Influence of Digital Transformation Capability on Operational Performance

With the changes in market environments and the development of digital technology, enterprises urgently need to develop the capability to adapt to profound changes in strategy and business processes. Some previous research regarded a digital marketing capability as a digital transformation capability, but other research explained the importance of digital competence to enterprises, from the perspective of resource allocation. However, they could not explain the phenomenon of enterprises on the usage of advanced digital technology to build the capability to refresh or replace the business model and the value creation process. This study constructed the dimensions of a digital transformation capability that contains three hub-factors (sensing, organizing, and restructuring) under the dynamic capability theory. This study collected 162 sets of enterprise data through a survey, and investigated the relationships of an enterprise’s strategy orientation, digital transformation capability, and operational performance by using SPSS and SmartPLS 3. The results show that strategic orientation has a positive impact on a digital transformation capability, and that digital transformation capability has a positive impact on operational performance. In addition, the digital transformation capability plays a mediating role between strategic orientation and operational performance. Doubtlessly, enterprises need to focus on building their own digital transformation capabilities to create new enterprise value. A digital transformation capability will encourage enterprises to integrate their business processes and routines through digital technology to achieve a competitive advantage

Influence of Digital Transformation Capability on Operational Performance

With the changes in market environments and the development of digital technology, enterprises urgently need to develop the capability to adapt to profound changes in strategy and business processes. Some previous research regarded a digital marketing capability as a digital transformation capability, but other research explained the importance of digital competence to enterprises, from the perspective of resource allocation. However, they could not explain the phenomenon of enterprises on the usage of advanced digital technology to build the capability to refresh or replace the business model and the value creation process. This study constructed the dimensions of a digital transformation capability that contains three hub-factors (sensing, organizing, and restructuring) under the dynamic capability theory. This study collected 162 sets of enterprise data through a survey, and investigated the relationships of an enterprise’s strategy orientation, digital transformation capability, and operational performance by using SPSS and SmartPLS 3. The results show that strategic orientation has a positive impact on a digital transformation capability, and that digital transformation capability has a positive impact on operational performance. In addition, the digital transformation capability plays a mediating role between strategic orientation and operational performance. Doubtlessly, enterprises need to focus on building their own digital transformation capabilities to create new enterprise value. A digital transformation capability will encourage enterprises to integrate their business processes and routines through digital technology to achieve a competitive advantage

Causal associations between both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and multiple autoimmune diseases: a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study

BackgroundNumerous observational studies have identified associations between both psoriasis (PsO) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and autoimmune diseases (AIDs); however, the causality of these associations remains undetermined.MethodsWe conducted a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian Randomization study to identify causal associations and directions between both PsO and PsA and AIDs, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Crohn’s disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC), multiple sclerosis (MS), uveitis, bullous pemphigoid (BP), Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), vitiligo, and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The causal inferences were drawn by integrating results from four regression models: Inverse Variance Weighting (IVW), MR-Egger, Weighted Median, and Maximum Likelihood. Furthermore, we performed sensitivity analyses to confirm the reliability of our findings.ResultsThe results showed that CD [IVW odds ratio (ORIVW), 1.11; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.06-1.17; P = 8.40E-06], vitiligo (ORIVW, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.05-1.28; P = 2.45E-03) were risk factors for PsO, while BP may reduce the incidence of PsO (ORIVW, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.87-0.96; P = 1.26E-04). CD (ORIVW, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.02-1.12; P = 0.01), HT (ORIVW, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.08-1.40; P = 1.43E-03), RA (ORIVW, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.02-1.21, P = 2.05E-02), AS (ORIVW, 2.18; 95% CI, 1.46-3.27; P = 1.55E-04), SLE (ORIVW, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01-1.08; P = 1.07E-02) and vitiligo (ORIVW, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.14-1.42; P = 2.67E-05) were risk factors for PsA. Sensitivity analyses had validated the reliability of the results.ConclusionsOur study provides evidence for potential causal relationships between certain AIDs and both PsO and PsA. Specifically, CD and vitiligo may increase the risk of developing PsO, while CD, HT, SLE, RA, AS, and vitiligo may elevate the risk for PsA. Additionally, it is crucial to closely monitor the condition of PsO patients with specific AIDs, as they have a higher likelihood of developing PsA than those without AIDs. Moving forward, greater attention should be paid to PsA and further exploration of other PsO subtypes is warranted

Improved state enumeration method for transmission grids with renewable energy sources in load spaces

The penetration level of renewable energy sources (RESS) in transmission grids makes the operation states complex. So, it is necessary to execute the effective and online state estimation for transmission grids with renewable energy sources to realize the reliable monitoring of the operation state. However, because the state estimation for transmission grids needs to analyze each possible operation state, the evaluation process is time-consuming and cannot meet online applications’ requirements. Therefore, an improved state-enumeration (SE) method is proposed for online reliability evaluation. First, the total amount of load shedding of all operation states is selected as the system reliability index, and a modified linear optimal model for the transmission grid is established by DC power flow equations. Second, the intermediate variables in the SE model are eliminated and the operational constraints are simplified by using the relaxation technique. And then a linear SE model is established in load spaces, which can be easily solved by linear programming. Because the variables in the function and constraints are the same, the computation burden is greatly reduced. Finally, the proposed strategy is tested by using the modified RBTS and IEEE RTS-96 grids, and the simulation results verify its accuracy and efficiency

Modeling the Complete Nitrogen and Oxygen Isotopic Imprint of Nitrate Photolysis in Snow

Abstract Snow nitrate is vulnerable to photolytic loss that causes isotopic alteration, and thus its isotopes can potentially track the extent of snow nitrate photolysis and its impacts in environments where loss is significant. Large increases in δ15N‐NO3− below the snow surface have been attributed to photolysis and this behavior is generally consistent amongst theoretical as well as lab and field studies. Oxygen isotope ratios are thought to be influenced by photolysis as well as secondary condensed‐phase chemistry, but the competing effects have yet to be reconciled. Here we use a model that simulates nitrate burial, photolytic fractionation, and re‐oxidation in snow to quantitatively assess these processes with the aim of developing a consistent framework for interpreting the photolytic effects of the complete nitrate isotopic composition (δ15N, δ18O, and Δ17O). This study reveals that isotopic effects of nitrate photolysis and aqueous‐phase re‐oxidation chemistry are important sources of uncertainties in modeling δ18O‐NO3−

Quantifying the Nitrogen Sources and Secondary Formation of Ambient HONO with a Stable Isotopic Method

Nitrous acid (HONO) is a reactive gas that plays an important role in atmospheric chemistry. However, accurately quantifying its direct emissions and secondary formation in the atmosphere as well as attributing it to specific nitrogen sources remains a significant challenge. In this study, we developed a novel method using stable nitrogen and oxygen isotopes (delta N-15; delta O-18) for apportioning ambient HONO in an urban area in North China. The results show that secondary formation was the dominant HONO formation processes during both day and night, with the NO2 heterogeneous reaction contributing 59.0 +/- 14.6% in daytime and 64.4 +/- 10.8% at nighttime. A Bayesian simulation demonstrated that the average contributions of coal combustion, biomass burning, vehicle exhaust, and soil emissions to HONO were 22.2 +/- 13.1, 26.0 +/- 5.7, 28.6 +/- 6.7, and 23.2 +/- 8.1%, respectively. We propose that the isotopic method presents a promising approach for identifying nitrogen sources and the secondary formation of HONO, which could contribute to mitigating HONO and its adverse effects on air quality

Associations between Osteocalcin, Calciotropic Hormones, and Energy Metabolism in a Cohort of Chinese Postmenopausal Women: Peking Vertebral Fracture Study

Objective. The endocrine function of bone in energy metabolism may be mediated by the osteocalcin (OC). We examined the association between OC and energy metabolism among Chinese postmenopausal women. Design and Setting. A cross-sectional cohort study enrolling 1635 participants was conducted using data from the Peking Vertebral Fracture study. Partial correlation analysis was performed to explore the correlation of OC, parathyroid hormone (PTH), or 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) with glycemic and lipid metabolic parameters. A logistic regression model was used to investigate the association of OC, PTH, or 25(OH)D with the prevalence of diabetes and dyslipidemia. Results. Serum levels of OC, PTH, and 25(OH)D were all positively correlated with serum cholesterol levels, whereas only OC was negatively associated with serum glucose level. In the logistic regression model, both OC and PTH were negatively associated with the prevalence of diabetes (odds ratio [OR], 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.967, 0.948–0.986 for OC and 0.986, 0.978–0.994 for PTH). No significant association was found between 25(OH)D and diabetes. Both OC and 25(OH)D, rather than PTH, were associated with abnormalities of high cholesterol levels, such as hypercholesterolemia and high LDL-C levels. Further classifying the population based on the median value of OC and PTH, low OC and low PTH subgroup had the highest OR, 95% CI for diabetes (1.873, 1.287–2.737) and the lowest OR, 95% CI for hypercholesterolemia (0.472, 0.324–0.688) and for high LDL-C (0.538, 0.376–0.771). Conclusion. Among Chinese postmenopausal women, a lower serum level of OC was associated with a higher prevalence of diabetes and lower serum cholesterol levels, and a low PTH concentration could magnify these associations