Association Between Social Network and Physical Function in Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Japan

Objective: A poor social network and the decline of physical function are known to be critical risk factors for functional decline in older adults. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between social network and physical function in Japanese community-dwelling older adults. Methods: Participants were 339 adults aged 65 years or older (mean age : 73.0 years, women :70.2%), living independently in their communities. A self-reported questionnaire was used to assess social network on two different scales―the 6-item Lubben Social Network Scale (6LSNS) and frequency of contact with other people. Handgrip strength, knee extension strength, gait speed, Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) results, and 5-repetition chair stand test (CST) scores were used to determine physical function. A multiple regression analysis that adjusted for confounding factors was used to analyze the relationship between the social network scales and each physical function test. Results: According to the results of a multiple regression analysis, a high 6LSNS score was significantly associated with greater handgrip strength (B = 0.63, p = 0.03), faster CST (B = −0.23, p = 0.01), and faster TUG (B = −0.12, p = 0.03), and high frequency of contact was significantly associated with greater handgrip strength (B = 1.08, p = 0.01). Conclusions: Social network was associated with muscle strength and physical performance. Consequently, older adults with poor social networks require an assessment of physical function, since their physical functions have possibly deteriorated.     

Association between Social Frailty and Sleep Quality among Community-dwelling Older Adults: A Cross-sectional Study

Objective: We examined the association between social frailty and subjective sleep quality among community-dwelling adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited Japanese adults over the age of 60 years from health check-ups held in a public townhall in a suburban area between 2018 and 2019. Social frailty was evaluated using five criteria (living alone, not visiting friends sometimes, going out less frequently than the last year, not feeling helpful to friends or family, and not talking to someone every day) and categorized into three groups: non-frailty, pre-frailty, and frailty. Sleep quality was assessed according to the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) by giving participants a self-reported questionnaire. We performed multivariable linear regression analysis, denoting social frailty as an independent variable, and the global PSQI score as a dependent variable. Results: Data from 300 older adults were analyzed, 51.0% of whom were female. The participants'' mean age was 73.0 years (standard deviation = 5.8). Multivariable analysis revealed the notable association between social frailty and a high global PSQI score (compared with non-frailty, frailty: β = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.08 to 1.80, p = 0.033). Of the five determiners of social frailty, not talking with someone every day was especially associated with a high global PSQI score (β = 1.57, 95% CI = 0.49 to 2.66, p = 0.005). Conclusion: The present study suggests that social frailty is associated with poor sleep quality among community-dwelling older adults. Our findings indicate the importance of social frailty on sleep quality among older adults.     

Context effects in phoneme and word recognition by young children and older adults

Perception is influenced both by characteristics of the stimulus, and by the context in which it is presented. The relative contributions of each of these factors depend, to some extent, on perceiver characteristics. The contributions of word and sentence context to the perception of phonemes within words and words within sentences, respectively, have been well studied for normal, young adults. However, far less is known about these context effects for much younger and older listeners. In the present study, measures of these context effects were obtained from young children (ages 4 years 6 months to 6 years 6 months) and from older adults (over 62 years), and compared with those of the young adults in an earlier study [A. Boothroyd and S. Nittrouer, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 84, 101-114 (1988)]. Both children and older adults demonstrated poorer overall recognition scores than did young adults. However, responses of children and older adults demonstrated similar context effects, with two exceptions: Children used the semantic constraints of sentences to a lesser extent than did young or older adults, and older adults used lexical constraints to a greater extent than either of the other two groups.     

Nanotechnology,voluntary oversight,and corporate social performance: does company size matter?

In this article, we examine voluntary oversight programs for nanotechnology in the context of corporate social performance (CSP) in order to better understand the drivers, barriers, and forms of company participation in such programs. At the theoretical level, we use the management framework of CSP to understand the voluntary behavior of companies. At the empirical level, we investigate nanotech industry participation in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Nanoscale Materials Stewardship Program (NMSP) as an example of CSP, in order to examine the effects of company characteristics on CSP outcomes. The analysis demonstrates that, on the average, older and larger companies for which nanotech is one of the many business activities demonstrate greater CSP as judged by company actions, declarations, and self-evaluations. Such companies tended to submit more of the requested information to the NMSP, including specific information about health and safety, and to claim fewer of the submitted items as confidential business information. They were also more likely to have on-line statements of generic and nano-specific corporate social responsibility principles, policies, and achievements. The article suggests a need to encourage smaller and younger companies to participate in voluntary oversight programs for nanotechnology and presents options for better design of these programs.     

Self-rated Changes of Health Status during Stay-at-home Orders among Older Adults Using the Long-term Care Insurance System of Japan: A Cross-sectional Study

Objectives: To reveal self-rated changes of health status during stay-at-home orders among older adults and to verify whether decrease in frequency of going outdoors during these orders was related to self-rated changes in health status. Method: A self-completed questionnaire for older adults was provided in 2 dayservice facilities and a nursing station. We operationally defined health status with 4 domains (motor function, oral and swallowing function, depression, and social networks) and designed the questionnaire to determine self-rated changes in health status using factor analysis. After factor analysis, regression analyses were conducted. Dependent variable was each factor score (self-rated changes of health status), and independent variable was decrease in frequency of going outdoors. Results: Approximately 80% of participants answered that their health status had “worsened” in motor function (75.0%-87.2%). Moreover, more than 70% of participants answered “worsened” in “Feeling energy” and “Getting together and speaking with friends” (72.3% and 75.7%, respectively). Regression analyses demonstrated that, after adjusting for covariates, the decrease in frequency of going outdoors was related to self-rated changes of motor function and friend network. Conclusion: During stay-at-home orders, older adults felt deterioration in their motor function, in feeling energy, and in their friend network, especially people who had decreased their frequency of going outdoors felt more deterioration in their motor function and in their friend network.     

BFF: Bayesian,Fiducial, and Frequentist Analysis of Cognitive Engagement among Cognitively Impaired Older Adults

Engagement in cognitively demanding activities is beneficial to preserving cognitive health. Our goal was to demonstrate the utility of frequentist, Bayesian, and fiducial statistical methods for evaluating the robustness of effects in identifying factors that contribute to cognitive engagement for older adults experiencing cognitive decline. We collected a total of 504 observations across two longitudinal waves of data from 28 cognitively impaired older adults. Participants’ systolic blood pressure responsivity, an index of cognitive engagement, was continuously sampled during cognitive testing. Participants reported on physical and mental health challenges and provided hair samples to assess chronic stress at each wave. Using the three statistical paradigms, we compared results from six model testing levels and longitudinal changes in health and stress predicting changes in cognitive engagement. Findings were mostly consistent across the three paradigms, providing additional confidence in determining effects. We extend selective engagement theory to cognitive impairment, noting that health challenges and stress appear to be important moderators. Further, we emphasize the utility of the Bayesian and fiducial paradigms for use with relatively small sample sizes because they are not based on asymptotic distributions. In particular, the fiducial paradigm is a useful tool because it provides more information than p values without the need to specify prior distributions, which may unduly influence the results based on a small sample. We provide the R code used to develop and implement all models.     

Risk assessment and laser safety

The basic tenets of risk assessment have always been applied in laser safety during the development of safety standards. For example, statistical methods were used in the probit analysis of the threshold of ocular injury; concepts of risk analysis were employed in the development of hazard classes, where the increased risk of exposure and potential for injury from increasing laser output power led to assignment of an increasing hazard class. In recent years, however, there has been a number of attempts to apply statistical probability analysis in the risk assessment of actual use conditions. However, once the hazard classification has been assigned, how should one further apply the techniques of risk assessment in the determination of hazard control measures, or does this lead to a potential controversy of what is the risk? Risk analysis is the evaluation of potentially hazardous exposure conditions coupled with a realistic assessment of actual human exposure. The maximum permissible exposure values for laser radiation coupled with the laser hazards classification scheme, already permit realistic health hazard evaluations. However, in determining effective hazard control measures, one must perform a risk analysis. A risk analysis must consider aspects of human behaviour and how behaviour affects exposure. This is frequently the area of greatest controversy in the derivation of safety standards; however, it is this aspect where standards are most needed.     

Is adaptation or transformation needed? Active nanomaterials and risk analysis

Nanotechnology has been a key area of funding and policy for the United States and globally for the past two decades. Since nanotechnology research and development became a focus and nanoproducts began to permeate the market, scholars and scientists have been concerned about how to assess the risks that they may pose to human health and the environment. The newest generation of nanomaterials includes biomolecules that can respond to and influence their environments, and there is a need to explore whether and how existing risk-analysis frameworks are challenged by such novelty. To fill this niche, we used a modified approach of upstream oversight assessment (UOA), a subset of anticipatory governance. We first selected case studies of “active nanomaterials,” that are early in research and development and designed for use in multiple sectors, and then considered them under several, key risk-analysis frameworks. We found two ways in which the cases challenge the frameworks. The first category relates to how to assess risk under a narrow framing of the term (direct health and environmental harm), and the second involves the definition of what constitutes a “risk” worthy of assessment and consideration in decision making. In light of these challenges, we propose some changes for risk analysis in the face of active nanostructures in order to improve risk governance.     

Concepts,instruments, and model systems that enabled the rapid evolution of surface science

Over the past forty years, surface science has evolved to become both an atomic scale and a molecular scale science. Gerhard Ertl’s group has made major contributions in the field of molecular scale surface science, focusing on vacuum studies of adsorption chemistry on single crystal surfaces. In this review, we outline three important aspects which have led to recent advances in surface chemistry: the development of new concepts, in situ instruments for molecular scale surface studies at buried interfaces (solid–gas and solid–liquid), and new model nanoparticle surface systems, in addition to single crystals. Combined molecular beam surface scattering and low energy electron diffraction (LEED)- surface structure studies on metal single crystal surfaces revealed concepts, including adsorbate-induced surface restructuring and the unique activity of defects, atomic steps, and kinks on metal surfaces. We have combined high pressure catalytic reaction studies with ultra high vacuum (UHV) surface characterization techniques using a UHV chamber equipped with a high pressure reaction cell. New instruments, such as high pressure sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) which permit molecular-level surface studies have been developed. Tools that access broad ranges of pressures can be used for both the in situ characterization of solid–gas and solid–liquid buried interfaces and the study of catalytic reaction intermediates. The model systems for the study of molecular surface chemistry have evolved from single crystals to nanoparticles in the 1–10 nm size range, which are currently the preferred media in catalytic reaction studies.     

Cross-impact balances: Applying pair interaction systems and multi-value Kauffman nets to multidisciplinary systems analysis

Cross-impact analysis is the name for a familiar method for multidisciplinary systems analysis in social sciences and management sciences, especially in technology foresight, technology assessment and scenario planning. A recently proposed form of cross-impact analysis, CIB, may be of interest for physicists, sociophysicists and complex network researchers because the CIB concept reveals considerable relations to some concepts of these research fields.This article describes the basics of CIB analysis framework, its applications in the social sciences, and its relations to the equilibrium points of pair interaction systems, random graphs, and generalized Kauffman nets.Therefore CIB can be seen as a merger of concepts originating in utterly different scientific fields. This may prove to be fruitful for both sides: For sociophysicists as an example of the application of complex network concepts in the social sciences and for cross-impact practitioners as a source of theoretical insights in the background of their tool.     

Sonochemical production of nanoparticle metal oxides for potential use in dentistry

Two types of ultrasonic instruments used in dentistry have been compared with a sonochemical horn for the production of copper oxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles. The nanoparticles can be produced from benign reagents using dental instruments as the source of sonochemical enhancement. The process has been operated in resin models of teeth in a preliminary exploration of the potential of the method for enhancing procedures such as root canal surgery. The technique is potentially useful but further work is needed for a full assessment of using in-situ generated nanoparticles as an aid to disinfection during some types of dental surgery.     

An exploratory statistical approach to depression pattern identification

Depression is a complex phenomenon thought to be due to the interaction of biological, psychological and social factors. Currently depression assessment uses self-reported depressive symptoms but this is limited in the degree to which it can characterise the different expressions of depression emerging from the complex causal pathways that are thought to underlie depression. In this study, we aimed to represent the different patterns of depression with pattern values unique to each individual, where each value combines all the available information about an individual’s depression. We considered the depressed individual as a subsystem of an open complex system, proposed Generalized Information Entropy (GIE) to represent the general characteristics of information entropy of the system, and then implemented Maximum Entropy Estimates to derive equations for depression patterns. We also introduced a numerical simulation method to process the depression related data obtained by the Diamond Cohort Study which has been underway in Australia since 2005 involving 789 people. Unlike traditional assessment, we obtained a unique value for each depressed individual which gives an overall assessment of the depression pattern. Our work provides a novel way to visualise and quantitatively measure the depression pattern of the depressed individual which could be used for pattern categorisation. This may have potential for tailoring health interventions to depressed individuals to maximize health benefit.     

A bibliometric analysis of the development of next generation active nanotechnologies

Delineating the emergence of nanotechnologies that offer new functionalities is an important element in an anticipatory approach to the governance of nanotechnology and its potential impacts. This paper examines the transition to next generation active nanotechnologies which incorporate functions that respond to the environment or systems concepts that combine devices and structures that are dynamic and which may change their states in use. We develop an approach to identifying these active nanotechnologies and then use bibliometric analysis to examine the extent of research papers and patents involving these concepts. We also examine references to environmental, health, and safety concepts in these papers, given that these next generation nanotechnologies are likely to have risk profiles that are different from those of first-generation passive nanomaterials. Our results show a steady growth overall in focus on active nanotechnologies in the research literature and in patents over the study period of 1990–2010. We also find an increase in consideration given to environmental, health, and safety topics. While gaps are highlighted in our understanding of research and innovation in active nanotechnologies, the results suggest that there is beginning to be a shift to active nanotechnologies, with the implication that governance processes need to be conscious of this shift and to prepare for it.     

Voice Handicap Index Results for Older Patients with Adductor Spasmodic Dysphonia

Adductor spasmodic dysphonia (ADSD) adversely affects a speaker's ability to effectively communicate. For many individuals suffering with ADSD, botulinum toxin (Botox) is the chosen treatment to remediate the symptoms. Although Botox's effects on symptom remediation have been examined before, patient perception of improvement post-Botox has been examined less frequently. Further, no studies have addressed the symptomatic changes in older adults that occur after Botox treatment. The Voice Handicap Index (VHI) was used as the instrument to assess older patient's (>65 years) perception of how ADSD impacts certain areas of their life pre- and post-Botox injection. The outcome of the VHI was related to a clinical judgment of voice severity. Participants also completed the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) to examine overall stress level, and the outcome of the SRRS was correlated to postinjection VHI scores. Results indicated no significant correlation between VHI scores and voice severity or SRRS ratings. The current study suggests further study of voice outcomes with older adults with ADSD is needed.     

Analyzing the Coevolution of Mobile Application Diffusion and Social Network: A Multi-Agent Model

The successful diffusion of mobile applications in user groups can establish a good image for enterprises, gain a good reputation, fight for market share, and create commercial profits. Thus, it is of great significance for the successful diffusion of mobile applications to study mobile application diffusion and social network coevolution. Firstly, combined with a social network’s dynamic change characteristics in real life, a mobile application users’ social network evolution mechanism was designed. Then, a multi-agent model of the coevolution of a social network and mobile application innovation diffusion was constructed. Finally, the impact of mobile applications’ value perception revenue, use cost, marketing promotion investment, and the number of seed users on the coevolution of social network and mobile application diffusion were analyzed. The results show that factors such as the network structure, the perceived value income, the cost of use, the marketing promotion investment, and the number of seed users have an important impact on mobile application diffusion.     

Age effects in the human middle ear: wideband acoustical measures

Studies that have examined age effects in the human middle ear using either admittance measures at 220 or 660 Hz or multifrequency tympanometry from 200 to 2000 Hz have had conflicting results. Several studies have suggested an increase in admittance with age, while several others have suggested a decrease in admittance with age. A third group of studies found no significant age effect. This study examined 226 Hz tympanometry and wideband energy reflectance and impedance at ambient pressure in a group of 40 young adults and a group of 30 adults with age > or = 60 years. The groups did not differ in admittance measures of the middle ear at 226 Hz. However, significant age effects were found in wideband energy reflectance and impedance. In particular, in older adults there was a comparative decrease in reflectance from 800 to 2000 Hz but an increase near 4000 Hz. The results suggest a decrease in middle-ear stiffness with age. The findings of this study hold relevance for understanding the aging process in the auditory system, for the establishment of normative data for wideband energy reflectance, for the possibility of a conductive component to presbycusis, and for the interpretation of otoacoustic emission measurements.     

An apparatus-independent extinction strain rate in counterflow flames

Resistance to extinction by stretch is a key property of any flame, and recent work has shown that this property controls the overall structure of several important types of turbulent flames. Multiple definitions of the critical strain rate at extinction (ESR) have been presented in the literature. However, even if the same definition is used, different experiments report different extinction strain rates for flames burning the same fuel-air mixture at very similar temperatures using similarly constructed opposed-flow instruments. Here we show that at extinction, all these flames are essentially identical, so one would expect that each would be assigned the same value of a parameter representing its intrinsic resistance-to-stretch-induced-extinction, regardless of the specifics of the experimental apparatus. A similar situation arises in laminar flame speed measurements since different apparatuses could result in different strain rate distributions. In that instance, the community has agreed to report the unstretched laminar flame speed, and methods have been developed to translate the experimental (stretched) flame speed into a universal unstretched laminar flame speed. We propose an analogous method for translating experimental measurements for stretch-induced extinction into an unambiguous and apparatus-independent quantity (ESR_∞) by extrapolating to infinite opposing burner separation distance. The uniqueness of the flame at extinction is shown numerically and supported experimentally for twin premixed, single premixed, and diffusion flames at Lewis numbers greater than and less than one. A method for deriving ESR_∞ from finite-boundary experimental studies is proposed and demonstrated for methane and propane experimental diffusion and premixed single flame data. The two values agree within the range of ESR differences typically observed between experimental measurements and simulation results for the traditional ESR definition.     

Priming and sentence context support listening to noise-vocoded speech by younger and older adults

Older adults are known to benefit from supportive context in order to compensate for age-related reductions in perceptual and cognitive processing, including when comprehending spoken language in adverse listening conditions. In the present study, we examine how younger and older adults benefit from two types of contextual support, predictability from sentence context and priming, when identifying target words in noise-vocoded sentences. In the first part of the experiment, benefit from context based on primarily semantic knowledge was evaluated by comparing the accuracy of identification of sentence-final target words that were either highly predictable or not predictable from the sentence context. In the second part of the experiment, benefit from priming was evaluated by comparing the accuracy of identification of target words when noise-vocoded sentences were either primed or not by the presentation of the sentence context without noise vocoding and with the target word replaced with white noise. Younger and older adults benefited from each type of supportive context, with the most benefit realized when both types were combined. Supportive context reduced the number of noise-vocoded bands needed for 50% word identification more for older adults than their younger counterparts.     

Stochastic self-sustained oscillations of non-autonomous systems

In the present minireview, we analyze autonomous and non-autonomous oscillations of dynamical and stochastic systems in the framework of common concepts. We introduce the definition of an attractor for a non-autonomous system. We also propose the definition of self-sustained oscillations, which can be applied for both autonomous and non-autonomous systems. We consider noise-induced oscillations and formulate the definition of stochastic self-sustained oscillations for this case. All the statements made in this work are illustrated by particular examples.