Wednesday, October 18, 2023

Graz University of Technology study on e-scooter accidents: more helmets and less speed reduce the injury risk

A team from the Vehicle Safety Institute at TU Graz has used Human Body Models to investigate accidents involving electric scooters and identified the most important factors for preventing serious injuries

Reports and Proceedings

GRAZ UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

The project SURF team (from left): Martin Schachner, Desiree Kofler, project leader Christoph Leo and research team leader Corina Klug from the Vehicle Safety Institute at TU Graz — IMAGE:
THE PROJECT SURF TEAM (FROM LEFT): MARTIN SCHACHNER, DESIREE KOFLER, PROJECT LEADER CHRISTOPH LEO AND RESEARCH TEAM LEADER CORINA KLUG FROM THE VEHICLE SAFETY INSTITUTE AT TU GRAZ.
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CREDIT: LUNGHAMMER - TU GRAZ

The use of e-scooters has increased significantly in recent years, but so has the number of accidents involving this relatively new form of transport. At the same time, knowledge about injury mechanisms in this area was still very limited. In the project SURF, funded by Zukunftsfonds Steiermark, the Vehicle Safety Institute at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) investigated this topic using Human Body Models and derived recommendations to reduce the injury risk in e-scooter accidents.

Put on a helmet, decrease speed and get off the pavement

As is also the case for other groups of vulnerable road users, the study found that when riding an e-scooter, a helmet can reduce the risk of head injuries drastically – in this case by up to 44 percent. It also showed that a ban on e-scooters on pavements and footpaths makes sense. The simulations showed that collisions with pedestrians often result in serious injuries. In addition to the ban, a speed limit would bring more safety in this regard – the same applies to single e-scooter accidents. For example, the risk of head injuries to pedestrians is reduced by up to 49 percent when the collision speed is reduced from 25 km/h to 15 km/h. In contrast, in collisions with passenger cars, it is mainly the speed of the car that plays a major role in the level of injury risk. Collisions with cars travelling at 40 km/h can cause severe to fatal head injuries to e-scooter riders.

A reduction in the maximum permitted speed of e-scooters would also benefit unexperienced drivers. As part of the study, there were experiments with volunteers in which the driving behaviour of the e-scooter riders was examined in order to determine their riding pose for simulations with Human Body Models. This showed that even unexperienced drivers often rode at the top speed of their e-scooters, although they were still very unsafe on the road.

The simulation of a crash between an e-scooter and a car.

CREDIT

VSI - TU Graz

From literature analysis to simulation

In order to obtain realistic results for the study, the team led by project manager Christoph Leo, research group leader Corina Klug, project assistant Desiree Kofler and university assistant Martin Schachner first analysed the accident events on the basis of literature, accident records and videos in order to derive boundary conditions for the simulation. Subsequently, the tests with volunteers to determine the riding pose were combined with Human Body Model simulations, which were developed with the involvement of the Vehicle Safety Institute, in order to be able to predict injuries in accidents. From this, a simulation matrix could be created that made it possible to answer the project questions.

“Because e-scooters are a very young form of mobility, we broke new ground in this project in order to be able to analyse the injury risk in e-scooter accidents. There were previously not many studies on this,” explains Christoph Leo. “However, after analysing the simulated accidents with the Human Body Models, a very clear picture emerged. Wearing a helmet and reducing the driving speed, especially around pedestrians, can prevent many serious injuries. It would be even more important that e-scooters comply with the ban on driving on pavements and footpaths. In general, the risks of this form of mobility seem to be underestimated, which is why an increasing number of injuries is expected in the coming years. You are safer in road traffic on foot or by bike and simultaneously do something good for yourself and the environment. Anyone who really needs to ride an e-scooter, please at least put on a helmet.”

This research is anchored in the Field of Expertise "Mobility & Production", one of five strategic foci of TU Graz.

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Computational simulation/modeling

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

People

New method may accurately identify body fluids at crime scenes

Peer-Reviewed Publication

WILEY

Identifying different types of body fluids can help forensic experts reconstruct a crime scene, but it’s difficult to do so. In a study published in Electrophoresis, researchers developed a method using two different types of RNA—called microRNA (miRNA) and messenger RNA (mRNA)—to determine five common body fluids.

Compared with previously reported single mRNA or miRNA assays, the combination of several mRNAs and miRNAs showed significant advantages for labeling human body fluids.

“Our findings indicate that this combined mRNA and miRNA system may provide a scientific reference for RNA-based body fluid identifications,” the authors wrote.

URL upon publication: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/elps.202300059

Additional Information
NOTE: The information contained in this release is protected by copyright. Please include journal attribution in all coverage. For more information or to obtain a PDF of any study, please contact: Sara Henning-Stout, newsroom@wiley.com.

About the Journal
Electrophoresis is an international separation science journal serving as the premier forum for advances in electrophoresis, liquid-phase separations, microfluidics and electrokinetics. We cover both fundamental aspects as well as innovative industrial and clinical applications linked to separation science, welcoming advances in sample preparation, methods, and analysis.

About Wiley
Wiley is a knowledge company and a global leader in research, publishing, and knowledge solutions. Dedicated to the creation and application of knowledge, Wiley serves the world’s researchers, learners, innovators, and leaders, helping them achieve their goals and solve the world's most important challenges. For more than two centuries, Wiley has been delivering on its timeless mission to unlock human potential. Visit us at Wiley.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

JOURNAL

Electrophoresis

DOI

10.1002/elps.202300059

ARTICLE TITLE

Validation of a combined analysis of mRNA and miRNA markers for forensic-related body fluids identification by RT-qPCR

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

18-Oct-2023

Can planting multiple crops in the same plot improve agricultural production and sustainability?

Peer-Reviewed Publication

WILEY

Agricultural management has typically focused on increasing yields, but there is an increasing need for sustainable food production that limits negative impacts on the environment. A new study published in Grassland Research provides insights into the potential benefits of diversifying agricultural practices, revealing how different mixtures of plant species can improve production, quality, and conservation.

For the study, investigators planted multiple species in different grassland plots, manipulating plant species richness from one to six species spanning three functional groups (legumes, herbs, and grasses). Certain mixtures led to increases in plant productivity and invasion resistance. Also, different plant species drove different functions, with legumes and herbs benefiting plant productivity and water availability, and grasses improving invasion resistance. Legumes were also highly beneficial for maintaining soil nitrogen.

“While the specific plant species and functional groups used in the study may vary across regions, the concept of using multispecies mixtures to enhance multifunctionality and promote both production and biodiversity can be applicable in various agricultural contexts around the world,” said corresponding author Laura Argens, a PhD student at the Technical University of Munich, in Germany.

URL upon publication: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/glr2.12060

About the Journal
Grassland Research publishes excellent and novel research to foster scholarship in grassland science. "Grassland" encompasses rangeland, including forest rangeland; sown pasture; and amenity and turf grasses. Grassland Research is to be comprised of three sections: rangeland; forage, turf, and bioenergy crops; ecosystems.

JOURNAL

Grassland Research

DOI

10.1002/glr2.12060

ARTICLE TITLE

Functional group richness increases multifunctionality in intensively managed grasslands

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

18-Oct-2023

Reef-devouring predator survives coral bleaching and feasts on the survivors

The crown-of-thorns starfish is nature’s ultimate coral predator that has a circle of life perfectly adapted to warming waters

Peer-Reviewed Publication

UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY

Coral cycle of life with crown-of-thorns starfish — VIDEO:
LIFE CYCLE OF CORAL WITH CROWN-OF-THORNS STARFISH. BEGINNING WITH HEALTHY CORAL, HEATWAVE EVENTS INDUCE CORAL BLEACHING, CAUSING CORAL DEATH AND ALGAL COLONISATION. CORALS THEN COLLAPSE AND CREATE RUBBLE HABITAT FOR JUVENILE CROWN-OF-THORNS, WHICH CAN TOLERATE THE THERMAL STRESS AND BUILD UP IN NUMBERS UNTIL THE REEF REGROWS AND THE JUVENILES EMERGE TO EAT THE NEW CORAL.
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CREDIT: UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY, BYRNE ET AL.

Research conducted by marine biologists from the University of Sydney has found juvenile crown-of-thorns starfish can withstand tremendous heatwaves well above levels that kill coral. These starfish then develop into carnivorous predators that devour reefs just as they begin to regrow.

Crown-of-thorns starfish are native to the Great Barrier Reef and found in the Indo-Pacific region, but they are classified as a species of concern because the damage large populations cause to coral is more significant than any other species. They fall behind only cyclones and bleaching events in their impact on coral mortality.

New findings suggest the species’ resilience to warming waters could exacerbate the ravaging effect climate change has on coral reefs.

The research is published in the journal Global Change Biology, led by Professor Maria Byrne from the School of Life and Environmental Sciences. She is also a member of the Marine Science Institute and Sydney Environment Institute.

Over the course of the experiment, juvenile crown-of-thorns displayed a surprisingly high heat tolerance, higher than that observed in their adult counterparts. This means that, even if the coral-eating adult stage declines in climate change-driven ocean warming scenarios, perhaps from a lack of their coral prey or from the heat, their herbivorous young can wait patiently for the opportune moment to grow into carnivores.

Coral bleaching and death can be triggered when waters warm by 1-3 degrees Celsius above the normal summer maximum, depending on how long the temperature lasts.

“We found juvenile crown of thorns starfish can tolerate almost three times the heat intensity that causes coral bleaching, using a model that measures temperature over time,” Professor Byrne said.

“This is an important finding that has implications for understanding the impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems, especially the influence of understudied small cryptic species.

“Juveniles might well benefit from warming waters. The increase in the amount of their rubble habitat, generated by coral bleaching and mortality, allows their numbers to build over time.”

The crown-of-thorns starfish is nature’s ultimate coral predator, with a circle of life perfectly adapted to warming waters.

During outbreaks of their carnivorous adult phase, crown-of-thorns starfish dine pervasively on stony coral, leaving lifeless skeletons across the reef. These skeletons eventually become home to algae before crumbling. Bleaching induced coral mortality has a similar effect.

The remains of dead coral may provide the perfect habitat for the starfish’s tiny, algae-eating offspring. According to previous research by Professor Byrne, the juveniles can survive, and wait, for at least six years for the reef to come back to life, and given the opportunity as coral recovers these juveniles can grow into coral-eating predators and start the cycle again.

“The heat resistance and potential for the juveniles to gradually build-up in the reef infrastructure in coral rubble over years might be a phenomenon contributing to the initiation of adult crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks,” said Matt Clements, PhD student and co-author of the study.

“Loss of natural predators due to overfishing and the build-up of nutrients in the water have been suspected to contribute to outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish. Now we have evidence that bleaching induced coral mortality could aid the seafloor-dwelling juveniles, leading to subsequent large waves of adults in reefs which exacerbate the ravages of climate change.”

The researchers also identified factors that contribute to the juveniles’ ability to survive in warming conditions. They include small size, which may reduce physiological requirements, and their ability to feed on a variety of food sources, despite preferring a diet of coralline algae.

Juvenile crown-of-thorns starfish pictured with coral.

Young and old juvenile crown-of-thorns starfish.

CREDIT

Monique Webb, Byrne et al.

JOURNAL

Global Change Biology

DOI

10.1111/gcb.16946

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Observational study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Animals

ARTICLE TITLE

Juvenile waiting stage crown‐of‐thorns sea stars are resilient in heatwave conditions that bleach and kill corals

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

18-Oct-2023

COI STATEMENT

Research was supported by a PhD scholarship from the University of Sydney and partially supported by the Lizard Island Reef Research Foundation and Ian Potter Grants for crown-of-thorns research.

Prenatal exposure to environmental chemicals linked to childhood growth changes

New study reveals connections between endocrine disrupting chemicals exposure and children's body mass index (BMI) trajectories

Peer-Reviewed Publication

BARCELONA INSTITUTE FOR GLOBAL HEALTH (ISGLOBAL)

A new study led by researchers from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a centre supported by the ”la Caixa Foundation” has shed light on the influence that Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) can have on children's growth during their early years. The results, published in Environmental Health Perspectives, show that prenatal exposure to some of these environmental chemicals and their mixtures is linked to accelerated Body Mass Index (BMI) gain from birth to nine years old.

The study, involving 1,911 mother-child pairs from the Project INMA birth cohort in Spain, focused on assessing exposure to a wide range of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals. These chemicals are found in our diet and in everyday products like plastics, personal care items, and pesticides and include Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs), Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), phthalates and phenols (including parabens and bisphenol A).

The research team measured the concentrations of these chemicals in urine and blood samples collected from pregnant women. Subsequently, they measured the BMI of the children over time. BMI is a measure that combines a child's height and weight and is commonly used to assess weight status and obesity.

The statistical analysis showed that prenatal exposure to specific POPs, including Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), as well as certain PFASs, can significantly alter a child's BMI trajectory. These alterations are characterized by either lower birth size followed by accelerated BMI gain or higher birth size with accelerated BMI gain.

One of the main novelties of the study is that, in addition to studying individual chemicals, the researchers also conducted a mixture analysis. This involved examining how a combination of different EDCs might impact children's growth, which offers a more realistic representation of how humans are exposed to EDCs. This approach showed that the mixture of EDCs was associated with an increased risk of children belonging to a trajectory of accelerated increase in BMI, with HCB, DDE and PCBs being the main contributors to this mixture effect.

Parisa Montazeri, ISGlobal researcher and first author of the study, commented, "Our findings underscore the potential impact of early-life chemical exposures on childhood growth patterns, which can have long-term implications for health. Understanding these relationships is crucial for informing public health efforts aimed at preventing childhood obesity and its related health consequences.”

“These revelations are of significant public health interest, as accelerated growth during childhood has been linked to various health issues during childhood and in later life, including obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes”, says Martine Vrijheid, head of ISGlobal’s programme on Environment and Health over the Lifecourse and senior author of the study.

The study's authors emphasize the need for more research to assess the health implications of prenatal environmental chemical exposure over the course of a child's life. Understanding these connections is crucial for informing policies and interventions aimed at reducing the health risks associated with exposure to harmful chemicals during pregnancy.

Phthalates and brain volumetric measures

Another recent study coordinated by ISGlobal found an association between exposure to phthalates in pregnancy and smaller volumetric measures in certain parts of the brain and lower IQ in children. The research, published in Molecular Psychiatry, suggested that those children whose mothers had a higher exposure to certain phthalates during pregnancy tend to show smaller total gray matter in their brains when they reach the age of 10. The researchers also found that maternal exposure to plasticizers during pregnancy is associated with lower child IQ at age 14.

Phthalates are a group of endocrine-disrupting chemicals which are ubiquitously used as plasticizers and solvents in a wide range of commercial products.

Reference

Parisa Montazeri, Nuria Güil-Oumrait, Sandra Marquez, Lourdes Cirugeda, Andrea Beneito, Mònica Guxens, Aitana Lertxundi, Maria-Jose Lopez-Espinosa, Loreto Santa-Marina, Jordi Sunyer, Maribel Casas, Martine Vrijheid. Prenatal exposure to multiple endocrine disrupting chemicals and childhood BMI trajectories in the INMA cohort study, Environmental Health Perspectives, 107006-11 131(10), October 2023. doi:10.1289/EHP11103

JOURNAL

Environmental Health Perspectives

DOI

10.1289/EHP11103

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Observational study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

People

ARTICLE TITLE

Prenatal exposure to multiple endocrine disrupting chemicals and childhood BMI trajectories in the INMA cohort study

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

18-Oct-2023

You don’t lose if you snooze

Peer-Reviewed Publication

STOCKHOLM UNIVERSITY

Tina Sundelin — IMAGE: TINA SUNDELIN’S RESEARCH AT STOCKHOLM UNIVERSITY SHOWS THAT SNOOZING MAY SUPPORT THE WAKING PROCESS FOR REGULAR SNOOZERS. PHOTO: HENRIK DUNÉR view more
CREDIT: PHOTO: HENRIK DUNÉR

It is often claimed that using the snooze button can have negative effects on sleep and cognitive processes, but there has been no direct evidence to this effect. New research from the Department of Psychology at Stockholm University shows that snoozing may actually support the waking process for regular snoozers.

It's common to want to stay in bed, potentially even go back to sleep, when the alarm goes off in the morning. The snooze button has been a function in alarm clocks and cell phones for decades and is often claimed to have negative effects, both on sleep and the brain's ability to wake up. However, there has been no scientific research to support these claims. Researchers from Stockholm University have now investigated how common snoozing is and what effects this behaviour has on sleep, sleepiness, mood and cognitive abilities.

– Our findings show that those who snooze on average sleep slightly shorter and feel more drowsy in the morning compared to those who never snooze. But there were no negative effects of snoozing on cortisol release, morning tiredness, mood, or sleep quality throughout the night, says Tina Sundelin, researcher at Stockholm University and lead author of the paper.

In the first study, 1732 individuals answered questions about their morning habits, including how often they use the snooze button. Many reported snoozing regularly. This behaviour is especially common among young adults and evening people. The most common reason for snoozing is feeling too tired to get out of bed when the alarm goes off.

In the second study, 31 regular snoozers spent two nights in a sleep lab in order to measure their sleep in more detail. One of the mornings they were allowed to snooze for 30 minutes and the other they had to get up right when the alarm went off. The results are calming for those who snooze. Even though participants' sleep was disturbed during the half hour of snoozing, most of them still got quite a lot of it – more than 20 minutes. This means that their total night's sleep was barely affected. Furthermore, in the snooze condition no one had to wake up from deep sleep, and the snoozers performed a bit better on cognitive tests right upon waking. Meanwhile, there were no clear effects of snoozing on mood, sleepiness, or the amount of cortisol in the saliva.

– Our study shows that half an hour of snoozing does not have negative effects on night sleep or sleep inertia, the feeling of not quite being alert in the morning. If anything, we saw some positive outcomes, such as a decreased likelihood of waking from deep sleep. When participants were allowed to snooze they were also a bit more quick-thinking right when they got up.

– It's of course important to remember that the study only included people who are regular snoozers and find it easy to go back to sleep after each alarm. Snoozing is most likely not for everyone, says Tina Sundelin.

JOURNAL

Journal of Sleep Research

DOI

10.1111/JSR.14054

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Experimental study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

People

ARTICLE TITLE

Is snoozing losing? Why intermittent morning alarms are used and how they affect sleep, cognition, cortisol, and mood

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

18-Oct-2023

Is it ok to press the snooze button?

Peer-Reviewed Publication

WILEY

Snoozing, or using intermittent alarms to get in a few more minutes of sleep in the morning, may have benefits for some people, according to research published in the Journal of Sleep Research.

In a study of 1,732 adults who described their waking habits, 69% of participants reported using the snooze function or setting multiple alarms at least “sometimes.” In those who snoozed, the average time spent snoozing per morning was 22 minutes, ranging from 1 to 180 minutes. Snoozers tended to be younger than non-snoozers and were more likely to be evening types. Morning drowsiness and shorter sleep were also more common in those who snoozed.

In a second study of 31 habitual snoozers, 30 minutes of snoozing improved or did not affect performance on cognitive tests directly upon rising compared with waking up abruptly. Snoozing resulted in about 6 minutes of lost sleep, but it prevented awakening from slow-wave sleep. There were no clear effects of snoozing on stress hormone levels, morning sleepiness, mood, or overnight sleep structure.

“The findings indicate that there is no reason to stop snoozing in the morning if you enjoy it, at least not for snooze times around 30 minutes. In fact, it may even help those with morning drowsiness to be slightly more awake once they get up,” said corresponding author Tina Sundelin, PhD, of Stockholm University.

URL upon publication: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jsr.14054

About the Journal
The Journal of Sleep Research, owned by the European Sleep Research Society, is an international journal dedicated to basic and clinical sleep research. reflecting the progress in this rapidly expanding field, promoting the exchange of ideas between scientists at a global level.

JOURNAL

Journal of Sleep Research

DOI

10.1111/jsr.14054

ARTICLE TITLE

Is snoozing losing? Why intermittent morning alarms are used and how they affect sleep, cognition, cortisol, and mood

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

18-Oct-2023

Majority of cancer patients interested in complementary therapies for treatment

Support growing for integrative oncology, but access limited by lack of communication, staffing and funding, new survey finds

Reports and Proceedings

THE REIS GROUP

WASHINGTON (Oct. 12, 2023) – Patients and oncologists are supportive of complementary therapies, such as nutrition counseling, exercise, massage, and mediation, for cancer treatment, according to a new survey conducted on behalf of the Healing Works Foundation. However, a disconnect exists between this growing interest and oncologists’ perceptions of patient support. One-third of oncologists said their patients lack interest in these therapies, but only 13% of cancer patients cite lack of interest when asked about barriers.

“Navigating a cancer diagnosis is about treating the whole person, not just the disease,” said Wayne Jonas, MD, President of Healing Works, a non-profit dedicated to the integration of healing and curing in routine health care delivery. “Oncologists are the single most influential factor in patient treatment decisions, and doctors must be educating themselves to help drive patient outcomes and treatment satisfaction. They need to understand that patients increasingly want to hear directly about all possible support during and after treatment of the cancer.”

More than 60% of cancer patients strongly believe in complementary therapies, and 71% want their health systems to offer them, according to the survey of more than 1,000 patients and 150 oncologists conducted in June and July. In fact, 55% of patients would have chosen a health system with more complementary therapies if they could go back in time, up substantially from 40% a year ago.

Among oncologists, most (57%) believe that complementary therapies are effective at managing the side effects of treatments, while a third (33%) indicate that they improve overall survival.

Yet, when asked about usage, perceptions differed. Sixty-four percent of cancer patients report using at least one complementary therapy, yet most of them never informed their oncologists. As a result, oncologists think only 40% of patients use one of these approaches.

“A communication gap — not an interest gap — appears to be one of the biggest barriers between patients and oncologists when exploring complementary options to support overall treatment,” said Jonas. “Clinicians need to be proactive and talk to their patients about evidence-based integrative health options early in the process, before patients go exploring on their own, and possibly getting into trouble.”

Patients also noted additional barriers to adoption, including the need for education about the benefits, reimbursement or other funding help, and a lack of guidance from their oncologist. Oncologists agree that insurance reimbursement is a major barrier, but also report that health systems do not have enough physical therapists, psychologists, and pain specialists to offer these therapies.

Patient usage of complementary therapies also varied among demographic groups:

Hispanic (92%) and African American (83%) patients report the highest usage of complementary therapies and are interested in learning more about them.
Seventy percent of female patients support the use of complementary therapies, while actual usage is nearly equal between men (62%) and women (66%).
Younger patients (ages 18-50) are more likely to use a range of complementary therapies, especially mental health support/therapy, nutrition counseling and meditation or mindfulness.

More information on the survey findings and the Healing Works Foundation can be found at www.HealingWorksFoundation.org/CancerSurvey2023.

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About The Healing Works Foundation

The Healing Works Foundation’s mission is to make whole person, integrative care regular and routine. Led by Wayne Jonas, MD, HWF partners with a diverse group of wellbeing innovators. It creates platforms, processes, programs, tools and services to support and magnify insights and innovations in healing and whole person care principally in primary care and oncology.

Survey Method:

The survey was conducted online within the United States from June 14 – July 5, 2023, among 153 oncologists and from June 7 – June 30, 2023, among 1,004 patients diagnosed with cancer within the past two years. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact Stacy Skelly at sskelly@TheReisGroup.com.