Differences in the Impact of COVID-19 on Pathology Laboratories and Cancer Diagnosis in Girona

Introduction: The recent COVID-19 pandemic has compromised socio-health care, with consequences for the diagnosis and follow-up of other pathologies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on cancer diagnosis in Girona, Spain. Methodology: Observational study of samples received in two pathology laboratories during 2019–2020 (tertiary hospital in Girona and county hospital in Figueres). Date, sample type, and location and morphology were available. Samples were recoded to determine malignancy and grouped by location. Comparisons were made by calendar year and period of exposure to COVID-19. Results: 102,360 samples were included: 80,517 from Girona and 21,843 from Figueres. The reduction in activity in the pathology laboratories in 2020 compared to the previous year was 25.4% in Girona and 27.5% in Figueres. The reduction in cancer diagnoses in 2020 compared to 2019 was 6.8% in Girona and 21% in Figueres. In both laboratories, a decrease was observed in the diagnoses of neoplasms of the lip, oral cavity and pharynx, larynx, colon, rectum and anus, kidney and urinary system, melanoma, and central nervous system. A statistically significant higher probability of a sample received in the pathology laboratory displaying malignancy during COVID-19 was found (Girona: OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.23–1.34; Figueres: OR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.01–1.20) with respect to the COVID-19-free period. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a reduction in cancer diagnoses by pathology departments that varies according to tumor location and type of hospital. Despite this, the optimization of care resources and the recovery effort have partially reduced the impact of the pandemic in certain neoplasms.

Service recovery in unaffected consumers: evidence of a recovery paradox

Purpose This paper aims to examine the effects of a general service recovery effort in consumers who were not victims of the service failure. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a 2 × 2 between-subjects design comparing a service failure announcement with apology and an anniversary event announcement, either with a 15% discount or no discount on purchase intentions. Findings A service recovery effort involving an apology and 15% discount leads to higher purchase intention in consumers who were not victims of the service failure in comparison to a control. The unexpected apology generates surprise, which amplifies the effect of the discount, leading to higher purchase intention. Practical implications The results of this study suggest that apologizing and offering a discount for a minor service failure can have positive effects on consumers who were not victims of the service failure. Thus, if a company is unsure which consumers have been affected by a service failure, this study shows that issuing a general apology for the failure does not have negative effects in unaffected consumers. Originality/value To the best of the author’s knowledge, this paper is the first to examine the effects of a service recovery effort in consumers who were not victims of the service failure and the first to find evidence of a service recovery paradox in unaffected consumers.

Dropped Polyester Mooring Line Qualification for Reuse

The Perdido platform is a spar located in a water depth of 7,825 feet in the Alaminos Canyon Block 857in the Gulf of Mexico. The mooring system consists of nine mooring lines in three groups of three, spacedapproximately 120 degrees apart between each group. Each mooring line is composed of a platform chain,a multi-segment polyester rope including a 120 feet long test insert at the top, a ground chain, a pile chainand other associated connectors. The mooring lines are connected to suction piles. The Minimum BreakStrength for the Perdido polyester mooring line is 4,000 kips. Installation of the spar hull was completed inSeptember 2008 and the topsides was set in March 2009. The spar and its mooring system were originallydesigned for a twenty (20) year life. On May 4, 2019, mooring line # 6 (ML6) was contacted by a marine vessel down line and was severed.Contact occurred along the polyester test insert. A recovery effort was planned, and the mooring line wasreplaced in early June. The original ML6 was recovered from the seafloor on June 4, 2019 as a part of thatcampaign and submitted to an initial inspection. This paper is not intended to go into either the cause of the incident or the replacement of ML6 but willlook to the inspection of the recovered mooring line and explore its suitability for reuse. Initial inspection ofthe lines suggested minimal damage to the polyester rope segments and raised questions to the impacts of 10years of use. Testing was envisioned as a learning opportunity for the impact of service on polyester mooringand was reinforced by the potential cost savings that could be attained though reuse. A methodology wasdeveloped, supported by initial inspections and a suite of testing was performed. The results of these testsare presented in the following, along with a proposed process for assessing and considering reuse of a linefollowing a drop. Additionally, conclusions will be shared for the process, the results, and the potentialramifications for the industry.

STATUS PERIKANAN BELIDA (CHITALA LOPIS) DI PROPINSI RIAU DAN STRATEGI PENGELOLAANNYA SECARA BERKELANJUTAN

Berbagai ancaman terhadap populasi belida di alam, seperti rendahnya nilai indikator ketersediaan induk di alam (15%), tingkat pemanfaatan yang tinggi, dan beberapa aturan perlindungan sebagai bukti adanya kekhawatiran kepunahan belida, menunjukkan perlunya upaya pelestarian tertentu menuju pengelolaan belida yang berkelanjutan. Kajian bertujuan untuk memformulasikan upaya menjaga keberlanjutan populasi belida di alam dan mendukung upaya peningkatan produksi, dengan melihat kondisi terkini perikanan belida baik dari aktifitas penangkapan maupun budidaya. Analisis sederhana dilakukan terhadap produksi dan hasil tangkapan belida di wilayah Propinsi Riau serta perkembangan kegiatan budidaya. Hasil menunjukan bahwa terdapat beberapa hal positif yang mendukung pemanfaatan belida sebagai komoditi budidaya. Dari sisi penangkapan, kontribusi belida terhadap total produksi perikanan perairan darat baik secara lokal (Riau) maupun nasional adalah relatif kecil, namun sampai dengan saat ini kebutuhan pasar dan industri lokal Riau hingga luar Riau masih bisa dipenuhi. Di samping itu, terdapat mekanisme pasar yang memberlakukan harga tinggi pada ukuran besar serta keberadaan lubuk larangan sebagai daerah yang dilindungi. Hal positif lainnya adalah latar belakang genetik yang memungkinkan pemanfaatan benih dan indukan dari lokasi Kampar dan Palembang untuk keperluan pemulihan di alam. Serta telah dikuasainya teknologi pemijahan belida dalam lingkungan terkontrol di luar habitat alaminya. Di sisi lain masih terdapat kondisi yang tidak mendukung keberlanjutan sumber daya ikan belida antara lain kondisi alami habitatnya yang sudah mengalami degradasi. Degradasi yang lebih nyata terlihat diduga lebih cepat berdampak jika dibandingkan dengan upaya pemulihannya. Budidaya diyakini mampu menjembatani percepatan pemulihan tersebut guna meningkatkan produksi ikan belida dalam hal ini.Various threats occurred to clown knifefish (belida) populations in wild nature, such as the low value of indicators for the availability of broodstock in nature (15%), high utilization rates, and several protection regulations as evidence of clown knifefish extinction concerns, indicate the need for certain conservation efforts towards sustainable clown knifefish management. The study aims to formulate efforts to maintain the sustainability of clown knifefish populations to population also the needs in increasing production, by looking at the current conditions of clown knifefish fisheries both from fishing and aquaculture activities. A simple analysis was carried out on the production and catch of clown knifefish in Riau Province as well as aquaculture. The results show that there are several positive things that support the use of clown knifefish as an aquaculture commodity. In terms of fishing, the contribution of clown knifefish to total inland fishery production both locally (Riau) and nationally is small relatively, however until now the market and industrial needs of local Riau to outside Riau can still be met. In addition, there is a market mechanism that imposes a high price on large sizes as well as the existence of ‘lubuk larangan’ as a protected area. Other positive is the genetic background that allows the use of seeds and broodstock from Kampar and Palembang locations for recovery purposes in nature. Also technological developments of spawning in a controlled environment outside their natural habitat. On the other hand, there is unsupported condition to the sustainability of clown knifefish resources, including the degradation of habitat. The more obvious degradation is seen having a faster impact than the recovery effort. Aquaculture is believed to be able to bridge the acceleration of the recovery in order to increase the production of clown knifefish in this case.

Decisions of Closed-Loop Supply Chain Based on Recycling Effort and Differential Game

Recycled resource and consumer satisfaction drive bicycle enterprises to take effort to recycle damaged bicycles. Considering consumers’ riding experience, this paper analyzes a closed-loop supply chain where the operator sets price and recycling effort, and the supplier determines wholesale price. Rent and recycling strategies in integrated and decentralized channels are analyzed, and four types of revenue and cost-sharing contracts are compared, and the linear transfer payment-CS contract is designed to coordinate the decentralized supply chain. The results show that the consumers’ concern for riding experience can encourage the operator to increase recycling effort and the operator increases the rents and recycling effort over time. Besides, the sharing deposit income among supply chain members only affects the wholesale price and does not change the decisions of rent and recovery effort. In other words, the deposit is used to adjust the profit distribution among members, and there is no difference for consumers and society.