bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Koszt zakupu usług w całkowitych kosztach produkcji rolniczej gospodarstw, analiza porównawcza na przykładzie Polski i Niemiec
Authors: Kołodziejczak Małgorzata
Published: November 2023

W artykule podjęto próbę przedstawienia udziału kosztu zakupu usług w kosztach produkcji w rolnictwie polskim i niemieckim na tle Unii Europejskiej. Badanie przeprowadzono w oparciu o bazę danych systemu rachunkowości rolnej FADN. Analizą objęto usługi według regionów, klas wielkości ekonomicznej i typów rolniczych. Zidentyfikowano ich udział w zużyciu pośrednim, a także ich koszt w przeliczeniu na jedno gospodarstwo i 1 ha UR w 2008 roku. Wykazano, że występuje zauważalna różnica w tym zakresie pomiędzy rolnictwem polskim i niemieckim.
Wpływ cech jakościowych kapitału ludzkiego na wyniki ekonomiczne gospodarstw rolniczych
Authors: Marcysiak Adam , Marcysiak Agata
Published: November 2023

Kapitał ludzki jest istotnym elementem kształtującym konkurencyjność podmiotów gospodarczych. Celem niniejszego opracowania jest próba przedstawienia zakresu oddziaływania cech jakościowych kapitału ludzkiego na wyniki ekonomiczne gospodarstw rolniczych. W analizie zostały uwzględnione wiek, płeć i poziom wykształcenia osoby kierującej gospodarstwem. Wśród kierowników badanych gospodarstw ponad połowa (55,4%) to osoby ze średnim lub wyższym wykształceniem. Dochody rolnicze tej grupy gospodarstw wynosiły średnio 53758 zł. Najniższą efektywność ekonomiczną osiągnęły gospodarstwa, których właściciele legitymowali się wykształceniem podstawowym i zawodowym. Stanowili oni odpowiednio 30,8% i 13,8% badanej populacji.
Potencjał biomasy województwa zachodniopomorskiego w aspekcie wykorzystania do celów energetycznych
Authors: Jasiulewicz Michał , Janiszewska Dorota
Published: November 2023

W artykule przedstawiono potencjał Województwa Zachodniopomorskiego w zakresie pozyskania biomasy z różnych źródeł, takich jak uprawy roślin energetycznych, odpady i ścieki komunalne, odpady drzewne oraz produkty uboczne upraw roślin oraz hodowli zwierząt w rolnictwie. Spośród wszystkich rodzajów biomasy największy udział zarówno w Polsce jaki i województwie stanowi biomasa stała. Dokonując porównania aktualnego pozyskania biomasy w Polsce z ogólnym potencjałem energetycznym regionu wykazano, iż Pomorze Zachodnie ma największe szanse na wytwarzanie znacznych ilości biogazu z biomasy pochodzenia rolniczego. Obecne efekty trudno uznać za zadawalające, ponieważ dotychczas w województwie działają 3 biogazownie rolnicze, jednak inwestując w odpowiednią infrastrukturę oraz technologię województwo zachodniopomorskie może stać się liderem w produkcji energii pochodzącej z biogazu.
Zmiany w handlu zagranicznym owocami i warzywami w Polsce w latach 2001-2010
Authors: Jąder Karolina
Published: November 2023

Celem opracowania było przedstawienie zmian w polskim handlu zagranicznym owocami i warzywami oraz ich przetworami w latach 2001-2010. Analizę oparto na danych wtórnych pochodzących z Centrum Analitycznego Administracji Celnej (CAAC) oraz Ministerstwa Finansów, a zamieszczonych w publikacjach "Rynek owoców i warzyw" Instytutu Ekonomiki Rolnictwa i Gospodarki Żywnościowej w Warszawie. Przy użyciu metod statystyki opisowej, takich jak średnia arytmetyczna oraz wskaźniki struktury, zbadano zmiany wartości eksportu i importu oraz obliczono saldo handlu zagranicznego. Przedstawiono również wartościową strukturę eksportu oraz importu, a także ich strukturę geograficzną. Stwierdzono, iż w latach 2001-2010 zwiększyła się znacząco wartość eksportu i importu owoców i warzyw oraz ich przetworów, na co wpływ miała głównie akcesja Polski do Unii Europejskiej. Przystąpienie Polski do Unii nie wpłynęło znacząco na zmiany w strukturze rzeczowej eksportu i importu, natomiast po roku 2004 nastąpiły istotne przeobrażenia w strukturze geograficznej, zarówno eksportu jak i importu owoców i warzyw. Największe znaczenie przez całe dziesięciolecie miały tu kraje UE-15, jednak w przypadku owoców i ich przetworów udział tych państw po akcesji wyraźnie zmalał, natomiast w przypadku produktów warzywnictwa, szczególnie w strukturze importu, zwiększył się.
Kryzys finansowy a rentowność polskiego przemysłu spożywczego
Authors: Stefko Olga
Published: November 2023

W artykule podjęto problem oceny sytuacji polskiego przemysłu spożywczego na tle tendencji ogólnoekonomicznych w okresie 2006-2010. Dokonano oceny oddziaływania kryzysu finansowego w badanym okresie na sytuację sektora na podstawie zmian wybranych wskaźników rentowności. Podjęto dyskusję z tezą, że sektor ten jest względnie odporny na zjawiska kryzysowe występujące w świecie.
Wpływ integracji z Unią Europejską na działalność innowacyjną przedsiębiorstw przemysłu spożywczego w Polsce
Authors: Zakrzewska Aneta
Published: November 2023

W artykule przedstawiono analizę działalności innowacyjnej przedsiębiorstw przemysłu spożywczego przed i po przystąpieniu Polski do Unii Europejskiej. Wykorzystano w niej dane publikowane przez Główny Urząd Statystyczny. Przeprowadzona analiza wskazuje, że przystąpienie Polski do Unii Europejskiej i nowe otoczenie, nie tylko konkurencyjne ale i regulacyjne, wpłynęło na działalność innowacyjną przedsiębiorstw przemysłu spożywczego. Mimo rosnących nakładów na innowacje producenci żywności nie wykorzystali w pełni istniejących możliwości zwiększenia efektywności podejmowanej działalności innowacyjnej.
Dochodowość uprawy wybranych roślin strączkowych a ryzyko dochodowe i produkcyjne
Authors: Czerwińska-Kayzer Dorota , Florek Joanna
Published: November 2023

W ostatnich latach rozważa się możliwość zwiększenia produkcji roślin strączkowych, których powierzchnia uprawy zmniejszyła się. Jednym z czynników tej zmiany była zmienność plonowania, co niekorzystnie wpływało na opłacalność uprawy tych roślin. W związku z tym podjęto próbę oceny dochodowości i ryzyka dochodowego wybranych roślin strączkowych. Z przeprowadzonej analizy wynika, że uprawy roślin strączkowych cechują się niską dochodowością, a ryzyko dochodowe jest wysokie. W dużej mierze zdeterminowane jest ono ryzykiem produkcyjnym (zmiennością plonów).
Uwarunkowania makroekonomiczne finansowego wsparcia rolnictwa w krajach BRCS
Authors: Czyżewski Andrzej , Kułyk Piotr
Published: November 2023

Celem artykułu jest przedstawienie zmian zachodzących w polityce rolnej w dynamicznie rozwijających się krajach w warunkach globalizacji. W opracowaniu zwrócono uwagę na specyfikę państw określanych, jako kraje BRCS. Zaprezentowano zmiany dokonujące się w otoczeniu makroekonomicznym, ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem polityki gospodarczej realizowanej w tych krajach. Uwzględniono oddziaływanie zjawisk makroekonomicznych (wyrażonych za pośrednictwem wskaźników) na zmiany w finansowym wsparciu sektora rolnego. W wielu z tych państw w początkowym okresie analizy mieliśmy do czynienia z deprecjonowaniem rolnictwa w stosunku do innych segmentów gospodarki. Jednak w wyniku zachodzących przemian można zauważyć przesunięcia zarówno w strukturze, jak i w wielkości finansowego wsparcia, co podnosi znaczenie poziomu rozwoju gospodarczego i uzyskiwanej równowagi makroekonomicznej.
Does work task motivation mediate the relationship between psychological capital and teacher well-being?
Authors: Zewude Girum , Hercz Maria
Published: November 2023

This study examined the mediating role of work task motivation (WTM) in the relationship between psychological capital (PsyCap) and teacher well-being (TWB) in the higher educational context of Ethiopia. The Psychological Capital Questionnaire-12 (PCQ-12), Work Task Motivation Scale for Teachers (WTMST), and Teacher Well-Being Scale (TWBS) were used to collect and analyzed data from a sample of 596 university teachers employed at Ethiopia?s Amhara Regional State Universities. The results indicated that PsyCap had a direct and positive effect on WTM (? = 0.374, CI 95% [0.271, 474], p < .001) and TWB (? = 0.298, CI 95% [0.150, 0.430], p < .001). WTM also has a direct and positive impact on TWB (? = 0.472 CI 95% [.003, .481], p < .05). Besides, WTM fully mediated the relationship between PsyCap and TWB (? = 0.110, CI 95% [0.006, 0.206], p < 0.05). We also found that PsyCap intrinsic motivation identified regulation directly and positively, whereas external, introjected regulation, and amotivation negatively and directly predicted TWB. Finally, the dimensions of WT (intrinsic motivation, identified regulation, external regulation, and introjected regulation and amotivation)partially mediated the relationships between PsyCap and dimensions of TWB (workload, organizational, and student interaction well-being).
Response to Interleukin-17A Inhibitors According to Prior Biologic Exposures: A Danish Nationwide Study
Authors: Loft Nikolai , Egeberg Alexander , Isufi Daniel , Rasmussen Mads K. , Bryld Lars E. , Dam Tomas N. , Ajgeiy Kawa K. , Bertelsen Trine , Skov Lone
Published: November 2023

Whether response to an interleukin (IL-17) inhibitor is different in patients with previous exposure to an IL-17 inhibitor compared with patients with exposure to biologics with other cytokine targets remains to be elucidated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to  assess whether previous exposure to an IL-17A inhibitor was associated with worse response than exposure to (an)other biologic(s). All patients in the DERMBIO register treated with an IL-17A inhibitor (secukinumab or ixekizumab) were included. With an absolute Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) ≤ 2 as response, the proportion of responders treated with IL-17A inhibitors was assessed in patients previously treated with another IL-17A inhibitor and compared with patients with previous exposure to (an)other biologic(s), using a χ2 test. In total, 100, 93 and 83 patients with  previous exposure to an IL-17A inhibitor and 414, 372 and 314 patients with previous exposure to (an) other biologic(s) were assessed after 3, 6 and 12 months, respectively. No differences in the proportion of  patients achieving PASI ≤ 2 were observed between the 2 groups after 3 months (54% vs 57%, p = 0.59), 6months (70% vs 66%, p = 0.42) and 12 months (69% vs 60%, p = 0.14). In conclusion, when treating patients with IL-17A inhibitors the cytokine target of the previous biologic does not appear to affect the  response.
Duration of rehabilitation therapy to achieve a minimal clinically important difference in mobility, walking endurance and patient-reported physical health: an observational study
Authors: Kool Nicoline , Kool Jan , Bachmann Stefan
Published: November 2023

Objective: To compare the duration of exercise therapy needed to achieve a minimal clinically important difference in mobility, walking endurance and patient-reported global physical health in patients referred for inpatient rehabilitation after knee surgery, hip surgery, or with multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease.
Design: Retrospective pre-post intervention observational cohort study.
Subjects: A total of 388 patients (57% women, mean age 65.6 years (standard deviation 9.5)) with a minimum length of stay 10 days were included between 1 January 2020 and 30 April 2021.
Methods: Outcomes were assessed at the start of, and discharge from, rehabilitation, using the following measures: mobility (Timed Up and Go test), walking endurance (6-minute walk test), patient-reported global physical health (Global Physical Health subscale of the 10-item Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System). The duration of exercise therapy needed to achieve a minimal clinically important difference was determined using anchor-based and distribution-based methods.
Results: The duration of therapy needed to achieve a minimal clinically important difference was longer in patients with multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease (18–88 h) than in patients after knee or hip surgery (8–25 h). In all patient groups, the duration of exercise therapy needed, determined using the distribution-based method, was shortest for patient-reported global physical health (knee surgery 9.6 h, hip surgery 6.8 h, multiple sclerosis 38.7 h, Parkinson’s disease 18.4 h).
Conclusion: The duration of active therapies required to achieve a minimal clinically important difference in physical outcomes varies widely (range 8–88 h) among different patient groups and outcomes.
Paediatric percutaneous nephrolithotomy (P-PCNL) reporting checklist
Authors: Juliebø-Jones Patrick , Ulvik Øyvind , Beisland Christian , Somani Bhaskar K
Published: November 2023

Objective: To develop a reporting checklist that serves to improve and standardise reporting in studies pertaining to paediatric percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL).
Methods: Based on findings from systematic review of literature, a draft list of items was formulated. By process of review and revisions, a finalised version was established and consensus achieved.
Results: The finalised version of the checklist covers four main sections, which include the following areas: study details, pre-operative, operative and post-operative information. There are 18 further sub-items. Recommendations deemed to be of high importance to include are highlighted in bold.
Conclusion: This practical tool can aid clinicians and researchers when undertaking and reviewing studies on paediatric PCNL. This is highly relevant given the current heterogeneity that exists as well as debate in best practice patterns.
Sustainable Development of Indonesia’s Land Border Areas; Overview from an Economic Perspective
Authors: Rahim Dian Anggraeny , Priyarsono Dominicus Savio , Rustiadi Ernan , Syaukat Yusman
Published: November 2023

The development of land border areas is continuously inevitable, so the government annually rolls out programs and policies. The sustainability of this development is expected to make the border area a center of economic growth, have a multiplier effect on the surrounding area, reduce poverty and backwash the economy, attract investment, and improve the country's income. In comparison, eliminates problems in the land border area, such as low indicators of development performance and regional isolation. This research was conducted in provinces with land border areas, namely West Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, North Kalimantan, East Nusa Tenggara, and Papua. Observations were made from 2015 – 2020 using secondary data sourced from the Central Bureau of Statistic. The research method used Principal Component Analysis to reduce thirteen to six variables of government programs supporting development performance in border areas. The reduced factors then used as variables in the Data Regression Panel to find out what programs affecting gross domestic product, poverty, and human development index in Indonesia's land border areas. The fifth variables are investment, health, agriculture, road infrastructure and markets and transportation. All variables have a significant effect on poverty and human development index, but not gross domestic product. This result shows a government economic strategy for developing sustainable land border areas.
paciente renal crônico no contexto da saúde e desigualdade social
Authors: Costa Jaqueline Almeida , Lanza Leni Boghossiam
Published: November 2023

Segundo a Sociedade Brasileira de Nefrologia cerca de 133 mil pessoas dependem de dialise, taxa que cresceu 100% nos últimos dez anos. Anualmente, mais de 20 mil pacientes entram em hemodiálise por ano, com uma taxa de mortalidade em 15%. Com o estudo proposto buscou-se discutir como as desigualdades que permeiam a sociedade influenciam na acessibilidade e experiência de cada paciente com doença renal crônica, sob tratamento de hemodiálise. Trata-se de estudo qualitativo, exploratório, transversal tendo como referencial teórico a teoria das Representações Sociais e metodológico o Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo. Pretende-se que os resultados permitam ampliar a compreensão dos impactos da realidade e de seu atendimento em saúde no contexto da desigualdade social, com vistas a qualificar sua assistência, considerando os princípios da política de saúde vigente.
The concept pre-incubation in theory and practice
Authors: Kalisty Klaudiusz
Published: November 2023

The concept of business pre-incubation is described in a residual way in the literature. The few articles defining what business pre-incubation is describe it as a service that enables an entrepreneur to test his or her business idea in real market conditions. The aim of this article will be to try to define and structure the concept of pre-incubation by pointing out its basic features, as well as to identify good practices for corporations that would decide to create a corporate incubator along the lines of the one described below. The objectives of the article will be achieved through an analysis of a pre-incubation project carried out at the end of 2021 and the beginning of 2022. The analysis will be carried out from the point of view of its participant, and through information from the organisers of this project in order to maintain a multi-faceted and broad view of the problematic of the concept of pre-incubation. By analysing existing definitions, listing the basic characteristics of pre-incubation and placing them in a real-life example, the conceptual and theoretical gap that exists in the science of about innovation, and the practical features of such a model of cooperation from the point of view of enterprises will be indicated.
Climate policy relevant sectors in the Polish commercial banks
Authors: Kosztowniak Aneta
Published: November 2023

The aim of the study is to estimate credit exposures and their changes in commercial banks' portfolios in terms of sectors important for climate policy, which exposes them to the risk of transition in Poland in 2013-2022. The research concerned the analysis of changes in the structure of the loan portfolio in terms of sectors relevant to climate change (CPRS) broken down by groups (green, black, brown, dirty), industries (fossil fuels, utility-electricity, production, manufacturing, transportation, agriculture), and types of activity divided into sections. The CPRS methodology was applied (Battiston), which is used in EiOPA, ECB, EBA. The share of green exposures of the entire banking sector in 2013-2022 increased (to 49%) and the share of dirty exposures decreased (to 51%). Due to the link between the sections, the three pillars of industries with the greatest risk to transformation among the CPRS were: buildings, transportation and manufacturing.
Reseña: El periodismo de videojuegos en España. Ecosistema mediático y tendencias de una especialización cultural
Authors: Silva-Rodríguez Alba
Published: November 2023

Reseña: El periodismo de videojuegos en España. Ecosistema mediático y tendencias de una especialización cultural

Book review: El periodismo de videojuegos en España. Ecosistema mediático y tendencias de una especialización cultural
Labor Market Stability and Fertility Decisions
Authors:   Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, Monras Joan , Polo-Muro Eduardo ,   University of the Basque Country, Vazquez-Grenno Javier ,   Universitat de Barcelona
Published: November 2023

This paper studies how fertility decisions respond to an improvement in job stability using variation from the large and unexpected regularization of undocumented immigrants in Spain implemented during the first half of 2005. This policy change improved substantially the labor market opportunities of affected men and women, many of which left the informality of house keeping service sectors toward more formal, stable, and higher paying jobs in larger firms (Elias et al., 2023). In this paper, we estimate the effects of the regularization on fertility rates using two alternative difference-in-differences strategies that compare fertility behavior of “eligible” and “non-eligible” candidate women to obtain the legal status, both on aggregate and at the local level. Our findings suggests that gaining work permits leads to a significant increase in women fertility. Our preferred estimates indicate that the regularization increased fertility rates among affected women by around 5 points, which is a 10 percent increase.
Movimientos islámicos en Asia Central
Authors: Botta Paulo , Peña-Ramos José Antonio
Published: November 2023

En este artículo se analizan las diversas manifestaciones del Islam político en los países de Asia Central, particularmente en las últimas tres décadas de vida independiente. El Islam ha inspirado a partidos políticos y una base de identidad social que no debe confundirse con movimientos de inspiración salafista-yihadista. El estudio del Islam político sirve para entender que Asia Central no es una región totalmente aislada de los desarrollos en el resto del mundo islámico o del Gran Medio Oriente.
Rancang Bangun Aplikasi Pembelajaran Tajwid berbasis Android
Authors: Piana Arma , Ahmadian Hendri , Maisura Mira , Aziz Aulia Syarif
Published: November 2023

Media yang sangat terbatas dapat menyulitkan pelajar dalam memahami sebuah pelajaran yang diberikan oleh seorang guru, contohnya pada pembelajaran Ilmu Tajwid. Pada materi tersebut terdapat materi tentang cara pengucapan huruf hijaiyah, dimana pada pembelajaran ini memerlukan pengetahuan yang sangat baik, sehingga hal ini menjadi salah satu kendala terhadap peserta didik khususnya di MTsS Ashhabul Yamin Bakongan Aceh Selatan. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode UCD (user centered design) sebagai salah satu solusi agar penelitian ini berpusat pada kebutuhan yang dibutuhkan oleh pengguna. Tahapan penelitian adalah, dengan melakukan rumusan masalah, studi literature, perancangan aplikasi, implementasi aplikasi, dan terakhir menggunakan metode SUS untuk mengukur kepuasan dari pengguna. Adapun lokasi penelitian dilaksanakan di sekolah menengah pertama MTsS Ashhabul Yamin Bakongan, Aceh Selatan. Berdasarkan hasil pengolahan respon dari responden diperolah nilai yaitu 77, 38% yang merepresentasikan grade B. Hal ini memiliki arti bahwa aplikasi yang telah dirancang memenuhi ekspektasi pengguna dan aplikasi dapat digunakan dengan baik oleh peserta didik yang ada di sekolah tersebut.
Effect of Nigella Sattiva (Kalonji) Oil Based Mouth Wash on Salivary Matrix Metalloproteinase-8 Level in Patients with Chronic Periodonititis- A Randomized controlled Trial
Authors: Hassan Ghazala , Ghafoor Sarah , Chaudhry Saima , Khan Zubair Ahmed
Published: November 2023

Background and Objective: Salivary level of Matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8), a collagen degradation enzyme, is known to increase during chronic periodontitis. Nigella sativa is one of the potent anti[1]inflammatory compounds that has a promising role in oral inflammatory conditions. Present study aims to explore the salivary MMP-8 levels after Nigella sativa oil-based mouth wash as compared to placebo(normal saline) after non-surgical periodontal therapy in patients with chronic periodontitis.

Methods: This parallel arm randomized controlled trial was conducted at FMH College of Medicine & Dentistry, Lahore Pakistan from January 2018 to June 2019. Fifty patients suffering from chronic periodontitis were recruited and randomized into the treatment group that received Nigella sativa oil and the control group that received simple normal saline. Salivary samples for MMP-8 levels were collected , once before non-surgical periodontal therapy and secondly after two weeks of rinsing with Nigella sativa oil-based mouthwash in one group and normal saline in the second. Salivary MMP-8 levels were determined through ELISA. The comparison within groups was done through paired t test and between groups through independent sample t-test.

Results: Mean pre-treatment concentration of salivary MMP-8 of the Nigella Sativa group and normal saline group were 199.37 ± 300.75 ng/l and 195.29 ± 175.89 ng/l that decreased post-treatment to 147.35 ± 144.9ng/l and 114.17 ± 129.21ng/l respectively. Statistical analysis revealed no difference in the salivary MMP-8 levels between the chronic periodontitis patients using Nigella sativa or normal saline mouth wash twice daily for two weeks.

Conclusion: The salivary levels of MMP-8 reduced in patients with chronic periodontitis after scaling and root planning with the use of Nigella sativa oil-based mouthwash as well as placebo (normal saline). However, this reduction was statistically non-significant both within and between the study groups.
Knowledge and Perception about Ketogenic Diet among Medical Students
Authors: Butt Muhammad Umair , Bawa Mohammad Danyal , Ahmed Hina
Published: November 2023

Background and Objectives: Ketogenic diet has gained lotre cognition nowadays through its various health implications; it is extensively used for weight reduction besides its therapeutic use in other diseases.The diet constitutes high-fat, low-carbohydrates that utilize fats for metabolism. The objective of the study was to determine the Knowledge and Perception about ketogenic diet, its therapeutic uses, side effects and benefits among medical students of Fatima Memorial College.
Methods: This was a cross sectional study conducted at Fatima Memorial Hospital, College of Medicine and Dentistry, Lahore. The duration of study was 6 months from July 2019 to December 2019. A total of 250 students of MBBS were interviewed after taking informed consent through a structured questionnaire and data was analyzed statistically.
Results: A total of 250 participants were interviewed. Among all 183 (73.2%) of the participants heard about ketogenic diet, and 52 (20.8%) knew the difference between could differentiate ketogenic diet and fasting. Most of the participants 102 (40.8%) were aware about its high fat and low carbohydrate content. Out of 250 participants, 191 (76.4%) and 147 (58.8%) agreed weight loss and cardiovascular disease the main therapeutic aim for taking this diet however, 144 (57.6%) had a perception that elderly cannot take this diet. Most of the participants 146 (58.4%) and 139 (55.6%) considered hair fall and acidosis as main adverse effects of the diet to the human body respectively.
Conclusion: The study shows that medical students had compelling knowledge about ketogenic diet’s therapeutic uses, side effects and benefits on the body. Weight loss was observed as the most important factor for choosing it. Pre-diet counseling came out to be valuable as a guide towards people thinking for adopting this diet.
Measurement of Air Concentrations of Particulate Matters, Volatile Organic Compounds and Formaldehyde in Lahore
Authors: Aslam Shiraz , Javed Maham , Reyaz Nadeem
Published: November 2023

Background and Objective: The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including formaldehyde (HCHO) are widely concerned due to their harmful impact on human health by productionof photochemical smog and ozone and have great impacton air quality. High air pollution level in urban areas is one of the major concerns therefore, there is need to develop cost-effective devices for measurement of VOCs in the environment. The objective of the study was to quantify the levels of these hazardous chemicals in air in major areas of Lahore.
Methods: This study was a cross-sectional descriptive study. A new multi-item pollution monitoring device (Life Basis DM 106 A) was used to carry out the readings. The areas targeted were busy areas of Lahore including Jail Road, Ferozepur Road, Lytton Road, MAO College, Kacheri, Data Darbar, Bhati Gate, Shahalmi, Davis Road and G.O.R 1.
Results: The highest VOC obtained was in the most crowded area of Lahore-the Data Darbar (10 mg/m3) and HCHO measured was also greatest at the Data Darbar area (0.99 mg/m3). However, G.O.R-1 showed the lowest VOCs and HCHOs measured as 0.004 mg/m3 and 0.002 mg/m3 respectively.Among different sizes of PM, there was a significant correlationbetween PM 1.0 and PM 10.0 (p = 0.000), while PM 2.5 showed a significant negative correlation (p = 0.009) with the relative humidity of the area.
Conclusion: A thorough knowledge of the concentrations of these pollutants and others like the PM2.5 and PM10 are paramount, in order to protect our communities from ill health.
Cost of Fighting Against Hepatitis B and C in Pakistan to Rise above $3 Billion by 2030
Authors: Khan Mehwish
Published: November 2023

N/A
Effect of Carbonated Drinks on Uterine Development-An Experimental Study
Authors: Zhuandi Gong , Suocheng Wei , Limin Wei , Haoqin Liang , Luju Lai
Published: November 2023

ABSTRACT
Background and Objective: Consumption of Coca-cola and Pepsi-cola has harmful impact on human health. Currently, scant data is available regarding effects of carbonated beverages on female reproductive system. This study was aimed to investigate the effects of carbonated beverages on uterine development and expression of follicle stimulating hormone receptor in mice model. 
Methods: A total of 150 female Kunming mice weighing 20.36 ± 2.28 gm. were divided into five groups with  30 mice in each group. Groups COC-1 and COC-2 mice were given 50% and 100% Coca-cola per oral respectively for 25 days. Groups PEP-1 and PEP-2 mice were given 50% and 100% Pepsi-cola per oral respectively. Control group (CG) mice were given tap-water per oral. Western blotting was done to  ascertain the levels of Follicle Stimulating Hormone Receptor (FSHR) protein in ovaries. Follicle  Stimulating Hormone (FSH) levels were measured by ELISA kit.
Results: The weight of uterus in the groups COC-2 and PEP-2 was lower than that of CG. Uterine wall and  uterine cavities were slightly decreased in Coca-cola and Pepsi-cola groups compared to CG. Uterine mucus was ruffled. Uterus wall thicknesses (UWT) were reduced. In comparison with CG, FSHR protein levels in  COC-2 and PEP-2 groups were reduced by 21.14% and 22.80%. Serum FSH levels of COC-1, COC-2 and  PEP-1 were less than that of CG. Body weights of the one-week-old mice from COC-2, PEP-1 and PEP-2  groups were increased in COC-2 and PEP-2 groups in comparison with CG (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Oral ingestion of Coca-cola and Pepsi-cola for a longer duration reduces uterine weight, affects the uterine histology and inhibits the uterine development. reduced expression of FSHR protein may be  linked with reduced growth and development of new born mice.
Tuberculous Mastitis in Females of South Punjab: A Clinicopathological Analysis of Ten Years from Pakistan
Authors: Samad Afra , Bukhar Aqsa Ashraf , Sartaj Safia , Fayyaz Nudrat , Akhter Naseem , Naeem Namra , Alam Muhammad Ejaz , Arshad Muhammad Imran
Published: November 2023

Background and Objective: Extrapulmonary tuberculosis occurring in breast is a rare disorder in West but is still present in developing nations where tuberculosis is endemic. Tuberculous Mastitis (TM) is difficult to diagnose as it has vague clinical symptoms and insufficient radiological findings. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of tuberculous mastitis by accessible modalities for early diagnosis.
Methods: After the Institutional Ethical Board approvals, Pathology laboratory archives and medical records of 5000 patients from Ibn-e-Sina Hospital Research Institute, Multan and Multi Test Laboratory, were retrieved from the year 2008 to 2018. A retrospective analysis of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) results of patients who presented with breast lumps was carried out. The interpretation of cytological findings and Ziehl Neelsen stained smears was carried out by cytopathologists and microbiologists respectively. Mycobacterium DNA was detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in selected cases.
Results: Out of 5000 patients, tuberculosis was diagnosed in 264 (5.28%) cases on FNAC. Acid fast bacilli (AFB) positive smears were found in 79.5%patients while 20.45% cases were AFB negative. Among AFB negative smears, 38 cases were further analyzed by PCR, among which 32 (84.2%) cases showed PCR positive results for TM. An increased frequency of TM among all inflammatory breast lesions from 18% in 2008 to 47.19% in 2018 was observed.
Conclusion: Tuberculous Mastitis is an uncommon form of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis. It has non- specific clinical, radiological and varied histological findings that often mimic breast abscess or carcinoma. FNAC is essential to guide the patient to further tests including histochemistry and PCR that can be used as more sensitive and time effective detection modalities.
Comparison of Oral Health Status of Students Attending Three Different Education Systems in Pakistan
Authors: Zaib Nadia , Zafar Mahrukh , Masood Rabia , Kiyani Amber
Published: November 2023

Background and Objective:  The objective of this study was to compare the prevalence of dental caries through the Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index ​​of students belonging to the three different education systems of Pakistan in order to ascertain the baseline statistics for the Pakistani student population.

Methods:  A cross-sectional study was conducted during the year 2018 to record DMFT scores of students studying in madrassas, government and private schools of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. A total of 663 students underwent a DMFT evaluation by trained dentists following the consent of their parents. The results were analyzed by using one way ANOVA and post-hoc tests for comparing DMFT scores among the students of different school system using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23 and a P-value of <0.05 was taken as significant.

Results:  Madrassa group of students had the best DMFT scores; mean DMFT of 1.2 ± 1.9 whereas private school students had a mean DMFT of 2.17 ± 2.9 and Government school children had a mean DMFT score of 2.09 ± 2.08. While comparing the DMFT scores of madrassa students with government and private school students, statistically significant results were observed.

Conclusion:  Although an acceptable DMFT score was obtained for each of the three education systems; madrassa, government and private schools; the DMFT scores were the lowest for the madrassa students indicating best dental health in them.
In-class Exercises Regarding the Roles of Excipients in a Pharmaceutics Course
Authors: Klausner Eytan
Published: November 2023

Objective: To assess student perceptions regarding: 1) exercises designed to enhance student comprehension of the roles of pharmaceutical excipients in dosage forms and 2) the use of resources to identify the roles of excipients.
Description: In-class exercises regarding the roles of excipients were implemented in a foundational pharmaceutics course. The exercises covered the topics of liquid single-phase systems, liquid multiphase systems, drug delivery to the skin, and parenteral, ophthalmic, and nasal dosage forms. Students were introduced to resources to identify the roles of excipients. The exercises included the presentation of pharmaceutical preparations with various fundamental excipients, followed by student polling and class discussion. A survey was administered to evaluate student perceptions regarding the exercises about the roles of excipients and the use of resources to identify the roles of excipients.
Findings: Eighty students participated in the study (response rate = 99%). Student perceptions indicated that the exercises helped them understand the material better and enhanced their performance in the non-sterile compounding course taught concurrently with the pharmaceutics course. Students indicated that the resources they used during the exercises were lecture notes from the course (95%), lists with excipients that the instructor provided (24%), a Web search, e.g., Google, Bing (20%), the sixth edition of the Handbook of Pharmaceutical Excipients (18%), Micromedex/Martindale (16%), and the International Journal of Pharmaceutical Compounding (6%).
Conclusion. Targeted excipient exercises are a practical approach to enhance student understanding and can be utilized in pharmaceutics and non-sterile compounding courses across various pharmacy curricula.
Desafíos de la seguridad humana frente a la amenaza de la represión política
Authors: Gómez del Castillo Carolina
Published: November 2023

El capítulo desarrolla la noción de represión política en el marco de los desafíos de la seguridad humana en Colombia, según el Plan Nacional de Desarrollo 2022-2026. Se abordan diversas facetas de la represión, desde la noción de represión estatal plantea-da por el PNUD en 1994, hasta ciberamenazas que comprometen procesos electorales, y el proceso de manipulación detrás de las protestas sociales de 2021, que deriva en actos violentos que vulneran derechos fundamentales, amenazan las instituciones y desencadenan mecanismos de escalada de la violencia. Se ilustran distintos tipos de represión política con casos específicos y se analiza la violencia en las manifestaciones. Se concluye que la represión no es exclusiva de las Fuerzas Militares y de Policía, si bien estas tienen el monopolio del uso legítimo de la fuerza, sino que amenaza la seguridad humana desde diversos ámbitos. Finalmente, se argumenta que la seguridad humana requiere una estrategia integral de todas las entidades gubernamentales.
Monstrous Bodies as Cultural Text
Authors: Aarcha  , Krishnan Reshmi
Published: November 2023

Monstrous bodies are culturally coded, reflecting the anxieties, expectations, fears, and desires of the culture within which they are produced. This article seeks to study monstrous corporeality in an attempt to understand the interface between culture and monsters by looking at the Greek mythical monsters as represented in Natalie Haynes’s novel Stone Blind (2022). By examining the embodied difference as well as the grotesque and the abject that inhabit the liminal space, we explore the corporeal otherness of monsters, the cultural cues entrenched in their non-normative bodies and their discursivity. The study, probing into the liminal nature of monstrous bodies that resist categorisation, seeks to highlight the subversive potential that deviant bodies offer and how Haynes seizes this opportunity to challenge the human penchant to monsterise difference for a re-evaluation of the cultural construction of monstrous bodies.
Emerging Technologies and Security of Library Resources at Bayelsa State Library Board
Authors: Sanni Victor , Oloniruha Emmanuel Adeniyi , Braide Dorathy , Atule Joseph
Published: November 2023

This study investigates the application of emerging technologies in the security of library resources at Bayelsa State Library Board (BYSLB). The loss of rare intellectually stimulating and information-rich resources due to ineffective security methods at the Bayelsa State Library Board resulted in this study. Two objectives and two research questions guided the study, and two research hypotheses were formulated and tested at a 0.05 level of significance. The study was carried out using correlation research designs, with a population of 24, comprising professionals, paraprofessionals, and supporting staff. A census sampling technique was used to select all the respondents. A questionnaire was used for data collection and a total of 24 copies were administered, but only 21 copies were found valid for analysis. The data was analysed using the mean score and standard deviation for research questions and the Pearson product-moment correlation to test the hypotheses. The findings reveal that the application of emerging technologies such as radio frequency identification (RFID), barcode, and closed-circuit television (CCTV) were not fully adapted. There is a significant relationship between RFID/barcode and CCTV technologies and the security of library resources at BYSLB. The study concluded that librarians should strive to adopt technological applications for securing public library resources. They should organise orientation programmes to educate users on the importance of safeguarding library resources. The study recommended, among others, funding from the government and private sectors, training of library staff as security specialists who will conduct risk assessment, and disaster preparedness towards library resources.
Relief and Background as a Shaping Factor: the Baroque Era
Authors: Aleksandrova Elena L.
Published: November 2023

The artistic space of the era is viewed through the prism of the relief-background correlations. The author outlines the relationships between the form and genre, the basic principles of form-building and the leading aesthetic and philosophical systems of the 17th century and the fi rst half of the 18th century.
Comparing Optical Chemical Structure Recognition Tools
Authors: Weber Lutz , Krasnov Aleksei , Barnabas Shadrack , Böhme Timo , Boyer Stephen
Published: November 2023

The extraction of chemical information from images, also known as optical chemical structure recognition (OCSR) has recently gained new attention. This new interest is ignited by the various machine learning methods introduced over the last years and the possibility to train image models for specific tasks such as OCSR. Thus, in this paper we have compared 6 open access OCSR methods (DECIMER, ReactionDataExtractor, MolScribe, RxnScribe, MolVec and OSRA) using an independent test set of images from patents and patent applications as this is an application area of general interest - precision and recall are highly desired by those who are analysing the intellectual property of chemistry patents. As a result, the used methods have shown different strengths when predicting structures from different images containing different modalities and chemistry categories. These existing methodologies for image extraction overall remain unsatisfactory, indicating a need for further advancements in the field. Thus, we have created a machine learning image classifier, classifying images into one out of four image categories and applying the best performing OCSR method for this category. The classifier, image comparator tools and datasets have been made available to the public as open access tools.
Maximum and Comparative Efficiency Calculations for Integrated Capture and Conversion CO2
Authors: Appel Aaron , Yang Jenny
Published: November 2023

The integration of CO2 capture and conversion has the potential to decrease the capital and energetic cost of utilizing dilute CO2 streams. Herein we evaluate the overall energy efficiency for electrochemical conversion of dilute CO2 streams to product. Additionally, the energetic requirement for the use of intermediary sorbents for CO2 capture is described, which facilitates the comparison of catalyst efficiencies using the same sorbent in the context of initial CO2 concentration. We also introduce a parameter, ΔERCC, that evaluates the suitability of sorbents for dilute CO2 streams. These energetic considerations provide quantitative metrics for evaluating integrated CO2 capture and conversion systems.
Design and implementation of engine test device for the M601 engine
Authors:   University of Žilina, Pukač Andrej , Čerňan Jozef
Published: November 2023

The aim of this article is to create a proposal and documents for the implementation phase of the engine test device for the Walter M601 engine, which after implementation will serve as a teaching and research aid for researching new alternative fuels, testing different variants of propellers and others. As part of our work, we are dedicated to the development of two entire future test segments of device, namely the test stand and the design of the monitoring and regulation part, where we use the original devices, manufactured in compliance with LUN, which was directly designed in the past for the M601 engine and its installation in the L-410 Turbolet aircraft. The design of the test stand will include a 3D design and documentation. The monitoring part will consist of the design of the monitoring panel, which will contain selected engine indicators and LUN sensors, which will be used from the defined solutions of specific requirements and the design of electrical wiring and power sources and modules for the operation of the monitoring and regulation part.
Possibilities of implementation remote control towers concept at Slovak airports
Authors:   University of Žilina, Veselovský Šimon , Badánik Benedikt
Published: November 2023

The aim of this article is to evaluate the feasibility of implementing virtual control towers at airports in Slovakia. The introduction provides an overview of virtual control towers, including their concept, usage, advantages, disadvantages, and existing implementations. The paper outlines the requirements for implementing such a system and presents a preliminary design and analysis of virtual control towers for Slovakian airports. The study covers the design and evaluation of the implementation, from a general perspective to specific airport analysis, and proposes a plan for implementing virtual towers in Slovakia based on available information. In conclusion, the author discusses the financial and technical aspects of implementation, as well as an assessment of the suitability of this concept for Slovakian airports. Remote towers have been proven to be a viable option for small and medium-sized airports, offering increased flexibility and cost reduction through centralized remote control of multiple airports. However, implementing virtual control towers in Slovakia would come with significant financial implications.
Marketing of low-cost carriers
Authors:   University of Žilina, Mihalčinová Nikola , Badánik Benedikt
Published: November 2023

The article deals with the marketing of low-cost airlines and marketing strategies. The article primarily focuses on three selected airlines - Wizz Air, Ryanair and easyJet. The aim of this article is to propose specific possibilities for improving marketing activities based on the theoretical basis obtained from relevant sources and the subsequent processing of the practical part. Proposals are based on the analysis of marketing strategies, including marketing mix, Porter's five forces model, perception map, passenger segmentation, BCG matrix and Ansoff matrix, and evaluate the success and effectiveness of airline marketing activities. The results of the analysis show that airlines could improve their marketing activities through various strategies, such as increasing investment in digital marketing, improving service and customer experience, adapting prices and product packages to the needs of different passenger segments, and expanding the market into new areas. These recommendations can help airlines improve their competitiveness and market success and contribute to their long-term success.
Uncovering the truth: A deep learning approach to detecting fake news
Authors: Bishal Bose
Published: November 2023

Fake news is a growing problem on social media and can have significant negative consequences for individuals and society owing to its accessibility, low cost, and quick distribution. It is difficult to automatically identify bogus news that defies the current content-based analysis techniques. One of the key reasons is that current NLP algorithms still lack common sense, which is frequently necessary for understanding how to read the news. Recent research has demonstrated that the propagation patterns of true and fake news differ on social media. With the potential for automatic fake news detection, this study investigates the use of Deep Learning (DL) models to detect fake news on social media. A Neural Network (NN) model was developed using Natural Language Toolkit (NLTK), TensorFlow, and Natural Language Processing (NLP) for textual analysis. The model was trained on a dataset of fake and real news articles, and was able to achieve high accuracy in identifying fake news. The results of this study suggest that DL models can be valuable tools for detecting fake news on social media.