bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the shopping behaviour of customers of selected global brand marketing strategy
Authors: Vrtana David
Published: December 2021

Research background:Research will highlight the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Mc Donald’s brand marketing strategy. In the research, we will analyze the internal and external environment of the global brand. We will find out how the current pandemic situation has affected the customer shopping behavior of the global brand Mc Donald’s.

Purpose of the article:In this article, we point out the importance of analyzing customers’ shopping behavior before and during a pandemic. We identify differences in shopping behavior before and during a pandemic. We will confirm whether our research identifies differences in the behavioral characteristics of the global brand’s shopping behavior in terms of differences and penetration.

Methods:We used the methods of analysis, synthesis, comparison and generalization to assess the theoretical assumptions of purchasing behavior and marketing strategy. By comparison and generalization, we compare the financial performance of the brand during the COVID-19 pandemic. We will evaluate its significance in relation to shopping behavior. We will also use an analysis of the internal and external environment to identify the right marketing strategy for the global Mc Donald’s brand. Subsequently, we compare the results and identify the possibilities of adapting the marketing strategy with respect to purchasing behavior before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Findings & Value added:We will point out the importance of the shopping behavior of Mc Donald’s global brand customers before and during the pandemic. We will find out how customers’ shopping behavior has changed and we will identify this change to the marketing strategy.
Cryptocurrencies: They´re really that lucrative?
Authors: Blazek Roman
Published: December 2021

Research background: Cryptocurrency is a digital currency that is intended for online trading. It uses and implements the principles of cryptography to create a distributed, decentralized and secure digital currency. Virtual money is a new and promising branch of the virtual economy that brings many advantages and disadvantages in a global sense. Many people have become involved in cryptocurrency hype because high investments in this digital money have been seized during the pandemic. The rise in revenues from this digital money has gripped the world globally.

Purpose of the article: The basic purpose and chosen goal is to analyze the use of cryptomen trading during the global Covid-19 pandemic, as well as investing in these alternative sources of investment, which are gaining more attention every day precisely because of their freedom and detachment.

Methods: The article will analyze data that will be compared based on the years before the Covid-19 pandemic and during the Covid-19 pandemic. Based on these data, the investment activity of people, companies, corporations is compared.

Findings & Value added: Based on the results in the article, it was found that during the Covid-19 pandemic, the interest in investing in cryptocurrencies increased compared to the interest in investing in cryptocurrencies before the pandemic. The overall result is that people are moving to a new way of holding money, as cryptocurrencies are a new way to the future, as banks are unable to provide such returns from client deposits as cryptocurrencies, but they are associated with much greater risk.
The global aspect of investing
Authors: Gabrikova Barbora
Published: December 2021

Research background: Investing in the capital market is one of the ways for an investor to increase his income. Investing in the capital market is described as very risky, but it provides us with an opportunity to achieve high returns. There is an infinite number of assets on the market that an investor can include in his portfolio, and which assets he chooses to invest in will ultimately affect the return and risk of the created portfolio. Therefore, the investor should think rationally and should try to reduce the risk of his investment.

Purpose of the article: This article aims to point out the effect of diversification through the creation of a portfolio of financial assets.

Methods: This paper uses modern portfolio theory and focuses on the use of the Markowitz model. The optimal weights of individual assets in the compiled portfolio are calculated using the Lagrange function. We use data on weekly closing prices of individual stocks, commodity and mutual fund.

Findings & Value added: The main finding was that the risk associated with the created portfolio is lower than the risk associated with investing in individual assets.
Sensitivity analysis of Economic Value Added as a dominant indicator of concept of economic profit
Authors: Karpac Dusan , Bartosova Viera
Published: December 2021

Research background: The modern goal of enterprises, value creation, is achieved through the concept of economic profit. Profit, as part of profit or loss, is one of the most important flows, pointing to how efficiently corporate capital is used in an entity (Coatney & Poliak, 2020). The article deals with the difference between accounting and economic profit, the selected form of economic profit - the EVA indicator. The economic value added (EVA) indicator is one of the best-known modern indicators of a company's performance (Siekelova et al., 2019). It shows whether the given entity increases its value or only earns for its economic survival. The benefit of this indicator is the valuation of equity and taking into account the risk. It is difficult to express the economic profit itself, therefore the article also addresses the issue of its calculation (Shah et al., 2016). The company needs to know its financial status and the direction it is heading, so we decided to calculate a selected form of economic profit.

Purpose of the article: The company needs to know its financial status and the direction it is heading, so we decided to calculate a selected form of economic profit. When expressing the value of the economic value added indicator, it is also important to know the items and components of the calculation that have the strongest meaning and effect on the possible amount of the indicator. Given this, we decided to use a sensitivity analysis, which points to the effect of individual variables that participate in the construction of the EVA calculation.

Methods: In this work, the methods of induction, deduction, and comparison were used to obtain a true picture of the subject issue. Methods of synthesis and analysis of the researched issues were also used.

Findings & Value added: In the paper there is pointed out the intensity of the impact of individual variables that entered into the calculation of the economic value added indicator as a dominant indicator of concept of economic profit.
Bitcoin: an alternative currency to pay for goods and services or a useful investment tool?
Authors: Rowland Zuzana , Suler Petr , Cajkovicova Bohdana
Published: December 2021

Research background: Bitcoin is defined as digital money in a peer-to-peer decentralized payment network, an amalgam hybrid between fiat and commodity currency without a real value. This digital currency is also independent of any government or currency administration.

Purpose of the article: This article explores whether bitcoin works as a medium of exchange or relates to assets, focusing on its current use and future utility regarding its characteristics.

Methods: Analysing bitcoin statistical features, we found no connection with traditional asset categories such as stock, bonds and commodities either in intermediate time, or periods of financial crises.

Findings & Value added: The study suggests that investors’ abiding interest in bitcoins can have a positive impact on their liquidity in the real time.
Multinational banks and the formation of debt-type economy in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe
Authors: Zapotichna Roksolana , Murshudli Fakhri , Dilbazi Erkin
Published: December 2021

Research background: Given the fact that multinational banks’ credit activity leads to the accumulation of external debt in the borrowing countries, which potentially contributes to the formation of a debt-type economy, more in-depth research of the scope and consequences of such impact on the example of specific recipients is required.

Purpose of the article: The purpose of the article is to develop theoretical and methodological bases of the study of multinational banks’ lending activity in terms of debt-type economy on the example of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe.

Methods: A system of general scientific and special research methods, namely, statistical (correlation analysis, in particular), structural-functional and comparative analysis, has been applied to achieve the above-mentioned purpose.

Findings & Value added: The results of the study indicate that multinational banks’ direct cross-border lending remains an important source of external debt accumulation and the formation of a debt-type economy in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Based on the assessment of the external debt indicators of the countries under the study, it has been determined that they all can be classified as debt-type economies. At the same time, the countries of the group still remain significantly differentiated in terms of relative indicators of direct cross-border lending and external debt. It has been concluded that multinational banks’ aggressive lending strategy during the growth phase in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe has exacerbated the problem of external indebtedness during the recession phase.
Assessment of the state of worldwide-used intellectual property in the industry specialized design activities
Authors: Rakova Monika
Published: December 2021

Research background: The cultural and creative industries are one of the main drivers of the economy throughout the European Union. There is a strong competition in the creation of creative products or services. Current protection of the creation of given products and services helps to prevent mistakes that can often have liquidating consequences for artists. There is a lot of competitive pressure on social networks. It is therefore necessary for these artists to be made aware of the protection of their work, in which they have invested their time, funds and efficiency with regard to the protection of intellectual property to gain a very important role in their industry.

Purpose of the article: The main purpose is to point out the use of intellectual industry rights in a selected branch of the creative industry - in the sector of specialized design activities based on questionnaire survey realized at first half of this year.

Methods: The basic methods that were used in the processing of the paper include generally applied methods such as analysis, synthesis, induction or deduction. In the application part of the presented paper, we used the results of a questionnaire survey among companies operating in the field of specialized design activities.

Findings & Value added: As the added value can be considered the assessment of the state of worldwide-used intellectual property protection among companies in the selected sector of the creative industry, which was significantly affected by pandemic Covid-19. Another conclusion is the proposal of possible solutions to increase the protection of their intellectual activity.
“Hotel – OTA” interaction and its influence on the optimization of urban hotels’ distribution channels
Authors: Atanasova Irina , Ivanov Ivaylo
Published: December 2021

Research background: The interaction between hotels and the online travel agencies (OTAs) influences the hotel sales, creating dependencies, which the hotel managers are reluctant to accept. The indicators that evaluate urban hotel sales in Bulgaria in the scope of partnership with OTA are examined. The influence of the modern digital tools to enhance business performance results is reviewed.

Purpose of the article: Focusing on Bulgarian urban hotels, the research measures the impact of diverse factors for shaping an adequate business model of an urban hotel. The effect of the share of the hotel sales via OTA platforms, the number of OTAs used, the occupancy rate, the RevPAR and the Booking.com rating score is considered. Finding an appropriate model for digital behavior of urban hotel enterprises is one of the aims of the survey.

Methods: A questionnaire distributed among urban hotels situated in industrial towns of Bulgaria is conducted. Linear regression and logistic regression methods are applied for the purpose of the study.

Findings & Value added: The importance of channel manager technology for business metrics in this sector is concerned. Three generalized hotel operating models are extracted. It is concluded that there is a necessity for constant management and review of the hotel - OTA relations.
Towards a digitalize economy: The Impact of Training on the Performance of Public Sector IT firms in Africa
Authors: Febiri Frank , Hub Miloslav
Published: December 2021

Research background: The widespread adoption of technological advances, such as ICT-enabled infrastructure is becoming the new norm for most African countries. The quest to achieve a digitalized Africa has fuelled public sector IT firms to embark on staff training to enhance their productivity.

Purpose of the article: The present study seeks to examine the influence of such training on public sector IT performance.

Methods: The study uses 70 employees from the public sector IT firm, sampled from LinkedIn professional platform. Primary source of data; mainly the questionnaire was used to gather responses. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse the gathered data. Using the correlation coefficient, regression, independent and paired sample test, hypotheses were tested.

Findings & Value added: The paired sample t test revealed that after training, there was a significant difference in the scores of the IT firm productivity PRO1 (M = 19.97, SD = 1.88) and PRO2 (M = 21.77, SD = 1.94), t (-5.00) = 69, p < 0.05. There is no significant difference in the scores of male staff (M = 21.80, SD = 1.93) from those of the female staff (M = 21.70, SD = 1.98), t (1.95) = 68, p = 0.846 as indicated by the independent sample t test. The relationship between training organizational performance is positive (r= 0.52, n= 70, p < 0.05) while the regression technique shows a positive effect (b= 0.19, p < 5%) between staff training and IT firm productivity.
Sustainable development of Russian companies participating in United Nations Global Compact
Authors: Belousov Konstantin
Published: December 2021

Research background: This article presents the results of a study of non-financial reporting in the field of sustainable development of Russian companies within the United Nations Global Compact initiative.

Purpose of the article: The purpose of this study is to identify preferred direction of companies. We put their reports on sustainable development in Triple bottom line (TBL) areas: social, environmental and economic. In this article I also disclose conceptual foundations of sustainable development, which served as theoretical and methodological basis of the study.

Methods: Analysis of the companies activities in the field of sustainable development, the results of which are reflected in corporate reports on sustainable development for 2018, 2019, 2020, which passed the non-financial audit procedures of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs and are published in the reports register.

Findings & Value added: The study made it possible to identify companies through the positioning of their reports on sustainable development. The study confirmed the hypothesis that non-financial reports on sustainable development are social in nature, focusing on the interests of staff and consumers, while environmental and economic aspects are given less importance. The articles also disproves the hypothesis, that the direction of the company has a significant impact on the positioning of the company. In the course of the study, it became possible to assess the companies’ support for the Global Compact initiatives.
Comparative analysis of taxation in 8 ex-communist countries in Europe
Authors: Dobrea Razvan Catalin , Popescu Maria Loredana , Curea Stefania Cristina , Dumitrache Victor Marian
Published: December 2021

Research background: Having a similar background before the 1990, the ex-communist countries in Europe started to differentiate one from another in terms of social and economic development. Nowadays, in many aspects of the socio-economic environment, the differences between them are significant. There are many factors to be considered when analysing the patterns of evolution of each ex-communist country in Europe and one of them is taxation. The level of taxation can lead to structural changes in the economy, especially market economies that are not mature.

Purpose of the article: The purpose of this article is to compare the level of taxation in 8 EU ex-communist countries: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia - in the context of globalization.

Methods: We will do a comparative analysis of the indicators developed by European Commission, DG Taxation and Customs Union and Eurostat of the 8 EU ex-communist countries.

Findings & Value added: This paper may add value to the economic and tax policies in the 8 EU ex-communist countries by identifying the policies that proved their effectiveness in generating higher labor productivity, policies that can be adapted and then adopted by the UE ex-communist countries that are less developed. Moreover, this paper can lead to more in-depth research concerning taxation as significant factor of development in these countries.
Monitoring changes at work: cross-cultural difference in employees’ evaluation
Authors: Fedorova Alena , Dvorakova Zuzana , Kacane Ilze , Atas Huseyin , Badambayeva Valeriya
Published: December 2021

Research background: Globalization and digitalization of society are leading to fundamental alterations in the labour sphere. Global trends and turbulent times are changing the work environment, stipulating the emergence of new forms of labour relations and employment models. Thinking on the on-going transformation processes requires a monitoring study of new phenomena, as well as the creation of a knowledge system about the directions and prospects of human resources management and labour relations development.

Purpose of the article: The article presents the interim results of the current monitoring changes in labour relations conducted by the international research team members. The empirical data obtained are considered in the context of the social and cultural features of respondents from different countries that contributes to a deeper understanding of the phenomena under study.

Methods: In 2020, the authors carried out a sociological survey involving employees of enterprises operating in various sectors of the economy in the Russian Federation, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Turkey and Kazakhstan. The total number of respondents formed by random sampling is amounted to 1138 people. For the purpose of a comprehensive typology of the surveyed workers from different countries, a cluster analysis of the collected data was carried out.

Findings & Value added: A comparative analysis of the sociological survey results reflects the trends in work transformation and labour relations that have developed under the Covid-19 pandemic. Cross-cultural analysis reveals the impact of social and cultural factors on respondents’ assessment and companies’ human resource management practices.
Transfer pricing in the conditions of the Slovak Republic
Authors: Kubjatkova Anna , Krizanova Anna
Published: December 2021

Research background:All of the world’s economic relations in today’s world are subject to the process of globalization. Increasingly, the economic activity of many entrepreneurs transcends national borders, often operating in the form of multinational companies. Through the Transfer Pricing Institute, multinational companies can transfer their pre-tax profits from one country to another, and this phenomenon often harms the affected countries, which can result in lower tax revenues and a deterioration in the balance of payments. Transfer pricing generally seeks to prevent similar shifting of profits and thus prevent possible tax evasion.

Purpose of the article:The aim of this article is primarily to summarize the knowledge and procedures of transfer pricing and its importance in the conditions of the Slovak Republic. The article also aims to explain to the general public why transfer pricing is important and necessary for a healthy economy.

Methods:In this work, the methods of induction, deduction, and comparison were used to obtain a true picture of the issue of transfer pricing. Methods of synthesis and analysis of the researched issues were also used.

Findings & Value added:In addition to a general overview of this issue, we consider the result of this work to summarize the legislative framework of transfer pricing and also provide a brief and clear example of the transfer of profits in transfer pricing between two and within one country and their impact on the country’s economy.
Globalisation Impacts on Timber Consumption in Slovakia
Authors: Paluš Hubert , Dzian Michal , Parobek Ján , Šupín Mikuláš
Published: December 2021

Research background: Globalisation is nowadays phenomenon which affects all economic sectors. The pros and cons of globalisation can also be observed in the case of forestry and forest-based complex in Slovakia. Timber trade and market follows the theory of derived demand, which means that demand for wood depends on the demand for final products. We can observe a significant impact of globalisation on changes in the use of wood from traditional to new ecological and sustainable use. Since 1993 the consumption of industrial roundwood in Slovakia has increased by almost 185%.

Purpose of the article: The aim of this study is to examine the impact of globalisation on the consumption of coniferous and non-coniferous industrial roundwood in Slovakia, and to determine the relationship between the consumption of industrial roundwood and trends of globalisation trends in Slovakia.

Methods: The development of KOF globalization index was analysed in the period 2003 to 2018. In addition, the development of the consumption of coniferous and non-coniferous industrial roundwood was examined. The correlation analysis and linear regression were used to analyse the relationship between the KOF globalisation index and development of consumption of coniferous and non-coniferous industrial roundwood in Slovakia.

Findings & Value added: The results of correlation analysis show statistically significant relationship between globalisation and the development of consumption of industrial roundwood in Slovakia. We can conclude that the development of globalisation has more significant impact on consumption of non-coniferous industrial roundwood than on consumption of coniferous industrial roundwood.
Communication in the 21st century. The influence of technology and globalization
Authors: Bran Florina , Bodislav Dumitru Alexandru , Kant Anna , Georgescu Raluca Iuliana
Published: December 2021

Research background: This paper highlights the evolution of the way we communicate, especially on how it accelerated to today’s means of communication, resulted as a secondary outcome of the actual covid19 pandemic. We try to elaborate on the evolution of the technology, from the primitive email to today’s Zoom meetings and others powerful tools of collaboration.

Purpose of the article: Globalization although it has decelerated as a 21st century standalone tool, it had its powers and paths saved and restored by the use of communication technology that not only stepped up as a key player in the global IT&C market, but also it is pushed to new limits by the involvement of companies like Google and Amazon in pushing virtual meetings at the next level. Our study follows the journey of becoming a global and connected citizen in the 21st century by analyzing the macroeconomic perspective and also by creating an oversight on how the business concepts in the communication technology market will influence the next decade.

Methods: The methods will consist of an analysis of the global environment of the IT&C companies and of the most tech-savvy economies.

Findings & Value added: The key feature of this research is that it offers an elaborate plan on the next decade will look like in the field of communication from the technological and globalization perspective.
Natural resources revenue management from global perspective: Critically important institutional factors
Authors: Smělá Monika , Sejkora Jiří
Published: December 2021

Research background:Globally, many countries are dependent on natural resources, for this reason, their revenue management becomes an important aspect for their economies. It is necessary to understand the relations between institutional factors and natural resource revenue management from the global point of view. It means to identify which institutional aspects impact both positively and negatively the revenue management.

Purpose of the article:The purpose of the article is to find out which conditions, or their combinations, regarding the institutional environment, lead to a certain level of revenue management. It means to comprehend which conditions, respectively their combinations, result in both higher and lower levels of revenue management and consequently influence its sustainability.

Methods:Basically, the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis is used to empirically examine the relations between institutional background and the revenue management in natural resource rich economies. The Resource Governance Index, as the global index measuring the quality of governance in individual countries is used as the input for the analysis.

Findings & Value added:It was found that the individual institutional aspects have diverse effects on revenue management and its resilience. A few sufficient conditions were revealed, accountability, respectively absence of open data, rule of law, government effectiveness, in terms of higher, respectively lower level of revenue management. Political stability and absence of violence were identified as irrelevant conditions in terms of higher level of revenue management. Consistent pathways to reach higher and lower levels of revenue management were found.
Reflections on globalization processes in geopolitical thought since the second half of the 20th century
Authors: štok Robert , Kozárová Irina
Published: December 2021

Research background: Geopolitical thought at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries was among the first to accentuate a global dimension of international politics. It stagnated in the context of WWII, however, the adoption of geopolitical approaches in U.S. foreign policy concepts contributed to its revival during the Cold War and its rapid development in the 1990s because of the need to address the changes in the power-political and spatial-political structures of the world. The relationship between geopolitical thought and globalization, however, remains controversial. In academic literature, geopolitics and globalization are perceived either as compatible or as incompatible phenomena.

Purpose of the article: The paper aims to outline how geopolitical thought has reflected the development of globalization processes and how it has changed with this development since the 2nd half of the 20th century.

Methods: Analytical-synthetic and historical-comparative methods are used for the study of globalization development and content analysis and comparative methods are employed to map the development of geopolitical thought and its reflection of globalization.

Findings & Value added: The development, direction and consequences of globalization have been reflected in geopolitical thought mainly since the 1990s. As a result, new trends in geopolitical thought have been established; apart from the changes in the power-spatial and political-spatial structures of the world studied by classical geopolitical thought, they also reflect the relationship between global and local, an acceleration in contradictory processes in the world caused by economic, cultural, demographic, information and other factors of spatial control.
State and prospects of international integration associations development in terms of new challenges
Authors: Izmailova Marina Alekseevna , Veselovsky Mikhail Yakovlevich , Nikonorova Alla Vladimirovna , Yagubyants Veronika Vitalievna , Yunusov Lenar Albertovich
Published: December 2021

Research background: The European Union has accumulated significant experience of consolidated economic cooperation over the 28-year history of development. There are the prerequisites for building rational interactions with the Eurasian Economic Union. Significant amount of theoretical and practical data has been accumulated; its analysis allows making conclusions about the intensity of economic cooperation of the European Union with all member states of the Eurasian Economic Union and the prospects for the further development of partnership relations in the future.

Purpose of the article: The aim of the article is to identify the prospects for the development of integration associations on the example of the European Union and the Eurasian Economic Union in modern conditions characterized by the spread of a new coronavirus infection and the preservation of a complicated geopolitical situation.

Methods: The results of the study were obtained using general scientific methods of cognition (induction and deduction, methods of dialectics, analysis and synthesis), analytical research methods (logical and comparative analysis, analysis of economic and statistical indicators), methods of scientific forecasting and expert assessments.

Findings & Value added: The article submits the current state of integration economic relations analysis results on the example of the European Union and the Eurasian Economic Union as the largest economic and political associations. The analysis of the state and dynamics of the integration associations development, as well as the conditions of their functioning, makes it possible to define the current trends in the development of integration associations and their determining factors.
Transport, ecology and taxes in the context of globalization
Authors: Privalov Nikolai
Published: December 2021

Research background: One of the global problems of modern transport is the harmful impact on the environment due to the use of carbon fuels. This is especially true in the context of the globalization of the economy and en-vironmental problems. The world has long been in the process of switching to alternative energy sources and reducing the use of fossil fuels. Adminis-trative measures and taxation of CO2 emissions are applied.

Purpose of the article: The purpose of the article is to conduct a literary review in peer-reviewed publications on the problem of transport taxes and to make proposals for the introduction of an environmental tax within the framework of the classification of taxes proposed by the author for the pur-pose of their introduction. This analysis showed the predominance of publi-cations with an environmental aspect. Basically, the authors analyze the application of taxes on CO2 emissions, as well as various methods (logistical, technological, managerial) to reduce these emissions and improve the efficiency of transport systems. The main object of research is road transport, to a lesser extent - air transport and sea transport.

Methods: The system approach, methods of scientific abstraction, formal logic, dialectical-theoretical methods, the method of empirical analysis, and other economic methods were mainly used in obtaining research results.

Findings & Value added: The article deals with the modern problems of calculating and paying the transport tax, its role in the costs of transport organizations. The transport tax in Russia is likely to be replaced by an en-vironmental tax. The variants of introducing the “ecological” component in the transport tax used in Singapura are proposed. The classification of taxes proposed by the author for the purpose of their introduction can also serve the purpose of preserving the environment.
Assessment of External Economic Cooperation in the Aspect of Transport Development of the Greater Tumen Initiative
Authors: Vakulenko Sergei , Nekhoroshkov Evgeniy , Majercak Peter , Karyshev Mikhail
Published: December 2021

Research background: The aim of the scientific contribution is to analyze the aspect of Transport Development of the Greater Tumen Initiative. Economic cooperation among the countries of the Greater Tumen Initiative (GTI) is the basis for interaction in various fields, especially transport.

Purpose of the article: However, taking into account the prevailing trends in Europe-Asia transportation, it is not entirely correct to make the implementation of GTI transport projects dependent on prospective transit freight flows. At first, it is necessary to concentrate on the transport support of foreign trade flows directly between the GTI member countries.

Methods: We propose to assess the stability of foreign trade flows as a cargo base (current and potential) of transport projects within the GTI by absolute time series, which reflects the trend (or its absence, i.e. each next level is higher or lower than the previous one) and its stability, as well as by relative time series, i.e. growth rates, which reflects the stability of the change rate (the growth rate of each subsequent period is higher or lower than the previous one).

Findings & Value added: Based on the results of the assessment of foreign trade flows between the member countries, that forms the current and potential cargo base of transport projects, it was concluded not only about a high degree of stability and potential of foreign economic cooperation, but also about the need of extra measures for its further intensifying, including foreign trade transport services improvement.
Analysis of the influence of factors on agflation as a threat to food security: setting the task of system modeling in the context of globalization
Authors: Manilov Alexander , Chekmarev Oleg , Shorenko Irina
Published: December 2021

Research background: The problem of food security in the country is one of the most pressing problems of our time. At the moment, due to the pandemic, agflation has a very tangible increase in many countries of the world. The authors propose to apply a system analysis to study the mechanism of the influence of various factors on agflation and their interrelationships.

Purpose of the article: The aim of the article is to formulate the task of systemic modeling of agflation processes and its impact on the sustainability of food security.

Methods: The authors propose to draw up systems of econometric equations, which are modules combined into one system. Equations in these systems are constructed using regression analysis, and the dependent variables in one equation can be independent in another, and can also be used in different modules. Thus, there is a connection between various equations of one system and the modules of a single system. The whole system is built on the classical model of supply and demand, which reaches equilibrium when the values of the supply and demand variables are equal. But if these variables are equal, a rational level of food consumption by the population must be maintained for the sustainability of food security.

Findings & Value added: The result is the formulation of the task of modeling the influence of factors on agflation. Due to the flexibility of the model, it is possible to trace the impact of each of the factors on the regulation of supply and demand, or how demand and supply are modified when several factors change.
Multi-criteria assessment tools for achieving balance between negotiating powers under distorted conditions of competition in construction sector’s market
Authors: Peleckis Kęstutis
Published: December 2021

Research background: this study identified which factors influence other factors and how they have a greater impact on the value of a business entity’s HHI index. By knowing the key factors, they can be used to model possible mergers and their impact on the HHI index and possible changes in the market power balance.

Purpose of the article: to present the concept of business negotiation system, enabling to model and effectively manage the process of development and implementation of negotiation strategies, assessing the negotiating power of negotiating parties and selecting multi-criteria assessment tools to balance them in the conditions of distorted construction sector market competition.

Methods: multi-criteria assessment is used to assess the market power of business entities in business negotiations in order to select effective strategic solutions for construction sector’s business negotiations.

Findings & Value added: a developed algorithm for the development of construction sector’s business negotiation strategy based on evaluations of bargaining power is presented.
Paracetamol versus Paracetamol Plus Ondansetron on Acute Postoperative Pain
Authors: Aryafar Mohamad , Zamanabadi Mahnaz Narimani , Farazmehr Kourosh , Dehghanmanshadi Giti , Davoodinejad Sepideh , Gholami Farshid
Published: December 2021

This study was performed to determine the comparative efficacy of paracetamol alone versus paracetamol plus ondansetron on acute postoperative pain after abdominal surgeries in Azad University hospitals in 2017 and 2019. In this randomized clinical trial, 62 consecutive patients under abdominal surgeries, were randomly divided into two groups, group 1 patient who received paracetamol alone 1 gram and group 2 patient who received paracetamol 1 gram plus 4 mg ondansetron and the pain severities were determined and compared between groups at recovery and after 4 and 24 hours. The results of this study revealed that there were no statistically significant differences between two groups for the postoperative pain severity and analgesic use (p> 0.05). It may be concluded that addition of ondansetron to paracetamol would not result in further postoperative pain reduction and additive use of this drug is not recommended.
Isolated Intramedullary Lumbar Spine Neurocysticercosis: A Rare Occurrence and Review of Literature
Authors: Dhar Anil , Dua Sanjeev , Singh Hershdeep
Published: December 2021

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is the most common parasitic infection of the central nervous system. Spinal cysticercosis is a rather rare clinical occurrence. Intramedullary (IM) spinal NCC is rarer still. Furthermore, cases of IM-NCC at lumbar levels are few and far between. We present a case of a 35-year-old male patient who was diagnosed to have IM-NCC at L2-3 level and was managed surgically with no recurrence at 2 years of follow-up. A systematic literature review (1992–2020) highlights it to be only the third case reported with exclusive lumbar involvement
Comparative Analysis of Dentoskeletal Changes of the Twin Block Appliance and the AdvanSync2 Appliance in Treatment of Skeletal Class-II Malocclusion in Pakistani Population: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Ghaffar Fareena , Jan Abdullah , Akhtar Obaid , Mughal Alaina T. , Shahid Rooma , Shafique Hafiza Z. , Bibi Khadija , Mehmood Sundas , Afgan Nimra , Zaheer Rumeesha
Published: December 2021

Objective This study aimed to compare dentoskeletal changes in skeletal class-II malocclusion with removable twin block appliance and fixed AdvanSync2 appliance.

Materials and Methods A prospective randomized clinical trial was conducted over a span of 1 year at AFID at Rawalpindi. Thirty patients with skeletal class-II malocclusion, 16 males (53.3%) and 14 females (46.6%), were randomly selected and divided in two equal groups (15 each) to be treated with either fixed functional appliances (FFAs) or with removable functional appliances (RFAs). Out of 30 patients, 15 between cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) stages of 2 and 3 were treated with RFA (twin block appliances) and remaining 15 between CVM stages of 4 and 5 were treated with FFA (AdvanSync2 appliances). Pretreatment (T1) and posttreatment (T2), angular variable, and linear variable were measured to compare the dentoskeletal effects between the two groups.

Statitical Analysis Paired sample t-test was used to assess significant difference between variables at T1 (Pre-treatment) and T2 (Post-treatment) stage for both RFA and FFA group. Comparison among the RFA and FFA group was made using non-parametric Mann-Whitney U Test. IBM SPSS version 25.0 was used for evaluation.

Results No significant difference was found in angular variables between the RFA and FFA groups (p > 0.05) with the exception of linear variables. Sella-posterior nasal spine (S-PNS) length significantly increased and Jarabak's ratio significantly decreased for FFA group (p = 0.010 and 0.045, respectively), when compared with RFA group.

Conclusion Both the appliances, twin block (RFA) and AdvanSync2 (FFA), are effective for correction of skeletal class-II malocclusion. Both the appliances produced similar effects in the sagittal plane but for better vertical control twin block should be the appliance of choice. AdvanSync2 appliance could be preferred over twin block appliance when dentoalveolar and slight retrusive effect on the maxilla is desired especially for individuals in postpubertal growth spurt.
A pore-scale study of flow and transport across the sediment–water interface: From dispersive to turbulent regimes
Authors: Chen Yilin , Jin Guangqiu , Zhang Pei , Jiang Qihao , Wu Silin , Galindo Torres Sergio Andres , Li Ling
Published: December 2021

Understanding the mass transfer between surface and subsurface water is essential in the fluvial environment. Transport across the sediment–water interface (SWI) can be strongly influenced by pore-scale vortices and coherent turbulent structures (sweep and ejection) near the interface. However, the functions of these hydrodynamic structures over the exchange at the interface and pore water movement in the bed are still unclear. In this paper, the pore-scale flow and transport across the SWI under dispersive and turbulent regimes were studied. The results show that pore-scale vortices are the main hydrodynamic form at the SWI in dispersive regimes, creating a transition layer and impeding interfacial transport. Periodic sweep and ejection prevail in turbulent regimes, which alter the structures of pore scale vortices, enhance interfacial transport, generate periodic pressure eruptions at the interface, and pulse the pore water to move vertically and periodically in the bed. Different forms of the dominant hydrodynamics structures near the interface will affect the residence time and trajectories of solutes in the bed. In dispersive regimes, the residence time of solutes exhibits a positive correlation with the Reynolds number due to the increasing penetration of solutes, while, in turbulent regimes, this correlation turns negative because of the unchanged penetration depth of solutes. The mechanism demonstration from numerical simulations clarifies the functions of pore-scale vortices and coherent turbulent structures on mass transfer between the surface and subsurface water, which can enhance the understanding of the role of sediments in the aquatic ecosystem.
Volumetric compression develops noise-driven single-cell heterogeneity
Authors: Zhao Xing , Hu Jiliang , Li Yiwei , Guo Ming
Published: December 2021

Significance

Tumor heterogeneity is widely attributed to the imperfection of DNA replication. However, little is known about the mechanoregulation of tumor heterogeneity. Here, we report that volumetric compression that usually arises from tumor progression increases the overall gene-expression noise, leading to differential cell-fate transitions along epithelial/mesenchymal transition regulatory network from homogeneous non–small-cell lung carcinoma. The increased noise could be caused by a transit decrease in gene expression following the decreasing cell volume under compression. Both the experiments and numerical modeling confirmed the differential cell-fate transitions from the hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal state to either epithelial or mesenchymal states stochastically. Thus, we suggest that the cause of tumor heterogeneity could be its mechanical microenvironment as sensed by its cytoplasmic volume.
Impact of task preparedness on L2 oral performance and strategy use
Authors: Gu Qianqian
Published: December 2021

The present study sets out to explore the effects of pre-task planning and unpressured on-line planning on L2 learners’ oral performance and their choices of planning strategies in a dialogic task condition. Forty-eight intermediate Chinese EFL learners were invited to perform the task and were then assigned to four groups, each with a different planning condition. Complexity, accuracy, and fluency of their oral production were measured. Results indicated that in the dialogic task condition, unpressured on-line planning raised syntactic complexity. Strikingly, pre-task planning did not improve L2 performance in all dimensions. Additionally, a trade-off effect was found between complexity and accuracy. Retrospective interviews were conducted to explore strategies employed by the participants and their perceptions of task preparedness. Results showed that the participants preferred to use metacognitive strategies and social/affective strategies in the dialogic task. Both advantages and limitations were identified by the participants regarding different planning conditions.
Short-term retention in metallic PFCs: modelling in view of mass spectrometry and LIBS
Authors: Matveev Dmitry , Jiang Xi , Sergienko Gennady , Kreter Arkadi , Brezinsek Sebastijan , Linsmeier Christian
Published: December 2021

Based on the conventional model of hydrogen retention in plasma-facing components, the question of hydrogen outgassing during and after plasma exposure is addressed in relation to mass spectrometry and laser-induced breakdown sprectroscopy (LIBS) measurements. Fundamental differences in retention and release data acquired by LIBS and by mass spectrometry are described analytically and by modelling. Reaction-diffusion simulations are presented that demonstrate possible thermal outgassing effects caused by LIBS. Advantages and limitations of LIBS as a tool for analysis of short term retention are discussed.
Nano-friction phenomenon of Frenkel–Kontorova model under Gaussian colored noise
Authors: Li Yi-Wei , Xu Peng-Fei , Yang Yong-Ge
Published: December 2021

The nano-friction phenomenon in a one-dimensional Frenkel–Kontorova (FK) model under Gaussian colored noise is investigated by using the molecular dynamic simulation method. The role of colored noise is analyzed through the inclusion of a stochastic force via a Langevin molecular dynamics method. Via the stochastic Runge–Kutta algorithm, the relationship between different parameter values of the Gaussian colored noise (the noise intensity and the correlation time) and the nano-friction phenomena such as hysteresis, the maximum static friction force is separately studied here. Similar results are obtained from the two geometrically opposed ideal cases: incommensurate and commensurate interfaces. It was found that the noise strongly influences the hysteresis and maximum static friction force and with an appropriate external driving force, the introduction of noise can accelerate the motion of the system, making the atoms escape from the substrate potential well more easily. Interestingly, suitable correlation time and noise intensity give rise to super-lubricity. It is noteworthy that the difference between the two circumstances lies in the fact that the effect of the noise is much stronger on triggering the motion of the FK model for the commensurate interface than that for the incommensurate interface.