Production Levels Research Articles

Acupoint stimulation for postpartum breastfeeding insufficiency: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundInsufficient lactation, known as hypogalactia, is an important reason for weaning. To date, no effective methods have been established to increase lactation volume. With the advantages of low cost and convenience, acupoint stimulation—defined as any stimulation applied at acupoints—is a promising option.ObjectivesThe aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness of acupoint stimulation for postpartum breastfeeding insufficiency.MethodsA systematic search of seven databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, CNKI, Airiti Library, ClinicalTrials.gov) was performed from their inception dates to September 30, 2023. Randomized trials were included. The inclusion criteria of the intervention included acupuncture, acupressure (including tuina and massage), electroacupuncture, laser stimulation, catgut embedding, and auriculotherapy. The primary outcomes were the amount of lactation and the level of prolactin. Secondary outcomes were colostrum time and adverse effects. The risks of bias were assessed using RoB 2.0.ResultsTwenty-four studies involving 3214 participants were included. When compared to the control group, the experimental group exhibited improved volume of milk production (MD = 81.30; 95% CI = 58.94–103.67) and higher prolactin levels (MD = 41.90, 95% CI = 28.57–55.22). Colostrum time was shorter in the control group ([MD = − 7.26; 95% CI = − 10.69 to − 3.83] for continuous data; [RR = 1.70; 95% CI = 1.38–2.08] for dichotomous data). Adverse effects were reported in only one trial, which included three cases of fear of acupuncture and one case of hypotension.ConclusionsAcupoint stimulation may have beneficial effects on postpartum breastfeeding insufficiency. However, the results should be interpreted with caution because of the presence of risks of bias and heterogeneity among studies.

Synthesis of 1,3,4-Oxadiazoles from 1,2-Diacylhydrazines Using SO2F2 as a Simple and Practical Cyclization Reagent

AbstractThe synthesis of 1,3,4-oxadiazoles from 1,2-diacylhydrazines has been achieved using SO₂F₂ as a straightforward and effective reagent for dehydrative cyclisation, both in the absence of metal catalysts and under milder conditions. The reaction exhibited good functional group tolerance and yielded high levels of product.

Capturing Inter and Intra Sectoral Productivity Spillovers in Industrial Filière: A System of Dynamic Spatial Panel Data Models

ABSTRACTGiven the relevance of spatial and sectoral interactions in shaping the productivity performance of economic systems and filières, in this study, we suggest addressing both aspects by estimating a system of simultaneous dynamic spatial panel data models. This approach allows to consider how the production level of a specific sector is influenced by the performance of other interconnected sectors in the same area (cross‐sectoral spillovers) as well as the role of productivity spillovers originating from the same or other sectors in neighbouring territories (inter and intra sectoral spatial effects). The validity of the proposed approach is confirmed through the estimation of a simultaneous system for the production process of the Italian agribusiness filière. The results indicate the existence of meaningful inter‐dependences within and between sectors and territories that materialises in spillovers of different natures (input factors, internal and external features), offering valuable policy implications for the overall economic growth of the agriculture filière.

Institutional distance, trade agreements, and intellectual property trade networks: Evidence from cross-border data.

Based on the Temporal Exponential Random Graph Models (TERGM), this paper applies global intellectual property trade data between countries to investigate the impact and mechanism of institutional distance on the intellectual property trade network. The study finds that the smaller the institutional distance between countries, the more conducive it is to build an intellectual property trade network. This conclusion remains valid after controlling for geographical adjacency, use of a common language, existence of colonial relationships, and characteristics of the intellectual property trade network. Moreover, through regression by year, it is found that this impact increases year by year. Further, after regressing on sub-indicators of institutional distance, it is found that the smaller the distance in political stability, government efficiency, and regulatory quality, the greater the probability of generating an intellectual property trade relationship. Mechanism analysis reveals that economies with smaller institutional distances are more likely to sign trade agreements, thereby generating trade relationships and promoting the establishment of intellectual property trade networks. In order to deeply participate in the intellectual property trade network, countries should actively align with international institutional norms and sign bilateral or multilateral trade agreements with countries with similar institutional levels to enhance the production level and export of intellectual property.

The cost of the production and release of male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes sterilised by irradiation.

Classic vector control tools do not sustainably reduce Aedes populations or prevent the surge of arboviruses. The sterile insect technique (SIT) by irradiation relies on mass-rearing and release of male insects that will not produce viable offspring. It has been successfully integrated into controlling agricultural and livestock pests. Experiments are conducted to determine the effectiveness of the approach for suppressing Aedes aegypti and curbing dengue transmission. Detailed implementation cycle costs have not been reported yet. To detail the costs of producing and releasing male A. aegypti mosquitoes sterilised by irradiation. We carried out a cost analysis during a SIT pilot trial in Havana. We took a provider perspective and used microcosting. From the cost function, we subsequently calculated costs for base case variations in production volume and mosquito release rate per hectare. The setup expenses to establish the capacity to produce and release 450,000 mosquitoes weekly amounted to 155,452.00 and 2456.40 USD in capital means and training, respectively. The average number of sterile mosquitoes released per hectare per week during the trial was 1500, utilising 17% of the installed capacity. Including capital depreciation, the average cost per 10,000 sterile male mosquitoes released was 110.12 USD. When producing at 85% capacity, this reduces nearly threefold, to 41.06 USD. At that production level, releasing 500 or 4500 sterile male mosquitoes per hectare costs on average 2.70 or 16.54 USD per hectare covered. In densely populated areas with 500 inhabitants per hectare, this corresponds to 0.28 or 1.72 USD per inhabitant per year. Our cost estimates for SIT by irradiation are within the range of estimates reported for alternative mass-rearing and release methods to control Aedes populations, and the approach appears competitive with insecticide-based interventions. The cost-effectiveness in different contexts remains to be investigated.

Movement behavior of a blue whale between the Galapagos Archipelago and the Frontal System off Baja California Peninsula

AbstractThe movement behavior of blue whales in the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP) is not well understood, especially regarding the migration of Northeast (NEP) and Southeast (SEP) Pacific populations. This study presents tracking data from a satellite‐tagged blue whale recorded between the Galapagos Islands and the Baja California Frontal System. A Bayesian state‐space model (BSAM) estimated the whale's movement trajectory, and a hidden Markov model (HMM) classified behavioral states. Environmental factors like sea surface temperature, chlorophyll‐a concentration, primary productivity, and mesoscale eddies were analyzed to identify ecological drivers. The whale displayed foraging behavior in areas with lower temperatures, higher productivity, and elevated chlorophyll levels, with movements influenced by cyclonic and anticyclonic eddies. These findings improve understanding of blue whale migration and the potential overlap between NEP and SEP populations in key tropical regions. They suggest that areas like the Galapagos and Costa Rica Thermal Dome may serve as ecological corridors, influenced by eddies.

Wage Variations Across Sectors and Types of Employment in India

Wage determination depends on a number of factors, including policy initiatives and the presence/absence of labor market institutions. Some of these unobserved variables may be captured in terms of the sector and/or the nature of employment itself. This study tries to focus on the sector of choice or employment type as an important determinant of wages/earnings, after including the important controls. However, a serious endogeneity issue is encountered as the sector/type of employment itself is a decision based on several reasons. After estimating the occupational choice function through a multinomial logit model and correcting for endogeneity, findings still confirm that wages vary across sectors and types of employment. Among the other determinants, human capital, caste-specific disadvantages, age effect, and possible gender differentials cannot be ignored. But even after considering the impact of the important controls, the sensitivity of wages/earnings to the sector/type of employment cannot be ignored. This has important policy implications: sector or type of employment with gross disadvantages needs a great deal of state support. With the same human capital endowment, caste background, and other characteristics, workers face disadvantages in certain types of jobs or sectors of employment, which could be related to recruitment practices, employment clauses, possibilities of exploitation by the contractors, low levels of productivity, and the lack of institutional support.

Influence of Different Levels of Organic Manures and Inorganic Fertilizers in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Cultivation on Physical and Chemical Properties of Soil

The degradation of soil, characterized by the decline in soil organic matter, nutrient exhaustion, and the subsequent diminishment of soil fertility, stands as a prominent factor contributing to the subpar levels of agricultural productivity. Organic amendments (OAs) present a promising avenue for rectifying this degradation, exerting their potential by enacting improvements in both the physical and chemical attributes of the soil. This, in turn, leads to a marked enhancement in the growth and yield performance of crops. An experimental endeavor was meticulously undertaken, employing the Randomised Block Design (RBD) framework, and encompassing three replicates for each treatment. Data collected during the course of instantiation were statistically analyzed using SVPSS software. Within this ambit, nine distinct nutrient management practices were evaluated, which included the application of organic manures, namely vermicompost (VC) and neem cake (NC), alongside their amalgamations with inorganic fertilizers. The overarching objective was to gauge the ensuing impact on the physico-chemical facets of the soil. Upon a comprehensive analysis of the aforementioned research endeavor, it emerges as a discernible conclusion that the treatment combination denoted as T9 [RDF @ 100% + Vermicompost @ 6 t ha-1 + Neem cake @ 1.2 t ha-1] emerged as notably advantageous. This treatment not only exhibited a discernible positive effect but also led to a significant amelioration in the physico-chemical attributes of the soil. Consequently, it is prudent to advocate this particular treatment combination to farmers, as it not only augments the yield of potatoes but also serves to uphold the overall health and vitality of the soil, particularly under the specific agro-climatic conditions of Prayagraj.

A comprehensive quantitative LC-MS/MS method for rapid gelatin source identification in food products: Comparison with PCR.

Authentication of gelatin sources are required for cultural beliefs and food integrity. This paper describes a sensitive and rapid detection of gelatin sources using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. The specific peptide markers were adopted to accurately identify bovine and porcine gelatin in pharmaceutical capsules and jellies. Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) was employed to identify and quantify over five specific peptide markers, each characterized by its unique precursor and product ion transitions. The developed method was validated at three concentration levels in gelatin-containing products to assess its accuracy and precision. The recovery (accuracy) of the proposed method was between 80% and 107%, and relative standard deviation (precision) was in the range of 5.16-9.97%. Linearity was obtained≥0.99 (R2). To ensure the accuracy of ingredient labeling, the LC-MS/MS results were compared with those obtained from PCR assays. The LC-MS/MS method demonstrated exceptional sensitivity, reliably detecting gelatin adulteration at concentrations as low as 0.01%. The developed LC-MS/MS method provides a rapid and accurate results for authenticating gelatin sources in various food products within 4hours.

Multilevel determinants of cannabis prices in legal markets: Evidence from products sold in nearly 4000 cannabis dispensaries in the United States.

Following cannabis legalization, sales in legal markets have steadily increased. Policies influencing product prices are crucial for cannabis regulation and control. This study aimed to evaluate the determinants of cannabis prices at the product, dispensary, and state levels in legal markets in the United States. Nationwide data on product- and dispensary-level characteristics were collected in 2022 and merged with state-level policy data. The final analysis included 710,588 cannabis flower products from 3,693 dispensaries across 30 states and Washington D.C. with recreational and/or medical cannabis legalization. Multilevel mixed-effects regressions were used to estimate the associations between cannabis prices and product-, dispensary-, and state-level characteristics. Pre-rolls and dried flowers were analyzed separately. The average standardized price per gram was $11.72 for pre-rolls and $9.05 for dried flowers, with significant variations across states. A positive association was found between prices and THC level (THC elasticity of price = 0.17, 95 % CI: 0.088, 0.25) and a negative association was found between prices and item weight (weight elasticity of price = -0.18, 95 % CI: -0.22, -0.14). There was limited evidence of associations between prices and dispensary-level characteristics, such as dispensary type (medical vs. recreational), license status, and density of nearby competitors. State tax rates at the retail level were positively associated with prices. These relationships were consistent for both pre-rolls and dried flowers. Policies targeting potency and item weight may have substantial impacts on cannabis prices in legal markets. Future research is needed to examine how consumers respond to these policies.

Research Trends and Gaps in the Use of Animated Video Media in Arabic Learning: A Bibliometric Analysis (2014-2024)

Arabic language learning can be meaningful in various ways, one of which is applying animation media in the learning process. With the advancement of technology, animation can be an effective tool to increase students' understanding and interest in learning. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to analyze research trends in the use of animated video media in Arabic language learning as well as future research opportunities through the number of developments in research publications, the level of productivity of researchers, and research development maps. The research design used is quantitative descriptive analysis with bibliometric method assisted by VOSviewer application. The data collection technique uses the help of the Publish or Perish (PoP) application which is sourced from the Google Scholar database using the keywords “Arabic Language Learning, Media, Animated Video, Arabic Learning, Video” in the last 10 years (2014-2024). The results show that the development of research on the topic of animated media in Arabic language learning in 2014-2024 has relatively increased with the highest publication occurring in 2024 which amounted to 165 publications (33%) and the lowest in 2015 with 1 publication (0.2%). The most productive researchers on the topic are Mudinillah, A. with a total of 6 publications and Hamid, MFA. with a total of 5 publications. The publication development map based on keywords produces 6 clusters, while the development map based on the author produces 18 clusters. Some topics that can be developed based on the topic of animated media in Arabic language learning include english, interest, effect, grade, article, arabic language teacher, lack, and type.

The Detection and Counting of Olive Tree Fruits Using Deep Learning Models in Tacna, Perú

Predicting crop performance is key to decision making for farmers and business owners. Tacna is the main olive-producing region in Perú, with an annual yield of 6.4 t/ha, mainly of the Sevillana variety. Recently, olive production levels have fluctuated due to severe weather conditions and disease outbreaks. These climatic phenomena are expected to continue in the coming years. The objective of the study was to evaluate the performance of the model in natural and specific environments of the olive grove and counting olive fruits using CNNs from images. Among the models evaluated, YOLOv8m proved to be the most effective (94.960), followed by YOLOv8s, Faster R-CNN and RetinaNet. For the mAP50-95 metric, YOLOv8m was also the most effective (0.775). YOLOv8m achieved the best performance with an RMSE of 402.458 and a coefficient of determination R2 of (0.944), indicating a high correlation with the actual fruit count. As part of this study, a novel olive fruit dataset was developed to capture the variability under different fruit conditions. Concluded that the predicting crop from images requires consideration of field imaging conditions, color tones, and the similarity between olives and leaves.

Assessing the quantities of legume-based products: A dataset of conversion coefficients into a comparable dry-legume equivalent unit.

Measuring the consumption of processed foods made from a common raw agricultural ingredient requires to make quantities comparable, by converting them in raw product equivalent. This conversion also allows to compute total quantities. In the case of legumes, the challenge is to take into account a wide diversity of final products including packaged dry legumes, processed legumes and products cooked from legumes and other ingredients. While the total quantity of the final product purchased or consumed is easily available, the corresponding quantity of dry legumes used to make the final product is not. We create a dataset of technical coefficients to convert quantities of final legume-based products into dry-legume equivalent unit. For this purpose, we first list all legume-based products purchased in French retail stores from 2002 to 2019. Those products were identified in our primary data source, the Kantar Worldpanel data. Then, for each final legume-based product, we rely on information from existing food databases, literature and products labels to build a coefficient based on three intermediary technical sub-coefficients. The first sub-coefficient measures the proportion of cooked legumes used in each product. The second sub-coefficient adjusts the quantities for products that lose water during processing (such as dehydrated or baked products). Finally, the third sub-coefficient is a conversion coefficient, used to express the quantities of legumes purchased in dry-legume equivalent. This dataset centralizes technical conversion coefficients that are useful to analyze global French legume markets, regardless of the type of product purchased (dried legumes, canned legumes, meals...). These coefficients also allow to infer quantities at the upstream agricultural production level.

Unraveling the Microenvironment and the Pathogenic Axis of HIF-1α-Visfatin-Fibrosis in Autoimmune Pancreatitis Using a Single-Cell Atlas.

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is identified as a severe chronic immune-related disorder in pancreas, including two subtypes. In this study, pancreatic lesions in patients diagnosed as either type 1 AIP or type 2 AIP are examined, and these patients' peripheral blood at single-cell level. Furthermore, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and functional assays are performed to verify the identified cell subtypes. In type 1 AIP, there is a notable increase in the amount of B cells and plasma cells, and IgG4+ plasma cells are key pathogenic cells of AIP. The differentiation path of naïve-stage B cells into IgG4+ produced plasma cells is observed, and an increased amount of T helper cells and T follicular helper (Tfh) cells. This study also reveals that HIF-1α, an activated transcriptional factor, can directly bind to promoter site of NAMPT, promoting higher levels of visfatin production in HIF1A+ classical monocytes. Pancreatic stellate cells can be activated by extracellular visfatin and promote the development of fibrotic response in pancreatic lesions across both AIP subtypes. The current findings shed light on the exploration of dynamic alterations in peripheral blood cells and cell subgroups in pancreatic lesions of AIP, while elucidating a pathogenic cell subset and potential fibrosis mechanism of AIP.

Role of Socs1 variants and Socs3 expression levels in interleukins production in asthma

Role of Socs1 variants and Socs3 expression levels in interleukins production in asthma

Evaluation of Critical Success Factors in The Indonesian Automotive Industry using DEMATEL-Based ANP to Implement Green Supply Chain Management

<p> <strong>Analysis of Indonesian car production</strong><strong> data in 2022 shows significant trend for increase in production and sales from year to year. The automotive industry in Indonesia is currently an important non-oil and gas sector which has a major contribution to the national economy. Currently, Indonesia has 22 four-wheeled motor vehicle industry companies. The higher the level of car production, the higher the CO2 emissions produced, and the higher the worldwide pressure to the countries to reduce the CO2 emission damage. Therefore car companies must implement Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM). However, the many criteria in GSGM implementation make it difficult for industry players to decide on the appropriate strategic decisions. The aim of this study is to find out the critical success factors in implementing GSCM in the Indonesian automotive industry and their interrelationship. The method used in this study is the Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) based on the Analytic Network Process (ANP). The results of this study show that the top five of 25 critical success factor in global weight are: top management perspective 4.86%, company competitiveness 4.57%, economic interest 4.55%, Using energy-efficient machinery and equipment 4.49% and Carbon footprint identification 4.48%.</strong></p><p><strong><em>Keywords</em></strong> - <em>Automotive Industry, Critical Success Factors, DEMATEL Based ANP, Green Supply Chain Management.</em></p>

BOVINE COLLAGEN EFFECT IN MAINTAINING BLOOD SUGAR AND BODY WEIGHT STABILITY IN DIABETIC RATS

Diabetes causes degenerative processes to occur earlier, for example during hyperglycemia with increased levels of Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) damaging the body's metabolism. Consuming anti-diabetic medications lowers blood sugar levels; however, hypoglycemia, which can be life-threatening, often occurs. Additionally, patients with diabetic experience uncontrolled weight loss or weight gain. This study aims to test the potential of bovine collagen in maintaining stable blood sugar levels and body weight in rats induced with diabetic. A total of 24 seven-month-old Wistar rats were divided into four groups: negative control group; positive control group induced with streptozotocin at 50 mg/kg body weight (BW) and given water as placebo; a group induced with streptozotocin at 50 mg/kg BW and treated with bovine collagen at a dose of 2x 400 mg/kg BW/day; and a third group of healthy rats receiving bovine collagen at the same dosage. All groups were treated for four weeks, during which body weight and blood sugar levels were monitored. The results indicated that diabetic rats treated with bovine collagen had better weight control compared to the positive control group in the first week (p = 0.033); however, in subsequent weeks, bovine collagen did not affect body weight. Blood sugar levels in the four groups of rats during the first, second, and third weeks showed that bovine collagen significantly reduced blood sugar levels in diabetic rats from the first to the third week (p < 0.05). It is possible that additional doses or the administration of antioxidant flavonoids may be necessary from the second week onward to maintain weight stability.

CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT AND EMPLOYEE PRODUCTIVITY IN THE NIGERIA PUBLIC SECTOR: A STUDY OF ABIA STATE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, UMUAHIA

The level of low productivity among workers especially in the public sector has left much to be desired training and development of employees have been championed as a remedy to this malaise. However, the paper examines the extent to which capacity development enhances the quality-of-service delivery in the Abia State civil service commission, Umuahia and to identify the factors that have been militating against capacity building of employees in the Abia State civil service commission, Umuahia. The survey design was adopted to guide the investigation. The population of the study is 280. The theoretical framework adopted was Organizational Development theory that was propounded by Kurt Lewin in 1950. The researcher used chi-square for testing the hypotheses. Moreover, the major findings of the study were that capacity building enhances the quality-of-service delivery in the Abia State civil service commission, Umuahia and that lack of training, insufficient fund and lack of modern technologies are the major factors militating against capacity building of employees in the Abia State civil service commission, Umuahia. The major recommendation was that government should make policy that will encourage continuous staff training and development of its workers so that the potentials of the employees would be adequately harnessed.

IMPACT OF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT ON EMPLOYEES’ PRODUCTIVITY IN THE 21ST CENTURY

This study attempts to investigate the impact of training on employees’ productivity in the 21st century. The study area is Niger State Polytechnic Zungeru. The main purpose of this study is to assess the impact of training and development on employees’ productivity, and to examine further the relationship that exists therein. A survey design was adopted making use of sample survey to measure the variables and their relationships. The population of the study was 367 which comprises of academic staff of the institution from various departments and schools who undergo training via tetfund both locally and internationally between 2010 to 2023. Both stratified and simple random sampling technique was adopted in selecting sample size for the study. Sample size of the study was determined using Krecije & Morgan table which is 184. Both primary and secondary sources of data were utilized for the study. A structured questionnaire was developed and administered to the sampled respondents. The data from the questionnaire was analyzed through the use of simple percentages and hypotheses was tested using chi-square at 5% level of significance. The study revealed that the productivity of employees (Academic staff) in terms of enhanced knowledge, skills, teaching methods, quality research and additional certificates are positively related to training and development. It is recommended that Niger state polytechnic, Zungeru should be persistent in providing training for its academic staff to ensure optimal level of productivity, which will contribute to the successful achievement of the Polytechnic's overall objectives.

IMPACT OF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT ON EMPLOYEES’ PRODUCTIVITY IN THE 21ST CENTURY

This study attempts to investigate the impact of training on employees’ productivity in the 21st century. The study area is Niger State Polytechnic Zungeru. The main purpose of this study is to assess the impact of training and development on employees’ productivity, and to examine further the relationship that exists therein. A survey design was adopted making use of sample survey to measure the variables and their relationships. The population of the study was 367 which comprises of academic staff of the institution from various departments and schools who undergo training via tetfund both locally and internationally between 2010 to 2023. Both stratified and simple random sampling technique was adopted in selecting sample size for the study. Sample size of the study was determined using Krecije & Morgan table which is 184. Both primary and secondary sources of data were utilized for the study. A structured questionnaire was developed and administered to the sampled respondents. The data from the questionnaire was analyzed through the use of simple percentages and hypotheses was tested using chi-square at 5% level of significance. The study revealed that the productivity of employees (Academic staff) in terms of enhanced knowledge, skills, teaching methods, quality research and additional certificates are positively related to training and development. It is recommended that Niger state polytechnic, Zungeru should be persistent in providing training for its academic staff to ensure optimal level of productivity, which will contribute to the successful achievement of the Polytechnic's overall objectives.