Influence Of Exogenous Factors Research Articles

COVID-19 and Diabetes: An Epidemiologic Overview.

Past literature on the development of type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) has emphasized the influence of exogenous factors, including viral infections, in the development of these conditions. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic again highlighted the complicated connection between viral infection and the development of diabetes. The complex interplay of proinflammatory, genetic, and socioeconomic factors can help explain the increased incidence of T1D and T2D during the pandemic. Proposed pathophysiological mechanisms connecting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to T1D include the expression of angiotensin enzyme 2 receptors on pancreatic islet cells, resultant proinflammatory states, and potential transient damage caused by viral entry. The intricate web of genetic factors, social determinants of health (including the rise of obesity), and the impact of proinflammatory states during SARS-CoV-2 infection on insulin resistance suggests mechanisms linking SARS-CoV-2 infection to the development of diabetes. [Pediatr Ann. 2024;53(7):e258-e263.].

МОРФОЛОГИЧЕСКИЕ ИЗМЕНЕНИЯ В ПЕЧЕНИ ПРИ МУКОВИСЦИДОЗЕ У ДЕТЕЙ

Background. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive disease caused by a mutation in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, characterized by damage to vital organs, a severe course and an unfavorable outcome. Liver cirrhosis is a relatively rare manifestation of cystic fibrosis. Objective. To study the causes of death, hepatic morphological changes in CF according to autopsy data and to present a description of a case of CF with rapidly progressing liver cirrhosis in a 6-year-old child. Material and methods. An analysis of clinical, laboratory and instrumental studies of CF and the results of hepatic morphological changes was carried out according to the data of 10 autopsies performed at the State Healthcare Institution "GRCPB". Results. Among the 10 patients died from a mixed form of CF, there were 5 patients aged 1-3 months, 2 patients aged 1.5 years, 1 patient aged 4.5 years, 1 patient aged 6 years and 1 patient was 19 years old. Infant patients had predominant intestinal damage with the development of intestinal obstruction and peritonitis, older age groups had lung damage with the development of chronic pulmonary heart disease, chronic pulmonary heart failure, and to a lesser extent - pathology of the pancreas and gastrointestinal tract. In one 6-year-old patient, CF was complicated by diabetes mellitus as well as liver cirrhosis with portal hypertension. All patients had severe protein-energy deficiency, psychosomatic and psychopathological symptoms. The results of pathohistological examination of the liver of infant patients showed dilation of the interlobular bile ducts with cholestasis and periductal fibrosis. The severity of these liver changes increased gradually alongside with patients’ age, including the progression of fatty degeneration. In a number of cases, diffuse fibrosis was recorded, resulting in liver cirrhosis with portal hypertension. At autopsy, the extrahepatic bile ducts and gallbladder were dilated and filled with bile of a viscous consistency. Conclusions. The nature of hepatic morphological changes in CF depends on the age of the patients and on the influence of exogenous factors. Only timely diagnosis and early complex therapy for CF will reduce the progression of irreversible processes in various organs and prolong the life of patients.

ALTERATIONS IN RAT ILEAL WALL METRICS FOLLOWING ADMINISTRATION OF A COMPLEX OF FOOD CHEMICAL ADDITIVES DURIGN THE EARLY STAGES OF THE EXPERIMENT

The influence of exogenous factors is a common cause of digestive disorders. Food chemical additives are important in the list of harmful exogenous factors. Despite the availability of literature data on their adverse effects on various systems and organs, the information on their complex impact on the ileum is limited and requires further study. The present study aimed to determine the metric changes in the ileal wall of rats during the early stages of administration of a complex of food chemical additives including monosodium glutamate, sodium nitrite, and ponceau 4R. Materials and methods. The study was conducted on mature white rats, divided into control and experimental groups. The control group received saline, and the experimental group received a complex of food chemical additives prepared following the standard methodology for 1 and 4 weeks orally. Material sampling and morphometric studies were performed according to generally accepted methods. The following parameters of the ileum wall were determined: total average wall thickness and average thickness of the serous membrane, muscle layer, submucosal and mucosal layers lseparately. Results. Changes in the indicators were found after the first week of administration of the food additives complex. In particular, the total intestinal wall thickness increased by 1.51 times compared to the control; after the fourth week, this indicator slightly decreased, although it was 1.22 times higher than the control group (p<0.05). The average mucosal thickness was 1.67 and 1.35 higher than in the control group after the first and fourth week, respectively. The average thickness of the submucosal layer also changed; after the first week, this indicator was 1.12 times lower than the control one; after the fourth week, the indicator increased by 1.21 times and 1.34 times compared to the control group and the previous observation period (p<0.05), respectively. As for the muscular layer, compared to the control group, after the first week, this indicator was 1.58 times higher (p<0.05). After the fourth week, it was 1.19 times higher than the control group and 1.33 times lower than the previous period. The average thickness of the serous layer was 1.44 times higher after the first week and 1.58 times higher after the fourth week compared to the control group. Conclusion. Thus, the introduction of a complex of food chemical additives leads to metric changes in the ileal wall of the ileum at the early stages of the experiment due to hyperhydration of connective tissue, impaired blood circulation, and pericellular oedema of the structural components of all membranes.

Ontogenesis of honey bees (Apis mellifera) under the influence of temperature stress

The productivity of bee colonies mostly depends on the influence of exogenous factors. The most significant ones include: the presence of a honey base, climatic conditions, environmental temperature, etc. The stability of microclimate indicators in the nest significantly affect the growth of families and nest. The vital temperature range in the post-embryonic period ranges from 30–38 °С. For normal brood development, the incubation temperature should be 34–35 °С. The intensity of growth during this period is largely determined by the influence of climatic conditions, including temperature. As a result of decrease in temperature, there is a densification of the placement of bees, which are more concentrated in the central, breeding part of the nest. Under these conditions, hypothermia of individual areas of the brood, located on the peripheral parts of the honeycombs, beyond the healthy temperature range, is sometimes noted. This is manifested by a sharp drop in the ambient temperature, when there is a numerous brood in the family, or if the nest is not expanded properly. In order to study the influence of cold stress on the development of offspring, two groups were formed. The group incubated at a temperature of 35 ºС was considered the control group. The experimental group was a group which was grown at a temperature of 32 ºС. After the brood was sealed, pupae were selected every 2 days. At the same time, their mass, the content of total lipids and the ratio of their individual classes were determined. It was found that under the influence of cold stress during brood development, the duration of the incubation period increases by 35–42 hours. It has been established that the adaptation of bees to cold includes a complex of physiological and biochemical processes, among which changes in the mass and composition of lipids play a significant role. The dynamics of triacylglycerides under optimal and stressful conditions of incubation were studied. Taking into account their functional purpose as the main element of energy supply of metabolic pathways, such dynamics indicate profound changes in the processes of energy exchange. When studying the mechanisms of adaptation to cold, a change in the ratio of phospholipid classes, the expression of which is induced by the effect of cold, was revealed. The results of this study bring a deeper understanding of the adaptation mechanisms of honeybees' response to changes in brood incubation temperature. They expand data on the biology of bees during critical periods of growth and development.

Баланс интересов внешних и внутренних бенефициаров в условиях «неполных контрактов» ресурсной экономики

This article examines the uncertainties arising from agent interactions in interregional resource-intensive markets, particularly those prevalent in northern regions, and explores factors undermining their effectiveness Given these circumstances, the study aims to establish an optimal balance of interests between external and internal beneficiaries by taking into account interests, as well as reducing transaction uncertainty by considering their interests and mitigating transaction uncertainty through the optimization of market regulators in the context of interregional resource-intensive markets typical of northern regions. The analysis reveals that the condition of a single market equilibrium is compromised due to the influence of exogenous factors and the endogenous formation of institutional mechanisms that coordinate agent actions amid uncertain collaborations. Contrary to the neoclassical approach, which focuses on competitive pricing without altering the market structure, an alternative perspective posits that spatial externalities induce endogenous mechanisms characteristic of Chamberlin-type market structures. The study expands the understanding of uncertainty causes within the theory of incomplete contracts, incorporating social system costs into transaction costs in line with the neo-institutional concept. This conceptual framework enables the exploration of spatial entities as meso-economic systems, with a specific emphasis on the organizational and geographical characteristics of northern territories. The research evaluates four institutional zones governing economic management practices in northern regions. Through competence enhancement and optimization of market regulator design, the study demonstrates the feasibility of achieving a balance of interests between external and internal beneficiaries by strengthening institutional capital, thereby reducing social system costs. The proposed system of organizational and institutional measures enhances local institutional practices within the existing institutional matrix without violating antimonopoly legislation, as its focus is on restoring competitive conditions and reducing the costs of operating the social system.

Growth processes of Triticum durum Dest. on the formaldehyde concentration gradient in microcosmic models

Under modern conditions, against the background of military invasion of the Russian Federation in Ukraine, there is an increase in threats to ecological security of the state, including as a result of violation of technological regime of operation of numerous potentially dangerous objects. Particular attention should be paid to such impurities as suspended substances (aerosols, dust), carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde, the concentrations of which in the air have been rapidly increasing recently. Formaldehyde is one of the most well-known air pollutants, which is a permanent component of the atmosphere. The average content of formaldehyde in the air in the cities of Ukraine in the pre-war period exceeded the maximum permissible concentration. Its significant growth depends significantly on meteorological conditions. In comparison with other impurities, a clear seasonal dynamics is manifested with an increase in concentration in the summer period. The course of monthly concentrations of formaldehyde varies depending on the air temperature and the intensity of direct solar radiation on a horizontal surface. The article summarizes scientific data on specifics of formaldehyde effect on the growth processes of Triticum durum Dest. Phytotesting was carried out by forming microcultivators and planting calibrated seeds of Favorit wheat in them. The subject of the study was coleoptiles (model objects sensitive to the influence of exogenous factors, separated from three-day-old ethylated seedlings). Based on application of microcosm models method, it is shown inhibition of the growth of the aerial part of T. durum Dest. seedlings on the formaldehyde concentration gradient, which affects the growth rate of coleoptiles. It was established that the growth of coleoptiles decreases with increasing concentration. It is substantiated that the value of the effective concentration (EC50) is 0.875 MPC. Inhibition of T. durum Dest. seed germination at the formaldehyde concentration gradient under the influence of all studied concentrations was shown. The smallest percentage of germinated seeds (5.6%) was found at a concentration that corresponds to the maximum permissible one. The reaction of wheat seeds to the concentration of formaldehyde, corresponding to 0.1 MPC and 2 MPC, was almost the same (28.6% and 30.3%, respectively). The highest percentage of seed germination (82.2%) was observed under the influence of formaldehyde at a concentration of 0.5 MPC.

ПЕРВИЧНАЯ ПРОФИЛАКТИКА ДЕМЕНЦИИ

Every year there is an increase of almost 10 million cases of dementia worldwide. This disease is the seventh leading cause of death in the world and is one of the leading causes of disability in older people. Minimizing the pathological (social and economic) impact of dementia on society is based on improving the primary prevention model. Currently, there is an increase in evidence-based data on the harmful effects of potentially modifiable factors that can induce neurodegenerative diseases. The article contains information about hyperepithelial permeability syndrome, which leads to increased circulation of lipopolysaccharides; it is concluded that “dysbiosis” contributes to the development of neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory changes in the central nervous system; the importance of the nutritional factor contributing to the development of the syndrome of increased epithelial permeability and “dysbiosis” is shown. The importance of moderate physical activity and neurocognitive training in the prevention is demonstrated. It is concluded that the primary focus of prevention methods is to eliminate the influence of exogenous factors (reducing/eliminating the impact of pathogenic herbicides and pesticides, stress-induced conditions), modifying nutritional factors (rational and balanced nutrition), but also stimulating the physical and intellectual activity of patients.

STRUCTURAL MODEL OF INFLUENCE OF PERSONAL DETERMINANTS ON PROFESSIONAL HEALTH

The article is devoted to the empirical study of the infl uence of personal determinants on the profes-sional health of sales managers. In the empirical study we used the method of modeling by structural equations. It was found that the infl uence has a hierarchical structure and two main determinants were identifi ed, namely, the factor “Personal maturity”, the indicators of the factor are: socialization, self-control, tolerance, achievement through independence, existential values. Factor “Self-actualization”, indicators of the factor are: intellectual effi ciency, synergy, contact, cognition, self-acceptance. We also revealed the infl uence of exogenous factors of gender and nationality on professional health and the negative infl uence of premorbid rigidity and motivation of failure avoidance.

Военный опыт государственных лидеров и конфликтный потенциал авторитарных режимов (На примере Африки)

In the last decade, the International Political Science has witnessed an emergent trend to put an individual back to the focus of research. A growing number of researchers acknowledge that in order to understand the behavior of the state, it is necessary to take into account attitudes and behavior of state leaders. They assume that such a view angle will help to defy a cliché perception, according to which conflict situations arise solely due to the influence of exogenous factors, and if a certain event occurred, it only happened because it was determined by the external environment. The article attempts to analyze the influence of the military experience of state leaders on their countries’ participation in armed conflicts using the case of the authoritarian regimes in Africa. Employing the method of regression analysis, the author traces how the past military experience is reflected in the proneness of a state leader to conflict actions in the foreign policy sphere. He focuses on three types of such experience: (1) military service without participation in military actions (mainly staff work); (2) personal participation in military actions; (3) participation in rebel formations. The conducted research proves that military experience has a significant and robust influence on the subsequent behavior of leaders. If a state leader used to serve in the military as a staff group member, the probability that he will initiate an armed conflict is 2.7 times higher than in the absence of such experience. Participation in rebel groups increases the likelihood of initiating military actions as well. In contrast, combat experience in the military has the opposite effect: leaders with combat experience are only half as likely to initiate military conflicts as leaders who have not been to the battlefield.

Influence of Exogenous Factors Related to Nutritional and Hydration Strategies and Environmental Conditions on Fatigue in Endurance Sports: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.

The aim of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to examine the influence of exogenous factors related to nutritional and hydration strategies and environmental conditions, as modulators of fatigue, including factors associated with performance fatigability and perceived fatigability, in endurance tests lasting 45 min to 3 h. A search was carried out using four databases: PubMed, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, and EBSCO. A total of 5103 articles were screened, with 34 included in the meta-analysis. The review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022327203) and adhered to the PRISMA guidelines. The study quality was evaluated according to the PEDro score and assessed using Rosenthal's fail-safe N. Carbohydrate (CHO) intake increased the time to exhaustion (p < 0.001) and decreased the heart rate (HR) during the test (p = 0.018). Carbohydrate with protein intake (CHO + PROT) increased lactate during the test (p = 0.039). With respect to hydration, dehydrated individuals showed a higher rate of perceived exertion (RPE) (p = 0.016) and had a higher body mass loss (p = 0.018). In hot conditions, athletes showed significant increases in RPE (p < 0.001), HR (p < 0.001), and skin temperature (p = 0.002), and a decrease in the temperature gradient (p < 0.001) after the test. No differences were found when athletes were subjected to altitude or cold conditions. In conclusion, the results revealed that exogenous factors, such as nutritional and hydration strategies, as well as environmental conditions, affected fatigue in endurance sports, including factors associated with performance fatigability and perceived fatigability.

Comparison of Oxidative Stress Levels in Healthy Children and Children with Allergic Rhinitis.

Background/aim: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is characterized by chronic inflammation of the nasal mucosa. Under the influence of exogenous factors - allergens, reactive oxygen species (ROS) are released during cellular metabolism. They induce a series of pathological changes in the mucosa. Oxidative stress is а result of an imbalance between the production of ROS and the ability to neutralize them. The aim of this study is to compare the levels of oxidative stress between healthy children and children with allergic rhinitis. Material and methods: A total number of 60 children were included (30 healthy children and 30 children with AR). The oxidative stress index was determined by using the FRAS 5 (Free Radical Analytical System) Bravo system. Demographic characteristics, medical history, children's living conditions and eating habits were obtained from the questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements and the absolute number of eosinophils in the peripheral smear were performed on each child. Results: This study showed high oxidative stress index and a significantly higher value of the absolute number of eosinophils in the peripheral smear in children with AR in comparison to healthy children (p<0.05). The group of children with AR had more atopic characteristics and was more exposed to passive smoking than healthy children. Conclusion: Compared to healthy children, children with AR have a high index of oxidative stress, despite of the very high mean value of the concentration of water-soluble antioxidants in serum (PAT test) in the group of children with AR.

Rock Surface Strain In Situ Monitoring Affected by Temperature Changes at the Požáry Field Lab (Czechia).

The evaluation of strain in rock masses is crucial information for slope stability studies. For this purpose, a monitoring system for analyzing surface strain using resistivity strain gauges has been tested. Strain is a function of stress, and it is known that stress affects the mechanical properties of geomaterials and can lead to the destabilization of rock slopes. However, stress is difficult to measure in situ. In industrial practice, resistivity strain gauges are used for strain measurement, allowing even small strain changes to be recorded. This setting of dataloggers is usually expensive and there is no accounting for the influence of exogenous factors. Here, the aim of applying resistivity strain gauges in different configurations to measure surface strain in natural conditions, and to determine how the results are affected by factors such as temperature and incoming solar radiation, has been pursued. Subsequently, these factors were mathematically estimated, and a data processing system was created to process the results of each configuration. Finally, the new strategy was evaluated to measure in situ strain by estimating the effect of temperature. The approach highlighted high theoretical accuracy, hence the ability to detect strain variations in field conditions. Therefore, by adjusting for the influence of temperature, it is potentially possible to measure the deformation trend more accurately, while maintaining a lower cost for the sensors.

Approximating the influence of external factors on the technical efficiency score of hospital care: evidence from the federal states of Germany

BackgroundA good health care system and, especially, the provision of efficient hospital care are the goals of national and regional health policies. However, the scope of general hospital care in the 16 federal states in Germany varies considerably from region to region. The objectives of this paper are to evaluate the technical efficiencies of all general hospitals of the 16 federal states for the period from 2015 to 2020, to find out the relation between the exogenous factors and score of efficiency, and also the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the results of the technical efficiency of hospital care in the German states.MethodsA two-step approach was used. First, an input-oriented Data Envelopment Analysis model with constant returns to scale and variable returns to scale was applied for the 6-year period from 2015 to 2020. The calculation of technical efficiency according to the input-oriented DEA model contains the three components—total technical efficiency (TTE), pure technical efficiency (PTE) and scale efficiency (SE). In the second stage, the influence of exogenous variables on the previously determined technical efficiency was evaluated by applying the tobit regression analysis.ResultsAlthough the level of average technical efficiency of about 90% is high, total technical efficiency deteriorated steadily from 2015 to 2020. Its lowest point at around 78%, was in the year 2020. The deterioration of the average technical efficiency is notably influenced by the lower results in the years 2019 and 2020. The decomposition of technical efficiency also revealed that the deterioration of overall average efficiency was influenced by both pure technical efficiency (PTE) and scale efficiency (SE). Based on the tobit regression analysis performed, it was possible to conclude that the change in the efficiency score can be explained by the influence of exogenous factors only from 6.4% for overall efficiency and from 7.1% for scale efficiency.ConclusionsThe results of the analysis of the overall technical efficiency reveal that the aggregated data of all general hospitals of all 16 federal states show a steadily worsening total technical efficiency every year since 2015. Although, especially, the deterioration of the year 2020 with the occurrence of COVID-19 pandemic, contributes to a deteriorated efficiency average, the deterioration of the efficiency values, based on the analysis performed, is also observable between the years 2016 and 2019. Considering the output generated, for inefficient units and the relevant policy authorities in the hospital sector, it can be recommended that the number of beds and in particular the number of physicians, should be reduced as inputs. Based on this study, it is also recommended that decisions to increase the efficiency of general hospitals should be made with consideration of exogenous factors such as the change in the number of general hospitals or the population density in the respective state, as these had explanatory value in connection with the increase in efficiency values. Due to the wide variation in the size of the federal states, the recommendation is more appropriate for federal states with low population density.

Bicycle Accident Risk Factors for Different Age Groups in Nagoya, Japan

This study investigates which factors can influence bicycle accidents for a variety of age groups at the traffic analysis zone level. The cyclists were divided into four age groups: child, young, adult, and elderly. To accommodate for the potential variation in the influence of exogenous factors for these age groups, we utilized the multivariate Poisson gamma mixture model. The formulated model not only incorporates the heterogeneity and over-dispersion of the unobserved factors but also allows for the variance of the covariance between the age groups among the zones. The zone-level variables considered in this study include sociodemographic characteristics, socioeconomic characteristics, the built environment, road network characteristics, and traffic characteristics. The model was estimated using bicycle accident data for the year 2011 in Nagoya, Japan. The estimated results clarify the impacts of the explanatory variables for the respective age groups. Children tend to experience more accidents in their residential zones, while the young and adult age groups have more accidents in zones that have many companies. All age groups are more likely to have accidents in the area of many shops. The elderly group is greatly affected by both the number of bicycle trips and its spatial spillover effect, implying that they are most prone to bicycle accidents among all age groups. The findings of this research can assist decision-makers in making proactive decisions to improve bicycle safety.

Драйвери розвитку економіки Німеччини в контексті мегатренду диджиталізації

Digitalization is one of the key modern drivers of influence on the development of the economies of both individual countries and the world economy as a whole. Accordingly, the megatrend of digitalization determines both opportunities and challenges for national economies with the most significant focus on the largest economies of the countries to which the German economy belongs. The aim of the article is to analyze the features of the complex of actions of the part of the Federal Republic of Germany to support digitalization in the traditional sectors of the economy. The article discusses the features of transformation under the influence of digitalization in the traditional sectors of the German economy, which leads to significant changes in the driving forces of the economic model of the Federal Republic. It is noted that the German economy faces a number of short-term challenges, including the long-term consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian-Ukrainian war. In particular, under the influence of exogenous factors, the inflation rate in Germany increased to 7.9% in 2022 from 3.1% in 2021. These crisis challenges have put a certain strain on various sectors of the German economy, creating new challenges for economic development. It is noted that the Federal Government of Germany applies an integrated approach aimed at stimulating both economic development at the short-term stage and long-term growth, based on investments in renewable energy and digitalization. It is emphasized that this balanced approach within the framework of the public policy has contributed to reducing Germany’s dependence on existing exogenous challenges, also to the active emergence of Germany as a leader in the world economic transformation. The key directions of the public policy of digital transformation of Germany are allocated. In addition, the main challenges of digital transformation for the national economy of the Federal Republic of Germany are emphasized. The proposed research can be useful for specialized scientists and analysts, research centers, authorities of both the State and the local levels, and international organizations. The prospects of this study are seen in the analysis of cases of leading national economies on digital transformation and their adaptation in Germany.

МАРКЕТИНГОВЕ ЦІНОУТВОРЕННЯ НА РИНКУ МОЛОЧНОЇ ПРОДУКЦІЇ УКРАЇНИ

The article studies the theoretical and methodological aspects of the formation of marketing pricing in the conditions of war; the dynamics of the development of the milk market of Ukraine were analyzed, and the level of influence of exogenous factors on the milk products market of Ukraine was determined. The most important pricing factors are highlighted, which include: demand, costs of production and sale of products, competition, influence of trade intermediaries and government regulation. Today, the part of Ukraine is under active hostilities, causing significant destruction of infrastructure, slowing down of business activity and migration of labor to the western regions and neighboring friendly states. These negative phenomena affect price fluctuations, increasing their seasonal variability. There is a trend of loss of raw milk due to the decrease in the number of cattle, the deterioration of feeding conditions during the war period; violation of logistics; low volumes of production in occupied and destroyed regions. The demand for milk has decreased significantly, which is associated with demographic changes and the occupation of Ukrainian territories, a general decrease in the purchasing power of the population, and high inflation. Manufacturers, processors and retail chains anticipate all possible risks associated with military conflict and include them in the price of products. One factor analysis of variance of pricing on the milk market of Ukraine was conducted. It was established that the average price of milk is affected by such factors as: milk producers, milk processors and trade networks. To study the regularities of the dynamics of the average milk price, it is proposed to use a system of indicators that characterize the direction and intensity of change over time of the studied characteristic, namely: average absolute growth, average growth rate and average rate of increase. Pricing, as an important element of the marketing complex, plays a key role in providing profit and is one of the most flexible components of this complex. Taking into consideration the rapidly changing environment, the constant price analysis is a critical aspect of a successful strategy.

Impaired Expression of Mu- and Kappa-Opioid Receptor mRNA in the Midbrain of Rats with Prenatal Alcohol Intoxication

Disruption of normal epigenetic reprogramming during the prenatal period under the influence of exogenous factors affects fetus development and adult phenotype formation. The mechanisms through which determinants, such as maternal alcohol intake, contribute to the formation of an alcohol-vulnerable phenotype later in life still remain unclear. In this paper, we suggest that alteration in the reinforcing properties of ethanol in prenatally alcohol-exposed subjects may be associated with transcriptional dysregulation of the brain opioid receptor genes. We compared voluntary alcohol intake and levels of mRNA coding for μ- (MOP) and κ-opioid (KOP) receptors in the mesolimbic areas of adult male offspring of the female Wistar rats having received 10% ethanol as the only source of liquid throughout pregnancy or water (control). We found that prenatally alcohol exposed rats had higher alcohol preference on PND60 (free-choice paradigm) and lower mRNA expression for both MOP and KOP in the midbrain compared to the control. This suggests a potential link between prenatal alcohol, dysfunction of the brain opiate system and adult vulnerability for alcohol use disorder.

Influence of exogenous factors on water demand forecasting models during the COVID-19 period

Water scarcity has urged the need for adequate water demand forecasting to facilitate efficient planning of municipal infrastructure. However, the development of water consumption models is challenged by the rapid environmental and socio-economic changes, particularly during unforeseen events like the COVID-19 pandemic. This study investigated the impact of COVID-19 on the efficiency of water demand prediction models, considering the lockdown measures and various exogenous features, such as previous consumption (PC) and socio-demographic (SDF), seasonal (SF), and climatic (CF) factors. Multiple ensemble models, gradient-boosting machines (GBM), extreme-gradient-boosting (XGB), light-gradient-boosting, random forest (RF), and stack regressor (STK) were examined, compared to other machine-learning techniques, multiple-linear regression (MLR), decision trees, and neural networks. The models were tested using 3-year metering records for 128,000 consumers in Dubai. The feature importance analysis indicated that PC and SDF had a significant impact on consumption rates with correlation coefficients of 0.95 and 0.74, respectively, as opposed to SF and CF, which had negligible effect. The results showed that, before COVID, RF and STK outperformed other models with a coefficient-of-determination (R2) and root-mean-squared-error (RMSE) of 0.928 and 0.039, followed by XGB at 0.923 and 0.041, respectively. However, MLR achieved the highest prediction accuracy amid COVID with R2 and RMSE of 0.90 and 0.05, followed by GBM and XGB equally at 0.83 and 0.06, respectively. An ensemble-based error prediction model was applied, resulting in up to 9.2% improvement in predictions. Overall, this research emphasized the efficiency of ensemble models in handling fluctuating data with a high degree of nonlinearity.

Adaptability of the economy to external and internal shocks in globalization

The purpose of the study is to consider issues of adaptability of economic systems under the influence of external and internal shocks to the modern global challenges. The paper represents the theoretical foundations of determining the quality of factors external to economic systems capable of exerting a shock effect on them; the functions of the shock impact mechanism on national economic systems in the conditions of globalization processes are highlighted. Globalization is based on the development of global markets for goods, services, labor and capital. This process is characterized by the strengthening of the funds movement in the most profitable sectors of the national economy, the rapid development of financial markets that generate strong financial flows, and the sharpening of the financial market of innovations and the innovation process involves the creation, development and spread of innovations. Adaptation is considered as a process of changes in quantitative and qualitative features of the system, which allows to reach the optimal or, in critical conditions, the limit state of functioning in changing conditions. Systems are able to change their parameters in accordance with external conditions, self-adjusting is called adaptive, and the functioning of adaptive systems is based on a feedback mechanism. Adaptability implies the possibility of prompt response in the process of functioning of the system to the current information that is received, regarding changes in the conditions of its functioning. The essence of the concept of adaptability is to change the parameters, structure and algorithms of system functioning based not only on a priori information, but also current information, as well as forecasted information, in order to achieve or maintain a certain efficiency of the system when the operating conditions of the latter change. The content of external and internal shocks and their transmission to national economic systems, the spread of financial crises, were studied. External shocks in the context of globalization are the most obvious and significant manifestation of the influence of exogenous factors on national economic systems. The systemic role of external shocks lies in the fact that they are one of the components of the mechanism of spreading global financial instability. Considering shock disturbances as supply and demand, we also distinguish the main external sources of their occurrence according to the subjects of supply and demand. Keywords: adaptability of the economy, globalization, economic shocks, stability of the national economy, shock effects.

Eco-Efficiency of Agriculture in the Amazon Biome: Robust Indices and Determinants

This study analyzes the municipal agriculture eco-efficiency in the Amazon biome and the influence of exogenous factors. We use a two-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) method with bootstrap. The results indicate that: (i) the density curve of the corrected eco-efficiency indices is statistically different from the deterministic score curves, suggesting the presence of bias in the latter; (ii) there is evidence of constant returns, demonstrating that small, medium and large municipalities can be equally eco-efficient; (iii) there are relevant eco-inefficient behaviors, showing that it is possible to increase the products (gross revenue and preserved area) and simultaneously reduce environmental damage (impact on biodiversity and greenhouse gas emission indices) with the same inputs, by replicating the best practices; and (iv) eco-efficiency scores are also substantially affected by exogenous factors. Based on the results, strategies can be defined by decision-makers to harmonize economic growth and environmental preservation; in addition, adaptive policies and actions can be adopted to optimize the sustainability of regional agriculture.