Mirror, mirror, on the wall: During pandemics, how can self-perception research in people with eating disorders happen at all?

BACKGROUND: 'Classic' embodiment illusions (e.g., the feeling of owning another person's hand) involves a three-way interaction between visual, proprioceptive, and tactile stimuli. These illusions have been studied in eating disorder (ED) populations given the potential implications for better understanding and improving body image concerns. Recently, several studies have employed 'tactile-reduced' methods mainly relying on the integration of visual and proprioceptive information to induce embodiment illusions in non-ED populations. To date, there has been no substantial review of these tactile-reduced approaches to consider their potential research and clinical utility in ED populations. METHOD: This review sought to examine and integrate studies across three areas. Firstly, those that employed tactile-reduced embodiment techniques in non-ED populations. Secondly, those that used classic embodiment techniques to compare whether ED and non-ED populations differ in their susceptibility to embodiment. Thirdly, studies that investigated whether experiencing classic or tactile-reduced embodiment techniques can improve image-related concerns. RESULTS: For the first aim five studies were identified, all of which found that tactile-reduced methods consistently induced embodiment illusions in non-ED individuals. For the second aim, seven studies comparing ED and non-ED samples were found. ED patients were more susceptible to embodiment than non-ED samples in four studies, less susceptible in one study, and equally susceptible in two studies. Finally, for aim three, amongst the seven studies that used classic or tactile-reduced embodiment methods in ED populations, six reported improvements in self-perception (i.e., reduced body size overestimation, decreased body dissatisfaction and fear of gaining weight). CONCLUSIONS: Along with the classic approach, tactile-reduced embodiment approaches have implications for ED research and clinical practice, particularly for situations when face-to-face contact with people are restricted. Suggestions are provided for future researchers who wish to ensure best practice for planning embodiment research involving classic and tactile-reduced approaches.

Embodiment illusions involve the temporary experience of owning another person's body or body parts. These illusions have been studied in people with eating disorders (EDs) as a means for (i) better understanding their self-perception issues (e.g., they tend to see their own appearance as being too big), and (ii) improving these self-perception issues (i.e., does experiencing embodiment reduce distortions involving body size?). 'Classic' embodiment illusions typically require participants to simultaneously experience visual, proprioceptive, and tactile sensory stimulation. However, COVID -19 pandemic restrictions have limited research in face-to-face settings which poses a challenge for the classic approach, mainly in relation to tactile input which would usually be provided by a researcher. A 'tactile-reduced' approach for eliciting embodiment illusions would, therefore, enable this field of research to continue, which in turn may benefit people with EDs. While several studies in non-clinical populations have demonstrated the effectiveness of a tactile-reduced approach, understanding surrounding this approach in ED populations is lacking. In this review, we offer a prospective set of suggestions regarding how tactile-reduced embodiment may be conducted with ED populations, both in terms of better understanding their (problematic) self-perception, and how such concerns may be improved.

Applying Clustering Methods to Develop an Optimal Storage Location Planning-Based Consolidated Picking Methodology for Driving the Smart Manufacturing of Wireless Modules

Picking operations is the most time-consuming and laborious warehousing activity. Managers have been seeking smart manufacturing methods to increase picking efficiency. Because storage location planning profoundly affects the efficiency of picking operations, this study uses clustering methods to propose an optimal storage location planning-based consolidated picking methodology for driving the smart manufacturing of wireless modules. Firstly, based on the requirements of components derived by the customer orders, this research analyzes the storage space demands for these components. Next, this research uses the data of the received dates and the pick-up dates for these components to calculate the average duration of stay (DoS) values. Using the DoS values and the storage space demands, this paper executes the analysis of optimal storage location planning to decide the optimal storage location of each component. In accordance with the optimal storage location, this research can evaluate the similarity among the picking lists and then separately applies hierarchical clustering and K-means clustering to formulate the optimal consolidated picking strategy. Finally, the proposed method was verified by using the real case of company H. The result shows that the travel time and the distance for the picking operation can be diminished drastically.

Oxidative stress-mediated epidermal growth factor receptor activation regulates PM2.5-induced over-secretion of pro-inflammatory mediators from human bronchial epithelial cells.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to PM2.5 has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality of lung diseases although the underlying mechanisms have not been fully uncovered. Airway inflammation is a critical event in the pathogenesis of lung diseases. This study aimed to examine the role of oxidative stress and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in PM2.5-induced pro-inflammatory response in a human bronchial epithelial cell line, BEAS-2B. METHODS: BEAS-2B cells were exposed to 0, 20, 50, 100 and 150 µg/ml of PM2.5. Secretion of pro-inflammatory mediators including interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8 and IL-1ß was determined using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were determined using flow cytometry. Phosphorylation of the EGFR was examined with immunoblotting. RESULTS: PM2.5 exposure increased the secretion of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-1ß in a concentration-dependent fashion. Moreover, exposure to PM2.5 elevated intracellular levels of ROS, and phosphorylation of the EGFR (Y1068). Pretreatment of BEAS-2B cells with either an antioxidant or a specific EGFR inhibitor significantly reduced PM2.5-induced IL-6, IL-8 and IL-1ß secretion, implying that both oxidative stress and EGFR activation were involved in PM2.5-induced pro-inflammatory response. Furthermore, pre-treatment of BEAS-2B cells with an antioxidant significantly blunted PM2.5-induced EGFR activation, suggesting that oxidative stress was required for PM2.5-induced EGFR activation. CONCLUSION: PM2.5 exposure induces pro-inflammatory response in human bronchial epithelial cells through oxidative stress-mediated EGFR activation.

Factors associated with death in patients with novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19)