoyo, aplicando la escala INICO-FEAPS y la escala de Intensidad de Apoyos (SIS) para cada constructo. Los principales resultados evidencian que existe una relación fuerte e indirecta entre calidad de vida y necesidades de apoyos, y también la relevancia de analizar dichos resultados desde variables como grado de discapacidad, sexo o nivel socioeconómico. La discusión permite inferir la necesidad de discutir nuevas estrategias en torno a categorías como el grado de discapacidad, la autodeterminación e inclusión social, como elementos facilitadores de la calidad de vida y apoyos desde un enfoque integral que contribuya al desarrollo de estrategias de programas sociales para la población con DI. (AU)

The support paradigm and the quality of life paradigm have become fundamental guides for progress in the field of Intellectual Disability (ID). Based on a sample of 93 adults with ID, the relationship between Quality of Life and Support Needs is analyzed from a non-experimental quantitative approach, applying the INICO-FEAPS scale and the SIS Support Intensity scale for each construct. The main results show that there is a strong and indirect relationship between quality of life and support needs, and the relevance of analyzing these results from variables such as the degree of disability, sex or socioeconomic level. The discussion allows us to infer the need to discuss new strategies around categories such as the degree of disability, self-determination and social inclusion, as facilitating elements of quality of life and supporting a comprehensive approach that contributes to the development of social program strategies for the population with ID. (AU)

Guía de tratamiento de la alteración aguda del estado mental. Academia Iberoamericana de Neurología Pediátrica / Guide for the treatment of acute altered mental status. Iberoamerican Academy of Pediatric Neurology

La alteración aguda del estado mental en pediatría se refiere a un cambio repentino y significativo en la función cerebral y el nivel de conciencia de un niño. Puede manifestarse como confusión, desorientación, agitación, letargo o incluso pérdida de la conciencia. Esta condición es una emergencia médica, y requiere una evaluación y una atención inmediatas. Existen diversas causas de alteración aguda del estado mental en niños, algunas de las cuales incluyen infecciones del sistema nervioso central, como la meningitis o la encefalitis, los traumatismos craneoencefálicos, los trastornos metabólicos, las convulsiones o las intoxicaciones, entre otras. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar, preparar y calificar la bibliografía actual para determinar las mejores recomendaciones sobre el tratamiento ante casos de alteración aguda del estado mental en pediatría de diferentes causas. El estudio se basó en la calificación de expertos en el campo para poder determinar la calificación de las recomendaciones, además de ser sometido a la revisión por parte del comité científico de la Academia Iberoamericana de Neurología Pediátrica. Nuestra guía representa una ayuda para el tratamiento de este síntoma inespecífico desde un enfoque básico y avanzado, aplicable por cualquier neurólogo pediatra.(AU)

In pediatric patients, an acute altered mental status refers to a sudden and significant change in a child’s brain function and level of consciousness. It may manifest as confusion, disorientation, agitation, lethargy or even a loss of consciousness. This condition is a medical emergency, and requires immediate evaluation and attention. There are several causes of acute altered mental status in children, including infections of the central nervous system such as meningitis or encephalitis, traumatic brain injury, metabolic disorders, seizures and poisoning, among others. The aim of this study was to analyse, prepare and classify the current literature in order to determine the best recommendations for the treatment of cases of acute altered mental status with various causes in pediatric patients. The study was based on opinions from experts in the field in order to classify the recommendations, and was submitted to the scientific committee of the Iberoamerican Academy of Pediatric Neurology for review. Our guide is an aid for the treatment of this non-specific symptom based on a basic and advanced approach, which can be applied by any pediatric neurologist.(AU)

Factors affecting resolution of oculomotor nerve palsy following endovascular embolization of posterior communicating artery aneurysms / Factores que influyen en el tratamiento de la parálisis oculomotora con embolización endovascular de aneurismas comunicantes posteriores

Purpose: To investigate the effect of endovascular embolization of posterior communicating artery (Pcom) aneurysms on concomitant oculomotor nerve palsy (OMNP) and factors affecting the effect of treatment. Materials and methods: Patients with the Pcom aneurysms concomitant with OMNP were retrospectively enrolled for endovascular treatment of the aneurysms. All patients had the endovascular management. The clinical effect, degree of OMNP, size of the aneurysm, type of treatment, subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and time from onset to treatment were analyzed on the resolution of OMNP. Results: Ninety-six patients with 99 Pcom aneurysms were enrolled and treated endovascularly, with the success rate of 100%. Immediately after endovascular treatment, 75 aneurysms (75.75%) got complete occlusion, and 24 (24.24%) nearly complete occlusion. Followed up for 3–18 (mean 8.52 ± 0.56) months, complete resolution of the OMNP was achieved in 63 patients (65.63%), partial resolution in 21 (21.88%), and non-recovery in the other 12 (12.50%). The degree of OMNP at onset, SAH, and time from onset to treatment were significantly (P < 0.05) correlated with the resolution of OMNP. Univariate analysis revealed that younger age of the patient, degree of OMNP at onset, presence of subarachnoid hemorrhage, and time from disease onset to treatment were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with the recovery of OMNP. Multivariate analysis revealed that the younger age, degree of OMNP at onset, and time from disease onset to treatment were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with the recovery of OMNP. Conclusion: Endovascular embolization of Pcom aneurysms concomitant with OMNP can effectively improve the OMNP symptoms, especially for patients with moderate and a shorter history of OMNP. Younger age, degree of oculomotor nerve palsy at onset, and time from onset to treatment may significantly affect recovery of oculomotor nerve palsy.(AU)

Objetivo: Investigar la eficacia de la embolización intravascular del aneurisma de comunicación posterior (Pcom) en pacientes con parálisis oculomotora (OMNP) y los factores que influyen en la eficacia. Materiales y métodos: Se analizaron retrospectivamente los datos clínicos de la terapia intravascular en pacientes con aneurismas Pcom con OMNP. Todos los pacientes recibieron tratamiento intravascular. Se analizaron los efectos de la eficacia clínica, el grado de OMNP, el tamaño del aneurisma, el método de tratamiento, la hemorragia subaracnoidea y el tiempo desde el inicio hasta el tratamiento en la regresión de OMNP.Resultados: Un total de 96 pacientes con 99 aneurismas Pcom fueron tratados con éxito. Inmediatamente después del tratamiento intravascular, 75 casos (75,75%) de aneurismas fueron completamente ocluidos y 24 casos (24,24%) casi completamente ocluidos. Durante el seguimiento de 3 a 18 meses (promedio: 8,52 ± 0,56 meses), se logró la resolución completa en 63 casos (65,63%), la resolución parcial en 21 (21,88%) y la no recuperación en los otros 12 (12,50%). El grado de OMNP al inicio, la hemorragia subaracnoidea y el tiempo de inicio a tratamiento se correlacionaron significativamente con la resolución de la OMNP (p < 0,05). El análisis univariado mostró que la menor edad del paciente, el grado de OMNP, la presencia de hemorragia subaracnoidea y el tiempo transcurrido desde el inicio de la enfermedad hasta el tratamiento se correlacionaron significativamente con la recuperación de OMNP (p < 0,05). Conclusión: La embolización intravascular del aneurisma Pcom combinada con OMNP puede mejorar eficazmente los síntomas de OMNP, especialmente en pacientes con OMNP a corto y mediano plazo. La edad temprana, el grado de parálisis del nervio oculomotor al inicio y el tiempo desde el inicio hasta el tratamiento tuvieron un efecto significativo en la recuperación de la parálisis del nervio oculomotor.(AU)

Cost-Effectiveness of a Workplace-Based Hypertension Management Program in Real-World Practice in the Kailuan Study.

BACKGROUND: In 2009, a workplace-based hypertension management program was launched among men with hypertension in the Kailuan study. This program involved monitoring blood pressure semimonthly, providing free antihypertensive medications, and offering personalized health consultations. However, the cost-effectiveness of this program remains unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS: This analysis included 12 240 participants, with 6120 in each of the management and control groups. Using a microsimulation model derived from 10-year follow-up data, we estimated costs, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), life-years, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) for workplace-based management compared with routine care in both the study period and over a lifetime. Analyses are conducted from the societal perspective. Over the 10-year follow-up, patients in the management group experienced an average gain of 0.06 QALYs with associated incremental costs of $633.17 (4366.85 RMB). Projecting over a lifetime, the management group was estimated to increase by 0.88 QALYs or 0.92 life-years compared with the control group, with an incremental cost of $1638.64 (11 301.37 RMB). This results in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $1855.47 per QALY gained and $1780.27 per life-year gained, respectively, when comparing workplace-based management with routine care. In probabilistic sensitivity analyses, with a threshold willingness-to-pay of $30 765 per QALY (3 times 2019 gross domestic product per capita), the management group showed a 100% likelihood of being cost-effective in 10 000 samples. CONCLUSIONS: Workplace-based management, compared with routine care for Chinese men with hypertension, could be cost-effective both during the study period and over a lifetime, and might be considered in working populations in China and elsewhere.

Measuring the cost-effectiveness of treating rectovaginal and vesicovaginal fistulas: A multicenter global study by the Fistula Foundation.

OBJECTIVE: Surgery for obstetric fistula is a highly effective treatment to restore continence and improve quality of life. However, a lack of data on the cost-effectiveness of this procedure limits prioritization of this essential treatment. This study measures the effectiveness of fistula surgeries using disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) averted. METHODS: In 2021 and 2022, the Fistula Foundation funded 20 179 fistula surgeries and related procedures at 143 hospitals among 27 countries. We calculated DALYs averted specifically for vesicovaginal fistula and rectovaginal fistula procedure types (n = 13 235 surgeries) by using disability weights from the 2019 Global Burden of Disease study. We based cost calculations on direct treatment expenses, including medical supplies, health provider fees, and preoperative and postoperative care. We measured effectiveness using data on the risk of permanent disability, country-specific average life spans, and treatment outcomes. RESULTS: The total treatment cost was $7.6 million, and a total of 131 433 DALYs were averted. Thus, the cost per DALY averted-the cost to restore 1 year of healthy life-was $58. For this analysis, we took a cautious approach and weighted only surgeries that resulted in a closed fistula with restored continence. We calculated DALYs averted by country. Limitations of the study include data entry errors inherent in patient logs and lack of long-term outcomes. CONCLUSION: The current study demonstrates that obstetric fistula surgery, along with having a significant positive impact on maternal health outcomes, is highly cost-effective in comparison with other interventions. The study therefore highlights the benefits of prioritizing fistula treatment as part of the global agenda for maternal health care.

Approximation to the economic cost of healthcare for hypertensive patients diagnosed with COVID-19.

Introduction: Many researchers have focused their studies on hypertension due to its over-representation among COVID-19 patients. Both retrospective and observational studies conducted close to the Wuhan area have reported that hypertension is the most common comorbidity observed in patients affected by COVID-19. Objective: Our objective is that patients with arterial hypertension have a worse prognosis in terms of evolution leading to higher costs. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 3,581 patients from La Paz University Hospital (LPUH) during the period between 15 July 2020 and 31 July 2020 were included in this study. Results: It should be noted that 40.71% of the patients were hypertensive. As expected, hypertension was associated with men, among whom we observed a higher prevalence and a higher age (median age of 77 years (IQI: 65-85) versus 52 years (IQI: 37-64), p-value < 0.001). Hypertensive patients had a higher prevalence of dyspnea (52.14% vs. 47.15%, p-value = 0.004) and altered awareness (14.89% vs. 4.30%, p-value <0.001). The non-parametric Kaplan-Meier curve estimates the survival of patients in the two study groups. We can see how patients with hypertension have a higher associated mortality, with the difference being statistically significant, p-value (log-rank) = 0.004. Only for the appearance of complications during hospitalization, the group of hypertensive patients reached the figure of €1,355,901.71 compared to the total of 421,403.48 € for normotensive patients. Conclusion: Our study shows the worse clinical evolution of patients with COVID-19 in terms of associated morbidity and mortality. It also shows that the cost of managing patients with hypertension is greater than that of managing normotensive patients.

Cost-Effective Rechargeable Magnesium Battery Based on a Fluorinated Alkoxyaluminate Electrolyte and a Carbonyl Polymer Cathode.

Rechargeable magnesium batteries (RMBs) are one of the most promising "post-lithium" battery technologies, but the electrochemical performance is still far from expectation due to the sluggish reaction kinetics of divalent Mg2+ ions. Herein, we report a low-cost, high-performance Mg-organic battery based on the combination of a fluorinated alkoxyaluminate electrolyte and a carbonyl polymer cathode material. First, the one-pot synthesized Mg[Al(HFIP)4]2 (HFIP = hexafluoro-2-propanol) is proved superior to the Mg[B(HFIP)4]2 analogue in both Mg anode compatibility and electrochemical window, as the electrolyte salt in the G2-DME (G2 = diethylene glycol dimethyl ether; DME = 1,2-dimethoxyethane) mixture solvent. Second, a simple wet grinding method is proposed to effectively improve the dispersion uniformity of the poly(benzoquinone-pyrrole) (PBQPy) active material in the cathode. Third, the elaborate Mg-PBQPy battery exhibits superior electrochemical performance within 0.4-3.0 V, including a high reversible capacity of 197 mA h g-1, a high average discharge voltage of 1.6 V, and a high capacity retention of 71% after 500 cycles. Finally, based on various electrochemical analysis and ex situ characterization results, we propose a general microscopic structure evolution model to reveal the electrochemical behaviors of carbonyl polymer cathode in RMBs, including the swelling of polymer active material, trapping of Mg2+ ions, and reversible redox reaction.

Gates foundation places bold bet on preprints.

Funder to mandate preprints and no longer pay open-access publishing fees for grantees.

Impact of digital inclusive finance on agricultural total factor productivity in Zhejiang Province from the perspective of integrated development of rural industries.

Improving agricultural total factor productivity is crucial for comprehensive rural revitalization and building a strong agricultural nation. Digital inclusive finance amalgamates the benefits of digital technology and inclusive finance, mitigating financial exclusion in agricultural production. It fosters rural revitalization and the modernization of agriculture by bolstering farmers' innovation, entrepreneurship, and agricultural technology advancements. Consequently, it significantly enhances overall agricultural total factor productivity. This study uses panel data from 2011 to 2020 to empirically investigate the impact and mechanism of digital inclusive finance on agricultural total factor productivity in Zhejiang Province, China. The research results show that digital inclusive finance significantly enhances agricultural total factor productivity in Zhejiang Province, which holds true even after a series of robustness tests. Analysis of the mechanism reveals that the integrated development of rural industries plays a crucial mediating role in empowering agricultural total factor productivity through digital inclusive finance. Furthermore, heterogeneity analysis indicates that the positive effect of digital inclusive finance on agricultural total factor productivity is more pronounced in the northeastern region of Zhejiang Province and in areas ranked in the second tier of agricultural development. Therefore, we recommend comprehensively enhancing the development of digital inclusive finance in rural areas, fostering a financial ecosystem that integrates rural industries, promoting the coordinated development of digital inclusive finance in different regions, and comprehensively improving agricultural total factor productivity.

Cost of start-up activities to implement a community-level opioid overdose reduction intervention in the HEALing Communities Study.

BACKGROUND: Communities That HEAL (CTH) is a novel, data-driven community-engaged intervention designed to reduce opioid overdose deaths by increasing community engagement, adoption of an integrated set of evidence-based practices, and delivering a communications campaign across healthcare, behavioral-health, criminal-legal, and other community-based settings. The implementation of such a complex initiative requires up-front investments of time and other expenditures (i.e., start-up costs). Despite the importance of these start-up costs in investment decisions to stakeholders, they are typically excluded from cost-effectiveness analyses. The objective of this study is to report a detailed analysis of CTH start-up costs pre-intervention implementation and to describe the relevance of these data for stakeholders to determine implementation feasibility. METHODS: This study is guided by the community perspective, reflecting the investments that a real-world community would need to incur to implement the CTH intervention. We adopted an activity-based costing approach, in which resources related to hiring, training, purchasing, and community dashboard creation were identified through macro- and micro-costing techniques from 34 communities with high rates of fatal opioid overdoses, across four states-Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York, and Ohio. Resources were identified and assigned a unit cost using administrative and semi-structured-interview data. All cost estimates were reported in 2019 dollars. RESULTS: State-level average and median start-up cost (representing 8-10 communities per state) were $268,657 and $175,683, respectively. Hiring and training represented 40%, equipment and infrastructure costs represented 24%, and dashboard creation represented 36% of the total average start-up cost. Comparatively, hiring and training represented 49%, purchasing costs represented 18%, and dashboard creation represented 34% of the total median start-up cost. CONCLUSION: We identified three distinct CTH hiring models that affected start-up costs: hospital-academic (Massachusetts), university-academic (Kentucky and Ohio), and community-leveraged (New York). Hiring, training, and purchasing start-up costs were lowest in New York due to existing local infrastructure. Community-based implementation similar to the New York model may have lower start-up costs due to leveraging of existing infrastructure, relationships, and support from local health departments.

Inter-facility transfers for emergency obstetrical and neonatal care in rural Madagascar: a cost-effectiveness analysis.

CONTEXT: There is a substantial lack of inter-facility referral systems for emergency obstetrical and neonatal care in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Data on the costs and cost-effectiveness of such systems that reduce preventable maternal and neonatal deaths are scarce. SETTING: We aimed to determine the cost-effectiveness of a non-governmental organisation (NGO)-run inter-facility referral system for emergency obstetrical and neonatal care in rural Southern Madagascar by analysing the characteristics of cases referred through the intervention as well as its costs. DESIGN: We used secondary NGO data, drawn from an NGO's monitoring and financial administration database, including medical and financial records. OUTCOME MEASURES: We performed a descriptive and a cost-effectiveness analysis, including a one-way deterministic sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: 1172 cases were referred over a period of 4 years. The most common referral reasons were obstructed labour, ineffective labour and eclampsia. In total, 48 neonates were referred through the referral system over the study period. Estimated cost per referral was US$336 and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was US$70 per additional life-year saved (undiscounted, discounted US$137). The sensitivity analysis showed that the intervention was cost-effective for all scenarios with the lowest ICER at US$99 and the highest ICER at US$205 per additional life-year saved. When extrapolated to the population living in the study area, the investment costs of the programme were US$0.13 per person and annual running costs US$0.06 per person. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, the inter-facility referral system was a very cost-effective intervention. Our findings may inform policies, decision-making and implementation strategies for emergency obstetrical and neonatal care referral systems in similar resource-constrained settings.

High costs, low quality of life, reduced survival, and room for improving treatment: an analysis of burden and unmet needs in glioma.

Gliomas are a group of heterogeneous tumors that account for substantial morbidity, mortality, and costs to patients and healthcare systems globally. Survival varies considerably by grade, histology, biomarkers, and genetic alterations such as IDH mutations and MGMT promoter methylation, and treatment, but is poor for some grades and histologies, with many patients with glioblastoma surviving less than a year from diagnosis. The present review provides an introduction to glioma, including its classification, epidemiology, economic and humanistic burden, as well as treatment options. Another focus is on treatment recommendations for IDH-mutant astrocytoma, IDH-mutant oligodendroglioma, and glioblastoma, which were synthesized from recent guidelines. While recommendations are nuanced and reflect the complexity of the disease, maximum safe resection is typically the first step in treatment, followed by radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy using temozolomide or procarbazine, lomustine, and vincristine. Immunotherapies and targeted therapies currently have only a limited role due to disappointing clinical trial results, including in recurrent glioblastoma, for which the nitrosourea lomustine remains the de facto standard of care. The lack of treatment options is compounded by frequently suboptimal clinical practice, in which patients do not receive adequate therapy after resection, including delayed, shortened, or discontinued radiotherapy and chemotherapy courses due to treatment side effects. These unmet needs will require significant efforts to address, including a continued search for novel treatment options, increased awareness of clinical guidelines, improved toxicity management for chemotherapy, and the generation of additional and more robust clinical and health economic evidence.

Activity budget of Bengal Monitor Varanus bengalensis: Effect of daytime, season, age and temperature.

The Bengal Monitor (Varanus bengalensis) is a large, ecologically flexible species and commonly found in many ecological settings including human-modified habitats. We conducted a study on the activity budget of this species employing the focal sampling method in the Chandpur district of Bangladesh. The Bengal Monitor spent the highest proportion of time in resting (33.09%) and the least proportion (3.75%) of time in anti-predatory behavior. The proportion of time spent on each activity by Bengal Monitor varied significantly between age classes and seasons except anti-predatory behavior. The highest proportion of basking activity was recorded for adult and sub-adult individuals in the dry season. Meanwhile, resting and foraging behavior was higher during the wet season. Locomotion activities were higher in sub-adults than in adult individuals. The duration of the activities did not differ significantly for daytime and season. However, an increase of air temperature significantly impacted lowering basking and rising locomotion activities among all behaviors of adult Bengal Monitor. The present findings suggest that the activities of the Bengal Monitor varied according to temporal and seasonal changes in the habitat's temperature, and age may crucially affect the allocation time for different activities.

Low-cost and convenient fabrication of polymer micro/nanopores with the needle punching process and their applications in nanofluidic sensing.

Solid-state micro/nanopores play an important role in the sensing field because of their high stability and controllable size. Aiming at problems of complex processes and high costs in pore manufacturing, we propose a convenient and low-cost micro/nanopore fabrication technique based on the needle punching method. The thin film is pierced by controlling the feed of a microscale tungsten needle, and the size variations of the micropore are monitored by the current feedback system. Based on the positive correlation between the micropore size and the current threshold, the size-controllable preparation of micropores is achieved. The preparation of nanopores is realized by the combination of needle punching and chemical etching. First, a conical defect is prepared on the film with the tungsten needle. Then, nanopores are obtained by unilateral chemical etching of the film. Using the prepared conical micropores, resistive-pulse detection of nanoparticles is performed. Significant ionic current rectification is also obtained with our conical nanopores. It is proved that the properties of micro/nanopores prepared by our method are comparable to those prepared by the track-etching method. The simple and controllable fabrication process proposed here will advance the development of low-cost micro/nanopore sensors.

Financial Self-Efficacy, Retirement Goal Clarity, and Preretirement Anxiety Among Nurses in Southeast Nigeria: The Mediating Role of Job Embeddedness.

Background and Objectives: It has been evidenced that retirement transitions are accompanied by preretirement anxiety about transitioning from a work-oriented lifestyle to retirement. Most employees do not proactively address these concerns during this transitional period. Thus, identifying the factors inherent in preretirement anxiety is imperative for a positive retirement transition. This study explored the role of financial self-efficacy and preretirement goal clarity on preretirement anxiety and the mediating role of job embeddedness in such relationships among prospective retiree nurses in Sub-Saharan Africa. Research Design and Methods: This cross-sectional study used self-report measures of the Pre-retirement Anxiety Scale, Financial Self-Efficacy Scale, Retirement Goal Clarity Scale, and Job Embeddedness Scale for data collection. A total of 236 nurses participated in the study. Descriptive analyses were done to determine the bivariate correlations among the study variables, while regression-based path analysis was carried out to test the hypotheses. Results: Results revealed that goal clarity and financial self-efficacy showed a strong negative association with preretirement anxiety. Also, higher job embeddedness was negatively associated with preretirement anxiety. In addition, there was a significant indirect relationship between financial self-efficacy and preretirement anxiety, as well as preretirement goal clarity and preretirement anxiety through job embeddedness. Hence, the influence of financial self-efficacy and preretirement goal clarity on preretirement anxiety was mediated by job embeddedness. Discussion and Implications: The results emphasized that financial self-efficacy and preretirement planning are imperative for a positive perception toward retirement transition. In addition, job embeddedness should be encouraged among employees because it facilitates connectedness and interrelatedness in social fusion, ideas, and projections toward retirement transition. This connotes that the development of attachment to place and the formation of strong social ties are sacrosanct for retirement transition. These results are crucial for developing a methodology for support services for prospective employees in retirement transition.

Individual-specific postural discomfort prediction using decision tree models.

The objective of the current study was to explore the utilization of the decision tree (DT) algorithm to model posture-discomfort relationships at the individual level. The DT algorithm has the advantage that it makes no assumptions about the distribution of data, is robust in representing non-linear data with noise, and produces white-box models that are interpretable. Individual-level modelling is essential for examining individual-specific postural discomfort perception processes and understanding the inter-individual variability. It also has practical applications, including the development of individual-specific digital human models and more precise and informative population accommodation analysis. Individual-specific DT models were generated using postural discomfort rating data for various seated upper body postures to predict discomfort based on postural and task variables. The individual-specific DT models accurately predicted postural discomfort and revealed large inter-individual variability in the modelling results. DT modelling is expected to greatly facilitate investigating the human discomfort perception process.

Emotions before actions: When children see costs as causal.

Adults expect people to be biased by sunk costs, but young children do not. We tested between two accounts for why children overlook the sunk cost bias. On one account, children do not see sunk costs as causal. The other account posits that children see sunk costs as causal, but unlike adults, think future actions cannot make up for sunk costs. These accounts make opposing predictions about whether children should see sunk costs as affecting emotions. Across three experiments, 4-7-year-olds (total N = 320) and adults (total N = 429) saw stories about characters who collected items that were easy or difficult to obtain, and predicted characters' emotions and actions. At all ages, participants anticipated that characters would feel sadder about high-cost objects, but only adults predicted that characters would keep high-cost objects. Our findings show that children see incurred costs as causal, and that costs are integrated children's and adults' theory of emotions. Moreover, the findings suggest that developmental differences in sunk cost reasoning may rest in children's incomplete mental accounting. We also discuss children's reasoning about rational and irrational action.

Self-assembly of metal-polyphenolic network on biomass for enhanced organic contaminant capturing from water with a high cost-to-benefit ratio.

Nanomaterials present a vast potential as functional materials in environmental engineering. However, there are challenges with nanocomplex for recyclability, reliable/stable, and scale-up industrial integration. Here, a versatile, low-cost, stable and recycled easily metal-polyphenolic-based material carried by wood powder (bioCar-MPNs) adsorption platform was nano-engineered by a simple, fast self-assembly strategy, in which wood powder is an excellent substrate serving as a scaffold and stabilizer to prevent the nanocomplex from aggregating and is easier to recycle. Life cycle analysis highlights a green preparation process and environmental sustainability for bioCar-MPNs. The metal-polyphenolic nanocomplex coated on the wood surface in bioCar-MPNs presents a remarkable surface adsorption property (1829.4 mg/g) at a low cost (2.4 US dollars per 1000 g bioCar-MPNs) for organic dye. Quartz crystal microbalance analysis (QCM) demonstrates an existing strong affinity between polyphenols and organic dyes. Furthermore, Independent Gradient Model (IGM) and Hirshfeld surface analysis reveal the presence of the electrostatic interactions, π-π interactions, and hydrogen bonding. Meanwhile, adsorption efficiency of bioCar-MPNs maintains over 95% in the presence of co-existing ions (Na+, 0.5 M). Importantly, the reasonable utilization of biomass for water treatment can contribute to achieving the high-value and resource utilization of biomass materials.