bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of Macroeconomic and Bank-Specific Variables on the Profitability of Commercial Banks in Nepal
Authors: Kunwar Bhojendra , Jnawali Govind 
Published: April 2024

The study aims to investigate how macroeconomic and bank-specific factors affect Nepalese commercial banks’ profitability. The panel data were collected from 16 Nepalese commercial banks for the fiscal year 2006/07 to 2020/21. The bank’s profitability is measured by net interest margin (NIM) and return on assets (ROA). The bank-specific variables considered in this study are bank size, capitalization, credit risk, deposit-to-total-assets ratio, capital adequacy ratio, and credit-to-deposit ratio. In addition, interest rate, broad money supply, inflation rate, and growth rate of the GDP are used as macroeconomic independent variables. The results of random effect model showed that the most significant bank-specific factor influencing Nepalese commercial banks’ profitability is bank size. Furthermore, the results reveal that the bank-specific factors namely bank size, credit risk, deposit-to-total assets, capital adequacy ratio, and credit-to-deposit ratio significantly increase net interest margin (NIM). Regarding the macroeconomic factors, the findings have explored that interest rates, inflation, economic growth, and the size of the money supply all significantly affect NIM. However when it comes to ROA, the data demonstrate that, aside from interest rate, all macroeconomic factors significantly affect the bank’s profitability as determined by ROA.
En Memoria Prof. Dr. Celso Silva
Authors: Lanfranconi A , Pignata D , Oddone H , Rizzo G 
Published: April 2024

El 7 de marzo falleció el Prof. Celso Silva.
Invocar la memoria de un amigo es parte de recordar episodios compartidos de nuestra vida con el sesgo sentimental que ello implica.
Consideramos que los cirujanos de Paysandú, la filial de Facultad de Medicina y la sociedad sanducera han sido beneficiados por el legado que nos ha dejado el Dr. Celso Silva.
Effect of the Biostimulator Composition with Trace Elements to Accelerate the Growth and Increase the Productivity of Pumpkin
Authors: Khidirova N. K. , Baratova M. R. , Kosimova Sh. , Zakirova R. P. 
Published: April 2024

The use of environmentally friendly growth regulators and micro fertilizers makes it possible to use energy-saving technologies and maximize the physiological capabilities of plants. At the Institute of Plant Chemistry named after Academician S.Yu. Yunusov, a biostimulator Uchkun was created, which has a low consumption rate and low toxicity. The drug increases the yield of many crops (cotton, wheat, etc.) and protects them from adverse conditions, increases the content of photosynthetic pigments in the leaves. The purpose of this work is to study the effect of pre-sowing treatment of pumpkin seeds of the Spanish-73 and Palov-Kadu-268 varieties with the Uchkun biological preparation and its composition with trace elements (Uchkun plus preparation) on the productivity and quality of seeds. It is shown that this composition contributed to an increase in crop productivity. When treated with the composition, the average weight of one fetus was 3.4 kg and exceeded the option without treatment (control) (2.8 kg) by 21.4%, when treated with a biostimulator Uchkun – 3.3 kg, which was 17.8% more than the control. The average increase in pumpkin yield during pre–sowing seed treatment with Uchkun plus was 10.1 t/ha compared to the control, whereas when exposed to Uchkun – 7.8 t/ha. In addition, it was shown that when exposed to a complex preparation, the quality of pumpkin seeds improved, the oil content and the total protein content increased, and the amount of unsaturated fatty acids increased.
Effect of Chloride Salinization on Barley Seedlings
Authors: Taskina K. B. , Kaznina N. M. , Titov A. F. 
Published: April 2024

The influence of moderate and strong chloride salinity on seedlings of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Nur variety was studied under controlled environment conditions. Exposure of seedlings to both moderate (100 mM) and high concentrations (200 mM) of NaCl for 7 days led to a slowdown in the growth of their roots and shoots. At the same time, in the variant using NaCl in moderate concentration, an increase in the content of pigments was noted in the leaves of seedlings (chlorophylls and carotenoids by 25 and 22%, respectively). Also the photosynthesis rate decreased by 25% (relative to the control). In contrast, under the influence of a high concentration of NaCl, the content of pigments, as well as stomatal conductance, decreased markedly, which was accompanied by an almost twofold slowdown in the rate of photosynthesis. At the same time, transpiration was inhibited and tissue hydration decreased. It was concluded that the resistance of barley to NaCl can be judged already in the early phases of plant development. It is also noted that the most sensitive to the presence of NaCl in the root environment are easily recorded morpho-physiological indicators – the linear size of the shoot and its raw biomass.
Possibilities of Intensification of Spring Wheat Growing Technology in the Western Siberia Forest-Steppe
Authors: Sharkov I. N. , Kolbin S. A. , Vasileva N. V. 
Published: April 2024

Based on the results of many years of field experience, an agronomic and economic assessment of the effects of the use of chemicals for spring wheat is given in order to determine the attractiveness for farmers of the transition to growing crops using intensive technology. For the analysis, the prices of chemicals and spring wheat grain that are currently relevant for the Siberian region were taken. It is shown that under the influence of a complex of chemicalization agents (fertilizers, herbicides, fungicide), the average annual yield of wheat in a 4-full grain-pair crop rotation increased 1.8 times, reaching 3.8 tons of grain/ha. The increase in yield by 13% was due to the use of herbicides, 18% – fungicides and 69% – mineral fertilizers with a payback of 1 kg active substance 12.4 kg of grain. When calculating the average per year, the means of chemicalization provided income already at the minimum (from the accepted for analysis) grain price of 10 000 rubles/t. Income increased sharply in a number of field experience options: herbicides, herbicides + fertilizers, herbicides + fertilizers + fungicide. However, when assessing the annual effects, income from chemicals in this series was obtained, respectively, only in 42, 75 and 92% of the years. The probability of losses decreased significantly with an increase in the price of grain. But even at prices of 13.000 and 16.000 rubles/ton, the use of the entire complex of chemicals was unprofitable in 8% of the years due to the severe aridity of the growing season. At current prices for fertilizers and pesticides, the minimum sufficient price of grain can be considered 13.000 rubles/ton, which, however, does not exclude losses in severely dry years.
Physic-Chemical Characteristics of Organo-Clay Complexes of Agrochernozems of Different Localization on the Slope
Authors: Tsomaeva E. V. , Artemyeva Z. S. , Zasukhina E. S. 
Published: April 2024

Organo-clay complexes of agrochernozems of different localization on the slope were studied, including by the method of dynamic light scattering (DLS). A decrease in the concentration of organic carbon (Corg) of silty fractions in the arable horizons of washed-out agrochernozems was revealed, which was a consequence of the constant exposure of the soil mass of the underlying horizon, provoking the decomposition of organic matter(s). This was accompanied by changes in the content of non-silicate iron (Fed) as a result of oxidative degradation of organo-iron complexes, which contributed to the desorption of Fed. Different intensity of erosion processes influenced the tendency to change the dynamics of Fed: a lower slope steepness (4°) contributed to an increase in the load of Corg on iron oxides, resulting in an increase in iron desorption, whereas in conditions of greater steepness (6°), a decrease in iron desorption was observed. Regardless of the position on the slope, the highest values of the average diameter of organo-clay complexes (D) were observed in the upper horizons of the studied agrochernozems, which decreased down the profile. As a result of erosion processes, the size of organo-clay complexes in arable horizons decreased in comparison with that in non-eroded agrochernozems (by 1.1 times). It was revealed that the size of organo-clay complexes in the studied agrochernozems was determined by the values of the content of Corg and Fed, although the degree of their significance differed in the upper humus (Aarable, A1, AB) and lower (B, C) horizons. In the upper horizons, the value of D was determined by the content of Corg, whereas in the lower horizons, the main role in the formation of the size of organo-clay complexes belonged to Fed. The obtained data allowed us to assume a more significant role of organic matter (OM) in the aggregation of cley particles compared to that of Fed. The hypothesis of a multiple linear regression dependence of the value of D on the values of the concentration of carbon (Corg and Ccarbonates) and Fed in them turned out to be statistically significant both for the entire set of genetic horizons and for humus horizons The coefficient of determination of the model (R2) increased in a row: 0.578 (Apl + A1) 0.678 (Apl + A1 + AB + B + BC + C) 0.724 (Apl + A1 + AB) 0.983 (AB).
USE OF PHYTO-INDICATION METHODS IN ASSESSMENT OF RELATIONSHIP OF NITROGEN CONTENT IN PLANTS WITH THEIR GROWING CONDITIONS (ON THE EXAMPLE OF FORESTS IN THE SOUTHERN MOSCOW REGION)
Authors: Zubkova Е. V. , Stamenov M. N. , Priputina I. V. , Grabovsky V. I. 
Published: April 2024

The relationship of the chemical composition of plants with conditions of their growth and their contribution to soil nitrogen during dying is revealed. The study was based on the materials of geobotanical relevés of 15 forest plots in the subzone of coniferous-deciduous forests in the south of the Moscow Region. Two methods of phytoindication were used. The type of habitat conditions was determined according to the Vorobyov-Pogrebnyak’s indicator species. The point values of soil nitrogen richness were calculated according to the Tsyganov’s scale. The nitrogen content in plant organs, samples of forest litter and soil was determined using gas chromatography. The analysis of the data showed a correlation between the types of forest vegetation conditions and the points on the Tsyganov’s nitrogen richness scale for the conditions of the southern Moscow Region. The nitrogen content in the forest litter has a high reliable relationship with the types of habitat conditions. It is shown that plants from the habitats which are richer in nitrogen according to the Tsyganov’s nitrogen richness scale have a higher nitrogen content in leaves, stems and rhizomes than plants growing in poorer soil conditions. The conducted study has shown the validity of using phytoindication scales for the assessment of soil conditions.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LICHEN FLORA OF THE TULA REGION
Authors: Muchnik E. E. 
Published: April 2024

The article presents the results of field studies in 2021–2022 and revision of the lichenological collection of A.V. Gudovicheva collected in the period from 2000 to 2021. The list of lichen flora of the Tula Region is supplemented with 34 taxa: 28 lichens, 2 allied saprotrophic fungi, and 4 lichenicolous fungi. Cladonia conista, Lecanora sarcopidoides, Lichenodiplis lichenicola, Marchandiomyces corallinus and Pyrenodesmia chalybaea are listed for the first time for the territory of Central Russia (within the Central Federal District). Bactrospora dryina, Chaenotheca hispidula, Cladonia parasitica and Cresponea chloroconia, as indicators of old-growth intact forest communities, are recommended to be included in the list of rare and vulnerable lichen species. The populations of these species need constant monitoring and control in the Tula Region.
Domoic Acid in Cultures of the Diatom Genus <i>Pseudo-nitzschia</i> H. Peragallo in H. Peragallo &amp; M. Peragallo, 1900 and in Bivalve Samples from the Russian Waters of the Sea of Japan and the Pacific Waters of Kamchatka
Authors: Stonik I. V. , Popov R. S. , Tsurpalo A. P. , Dmitrenok P. S. , Shchelkanov M. Yu. , Orlova T. Yu. 
Published: April 2024

Content of a dangerous amnesic toxin – domoic acid (DA) – was determined in cultures of the diatom genus Pseudo-nitzschia and in bivalve samples collected in the Russian waters of the Sea of Japan and off the Pacific coast of Kamchatka. For the first time, the presence of DA has been confirmed in cultures of Pseudo-nitzschia pungens (Grunow ex Cleve) G.R. Hasle, 1993 and P. delicatissima (Cleve) Heiden, 1928 from the Pacific coast of Kamchatka with the use of the competitive enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (cELISA). Relatively high concentrations of DA were recorded in the horse mussel Modiolus kurilensis F.R. Bernard, 1983 (2.92 mg/kg based on high-performance chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) and 2.8 mg/kg based on cELISA) and in the Gray mussel Crenomytilus grayanus (0.07 mg/kg based on HPLC-MS and 0.2 mg/kg based on cELISA) collected in the Sea of Japan. It has been shown that for assessing relatively low concentrations of amnesiotoxin (less than 5 ng/ml in microalgal cultures and less than 0.05 mg/kg in mollusks) cELISA assay is an alternative to HPLC that does not allow to detect DA in such samples.
Mycobiota of Dead Reed Fragments Immersed in Water (Yaroslavl Region, Russia)
Authors: Voronin L. V. , Kopytina N. I. 
Published: April 2024

The mycobiota on dead submerged plant parts of Phragmites australis reed (leaves, stems, leaf sheaths) was studied in lakes – Pleshcheyevo, Mostetskoye, a lake in the Zavolzhsky district of Yaroslavl and the Kotorosl river (Yaroslavl region, Russia). The kingdom Fungi is represented by 53 species belonging to 33 genera, 25 families, 12 orders, and 7 classes in 2 taxonomic phyla: Mucoromycota (4 species), Ascomycota (48). The kingdom Chromista (fungi-like organisms) includes 8 species belonging to 3 genera, 2 families, 2 orders, and 1 class under phylum Oomycota. For the first time, 23 species of micromycetes were found on reeds. Representatives of the orders Pleosporales (16 species), Helotiales (11), Saprolegniales (7), Hypocreales (5) prevailed. The number of species of fungi on fragments of plants in different aquatic bodies varied from 16 to 39, the statistically significant difference in the species composition of communities of dead reeds was found between a lake in the Zavolzhsky district of Yaroslavl and the Kotorosl River (R = 0.646, significance level of sample statistic 0.1%).
Polychlorinated Biphenyls in the Bream <i>Abramis brama</i> from the Volga Ples the Rybinsk Reservoir: Fish Age Effect and Human Health Risk Assessment
Authors: German А. V. , Mamontov А. А. , Mamontova E. A. 
Published: April 2024

Bream, Abramis brama (L.), is an important commercial species and the object of monitoring pollution of freshwater bodies with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). However, the dependence of the PCB content on the age of the bream has been studied very poorly. In this regard, the concentrations of 32 PCB congeners were measured in the carcasses of female bream of different ages in the pre-spawning period. It is shown that the concentration of PCBs in the body lipids increases from 257 to 449 ng/g over a period of 8 to 19 years. In terms of wet weight, the concentration of PCBs increases from 19.8 to 57.9 ng/g over a period of 8 to 13 years and then decreases to 21 ng/g at the age of 19 years. The largest share was 5-XB – from 46 to 58%, then 6-XB – from 17 to 29%, 4-XB – from 12 to 18%, 3-XB – from 4 to 8%, 7-XB – from 4 to 6% and 2-XB – from 0.1 up to 0.5%. PCB concentrations 5/8, 28, 31, 44, 49, 52, 74, 70/76, 87/115, 95/66 do not depend on age (R2 0.5); PCBs 97, 99, 105, 90/101, 110, 118. They have an average dependence (0.5 R2 0.6); PCBs 138, 153, 180, 183, 128/167 and 170/190 strongly depend (R2 ≥ 0.7). With age, the congener composition changes towards an increase in highly chlorinated PCBs. The content of PCBs in the carcass of bream of the Volga Ples of the Rybinsk reservoir does not exceed the existing in Russia MPC in fish, amounting to 2 mg/kg of raw weight. The average indicator of non–carcinogenic risk exceeds 1 (0.82–2.39), which indicates the possible development of non-carcinogenic diseases in target organs and systems. The indicator of carcinogenic risk exceeds the level of negligible risk (1 × 10–6) and corresponds to the range 2 – the maximum permissible risk or the upper limit of acceptable risk (1 × 10–6–1 × 10–4). These risks are subject to constant monitoring, the population is recommended to limit the consumption of large fish with a high fat content.
Status of Local Populations of Isolated Mountain Lakes in the Altai by Histological Parameters and Elemental Composition of the Eye Lens of Peled Fish <i>Coregonus peled</i>
Authors: Nikiforov-Nikishin A. L. , Nikiforov-Nikishin D. L. , Kochetkov N. I. 
Published: April 2024

This paper examines the state of the population of a native fish species in three lakes of the Altai Mountains. Analysis of the age and weight composition showed that in the studied water bodies in conditions of oligotrophic mountain lakes the pelad Coregonus peled Gmelin, 1788 population showed different growth dynamics. The age distribution of fish varied in different lakes, so in Lake Kedelu-Kol individuals of four age groups (1+ …4+) were present, and in Lake Kidelu only yearlings were caught. Histological examination of the liver and gills of fish showed the absence of significant abnormalities, both of parasitic and toxicological nature. Calculation of the histopathological index showed that the prevalence and severity of pathological abnormalities were significantly lower (p 0.05) in Lake Kidelu. The analysis of the elemental composition of peled lens confirmed the absence of a significant level of pollution in the studied water bodies and the high quality of the aquatic environment. The presence in some samples of trace amounts of heavy metals may be associated with the geomorphological features of the region involved in the formation of the hydrochemical composition of the water of the studied lakes. The data obtained in the study indicate that the peled populations in the isolated mountain lakes of the
Social Determinants of Health, Risk and Resilience against Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias: The Healthy Brain Initiative
Authors: Besser Lilah M. , Edwards Kyle , Lobban Nina-Simone , Tolea Magdalena I. , Galvin James E. 
Published: April 2024

Background: Few studies have investigated associations between perceived social determinants of health (SDOH) and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia (ADRD) biomarkers or between SDOH and resilience against ADRD. Objective: To examine associations between perceived and objective SDOH and ADRD-related outcomes. Methods: We used cross-sectional data on≥50-year-olds without dementia in the Healthy Brain Initiative (n = 162). Questionnaires captured trust in neighbors and indices of perceived neighborhood greenspace access, time spent in neighborhood greenspaces, and interpersonal discrimination. Residential addresses were linked to 2021 Area Deprivation Index scores. The Vulnerability Index (VI) is based on 12 dementia risk factors (e.g., age, race/ethnicity, diabetes) and Resilience Index (RI) is based on 6 protective factors (e.g., diet, mindfulness, physical activity). Cognitive measured included number symbol coding task and Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Biomarkers included Aβ42/40 and pTau-217/npTau-217, hippocampal and white matter hyperintensity volume, lipoprotein A, and high-sensitivity c-reactive protein. Results: Perceived greater access to greenspaces (estimate = 2.83, 95% CI = 1.40–4.26) and greater time in neighborhood greenspaces were associated with greater RI scores (estimate = 2.30, 95% CI = 1.24–3.35). Reporting greater discrimination (estimate = 0.10, 95% CI = 0.04–0.16) and living in higher deprivation neighborhoods were associated with greater VI scores (estimate = 0.017, 95% CI = 0.003–0.032). Greater discrimination was associated with greater white matter hyperintensity volume (estimate = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.04–0.51). Conclusions: Perceived greenspace access and time spent in greenspaces were associated with resilience against ADRD, and interpersonal discrimination was associated with vulnerability to ADRD. Future work needs to validate perceived SDOH measures, examine associations in racially/ethnic diverse populations, and investigate longitudinal associations between SDOH and ADRD-related biomarkers.
Visualization of Microcirculation at Acupoints in vivo of Alzheimer’s Disease Animal Model with Photoacoustic Microscope: A Pilot Study
Authors: Jiang Jing , Wang Zidong , Yu Ruxia , Yang Jiayi , Wang Qiucheng , Wu Guoqing , Tao Yilin , Zhao Xiaoyue , Wang Yue , Li Zhigang , Qin Xiaoqian 
Published: April 2024

Background: Alzheimer’s disease may be effectively treated with acupoint-based acupuncture, which is acknowledged globally. However, more research is needed to understand the alterations in acupoints that occur throughout the illness and acupuncture treatment. Objective: This research investigated the differences in acupoint microcirculation between normal mice and AD animals in vivo. This research also examined how acupuncture affected AD animal models and acupoint microcirculation. Methods: 6-month-old SAMP8 mice were divided into two groups: the AD group and the acupuncture group. Additionally, SAMR1 mice of the same month were included as the normal group. The study involved subjecting a group of mice to 28 consecutive days of acupuncture at the ST36 ( Zusanli) and CV12 ( Zhongwan) acupoints. Following this treatment, the Morris water maze test was conducted to assess the mice’s learning and memory abilities; the acoustic-resolution photoacoustic microscope (AR-PAM) imaging system was utilized to observe the microcirculation in CV12 acupoint region and head-specific region of each group of mice. Results: In comparison to the control group, the mice in the AD group exhibited a considerable decline in their learning and memory capabilities ( p < 0.01). In comparison to the control group, the vascular in the CV12 region and head-specific region in mice from the AD group exhibited a considerable reduction in length, distance, and diameter r ( p < 0.01). The implementation of acupuncture treatment had the potential to enhance the aforementioned condition to a certain degree. Conclusions: These findings offered tangible visual evidence that supports the ongoing investigation into the underlying mechanisms of acupuncture’s therapeutic effects.