bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sustainability in Sport: Sport, Part of the Problem … and of the Solution
Authors: Hautbois Christopher , Desbordes Michel
Published: August 2023

Sport is one of the most popular social activities in the world. It is also one of the most thriving industries from an economic standpoint. The sport sector is at the crossroads of economic, political and social issues. For this reason, sport organisations have to consider sustainability as a major concern. When facing such major issues (environmental protection, social connections, the concern of business for society), sport can appear as the “most important insubstantial thing”. But it could be seen both as the best and the worst example in terms of sustainability. This article addresses two complementary objectives. The first one is to provide an overview of the current state of sustainability-in-sport research over the last 20 years and demonstrate how this field became a major topic in the last 10 years. This has been done through a systematic search of existing academic research concerning sustainability in sport. The second is to offer an explanation of how the field of sport currently manages different sustainability-related issues. This has been accomplished by interviewing an industry panel, which also gives some perspectives for the future.
Trade Openness and Sustainable Government Size: Evidence from Central and Eastern European Countries
Authors: Tekin Ahmet , Çınar İbrahim Tuğrul , Sağdıç Ersin Nail , Yıldız Fazlı
Published: August 2023

The ongoing discussion regarding the role of the free market economy and the extent of state intervention is a critical subject in economics. This matter holds special significance for transition economies, as it presents both challenges and opportunities in such contexts. One may perceive the degree of trade openness as a path toward welfare societies. However, the dual impacts of trade openness on an economy, namely, the compensation and efficiency hypotheses, must be considered. The compensation hypothesis proposes that global trade can enhance the economic influence of the state, whereas the efficiency hypothesis advocates for a contraction in the state’s economic undertakings. This study focuses on interpreting this complex scenario, specifically in the context of the European Union’s transition economies. The aim of this research is to uncover how the economic magnitude of a nation influences trade liberalization, and consequently the free market economy, in Central and East European (CCE) countries, using public choice theory as a foundation. The research delves into the causal relationship between trade openness and government size in eleven CCE countries—Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, the Slovak Republic, and Slovenia. The period covered in this study ranges from 1996 to 2021. The methodological tool utilized for this investigation is the Kónya bootstrap Granger causality test, which accommodates cross-sectional dependence and country-specific variances. The novelty of this study lies in its application of both the compensation and efficiency hypotheses to the context of 11 transition economies in the Central and Eastern European (CCE) region. The results from the Granger causality test demonstrate a unidirectional positive correlation between trade openness and the size of the government for Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, and Estonia. On the contrary, Slovenia exhibited a unidirectional negative correlation. These findings confirm the applicability of the compensation hypothesis in Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, and Estonia, while supporting the efficiency hypothesis in Slovenia.
5G and Companion Technologies as a Boost in New Business Models for Logistics and Supply Chain
Authors: Apruzzese Michela , Bruni Maria Elena , Musso Stefano , Perboli Guido
Published: August 2023

The transport and logistics industry plays a crucial role in supporting the economy, but it faces various challenges, including high costs and the need for operational efficiency. To address these challenges, the industry is embracing digital transformation, and 5G networks are expected to play a significant role in this process. This paper explores the benefits of 5G technologies in the transportation and logistics sector, focusing on device density, low latency, network slicing, supply chain visibility, port operations, and enhanced communication. Additionally, the paper emphasizes the importance of stakeholder engagement and sustainability considerations in the adoption of innovative technologies. The research methodology involves an online survey administered to stakeholders in the port logistics sector, aiming to assess their knowledge and implementation of innovative technologies. The paper also reviews the relevant literature and highlights the potential of digital technologies, such as IoT, blockchain, AI, and 5G, in optimizing supply chains and port operations. The findings provide insights into the current state of knowledge and implementation of innovative technologies in port operations and the potential for market adoption and contribute to understanding the benefits and challenges of 5G technology in the logistics industry.
Spin-Gravity Coupling in a Rotating Universe
Authors: Mashhoon Bahram , Molaei Masoud , Obukhov Yuri N.
Published: August 2023

The coupling of intrinsic spin with the nonlinear gravitomagnetic fields of Gödel-type spacetimes is studied. We work with Gödel-type universes in order to show that the main features of spin-gravity coupling are independent of causality problems of the Gödel universe. The connection between the spin–gravitomagnetic field coupling and Mathisson’s spin-curvature force is demonstrated in the Gödel-type universe. That is, the gravitomagnetic Stern–Gerlach force due to the coupling of spin with the gravitomagnetic field reduces in the appropriate correspondence limit to the classical Mathisson spin-curvature force.
A Multi-Controller Placement Strategy for Hierarchical Management of Software-Defined Networking
Authors: Xu Hui , Chai Xiaodi , Liu Huifen
Published: August 2023

Software-Defined Networking (SDN) is a new architecture with symmetric/asymmetric network structures that separates the control plane of network devices from the data plane, and a Controller Placement Problem (CPP) is a critical management problem in SDN. The main research content of the CPP is to determine the number and location of controllers placed in a network topology, as well as the connection relationship between controllers and switches. However, traditional CPP solutions based on symmetric/asymmetric structures may not be efficient to meet the increasing requirements of SDN applications. In order to improve the CPP solutions from the viewpoint of hierarchical management, this paper considers the CPP solutions as a multi-objective optimization problem based on symmetric/asymmetric structures in the SDN architecture. Thus, this paper then proposes a multi-controller placement strategy based on an improved Harris Hawks Optimization algorithm. Firstly, the local controller load is limited, and a Sin chaotic map is introduced to initialize the CPP scheme. The total latency of the network, the reliability of the node, the total failure rate of the link and the total placement cost are seriously considered when placing the controllers. Secondly, a Cos nonlinear function is added to the global search. A dynamic adaptive weight factor is used to smooth the switching approach between the global search and the local search, so as to enhance the global search ability. Then, a Cauchy variation perturbation is added to the obtained CPP scheme to strengthen the diversity of CPP schemes, and the CPP scheme with the Pareto front is finally solved. The topology simulation of three real large-scale SDN networks shows that the proposed strategy, based on an improved Harris Hawks Optimization algorithm, has more robust advantages in comparison to other algorithms.
Developing Multi-Labelled Corpus of Twitter Short Texts: A Semi-Automatic Method
Authors: Liu Xuan , Zhou Guohui , Kong Minghui , Yin Zhengtong , Li Xiaolu , Yin Lirong , Zheng Wenfeng
Published: August 2023

Facing fast-increasing electronic documents in the Digital Media Age, the need to extract textual features of online texts for better communication is growing. Sentiment classification might be the key method to catch emotions of online communication, and developing corpora with annotation of emotions is the first step to achieving sentiment classification. However, the labour-intensive and costly manual annotation has resulted in the lack of corpora for emotional words. Furthermore, single-label semantic corpora could hardly meet the requirement of modern analysis of complicated user’s emotions, but tagging emotional words with multiple labels is even more difficult than usual. Improvement of the methods of automatic emotion tagging with multiple emotion labels to construct new semantic corpora is urgently needed. Taking Twitter short texts as the case, this study proposes a new semi-automatic method to annotate Internet short texts with multiple labels and form a multi-labelled corpus for further algorithm training. Each sentence is tagged with both the emotional tendency and polarity, and each tweet, which generally contains several sentences, is tagged with the first two major emotional tendencies. The semi-automatic multi-labelled annotation is achieved through the process of selecting the base corpus and emotional tags, data preprocessing, automatic annotation through word matching and weight calculation, and manual correction in case of multiple emotional tendencies are found. The experiments on the Sentiment140 published Twitter corpus demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach and show consistency between the results of semi-automatic annotation and manual annotation. By applying this method, this study summarises the annotation specification and constructs a multi-labelled emotion corpus with 6500 tweets for further algorithm training.
An In Silico Analysis of Synthetic and Natural Compounds as Inhibitors of Nitrous Oxide Reductase (N2OR) and Nitrite Reductase (NIR)
Authors: Narayanaswamy Radhakrishnan , Prabhakaran Vasantha-Srinivasan , Al-Ansari Mysoon M. , Al-Humaid Latifah A. , Tiwari Pragya
Published: August 2023

Nitrification inhibitors are recognized as a key approach that decreases the denitrification process to inhibit the loss of nitrogen to the atmosphere in the form of N2O. Targeting denitrification microbes directly could be one of the mitigation approaches. However, minimal attempts have been devoted towards the development of denitrification inhibitors. In this study, we aimed to investigate the molecular docking behavior of the nitrous oxide reductase (N2OR) and nitrite reductase (NIR) involved in the microbial denitrification pathway. Specifically, in silico screening was performed to detect the inhibitors of nitrous oxide reductase (N2OR) and nitrite reductase (NIR) using the PatchDock tool. Additionally, a toxicity analysis based on insecticide-likeness, Bee-Tox screening, and a STITCH analysis were performed using the SwissADME, Bee-Tox, and pkCSM free online servers, respectively. Among the twenty-two compounds tested, nine ligands were predicted to comply well with the TICE rule. Furthermore, the Bee-Tox screening revealed that none of the selected 22 ligands exhibited toxicity on honey bees. The STITCH analysis showed that two ligands, namely procyanidin B2 and thiocyanate, have interactions with both the Paracoccus denitrificans and Hyphomicrobium denitrificans microbial proteins. The molecular docking results indicated that ammonia exhibited the second least atomic contact energy (ACE) of −15.83 kcal/mol with Paracoccus denitrificans nitrous oxide reductase (N2OR) and an ACE of −15.20 kcal/mol with Hyphomicrobium denitrificans nitrite reductase (NIR). The inhibition of both the target enzymes (N2OR and NIR) supports the view of a low denitrification property and suggests the potential future applications of natural/synthetic compounds as significant nitrification inhibitors.
Applying Artificial Neural Networks to Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Forager Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) for Ecological Assessment
Authors: La Porta Gianandrea , Magara Gabriele , Goretti Enzo , Caldaroni Barbara , Dörr Ambrosius Josef Martin , Selvaggi Roberta , Pallottini Matteo , Gardi Tiziano , Cenci-Goga Beniamino T. , Cappelletti David , Elia Antonia Concetta
Published: August 2023

Insect pollinators provide an important ecosystem service that supports global biodiversity and environmental health. The study investigates the effects of the environmental matrix on six oxidative stress biomarkers in the honey bee Apis mellifera. Thirty-five apiaries located in urban, forested, and agricultural areas in Central Italy were sampled during the summer season. Enzyme activities in forager bees were analyzed using an artificial neural network, allowing the identification and representation of the apiary patterns in a Self-Organizing Map. The SOM nodes were correlated with the environmental parameters and tissue levels of eight heavy metals. The results indicated that the apiaries were not clustered according to their spatial distribution. Superoxide dismutase expressed a positive correlation with Cr and Mn concentrations; catalase with Zn, Mn, Fe, and daily maximum air temperature; glutathione S-transferase with Cr, Fe, and daily maximal air temperature; and glutathione reductase showed a negative correlation to Ni and Fe exposure. This study highlights the importance of exploring how environmental stressors affect these insects and the role of oxidative stress biomarkers. Artificial neural networks proved to be a powerful approach to untangle the complex relationships between the environment and oxidative stress biomarkers in honey bees. The application of SOM modeling offers a valuable means of assessing the potential effects of environmental pressures on honey bee populations.
Current Status and Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals Contamination in Tea across China
Authors: Hu Chenglin , Zhang Xiuying , Zhan Nan , Liu Youcun
Published: August 2023

Tea is a non-alcoholic beverage popular among Chinese people. However, due to the application of chemical and organic fertilizers in the tea planting process, the environment pollutionaround the tea plantation, and the instruments used in the processing, heavy metal elements will accumulate in the tea, which brings health risks for tea consumers. This study summarized heavy metal concentrations from 227 published papers and investigated the current contamination status of tea and tea plantation soils, and, finally, the risk of heavy metal exposure to tea consumers in China is assessed, in terms of both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk. The average contamination of six heavy metals in tea—arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb)—were 0.21, 0.14, 1.17, 14.6, 0.04, and 1.09 mg/kg, respectively. The areas with high concentrations of heavy metals in tea were concentrated primarily in southwest China, some areas in eastern China, and Shaanxi Province in northwest China. The non-carcinogenic risks of heavy metals in tea are all within safe limits. The national average HI value was 0.04, with the highest HI value of 0.18 in Tibet, which has the largest tea consumption in China. However, the carcinogenic risks of Cd in Shaanxi Province, Anhui Province, and southwest China exceed the acceptable range, and due attention should be given to these areas.
Banana Peel Powder Biosorbent for Removal of Hazardous Organic Pollutants from Wastewater
Authors: Farias Kelly C. S. , Guimarães Rita C. A. , Oliveira Karla R. W. , Nazário Carlos E. D. , Ferencz Julio A. P. , Wender Heberton
Published: August 2023

Disposing of pollutants in water sources poses risks to human health and the environment, but biosorption has emerged as an eco-friendly, cost-effective, and green alternative for wastewater treatment. This work shows the ability of banana peel powder (BPP) biosorbents for efficient sorption of methylene blue (MB), atrazine, and glyphosate pollutants. The biosorbent highlights several surface chemical functional groups and morphologies containing agglomerated microsized particles and microporous structures. BPP showed a 66% elimination of MB in 60 min, with an adsorption capacity (qe) of ~33 mg g−1, and a combination of film diffusion and chemisorption governed the sorption process. The biosorbent removed 91% and 97% of atrazine and glyphosate pesticides after 120 min, with qe of 3.26 and 3.02 mg g−1, respectively. The glyphosate and atrazine uptake best followed the Elovich and the pseudo-first-order kinetic, respectively, revealing different sorption mechanisms. Our results suggest that BPP is a low-cost biomaterial for green and environmentally friendly wastewater treatment.
A Concept of Assessment of LIV Tests with THESEUS Using the Gamma-Ray Bursts Detected by Fermi/GBM
Authors: Tsvetkova Anastasia , Burderi Luciano , Riggio Alessandro , Sanna Andrea , Di Salvo Tiziana
Published: August 2023

According to Einstein’s special relativity theory, the speed of light in a vacuum is constant for all observers. However, quantum gravity effects could introduce its dispersion depending on the energy of photons. The investigation of the spectral lags between the gamma-ray burst (GRB) light curves recorded in distinct energy ranges could shed light on this phenomenon: the lags could reflect the variation of the speed of light if it is linearlydependent on the photon energy and a function of the GRB redshift. We propose a methodology to start investigating the dispersion law of light propagation in a vacuum using GRB light curves. This technique is intended to be fully exploited using the GRB data collected with THESEUS.
Biodiesel Production by Transesterification of Recycled Oil Catalyzed with Zinc Oxide Prepared Starting from Used Batteries
Authors: Seminario-Calle Domenica , Ortega-Maldonado Melissa , Pinos-Vélez Verónica , Cisneros Juan , Montero-Izquierdo Andrés , Echeverría-Paredes Paulina , Duque-Sarango Paola , Álvarez-Lloret Paúl
Published: August 2023

The consumption of batteries and cooking oil have been increasing. Most used batteries are disposed of incorrectly, leading to health and environmental problems because of their composition. In a similar form, cooking oil, once used, is often released by the discharge reaching the wastewater, polluting soil, and water, which affects its treatment. In Ecuador, these environmental passives are recollected and stored without further treatment, which is a temporary and unsustainable solution. To address this issue, the circular economy concept has gained increasing attention. In this study, zinc oxide was prepared from discarded batteries using the hydrometallurgical method to use as a catalyst; it achieved 98.49% purity and 56.20% yield and 20.92% of particles presented a particle size of 1–10 nm. Furthermore, the catalyst morphology was investigated in an SEM, which showed that particle size ranged from 155.69 up to 490.15 nm and spherical shapes. Due to its characteristics, the obtained catalyst can be used in the industry instead of the zinc oxide obtained by mining processes. These processes are known to produce heavy contamination in the ecosystems and human health. Additionally, a zinc oxide lifecycle in the environment was analyzed through a material flow analysis (MFA), taking into consideration two paths, one assuming the disposal of used batteries and the other assuming the recycling of zinc. Biodiesel was produced with a heterogeneous catalyst. This took place with a transesterification reaction with used cooking oil, ethanol, and zinc oxide (ZnO) as catalysts. The biodiesel obtained had the following characteristics: 37.55 kJg−1 of heating power, 0.892 gcm−3 of density, 4.189 mm2/s of viscosity, 0.001% of water content, and a 70.91% yield. Furthermore, the energy consumption in biodiesel production was quantified, giving a total of 37.15 kWh. This kind of initiative prevents that waste from becoming environmental pollutants and potential health risks by giving them a second use as a resource. Moreover, turning waste into a valuable product makes the processes self-sustaining and attractive to be implemented.
Sociodemographic and Clinical Factors for Microcephaly Secondary to Teratogenic Infections in Brazil: An Ecological Study
Authors: Ferreira Arlison Pereira , Santana Davi Silva , Figueiredo Eric Renato Lima , Simões Marcelo Coelho , de Morais Dionei Freitas , Tavares Victória Brioso , de Sousa Juliana Gonçalves , Silva Marcos Jessé Abrahão , de Campos Gomes Fabiana , de Melo Neto João Simão
Published: August 2023

Microcephaly is a neurological condition characterized by anomalies in the growth of the cranial circumference. This study aims to examine the association between sociodemographic and clinical variables and the occurrence of secondary microcephaly in newborns in Brazil. It also aims to investigate the association between this congenital anomaly and teratogenic infections. This research adopts an observational approach with an ecological, descriptive, and analytical design. The sample includes infants aged ≤28 days and registered in the country’s Live Births Information System from January 2015 to December 2021. Newborns were categorized into G1, consisting of newborns with one of the three infections (Zika, toxoplasmosis, or syphilis), and G2, consisting of newborns with two of the three infections. A total of 1513 samples were analyzed and divided into two groups: one infection (syphilis n = 423; toxoplasmosis n = 295; or Zika n = 739) and two infections (n = 56). The northeastern region of Brazil has the highest prevalence of microcephaly. Regarding the population profile, the Zika virus infection is more common among white mothers, while the syphilis infection is more common among black mothers. Among newborns with microcephaly, boys have a lower prevalence of toxoplasmosis infection, while girls have a lower prevalence of Zika virus infection. This study provides pertinent information on each infection and contributes to the epidemiologic understanding of the association between teratogenic infections and microcephaly.
Respiratory Viruses in Nosocomial Pneumonia: An Evolving Paradigm
Authors: Zilberbeg Marya D. , Khan Imran , Shorr Andrew F.
Published: August 2023

Nosocomial pneumonia (NP) represents a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. Historically, clinicians have considered hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), which comprise NP, to be essentially bacterial processes. As such, patients suspected of having either HAP or VAP are initially treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics, and few clinicians search for a possible culprit virus. Recent reports which build on earlier studies, however, indicate that viruses likely play an important role in NP. Studies employing viral diagnostics as part of the evaluation for NP indicate that common respiratory viruses can spread nosocomially and lead to HAP and VAP. Similarly, studies of the general epidemiology of respiratory viral infections, such as influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, and rhinovirus, confirm that these pathogens are important causes of NP, especially among immunosuppressed and pediatric patients. More importantly, these more contemporary analyses reveal that one cannot, based on clinical characteristics, distinguish a viral from a bacterial cause of NP. Additionally, viral HAP and VAP result in crude mortality rates that rival or exceed those reported in bacterial NP. Rigorous prospective, multicenter trials are needed to confirm the significance of respiratory viruses in NP, as are studies of novel therapeutics for these viral infections.
Molecular Population Genetics of Aspen Mosaic-Associated Virus in Finland and Sweden
Authors: Nourinejhad Zarghani Shaheen , Al Kubrusli Rim , Iancev Serghei , Jalkanen Risto , Büttner Carmen , von Bargen Susanne
Published: August 2023

Aspen mosaic-associated virus (AsMaV) is a newly identified Emaravirus, in the family Fimoviridae, Bunyavirales, associated with mosaic symptoms in aspen trees (Populus tremula). Aspen trees are widely distributed in Europe and understanding the population structure of AsMaV may aid in the development of better management strategies. The virus genome consists of five negative-sense single-stranded RNA (–ssRNA) molecules. To investigate the genetic diversity and population parameters of AsMaV, different regions of the genome were amplified and analyzed and full-length sequence of the divergent isolates were cloned and sequenced. The results show that RNA3 or nucleoprotein is a good representative for studying genetic diversity in AsMaV. Developed RT–PCR–RFLP was able to identify areas with a higher number of haplotypes and could be applied for screening the large number of samples. In general, AsMaV has a conserved genome and based on the phylogenetic studies, geographical structuring was observed in AsMaV isolates from Sweden and Finland, which could be attributed to founder effects. The genome of AsMaV is under purifying selection but not distributed uniformly on genomic RNAs. Distant AsMaV isolates displayed amino acid sequence variations compared to other isolates, and bioinformatic analysis predicted potential post-translational modification sites in some viral proteins.
Revisiting Porcine Circovirus Infection: Recent Insights and Its Significance in the Piggery Sector
Authors: Maity Hemanta , Samanta Kartik , Deb Rajib , Gupta Vivek
Published: August 2023

Porcine circovirus (PCV), a member of the Circoviridae family within the genus Circovirus, poses a significant economic risk to the global swine industry. PCV2, which has nine identified genotypes (a–i), has emerged as the predominant genotype worldwide, particularly PCV2d. PCV2 has been commonly found in both domestic pigs and wild boars, and sporadically in non-porcine animals. The virus spreads among swine populations through horizontal and vertical transmission routes. Despite the availability of commercial vaccines for controlling porcine circovirus infections and associated diseases, the continuous genotypic shifts from a to b, and subsequently from b to d, have maintained PCV2 as a significant pathogen with substantial economic implications. This review aims to provide an updated understanding of the biology, genetic variation, distribution, and preventive strategies concerning porcine circoviruses and their associated diseases in swine.
Polymeric Delivery Systems as a Potential Vaccine against Visceral Leishmaniasis: Formulation Development and Immunogenicity
Authors: Silva João Guilherme Lino da , Gonçalves Ana Alice Maia , Oliveira Liliam Teixeira , Garcia Giani Martins , Batista Maurício Azevedo , Mendonça Ludmila Zanandreis de , Viana Kelvinson Fernandes , Sant’Ana Rita de Cássia Oliveira , Melo Júnior Otoni Alves de Oliveira , Silveira-Lemos Denise , Dutra Walderez Ornelas , Martins-Filho Olindo Assis , Galdino Alexsandro Sobreira , de Moura Sandra Aparecida Lima , Mosqueira Vanessa Carla Furtado , Giunchetti Rodolfo Cordeiro
Published: August 2023

Recent studies suggest that the association of antigens in microparticles increases the anti-Leishmania vaccine immunogenicity. This study aims to investigate the in situ effect of the adjuvant performance consisting of chitosan-coated poly(D,L-lactic) acid submicrometric particles (SMP) and analyze the inflammatory profile and toxicity. Two formulations were selected, SMP1, containing poly(D,L-lactide) (PLA) 1% wt/v and chitosan 1% wt/v; and SMP2, containing PLA 5% wt/v and chitosan 5% wt/v. After a single dose of the unloaded SMP1 or SMP2 in mice, the SMPs promoted cell recruitment without tissue damage. In addition, besides the myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity having demonstrated similar results among the analyzed groups, a progressive reduction in the levels of N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) until 72 h was observed for SMPs. While IL-6 levels were similar among all the analyzed groups along the kinetics, only the SMPs groups had detectable levels of TNF-α. Additionally, the Leishmania braziliensis antigen was encapsulated in SMPs (SMP1Ag and SMP2Ag), and mice were vaccinated with three doses. The immunogenicity analysis by flow cytometry demonstrated a reduction in NK (CD3−CD49+) cells in all the SMPs groups, in addition to impairment in the T cells subsets (CD3+CD4+) and CD3+CD8+) and B cells (CD19+) of the SMP2 group. The resulting data demonstrate that the chitosan-coated SMP formulations stimulate the early events of an innate immune response, suggesting their ability to increase the immunogenicity of co-administered Leishmania antigens.
Psychosocial Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and the Mediating Role of Various Attitudes towards Science
Authors: Morgan Jonathan , Wagoner Joseph A. , Pyszczynski Tom
Published: August 2023

This study examined the way attitudes towards science in the U.S. mediate the relationship between COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and psychosocial predictors, such as political ideology, religiosity, reactance proneness, dogmatism, perceived communal ostracism, education, and socioeconomic status. We analyzed the structure of people’s attitudes towards science, revealing four distinct factors: epistemic confidence, belief that science and technology are beneficial, trust in science in general, and trust in medical science. With all four factors included as mediators in a saturated path analysis, low levels of trust in medical science and low epistemic confidence fully mediated the relationships between nearly all of the psychosocial predictors and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Political conservativism’s negative association with vaccine hesitancy was partially mediated by the same two facets of people’s attitudes towards science. Adding nuance to existing research, we found that trust in science in general was not a significant mediator once all four facets were included in the model. These findings are discussed with a focus on their implications for understanding attitudes towards science and their substantial and complex role in COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.
Adding a Web-Based Virtual Reality Classroom Experience to a Hybrid, Blended Course Modality
Authors: Huisinga Laura
Published: August 2023

The blended classroom is a unique space for face-to-face (F2F) interaction and online learning. The blended classroom has three distinct interaction types: in-person synchronous, virtual synchronous, and virtual asynchronous; each of these modalities lends itself to different forms of extended reality. This case study looks at using a virtual reality (VR) classroom for an online synchronous weekly meetings for three upper-division or advanced (junior and senior level) higher education design classes at a university. The use of social web VR for a classroom can offer a collaborative, real-time environment that bridges the gap between virtual video conferences and gaming platforms. This paper examines how to use social web VR in a virtual classroom. Mixed methods were used to collect usability data at the end of the semester survey. The system usability scale (SUS) and several qualitative questions gathered student feedback. Overall, the students enjoyed using the VR classroom, but audio issues seemed to be the most significant pain point. While the overall response was positive, this study will address several areas for improvement from both the student and instructor perspectives. Social, web-based VR offers promising potential. Designing a human-centered virtual environment and considering all participants’ total user experience is critical to a successful learning tool.
Green Roofs as an Urban NbS Strategy for Rainwater Retention: Influencing Factors—A Review
Authors: Monteiro Cristina M. , Mendes Ana Mafalda , Santos Cristina
Published: August 2023

There has been a rapid development in studies of nature-based solutions (NbS) worldwide, which reveals the potential of this type of solution and the high level of interest in its implementation to improve the resilience of cities. Much relevant information and many important results are being published, and it is now possible to see their diverse benefits and complexity. Several authors highlight their role in urban areas not just in temperature control, but also in human health, ecosystem development and water management. However, in the current reality of cities, where water use is being (and will be) constantly challenged, analyzing NbS advantages for the urban water cycle is crucial. This study performed an intense review of the NbS literature from 2000 to 2021, to identify their contributions to the improvement of urban water cycle management and thus provide a solid information base for distinct entities (public institutions, private investors and the urban population in general) to disseminate, apply and justify their implementation. In general terms, the urban water cycle embraces not only the abstraction of water for urban consumption, but also its return to nature and all the stages in between, including water reuse and stormwater management. This review will highlight the important benefits that NbS in general, and green roofs in particular, provide to urban stormwater control, a key factor that contributes to urban sustainability and resilience in order to face future climate challenges. The novelty of the present review paper falls within the conclusions regarding the crucial role that NbS develop in urban water management and the main features that must be tested and technically enhanced to improve their functioning.
Numerical–Experimental Study of Scour in the Discharge of a Channel: Case of the Carrizal River Hydraulic Control Structure, Tabasco, Mexico
Authors: Caballero Christian , Mendoza Alejandro , Berezowsky Moisés , Jiménez Abel
Published: August 2023

Scour processes occur, among other causes, by the interaction of flow and sediment transport around structures built within a river. It is important to identify the location and quantify the magnitude of scour to avoid under or overestimation since the former puts the structure at risk and the latter demands an excessive economic cost. The data obtained from a physical model with a scale of 1:60 (without distortion) was used to assess the accuracy of a 2D free-surface numerical model (2DH) in predicting maximum scour. The physical model corresponds to the hydraulic-regulating structure located at the entrance of the Carrizal River, tributary to the Mezcalapa River bifurcation, located in Tabasco, Mexico. The scour is produced by the effect of a jet generated by a discharge channel. The maximum experimental scour was compared to the results of a numerical model and the estimation of four empirical equations: Breusers, Farhoudi and Smith, Negm, and Dietz. Setting an acceptance threshold of 75% accuracy, only the Breusers method provided values close to the measured values, and the numerical model failed to reproduce the location and magnitude of maximum scour, yet when the 2DH model was calibrated for secondary flow effects in the hydraulics. This indicates that the application of 2D models for the estimation of scour caused by jets may not provide good results when secondary currents are developed.
Factors Influencing Post-Marriage Education and Employment among Bangladeshi Women: A Cross-Sectional Analysis
Authors: Ghose Bishwajit , Haque Iftekharul , Mamun Abdullah Al
Published: August 2023

Higher education and employment are two key components of women’s empowerment. However, many women fail to continue their studies or work after marriage, which can significantly reduce their empowerment potential, especially in countries with stark gender inequality such as in Bangladesh. In this study, our objective was to explore the individual, household and community factors associated with post-marriage education and employment among Bangladeshi women using data from the latest Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS 2017–18). Data were analysed using multivariate logistic regression methods. The results of the study show that a large proportion of the participants did not continue their studies (42.1%) or work (72.5%) after marriage, while only 3% of the participants studied and about 29.0% worked for more than 5 years after marriage. The most important factors associated with continuing to study after marriage include having access to a mobile phone (OR = 1.89, 95% CI = 1.62, 2.19), the husband’s number of years of education (OR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.08, 1.15), a higher household wealth index (OR = 1.27–4.31) and improved toilet facilities (OR = 1.36, 1.12, 1.65). Conversely, the number of children (OR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.65, 0.73), living in rural areas (OR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.68, 0.88) and residing in certain divisions are negatively associated with continuing to study after marriage. Women with a mobile phone (OR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.06, 2.03) are more likely to continue working after marriage, while those with larger spousal age differences (OR = 0.33, 95% CI = 0.19, 0.58) and those living in the Chittagong division (OR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.30, 0.96) are less likely to do so. The study indicates that a large proportion of Bangladeshi women do not continue their education or work after marriage. These findings underscore the significance of empowering women and addressing sociodemographic issues to promote education and work opportunities after marriage.
Features of accounting for property leases in organizations in accordance with the requirements of the Federal accounting standard FSB 25/2018 «Lease accounting»
Authors: Remizova Anna A. , Nardina Svetlana A.
Published: August 2023

In the existing realities, transformations of the regulatory regulation of Russian accounting are taking place, as a result of which national standards are updated in accordance with international requirements. the development and adoption of the «Federal Accounting Standard FSB 25/2018 "Lease Accounting"» is one of the stages of such transformation in the article, the authors analyzed the fundamental aspects of the organization of accounting for property lease transactions in organizations. the requirements for information in accounting and accounting statements of an economic entity, defined by the federal standard, as well as the procedure for assessing assets and liabilities in accordance with IFRS 16 «Lease», are considered. the procedure for determining the initial value of the rental object, its market and fair value is analyzed. the methodological basis of the study includes a critical analysis and generalization of regulations governing this area of accounting in Russian and international practice. A step-by-step instruction for the application of FSB 25/2018 «Lease Accounting» in the accounting of property from the tenant and the landlord is presented.
On the role of regional banks in the socio-economic development of the regions
Authors: Fadeikin Natalia V. , Shvetsova Nadezhda S.
Published: August 2023

The authors summarize the opinions of many researchers on the definition of the concept of "regional bank" and its role in the socio-economic development of regions, on the relationship between the banking and real sectors of the economy at the regional level, the formation and development of regional markets for banking products and the effectiveness of regional banks. the process of changing the structure of the banking sector, which began in 2016, is analyzed in order to implement the principles of proportional regulation of the activities of banking sector entities, which were divided into three groups: socially significant credit organizations (NWCS), credit organizations with a universal license (including NWCS) and credit organizations with a basic license. the description of this process is accompanied not only by the introduction of significant changes to the main banking laws, other regulatory legal acts, regulations of the Bank of Russia, but also by the activation of state authorities, representatives of the banking and scientific communities regarding the strengthening of the role of regional banks and securing the category of "regional significant bank" for the most effective of them.
Development of the budgeting system in organizations of the agricultural sector of the economy
Authors: Velichko Konstantin A.
Published: August 2023

In modern conditions of development of economic entities of the agricultural sector of the economy, one of its defining vectors is the process of improving rationing and budgeting as a basis for rational, economical and efficient use of resources with their limitations. In this article, the author considers methodological approaches to budget formation as a tool for designing the financial condition of an economic entity, the main purpose of which is to provide financial resources and cash for the entrepreneurial activity of an economic entity of the agricultural sector of the economy, its solvency, financial independence and sustainability. The author proves that the growth of financial indicators of pilot organizations was significantly influenced by two factors acting in different directions, but with different growth rates: this is a faster growth rate of revenue compared to the growth rate of the cost of sales. This development trend leads to a reduction in the cost and prices of finished products available to a wide range of the population of the regions and the country as a whole. In addition, the results of calculating the budget values of the sales budget in various ways are presented and the choice of the most optimal is justified.
Control in the structure of the concept of accounting for contractual obligations
Authors: Plotnikov Victor S. , Plotnikova Olesya V.
Published: August 2023

Control over economic resources and ownership of assets represent two interrelated but distinct economic categories in the concept of accounting for contractual obligations. If the ownership of assets arises at the time of signing the contract and, accordingly, the objects of the exchange transaction are evaluated and fixed at that moment, then control over the economic resource arises at the time of the transfer of the underlying asset under the control of the buyer organization. Control allows you to identify the economic resource to be accounted for by the organization during the performance of contractual obligations. Therefore, for accounting purposes, differences in these categories should be taken into account when estimating revenue from contracts with buyers.
Personal income tax: development prospects
Authors: Selyukov Mikhail V.
Published: August 2023

The article is devoted to personal income tax. During the analysis of scientific publications, the practice of income taxation in foreign countries, the approaches to the establishment of differentiated tax rates depending on the income received are revealed. The author's vision on the application of tax incentives for individuals is presented, and measures to improve the taxation of personal income are proposed.
Vat refund as an indicator of socio-economic development of the region (by the example of the Amur Region)
Authors: Serikov Stanislav G. , Ivankova Aleksandra O.
Published: August 2023

The article discusses the National Program of socio-economic development of the Far East, special attention is paid to the socio-economic development of the Amur region. The dynamics of the gross regional product and investments in fixed assets in the Amur Region, the Far Eastern Federal District and the Russian Federation as a whole are analyzed. An assessment of the scale and productivity of the development of the regional economy was carried out, trends and prospects for further development of the macroregion were determined. The analysis of value added tax receipts from the Amur region to the consolidated budget of the Russian Federation was carried out and the main reasons for the decrease in VAT receipts were determined. The negative dynamics of VAT is associated with a fairly extensive construction activity in the Amur region, since the construction of even relatively small facilities requires the purchase of a significant amount of expensive construction materials and equipment. A significant contribution to the negative dynamics of VAT is made by the activities of gold mining companies in the region, since the extraction of precious metals is subject to a zero VAT rate. A forecast of VAT receipts for the next 5 years has been developed. The factors that can affect the socio-economic development of the Far Eastern Federal District, reduce GRP, reduce investments and financing volumes are identified. It is concluded that the macro-region needs to rely on its own resource potential: practice shows that it is not always possible to count on the financial support of the federal center. The Far Eastern Federal District has its own competitive advantages and a large number of resources for independent socio-economic development.
To the question of the need to reorganize the transformation of the world monetary and financial system in the context of global crisis phenomena and multipolarity
Authors: Fadeikina Natalia V. , Pilova Fatima I.
Published: August 2023

The article reveals the essence of monetary policy, examines the impact of the global economic crisis on the world monetary and financial system. The purpose of this article is to characterize the main current trends in the reorganization and transformation of the world monetary and financial system, due to fundamental shifts in the structure of the world economy (from a relatively predictable world to a world characterized by a high level of turbulence) in the context of the global crisis, manifested, in particular, in the form of the crisis of the cost of living and multipolarity.
Cross-cultural Communication Strategies in the Digital Era: A Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Owusu Edward , Arthur Jones Lewis , Amofah Kwaku
Published: August 2023

The growth of global industrialisation, migration, international trade, industry-academia collaboration, government-industry-academia collaboration, and internationalisation of institutions and business entities has led to an expansion of cross-cultural communication strategies and digitalisation across the world. Because of this, a lot of scientific research publications have been done on cross-cultural communication and digitalisation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess authors’ citations, affiliations, and bibliometric coupling on cross-cultural communication and digitalisation within ten years, between 2014 and May 2023. The purpose of this paper was to identify the countries and disciplines with the most and least scientific publications on cross-cultural communication and digitalisation from 2014 to May 2023. Since the design of the paper was qualitative, the descriptive approach was used. The data (scientific publications) were electronically sampled from Scopus using three key phrases (“cross-cultural” or “communication” or “digitalisation”). In the first instance, a total of 122,461 data were collected from 2014 to May 2023. However, a sample size of 5,493 scientific publications was collected after filtering the initial data with the open-access option. The data collected from Scopus were then analysed with the 1.6.13 version of the VOSviewer software. The results of the study indicate that between 2014 and May 2023, Chang L. is the author with the highest number of scientific Scopus-indexed publications (13 papers) on cross-cultural communication and digitalisation.  Also, the United Kingdom is the country with the highest number of scientific publications on cross-cultural communication and digitalisation from 2014 to May 2023. Still, on the results, the United Kingdom with total documents of 674 is the country with the highest number of bibliometric couplings on cross-cultural communication and digitalisation from 2014 to May 2023. In terms of authors with the highest citation within the period studied, Hofstede recorded 546 during ten years. The study recommends that more collaborative research should be done on cross-cultural communication and digitalisation among authors from various disciplines.