A Method Paper for the External Auditory Canal Anthropometrics Study

The anthropometrics of the external auditory canal (EAC) is clinically pertinent to producing effective custom hearing protection devices (HPD). If custom HPDs are incorrectly fit, they will not attenuate an appropriate level of sound, increasing the likelihood that the user might be exposed to hazardous intensity levels. Researchers have attempted to measure the EAC using a multitude of approaches. Research technology, called ear scanning, appears to provide the ability to measure the EAC effectively. This study was designed to identify a procedure to accomplish the following: (1) characterize the anthropometric differences between male and female external ears. (2) identify differences between digital-scan and physical-material of external ear impressions. (3) compare digital EAC scans to crude methods used for ear canal measurement. To explore each aim, an investigation of external ear anthropometry should be undertaken using virtual ear impression technology. Such studies are scant in the literature. A review of pertinent literature revealed that a gold standard for quantifying ear canal anthropometrics is unavailable. This finding persuaded a summation of the current literature associated with techniques used for quantifying ear canal anthropometry

Nonresident family as a motive for migration

BACKGROUND A great deal of research has focused on employment and educational reasons for migration. Recent research has also begun to explore social motives. However, we still know very little about the role of nonresident family for moving, especially over long distances. OBJECTIVE We examine (1) the prevalence of nonresident family as a primary motive versus a secondary and location-based motive for migration, (2) moving away from family versus moving toward family, (3) how individuals' reported family motives correspond to their actual migration toward family members, and (4) the sociodemographic characteristics of individuals who report family as a motive for migration. METHODS The data were derived from the Swedish Motives for Moving survey, which is based on an analytic sample of 4,601 Swedish respondents who migrated at least 20 km in 2007. We present descriptive statistics and quotes to illustrate respondents' reports of their migration motives. As a tool for sophisticated description, we also provide the results of logistic and ordered logistic regression models of mentioning nonresident family as a motive for moving. CONTRIBUTION Common assumptions that internal migration is related to employment and education underestimate the importance of family as a motive. Moreover, nonresident family is among the secondary and location-based considerations for many more migrants than data on only primary motives might suggest. Reports of migration toward family are far more common than reports of migration away from family. We provide support for the assumption underlying previous work that moves toward family are indeed motivated by family considerations and not just a by-product of other considerations. Sociodemographic characteristics associated with reporting nonresident family are in line with expectations based on prior research and theory

Pulmonary MicroRNA changes alter angiogenesis in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer

The pulmonary endothelium is dysfunctional in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a known risk factor for lung cancer. The pulmonary endothelium is altered in emphysema, which is disproportionately affected by cancers. Gene and microRNA expression differs between COPD and non-COPD lung. We hypothesised that the alteration in microRNA expression in the pulmonary endothelium contributes to its dysfunction. A total of 28 patients undergoing pulmonary resection were recruited and endothelial cells were isolated from healthy lung and tumour. MicroRNA expression was compared between COPD and non-COPD patients. Positive findings were confirmed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Assays assessing angiogenesis and cellular migration were conducted in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (n = 3–4) transfected with microRNA mimics and compared to cells transfected with negative control RNA. Expression of miR-181b-3p, miR-429 and miR-23c (all p < 0.05) was increased in COPD. Over-expression of miR-181b-3p was associated with reduced endothelial sprouting (p < 0.05). miR-429 was overexpressed in lung cancer as well and exhibited a reduction in tubular formation. MicroRNA-driven changes in the pulmonary endothelium thus represent a novel mechanism driving emphysema. These processes warrant further study to determine if they may be therapeutic targets in COPD and lung cancer

Predicting risk of hospitalisation: a retrospective population-based analysis in a paediatric population in Emilia-Romagna, Italy.

OBJECTIVES: Develop predictive models for a paediatric population that provide information for paediatricians and health authorities to identify children at risk of hospitalisation for conditions that may be impacted through improved patient care. DESIGN: Retrospective healthcare utilisation analysis with multivariable logistic regression models. DATA: Demographic information linked with utilisation of health services in the years 2006-2014 was used to predict risk of hospitalisation or death in 2015 using a longitudinal administrative database of 527 458 children aged 1-13 years residing in the Regione Emilia-Romagna (RER), Italy, in 2014. OUTCOME MEASURES: Models designed to predict risk of hospitalisation or death in 2015 for problems that are potentially avoidable were developed and evaluated using the C-statistic, for calibration to assess performance across levels of predicted risk, and in terms of their sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value. RESULTS: Of the 527 458 children residing in RER in 2014, 6391 children (1.21%) were hospitalised for selected conditions or died in 2015. 49 486 children (9.4%) of the population were classified in the \u27At Higher Risk\u27 group using a threshold of predicted risk \u3e2.5%. The observed risk of hospitalisation (5%) for the \u27At Higher Risk\u27 group was more than four times higher than the overall population. We observed a C-statistic of 0.78 indicating good model performance. The model was well calibrated across categories of predicted risk. CONCLUSIONS: It is feasible to develop a population-based model using a longitudinal administrative database that identifies the risk of hospitalisation for a paediatric population. The results of this model, along with profiles of children identified as high risk, are being provided to the paediatricians and other healthcare professionals providing care to this population to aid in planning for care management and interventions that may reduce their patients\u27 likelihood of a preventable, high-cost hospitalisation

GAMBARAN TINGKAT STRES KERJA PADA TENAGA PENDIDIK TERHADAP PEMBELAJARAN JARAK JAUH DI SMPN 1 LIKUPANG SELATAN DAN SMPN 1 DIMEMBE

Stres merupakan keadaan emosional individu/seseorang yang belum bisa terkontrol dengan baik, sehingga dapat memicu seseorang bekerja kurang efektif. Stres kerja pada guru/ tenaga pendidik merupakan tekanan atau beban kerja yang dialami seorang tenaga pendidik ketika sedang melakukan tugas sebagai pendidik disekolah. Pada saat ini sistem pembelajaran di indonesia sedang melakukan sistem pembelajaran jarak jauh. SMPN 1 Likupang Selatan Dan SMPN 1 Dimembe merupakan sekolah-sekolah yang melakukan sistem pembelajaran jarak jauh pada saat sekarang. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui gambaran tingkat stres pada tenaga pendidik terhadap pembelajaran jarak jauh di SMPN 1 Likupang Selatan Dan SMPN 1 Dimembe. Jenis penelitian ini yaitu deskriptif kuantitatif dengan jumlah sampel 35 orang. Penelitian ini dilakukan pada bulan November 2020 - Februari 2021. Pengumpulan data dilakukan dengan cara membagikan kuesioner kepada responden di tempat penelitian dengan menggunakan kuesioner Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS 42). Hasil dari penelitian ini menunjukan bahwa responden paling banyak mengalami stres normal dan stres ringanKata Kunci: Tingkat Stres, Tenaga Pendidik, Pembelajaran Jarak JauhABSTRACTStress is an emotional state of an individual/person that can not be controlled properly, so it can trigger a person to work less effectively. Work stress on teachers / educators is a pressure or workload experienced by an educator when doing tasks as an educator in school. At the moment the learning system in Indonesia is conducting a online distance learning system. SMPN 1 Likupang Selatan and SMPN 1 Dimembe are schools that are conducting a online distance learning systems at this time. This research aims to find out the scale of stress levels in teachers / educators towards a online distance learning at SMPN 1 Likupang Selatan and SMPN 1 Dimembe. This type of research is descriptive quantitative with a sample number of 35 people. This research was conducted in November 2020- February 2021. Data collection was conducted by sharing questionnaires with respondents at the research site using depression anxiety and stress scale questionnaire (DASS 42). The results of this study showed that respondents who experienced mild stress and respondents under normal Keywords: Stress Level, Educators, Distance Learnin

Migration for family and labour market outcomes in Sweden

Using information on stated motives for migrating among working-age individuals in the 2007 Swedish Motives for Migration survey(N = 1,852),we use multinomial logistic regression to examine whether and how moves for family reasons are linked to labour market outcomes in ways that differ from migration initiated for other motives, including more overtly labour-related factors. The results indicate that family-based migration is associated with worse labour market outcomes than migration for employment or other reasons. Additionally, family-motivated migrants with co-resident children are more likely to experience labour market deterioration than those without children. Among those who were unemployed before moving, those who reported family as a motive for moving were significantly more likely to be employed after the move. These results help us better assess how families and social networks impact economic outcomes-negatively in some circumstances and positively in others

Measuring migration motives with open-ended survey data:Methodological and conceptual issues

Motives for migration are difficult to measure. Open‐ended data collection can be an attractive option, but also comes with pitfalls. We use the “Motives for Migration” survey on internal migration in Sweden to identify some of these pitfalls. We identify five categories of methodological issues: how the respondents—and we—dealt with multiple motives for migration; who the motive pertained to (i.e., the respondents themselves or someone else in the household); whether the motive was related to a status or an event; which third‐party person(s) the respondent meant to refer to; and which geographical unit the motive pertained to. We also identify two conceptual issues: (1) the distinction between reasons for moving and location choice and (2) the distinction between moving “from” and moving “to” somewhere. We present some suggestions that will be useful for future attempts to study the topic and possibly such other topics as motives for immigration, getting married, or leaving the parental home