bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quantifying the Fragmentation of Polypropylene upon Exposure to Accelerated Weathering
Authors: Meides Nora , Mauel Anika , Menzel Teresa , Altstädt Volker , Ruckdäschel Holger , Senker Jürgen , Strohriegl Peter
Published: July 2022

Polymers are omnipresent in our everyday lives. For specific applications, their properties can be extensively modified by various types of additives, e.g., processing stabilizers, antioxidants, UV-stabilizers, flame retardants, and plasticizers. While several additives are nowadays considered to be toxic or persistent in the environment, quantitative data characterizing plastic fragmentation and microplastic formation have not yet been discussed in detail. Here, we present a long-term, laboratory-controlled accelerated weathering study on polypropylene (PP) particles with and without processing stabilizers. We were able to identify the stabilizers as Irgafos® 168, and Irganox® 1010. For both PP sample sets, we monitored the degradation using a combination of various analytical methods, such as Gel Permeation Chromatography, Particle Size Distributions, Scanning Electron Microscopy, solid-state 13C Magic-Angle Spinning NMR and liquid-state 1H, 13C, 31P NMR Spectroscopy, Differential Scanning Calorimetry and Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry. The stabilizers prevent degradation by simulated solar radiation for about 350 h. Then, degradation sets in rapidly, leading to an exponential decrease in molecular weight and particle size, accompanied by an increase in crystallinity and the formation of oxygen-containing functional groups. After 3200 h, representing approximately 2 years of outdoor weathering, both PP samples display comparable characteristics and sizes, regardless of the stabilizer initially present. During degradation, an extremely large number of 100000 daughter particles (4 µm) are formed and released from one MP particle of 192 µm diameter. Their physical properties and chemical composition have largely changed, resulting in a very low molecular weight and a hydrophilic character. These particles no longer resemble pristine PP. We thus expect them to be more prone to biodegradation compared to the starting material.
Evolutionary Analyses and Identification of Rare Pathogenic Variant in The MCPH1 BRCT3 Domain Broaden Its Role in Non-syndromic Hearing Impairment
Authors: Oluwole Oluwafemi Gabriel , James Kili , Wonkam Ambroise
Published: July 2022

Human mouse orthologous hearing impairment genes were investigated in African patients for causal variants. A homozygous mutation in the exon 13 BRCT3 of microcephalin1 (MCPH1) gene was reported in non-syndromic hearing impairment (NSHI). The present study screened multiplex families; ninety (n=90) patients and 106 controls from Cameroon and South Africa. The estimated mode of inheritance was 34.8% autosomal recessive, 34.8% autosomal dominant, 21.74% mitochondrial, and 8.66% X-linked. Four rare missense variants and seven novel variants were identified in the candidate gene (MCPH1). The variants MCPH1 c.2222G>A p.(R741Q) (Alt Allele A=0.0000) and novel homozygous MCPH1 c.2234A>C p.(H745P) were absent in the 106 ethnically matched controls. The evolutionary analyses revealed that the MCPH1 protein evolved in 150 taxa while about 28 condensed in a phylogeny cluster that indicated similar substitution rates, divergent lengths, and positive selections, particularly in the two closest taxa to humans (chimpanzee and gorilla). The protein modelling and surface hydrophobicity analyses suggest a change in atomic charges at the helix-loop that mediates dimerization and DNA binding, such that the wildtype equilibrates at 0.072 nm while the mutant equilibrates at 0.042 nm in-silico. Our study suggests a further understanding of the roles of MCPH1 gene in NSHI using functional assays.
Honey compositional convergence and the parallel domestication of social bees
Authors: Noiset Pierre , Cabirol Nathalie , Rojas-Oropeza Marcelo , Warrit Natapot , Nkoba Kiatoko , Vereecken Nicolas
Published: July 2022

Honey collection evolved from sheer honey hunting to the parallel and independent domestication of different species of bees in various parts of the world. In this study, we investigate the extent to which the compositional convergence in Apis and stingless bee honeys has driven independently the domestication of different bee species in Mesoamerica, (Mexico) and Eurasia (Thailand) by using a sampling design that combines state-of-the-art honey profiling using H1 NMR spectroscopy with the collection of honeys from both domesticated and non-domesticated bee species. Our results show that, irrespective of the region of the world considered, domesticated stingless bees produce honey whose compositional profiles converge with those of the domesticated Apis species. Our results provide evidence for the first time that the search for natural sweeteners in the environment by our ancestors led to the parallel and independent domestication of social bees producing honeys with convergent compositional profile.
Identifying opportunities for irrigation systems to meet the specific needs of farmers in East Africa
Authors: de Zande Georgia D Van , Amrose Susan , Donlon Elliott , Shamshery Pulkit , V Amos G. Winter
Published: July 2022

East Africa (EA), a region facing food shortages, has very little irrigation adoption compared to the rest of the world. Increasing irrigation has been shown to increase food cultivation, so governments and private organizations have been attempting to introduce irrigation products into the EA market. Despite this support, irrigation adoption rates remain low, meaning existing solutions do not meet the needs of medium-to-small scale farmers. Meeting these needs is challenging because the types of farmers in EA are diverse, and these differences have not yet been elucidated. This study sought to do so and to understand if new opportunities exist for irrigation products targeted at this range of farmers. We first conducted an interview-based market assessment to reveal which market segments exist and what each values in an irrigation system. Then, we conducted a technical and economic feasibility analysis to reveal which irrigation methods and energy sources are most promising for each segment. Four distinct market segments were found. The traditional smallholder would most value a system that uses photovoltaic (PV) and manual irrigation. The semi-commercial smallholder’s most promising system uses PV panels and butterfly sprinklers. Both the medium-scale contract farmer and the remote farm owner would value PV panel- and drip irrigation-based systems. These identified opportunities for innovation can guide irrigation designers as they develop new systems that directly serve farmers’ needs, with the aim to increase irrigation and food security in EA.
Levels and Correlates of Risk Factor Control in Diabetes Mellitus –ELSA-Brasil
Authors: Chwal Bruna Cristine , Reis Rodrigo Citton Padilha , Schmidt Maria Inês , Duncan Bruce B. , Barreto Sandhi Maria , Griep Rosane Harter
Published: July 2022

BACKGROUND
Control of glucose, blood pressure, cholesterol, and smoking improves the prognosis of individuals with diabetes mellitus. Our objective was to assess the level of control of these risk factors in Brazilian adults with known diabetes and evaluate correlates of target achievement.
METHODS
Cross-sectional sample of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health, composed of participants reporting a previous diagnosis of diabetes or the use oof antidiabetic medication. We measured glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and LDL-cholesterol at a central laboratory and blood pressure following standardized protocols. We defined HbA1c < 7% as glucose control (target A); blood pressure < 140/90 mmHg (or < 130/80 mmHg in high cardiovascular risk) as blood pressure control (target B), and LDL-c < 100 mg/dl (or < 70 mg/dl in high risk) as lipid control (target C), according to the 2022 American Diabetes Association guidelines.
RESULTS
Among 2062 individuals with diabetes, 1364 (66.1%) reached target A, 1596 (77.4%) target B, and 1086 (52.7%) target C; only 590 (28.6%) achieved all three targets. When also considering a non-smoking target, those achieving all targets dropped to 555 (26.9%). Women (PR = 1.13; 95%CI 1.07–1.20), those aged ≥ 74 (PR = 1.20; 95%CI 1.08–1.34), and those with greater per capita income (e.g., greatest income PR = 1.26; 95%CI 1.10–1.45) were more likely to reach glucose control. Those black (PR = 0.91; 95%CI 0.83-1.00) or with a longer duration of diabetes (e.g., ≥ 10 years PR = 0.43; 95%CI 0.39–0.47) were less likely. Women (PR = 1.05; 95%CI 1.00-1.11) and those with private health insurance (PR = 1.15; 95%CI 1.07–1.23) were more likely to achieve two or more ABC targets; and those black (PR = 0.86; 95%CI 0.79–0.94) and with a longer duration of diabetes (e.g., > 10 years since diabetes diagnosis, PR = 0.68; 95%CI 0.63–0.73) less likely.
CONCLUSION
There is room for improvement in controlling these modifiable prognostic factors, especially LDL-C. Our findings reinforce the importance of social factors in determining the ABC control of diabetes.
Genetic control of resistance to drought stress in soybean
Authors: Saleem Aamir , Roldán-Ruiz Isabel , Aper Jonas , Muylle Hilde
Published: July 2022

BackgroundDrought stress limits the production of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], which is the most grown high-value legume crop worldwide. Breeding for drought resistance is a difficult endeavor and understanding the genetic basis of drought resistance in soybean is therefore crucial for harnessing the genomic regions involved in the resistance mechanisms. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) analysis was applied in a soybean germplasm collection (the EUCLEG collection) of 359 accessions relevant for breeding in Europe, to identify genomic regions and candidate genes involved in the response to short duration and long duration drought stress (SDS and LDS respectively) in soybean. ResultsThe phenotypic responses to drought was stronger in the long duration drought (LDS) than in the short duration drought (SDS) experiment. Over the four traits considered (canopy wilting, leaf senescence, maximum absolute growth rate and maximum plant height) the variation was in the range of 8.4-25.2% in the SDS, and 14.7-29.7% in the LDS experiments. The GWAS analysis identified a total of 17 and 22 significant marker-trait associations for four traits in the SDS and LDS experiments, respectively. In the genomic regions delimited by these markers we identified a total of 12 and 16 genes with putative functions that are of particular relevance for drought stress responses including stomatal movement, root formation, photosynthesis, ABA signaling, cellular protection and cellular repair mechanisms. Some of these genomic regions co-localized with previously known QTLs for drought resistance traits including water use efficiency, chlorophyll content and photosynthesis. ConclusionOur results indicate that the mechanism of slow wilting in the SDS might be associated with the characteristics of the root system, whereas in the LDS, slow wilting could be due to low stomatal conductance and transpiration rates enabling a high WUE. Drought-induced leaf senescence was found to be associated to ABA and ROS responses. The QTLs related to WUE contributed to growth rate and canopy height maintenance under drought stress. Co-localization of several previously known QTLs for multiple agronomic traits with the SNPs identified in this study, highlights the importance of the identified genomic regions for the improvement of agronomic performance in addition to drought resistance in the EUCLEG collection.
The combination of fruquintinib, raltitrexed and S-1 as a third-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer: A case report
Authors: Wan Yuming , Luo Deyun
Published: July 2022

Effective late-line therapies for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) are urgently needed. This case report presents a patient with mCRC who received third-line treatment with fruquintinib, raltitrexed and S-1. A 54-year-old male presenting with hematochezia was admitted to our hospital in June 2017 and underwent surgery for a tumor between the rectum and sigmoid colon. Postoperative pathology identified adenocarcinoma (wild-type RAS/RAF, no PIK3CA mutation), and the patient was diagnosed with mCRC (pathological stage, pT3pN1apM0). The mFOLFOX6 regimen was administered. The patient was subsequently diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in May 2018 and treated with the ABVD regimen after multidisciplinary discussions. Liver metastases (intestinal-type adenocarcinoma) were detected in November 2018, and second-line therapy with the FOLFIRI regimen was initiated in January 2019. Lung metastases were identified in September 2019, so the patient was treated with the combination of raltitrexed, S-1 and fruquintinib. A partial response was detected in November 2019, and the patient underwent resection of the hepatic lesion on November 5, 2020. CT images in November 2021 revealed stable disease, thus raltitrexed was discontinued and S-1 and fruquintinib was maintained. The patient remains alive at the time of writing. The case was characterized by the simultaneous existence of mCRC and Hodgkin lymphoma, which required management by a multidisciplinary team. Third-line therapy with fruquintinib, raltitrexed and S-1 achieved a partial response that permitted surgical resection as well as a relatively long progression-free survival. This regimen may have potential as a late-line therapy for mCRC.
Identification of a upstream transcription complex regulating miR-9 expression during neurogenesis
Authors: Kuriakose Diji , Iraqi Fuad , Morahan Grant , Xiao Zhicheng
Published: July 2022

MicroRNAs (miRs) are critical for many cellular processes, including neurogenesis. Little is known about the components of upstream regulation of miR. We studied regulation of miR-9, which is highly expressed in the brain. Using Collaborative Cross mice, significant quantitative trait loci (QTL) were mapped to regions containing 131 candidate genes. These were characterized by RNAi interference, qPCR and neuronal differentiation assays to derive a short list of candidates. Three of these encoded proteins (Panx2, Polr1c and Mgea5) were shown by ChIP-seq and Co-IP to associate mutually with each other and bind to the miR-9 locus. We named this DNA-protein interaction complex that acts upstream of miR-9, which serves as the site for regulating miRs' expression, “miRSome”. A 3C/ChIP-loop assay confirmed the chromatin organisation of the miRSome on the miR-9 locus. These results describe the components of upstream regulatory mechanism of miR-9 expression during neurogenesis.
Extracting potential new targets for treatment of Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma using bioinformatic methods
Authors: Pordanjani Tayebeh Forooghi , Dabirmanesh Bahareh , Choopanian Peyman , Mirzaie Mehdi , Mohebbi Saleh , Khajeh Khosro
Published: July 2022

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a slow-growing malignancy that most often occurs in the salivary glands. Although reasonable local control is usually achieved by tumor surgery and subsequent radiation therapy, recurrence at the same or distant site is the cause of treatment failure. Currently, no FDA-approved therapeutic target or diagnostic biomarker has been identified for this cancer. To find the therapeutic and diagnostic targets for ACC, we extracted the gene expression information from two GEO datasets. Different expression genes (DEGs) between ACC and normal samples were extracted and used to explore the biochemical pathways involved in ACC and create a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network.After analyzing the PPI network, 20 hub genes were introduced that have potential as diagnostic and therapeutic target. Among them, PLCG1 and EZH2 were introduced as new biomarkers in ACC that might have a high value in the diagnosis and treatment of ACC. Furthermore, by studying the roles of the hub genes in the enriched biochemical pathways, we found that most likely, IGF-1R/IR and PPARG pathways play a critical role in tumorigenesis and drug resistance in the ACC and have a high potential for selection as a therapeutic target in future studies.
Factors associated with Insomnia among Frontline nurses during COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: Nazari Nabi , Sadeghi Masoud , Samusenkov Vadim , Aligholipour Akram
Published: July 2022

Background: Research predominantly suggests that nurses are at high risk of developing psychopathology. The empirical data show that the occurrence rate of problem-related sleep quality among clinical nurses is high. Therefore, this study was conducted to address the lack of information on the relationship between COVID-19 pandemic and Insomnia.Methods: A convenience sample of nurses (n=680) completed an online survey that included the insomnia severity index, the COVID-19-related psychological distress scale, the general health questionnaire, neuroticism, dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep; and difficulties with emotional difficulties. Results: Results showed that 35.8 % (n=253) of nurses were classified as individuals with moderate to severe clinical Insomnia. The results showed that the psychological distress generated by the COVID-19 predicted the insomnia (β=.47, SE= 0.02, P<.001, t=13.27, 95% CI 0.31-0.46). Also, this association mediated by the psychopathology vulnerabilities, emotion dysregulation, dysfunctional beliefs about sleep, and neuroticism. Moreover, female nurses exhibited higher levels of insomnia (Cohen’s d=.37), dysfunctional beliefs about sleep (Cohen’s d=.21), and neuroticism (Cohen’s d=.29), than males.Conclusion: The findings make a significant contribution to the expanding literature on emotion dysregulation, beliefs, and psychopathology vulnerability on Insomnia. The findings suggest the potential influence of Cognitive behavioural therapy interventions for insomnia (CBT-I) and transdiagnostic integrated therapies that could be incorporated into therapeutic of programs designed to develop as a way of inhibiting or preventing insomnia among clinical nurses.
The Innovative Approach to the Evaluation of the Social Responsible Small and Medium Sized Enterprises
Authors: Ubreziova Iveta , Sokil Oksana , Lancaric Drahoslav
Published: July 2022

Understanding social responsibility importance pushes businesses to assume not only the behaviour of law-abidingness but also to carry the voluntary participation in the implementation of corporate contribution to the development of the community and the territory and establishing social partnership relations with the state. However, it should be noted that no aspects of social responsibility have been analysed appropriately. In particular, some authors pointed out that it is necessary to increase the number of studies related to the social responsibility perception of small and medium enterprises because these companies often lack a clear understanding and conscious recognition of socially responsible importance. Such a situation has motivated the authors to do research in this area. The food service sector was chosen for an investigation in Ukraine, Portugal, and Slovakia. The purpose of the paper is to find out the most important factors that influence the socially responsible perception of small and medium-sized enterprises among food service enterprises in Ukraine, Portugal, and Slovakia from the viewpoint of the economic pillar. Primary data were collected by conducting a questionnaire survey of Ukraine, Portuguese, and Slovak small and medium-sized enterprises working in the food sector. The research was conducted in selected cities of each country (Portugal: Lisbon, Porto, Faro; Slovakia: Bratislava, Nitra, Košice, and Ukraine: Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa). The city selection could be explained by the fact that the before-mentioned cities are the most visited ones in the selected countries. The study received 107 answers from Ukraine, 102 from Portugal, and 101 from Slovakia. Statistical analysis was performed by using IBM SPSS software and MS Excel. It could be concluded that the research describes that the company's financial situation has the most significant influence on its performance. In addition, enterprises with a short-term existence display better social responsibility performance. The results have several practical implications for organisations' policymakers. Results showed that adopting the socially responsible concept greatly depends on the company's financial situation. However, several socially responsible activities are neutral concerning the costs. The companies could focus on collaboration with other small and medium-sized enterprises, getting involved in community service activities and collaboration with nonprofit organisations, charity camps organisation, team building activities, organisation of masterclasses for children, resources donation, and reuse activities.
Management of Competitiveness in the EU Member States: The Main Strengths and Weaknesses
Authors: Maris Martin
Published: July 2022

The paper's main objective is to investigate the differences in competitiveness among the EU member states. Each nation's competitiveness is determined by its government's management capabilities on the national, regional and local levels and thus poses substantial implications to economic growth. For this purpose, hierarchical clustering as the primary method of investigation was selected. The data mining process was based on extracting GCI score data about individual member states. Based on the GCI score evaluation, the cluster analysis showed two groups of EU member states, according to the 'traditional' division of old member states (OMS) and new member states (NMS). Results showed a statistically significant gap in GCI scores between the OMS and NMS. Furthermore, the within-class variability in the OMS cluster appears to be higher than in the NMS cluster, which underlines growing disparities among old member states. Most significant differences among both groups prevail in the field of institutions, ICT adoption, business dynamism and innovation. Finally, the link between achieved GCI score and average economic growth has been investigated. Contrary to expectations, more developed member states (OMS) showed, on average, relatively lower economic growth rates over the investigated period than the less developed member states (NMS). The results showed a moderately negative link between the GCI score and economic growth, which suggests that a higher GCI score does not mean achieving higher economic growth, whereas member states with lower total GCI scores could outpace the higher ones in terms of economic growth. In many aspects, the EU still resembles two rails in Europe, and a significant gap between OMS and NMS prevails. Relatively higher economic growth of NMS might help reduce the gap over time. However, it may prove a short-sighted, and significant lags in many crucial factors will stiff the competitiveness in the long term.
Marketing Strategies in the Banking Services Sector With the Help of Data Science
Authors: Zatonatska Tetiana , Hubska Maryna , Shpyrko Viktor
Published: July 2022

Competition between marketing strategies of enterprises shifts to the use of artificial intelligence and begins to be considered in the context of competition between Data Science projects. Therefore, the issue of developing methodology and building a model in a particular area is relevant, which will make the project quite effective and ensure the achievement of goals for the company. The banking services market has a certain specificity of consumer behaviour, so forming marketing strategies is a somewhat complex process. Thus, banks face the task of maintaining the loyalty of their existing customers and attracting new ones. This article aims to build a marketing strategy to attract new customers in the banking sector using Data Science tools. The result of the study is the construction of two econometric models of the different bank's credit products: cash loans and credit cards, which determine the influence of various factors on this process and helps to distribute the advertising budget between different types of advertising. Using the built model, it was determined that advertising campaigns directly affect the increase in the number of new customers in the bank and the overall growth of brand knowledge about the banking institution in society. In addition, the determined weights of each influencing factor helped form an advertising budget, which increased customer inflows by 12%, with an average ROI of 3.18. Taking all into account, the model had shown its effectiveness in organising the bank's advertising campaign when decisions were made using Data Science technologies. The results obtained based on the models give a fairly clear understanding of the factors influencing the inflow of new customers in the bank, which will model the distribution of the budget for advertising campaigns in future periods and predict their effectiveness. Competition in the country's financial sector is forcing banking institutions to use data science in their marketing activities.
Innovative Approaches to Model and Forecast of Azerbaijan’s Economic Growth
Authors: Shafizada Elnure , Aslanova Nigar
Published: July 2022

One of the indicators of the country's economic growth is the gross domestic product, and one of the factors of economic growth is capital. The main criteria and source of economic development is economic growth. Economic growth is a sustainable increasing tendency of the main indicators of national theory production. Furthermore, absolute value and growth per capita are also considered. The objective and subjective aspects and components of the processes of formation and development of economic growth are investigated. The essence and characteristics of objective and subjective factors of the country's economic growth are given. In economics and statistics, various indicators are used to measure the volume of national production. The most important of these is the gross domestic product. Gross domestic product is expressed by the monetary unit of the final products and services produced in the economy. The fact that gross domestic product comprises final products and services produced within a particular country should be considered. Moreover, the most important is the diversification of sources of gross domestic product growth and ensuring the multiplier influence of the interconnected sectors of the country's economy to increase gross domestic product growth. In this work, the dynamic model that demonstrates the dependence of gross domestic product on investments in the case of the Azerbaijan economy is created. Based on this model, it is possible to more optimally plan and predict promising sources and strategic directions for developing the national economy and ensuring its intensive growth. This approach provides an opportunity for the country's strategic planning of the gross domestic product. In this work, to achieve the desired level of gross domestic product, the volume of investment is used as the independent variable in the dynamic model. However, as indicated above, many other factors affect the amount of investment in gross domestic product. Nevertheless, the dynamic model of the optimal gross domestic product trajectory yielded good results. In modern conditions, optimal and effective modelling is essential to ensure the dynamic development of the country's economies and gross domestic product based on global changes and factors. Similar approaches create opportunities to strengthen the immunity of the national economy to counter global impacts and risks. Further research will consider the other most influential factors on gross domestic product. In this case, a dynamic model of the optimal trajectory of the gross domestic product will give even more adequate results.
Mechanically Harvesting Hard Cider Apples Is More Economically Favorable than Hand Harvesting, Regardless of Farm Scale
Authors: Karl Adam , Knickerbocker Whitney , Peck Gregory
Published: July 2022

Harvesting labor is the largest annual variable operating expense for apple (Malus ×domestica) orchard enterprises and is subject to escalating costs and shortages. In Europe, much of the cider apple harvesting is done with machinery, greatly reducing production costs. However, despite a rapid increase in hard cider production in North America over the past 15 years, mechanical cider apple harvesting has not been widely implemented. In this study, we compared mechanical with hand harvesting costs for model 5-, 15-, and 60-acre cider apple orchards located in New York using a partial budget model. Scale-appropriate harvesters were identified for use at each farm scale. Sensitivity analyses were used to test the cost differential for using each piece of machinery on varying orchard sizes and to model changes in labor costs. Across all orchard scales, we found that mechanically harvesting cider apples was more profitable than hand harvesting, with larger operations breaking even sooner and realizing greater returns than operations using hand harvesting. Mechanical harvesting costs broke even with hand harvesting in years 16, 7, and 5 and by year 30 reduced cumulative harvesting costs by 23%, 52%, and 53% in our 5-, 15-, and 60-acre model orchards, respectively. Increasing the orchard size resulted in greater returns from mechanical harvesting. Using the machinery in the 15-acre orchard scenario on a 30-acre farm resulted in costs breaking even with hand harvesting in year 3; by year 30, the cumulative costs resulted in 66% lower harvesting costs than hand labor. Mechanical harvesting remained profitable when labor wages were decreased and became more profitable in scenarios with increasing wages. For example, in the 60-acre orchard, mechanical harvesting cost 41% less than hand harvesting with a 2% annual compounding decrease in labor wages; with 2% annual compounding increase in labor wages, the mechanical harvesting cost was 63% less than hand harvesting. In addition to the cost savings, mechanical harvesting allows for harvesting cider apples with fewer logistical challenges, such as contracting, housing, and transporting migrant labor.
Impact of digitalization on the attractiveness of employee recruitment and retention in Moroccan companies
Authors: Habachi Mohamed , Nouira Zakia , Malainine Cheklekbire , Hajaji Omar
Published: July 2022

The relevant evolution of social networks and the expansion of digitalization has led to significant changes in the classical processes used by Moroccan companies in different fields such as marketing, human resources management, etc. This paper investigates the effects of digitalization on the attractiveness of Moroccan companies in terms of recruitment and safeguarding these constructs by using structural equation models according to the PLS approach. The study was carried out to touch 74 companies in different sectors. The study showed positive relationships between management support, digitalization, and recruitment performance (defined as the attractiveness of a company for recruitment and federalization of employees). The results show that the T-statistics are equal to 67.55, 6.862, and 5.941, respectively. The Q² value is 0.884 for scanning and 0.937 for performance, which means that the model is predictive in nature. The GoF is 1.388, which means that model is sufficiently large for the overall validity of the PLS model. While jobseeker behavior and competitive intensity did not affect recruitment performance because the test T-statistics is less than 1.64, the two factors have no moderating effect as the p-values are 0.228 and 0.082, respectively, exceeding the threshold of 0.05.
FACTORS INFLUENCING FIXED INCOME MUTUAL FUND PERFORMANCE
Authors: Nur Triasesiarta , Fernandika Frederick Valerio
Published: July 2022

A mutual fund is one of the investment instruments currently developing in Indonesia. There are many types of mutual funds, such as money market funds, fixed-income funds, equity funds, and mixed funds. When an investor invests their money in mutual funds, the investor has to be able to pick the best mutual funds based on mutual funds' performance and their risk profile. There are a lot of factors to determine mutual funds' performance. This research aims to analyze the effect of fund age, fund size, expenditure ratio, and past performance on fixed income mutual funds performance starting from 2016 – 2019. The performance of fixed income mutual funds is measured with the Sharpe method. Multiple regression results analyzed data from the research. The research results show that fund age has a negative and significant effect on fixed income mutual funds. Meanwhile, fund size, expenditure ratio, and past performance don’t significantly affect the performance of fixed-income mutual funds. This research provides investors insight into being more selective in choosing mutual fund products, especially fixed income mutual funds. Furthermore, portfolio managers might use this study to assess the performance of the mutual funds they manage. So that the mutual funds they manage might have a higher future performance. The study contributes to a better understanding of the factors to consider when investing in fixed income mutual funds.
Brazilian and Indian Maritime Security Issues differences in influence-building approaches
Authors: K. Ghosh Probal , Kenkel Michael
Published: July 2022

Emerging powers have often employed diverse strategies to gain influence in their regions. This article explores and compares the maritime regional influence-building pro- cesses spearheaded by Brazil and India. We identify geo- political variables that influence the permanence of dis- cursive region-building strategies that involve: sustained interaction with coastal states; the generation of sufficient maritime consciousness/awareness; strategic importance, either in geopolitical or in economic terms; and acceptan- ce of the proposing state’s claim to a leadership role bac- ked by power projection capabilities. These concepts are explored in the contexts of the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans, revealing the limits imposed on influence-buil- ding by geopolitical factors.
Üstün Yetenekli Öğrencilerin Eğitimine İlişkin Konu Alanı Uzmanlarının Görüş ve Önerilerinin İncelenmesi
Authors: ÖZDİYAR Özlenen , DEMİRKAYA Abdul Samet , GÜRLEN Eda
Published: July 2022

Giriş: Bu araştırmanın amacı, üstün yetenekli öğrencilerin eğitim ihtiyaçlarına ve üstün yetenekli öğrencilere sunulan eğitim uygulamalarına ilişkin konu alanı uzmanlarının görüş ve önerilerini belirlemek ve mevcut eğitim uygulamalarını geliştirmeye yönelik öneriler sunmaktır. Bu amaç doğrultusunda, üstün yetenekli öğrencilerin tanılanmasına, özelliklerine, gereksinimlerine, karşılaştıkları sorunlara, ihtiyaç duydukları eğitim hizmetlerine ve öğretmenlerinin niteliklerine yönelik konu alanı uzmanlarının görüşlerine başvurulmuştur.Yöntem: Araştırmanın çalışma grubu, amaçlı örnekleme yöntemlerinden kartopu tekniği kullanılarak belirlenen yedi konu alanı uzmanından oluşmaktadır. Araştırma verileri, konu alanı uzmanları ile yapılan görüşmeler kapsamında yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme formu kullanılarak elde edilmiştir. Verilerin analizinde içerik analizi yöntemi kullanılmıştır.Bulgular: Araştırma kapsamında görüşülen konu alanı uzmanları, Türkiye’de üstün yetenekli öğrencilerin tanılanmasına yönelik uygulanan testlerin yetersiz olduğunu belirtmişlerdir. Tanılamanın erken çocukluk döneminden itibaren çok boyutlu ölçme araçları kullanılarak yapılmasını önermişlerdir. Uzman görüşlerine göre üstün yetenekli öğrencileri akranlarından farklı kılan özelliklerin başında erken gelişmişlik ve aşırı duyarlılık gelmektedir. Uzmanlar, üstün yetenekli öğrencilerin özellikle gelişimsel özellikleri ile ilgili gereksinimlerini vurgulamış, bu gereksinimler karşılanamadığında akran ve öğretmenlerle çatışmalar görülebileceğini ifade etmişlerdir. Konu alanı uzmanları üstün yetenekli öğrencilere daha iyi bir eğitim sunulabilmesi için öğretmen yeterliklerinin iyileştirilmesi, tematik öğretim programları, okul dışı öğrenme fırsatları ve destek eğitim hizmetleri sağlanmasını önermektedir. Tartışma: Elde edilen bulgular doğrultusunda üstün yetenekli öğrencileri tanılama araç ve süreçlerinin iyileştirilmesi, öğrencilerin özellik ve gereksinimlerini karşılayacak eğitim politikaları, öğretim programları, öğretim uygulamalarının geliştirilmesi ve öğretmenlerin yetiştirilmesi, öğrencilerin karşılaştıkları sorunlara yönelik gerekli önlemlerin alınması gerektiği sonucuna ulaşılmıştır ve bu bağlamda öneriler geliştirilmiştir.
Antioxidant Properties of Triterpenoids in Fat-Containing Products
Authors: Averyanova Elena , Shkolnikova Marina , Chugunova Olga
Published: July 2022

Natural antioxidants of plant origin include chemical compounds, extracts, and essential oils isolated from plant raw materials. They are able to inhibit oxidative spoilage in fat-containing foods. The present research featured the antioxidant and in vivo properties of triterpene alcohol botulin, isolated from the bark of Betula pendula Roth., in fat-containing products, e.g., mayonnaise.

Experimental samples of mayonnaise were prepared using the Provencal mayonnaise technology: 6 of 0.2% betulin solution was introduced in vegetable oil during emulsification. The control sample contained no betulin. The experiment relied on standard methods to study the sensory, physicochemical, and microbiological properties of mayonnaise samples. Antioxidant activity was calculated as the inverse of the value of the peroxide number. The antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties underwent hysiological and biochemical in vivo tests on certified white male Wistar rats.

The research resulted in a new formulation of mayonnaise with triterpenoid botulin, which proved to be a good plant antioxidant as it reduced the values of acid and peroxide numbers. In freshly processed samples, the acid number was 0.013 g/dm3 in the experimental sample and 0.033 g/dm3 in the control. After 60 days of storage, it increased by 1.4 and 2.3 times, respectively. The peroxide number was 8–10 times higher in the control sample during the storage period. Betulin inhibited the oxidation of triacylglycerides. The antioxidant activity of the fresh prototype was 5.00 units and 0.50 units after 60 days. In the control, it was 0.50 and 0.06 units, respectively. In the experimental sample, betulin slowed down the growth rate of microorganisms. In the control sample, the yeast content increased 1.6 times, and mold exceeded the permissible value by 20%.

The antioxidant properties of experimental mayonnaise were proven in vivo on a model of acute toxic hepatitis in rats. Based on biochemical studies of animal blood plasma, the use of mayonnaise with betulin improved the antioxidant protection. Betulin had a positive effect on antioxidant enzymes that destroy organic peroxides, e.g., lipid peroxides, which violate the structure of cell membranes.
Bacteriophages of Lactic Acid Bacteria
Authors: Ganina Vera , Mashentseva Natalia , Ionova Inna
Published: July 2022

Bacteriophages harm food production, disrupt fermenting, spoil dairy products, and cause financial loss. The article describes the biodiversity and properties of bacteriophages capable of lysing lactic acid bacteria used in fermented dairy and meat products.

The research featured bacteriophages obtained from fermented meat and dairy products. The methods included microbiological analyses, sensory evaluation, physico-chemical tests, genetic studies, electron microscopy, optical reassociation, and mathematical data processing.

Violation of the fermentation process always resulted in bacteriophages in the finished products, e.g., fermented dairy products, curd whey, raw smoked and dry-cured sausages, etc. The list of bacteriophages of lactic acid bacteria included 20 bacteriophages of Lactococcus ssp., 11 – of Streptococcus salivarius subsp. thermophilus, and 5 – of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus. The study revealed the diversity of the isolated bacteriophages, their molecular and biological profile, the titer and range of their new hosts, and the differences from standard ones. The bacteriophages proved to be able to infect a wider range of lactic acid bacteria.

The article describes the change in the biodiversity and evolution of bacteriophages depending on their lytic action and virulence. The improved collection of bacteriophages and their detection cultures contribute to an earlier and more effective identification of bacteriophages in fermented products.
Effect of 45 full-scale WWTPs on tropical receiving water bodies in Brazil by partial least squares-discriminant analysis
Authors: Dantas Marina Salim , Magalhães Filho Fernando Jorge Corrêa , Christofaro Cristiano , Oliveira Sílvia Corrêa
Published: July 2022

Treated wastewater may affect water quality and thereby significantly alter physicochemical and biological water quality parameters. The impact of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) on receiving water bodies is a multivariate problem. In this study, we investigated the effect of 45 full-scale WWTPs on tropical receiving water bodies in Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil. Most of the Pantanal wetland area lies within Mato Grosso do Sul State, thus representing a region of great hydrological relevance. Partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) was employed to discriminate samples collected at four WWTPs monitoring sites: influent, final effluent, upstream, and downstream of the discharges. The model demonstrated excellent accuracy when discriminating the influent from the effluent samples, but poor accuracy when discriminating upstream and downstream samples, indicating the high dilution capacity of the receiving water bodies as a critical factor in the water resources management. The results demonstrate the great potential of the methodology for better water resources management, which can be used in even more complex WWTP databases, allowing the assessment of effluent disposals' impacts in detail. It is recommended to use this methodology in water-limited regions to determine the effect of disposals in areas with different characteristics.
The Protective Effect of Sulforaphane on ER-induced Apoptosis and
Inflammation in Necrotizing Enterocolitis Mice
Authors: Wang Xinhong , Mi Yanhong , Xiong Xiaoyu , Bao Zhongkun
Published: July 2022

Background:

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a neonatal intestinal necrotizing disease caused by various factors in newborns. Sulforaphane (SFN) has a strong anti-inflammatory ability and a certain protective effect on intestinal diseases.

Objective:

NEC is a common developed gastrointestinal exigency in untimely baby. SFN is a naturally originated isothiocyanate that has beneficial effects on the intestinal system.The purpose of this study is to study the protective effect of SFN on endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)-related NEC.

Methods:

The newborn mice were randomly divided into control (n=15), NEC (n=20), and NEC+SFN (n=18) groups. Mice in NEC and SFN+NEC groups were injected with 0.1 μl normal saline or 20 mg/kg/d SFN, respectively. After that, the weight and survival in the mice were recorded every day. Then the mice were sacrificed after the 96 h of modeling, ileum tissue and blood samples were collected for qPCR, Western blot, ELISA, HE staining, TUNEL staining, immunohistochemistry assays.

Results:

Results: SFN significantly inhibited the mRNA expression of BIP, CHOP, IL-1β and IL-6, and protein expression of Bax, Caspase-3, Caspase-9 and CHOP, and promoted the expression of Bcl-2 in ER-induced NEC mice intestinal tissues (P<0.01). Meanwhile, SFN could suppress the serum levels of IL-8, IL-10, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, and positive expression of TLR4, and NF-κB (P<0.01), but promote the serum levels of IL-10. HE staining showed that SFN alleviated the NEC intestinal tissue injury, and TUNNEL staining showed that SFN could reduce the rate of NEC apoptotic cells (P<0.01). Moreover, SFN treatment improved the body weight and survival rate in NEC mice.

Conclusion:

SFN could effectively protect ERS-induced inflammation and apoptosis in NEC mice.
MTA1: A Vital Modulator in Prostate Cancer
Authors: Qian Haili , Zhang Yong , Ma Jialu , Li Chunxiao
Published: July 2022

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most frequent cancer of the male genitourinary system and the
second most common cancer in men worldwide. PCa has become one of the leading diseases endangering
men's health in Asia in recent years, with a large increase in morbidity and mortality. MTA1
(metastasis-associated antigen-1), a transcriptional coregulator involved in histone deacetylation and
nucleosome remodeling, is a member of the MTA family. MTA1 is involved in cell signaling, chromosomal
remodeling, and transcriptional activities, all of which are important for epithelial cell progression,
invasion, and growth. MTA1 has been demonstrated to play a significant role in the formation,
progression, and metastasis of PCa, and MTA1 expression is specifically linked to PCa bone
metastases. Therefore, MTA1 may be a potential target for PCa prevention and treatment. Here, we
reviewed the structure, function, and expression of MTA1 in PCa as well as drugs that target MTA1 to
highlight a potential new treatment for PCa.
Энергетический спектр и оптические свойства фуллерена C-=SUB=-50-=/SUB=-(D-=SUB=-5h-=/SUB=-) в модели Хаббарда
Authors: Силантьев А.В.
Published: July 2022

The energy spectra of С50 fullerene and molecule C50Cl10 of symmetry group D5h were obtained within the Hubbard model in the mean-field approximation. Using group theory methods, the classification of energy states was carried out, and the allowed transitions in the energy spectra of С50 and C50Cl10 molecules of symmetry group D5h were determined. On the basis of this spectrum, an interpretation of experimentally observed optical absorption bands of molecule C50Cl10 is proposed.
Формирование плёнок In-=SUB=-2-=/SUB=-O-=SUB=-3-=/SUB=- методом магнетронного напыления на подложках Al-=SUB=-2-=/SUB=-O-=SUB=-3-=/SUB=- (012)
Authors: Тихий А.А. , Николаенко Ю.М. , Свиридова Е.А. , Жихарев И.В.
Published: July 2022

The results of studies of the microstructure and optical characteristics of In2O3 films deposited by the dc-magnetron sputtering of a polycrystalline target onto single-crystal sapphire substrates are summarized. The technological regimes of films preparation differed in the deposition time, substrate temperature, and the presence of additional heat treatment of film structures in air. It has been established that the optical refractive index of films deposited on a "cold" substrate increases in the direction from the substrate to the external interface. Heat treatment of the films eliminates the inhomogeneity of the refractive index and leads to a decrease in the band gap. The observed optical properties are explained by the thickness inhomogeneous microstructure of the films, which is formed during sputtering of a target with a relatively low mechanical strength.
Impact of Technological Burden on Knowledge Management Functions in Jordanian Industrial Companies
Authors: Al-Ani Muzhir Shaban , Jawad Shawqi N. , Abdelal Suha
Published: July 2022

The goal of this study is to see how electronic information overload affects knowledge management functions in Jordanian businesses. All Jordanian industrial enterprises registered on the Amman Stock Exchange were included in the study’s sample. Three hundred and seventy-three people were chosen at random from a simple random sample of 30% of the study population of 1242 senior and intermediate managers in the research community. Following the retrieval of the surveys, 206 questionnaires were found to be valid for analysis. It was used to do descriptive and heuristic statistical procedures, like simple and multiple regression analysis. The SPSS.16 application was used to do this. The study ends with the following findings: Electronic information overload (technological overload) has a statistically significant influence on knowledge management functions (acquisition, generation, transmission, exchange, and application) in Jordanian industrial companies. This work made a number of recommendations as a result of its findings, including: Adopting an organizational aspect that suits the nature of the tasks that industrial companies in Jordan perform, as well as providing technical capabilities to reduce the electronic information overload that these companies face while performing their tasks.