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Abstract Water scarcity and its geopolitical implications have been a cornerstone of scholarly discourse. However, literature often overlooks the nuanced relationship between human traits and water management. Addressing this oversight, this study synthesized data from 149 articles (1991–2023), revealing a substantial connection between human actions and water management dynamics. From this data, a unique comprehensive framework was developed, focusing on the intricate interplay of human behaviors, leadership dynamics, economic factors, and technological advancements in water management. Unlike previous works, this framework holistically integrates these components, offering a fresh lens through which to understand the human-centric factors underpinning global water scarcity. This study underscores the framework’s vital role in guiding sustainable water management and strategy, making it an indispensable tool for stakeholders, from policymakers to environmentalists. In essence, this research not only bridges a knowledge gap but also serves as a beacon for addressing pressing water scarcity challenges in today’s world.

Water scarcity and its geopolitical implications have been a cornerstone of scholarly discourse. However, literature often overlooks the nuanced relationship between human traits and water management. Addressing this oversight, this study synthesized data from 149 articles (1991–2023), revealing a substantial connection between human actions and water management dynamics. From this data, a unique comprehensive framework was developed, focusing on the intricate interplay of human behaviors, leadership dynamics, economic factors, and technological advancements in water management. Unlike previous works, this framework holistically integrates these components, offering a fresh lens through which to understand the human-centric factors underpinning global water scarcity. This study underscores the framework's vital role in guiding sustainable water management and strategy, making it an indispensable tool for stakeholders, from policymakers to environmentalists. In essence, this research not only bridges a knowledge gap but also serves as a beacon for addressing pressing water scarcity challenges in today's world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with TP53 mutations has a worse prognosis. It was generally more resistant to chemotherapy and radiation. Our aim was to investigate the correlation between the TP53 co-mutated gene and clinical features, and prognostic value in patients with NSCLC. Methods: Seventy-three patients with a diagnosis of NSCLC at our hospital were recruited. They were divided into the TP53 mutation status (minor) (TP53 MU) and TP53 wild-type (major) (TP53 WT) groups according to their clinical characteristics after their mutation data and clinical information were collected. Serum markers were compared between groups using Mann-Whitney U test. Other clinical factors were compared between groups using χ2 test and Fisher exact test. The log-rank test was used to compare survival curves. Results: Of the 73 patients with NSCLC, 37 (50.68%) were found to carry TP53 mutation. TP53 MU and TP53 WT groups (n = 36) showed a significant difference in the number of smokers, incidence of squamous cell carcinoma, EGFR mutation, and number of advanced patients (P <.05), while gender, age, lymph node metastasis, and KRAS mutation did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. The survival curves in the TP53/KRAS and the TP53/EGFR co-mutation groups suggest that patients with NSCLC may have a shorter progression-free survival (PFS) if they carry one of the 2 types of co-mutation. Conclusions: TP53 gene mutations are more common in patients with NSCLC and squamous cell carcinoma. New predictive markers for NSCLC prognosis may be TP53/KRAS and TP53/EGFR co-mutations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In both science and theology, there has been a revolution in our understanding of the nature of human uniqueness. As a background to this Symposium on the subject, a summary is here given of the history of Homo sapiens that is being revealed by fossil, archaeological, and genetic evidence. This is followed by a description of some of the distinctive characteristics of humans that have been proposed in the past, such as language, tool use, self‐consciousness, art, and culture. Ideas from theology and philosophy that are salient for the dialogue with science are then mentioned, together with a summary of the scientific and theological insights on uniqueness from contributors to this Symposium in Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A production process using high-resolution cameras can be used for multi-camera recordings of theater performances or other stage performances. One approach to automate the generation of suitable image cuts could be to focus on speaker changes so that the person who is speaking is shown in the generated cut. However, these image cuts can appear static and robotic if they are set too precisely. Therefore, the characteristics and habits of professional vision mixers (persons who operate the vision mixing desk) during the editing process are investigated in more detail in order to incorporate them into an automation process. The characteristic features of five different vision mixers are examined, which were used under almost identical recording conditions for theatrical cuts in TV productions. The cuts are examined with regard to their temporal position in relation to pauses in speech, which take place during speaker changes on stage. It is shown that different professional vision mixers set the cuts individually differently before, in or after the pauses in speech. Measured are differences on average up to 0.3 seconds. From the analysis of the image cuts, an approach for a model is developed in which the individual characteristics of a vision mixer can be set. With the help of this novel model, a more human appearance can be given to otherwise exact and robotic cuts, when automating image cuts.

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BACKGROUND: Non--small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with TP53 mutations has a worse prognosis. It was generally more resistant to chemotherapy and radiation. Our aim was to investigate the correlation between the TP53 co-mutated gene and clinical features, and prognostic value in patients with NSCLC. METHODS: Seventy-three patients with a diagnosis of NSCLC at our hospital were recruited. They were divided into the TP53 mutation status (minor) (TP53 MU) and TP53 wild-type (major) (TP53 WT) groups according to their clinical characteristics after their mutation data and clinical information were collected. Serum markers were compared between groups using Mann-Whitney U test. Other clinical factors were compared between groups using χ² test and Fisher exact test. The log-rank test was used to compare survival curves. RESULTS: Of the 73 patients with NSCLC, 37 (50.68%) were found to carry TP53 mutation. TP53 MU and TP53 WT groups (n = 36) showed a significant difference in the number of smokers, incidence of squamous cell carcinoma, EGFR mutation, and number of advanced patients (P < .05), while gender, age, lymph node metastasis, and KRAS mutation did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. The survival curves in the TP53/KRAS and the TP53/EGFR co-mutation groups suggest that patients with NSCLC may have a shorter progression-free survival (PFS) if they carry one of the 2 types of co-mutation. CONCLUSIONS: TP53 gene mutations are more common in patients with NSCLC and squamous cell carcinoma. New predictive markers for NSCLC prognosis may be TP53/KRAS and TP53/EGFR co-mutations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropomorphism describes the tendency to endow objects with human characteristics, with some individuals being more inclined to do this than others. In an ambiguous environment, this phenomenon can offer guidance. This study investigates the relationship between self-reported attribution and evoked anthropomorphism when viewing house facades. Data was collected from three countries (Germany, Denmark, Canada; N = 305). Implicit house anthropomorphism was measured using the Global Vectors for Word Representation method. Explicit anthropomorphism was assessed using the Individual Differences in Anthropomorphism Questionnaire (IDAQ) and a specific House Anthropomorphism Score (EHAS). No significant relationship was found between implicit and explicit house anthropomorphism. Individual IDAQ scores were significantly associated with EHAS across all participants, regardless of country. Additionally, a high degree of agreement in explicit ratings between countries suggests that cultural differences are rather negligible. When objects are given human personality traits and people interact with them because emotions are triggered, it is important to understand which aspects elicit positive and reactive behaviors. In particular, houses, which have high psychological significance as objects of self-expression, might contribute to well-being, so research in this area can provide important knowledge for urban design and architecture., Competing Interests: Declarations Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

As is well known, the characteristics of being human are important to all of us because they signify our basic identity as individuals. It can be asked, however, which of those characteristics are related to our well-being as that is assessed by our life satisfaction. It is the intention of this study to explore the connections among human character strengths and life satisfaction. The human character strengths studied here include curiosity, love of learning, wisdom, having a “big picture perspective,” self-awareness, honesty, kindness, social intelligence, intangible values, gift giving, social responsibility, and hope and humor. A total of 498 responses were collected from adult shoppers in Bangkok, Thailand. The results of the multiple regression analysis indicated that among the various human character strengths, as well the demographic characteristics, wisdom, self-awareness, household income, hope, education, social responsibility, and intangible values have positive impacts on life satisfaction The only negative element that was seen to have a negative influence on life satisfaction was curiosity. Further analyses of the significant determinants of life satisfaction for those with varying household incomes and levels of education were carried out and are discussed in this article.

The aim of the research is to provide a survey-based result on the individual digital skills and human characteristics of the workforce influenced by digital transformation. The online questionnaire is completed by managers and white collar workers of Hungarian manufacturing companies in spring 2021 (n=489). Descriptive statistics and relationship tests are used for analysing the results. The main findings are: (1) digital transformation reduced the demand for human labour, the workforces have basic digital skills used in a few parts of companies, and the digital transformation has increased the challenge in the lack of digital skills of the workforce. (2) Human characteristics are important as an impact of the digital transformation. (3) The size of the companies influences human characteristics changed as a result of the digital transformation. Managers have to focus on improving human and digital skills of the workforces needed in increasingly digital work environments, therefore providing adequate training is an urgent need while companies undergo digital transformation. The study investigates an important socio-technical phenomena determining how digital transformation places specific demands on individual digital skills. Significant human characteristics such as critical thinking, complex problem solving, adaptability, resilience and creativity are essential to successfully exploit the digital transformation.

Currently, biotechnological advances have surpassed the classical aims of medicine. Critical conceptual changes have impacted the medical construct of the doctor-patient relationship, such as a) the diversity of the concept of human nature; b) the concept of human corporeality; c) the subjective concept of autonomy, and d) the value of quality of life. A bioethical analysis of these concepts leads to understanding why current medicine could be heading towards an 'enhancement' or 'transhumanist' medicine. The conclusion shows that medicine accepts the application of biotechnology advances under the classical postulates focused on the health field and that it is necessary to deeply reflect on their application to provide improvements or new functions to healthy subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social networks are widely used as a fast and ubiquitous information-sharing medium. The mass spread of food rumours has seriously invaded public's healthy life and impacted food production. It can be argued that the government, companies, and the media have the responsibility to send true anti-rumour messages to reduce panic, and the risks involved in different forms of communication to the public have not been properly assessed. The manuscript develops an empirical analysis model from 683 food anti-rumour cases and 7,967 data of the users with top comments to test the influence of the strength of rumour/anti-rumour on rumour control. Furthermore, dividing the users into three categories, Leaders, Chatters, and General Public, and study the influence of human characteristics on the relationship between the strength of rumour/anti-rumour and rumour control by considering the different human characteristics as moderator variables. The results showed that anti-rumours have a significant positive impact on the control of rumours; the ambiguity of rumours has a significant negative impact on the Positive Comment Index (PCI) in rumour control. Further, the Leaders increased the overall level of PCI, but negatively adjusted the relationship between evidence and PCI; the Chatters and the General Public reduced the overall level of PCI, and Chatters weakened the relationship between the specific type of anti-rumour form and PCI while the General Public enhanced the relationship between the specific type of anti-rumour form and PCI. In the long run, the role of Leaders needs to be further improved, and the importance of the General Public is growing in the food rumour control process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proposed objective is to identify the level of spirituality in university teachers during the context of the pandemic. The correlational descriptive quantitative methodology was used with Mann Whitney's U, Spearman's rho and Kruskal Wallis's H tests in 85 university professors from the Faculties of Health and Humanities of a public entity. Applying the Spirituality scale, the information was analyzed using SPSS, version 24. The results show high levels of spirituality in 96% of teachers. There are statistically significant differences in the scores with respect to age and sex in the spiritual needs dimension, with men and the group between 30 and 39 years old having the highest average (p <0.05). The self-awareness dimension predominated at the highest level. Conclusions: spirituality, as a construction given from beliefs, practices and own experiences, represents a relevant element for the care of being; considering it essential to face difficulties, especially in apparently disruptive situations such as COVID-19. In the experience of the pandemic, teachers adopt spirituality as a part of their being that gives value to themselves, guides the search for harmony with nature and focuses on their goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Objective: Teachers’ evaluation as an accountable process in promoting the quality of medical education is the main mission of the university. Teachers are key and effective facilitator of this process. Some of the attributes of faculty from the students’ point of view to help students to learn and make the learning process more effective. For this purpose, a study was conducted to determine the characteristics of effective faculty in improving education and its influence on students in Iran. Materials & Methods: This study was conducted through systematic review and meta-analysis. For this purpose, the articles that were published in Iran were either in English in Persian and were selected for the study without considering the time period. Articles were searched in databases of Cochrane Library Web of Science, PubMed, CINAHL, Google Scholar, Ovid, Science Direct, WILEY, Scopus, ProQuest, Medline, Elsevier Magiran, and SID. Finally, 21 articles that met the criteria for meta-analysis were included in the study and their quality was evaluated. Results: Attributes were extracted in six domains. The six main dimensions are as follows: Individual and personality traits, communication skills, teaching skills, research skills, evaluation skills, and observing educational rules. Conclusion: Personal characteristics, research skills and communication skills were among the most important characteristics of an effective faculty from the students' perspective. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the characteristics in the recruitment of instructors.

Social networks are widely used as a fast and ubiquitous information-sharing medium. The mass spread of food rumours has seriously invaded public’s healthy life and impacted food production. It can be argued that the government, companies, and the media have the responsibility to send true anti-rumour messages to reduce panic, and the risks involved in different forms of communication to the public have not been properly assessed. The manuscript develops an empirical analysis model from 683 food anti-rumour cases and 7,967 data of the users with top comments to test the influence of the strength of rumour/anti-rumour on rumour control. Furthermore, dividing the users into three categories, Leaders, Chatters, and General Public, and study the influence of human characteristics on the relationship between the strength of rumour/anti-rumour and rumour control by considering the different human characteristics as moderator variables. The results showed that anti-rumours have a significant positive impact on the control of rumours; the ambiguity of rumours has a significant negative impact on the Positive Comment Index (PCI) in rumour control. Further, the Leaders increased the overall level of PCI, but negatively adjusted the relationship between evidence and PCI; the Chatters and the General Public reduced the overall level of PCI, and Chatters weakened the relationship between the specific type of anti-rumour form and PCI while the General Public enhanced the relationship between the specific type of anti-rumour form and PCI. In the long run, the role of Leaders needs to be further improved, and the importance of the General Public is growing in the food rumour control process.

Luteinizing hormone (LH) is present throughout the natural follicular phase. However, the debate is still not settled on whether LH is needed during ovarian stimulation in IVF. This commentary looks at the evolution of this debate, mentioning three elephants in the room that were ignored by the Pharma industry, professional organizations, and clinicians alike: 1. The different endocrinology between the long agonist and the antagonist protocols. 2. The fixed dose of the two most widely commercially available antagonist preparations, namely cetrorelix and ganirelix. 3. The fact that most research in this area uses population-based criteria, ignoring endocrine parameters. Individual genetics of the LH receptor gene may also serve to individualize LH needs during stimulation; however, the jury is still out regarding this approach. CONCLUSIONS: Individual endocrine and genetics parameters may shed meaningful light on the question of LH supplemental during ovarian stimulation., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Abstract With the improvement of living standards, personalized clothing customization has become a trend of people’s apparel demand. The key factor in personalized clothing customization is a three-dimensional human modeling. With the development of image analysis technology, it is possible to use image analysis technology to extract human characteristics. In this paper, two-dimensional human feature regions and characteristic parameter extraction methods of images are used. The backpropagation neural network (BP neural network) is used to curve the three-dimensional human characteristics, and the neck, chest, waist, and buttocks of 22 subjects are verified. The results show that the use of this method can well achieve the extraction of human characteristic parameters.

Manufacturing companies are confronted with increasing product complexity and shorter development times. In human-centered production systems, employees can adapt to new and changing tasks after completing learning processes. In such kind of production systems, human characteristics are crucial factors of system capabilities. A review on model based integration of human representations in production system design is presented based on qualitative literature survey. It covers publications between 1999 and 2020 using Web of Science and Google Scholar in both domains, Production Systems and Human Factors. The aim of this paper is to analyze Human Factors and their impact that can influence human performance in a human-centered production system. It presents findings from identification, consolidation and interpretation of published work currently available on Human Factors in production engineering. Thus, it contributes recommendations for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Objective: Teachers’ evaluation as an accountable process in promoting the quality of medical education is the main mission of the university. Teachers are key and effective facilitator of this process. Some of the attributes of faculty from the students’ point of view to help students to learn and make the learning process more effective. For this purpose, a study was conducted to determine the characteristics of effective faculty in improving education and its influence on students in Iran. Materials & Methods: This study was conducted through systematic review and meta-analysis. For this purpose, the articles that were published in Iran were either in English in Persian and were selected for the study without considering the time period .Articles were searched in databases of Cochrane Library Web of Science, PubMed, CINAHL, Google Scholar, Ovid, Science Direct, WILEY, Scopus, ProQuest, Medline, Elsevier Magiran, and SID. Finally, 21 articles that met the criteria for meta-analysis were included in the study and their quality was evaluated. Results: Attributes were extracted in six domains .The six main dimensions are as follows: Individual and personality traits, communication skills, teaching skills, research skills, evaluation skills, and observing educational rules. Conclusion: Personal characteristics, research skills and communication skills were among the most important characteristics of an effective faculty from the students' perspective. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the characteristics in the recruitment of instructors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The maximum cooperative grasping mass and diameter of the human thumb and index finger were investigated by 7560 grasp-release trials on various masses of solid cylinders and various sizes of rings. The maximum grasping mass of the participants’ thumb-index finger depended on gender, age and the sum of thumb-index finger lengths (P < 0.05), but not on the hand-used and ratio of index finger to thumb length (P > 0.05). The maximum grasping diameter of the participants’ thumb-index finger depended on the age, sum of thumb-index finger lengths and ratio of index finger to thumb length (P < 0.05), but not on the gender and hand-used (P > 0.05). There was a non-linear regression model for the dependence of the maximum grasping mass on gender, age and the sum of thumb-index finger lengths and another non-linear regression model for the dependence of the maximum grasping diameter on the age, sum of thumb-index finger lengths and ratio of index finger to thumb length. Two regression models were useful in the optimal size design of robotic hands intending to replicate thumb-index finger grasping ability. This research can help to define not only a reasonable grasp mass and size for a bionic robotic hand, but also the requirements for hand rehabilitation.

The maximum cooperative grasping mass and diameter of the human thumb and index finger were investigated by 7560 grasp-release trials on various masses of solid cylinders and various sizes of rings. The maximum grasping mass of the participants' thumb-index finger depended on gender, age and the sum of thumb-index finger lengths (P < 0.05), but not on the hand-used and ratio of index finger to thumb length (P > 0.05). The maximum grasping diameter of the participants' thumb-index finger depended on the age, sum of thumb-index finger lengths and ratio of index finger to thumb length (P < 0.05), but not on the gender and hand-used (P > 0.05). There was a non-linear regression model for the dependence of the maximum grasping mass on gender, age and the sum of thumb-index finger lengths and another non-linear regression model for the dependence of the maximum grasping diameter on the age, sum of thumb-index finger lengths and ratio of index finger to thumb length. Two regression models were useful in the optimal size design of robotic hands intending to replicate thumb-index finger grasping ability. This research can help to define not only a reasonable grasp mass and size for a bionic robotic hand, but also the requirements for hand rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common upper gastrointestinal disease, and almost 30% of GERD patients do not respond well to proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical characteristics of elderly GERD patients who either respond to or resist PPI therapy. Methods: A total of 198 patients (75.9 ± 6.4 years, 73.7% males) with GERD receiving PPI treatment were enrolled in this study. Enrolled patients were requested to complete a questionnaire and a personal interview concerning their demographics, comorbidities, symptoms, and endoscopic findings. Results: Among the 198 enrolled patients, 135 responded to PPI once or twice daily (Group R), while 63 failed to respond to PPI twice daily (Group F). Cross-group differences were detected for body mass index (p = 0.042), family status (p = 0.028), depression (0.7% vs. 7.9%, p = 0.03), compliance (77% vs. 60%, p = 0.015), and hiatal hernia (6.7% vs. 17.5%, p = 0.019). Conclusion: PPI failure appears to be significantly influenced by body mass index, family status, depression, compliance, and hiatal hernia of GERD patients.

Many human characteristics must be evaluated to comprehensively understand an individual, and measurements of the corresponding cognition/behavior are required. Brain imaging by functional MRI (fMRI) has been widely used to examine brain function related to human cognition/behavior. However, few aspects of cognition/behavior of individuals or experimental groups can be examined through task-based fMRI. Recently, resting state fMRI (rs-fMRI) signals have been shown to represent functional infrastructure in the brain that is highly involved in processing information related to cognition/behavior. Using rs-fMRI may allow diverse information about the brain through a single MRI scan to be obtained, as rs-fMRI does not require stimulus tasks. In this study, we attempted to identify a set of functional networks representing cognition/behavior that are related to a wide variety of human characteristics and to evaluate these characteristics using rs-fMRI data. If possible, these findings would support the potential of rs-fMRI to provide diverse information about the brain. We used resting-state fMRI and a set of 130 psychometric parameters that cover most human characteristics, including those related to intelligence and emotional quotients and social ability/skill. We identified 163 brain regions by VBM analysis using regression analysis with 130 psychometric parameters. Next, using a 163 × 163 correlation matrix, we identified functional networks related to 111 of the 130 psychometric parameters. Finally, we made an 8-class support vector machine classifiers corresponding to these 111 functional networks. Our results demonstrate that rs-fMRI signals contain intrinsic information about brain function related to cognition/behaviors and that this set of 111 networks/classifiers can be used to comprehensively evaluate human characteristics.

As an important life value, honesty is well reflected in Indonesian literature. It appears in a large number of talks and events, which involve the characters of many of its literary works. This paper is a report on a corpus study of the social and cultural factors that influence the characters' honesty as shown in the use of the words jujur (honest), sejujurnya or sejujurjujurnya (most honest), and kejujuran (honesty). The result reveals that social position, intimacy, life and work norms, and erotic capital may affect a person's view of honesty and its practice. A person with a high social position may influence a person with a lower social position to be honest or dishonest, and the person finds it difficult not to obey him. A person having an intimate relation with another person does not hesitate to talk about matters which may threaten the addressee's negative face or his own positive face. In real life and work place, honesty is required as a norm for a person to be fully accepted. A person with a big erotic capital may gain trust from other people more easily and be considered honest. The study also reveals that the words jujur (honest) and sejujurnya or sejujur-jujurnya (most honest) are often used as a hedge to avoid a negative face-threatening act to the addressee and maintain the speaker a positive face. The speaker requests the addressee's understanding that he is a position which requires him to say something the addressee does not like. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many human characteristics must be evaluated to comprehensively understand an individual, and measurements of the corresponding cognition/behavior are required. Brain imaging by functional MRI (fMRI) has been widely used to examine brain function related to human cognition/behavior. However, few aspects of cognition/behavior of individuals or experimental groups can be examined through task-based fMRI. Recently, resting state fMRI (rs-fMRI) signals have been shown to represent functional infrastructure in the brain that is highly involved in processing information related to cognition/behavior. Using rs-fMRI may allow diverse information about the brain through a single MRI scan to be obtained, as rs-fMRI does not require stimulus tasks. In this study, we attempted to identify a set of functional networks representing cognition/behavior that are related to a wide variety of human characteristics and to evaluate these characteristics using rs-fMRI data. If possible, these findings would support the potential of rs-fMRI to provide diverse information about the brain. We used resting-state fMRI and a set of 130 psychometric parameters that cover most human characteristics, including those related to intelligence and emotional quotients and social ability/skill. We identified 163 brain regions by VBM analysis using regression analysis with 130 psychometric parameters. Next, using a 163 x 163 correlation matrix, we identified functional networks related to 111 of the 130 psychometric parameters. Finally, wemade an 8-class support vectormachine classifiers corresponding to these 111 functional networks. Our results demonstrate that rs-fMRI signals contain intrinsic information about brain function related to cognition/behaviors and that this set of 111 networks/classifiers can be used to comprehensively evaluate human characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A compreensão do mundo contemporâneo exige um olhar naturalista do qual a obra de Josué de Castro é uma das mais importantes expressões: pensar de maneira articulada a vida social e a reprodução do ambiente natural em que se apóia - incluindo aí a natureza do próprio homem, seu corpo - é a pedra de toque do método geográfico praticado em Geografia da Fome. Esse método é importante não apenas para estudar aquelas regiões onde a fome se abate severamente sobre a vida da população, mas oferece uma importante chave de leitura dos problemas alimentares que se anunciam para o século XXI, quando a população mundial deverá ter um aumento de quase 50%. Os desafios produtivos dos próximos anos - que este artigo procura expor de maneira sumária - não poderão ser enfrentados com base nas técnicas que caracterizaram a Revolução Verde. Eles exigem uma compreensão refinada dos vínculos entre sistemas sociais e sistemas ecológicos, para a qual a obra de Josué de Castro é uma inspiração fundamental.Understanding the contemporary world requires a naturalist view, wherein the work of Josué de Castro is one of the most important expressions: taking a comprehensive approach to social life and reproduction of the natural environment that supports it - including the nature of humans themselves, their bodies - is the cornerstone of the geographic method practiced in Geografia da Fome [The Geography of Hunger]. This method is important for studying regions where hunger severely afflicts the populations, and also offers an important key for interpreting the food problems that are forecast for the 21st century, when the world population is expected to increase by nearly 50%. The food production challenges in the coming years - and which this article discusses briefly - cannot be solved with the techniques that characterized the so-called Green Revolution. Rather, they require a more refined understanding of the links between the social and ecological systems, an interface in which the work of Josué de Castro provides fundamental inspiration.

Summary Background Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common upper gastrointestinal disease, and almost 30% of GERD patients do not respond well to proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical characteristics of elderly GERD patients who either respond to or resist PPI therapy. Methods A total of 198 patients (75.9 ± 6.4 years, 73.7% males) with GERD receiving PPI treatment were enrolled in this study. Enrolled patients were requested to complete a questionnaire and a personal interview concerning their demographics, comorbidities, symptoms, and endoscopic findings. Results Among the 198 enrolled patients, 135 responded to PPI once or twice daily (Group R), while 63 failed to respond to PPI twice daily (Group F). Cross-group differences were detected for body mass index ( p = 0.042), family status ( p = 0.028), depression (0.7% vs. 7.9%, p = 0.03), compliance (77% vs. 60%, p = 0.015), and hiatal hernia (6.7% vs. 17.5%, p = 0.019). Conclusion PPI failure appears to be significantly influenced by body mass index, family status, depression, compliance, and hiatal hernia of GERD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Driving support and cruise assist systems are of growing importance in achieving both road traffic safety and convenience. Such driver support seeks to achieve, with the highest possible quality, nothing less than “driver-vehicle symbiosis under all conditions.” At the same time, many traffic accidents result from improper driver behavior. The author focuses on driver behavior under various driving conditions, conducting detailed measurement and analysis of visual perception and attention characteristics as well as perceptual characteristics involved in driving. The aim in doing so is to support research on driving support systems and driving workload reduction technologies that function as human-vehicle systems and take such characteristics into account.

Alexithymia is perceived as a personality construct involving deficits in the cognitive processing of emotion. Brain areas that process emotions might be structurally altered in affected people. Subjects from the Study of Health in Pomerania who underwent whole body magnetic resonance imaging were investigated. After quality control procedures 2,589 subjects with Toronto Alexithymia Scale 20 (TAS-20) data and interview-based information on major depressive disorder (MDD) were available. After exclusion of study participants who were older than 65 years or had MDD in their lifetime, 1,685 subjects were included in the voxel-based morphometric (VBM 8) analyses. In whole-brain analyses, the TAS-20 total score was associated with less gray matter (GM) volumes of the bilateral dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC). The TAS-20 factor scale difficulty identifying feelings (DIF) was associated with less GM volume in three clusters: dACC, left middle and inferior temporal gyrus, left fusiform gyrus and cerebellum. The lower GM volume in the left fusiform gyrus was specific for females. Absolute GM volume analyses also revealed associations between the factor scales difficulty describing feelings, external orientated thinking and the dACC. Adjustment for current symptoms of anxiety and depression did not change the effects sizes substantially. In conclusion, lower GM volume in the dACC represents the major structural correlate of alexithymia. Associations with DIF suggest a prominent involvement of left temporal areas. These areas represent language and semantic processing and might be involved in the cognitive processing of emotions and the conscious identification of feelings. Hum Brain Mapp 35:5932-5945, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]