bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Generational Competition and Substitution on Late Labour Participation and Labour Market Exit from a Multilevel Perspective
Authors: Engelhardt Henriette , Schmidt Christopher
Published: November 2020

In this paper, we investigate the effects of demographic, economic and labour market structures on labour market participation and on the transition to inactivity (exit) for older males in eleven European countries. Theoretically, our analysis is guided by considerations of intragenerational competition and intergenerational substitution. Following Easterlin’s hypothesis that intragenerational competition rises with cohort size, we assume a negative effect of cohort size on labour market participation and a positive effect on early exit from the labour market. Taking into account that different cohorts are substitutes at least to a certain extent, we assume that the probability of an early exit will be reduced by a high intergenerational exchange ratio in favour of older workers. Thus, labour market participation is influenced by the populations’ age structure both when entering the labour force and during the career. Moreover, low shares of graduates in older cohorts are expected to reduce older workers’ chances of labour market participation. In addition to demographic structures, general economic conditions, such as per capita GDP and its development over time, act both to further and to hamper the employment of older workers. Additionally, labour market structures, such as unemployment rates, the extent of part-time work or the amount of service jobs influence individual participation and the transition to inactivity. To test these hypotheses, we use merged data from the first two waves of SHARE and macro-level indicators from Eurostat. We estimate a two-level random-intercept logit model which allows us to determine the share of variance in international late careers that can be attributed to country-specific factors and can quantify the relative impact of specific socio-demographic and socio-economic backgrounds. Our results imply that cross-national variance in labour market participation is mainly driven by the instance of long-term unemployment and the share of highly-educated older men. While our analyses reveal some evidence of intragenerational competition, we do not find evidence of intergenerational competition forcing early exit or decreasing participation.
Reversing Early Retirement in Germany
A Longitudinal Analysis of the Effects of Recent Pension Reforms on the Timing of the Transition to Retirement and on Pension Incomes

Authors: Buchholz Sandra , Rinklake Annika , Blossfeld Hans-Peter
Published: November 2020

This article investigates the effects and risks of recent pension reforms in Germany. While German pension policy systematically supported early retirement for many years in order to relieve the regulated labour market in times of economic stagnation, there has been a substantial change of the pension policy paradigm in the more recent past. Latest reforms expect older people to prolong working life. Using data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP) and applying micro-level longitudinal research methods, this contribution shows that the recent reversal of early retirement in Germany has been at the price of growing social inequalities in old age.
The Association between Norms and Actions
The Case of Men’s Participation in Housework

Authors: Grunow Daniela , Baur Nina
Published: November 2020

Gender and family researchers are often puzzled by the differences between gender norms and actual behaviour. For example, many previous studies have shown that since the 1970s, attitudes have changed toward more modern gender role beliefs. However, this is generally not reflected in behaviour, this being especially true for men’s involvement in housework and care work. In this paper, we analyse to what extent gender norms correspond with men’s participation in housework. We examine in particular cooking, vacuum-cleaning and doing the laundry, because these activities reflect pronounced variation in norms and actions with regard to modern and traditional gender role attitudes. Going beyond previous research, which assesses the general influence of norms on practices, we investigate the relative impact of different types of gender ideologies, namely the strength with which respondents endorse (1) the male provider and female homemaker model, (2) women’s employment, (3) employment as men’s primary role, and (4) men’s participation in unpaid work. Our empirical findings indicate that positive attitudes towards male contributions to housework are a key predictor of men’s housework.
Soziale Unterschiede in der Säuglingssterblichkeit in Rostock im 19. Jahrhundert

Authors: Mühlichen Michael , Scholz Rembrandt D. , Doblhammer Gabriele
Published: November 2020

The English translation of this article is available in Vol 40, No 2 (2015).Der Beitrag untersucht die historische Entwicklung der Säuglingssterblichkeit in der Hansestadt Rostock und widmet sich im Speziellen der Frage, inwieweit sozioökonomische Faktoren die Höhe der Säuglingssterblichkeit im frühen 19. Jahrhundert beeinflussten. Es lässt sich für die Stadt ein im deutschlandweiten Vergleich äußerst niedriges Säuglingssterblichkeitsniveau feststellen, besonders für das erste Drittel des Jahrhunderts. Dabei kann ein signifikanter Einfluss der beruflichen Schicht des Vaters auf die Überlebenschancen des Kindes im ersten Lebensjahr für das frühe 19. Jahrhundert nachgewiesen werden: Neugeborene von beruflich schlechter gestellten Vätern weisen ein größeres Sterberisiko im ersten Lebensjahr auf als die Nachkommen beruflich besser gestellter Väter. Als Datengrundlage dienen die Beerdigungs- und Taufregister der Rostocker Jakobikirche, welche weitgehend erhalten und zu einem großen Teil digitalisiert sind. Auf der Basis dieser Individualdaten wird erstmals ein Ereignisdatenanalysemodell im Zusammenhang mit der Säuglingssterblichkeit in einer deutschen Stadt im 19. Jahrhundert untersucht. Des Weiteren zeigt dieser Beitrag erstmals die Säuglingssterbewahrscheinlichkeit der Stadt Rostock für das gesamte 19. Jahrhundert nach Geschlecht und schließt damit in zweifacher Hinsicht eine Forschungslücke.
Father-Child Relations after Divorce in Four European Countries: Patterns and Determinants
Authors: Kalmijn Matthijs
Published: November 2020

Using nationally representative data on secondary school children in England, Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden, this study describes the relationships that children have with their fathers after divorce. Differences in the post-divorce relationship are explained in terms of demographic factors, socioeconomic factors, and contextual differences (between countries and between immigrants and natives). The focus is on living arrangements after divorce, the amount of contact with the father, and the perceived quality of the relationship. Many children have at least weekly contact with their father but one in six children never see their father at all. Fathers in high-status families are more highly involved in the child’s life after divorce than fathers in low-status families. A mother’s employment also has a positive effect on the post-divorce relationship with the father. Co-parenting is most common in Sweden. Post-divorce relationships are also strongest in Sweden and relatively weak in Germany. Immigrant children see their fathers less often after divorce than native children. In the second generation, children of mixed marriages in particular tend to have little contact with the father.
Differences in Attitudes towards Immigration between Australia and Germany: The Role of Immigration Policy
Authors: Ueffing Philipp , Rowe Francisco , Mulder Clara H.
Published: November 2020

This paper investigates the connection between national immigration policy and a society’s attitudes towards immigration. It argues that a country’s immigration policy framework plays an important role in the formation of attitudes towards immigration by shaping the local national context of the receiving country. It examines the influence of a country’s immigration policy framework by contrasting two countries – Australia and Germany – that developed remarkably different immigration policies in response to large immigration movements during the post-war period. We explore attitudes towards immigration on four dimensions: (1) the national economy, (2) the labour market, (3) the national culture, and (4) the level of immigrant influx. The analyses reveal three main findings. First, people in Australia tend to display more positive attitudes towards immigration than in Germany. Second, in both countries, attitudes towards immigration tend to be influenced in a similar way by an individual’s socio-economic background and feelings of national identity (in the form of nationalism and patriotism). Third, immigration policy represents a strong indicator of attitudes towards immigration. We found that the planned integrative immigration policy in Australia supports the formation of more positive attitudes towards immigration by influencing people’s perception on the economic and socio-cultural impacts of immigration.
Is the Family System in Romania Similar to those of Southern European Countries?
Authors: Castiglioni Maria , Hărăguş Mihaela , Faludi Cristina , Hărăguş Paul Teodor
Published: November 2020

In his influential 1998 study, David S. Reher discusses historical differences between countries with strong and weak family ties. He focuses on the “Western World”, comparing Italy and the Iberian Peninsula with Scandinavia, the British Isles, the Low Countries, Germany and Austria, together with North America. In this paper, we explore whether Romania, in Eastern Europe, can be characterised as having a strong family system, given the increasingly important role family has played for individual well-being following the end of the socialist regime. We observe a number of similarities between Romania and Southern European countries in terms of behaviours associated with “strong family ties”, opinions on family care and mutual intergenerational support. Differences can be explained in light of Romania’s economic and housing crisis. Overall, it is likely that the importance of family ties in Romania increased after the end of the socialist regime.
Lebenserwartung in Deutschland auf Basis des Zensus 2011: War der Healthy-Migrant-Effekt nur ein Artefakt?
Authors: Zur Nieden Felix , Sommer Bettina
Published: November 2020

Die allgemeine Sterbetafel für 2010/12 des Statistischen Bundesamtes liefert für das vereinte Deutschland erstmals Ergebnisse zur Lebenserwartung auf Basis von Zensusdaten. Der vorliegende Artikel widmet sich deshalb der Frage, wie sich die Korrekturen der Bevölkerungsbestände im Rahmen des Zensus 2011 auf die Messung der Lebenserwartung ausgewirkt haben. Hierfür werden sowohl die amtlichen Sterbetafeln auf Basis der alten Bevölkerungsfortschreibung vor dem Zensus als auch auf Basis der Bevölkerungsdaten des Zensus 2011 analysiert. Die Vorgehensweise zur Berechnung der zensusbereinigten allgemeinen Sterbetafel 2010/12 wird zudem auf eine separate Erstellung von Sterbetafeln für die deutsche und die ausländische Bevölkerung übertragen. Befunde zum sogenannten Healthy-Migrant-Effekt können somit unter Ausschluss möglicher Fehler in der Bevölkerungsfortschreibung diskutiert werden. Diese waren zuvor als Hauptursache für eine deutlich höhere Lebenserwartung der ausländischen Bevölkerung im Vergleich zur deutschen Bevölkerung angeführt worden. Für die Bevölkerung insgesamt und für die deutsche Bevölkerung zeigen sich erwartungsgemäß nur sehr geringfügige Korrekturen der Werte für die Lebenserwartung durch eine Berechnung auf Basis des Zensus. Die Lebenserwartung von ausländischen Frauen und Männern wird durch die Nutzung von Zensusergebnissen jedoch deutlich korrigiert. Ein auf Basis der alten Bevölkerungsdaten gemessener Vorteil in der Lebenserwartung bei Geburt von über 5 Jahren, muss zensusbasiert auf etwa 2,9 Jahre bei den Männern und 2,1 Jahre bei den Frauen korrigiert werden. Der Healthy-Migrant-Effekt kann somit nicht ausschließlich auf Datenartefakte der alten Bevölkerungsfortschreibung zurückgeführt werden, da sich auch zensusbereinigt deutliche Überlebensvorteile der ausländischen Bevölkerung zeigen.
The End of Reurbanisation? Phases of Concentration and Deconcentration in Migratory Movements in North Rhine-Westphalia
Authors: Osterhage Frank
Published: November 2020

For some time now, there has been a lively debate about reurbanisation in Germany with regard to trends in spatial development. At the same time, the consequences of spatially imbalanced development can be observed in many regions. In large metropolitan areas in particular, the renewed appeal of cities has made living space scarce and expensive. There is extensive investment in residential construction and infrastructure, yet the first signs of a further shift in the trend are starting to emerge. It is against this background that this paper investigates migratory movements in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, covering a period of more than four decades. The resulting change in the distance between place of residence and the nearest major centre is calculated for each case of migration in the time period under investigation. By aggregating the individual values, an indicator is generated that can be used to identify different phases of spatial concentration and deconcentration. The results remind us that for a long time the predominant forces in migratory movements were centrifugal. This makes the transition to the spatial concentration phase that took place in the past decade, and that can be precisely traced from the values obtained, all the more striking. In the final years of the period under investigation, the results are significantly influenced by the handling of the publicly-directed migration of refugees and asylum-seekers within the state. If municipalities with admission facilities for these groups that exhibit anomalous migration data are excluded from the analysis, deconcentration processes appear in fact to be gaining the upper hand again in North Rhine-Westphalia. Renewed momentum in residential suburbanisation in the areas surrounding the major centres is behind this current development. Deceleration of the migratory losses from more peripheral municipalities can also be observed, however.
Updating Ravenstein: Internal Migration as a Driver of Regional Population Change in the Wider South East of England
Authors: Champion Tony
Published: November 2020

Key among Ravenstein’s “laws”, derived from extensive analysis of mid-19th century migration patterns in the British Isles, are that the majority of migrants go only a short distance and that migration proceeds stepwise as a sequence of localised population shifts towards the principal centres of commerce and industry. This paper tests these two laws in the 21st century context of counterurbanisation by reference to migration taking place within the Wider South East (WSE) of England, being the region dominated by deconcentration pressures emanating from London. It comprises two sets of empirical analyses using migration data for the period 2001-2016. Firstly, these data are aggregated to a set of broadly concentric rings around this core and analysed to reveal how much of the net outward shifts of population produced by this migration arises from net movement taking place between adjacent rings as a type of cascade as opposed to leapfrogging directly from the core into a non-adjacent ring. Cascading is found to predominate at this scale, confirming the continued importance of shorter-distance moving. Secondly, the migration data are rendered into a Travel to Work Area (TTWA) framework to examine the extent to which these subdivisions of the WSE perform a type of entrepôt role in helping to shift population outwards from London. Drawing on Ravenstein’s concepts of counties of “transfer” and “absorption”, two measures are developed for revealing how the net inflow to a particular TTWA from rings closer to the core compares numerically with the net outflow from that TTWA to the rings further away from it. The derived transfer and absorption rates are then used to classify the TTWAs into four groups according to whether their scores on each are above or below average. It is found that a TTWA’s role varies according to two main dimensions: the concentric zone to which it belongs and the radial sector out of London in which it is located, notably whether the sector has a coastal or landward border.

* This article belongs to a special issue on “Internal Migration as a Driver of Regional Population Change in Europe: Updating Ravenstein”.
Survey Responses on Desired Fertility in Patriarchal Societies: Community Norms vs. Individual Views
Authors: Kazenin Konstantin , Kozlov Vladimir
Published: November 2020

The paper deals with a problem regularly faced by survey studies of patriarchal communities, i.e. communities with a high authority of senior generations and a low level of women’s autonomy. In such communities, female respondents might give untruthful answers to survey questions in order to fit norms which are treated as obligatory or highly desirable in the community. The situation causes a "community bias" in survey results. The task of the paper is to show using the example of a survey concerning reproductive behaviour that the expected "community bias" can indeed occur in patriarchal communities. For this purpose, we suggest a relatively simple method of discovering "community bias" and apply this method to the results of a qualitative survey which we conducted in the rural part of the North Caucasus, a region of Russia where patriarchal social norms are quite strong. A characteristic of the North Caucasus which is important for our study is that its village communities, inhabited mainly by Muslims, differ considerably in the degree to which patriarchal norms are preserved there. The central idea of our method is to study the significance of community parameters of patriarchy for individual answers to survey questions. Community parameters are calculated as averages of the individual parameters of women interviewed in the same village community. Multi-level regression models are run for both the actual and the desired number of children, which allow us to distinguish between individual and community effects. In agreement with the "community bias" hypothesis, community characteristics are found to be significant for answers on desired, but not on actual, fertility. Based on this result, some tasks for future research of the "community bias" effect on answers to survey questions concerning reproductive behaviour are suggested.
Are we measuring nursing workflow correctly? A literature review
Authors: Congdon Jane , Craft Judy , Christensen Martin
Published: November 2020

When it comes to determining what constitutes nursing workload, there are a number of approaches that represent and characterise the work of nursing across the three traditional shift patterns (morning/day, afternoon/evening and night). These are observational, self-reporting and work-sampling techniques. A review of the quantitative and qualitative literature to examine workload distributions between the three nursing shifts was undertaken. Using data sourced from the CINAHL, Scopus and Medline databases, the findings suggest that there is an inadequacy in establishing nursing productivity that is perhaps representative of the methods used to decipher nursing workload. This may contribute to poor quality care, and the high cost of excess nursing time contributes to the increasingly high costs of care. Linked to this is the nurse's job satisfaction. Quality of care and job satisfaction are important factors for the sustainability of the nursing workforce. There are few high-quality nursing articles that detail the workload distributions across the three nursing shifts and this is a potential area for further research.
Secondary metabolites produced by endophytic bacteria against the Root-Knot Nematode (Meloidogyne sp.)
Authors: Maulidia Vina , Soesanto Loekas , Syamsuddin Syamsuddin , Khairan Khairan , Hamaguchi Takahiro , Hasegawa Koichi , Sriwati Rina
Published: November 2020

Abstract. Maulidia V, Soesanto L, Syamsuddin, Khairan K, Hamaguchi T, Hasegawa K, Sriwati R. 2020. Secondary metabolites produced by endophytic bacteria against the Root-Knot Nematode (Meloidogyne sp.). Biodiversitas 21: 5270-5275. Endophytic bacteria live and colonize in plant tissues without causing disease to their plant host. Among several processes, these bacteria can produce secondary metabolites that can help in the defense of plant host against pathogens. This study aimed to identify endophytic bacteria as biocontrol agents against Meloidogyne sp. in tomato plants. Six endophytic bacteria candidates from the genus Pseudomonas, Arthrobacter, Bacillus, and Serratia were isolated from Solanum Lycopersicum, Psidium guajava, Pinus merkusii, Dendrocalamus asper, Albizia chinensis, and Theobroma cacao L, respectively. The average mortality of Meloidogyne sp. by endophytic bacteria was 70,27% to 95,46%. From these, B. thuringiensis AK08 produced compounds of the secondary metabolites such as flavonoid, phenol, tannins, terpenoids, steroids, saponins, and alkaloids. The best result of the average incubation period, number of galls in the root, number of nematodes at the root, and the number of nematodes in the soil on tomato plant were shown by B. thuringiensis. The major compounds in GC-MS analysis of B. thuringiensis were cholest-5-en-3-ol (3.beta.)-carbonochloridate (25.35%). Bacillus thuringiensis not only has rules as bio-insecticide but also has nematicidal effect.
Effects of permeable barriers on total ecosystem carbon stocks of mangrove forests and abandoned ponds in Demak District, Central Java, Indonesia
Authors: Ardhani Trialaksita Sari Priska , MURDIYARSO DANIEL , KUSMANA CECEP
Published: November 2020

Abstract. Authors. 2020. Effects of permeable barriers on total ecosystem carbon stocks of mangrove forests and abandoned ponds in Demak District, Central Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 21: 5298-5307.  In this study, we observed the effects of constructing permeable barriers in the low-lying coastal zone and severely eroded coast of Demak District, Central Java, Indonesia in the context of mangrove forest structures and carbon (C) dynamics. Forest structures were characterized by stand density, basal area, and ecological indices. The dynamics of C, expressed as total ecosystem carbon stocks (TECS), were compared in mangrove forests, abandoned ponds, and productive ponds by estimating C pools from above- and belowground biomass, dead organic matter, and soil. We found that permeable barriers, whether or not protect mangroves, results in the similarity of above- and belowground C due to no considerable difference in basal area. By contrast, soil properties in terms of bulk density, N concentration, and C:N ratio statistically varied among sites. We discovered that changes in soil properties were associated with duration of permeable barriers, resulting in an increase of soil C in mangrove sites, i.e., 618.84±30.39 Mg C ha−1; 704.13±17.73 Mg C ha−1; and 759.88±15.26 Mg C ha−1 in 0-, 1-, and 4-year-old permeable barriers, respectively. Moreover, these barriers were proved not only could enrich soil C in mangroves but also provide a habitat for Avicennia sp. seedlings in the newly reclaimed coastline.
The distribution and density of Tapanuli orangutans (Pongo tapanuliensis) at potential corridor locations between forest fragments in Batang Toru, North Sumatra, Indonesia
Authors: ARFAH NASUTION  , DYAH PERWITASARI-FARAJALLAH  , UTAMI-ATMOKO S. SUCI
Published: November 2020

Abstract. Nasution A, Perwitasari-Farajallah D, Utami-Atmoko SS. 2020. The distribution and density of Tapanuli orangutans (Pongo tapanuliensis) at potential corridor locations between forest fragments in Batang Toru, North Sumatra, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 21: 5382-5388. The newly discovered Tapanuli orangutan (Pongo tapanuliensis) is in danger of being lost in a few decades due to their small population number in fragmented forest of Batang Toru. The major threats faced by this critically endangered ape, including: hunting, habitat loss, and fragmentation due to large infrastructure development and other developments in the key corridor area. The establishment of corridor and buffer zone is one such effort to maintain their population and bring them from the brink of extinction. Data on the population and distribution are needed to assess and provide baseline information for investigating the habitat condition of potential corridors and buffer zones. This study aimed to analyze population and distribution of Tapanui orangutan (Pongo tapanuliensis) in buffer zone and potential corridor of Batang Toru. Our study provides an initial dataset prior to the development of the hydrodam, which is important to understand the future post-development impact. The study was carried out in disturbed (Hutaimbaru and Bulu Mario) and undisturbed forest (Sitandiang and Hopong) of Batang Toru from June 2015 until February 2016. Orangutan nest, fig (Ficus spp.), and trees bearing fruit were recorded using a line transect method. This research showed that population and distribution of orangutan were influenced by forest conditions, threat level, and fruit availability. There were fewer nests per km2 in disturbed forest than in undisturbed forest, resulting in an orangutan density estimation to be 0.24 ind/km2, 0.14 ind/ km2 (Hutaimbaru and Bulu Mario) and 0.74 ind/km2, 0.36 ind/km2 (Sitandiang and Hopong). Number of nest in transects was influenced by the availability of fig class I and class II, but not fruit tree. The APL forest of Sitandiang is key area to connect the three populations of Tapanuli orangutan: east Batang Toru, west Batang Toru, and Sibualbuali. Furthermore, orangutan’s nests were encountered both in protected and non-protected forest, thus protection of such areas, especially areas including primary forest that harbor orangutan is essential for their long term survival. The conservation measures and action Tapanuli orangutan is alarming, thus we recommend all remaining habitat should be officially and strictly protected and collaboration work with multi-stakeholder is essential to establish the corridor as well as the strategic management plan of Tapanuli orangutan.
Assessment of Air Bengkulu (Indonesia) watershed based on agroecosystem landscape quality and sustainable land use plan
Authors: Barchia Muhammad Faiz , SULISTYO BAMBANG , HINDARTO KANANG S. , SUHARTOYO HERY
Published: November 2020

Abstract. Barchia MF, Sulistyo B, Hindarto KS, Suhartoyo H. 2020. Assessment of Air Bengkulu (Indonesia) watershed based on agroecosystem landscape quality and sustainable land use plan. Biodiversitas 21: 5422-5430. This study purposes to assess agro-ecosystem landscape based on land quality values and current land use and assess agro-ecosystem matrices with agricultural conservation practices in Air Bengkulu Watershed conducted from August to December 2019. Spatial analysis used some map and Landsat 8 OLI satellite imagery and ArcGIS version 10.1. The analysis depicted spatial distribution of soil and land quality, land uses, agricultural landscape matrices, and sustainable agro-ecosystems. The assessments revealed soil quality covered Air Bengkulu Watershed categorized moderate 33.1% to good 14.4% suitable for sustainable agroecosystems while in marginal quality 38.9% mostly lying on the upstream. This unique landscape formed a land quality prone to degradation because of intensive agriculture for oil palm covering 60% and coffee plantation about 17%. Actually, only about 61.1% of the Air Bengkulu Watershed is categorized as moderate to good quality matrix of sustainable agroecosystems. Improper agricultural cultivation with monoculture system without implemented conservation practices drove landscape filled with degradation landscapes. With sustainable agro-ecosystem scenarios implementing physical conservation terraces and restored with multi-purposes tree species such as candlenut, kapok tree, betel nut, durian, good quality of the landscape matrix of 82% Air Bengkulu Watershed.
Ultrashort visible energetic pulses generated by nonlinear propagation of necklace beams in capillaries
Authors: Crego Aurora , Jarque Enrique Conejero , San Roman Julio
Published: November 2020

The generation of ultrashort visible energetic pulses is investigated numerically by the nonlinear propagation of infrared necklace beams in capillaries. We have developed a (3+1)D model that solves the nonlinear propagation equation, including the complete spatio-temporal dynamics and the azimuthal dependence of these structured beams. Due to their singular nonlinear propagation, the spectrum broadening inside the capillary extends to the visible region in a controlled way, despite the high nonlinearity, avoiding self-focusing. The results indicate that the features of these necklace beams enable the formation of visible pulses with pulse duration below 10 fs and energies of 50 μJ by soliton self-compression dynamics for different gas pressures inside the capillary.
Controllable intermodal coupling in waveguide systems based on tunable hyperbolic metamaterials
Authors: Tyszka-Zawadzka Anna , Janaszek Bartosz , Kieliszczyk Marcin , Szczepański Paweł
Published: November 2020

In this work, we study intermodal coupling in a waveguiding system composed of a planar dielectric waveguide and a tunable hyperbolic metamaterial waveguide based on graphene, which has not been yet investigated in this class of waveguide system. For this purpose, using the Lorentz reciprocity theorem, we derive coupled mode equations for the considered waveguiding system. We demonstrate, for the first time, possibility of a fully controlled power exchange between TM modes of the dielectric waveguide and both forward and backward TM modes of the hyperbolic metamaterial waveguide by changing Fermi potential of graphene. In the course of our analysis, we also investigate how the system parameters, such as waveguide width and separation distance, influence the strength of intermodal coupling.
Dynamic Leukocyte Populations Are Associated With Early- and Late-stage Lesions in Hidradenitis Suppurativa
Authors: Altman Savanna R. , Criswell Sheila L.
Published: November 2020

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition typically targeting the axillary and anogenital regions of the body. The massive inflammatory cell infiltrate produced in this cryptogenic condition has led investigators in the attempt to link particular inflammatory cell fractions and cytokines to disease development, and ultimately to disease treatment. This study qualitatively and quantitatively analyzes the white blood cell fractions of macrophages, B-lymphocytes, T-lymphocytes, plasma cells, and granulocytes in 104 HS lesions on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues using immunohistochemistry (IHC). Four dermis-associated epithelial categories were investigated from persons with HS: 15 unaffected HS skin (US), 19 distended but unruptured follicle epithelium (UF), 62 migrating stratified squamous epithelium (MSSE) from ruptured follicles, and 35 degraded migrating epithelial sheets (DMES). In addition, 27 control skin (CS) from persons without HS were evaluated. Analysis of cell counts indicated that non-migratory dermal epithelium (CS, US, and UF) stimulated very little inflammatory response. However, contrary to previous studies which indicated macrophages to be the chief inflammatory cell in HS, this study showed that plasma cells were the primary cell type present in early-stage HS lesions (MSSE), whereas granulocytes were the major cell population seen in late-stage HS lesions (DMES):
Towards a model and strategy for transformational change
Authors: El-Amin Abeni , George Babu
Published: November 2020

Leaders must ask critical questions when deciding to initiate change such as: Where to begin? What and how to organize resources? How to distribute responsibilities within the organization? These questions are especially important when an organization faces the need to change in the instance of a crisis. Leaders must develop objectives, which accomplish strategic goals. Logically, these goals categorize into explicit actions: the organization should clarify how they sequence and correlate a change strategy.  Articulating precisely which capacities, structures, and product offerings influence how stakeholders perceive change within organizations is vital. This article sketches key processes and pathways that make transformational change possible.
Decoupling of economic activity and freight transport volume: An evidence for short sea shipping future in the ECOWAS sub-region
Authors: Elem T. R. , Ogwude I. C. , Ibe C. C. , Nnadi K. U. , Ejem Ejem Agwu
Published: November 2020

This paper explores the decoupling trend between GDP and freight volumes in the ECOWAS states to develop short sea shipping model for the ECOWAS sub-region aimed at reducing the cost per transported unit within the sub-region. The research is based on cross-sectional data from ECOWAS countries spanning from 2000 to 2013 and sourced from the ECOWAS Commission and National Bureaus of Statistics of some member countries. The data were analysed using arc elasticity which is a transport demand modelling tool, to determine the level of variations among trade volumes in the ECOWAS sub-region. It was discovered that total freight volume improved proportionally with growth in GDP for most of the periods in the ECOWAS member countries. This is confirmed by the coefficients of elasticity close 1 or higher than 1. In certain periods, however, the coefficient of elasticity of total freight volumes was found to be approximately zero, thus, indicating that considerable potential freights were lost. More stable values have the coefficients of general elasticity below 1. In most of the ECOWAS countries, the coefficients of general elasticity are unstable, both negative and positive values have a range of values (from -43.709 to 52.364). Hence, freight traffic volume and GDP in the ECOWAS region is highly decoupled.  This has raised a serious question as to the prudence of continued dominance of road transport mode for intra-regional freight movement in the ECOWAS sub-region. The result of the study revealed a strong correlation between GDP, the population of member states and the volume of freight in the ECOWAS member countries. The research also showed that the development of short sea shipping model in the sub-region would depend considerably on growth in GDP, improvement in the productivity of the population and increase in seaport corridors of the ECOWAS sub-region.
THE USE OF MARGIN ANALYSIS IN ENTERPRISES PRODUCING BEER AND SOFT DRINKS
Authors: Vorozhbit E. G. , Bakhireva A. A.
Published: November 2020

Production of beer and soft drinks is a dynamically developing industry in the Altai territory. Broad cooperative ties contribute to the simultaneous development of wholesale and retail trade, agriculture, transport, breeding, packaging and packaging. These enterprises play an important role in the formation of the structure of consumption of alcoholic beverages, which involves replacing the consumption of strong alcohol with less strong drinks. At the same time, the industry is experiencing restrictions due to the implementation of state programs to improve the life expectancy and quality of life. The introduced restrictive measures have significantly narrowed the growth opportunities of companies, increased the importance of such tools for assessing business decisions as margin analysis. It allows us to identify the optimal proportions between variable and fixed costs, price and volume of sales, to minimize the business risk, which increases significantly in terms of reduced sales and underutilization of production capacity. In the article the margin analysis is carried out and the management decisions concerning the product range at incomplete loading of production capacities are proved. Making informed management decisions is an important factor in improving the efficiency of beer and alcohol sector enterprises with diversified production.
A fogyasztói magatartás új tendenciái
Authors: Törőcsik Mária
Published: November 2020

Jelen munka célja az, hogy összefoglalót adjon napjaink fogyasztóinak magatartásmintáiról, kísérletet tegyen magyarázatok megfogalmazására, vállalja a jövőbeni irányok felvázolását úgy, hogy vitát generáljon, szólítsa meg a szakma releváns szakembereit. A célok megfogalmazásából is előre vetül egyrészt a munka szubjektív témaválogatása, másrészt a tévedés, de akár az aránytévesztés lehetősége is. A szerző foglalkozik a mai magyar fogyasztó történetével, mai magatartásának jellemzőivel, a megatrendek hatásaival, illetve kitér két, érdeklődésre számot tartható témakörre, a félelmekre, ellenállásra, valamint az egészségre. Miután ez vitairat, így természetesen nem fejthető ki valamennyi új jelenség a fogyasztói magatartás terén, inkább a közös gondolkodást igénylő jelenségeket emeli ki, ezért a szerző számít a felkért és a megszólítást érző kollégák támogatására a tisztább fogyasztói kép megrajzolásában.
Business marketing - szervezetközi megközelítésben
Authors: Mandják Tibor
Published: November 2020

A cikk a szervezetközi marketing tartalmi elemeivel foglalkozik. Röviden bemutatja az IMP-kutatócsoport több, mint negyven éves empirikus kutatási eredményeit. Az IMP-megközelítés alapvető elméleti fogalmainak (interakciós folyamat, üzleti kapcsolatok és hálózatok, az üzleti hálózatok paradoxonjai) bemutatást követően kitér a témával foglalkozó magyar kutatók eredményeinek ismertetésére.
The safety of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in population-based studies: the benefits of aceclofenac
Authors: Pogozheva E. Yu. , Karateev A. E. , Amirdzhanova V. N.
Published: November 2020

Effective pain relief in rheumatology practice is one of the most important criteria for the quality of medical care. Therefore, drugs with analgesic effects, primarily nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), are among the most commonly used ones in the combination therapy of rheumatic diseases. All NSAIDs are capable of causing to one degree or another extent unwanted reactions that occur in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), cardiovascular system (CVS), liver, kidneys, and allergic reactions. Considering the widespread use of NSAIDs, the problem of preventing these complications becomes not only medical, but also social. In 2008, the European Union launched the international project SOS (Safety Of non-Steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) to study the safety of NSAIDs. The results of this project have shown that aceclofenac is one of the most successful drugs in combining the safety for GIT and CVS. Compared with other NSAIDs, this drug has a minimal risk for GI bleeding (relative risk (RR) 1.43; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.65–3.15); it does not increase the risk of hospitalization for heart failure (RR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.91–1.15) or the risk of developing myocardial infarction (RR 1.04; 95% CI, 0.90–1.19) either. The risk of ischemic stroke during aceclofenac therapy was slightly increased (RR, 1.17); but statistically insignificant (95% CI, 0.98–1.39). A large number of randomized clinical trials, meta-analyses, and observational programs have demonstrated that aceclofenac has pronounced analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects that are comparable to those of other NSAIDs and can be used in diseases accompanied by musculoskeletal pain, including that in older patients.
Invasive aspergillosis in adult patients with rheumatic diseases
Authors: Mazurov V. I. , Lila A. M. , Shadrivova O. V. , Tonkoshkur M. S. , Shostak M. S. , Martynova L. V. , Inamova O. V. , Petrova M. S. , Fonturenko A. Yu. , Desyatik E. A. , Borzova Yu. V. , Melekhina Yu. E. , Bogomolova I. S. , Ignatyeva S. M. , Klimko N. N.
Published: November 2020

Objective: to study risk factors for invasive aspergillosis (IA), its etiology, clinical manifestations, and treatment efficiency in patients with rheumatic diseases (RD).

Patients and methods. The first study of proven and probable IA (EORT/MSGERC, 2019) was conducted in 18 patients with RD, who accounted for 3% of all adult IA patients (n=699) included in the 1998–2020 registry of the Department of Clinical Mycology, Allergology, and Immunology, I.I. Mechnikov North-Western State Medical University (Group 1). This group comprised 56% women; the median age was 59 [21; 75] years. Group 2 (a comparison group) included 610 adult hematology patients with IA (median age, 45 [18; 79] years; 42% women). A prospective case-control study was conducted to identify risk factors for IA in patients with RD: 36 rheumatic patients without IA (median age, 58 (18–79) years; 61% women) (a control group).

Results and discussion. Patients with RD were found to often develop IA in the presence of anti-neutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (granulomatosis with polyangiitis and microscopic polyangiitis) and systemic lupus erythematosus (50 and 16%, respectively). It was shown for the first time that the likelihood of IA in patients with RD increases with prolonged (median 14 days) lymphocytopenia during RD treatment (odds ratio 13.0; 95% confidence interval, 3.3–50.3). The main causative agents of IA were A. fumigatus (50%) and A. niger (29%). IA was more severe in Group 1 than in Group 2: in the resuscitation and intensive care units, there were 44 and 18%, respectively (p=0.01). Group 1 versus Group 2 more frequently had respiratory failure (61 and 37%, respectively; p=0.03), hemoptysis (28 and 7%; p=0.0001), chest pain (17 and 7%; p=0.04), and cardiac involvement (11 and 1%; p=0.0001), and less frequently had fever (67 and 85%; p=0.01). The common site of IA was the lung (83%); the characteristic feature detected by computed tomography (CT) is pulmonary cavitation (44%). Antifungal therapy was used in 89% of Group 1 patients; the overall 12-week survival was 69%.

Conclusion. In patients with RD, it is difficult to differentiate between the progression of the underlying disease, adverse drug reactions, infectious complications, or a combination of these disorders due to the similarity of their clinical manifestations. When RD patients with infectious syndrome and respiratory failure develop prolonged lymphocytopenia during combination therapy, AI should be suspected and lung CT, bronchoscopy, and mycological examination of the material obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage be done.
Articular syndrome in an HIV-infected patient
Authors: Malyshenko O. S. , Raskina T. A. , Averkieva Yu. V. , Protasova T. V. , Dubaeva A. M.
Published: November 2020

Nowadays, HIV infection is one of the leading health problems. Its clinical signs are extremely diverse and are associated with many diseases, including rheumatic diseases. This paper describes the course of articular syndrome in a patient with HIV infection. In the patient given, asymmetric arthritis of the left wrist, first metacarpophalangeal, and knee joints with no damage to the skin and mucous membranes or enthesitis, a negative HLA-B27 test, and the whole clinical picture, as well as no convincing evidence of rheumatic diseases might suggest the presence of arthritis associated with HIV infection. The diagnosis of HIV infection was verified using enzyme immunoassay. Today, knowledge continues to accumulate about the features of the course of joint damages and another rheumatic disease in the presence of HIV infection. The possibility of its existence to mask a rheumatic disease, as well as the mutual aggravation of any of the diseases and AIDS, should be taken into account in the practice of physicians of all specialties, especially in the inpatient setting where difficult and diagnostically difficult cases concentrate.
Our maiden voyage: implementing virtual exchange as a collaborative professional development
Authors: Radford Arrow Mary-Jane
Published: November 2020

Undertaking a Virtual Exchange (VE) project for the first time is supported by introductory online training and mentoring offered through the European Commission’s Erasmus+ programme, and can be a source of teacher Professional Development (PD). This study based on Exploratory Practice (EP) describes aspects of the planning and implementation of an initial VE by partners from technical universities in Łódź, Poland and Berlin, Germany, who completed the online EVOLVE training in October 2018. The current study offers a basic framework of four distinct phases of the VE as a collaborative PD project. This novel framework can support teachers engaging in their first exchange as well as contribute to an understanding of VE adoption and implementation for mentors, trainers, and researchers.
Application of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to Control Crop Insects and Diseases in China
Authors: Yan Xiaojing , Yuan Huizhu
Published: November 2020

The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for crop protection has been developing significantly in recent years in China. There are currently more than 200 companies in China that produce UAVs for plant protection. In 2019, there were 50,970 UAVs in China, and the total treated areas reached 29,402,000 ha. With the characterized of high efficiency and high utilization rates, UAVs are used to apply pesticides to many crops such as rice, wheat, and corn to mitigate diseases and control pests. There are no adequate specific formulations or adjuvants for UAV application. Conventional formulations such as emulsifiable concentrate, water powder, and suspension concentrate have been used for UAVs. Moreover, there is no standard evaluation method of adjuvants for UAVs. We have established an adjuvant screen system for UAV application, including safety on crops, physical and chemical properties of spray solution (surface tension, wettability, contact angle, and droplet size), antievaporation, and antidrift. The popularization and application of UAVs in plant protection is already an inevitable trend in China. In the future, the formulations and adjuvants for UAVs should be antievaporative and antidrift, have good permeation, and be safe and effective.
Improved Rainfastness and UV Resistance of Microbial Pesticides
Authors: Woelfle-Gupta Caroline , Arumugam Selvanathan , Saucy Daniel , Ajayi Bolatito , Tan Yujing , Jordan Susan , Coles Jeff , Izmitli Aslin
Published: November 2020

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is one of the most widely used microbial pesticides and currently represents the largest share of the biopesticide market (~67%). Bt is highly active against insects such as caterpillars, mosquito larvae, and blackflies that transfer river blindness in Africa. During the sporulation of Bt, crystal aggregates of proteins are produced, which along with its spores, are responsible for its high insecticidal activity. However, Bt lacks long-term activity in the field due to the UV sensitivity of the spores and lack of persistence of crystal proteins on plant leaves due to rain. In this study, we present the development of materials providing rainfastness and UV resistance that perform above benchmarks for both the liquid and dry flowable Bt formulations currently available. The high rainfastness observed was maintained after spray drying of liquid Bt formulations containing our rainfastness agents and redispersion in water of the dry products obtained. Finally, we present the performance of different OMRI-certified rainfastness agents.