bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PROPERTY TAX AS AN ADDITIONAL SOURCE OF REVENUE FOR THE BUDGET
Authors:   Kremenchuk Mykhailo Ostrohradskyi National University, Khomenko Liudmyla , Glukhova Valentyna ,   Kremenchuk Mykhailo Ostrohradskyi National University, Marianchenko Sofiia ,   Kremenchuk Mykhailo Ostrohradskyi National University
Published: August 2022

World experience shows that real estate tax can become one of the important items of the revenue side of the budget when using a sound policy. Today, in the context of reforming the budget system in order to increase its efficiency and sustainability, it is necessary to investigate in more detail the ways to increase the efficiency of local budget revenues through property taxation, including real estate tax. A significant part of local budget revenues comes from the real estate tax, which is successfully applied in about 130 countries. It is one of the important factors in the sustainable development of the regions. The article highlights the factors that affect the amount of real estate tax and tax incentives for its payment. Strengthening the role of local budgets in the development of regions and their decentralization require constant monitoring of tax revenues and expenditures, the study of reserves to increase budget revenues. Monitoring the potential revenues of the budget of the country and regions requires an assessment of their tax opportunities, identification of patterns and development of scientifically sound recommendations for use. The article provides a detailed analysis of the monitoring of budget revenues from real estate tax. It was determined that the amount of revenues from this tax to the budget is growing every year, which indicates the feasibility of its use. One of the problems is the transfer of tax at the place of location. Since most companies are located in administrative centres, the taxes go to the budgets of the respective communities. This is the main reason for budget imbalances. The most important objects of real estate taxation are identified, which ensure the filling of the budget, and the main reasons for budget imbalances are given. Statistics on the predominance of investment in non-residential real estate are considered, the most important objects of real estate taxation are identified, which ensure the filling of budgets. Factors influencing the amount of tax revenues to the budget due to real estate tax were identified. Additional sources of increasing the revenue base of local budgets due to real estate tax are outlined and the peculiarities of its use in market conditions are analysed.
SCIENTIFIC AND INNOVATIVE DETERMINANTS OF ECONOMIC REVIVAL OF UKRAINE IN CONDITIONS OF GLOBAL COMPETITION
Authors:   Kyiv National Economic University named after Vadym Getman, Ishchenko Anna
Published: August 2022

Influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic turmoil caused by Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine, key global trends in the world economy, such as intellectualization, digitalization and networking, are being transformed and intensified. In this context, the growth of the country's global competitiveness is also determined by the ability to integrate into global value chains, produce finished products with a high share of added value and export such products as a result of new technologies, organizational, marketing, product innovations with coordinated cooperation between business, government and innovation. The article proves the negative trend of reducing the level of knowledge intensity of domestic GDP, which limits the development of innovation processes in Ukraine and has a negative impact on macroeconomic dynamics in general. Outdated production structure, low level of R&D expenditures in Ukraine and declining innovation activity of domestic enterprises have led to a trend of low presence of Ukraine in the world market of high-tech products. It is substantiated that in order to transform the raw materials character of Ukraine's economy into high-tech and innovative, increase and maintain high innovation activity and ensure high rates of economic growth, the state should increase the share of GDP for research and development and the number of scientists, which will be an important factor of ensuring economic growth in Ukraine. The author confirms the significant statistical dependence of Ukraine's GDP and the dependence of the volume of sold innovative products of industrial enterprises on the cost of research and development. In these conditions, innovation can be a trigger for economic growth, which will be reflected in the intellectualization of the economy, increasing productivity, creating new jobs and opportunities in the corporate sector, and globally ensure the adaptation of the economy to new global trends. Ukraine has significant potential for the creation of an innovative high-tech export-oriented economy with active state support and the development of a progressive national research and innovation system.
FEATURES OF THE PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION “AFFORDABLE LOANS 5-7-9”: REGIONAL ASPECT
Authors:   National University “Lviv Polytechnic”, Chubka Olha , Kurylo Oksana ,   National University “Lviv Polytechnic”
Published: August 2022

The role of state support for lending to small and medium-sized businesses in Ukraine is substantiated. The advantages of the state program “Affordable Loans 5-7-9”; for borrowers and banks are presented. The main requirements that banks impose on borrowers are presented. The main changes in the program caused by the coronavirus pandemic and the full-scale war in Ukraine are described. It is proved that the latest changes in the program are aimed mainly at supporting agricultural producers in order to ensure the sowing campaign, as well as to support and intensify entrepreneurial activity during martial law in Ukraine. The list of regions of Ukraine in which the largest number of registered small and medium enterprises is concentrated is given. A correlation between the number of small and medium-sized enterprises in the regions and the amount of loans received under the program “Affordable Loans 5-7-9” was made. The dynamics of the loan portfolio in Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Odessa, Lviv, Zaporizhia, Vinnytsia regions and Kyiv during June 2021 - May 2022 are presented. The impact of the war in Ukraine on the volume of loans received by region is determined. It is proved that the volume of received loans tends to increase in all analyzed regions, and as a result of hostilities in Kharkiv and Kyiv regions, these regions lowered their rating positions in May 2022 compared to April in terms of loans received among other regions of Ukraine. The analysis of the structure of the loan portfolio by areas of use of funds in the regions of Ukraine was made. The role of local authorities (Lviv region, Kyiv) in stimulating, supporting local businessmen, involvement in the state lending program is proved. The Pilot Project of lending to investment projects at 0% in Lviv region was characterized by combining two programs - the regional program of Competitiveness of Lviv region and the state program “Affordable Loans 5-7-9” for the investment component. The benefits of the Pilot Project for local authorities, participating banks and borrowers are presented. The most active participants of the program in each region were identified, including representatives of agriculture, trade and industry.
THEORETICAL BASIS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES IN UKRAINE IN THE CONTEXT OF GLOBALIZATION CHALLENGES
Authors:   Classic Private University, Trokhymets Olena , Galtsova Olga ,   Classic Private University
Published: August 2022

The influence of globalization challenges on the development of entrepreneurship is revealed: positive and negative consequences, as well as factors of such influence are identified and ways of prevention, elimination or mitigation of negative consequences are proposed. The development of small and medium-sized businesses in the system of global entrepreneurship is studied. It has been established that in conditions of intensive development of scientific and technical progress, industrial relations, differentiation of economic advantages of countries and their integration into the world economic community, the problem of globalization has acquired a global character. It is emphasized that entrepreneurship will increasingly acquire national and multinational status; increasing the impact of new information and communication technology on cost reduction, which leads to new investments, increased labor productivity and increased welfare of countries; foreign trade promotes the specialization of countries in those activities in which they have comparative advantages, and subjects national producers to healthy competition with foreign companies and others. It is emphasized that the most important factor for the active activity of small and medium-sized businesses is the creation of a stable and predictable environment for investment decisions for both national and foreign investors, giving priority to investments in technological and innovative renewal of enterprises.
STORYTELING IN THE COMPANY’S MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS
Authors:   Lviv University of Trade and Economics, Vovchanska Olha , Ivanova Liliya ,   Lviv State University of Physical Culture of Ivana Boberskogo
Published: August 2022

Authors researched the essence of the concept of storytelling in the marketing communications of the company. Storytelling is a progressive marketing tool that raises awareness about the company, which eventually is better converted into long-term customer loyalty. Storytelling allows you to expand the range of forms of displaying the necessary marketing information, more effectively involving employees, partners, new customer segments in the communication. Storytelling in marketing communications is the transmission of the necessary information in the form of a story to capture the attention of the target audience and create the necessary motivation. Storytelling, as a tool of marketing communications, can "humanize" the brand, demonstrate the company’s value system, add shapes to its image, accelerate the process of marketing decisions. It has been proven that storytelling as an art of telling stories is an important mean of marketing communication, because stories attract people’s attention more, are better remembered, and arouse emotions that are almost impossible to evoke with ordinary commercial messages. Authors reveal that this format of marketing communications is more customer-oriented, as it emphasizes the personality of the consumer and his needs and highlight the main types of storytelling and features of different types of stories that should be used to promote goods/services in the market. The stories in the company’s marketing communications can be real and presented in different ways. Storytelling has been found to increase sales, provided that stories reach and attract the target audience, are relevant to their interests, and are "presented" in the right place at the right time. Authors analyse the experience of the world’s leading companies that use storytelling in their marketing communications and outline the main marketing tasks, which professional storytelling allow to resolve. They also provide recommendations for improving storytelling in the company’s marketing communications. The results of analytical research can serve as a basis for decision-making to improve the effectiveness of the company’s marketing communications policy, primarily through storytelling, customer loyalty and brand competitiveness.
Estudio comparativo del proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje práctico de protocolos de servicios de red en pandemia y post-pandemia
Authors: Moreno Vallejo Patricio Xavier , Bastidas Guacho Gisel Katerine , Moreno Costales Patricio René , Caiza Balseca Jorge Alfredo
Published: August 2022

Introducción: En este artículo se presenta el proceso de enseñanza mediante máquinas virtuales de los protocolos de servicio de red ubicados en la capa de aplicación del modelo TCP/IP, mediante el uso del modelo cliente servidor, para que los estudiantes puedan realizar sus prácticas sin la necesidad de máquinas físicas y lo puedan desarrollar desde sus casas o de forma presencial en los laboratorios de cómputo de la Carrera de Software de la Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo. Objetivos: Por lo tanto, se busca comparar el desempeño de los estudiantes en el proceso de enseñanza aprendizaje cuando se lo realiza de forma virtual y de forma presencial. Metodología: Para el estudio se utilizó una metodología mixta debido a que se recopilaron y analizaron datos obtenidos de dos muestras de estudiantes de la carrera de software en los periodos académicos octubre 2021 – marzo 2022 que se realizó de forma virtual por la pandemia del COVID-19 y el periodo abril – agosto 2022 que se realizó de forma presencial, para de esta forma determinar el impacto, ventajas y desventajas de las diferentes modalidades de estudio en el desarrollo de prácticas de laboratorio de asignaturas relacionadas con la informática como es la de redes. Resultados: Después de analizar los datos cualitativos y cuantitativos, se determinó que la modalidad presencial en el desarrollo de las prácticas de laboratorio permite a los estudiantes alcanzar un mejor rendimiento, y en lo que corresponde al tiempo de desarrollo de las prácticas es similar tanto en la modalidad virtual como presencial. Conclusiones: Por lo tanto, con el presente estudio se compara las dos modalidades de estudio y se presentan las ventajas de cada una de las modalidades para que puedan ser consideradas como buenas prácticas.
Modelo matemático para el análisis del comportamiento térmico en el proceso de soldadura de un acero estructural mediante un software con base en el método de elementos finitos
Authors: Villacís Ramón Mayra Elizabeth , Yaulema Castaneda Jorge Luis
Published: August 2022

Introducción: Un proceso de soldadura para unir dos piezas de trabajo con la presencia de un arco eléctrico está ligado a un sistema dinámico representado por la interacción de dos ecuaciones de gobierno. Objetivos: el objetivo general de esta investigación fue desarrollar un modelo matemático para el análisis del comportamiento térmico en el proceso de soldadura por arco eléctrico GMAW de un acero estructural. Metodología: haciéndose una investigación del tipo propositiva descriptiva, con un alcance descriptivo, un enfoque cuantitativo, Por otro lado, se utilizó la metodología de la simulación numérica con la técnica del Método de los Elementos Finitos (MEF) y el instrumento principal que se manejó para procesar toda la información recopilada fue un software CAE (Computer Aided Engineering). Resultados: se encontró las soluciones aproximadas de la interacción de la ecuación diferencial parcial (EDP) de conducción de calor y la ecuación de la fuente móvil de Goldak, con el fin que se dio a conocer una propuesta que terminó con la parte analítica, descriptiva de la temperatura máxima del arco eléctrico, las curvas isotérmicas y la Zona Afectada Térmicamente (ZAT) de una probeta virtual para un tiempo determinado. Para la validación teórica del modelo propuesto se utilizó otro software CAE. Conclusiones: se concluye que el modelo matemático desarrollado es eficiente y válido ya que para un tiempo específico se obtuvieron los errores relativos de 2,43 % y   1,01 %   al comparar las temperaturas máximas del cordón y la longitud útil de la ZAT respectivamente.
PENGARUH TAYANGAN PROGRAM ILOOK NET TV TERHADAP MINAT MENONTON SISWISMK SAHID JAKARTA
Authors: Oktavia Dwi Lestari , Widiasanty Gita
Published: August 2022

ABSTRAKPenelitian yang dilaksanakan bertujuan untuk menemukan seberapa besar pengaruh yang didapatkan dari program televisi ilook Net TV terhadap minat menonton siswa/I SMK Sahid Jakarta. Peranan media massa saat ini dapat dikatakan cukup besar pada kehidupan manusia, media televisi termasuk dalam salah satunya. Televisi ialah media massa yang dapat memberikan informasi satu arah terhadap khalayak karena menampilkan banyak program, salah satunya program “ilook Net TV”. Penelitian yang dilaksanakan mempunyai tujuan guna menemukan ada maupun tidak adanya pengaruh yang diberikan program ilook Net TV terhadap minat menonton siswa/I SMK Sahid Jakarta. Penelitian yang dilaksanakan memanfaatkan pendekatan kuantitatif dan metode survey dan menggunakan kuesioner dalam memperoleh data sampel yang diperlukan dalam penelitian, teori yang digunakan Hypodermic Needle Theory, paradigma yang digunakan yaitu positivistik. Populasi dalam penelitian ini berjumlah 150 siswa/i SMK Sahid Jakarta dengan jumlah sampel 109 siswa/i SMK Sahid Jakarta dengan memanfaatkan teknik systematic random sampling, dengan teknik pengolahan data yaitu SPSS, teknik analisis data yang dimanfaatkan yakni regresi linier sederhana, teknik konfirmasi data untuk menguji valid atau tidaknya penelitian yaitu menggunkan produk moment dan untuk uji reliailitasnya menggunakan alfa cronbach. Hasil dari penelitian ini yaitu bahwa tayangan program televisi ilook Net TV berpengaruh terhadap minat menonton siswa/i SMK Sahid Jakarta. Hasil peelitian yang dilaksanakan ialah terdapat pengaruh yang positif dan signifikan program ilook Net TV terhadap minat menonton siswa/i SMK Sahid Jakarta yaitu dengan persentase pengaruh sebesar 53,9%.
PERAN KOMUNIKASI PRODUK DALAM MEMPERTAHANKAN KEPERCAYAAN KONSUMEN JANJI JIWA
Authors: Utami Tiika Dewi , Kurnia Kurnia
Published: August 2022

Komunikasi bisnis membentuk strategi relasional untuk membangun kepercayaan konsumen. Kepercayaan menjadi bentuk komitmen komunikasi dan menjadi komponen utama dari keberhasilan komunikasi. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk memahami peran komuniksi produk dalam membangun kepercayaan konsumen melalui studi kasus pada Janji Jiwa. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kuantitatif dan teknik purposive sampling. Populasi penelitian ini adalah konsumen Janji Jiwa. Pengumpulan data dilakukan dengan pendistribusian kuesioner secara online dengan google form dan analisis data dilakukan dengan menggunakan SPSS melalui tahapan pengujian validitas, reliabilitas serta pengujian model regresi untuk menilai signifikansi statistik melalui hubungan yang dihipotesiskan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa komunikasi bisnis melalui Product Communications terbukti secara positif dapat berimplikasi membangun Customer Trust kopi janji jiwa. Menjaga Product Communications merupakan hal yang penting bagi komunikasi bisnis kopi janji jiwa.
Myxobolus makombensis n. sp. infection in African carp Labeobarbus batesii from the Makombè River, Cameroon: morphological and molecular characterization
Authors: Feudjio-Dongmo B , Lekeufack-Folefack GB , Tene-Fossog B , Fomena A , Wondji CS , Yurakhno VM , Alomar S , Mansour L
Published: August 2022

In this study, we examined myxozoan infections of Labeobarbus batesii sampled from the Makombè River in Cameroon. Fish were infected with Myxobolus makombensis n. sp. in the gill filament and M. dibombensis in the fins. Mature myxospores of M. makombensis n. sp. are pyriform in frontal view and biconvex in lateral view, with a truncated and slightly narrow anterior end. Spore dimensions (mean ± SD, with range in parentheses) are 17.5 ± 0.22 (16.2-18.9) μm length, 13.4 ± 0.25 (12-14.9) μm width, and 7 ± 0.21 (6.7-7.5) μm thickness, and spores exhibit a conspicuous anterior intercapsular appendix of 4.4 ± 0.18 (3.9-5.5) µm length. Myxospores have 2 pyriform polar capsules of unequal size; the larger one is 9.8 ± 0. 22 (8.2-10.9) μm long × 4.7 ± 0.15 (3.5-5.2) µm wide, and the smaller one is 8.8 ± 0.22 (7-10) µm long × 4.3 ± 0.12 (3.5-5.2) µm wide. Polar filaments possess 10 to 11 coils in the large polar capsule and 8 to 10 coils in the small polar capsule. Phylogenetic analysis of SSU rDNA sequences showed clustering of M. makombensis n. sp. close to M. dibombensis recently reported from the fins of the same host within a clade composed exclusively of parasites infecting cyprinid fishes.
Resiliensi Resiliensi Pada Perawat di Masa Pandemi Covid-19
Authors: Athifahsari Hanna , Ardani Muhammad Hasib , Mu’in Muhammad , Warsito Bambang Edi , Sulisno Madya
Published: August 2022

Situasi yang cukup sulit dan menegangkan dari adanya pandemi COVID-19 membuat perawat merasa takut dan sedih. Untuk mengurangi efek negatif dari situasi yang sulit dan menegangkan dibutuhkanlah kemampuan untuk bertahan, beradaptasi, dan bangkit kembali dari situasi sulit yang disebut dengan resiliensi. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui gambaran tingkat resiliensi perawat yang bekerja selama masa pandemi COVID-19. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah metode deskriptif survei. Analisis penelitian menggunakan analisis deskriptif untuk mengukur tingkat resiliensi dan karakteristik perawat. Pengambilan data dilakukan kepada 126 perawat di ruang rawat inap Rumah Sakit di kota Semarang menggunakan kuesioner Connor Davidson Resilience Scale-25 (CD-RISC 25).

Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa 80% perawat perempuan, 96% perawat berada pada kategori usia dewasa awal, dan 37% perawat sudah bekerja selama 3-5 tahun.  Pada penelitian ini 70% perawat memiliki tingkat resiliensi yang sedang dan memiliki kategori yang tinggi pada kelima aspek resiliensi. Oleh karena itu untuk meningkatkan dan mempertahankan resiliensi, perawat dapat memperkuat self efficacy serta dukungan sosial mereka seperti dengan bergabung dalam peer group sebagai wadah untuk diskusi.
A New Definition for Intracranial Compliance to Evaluate Adult Hydrocephalus After Shunting
Authors: Gholampour Seifollah , Yamini Bakhtiar , Droessler Julie , Frim David
Published: August 2022

The clinical application of intracranial compliance (ICC), ∆V/∆P, as one of the most critical indexes for hydrocephalus evaluation was demonstrated previously. We suggest a new definition for the concept of ICC (long-term ICC) where there is a longer amount of elapsed time (up to 18 months after shunting) between the measurement of two values (V1 and V2 or P1 and P2). The head images of 15 adult patients with communicating hydrocephalus were provided with nine sets of imaging in nine stages: prior to shunting, and 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 months after shunting. In addition to measuring CSF volume (CSFV) in each stage, intracranial pressure (ICP) was also calculated using fluid–structure interaction simulation for the noninvasive calculation of ICC. Despite small increases in the brain volume (16.9%), there were considerable decreases in the ICP (70.4%) and CSFV (80.0%) of hydrocephalus patients after 18 months of shunting. The changes in CSFV, brain volume, and ICP values reached a stable condition 12, 15, and 6 months after shunting, respectively. The results showed that the brain tissue needs approximately two months to adapt itself to the fast and significant ICP reduction due to shunting. This may be related to the effect of the “viscous” component of brain tissue. The ICC trend between pre-shunting and the first month of shunting was descending for all patients with a “mean value” of 14.75 ± 0.6 ml/cm H2O. ICC changes in the other stages were oscillatory (nonuniform). Our noninvasive long-term ICC calculations showed a nonmonotonic trend in the CSFV–ICP graph, the lack of a linear relationship between ICC and ICP, and an oscillatory increase in ICC values during shunt treatment. The oscillatory changes in long-term ICC may reflect the clinical variations in hydrocephalus patients after shunting.
Thermogenic adipose tissue aging: Mechanisms and implications
Authors: Silva Graciano da Nadyellem , Amato Angelica Amorim
Published: August 2022

Adipose tissue undergoes significant anatomical and functional changes with aging, leading to an increased risk of metabolic diseases. Age-related changes in adipose tissue include overall defective adipogenesis, dysfunctional adipokine secretion, inflammation, and impaired ability to produce heat by nonshivering thermogenesis. Thermogenesis in adipose tissue is accomplished by brown and beige adipocytes, which also play a role in regulating energy homeostasis. Brown adipocytes develop prenatally, are found in dedicated depots, and involute in early infancy in humans. In contrast, beige adipocytes arise postnatally in white adipose tissue and persist throughout life, despite being lost with aging. In recent years, there have been significant advances in the understanding of age-related reduction in thermogenic adipocyte mass and function. Mechanisms underlying such changes are beginning to be delineated. They comprise diminished adipose precursor cell pool size and adipogenic potential, mitochondrial dysfunction, decreased sympathetic signaling, and altered paracrine and endocrine signals. This review presents current evidence from animal models and human studies for the mechanisms underlying thermogenic adipocyte loss and discusses potential strategies targeting brown and beige adipocytes to increase health span and longevity.
Framework for patient-specific simulation of hemodynamics in heart failure with counterpulsation support
Authors: Arduini Mattia , Pham Jonathan , Marsden Alison L. , Chen Ian Y. , Ennis Daniel B. , Dual Seraina A.
Published: August 2022

Despite being responsible for half of heart failure-related hospitalizations, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) has limited evidence-based treatment options. Currently, a substantial clinical issue is that the disease etiology is very heterogenous with no patient-specific treatment options. Modeling can provide a framework for evaluating alternative treatment strategies. Counterpulsation strategies have the capacity to improve left ventricular diastolic filling by reducing systolic blood pressure and augmenting the diastolic pressure that drives coronary perfusion. Here, we propose a framework for testing the effectiveness of a soft robotic extra-aortic counterpulsation strategy using a patient-specific closed-loop hemodynamic lumped parameter model of a patient with HFpEF. The soft robotic device prototype was characterized experimentally in a physiologically pressurized (50–150 mmHg) soft silicone vessel and modeled as a combination of a pressure source and a capacitance. The patient-specific model was created using open-source software and validated against hemodynamics obtained by imaging of a patient (male, 87 years, HR = 60 bpm) with HFpEF. The impact of actuation timing on the flows and pressures as well as systolic function was analyzed. Good agreement between the patient-specific model and patient data was achieved with relative errors below 5% in all categories except for the diastolic aortic root pressure and the end systolic volume. The most effective reduction in systolic pressure compared to baseline (147 vs. 141 mmHg) was achieved when actuating 350 ms before systole. In this case, flow splits were preserved, and cardiac output was increased (5.17 vs. 5.34 L/min), resulting in increased blood flow to the coronaries (0.15 vs. 0.16 L/min). Both arterial elastance (0.77 vs. 0.74 mmHg/mL) and stroke work (11.8 vs. 10.6 kJ) were decreased compared to baseline, however left atrial pressure increased (11.2 vs. 11.5 mmHg). A higher actuation pressure is associated with higher systolic pressure reduction and slightly higher coronary flow. The soft robotic device prototype achieves reduced systolic pressure, reduced stroke work, slightly increased coronary perfusion, but increased left atrial pressures in HFpEF patients. In future work, the framework could include additional physiological mechanisms, a larger patient cohort with HFpEF, and testing against clinically used devices.
Circular RNAs in diabetes mellitus and its complications
Authors: Fan Wenqi , Pang Haipeng , Xie Zhiguo , Huang Gan , Zhou Zhiguang
Published: August 2022

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an endocrine disorder characterized by a relative or absolute lack of insulin due to the dysfunction or destruction of β-cells. DM is one of the fastest growing challenges to global health in the 21st century and places a tremendous burden on affected individuals and their families and countries. Although insulin and antidiabetic drugs have been used to treat DM, a radical cure for the disease is unavailable. The pathogenesis of DM remains unclear. Emerging roles of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in DM have become a subject of global research. CircRNAs have been verified to participate in the onset and progression of DM, implying their potential roles as novel biomarkers and treatment tools. In the present review, we briefly introduce the characteristics of circRNAs. Next, we focus on specific roles of circRNAs in type 1 diabetes mellitus, type 2 diabetes mellitus, gestational diabetes mellitus and diabetes-associated complications.
Potential Relationship Between Aerosols and Positive Cloud-to-Ground Lightning During the Warm Season in Sichuan, Southwest China
Authors: Zhao Pengguo , Zhang Yuanyang , Liu Chang , Zhang Peiwen , Xiao Hui , Zhou Yunjun
Published: August 2022

This study discussed the influence of aerosols on the relative frequency of positive cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning and its dependence on thermodynamic and cloud-related factors in Sichuan during the warm season from 2005 to 2017. The relative frequency of positive CG lightning is defined as the proportion of positive CG lightning flashes to total CG lightning flashes. Although the total CG lightning density in the Western Sichuan Plateau is significantly lower than that in the Sichuan Basin, the relative frequency of positive CG lightning is higher than that in the basin. Convective available potential energy (CAPE) and vertical wind shear in the low-to-mid level of the troposphere (SHEAR-5 km) are the controlling factors of positive CG lightning frequency. A small CAPE and a large SHEAR-5 km represent weak convection, which is more conducive to the generation of positive CG lightning. The upper main positive charge region in a thriving thunderstorm is higher from the ground, which is not conducive to the transport of positive charge to the ground, so it is not conducive to the generation of positive CG lightning. In the basin, the relationship between aerosols and positive lightning is not significant, which may be due to the strong total CG lightning and the low proportion of positive CG lightning. In the plateau, both sulfate aerosol and black carbon (BC) aerosol have a significant inhibition effect on the positive CG lightning relative frequency. Sulfate aerosol stimulates the ice-phase process through a microphysical effect and promotes the development of convection. The distribution of the main positive charge center is higher, which is not conducive to the transport of positive charge to the ground and the generation of positive CG lightning. The significant heating effect of BC aerosol on the lower troposphere makes the convective development more vigorous and is not conducive to the occurrence of positive CG lightning.
Shallow infaunal responses to the Deepwater Horizon event: Implications for studying future oil spills
Authors: Berke Sarah K. , Dorgan Kelly M. , Kiskaddon Erin , Bell Susan , Gadeken Kara , Clemo William C. , Keller Erin L. , Caffray Theresa
Published: August 2022

Infaunal sedimentary communities underpin marine ecosystems worldwide. Understanding how disturbances such as oil spills influence infauna is therefore important, especially given that oil can be trapped in sediments for years or even decades. The 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) event was the largest marine oil spill in United States history, impacting habitats throughout the Northern Gulf of Mexico. We investigated infaunal community structure at two shallow sites in the Chandeleur Islands, LA, United States, over a 2-year period from 2015 to 2016 (5–6 years post-spill). One site was moderately contaminated with oil from the DWH spill, while the other was only lightly contaminated. Both sites featured patchy Ruppia seagrass meadows, allowing us to compare infaunal communities between sites for seagrass versus unvegetated sediment. The moderately-oiled site featured a significantly different community than that of the lightly oiled site; these differences were driven by altered abundance of key taxa, with some taxa being less abundant at the moderately oiled site but others more abundant. During our second year of sampling, a crude oil slick moved transiently through the moderately-oiled site, allowing us to directly observe responses to an acute re-oiling event. Virtually every taxonomic and community-level metric declined during the re-oiling, with effects more pronounced in seagrass beds than in unvegetated sediment. The sole exception was the snail, Neritina usnea, which we found exclusively at the more-oiled site. Our observations suggest that oil responses are driven more by key taxa than by entire guilds responding together. By identifying the families and genera that showed the largest signal at this pair of sites, we can begin laying groundwork for understanding which benthic taxa are most likely to be impacted by oil spills, both in the immediate aftermath of a spill and through longer-term contamination. While more studies will certainly be needed, this contribution is a step towards developing clear a priori hypotheses that can inform future oil-spill work. Such hypotheses would help to focus future sampling efforts, allowing resources to be directed towards those taxa that are most likely to be responding, and which are potential bio-indicators of oil exposure.
March–May Snow Cover Extent Reconstruction for the Past Four Centuries Based on the Tree-Ring Early-Wood on the Southeastern Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Bing Xiaojin , Yao Qichao , Zhou Feifei , Zheng Zhuangpeng , Bai Maowei , Jiang Shixiong , Wang Chongqing , Fang Keyan
Published: August 2022

The snow cover extent (SCE) on the southeastern Tibet Plateau (SETP) has an important impact on the dynamics of the East Asian winter monsoon and the runoff changes of the first and third largest rivers in Asia, namely, the Yangtze River and the Yarlung Zangbo River. Unfortunately, the shortness of instrumental SCE data of a few decades limits our ability to understand its long-term variability before the industrial era. Here, we developed Abies faxoniana tree-ring total ring width (TRW), early-wood width (EWW), and late-wood width (LWW) chronologies for the past four centuries at Little Qamdo Village (XQDV), Markam County, on the SETP. The most significant positive correlation (r = 0.62, p < 0.01) was found between the EWW chronology and SCE from March to May (SCE3–5). The SCE would affect the onset of the growing season through soil moisture, restricting the early-wood growth of trees. Thus, we presented a reconstruction of SCE3–5via EWW chronology since AD 1660 for SETP. We observed two abrupt changes from low to high around the years 1685 and 1998 for our reconstructed SCE3–5. In addition, we found that the positive anomalies of the reconstructed SCE3–5 after 1988 cohered with the distinct increase of the East Asian winter monsoon.
Potential Climate Change Impacts on the Abiotic Degradation of Acyl-Homoserine Lactones in the Fluctuating Conditions of Marine Biofilms
Authors: Roggatz Christina C. , Parsons Daniel R.
Published: August 2022

Marine biofilms are functional communities that shape habitats by providing a range of structural and functional services integral to coastal ecosystems. Impacts of climate change on biological aspects of such communities are increasingly studied, but impacts on the chemicals that mediate key interactions of biofilm organisms have largely been overlooked. Acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs), crucial bacterial signals within biofilms, are known to degrade through pH and temperature-dependent hydrolysis. However, the impact of climate change on AHLs and thus on biofilm form and function is presently unknown. This study investigates the impact of changes in pH and temperature on the hydrolysis rate, half-life time and quantitative abundance of different AHLs on daily and seasonal timescales for current conditions and future climate change scenarios.We established the mathematical relationships between pH, hydrolysis rates/half-life times and temperature, which revealed that natural daily pH-driven changes within biofilms cause the greatest fluctuations in AHL concentration (up to 9-fold). Season-dependant temperature enhanced or reduced the observed daily dynamics, leading to higher winter and lower summer concentrations and caused a shift in timing of the highest and lowest AHL concentration by up to two hours. Simulated future conditions based on climate change projections caused an overall reduction of AHL degradation and led to higher AHL concentrations persisting for longer across both the daily and seasonal cycles.This study provides valuable quantitative insights into the theoretical natural dynamics of AHL concentrations. We highlight critical knowledge gaps on the scale of abiotic daily and seasonal fluctuations affecting estuarine and coastal biofilms and on the biofilms’ buffering capacity. Detailed experimental studies of daily and seasonal dynamics of AHL concentrations and assessment of the potential implications for a suite of more complex interactions are required. Substantial fluctuations like those we show in this study, particularly with regards to concentration and timing, will likely have far reaching implications for fundamental ecosystem processes and important ecosystem services such as larval settlement and coastal sediment stabilisation.
Non-uniform metamorphosis underlies different development trajectories in hatchery-reared flathead grey mullet (Mugil cephalus)
Authors: Oz Itay , Gajbhiye Deodatta S. , Columbus-Shenkar Yaara Y. , David Lior , Golan Matan
Published: August 2022

The flathead grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) is at the focus of an intense domestication effort. However, despite significant advances, aquaculture of grey mullets is still based on capture of wild fingerlings in estuaries and stocking them into ponds. Such reliance on wild seed limits aquaculture production since it is highly seasonal, unpredictable, hinders genetic improvement programs and may negatively affect local capture fisheries. As captive breeding has been optimized for the species, to date, larval rearing remains the main challenge hindering the commercial production of captive-bred mullets. Here we set out to characterize larval development of grey mullets under captive conditions and to identify key developmental bottlenecks. By analyzing four larval batches from a commercial hatchery, we defined ten distinct developmental stages from hatching to the end of metamorphosis based on macroscopically observable morphological features. Using this developmental atlas to study development dynamics, we found that mullet larvae exhibit a biphasic growth profile with a 17-fold increase in growth rates at the onset of metamorphosis. Moreover, we found that within rearing batches, size variation almost doubles at metamorphosis, suggesting that the onset of metamorphosis is a critical step that increases variation by dictating different growth trajectories to early and late-metamorphosing larvae. By plotting the developmental stages against different morphometric parameters, we show here that age is a poor predictor of larval development due to large variations in development rates both within and between batches. We found that mullet larvae begin metamorphosis at a set size threshold of ~4.5 mm, however age at this threshold varies greatly even within batches. This age and size variance is further amplified by the aforementioned enhanced growth rates at metamorphosis and results in highly non-uniform fry, which complicate the rearing and weaning procedures. Understanding and treating the underlying causes for delayed metamorphosis are therefore considered important steps for the full domestication of the grey mullet.
Efficacy and safety of netarsudil/latanoprost fixed-dose combination vs. monotherapy in open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Luo Nachuan , Jiang Xun , Hao Meiqi , Fang Zige , Wei Yiping , Zhang Wenxiong
Published: August 2022

Objective

As monotherapy is insufficient for some patients, the existing fixed-dose combination (FDC) requires two or more daily administrations with declining adherence. The present study compared the efficacy and safety of netarsudil/latanoprost FDC with monotherapy of its individual components in patients with glaucoma.

Methods

A systematic literature search was performed for studies comparing netarsudil/latanoprost fixed-dose combination (FDC) vs. monotherapy in patients with glaucoma. The primary endpoints included intraocular pressure (IOP), intraocular pressure reduction percentage (IOPR%) and adverse events (AEs).

Results

Three randomized controlled trial studies (RCTs) involving 1,692 patients (FDC: 556, netarsudil: 577, latanoprost: 559) were included in this meta-analysis. FDC was more effective than netarsudil, with significantly lower diurnal IOP over three time points (8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 4:00 p.m.), mean diurnal IOP (MD = −2.36 [−3.08, −1.63], P < 0.00001) and higher IOPR% (MD = 9.60 [7.86, 11.33], P < 0.00001). When comparing FDC with latanoprost, both mean diurnal IOP (MD = −1.64 [−2.05, −1.23], P < 0.00001) and diurnal IOP across 3 time points were significantly lower with FDC than with latanoprost, while FDC induced significantly higher IOPR% (MD = 6.09 [4.40, 7.77], P < 0.00001). Incidence of total AEs was similar between netarsudil and FDC, but higher with FDC than with latanoprost.

Conclusion

Netarsudil/latanoprost FDC appears to be superior to netarsudil or latanoprost alone, with better ocular hypotensive effects. However, there are concerns that netarsudil/latanoprost FDC was associated with a significantly higher incidence of AEs specifically compared with latanoprost.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=311956.
Jinhua Qinggan granules for non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, and randomized controlled trial
Authors: Shah Muhammad Raza , Fatima Samreen , Khan Sehrosh Naz , Ullah Shafi , Himani Gulshan , Wan Kelvin , Lin Timothy , Lau Johnson Y. N. , Liu Qingquan , Lam Dennis S. C.
Published: August 2022

Background

Key findings from the World Health Organization Expert Meeting on Evaluation of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in treating coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) reported that TCMs are beneficial, particularly for mild-to-moderate cases. The efficacy of Jinhua Qinggan granules (JHQG) in COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms has yet to be clearly defined.

Methods

We conducted a phase 2/3, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of treatment with JHQG in mild, non-hospitalized, laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients. Participants were randomly assigned to receive 5 g/sacket of JHQG or placebo granules orally thrice daily for 10 days. The primary outcomes were the improvement in clinical symptoms and a proportion tested negative on viral polymerase chain reaction (PCR) after treatment. Secondary outcomes were the time to recover from clinical symptoms and changes in white blood cells (WBC) and acute phase reactants (C-reactive protein (CRP) and ferritin) on the 10th day after treatment initiation.

Results

A total of 300 patients were randomly assigned to receive JHQG (150 patients) and placebo (150 patients). Baseline characteristics were similar in the two groups. In the modified intention-to-treat analysis, JHQG showed greater clinical efficacy (82.67%) on the 10th day of the trial compared with the placebo group (10.74%; rate difference: 71.93%; 95% CI 64.09–79.76). The proportion of patients with a negative PCR after treatment was comparable (rate difference: −4.67%; 95% CI −15.76 to 6.42). In contrast, all changes in WBC, ferritin, and CRP levels showed a statistically significant decline in JHQG (P ≤ 0.044) after treatment, but not the latter in placebo (P = 0.077). The median time to recovery of COVID-19-related symptoms including cough, sputum, sore throat, dyspnea, headache, nasal obstruction, fatigue, and myalgia was shorter in the JHQG group compared to the placebo group (P < 0.001 for all). Three patients experienced mild-to-moderate adverse events (AEs) duringthe treatment period in the JHQG group. Findings were similar between the modified intention-to-treat and the per-protocol analysis that included only patients who reported 100% adherence to the assigned regimen.

Conclusion

Based on the time to recover from the COVID-19-related symptoms and AEs, it is concluded that JHQG is a safe and effective TCM for symptomatic relief of patients with mild COVID-19. A symptomatic improvement in the JHQG group patients was observed and JHQG use would have important public health implications in such patients.

Clinical Trial Registration

The Trial was prospectively registered on www.clinicaltrials.gov with registration number: NCT04723524.
RFID analysis of the complexity of cellular pathology workflow—An opportunity for digital pathology
Authors: Browning Lisa , White Kieron , Siiankoski Darrin , Colling Richard , Roskell Derek , Fryer Eve , Hemsworth Helen , Roberts-Gant Sharon , Roelofsen Ruud , Rittscher Jens , Verrill Clare
Published: August 2022

Digital pathology (DP) offers potential for time efficiency gains over an analog workflow however, to date, evidence supporting this claim is relatively lacking. Studies available concentrate on specific workflow points such as diagnostic reporting time, rather than overall efficiencies in slide logistics that might be expected. This is in part a result of the complexity and variation in analog working, and the challenge therefore in capturing this. We have utilized RFID technology to conduct a novel study capturing the movement of diagnostic cases within the analog pathway in a large teaching hospital setting, thus providing benchmark data for potential efficiency gains with DP. This technology overcomes the need to manually record data items and has facilitated the capture of both the physical journey of a case and the time associated with relevant components of the analog pathway predicted to be redundant in the digital setting. RFID tracking of 1,173 surgical pathology cases and over 30 staff in an analog cellular pathology workflow illustrates the complexity of the physical movement of slides within the department, which impacts on case traceability within the system. Detailed analysis of over 400 case journeys highlights redundant periods created by batching of slides at workflow points, including potentially 2–3 h for a case to become available for reporting after release from the lab, and variable lag-times prior to collection for reporting, and provides an illustration of patterns of lab and pathologist working within the analog setting. This study supports the challenge in evidencing efficiency gains to be anticipated with DP in the context of the variation and complexity of the analog pathway, but also evidences the efficiency gains that may be expected through a greater understanding of patterns of working and movement of cases. Such data may benefit other departments building a business case for DP.