Search Results (20)

This study investigated the interrelationships among Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability (LOHASs), recreational benefits, and environmentally responsible behaviors (ERBs) of visitors to the Xitou Forest Recreation Area in Taiwan and estimated the conservation value of its forest recreation resources using the contingent valuation method. The structural equation modeling analysis supported six of eight hypotheses. Three LOHAS factors (environmental awareness, internal health, and external health) indirectly promoted ERB through recreational benefits, including environmental education, psychological, physiological, and social benefits. Higher income, stronger perceived recreational benefits, and recognition of ecological or facility value significantly increased visitors’ willingness to pay (WTP). Among the three identified lifestyle clusters, the health-conscious LOHAS group consistently exhibited the highest WTP at NTD$263, with a confidence interval of NTD$255–271, surpassing both the eco-friendly group (NTD$193–209) and socially engaged group (NTD$184–200), demonstrating a stronger commitment to ecological and environmental protection and recreational facility maintenance. Forest recreation managers can target different LOHAS segments and emphasize the holistic benefits of forest recreation. Implementing flexible pricing alongside environmental education can increase WTP, supporting sustainable conservation funding and improved visitor experiences. Full article

The objective of this study was to identify the determinants of personal norm and to measure the effect of personal norm on green purchasing behavior as well as a possible mediating role of consumer LOHAS orientation in the effect of personal norm on green purchasing behavior in the hospitality context. A field study was designed to measure the hypothesized effects, and 418 consumers who regularly purchase summer holidays in hotels were included in the survey. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed in order to test the proposed hypotheses. The results confirm that social norm, the ascription of responsibility, and the attitude towards green purchasing behavior are the determinants of personal norm. Personal norm is found to affect both the green purchasing behavior and the LOHAS orientation of consumers. The results of the study also confirmed that LOHAS orientation does not mediate the effect of personal norm on green purchasing behavior due to the dominance of personal norm’s effect on LOHAS orientation. Academic as well as managerial implications are provided in the Discussion. The Conclusion provides the most important academic and practical contributions of the study, limitations related to the generalizability of the findings, and recommendations for future studies. Full article

Objective: Osteoarthritis is linked to dementia, but no longitudinal studies have established this connection. This prospective cohort study from the Locomotive Syndrome and Health Outcome in Aizu Cohort Study (LOHAS) aimed to determine if knee osteoarthritis (KOA) independently predicts dementia in adults aged 65 and above. Methods: Participants were classified by the Kellgren–Laurence scale into no/minimal KOA (grades 0 and I) and definitive KOA (grade II or higher). We analyzed dementia incidence from 2009 to 2015 using long-term care insurance data, adjusting for age, sex, vascular risks, depressive symptoms, and activity levels. Results: Out of 1089 participants (58.9% female, average age 72.5), 72.0% had definitive KOA. Dementia occurrence was significantly higher in the definitive group (8.4%) compared to the no/minimal group (3.0%) (p < 0.001). A log-rank test and Cox regression analysis confirmed these findings, showing an adjusted hazard ratio of 2.29 (confidence interval: 1.12–4.68) for dementia in those with definitive KOA. Conclusions: These results suggest that KOA is a significant risk factor for dementia, highlighting the importance of addressing contributing factors in KOA patients to potentially slow the progression of dementia. Full article

We investigated whether hyaluronic acid (HA) injections can ameliorate ultrasound-detected synovitis in knee osteoarthritis (OA). We recruited 103 patients with symptomatic knee OA and ultrasound-detected synovitis and performed two ultrasound-guided fluid drainage procedures, followed by the administration of a low-molecular-weight HA injection (2.5 mL) in the subpatellar bursa, at a 2-week interval. Knee ultrasound imaging evaluations were performed before injection (baseline) and at 1 and 6 months after the second injection and included the measurements of synovial vascularity by using color Doppler ultrasound, synovial fluid depth over the suprapatellar bursa (SF), and synovial hypertrophy (SH). Initial clinical assessments included a visual analog scale (VAS) and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). VAS scores decreased significantly at both 1-month and 6-month evaluations (p < 0.001). WOMAC scores also significantly decreased at 1 month (p < 0.001), but not at 6 months (p = 0.23). The ultrasound parameters did not significantly change, except color Doppler grading, which tended to decrease at the 6-month evaluation (p = 0.059). Our findings revealed that two ultrasound-guided HA injections following fluid drainage improved pain and knee function but did not considerably influence imaging-detected synovitis in patients with knee OA. Full article

Fungus gnats (Sciaridae) are one of the most devastating pests on mushroom farms. Generally, they are controlled using relatively inefficient physical means, like sticky or pheromone traps, or with chemical pesticides. Here, we have proposed an integrated fungus gnat control system combining a UV-A LED source at 365 nm and a high-power laser diode at 445 nm. The 365 nm UV-A LED serves a light trap, since previous studies have concluded that fungus gnats show maximum attraction in the range of 365–390 nm. The UV-A LED is also modulated at different frequencies, and the response of the gnats corresponding to these different frequencies was observed. We utilized an Arduino Uno microcontroller to run the integrated device, and a BASLER USB camera was used to capture the images. Our experiments indicated that a frequency of 40 Hz is the optimal choice for attracting the gnats most rapidly. Within 20 s of exposure, the UV-A LED operated at 40 Hz was found to trap approximately 80% of the gnats. In a restricted trapping zone measuring 2.5 × 2.5 × 3 cm³, our integrated module, which includes a 40 Hz modulated UV-A LED and a laser, resulted in a survival rate of only 50% for the total number of gnats. This outcome was accomplished through periodic 200 ms long exposures, amounting to a total duration of 2 min for a group of 100 gnats. Full article

Marketing strategies play a significant role in determining farm income. Although direct marketing has been proposed as an innovative way to improve producers’ economic welfare, little is known about producers’ adoption of direct marketing among aquaculture farms. This study examines the adoption of wholesaler markets, individual wholesalers or shippers, and direct marketing among aquaculture farms. In addition, we quantify the effects of the use of different marketing channels on fishery revenues, profits, and production inputs. A sample of 25,180 aquaculture family farms in Taiwan was drawn from the fishery census survey. After estimating the simultaneous equation system model, we find that the use of multiple marketing channels generates the highest fishery revenues, which highlights the importance of marketing channel diversity on selling fishery products. Moreover, we find a positive effect of direct marketing on fishery revenues and profits. We also find that the use of direct marketing can reduce the use of groundwater in aquaculture production. Since the decrease in groundwater use can mitigate the severity of land subsidence, this paper provides evidence that direct marketing can possibly provide a win-win strategy to improve fishery producers’ revenues and environmental quality. Full article

(1) Background: Workers who perform emotional labor for an extended period are prone to emotional exhaustion; in particular, when the work exceeds the range of one’s emotional resources, it will produce job burnout. This study investigated the effects of emotional labor and emotional exhaustion on the physical and mental health of health professionals. (2) Methods: This study was cross-sectional and the sampling criteria were health professionals from August 2020 to July 2021, including rehabilitators, nutritionists, clinical psychologists, radiologists, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, medical examiners and audiologists. A questionnaire was used to collect data on participants’ emotional labor, emotional exhaustion, physical health and mental health. A total of 120 valid questionnaires were obtained. (3) Results: Significant positive correlations were found between emotional labor and emotional exhaustion, physical and mental health and anxiety. A hierarchical regression analysis found that the effect of emotional labor on physical and mental health increased the predictive power to 59.7% through emotional exhaustion, and emotional exhaustion had a mediating effect on the relationship between emotional labor and physical and mental health. (4) Conclusions: This study provides a reference for managers of medical institutions to care for employees’ work stress and physical and mental health, which will help institutions build a friendly and healthy workplace. Full article

Owing to the increasing trends of the LOHAS lifestyle (LOHASism) adopted by a majority of Taiwanese communities, most community development associations have begun to explore the most effective LOHASism sustainable development strategies for advancing a high-quality lifestyle for these extensive community residents. Hence, this research cross-employed the three core principles in LOHASism, three analytical dimensions (environment, society and governance) of Environment Society and Governance (ESG) and 17 evaluated sustainable indexes of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in order to effectively induce the determinants of ESG for a community LOHASism sustainable development strategy. Significantly, the three most valuable conclusions and contributive findings are: (1) the main research question has been comprehensively solved through interdisciplinary analyses of the consolidation among the three principles (Dogood, Feelgood, Lookgood) of LOHASism, three dimensions of ESG and 17 evaluated sustainable indexes of the SDGs; (2) the highest scale of standardized comparative weights was located in the Positively Promoting Community Development Sustainability (PPCDS) of 0.7194, which means LOHASism, ESG and SDGs did positively promote community sustainable development in order and empirically achieved the brief research goal; and (3) industry, innovation and infrastructure (III), reduced inequality and responsible consumption and production in the governance of the EGS into LOHASism were the highest three weighted scales in the Positively Promoting Community Development Sustainability (PPCDS). This means that most community’s residents expect the advancement of innovation and infrastructure (III), the improvement of reduced inequality and the increment of responsible consumption and production to be the top three critical sustainable development strategies in their community development governance in order to advance the most residents to be good-looking and have body health. Full article

As a lifestyle and consumer trend, the LOHAS (Lifestyle of Health and Sustainability) has been growing in popularity worldwide. The LOHAS is followed by a consumer group that is characterised by consumer attitudes and behaviours focusing on health and sustainability, that is increasingly concerned about global problems and challenges, and that follows trends related to sustainability, such as health and environmental consciousness. In addition, this group strives for a sense of naturalness, aims to behave ethically, and seeks to hold authentic and individualistic values. The objective of this research is to explore how young people today relate to the components of the LOHAS model, how the different characters respond, and what their perceived values are. We are also looking for answers pertaining to whether clusters may be formed based on the examined factors. In our study, we surveyed 357 Hungarian respondents, who are members of Generation Z. As a method of data analysis, descriptive statistical methods, correlation analyses, factor analysis, cluster analysis, and the persona profiles were designed using the design thinking method. Based on the factors of the LOHAS model, three separate groups may be ascertained within Generation Z: personas that fit the LOHAS, personas that could fit the LOHAS, and personas that do not fit LOHAS. Full article

Schizophrenia is a complex mental disorder with a genetic component. The GRIK gene family encodes ionotropic glutamate receptors of the kainate subtype, which are considered candidate genes for schizophrenia. We screened for rare and pathogenic mutations in the protein-coding sequences of the GRIK gene family in 516 unrelated patients with schizophrenia using the ion semiconductor sequencing method. We identified 44 protein-altered variants, and in silico analysis indicated that 36 of these mutations were rare and damaging or pathological based on putative protein function. Notably, we identified four truncating mutations, including two frameshift deletion mutations (GRIK1^p.Phe24fs and GRIK1^p.Thr882fs) and two nonsense mutations (GRIK2^p.Arg300Ter and GRIK4^p.Gln342Ter) in four unrelated patients with schizophrenia. They exhibited minor allele frequencies of less than 0.01% and were absent in 1517 healthy controls from Taiwan Biobank. Functional analysis identified these four truncating mutants as loss-of-function (LoF) mutants in HEK-293 cells. We also showed that three mutations (GRIK1^p.Phe24fs, GRIK1^p.Thr882fs, and GRIK2^p.Arg300Ter) weakened the interaction with the PSD95 protein. The results suggest that the GRIK gene family harbors ultrarare LoF mutations in some patients with schizophrenia. The identification of proteins that interact with the kainate receptors will be essential to determine kainate receptor-mediated signaling in the brain. Full article

The incidence of strokes in individuals in their 30–40 s—who have responsibilities towards their families—has increased. Additionally, many stroke patients suffer from post-stroke disabilities and require rehabilitation. However, especially in younger stroke patients, factors such as financial burden and the inability to be productive lead to depression and thereby, the lack of rehabilitation motivation—which affects their therapeutic outcomes. Therefore, medical interventions alone are not sufficient. This study aimed to identify the psychosocial factors that affect stroke patients’ rehabilitation motivation. Hence, a scoping review was conducted to analyze the research trends across South Korean academic papers and theses, followed by a comprehensive meta-analysis to identify the correlations among the variables. Eighteen factors related to rehabilitation motivation were identified. The internal factors were depression, cognition, self-efficacy, self-esteem, disability acceptance, volition, communication, resilience, empowerment, and uncertainty. The external factors included sleep pattern, quality of life, activities of daily living, physical function, social support, financial burden, disease-related characteristics, and rehabilitation environment. Based on these findings, an intervention model should be developed to provide social support to stroke patients. Moreover, psychological interventions should be developed to enhance the self-efficacy of stroke patients who are undergoing rehabilitation. Full article

LOHAS (Lifestyle of Health and Sustainability) describes an emerging lifestyle that is defined by attention to health, well-being, and environmental sustainability. Discussions of the LOHAS lifestyle have moved faster than any of the research to support it. Originally developed in South Korea, it has been picked up in the U.S. and other cultures worldwide. However, researchers have proceeded as if one scale fits all. The implications of LOHAS can only proceed if there is a reliable and valid measure for LOHAS and empirical evidence that the scale is effective for diverse groups. The current research focuses on the development of a psychometrically reliable and valid scale to measure the multi-dimensional nature of LOHAS. By following generally accepted scale development procedures, a LOHAS scale is created and tested for its reliability, dimensionality, construct, and nomological validity. Finally, theoretical and managerial implications are outlined. Full article

Background: Aging may result in autonomic nervous dysfunction. Heart rate variability (HRV) is a non-invasive method to measure autonomic nervous activities. Many studies have shown that HRV contributes to the risk assessment of diseases. A Polar V800 heart rate monitor is a wearable device that measures R-R intervals, but has only been validated in younger adults under limited testing conditions. There is no validation of the V800 under mental stress or in dual task testing conditions. Therefore, this study investigated the validity of the Polar V800 heart rate monitor for assessing R-R intervals and evaluated if there were differences on HRV parameters under different situations in community-dwelling elderly adults. Methods: Forty community-dwelling elderly adults were recruited. Heart rates were recorded via electrocardiogram (ECG) and the V800 under sitting, during an arithmetic test, during a naming test, a self-selected walking velocity test (SSWV), and dual tasks (SSWV performing mental arithmetic test and SSWV performing naming test). Indices of time and frequency domains of HRV were calculated afterwards. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) analysis and effect size were calculated to examine the concurrent validity between the V800 and the ECG. Results: All HRV indices from the V800 were highly correlated with the ECG under all tested conditions (ICC = 0.995–1.000, p < 0.001) and the effect size of bias was small (<0.1). Conclusion: Overall, the V800 has good validity on the assessment of HRV in community-dwelling elderly adults during sitting, mental arithmetic test, naming test, SSWV, and dual tasks. Full article

The current paper analyzes the awareness of renewable energy sources (RES), the relationship between self-reported and actual knowledge, and the correlation among the knowledge of renewable energy sources, the characteristic stereotypes, and the typical attitude of different social groups to energy, comparing them with international experience. A nationwide representative questionnaire-based survey was carried out involving 1002 people in Hungary in 2019. Better education, a higher income, an active white-collar profession, and a health- and environment-conscious approach to life (LOHAS (lifestyle of health and sustainability) segment) are definitely an advantage when it comes to knowledge of renewable energy sources. No significant relationship was detected in terms of age; however, in cluster formation, young people were typically found to be better informed. Overall, the actual knowledge of the Hungarian respondents is more favorable than the self-reported one, and the basic level of knowledge of energy sources in the case of wind and hydropower exceeds international experience. The social factors of better knowledge essentially correspond to the international trends; however, regarding firewood, solar, and wind energy, the average Hungarian has certain false stereotypes that can be considered typical. The assessment of convenience and that of environmental aspects are almost the same. Full article

The impact of emerging infectious diseases is increasingly recognised as a major threat to wildlife. Wild populations of the endangered Tasmanian devil, Sarcophilus harrisii, are experiencing devastating losses from a novel transmissible cancer, devil facial tumour disease (DFTD); however, despite the rapid decline of this species, there is currently no information on the presence of haemoprotozoan parasites. In the present study, 95 Tasmanian devil blood samples were collected from four populations in Tasmania, Australia, which underwent molecular screening to detect four major groups of haemoprotozoa: (i) trypanosomes, (ii) piroplasms, (iii) Hepatozoon, and (iv) haemosporidia. Sequence results revealed Trypanosoma infections in 32/95 individuals. Trypanosoma copemani was identified in 10 Tasmanian devils from three sites and a second Trypanosoma sp. was identified in 22 individuals that were grouped within the poorly described T. cyclops clade. A single blood sample was positive for Babesia sp., which most closely matched Babesia lohae. No other blood protozoan parasite DNA was detected. This study provides the first insight into haemoprotozoa from the Tasmanian devil and the first identification of Trypanosoma and Babesia in this carnivorous marsupial. Full article