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This data article presents mean serum concentrations (wet weight and lipid standardized) of 32 persistent organic pollutants (POPs) detected in >75% of participants of the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study across levels of POPs scores, and their corresponding coefficients of determination. POPs scores were calculated as: A) the sum of each participants log-transformed POPs concentrations (∑ of log Pops], or B) as the sum of the participants log-transformed concentrations of each POP divided by the groups standard deviation of the corresponding log-transformed POP (POPs summary score. Scores were calculated for both wet weight and lipid standardized concentrations and for all 32 POPs and for PCBs and organochlorine pesticides separately. POPs summary scores analyses were used in the article Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in early adulthood and blood lipids over a 23-year follow-up [Suarez-Lopez et al., 2018].

This data article presents mean serum concentrations (wet weight and lipid standardized) of 32 persistent organic pollutants (POPs) detected in >75% of participants of the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study across levels of POPs scores, and their corresponding coefficients of determination. POPs scores were calculated as: A) the sum of each participant's log-transformed POPs concentrations (∑ of log Pops], or B) as the sum of the participants' log-transformed concentrations of each POP divided by the groups' standard deviation of the corresponding log-transformed POP (POPs summary score. Scores were calculated for both wet weight and lipid standardized concentrations and for all 32 POPs and for PCBs and organochlorine pesticides separately. POPs summary scores analyses were used in the article "Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in early adulthood and blood lipids over a 23-year follow-up" [Suarez-Lopez et al., 2018].

The coronavirus infection 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected on mental health and contributed to increased depression and anxiety. We assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicide-related the emergency department (ED) visits. We compared the characteristics of suicide-related patients who visited the ED between the "COVID-19 period" and the "pre-COVID-19 period". The mean age of patients was younger after COVID-19 pandemic. In comparison by age group, the proportion of patients during the COVID-19 period increased in their teens and 20s, and the rest of the age groups decreased. The proportion of patients who requested help was higher during the COVID-19. The authenticity of suicide attempts showed a higher proportion of patients during the pre-COVID-19. Therefore, during the pandemic, attention should be paid to worsening mental health problems, such as anxiety or depression, rather than the lethality of suicide attempts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectivesSubstantial evidence associates persistent organic pollutants (POP) with metabolic disturbances related to diabetes, but longitudinal studies with repeated measures are scarce. We aimed to characterize the association between background exposures to POPs with repeated measures of glucose homeostasis over 23-years.MethodsWithin the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study (year 0 ages: 18-30 years), we measured POPs in serum obtained in 1987-88 (follow-up year 2) in 90 non-diabetic controls and 90 cases diabetes-free at year 2 who became diabetic by year 20. We analyzed 32 POPs detectable in ≥75% of participants and created summary scores for 32 POPs, 23 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), and 8 organochlorine pesticides (OCP). Dependent variables were measures of glucose homeostasis at years 0-25 (up to 8 examinations). We explored associations using repeated measures regression adjusted for race, sex, concurrent body mass index (BMI), examination center and period, separately for cases and controls.ResultsThe associations between the three summary scores and measures of glucose homeostasis were present for observations at ages 40-55 years, and particularly between 48-55 years: the 23 PCB summary was associated with HbA1c (never-diabetics: slope [value per unit of summary score], β=0.008, p=0.02; diabetics: β=0.03, p=0.07), fasting glucose (never-diabetics: β=0.24, p=0.003; diabetics: β=1.10, p=0.03), and insulin sensitivity% (never-diabetics: β=-2.82, p

This study explores whether the 'strength of weak ties' theory, derived from social network theory, can equally apply to business activities. To address this question, we conduct an empirical analysis, utilising 3‐year panel data encompassing 3881 samples of Korean small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) in the high‐tech manufacturing sector. The primary objective is to examine the effects of inter‐corporate tie strength on innovative performance. The results reveal an interesting pattern in high‐tech manufacturing corporations, where the strength of a tie demonstrates an inverted U‐shaped relationship with an SME's patent achievement. Moreover, we observe that the effect of tie strength on an SME's patent achievement is positively moderated by its research and development (R&D) intensity. Furthermore, when an SME maintains weak ties within its relationship with a large corporation, its innovative performance experiences a more positive impact than in cases where no relationship with a large corporation exists, or strong ties are maintained. These findings suggest that for SMEs, maintaining an appropriate level of embeddedness with large corporations is an effective strategy for generating sustained innovative performance within an environment characterised by active technological innovation and intense competition. The principal contribution of this paper lies in the empirical validation of the theory of weak ties concerning a firm's innovative performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to predict the commercialization of lithium-based solid-state battery (LSSB) technology and identify the solid electrolyte type that will dominate the market. This study analyzed LSSB patents filed from 2000 to 2020 to determine the current stage of the technology life cycle, and examined the patent quality and competitiveness of three types of solid electrolytes (oxide-, sulfide-, and polymer-based) to identify the most promising. We found that LSSB technology is moving from the emerging to the growth phase, while the oxide-based solid electrolyte is the most promising technology, followed by sulfide- and polymer-based electrolyte technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) management is an essential element for corporate sustainability. However, the effect of ESG management on corporate financial performance (CFP) is inconsistent, and not many studies have been conducted for Asia and developing countries, which are in the early stage of ESG management. In addition, although R&D investment influences ESG management, few studies have focused on the relationship between R&D investment, ESG, and CFP. We analyse the effect of ESG management on CFP using panel data combining ESG rating and financial data of Korean companies and examine moderating effect of R&D investment between ESG and CFP. We find the following results. First, ESG performance has a negative effect on CFP while there is no statistically significant effect in heavily polluting industries (HPI). Second, R&D investment has no significance on CFP, but a positive moderating effect exists between environmental (E) and social (S) performance and CFP. With environmental issues and climate change being a global concern, this study provides theoretical and managerial implications for companies to create synergies in R&D investment and ESG management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]