scholarly journals Intercomparison of Indoor and Outdoor Pollen Concentrations in Rural and Suburban Research Workplaces

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 8776
Author(s):  
Armando Pelliccioni ◽  
Virginia Ciardini ◽  
Andrea Lancia ◽  
Simona Di Renzi ◽  
Maria Antonia Brighetti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Working Hours ◽  
Rural Site ◽  
Outdoor Concentration ◽  
Pollen Concentrations ◽  
Pollen Sources ◽  
Pollen Exposure ◽  
Occupational Settings ◽  
Suburban Site ◽  
Indoor And Outdoor

Pollen exposure in occupational settings involves different categories of workers. In this paper the effects of diurnal pollen variations have been evaluated in two sites characterized by different vegetation and urbanization: the suburban site of Tor Vergata (TV) and the rural site of Monte Porzio Catone (MPC). Aerobiological and meteorological monitoring was performed in the two sites during the winter of 2017. The data analysis focuses on the comparison between pollen concentrations observed in relation to meteorological variables. In general, it can be stated that the indoor and outdoor dynamics for MPC and TV are different, with the outdoor concentration of pollen for MPC always higher than for TV, in accordance with significant presence of vegetation. The high nocturnal peaks detected in MPC and completely absent in TV could be caused by the presence of particular conditions of stagnation combined with greater emissions from the pollen sources. Furthermore the higher I/O ratio observed during the working hours in TV compared to MPC could be ascribed to the workers’ behavior. Exposure to pollen can be responsible for several health effects and the knowledge of its level can be useful to improve the evaluation and management of this biological risk.

31. Indoor and Outdoor Concentration Levels of Airborne Fungi in Cincinnati Area Homes: Pilot Study

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Lee ◽  
D. Martuzevicius ◽  
C. Crawford ◽  
A. Adhikari ◽  
T. Reponen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Airborne Fungi ◽  
Outdoor Concentration ◽  
Concentration Levels ◽  
Indoor And Outdoor

Behavioural Red Flags of Fraud: An Ex Post Assessment of Types and Frequencies

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 507-525
Author(s):  
Namrata Sandhu
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Data Analysis ◽  
Early Detection ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Working Hours ◽  
Living Standard ◽  
Red Flags ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Ex Post ◽  
Post Assessment

A number of researchers and professional fraud examiners have emphasized the need for early detection of frauds. Though there are many ways in which frauds can be detected, a particularly effective and inexpensive way is to identify fraudsters by scrutinizing personnel behaviour for peculiarities typical of fraudsters. Towards this end, the present study compiles a checklist of behavioural red flags of fraud based on data collected with the help of 41 semi-structured interviews. The interviewees constitute people who have personally investigated or closely observed a fraud in the last 3 years. A mixed methods triangulation approach is used to quantify the qualitative data collected from the interviews. Data analysis reveals 16 different behavioural red flags exhibited by fraudsters. An examination of frequencies indicates that strong ambition, extended working hours, social aloofness, dissatisfaction with current job and living standard disproportionate to current means are the most frequently displayed behavioural red flags of fraud. The study also shows that fraudsters exhibit three or four behavioural red flags in a majority of cases. Implications for anti-fraud practitioners are discussed.

scholarly journals Evaluasi kesesuaian penentuan beban kerja (PBK) dengan angka kredit pada sasaran kinerja pegawai (SKP) pustakawan tingkat ahli Universitas Gadjah Mada

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 148
Author(s):  
Endah Choiriyah ◽  
Umi Sugiyanti ◽  
Laili Hidayah
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Working Hours ◽  
Management Team ◽  
University System ◽  
Collection Method ◽  
Library Management ◽  
Credit Score ◽  
Target Performance ◽  
The University

Introduction. The study discusses Workload Determination (Penentuan Beban Kerja/PBK) towards Credit Score (Angka Kredit) listed within the university system to examine Staff Target Performance (Sasaran Kinerja Pegawai/SKP) of skilled Librarians at the Library, Universitas Gadjah Mada. Data Collection Method. The required number of Credit Score in SKP matrix were evaluated by using qualitative perspective. The data was collected by interviewing SKR Compiler Team; Library Management Team, as well asquestioners distributed to 50 Skilled Librarians through Google Forms. Data Analysis. The data was analysed by using some features from Google Forms Survey.Results and Discussions. The results showed that 11 skilled librarians (22.9%) had difficulties in creating SKP; 11 skilled  librarians (31.4%) still had problems in meeting Effective Working Time  of 1250 hours; 24 skilled librarians (66.7%) stated that the timing of items in SKP was not suitable; 18 skilled librarians (52.9%) found difficulties to adjust the number of credits  and the number of working hours; 20 skilled librarians (57.2%) stated that there was limited guidance in the timing  and activities in SKP. Conclusion. The required amount of timing was decided based on team's agreement however in reality, the implementation was still in question.

scholarly journals Measurement report: Source characteristics of water-soluble organic carbon in PM<sub>2.5</sub> at two sites in Japan, as assessed by long-term observation and stable carbon isotope ratio

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (15) ◽  
pp. 11815-11828
Author(s):  
Nana Suto ◽  
Hiroto Kawashima
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Rice Straw ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Stable Carbon Isotope ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Rural Site ◽  
C3 Plants ◽  
Water Soluble Organic Carbon ◽  
Soluble Organic Carbon ◽  
Suburban Site

Abstract. The sources and seasonal trends of water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) in carbonaceous aerosols are of significant interest. From July 2017 to July 2019, we collected samples of PM2.5 (particulate matter, aerodynamic diameter<2.5 µm) from one suburban and one rural site in Japan. The average δ13CWSOC was -25.2±1.1 ‰ and -24.6±2.4 ‰ at the suburban site and rural site, respectively. At the suburban site, the δ13CWSOC was consistent with the δ13C of burned C3 plants, and a high correlation was found between WSOC concentrations and non-sea-salt potassium concentrations; these results suggest that the main source of WSOC at this site was biomass burning of rice straw. At the rural site, the average δ13CWSOC was significantly heavier from autumn to spring (-23.9±2.1 ‰) than in summer (-27.4±0.7 ‰) (p<0.01). The δ13CWSOC from autumn to spring was consistent with that of biomass burning of rice straw, whereas that in summer was considered to reflect mainly the formation of secondary organic aerosols from biogenic volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The heaviest δ13CWSOC (-21.3±1.9 ‰) was observed from February to April 2019, which may be explained by long-range transport of C4 plant burning such as corn from overseas. Thus, the present study indicates that δ13CWSOC is potentially useful for elucidating the sources and atmospheric processes that contribute to seasonal variations of WSOC concentration.

scholarly journals Personalized Pollen Monitoring and Symptom Scores: A Feasibility Study in Grass Pollen Allergic Patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Letty A. de Weger ◽  
Peter Th. W. van Hal ◽  
Bernadette Bos ◽  
Frank Molster ◽  
Marijke Mostert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Feasibility Study ◽  
Grass Pollen ◽  
Airborne Pollen ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Pollen Monitoring ◽  
Pollen Counts ◽  
Pollen Concentrations ◽  
Symptom Scores ◽  
Pollen Exposure ◽  
Grass Pollen Counts

Background: Pollen is a major trigger for allergic symptoms in sensitized individuals. Airborne pollen is usually monitored by Hirst type pollen samplers located at rooftop level, providing a general overview of the pollen distribution in the larger surroundings. In this feasibility study, grass pollen-sensitized subjects monitored the pollen in their direct environment using a portable pollen sampler (Pollensniffer) and scored their symptoms, to study the relation between symptom severity and personal grass pollen exposure. For comparison the symptoms were also correlated with pollen collected by the rooftop sampler.Methods: After recruitment 18 participants were screened for grass pollen specific (GP-sIgE) of which 12 were eligible. Nine participants completed the study (May, 2018). They were asked to monitor personal pollen exposure using a Pollensniffer on their way to school, work or other destination, and to score their symptoms via a mobile app on a scale from 0 to 10. Daily pollen concentrations were collected by a Hirst type sampler at rooftop level. Pollen grains were analyzed using a microscope.Results: Three of the four participants with high GP-sIgE (≥9.6 kU/l) reported high symptom scores (&gt;4) and an analysis showed a significant correlation (CC) between eye, nose, and lung symptoms and the grass pollen counts collected by the Pollensniffer, as well as the daily grass pollen concentrations monitored by the rooftop sampler (CC≥0.54). In contrast, the participants with low GP-sIgE levels (&lt;9.6 kU/l) reported low symptom scores (≤4) and often other sensitizations were present. For these subjects, no significant positive correlations (CC&lt;0.3) of symptoms with either grass pollen collected by the personal or the rooftop sampler were found.Conclusion: The results of this feasibility study suggest that correlations between the severity of clinical symptoms of grass pollen allergic patients, and grass pollen counts as determined by the Pollensniffer or a rooftop sampler, is restricted to patients with high GP-sIgE levels, high symptom scores, and no relevant other sensitizations. Based on the low numbers of subjects with severe symptoms included in this feasibility study, no conclusions can be drawn on the performance of the Pollensniffer in relating symptoms and pollen exposure in comparison with the rooftop sampler.Trial Registration: The study was approved by the Committee Medical Ethics of the LUMC (approval numbers: NL63953.058.17/ P17.304).

scholarly journals The analysis of factors that effect business development and income of MSMEs in Denpasar city

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 118-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
I.B. Hendra Prawira D. ◽  
Heny Urmila Dewi
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Data Analysis ◽  
Working Hours ◽  
Business Development ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Business Sector ◽  
Analysis Technique ◽  
Capital Ownership ◽  
The City

The population in this study were all MSMEs players in the city of Denpasar, amounting to 30,840 MSMEs and the number of samples used as many as 100 MSME actors with a method of determining stratified proportional sampling. The data analysis technique used is path analysis. The results of the analysis show that: 1) capital, labor, and social capital have a positive and significant effect on the development of MSMEs in Denpasar City. This means that the availability of capital, the working hours of MSME actors and the application of the three dimensions of social capital namely trust, social norms, and social networks are very influential on the development of the MSME business sector. 2) Capital, labor, social capital, and business development have a positive and significant effect on the income of SMEs in Denpasar City. This means that capital ownership, labor, social capital and the development of MSMEs will have a positive and significant impact on increasing the income of MSME players. 3) Business development is a variable that mediates the influence of capital, labor and social capital on the income of SMEs in Denpasar City.

scholarly journals The Evaluation of the Impact of a Saharan Event on Particulate Matter Using Compositional Data Analysis

Pollutants ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Antonio Speranza ◽  
Rosa Caggiano ◽  
Vito Summa
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Compositional Data ◽  
Compositional Data Analysis ◽  
Mineral Element ◽  
Natural Sources ◽  
Element Concentrations ◽  
Simultaneous Measurements ◽  
Pm10 And Pm2.5 ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Suburban Site

The proposed approach based on compositional data analysis was applied on simultaneous measurements of the mineral element concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 from a typical suburban site with and without a Saharan event. The suburban site is located in the city of Rome. The selected mineral elements were Al, Si, Ca, Fe, Ti, Mg, and Sr. The data relating to these elements are reported in a previous study. The considered elements are mainly related to mineral matter. The proposed approach allows statistically validating that the mineral element concentrations of PM during days with a Saharan event differ from those without a Saharan event in terms of mineral element composition and size distribution. In particular, the results showed that the compositional data analysis applied to simultaneous measurements of mineral element concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 is a helpful technique that can be used to study environmental sites affected by natural sources such as Saharan events. Moreover, the presented technique can be handy in all those conditions where it is important to discriminate whether the occurrence of an exceedance or a violation of the daily limit value established for PM could also be due to natural sources.

scholarly journals A descriptive study to explore working conditions and childcare practices among informal women workers in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: identifying opportunities to support childcare for mothers in informal work

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christiane Horwood ◽  
Lyn Haskins ◽  
Laura Alfers ◽  
Zandile Masango-Muzindutsi ◽  
Richard Dobson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Women Workers ◽  
Informal Economy ◽  
Working Hours ◽  
Domestic Workers ◽  
Rural Site ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Informal Work ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Informal Traders

Abstract Background Although women working in the informal economy are a large and vulnerable group, little is known about infant feeding and childcare practices among these women. The aim of this study was to explore childcare practices among mothers in informal work. Methods A cross-sectional survey among mothers with children aged < 2 years working in the informal economy in an urban and a rural site in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Participants were selected using purposive and snowball sampling. Results A total of 247 interviews were conducted with 170 informal traders and 77 domestic workers. Most mothers lived with their child (225/247, 91.1%), had initiated breastfeeding (208/247; 84.2%) and many were still breastfeeding (112/247; 45.3%). Among 96 mothers who had stopped breastfeeding, the most common reason was returning to work (34/96; 35.4%). Many mothers relied on family members, particularly grandmothers, to care for their child while they were working (103/247, 41.7%) but some mothers took their child with them to work (70/247; 28.1%). Few fathers participated in the care of their child: 54 mothers (21.9%) reported that the father had ever looked after the child while she was away from home. Domestic workers were less likely than informal traders to take their child to work (p = 0.038). Women reported receiving a salary from an informal employer (119), or being own-account workers (120) or being unpaid/paid in kind (8). Most participants were in stable work (> 4 years) with regular working hours, but received very low pay. Domestic workers were more likely than informal traders to have regular working hours (p = 0.004), and to be earning >$240 per month (p = 0.003). Mothers reported high levels of food insecurity for themselves and their child: 153 mothers (61.9%) reported having missed a meal in the past month due to lack of resources to buy food, and 88 (35.6%) mothers reported that their child had missed a meal for this reason. Conclusion This study provides a preliminary description of informal women workers who, despite having stable work, are vulnerable, low paid and food insecure. These women may require support to provide optimal childcare and nutrition for their children.

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