The Impact of Minimum Wage Policy on Alcohol Use Disorder: A Quasi-Experimental Study in South Korea.

South Korea's 2018 minimum wage hike was examined for its impact on potential alcohol use disorders among affected individuals, using data from the Korea Welfare Panel Study (2015-2019). The study sample was restricted to workers aged 19-64 employed over the study years. The treatment group was identified as those below minimum wages, and the control group as those earning more than minimum wages in 2016-2017 (n=3,117 control, n=578 treatment). Using outcomes derived from the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, our results from difference-in-differences models showed that the 2018 wage hike was linked to a 1.9% increase in the 'high risk' of alcohol use disorder and a 3.6% rise in hazardous consumption in the treatment group. Notably, the effects were more pronounced among men and those aged 50-64. Additionally, we confirmed that the spillover effects extended to workers earning up to 20% above the minimum wage. This study underscores the unintended substance use risk of minimum wage policies in the East Asian context. As wage policies are implemented, integrated public health campaigns targeting at-risk groups are required.

Long-term trends in mental health disparities across sexual orientations in the UK: a longitudinal analysis (2010-2021).

BACKGROUNDS: In the context of increasing hate crimes, legislative challenges, and anti-LGBTQ + sentiment, we conducted the first study that comprehensively examined long-term mental health disparities across sexual orientations in the UK from 2010 to 2021. Prior studies predominantly relied on cross-sectional or limited longitudinal designs, thus failing to capture evolving trends over a decade and providing crucial insights into the dynamics of mental health challenges faced by sexual minorities, essential for devising targeted public health interventions and policies. METHODS: Waves 2-12 of the UK Longitudinal Household Survey for adults (n = 52,591) were used. MCS-12 (Mental Health Component Scale of the Short-Form Health Survey) for mental functioning and GHQ (General Health Questionnaire) for psychological distress were included as the main outcomes, along with other measures of well-being. Mixed-effect longitudinal models were used to examine the trends of mental health disparities across sexual orientations. RESULTS: Relative to their heterosexual counterparts, psychological distress (GHQ) increased for gay men, lesbians, and women with "other" orientations. Bisexual women saw the steepest increase from 1.69 higher GHQ vs. their heterosexual counterparts in 2010 (95%CI: 0.81 to 2.57), up to 3.37 in 2021 (95%CI: 2.28 to 4.45). Similar trends were also shown in the other measures. CONCLUSIONS: The study highlights increases in mental health disparities between sexual minorities and heterosexuals. The escalating psychological distress among sexual minorities, particularly bisexual women, calls for an urgent, multi-faceted, and intersectoral response. This approach must address both symptoms and the social structures perpetuating these disparities across sexual orientations.

Cannabis legalization and hospitalizations in Alberta: Interrupted time series analysis by age and sex.

OBJECTIVES: Recent research has focused on the effects of legalization on cannabis-related emergency department visits, but the considerable healthcare costs of cannabis-related hospitalizations merit attention. We will examine the association between recreational cannabis legalization and cannabis-related hospitalizations. METHODS: A cohort of 3,493,864 adults from Alberta was examined (October 2015-May 2021) over three periods: pre-legalization, post-legalization of flowers and herbs (phase one), and post-legalization of edibles, extracts, and topicals (phase two). Interrupted time series analyses were used to detect changes. RESULTS: The study found an increase in hospitalization rates among younger adults (18-24) before legalization, yet no increased risk was associated with cannabis legalization, for either younger (18-24) or older adults (25+). CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should be aware of the increased risk in younger groups and may benefit from early identification and intervention strategies, including screening and brief interventions in primary care settings.

The impact of minimum wage increase on suicidal ideation in South Korea: a difference-in-differences analysis using nationally representative panel data.

BACKGROUND: South Korea had the highest suicide rates in the OECD and one of the largest (16.4%) increases in the minimum wage in 2018. Prior studies have provided evidence that increases in minimum wage reduce suicide rates in the population, but no study examined the effects of the policy change on individual-level suicidal behaviour. METHODS: Our study sample was built using the 2015-2019 waves of the Korean Welfare Panel Survey, a population-representative longitudinal survey. The sample consisted of 5146 participants, including those earning above minimum wage (control) and minimum wage earners (treatment) based on their 2018/19 earnings. The outcome of the study was suicidal ideation, which is an important precursor to other suicidal behaviours, and was captured using self-reported measures. We examined the impact of the 2018 minimum wage hike in Korea on suicidal ideation, using a difference-in-differences design. RESULTS: The minimum wage increase was associated with a 1.6% points reduction (95% CI: -2.8% to -0.5%) in self-reported suicidal ideation. Stronger policy effects were shown among women and older age groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that public policies employing a population-based approach, such as increasing minimum wages, could serve as an effective intervention to mitigate suicidal ideation among low-income workers.

Why do drinkers earn more? Job characteristics as a possible link.

After some initial controversy, an inverted U-shape relationship between the consumption of alcohol and earnings seems to be an established result, at least in North America. It has been dubbed a "drinking premium", at least in the lower portion of the consumption curve. It is still unclear, perhaps even counter-intuitive, why such a drinking premium exists and the literature suggests it is not causal but results rather from selection effects. We suggest here that part of the premium is linked to occupation: some occupations pay better, controlling for the usual human capital determinants, and also attract drinkers or induce workers to drink more. Using a sample of full-time employed or self-employed individuals aged 25-64 and not in poor health from the 2015-16 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), we confirm the existence of a drinking premium and a positive return to the quantity or frequency of drinking up to high levels of consumption. Using information on jobs held by respondents, linked to a data set of job characteristics, we find that controlling for job characteristics reduces the premium or return to drinking by approximately 30% overall, and up to 50% for female workers.

Impact of the minimum wage increase on intimate partner violence (IPV): a quasi-experimental study in South Korea.

BACKGROUND: Poverty is associated with intimate partner violence (IPV), but whether exogenous increases in wage could reduce IPV among low-income women is still unclear. We examined whether the 2018 minimum wage hike led to a reduction in IPV risk among women. METHODS: Using the 2015-2019 Korean Welfare Panel Study, we employed a difference-in-differences (DID) approach to assess the effect of the minimum wage hike on IPV. The analysis focused on married women aged 19 or older. We categorised participants into a target group (likely affected by the minimum wage increase) and a comparison group based on their hourly wage. Three IPV outcomes were examined: verbal abuse, physical threat and physical assault. We conducted DID analyses with two-way fixed-effects models. RESULTS: The increase in minimum wage was correlated with a 3.2% decrease in the likelihood of experiencing physical threat among low-income female workers (95% CI: -6.2% to -0.1%). However, the policy change did not significantly influence the risk of verbal abuse, physical assault or a combined IPV outcome. The study also highlights a higher incidence of all IPV outcomes in the target group compared with the comparison group. CONCLUSIONS: The 2018 minimum wage increase in Korea was associated with a modest reduction in physical threat among low-income female workers. While economic empowerment through minimum wage policies may contribute to IPV prevention, additional measures should be explored. Further research is needed to understand the intricate relationship between minimum wage policies and IPV, and evidence-based prevention strategies are crucial to address IPV risk.

Impact of the minimum wage increase on smoking behaviour: A quasi-experimental study in South Korea.

BACKGROUND: While there's a growing body of research studying the health effects of minimum wage increases, evidence of its impact on smoking is inconsistent. Using nationally representative statistics, our quasi-experimental study examines the impacts of South Korea's 2018 minimum wage increase on smoking patterns, offering a distinctive context due to the significant wage growth and the country's permissive smoking culture. METHODS: Using the Korean Welfare Panel Study (KOWEPS), we conducted a difference-in-differences analysis using two-way fixed effect (TWFE) and Callaway and Sant'Anna Difference-in-differences (CSDID) methods. The study sample (n = 3494) included individuals aged 19-64 at baseline in 2016, and employed in the entire study period (2016-2019). RESULTS: The model results suggest a roughly 2% increase in the probability of current smoking with an insignificant impact on average daily cigarette consumption following the 2018 minimum wage increase in Korea. These effects were most pronounced among men and age groups (45-64). We also found policy effects on those earning up to 150% of the minimum wage. CONCLUSION: In a culture with widespread acceptance of smoking, an exogenous increase in disposable income due to elevated minimum wage might enhance vulnerability to societal pressure to smoke. Although TWFE and CSDID both suggest the same overall trend, the latter approach allows a more detailed examination by acknowledging heterogeneous treatment effects. These results could guide policymakers to contemplate the potential for increased smoking resulting from minimum wage hikes in societies where tobacco use is common, and accordingly strategize anti-smoking public health initiatives.

Ameliorating Uniformity and Color Conversion Efficiency in Quantum Dot-Based Micro-LED Displays through Blue-UV Hybrid Structures.

Quantum dot (QD)-based RGB micro light-emitting diode (µ-LED) technology shows immense potential for achieving full-color displays. In this study, we propose a novel structural design that combines blue and quantum well (QW)-intermixing ultraviolet (UV)-hybrid µ-LEDs to achieve high color-conversion efficiency (CCE). For the first time, the impact of various combinations of QD and TiO2 concentrations, as well as thickness variations on photoluminescence efficiency (PLQY), has been systematically examined through simulation. High-efficiency color-conversion layer (CCL) have been successfully fabricated as a result of these simulations, leading to significant savings in time and material costs. By incorporating scattering particles of TiO2 in the CCL, we successfully scatter light and disperse QDs, effectively reducing self-aggregation and greatly improving illumination uniformity. Additionally, this design significantly enhances light absorption within the QD films. To enhance device reliability, we introduce a passivation protection layer using low-temperature atomic layer deposition (ALD) technology on the CCL surface. Moreover, we achieve impressive CCE values of 96.25% and 92.91% for the red and green CCLs, respectively, by integrating a modified distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) to suppress light leakage. Our hybrid structure design, in combination with an optical simulation system, not only facilitates rapid acquisition of optimal parameters for highly uniform and efficient color conversion in µ-LED displays but also expands the color gamut to achieve 128.2% in the National Television Standards Committee (NTSC) space and 95.8% in the Rec. 2020 standard. In essence, this research outlines a promising avenue towards the development of bespoke, high-performance µ-LED displays.

A Stretchable Polymer Conductor Through the Mutual Plasticization Effect.

Intrinsically stretchable conductors play key roles in the dynamic interfacing of electronic devices with soft human tissues. However, it is difficult to simultaneously achieve high electrical conductivity and mechanical stretchability. Here, highly stretchable and conductive thin film electrodes are prepared by combining PEDOT:PSS and a mutually plasticized polymer dopant. Notably, harsh acid treatment for conductivity enhancement is avoided, and good solvent tolerance and high optical transparency are realized, all of which are essential to device fabrication. A transparent electrochromic display is further developed that can bear stretching up to 80% strain, demonstrating its promising application in next-generation optoelectronics.

A cross-sectional analysis of the association between social capital and willingness to get COVID-19 vaccine in Ontario, Canada.

OBJECTIVE: We examine the role of social capital in intention to take the vaccine at the end of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This study uses observational, cross-sectional data from the Ontario sample of the fall 2020 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), a representative sample of the population with added questions relative to symptoms of COVID-19 and intentions to get vaccinated. Questions on social capital were asked to respondents from Ontario only, yielding a sample of 6516. Odds ratios (OR) and marginal effects at sample mean of an index of social capital (at the individual or aggregated level) on changes in intentions to get vaccinated are estimated from logistic regression models. RESULTS: Individual-level social capital is associated with greater willingness to get vaccinated against COVID-19 (OR 1.09). Associations with aggregated-level social capital are less precisely estimated. Associations are the same for both males and females but vary across age categories: individual-level social capital is associated with higher willingness to get vaccinated among working-age respondents, but aggregate-level social capital is associated with higher willingness to get vaccinated among older adults. CONCLUSION: Vaccine hesitancy is not a random phenomenon, nor is it explained by individual characteristics such as education or income only. It also reflects the state of the social environment in which individuals live and public health messaging should take this into account if it is to be successful.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIF: Nous étudions le rôle du capital social dans les intentions de se faire vacciner à la fin de la première vague de la pandémie de COVID-19. MéTHODES: Ce travail utilise des données observationnelles transversales tirées de l'échantillon pour l'Ontario de la vague d'automne 2020 de l'Enquête sur la santé dans les collectivités canadiennes (ESCC), un échantillon représentatif de la population, en particulier des questions supplémentaires sur les symptômes de COVID-19 et les intentions de se faire vacciner. Les questions sur le capital social n'ont été posées qu'aux répondants vivant en Ontario, nous donnant un échantillon de taille N = 6 516. Les rapports de chances (RC) et les effets marginaux au point moyen de l'échantillon de l'indice de capital social (individuel ou agrégé) sur les changements de la santé mentale auto-déclarée ainsi que sur l'intention de se faire vacciner sont estimés à partir d'une régression logistique. RéSULTATS: Le capital social mesuré au niveau individuel est associé à des intentions plus élevées de se faire vacciner (RC de 1,09). L'association du capital social mesuré au niveau agrégé est moins précisément estimée et nous ne trouvons une association significativement différente de 0 qu'au seuil de 10 % seulement. Les associations sont les mêmes pour les hommes et les femmes mais varient selon la classe d'âge : le capital social individuel est associé à une intention élevée de se faire vacciner parmi les enquêtés en âge de travailler, mais le capital social agrégé est associé à une intention élevée de se faire vacciner parmi les enquêtés plus âgés. CONCLUSION: La réticence devant le vaccin n'est pas distribuée au hasard et n'est pas non plus expliquée seulement par les caractéristiques individuelles comme l'éducation ou le revenu. Elle reflète aussi l'état de l'environnement social dans lequel les individus vivent et les messages de santé publique doivent en tenir compte pour être efficaces.

Topological supramolecular network enabled high-conductivity, stretchable organic bioelectronics.

Intrinsically stretchable bioelectronic devices based on soft and conducting organic materials have been regarded as the ideal interface for seamless and biocompatible integration with the human body. A remaining challenge is to combine high mechanical robustness with good electrical conduction, especially when patterned at small feature sizes. We develop a molecular engineering strategy based on a topological supramolecular network, which allows for the decoupling of competing effects from multiple molecular building blocks to meet complex requirements. We obtained simultaneously high conductivity and crack-onset strain in a physiological environment, with direct photopatternability down to the cellular scale. We further collected stable electromyography signals on soft and malleable octopus and performed localized neuromodulation down to single-nucleus precision for controlling organ-specific activities through the delicate brainstem.