Population Ageing, Labour Market Rigidity and Corporate Innovation: Evidence from China

Population ageing leads to labour scarcity and labour market rigidity. Contrary to supply-side economists’ belief that labour market rigidity tends to suppress firm innovation, we provide novel evidence of a positive relationship between population ageing and firm innovation in China. This enhancement effect is greater for firms with higher labour costs, consistent with the argument that labour scarcity encourages labour-saving innovation in response to demographic shifts. In addition, the observed positive effect is particularly pronounced for state-owned enterprises, which are widely acknowledged to be overstaffed with older workers, and firms in industries that pursue Schumpeter-II innovation and engage in more intense research and development. In addition, population ageing helps firms to generate more exploitative (vs. exploratory) innovation. Overall, our findings suggest that firms facing population ageing can adapt their strategies to innovate successfully

Artificial Neural Network Analysis of Xinhui Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae Using Gas Chromatography - Mass Spectrometer - Automated Mass Spectral Deconvolution and Identification System

Purpose: To develop an effective analytical method to distinguish old peels of Xinhui Pericarpium citri reticulatae (XPCR) stored for > 3 years from new peels stored for < 3 years.Methods: Artificial neural networks (ANN) models, including general regression neural network (GRNN) and multi-layer feedforward neural network (MLFN), were used to analyze the Gas Chromatography - Mass Spectrometer - Automated Mass Spectral Deconvolution and Identification System (GC-MSAMDIS) data of the essential oils of the XPCR. The Root Mean Square (RMS) errors of each ANN model was obtained through judging the characteristic of old peels and new peels.Results: The Root Mean Square (RMS) error of GRNN was 0.22, less than the error MLFN at different levels, indicating that GRNN model is more reliable and accurate for judging the characteristics of old peels and new ones.Conclusion: The general regression neural network model is established to reliably distinguish between old peels and new peels.Keywords: Artificial neural networks, Xinhui, Pericarpium, Citri reticulatae, Gas Chromatography, Automated Mass Spectral Deconvolution and Identification System, Peel

Catalytic Ozone Oxidation of Petrochemical Secondary Effluent: Mechanism, Application and Future Development

Petrochemical secondary effluent contains toxic and refractory organic compounds, which are difficult to be further treated by traditional biological process. In China, most of the advanced treatment units have been built recently by catalytic ozone oxidation process to achieve the high-quality effluent. In this chapter, the mechanism and reaction process of catalytic ozone oxidation of petrochemical secondary effluent will be introduced in detail. With the operation of the catalytic ozone oxidation tank, a series of problems which are not taken into account at the beginning of the design have arisen. The chapter will talk about the problems concerning the biological flocs, colloidal macromolecule organic compounds, ozone mass transfer, and catalysts based on practical applications. In the last part of the chapter, the development trends of catalytic ozone oxidation of petrochemical secondary effluent will also be discussed

Immunoregulation of Shenqi Fuzheng Injection Combined with Chemotherapy in Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background. Immunosuppression is a well-recognised complication of chemotherapy in cancer patients. We assemble the clinical evidence that SQI, an adjuvant drug for lung cancer and gastric cancer which was widely prescribed in China, interventions could increase objective tumour response and regulate immunity in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Methods. We undertook a systemic review of the clinical data from randomised controlled trials up to September 2015 in which a SQI intervention was compared with a control arm in patients undergoing conventional chemotherapy. Revman 5.0 Software was used for the data analysis. Results. 49 randomised controlled trials were included in the systematic review. The meta-analysis results demonstrated that the SQI intervention with conventional chemotherapy exhibited better therapeutic efficacy than the conventional chemotherapy group with a statistically significant higher objective tumour response. Cotreatment with SQI could enhance NK, CD3+, CD4+ level, and CD4+/CD8+ ratio comparing with the conventional chemotherapy group. Conclusions. The conclusions of this review might suggest a high risk of bias due to the low quality and the limitation of cancer types in the included trials. A more reliable conclusion regarding the immunoregulation of SQI could be reached based on more trials of higher quality

Hepatitis B virus–induced imbalance of inflammatory and antiviral signaling by differential phosphorylation of STAT1 in human monocytes

It is not clear how hepatitis B virus (HBV) modulates host immunity during chronic infection. In addition to the key mediators of inflammatory response in viral infection, monocytes also express a high-level IFN-stimulated gene, CH25H, upon response to IFN-a exerting an antiviral effect. In this study, the mechanism by which HBV manipulates IFN signaling in human monocytes was investigated. We observed that monocytes from chronic hepatitis B patients express lower levels of IFN signaling/stimulated genes and higher levels of inflammatory cytokines compared with healthy donors. HBV induces monocyte production of inflammatory cytokines via TLR2/MyD88/NF-kB signaling and STAT1-Ser727 phosphorylation and inhibits IFN-a–induced stat1, stat2, and ch25h expression through the inhibition of STAT1-Tyr701 phosphorylation and in an IL-10–dependent, partially autocrine manner. Further, we found that enhancement of STAT1 activity with a small molecule (2-NP) rescued HBV-mediated inhibition of IFN signaling and counteracted the induction of inflammatory cytokines. In conclusion, HBV contributes to the monocyte inflammatory response but inhibits their IFN-a/b responsiveness to impair antiviral innate immunity. These effects are mediated via differential phosphorylation of Tyr701 and Ser727 of STAT1

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat