Modeling Occupational Fingernail Onycholysis Disorders in the Population of US Astronauts Who Have Engaged in Extravehicular Activity

Objectives Spacesuits are designed to be reliable personal spacecraft that preserve the life and well-being of the astronaut from the extremes of space. However, materials, operating pressures, and suit design requirements often result in a risk of musculoskeletal discomfort and injury to various areas of the body. In particular, this investigation looked at fingernails and their risk of developing onycholysis. Methods An onycholysis literature review was followed by a retrospective analysis of injury characteristics, astronaut suited training and spaceflight events, hand anthropometry, glove sizing, and astronaut demographics. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the likelihood of onycholysis occurrence by testing potential risk variables against the dataset compiled from the retrospective data mining. Results The duration of event exposure, type of glove used, distance (delta) between the fingertip and the tip of the glove, sex, and age were found to be significantly related to occurrence of onycholysis (whether protective or injurious). Conclusion An initial risk formula (model) for onycholysis was developed as a result of this investigation. In addition to validation through a future study, further improvement to this onycholysis equation and spacesuit discomfort and injury in general can be aided by future investigations that lead to better definition of the threshold between safe and risky exposure for each type of risk factor. Application This work described a potential method that can be used for EVA spacesuit glove onycholysis injury risk analysis for either iterative glove design or between glove comparisons, such as during a product downselect process.

Attitudes toward Pursuing Genetic Testing among Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Taiwan: A Qualitative Investigation

Background: The diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) cases is increasing in Taiwan. Genetic testing for children with ASD offers several potential benefits and is available with out-of-pocket expenses. Parents play a pivotal role in having their children with ASD tested; therefore, understanding their perceptions of, and perceived barriers to genetic testing is vital. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 39 parents of children with ASD in Taiwan. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. NVivo 12 software (QSR International, Doncaster, Australia) was used to facilitate an inductive coding methodology. Results: The majority of participants (74.4%) supported ASD genetic testing for their children with ASD, citing reasons such as clarifying ASD etiology, well-informed family planning, contributing to ASD research, and early ASD detection and intervention. Others indicated that they were either against such testing (17.9%), or unsure (7.7%) about whether to take their children with ASD for genetic testing. Those who were opposed reported that their main concerns related to perceptions of no value of genetic testing, potential for family conflict, and financial difficulties. Conclusions: Most of the parents of children with ASD that we interviewed expressed favorable views of ASD genetic testing. There exists a need to increase parental access to education and counseling, and to include testing coverage in Taiwanese national health insurance.

IMPLEMENTING A CANVAS BUSINESS MODEL IN DWH BILEBANTE AND DWH SESAOT'S TOURISM PACKAGE INNOVATION

Bilebante Green Tourism Village Central Lombok and Sesaot Green Tourism Village are two tourist villages that have the same history in building and developing tourist villages. DWH Bilebante was first initiated for its development by the Putri Renjani cooperative. At the same time, DWH Sesaot was ideated and set for the first time by the Sugeh Engger Sesaot Cooperative. The cooperative has a business unit, DWH, which is tasked with developing tourism businesses to increase cooperative profits. The two DWHs were also facilitated in 2014 by GIZ (Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit), an institution from Germany whose primary focus is building the Government of Indonesia to develop Tourism Villages. These two villages were significantly impacted by the organization's assistance in developing the village into tourist spots.This study aims to find out how the tour packagesinnovationoccurred at DWH Bilebante and DWH Sesaot. This research describes how to tour package innovations and product designs are carried out using a business model BMC (business model canvas). This research is qualitative. The reference for innovation comes from Law No. 19. Innovation is a research, development, and/or engineering activity carried out to develop the practical application of new scientific values ​​and contexts or new ways to apply existing science and technology into products or production processes.This research was included in the research and development study, and the engineering carried out for the development.So, this study views the process in Research & Development developed by Sugiono (2008:40). It can be used to describe how the tour package innovations were carried out by the two DWHs, Bilebante and Sesaot. The stage starts from finding potential and problems, data collection, product design, design validation, redesign vision, product testing, product revision, product testing, potential and problems, mass production (marketing). The study results are DWH Bilebante, and DWH Sesaot have carried out various tour package innovations but have not implemented BMC (business model canvas) to innovate tour package products.They have stepped up the process without going through product designs made in BMC, so the resulting product has no desirability, feasibility, viability. Thus these two DWHs have not been able to sell tour packages optimally with maximum value.

IMPLEMENTING A CANVAS BUSINESS MODEL IN DWH BILEBANTE AND DWH SESAOT'S TOURISM PACKAGE INNOVATION

Bilebante Green Tourism Village Central Lombok and Sesaot Green Tourism Village are two tourist villages that have the same history in building and developing tourist villages. DWH Bilebante was first initiated for its development by the Putri Renjani cooperative. At the same time, DWH Sesaot was ideated and set for the first time by the Sugeh Engger Sesaot Cooperative. The cooperative has a business unit, DWH, which is tasked with developing tourism businesses to increase cooperative profits. The two DWHs were also facilitated in 2014 by GIZ (Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit), an institution from Germany whose primary focus is building the Government of Indonesia to develop Tourism Villages. These two villages were significantly impacted by the organization's assistance in developing the village into tourist spots.This study aims to find out how the tour packagesinnovationoccurred at DWH Bilebante and DWH Sesaot. This research describes how to tour package innovations and product designs are carried out using a business model BMC (business model canvas). This research is qualitative. The reference for innovation comes from Law No. 19. Innovation is a research, development, and/or engineering activity carried out to develop the practical application of new scientific values ​​and contexts or new ways to apply existing science and technology into products or production processes.This research was included in the research and development study, and the engineering carried out for the development.So, this study views the process in Research & Development developed by Sugiono (2008:40). It can be used to describe how the tour package innovations were carried out by the two DWHs, Bilebante and Sesaot. The stage starts from finding potential and problems, data collection, product design, design validation, redesign vision, product testing, product revision, product testing, potential and problems, mass production (marketing). The study results are DWH Bilebante, and DWH Sesaot have carried out various tour package innovations but have not implemented BMC (business model canvas) to innovate tour package products.They have stepped up the process without going through product designs made in BMC, so the resulting product has no desirability, feasibility, viability. Thus these two DWHs have not been able to sell tour packages optimally with maximum value

A Mouse Model of Nigrostriatal Dopaminergic Axonal Degeneration As a Tool for Testing Neuroprotectors

Degeneration of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons in Parkinsons disease begins from the axonal terminals in the striatum and, then, in retrograde fashion, progresses to the cell bodies in the substantia nigra. Investigation of the dynamics of axonal terminal degeneration may help in the identification of new targets for neuroprotective treatment and be used as a tool for testing potential drugs. We have shown that the degeneration rate of dopaminergic axonal terminals changes over time, and that the striatal dopamine concentration is the most sensitive parameter to the action of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). This model was validated using neuroprotectors with well-known mechanisms of action: the dopamine transporter inhibitor nomifensine and SEMAX peptide that stimulates the secretion of endogenous neurotrophic factors or acts as an antioxidant. Nomifensine was shown to almost completely protect dopaminergic fibers from the toxic effect of MPTP and maintain the striatal dopamine concentration at the control level. However, SEMAX, slightly but reliably, increased striatal dopamine when administered before MPTP treatment, which indicates that it is more effective as an inductor of endogenous neurotrophic factor secretion rather than as an antioxidant.

Hidden-state-only speciation and extinction models provide accurate tip estimates of diversification rates

1. State-dependent speciation and extinction (SSE) models provide a framework for testing potential correlations between the evolution of an observed trait and speciation and extinction rates. Recent expansions of these models allow for the inclusion of "hidden states" that, among other things, allow for rate heterogeneity often observed among lineages sharing a particular character state. However, in reality, multiple circumstances and interacting traits related to a focal character play a role in changing diversification dynamics of a lineage over time, restricting the use of available SSE models that require trait information to be assigned at the tips. 2. Here we introduce MiSSE, an SSE approach that infers diversification rate differences from hidden states only. It can be used similarly to other trait-free methods to estimate varying speciation, extinction, but also different functions of these parameters such as net-diversification, turnover rates, and extinction fraction. Given the size of the model space, we also describe an algorithm designed for efficiently searching through a reasonably large set of models without having to be exhaustive. 3. We compare the accuracy of rates inferred at the tips of the tree by MiSSE against popular character-free methods and demonstrate that the error associated with tip estimates is generally low. Due to certain characteristics of the SSE models, this method avoids some of the recent concerns with parameter identifiability in diversification analyses and can be used alongside regular phylogenetic comparative methods in trait-related diversification hypotheses. 4. Finally, we apply MiSSE, with a renewed focus on classic comparative methods, to understand processes happening near the present, rather than deep in the past, to examine how variation in plant height has impacted turnover rates in eucalypts, a species-rich lineage of flowering plants.

Colombia’s GHG Emissions Reduction Scenario: Complete Representation of the Energy and Non-Energy Sectors in LEAP

The signatory countries of the Paris Agreement must submit their updated Intended National Determined Contributions (INDCs) to the UNFCCC secretariat every five years. In Colombia, this activity was historically carried out with a wide set of diverse non-interconnected sector-specific models. Given the complexity of GHG emissions reporting and the evaluation of mitigation actions on a national scale, the need for a centralized platform was evident. Such approach would allow the integration and analysis of potential interactions among sectors, as well as to guarantee the homogeneity of assumptions and input parameters. In this paper, we describe the construction of an integrated bottom-up LEAP model tailored to the Colombian case, which covers all IPCC sectors. An integrated model facilitates capturing synergies and intersectoral interactions within the national GHG emissions system. Hence, policies addressing one sector and influencing others are identified and correctly assessed. Thus, 44 mitigation policies and mitigation actions were included in the model, in this way, identifying the sectors directly and being indirectly affected by them. The mitigation scenario developed in this paper reaches a reduction of 28% of GHG emissions compared with the reference scenario. The importance of including non-energy sectors is evident in the Colombian case, as GHG emission reductions are mainly driven by AFOLU. The first section describes the GHG emissions context in Colombia. Next, we describe the model structure, main input parameters, assumptions, considerations, and used LEAP functionalities. Results are presented from a GHG emissions accounting and energy demand perspective. The model allows for the correct estimate of the scope and potential of mitigation actions by considering indirect, unintended emissions reductions in all IPCC categories, as well as synergies with all mitigation actions included in the mitigation scenario. Moreover, the structure of the model is suitable for testing potential emission trajectories, facilitating its adoption by official entities and its application in climate policymaking.

Acceptability of COVID-19 Certificates: A Qualitative Study in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2020

Immunity certificates related to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been under discussion since the beginning of the pandemic with conflicting opinions. In order to identify arguments in favor of and against the possible implementation of documents certifying immunity of an individual based on serological testing, we developed a qualitative study in Geneva, Switzerland. The study took place between two lockdowns with a sense of semi-normalcy during summer 2020 in Switzerland but at a time when no vaccine was available and seroprevalence was below 21%. Eleven focus groups with members of the public and 14 semi-structured interviews with stakeholders were conducted between July and November 2020, with a total of 68 participants with an age range between 24 and 77 years. Interviews and focus groups transcripts were coded with the ATLAS.ti CAQDAS. Few participants considered immunity certificates based on serological testing as an acceptable public health measure. Major concerns included the reliability of scientific data related to COVID-19 immunity and serological testing potential re-infection as well as the possibility that the use of certificates could result in deleterious outcomes. Discrimination, counterfeiting, incitement for self-infection, invasion of the private sphere, violation of personal integrity, and violation of medical secrecy were perceived as the major risks. Benefits of immunity certificates were more perceived when in relation to vaccination, and included gains in medical knowledge and protection in certain contexts involving leisure or work-related activities. The consequences of implementing immunity certificates are numerous, and the acceptability by the general population has to be considered when engaging in such policy. Even if the results provide a snapshot of arguments discussed around immunity certificates based on serological testing before the implementation of the COVID-19 vaccine, most of the issues discussed are central in the current debates about vaccination certificates.