bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DIGITAL SUPPORT OF THE ORGANISATION AND METHODOLOGY OF THE TAX AUDITS AS A FACTOR OF THE FINANCIAL SECURITY
Authors: Yuryeva Irina
Published: May 2024

In modern economic conditions, taxes are one of the main sources of filling state funds, which are necessary to ensure the social and economic well-being of the state and society. Unfortunately, tax evasion, aggressive tax planning and non-compliance with tax laws are widespread. This, in turn, affects the quality and accessibility of government programmes. Non-compliance undermines the fairness of the tax system, as those who do not pay their fair share shift the burden to other taxpayers. Non-compliance undermines the fairness of the tax system because those who do not pay their proper portion shift the burden to other taxpayers. In the same way, businesses that do not pay their proper portion have an unfair competitive advantage over businesses that comply with the law. From a review of the development of information technology, its impact on markets and the economy, and taking into account the challenges that have emerged for tax authorities and taxpayers in the context of the spread of pandemic, war state, the issue of transforming the tax administration system in order to implement it effectively has become even more acute. As a consequence, there is a trend towards global digitalisation of tax information, introduction of new technologies for tax administration. Strengthening compliance with tax legislation and collection of sufficient revenues is a prerequisite for filling the state budget and ensuring public needs. This is why tax authorities are digitally transforming and automating their systems. The implementation of technology can ensure successful and sustainable tax reforms, ensure proper taxation of the digital economy and reduce compliance obstacles for taxpayers. Today's challenges have led to a boom in the use of digital technologies in public administration and made it particularly relevant to implement them in tax procedures.
ARCHITECTURAL AND TECHNICAL IMPACT OF GAS NETWORKS ON THE TARIFF FOR NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTION SERVICES
Authors: Horal Liliana , Metoshop Iryna , Chernova Oksana , Kornienko Andrii
Published: May 2024

A study of tariff formation by gas distribution networks for the supply of natural gas was conducted, which proved that the current method of calculating the tariff is based on the amount of planned revenue and volumes of gas that the company intends to transport in the next period. The existing methodology affects the devaluation by enterprises of the tasks of effective functioning and cost reduction, which ultimately can lead to excessive costs and unstable tariffs.
The work outlines a number of technical and geographical parameters affecting the formation of tariffs for gas supply. In particular, the working pressure, geometric configuration and route profile of gas networks have a direct impact on the technical complexity of the network and the costs of construction, operation and maintenance. In turn, the relief of laying gas networks significantly affects their design, safety and cost, which has an indirect effect on the formation of tariffs for gas transportation.
To ensure the highest productivity and efficiency of gas networks, enterprises must constantly monitor indicators such as gas losses, possible pressure losses in network sections, pressure at each node point and its possible drops, determine the causes of their occurrence and growth, and develop strategies for their optimisation. In addition to the technical features of the construction of gas networks, the impact of a number of economic factors has been proven, in particular, on the continuity and reliability of gas supply for consumers, which take into account environmental and safety standards, which allows to set reasonable tariffs for gas transportation and ensure greater stability and transparency for all stakeholders.
RESEARCH OF ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY OUTSOURCING
Authors: Nazarenko Stanislav , Kuchina Svitlana , Maistro Ruslana
Published: May 2024

The article examines the advantages and disadvantages of information technology outsourcing. It is determined that outsourcing is one of the actual methods of increasing the efficiency of economic activity. It is emphasized that in the conditions of a significant increase in costs for modern information technologies; the practice of outsourcing acquires a special role. Conditional reasons have been determined; in the presence of which the company's management resorts to the services of external outsourcers. It has been proven that all models of information technology outsourcing; which are currently used in the production and economic activities of industrial enterprises; have their strengths and weaknesses; which must be known; researched; analyzed and taken into account when forming strategic and current plans and when managing the company The advantages and disadvantages of information technology outsourcing are described in detail. It has been proven that the advantages of IT outsourcing include increasing productivity by using the special knowledge of experts in specific areas of activity and market segments; and also enable the company to focus the attention of management and resources on the main (direct) tasks and on the development of specialized business activities. It was determined that the main disadvantage of IT outsourcing is the presence of certain difficulties in choosing a professional and adequate IT outsourcer. It is noted that the outsourcing of information services significantly affects the level of efficiency; flexibility and adaptability of industrial enterprises; contributes to reducing costs and increasing the quality of services.
INTERNATIONAL MARKETING STRATEGY OF THE COMPANY IN THE CONTEXT OF GLOBALISATION
Authors: Kropyva Valeriia , Koptieva Hanna
Published: May 2024

In this scientific article, the importance of developing an international marketing strategy for companies in the context of globalization of the business environment and internationalization is considered. The article focuses on the processes of analyzing the markets of potential countries, selecting the most promising regions or countries, developing commercial offers for goods, services, and prices, as well as establishing plans for distribution and communication policy in international markets. The importance of in-depth market analysis and taking into account their characteristics in the formation of an international marketing strategy is emphasized, which should be aimed at achieving success in international markets by changing cognitive preferences through the use of smart marketing tools and an appropriate approach to marketing activities. This approach is defined as critical for the sustainable growth and prosperity of companies in international markets in the modern conditions of the global economy and competition. It has been proven that the successful operation of the enterprise on the global market is achieved due to a properly formed international marketing strategy. The purpose of the research is the analysis of theoretical aspects and the development of practical recommendations for the formation of effective marketing strategies in the conditions of globalization. The essence of the international marketing strategy, which should be developed and implemented when the enterprise enters foreign markets, is determined. It is noted that in the conditions of globalization, enterprises choose access to the global market and choose an international marketing strategy. For this purpose, an algorithm for forming a marketing strategy for an enterprise entering the international market is proposed, which includes the following stages: determination of the goals and possible tasks of the enterprise entering the international market, analysis of the international marketing environment, analysis of the resource base of the enterprise, decision on the feasibility of entering the foreign market, selection market, choosing a method of entering the foreign market, developing a market strategy, developing a product strategy, developing mechanisms for implementing the chosen international marketing strategy.
METHODOLOGICAL ESSENCE OF THE COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL OF TECHNOLOGIES IN THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Authors: Kniaz Sviatoslav , Tkachova Nadezhda , Kosenko Andrey
Published: May 2024

The article is devoted to the study of the influence of factors that determine the competitiveness of individual enterprises and countries in the conditions of a market economy. The change of priorities in different periods of economic development is analyzed. At the stage of the industrial economy, the priority in achieving competitive advantages was the main factors of production: labor and natural resources, capital. The next stage of market competition is related to investment. Attracting foreign and domestic investments provided companies and states with competitive advantages. The main task was to create favorable conditions for investments. In the modern economy, the role of the main factors of production, as well as investments, remains an important criterion of competitiveness. At the same time, there is a transition to fundamentally new technologies based on information as the most important resource. A new branch of the economy is emerging, associated with digital technologies for receiving, transmitting and processing information. The transition to digital technologies is accompanied by changes in the business environment. The competitiveness of companies in the digital economy depends on competitiveness in the global market. The workforce structure is changing. The competitiveness of companies is affected by the quality of workers employed in production. There is a struggle for highly qualified personnel. At the current stage, innovations are becoming the main factor in the competitiveness of both individual enterprises and countries as a whole. Ukrainian industrial enterprises, faced with crisis phenomena and problems of introducing innovations and innovative technologies into their production, are forced to independently search for new ways of innovative development of the enterprise, creating new production clusters of "production complexes" to solve the most basic problem of complete modernization of their production, and therefore the regularity of such a phenomenon , as the formation of "production complexes", require its comprehensiveness. Research. This paper formulates the main regularities of the formation of "production complexes", where innovation is a link, as a special factor of increasing the competitiveness of industrial enterprises, but as part of the "production complex". An analysis of scientific research in the innovative sphere of the economy was carried out in the part of studying the patterns of formation of "production complexes", conclusions were drawn about the lack of a concept of innovative development of "production complexes", a concept of innovative development of "production complexes" in our country was proposed.
MODERN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INSURANCE: ANALYSIS OF ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
Authors: Tataryntseva Yuliia , Strokov Ievgen
Published: May 2024

The article examines the influence of modern information technologies, in particular artificial intelligence, on the field of insurance. Innovative approaches and digital solutions that are revolutionizing the traditional insurance market are highlighted. The main focus of the article is the use of artificial intelligence and data analytics in the processes of underwriting policies, risk assessment, loss regulation and improving customer interaction. The main types of use of artificial intelligence in the insurance industry are highlighted: risk assessment and pricing; automation of signing policies; settlement of losses; customer service and maintenance; fight against insurance fraud. The characteristics of certain types of use of artificial intelligence in the insurance industry are given. Individualization of insurance policies becomes possible thanks to the analysis of a large amount of data with the help of artificial intelligence algorithms, which contributes to providing a more accurate and adapted approach to the needs of each client. In addition, it was investigated how the use of artificial intelligence improves risk forecasting in the field of insurance. Machine learning allows for data analysis at a level unattainable for humans, which makes the risk assessment process more efficient and objective. The article analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of using artificial intelligence. Perspectives in improving the accuracy of risk assessment, optimizing loss settlement processes and ensuring more effective communication with clients are considered. It is noted that the introduction of information technologies leads to certain difficulties, such as confidentiality and ethical issues, but at the same time creates new opportunities for the development and growth of the insurance market. Important aspects and trends are analyzed in the context of changes in the modern world, which are reflected in the strategic development of the insurance sector. In general, the article aims to raise awareness of the potential opportunities and challenges associated with the use of information technology in insurance, contributing to the further improvement of this important sector of the financial market, taking into account the challenges of modernity and the prospects of the post-war revival of Ukraine.
CONCEPT, CONTENT AND FUNCTIONAL COMPONENTS OF ECONOMIC SECURITY OF AN INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISE
Authors: Miroshnichenko Yana , Foshchii Petro , Uhrimova Iryna
Published: May 2024

The article examines and summarizes the theoretical foundations of the economic security of an industrial enterprise. It was found that the term "security" has a complex character, as it is used in various sciences, and that in economic theory, several types of security are distinguished by content, that is, depending on the spheres of public life and directions of human activity. Based on the analysis of the scientific literature, five approaches to determining the essence of the "economic security of the enterprise" have been identified. The first approach to determining the economic security of an enterprise is based on the concept of security against threats. The second approach, which consists in the fact that the economic security of the enterprise is considered as a state of efficient use of resources, which is closely related to the first approach. According to the third approach, the economic security of the enterprise is determined from the position of the ability to stable functioning and development. According to the following approach, economic security is defined as the presence of competitive advantages. According to the last view, economic security is considered as an opportunity to achieve goals. It is noted that a number of authors follow several approaches at the same time. On the basis of the conducted research, it was concluded that economic security is such a state of an industrial enterprise, in which it, using its resources, is able to ensure effective functioning and development. An industrial enterprise with a high level of economic security is able to respond in a timely manner and resist the negative impact of internal and external factors. Since this study examines the security of an industrial enterprise from an economic point of view, for an objective assessment of economic security, it is proposed to distinguish four functional components: financial, production-sales, technical-technological, and personnel, which are the basis of the economic activity of any industrial enterprise.
Распространение вариантов вируса SARS-COV-2, вызывающих интерес (VOI) и находящихся под наблюдением (VUM), на основе количества их геномов, депонированных в базу данных GISAID за неделю с 27 апреля по 3 мая 2024 г.
Authors: Дмитриева Людмила , Чумачкова Елена , Краснов Ярослав , Осина Наталья , Зимирова Анастасия , Иванова Александра , Карнаухов Игорь , Караваева Татьяна , Щербакова Светлана , Кутырев Владимир
Published: May 2024

В обзоре представлена информация по циркулирующим в настоящее время вариантам вируса SARS-COV-2 Omicron вызывающих интерес (VOI) и находящихся под наблюдением (VUM), геномные последовательности которых размещены в международной базе данных GISAID за неделю с 27 апреля по 3 мая 2024 г.
Bony Bankart Lesion
Authors: Weisberg Zach , Cole Wendell , Rumps Mia V. , Vopat Bryan , Mulcahey Mary K.
Published: May 2024

» Bony Bankart lesions are fractures of the anteroinferior glenoid rim, commonly associated with a traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation, and are diagnosed through radiological imaging and physical examination. Young male athletes playing contact sports are at highest risk of these injuries. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial because, if left untreated, recurrent anterior shoulder instability and glenoid bone loss can occur. Both nonsurgical and surgical treatment options are available depending on the size of the lesion, with arthroscopic repair being the most common treatment method. After repair, patients typically have favorable outcomes with low rates of recurrent instability. This review aims to discuss the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of bony Bankart lesions.

» Bony Bankart lesions are fractures of the anteroinferior glenoid rim and occur in up to 22% of first-time anterior shoulder dislocations.

» Young men involved in contact sports or combat training are at the highest risk of sustaining bony Bankart lesions.

» Diagnosis and treatment of bony Bankart lesions are essential to prevent long-term shoulder instability.

» Bony Bankart lesions can be treated either nonoperatively or operatively (arthroscopic vs open repair), with the size of the glenoid defect being the primary determinant of treatment.
Transforming Science Education Globally Through Electronic Worksheets' Cognitive Impact
Authors: Aida Wafid , Wulandari Ria
Published: May 2024

This study investigates the impact of using electronic worksheets on students' cognitive learning outcomes in understanding the human digestive system. Conducted at SMPN 3 Porong with Grade VIII students, the research employed a quantitative approach with Quasi Experimental Design and Non-equivalent Control Group Design. The experimental class (VIII F) used electronic worksheets, while the control class (VIII G) did not. Pretests and posttests were administered, showing a significant improvement in cognitive learning outcomes in the experimental class compared to the control. These findings highlight the potential of electronic tools in enhancing student learning experiences in science education, particularly in complex subjects like biology.

Highlight:

Enhanced learning with electronic worksheets in science education.
Quasi-experimental design compares electronic and traditional methods.
Technology integration improves student engagement and cognitive outcomes.

 

 
Keyword: Electronic Worksheets, Cognitive Learning Outcomes, Science Education, Quasi Experimental Design, Student Engagement
¿Hacia dónde mirar?
Authors: Agreda Carbonell Silvia Alejandra
Published: May 2024

We are bodies in trajectory. And our movements reflect specific experiences, changes in society and how we produce and reproduce culture. Although in Peru in the last 13 years — taking as a time frame the operational period of the Ministry of Culture— many measures and strategies have been implemented to promote the performing arts, little has been done specifically for dance. In this article I postulate that the logic and characteristics that we associate with the practice of stage dance in Perú are aligned with the dance industry produced from the Global North —economic value, forms of labour, management strategies— and that it has not been carried out an in-depth analysis of the ways to create, produce and participate in dance in our country, which would allow us to introduce a globalized body, collective creation and small formats. For this reason, the policies applied to dance do not yet generate substantial changes for the take-off of the local sector, but rather they deepen the problems associated with cultural industries, and strengthen the Western view of southern bodies.
FACIAL ANIMATION AND EMPATHY IN THE LAST OF US PARTS I AND II
Authors: Spence Steve
Published: May 2024

For more than a decade the videogame studio Naughty Dog has deployed increasingly sophisticated facial animations, greatly expanding its characters’ abilities to convey realistic and compelling emotion. In a parallel effort, the studio has remediated cinematic forms like the closeup, integrating them with the unique affordances of videoludic media. Naughty Dog’s 2020 The Last of Us Part II takes this a step further, making characters’ faces a vital aspect of the game’s interface: the dynamically changing emotional expression of 25 in-game characters offers fine-grained feedback regarding player choices and actions, and it also encourages players to engage with the characters less like tools or targets and more like autonomous human beings. Through a close study of a single game character, Ellie Williams, my article illuminates the narrative and gameplay impact of this merger of face and interface. Ellie began The Last of Us Part I (2013) as a non-player character (NPC) and, in some ways, an archetypal “damsel in distress,” but she evolved to become a fan favourite as well as the sequel’s protagonist and principal player-character (PC). Along the way, Ellie also became something of a feminist icon: she is a queer young woman who wears practical clothing, a character very different than the stereotypical heroes that dominated previous videogame generations. The success of the games and their central character, I argue, turns on their ability to encourage emotional connections, sometimes called empathy, inviting players to engage with videogame characters in ways that parallel their responses to characters in older media forms.
Fish Species Identification on Low Resolution - A Study with Enhanced Super Resolution Generative Adversarial Network (ESRGAN), YOLO and VGG-16
Authors: Adhikary Subhrangshu , Banerjee Saikat , Singh Rajani , Dwivedi Ashutosh Dhar
Published: May 2024

An intelligent detection and recognition model for the fish species from camera footage is urgently required
as fishery contributes to a large portion of the world economy, and these kinds of advanced models can
aid fishermen on a large scale. Such models incorporating a pick-and-place machine can be beneficial to
sorting different fish species in bulk without human intervention, significantly reducing costs for large-scale
fishing industries. Existing methods for detecting and recognizing fish species have many limitations,
such as limited scalability, detection accuracy, failure to detect multiple species, degraded performance at
a lower resolution, or pinpointing the exact location of the fish. Modifying the head of a compelling deep
learning model, namely VGG-16, with pre-trained weights, can be used to detect both the species of the
fish and find the exact location of the fish in an image by implementing a modified YOLO to incorporate
the bounding box regression head. We have proposed using the ESRGAN algorithm and the proposed
neural network to amplify the image resolution by a factor of 4. With this method, an overall detection
accuracy of 96.5% has been obtained. The experiment has been conducted based on a total of 9460
images spread across 9 species. After further improving the model, a pick-and-place machine could be
integrated to quickly sort the fish according to their species in different large-scale fish industries.
Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Silica-Polysaccharide Nano-composites using Sodium Silicate and Aloe Vera Gel for Self-cleaning Solar energy Mirrors
Authors: Badr Moshiera A. A. , Khalil Ahmed Asaad Ibrahim , Khalil Mostafa M. H. , Hafez Ashraf , Mostafa Eman M.
Published: May 2024

Synthesis of silica-Nano-composites from both sodium silicate and Aloe Vera gel via low-cost sol-gel silica nanoparticles (Si NPs) was investigated to be used as self-cleaning for solar mirrors. The produced materials were analyzed by (EDX) which indicates the existence of a high content of silicon in the Nano-silica composites. FTIR was utilized to obtain the structure characterization of our samples, whereas the poly-siloxane groups already formed and found the backbone of Si-O-Si. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was also utilized to identify the silica structure, whereas a broad peak and an amorphous phase were created. The images of Nano-silica content embedded in polymer with different magnifications were obtained using (SEM). The surface roughness of the Nano-silica composites was attained using the Atomic Force microscope (AFM). The hydrophobicity of the solar mirror surface was investigated using the contact angle measurement and zeta potential measurement. The results obtained by both Thermo-gravimetric analysis and data thermal analysis (TGA & DTA) illustrated that the Nano-silica composite with 40 ml of Aloe Vera gel is more stable than that obtained of Nano silica composites with 20 ml and 60 ml of Aloe Vera gel. The reflectance of solar mirrors after using Nano-silica composite assures high efficiency. The novelty of this study is that it makes incorporation between sol-gel and green synthesis to manufacture SiO2 NPs from their first product (Na2SiO3) with high yield, low cost, and faster.
Systemic Delivery of Full-Length Dystrophin in DMD Mice
Authors: Han Renzhi , Zhou Yuan , Zhang Chen , Xiao Weidong , Herzog Roland
Published: May 2024

Current gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) utilizes adeno-associated virus (AAV) to deliver miniaturized dystrophin (micro-dystrophin or µDys), which does not provide full protection for striated muscles as it lacks many important functional domains within full-length (FL) dystrophin. Here we develop a triple vector system to deliver FL-dystrophin into skeletal and cardiac muscles. We rationally split FL-dystrophin into three fragments (N, M, and C) linked to two orthogonal pairs of split intein, allowing efficient, unidirectional assembly of FL-dystrophin. The three fragments packaged in myotropic AAV (MyoAAV4A) restore FL-dystrophin expression in both skeletal and cardiac muscles in male mdx4cv mice. Dystrophin-glycoprotein complex components are also restored in the sarcolemma of dystrophic muscles. MyoAAV4A-delivered FL-dystrophin significantly improves muscle histopathology, contractility, and overall strength comparable to µDys, but unlike µDys, it also restores defective ERK signaling in heart. The FL-dystrophin gene therapy therefore promises to offer superior protection for DMD.
Association Between Psoriasis and Sleep Quality Among US Adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009-2014
Authors: Fu Yidian , Zhou Jinghua , Li Zonglin , Zhang Jingbo , Lv Peiyuan
Published: May 2024

Current research has been restricted in furnishing nationally representative data regarding the association between psoriasis and sleep quality in US adults. To fill this gap, we conducted a cross-sectional study using data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2009–2014. We identified 376 (2.83%) cases of psoriasis and 3,615 (29.1%) cases of sleep disorder among 13,002 US adult citizens in present study. The results showed that that psoriasis was significantly associated with sleep disorder in US adults (OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.36–2.14), and the association remained in fully adjusted model (OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.15–1.86). We also conducted several sensitivity analyses (including IPTW) to access the robustness of our findings. Interestingly, we found that there is no significant association between psoriasis and sleep duration. These findings may be important to consider the poor sleep quality may be exacerbate the psoriasis. Our findings may contribute to future clinical management of sleep quality in psoriasis patients.
The Grinding and Correction of Face Gears Based on an Internal Gear Grinding Machine
Authors: Zhengyang Han , Chuang Jiang , Xiaozhong Deng , Congcong Zhang , Longlong Geng , Yong Feng
Published: May 2024

This paper presents a method of calculating and correcting of grinding face gears on an internal gear grinding machine. The generating principle of face gears is studied, and the feasibility of grinding motion on an internal gear grinding machine is analyzed. Then, the motions that need to be followed for grinding are analyzed based on the internal gear machine tool structure. Four main error sources causing tooth surface deviation in the grinding movements are proposed. The mathematical modeling of the grinding of face gears containing proposed error sources on an internal gear grinding machine is accurately established. The influence of the error sources on the topological deviations of the tooth surface is explored. A sensitivity matrix is established for the influence of various error factors on the tooth surface deviations. The correction values of each error factor are obtained in the case of existing tooth surface deviations. A theoretical correction result with zero-free tooth surface deviation is obtained via a least-square calculation. Finally, a virtual machining experiment on an internal gear grinding machine is conducted, which proves the accuracy of the proposed method for characterizing grinding and realizing corrections.
Dynamics analysis and simulation experiments of twist spring drive upper limb rehabilitation robot
Authors: Wang Hai , lu liangyu , Yang Chunlai , Li Shuai , Li He Nian , Gui Jin Song , fu Rong Hua
Published: May 2024

An upper limb rehabilitation robot based on twist spring drive is proposed in this paper, which can realized shoulder and elbow rehabilitation training of patients with upper limb disabilities. The mathematical model of the twist spring drive is established, and the dynamic equation of the robot is built. The mechanical structure of the robot is meticulously designed using SolidWorks. The performance of the robot is numerical simulated in MATLAB/Simulink, and validated in semi-physical experimental platform based on dSPACE1202. The simulation and experimental results show that the proposed robot can realized rehabilitation training of upper limb, which provide an effective rehabilitation training method for people with upper limb disabilities.
Analyzing Vehicle Path Optimization using an Improved Genetic Algorithm in the Presence of Stochastic perturbation Matter
Authors: shengdong Mu , Boyu Liu , Jijian Gu , Chaolung Lien , Xiaojie Chen
Published: May 2024

By analyzing the influence of stochastic perturbation matters on vehicle path optimization, a perturbation scheduling model for logistics and distribution with a carbon tax mechanism is established under the premise of time window variation and load capacity constraints. Herein, we propose an enhanced Genetic Algorithm(GA) based on a Gaussian matrix mutation(GMM) operator, which maintains the diversity of the population while speeding up the algorithm’s convergence. The model builds a Gaussian probability matrix using the site positional order distribution characteristics implied in the original site data information, and applies the Gaussian probability matrix to individual gene mutations using a roulette-wheel-selection method; thus, the study guarantees the genetic diversity of the population while guiding it to evolve in the high-fitness direction. Finally, an experimental simulation is performed using data obtained from a commercial supermarket, thereby verifying the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm and comparing it with other algorithms. The results reveal that compared with the classical GA, the average convergence speed of the improved GA can be increased by 50%~60% and the consumed algorithm time can be reduced by 48% while maintaining the difference in solution accuracy within 1%.
Exploring the Motivations and Barriers Affecting Community Health Workers’ Performance in the Noida-Greater Noida Region
Authors: Bibhakar Pratyush , Sinha Manasi , Baba Waseem
Published: May 2024

Community healthcare workers(CHWs) play acrucial role in providing vital healthcare services, particularly in the field of reproductiveand sexual health, as well as other healthcare issues such as maternal care, neonatal health, and child nutrition (RMNCHN) in India. By actively involving the community as healthcare recipients, CHWs contribute to increased acceptance and trust among individuals seeking healthcare services. Therefore, it is crucial to assess the performance motivations and the underlying factors that influence the effectiveness and efficiency of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA), Anganwadi Workers (AAW), and Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANM).
Objective:The objective of this study is to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the performance motivations and barriers that influence the effectiveness of community health workers, specifically focusing on the ASHAs, ANMs, and AAWs operating in the urban slum areas of Noida-Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Methodology: Thisresearch adopts a cross-sectional design, incorporating a qualitative approach featuring surveys and focus group discussions. The collected data were analysed through NVIVO to extract insights from qualitative data, shedding light on the underlying performance motivations and their determinants.
Conclusions: This study establishes that CHWs in India are overworked and underpaid while highlighting their contributions and relevance to the underserved marginalised masses of India. A high level of performance motivation was found among these frontline workers despite limited resources. However, the sources of motivation seemed to be rooted in concepts such as morality, religion, spirituality, identity, and autonomy. Organisational support, lack of recognition and appreciation from superiors, associated monetary benefits and infrastructure were found to be barriers and demotivators.
Impact of surgical and non-surgical weight loss on echocardiographic and strain parameters in Asian patients
Authors: Poh Kian Keong , Panday Vinay Bahadur , Shabbir Asim , Ngiam Jinghao Nicholas , Sia Ching-Hui , Chan Siew-Pang , Tan Sik Yin , Kong William KF , Richards Mark Arthur , Thomas James D
Published: May 2024

Objective: Surgical weight loss (SWL) improves myocardial mechanics as measured by speckle-tracking imaging. However non-surgical versus SWL and the subsequent impact on myocardial function in overweight Asian subjects has not been evaluated.
Methods: 66 patients underwent a 16-week lifestyle intervention (LSI) programme consisting of dietary interventions and exercise prescription. Echocardiography with speckle tracking was performed at baseline and post-intervention. This group was compared against a group of 12 subjects who had undergone bariatric surgery and a control group of 10 lean Asian subjects. A generalised structural equation model (gSEM) was constructed to ascertain the effect of modality of weight loss on strain parameters, adjusting for BMI.
Results: Participants attained significant weight loss after LSI (28.2±2.66 kg/m2 vs 25.8±2.84 kg/m2, p=0.001). This was associated with a non-significant trend towards improvement in strain parameters. SWL participants had significant improvement in the left ventricular global longitudinal strain (-20.52±3.34 vs -16.68±4.15, p<0.01) and left atrium reservoir strain (44.32±14.23 vs 34.3±19.31, p=0.02). Lean subjects had significantly higher strain parameters than overweight subjects. The gSEM model demonstrated surgical modality of weight loss as an independent predictor of improvement in strain parameters.
Conclusion: Significant improvement in echocardiographic parameters were documented in patients who underwent bariatric surgery.
Synthesis and application of SBA-15 adsorbent for the removal of organic and inorganic substances
Authors: YADOUN BOUCHRA , BENHAMOU Abdellah , HENNOUS Mohammed , BENYOUB Nassima , DEBAB abdelkader
Published: May 2024

This study investigates the adsorption of pollutants with different chemical structures; organic Naphtol Green B (NGB) and inorganic (Copper) on a nanocomposite with a hexagonal structure of the SBA-15 type. This research is divided into two main parts: the first carries out the synthesis of SBA-15 and its derivatives phases functionalized by 3-aminopropyl-triethoxysilane (APTES) and calcined at 823K. The second part presents the results of the removal of Naphtol Green B dye and copper. Parameters such as initial pollutant concentrations, adsorbent mass, solution pH and system temperature were studied. High-resolution X-ray diffractogram (XRD) showed three distinct peaks characteristic of highly ordered mesoporous material. Nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm of SBA-15 at 77K° is type IV typical of mesoporous materials. In addition, zeta potential, thermogravimetric analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) were also used in the characterization. Pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order models was used to describe the adsorption kinetic results. The modeling of the experimental results of the pollutants followed the Sips isotherm and pseudo-second order models. The primary objective of this study is the potential of the synthesized nanomaterials in the removal of effluents regardless of their different chemical structure.
Reversal of High-Fat Diet-Induced Cognitive Impairment and Oxidative Stress in the Brain through Zingiber officinale Supplementation
Authors: Luciano Thais Fernandes , Souza Claudio Teodoro , Oilveira Jade , Muller Alexandre Pastoris
Published: May 2024

Obesity presents a significant health concern, correlating with various adverse health outcomes. Diet-induced obesity (DIO) has been associated with impair on cognitive function. Pharmacological treatments for obesity are limited and may pose serious adverse effects. Ginger possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in addition to metabolic effects. The study aimed to assess the effects of ginger supplementation on cognitive function, anxiety levels, neurotrophin levels, as well as inflammatory and oxidative status in the cortex following DIO in mice. Swiss male mice, 2 months old, were fed with DIO or standard chow for 4 months and after were subdivided into (n=10/group): i) CNT (CNT + vehicle); ii) CNT supplemented with ZO (CNT + ZO); iii) obese mice (DIO + vehicle) ; iv) obese mice supplemented with ZO (DIO + ZO) (n=10). Zingiber officinale (ZO) 400 mg/kg/day were supplemented for 35 days by oral gavage. DIO + vehicle group shown impaired on recognition memory task. CNT + ZO group showed a higher number of crossings in the open field. There were no difference between group in plus maze task. DIO + vehicle had increased the DCFH and carbonylation levels in cortex. The DIO + vehicle showed a reduction in catalase activity. The cerebral cortex did not show any difference regarding to inflammatory and neurotrophins markers. In conclusion, our findings indicate that supplementation with ZO reverses cognitive impairment in DIO mice and enhances antioxidant status in the cerebral cortex.
Technology Acceptance and Employability in TVET Graduates
Authors: CHARLES AZAMETI YAO , Amoah-Sei Emmanuel , Razak Bugase Nabase , Dissou Pros. Yarhands Arthur
Published: May 2024

In the quickly changing digital landscape, integrating technology into Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) curricula (Yasak & Alias, 2015) has become increasingly important (Saud et al., 2011). The acceptance and incorporation of technology into TVET programs has emerged as a crucial factor of educational quality and workforce preparedness in a time of fast technological innovation (Legg-Jack & Ndebele, 2023). This study examines the crucial connection between employability, acquiring digital skills, and embracing technology in the context of technical and vocational education and training (TVET). The ability of TVET graduates to embrace and utilize digital technology substantially influence their prospects in the job market in a world marked by rapids technical breakthroughs (Joseph, 2020). This study intends to evaluate how graduates' employability and success in finding jobs are impacted by the degree of technology acceptance (Ismail & Hassan, 2019) and the digital skills acquired during TVET programs. A mixed-methods research approach was used to collect empirical data, including surveys, interviews, and focus groups with recent TVET graduates, employers, and industry experts. Regression analysis and other quantitative approaches were combined with qualitative methods during the data analysis process to provides a thorough knowledge of the intricate relationships being studied.
Research on the Construction of Ecological Security Pattern and Optimization Strategy of Fuyang City Region Based on MSPA and Circuit Theory
Authors: Yang Ting , Xiao Tieqiao , Dong Dong , Luo Yi , Zhang Shaojie
Published: May 2024

Constructing an ecological security pattern is of great significance for protecting and restoring the biodiversity of urban ecological space, this study takes Fuyang city as an example, selects elevation, slope, land cover, vegetation cover, geohazard susceptibility, distance from the water system, distance from the road, and distance as the resistance surface factors, and constructs a comprehensive resistance surface based on the circuit theory utilizing the Linkage Mapper tool. ecological corridor of Fuyang city, identify ecological nodes, and then optimize the ecological security pattern of Fuyang city. The results show that (1) the core area analyzed by MSPA is 87.26km2, accounting for 56.00% of the prospective elements. (2) 28 ecological source areas were screened out based on the patch landscape connectivity analysis, with an area of 79.98km2. (3) There are 66 ecological corridors, and the corridor network formed from southeast to northwest is of good ecological quality, with little obstructed connection. (4) There are 15 ecological pinch points in Fuyang City, except for Linquan County, where only 1 pinch point occurs in Taihe County, Yingquan District, Yinzhou District, and Funan County, 2 pinch points in Yindong District and Jieshou City, and 7 pinch points in Yingshang County. (5) There are 93 obstacle areas in Fuyang City, with patch areas above 0.2 km2, and the total area of all obstacle points reaches 2,394.92 km2 mainly distributed along the Quanhe and Yinghe Rivers in Fuyang City, including Jieshou City, Taihe County, Yingquan District, Yingzhou District, Yindong District, Yingshang County, and Funan County. Fuyang City is located in the traditional agricultural area of northern Anhui Province, with typical characteristics of farming plains and relatively homogeneous surface composition. The use of circuit theory to simulate the ecological security pattern of Fuyang City is more targeted, and the active maintenance and protection of ecological pinch points and the gradual removal of ecological barriers can promote the comprehensive construction of the ecological security pattern of Fuyang City.
Enhancement of microstructural, mechanical and tribological properties of hybrid Al- CNTs through electroless deposition of innovative h-BNs contents coated Ag and Ni for purpose of ball bearing
Authors: Barakat Waheed S. , Samir Ahmed , Elkady Omayma A. , Abu-Okail Mohamed , Mohamed Abdelkarim Y. A. , EL-Nikhaily A. , Abu-Oqail A. M.I.
Published: May 2024

Ball bearings face numerous challenges under harsh operating conditions of elevated pressure between the balls and other contacting parts of the bearing like drop in tribological properties. To address these challenges, a new attempt was successfully made for the first time in this paper through an experimental investigation by the impact of incorporating hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) into Aluminum-Carbon nanotubes (Al-0.6 wt. % CNTs) nanocomposites by an innovative coated with silver (Ag) and nickel (Ni) using a novel electroless chemical deposition technique, to improve the wettability and scattering between matrix and reinforcement. Various h-BN ratios (2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 wt. %) are incorporated and consolidated through high-energy ball milling and hot compaction techniques. The produced samples were tested and analyzed physically, mechanically, tribologically, and microstructurally. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analyses were used to explore the new morphologies and structures. The study delves into density, hardness, and wear resistance. The optimal h-BN content is determined to be 8 wt.%, enhancing wettability and dispersion within the Al-CNTs matrix. Thus, the properties of hardness, compressive strength, wear rate, and COF at 8 wt.% of h-BN content were enhanced by 105%, 60%, 74.5%, and 78.5%, respectively, compared to pure Al. This is due to the uniform scattering of h-BN nanoparticles across the entire surface, despite a significant decrease in relative density. In conclusion, the combination of high-energy ball milling, electroless deposition, and hot compaction techniques proves to be effective in producing Al-CNTs/h-BN nanocomposites coated with Ag and Ni nanoparticles.
Lippia thymoides essential oils activity against Candida species from HIV+ individual oral lesions
Authors: de Azevedo Fernanda Oliveira , de Oliveira Ana Paula Rios Santana , de Farias Antonio Pedro Fróes , Santos Rebeca Pereira Bulhosa , de Oliveira Yuri Andrade , Falcão Michelle Miranda Lopes , Gomes-Filho Isaac Suzart , Lucchese Angélica Maria , Kusterer Liliane Lins , Sarmento Viviane Almeida , Rocha-Filho José Tadeu Raynal , de Sá Maria da Conceição Aquino , Trindade Soraya Castro
Published: May 2024

Candidiasis is the most common oral infection in HIV-positive individuals and appears as a result the decline of the immune system, representing a marker of disease progression. The treatment of this condition, however, becomes a challenge since non-albicans species tend to be frequent and more resistant to the most used antifungal agents. Thus, the search for new therapeutic options becomes necessary. The species Lippia thymoides a herbal medicine used is used because it has antimicrobial activity. Thus, this study evaluated the antifungal activity of Lippia thymoidesessential oils, collected in the cities of Feira de Santana and Palmeiras, Bahia, Brazil, in C. albicans and C. glabrata strains isolated from oral lesions of individuals with HIV. Nine fungi of the genus Candida were isolated, identified through biochemical tests. The essential oils were analyzed with respect to the phytochemical aspects by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The minimum inhibitory concentration test was used to assess the antifungal activity. The essential oil from species collected in Feira de Santana city had a contents rate of 2.80±0.80%, while the essential oil from species of the municipality of Palmeiras showed a rate of 4.20±1.71%. The essential oil of Feira de Santana was rich in sesquiterpenes, with E-caryophyllene as the main constituent (27.25±1.96%). In oil of Palmeiras, monoterpenes predominated and the major metabolite was 1.8-cineole (30.35±2.17%), indicating that it is a new chemotype. The results revealed that theessential oils of L. thymoides are not cytotoxic and showed antifungal activity against the different species of Candida when in a concentration of 10%, and may be an ally in the treatment of oral candidiasis.