Low-level Production Research Articles

Labor productivity within the framework of the Labor Productivity and Employment Support national project

According to macroeconomic estimates, the Russian economy is characterized by a relatively low level of labor productivity, two to three times inferior to the economies of a number of industrialized countries. The lower level of labor productivity in Russia in comparison with the leading global economies is manifested especially at the microlevel. Increasing labor productivity is one of the most important tasks of the domestic economy in terms of ensuring competitiveness in the world markets. The importance of this process is intensified in the current conditions characterized by Western sanctions aimed at weakening the Russian economy. This determines the relevance of the present study. The purpose of the study is to analyze the labor productivity state in the process of implementing the Labor Productivity and Employment Support project. The subject of the study is labor productivity at the micro- and macrolevels, in individual industries and regions. The study used data from the national project passport, official data from the Federal State Statistics Service and the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, and methods such as analysis and synthesis, generalization, grouping, tabular, etc. The presence of significant inter-industry and intra-industry differentiation of Russian companies by the labor productivity level and different methods of calculating labor productivity, which makes it difficult to choose the most effective economic entities, has been revealed. One of the reasons for lagging behind other countries in terms of labor productivity is, among other things, the technological lag of domestic companies. At the same time, the regions do not sufficiently use the possibilities of tax incentives for investment by establishing a tax deduction, and labor motivation is weakened. The labor productivity indicator is not used in ranking regions by the socio-economic development level, as well as for the purposes of assessing regional managers effectiveness.

Attempting to Create a Pathway to 15-Deacetylcalonectrin with Limited Accumulation in Cultures of Fusarium Tri3 Mutants: Insight into Trichothecene Biosynthesis Machinery.

The compound 15-deacetylcalonectrin (15-deCAL) is a common pathway intermediate in the biosynthesis of Fusarium trichothecenes. This tricyclic intermediate is metabolized to calonectrin (CAL) by trichothecene 15-O-acetyltransferase encoded by Tri3. Unlike other trichothecene pathway Tri gene mutants, the Δtri3 mutant produces lower amounts of the knocked-out enzyme's substrate 15-deCAL, and instead, accumulates higher quantities of earlier bicyclic intermediate and shunt metabolites. Furthermore, evolutionary studies suggest that Tri3 may play a role in shaping the chemotypes of trichothecene-producing Fusarium strains. To better understand the functional role of Tri3p in biosynthesis and evolution, we aimed to develop a method to produce 15-deCAL by using transgenic Fusarium graminearum strains derived from a trichothecene overproducer. Unfortunately, introducing mutant Tri3, encoding a catalytically impaired but structurally intact acetylase, did not improve the low 15-deCAL production level of the ΔFgtri3 deletion strain, and the bicyclic products continued to accumulate as the major metabolites of the active-site mutant. These findings are discussed in light of the enzyme responsible for 15-deCAL production in trichothecene biosynthesis machinery. To efficiently produce 15-deCAL, we tested an alternative strategy of using a CAL-overproducing transformant. By feeding a crude CAL extract to a Fusarium commune strain that was isolated in this study and capable of specifically deacetylating C-15 acetyl, 15-deCAL was efficiently recovered. The substrate produced in this manner can be used for kinetic investigations of this enzyme and its possible role in chemotype diversification.

The Effect of Liquid Organic Fertilizer from Kepok Banana Humps on Cayenne Pepper Plants' (Capsicum frutescens L.) Growth and Yield

The primary issue encountered in the cultivation of cayenne pepper is the low production levels attributed to the non-intensive cultivation system and poor soil fertility. Enhancing cultivation techniques, mainly through the application of liquid organic fertilizer derived from Kepok banana humps, has the potential to boost production yields. Kepok banana humps harbor microbes that aid in the decomposition of beneficial organic matter. The objective of this study is to assess the impact and optimal concentration of liquid organic fertilizer from Kepok banana humps on the growth and yield of cayenne pepper. Employing a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 4 treatments and 3 replications, the findings indicated that the utilization of liquid organic fertilizer from Kepok banana humps significantly influenced flowering age, harvest age, fruit weight per plant, and plant dry weight. At the same time, no notable effects were observed on plant height and leaf width. The most effective treatment was P3 (300 ml/plant), which yielded the most favorable outcomes across these parameters.

A Machine Learning Model for Local Market Prediction Using RFM Model

This study explores the application of machine learning for local market prediction in e-commerce. By leveraging the RFM segmentation method, the model predicts product sales based on user shopping patterns. The RFM score, calculated using recency, frequency, and monetary values of customer purchases, segments customers into distinct categories. The research utilizes a dataset obtained through seven parameters and performs data preprocessing. K-Means clustering then classifies customers into Low, Medium, and High levels based on their RFM scores. Customers in the Low category exhibit low purchase activity but high product browsing. The Medium segment displays consistent purchases of a limited product range. High-level customers demonstrate frequent purchases with significant spending. The identified customer segments enable targeted marketing strategies. For Low-level customers, discounts or product feature promotions can incentivize purchases. Combining product offerings can entice Medium-level customers to explore new products. Finally, High-level customers can be engaged through loyalty programs offering rewards. This approach empowers e-commerce sellers to tailor marketing strategies for each customer segment, enhancing market dominance.

Adapting to climate change in a spiny lobster (Jasus edwardsii) fishery: A harvest strategy response

The complex lifecycle of spiny lobsters makes the species particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. In south-eastern Australia, a regime shift in productivity was experienced during the late 1990s with evidence indicating that increased water temperatures had impacted on female size-of-maturity. Within the Southern Zone fishery of South Australia, this translated into low levels of egg production and sub-optimal fishery performance. In 2018, the harvest strategy for the fishery was reviewed with the primary focus of achieving a target percentage of unexploited egg production (%UEP) within an agreed timeframe. The proposed harvest strategy was based on a tabular harvest control rule, where catch per unit effort (CPUE) from the preceding season, as an indicator of lobster abundance, specified the following year’s total allowable commercial catch (TACC). To account for climate change impacts, the harvest strategy was assessed using a projection model where recruitment was sampled from post-regime shift years, thereby adopting a conservative approach to stock rebuilding. Results were assessed against projected trends in catch, CPUE and %UEP. In 2020, this harvest control rule was formally adopted and is now used in annual TACC setting. Observed values for key indicators have been closely aligned with projected estimates, with %UEP estimates approaching the target reference point. Specifically, %UEP has improved from 10% to 15% with the target projected to be achieved by the late 2020 s. Projections are sensitive to recruitment however, with a 21% lower recruitment scenario failing to reach target levels, thereby reinforcing the need to account for climate change impacts in harvest strategy testing.

A reflection on neolithization in the plains of Behshahr and Neka in Eastern Mazandaran, Iran

About 70 years ago, C. S. Coon reported the sudden presence of domesticated animal species following a gap between the Mesolithic/Epi-Paleolithic and the Pre-Pottery Neolithic (PPN), based on data from excavations of the Hotu and Kamarband (Belt) Caves in the southeastern littoral of the Caspian Sea. Then, the first scientific step towards Neolithization studies in the region was taken by proposing a hypothesis that emphasized the import of Neolithic culture and domestication packages from the eastern wing of the Fertile Crescent, within the framework of diffusion theory. More recently, another hypothesis has been proposed that Neolithization in eastern Mazandaran is due to endogenous factors. These hypotheses were proposed despite serious weaknesses in both field studies and analyses. Lack of reliable evidence of domesticated species, inconsistency of paleo-climatology chronologies and data with archaeological periods, lack of subsistence and settlement data, problems of Mesolithic/Epi-Paleolithic to Neolithic chronology, and weaknesses in processing and analyses of archaeological data, are some of the problems in Neolithization studies in the region. The present paper intends to provide a proper analysis of the Neolithization studies in this region, and proposes the theory of low-level food production as a key component.

Citrate-buffered Yamanaka medium allows to produce high-yield bacterial nanocellulose in static culture using Komagataeibacter strains isolated from apple cider vinegar.

Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) is a sustainable, renewable, and eco-friendly nanomaterial, which has gained great attentions in both academic and industrial fields. Two bacterial nanocellulose-producing strains (CVV and CVN) were isolated from apple vinegar sources, presenting high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities (96%-98%) with Komagataeibacter species. The biofilm was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), revealing the presence of rod-shaped bacteria intricately embedded in the polymeric matrix composed of nanofibers of bacterial nanocellulose. FTIR spectrum and XRD pattern additionally confirmed the characteristic chemical structure associated with this material. The yields and productivities achieved during 10 days of fermentation were compared with Komagataeibacter xylinus ATCC 53524, resulting in low levels of BNC production. However, a remarkable increase in the BNC yield was achieved for CVV (690% increase) and CVN (750% increase) strains at day 6 of the fermentation upon adding 22mM citrate buffer into the medium. This effect is mainly attributed to the buffering capacity of the modified Yakamana medium, which allowed to maintain pH close to 4.0 until day 6, though in combination with additional factors including stimulation of the gluconeogenesis pathway and citrate assimilation as a carbon source. In addition, the productivities determined for both isolated strains (0.850 and 0.917gL-1 d-1) compare favorably to previous works, supporting current efforts to improve fermentation performance in static cultures and the feasibility of scaling-up BNC production in these systems.

Demand of Imported Rice in Mozambique (2011 - 2020)

Rice plays an important role in the food and nutrition security of the Mozambican population and has been importing rice to meet growing consumption needs. There are several studies regarding demand of imported rice worldwide. However, it is noted that despite the importance of imported rice in national consumption, the empirical and quantitative studies on the demand for imported rice in Mozambique are scarce. This study results from the need to contribute to filling the information gap by providing the quantification of the impact of income and price on the consumption of imported rice. Based on monthly rice import data from 2011 to 2020, obtained from INE, the Source Differentiated Almost Ideal Demand System (SDAIDS) model and the Seemingly Unrelated Rules (SUR) approach are applied to estimate demand systems for imported rice. The period was chosen due to availability of data. The results of this study show that the national production of rice still does not cover internal needs, so the country resorts to imports to fill the deficit. The elasticities of demand for rice imported into Mozambique show that all income elasticities of demand are statistically significant, except for “other countries” or Rest of the World. The results also show that when income increases by 1%, the demand for rice increases by 1.2% when coming from “Pakistan”, and by 1.1% when coming from “Singapore”, by 1.03% for “Vietnam”; and in for those from “Myanmar” (1.1%), which suggests that rice from these countries can be classified in the luxury goods category. The results also illustrate that when the price increases by 1%, the quantities demanded decrease, on average, by 1.06% for rice coming from “Pakistan”; by 1.06% for those from “Singapore”; 1.22% for those from “Myanmar”; 0.96% for those from “Vietnam”; by 0.89% for “India”; by 0.79% for “China”; in 0.974% for “Thailand” and in 0.56% for those coming from “other countries”. The low levels of production and productivity show that it is still a challenge to guarantee rice self-sufficiency in Mozambique, and efforts to improve supply must continue, since the country's dependence on imported rice can potentially create conditions of vulnerability and insecurity and adverse market effects have competitive advantages.

Soils on Recent Tephra of the Somma–Vesuvius Volcanic Complex, Italy

The Somma–Vesuvius volcanic complex emitted huge quantities of volcanic materials over a period from before 18,300 years BP to 1944. The activity during the last period, from post-AD 1631 to 1944, primarily produced lava and pyroclastics via effusive and strombolian eruptions. We investigated the pedogenesis on rocks formed from post-AD 1631 to 1944, occurring on the slopes of Mt. Vesuvius up to Gran Cono Vesuviano and in the northern valley separating Vesuvius from the older Mt. Somma edifice. Pertinent morphological, physical, chemical, and mineralogical (XRD and FT-IR) soil properties were studied. The results indicated the existence of thin and deep stratified soils on lava, as well as the presence of loose detritic covers formed via pyroclastic emplacement and redistribution. The soils showed minimal profile differentiation, frequently with layering recording the episodic addition of sediments. We found that the dominant coarse size of primary mineral particles was preserved, and there was a low level of clay production. The main mineralogical assemblage present in sands also persisted in clays, indicating the physical breaking of the parent material. Chemical weathering produced mineral modifications towards the active forms of Al and Fe and was also attested in selected soils by glass alteration, allophane production, and the presence of analcime in clay as a secondary product from leucite. The differences in glass alteration and analcime production found in the selected soils on lava were related to soil particle size and soil thickness. Concerning the youngest soil present on Gran Cono Vesuviano, other factors, such as the substratum’s age and site elevation, appeared to be implicated.

Reconstruction the feedback regulation of amino acid metabolism to develop a non-auxotrophic l-threonine producing Corynebacterium glutamicum

l-Threonine is an important feed additive with the third largest market size among the amino acids produced by microbial fermentation. The GRAS (generally regarded as safe) industrial workhorse Corynebacterium glutamicum is an attractive chassis for l-threonine production. However, the present l-threonine production in C. glutamicum cannot meet the requirement of industrialization due to the relatively low production level of l-threonine and the accumulation of large amounts of by-products (such as l-lysine, l-isoleucine, and glycine). Herein, to enhance the l-threonine biosynthesis in C. glutamicum, releasing the aspartate kinase (LysC) and homoserine dehydrogenase (Hom) from feedback inhibition by l-lysine and l-threonine, respectively, and overexpressing four flux-control genes were performed. Next, to reduce the formation of by-products l-lysine and l-isoleucine without the cause of an auxotrophic phenotype, the feedback regulation of dihydrodipicolinate synthase (DapA) and threonine dehydratase (IlvA) was strengthened by replacing the native enzymes with heterologous analogues with more sensitive feedback inhibition by l-lysine and l-isoleucine, respectively. The resulting strain maintained the capability of synthesizing enough amounts of l-lysine and l-isoleucine for cell biomass formation but exhibited almost no extracellular accumulation of these two amino acids. To further enhance l-threonine production and reduce the by-product glycine, l-threonine exporter and homoserine kinase were overexpressed. Finally, the rationally engineered non-auxotrophic strain ZcglT9 produced 67.63 g/L (17.2% higher) l-threonine with a productivity of 1.20 g/L/h (108.0% higher) in fed-batch fermentation, along with significantly reduced by-product accumulation, representing the record for l-threonine production in C. glutamicum. In this study, we developed a strategy of reconstructing the feedback regulation of amino acid metabolism and successfully applied this strategy to de novo construct a non-auxotrophic l-threonine producing C. glutamicum. The main end by-products including l-lysine, l-isoleucine, and glycine were almost eliminated in fed-batch fermentation of the engineered C. glutamicum strain. This strategy can also be used for engineering producing strains for other amino acids and derivatives.

Assessment of Genomic Diversity and Selective Pressures in Crossbred Dairy Cattle of Pakistan.

Improving the low productivity levels of native cattle breeds in smallholder farming systems is a pressing concern in Pakistan. Crossbreeding high milk-yielding holstein friesian (HF) breed with the adaptability and heat tolerance of Sahiwal cattle has resulted in offspring that are well-suited to local conditions and exhibit improved milk yield. The exploration of how desirable traits in crossbred dairy cattle are selected has not yet been investigated. This study aims to provide the first overview of the selective pressures on the genome of crossbred dairy cattle in Pakistan. A total of eighty-one crossbred, thirty-two HF and twenty-four Sahiwal cattle were genotyped, and additional SNP genotype data for HF and Sahiwal were collected from a public database to equate the sample size in each group. Within-breed selection signatures in crossbreds were investigated using the integrated haplotype score. Crossbreds were also compared to each of their parental breeds to discover between-population signatures of selection using two approaches: cross-population extended haplotype homozygosity and fixation index. We identified several overlapping genes associated with production, immunity, and adaptation traits, including U6, TMEM41B, B4GALT7, 5S_rRNA, RBM27, POU4F3, NSD1, PRELID1, RGS14, SLC34A1, TMED9, B4GALT7, OR2AK3, OR2T16, OR2T60, OR2L3, and CTNNA1. Our results suggest that regions responsible for milk traits have generally experienced stronger selective pressure than others.

Analysis of the interaction between the ORF42 and ORF55 proteins encoded by Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus.

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) causes Kaposi's sarcoma, primary effusion lymphoma, and multicentric Castleman disease. The tegument is a structure that is unique to herpesviruses that includes host and viral proteins, including the viral ORF42 and ORF55 proteins. Alphaherpesvirus tegument proteins have been well studied, but much is unknown regarding KSHV. Here, we report an interaction between the ORF42 and ORF55 proteins. ORF55 interacted with and recruited ORF42 from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. When ORF42 and ORF55 were expressed simultaneously in cultured cells, the expression level of these two viral proteins was higher than when either was expressed independently. ORF55, but not ORF42, was polyubiquitinated, suggesting that an unidentified regulatory mechanism may be present. A recombinant virus with an ectopic stop codon in ORF42 exhibited normal replication of genomic DNA, but fewer virus particles were released with the recombinant than with the wild-type virus. A unique R136Q mutation in ORF42, which is found in a KSHV strain that is prevalent on Miyako Island, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, further increased the expression of ORF42 and ORF55 when these proteins were expressed simultaneously. However, the ORF42 R136Q mutation did not affect the localization pattern of ORF42 itself or of ORF55. In addition, experiments with a recombinant virus possessing the ORF42 R136Q mutation showed lower levels of production of the mutant virus than of the wild-type virus, despite similar levels of genome replication. We suggest that the R136Q mutation in ORF42 plays an important role in ORF55 protein expression and virus production.

Fishing further inland? The role of the transition to agriculture on fishing practices in the Soconusco region, Mexico

In the Soconusco region of Mexico, the abundance of larger-bodied, carnivorous fish decreased relative to smaller-bodied, omnivorous/herbivorous fish between the terminal Late Archaic (4700–4000 BP [2700–2000 BCE]) and late Early Formative (3300–3200 BP [1300–1200 BCE]). The exact reason is unknown, occurring during a time of change when plant-based food production became a larger proportion of the diet and settlement patterns were shifting. Here, we address whether the same diversity of fish harvested during the terminal Late Archaic persisted into the Formative Period and if it reflects a change in where fish were being harvested. Using seven previously identified and published zooarchaeological assemblages dating to between the Middle Archaic and Middle Formative periods, we analyzed changes in diversity (NISP versus NTAXA, evenness, and richness) and habitat exploitation (nestedness and proportion of aquatic environment). We find differences in taxonomic diversity, changes in where fish were harvested along the coast, and the degree of exploitation intensity. Finally, we conclude the Chantuto society may have shifted their focus from marine to more freshwater species in conjunction with early low-level food production and agricultural production. We suggest the shift in focus during the late Early Formative and Middle Formative to estuarine–riverine environments may have occurred in conjunction with agricultural intensification.

Financing for the Strengthening of SMEs, a Study in Guasave, Sinaloa, Mexico

The access to financing for SMEs is limited, posing a barrier to their growth and development. The lack of financial resources hinders their competitiveness in a globalized scenario. Therefore, the objective of this research is to describe the financial environment of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the municipality of Guasave, Sinaloa, Mexico. The methodology involves a literature review and is contextualized based on the business environment of the region. The results reveal a lack of information and training for MSMEs to access financing. Additionally, credit institutions perceive risks in granting loans to companies with low production levels. Faced with this scenario of limited financial alternatives, the vulnerability of this productive sector in an increasingly globalized and demanding world is evident. Consequently, there is a need to reconsider financial policies, making access to various forms of leverage an achievable alternative for this universe of companies.

NanoRAPIDS as an analytical pipeline for the discovery of novel bioactive metabolites in complex culture extracts at the nanoscale.

Microbial natural products form the basis of most of the antibiotics used in the clinic. The vast majority has not yet been discovered, among others because the hidden chemical space is obscured by previously identified (and typically abundant) antibiotics in culture extracts. Efficient dereplication is therefore key to the discovery of our future medicines. Here we present an analytical platform for the efficient identification and prioritization of low abundance bioactive compounds at nanoliter scale, called nanoRAPIDS. NanoRAPIDS encompasses analytical scale separation and nanofractionation of natural extracts, followed by the bioassay of interest, automated mass spectrometry identification, and Global Natural Products Social molecular networking (GNPS) for dereplication. As little as 10 μL crude extract is fractionated into 384 fractions. First, bioactive congeners of iturins and surfactins were identified in Bacillus, based on their bioactivity. Subsequently, bioactive molecules were identified in an extensive network of angucyclines elicited by catechol in cultures of Streptomyces sp. This allowed the discovery of a highly unusual N-acetylcysteine conjugate of saquayamycin, despite low production levels in an otherwise abundant molecular family. These data underline the utility and broad application of the technology for the prioritization of minor bioactive compounds in complex extracts.

Labor market in rural areas of Akmola region of Kazakhstan: regional aspect

The goal is to identify the features and determine quantitative parameters of the regional labor market in the Akmola region. Methods – analytical and statistical industry information is systematized and summarized using economic-statistical, balance sheet and abstract-logical methods from open access sources and scientific literature. Results - the features were studied and characteristics of labor potential of the region were given, analysis of absolute and relative indicators characterizing the dynamics of region's population movement was carried out, which made it possible to identify the main trends in its change in recent years. Demographic factors affecting the formation of labor force are shown. The volumes of socio-demographic load were calculated. Conclusions - it has been established that proportion of village residents tends to decrease both in absolute value and in the structure of total number. The main criteria are population migration and decrease in its natural increase. The reduction in the number of economically active residents of rural areas is explained by negative balance of difference between people who have entered active age and those who have retired, as well as migration processes that have their own specifics. It is noted that the level of the region’s labor resources is directly related to demographic development of the given territory. The deterioration of the demographic situation has a negative impact on quantitative and qualitative dimensions characterizing the regional labor market. The youth segment remains rather unbalanced, the areas of employment of young specialists are closely related to low levels of income and labor productivity, the persistent gap between professional orientation of youth and the labor needs of enterprises becomes one of the barriers to the employment of young people.

THE INFLUENCE OF REWARD, PUNISHMENT AND MOTIVATION ON EMPLOYEE WORK PRODUCTIVITY AT PT TANI SEJATI MANDIRI MALANG

One of the aspects that is important for a corporate organization is employee work productivity. Corporate performance is assessed as good with a high level of productivity, and vice versa if it is assessed as poor with a low level of productivity. Some of the main efforts to achieve optimal work productivity include training and motivation. The aim of this research is to determine the effect of reward, punishment, and motivation on employee work productivity. This is quantitative research with an explanatory (cause-and-effect) approach. The population in this study were all 34 employees of PT Tani Sejati Mandiri Malang. Sampling in this study used a saturated sampling technique. The analytical method used is multiple linear regression with SPSS 26 software. From the overall hypothesis, it shows that reward partially influences employee work productivity, punishment partially influences employee work productivity, and motivation does not partially influence employee work productivity. Reward, punishment, and motivation have a simultaneous influence on employee work productivity. It can be concluded that reward, punishment, and motivation have a significant effect on employee work productivity at PT Tani Sejati Mandiri Malang. An increase in employee work productivity can have an impact on business progress. Keyword : Reward, Punishment, Motivation, Employee Productivity, Multiple Linear Regressi

Optimization of the fermentative production of L-methionine by engineered Escherichia coli

As the only essential amino acid containing elemental sulphur, L-methionine has important physiological and biochemical functions in living organisms. However, the fermentative production of L-methionine has not met the requirements of industrial production because of its low production level. In this paper, the fermentation process of an efficient L-methionine producing strain E. coli W3110ΔIJAHFEBC trc-fliY trc-malY/PAM glyA-22 metF constructed previously was systematically optimized. Based on the optimal initial glucose concentration, the effects of different fed-batch fermentation processes, including DO-Stat, pH-Stat, controlling residual sugar control at different level and feeding glucose with constant rate, on L-methionine fermentation were studied. It was found that the control of glucose concentration greatly affected the fermentation process. Subsequently, an optimal fed-batch fermentation process was developed, where the L-methionine titer was increased to 31.71 g/L, the highest yield reported to date, while the fermentation time was shortened to 68 h. Meanwhile, a fermentation kinetics model under the optimal fed-batch fermentation conditions was established, which fitted well with the biosynthesis process of L-methionine. This study may facilitate further development of the fermentative production of L-methionine.

A Study of the Economic Productivity of Several Countries Using a Modified Cobb-Douglas Function

The study analyzes the dynamics of economic productivity in 44 countries using a modified Cobb-Douglas production function. Aside from continuous variables such as labor, capital and energy, this model also accommodates non-continuous variables in order to provide a more accurate representation of the economic relationships. The findings reveal some rather intriguing results regarding the returns to scale and the influence of government and natural disasters on economic output. Negative returns to scale in certain countries can be attributed to factors such as declining working hours and unemployment. The 'Government' variable, despite revealing positive coefficients for most of the countries analyzed, is still nuanced in nature and requires more contextual understanding. The 'Natural Disaster' variable, meanwhile, reveals both negative and positive coefficients, thus challenging conventional wisdom and posing questions about the resilience and adaptability of economic systems in the face of adversity. The study recommends tailored policy interventions, calling for greater specialization and resource allocation in countries with lower productivity levels and sustained innovation in countries with higher productivity levels.

Landfill intermediate cover soil microbiomes and their potential for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions revealed through metagenomics

Landfills are a major source of anthropogenic methane emissions and have been found to produce nitrous oxide, an even more potent greenhouse gas than methane. Intermediate cover soil (ICS) plays a key role in reducing methane emissions but may also result in nitrous oxide production. To assess the potential for microbial methane oxidation and nitrous oxide production, long sequencing reads were generated from ICS microbiome DNA and reads were functionally annotated for 24 samples across ICS at a large landfill in New York. Further, incubation experiments were performed to assess methane consumption and nitrous oxide production with varying amounts of ammonia supplemented. Methane was readily consumed by microbes in the composite ICS and all incubations with methane produced small amounts of nitrous oxide even when ammonia was not supplemented. Incubations without methane produced significantly less nitrous oxide than those incubated with methane. In incubations with methane added, the observed specific rate of methane consumption was 0.776 +/− 0.055 μg CH4 g dry weight (DW) soil−1 h−1 and the specific rate of nitrous oxide production was 3.64 × 10−5 +/− 1.30 × 10−5 μg N2O g DW soil−1 h−1. The methanotrophs Methylobacter and an unclassified genus within the family Methlyococcaceae were present in the original ICS samples and the incubation samples, and their abundance increased during incubations with methane. Genes encoding particulate methane monooxygenase/ ammonia monooxygenase (pMMO) were much more abundant than genes encoding soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO) across the landfill ICS. Genes encoding proteins that convert hydroxylamine to nitrous oxide were not highly abundant in the ICS or incubation metagenomes. In total, these results suggest that although ammonia oxidation via methanotrophs may result in low levels of nitrous oxide production, ICS microbial communities have the potential to greatly reduce the overall global warming potential of landfill emissions.