bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of Region and Religious Tradition in Predicting Individuals’ Expressions of Faith in the Workplace
Authors: Frost Jacqui , Scheitle Christopher P. , Ecklund Elaine Howard , Daniels Denise
Published: July 2023

While many variables might influence an individual’s willingness to express their faith in the workplace, the role of regional context has not been fully considered. The different geographical regions in the U.S. consist of unique demographics and cultures that could shape an individual’s expression of faith at work. Moreover, these regional effects might be moderated by an individual’s specific religious tradition. Using data from a survey of U.S. adults featuring oversamples of Jewish and Muslim individuals, we utilize two unique measures of religious expression—displaying/wearing religious items at work and talking about religion at work—to assess the roles of region and religious tradition in expression of faith at work. We find that regional cultures can sometimes override religious subcultures to determine if and how people express their religion in the workplace. We find that evangelical-conservative Christians are more likely than those following most other religious traditions to say that they talk about their faith at work, regardless of the region in which they reside. However, we also find that individuals in the South tend to be more likely to express their faith in the workplace independent of their religious tradition while evangelicals in the Northwest are less so. The findings have broader implications for subcultures related to religious pluralism in an increasingly diverse U.S. society.
Classification of Marine Sediment in the Northern Slope of the South China Sea Based on Improved U-Net and K-Means Clustering Analysis
Authors: Zhou Qingjie , Li Xishuang , Liu Lejun , Wang Jingqiang , Zhang Linqing , Liu Baohua
Published: July 2023

The classification of marine sediment based on acoustic data is crucial for various applications such as marine resource exploitation, marine engineering construction, and marine ecological environment maintenance. It serves as a valuable alternative to limited geological sampling. However, the accuracy of sediment classification is limited due to constraints in acoustic data detection methods, data quality, and classification techniques. To address this issue, this study proposes an automatic classification method for marine sediment using an improved U-convolutional neural network and K-means clustering algorithm. In the coding part, a spatial pyramid pool layer is introduced to fuse low-dimensional feature data of different scales with the features of each level of the corresponding coding layer. This fusion method enhances the accuracy of the constructed relationship between the physical property parameters of the seabed bottom. The K-means clustering algorithm is optimized through selecting the point at the density center as the initial clustering center during the initial clustering center selection stage. This approach solves the sensitivity problem of the initial clustering center of K-means, improves the edge extraction effect of sediment types, and enhances the classification accuracy of sediment types. To validate the proposed method, an application test is conducted in the Northern Slope area of the South China Sea. The mean grain size of sediments in the study area is predicted using the improved U-Net neural network and the seafloor reflection intensity of the sub-bottom profile. Compared to the standard U-Net network results, the mean grain size prediction results show an increase of 4.9% and 2.8%, respectively. The sediment with the predicted mean grain size is then classified using the K-means clustering algorithm, resulting in the division of five sediment types: gravelly sand, sand, silty sand, sandy silt, and clayey silt. These classifications align well with the South China Sea sediment type map. The findings of this study not only provide an important supplement to existing marine sediment classification methods but also contribute significantly to understanding the sedimentary environment and processes in the Northern Slope of the South China Sea.
Comparative Analysis of Intelligent Optimization Algorithms for Atmospheric Duct Inversion Using Automatic Identification System Signals
Authors: Huang Li-Feng , Liu Cheng-Guo , Wu Zhi-Peng , Zhang Li-Jun , Wang Hong-Guang , Zhu Qing-Lin , Han Jie , Sun Ming-Chen
Published: July 2023

Using intelligent optimization algorithms to retrieve atmospheric duct parameters by monitoring automatic identification system (AIS) signals at sea is a new passive remote sensing technology for atmospheric ducts. To thoroughly compare and analyze the inversion results of different intelligent optimization algorithms and optimize the parameters of the algorithms, this study considered a simulated atmospheric duct environment for atmospheric duct inversion using the genetic, simulated annealing, and particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithms. The results indicated that the PSO algorithm exhibited the best inversion performance. The inversion results of the simulated annealing particle swarm optimization (SAPSO) and PSO algorithms under different inversion parameters were further statistically analyzed, and the atmospheric duct parameters were obtained from measured AIS signals based on the SAPSO algorithm. The inversion results verified the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm, and they continuously improved with additional calculations in the inversion algorithm. However, the changing trend gradually slowed. Therefore, in practical applications, the inversion time consumption should be balanced with the inversion effect to optimize the inversion parameters.
Correction: Hussain et al. Passive Electro-Optical Tracking of Resident Space Objects for Distributed Satellite Systems Autonomous Navigation. Remote Sens. 2023, 15, 1714
Authors: Hussain Khaja Faisal , Thangaval Kathiravan , Gardi Alessandro , Sabatini Roberto
Published: July 2023

There was an error in the original publication [...]
A Novel Deep Multi-Image Object Detection Approach for Detecting Alien Barleys in Oat Fields Using RGB UAV Images
Authors: Khoramshahi Ehsan , Näsi Roope , Rua Stefan , Oliveira Raquel A. , Päivänsalo Axel , Niemeläinen Oiva , Niskanen Markku , Honkavaara Eija
Published: July 2023

Oat products are significant parts of a healthy diet. Pure oat is gluten-free, which makes it an excellent choice for people with celiac disease. Elimination of alien cereals is important not only in gluten-free oat production but also in seed production. Detecting gluten-rich crops such as wheat, rye, and barley in an oat production field is an important initial processing step in gluten-free food industries; however, this particular step can be extremely time consuming. This article demonstrates the potential of emerging drone techniques for identifying alien barleys in an oat stand. The primary aim of this study was to develop and assess a novel machine-learning approach that automatically detects and localizes barley plants by employing drone images. An Unbiased Teacher v2 semi-supervised object-detection deep convolutional neural network (CNN) was employed to detect barley ears in drone images with a 1.5 mm ground sample distance. The outputs of the object detector were transformed into ground coordinates by employing a photogrammetric technique. The ground coordinates were analyzed with the kernel density estimate (KDE) clustering approach to form a probabilistic map of the ground locations of barley plants. The detector was trained using a dataset from a reference data production site (located in Ilmajoki, Finland) and tested using a 10% independent test data sample from the same site and a completely unseen dataset from a commercial gluten-free oats production field in Seinäjoki, Finland. In the reference data production dataset, 82.9% of the alien barley plants were successfully detected; in the independent farm test dataset, 60.5% of the ground-truth barley plants were correctly recognized. Our results establish the usefulness and importance of the proposed drone-based ultra-high-resolution red–green–blue (RGB) imaging approach for modern grain production industries.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Perspective Small Target Recognition Algorithm Based on Improved YOLOv5
Authors: Xu He , Zheng Wenlong , Liu Fengxuan , Li Peng , Wang Ruchuan
Published: July 2023

Small target detection has been widely used in applications that are relevant to everyday life and have many real-time requirements, such as road patrols and security surveillance. Although object detection methods based on deep learning have achieved great success in recent years, they are not effective in small target detection. In order to solve the problem of low recognition rate caused by factors such as low resolution of UAV viewpoint images and little valid information, this paper proposes an improved algorithm based on the YOLOv5s model, called YOLOv5s-pp. First, to better suppress interference from complex backgrounds and negative samples in images, we add a CA attention module, which can better focus on task-specific important channels while weakening the influence of irrelevant channels. Secondly, we improve the forward propagation and generalisation of the network using the Meta-ACON activation function, which adaptively learns to adjust the degree of linearity or nonlinearity of the activation function based on the input data. Again, the SPD Conv module is incorporated into the network model to address the problems of reduced learning efficiency and loss of fine-grained information due to cross-layer convolution in the model. Finally, the detection head is improved by using smaller, smaller-target detection heads to reduce missed detections. We evaluated the algorithm on the VisDrone2019-DET and UAVDT datasets and compared it with other state-of-the-art algorithms. Compared to YOLOv5s, mAP@.5 improved by 7.4% and 6.5% on the VisDrone2019-DET and UAVDT datasets, respectively, and compared to YOLOv8s, mAP@.5 improved by 0.8% and 2.1%, respectively. For improving the performance of the UAV-side small target detection algorithm, it will help to enhance the reliability and safety of UAVs in critical missions such as military reconnaissance, road patrol and security surveillance.
Evaluating the Hydrological Components Contributions to Terrestrial Water Storage Changes in Inner Mongolia with Multiple Datasets
Authors: Guo Yi , Xing Naichen , Gan Fuping , Yan Baikun , Bai Juan
Published: July 2023

In this study, multiple remote sensing data were used to quantitatively evaluate the contributions of surface water, soil moisture and groundwater to terrestrial water storage (TWS) changes in five groundwater resources zones of Inner Mongolia (GW_I, GW_II, GW_III, GW_IV and GW_V), China. The results showed that TWS increased at the rate of 2.14 mm/a for GW_I, while it decreased at the rate of 4.62 mm/a, 5.89 mm/a, 2.79 mm/a and 2.62 mm/a for GW_II, GW_III, GW_IV and GW_V during 2003–2021. Inner Mongolia experienced a widespread soil moisture increase with the rate of 4.17 mm/a, 2.13 mm/a, 1.20 mm/a, 0.25 mm/a and 1.36 mm/a for the five regions, respectively. Significant decreases were detected for regional groundwater storage (GWS) with the rate of 2.21 mm/a, 6.76 mm/a, 6.87 mm/a, 3.01 mm/a, and 4.14 mm/a, respectively. Soil moisture was the major contributor to TWS changes in GW_I, which accounted 58% of the total TWS changes. Groundwater was the greatest contributor to TWS changes in other four regions, especially GWS changes, which accounted for 76% TWS changes in GW_IV. In addition, this study found that the role of surface water was notable for calculating regional GWS changes.
A Highly Sensitive 3D Resonator Sensor for Fluid Measurement
Authors: Almuhlafi Ali M. , Ramahi Omar M.
Published: July 2023

Planar sub-wavelength resonators have been used for sensing applications, but different types of resonators have different advantages and disadvantages. The split ring resonator (SRR) has a smaller sensing region and is suitable for microfluidic applications, but the sensitivity can be limited. Meanwhile, the complementary electric-LC resonator (CELCR) has a larger sensing region and higher sensitivity, but the topology cannot be easily designed to reduce the sensing region. In this work, we propose a new design that combines the advantages of both SRR and CELCR by incorporating metallic bars in a trapezoid-shaped resonator (TSR). The trapezoid shape allows for the sensing region to be reduced, while the metallic bars enhance the electric field in the sensing region, resulting in higher sensitivity. Numerical simulations were used to design and evaluate the sensor. For validation, the sensor was fabricated using PCB technology with aluminum bars and tested on dielectric fluids. The results showed that the proposed sensor provides appreciably enhanced sensitivity in comparison to earlier sensors.
Measurement and Control of Corrugated Board Production Parameters Taking into Account Individual Operator Preferences
Authors: Pełczyński Paweł , Kadys Krzysztof , Szewczyk Włodzimierz
Published: July 2023

The article presents a proposal for optimizing the production process of corrugated cardboard based on measurements of process variables as well as the knowledge and skills of the operator conducting production. This technique involves continuous recording and analysis of process quantities that affect the quality of the produced cardboard. For this purpose, a network of temperature sensors with a system of continuous registration and monitoring of the process variables was designed and installed in the industrial environment of the corrugator. The recorded data is analyzed to estimate the desired values of the measured process variables, giving clues to how to control the production line. Unlike existing systems, the proposed algorithm for controlling production parameters allows each operator to use their preferred values for process variables independently of others. The proposed system allows for improving the quality of the produced cardboard and increasing the efficiency of its production by taking into account the individual experience and habits of the operator conducting production.
Income Diversification and Household Wellbeing: Case Study of the Rural Framing Communities of Tang Krasang and Trapang Trabek in Stung Chreybak, Kampong Chhnang, Cambodia
Authors: Kimkong Ham , Promphakping Buapun , Hudson Harri , Day Samantha C. J. , Long Ly Vouch
Published: July 2023

It has been generally agreed that income is a critical means of obtaining the resources required to sustain one’s living standards. In the developed world, the increase in life satisfaction does not keep pace with the increase in income. In the developing world, the majority of the population is dependent on income from agriculture, and the incidence of poverty is high. As in other regions, Cambodia has been in the process of an agricultural transformation, and the incomes of agricultural families are becoming increasingly diverse. Household wellbeing is related to income diversification and positively impacts the quality of life of farmers in the farming communities of Tang Krasang and Tapang Trabek in Stung Chreybak. As a result, most farmers have found that the diversification of their income provides them with a sustainable livelihood through the expansion of dry season rice production, access to higher education, access to good health care, and the upgrading of houses. The objectives of this paper are to examine the life goals of rural people and to assess whether the diversification of income affects their wellbeing. Structured interviews were used to collect data along with field observation, interviews with key informants interviews, and focus group discussions on the income diversification of various stakeholders including representatives from authorities, local traders, and key relevant provincial department bodies. A total of 300 household families were selected for the questionnaires through multistage purposive and random-sampling techniques conducted in six villages, two communes, and two districts in Stung Chreybak. We found that income diversification is strongly associated with the attainment of external life goals and the sustainable livelihoods of farmers. This study recommends that supporting the importance of income diversification through the creation of model agricultural technologies and off-farm activities and the development of vocational training skills would allow more farmers to easily attain improved socio-economic wellbeing.
Determinants of Corporate Water Disclosure in Indonesia
Authors: Wahyuningrum Indah Fajarini Sri , Chegenizadeh Amin , Hajawiyah Ain , Sriningsih Sriningsih , Utami Sri , Budihardjo Mochamad Arief , Nikraz Hamid
Published: July 2023

Water information disclosure by companies in Indonesia has become an important commitment to safeguarding water resources and taking responsibility for the environment and stakeholders. This study has two objectives. First, it investigates the extent of water information disclosed by manufacturing companies listed on the Indonesian Stock Exchange. Second, this study investigates the determinants that affect the disclosure of water information. Water information disclosure is analyzed using content analysis based on the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)-G4, the CDP’s 2020 Water Safety Questionnaires, and indicators used in previous research. This study uses data from the annual reports and sustainability reports of manufacturing companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange from 2017 to 2020. The determinants tested in this study include the existence of a CSR committee, board independence, government ownership, profitability, company size, and industry type. These findings indicate that companies with CSR committees disclose less water information. Meanwhile, share ownership by the government has a significantly positive effect on water information disclosure. The variables—board independence, profitability, company size, and industry type—do not affect water information disclosure. This study contributes to the literature by providing a comprehensive perspective on water information disclosure in Indonesia.
Bibliometric and Knowledge Network of Global Research on Pile Foundations: A Review of Recent Developments
Authors: Tiwari Aman , Dindorkar Nitin , Kaur Suneet
Published: July 2023

Foundation on soft soil has always been a challenge for civil engineers and pile foundation is by far the most suitable and comprehensive idea for construction on soft soil. In this study, we produced a comprehensive overview of pile foundation research from 1992 to 2021 by making use of bibliometric analysis. This study was conducted based on the Web of Science Core Collection Database. In this analysis, data were retrieved and then sieved for different parameters to organize the data into various categories by means of Excel and VOS viewer. The objective of the research was to make an explanatory data set in order to help researchers in the pile foundation area. A database of 4803 publications has been retrieved. The analysis results show that the People’s Republic of China has yielded the greatest number of publications. Studies in this period are focusing on key factors associated with pile foundations such as soil structure interaction, pile group, settlement, liquefaction, bearing capacity etc. as suggested by the keywords analyzed in these publications. Analysis of the most cited articles in the field of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering reveals that the research area has expanded from analyzing axial behavior and strength of pile foundations to analyzing seismic responses, further moving to sustainable structure and artificial intelligence applications in the concerned field in the last 30 years.
The Impact of Orientation on Living Wall Façade Temperature: Manchester Case Study
Authors: Gao Yun , Farrokhirad Ensiyeh , Pitts Adrian
Published: July 2023

Living walls are a nature-based strategy to enhance climate resilience in urban areas. There is a need to study the possible influence of living walls on the thermal performance of building façades, given the rising temperatures in 2022 across the UK. This study aims to analyze the impacts of living walls on façade temperature based on orientation variation through simulation Envi-met 5.0.3. software. The living wall studied is attached to a multistory building located in Manchester city center consisting of seven evergreen plants. An environmental simulation was carried out linked to the 2022 climate, including extremely hot and cold days. Four scenarios of façades with and without greening on the northwest and southeast orientations in summer and winter were analyzed. The results highlighted the living wall’s ability to reduce the surface temperatures on both the northwest and southeast façades on a hot summer day. There is no significant evidence of improvement for the northwest façade in the winter climate, but a modestly increased temperature is shown in the southeast compared to the bare wall. These findings indicate that living walls provide measurable advantages in the building envelope, leading to energy saving.
Why Can Entrepreneurial Involvement Encourage the Entrepreneurship of People Experiencing Poverty?—A Study Using China’s Empirical Data
Authors: Ouyang Sheng , Guo Yan , Lin Xuejun , Tian Yu
Published: July 2023

Entrepreneurship, as one of the key means of alleviating extreme poverty, is difficult to achieve among people experiencing poverty partly because their initiative is bound by long-term dependence and their entrepreneurial awareness is not strong. According to the existing literature, entrepreneurial involvement can promote the entrepreneurial willingness of people experiencing poverty and produce entrepreneurial behaviour. However, the reasons and paths of entrepreneurial involvement affecting the poor’s entrepreneurial behaviour are unclear. This paper developed a model based on the theory of involvement to examine the impact of entrepreneurial involvement on the entrepreneurial behaviour of individuals experiencing poverty. A questionnaire survey was conducted with 289 entrepreneurs in poverty from the Wuling Mountain area, and data analysis was performed using a hierarchical regression model. The results indicate that entrepreneurial involvement has a significant direct positive effect on the entrepreneurial behaviour of people with low incomes through the partial mediation of local capabilities. Meanwhile, it has an indirect positive effect, and entrepreneurial role models positively moderate the relationship between entrepreneurial involvement and entrepreneurial behaviour of people with low incomes. The findings provide strong evidence supporting the significant role of entrepreneurial involvement in shaping the entrepreneurial behaviour of entrepreneurs facing poverty in less developed regions. Furthermore, the results highlight the importance of effectively leveraging local capabilities and resources through entrepreneurial involvement. Consequently, this study is of great importance in understanding how government and industries can facilitate entrepreneurial opportunities to their fullest extent by promoting entrepreneurial involvement, thus optimizing local capabilities and serving as influential entrepreneurial role models at the individual level. Furthermore, from a practical standpoint, this research offers tangible solutions and valuable insights regarding the role of entrepreneurial involvement in poverty reduction.
Policy Recommendations for Reducing Food Waste: An Analysis Based on a Survey of Urban and Rural Household Food Waste in Harbin, China
Authors: Liu Chang , Shang Jie , Liu Chen , Wang Hui , Wang Shuya
Published: July 2023

Food waste has become a pressing global issue in recent years. In China, the issue of food waste has become increasingly severe. As a provincial capital city, Harbin is also a major agricultural city in China with distinct urban and rural features. This paper uses Harbin as a case study to evaluate different strategies for preventing and reducing food waste based on these urban–rural differences. This research is based on official data on household food waste in urban and rural areas of Harbin, as well as data collected from 333 telephone surveys through stratified random sampling. Independent t-tests, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the survey data, followed by a review of existing food waste policies and strategies. Our findings show that Harbin has had a positive response in adhering to national anti-food waste policies. However, its implementation has not been effective. There is a continuous increase in food waste generation. Moreover, gender, level of education, and household annual income have a significant impact on residents’ food waste habits and there are significant differences between urban and rural areas in terms of “eating out” and “ordering food ingredients”. The average daily amount of food waste generated by urban households is 3216.31 g, which is 2.4 times that of rural households. There are also differences in the causes of food waste between urban and rural residents due to different diets and eating habits. As a result, feasible and effective policy recommendations have been proposed to reduce food waste in response to these urban–rural differences.
Modeling Climate Regulation of Arable Soils in Northern Saxony under the Influence of Climate Change and Management Practices
Authors: Schwengbeck Lea , Hölting Lisanne , Witing Felix
Published: July 2023

One approach to increasing the climate-regulating potential of the agricultural sector is carbon sequestration in agricultural soils. This involves storing atmospheric carbon dioxide in the soil in the form of soil organic carbon (SOC) through agricultural management practices (AMPs). Model simulations of area-specific current and future SOC stocks can be used to test appropriate AMPs. In this study, the CANDY Carbon Balance (CCB) model was used to determine how different AMPs could affect SOC stocks in a study area in northern Saxony, Germany. Specifically, we used scenarios with different intensities of sustainable AMPs to assess the potential effects of reduced tillage, crop cultivation, and fertilizer management, as well as the management of crop residues and by-products. The analysis was carried out for the simulation period 2020–2070, with and without consideration of climate change effects. The results showed an average carbon sequestration potential of 5.13–7.18 t C ha−1 for the whole study area, depending on the intensity of AMP implemented. While higher intensities of sustainable AMP implementation generally had a positive impact on carbon sequestration, the scenario with the highest implementation intensity only led to the second highest gains in SOC stocks. The most important factor in increasing SOC stocks was reduced tillage, which resulted in a carbon sequestration potential of 0.84 t C ha−1 by 2070. However, reduced application rates of fertilizers also proved to be critical, resulting in a reduction in carbon stocks of up to 2.2 t C ha−1 by 2070. Finally, the application of high-intensity sustainable AMPs was shown to be able to offset the negative impacts of an intermediate climate change scenario for most of the simulation period. Overall, the results not only confirmed existing knowledge on the effects of AMPs on carbon sequestration for a specific case study area, but also identified future management scenarios that stress the need for widespread adoption of sustainable management practices under changing climate conditions.
Progress of the Agricultural Sector toward Climate Neutrality: Identification of Essential Stages
Authors: Bumbiere Ketija , Meikulane Edite , Gravelsins Armands , Pubule Jelena , Blumberga Dagnija
Published: July 2023

The agricultural sector’s progress toward climate neutrality is of great importance not only in the climate, but also in economic and social contexts. Climate-neutral agriculture is highly dependent on innovations that ensure maximum efficient farming, which not only reduces emissions but also ensures competitiveness in the market; all of this is fundamentally influenced by well-considered policies. Due to the complicated structure of the sector, it tends to be very difficult or even impossible to determine the real obstacles that delay the progress of sustainable farming. Therefore, this research aims to create a system dynamics model using Latvia as a case study, which would not only provide an insight into the system’s structure, but also identify the system’s weak links and allow for the development of recommendations. The model can calculate not only the generated emissions per unit of production, but also the investments required to reduce 1 kt of CO2eq generated, and results could help policymakers in any country to make rational, non-controversial decisions simultaneously in the context of economic and Green Deal objectives. The results of the study demonstrate that to increase economic competitiveness and reduce emissions in agriculture, the most important aspect is the ability to invest in innovations and new technologies that would achieve not only the lowest emissions, but also high productivity and competitiveness in the market. The research shows that the strategic documents emphasize manure management and improvement of feed quality, but there is an important element missing—an emphasis on thermoregulation improvements for animals. By improving feed quality, manure management, and thermoregulation all together, there was a 60% GHG emission reduction without reducing—and even significantly increasing—milk yield. In addition, in a comprehensive improvement of the new innovations, the case study company managed to increase milk yield by 69%.
The Impact of the Digital Economy on the Health Industry from the Perspective of Threshold and Intermediary Effects: Evidence from China
Authors: Jin Yuqing , Shen Zhidan , Liu Jianxu , Tansuchat Roengchai
Published: July 2023

This study explores the effect of the digital economy driving the development of the health industry and the mechanism behind it. Based on the panel data of 27 Chinese provinces from 2014–2021, this paper uses the entropy weight method to construct a comprehensive indicator evaluation system for the health industry, digital economy, and technological innovation. The two-way fixed effects model and panel threshold model are used to explore the impact of the digital economy on the health industry, and the intermediary effects model is used to analyze the mechanism role of technological innovation in the impact of the digital economy on the health industry. The results show that the digital economy can drive the development of the health industry. The driving effect shows obvious regional heterogeneity, with the strongest in the west, the second strongest in the central part, and the weakest in the east. This driving effect also has non-linear characteristics. Improving technological innovation is an important mechanism for the development of the health industry driven by the digital economy. This study promotes the exploration of the construction path of “Healthy China”, and reflects the importance of implementing dynamic and differentiated digital economy strategies and increasing the R&D of core technologies to drive the development of the health industry.
How Can Managers Promote Employee Sustainability? A Study on the Impact of Servant Leadership on Emotional Labor
Authors: Yan Ge , Meng Liang , Li Bo , Li Jiamin
Published: July 2023

How managers can promote sustainability among their employees has become an important research issue in the field of organizations. Based on the theory of person–environment fit and social learning, the internal mechanism and the conditions of servant leadership on the two dimensions of emotional labor of the epidemic situation were studied through the analysis of the questionnaire data at two time points. The study revealed that the adoption of servant leadership by managers can have a positive impact on employee well-being and deep acting in the context of COVID-19, and this is critically important for the sustainable development of employees. Employee well-being is positively correlated with deep acting and negatively correlated with surface acting. Employee well-being plays a mediating role between servant leadership and the two dimensions of emotional labor. Perceived organizational support plays a moderating role between servant leadership and surface acting. The research findings can serve as a reference for enterprises to take measures in mitigating the adverse impact of COVID-19. Moreover, they provide new insights for managers to facilitate the sustainable development of their employees.
Symmetric Fuzzy Stochastic Differential Equations Driven by Fractional Brownian Motion
Authors: Jafari Hossein , Malinowski Marek T.
Published: July 2023

We consider symmetric fuzzy stochastic differential equations where diffusion and drift terms arise in a symmetric way at both sides of the equations and diffusion parts are driven by fractional Brownian motions. Such equations can be used in real-life hybrid systems, which include properties of being both random and fuzzy and reflecting long-range dependence. By imposing on the mappings occurring in the equation the conditions of Lipschitzian continuity and additional constraints by an integrable stochastic process, we construct an approximation sequence of fuzzy stochastic processes and apply this to prove the existence of a unique solution to the studied equation. Finally, a model from population dynamics is considered to illustrate the potential application of our equations.
SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Preeclampsia—How an Infection Can Help Us to Know More about an Obstetric Condition
Authors: González-Vanegas Otilia , Martinez-Perez Oscar
Published: July 2023

Pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection have a significantly higher risk of maternal death, ICU admission, preterm delivery, and stillbirth compared to those without infection. Additionally, the risk of preeclampsia (PE) increases in pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2, particularly in severe cases. The association between COVID-19 and PE is likely attributed to various mechanisms, including direct effects of the virus on trophoblast function and the arterial wall, exaggerated inflammatory response in pregnant women, local inflammation leading to placental ischemia, SARS-CoV-2-related myocardial injury, cytokine storm, and thrombotic microangiopathy. This paper aims to explore the similarities between PE and SARS-CoV-2 infection, considering COVID-19 as a valuable study model. By examining these parallels, we can enhance our knowledge and comprehension of PE. We wish to emphasize the potential for COVID-19-induced myocardial injury in pregnant women and its connection to the increased maternal mortality rate.
Combining MOE Bioinformatics Analysis and In Vitro Pseudovirus Neutralization Assays to Predict the Neutralizing Ability of CV30 Monoclonal Antibody on SARS-CoV-2 Variants
Authors: Zhu Yajuan , Xiong Husheng , Liu Shuang , Wu Dawei , Zhang Xiaomin , Shi Xiaolu , Qu Jing , Chen Long , Liu Zheng , Peng Bo , Zhang Dingmei
Published: July 2023

Combining bioinformatics and in vitro cytology assays, a predictive method was established to quickly evaluate the protective effect of immunity acquired through SARS-CoV-2 infection against variants. Bioinformatics software was first used to predict the changes in the affinity of variant antigens to the CV30 monoclonal antibody by integrating bioinformatics and cytology assays. Then, the ability of the antibody to neutralize the variant antigen was further verified, and the ability of the CV30 to neutralize the new variant strain was predicted through pseudovirus neutralization experiments. The current study has demonstrated that when the Molecular Operating Environment (MOE) predicts |ΔBFE| ≤ 3.0003, it suggests that the CV30 monoclonal antibody exhibits some affinity toward the variant strain and can potentially neutralize it. However, if |ΔBFE| ≥ 4.1539, the CV30 monoclonal antibody does not display any affinity for the variant strain and cannot neutralize it. In contrast, if 3.0003 < |ΔBFE| < 4.1539, it is necessary to conduct a series of neutralization tests promptly with the CV30 monoclonal antibody and the variant pseudovirus to obtain results and supplement the existing method, which is faster than the typical procedures. This approach allows for a rapid assessment of the protective efficacy of natural immunity gained through SARS-CoV-2 infection against variants.
Characterization of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Virus Serotype 8 in Naturally Infected Barbary Deer (Cervus elaphus barbarus) and Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Tunisia
Authors: Thabet Sarah , Sghaier Soufien , Ben Hassine Thameur , Slama Darine , Ben Osmane Raja , Ben Omrane Ridha , Mouelhi Wiem , Spedicato Massimo , Leone Alessandra , Teodori Liana , Curini Valentina , Othmani Moncef , Berjaoui Shadia , Ripà Paola , Orabi Makram , Mohamed Bassem Belhaj , Sayadi Ayda , Slama Sonia Ben , Marcacci Maurilia , Savini Giovanni , Lorusso Alessio , Hammami Salah
Published: July 2023

Epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) is a Culicoides-borne disease of domestic and wild ruminants caused by EHD virus (EHDV). This virus circulates in multiple serotypes. In late September 2021, a novel strain belonging to EHDV-8 was reported in cattle farms in Central–Western Tunisia, and in the fall of 2022, the same virus was also detected in Italy and Spain. In the present study, we described EHDV-8 occurrence in deer and, a preliminary identification of the potential Culicoides species responsible for virus transmission in selected areas of Tunisia. EHDV-8 was identified in deer carcasses found in 2021 and 2022 in the national reserve of El Feidja, Jendouba, Northwestern Tunisia, and isolated on cell culture. Instead, insect vectors were collected in October 2021 only in the areas surrounding the city of Tozeur (Southern Tunisia) where EHDV-8 cases in cattle were confirmed. Morphological identification showed that 95% of them belonged to the Culicoides kingi and Culicoides oxystoma species and both species tested positive for EHDV-8 RNA. C. imicola was not detected in this collection and EHDV-8 RNA was not evidenced in vector pools collected in 2020, prior to official EHDV-8 emergence. EHDV whole genome sequences were also obtained directly from infected biological samples of deer and positive vectors. EHDV-8 sequences obtained from deer and vectors share a nucleotide identity ranging from 99.42 to 100% and amino acid identity from 99.18 to 100% across all genome segments with the EHDV-8/17 TUN2021 reference sequence.
Reproductive Aspects of the Problem of Conservative Surgical Treatment of Endometrioid Ovarian Cysts
Authors:   Moscow Regional Scientific Research Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Krasnopolskaya K.V. , Yershova I.Yu. , Samoylova A.A.
Published: July 2023

The aim is to clarify the timing of recurrence of endometriomas removed and the dependence of the ovarian reserve status on the number of ovarian resections performed, as well as to assess the awareness of patients about the impact of surgical treatment of endometrioid ovarian cysts (EOC) on reproductive function and therapeutic effectiveness of in vitro fertilization (IVF) technology. Material and methods. In 93 infertile patients with EOC and values of anti-muller hormone (AMH) < 1.2 ng/ml, the dependence of the degree of reduction of this hormone on the number of operations performed with relapses of endometrioma was analyzed. Using standard research methods in the same patients, the prevalence of infertility factors identified in the International Classification of Diseases of the 10th revision was studied in parallel, and women's awareness of the impact of surgical treatment of EOC on reproductive potential was clarified. Results. Other forms of endometriosis were found in 71% of women with EOC, and the observed infertility, which necessitated the appointment of IVF, was mainly associated with confirmed male and tubal factors. Among the patients operated on for EOC with a reduced level of AMH, the majority underwent repeated ovarian resections due to relapses of endometriomas that occurred within two and a half years after their removal. The degree of decrease in the level of AMH was directly dependent on the number of operations performed. During surgical treatment of EOC, only 7.5% of patients received relevant information about their frequent recurrence and possible consequences for the reproductive function of ovarian resection performed (especially multiple). Conclusions. Frequent recurrence of EOC, which forces repeated resections of the ovaries, is an obvious factor that, due to the reduction of the ovarian reserve, prevents the successful use of IVF technology with its own oocytes in situations where this method of infertility treatment is in demand. When planning the removal of EOC in women of reproductive age, surgeons should necessarily refer patients to reproductologists for advice on issues related to the implementation of reproductive plans both in the near and long term
Surgical Correction of Pelvic Organ Prolapse Association with Total Uterine Prolapse
Authors:   A.I. Yevdokimov Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry, Sibirskaya Ye.V. , Karachentsova I.V. ,   Russian Children's Clinical Hospital of N.I. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University,   N.I. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University,   Dolgoprudny Central City Hospital,   N.I. Pirogov National Medical and Surgical Center, Baranov K.S. , Kirillova Yu.A. , Nikiforova P.O.
Published: July 2023

Total prolapse of the uterus is a common pathology in older women who have given birth. To date, there is no single ‘gold standard’ in the surgical management of women with total uterine prolapse. Using the example of this case report, we would like to demonstrate that the operation of choice should be considered – vaginal extirpation of the uterus without appendages. This is due to the lower frequency of intraoperative complications and the peculiarities of the course of the postoperative period, as well as early activation and rehabilitation
Efficacy and Safety of Vedolizumab in the Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis in Real Clinical Practice: Five Years of Observation
Authors:   A.S. Loginov Moscow Clinical Scientific Center, Knyazev O.V. , Kagramanova A.V. , Li I.A. , Lischinskaya A.A. ,   Ryzhikh National Medical Research Centre for Coloproctology,   Scientific Research Institute of Healthcare and Medical Management of the Moscow City Health Department, Moscow,   A.I. Yevdokimov Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry, Sabelnikova E.A. , Fadeeva N.A. , Shkurko T.V. , Nanaeva B.A. , Baranova T.A. , Timanovskaуа M.Yu. , Parfenov A.I.
Published: July 2023

In real clinical practice, unlike in the registered controlled trials, the analytical group includes all patients who are being treated with a drug. The aim is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of vedolizumab (VDMB) therapy in real clinical practice in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) for five years. Material and methods. The study included 136 patients with UC (men 53.7%, women 46.3%), average age – 33.8 ± 4.4 years, duration of the disease – 3.1 ± 0.4 years (52.9% of patients with moderate severity, 72.1% with total lesion and 64.4% with chronic recurrent course, in 17.6% of cases – extra-intestinal manifestations). Results. After 12 weeks, 53 (38.9%) patients with UC achieved a clinical response, 72 (52.9%) achieved clinical remission, 13 (9.5%) did not respond or did not respond sufficiently to therapy. After 24 weeks, clinical remission reached 72.1%, clinical response – 18.4% of patients. Of 112 patients who underwent colonoscopy (CS), 68 (60.7%) had clinical and endoscopic remission at week 24. After 52 weeks of therapy, endoscopic remission persisted in 68 (60.7%) patients, endoscopic response – in 40 (36.6%), clinical remission – in 112 (82.3%) and clinical response – in 21 (15.4%). After five years of VDMB therapy, endoscopic remission persisted in 70 (51.5%) patients, endoscopic response in 36 (26.5%), clinical remission in 105 (77.2%) and clinical response in 19 (14.0%). The survival rate of VDMB therapy in patients with UC was 90.4% after 12 months and persisted for a year, 82.3% after two years, 81.6% after five years. Steroidal remission was 91.0%. The regression of extra-intestinal manifestations after 24 weeks was noted in 58.3% of patients with UC. Conclusion. Our clinical observation of 136 patients with UC demonstrated the high efficacy and safety of VDMB
FINANCIAL CAPACITY OF LOCAL BUDGETS IN A DECENTRALIZED ENVIRONMENT: PROBLEMS AND WAYS TO SOLVE THEM
Authors:   Chernivtsi Institute Trade and Economics of SUTE, Chernivtsi, Violetta Roshylo
Published: July 2023

Topicality. Statement of the problem. Effective implementation of own and delegated powers by local self-government bodies depends on the ability to independently solve issues of local importance at the expense of own sources of funding. The modern system of allocation of budget resources does not ensure the necessary level of independence of local self-government bodies in solving socio-economic problems of territorial communities and needs to expand its own revenue base and introduce the decentralized principle of budgeting at the local level. The Aim of the study. Monitoring of problematic aspects of financial support of local self-government bodies and justification of ways to strengthen the financial capacity of territorial communities under conditions of budget decentralization. Methodology. In the process of carrying out the research, general and special methods of scientific research were used: scientific analysis and synthesis - for the theoretical generalization of the results of research by scientists on the issues of forming local budgets and strengthening the financial autonomy of local authorities; comparison, analytical and observation - to monitor the financial capacity of territorial communities of the Chernivtsi region; abstract-logical method of research - to substantiate proposals for the introduction of an effective model of financial equalization of the income base of local communities. The results. The article examines the peculiarities of financial provision of local self-government functions under conditions of budgetary decentralization. On the basis of the assessment of financial potential of territorial communities, problematic aspects of ensuring the financial independence of local authorities are singled out and ways of solving them are proposed. Practical meaning. As a result of the conducted research, the ways of strengthening the financial self- sufficiency of the budgets of territorial communities were substantiated and the conceptual foundations of the development of local self-government under the conditions of the reform of the decentralization of powers were outlined. Prospects for further research. Decentralization of the management of budget funds and the reform of the system of inter-budgetary relations determine the development of strategic priorities of budget policy regarding the formation of local budgets, which are aimed at ensuring financial stability and economic growth of territorial communities.