Greater Weight Research Articles

Metabolic syndrome, obesity and cancer risk.

This review aims to report the latest discoveries regarding the relationship between BMI, obesity, and cancer development and treatment. Obesity and metabolic syndrome relationships with cancer have been deeply investigated in the literature but their association is still debated. Currently, it has been recorded an association between BMI and endometrial, colorectal, gastric, liver, bladder, and prostate cancer. The mechanisms behind this association have also been investigated. It has been hypothesized that chronic inflammation determined by obesity may concur to the development of tumors and that Insulin Resistance may enhance cell proliferation directly or indirectly. Moreover, different studies suggest that the relationship between higher BMI and cancer may include metabolic disturbances comparable to those linked to metabolic syndrome. However, greater weight has been linked to a better overall prognosis in patients with advanced disease, a concept called the obesity paradox. This paradox has been recently investigated in the context of urological malignancies, such as bladder, prostate, and kidney cancer. Patients' metabolic and morphological status may impact their risk of developing different types of tumors and the response to systemic therapy. However, further research is necessary to better delineate the mechanisms behind these associations and how they could or should affect medical decision.

Evaluating physical urban features in several mental illnesses using electronic health record data.

ObjectivesUnderstanding the potential impact of physical characteristics of the urban environment on clinical outcomes on several mental illnesses.Materials and MethodsPhysical features of the urban environment were examined as predictors for affective and non-affective several mental illnesses (SMI), the number and length of psychiatric hospital admissions, and the number of short and long-acting injectable antipsychotic prescriptions. In addition, the urban features with the greatest weight in the predicted model were determined. The data included 28 urban features and 6 clinical variables obtained from 30,210 people with SMI receiving care from the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) using the Clinical Record Interactive Search (CRIS) tool. Five machine learning regression models were evaluated for the highest prediction accuracy followed by the Self-Organising Map (SOM) to represent the results visually.ResultsThe prevalence of SMI, number and duration of psychiatric hospital admission, and antipsychotic prescribing were greater in urban areas. However, machine learning analysis was unable to accurately predict clinical outcomes using urban environmental data.DiscussionThe urban environment is associated with an increased prevalence of SMI. However, urban features alone cannot explain the variation observed in psychotic disorder prevalence or clinical outcomes measured through psychiatric hospitalisation or exposure to antipsychotic treatments.ConclusionUrban areas are associated with a greater prevalence of SMI but clinical outcomes are likely to depend on a combination of urban and individual patient-level factors. Future mental healthcare service planning should focus on providing appropriate resources to people with SMI in urban environments.

Cost Analysis of Water Quality Assessment Using Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Approach

In modern competitive markets, cost and quality parameters are the two main factors. So, it is essential to study their relationship, especially in leading industries such as urban public service companies. Consequently, manufacturers always try to reduce production costs and improve product quality and services to consumer expectations. Also, the concerns of the new century in the field of fresh water and the reduction of its resources related to global warming have increased the costs of quality and supply of freshwater. Therefore, in this research, in order to estimate the quality costs in the field of water resources and wastewater management and identify the option that creates the most cost, in the first step, the “Prevention, Assessment, and Failure (PAF)” model was used to select cost-imposing options in organizational quality analysis. After determining the main options, appropriate criteria and sub-criteria were selected under the main study area (water and wastewater resources management). In the next step, a “Multiple-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) “ method based on the “Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP)” and “Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS)” method was used to identify the option that creates the most cost. The results show that The highest cost of quality in the water and wastewater industry and its management are related to “Assessment Costs” and account for 36.55% of total costs. Also, The lowest cost of quality in the water and wastewater industry is related to “Preventive Costs” and accounts for only 12.18% of the total cost. In addition, the expert’s opinion shows that the effect of increasing credit with 34.01% has the greatest weight, and this criterion is the most essential in water and wastewater resources management.

Allometry and Individual Growth of the Temperate Pacific Sardine (Sardinops sagax) Stock in the Southern California Current System

We analyzed individual growth and body mass allometry of the temperate stock of Sardinops sagax from samples collected on commercial fleet during 2005 to 2014 in the southern California Current System. Ages were estimated on otolith growth ring reading. Age (years) and standard length (SL; mm) data were fitted using four growth models: von Bertalanffy (VBM), Gompertz (GM), logistic (LM), and Schnute (SM) models. Parameters of each model were calculated by the maximum likelihood method using Akaike information criterion and Akaike’s weight (WAICi) to select the model with the greatest plausibility. Additionally, the interannual growth performance (φ′) variation was described. Body mass allometry was established from the relationship between total body mass (TM; g) and standard length. The sardine samples ranged in size from 114 to 226 mm SL and in weight from 20 to 192 g TM; ages varied from 0.5 to 6.0 years. The allometric parameter (b) was estimated to be 3.155 (3.154–3.156), showing a hyper-allometry growth type. On the basis of raw data, we found that the LM model fit the original data better (WAICi ~35%). When models were fitted to data bolstered with simulated values, the VBM model obtained the greatest weight (WAICi = 60.9%), but the LM model had null plausibility. Consequently, we determined that the Pacific sardine growth pattern was best described by the VBM model, which appears to be more robust against biased data. The φ′ showed interannual variation (2.13–2.51), with an average of φ′ = 2.25. An apparent inverse relationship was observed between φ′ and the Oceanic Niño Index (ONI) or the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and the apparent positive relationship between Upwelling Index (UI) and φ’.

Characterization and evaluation of Colombian propolis on the intestinal integrity of broilers

Nutritional additives such as propolis seek to improve intestinal health as an alternative to the global ban on in-feed antibiotics used as growth promoters (AGP). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of propolis supplementation in diet of broilers. Four hundred and fifty straight-run Ross 308 AP broilers were fed with a basal diet (BD) throughout the whole experimental period. Birds were randomly distributed into 5 groups at d 14: negative control without antibiotics nor propolis (AGP-), positive control 500 ppm of Zinc Bacitracin as growth promoter (AGP+), and 3 groups supplemented with 150, 300, and 450 ppm of propolis. Every group included 6 replicates of 15 birds each. Propolis concentration was increased from d 22 to 42, in experimental groups to 300, 600, and 900 ppm of propolis, and 10% of raw soybean was included as a challenge in all groups during the same period. Analysis of productive parameters, intestinal morphometry, and relative quantification of genes associated with epithelial integrity by qPCR were performed at 21 and 42 d. The groups with the greatest weights were those that consumed diets including 150 (21 d) and 900 ppm (42 d) of propolis compared with all treatments. The lowest score of ISI was found at 300 (21 d) and 600 ppm (42 d). A lower degree of injury in digestive system was seen with the inclusion of 300 ppm (21 d) and 900 ppm (42 d). Up-regulation of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) was observed in jejunum of broilers supplemented with 150 and 300 ppm at 21 d. Up-regulation of ZO-1 and TGF-β was also evidenced in ileum at all propolis inclusion levels at 42-day-old compared to AGP+ and AGP-. The beneficial effects were evidenced at inclusion levels of 150 ppm in the starter and 900 ppm in the finisher. According to the results, the Colombian propolis inclusion can improve productive performance, physiological parameters, and gene expression associated with intestinal integrity.

Perceived Kinesiophobia and Its Association with Return to Sports Activity Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Surgery: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: The knee joint is one of the most important joints in terms of its functions of providing great stability, movement and weight bearing. Among the contributors to knee joint stability, there is the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Kinesiophobia is said to be the fear of movement or the fear of re-injury. Kinesiophobia is the most extreme form of fear of movement, and it is defined as an excessive, irrational, and debilitating fear of physical movement and activity resulting from a feeling of vulnerability to painful injury or re-injury. Aim: To estimate the prevalence and effect of kinesiophobia among patients with ACL reconstruction in the Aseer region, in southern Saudi Arabia. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional approach was used involving those patients who underwent ACL reconstruction surgery in Aseer Central Hospital during the period of October 2017 to October 2019. The Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK) and ACL—Return to Sport after Injury (ACL-RSI) scale were used to determine kinesiophobia and the readiness to return to sport after ACL injury or reconstructive surgery. Result: The research included 130 ACL reconstruction patients with ages ranging from 18 to 45 years with a mean age of 27.2 + 7.5 years. More than 97% of the participants were males. In 67.7% of the cases, the right leg was affected. A total of 10.8% of the patients recorded a low level of kinesiophobia, while only 6.9% recorded a high level. Conclusions: In conclusion, the study revealed that among patients who underwent ACL reconstruction, kinesiophobia was at a moderate level. Kinesiophobia was recorded more among middle-aged patients who waited a long time from the onset of injury until the ACL reconstruction surgery time.

Quality Attributes Prediction of Flame Seedless Grape Clusters Based on Nutritional Status Employing Multiple Linear Regression Technique

Flame Seedless grape is considered one of the most popular and favorite grapes for consumers, since it ripens early, and has good cluster quality. Flame seedless grape marketing value depends upon its desirable appearance, berry, cluster size, and shape. Therefore, it is imperative that the cluster yield and quality are enhanced to ensure profitability. In this study, the prediction of physical characteristics of clusters and berries’ color attributes of Flame Seedless grape grown under different culture practices, in particular fertilization treatments, was carried out using nutritional status concentration (leaf mineral elements, total chlorophyll content, total carotenoids content) and multiple linear regression (MLR). The method was based on the development of two indices: the first is called index 1 (%) and was formulated by combing the mineral elements of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg concentrations; and the second is called index 2 (ppm) and was formulated by combing the elements of Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, and B concentrations in leaf petioles. The results indicated that the established MLR models can obtain variation accuracy, based on values of coefficients of determination (R2) using the test set. The R2 values were in the range of 0.9286 to 0.9972 for cluster weight, cluster length, shoulder length, berries’ color attributes (L*, a*, b*, chroma, hue, and color index for red grapes (CIRG)). This study highlighted that during a grown season, leaf mineral elements, total chlorophyll content, and total carotenoids coupled with a MLR model can be used successfully to evaluate the physical characteristics of the cluster and berries’ color attributes of Flame seedless grape. This method is easy, fast and reliable as it retains the physical appearance of the fruits by adjusting the concentration of mineral elements, total chlorophyll content, and total carotenoids in leaves. Moreover, total chlorophyll had the greatest weight of all the predicted quality attributes.

Evaluating the Impacts of Climate Factors and Flavonoids Content on Chinese Prickly Ash Peel Color Based on HPLC-MS and Structural Equation Model

Climate affects Chinese prickly ash peel color directly through temperature and illumination and indirectly influences it through its effect on flavonoid compounds. In this study, a comprehensive evaluation strategy based on high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) technology and a structural equation model was applied to evaluate the effects of climate factors and flavonoids on Chinese prickly ash peel color. There were obvious geographical variations of peel color and flavonoid compounds with an obvious east–west distribution trend which were divided into high-altitude type and low-altitude type. Through path analysis, the wind speed, temperature and annual sunshine duration were found to be the key environmental factors affecting the flavonoids content and peel color, and their direct effects were higher than their indirect effect. Based on HPLC-MS technology and a structural equation model, correlation models of climatic factors and flavonoids with peel color were established, and the factors that had greater weight on pericarp color were obtained. Our results provide experimental evidence that climate factors affect the peel color by affecting flavonoid biosynthesis and accumulation, reveal the geographical variation of peel color and flavonoid component contents in Chinese prickly ash peel, establish a quantization color method for rapid evaluation of peel quality, expand on the influence of climatic factors on flavonoids content and peel coloration and promote agricultural practice in areas with similar climatic conditions.

Murine response to the opportunistic bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in gut dysbiosis caused by 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy-induced mucositis

Aims: This manuscript aims to explain the relationship between mucositis caused by 5-FU over gut bacterial species and susceptibility to opportunistic infection caused by P. aeruginosa. Main methods: BALB/c mice were intraperitoneally treated with PBS or 5-FU. Bodyweight and faecal consistency were checked daily. Mice faecal DNA was extracted, and bacterial phylogenetic groups were analysed using qPCR or high-throughput sequencing. Immunofluorescence was used to evaluate BMDM activation by mice-treated faecal content. Mice were challenged intratracheally with virulent P. aeruginosa, and the CFU and histology were analysed. Faecal microbiota were transplanted to evaluate the gut microbiota and resistance to pulmonary P. aeruginosa recovery. Key findings: The animals treated with 5-FU presented mucositis with great weight loss, altered faecal consistency, bacterial gut dysbiosis and histological changes in the intestinal mucosa. Mice under 5-FU treatment were more susceptible to lung infection by the bacteria P. aeruginosa and had more extensive tissue damage during their lung infection with greater pro-inflammatory gene expression. It was observed that the mucositis remained in the groups with 5-FU even with the FMT. The results caused by mucositis in animals that received allogeneic FMT were reversed, however, with a decrease in P. aeruginosa susceptibility in animals treated with 5-FU and allogeneic FMT compared to animals treated with 5-FU and autologous FMT. Significance: Treatment with 5-FU in a murine model makes it more susceptible to pulmonary infection by the bacterium P. aeruginosa, FMT offers an opportunity to protect against this susceptibility to infection.

Quantitative evaluation of runoff variation and its driving forces based on multi-scale separation framework

Study regionThe Xiangjiang River (XJR) basin, China. Study focusOn multiple time scales (annual, quarterly, and monthly), there are few comprehensive and comprehensive quantitative evaluation frameworks for the factors that drive changes in watershed runoff. The focus of this study is to use the Range of Variability Approach (RVA) to quantitatively analyze the changes in the overall hydrological regime of the basin. The Budyko model and the deterministic hydrological process model (ABCD model) were then used to quantitatively separate the factors affecting runoff in the monthly window, and to clarify the differences in the runoff driving force at different time scales. New hydrological insights for the regionAfter the mutation, the runoff of the XJR basin increased by 11%, and the changes in the five groups of hydrological and ecological indicators indicated that the ecological response process of the basin was undergoing negative changes. The contributions of the driving forces on different time scales show significant differences: the climatic factor is the dominant factor of the runoff change on the interannual scale. However, on the seasonal scale, human activities have a greater weight in spring, accounting for 82 % of the total. On a monthly scale, it presents a more complicated situation. Human activities contribute significantly in February, May, and October (60 %, 52 %, and 54 %), while climate factors are the main driving factor in the remaining months (51–170 %).

Institutions, Transaction Costs and Inbound Open Innovation: A Multilevel Analysis

While previous studies have mentioned a potential effect of institutional policies on open innovation, we analyse how and why the probability of conducting open innovation can vary across countries. Our conceptual model suggests that decisions to engage in open innovation occur at two levels: at the company or microeconomic level, and at the institutional level. We use a complementary theoretical framework based on transaction costs theory and institutional theory to explain this phenomenon. This framework is rooted in institutional logics that affect transaction costs by establishing the rules of the game and reducing (or increasing) uncertainty in transactions. Using a unique dataset from EFIGE study covering almost 15,000 manufacturing companies active in 7 European countries, and by estimating a multilevel logistic model, we show that institutional variables have a relatively greater weight than microeconomic variables when explaining the variability in decisions regarding engagement in open innovation across Europe. This study’s approach creates a connection between the transaction cost factors that explain decisions to undertake open innovation and the institutions in which a company is embedded.

Prenatal and early childhood critical windows for the association of nephrotoxic metal and metalloid mixtures with kidney function.

As renal development and maturation processes begin in utero and continue through early childhood, sensitive developmental periods arise during which metal exposures can program subclinical nephrotoxicity that manifests later in life. We used novel dentine biomarkers of established nephrotoxicants including arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), and lithium (Li), and their mixtures, to identify critical windows of exposure-associated kidney function alterations in preadolescents. Participants included 353 children in the Programming Research in Obesity Growth, Environment and Social Stressors (PROGRESS) longitudinal birth cohort study based in Mexico City. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was assessed in 8-12 year old children using serum cystatin C measures. Pre- and postnatal metal(loid) concentrations were assessed in weekly increments by analyzing deciduous teeth with laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. We used reverse distributed lag models (rDLMs) and lagged Weighted Quantile Sum (L-WQS) regression to examine time-varying associations between weekly perinatal metal(loid) exposure or metal(loid) mixtures and preadolescent eGFR while adjusting for age, sex, BMI z-score, SES and prenatal tobacco smoke exposure. We identified a critical window of susceptibility to Pb exposure, in the late 3rd trimester (5 weeks prior to birth) during which higher Pb exposure was associated with children's increased eGFR. When all elements were assessed as a mixture, we identified late 2nd/early 3rd trimester (weeks 8-17 of gestation) as a window of vulnerability associated with decreased eGFR, with Li and Cr contributing the greatest weights to the association. When stratified by sex, we observed stronger effects among boys than girls. Using tooth-matrix biomarkers, we identified discrete developmental exposure windows wherein Pb and metal(loid) mixtures were associated with altered preadolescent kidney function.

Implementation of Analytic Hierarchy Process Method for Selection of Supplier of Flour Raw Materials in CV. Gangsar in Tulungagung

Purpose: This study also aims to determine suppliers who have the best performance in providing raw material supplies according to analysis and calculations using the Analytical Hierarchy Process method for CV. Gangsar.
 Design/methodology/approach: The type of research used in this research is quantitative with the Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) method, more specifically the Analytic Hierarchy Process method. This research is located in CV. Gangsar which is located on Jl. Demuk No. 37 Ngunut Village, Ngunut District, Tulungagung Regency, East Java. Sampling in this study used a non-probability sampling method with a purposive sampling technique. Data analysis technique using AHP.
 Findings: The results of the study indicate the criteria that can be considered to choose the best flour supplier for CV. Gangsar is price, quality, delivery accuracy, quantity accuracy, and customer care. Quality is the most important criterion with a weight of 0.326, then the price criteria with a weight of 0.289, then the criteria for accuracy of delivery with a weight of 0.171, then the criteria for accuracy of quantities with a weight of 0.140, and the last criterion of customer care with a weight of 0.074. Which flour supplier is the most appropriate to support the production performance of CV. Gangsar can be seen from the greatest weight. The highest weight is Indotapioka with a value of 0.378, followed by Sari Bumi with a weight of 0.330, and finally Sungai Budi with a weight of 0.292. Therefore, Indotapioka Jaya is the most appropriate company to support the production performance of CV. Gangsar. The company should use the research results as input when choosing the right supplier.
 Paper type: Research paper

Incidence and recovery of post-surgical heart block in children following cardiac surgery.

A subset of patients who develop post-surgical heart block have recovery of atrioventricular node function. Factors predicting recovery are not understood. We investigated our centre's incidence of post-surgical heart block and examine factors associated with recovery of atrioventricular node function. We conducted a single-centre retrospective study of patients 0 - 21 years who underwent cardiac surgery between January 2010 and December 2019 and experienced post-operative heart block. Data including patient and clinical characteristics and operative variables were collected and analysed. Of 6333 surgical hospitalisations, 128 (2%) patients developed post-operative heart block. Of the 128 patients, 90 (70%) had return of atrioventricular node function, and 38 (30%) had pacemaker placement. Of the 38 patients who underwent pacemaker placement, 6 (15.8%) had recovery of atrioventricular node function noted on long-term follow-up. Median time from onset of heart block to late atrioventricular node recovery was 13 days (Interquartile range: 5 - 117). Patients with single-ventricle physiology (p = 0.04), greater weight (p = 0.03), and shorter cardiopulmonary bypass time (p = 0.015) were more likely to have recovery. The use of post-operative steroids was similar between all groups (p = 0.445). Infectious or wound complications were similar between pacemaker groups (p = 1). Two per cent of patients who underwent congenital cardiac surgery developed post-operative heart block, and 0.6% underwent pacemaker placement. Early recovery of atrioventricular node was associated with greater weight at the time of surgery, single-ventricle physiology, and shorter cardiopulmonary bypass time. Late recovery of atrioventricular node conduction following pacemaker placement occurred in 15.8% of patients.

Cerebellum regulating cerebral functional cortex through multiple pathways in complete thoracolumbar spinal cord injury.

The previous studies have found significant brain structural and functional changes in cerebral regions after spinal cord injury (SCI), but few studies have explored the cerebellar–cerebral circuit changes in SCI. This study aims to study the brain structural changes of cerebellar subregions and its functional connectivity (FC) changes with cerebrum in complete thoracolumbar SCI (CTSCI), and screen out the regions that play relatively important roles in affecting sensorimotor function. Eighteen CTSCI patients and 18 age- and gender-matched healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was used to characterize the brain structural changes of cerebellar subregions [from the Anatomical Automatic Labeling (AAL116)], seed-based FC was used to evaluate the cerebellar–cerebral FC changes and support vector machine (SVM) analysis was used to search for sensitive imaging indicators. CTSCI patients showed slightly structural atrophy in vermis_3 (p = 0.046) and significantly decreased FC between cerebellum and cerebral sensorimotor-, visual-, cognitive-, and auditory-related regions (cluster-level FWE correction with p < 0.05). Additionally, SVM weight analysis showed that FC values between vermis_10 and right fusiform gyrus had the greatest weight in functional changes of CTSCI. In conclusion, different degrees of structural and functional changes occurred in each subregion of cerebellum following CTSCI, and FC change between vermis_10 and right fusiform gyrus plays the most important role in dysfunction and may become an important neural network index of rehabilitation therapy.

The 1964 US Surgeon General's report on smoking and health.

The 1964 report of the US Surgeon General on smoking and health made an authoritative case that tobacco smoking was a cause of premature deaths from lung cancer and chronic bronchitis. It justified the practice of drawing causal inferences from epidemiological studies, specified influential criteria for doing so, and made use of an early form of meta-analysis.

Spaks: Self-paced multiple kernel subspace clustering with feature smoothing regularization

Considerable attention to kernel subspace clustering has emerged in recent years due to its excellent performance in grouping data points from multiple manifolds. In particular, multiple kernel learning (MKL) is commonly used in kernel subspace clustering models to alleviate the difficulty of choosing a suitable kernel function, which brings out numerous MKL-based subspace clustering methods. Despite these successes, these MKL methods cannot guarantee that the feature representation produced by the learned kernel function is easy-to-divide, which is critical for the clustering task. Besides, the weighting strategies in these methods ignore the respective fitting ability of each base kernel, which may result in inappropriate weight assignment and inferior performance. To address these problems, this paper proposes a Self-Paced Smooth Multiple Kernel Subspace Clustering (Spaks) method. In Spaks, we first incorporate a feature smoothing regularization into the kernel subspace clustering model to facilitate the smoothness of feature representation on the affinity graph, thus ensuring that the data points between different subspaces are sufficiently separable. Then we implement the multiple kernel mechanism in the self-paced learning framework. In this way, the weights of base kernels depend on their corresponding single-kernel optimization objective function value, which indicates that a greater weight will be assigned to a kernel with a smaller objective. At last, we optimize the formulated model by an alternative iteration scheme, so that the optimal affinity matrix is obtained for clustering. Extensive experiments on seven benchmark data sets validate the superiority of the proposed Spaks method on the clustering task.

Osteoclast-mediated acidic hydrolysis of thermally gelled curdlan component of the bone scaffolds: Is it possible?

Many biomaterials for bone regeneration have recently been produced using thermally gelled curdlan (1,3-β-d-glucan) as a binder for bioceramics. As the human organism does not produce enzymes having the ability to degrade curdlan, it is not clear what is the fate of curdlan gel after its implantation in the bone. To clarify this point, in this research osteoclasts were cultured on the curdlan gel to show its degradation by acidic hydrolysis. The studies clearly demonstrated microstructural (AFM and SEM imaging) and chemical changes (Raman spectroscopy) on the curdlan surface caused by osteoclast culture. Moreover, degradation test in a cell-free system using HCl solution (pH = 4.5), mimicking environment in the resorption lacuna, showed great weight loss of the sample, release of glucose, and chemical changes typical of curdlan degradation. Thus, the presented research for the first time provides a strong evidence of osteoclast-mediated acidic hydrolysis of thermally obtained curdlan gel.

Proposed Marketing Strategy for Pt. Kereta API Indonesia (Persero) to Increase the Number of Passengers

PT. Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) or known as KAI is a State-Owned Enterprise in Indonesia with the obligation of organizing transportation that prioritizes passenger comfort, safety, and security. KAI is the only train transportation service in Indonesia, so it has a strong advantage over other modes of transportation. However, the Covid 19 pandemic has a great impact on KAI which resulted in a significant decrease in the number of passengers in KAI operating areas in Bandung in 2020-2022. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to analyze internally and externally what factors influence the decline in passengers on KAI, and what strategies are appropriate for KAI to implement in order to increase the number of passengers in the future. The internal analysis uses 3 tools, namely STP analysis, 7P analysis, and VRIO analysis, which is intended to determine the strengths and weaknesses of KAI. External analysis is carried out using 4 tools, namely PESTEL, Porter’s 5 Forces, competitor analysis, and customer analysis aimed at knowing the external opportunities and threats being faced by KAI. The findings from the internal and external analysis are used to analyze the SWOT. In the SWOT analysis, it was found that KAI has 3 weaknesses and 4 threats being faced. Then the TOWS Matrix is used to formulate the right proposed strategy for KAI in overcoming existing weaknesses and threats. There are 12 alternative strategies from the results of the TOWS analysis which are then grouped into 4 categories, namely ST strategy, WT strategy, SO strategy, and WO strategy. In these 4 categories, QSPM analysis is used to calculate the greatest weight value for each strategy based on the expert judgment from the KAI. The chosen strategy is the ST strategy which has 3 strategies, namely Implementing Social Marketing that shows the benefits of using KAI for the society &amp; environment, Improving the quality of the services to increase value, and Attractive promotions only available for new members. It is hoped that the selected recommendation strategy can be implemented properly by KAI so that it can reach a wider range of consumers in order to increase the number of passengers.

Subjective Assessment of the Effective Contract Impact in Universities on Improving the Indicators of Lectures` Research Work

Article shows the results of a sociological survey aimed at studying the opinion of the teaching staff on the impact of an effective contract on improving the research work indicators in universities in Russia and Belarus. The survey analyzes foreign and Russian evaluation of academic staff performance. A cross-sectional (single-point) study was the design. The focus of research was the academic staff of educational institutions that went over to an effective contract (Northern State Medical University, Russia) and without the implementation of an effective contract (Tobolsk Pedagogical Institute named after D. I. Mendeleev (branch) the University of Tyumen, Russia; National Institute for Higher Education and Belarusian State Pedagogical University named after Maxim Tank, Belarus), the overall number of respondents is 395. A semi-structured questionnaire created by the National Research University Higher School of Economics was used as a tool for sociological research. The study showed that both study groups are aware of an effective contract purpose and criteria evaluation frequency. Respondents from universities without an effective contract receive information from the Internet and have overestimated expectations of the future income level. Respondents of both groups underlined the importance of determining the greatest weight in calculating incentive payments for publication and grant activity, participation in scientific conferences. When implementing an effective contract, not all lecturers are ready to fulfill the criteria for research work, but they note the positive effect of its implementation on the indicators of scientific activity. In the group of respondents without an effective contract, one third expressed doubts about the significant impact of the implementation of an effective contract on improving the performance of research work. This article will be useful to the management of universities when calculating weighting coefficients according to indicators and criteria for evaluating the activities of the teaching staff for the appointment of incentive payments. An interesting study in the future may be a comparison of subjective assessments obtained in universities without an effective contract, and after its implementation in the same universities.