bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integrating technologies in translation teaching: a study on trainers’ perceptions
Authors: Sánchez-Castany Roser
Published: April 2024

In recent years, the language industry has undergone a technological revolution, and professionals are increasingly required to have strong technological knowledge and expertise. Undergraduate translation programmes have tried to adapt to these changing market demands, albeit at a much slower pace. However, there still seems to be a significant gap between the increasingly challenging technological demands of the translation market and training in translation technologies (TT) in university degree courses. A previous empirical study investigating the presence of technology in undergraduate translation module syllabi showed that there is little integration of TT into translation modules. This paper presents a follow-up study, the primary goal of which is to comprehensively describe this situation with the testimonies of a cohort of translation trainers in Spanish higher-education institutions at undergraduate level. We expect to contribute to the field by reporting on the challenges experienced by trainers who are trying to integrate technologies into their practical translation modules. Findings show that there is little integration of TT into the teaching methodology of translation modules. This is due, in most cases, to factors that are beyond trainers’ control.
A descriptive analysis of the oldest burials in Pittsburgh’s Duncan Heights cemetery, reconstructed from death certificates, 1931-1935
Authors: Skwarecki Beth
Published: April 2024

Duncan Heights is an abandoned cemetery near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with known burials from 1931 to 1961. Parkview and, later, Lakeview were also used as names for this cemetery. The original records have been lost, and only a few dozen headstones are present and legible. However, I have used death certificates to partially reconstruct the burial records. This paper presents a descriptive analysis of known burials from June of 1931, when the cemetery opened, to June of 1935, when a Works Progress Administration (WPA) survey reported that there were 400 graves, including 10 veterans. My analysis, based on an extensive examination of Allegheny County death certificates, found that the number of people buried in that timeframe was more than double what the WPA reported. This examination revealed death certificates for 822 people, including all of the reported 10 veterans. Decedents were 66.2% Black and 33.7% white. The median age at death was 40. Infants 1 year and under made up 13.6% of burials. From these results, I identify three distinct populations of burials. One consists of mainly Black Pittsburghers buried by Black funeral directors. A second, much smaller, group consists of white decedents buried under the Parkview Cemetery name. Finally, the largest group is roughly 50% white and includes a high proportion of both stillborn infants and adult institutional patients.
In search of leadership! Research on school leaders work and action.
Authors: Hultman Glenn
Published: April 2024

In search of leadership! Research on school leaders work and action.The work of principals and the pedagogical leadership need to be given a creative focus in the research that is at the forefront. The research can be innovative by problematizing leadership in complex environments, of which schools are an example? One can reflect on who leads whom? And what kind of leadership is exercised by pupils, teachers and parents? It should also be noted that schools are a special type of organization that requires a particular kind of understanding. And for these questions and reflections, research needs to use theories and methods that are interested in/suitable for the study of complex organizations and not only based on traditional theories taken from the business world. A practice-based approach is probably a fruitful way to approach the processes and dynamics that take place in schools where the principal's work is to be carried out.Principals' leadership is carried out in a complex context where the results of observational studies illustrate this, but the results can also be used to discover "leadership". The internal environment of schools also exhibits strange phenomena such as that there is both an interaction and at the same time a disconnection between different actors (cultures) as a result of the organization of the schools and the nature of the work. The leadership of principals is waiting, so to speak, to be discovered, we should search further.
Comparative study of latanoprost (0.005%) and bimatoprost (0.03%) in primary open angle glaucoma
Authors: Kausar Neyaz , Thapa Kamala
Published: April 2024

Introduction: Glaucoma can cause vision loss by damaging the optic nerve and increased intraocular pressure is one of the primary risk factors.
Materials and methods: This was a hospital based, prospective, comparative, single masked (observer masked) study conducted on patients attending glaucoma department of Nepal Eye Hospital within a period of 1 year from February 2020 to January 2021. The sample size was 50. Specially designed proforma was used to collect the patient. Patients falling are divided in group A and group B randomly, patients using latanoprost were placed in group A and patients using bimatoprost were placed in group B. The examination procedure included history taking, Snellen visual acuity, refraction, gonioscopy, IOP measurement, slit lamp biomicroscopy and fundoscopy with 90 diopter lens. 
Results: Among fifty patients 33 (66%) were males and 17 (34 %) were females, 35 (70%) belonged to urban and 15 (30%)  from rural population. Maximum number of patients were in the age group of 16—30 years i.e. 15 (30%), second highest group was 61—75 years of age group i.e. 14 (28%) , 11 i.e. 22% of patients were of 46—60 years of age group. Nine (18%) of patients were 31—45 years of age group and 1 i.e. 2% was above 75 years of age. Twenty percent presented with hypertension, 14 % with diabetes mellitus and 66 %  with no systemic history. Ten percent had family history of glaucoma and 90% patients had no family history . Twenty-eight percent of patients had a family history of smoking and 72 %  had no history. The mean IOP of group A (0.005% latanoprost) patients initially before the start of the treatment was 27.16 mm Hg, at sixth month IOP was 17.24 mm Hg, mean difference was 9.92 mm Hg and p value was < 0.001. The mean IOP of group B (0.03% bimatoprost) patients initially before the start of the treatment was 26.88 mm Hg , at the sixth month the IOP was 15.88 mm Hg , and the mean difference was 11.00 mm Hg and p value was < 0.001. There was a significant difference in IOP at first visit and 6 months in both groups, p<0.001. (The t-test is used.) However, the mean difference of group B, 11.00, is greater than group A, 9.92.
Conclusion: Male gender, increasing age, urban population, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and high intraocular pressure were the most prevalent risk factors. The most important factor is early detection of signs and symptoms and measurement of diurnal intraocular pressure.
Identifikasi Aspek-aspek Desain Interior Sebagai Daya Tarik Odunpazari Modern Art Museum Turki
Authors: Dilla Adinda Salsa , Avenzoar Azkia
Published: April 2024

Museum merupakan lembaga non profit terbuka bagi umum dengan tujuan edukatif maupun rekreatif. Ditengah era modernisasi saat ini museum seni mulai kembali diminati oleh masyarakat. Kian banyak museum seni baru yang bermunculan yang membuktikan bahwa makin tinggi minat dan apresiasi masyarakat terhadap karya seni. Berbeda dengan jenis museum lain yang terkesan kuno, museum seni biasanya mengusung tema modern dan memiliki koleksinya yang unik. Musueum seni juga memiliki ciri khas yang instagramable. Hal ini yang menjadi daya tarik museum seni sehingga ramai dikunjungi. Tidak hanya desain bentuk bangunan museum saja yang dapat menarik pengunjung, justru desain interior menjadi aspek penting pada museum. Maka, ruang dalam pada museum perlu diperhatikan demi mendukung kesuksesan pada museum. Aspek yang perlu diperhatikan yaitu, antara lain dalam hal ruang, sirkulasi, penataan koleksi, material, pencahayaan dan aspek lainnya. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengidentifikasi apa saja aspek-aspek desain interior pada Odunpazari Modern Art Museum di Turki sebagai penunjang dan daya tarik museum. Pada penelitian inimenggunakan metode analisis deskriptif. Sedangkan sumber data didapat melalui studi kepustakaan. Hasil analisis menunjukkan bahwa aspek-aspek desain interior pada museum secara optimal dapat memunculkan pengalaman ruang yang lebih menarik dan menjadi daya tarik museum.
Measuring Self-Regulation and Self-Direction in Flipped Classroom Learning
Authors: Danushka S.A.N. , Weerasinghe T.A.
Published: April 2024

The diverse necessities of instruction could be addressed effectively with the support of new dimensions of ICT integrated learning such as blended learning – which is a combination of face-to-face and online instruction which ensures greater flexibility in student learning and congruity of course delivery.  As blended learning has been the ‘new normality’ in education, many experimental and quasi-experimental research studies provide ample evidence on its successful implementation in many fields of studies but it is hard to justify whether blended learning could work similarly in the delivery of Technology-Teacher Development Programmes (TTDPs). The present study is bound with the particular research uncertainty and having considered the existing research approaches, the study methodology was set to decide the efficient instructional strategies for flipped classroom learning in TTDPs. In a quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test design with a mix-method research approach, the major study objective was tested with two heterogeneous samples (N=135) identified in a virtual learning environment in a Sri Lankan university. Non-randomised informal ‘before-and-after without control group’ design was employed and two data collection methods, identical pre-test and post-test and Likert-scale questionnaires were used in the study. Two selected instructional strategies, Self-Directed Learning (SDL) and Self-Regulated Learning (SRL) were tested in an appropriate instructional framework with two heterogeneous samples (pre-service and in-service teachers). Data were statistically analysed and an efficient instructional strategy was decided via t-test, ANOVA, ANCOVA. The effectiveness of the two instructional strategy implementation models was decided via the Multiple Linear Regression analysis. ANOVA (p<0.05) shows that age, prior-educational qualifications, gender and work experiences do not impact on learning achievements of the two diverse groups of learners though the instructional strategy is changed. ANCOVA (p<0.05) analysis shows that SDL is efficient for two diverse groups of technology teachers than SRL. Multiple Linear Regression (p<0.05) analysis shows that the Staged Self-Directed Learning (SSDL) Model and the Four-Phased Model of Motivated Self-Regulated Learning (COPES Model) are efficient in the delivery of the course content in flipped classroom learning.

Keywords: COPES Model, Flipped Classroom Learning, Self-Directed Learning, Self-Regulated Learning, SSDL Model
Perceived Causes and Effects of Project Delays: A Study of Government Building Construction Projects in the Central Province of Sri Lanka
Authors: Gunawardena S. , Hemachandra D. , Kodithuwakkku K.A.S.S.
Published: April 2024

The problem of delays in the construction industry is a global phenomenon, and Sri Lanka is no exception. The key objectives of this study are to identify and rank the factors that cause project delays in government construction projects and their effects as perceived by the three primary industry participants, namely the clients, consultants and contractors and assess the differences. A questionnaire survey was conducted to solicit the perceived causes and effects of project delays from clients, consultants and contractors responsible for government building construction projects in the Central province of Sri Lanka. Perceived delay factors of the said primary stakeholders were measured using a five-point Likert scale type statements. The causes and effects were ranked according to their Relative Importance Index (the product of Severity Index and Frequency Index). The Spearman Correlation method and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to test the difference in the perception among the three primary stakeholders. Data were collected from 32 consultants, 49 contractors and 16 clients. This study identified improper project management by the contractor as the leading cause of project delay. The other main causes in the ranked order are shortage of labour, financial problems of the clients, improper day work planning by contractor, delay in payment process, scope changes, delays in drawings submission, delays in approvals, financial difficulties of the contractor and lack of communication. The highest level of agreement on causes of project delays was observed between clients and contractors whereas the lowest level of agreement was observed between clients and consultants. The main perceived effects of project delays are cost overrun, poor quality of the work, disputes, arbitration, litigation and total abandonment. In relation to the effects of project delays, a high level of agreement was observed among clients, consultants and contractors. Each party had a positive correlation for both causes and effects of project delays with the other two parties, while contractors and clients showed the highest agreement on delays causes. There was a very high correlation for ranked effects between any two parties.

Keywords: Construction Projects, Delay Causes, Delay Effects, Clients, Contractors, Consultants, Correlational Analysis
Occupational Health and Safety and Employee Engagement: A Case of Solid Waste Employees in Urban Council in Ampara
Authors: Hasithani L.P.S. , Ali M.A.M. Hussain
Published: April 2024

This paper aimed to examine the relationship between occupational health and safety (OHS) and employee engagement (EE), identify the level of occupational health and safety, identify the level of employee engagement of SW employees, and determine whether the OHS impacts on employee engagement of SW employees. In this study, the authors gathered primary data from the Urban Council in Ampara, and the questionnaire method has been used as a data collection method. To carry out this research, a sample size of 85 employees was selected. The findings revealed a strong positive relationship between the OHS and EE (r = 0.736) which was significant at a 0.01 level. Organisations need to formulate strategies to promote occupational health and safety through continuous education and training for solid waste employees, which will increase their occupational health and safety competencies and ultimately help them improve their efficiency. A periodic medical examination should be performed on all solid waste employees continuously. The management of the Urban Council in Ampara should cooperate with their employees for better performance and place safety above work. Recently, most of the studies on occupational health and safety are focused on employees who work on construction sites, but a little attempt to study the health and safety of local government employees in Sri Lanka, especially those in urban councils or municipal councils. This paper examined the relationship between occupational health and safety and employee engagement in a different setting. To better understand the OHS, the study recognised OHS dimensions such as management commitment, OHS training, safety committees and representatives, and safety learning and compliance to identify the relationship between OHS and EE.

Keywords: Employee Engagement, Occupational Health and Safety, OHS Programmes, Urban Council
Factors which Influence Online Purchasing Decision of Consumers at ABC Company, in Online Food Delivery Industry, Sri Lanka
Authors: Ekanayake E.M.S.H , Pushpakumari M.D.
Published: April 2024

With the emergence of digital mobile apps and websites, new market opportunities have been generated in the market at present. Smart mobile devices and the internet are very popular among consumers today because of their convenience and speed. At present, most businesses use the internet and mobile applications as their marketing strategies. They do advertising and promotional campaigns through the internet. Therefore, organisations have changed their traditional modes of business into online marketing to meet customer requirements. This research study aims to investigate the factors that influence the online purchasing decisions of consumers with regard to a specific mobile application of the online food delivery industry. The survey was conducted among 100 respondents to collect data from users already using the selected online food delivery application. To achieve the objectives, the factors that influence consumers' online purchasing decisions have been classified into three subcategories: demographical, social and psychological factors. Research data was collected through a standardised questionnaire, which was adopted for this study. The questionnaire was distributed online to the selected sample. Data analysis was done fusing the latest version of SPSS statistical software by using statistical tools such as simple linear regression analysis, Anova and coefficient. This study proposes a complete conceptualisation for the online food delivery industry since this study is focused on the demographical, social and psychological factors that influence consumers' online purchasing decisions. From the study results, restaurant managers can identify which factors can lead to higher profits under certain conditions. As the key findings of the research, it was found that consumer perception, website trust, website aesthetics, number of family members and income level are key factors that influence the online purchasing decisions of consumers. This study will provide the food delivery companies and restaurant businesses with a thorough understanding of consumers’ attitudes, patterns of thinking and their perception regarding the online food delivery industry. After investigating the factors that influence the online purchasing decision, these key factors can be used to develop appropriate marketing strategies.

Keywords: Online Purchasing Decision, Online Business, Food Delivery, Online Food Delivery Industry, Online Food Apps
Impact of Experiential Marketing on Customer Loyalty: The Mediating Role of Customer Satisfaction in the Modern Trade Supermarkets in the Western Province, Sri Lanka
Authors: Sehani W.D. , Hettiarachchy B.S.
Published: April 2024

Traditional marketing alone will not be enough for marketers to sustainably retain their position in the marketplace today. As the market situation and consumer behaviour are changing fast, marketers should adapt to the changes in the environment to attract customers by differentiating themselves from the competition. This hyper-competitive situation leads companies to focus more on customer acquisition and retention with more innovative marketing practices, including Experiential Marketing (EM). Experiential marketing is a way to create a unique place in consumers’ minds by providing a memorable and unique experience through stimulating their five senses, which will ultimately attach the consumers emotionally to the brand.  Hence, it has created a need for innovative retailers by redefining themselves as experience creators rather than just becoming service providers. The study addresses an empirical gap that exists in the literature in a culturally diverse environmental context like the Sri Lankan retail industry. Accordingly, the aim of this study is to investigate the impact of EM on Customer Loyalty (CL) through the mediating effect of Customer Satisfaction (CS) with special reference to the modern trade supermarkets in the Western province of Sri Lanka. A self-administered questionnaire was used to get the primary data from a sample of 375 respondents. The sample was selected from the customers in the Western Province, Sri Lanka through convenience and judgmental sampling methods and the collected data was quantitatively measured and analysed with SPSS software. The results demonstrate that there is a significant direct impact of EM on CL. Further, it shows that the indirect effect created through the mediation effect of CS is greater than the direct effect; hence, it mediates the relationship between Experiential Marketing and Customer Loyalty. The inference of this research can be used in developing strategies to enhance the level of CL of modern trade retail customers through elevated CS and this will ultimately lead to enhancing the competitiveness of the modern trade retail stores.

Keywords: Experiential Marketing, Customer Satisfaction, Customer Loyalty, Modern Trade Super Markets
Assessing Customers', Employees' and Managers' Perceptions of Service Quality in Sri Lankan Financial Industry
Authors: Weerathunga W.M. Arosha D.
Published: April 2024

The paper discusses the need to evaluate perception-based service quality in financial services. The aim of the research is to diagnose the potential matches and mismatches in how customers, frontline employees, and managers perceive service quality in the Sri Lankan financial industry, as well as provide some recommendations to improve service quality in financial services based on the findings of the research. This study utilises the One-Way ANOVA statistical test to understand whether there is a significant difference among three groups in terms of their perception of the service quality in Sri Lankan financial industry. A cross-sectional data collection was done by covering 96 financial institutions and 3420 respondents (1650 customers, 1085 frontline employees and 685 managers) while using similar types of questionnaires for all three groups. Results of the study reveal that there are potential mismatches among customers, frontline employees, and managers towards the perceived service quality. This difference can be identified in terms of service quality dimensions. By considering those findings, managers of the financial institutions need to take initiatives to reduce those perceptual gaps to align with customers' expectations while improving service quality in their institutions. So far, few studies have been done to simultaneously examine the front-line employees and customers’' customers' perceived service quality, but no study found which has identified perceptual differences of service quality in the financial Industry that could exist among customers, front-line employees, and managers.

Keywords: Service Quality, Perception Gap, Financial Industry
Factors Affecting the Sustainability Reporting with Special Reference to Consumer Services Sector Listed Companies in Sri Lanka
Authors: Priyadarshanie Nadeesha , Jayawardane P.G.H.R.P.
Published: April 2024

The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors affecting the sustainability reporting practices of the consumer services sector companies listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE). Annual reports of 15 companies listed under the consumer service sector on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) were examined for the period from 2015 to 2019 using content analysis. A disclosure index comprising 77 items was constructed based on the Global Reporting Initiatives (GRI) standards. The sustainability disclosure index was the dependent variable and profitability, leverage, firm size, firm age, board composition, and board size were the explanatory variables. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and panel regression analysis were utilised for the data analysis. Descriptive statistics reveal that the level of sustainability reporting by consumer services companies is at a moderate level. This study found that there is a positive significant relationship between firm age and sustainability reporting practices in consumer services sector entities. It implies that younger firms are more likely to report sustainability performance information. Furthermore, it was revealed that there is a positive, significant impact of firm size on sustainability reporting practices. Findings support the legitimacy theory, which states that large companies provide more information since they are more visible and subjected to scrutiny by the general public. However, there is no significant impact of other variables on sustainability reporting practices. There are many practical implications of the findings. Regulators and policymakers should take necessary actions to be aware of the GRI guidelines and encourage listed companies to incorporate those standards in their business reporting. As a limitation, this paper is based on the consumer services sector of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) and has focused mainly on secondary data. Future studies can be conducted considering a primary investigation.

Keywords: Sustainability Reporting, Consumer Service sector, Global Reporting Initiatives (GRI)
Impact of CEO Characteristics on Capital Structure: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: De Silva L.G.R.V. , Weerakoon Y.K.
Published: April 2024

The objective of this study is to systematically analyse the existing literature on the subject of the impact made by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) characteristics on capital structure and thereby identify the gaps in the literature and emerging trends on this topic in order to provide a basic conclusion. This study provides an overview of previous studies, which have been conducted in the domain of CEO characteristics on the capital structure by analysing prior articles based on this topic. A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) methodology is used to review eight articles selected from referred journals during the period of 25 years from 1995 to 2020. This comprehensive review reveals that different researchers across various jurisdictions have proved that as an unobservable component the CEO characteristics make an impact on the firm’s capital structure. As existing literature is only based on investigating the empirical relationship between CEO characteristics and capital structure, none of the existing studies have adopted survey, qualitative and triangulation methods for research studies with enough systematic theory development and it opens new areas for future research. Major findings show an increase of research interest in this topic in the recent past, but it is observed that most of the regions and countries are still not examined which provides scope for cross country studies. This study is a systematic literature review in nature. Therefore, it does not provide any empirical results for conclusion where only a summary of the outcomes of various researches has been synthesised. So far there is no literature review study which has been conducted on CEO characteristics and capital structure perspective, and this is the first literature review study under this topic. The paper will be useful for researchers and academics to understand the impact of CEO characteristics on capital structure in a theoretical dimension as well as to conduct further future research on new avenues.

Keywords: Capital Structure, CEO Characteristics, Debt Capital, Literature Review, Upper Echelon Theory
Підготовка майбутніх керівників закладів загальної середньої освіти в умовах освітніх трансформацій
Authors: Darmanska Iryna
Published: April 2024

У результаті здійсненого теоретико-методологічного аналізу, спираючись на дослідження в галузі філософії, управління, професійної педагогічної освіти та власний професійний досвід доведено, що сформована управлінська компетентність керівників закладів загальної середньої освіти є результатом їх готовності до практичної управлінської діяльності. Доповнено зміст феномена «управлінська компетентність», який тлумачимо як сукупність знань, умінь і навичок із теорії організації закладу освіти, побудови ефективної реалізації його структурних підрозділів, менеджменту, правових аспектів управління закладом освіти, стратегічного та інноваційного управління, управління освітньою та виховною діяльністю, статутною діяльністю, трудовими ресурсами, змістом внутрішньошкільного документування, інформаційними зв’язками, техніки управління, аудиту та оцінювання управлінської діяльності, психологічних аспектів управління, соціальної та екологічної безпеки діяльності, застосування освітніх технологій, а також наявність особистісно-професійних якостей для власної самореалізації, спрямованих на бажання до самоудосконалення, професійного розвитку та самоактуалізації, якими директор школи має ґрунтовно володіти для організації суб’єкт-суб’єктних відносин й створення ефективного внутрішнього та зовнішнього середовища, застосування технологій управління, прийняття адекватних управлінських рішень.

Розроблено педагогічну систему формування управлінської компетентності керівників закладів загальної середньої освіти у процесі неперервної професійної підготовки, яка сприяє якісній реалізації освітнього процесу та впливає на результативність сформованості управлінської компетентності у магістрантів і представляє собою сукупність елементів макро- та мікросередовища закладу вищої освіти, об’єднаних єдиною метою, взаємозв’язком, що спрямовані на досягнення бажаного результату.
CURRENT WAYS TO INCREASE THE NUTRITIONAL AND BIOLOGICAL VALUE OF BAKERY PRODUCTS
Authors:   Novosibirsk State Technical University, Sapozhnikov Aleksandr N. ,   Novosibirsk State Agrarian University, Kopylova Anastasiia V. ,   Novosibirsk State Technical University, Nasedkin Maksim A. ,   Novosibirsk State Technical University
Published: April 2024

The article discusses the relevance of increasing the nutritional and biological value of bakery products, including gluten-free production, by introducing food plant raw materials in natural and processed state into their formulations. The materials for the analysis were publications in leading Russian and foreign peer-reviewed journals issued from 2016 to 2023. The use of various types of food raw materials as ingredients that increase the nutritional value of bakery products has been analyzed and systematized. It is noted that the optimal content of the ingredients, which increases their nutritional and biological value, decreases their energy value, and does not have a negative effect on their sensory, structural and mechanical characteristics.
STUDY OF THE MECHANICAL IMPACT ON ALFALFA SEEDS IN THE SEEDER TUBE OF A SEEDER ON THE BASIS OF A DIGITAL TWIN
Authors:   Bashkir State Agrarian University, Khasanov Eduard R. , Mirzamatov Radmir R. ,   Bashkir State Agrarian University, Mukhamedinov Airat M. ,   Bashkir State Agrarian University, Yakupov Andrei M. ,   Bashkir State Agrarian University
Published: April 2024

The article investigates the mechanical impact on alfalfa seeds during their movement in the seed tube of the seeder; for this purpose, a digital twin has been developed that will allow you to determine the speed, force and mechanical stress exerted on the seeds. The developed mathematical model will allow you to select the optimal parameters, determine the disadvantages and advantages of the device, which in turn will allow in the future to use the full potential of the device to improve pre-sowing seed treatment and thereby increase seed germination, providing farm animals with high-quality feed. The mathematical model was created using two software packages Rocky DEM, which calculates the granular medium and Ansys Fluent, which models the process of air movement in the seed tube, the processes are integrated into the Ansys workbench. In previous studies, the angle of repose of two varieties of alfalfa seeds was determined, the parameters of the Rocky program were calibrated, which makes it possible to enter the previously obtained parameters and thereby obtain an adequate mathematical model.
INFLUENCE OF THE HOUSING DENSITY OF THE PARENT STOCK OF GEESE, ACCORDING TO THE LIVE WEIGHT INDICATORS, ON THE REPRODUCTION INDICATORS
Authors:   Bashkir State Agrarian University, Gayfullina Alfiya R.
Published: April 2024

Of great practical importance in the maintenance and breeding of poultry is the identification of the optimal stocking density of various breeds of geese of the parent flock, depending on the live weight. Factors such as climate, house type, bird species, age, body weight, etc. should be taken into account to correctly estimate stocking density. Incorrectly calculated stocking density can lead to leg disease, increased mortality, increased feed consumption, and a decrease in the productive and reproductive qualities of the bird. The optimal planting density in the Kuban, large gray and white Hungarian breeds of geese was revealed, at which positive results were obtained for the main values of reproductive qualities and live weight.
IMPACT OF FEED SUPPLEMENTATION DIRONAX ON GROWTH AND DEVELOP OF QUAILS
Authors:   Bashkir State Agrarian University, Usmanova Dina M. , Skovorodin Evgeniy N. ,   Bashkir State Agrarian University
Published: April 2024

The article presents the results of the effect of Dironax on the growth and development of quails aged from 1 to 180 days. On the our research, we determined that the indicators of relative growth, live weight and body weight (heart, lungs and kidneys) of birds treated with Dironax exceed those of the control group. When we did check the organs of the immune system (cloacal bursa, spleen, thymus), from the age of 90 in birds of the control group, signs of age-related involution of the thymus and bursa are noted, which was accompanied by a decrease in the mass and size of these organs. Under the conditions of the experience of groups of body mass indicators and linear parameters of organs, there are former ones, which manifests itself in the later development of involution. Thus, we can conclude that Dironax has a positive effect on the processes of growth and development of birds, as well as a moderate immunostimulating effect.
MORPHOFUNCTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF OVARIES IN FEMALE RATS IN EXPERIMENTAL ENDOCRINE PATHOLOGY
Authors:   Bashkir State Agrarian University, Shakirova Svetlana M. , Shakirova Diana M. ,   Moscow Medical University «Reaviz»
Published: April 2024

The endocrine system has a regulating effect on all body systems. In this regard, information about changes in the reproductive system caused by endocrine pathology is of interest. The article presents the results of studies of the structure of the ovaries in rats with artificially modeled diabetes mellitus. The experiment was performed on female white rats. In the experimental group, changes in the ovarian cortex were detected, destructive changes affect blood vessels, which leads to hyperemias and hemorrhages. There is a significant decrease in the primordial, primary, secondary, tertiary follicles, and against this background an increase in the number of atrezing follicles.
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF POWER PLANTS BY SET OF THEIR CHARACTERISTICS
Authors:   Bashkir State Agrarian University, Kafiev Irshat R. , Romanov Petr S. ,   Kolomna Institute (branch) of Moscow Polytechnical University, Romanova Irina P. ,   Kolomna Institute (branch) of Moscow Polytechnical University
Published: April 2024

As a result of the analysis of various types of power plants, their disadvantages and advantages were identified in the article, the main quantitative and qualitative characteristics were determined, according to which different types of power plants can be compared. The following are selected as the main quantitative characteristics of power plants: unit cost; installed electric capacity; cost of electricity; utilization factor of installed power plant capacity; service life; efficiency, construction period and the area occupied by the power plant. Qualitative characteristics include: location, financial conditions, time and weather conditions, environmental friendliness, operation of power plants, utilization, carbon footprint. The most common types of power plants are also selected for comparison. The formulation of the problem was carried out and a comprehensive methodology was applied for selecting the best option for power plants based on the totality of its quantitative and qualitative characteristics, including methods of spectral analysis and hierarchy analysis. The combined use of spectral analysis and hierarchy analysis methods when choosing the best option for power plants allows to somewhat reduce subjectivity in decision-making, especially in conditions where a quick assessment of alternative options is required. Based on the methodology, integral quantitative estimates were obtained for each of the power plant options. According to the set of quantitative and qualitative characteristics, a ranked number of power plant options were obtained: nuclear power plants; thermal power plants; hydroelectric power plants; wind power plants; solar power plants. The best is a nuclear power plant. It was established that the greatest influence on the construction of the generalized ranked series of power plants according to the totality of quantitative and qualitative characteristics was exerted by: qualitative characteristics: location and financial conditions; quantitative: unit cost; installed electric capacity; cost of electricity; utilization factor of installed power plant capacity; service life; efficiency of power plants. The complex methodology can be used when making a decision on the choice of a combination of quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the best option and other technical systems.
Term delivery through Partial Annular Cervical Tear in a Multigravida with history of Genital Prolapse: A Case Report
Authors: Roy Oindrila
Published: April 2024

Injury to the cervix is one of the common complications of pregnancy and delivery, but partial annular tear of the cervix is a rare entity, let alone vaginal delivery through it. A 32-year-old second gravida presented to a tertiary care hospital in Haryana, India in early labour. Her intrapartum course was uneventful. Following delivery of the baby and after-births, a third degree prolapse of the cervix was noted along with partial annular cervical tear of about 10cm involving the posterior cervical lip and 2cm away from the external os. There was mild bleeding from the edges of the tear and it was repaired with intermittent simple suture using 2-0 chromic catgut. On further probing, the patient denied any cervical trauma or surgery in the past but she gave history of something coming down per vaginum on straining for the last two years. She had not taken any treatment for the management of prolapse. She was given prophylactic oral antibiotics for 5 days and was advised Kegel’s exercise during the postpartum period. On discharge, she was stable, the cervical repair appeared healthy and was asked to follow-up after 6 weeks. This case highlights the possibility of cervical tear in patients having genital prolapse during delivery, first such being reported.
Male Infertility – An Overview of Management
Authors: Goyal Manu
Published: April 2024

Objectives: In search of a qualitative indicator of ovarian function, we sought to determine if antral follicles' reproductive competence is correlated with their Follicular Output Rate (FORT), which indicates how sensitive they are to FSH administration. Patients and Methods: After ethical committee approval and informed consent from the patients, this Prospective Cohort study was performed on 300 IVF-ET candidates, aged between 20 and 35, who had undergone controlled ovarian hyper-stimulation with comparable beginning levels of FSH and had primary infertility without apparent cause from January 2020 to June 2022 at Al-Azhar University Hospital and in a private IVF unit in Cairo, Egypt. Antral follicle (3–8 mm) count (AFC) and pre-ovulatory follicle (18–24 mm) count (PFC) were performed, respectively, at the achievement of pituitary suppression (before FSH treatment) and on the day of hCG administration. The FORT was calculated by PFC × 100/AFC. FORT groups were set according to tercile values: low (4.3%; n = 13), average (30.7%; n = 92) and high (65%; n = 195). Results: The odds ratio for clinical pregnancy increases with increasing endometrial thickness, number of collected oocytes, and follicular output rate, with odds ratios of 1.123, 1.121, and 1.312, respectively. Conclusion: The observed association between IVF-ET result and the proportion of antral follicles attaining pre-ovulatory maturity that successfully react to FSH injection shows that FORT may be a qualitative mirror of ovarian follicular competency. More research with broader inclusion criteria and more tailored techniques is required to verify these findings.
Comparison of Two Types of Endometrial Scratch before Embryo Transfer and Patient-Reported Pain Scores: A Prospective Randomized Pilot Study
Authors: S Hurst Bradley
Published: April 2024

Background: The impact of various methods of endometrial scratch during assisted reproductive technology (ART) is not well established. Objective: To compare patient-reported pain scores and ART outcomes following two types of endometrial scratch prior to embryo transfer. Study design: In this prospective, non-blinded, randomized controlled trial, patients were assigned to either Pipelle or Shepard catheter. The primary outcome was mean pain score. Secondary outcomes included implantation rate (IR) and clinical pregnancy rate (CPR). Results: One hundred seventy transfers were included (Pipelle: n=78, Shepard: n=92). Mean pain scores were significantly lower in the Shepard group compared to the Pipelle group (3.0±2.4 vs. 3.9±2.2, respectively; p=0.01). There was no significant difference in IR (Shepard: 59.7%±52 and Pipelle: 56.5%±48; p=0.9) and CPR (Shepard: 67.6%±47 and Pipelle: 71.8%±45; p=0.6). Conclusions: In our study, the Shepard catheter was a less painful method of endometrial scratch without compromising ART outcomes.
The Effect of In-vitro Fertilization Procedures on Alpha-fetoprotein Levels in Second Trimester Screening for Fetal Defects
Authors: A. Kaplan Lawrence
Published: April 2024

Objective Prenatal screening for developmental and chromosomal fetal defects during both the first and second trimesters of pregnancy is considered standard practice. In the second trimester, screening for spinal cord malformations, such as spina bifida and anencephaly (a type of neural tube defect), involves measuring alpha-fetoprotein levels in maternal blood. The cutoffs used to identify increased risks for neural tube defects are typically tailored for factors like race, multiple fetuses, reported smoking, and the presence of maternal insulin-dependent diabetes. What remains unclear is the impact of assisted reproductive technology, commonly known as in vitro fertilization procedures, on alpha-fetoprotein levels and other measured analytes. Method This report presents a retrospective study that examines the impact of reported in vitro fertilization procedures on second-trimester levels of alpha-fetoprotein. The study utilizes consecutive data from March 20, 2019, through March 29, 2023, sourced from laboratory records. Result We illustrate elevated levels of maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein across all racial subgroups undergoing in vitro fertilization procedures. Additionally, we demonstrate that maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein levels rise with maternal age. Conclusion This study underscores the significance of our findings in evaluating the risk of neural tube defects, such as spina bifida, Down syndrome, and other genetic anomalies. It holds considerable value in guiding clinical practices. Furthermore, it highlights the need for further investigation to evaluate how our findings impact the assessment of fetal well-being.
Substantiation of Practical Recommendations on the Organization of Optimal Modes of Preliminary Heat Treatment and Combustion of Coal in a Pulverized State
Authors: Boiko E. A. , Strashnikov A. V.
Published: April 2024

Based on the data on the reactivity of coal, a calculated justification of the requirements for the organization of its preparation and combustion processes was carried out, taking into account the initial quality and operating modes of the preparation systems and combustion devices of power steam boilers. The relationship between such operating parameters of the device for preliminary heat treatment of coal as the size of pulverized coal particles, temperature and duration of treatment with the quality of the source fuel has been established in order to ensure stable ignition and completeness of burnout of the products of thermochemical transformation of coal in the conditions of the furnace chamber of the boiler unit. The results of the cycle of analytical studies are summarized and brought to the level of engineering methodology (in the form of a nomogram), which allows determining the optimal values of temperature and time of the process of preliminary heat treatment of coal before combustion in the furnace chamber of a steam boiler based on the known characteristics of the initial fuel (reactivity and particle size). The found operating parameters of the device for preliminary heat treatment of coal ensure the performance of verification (thermal) and design calculations of real fuel-using installations, for example, fuel-free kindling and dust preparation systems. It is established that the most optimal mode of preliminary heat treatment of brown Kansk-Achinsk coals polyfraction, in terms of the efficiency of ignition and combustion of heat treatment products, is 800–850°C with a processing time of 0.6–1.2 s. The results of the calculated studies were confirmed during experimental work on a special laboratory stand, which provides a mode of preliminary heat treatment of coal in a pulverized state in a wide temperature range and afterburning of dust and gaseous heat treatment products under various conditions.
A Review of Mathematical Models of Energy Storage Systems for Electric Power Systems Simulation. Part I
Authors: Razzhivin I. A. , Suvorov A. A. , Andreev M. V. , Ufa R. A. , Askarov A. B.
Published: April 2024

Nowadays energy storage systems (ESS) are becoming an integral part of modern power systems (PES) and are used to solve a wide range of tasks. However, as the penetration level and power of ESS grows, their impact on the processes and operation modes of EPS is also increasing. Therefore, there is a need for using mathematical models of ESS, taking into account the specifics, various distinctive properties of each type and class of EPS, as part of the models of large-scale EPS. However, in foreign and national literature there are no review papers about detailed mathematical models of commonly use types and classes of SNE and simplifications used for them, which can be used to adequately simulate the large-scale EPS depending on the research tasks. Therefore, the first part of this paper considers the most promising types and classes of SNE used in the EPS, as well as the a-reas and tasks of their use. The principles of implementation of detailed mathematical models and structures of automatic control systems are described for the considered types and classes of SNE. In the second part of the paper the modern approaches of simplification of mathematical models of SNE, and analysis of consequences of such simplifications and areas of their application are given. Thus, the review paper consists of two parts and can help in choosing a mathematical model of the SNE for solving specific research tasks of analysis of their operation as a part of real EPS.