110023 research outputs found
Sort by
Does Economic Developement Impact CO2 Emissions and Energy Efficiency Performance? Fresh Evidences from Europe
No full text[[abstract]]Data from a survey of 21 European nations from 2006 to 2018 investigates the relationship between economic development and carbon dioxide emissions. The PCA of normalised factors is used to create three quantitative measures for financial intermediation dependent on the results of the study. When estimating the framework, we used the Hoechle method, which generates systematic deviation for linear panel styles that really are not homoskedasticity coherent and moreover resistant to broad types of cross-sectional dependency. We observe that earnings, resource utilization, industrialization, urbanisation, foreign direct investment, and the banking system all seem to have contributed to increased carbon dioxide emissions in the area. However, greater economic access appears to have resulted in a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. In terms of quality, the results are resilient to a variety of alternative proxies for financial inclusions as well as acceptable changes to the conceptual framework. According to the empirical findings, there are currently no regulatory interactions linking increasing economic development and reducing carbon dioxide emissions at the national level. As a result, economic growth should be incorporated into the implementation of sustainable green economy plans at the municipal, provincial, and city levels, particularly to counteract the documented detrimental impact of higher carbon dioxide emissions associated with increased financial inclusion
Risk factors and specific cancer types of second primary malignancies in patients with breast cancer receiving adjuvant radiotherapy: a case-control cohort study based on the SEER database
No full text[[abstract]]Patients with breast cancer can survive and live a long, cancer-free life; however, late complications of treatment, such as second primary malignancies (SPMs), have emerged as a competing cause of death and morbidity. We conducted a long-term population-based cohort study to identify the risk factors for SPMs and specific secondary cancer types after various latency periods of irradiated breast cancer. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for independent risk factors for SPM. We also calculated the HR of each specific cancer type and the latency time to specific SPMs. The risk of SPM was statistically significantly higher in patients with adjuvant RT than in patients without adjuvant RT (adjusted HR [aHR]: 1.105, 95% CI: 1.013-1.206). Compared with the control group, the case group had significantly increased risks of contralateral breast cancer (aHR: 1.268, 95% CI: 1.112-1.445), lung cancer (aHR: 1.218, 95% CI: 1.049-1.565), and urinary system cancer (aHR: 1.702, 95% CI: 1.140-2.543). Adjuvant RT for breast cancer increases the risk of SPM. Contralateral breast cancer, lung cancer, and bladder cancer were significant SPMs after breast RT, although the cumulative risk of SPM was low, at approximately 6, 10, and 13 cancers per 1000 women with irradiated breasts at latency periods of 5, 10, and 15 years, respectively, after breast RT
Sarcopenia Is an Independent Risk Factor for Severe Diabetic Nephropathy in Type 2 Diabetes: A Long-Term Follow-Up Propensity Score–Matched Diabetes Cohort Study
No full text[[abstract]]Background: Diabetic nephropathy is a common cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) worldwide and results in tremendous wastage of medical resources. Determining the indicators of diabetic nephropathy, such as sarcopenia, and implementing early interventions to prevent disease progression is crucial.
Purpose: The effect of sarcopenia on the risk of severe diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) remains unclear.
Patients and methods: We recruited patients with T2DM and categorized them into two groups, propensity score-matched at a ratio of 1:1, according to whether they had sarcopenia. We subsequently compared the groups' risk of severe diabetic nephropathy.
Results: The matching process yielded a final cohort of 105,166 patients with T2DM (52,583 and 52,583 in the sarcopenia and nonsarcopenia groups, respectively) who were eligible for inclusion in subsequent analyses. According to both the univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, the adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) (95% confidence interval) of severe diabetic nephropathy for the sarcopenia diabetes group compared with the control group was 1.10 (1.08-1.13; p < 0.001).
Conclusion: The patients with T2DM and sarcopenia were at a higher risk of severe diabetic nephropathy than were those without sarcopenia. Our results may serve as a valuable reference for relevant government authorities in establishing health policies to promote early detection of sarcopenia and exercise to help patients with T2DM overcome sarcopenia
銀行董事會多元化、經營多角化與營運績效/ Bank Board Diversity, Business Diversification and Operating Performance
No full text[[abstract]]本文檢視銀行董事會多元化對經營多角化與績效的影響，及其與多角化經營交互作用對績效的影響。樣本是本國銀行與部分外商銀行，理論上，多角化經營、績效及多元董事會皆有內生性，故以兩階段最小平方法估計迴歸係數。多角化經營包含放款客戶、收入來源及非利息收入等；績效有整體績效指標（資產報酬率、違約風險Z值）和放款績效（淨利息邊際、逾期放款率）。結果發現：其他條件不變下，多元董事會對多角化經營有影響，但程度因整體型或放款面績效而異，對整體報酬和風險無影響，但使放款利差和品質降低。當董事會多元化與多角化經營同時變動，多元董事會將使多角化經營程度降低，且兩者自發和交互影響績效，但程度因績效和多角化類別而異，故多元董事會無一定利弊。若僅論最終整體績效，多元董事會使放款多角化降低，且兩者交互使銀行績效提高；但與降低的收入來源和非利息收入多角化的交互造成績效下降或無影響。多元董事會個別元素（性別、年資、學歷、專業與職業）之影響不全相同，也因多角化和績效種類而異，年資多元化與綜合指標之影響較相近，影響較小的是性別多元化（其與收入多角化交互可降低整體風險）。故董事會多元化應兼顧多構面結合，單構面無法確定對銀行的利弊。[[abstract]]This paper examines the impact of bank board diversity on operating diversification and performance, and the effect of its interaction with operating diversification on performance. The samples are domestic banks and some foreign banks. In theory, diversified operations, performance and diverse boards of directors are all endogenous, so the regression coefficient is estimated by the two-stage least squares method. Diversified operation includes lending objects, income sources and non-interest income; performance includes overall performance indicators (return on assets, default risk Z value) and lending performance (net interest margin, non-perefirming loan ratio). The results show that: With other conditions unchanged, a diversified board affects diversified operations, but the degree varies depending on the overall performance or the lending performance. The diversified board has no impact on the overall return and risk, but reduces the loan spread and quality. When the board diversity and the operating diversification change cocurrently, the board diversity will reduce the degree of operating diversification, and the two variables affect performance spontaneously and interactively, but the degree also varies with the types of performance and operating diversification. As far as the final overall performance is concerned, the board diversity reduces the lending diversification, and the interaction between the two variables improves the bank's performance; but the interaction with the reduced diversifications of both the income sources and non-interest incomes causes performance to decline or have no effect. The effects of individual diversity elements (gender, seniority, education, specialty, and profession) of a diverse board are different and vary with the types of both the operating diversification and performance. The effect more consistent with the effect of the composite indicator is the seniority diversity, and the lesser effect is for gender diversity (which interacts with income diversity to reduce overall default risk). Therefore, the board diversity should consider the combination of multiple dimensions, and a single dimension cannot guarantee absolute benefits or costs for banks
Child Sex Tourism: A Case Study in Surabaya, Indonesia
No full text[[abstract]]This article provides a case study of child sex tourism (CST) in Surabaya, Indonesia. CST cases are difficult to surface because the victims of CST are such vulnerable human beings. Victims of CST need a variety of forms of support for their recovery and reintegration. This article contends that social, economic, political, technological, and individual factors cause CST. It examines the negative impacts of CST, which are medical, social, psychological, and physical in nature. It also reveals that the techniques used for CST recruitment are fake promises, debt bondage, emotional abuse, counterfeit love, drug addiction, physical abuse, gifts and favors. The elimination of CST calls for ending certain depraved cultural practices and beliefs, rehabilitation and reintegration of the victims, proactive anti-CST government policies and programs, enactment and effective enforcement of tough laws prohibiting CST, prosecution of the offenders, raising public awareness about the ills of CST, providing education for all children, the provision of national identification documents to all children, and strict border controls to prevent the trafficking of children for sex tourism
Differences in the prophylactic effect of serum lithium levels on depression and mania in bipolar disorder: A dose-response meta-analysis
No full text[[abstract]]The optimal serum lithium levels for preventing the recurrence of mood episodes in bipolar disorder are controversial, especially when polarity is considered. The present study aimed to comprehensively examine the dose-response relationship between lithium concentration and risk of recurrence of mood episodes. We conducted a systematic search of major databases before January 2021 (PROSPERO: CRD42021235812). A one-stage, random-effects, restricted cubic splines model was used to estimate the dose-response relationship between lithium concentration and risk of recurrence of any or specific mood episodes (depression or mania). The effect size is shown as odds ratio (OR). Our meta-analysis included six randomised controlled trials with a total of 975 participants. The dose-response curve showed that increased serum concentrations were associated with a gradual decrease in the risk of any mood episodes (OR 0.50 at 0.60 mmol/l, OR 0.15 at 1.20 mmol/l). The risk of depression decreased slightly with a concentration of 0.60 mmol/l (OR 0.83) but dropped rapidly as the concentration increased to 1.20 mmol/l (OR 0.39). By contrast, the risk for mania initially decreased steadily (OR 0.44), but decreased only marginally (OR 0.30) as the concentration increased. To reduce the recurrence risk to 56%, prevention of depression required a higher concentration than that required for mania (1.13 mmol/l vs. 0.60 mmol/l). Our results suggest a negative dose-response relationship between serum lithium levels and risk of recurrence. In particular, the different preventive effects of serum concentration on depression and mania will be an important clinical reference
Effectiveness of Aromatherapy Yoga in Stress Reduction and Sleep Quality Improvement among Chinese Female College Students: A Quasi-Experimental Study
No full text[[abstract]]College students, particularly female students, often suffer from severe stress and poor sleep. Aromatherapy yoga has become a popular exercise in recent years and may help reduce stress and improve sleep quality, although empirical evidence is limited. We investigated the effectiveness of aromatherapy yoga intervention in reducing stress and improving sleep quality among Chinese female college students. A total of 89 participants-44 in the experimental group (aromatherapy yoga) and 45 in the control group (yoga)-with an average age of 19.88 ± 1.13 years, were enrolled in this quasi-experimental study. Interventions were performed in the respective groups once a week for 12 weeks, for 90 min each time. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Mann-Whitney U test (including effect size) were used to test the differences in stress reduction and sleep quality before and after the intervention. From the findings of the current research, both therapies did not help female students' stress levels or sleep hygiene significantly. However, aromatherapy yoga has the potential to improve sleep disturbances experienced by female college students. Additionally, there was no difference in the amount of stress or the quality of sleep between the aromatherapy yoga groups and the regular yoga groups before and after therapy
Epidemiological investigation of multiple sclerosis and related medical utilization in Taiwan
No full text[[abstract]]Background The increasing trend in the prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) cannot be neglected. Long-term epidemiological investigations of MS patients who have been registered in Taiwan are very scarce. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of MS and medical utilisation among MS patients in Taiwan. Methods The National Health Insurance Research Database was used as the source of the research population; the time period investigated was 2001–2015. A descriptive statistical analysis of the number of MS patients was conducted. For newly diagnosed MS patients, the frequencies of emergency visits and hospitalisations and changes in their temporal distributions were calculated. Results The standardised incidence of MS peaked at 0.50/100,000 in 2003, and the highest standardised prevalence was 7.14/100,000 in 2015. The highest standardised mortality was 0.11/100,000 in 2015, with an overall mortality rate of 13.34/1000 person-years. The number of annual emergency visits for MS patients peaked at 0.9 ± 3.5 in 2011, and the longest annual length of hospital stays was 19.2 ± 40.1 days in 2001, which decreased to 5.6 ± 23.5 days in 2015. Conclusion The standardised prevalence of MS steadily increased, and its incidence slightly decreased from 2001 to 2015
Development of Functional Fermented Dairy Products Containing Taiwan Djulis (Chenopodium Formosanum Koidz.) in Regulating Glucose Utilization
No full text[[abstract]]Taiwan djulis (Chenopodium formosanum Koidz.) is a plant native to Taiwan and is a grain rich in nutrients, vitamins, and minerals with antioxidant properties. This paper aimed to use appropriate processing technology and incorporate probiotics, thus combining Taiwan’s high-quality milk sources to develop Taiwan djulis fermented dairy products. Later, FL83B cells have used to evaluate the glucose utilization ability after the administration of djulis. We first screened Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and combined it with the traditional yogurt strains Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus for cultivation. Further, the fermentation process was optimized where 7.5% djulis and an inoculum of 107 colony forming unit/mL were fermented at 40 °C for 18 h. Compared to fermented milk without djulis, the analysis of various nutrients and active ingredients showed that free radical scavenging abilities of DPPH and ABTS reached 2.3 and 2.0 times (752.35 ± 29.29 ?g and 771.52 ± 3.79 ?g TE/g, respectively). The free phenol content increased 2.5 times (169.90 ± 14.59 mg gallic acid/g); the total flavonoid content enhanced 4.8 times (3.05 ± 0.03 mg quercetin/g), and the gamma-aminobutyric acid content was 3.07 ± 0.94 mg/g. In a co-culture of mouse liver cells with fermented products, 100 ppm ethanol extract of fermented products effectively improved glucose utilization with increased glucose transporter expression. This functional fermented dairy product can be developed into the high value added local agricultural products and enhance multiple applications including medical and therapeutic fields
Improvement in violacein production by utilizing formic acid to induce quorum sensing in Chromobacterium violaceum
No full text[[abstract]]Violacein has attracted increasing attention due to its various biological activities, such as antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidative, and antitumor effects. To improve violacein production, formic acid (FA) was added to a culture medium, which resulted in a 20% increase (1.02 g/L) compared to the no-FA-addition group (0.85 g/L). The use of a stirred-tank bioreactor system also improved violacein production (by 0.56 g/L). A quorum-sensing (QS)-related gene (cviI) was induced by FA treatment, which revealed that the mechanism induced by FA utilized regulation of the cviI gene to induce the vio gene cluster for violacein production. To analyze the antioxidative properties of the violacein produced, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) and 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) scavenging tests were conducted, and results reveal that the values of the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of DPPH and ABTS were 0.286 and 0.182 g/L, respectively. Violacein also showed strong inhibitory activity against Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis). In summary, this study found that the addition of formic acid can promote QS of Chromobacterium violaceum, thereby promoting the synthesis of violacein. Subsequently, the promoting effect was also evaluated in a bioreactor system. These findings will be helpful in establishing an economically beneficial production model for violacein in future work