bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Purchasing Power Parity Approach to Exchange Rate Misalignment in Nigeria
Authors: Nakorji Musa , Agboegbulem Ngozi T. I. , Gaiya Blessing A. , Atoi Ngozi V.
Published: August 2021

This study examines the purchasing power parity (PPP) approach to the determination of exchange rate misalignment in Nigeria by using two variants of the PPP: the absolute PPP (aPPP) and the relative PPP (rPPP). Data on the Nigerian Naira to US Dollar ( N/$), British Pound ( N/£) and Chinese Yuan (N /¥) interbank exchange rates, Nigeria consumer price index and Inflation as well as the US, UK and China consumer price indices and inflation rates spanning 2008:M1 to 2018:M12 were utilized. A recently modified fractional cointegration framework was employed, taking care of smooth structural breaks and nonlinearity, while the unit root tests employed the fractional alternatives. The results confirmed that the aPPP approach to exchange rate determination is unrealistic but revealed empirical support for the rPPP approach. Furthermore, the exchange rates computed with the rPPP approach show that the interbank Naira to US Dollar, UK Pounds and Chinese Yuan exchange rates were overvalued in most of the period of this study. The period of undervaluation observed in June 2016 and April 2017 coincided with the periods when CBN introduced the investors and exporters window. The study recommends the use of rPPP for gauging the level of exchange rate misalignment in Nigeria and suggests the need to diversify the export base to appreciate the exchange rate.
THE PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT OF CONSULTING SERVICE COMPANY IN INDONESIA; CASE STUDY
Authors: Kurnia Wahyu Ismail , Ariamin Ariamin , Kusrini Elisa
Published: August 2021

Performance evaluation is the first step of a company in reaching its competitive advantage in the midst of globalization and free market enactment. The result of performance evaluation can be used as strategic formulation and decision making in fixing performance indicator which is considered as poor. From the facts, this research uses the evaluation adopted from PwC, which used to evaluate the performance of a consulting service company in Indonesia named XYZ Ltd. The reason for choosing PwC business model is because it covers all aspects that affect company’s ability to achieve competitive advantage. Moreover, this research uses 5 of 7 aspects of performance measurement offered by PwC business model. Measurement indicators and characteristics based on library research and company’s internal managerial party interviews are made, so that the evaluation process can be interpreted into the formulation of strategic improvement and decisions making. The result of performance measurement is expected to be able to give a new perspective in overall performance evaluations of consulting companies and evaluate company’s ability to win over its competitors, as well as to prove the ability of PwC’s measurement model in evaluating the performance of consulting companies in Indonesia model of performance.
Compound-specific isotope analyses of harp seal teeth: tools for trophic ecology reconstruction
Authors: Kershaw JL , de la Vega C , Jeffreys RM , Frie AK , Haug T , Mahaffey C , Mettam C , Stenson G , Smout S
Published: August 2021

As sentinels of ecosystem health, high trophic level predators integrate information through all levels of the food web. Their tissues can be used to investigate spatiotemporal variability in foraging behaviour, and with the appropriate analytical methods and tools, archived samples can be used to reconstruct past trophic interactions. Harp seal Pagophilus groenlandicus teeth collected in the 1990s from the Northwest Atlantic were analysed for bulk stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes (δ13Cbulk and δ15Nbulk), and compound-specific stable nitrogen isotopes of amino acids (δ15NAA) for the first time. We developed a fine-scale, annual growth layer group (GLG) dentine sub-sampling method corresponding to the second and third year of life. In accordance with previous diet studies, while there was individual variability in δ15Nbulk, δ13Cbulk and δ15NAA measurements, we did not detect significant differences in isotopic niche widths between males and females, or between GLGs. Relative trophic position was calculated as the baseline-corrected δ15NAA values using trophic (glutamic acid) and source (phenylalanine and glycine) amino acids. Variability was measured between individuals in their relative trophic position, but within-individual variability was low, suggesting that they fed at the same trophic level over these 2 yr of life. These novel δ15NAA data may therefore suggest individual, specialist harp seal foraging behaviour in sub-adults. Our findings show that compound-specific stable isotope signatures of archived, inert predator tissues can be used as tools for the retrospective reconstruction of trophic interactions on broad spatiotemporal scales.
Brecha digital y Covid-19: percepciones y dificultades. Un estudio en tres instituciones educativas de Antioquia
Authors: Arango Lopera Carlos Andrés , Castaño Diana , Cuervo Botero Katerine , Baena Yus Deisy
Published: August 2021

Este estudio presenta la forma como tres instituciones educativas experimentaron la brecha digital en el escenario de la cuarentena vivida en Colombia motivada por el Covid-19 y que afectó la modalidad presencial en los procesos educativos. Se abordó una etnografía digital, la cual permitió el acercamiento a las percepciones que la educación en ambientes alternativos de aprendizaje generó en estudiantes, docentes y padres de familia. Luego de una exploración del concepto brecha digital, se exponen los resultados, donde se evidencian los múltiples niveles en que opera la brecha, a partir de las percepciones de los grupos sociales abordados en el estudio. A lo largo del texto se aportan evidencias para sostener que la brecha digital no es otra cosa que la manifestación en otros entornos (de aprendizaje, en este caso) de la profunda brecha social que viven muchos ciudadanos del mundo contemporáneo.
Управление телесными практиками: от традиции до современности (на примере практиках йоги)
Authors: Lobas Victoria
Published: August 2021

Автор пытается путем основательного исследования структуры тела, его функционального значения показать возможность управлять им и даже конструировать его. Практики Йоги позволяют по-новому посмотреть на тело человека. Они также способствуют созданию особой когнитивной ситуации вокруг темы управления телом и телесным. Это раскрывает совершенно новые горизонты жизни для определенной части населения и возможность инвестировать знания в процесс конструирования телесного. Знание о теле, которые мы находим в древних текстах и ​​на которые опирается Йога, еще раз подчеркивают особую миссию Йоги. В статье подтверждается идея целостности духовного и телесного, чего Йога никогда не теряла.

Ключевые слова: управление телом, Йога, конструирование телесного, тело как конструкт.
Darbo aplinkos veiksnių įtaka slaugytojų sveikatai
Authors: Aukštikalnytė Gintarė , Drungilienė Danguolė , Reigas Viljaras , Minelga Gintautas
Published: August 2021

Tyrimo pagrindimas. Sveikatos priežiūros specialistų darbo aplinka yra svarbus veiksnys, kuris turi įtakos dirbančiųjų gyvenimo kokybei ir sveikatai. Darbe vyraujant tokiems psichosocialiniams rizikos veiksniams kaip, stresas, ilgos darbo valandos, dideli reikalavimai, susidūrimai su pacientų smurtu ir mirtimi, pamaininis darbas ir pan., sutrinka darbo ir poilsio režimas, darbuotojams sukeliamas stresas, pervargimas ir kt. Ne visi slaugytojai geba atlaikyti nuolat patiriamą darbo įtampą, todėl padidėja nepageidaujamų sveikatos problemų tikimybė.

Tikslas. Išanalizuoti darbo aplinkos veiksnių įtaką slaugytojų sveikatai.

Metodai. Anketinės apklausos būdu apklausti 121 slaugytojai, dirbantys ligoninėse. Apklausai atlikti naudoti darbo patirties vertinimo (WEMS) ir salutogeninių sveikatos indikatorių skalės (SHIS).

Rezultatai. Slaugytojų sveikata vertinta „Salutogeninių sveikatos indikatorių skale“. Bendrojo sveikatos rodiklio vidurkį bendroje tiriamųjų grupėje sudarė 60,96 balo, tarpasmeninių sveikatos indikatorių grupėse – 59,81 balo ir interaktyvių – 62,58 balo. Geriausiai vertintas bendravimas su kitais žmonėmis (4,38 balo), ryžtingumas (4,27 balo), emocinės pusiausvyros išlaikymas (4,20 balo), o blogiausiai miegas (3,74 balo), atsipalaidavimas (3,82 balo) ir energingumas (3,85 balo). Darbo patyrimo skalėje geriausiai vertintas prieinamumas prie vadovo, vadovo gebėjimas, prireikus priimti sprendimus, blogiausiai – vadovo konsultavimąsi su darbo grupe prieš priimant svarbius sprendimus. Darbo pokyčių srities teiginiai buvo vertinami blogiau nei kitų sričių, vyrai žymiai pozityviau vertino pokyčius įstaigoje nei moterys.

Išvados. Teigiama darbo patirtis buvo susijusi su geresniu savo sveikatos ir savijautos vertinimu. Bendrasis sveikatos rodiklis buvo blogesnis tarp tiriamųjų su didesniu darbo stažu, jie blogiau vertino tiek tarpasmeninius, tiek ir interaktyvius sveikatos indikatorius. Jaunesnio amžiaus slaugytojai palankiau vertino pokyčius įstaigoje, o vadovavimo sritį pozityviau vertino slaugytojai, turintys didesnį darbo stažą.

Raktažodžiai: slaugytojai, sveikatos indikatoriai, darbo veiksniai.
Pelatihan Desain dan Kemasan Produk Sebagai Upaya Meningkatkan Omset UMKM di Kota Batam
Authors: Arisandi Debby , Fitriansyah Ahmad
Published: August 2021

The Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector contributed 60.34% to the gross domestic product (GDP) and assisted the absorption of labor by 97.22%. The problem is, there are still many MSMEs that are not aware or do not understand that good and attractive product packaging will bring added value to the products it offers. As a result, some products that actually have high selling value/quality do not sell in the market. This activity aims to increase the understanding of MSME players of the importance of packaging so that the products offered an increase in added value and can differentiate packaging based on function, type, and material. The implementation of community service activities was carried out on 18-19 July 2017 in the Gurindam Building Hall of the Batam City Education Office. The activity was carried out in collaboration with the Dinas Koperasi dan Usaha Mikro Kota Batam, which was attended by 128 MSMEs. The results of the activity were in the form of new packaging for participant products that were more attractive, informative, and modern.
Abstrak
Sektor Usaha Mikro, Kecil dan Menengah (UMKM) memberikan kontribusi terhadap produk domestik bruto (PDB) sebesar 60.34% dan membantu penyerapan tenaga kerja sebesar 97.22%. Permasalahannya, masih banyak UMKM tidak sadar atau kurang memahami bahwa kemasan produk yang baik dan menarik akan mendatangkan nilai lebih pada produk yang ditawarkannya. Akibatnya sejumlah produk yang sebenarnya memiliki nilai jual tinggi/bermutu menjadi tidak laku dipasaran. Kegiatan ini bertujuan untuk dapat meningkatkan pemahaman pelaku UMKM terhadap pentingnya kemasan agar produk yang ditawarkan meningkat nilai tambahnya dan dapat membedakan kemasan berdasarkan fungsi, jenis dan bahannya. Pelaksanaan kegiatan pengabdian kepada masyarakat dilaksanakan pada 18-19 Juli 2017 di Aula Gedung Gurindam kantor Dinas Pendidikan Kota Batam.  Kegiatan dilaksanakan melalui kerjasama dengan Dinas Koperasi dan Usaha Mikro Kota Batam yang diikuti oleh 128 UMKM. Hasil kegiatan berupa kemasan baru bagi produk-produk peserta yang lebih menarik, informatif dan modern.
Kata Kunci: umkm; pelatihan; kemasan
Mitochondrial DNA Diversity of the Nangan Islanders Living in the Mazu Archipelago of the Taiwan Strait
Authors: Zong-Sian Chen , Jean Trejaut , Jun-Hun Loo , Ying-Hui Lai , Jin-Yuan Huang , Marie Lin
Published: August 2021

This study investigates the genetic relationship of the Mazu peoples on the east coast of China in the Taiwan Strait. Using partial and complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences, we compare Mazu with surrounding East Asia populations. Mazu shows no exclusive affinities with either Southeast or Northeast Asia. High genetic diversity and a very high number of exclusive haplogroups of various Asian origins suggest that Mazu resulted from a process of continuous resettlement that started when it first became an archipelago at the end of the last glacial maximum and that continued till the last century. As a result, genetic drift did not contribute to an exclusive Mazu profile. The structure of haplogroups that show signatures of the Neolithic era (N9a10a), or influx from Island Southeast Asia (F1a4a) suggest recent gene flows and Mazu relationship with it's pre-Neolithic era (presence of pre-E1a or R9/pre-F from Liangdao man) was not seen.
CIRBP Knockdown Attenuates Tumourigenesis and Improves the Chemosensitivity of Pancreatic Cancer via the Downregulation of DYRK1B
Authors: Chen Xiang , Xie Hongyu , Wang Xin , Zheng Zhinan , Jin Sanqing
Published: August 2021

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal malignancies worldwide with very limited treatment options. Cold-inducible RNA binding protein (CIRBP) plays promoting roles in several types of cancers, but its function remains unclear in PDAC. Here, we found that the expression of CIRBP was upregulated in PDAC tumor tissues and was significantly associated with poor prognosis. Knockdown of CIRBP in PANC-1 and SW1990 cells inhibited proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro and suppressed tumor growth in vivo. Moreover, CIRBP knockdown enhanced the antitumour effects of gemcitabine treatment in PANC-1 and SW1990 cells, whereas CIRBP overexpression exerted the opposite effects. Mechanistically, CIRBP promoted PDAC malignancy and chemoresistance via upregulation of dual-specificity tyrosine-Y-phosphorylation regulated kinase 1B (DYRK1B). Indeed, knockdown of CIRBP sensitized pancreatic tumors to gemcitabine treatment by diminishing DYRK1B expression and increasing the ratio of ERK/p38 activity. Our findings suggest that CIRBP overexpression facilitates PDAC progression and gemcitabine resistance by upregulating DYRK1B expression and inhibiting the ERK/p38 signaling pathway, highlighting CIRBP as a potential new therapeutic target for PDAC.
Synthesis and Characterization of Surfactant for Retarding Acid–Rock Reaction Rate in Acid Fracturing
Authors: Yan Fuli , Shi Yongmin , Tian Yu
Published: August 2021

Acid fracturing is an effective method to develop ultra-low permeability reservoirs. However, the fast reaction rate reduces the effect of the acid fracturing and increases the near-well collapse risk. Therefore, it is necessary to retard the acid–rock reaction rate. In this work, we synthesized an acid-resistant Gemini zwitterionic viscoelastic surfactant (named VES-c), which has good performances such as temperature resistance, salt resistance, and shear resistance. Besides, a low concentration of VES-c increases the viscosity of the acid solution. The CO2 drainage method was used to measure the reaction rate between the dibasic acid and dolomite/broken core. We find that the dibasic acid containing 0.3% VES-c retards the dolomite reaction rate of 3.22 times compared with only dibasic acid. Furthermore, the dibasic acid containing 0.3% VES-c exhibits uniform distribution and is not easy to adhere to the solid surface. The VES-c also is favorable to reduce the formation of amorphous calcium carbonate. Retarding the rate of acid–rock reaction and enhancing the acidification are mainly attributed to VES-c's salt-tolerance, anti-adsorption, and the property of increasing the viscosity of the solution. Hopefully, this kind of surfactant retarding reaction rate is applied to other acid–rock reactions.
Hydrodeoxygenation of Xylose Isopropylidene Ketal Over Pd/HBEA Catalyst for the Production of Green Fuels
Authors: Souza Matheus O. , Pereira Sergio C. , Lau Lam Y. , Soter Leandro , Pereira Marcelo M.
Published: August 2021

1,2:3,5-Di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-xylofuranose (DX) is a major component of a new bio-crude: a viscous oil presenting petroleum-friendly properties produced by the ketalization of sugarcane bagasse. This article studies DX HDO (hydrodeoxygenation) over a Pd/HBEA catalyst in a batch reactor at 250°C. The effects of hydrogen pressure from 10 to 40 bar, catalyst/DX ratio from ½ to 2, and reaction time 0–24 h were investigated. A range of conditions for complete hydrodeoxygenated DX into alkanes with a Pd/HBEA catalyst was found. In these conditions, a low coke yield with water as the principal deoxygenated product was obtained. Further, higher amounts of alkanes containing seven or more carbons (A7+) were favored at 30 bar of hydrogen pressure, Cat/DX ratio = 2, and short reaction time. Products analysis that accompanied the above variations during reaction time led to general insights into reaction pathways. First, in the presence of DX, an effective n-hexane conversion was not observed on experiments of low catalyst/DX ratio (½) or in the initial period of high Cat/DX ratio, suggesting DX is much more successful than n-hexane to compete for active sites. Then, the formation of a pool of oxygenated compounds, such as furans, ketones, and carboxylic acids, along with lighter and heavier alkanes was observed. Hence, the aforementioned oxygenates may undergo reactions, such as aldol condensation with subsequent hydrodeoxygenation reaction, generating heavier alkanes.
Protein Targets of Acetaminophen Covalent Binding in Rat and Mouse Liver Studied by LC-MS/MS
Authors: Geib Timon , Moghaddam Ghazaleh , Supinski Aimee , Golizeh Makan , Sleno Lekha
Published: August 2021

Acetaminophen (APAP) is a mild analgesic and antipyretic used commonly worldwide. Although considered a safe and effective over-the-counter medication, it is also the leading cause of drug-induced acute liver failure. Its hepatotoxicity has been linked to the covalent binding of its reactive metabolite, N-acetyl p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI), to proteins. The aim of this study was to identify APAP-protein targets in both rat and mouse liver, and to compare the results from both species, using bottom-up proteomics with data-dependent high resolution mass spectrometry and targeted multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) experiments. Livers from rats and mice, treated with APAP, were homogenized and digested by trypsin. Digests were then fractionated by mixed-mode solid-phase extraction prior to liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Targeted LC-MRM assays were optimized based on high-resolution MS/MS data from information-dependent acquisition (IDA) using control liver homogenates treated with a custom alkylating reagent yielding an isomeric modification to APAP on cysteine residues, to build a modified peptide database. A list of putative in vivo targets of APAP were screened from data-dependent high-resolution MS/MS analyses of liver digests, previous in vitro studies, as well as selected proteins from the target protein database (TPDB), an online resource compiling previous reports of APAP targets. Multiple protein targets in each species were found, while confirming modification sites. Several proteins were modified in both species, including ATP-citrate synthase, betaine-homocysteine S-methyltransferase 1, cytochrome P450 2C6/29, mitochondrial glutamine amidotransferase-like protein/ES1 protein homolog, glutamine synthetase, microsomal glutathione S-transferase 1, mitochondrial-processing peptidase, methanethiol oxidase, protein/nucleic acid deglycase DJ-1, triosephosphate isomerase and thioredoxin. The targeted method afforded better reproducibility for analysing these low-abundant modified peptides in highly complex samples compared to traditional data-dependent experiments.
Perceptions of the IQOS Heated Tobacco Product on Twitter in the United States
Authors: Zou Canruo , Wang Xueting , Xie Zidian , Li Dongmei
Published: August 2021

After the approval of the sales of IQOS in the United States market, discussions about IQOS have become active on social media. Twitter is a popular social media platform to understand public opinions toward IQOS. This study aims to explore public perceptions toward IQOS on Twitter in the United States. IQOS-related tweets from the United States between November 19, 2019, and August 24, 2020, were collected using a Twitter streaming application programming interface (API). Sentiment analysis was performed to determine whether the public perceptions toward IQOS were positive, neutral, or negative. In addition, topics discussed in these tweets were manually coded. From November 2019 to August 2020, the number of tweets discussing IQOS was relatively constant except for a peak starting from July 7, 2020, which lasted for 4 days. Among IQOS tweets with positive sentiments, the most popular topic is “IQOS is safer than cigarettes,” followed by “IQOS helps quit smoking.” Among tweets with negative sentiments, the most popular topic is “illegal marketing/selling to youth,” followed by “health risks/fire hazards.” “FDA approval/regulation” is the most popular topic for tweets with neutral sentiments. After the announcement of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) enforcement policy on unauthorized flavored e-cigarette products on January 2, 2020, the proportion of tweets with positive attitudes toward IQOS significantly increased, while the proportion of negative tweets significantly decreased. Our study showed that the public perception of IQOS in the United States became more positive after the FDA enforcement policy on flavored e-cigarettes. While many Twitter users thought IQOS is safer than cigarettes and helps quit smoking, some Twitter users complained about the illegal marketing and health risks of IQOS. These findings provide useful information on future tobacco regulations.
A Proposal for a Data-Driven Approach to the Influence of Music on Heart Dynamics
Authors: Idrobo-Ávila Ennio , Loaiza-Correa Humberto , Muñoz-Bolaños Flavio , van Noorden Leon , Vargas-Cañas Rubiel
Published: August 2021

Electrocardiographic signals (ECG) and heart rate viability measurements (HRV) provide information in a range of specialist fields, extending to musical perception. The ECG signal records heart electrical activity, while HRV reflects the state or condition of the autonomic nervous system. HRV has been studied as a marker of diverse psychological and physical diseases including coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, and stroke. HRV has also been used to observe the effects of medicines, the impact of exercise and the analysis of emotional responses and evaluation of effects of various quantifiable elements of sound and music on the human body. Variations in blood pressure, levels of stress or anxiety, subjective sensations and even changes in emotions constitute multiple aspects that may well-react or respond to musical stimuli. Although both ECG and HRV continue to feature extensively in research in health and perception, methodologies vary substantially. This makes it difficult to compare studies, with researchers making recommendations to improve experiment planning and the analysis and reporting of data. The present work provides a methodological framework to examine the effect of sound on ECG and HRV with the aim of associating musical structures and noise to the signals by means of artificial intelligence (AI); it first presents a way to select experimental study subjects in light of the research aims and then offers possibilities for selecting and producing suitable sound stimuli; once sounds have been selected, a guide is proposed for optimal experimental design. Finally, a framework is introduced for analysis of data and signals, based on both conventional as well as data-driven AI tools. AI is able to study big data at a single stroke, can be applied to different types of data, and is capable of generalisation and so is considered the main tool in the analysis.
Cardiac and Pulmonary Vascular Remodeling in Endurance Open Water Swimmers Assessed by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance: Impact of Sex and Sport Discipline
Authors: Martínez Vanessa , Sanz-de la Garza María , Domenech-Ximenos Blanca , Fernández César , García-Alvarez Ana , Prat-González Susanna , Yanguas Carles , Sitges Marta
Published: August 2021

Background: The cardiac response to endurance exercise has been studied previously, and recent reports have described the extension of this remodeling to the pulmonary vasculature. However, these reports have focused primarily on land-based sports and few data are available on exercise-induced cardio-pulmonary adaptation in swimming. Nor has the impact of sex on this exercise-induced cardio-pulmonary remodeling been studied in depth. The main aim of our study was to evaluate cardiac and pulmonary circulation remodeling in endurance swimmers. Among the secondary objectives, we evaluate the impact of sex and endurance sport discipline on this cardio-pulmonary remodeling promoted by exercise training.

Methods:Resting cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging was performed in 30 healthy well-trained endurance swimmers (83.3% male) and in 19 terrestrial endurance athletes (79% male) to assess biventricular dimensions and function. Pulmonary artery dimensions and flow as well as estimates of pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) were also evaluated.

Results:In relation to the reference parameters for the non-athletic population, male endurance swimmers had larger biventricular and pulmonary artery size (7.4 ± 1.0 vs. 5.9 ± 1.1 cm2, p < 0.001) with lower biventricular ejection fraction (EF) (left ventricular (LV) EF: 58 ± 4.4 vs. 67 ± 4.5 %, p < 0.001; right ventricular (RV) EF: 60 ± 4 vs. 66 ± 6 %, p < 0.001), LV end-diastolic volume (EDV): 106 ± 11 vs. 80 ± 9 ml/m2, p < 0.001; RV EDV: 101 ± 14 vs. 83 ± 12 ml/m2, p < 0.001). Significantly larger LV volume and lower LV EF were also observed in female swimmers (LV EF: 60 ± 5.3 vs. 67 ± 4.6 %, p = 0.003; LV EDV: 90 ± 17.6 vs. 75± 8.7 ml/m2, p = 0.002). Compared to terrestrial endurance athletes, swimmers showed increased LV indexed mass (75.0 ± 12.8 vs. 61.5 ± 10.0 g/m2, p < 0.001). The two groups of endurance athletes had similar pulmonary artery remodeling.

Conclusions: Cardiac response to endurance swimming training implies an adaptation of both ventricular and pulmonary vasculature, as in the case of terrestrial endurance athletes. Cardio-pulmonary remodeling seems to be less extensive in female than in male swimmers.
Ethics in Design and Implementation of Technologies for Workplace Health Promotion: A Call for Discussion
Authors: Roossien Charlotte Christina , de Jong Marlon , Bonvanie Anne Maria , Maeckelberghe Els Lisette Maria
Published: August 2021

Aim:This study aims to initiate discussion on the ethical issues surrounding the development and implementation of technologies for workplace health promotion. We believe this is a neglected topic and such a complex field of study that we cannot come up with solutions easily or quickly. Therefore, this study is the starting point of a discussion about the ethics of and the need for policies around technologies for workplace health promotion.

Method:Based on a literature review, the present study outlines current knowledge of ethical issues in research, development, and implementation of technologies in the workplace. Specifically, the focus is on two ethical issues that play an important role in the worker–employer relation: privacy and autonomy.

Application:Two cases indicative for a multidisciplinary project aimed at developing and evaluating sensor and intervention technologies that contribute to keeping ageing workers healthy and effectively employable are explored. A context-specific approach of ethics is used to investigate ethical issues during the development and implementation of sensor and intervention technologies. It is a holistic approach toward the diverse field of participants and stakeholders, and the diversity in perceptions of relevant values, depending on their respective professional languages.

Discussion:The results show how protecting the privacy and autonomy of workers cannot be seen as stand-alone issues, but, rather, there is interplay between these values, the work context, and the responsibilities of workers and employers. Consequently, technologies in this research project are designed to improve worker conscientious autonomy, while concurrently creating balance between privacy and health, and assigning responsibilities to appropriate stakeholders.

Conclusion:Focusing on a contextual conceptualisation of the ethical principles in the design and implementation of digital health technologies helps to avoid compartmentalization, out-of-context generalisation, and neglect of identifying responsibilities. Although it is a long reiterative process in which all stakeholders need to be included in order to assess all ethical issues sufficiently, this process is crucial to achieving the intended goal of a technology. Having laid out the landscape and problems of ethics around technologies for workplace health promotion, we believe policies and standards, and a very overdue discussion about these, are needed.
Real-World Hearing Aid Usage Patterns and Smartphone Connectivity
Authors: Christensen Jeppe Høy , Saunders Gabrielle H. , Havtorn Lena , Pontoppidan Niels H.
Published: August 2021

Data for monitoring individual hearing aid usage has historically been limited to retrospective questionnaires or data logged intrinsically in the hearing aid cumulatively over time (e. g., days or more). This limits the investigation of longitudinal interactions between hearing aid use and environmental or behavioral factors. Recently it has become possible to analyze remotely logged hearing aid data from in-market and smartphone compatible hearing aids. This can provide access to novel insights about individual hearing aid usage patterns and their association to environmental factors. Here, we use remotely logged longitudinal data from 64 hearing aid users to establish basic norms regarding smartphone connectivity (i.e., comparing remotely logged data with cumulative true hearing aid on-time) and to assess whether such data can provide representative information about ecological usage patterns. The remotely logged data consists of minute-by-minute timestamped logs of cumulative hearing aid on-time and characteristics of the momentary acoustic environment. Using K-means clustering, we demonstrate that hourly hearing aid usage patterns (i.e., usage as minutes/hour) across participants are separated by four clusters that account for almost 50% of the day-to-day variation. The clusters indicate that hearing aids are worn either sparsely throughout the day; early morning to afternoon; from noon to late evening; or across the day from morning to late evening. Using linear mixed-effects regression modeling, we document significant associations between daily signal-to-noise, sound intensity, and sound diversity with hearing aid usage. Participants encounter louder, noisier, and more diverse sound environments the longer the hearing aids are worn. Finally, we find that remote logging via smartphones underestimates the daily hearing aid usage with a pooled median of 1.25 h, suggesting an overall connectivity of 85%. The 1.25 h difference is constant across days varying in total hearing aid on-time, and across participants varying in average daily hearing aid-on-time, and it does not depend on the identified patterns of daily hearing aid usage. In sum, remote data logging with hearing aids has high representativeness and face-validity, and can offer ecologically true information about individual usage patterns and the interaction between usage and everyday contexts.
Application of the Modified PLUM Method to a Dense Seismic Intensity Network of a Local Government in Japan: A Case Study on Tottori Prefecture
Authors: Kagawa Takao
Published: August 2021

An application of the PLUM (Propagation of Local Undamped Motion) method to real-time seismic intensity distribution from a dense seismic intensity network maintained by a local government in Japan is demonstrated. The JMA (Japan Meteorological Agency) has employed the PLUM method from March 2018 as a supplement to the traditional EEW (Earthquake Early Warning) which requires hypocenter determination. A dense observation network is desirable for upgrading accuracy and immediateness of EEW including the PLUM method. Seismic intensity meters in Tottori Prefecture, Japan, are suitable for the purpose because they have been improved to broadcast packets with peak ground acceleration and JMA seismic intensity at every 1 s. Also, 34 seismic intensity meters are installed in the target area while only six observation sites are used for the EEW by the JMA. The packet data are received at Tottori University, and the modified PLUM method considers wave propagation with damping from not only the observation points but also all evaluating grid points at a 1 km mesh. Additionally, P-wave amplitudes in preliminary tremors are also introduced to estimate seismic intensities from an empirical relationship. Applying the methodology to past earthquake data, more detailed and rapid evaluations of seismic intensity distribution are achieved. We expect the system will be utilized for earthquake disaster mitigation measures of local governments.
Stability of Perovskite Solar Cells: Degradation Mechanisms and Remedies
Authors: Mazumdar Sayantan , Zhao Ying , Zhang Xiaodan
Published: August 2021

Inorganic–organic metal halide perovskite light harvester-based perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have come to the limelight of solar cell research due to their rapid growth in efficiency. At present, stability and reliability are challenging aspects concerning the Si-based or thin film-based commercial devices. Commercialization of perovskite solar cells remains elusive due to the lack of stability of these devices under real operational conditions, especially for longer duration use. A large number of researchers have been engaged in an ardent effort to improve the stability of perovskite solar cells. Understanding the degradation mechanisms has been the primary importance before exploring the remedies for degradation. In this review, a methodical understanding of various degradation mechanisms of perovskites and perovskite solar cells is presented followed by a discussion on different steps taken to overcome the stability issues. Recent insights on degradation mechanisms are discussed. Various approaches of stability enhancement are reviewed with an emphasis on reports that complied with the operational standard for practical application in a commercial solar module. The operational stability standard enacted by the International Electrotechnical Commission is especially discussed with reports that met the requirements or showed excellent results, which is the most important criterion to evaluate a device’s actual prospect to be utilized for practical applications in commercial solar modules. An overall understanding of degradation pathways in perovskites and perovskite solar cells and steps taken to overcome those with references including state-of-the-art devices with promising operational stability can be gained from this review.
Research on the Correlation Between WTI Crude Oil Futures Price and European Carbon Futures Price
Authors: Ma Zhengwei , Yan Yuxin , Wu Ruotong , Li Feixiao
Published: August 2021

In recent years, the rapid increase in CO2 concentration has accelerated global warming. As a result, sea levels rise, glaciers melt, extreme weather occurs, and species become extinct. As the world’s largest CO2 emission rights trading market, EU Emissions Trading System (EU-ETS) has reached 1.855 billion tons of quotas by 2019, influencing the development of the global carbon emission market. Crude oil, as one of the major fossil energy sources in the world, its price fluctuation is bound to affect the price of carbon emission rights. Therefore, this paper aims to reveal the correlation between crude oil futures prices and carbon emission rights futures prices by studying the price fluctuation. In this paper, the linkage between West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil futures prices and European carbon futures prices was investigated. In addition, this paper selects continuous data of WTI crude oil futures prices and spot prices with European carbon futures prices from January 8, 2018 to November 27, 2020, and builds a smooth transformation regression (STR) model. The relationship between crude oil futures and carbon futures prices is studied in both forward and reversal linkage through empirical analysis. The results show that crude oil futures prices and carbon futures prices have a mutual effect on each other, and both linear and nonlinear correlations between the two prices exist. Based on the results of this research, some suggestions are provided.
Integrated Analysis of mRNA and Non-coding RNA Transcriptome in Pepper (Capsicum chinense) Hybrid at Seedling and Flowering Stages
Authors: Shu Huang-ying , Zhou He , Mu Hai-ling , Wu Shu-hua , Jiang Yi-li , Yang Zhuang , Hao Yuan-yuan , Zhu Jie , Bao Wen-long , Cheng Shan-han , Zhu Guo-peng , Wang Zhi-wei
Published: August 2021

Pepper is an important vegetable in the world. In this work, mRNA and ncRNA transcriptome profiles were applied to understand the heterosis effect on the alteration in the gene expression at the seedling and flowering stages between the hybrid and its parents in Capsicum chinense. Our phenotypic data indicated that the hybrid has dominance in leaf area, plant scope, plant height, and fruit-related traits. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis showed that nine members of the plant hormone signal transduction pathway were upregulated in the seedling and flowering stages of the hybrid, which was supported by weighted gene coexpression network analysis and that BC332_23046 (auxin response factor 8), BC332_18317 (auxin-responsive protein IAA20), BC332_13398 (ethylene-responsive transcription factor), and BC332_27606 (ethylene-responsive transcription factor WIN1) were candidate hub genes, suggesting the important potential role of the plant hormone signal transduction in pepper heterosis. Furthermore, some transcription factor families, including bHLH, MYB, and HSF were greatly over-dominant. We also identified 2,525 long ncRNAs (lncRNAs), 47 micro RNAs (miRNAs), and 71 circle RNAs (circRNAs) in the hybrid. In particular, downregulation of miR156, miR169, and miR369 in the hybrid suggested their relationship with pepper growth vigor. Moreover, we constructed some lncRNA–miRNA–mRNA regulatory networks that showed a multi-dimension to understand the ncRNA relationship with heterosis. These results will provide guidance for a better understanding of the molecular mechanism involved in pepper heterosis.
Identification of the Real Hub Gene and Construction of a Novel Prognostic Signature for Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Based on the Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis and Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator Algorithms
Authors: Yuan Qihang , Ren Jie , Wang Zhizhou , Ji Li , Deng Dawei , Shang Dong
Published: August 2021

Background: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) has a considerably bad prognosis, and its pathophysiologic mechanism remains unclear. Thus, we aimed to identify real hub genes to better explore the pathophysiology of PAAD and construct a prognostic panel to better predict the prognosis of PAAD using the weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithms.

Methods: WGCNA identified the modules most closely related to the PAAD stage and grade based on the Gene Expression Omnibus. The module genes significantly associated with PAAD progression and prognosis were considered as the real hub genes. Eligible genes in the most significant module were selected for construction and validation of a multigene prognostic signature based on the LASSO-Cox regression analysis in The Cancer Genome Atlas and the International Cancer Genome Consortium databases, respectively.

Results: The brown module identified by WGCNA was most closely associated with the clinical characteristics of PAAD. Scaffold attachment factor B (SAFB) was significantly associated with PAAD progression and prognosis, and was identified as the real hub gene of PAAD. Moreover, both transcriptional and translational levels of SAFB were significantly lower in PAAD tissues compared with normal pancreatic tissues. In addition, a novel multigene-independent prognostic signature consisting of SAFB, SP1, and SERTAD3 was identified and verified. The predictive accuracy of our signature was superior to that of previous studies, especially for predicting 3- and 5-year survival probabilities. Furthermore, a prognostic nomogram based on independent prognostic variables was developed and validated using calibration curves. The predictive ability of this nomogram was also superior to the well-established AJCC stage and histological grade. The potential mechanisms of different prognoses between the high- and low-risk subgroups were also investigated using functional enrichment analysis, GSEA, ssGSEA, immune checkpoint analysis, and mutation profile analysis.

Conclusion: SAFB was identified as the real hub gene of PAAD. A novel multigene-independent prognostic signature was successfully identified and validated to better predict PAAD prognosis. An accurate nomogram was also developed and verified to aid in the accurate treatment of tumors, as well as in early intervention.
Identification of Key lncRNA–mRNA Pairs and Functional lncRNAs in Breast Cancer by Integrative Analysis of TCGA Data
Authors: Li Zhe , Qian Zheng , Chen Fei , Jiang Shujun , Meng Lingjia , Chen Jinzhong
Published: August 2021

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an important role in many diseases and are involved in the post-transcriptional regulatory network of tumors. The purpose of this study is to mine new lncRNA–mRNA regulatory pairs and analyze the new mechanism of lncRNA involvement in breast cancer progression. Using breast cancer miRNA and mRNA expression profiling from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), we identified 59 differentially expressed lncRNAs, 88 differentially expressed miRNAs, and 1,465 differentially expressed mRNAs between breast cancer tissue and adjacent normal breast cancer. Whereafter, four candidate lncRNAs (FGF14-AS2, LINC01235, AC055854.1, and AC124798.1) were identified by the Kaplan–Meier (K–M) plotter. Furthermore, we screened the hub lncRNA (LINC01235) through univariate Cox analysis, multivariate Cox analysis, and qPCR validation, which was significantly correlated with breast cancer stage, ER status, and pathological N. Subsequently, 107 LINC01235-related mRNAs were obtained by combining differentially expressed miRNAs, differentially expressed mRNAs, and LINC01235 targeting miRNAs and mRNAs. The protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was established by Cytoscape software, and 53 key genes were screened. Function and pathway enrichment showed that LINC01235-related key genes might be involved in the process of cell differentiation, cell proliferation, and p53 signal pathway. In addition, LINC01235 has been confirmed to regulate the proliferation, migration, and invasion of MCF-7 cells in in vitro experiments. Furthermore, we screened three mRNAs (ESR1, ADRA2A, and DTL) associated with breast cancer drug resistance from key genes. Through RNA interference experiments in vitro and correlation analysis, we found that there was a negative feedback mechanism between LINC01235 and ESR1/ADRA2A. In conclusion, our results suggest that LINC01235-ESR1 and LINC01235-ADRA2A could serve as important co-expression pairs in the progression of breast cancer, and LINC01235 plays a key role as an independent prognostic factor in patients with breast cancer. The findings of this work greatly increase our understanding of the molecular regulatory mechanisms of lncRNA in breast cancer.
Maternal Health Care Among Refugees and Host Communities in Northern Uganda: Access, Quality, and Discrimination
Authors: Rustad Siri Aas , Binningsbø Helga Malmin , Gjerløw Haakon , Mwesigye Francis , Odokonyero Tony , Østby Gudrun
Published: August 2021

Introduction: Uganda is one of the largest refugee-hosting nations in the world, with the majority of the refugees having fled South Sudan. In the early 2000's the local government and refugee health systems were merged to create a more equal and integrated system for refugees and the host population. Our aim is to investigate whether mothers from the two groups experience the same access to and quality of maternal health services, and whether refugee- and host-community mothers perceive the maternal health services differently.

Methods: In November–December 2019, we conducted a household survey of 1,004 Ugandan nationals and South Sudanese refugee mothers aged 15–49 in the West Nile region covering the districts of Arua, Yumbe, and Adjumani, and elicited information on access to maternal health care services, perceptions of the quality of services, and feelings of discrimination. The data was then analyzed using Ordinary Least Squares and logistic regression.

Results: Our analyses do not reveal large differences between refugees and the host community in terms of access to and the quality of maternal health services. Results from bivariate models indicate that refugee mothers are 6% points less likely to receive antenatal care (p-value < 0.05) but are 8% points more likely to give birth at a health facility (p-value < 0.05). Refugee mothers are generally less satisfied with how they were treated during antenatal care (0.132 lower average value on a Likert scale, p-value < 0.01). Refugee mothers are also 4% points more likely to feel discriminated against during ANC compared to their counterparts in the host community (p-value < 0.05).

Discussion: The way women feel treated at the health facility during maternal health care is an important aspect of quality care. While there seems to be equal access to resources between refugees and host community mothers in Northern Uganda in terms of access to and quality of care, there is still a discrepancy between the two groups in terms of how the women feel treated. Policymakers and practitioners in the health sector should pay attention to these perceived inequalities between refugees and women from the host communities to ensure equally inclusive treatment across groups.