207 research outputs found

    Resilience Development in Multiple Shocks: Lessons in Mental Health and Well-Being Deterioration during COVID-19

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    Resilience describes individuals’ and organizations’ recovery from crises and adaptation to disturbances and adversities. Emerging research shows the deterioration of the population’s mental health and well-being during the multiple waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting that the resilience developed is insufficient to address the system’s persistent shocks. Drawing on the findings on mental health and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic and the psychological and organizational resilience theories, we developed a system dynamics theory model exploring how the presence of multiple shocks to the system challenges the population’s health and well-being. We initiated the model with three shocks with the same intensities and durations, and then experimented with scenarios in which the strength of multiple shocks (duration and intensity) was attenuated and amplified. The model showed that temporary environmental adjustments with limited long-term stabilized solutions and a lack of health service provision can increase the accumulative risks of health and well-being deterioration. We highlight the role of essential health service sectors’ resilience and individuals’ and organizations’ tolerance of adversities and disturbances in providing sustainable resilience. We conclude by discussing critical factors in organizational and psychological resilience development in crises with multiple shocks to the system

    The role of social media to make singers in China—One case study of TF BOYS

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    In Web 2.0, social media spread to our daily life gradually. We gain information and news or make friends with that. In fact, social media also has some business advantages because it could spread information to people and cause great effects to people in short time. fans economy has been very popular in China nowadays, which means that the idol image is designed to cater to target fans and idol has become a business product. As the advantage of social media in business operation, it has already been used to make business idol. However, many researches focus on the role of idol and fans in fans economy or marketing strategies more, but lack of the role of social media exploration in practical execution. Marketing strategies are truly deserved to research, but the execution process is also important as the poor execution also will cause failure. Social media plays an important role in China to make idol, especially in practical execution. Here, we want to explore the role of social media to make singers in China and use a Chinese band called TF BOYS as a case study. In other words, we would like to research the executive process with social media to make singers — a case study of TF BOYS. The qualitative research method will be used as we would like to know an in-depth understanding of consumer behavior. In detail, in-depth interview and observation would be adopted. We want to interview 20 TF BOYS fans and ask them questions with AISAS model. AISAS is the consumer behavior steps that includes attention, interest, search, action and share. In findings, we found that social media plays a vital role in the five steps, especially search, action and share steps. Fans could search TF BOYS information on fans station on social media and buy related products online. In sharing step, they do not just share related products, but share passion of idol online with other fans. In a word, fans passion of TF BOYS is transferred to the purchasing power by correct digital marketing strategy and social media spread. We anticipate that the topic, the role of social media in fans economy, still has plenty of space to research, especially the psychological changing of fans. In practical execution, the online activities held by fans executor instill the belief about TF BOYS seriously to fans, which could strengthen the passion of them

    Development and Application of Mass Spectrometry-Based Approaches for Protein Higher Order Structure Analysis and Protein-Protein Interaction Characterization

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    Proteins, one of the most fundamental biomolecules, adopt unique higher order structures (HOS) to enable diverse biological functions. Deciphering protein HOS is crucial to gain deeper insights of their working mechanisms and to develop biotherapeutics. Mass spectrometry (MS)-based approaches evolved rapidly in the past 30 years and are now playing critical roles in protein HOS characterization. One of those approaches is MS-based footprinting whose principle is to map the solvent accessible surface area (SASA) to deliver structural information. Protein footprinting can be achieved by reversible labeling, e.g., hydrogen-deuterium exchange (HDX), and by irreversible labeling using radical-based reagents or other targeted labeling reagents. Irreversible labeling such as fast photochemical oxidation of protein (FPOP) and cross-linking (XL) delivers the information of the reactive amino acid side chains, whereas HDX allows the analysis of the backbone amides. Information from the two aspects are different yet complementing to each other. In Chapter 1, the two MS-based footprinting methodologies are reviewed and discussed in detail including the fundamental, history, and recent applications. In the second section, development of the irreversible radical footprinting is the primary focus, specifically the elaboration of FPOP platform. Chapter 2 describes the generation and evaluation of a new radical reagent, the carbonate radical anion, on the FPOP platform; a radical that can selectively label methionine and aromatic residues, complementing others radical reagents in the footprinter “toolbox”. Chapter 3 demonstrates a novel way of elaborating FPOP platform that is to follow protein unfolding by coupling two lasers together: one to induce protein conformational changes by pH jump and the other to label protein with radical reagents. A time delay between the two lasers enables the characterization of the dominant protein conformations at different stages of unfolding. The third section emphasizes the integration of several footprinting approaches as well as computational methods for comprehensive analysis of protein HOS. In Chapter 4 and 5, HDX, XL-MS and molecular docking are combined to determine protein-protein binding interfaces and to map epitope/paratope of an antigen-antibody complex, respectively. In particular, Chapter 4 discusses the potential of using HDX to adjudicate candidate docking models for quaternary structure elucidation. Besides molecular docking, homology modeling in combination with XL-MS is also a successful marriage to decipher protein structures, an example is demonstrated in Chapter 6. Restraints derived from cross-links help modify and validate a predicted structure of phycolisome, contributing to the first proposed architecture of the protein complex in cyanobacteria. The six chapters combine to demonstrate the development and application of MS-based footprinting in protein HOS characterization. Given the effectiveness and powerfulness of these methods, significant contributions by MS-related approaches are well to be expected in the field of structural proteomic

    Assessing sustainability performance of high-tech firms through a hybrid approach

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    Purpose: In light of the lack of subjective criteria and scientific rationality in current sustainability performance assessment, the purpose of this paper is conducted to improve the sustainability performance assessment of high-tech firms by developing a hybrid approach that integrates quantitative and qualitative research methods. Design/methodology/approach: This study proposed a hybrid approach that integrates word frequency analysis, cluster analysis, grey theory and the decision-making and trial evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) method. Specifically, this study identifies useful criteria using quantitative word frequency analysis as well as qualitative literature research. Then, cluster analysis is used to divide these criteria into different categories. Subsequently, this study applies the grey theory associated with the DEMATEL method to assess the sustainability performance of high-tech firms. Findings: The results reveal that the socio-environment is an important aspect underlying the corporate sustainability performance of high-tech firms. Therefore, high-tech firms should enhance their pollution emission control capabilities and increase investment in energy-conservation and emission-reduction technologies to drive sustainable development. In addition, increasing green product sales revenue and improving the guiding capability of green consumption are core issues that firms must address. Originality/value: This study assesses the sustainability performance of high-tech firms by applying a hybrid method. This method can be used to construct a framework for scientific sustainability performance assessment and to provide a clear direction for the sustainable development of firms

    ATP, an attractive target for the treatment of refractory chronic cough

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    Chronic cough is the most common complaint in respiratory clinics. Most of them have identifiable causes and some may respond to common disease-modifying therapies. However, there are many patients whose cough lacks effective aetiologically targeted treatments or remains unexplained after thorough assessments, which have been described as refractory chronic cough. Current treatments for refractory chronic cough are limited and often accompanied by intolerable side effects such as sedation. In recent years, various in-depth researches into the pathogenesis of chronic cough have led to an explosion in the development of drugs for the treatment of refractory chronic cough. There has been considerable progress in the underlying mechanisms of chronic cough targeting ATP, and ongoing or completed clinical studies have confirmed the promising antitussive efficacy of P2X3 antagonists for refractory cough. Herein, we review the foundation on which ATP target was developed as potential antitussive medications and provide an update on current clinical progresses

    The “vicious circle” of chronic cough: The patient experience – qualitative synthesis

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    Aim The aim of this study was to systematically search and synthesise findings from peer-reviewed qualitative studies describing the experiences of those living with chronic cough. Methods A systematic search was conducted to identify all studies that used qualitative methodology to report on the experiences of adults living with chronic cough. A thematic synthesis of the first-hand narratives was undertaken. Key themes in relation to personal perspectives and experiences of living with chronic cough were identified and grouped into analytical themes. Results Six studies met the inclusion criteria. The thematic synthesis generated three analytical themes: 1) “It’s just a cough”; 2) “Constant cough and constant worry”; and 3) “No light at the end of the tunnel”, highlighting the biopsychosocial nature of chronic cough. The synthesis highlights chronic cough as a heterogeneous experience that may appear idiosyncratic, completely consuming the lives of those living with it. Conclusion This is to our knowledge the first qualitative synthesis reporting on the perceptions and experiences of adults living with chronic cough. Our review draws attention to the paucity of literature that utilises qualitative methodology to explore the experience of living with chronic cough. We highlight the missing voice of people living with chronic cough in the contemporary literature. There is now a requirement for research exploring the narratives of those living with chronic cough, to gain an understanding of the condition beyond simple quantification

    Chronic cough in cystic fibrosis: the effect of modulator therapy on objective 24-h cough monitoring

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    This is a prospective observation of the effect of Kaftrio initiation in CF. An early and dramatic improvement in the objective measure of 24-h cough monitoring was observed, providing noninvasive, objective evidence of efficacy and compliance in CF. https://bit.ly/3LpnAB
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