bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Production Technology and Damping Properties of Aerated Polymer Coatings
Authors: Sheleg V. K. , Min Ma , Belotserkovsky M. A.
Published: October 2021

The process of obtaining aerated (filled with air bubbles) polymer coatings has been developed and investigated by the method of flame spraying with an assessment of their ability to damp vibrations. A technology for the controlled formation of aerated polymer coatings has been developed while using the capabilities of the ОИМ (OIM) 050 polymer thermal atomizer design which consists in providing a concurrent air flow between the flame torch and the jet of powder material. The experiments have been carried out with such thermoplastic polymers as polyethylene terephthalate, high pressure polyethylene, ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, polyamide. It has been found that the aeration coefficient grows almost in direct proportion with an increase in the amount of air in the concurrent flow for all investigated polymer coatings. It is noted that the aeration process is influenced by the rheological properties of liquid polymers, or rather, the value of the polymer melt flow rate. The limiting values of air in the concurrent flow have been determined, which make it possible not to reduce the adhesion of polymer coatings to steel substrates by less than 6 MPa and not to decrease their hardness by more than 25–30 %. Studies of the damping properties of samples with polymer coatings have been carried out on a stand, the kinematic diagram of which is based on loading the free end of a cantilever sample, abrupt removal of the load and registration of free damped oscillations by an induction-type contactless sensor connected to a computer. It is shown that the use of aeration when forming noise-absorbing coatings on steel samples can increase their logarithmic damping decrement by 18–26 %.
PV Loops and REBOA During Hemorrhage and Resuscitation
Authors: Stonko David P , Edwards Joseph , Abdou Hossam , Elansary Noha N , Lang Eric , Savidge Samuel G , Treffalls Rebecca N , Morrison Jonathan J
Published: October 2021

Retrograde Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta (REBOA) is frequently used in hemorrhagic shock to facilitate resuscitation. In theory, aortic occlusion increases afterload and focuses perfusion to the coronary arteries and great vessels; also to focus perfusion to the brain. It is, however, unknown exactly how and to what extent REBOA impacts cardiovascular parameters such as preload, afterload and contractility, or coronary artery blood flow. It is also not known how these parameters evolve over time during REBOA as it is shifted from fully to partially occlusive, or weaned down entirely. We aim to use left ventricular Pressure-Volume (PV) loop analysis and directly measure coronary flow in swine as they descend into hemorrhagic shock, are resuscitated with full aortic occlusion with REBOA, transitioned to partial aortic occlusion with REBOA, and then weaned completely off of the REBOA and are resuscitated. We will examine, specifically, measures of preload, afterload, contractility and coronary blood flow during each study time period (baseline, hemorrhagic shock, full aortic occlusion, partial aortic occlusion, and post-occlusion during resuscitation).
Integrated PCR testing and extended window contact tracing system for COVID-19 to improve comprehensiveness and speed
Authors: Raymenants Joren , Geenen Caspar , Thibaut Jonathan , Gorissen Sarah , Nelissen Klaas
Published: October 2021

Testing and contact tracing are standard tools for controlling the spread of COVID-191. Their effectiveness hinges on a sequence of processes encompassing testing coverage and timeliness, testing quality and speed of reporting, contact tracing speed and comprehensiveness and compliance with advice given2–6. We optimized this sequence of processes in the context of a public health program targeting around 33,000 higher education students through a combination of low barrier PCR testing with rapid turn-around-time, close integration of testing and tracing teams and IT infrastructure, community engagement and the implementation of bidirectional contact tracing by extending the contact tracing window from 2 to 7 days before symptom onset or test of the index case. We anticipate this combined intervention to help improve epidemic control.
Risk Classification of Human Papillomavirus-related Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Japanese Patients
Authors: ITAMI Jun , KOBAYASHI Kenya , MORI Taisuke , HONMA Yoshitaka , KUBO Yuko , MURAKAMI Naoya , OMURA Go , OKUMA Kae , INABA Koji , TAKAHASHI Kana , KASHIHARA Tairo , SHIMIZU Yuri , TAKAHASHI Ayaka , NAKAYAMA Yuko , MATSUMOTO Fumihiko , YOSHIMOTO Seiichi , IGAKI Hiroshi
Published: October 2021

Purpose The validity of the risk classification according to Ang for human papillomavirus (HPV)-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) remains to be studied in patients treated by methods other than chemoradiotherapy and in Japanese patients. In this study, the validity of Ang's risk classification was studied in Japanese patients treated using various methods, including surgery.Material and Method Between 2010 and 2018, 122 patients with HPV-related OPSCC stages III and IV according to the TNM classification 7th edition (TNM-7) were treated curatively at a single institution in Japan. The median age was 62.7 years. Sixty-seven patients (54.9%) were classified as stage I according to the TNM 8th edition (TNM-8). Over 50% of the patients underwent surgery with or without adjuvant therapy. The influence of multiple factors on survival was determined.Results Age, amount of smoking, secondary cancer, and N-stage according to the TNM-7 significantly influenced survival. Ang's risk classification was also predictive of prognosis, but if 30 pack-years (PYs) instead of 10 PYs is employed to dichotomize the amount of smoking, the new risk classification can significantly better predict prognosis. According to the new risk classification, favorable and unfavorable risk patients showed 5-year progression-free survival, disease-specific survival, and overall survival rates of 72.7% and 35.9%, 94.6% and 76.2%, and 92.6% and 62.7%, respectively.Conclusions Even in patients treated by methods other than chemoradiotherapy and in Japanese patients, the combination of the amount of smoking and neck node status is useful in prognosis prediction.
The Clinical Evaluation of IIA Balloon Occlusion for Pernicious Placenta Previa Patients with Placenta Accreta: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Hong Ling , Chen Aner , Chen Jinliang , Li Xiuxiu , Zhuang Wenming , Shen Yijing , Dai Qiaohong , Zhang Li
Published: October 2021

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of internal iliac artery(IIA) balloon occlusion in patients with pernicious placenta previa coexisting with placenta accreta. Background: Pernicious placenta previa is frequently reported to be complicated with placenta accreta, which contributes to serious consequences such as severe obstetric postpartum hemorrhage or even maternal mortality. Methods: Fifty-eight pernicious placenta previa patients complicated with placenta accreta were retrospectively reviewed. The ballon group consisted of 23 patients, who underwent a caesarean delivery with internal iliac artery occlusion. 35 patients were in the control group, who had a standard caesarean delivery. The primary outcomes were estimated blood loss (EBL), cesarean hysterectomy, and blood transferring volume. The secondary outcomes were operating time, intraoperative hemostatic approaches, surgical complications, balloon catheter–related complications, length of maternal stay, cost of hospitalization, and neonatal outcomes.Results: No difference was observed in estimated blood loss (EBL), blood transferring percentages and volume, additional measures to secure hemostasis , surgical complications, hospital stay postoperatively and newborn outcomes. More than 40% of the balloon group underwent hysterectomy because of uncontrollable postpartum bleeding (10[43.48%] vs. 11[31.43%],P=0.350).Complications related to occlusion of IIA did not occur.The duration of the surgery of the balloon group was significantly longer than that of the control group(123.52 min±74.76 versus 89.17±48.68,P=0.038), and the total hospitalization cost was also significantly higher than that of the control group(45116.67±9358.67 yuan versus 30615.41±11587.44yuan,P=0.000).Conclusion: IIA balloon occlusion in patients with pernicious placenta previa coexisting with placenta accreta did not reduce the hysterectomy rate during cesarean section, nor did it reduce blood loss and blood transfusion, but it prolonged the duration of the surgery and increased the total cost.
Remote Learning and Teaching in Southern Africa: A Case Study of Health Professions Education Institutions
Authors: Chipamaunga Shalote , Nyoni Champion Nestai , Kagawa Mike Nantamu , Wessels Quenton , Kafumukache Elliot , Gwini Rudo , Kandawasvika Gwendoline , Katowa-Mukwato Patricia , Masanganise Rangarirai , Nyamakura Rudo , Nyawata Idah , Pretorius Louise , Dithole Kefalotse , Marimo Clemence , Mubuuke Aloysius Gonzaga , Mbalinda Scovia Nalugo , Merwe Lynette Jean van der , Prozesky Detlef
Published: October 2021

Background
Southern Africa, like other parts of the world, has always strived to deliver quality health professions education. These efforts have been influenced to a larger extent by the socio-economic and cultural context of the region, but also by what happens globally. The global disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the implementation of emergency remote teaching (ERT) to continue delivering on the mandate of educating future health professionals in 2020. The purpose of this research was to describe the change process through which selected health professions education institutions (HPEIs) in the Southern African region adjusted their academic programmes for remote learning and teaching during the COVID-19 related pandemic.
Methods
A mixed methods study with a case study design was applied using the ADKAR model as a conceptual framework for data interpretation. The study population consisted of educators, students, and administrators in undergraduate medical and nursing programmes from six institutions in five countries.
Results
A total of 1,307 respondents provided data for the study. Many of the institutions were caught off-guard when most educators and almost all students were required to leave their universities and go into isolation at home. Stakeholders immediately became aware of the need to adopt online approaches as an emergency measure. In all programmes, educators, students, and administrators agreed that they should change and wanted to change, and some students realised that they had to take charge of their own learning independently. Overall educators reported confidence with the use of standard Microsoft software, while knowledge of learning management systems proved more challenging for both educators and students. Many stakeholders, especially students and administrators, reported uncertainty about their ability to function in the new reality. Conducive family dynamics, a quiet space to study, good connectivity, a reliable electricity supply and appropriate devices were reported to reinforce learning and teaching.
Conclusions
The findings highlight the need to scale up educational infrastructure, prioritise strategic directives, drive continuous professional development of educators and foster co-constructivist approaches towards student centered education, including formal online learning.
Effectiveness of Life Skills Training Based on Self-Care on Mental Health and Quality of Life of Married Afghan Women in Iran
Authors: Shovazi Fatemeh Abbasi , Mahmoodabadi Hassan Zareei , Salehzadeh Maryam
Published: October 2021

Objective: One of the major issues that immigrants, especially Afghan women face, is their self-care disability. This will cause problems in their mental health and quality of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of life skills training based on self-care on mental health and quality of life of married Afghan women living in Taft.Method: This quasi-experimental was conducted using a pretest posttest design with control group. Statistical population was all married Afghan women living in Taft of whom 60 women were selected using purposive sampling and were randomly allocated to two groups of 30 as case and control groups. The experimental group received 8 sessions of life skills training based on self-care. General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and Quality of Life of the World Health Organization Questionnaire (WHOQ- BREF) were used to collect data. Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was used to analyze the data.Results: Results showed that following the intervention, the mean scores of quality of life (p<0.0001) and mental health (p<0.019) in the case group increased in the posttest compared to the pretest and the effect of intervention was significant. Conclusion: Results suggested that providing a training opportunity for Afghan women to learn life skills based on self-care, enables them to realize their strengths and weaknesses and improve their quality of life and mental health.
Stereotypical Descriptions of Computer Science Careers Are Not Representative of Most Computer Scientists
Authors: McChesney Jenna E. , Behrend Tara S. , Glosenberg Alexander
Published: October 2021

Using data from a large self-initiated online survey, we find that the career interests of many current and aspiring computer scientists diverge from the official profile of computer scientists established and promoted by the U.S. government – specifically that from the Department of Labor’s Occupational Information Network (O*NET). Five distinct profiles of career interests emerged from the data. Latent profile analysis suggests that many women in the profession value social and artistic expression in a way not currently recognized by official representations of computer scientists’ interests. Better admitting to a more nuanced and comprehensive picture of those interests has important implications for career guidance and workforce development and might help to address women’s underrepresentation in this STEM discipline.
Markers of memory CD8 T cells depicting the effect of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in Japan
Authors: Kondo Hiroyuki , Kageyama Takahiro , Tanaka Shigeru , Tsukumo Shin-ichi , Otsuka Kunihiro , Mashimo Yoichi , Onouchi Yoshihiro , Nakajima Hiroshi , Yasutomo Koji
Published: October 2021

BNT162b2, a nucleoside-modified mRNA vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein (S), provides approximately 95% efficacy for preventing COVID-19. However, it remains unclear how effectively memory CD8+ T cells are generated and which genetic and environmental factors affect the generation and function of memory CD8+ T cells elicited by this vaccine. Here, we investigated the frequency and functions of memory CD8+ T cells 3 weeks after the second vaccination in the Japanese population. Using a peptide-MHC pentamer, we detected an increased number of memory CD8+ T cells in females compared with that in males, but the frequency of pentamer-positive cells was not correlated with antibody titers. Memory precursor effector cells (KLRG1-CD127+) among both CD8+ cells and pentamer+ cells and effector cells (CD38-HLA-DR+) among pentamer+ cells were more abundant in females than in males. Upon S protein-mediated stimulation of T cells, the intensity of CD107a and granzyme B expression was increased in females compared with that in males, indicating stronger memory CD8+ T cell responses in females than in males. Our studies showed that the BNT162b2 vaccine elicits increased memory CD8+ T cell proliferation and secondary CTL responses in females compared with those in males in the Japanese population. These findings provide an important basis for the distinct sex difference in cellular immune responses to mRNA vaccination and suggest that memory precursor effector cells can be a simple marker to evaluate and boost cellular immunity induced by BNT162b2.
The Learning Curve in Vaginal Pelvic Reconstruction Surgery for Severe Pelvic Organ Prolapse: Analysis of the Cumulative Summation Test (CUSUM)
Authors: Wu Chin-Jui , Huang Kuan-Ju , Chang Wen-Chun , Li Ying-Xuan , Wei Lin-Hung , Sheu Bor-Ching
Published: October 2021

Women who underwent vaginal pelvic reconstructive surgery with or without mesh consecutively between 2004 and 2018 were retrospectively analyzed to determine the learning curve in vaginal pelvic reconstructive surgery. With cumulative summation (CUSUM) analysis of surgical failure and operation time, we assessed the learning curve of vaginal pelvic reconstructive surgery, including sacrospinous ligament fixation, anterior colporrhaphy, posterior colporrhaphy, and optional vaginal hysterectomy with or without mesh placement. Two hundred and sixty-four women with stage III or IV pelvic organ prolapse underwent vaginal pelvic reconstructive surgery by surgeon A or B. The median follow-up time of 44 months ranged from 24 to 120 months. Surgical proficiency was achieved in 32-54 vaginal pelvic reconstructive surgery procedures without mesh and 37-61 procedures in the same surgery with mesh. The surgical success rates for surgeons A and B were 82.2% and 94.1%, with median follow-up times of 60 and 33 months, respectively. The learning phase of vaginal pelvic reconstructive surgery in advanced pelvic organ prolapse in this institutional cohort required 54 and 61 procedures, respectively. A higher number of procedures were required for the learning curve of vaginal pelvic reconstructive surgery with mesh. Having crossed the boundary of proficiency, the surgical success rate and operation time were improved.
Barriers To and Strategies To Address COVID-19 Testing and Testing Hesitancy: A Rapid Scoping Review
Authors: Sim Meaghan , Caldwell Hilary A.T. , Stone Kathryn , Boulos Leah , Yu Ziwa , Agarwal Gina , Cooper Rhiannon , Gallant Allyson J. , Bielska Iwona A. , Chishtie Jawad , Curran Janet , Tricco Andrea , Embrett Mark
Published: October 2021

Background: Testing is a foundational component of any COVID-19 management strategy; however, emerging evidence suggests that barriers and hesitancy to COVID-19 testing may affect uptake or participation and often these are multiple and intersecting factors that may vary across population groups. To this end, Health Canada’s COVID-19 Testing and Screening Expert Advisory Panel commissioned this rapid review in January 2021 to explore the available evidence in this area. The aim of this rapid review was to identify barriers to COVID-19 testing and strategies used to mitigate these barriers. Methods: Searches (completed January 8 2021) were conducted in MEDLINE, Scopus, medRxiv/bioRxiv, Cochrane and online grey literature sources to identify publications that described barriers and strategies related to COVID-19 testing. Results: From 1294 academic and 97 grey literature search results, 31 academic and 31 grey literature sources were included. Data were extracted from the relevant papers. The most commonly cited barriers were: cost of testing; low health literacy; low trust in the healthcare system; availability and accessibility of testing sites; and stigma and consequences of testing positive. Strategies to mitigate barriers to COVID-19 testing included: free testing; promoting awareness of importance to testing; presenting various testing options and types of testing centres (i.e., drive-thru, walk-up, home testing); providing transportation to testing centres; and offering support for self-isolation (e.g., salary support or housing). Conclusion: Various barriers to COVID-19 testing and strategies for mitigating these barriers were identified. Further research to test the efficacy of these strategies is needed to better support testing for COVID-19 by addressing testing hesitancy as part of the broader COVID-19 public health response
Deep Learning Approach for Chemistry and Processing History Prediction from Materials Microstructure: Application to Spinodal Decomposition
Authors: Farizhandi Amir Abbas Kazemzadeh , Betancourt Omar , Mamivand Mahmood
Published: October 2021

Finding the chemical composition and processing history from a microstructure morphology for heterogeneous materials is desired in many applications. While the simulation methods based on physical concepts such as the phase-field method can predict the spatio-temporal evolution of the materials’ microstructure, they are not efficient techniques for predicting processing and chemistry if a specific morphology is desired. In this study, we propose a framework based on a deep learning approach that enables us to predict the chemistry and processing history just by reading the morphological distribution of one element. As a case study, we used a dataset from spinodal decomposition simulation of Fe-Cr-Co alloy created by the phase-field method. The mixed dataset, which includes both images, i.e., the morphology of Fe distribution, and continuous data, i.e., the Fe minimum and maximum concentration in the microstructures, are used as input data, and the spinodal temperature and initial chemical composition are utilized as the output data to train the proposed deep neural network. The proposed convolutional layers were compared with pretrained EfficientNet convolutional layers as transfer learning in microstructure feature extraction. The results show that the trained shallow network is effective for chemistry prediction. However, accurate prediction of processing temperature requires more complex feature extraction from the morphology of the microstructure. We benchmarked the model predictive accuracy for real alloy systems with a Fe-Cr-Co transmission electron microscopy micrograph. The predicted chemistry and heat treatment temperature were in good agreement with the ground truth.
Perspective of General Practitioners Toward Their Supervisors from the Recent Ten Years in China
Authors: Xin Rao , Li Luo , Qiaoli Su , Xingyue Wang
Published: October 2021

Objectives:Doctors who wish to be the general practitioners (GPs) need to attend and complete general practice residents training in China. As in the early stage of the standardized GP training system, the GP training supervisors play an important role. This study aims to explore how the GP residents’ perspective towards GP supervisors and what factors affect the satisfaction tendency, and to offer some suggestions by the implication drawn from this study.Design:A quantitative and qualitative mixed study was conduct in the study . First, in the quantitative research, we adopt a survey by collecting training satisfaction through questionnaires, and extract and analyze the factors which influence the training satisfaction. Next, in the qualitative analysis, we conduct in-depth semi-structured interviews using the qualitative research criteria (COREQ)––a 32-item checklist for interviews. Participants:There are 1172 GPs whose time to start training varies from 2008 to 2017 in the quantitative survey while 100 of them filtered by stratified random sampling and extreme answers to the quantitative survey (less than 5% of the total sample) are chosen for the qualitative research to dig into the details. Specifically, the stratified random sampling is based on the resident's grade, region, and training basement level (city level or county level ), and the extreme answers refer to “extremely good” and “extremely bad” answers from the early 1172 participants comprehensive survey. Consequently, 30 extreme-answer participants were found and the left 70 were selected by stratified random sampling. According to the final implementation, participants meet the needs of information collection and sample estimation.Results:The results show that the satisfaction towards GP theoretical training supervisors, GP hospital-based training supervisors , and GP community-based training supervisors was different. From the average and long-term perspective, the prioritize of satisfaction is :GP theoretical training supervisors> GP community-based training supervisors > GP hospital-based training supervisors.GP hospital-based training supervisors need to improve GP concept, teaching methods and consciousness. GP community-based training supervisors need to improve their teaching methods, clinical theoretical knowledge and practice ability.Conclusions: On one hand ,GP supervisors team in China has been gradually settled up. On the other hand, the satisfaction tendency of residents toward GP supervisors are quite different, GP supervisors team need to be promoted and strengthened.
Feasibility Study of Using Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles to Deliver COVID-19 Vaccines in Geographically Inaccessible Areas of Nepal
Authors: Thapa Pawan
Published: October 2021

Background: The infectious diseases vaccine program started in Nepal. Transportation facilities using uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) will support the COVID 19 vaccine; therefore, remote areas where accessibility is unavailable and takes enormous time to reach the primary health center. However, it can distribute vaccines at standard times with required temperature-sensitive. Moreover, eliminating human contact reduces logistics cost, time, and chances of virus carriers to the frontline workers while delivering vaccines. Methods: This feasibility study provides one of the possible ways of transporting vaccines using UAVs to the remote areas of Nepal; one approach will be using a customize prototype of drones and deploying it. The following will to studying the research articles on this field for proper guidance to conduct a study. The drone with a vaccine carrier takes the vaccine from Simikot Airport to the Local 18 Mission hospital about a 400-meter journey time of about 11-15 minutes. Results: The results show that drones can supply medical kits to health centers to reduce delivery time. It has been practicing that literature review on this related field states UAVs' possible implication in transporting vaccines. It reduces the time to deliver by 11-15 minutes with a vaccine carrier box (10-12 kg) that maintains a low temperature for 3-7 days. Furthermore, it minimizes the potential risk of not providing vaccines due to the unavailability of the road in remote areas. Conclusion: This alternative can support the delivery of vaccines for vulnerable groups deprived of health care. One of the significant ways to deliver the vaccine can be using a drone for remote areas with limited health facilities. In addition, it can support government plans to vaccine people incorporation with emerging technologies.
The Helicobacter pylori genome evolution in different gastric cancer risk Colombian populations
Authors: Guzman Kevin , Montenegro Lidia , Pazos Alvaro
Published: October 2021

Background

The Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has evolved with its human host by nearly 110,000 years. Despite that H. pylori has been considered as a main factor for gastric cancer (GC) development, the pathogenesis depends on its hosts evolutive relations.
Objective

In this study we analyzed the H. pylori evolutive relations of two populations with different GC risk in Colombia.
Materials and Methods

We study 10 human genomes and same number of H. pylori genomes from Tuquerres: high GC risk population, and 9 genomes from Tumaco: low GC risk population. The evolutive analysis was performed using MLST, vacA virulence gene and alpA adhesine gene for H. pylori and human ancestry by phylogenomic analyzes.
Results

We found that the studied people from Tumaco had marked African and Amerindian ancestry and in minor proportion European ancestry. In contrast, the studied human population from Tuquerres had mainly Amerindian and European ancestry. The H. pylori phylogenomic trees from Tumaco were grouped with African strains (hspWAfrica y hpAfrica2) in 56% and with the Colombian evolutive group (hspColombia) in 44%. We found that the H. pylori genomes from Tumaco are in major proportion in co-evolution with its human host genomes. In Tuquerres the phylogenomic trees grouped in 80% with local H. pylori strains (hspColombia) and the 20% of genomes grouped with hspWAfrica ancestors. Also, we found that H. pylori from Tuquerres were in minor proportion in co evolution with its human host genomes. In Tuquerres the H. pylori vacA and alpA genes showed phylogenetic relationship with Amerindian strains (hspAmerindian) and European (hpEurope), and in minor proportion with African strains (hspWAfrica y hpAfrica2) and Asian (hpEAsia).
Conclusion

The marked difference of GC risk in Colombian populations could be explained by the genome coevolution time between Helicobacter pylori and human host genomes.
Leaders and machiavellian manifestations: workers' innovation development and business performance
Authors: Tomkova Anna , Ondrijova Ivana , Ratnayake-Kascakova Dagmara , Nemec Jozef
Published: October 2021

This research aims to assess the level of manipulation of leaders and Machiavellian manifestations in the work process within selected socio-demographic characteristics of employees. Based on the described theoretical basis, three hypotheses were established. The hypotheses concern is examining the differences between manipulation and Machiavellian manifestations regarding employees' residence (urban or rural), the sphere of the organization (private or public) in which they work, and the age of employees. The data were obtained through a questionnaire survey in which 123 respondents participated. The study involved methodological tools such as CASADI (Calculativness, Self-Assertion, Diplomacy) and MPS (Machiavellian Personality Scale). The new CASADI methodology identifies Machiavellian manifestations in business and managerial behavior. It contains statements that relate to the respondent's opinion on manipulation between people. The MPS methodology was created for leaders in determining the level of their manipulation through four factors determining Machiavellianism. The survey results were evaluated through a t-test and Pearson's correlation coefficient. The findings confirmed the differences in Self-Assertion, Desire for Control, and Distrust regarding respondents' residence. The study of age differences recorded the statistical significance for the attribute of Diplomacy within Machiavellian manifestations and the attribute of Desire for social status within the manipulation of leaders. Within the differences between the private and public spheres, statistical significance was recorded for the attributes of Machiavellian manifestations of Computation and Self-Enforcement, and for the attributes of the manipulation of leaders Amorality, Desire for Control and Distrust of others. The research results indicated that employees living in the city might have a higher degree of Machiavellianism. It is reflected in their motivation for for-profit and the need to control others and not trust them. Research suggested that the rate of Machiavellianism decreases with age. In the case of the organization activity where the employee works, it was found that Machiavellian tendencies were more pronounced in employees of the private sphere.
Digital innovations in taxation: bibliometric analysis
Authors: Lagodiienko Nataliia , Yakushko Inna
Published: October 2021

Active development of digitalization processes worldwide is changing the usual mode of the operation of all areas of human activity. These processes have a special impact on the development of economic systems. The introduction of new information technologies in economic relations today is the norm and objectively necessary to ensure the competitiveness of national economies. Up to date, the outlined technologies play an essential role in reforming tax systems, which determines the relevance of this sphere of research considering the potential of digitalization and its application in this area. The purpose of the article is to conduct a bibliographic analysis of the state of research papers in the digitalization of tax systems and establish current trends in the scientific development of this system. The systematization of scientific sources and approaches to solving the taxation digitalization problem showed the lack of scientific papers in this area. Accordingly, the urgency of solving this situation is to conduct new research in this area to deepen the understanding of current trends in introducing new innovative technologies from the theoretical, methodological, and practical points of view. The methodical toolkit of the study was the methods of bibliographic and comparative analysis. As the information base to conduct research, the Scopus database was used. The empirical study was conducted using a bibliometric approach known as «the common words analysis» using the VOSviewer software. The analysis of the relevance of the study of taxes and digitalization as a separate scientific category was conducted. It was determined that for the last five years, there had been a significant growth of scientific research in digitalization as an objective process of reality, the analysis of which is studied within various sciences. The categorial relationship between keywords found in scientific papers, where the words «taxes» and «digitalization» are met, is analysed within the article. It made it possible to identify the following areas of research, within which the issues of digitalization of the tax system were studied individually: works related to the study of peculiarities of the international trade development, taxation in online trade; research papers, within which the taxation issues of business entities that do not have a physical location in the countries where they operate are studied; articles, which study the issues of enterprise management, the development of enterprise management in the digital age; papers, which analyse `the issues of reforming tax systems, the introduction of innovations to improve their functioning.
Core determinants of companies innovation performance: case for Armenia
Authors: Tadevosyan Ruzanna
Published: October 2021

The paper discusses scientific arguments and counterarguments about companies’ innovative activity, size, and geographic location of the sales market. The study’s foremost purpose is to empirically check if theoretical statements about a company’s size, export, and innovative activity are associated. Therefore, the questions discussed in this paper are a) Does an enterprise-size matter an enterprise innovation activity? b) Is there is a difference in innovation activity by Classification of Economic Activities (NACE groups)? c) Does the geographic location of the sales market matter the company's innovation activity? The research questions are discussed based on Armenian firm-level data. The findings could be applied mainly to the microeconomic environment of Armenia. The study involved R programming language Wilcoxon test, ANOVA, Tukey test, and Chi-square test are applied. The obtained results showed that the enterprise’s size does not matter an enterprise’s innovative activity. Even though larger companies have more resources to innovate, smaller companies are more flexible and agile. Therefore, the enterprise size is not a limiting factor. The results showed that the companies in some fields of the economy are more prone to innovate than others. In Armenia, most innovative enterprises operate in the group M-Professional, scientific and technical activities and the group C-Manufacturing. The research empirically confirms that when considering a company’s innovative activity, the sphere of the economy in which it operates has statistically significant importance in contrast with the company’s size. The findings by the Chi-Square test showed that a significantly higher number of EU exporting companies had made innovations. In contrast, companies selling their products/services in the local market have made significantly fewer innovations than expected if there would be no association between innovations and the geographic location of the sales market. Therefore, the exporting companies are more innovative than those that sell their products in the local market. Besides, the most innovative firms are EU exporting enterprises. In empiric studies, export is used as a proxy of international competitiveness due to its ability to show a country’s capacity in producing and selling in the international market. Therefore, the analysis of Armenian firm-level data showed the association between innovation and international competitiveness.
The impact of modern communication marketing tools to increase the innovativeness of business
Authors: Krchova Hana , Svejnova Hoesova Katarína
Published: October 2021

The scientific paper aims to examine the influence of marketing communication tools on the innovation of small and medium-sized enterprises increasing in the Slovak Republic. Nowadays the most companies struggle with business revenue due to the pandemic situation of COVID-19 disease. Many business processes moved to the online area, especially daily workers cooperation, communication with customers, sales support, and almost all types of marketing activities. Experience has shown that the key to success in business is the adequate setup of the communication tools. This issue is important not only in the company, but it took a crucial role in the communication with customers. Customers had to adapt to the new COVID-19 situation that dramatically changed their shopping habits. The survey responses were divided into two basic groups focused on traditional marketing and modern (online) tools. The research rests on data from the interviews with 825 managers or owners of small and medium-sized enterprises of the Slovak Republic. Data were examined using descriptive and regression analysis. The presented results showed that traditional and modern tools of marketing communication impacted increasing the innovation of companies. Besides, the impact of business internationalization on increasing business innovation has been demonstrated. The results were supplemented using various modern marketing tools. For evaluating these results, the method of calculation of constructed surface polygons was used. The findings showed that modern marketing communication tools were better for innovative companies than for non-innovative ones. This difference is up to 14.7%. Moreover, the findings showed many possibilities for improving modern marketing communication tools such as artificial intelligence in online communication through mobile marketing applications, analytical tools, or chatbots.
The Adoption of Social Media Marketing by Home-based Businesses in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Ali Alharthi Amna , Talat Alhothali Ghada
Published: October 2021

Social media applications have revolutionized doing business and attracted the attention of practitioners, scholars, and policymakers. Social media applications offer business owners plenty of benefits as it enables businesses to get exposed, gain competitive advantage, and communicate with customers. However, limited studies have considered measuring the adoption of social media marketing by micro-businesses, such as home-based businesses. This research examines social media adoption by home-based companies in Saudi Arabia using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). A self-administered online questionnaire is utilized to collect data. A total of 188 home-based business owners completed the questionnaires. Structural equation modeling using SPSS, Amos is utilized for data analysis. The findings show that perceived usefulness and social influence positively impact the Intention to use social media marketing. Ease of use positively influences perceived usefulness. Further, the Intention to use has a subsequent impact on user behavior. The study has implications for policy, decision-makers, and the General authority of SMEs (Monsha’at) in Saudi Arabia. The research results show that social influence is a significant positive predictor of social media marketing usage. Besides, the Intention to use social media marketing has a statistically positive impact on user behavior. The study validates the TAM model in a rarely studied context due to its invisible nature. The authors also describe a profile of HBBs owners in Saudi Arabia by explaining their demographic and behavioral characteristics regarding owners’ gender, age and education, and prior experience. This paper contributes original empirical evidence on the adoption of social media marketing by the HBBs in Saudi Arabia. Given the lack of previous studies on this micro-business sector in general and Saudi Arabia, these findings are essential. The present study demonstrates several managerial implications. First of all, policymakers should consider this micro-business sector when developing policies and strategies to provide support and support. The government should establish an electronic platform that connects all business owners.
Features of the Bacillus thuringiensis 888 strain’s influence on the content of essential oil, antioxidants and flavonoids in Origanum vulgare L.
Authors: Kryzhko A. V. , Budzhurova U. M. , Ametova E. D. , Novikov I. A. , Soboleva E. E. , Smagliy N. N. , Reshetnik G. V.
Published: October 2021

Abstract: This article aims to study the influence of the culture of the Bacillus thuringiensis var. thuringiensis 888 on the quality of the vegetative mass of Origanum vulgare in terms of the number of antioxidants and flavonoids, yield and composition of the essential oil. The research material included a liquid spore culture of the B. thuringiensis 888 strain, samples of oregano: sample no. g-4, containing 52.0% carvacrol in essential oil; No. 2 containing 59.85% α-terpineol; No. 1 with a predominant content of germacrene D (21.5%) and β- caryophyllene (19.4%). Soluble carbohydrates in the plants were determined using M.S. Dubois’s method, flavonoids – spectrophotometrically at 420 nm following R.A. Bubenchikov’s method. The total content of antioxidants was determined using the reduction of iron(III) chloride to iron(II) chloride. The essential oil content of Origanum vulgare was determined by using hydrodistillation following A.S. Ginsberg. Gas chromatography was used to determine component composition of the essential oil. The results show that treating the O. vulgare samples with the spore culture of B. thuringiensis 888 strain culture does not significantly affect the accumulation of terpenoid quinones, tochromanols and water-soluble antioxidants in leaves. It has been shown that treating oregano with an ordinary liquid spore culture of the B. thuringiensis 888 strain promotes the formation of a persistent tendency towards the accumulation of reducing sugars in the vegetative mass of plants — up to 30.8% compared to the control. Treating plants with a culture of B. Thuringiensis 888 strain promoted an increase in the essential oil content in O. vulgare plants of the sample no. 1 by 2.4 times, as compared to the control and did not significantly affect the essential oil content of the samples no. 2 and no. g-4. The sample no. g-4 was the most resistant to treatment with entomopathogenic bacteria, and the content of linalool and caryophyllene oxide in essential oils decreased by 44.6 and 37.1%, respectively, and linalyl acetate by 4.3 times compared with the control, as well as the accumulation of α-terpineol by 86.1%.
Potential use of basidiomycota Trametes hirsuta MT-17.24 in biodegradation of polyanionic cellulose
Authors: Zubchenko A. V. , Kozhevnikova E. Yu. , Barkov A. V. , Topolyuk Yu. A. , Shnyreva A. V. , Vinokurov V. A. , Magadova L. A.
Published: October 2021

Abstract: Despite their efficiency, existing methods to dispose of drilling fluids used in the construction of oil and gas wells (chemical treatment of spent solutions, thermal method, thickening) are often expensive and unsustainable. Basidiomycota are natural xylotroph destructors that process lignocellulosic substrate – one of the most stable biopolymers in nature. Prospects for using enzyme preparations based on Basidiomycota as biodestructors of organic substances are evident due to the high efficiency and zero-waste production. The aim was to obtain an enzyme preparation based on the Trametes hirsute MT-17.24 Basidiomycota strain and evaluate its ability to biodegrade polyanionic cellulose, used as a viscosifier for drilling fluids in the construction and repair of oil and gas wells. Screening of cellulase activity of the following strains was carried out: Fomitopsis pinicola MT-5.21, Fomes fomentarius MT-4.05, Lactarius necator, Schizophyllum commune MT-33.01, Trametes versicolor It-1, Trametes hirsute MT-17.24, Trametes hirsuta MT-24.24. To obtain the enzyme preparation, the T. hirsuta MT-17.24 strain was selected, which demonstrated the highest coefficient of cellulase activity (10.9). A medium for solid-phase cultivation of this strain was selected. Enzymatic activity of the enzyme preparation was studied on a model drilling fluid. A 10-hour experiment showed that the use of a 1% enzyme preparation leads to a decrease in the plastic viscosity of the drilling fluid from 16 to 8 mPa·s. The research results demonstrate the efficiency of enzyme preparations based on Basidiomycota in the biodestruction of polyanionic cellulose.
Fire safety of sports facilities and methods to improve it on the example of the Baikal ice palace
Authors: Morin V. G. , Kuznetsov K. L.
Published: October 2021

The purpose of the work is to audit the fire safety of the Baikal ice rink in Irkutsk. Ensuring fire safety is the main aspect of the operation of a sports facility and is regulated by the Federal Law "Technical regulations on fire safety requirements", the state standard "Sports facilities. Safety requirements for sports and physical culture events. Test methods ”, sets of rules, etc. Design and construction of modern sports facilities is impossible without innovative technologies and materials. When carrying out various events in a sports facility, comprehensive security is required, including protection from all kinds of threats for spectators, participants and personnel, as well as the sports facility itself. Evaluation of anti -fire agents has been carried out. It is proposed to assess individual fire risks and additional preventive measures to reduce them.
Probabilistic methods for calculating seismic resistance of buildings
Authors: Ordobaev B. S. , Matozimov B. S. , Abdikeeva S. S.
Published: October 2021

The article aims to assess possibilities of using probabilistic methods for calculating seismic resistan of buildings based on the laws of structural mechanics. The design schemes and models of buildings rigidly embedded in the base and with a seismic isolation device are described. Formulas developed on the basis of the law of energy conservation, namely the seismodynamic law, which allow to estimate the coefficient of dynamism, are presented. It is proposed to abandon the main modes of vibration in the calculations, i.e. the coefficient ηir of the waveform and the vibration frequency of the residential building and the foundation during earthquakes. Shear and bending calculations of a residential building are based on the design model developed. The values of seismic force are determined by the first and last modes of vibration. Based on these values, it is proposed to calculate internal forces and deformations in the bearing structures of buildings using the methods of structural mechanics.
Modern fire safety systems in shopping and entertainment centers
Authors: Reva Yu. V. , Gerasimova T. N.
Published: October 2021

Currently, the number of shopping centers in Russia is increasing. For their construction, new combustible materials and design solutions are used. This creates a high fire load and requires fire safety measures. To ensure the fire safety of visitors, structural features of buildings are essential; it is also crucial to take into account the psychophysiological characteristics of people in these buildings and their level of familiarity with the main structural elements of the building, willingness to find the fire sign and do their best to leave the building. The article describes promising fire safety systems for shopping centers, their advantages and disadvantages. A specialized system of fire extinguishing means consisting of interconnected software controls and structures and a gas fire extinguishing system and smoke curtains are described.