Influence Of External Factors Research Articles

Does becoming amother make you ill?-Frequency of mental health diagnoses in postpartum mothers compared to childless women based on BARMER billing data

Around 700,000 children are born in Germany every year. Many mothers are under great pressure and strain due to prevailing role models and social expectations. Up to 15% of mothers in Germany are said to be affected by postpartum depression. The available studies, however, are mainly based on surveys, are older and vary widely in their results. This study brings another data source into play and asks how frequently diagnoses of mental illness are found in mothers after childbirth compared to childless women in the billing data of alarge health insurance company. Aretrospective matched cohort study was conducted with health insurance data from 2017-2022, comparing mothers and childless women with the same age and the same medical and socioeconomic characteristics with regard to depression, exhaustion and burnout, and anxiety and stress disorder outcomes. The modelling was carried out using Poisson regression. Mothers were less likely than childless women to receive adiagnosis of amental disorder within five years after childbirth. In the long run, however, the frequency of diagnoses equalised. Becoming amother does not lead to more diagnoses of mental disorders compared to childless women, at least in the first five years after giving birth. However, the interpretation of the data is difficult. Possible influence of external factors on making the diagnosis is not seen in the data, such as the social expectation of a"happy mother" or achange in the utilisation of medical care due to maternity.

Understanding of Tax Directorate General Employees on Taxpayer Compliance Behavior

Revenue from the taxation sector is the main pillar of state revenue in the State Budget (APBN). However, the Tax ratio, tax capacity, tax effort and tax bouyancy are still very low in Indonesia, indicating that taxpayer compliance behavior in Indonesia is also still very low. Policy is a challenge in efforts to optimize state revenue, especially tax revenue to improve compliance. By understanding the factors that influence compliance behavior, policy makers can develop stronger and more effective ways of dealing with compliance risks. Based on the problems studied, the study uses a qualitative research type. The qualitative approach concentrates more on interpretation and understanding. In terms of data collection and analysis, this approach is sensitive to the context that aims to holistically understand the problems being studied. Qualitative research aims to obtain and understand the meaning of a context in its natural setting and does not prioritize generalization. The results of the analysis show that all informants agree and agree that taxpayers have non-compliant behavior in carrying out their tax obligations. Informants interpret that being compliant can only be obtained from the character of taxpayers, internal factors. Then followed by the influence of external factors in the form of economic factors and the environment of Taxpayers. According to informants, most taxpayers are not compliant due to ignorance, it is very important to ensure that the right tax information according to taxpayers' needs is conveyed clearly by the tax authorities. Supervision from the tax authorities and law enforcement efforts from the tax authorities can encourage taxpayers to behave compliantly. Taxpayers who are already compliant expect service and convenience. Meanwhile, taxpayers who decide not to comply require extra supervision according to tax regulations. Compliance or non-compliance with tax regulations is the result of ongoing interaction between the tax authorities and taxpayers.

SWOT analysis as a tool for selecting text materials for the formation of English communicative competence of students of non-linguistic specialties

The study is devoted to the implementation of SWOT analysis as an auxiliary criterion for the selection of text material in the formation of English communicative competence for students of non-linguistic specialties. The article examines the concept of communicative competence, as a complex phenomenon of students’ availability of appropriate abilities and skills for high-quality foreign language communication. The main groups of criteria for the selection of text material have been outlined, including 1) subject-scientific ones; 2) linguistic stylistic; 3) methodological; 4) person-oriented. The concept of SWOT analysis has been summarized and the components of the matrix of this analysis have been analyzed, namely: the factors of positive influence of the internal environment are – Strengths, the negative factors – Weaknesses, and the factors of external influence are Opportunities, and the negative ones are Threats. The use of SWOT analysis, based on the classic qualitative criteria for text selection has been proposed as follows: Strengths – linguistic stylistic criteria of variety of types and genres and professionally oriented lexical units; Weaknesses – methodological criteria of authenticity, accessibility, adaptability, etc.; Opportunities – subject-scientific criteria of novelty, informational value and the presence of paralinguistic components; Threats are person-oriented criteria of relevance and practical value. An analysis of the English-language text has been carried out according to the proposed SWOT-analysis model and qualitative criteria for the selection of text material have been highlighted as well.

Adaptable and Generic Methods for Monitoring and Prognostics of Energy Assets

Monitoring and prognostics of energy assets are crucial for maintaining their reliability and efficiency. Effective monitoring ensures that potential issues are identified early, preventing unexpected failures and optimizing maintenance schedules. However, several challenges complicate this process in real-world scenarios, including poor data quality, low-fidelity and sparse data, the influence of external environmental factors, and diverse operating conditions and asset types. These challenges highlight the need for adaptable and generic solutions that can handle variability and complexity across different energy systems. This Ph.D. project aims to address these challenges by developing scalable, data-driven approaches for monitoring and prognostics. By focusing on creating adaptable and generic frameworks, the research seeks to provide robust solutions for real-world monitoring and prognostic problems for energy assets.

Determination and analysis of gene expression involved in glucose metabolism under the conditions of the development of experimental diabetes of dexamethasone type (type 2 diabetes)

Type 2 diabetes is one of the most common and serious chronic diseases today, which has become a global health care problem. Type 2 diabetes accounts for about 90–95 % of all cases of diabetes and significantly affects patients’ quality life due to the development of numerous complications, such as cardiovascular diseases, chronic renal failure, retinopathy, neuropathy. Modern research in the field of diabetology pays considerable attention to the understanding of the genetic mechanisms of the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes, which makes it possible to develop new approaches to its diagnosis and treatment. Individualization of laboratory diagnostics and treatment, which considers the genetic, metabolic and clinical characteristics of each patient, is a key direction in improving the effectiveness of the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is a complex polygenic disease, that develops under the influence of both genetic and external factors, which requires an integrated approach to its diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Taking into account the constant increase in the prevalence of this disease, the relevance of scientific research in this area is beyond doubt. The development of new pharmacological agents, improvement of laboratory diagnostic strategies and individualization of treatment are key directions for overcoming the problem of type 2 diabetes and improving the quality of life of patients. The aim of the work: identification and analysis of genes panel, involved in glucose metabolism under the conditions of the development of experimental type 2 diabetes. Materials and methods. Analysis of the gene expression, involved in glucose metabolism was performed using the real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction method CFX-96 Touch™ (Bio-Rad, USA) using the RT2Profiler™ PCR Array Rat Diabetes kit (QIAGEN, Germany). Results. Based on the results of the PCR study, the activity of the studied genes involved in glucose metabolism can be divided as follows: G6pc, Gpd1 – genes with high expression compared to the control group of animals; Ace, Acly, Foxg1, Foxp3, Gcgr, Gck, Gsk3b, Hmox1, Pygl, Snap23, Snap25 – genes with low expression compared to the control group of animals; Cebpa, Dpp4, Sell – genes in which no changes were detected in the samples in relation to the control group of animals; Ccr2, Fbp1, Gcg – genes, whose expression was not detected. Conclusions. The development of dexamethasone type 2 diabetes significantly (where ∆∆Ct <30) increases the expression of Gpd1 genes by 8 times and G6pc by 2 times compared to the control group of animals. During the development of type 2 dexamethasone diabetes, significantly (where ∆∆Ct <30) the Gsk3b and Hmox1 genes had a 17-fold low expression; Pygl at 11; Foxg1 in 7; Gck in 6; Ace and Foxp3 in 4; Acly in 3; Gcgr, Snap23, Snap25 in 2 times compared to the control group of animals. The expression of Ccr2, Fbp1, Gcg genes during the development of type 2 dexamethasone diabetes was not detected.

Adaptive Sliding Mode Control for AUV based on Backstepping and Neural Networks

Abstract Automatic Underwater Vehicle (AUV) inevitably suffers from various interference issues in the marine environment. Due to the limitations of underwater measurement methods and tools, as well as the complexity of AUV's control parameters in the underwater environment, dynamic measurement errors are easily cascaded and amplified, leading to the failure of the control system. In response to this phenomenon, this paper focuses on overcoming the influence of internal and external unknown factors in the tracking and control process of AUV trajectories. The internal factors are mainly the uncertainties generated by the model mismatch problem, and the external factors are mainly from the dynamic ocean currents. The AUV disturbances mainly affect the kinematics and dynamics levels directly or indirectly. In order to achieve the control of internal and external dynamic disturbances, we have designed a control system that employs backstepping (BS) and a sliding mode controller (SMC) with RBF neural networks to achieve the cascaded control of kinematics and dynamics. Comparison of multiple sets of simulations shows that our proposed algorithm has excellent anti-disturbance performance for dynamic conditions with low measurement accuracy.

The Impulsivity of Gen Z: The Influence of External and Situational Factors in a Traditional Buying Environment

The research assesses the impact of external and situational factors on impulsive buying behavior among Generation Z (Gen Z). Two external factors (EF) (sales promotions /discounts (SP) and store environment (SE)) and two situational factors (SF) (time availability (TA) and money availability (MA)) were studied.The data was analyzed from 201 Gen Z respondents through an online survey. The proposed model examined the direct relationships between EF and IBB and SF and IBB. Two hypotheses were developed and analyzed using SmartPLS-4.The results depicted that EF and SF had a positive significant impact in triggering impulse buying among Gen Z. The study also found that when external and situational factors are considered together (ComE), they have a significant and positive impact on the impulse buying behavior of Gen Z.This study looks at impulse buying behavior of Gen Z in a traditional (brick and mortar) setting which will help marketers target this segment appropriately.

Regional efficiency analysis of fresh food cold chain logistics in China based on three-stage DEA model

PurposeAssessing the efficiency of fresh food cold chain logistics as accurately as possible is essential for industry development planning. This study was designed to analyze the efficiency of fresh food cold chain logistics in China.Design/methodology/approachA three-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) model was used to analyze the efficiency of fresh food cold chain logistics in 30 provinces of China from 2013 to 2019. The stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) model in the second stage was used to eliminate the influence of external environmental factors and random disturbances on efficiency analysis results.Findings(1) The overall actual efficiency of fresh food cold chain logistics in China is unsatisfactory, with an average technical efficiency of 0.382 over the 7-year period. (2) The national average technical efficiency and average scale efficiency were overestimated by 29.9% and 40.0%, respectively, compared with the actual values. (3) The efficiency of fresh food cold chain logistics does not align with the level of regional economic development. (4) Distinct regional variations exist in the efficiency of fresh food cold chain logistics in China, with higher efficiencies observed in Northwest China and the Central Yangtze River regions, and the lowest efficiencies in the northeast regions.Originality/valueThis study applies a three-stage DEA model to assess the development and regional differences of fresh food cold chain logistics in China, enriching the application of models and empirical analysis in this field. By analyzing the situation in China, it provides ideas and references for other developing countries to develop cold chain logistics.

External drivers of changes in wildland firefighter safety policies and practices

Background Firefighter safety is a top priority in wildland fire response and management. Existing explanations emphasise how land management agency initiatives to change organisational culture, usually inspired by fatality incidents, contribute to changes both in formal safety policies and informal safety practices. Aims This paper identifies external factors that lead to changes in wildland firefighter safety policies and practices. Methods This paper uses qualitative data from a long-term ethnographic research project. Data include detailed fieldnotes, semi-structured interviews, and agency documents, which were systematically coded and thematically analysed. Key results In addition to the triggering effects of fatality incidents and agency initiatives to change organisational culture, external factors also directly impact the development of firefighter safety policies and practices. These include sociodemographic, material, political, and social-environmental factors. Conclusions Identifying and understanding the influence of multi-scalar external factors on firefighter safety is essential to improving safety outcomes and reducing firefighters’ exposure to hazards. Implications Attention to and recognition of external factors is valuable for fire managers and practitioners, whose work is influenced and constrained by meso- and macro-level factors. The framework presented in this paper would be useful in understanding other important aspects of wildland fire management.

A Method to Determine the Optimal Period for Field-Scale Yield Prediction Using Sentinel-2 Vegetation Indices

This study proposes a method for determining the optimal period for crop yield prediction using Sentinel-2 Vegetation Index (VI) measurements. The method operates at the single-field scale to minimize the influence of external factors, such as soil type, topography, microclimate variations, and agricultural practices, which can significantly affect yield predictions. By analyzing historical VI data, the method identifies the best time window for yield prediction for specific crops and fields. It allows adjustments for different space–time intervals, crop types, cloud probability thresholds, and variable time composites. As a practical example, this method is applied to a wheat field in the Po River Valley, Italy, using NDVI data to illustrate how the approach can be implemented. Although applied in this specific context, the method is exportable and can be adapted to various agricultural settings. A key feature of the approach is its ability to classify variable-length periods, leveraging historical Sentinel-2 VI compositions to identify the optimal window for yield prediction. If applied in regions with frequent cloud cover, the method can also identify the most effective cloud probability threshold for improving prediction accuracy. This approach provides a tool for enhancing yield forecasting over fragmented agricultural landscapes.

The influence of external and internal factors on ensuring adhesive interaction of a polymeric sealant with a substrate surface (a review)

This paper analyzes literature data on the influence of various factors affecting the strength and durability of adhesive bonds, as well as presents a characterization of the methods described in the literature for conducting relevant studies. It is shown that one of the main characteristics of adhesive joints is the interaction at the interface between the substrate and the adhesive. The adhesive capability of a sealant largely depends on the structure of the polymer component, as well as the presence of components in the sealant that enhance this property. The structure and condition of the substrate surface significantly affect the nature of the interaction between the adhesive and the substrate. Various methods are used to determine the strength of the adhesive bond, differing in the type of applied loads and the nature of the surface fracture. An important indicator is the determination of the wetting angle of the substrate by the sealant, which characterizes the surface energy. The durability of adhesive bonds is significantly influenced by environmental factors as well as operational conditions. Moisture, atmospheric oxygen, ultraviolet radiation, and microorganisms have a particularly strong effect on the properties of polymeric sealants.

Comparison of Carbon-Dioxide Emissions of Diesel and LNG Heavy-Duty Trucks in Test Track Environment

Environmental protection and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are getting increasingly high priority in the area of mobility. Several regulations, goals and projects have been published in recent years that clearly encourage the reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emission, the adoption of green alternatives and the use of renewable energy sources. The study compares CO2 emissions between conventional diesel and liquefied natural gas (LNG) heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs), and furthermore investigates the main influencing factors of GHG emissions. This study was carried out in a test–track environment, which supported the perfect reproducibility of the tests with minimum external influencing factors, allowing different types of measurements. At the results level, our primary objective was to collect and evaluate consumption and emission values using statistical methods, in terms of correlations, relationships and impact assessment. In this research, we recorded CO2 and pollutant emission values indirectly via the fleet management system (FMS) using controller area network (CAN) messages. Correlation, regression and statistical analyses were used to investigate the factors influencing fuel consumption and emissions. Our scientific work is a unique study in the field of HDVs, as the measurements were performed on the test track level, which provide accuracy for emission differences. The results of the project clearly show that gas technology can contribute to reducing GHG emissions of HDVs, and LNG provides a reliable alternative way forward for long-distance transportation, especially in areas of Europe where filling stations are already available.

Methodical aspects of analysis and risk management of an insurance company

The object of research is the risks of the insurance company. The paper is devoted to the study of the risks of the insurance company, which generate threats to the level of its solvency. The general state of economic development in general and the insurance market in particular determine the operating conditions of any insurer. The insurance company's ability to regulate such conditions is limited, but the formation of a stable state of the internal environment creates opportunities to adapt to threats from the external environment. Timely detection of potential risks in the activities of the insurer, provision of reserves to cover possible losses related to risks, enable companies to overcome the consequences of risks with minimal losses. The methodical basis for evaluating potential risks in the insurance company's activities is strategic analysis methods, such as PEST and SWOT analysis. Their results give an idea of the state of threats in the external environment and the potential opportunities of the insurer's internal reserves. The methods of economic-mathematical modeling and forecasting make it possible to assess the current state of the company and investigate its behavior under the influence of external and internal factors. The basis of the forecast model of risk analysis of an insurance company is formed by the coefficient of risk of loss of solvency, calculated according to the key parameters of the assessment of its financial condition. The reliability of the forecast of the possible risk of loss of the insurer's solvency is ensured by constructing a trend line and forming a forecast sheet in the MS Excel software environment. The forecast sheet forms the probabilities of the values of the indicators with a distinction between optimistic and pessimistic levels of the forecast. Using the trend line and finding the value of the coefficient of determination (R2), the probability of realizing the forecast of growth or reduction in the value of each individual parameter of the model is determined. The practical significance of the obtained results lies in the possibility of increasing the efficiency of the use of available resources and reserves in the process of risk management. The proposed methodical approach can be used to assess the impact of risks in the insurer's activities, which will increase the accuracy of the obtained results.

Enhancing the efficiency of e-commerce through digital technologies: Economic and legal aspects

The research is aimed at analyzing the economic and legal aspects of the functioning of digital technologies in the field of electronic commerce, as well as studying the impact of these technologies on the efficiency of processes and their interaction with various aspects of legislation regulating the field of electronic commerce. In the course of the research, literary sources and legal acts were analyzed with the aim of generalizing approaches to understanding electronic commerce and establishing the main principles of its regulation. The analysis of statistical data made it possible to identify trends in the development of the e-commerce market and the influence of negative external factors. In turn, the application of methods of generalization and systematization made it possible to determine the key aspects of the implementation of digital technologies to increase the efficiency of electronic commerce and identify regulatory gaps in this area. The results of the research confirm that e-commerce in Ukraine plays an important role in the digital economy, ensuring efficiency and profitability for businesses. An analysis of the e-commerce market showed the growth of the use of the Internet for shopping, even in difficult socio-political conditions. Therefore, despite the challenges facing the country, e-commerce remains a sustainable and powerful tool for business development and consumer activity. However, it is necessary to improve the legal framework in order to meet the requirements of modernity and to ensure the protection of consumers’ and market participants’ rights from technical and other risks related to electronic commerce.

The influence of external factors on corporate strategy and strategies for adaptation in light of the global challenges

This study investigates the influence of external factors on corporate strategy and explores strategies for adaptation in the face of global challenges. The primary objective is to analyze how various external variables including economic conditions, technological advancements, regulatory shifts, and socio-cultural changes affect corporate decision-making and strategic planning. Utilizing a quantitative research methodology, the study involved a structured survey distributed to a sample of 116 corporate executives across diverse industries, allowing for a comprehensive analysis of the data collected. Statistical techniques were employed to identify correlations between the external factors and the strategic adaptations implemented by organizations. The findings reveal that economic fluctuations and rapid technological innovations are the most significant external influences on corporate strategies. Companies that proactively respond to these changes tend to exhibit greater resilience, enhanced market competitiveness, and improved long-term sustainability. The research underscores that organizations that incorporate external insights into their strategic planning are more capable of developing effective responses to evolving challenges. To address these findings, the study offers several recommendations: organizations should enhance their agility by investing in thorough market research and establishing flexible strategic frameworks that can swiftly adapt to external changes. Furthermore, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous learning within the organization is crucial for navigating the complexities of global challenges effectively. By embracing these adaptive strategies, companies not only prepare themselves to confront immediate challenges but also position themselves favorably for future opportunities in a rapidly changing environment. Ultimately, this research contributes valuable insights to the literature on corporate strategy, emphasizing the necessity of understanding external dynamics and implementing adaptive strategies for organizational success in today’s competitive landscape. The study provides a foundation for further exploration into how organizations can strategically navigate external influences while maintaining agility and responsiveness in their operations.

Features of proinflammatory activation of macrophages in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus

Autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs) are chronic pathological conditions that arise from an abnormal immune response and are accompanied by systemic inflammation. The most common ARDs include rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and systemic sclerosis (SSc). The exact pathogenesis of ARDs remains unclear, but the complex influence of genetic, immunological and external environmental factors leads to the occurrence and further progression of ARDs. It has been shown that the cause of chronic inflammation may be proinflammatory activation of macrophages, in which an increase in the secretion of cytokines is observed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the inflammatory response of macrophages in patients with RA, SLE and SSc. Materials and methods. The study included 143 participants: 47 patients with RA, 45 patients with SLE, 34 patients with SSc, and 17 people without ARDs and other chronic diseases. Isolation of a primary culture of monocytes was carried out by centrifugation in a ficoll gradient using magnetic separation from the whole blood of study participants. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was added to stimulate cells along the proinflammatory pathway. Cell cultivation was carried out for 24 hours. Determination of basal and LPS-stimulated secretion of IL-8 by macrophages was carried out in the culture fluid using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Proinflammatory activation of macrophages was calculated as the ratio of LPS-stimulated and basal IL-8 secretion. Research results. Basal secretion of IL-8 by macrophages was statistically significantly higher in the groups of patients with RA and SSc compared with the SLE and control groups. LPS-stimulated secretion of IL-8 by macrophages in the SSc group had statistically higher values compared to the RA and SLE groups. Proinflammatory activation of macrophages was reduced in the group of patients with RA compared to patients with SLE and the control group, and was also statistically significantly lower in patients with SSc compared to the control group.

Створення надійних ноутбуків на основі простих змінних компонентів

The subject of study in this article and research is principles of creating of reliable and repairable notebooks. The goal is to determine the structural and circuitral peculiarities of the construction of portable computers and laptops, which improve fault tolerance, repairability, allow possibility of power supply using wider voltage range, and also reduce the cost of repairing, which makes it possible to create more reliable solutions with fault tolerance. The task is to analyze the existing architectures of computers built on modern chipsets; to analyze cases of failure of the computer equipment regarding the causes and consequences of faults; to analyze the possible reasonability of repairing and the computer repair options; to propose recommendations of the structural organization of notebook components and the recommendations for the support of a wide range of notebook voltages of power supply. According to the tasks, the following results were obtained. The analysis of the constructional design features of modern laptops and portable computers is performed. The main components of notebook motherboard, including the processor, multicontroller, and host bridge, are analyzed. The possible causes of faults of system board components are analyzed. The interaction of the multicontroller with BIOS and UEFI of notebooks is analyzed. The causes and solutions of possible issues of battery replacement are identified. The disadvantages of direct wired connection of peripheral devices to the processors implemented as a system on chip are discussed. The recommendations of the creation of repairable circuits of notebooks are proposed. The proposed circuits have a higher cost, weight and size characteristics with higher power consumption, but the obtained fault-tolerance allows the use in critical industries. Conclusions. The scientific novelty of the obtained results is in the fact that the performed analysis of solutions from leading manufacturers and the practical experience of laptop failures diagnostics allowed to propose a set of recommendations of the reliable laptops creation and modification of the existing components including the suppor of a wide range of power supply voltages, that will make it possible the charging from power sources without the use of an additional converters. The proposed use of discrete components and controllers for each interface port for connection of peripheral devices increases the system durability to the influence of external factors with maintaining of workability of the notebook and the rest ports of motherboard in case of the fault of one of them.

Reliability of 24-h measurement of physical activity, sleep, and sedentary time in adult patients with asthma using a triaxial accelerometer

Objective Physical activity (PA), sleep, and sedentary time (SST) are important outcomes to monitor and to improve as part of patients’ asthma management. This study aimed to assess the number of measurement days needed to reliably measure PA and SST. Secondly, the influence of external factors on the reliability of measuring PA and SST was studied. Methods Adult patients with stable asthma were asked to wear a triaxial accelerometer for at least four days, with at least 22.5 h of wear time per day. The Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICCs) between different number of measurement days were used to determine reliability. Values ≥0.75 indicated good reliability. Results: Data from 452 patients were analyzed (63% women; age: 49 ± 16 years; FEV1: 87 ± 17% predicted). PA could reliably be measured with four valid measurement days (ICC 0.761). For SST, three days were needed (ICC 0.778). In summer and autumn, three days were needed to reliably measure PA, in winter four, in spring six. For SST, five days were needed in spring for good reliability, and two in all other seasons. Conclusion: Based on data from four valid days, PA and SST can reliably be measured with an accelerometer in patients with asthma. Seasonal influences are present, especially during spring. When measuring for four days, using only weekdays or three weekdays and one weekend day is recommended. The degree of asthma control, dyspnea or spirometric values did not influence the reliability.

Microplastics: Features of appearance, identification methods (subject review)

Polymer packaging materials have become firmly embedded in our way of life. They are used in the manufacture of household items, as well as in the pharmaceutical, chemical, and automotive industries. Production and application of polymer packaging are expanding rapidly encompassing various spheres of the industry. According to Plastics Europe Market Research Group (PEMRG), global plastics production reached 348 million tons in 2017 and is likely to reach 33 billion tons by 2050. At the same time, about 26 million tons of plastic waste are generated annually on the territory of the European Union (EU), of which only 30% is collected for recycling. Despite this, in many countries of the world, including Russia, more than 50% of polymer materials are disposed of at landfills, where under the influence of external environmental factors (temperature, humidity), their destruction occurs with the formation of huge quantities of micro- and nanoplastics. Most people do not consider the environmental problems associated with microplastics to be serious. However, many studies aimed at in-depth study of this problem have proved that micro- and nanoplastics have significant negative effects on terrestrial and marine animals, as well as on human health, whether directly or indirectly. The identification of microplastics in various model environments and living systems is usually based on the use of infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectrophotometry. Each of the methods has its advantages and disadvantages, mainly related to sample preparation to improve the accuracy of identification. This review is devoted to the problem of formation and identification of microplastics in various natural objects.

Adapting Efficiency Analysis in Health Systems: A Scoping Review of Data Envelopment Analysis Applications During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: To synthesize the current evidence base concerning the application of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) in healthcare efficiency during the COVID-19 pandemic using a scoping review of 13 primary studies. Methods: We consulted databases including Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus, as well as manual search entries up to September 2022. Included studies were primary applications of DEA for assessing healthcare efficiency during the COVID-19 pandemic. Key findings derived from thematic analysis of repeating pattern observations were extracted and tabulated for further synthesis, taking into consideration the variations in DMU definitions, the inclusion of undesirable outputs, the influence of external factors, and the infusion of advanced technologies in DEA. Results: The review observed a diverse application of DMUs, ranging from healthcare supply chains to entire national health systems. There was an evident shift towards incorporating undesirable outputs, such as mortality rates, in the DEA models amidst the pandemic. The influence of external and non-discretionary factors became more pronounced in DEA applications, highlighting the interconnected nature of global health challenges. Notably, several studies integrated advanced computational methods, including machine learning, into traditional DEA, paving the way for enhanced analytical capabilities. Conclusions: DEA, as an efficiency analysis tool, has exhibited adaptability and evolution in its application in the context of the COVID-19 healthcare crisis. By recognizing the multifaceted challenges posed by the pandemic, DEA applications have grown more comprehensive, integrating broader societal and health outcomes. This review provides pivotal insights that can inform policy and healthcare strategies, underscoring the importance of dynamic and comprehensive efficiency analysis methodologies during global health emergencies.