Low-level Production Research Articles

Technology adoption, innovation policy and catching-up.

A model is proposed where economic growth is driven by innovation alongside the diffusion and adoption of technology from the frontier. Innovation investments are related to households savings, which generates multiple equilibria with low and high levels of innovation and productivity. Low-level equilibria are unstable. Starting from a position with low levels of investment and innovation, increasing investments are associated with high but decreasing dependence on international technology diffusion. A major objective of policy-making is to increase investment sufficiently in the lower end to reach the high-level steady state. An economic rationale is provided for the existence of productivity improving equilibria, where distance to the frontier is reduced based on a tax and subsidy mechanism designed to boost innovation and speed up catching-up.

Realization of the fiscal and regulatory potential of the corporate income tax

The subject of the study is the fiscal and regulatory possibilities of corporate income tax, its structural elements and their impact on the economic activity of business entities. The purpose of the study is to identify possible ways to expand the use of the fiscal and regulatory potential of corporate income tax as an important tool for stimulating economic activity. The paper provides an assessment of the level of corporate income tax revenues to the budget system of the Russian Federation, analyzes the factors constraining the realization of its fiscal potential. Special attention is paid to the analysis of corporate income tax revenues based on the materials of one of the subjects of the Russian Federation with a low level of production and investment potential – the Republic of Dagestan. The conclusion is argued that despite the excess of the growth rate of income tax to the budget over the overall growth of tax revenues, the potential for increasing budget revenues due to an increase in the tax burden has been exhausted. Considerable attention is paid to the instruments for stimulating investment activity provided for by the current tax legislation on corporate income tax. The need to achieve the set research goal led to the expediency of using a set of different methods and techniques: the transition from the general to the particular, logical inference, observation, generalization, systematization, comparison, factor analysis, synthesis, a systematic approach. The research is based on official analytical data from the Federal Statistics Service of the Russian Federation, the Federal Tax Service of Russia, as well as the Office of the Federal Tax Service of Russia for the Republic of Dagestan. The scientific novelty of the study is to develop a set of recommendations aimed at realizing the fiscal and regulatory potential of income tax in the context of stimulating investment activity of organizations and reducing tax risks. The conclusion is substantiated that it is necessary to achieve an increase in corporate income tax revenues not by increasing the fiscal burden, but by fully realizing its regulatory potential as a tool to stimulate economic activity. Recommendations are formulated aimed at improving the investment tax deduction for corporate income tax as a tool to stimulate the acceleration of the renewal of worn-out fixed assets. It is noted that strategically important internal reserves for increasing income tax revenues can be both the growth of the tax base due to the intensification of economic activity of the subjects of the Russian Federation, and comprehensive solutions aimed at reducing tax risks.

Spatial-Temporal Mapping Reveals the Golgi as the Major Processing Site for the Pathogenic Swedish APP Mutation: Familial APP Mutant Shifts the Major APP Processing Site.

Alzheimer's disease is associated with increased levels of amyloid beta (Aβ) generated by sequential intracellular cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP) by membrane-bound secretases. However, the spatial and temporal APP cleavage events along the trafficking pathways are poorly defined. Here, we use the Retention Using Selective Hooks (RUSH) to compare in real time the anterograde trafficking and temporal cleavage events of wild-type APP (APPwt) with the pathogenic Swedish APP (APPswe) and the disease-protective Icelandic APP (APPice). The analyses revealed differences in the trafficking profiles and processing between APPwt and the APP familial mutations. While APPwt was predominantly processed by the β-secretase, BACE1, following Golgi transport to the early endosomes, the transit of APPswe through the Golgi was prolonged and associated with enhanced amyloidogenic APP processing and Aβ secretion. A 20°C block in cargo exit from the Golgi confirmed β- and γ-secretase processing of APPswe in the Golgi. Inhibition of the β-secretase, BACE1, restored APPswe anterograde trafficking profile to that of APPwt. APPice was transported rapidly through the Golgi to the early endosomes with low levels of Aβ production. This study has revealed different intracellular locations for the preferential cleavage of APPwt and APPswe and Aβ production, and the Golgi as the major processing site for APPswe, findings relevant to understand the molecular basis of Alzheimer's disease.

Metabolic engineering of Streptomyces peucetius for biosynthesis of N,N-dimethylated anthracyclines.

Introduction: Daunorubicin and doxorubicin, two anthracycline polyketides produced by S. peucetius, are potent anticancer agents that are widely used in chemotherapy, despite severe side effects. Recent advances have highlighted the potential of producing improved derivatives with reduced side effects by incorporating l-rhodosamine, the N,N-dimethyl analogue of the native amino sugar moiety. Method: In this study, we aimed to produce N,N-dimethylated anthracyclines by engineering the doxorubicin biosynthetic pathway in the industrial Streptomyces peucetius strain G001. To achieve this, we introduced genes from the aclarubicin biosynthetic pathway encoding the sugar N-methyltransferases AclP and AknX2. Furthermore, the native gene for glycosyltransferase DnrS was replaced with genes encoding the aclarubicin glycosyltransferases AknS and AknT. Additionally, the gene for methylesterase RdmC from the rhodomycin biosynthetic pathway was introduced. Results: A new host was engineered successfully, whereby genes from the aclarubicin pathway were introduced and expressed. LC-MS/MS analysis of the engineered strains showed that dimethylated sugars were efficiently produced, and that these were incorporated ino the anthracycline biosynthetic pathway to produce the novel dimethylated anthracycline N,N-dimethyldaunorubicin. Further downstream tailoring steps catalysed by the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase DoxA exhibited limited efficacy with N,N-dimethylated substrates. This resulted in only low production levels of N,N-dimethyldaunorubicin and no N,N-dimethyldoxorubicin, most likely due to the low affinity of DoxA for dimethylated substrates. Discussion: S. peucetius G001 was engineered such as to produce N,N-dimethylated sugars, which were incorporated into the biosynthetic pathway. This allowed the successful production of N,N-dimethyldaunorubicin, an anticancer drug with reduced cytotoxicity. DoxA is the key enzyme that determines the efficiency of the biosynthesis of N,N-dimethylated anthracyclines, and engineering of this enzyme will be a major step forwards towards the efficient production of more N,N-dimethylated anthracyclines, including N,N-dimethyldoxorubicin. This study provides valuable insights into the biosynthesis of clinically relevant daunorubicin derivatives, highlighting the importance of combinatorial biosynthesis.

Ectoine hyperproduction by engineered Halomonas bluephagenesis

Ectoine, a crucial osmoprotectant for salt adaptation in halophiles, has gained growing interest in cosmetics and medical industries. However, its production remains challenged by stringent fermentation process in model microorganisms and low production level in its native producers. Here, we systematically engineered the native ectoine producer Halomonas bluephagenesis for ectoine production by overexpressing ectABC operon, increasing precursors availability, enhancing product transport system and optimizing its growth medium. The final engineered H. bluephagenesis produced 85 g/L ectoine in 52 h under open unsterile incubation in a 7 L bioreactor in the absence of plasmid, antibiotic or inducer. Furthermore, it was successfully demonstrated the feasibility of decoupling salt concentration with ectoine synthesis and co-production with bioplastic P(3HB-co-4HB) by the engineered H. bluephagenesis. The unsterile fermentation process and significantly increased ectoine titer indicate that H. bluephagenesis as the chassis of Next-Generation Industrial Biotechnology (NGIB), is promising for the biomanufacturing of not only intracellular bioplastic PHA but also small molecular compound such as ectoine.

Universities Participate in the Study of Environmental Protection Ideology in Ecologically Fragile Areas

After nearly 30 years after the reform and opening up the rapid development of economy, China also had a “industrial pollution” and “poverty”, mainly because of the low level of productivity, population pressure overload caused by environmental degradation, and between population pressure and environmental degradation A vicious cycle, is essentially a syndrome caused by poverty. We've been paying a lot of attention to the former for a long time At present, the environmental awareness education in colleges and universities has made great progress compared with the past. College students basically have certain environmental knowledge and awareness, and have high enthusiasm for environmental protection and environmental protection cause, and pay great attention to it. However, when problems arise or involve their own interests, their environmental awareness and behavior lag significantly. In this paper, system dynamics, neural network model and computer simulation are used to study environmental protection in ecologically fragile areas.

Linking climate stressors to ecological processes in ecosystem models, with a case study from the Gulf of Alaska

Abstract As climate stressors are impacting marine ecosystems and fisheries across the world, ecosystem models that incorporate environmental variables are increasingly used to inform ecosystem-based fisheries management. The assumptions around the mechanistic links between climate stressors and the biological processes in these models are important, but the implications for model outcomes of which stressors are captured and how they affect modeled biological processes are seldom explored. Using a whole-ecosystem model (Atlantis) for the Gulf of Alaska, we explore the effects of capturing physical (increased temperature) and biogeochemical (decreased low trophic level productivity) climate stressors, and disentangle the effects of each stressor on the productivity of forage fish, groundfish, and fish-eating seabirds. We then test the effects of alternative model specifications of temperature-driven habitat determination and bioenergetics. Increased temperature resulted in increased weight-at-age and higher natural mortality, while decreased productivity resulted in decreased weight-at-age and higher natural mortality. Model specification of temperature dependence of movement and spawning influenced model outcomes, and decoupling these processes from temperature led to overly optimistic biomass predictions. As the use of ecosystem models to inform fisheries management becomes more operational, we illustrate that the assumptions around the links between climate stressors and ecological processes influence model outcomes.

Digital economy, resource distortion and low-carbon inclusive development-Evidence from the perspectives of a threshold effect and knowledge spillover effect.

The low-carbon economy represents a global transformation that encompasses production methods, lifestyles, values, national interests, and the destiny of humanity. As a significant contributor to carbon emissions, China has made a momentous strategic decision on carbon peaking and neutralization, infusing momentum into the global effort to address climate change. The rapid growth of the digital economy offers a fresh approach to achieving the "double carbon" objective and advancing the development of low-carbon transformation. Based on the panel data of 30 provinces in China, this paper uses the least square method to investigate the impact of digital economy development on regional low-carbon inclusive development. It is found that there is a significant inverted U shape in the impact of the digital economy on low-carbon inclusive development and the mechanism is resource allocation and ecological inequality. The threshold test found that the role of the digital economy in promoting low-carbon inclusive development shows a marginal decreasing trend. The inverted U-shaped impact of the digital economy on low-carbon inclusive development in the eastern and coastal areas and areas with a low level of factor productivity is more significant. Based on the knowledge factor spillover perspective, we found that the impact of the digital economy on low-carbon inclusive development has a spatial spillover effect, and this effect is more obvious under the role of R&D personnel mobility.

Encouragement of Academic Advancement Leadership Practice and Productivity of Lecturers in Public Universities in Delta and Edo States, Nigeria

This study explores the relationship between the encouragement of academic advancement and the productivity of academics in universities. Academic advancement plays a pivotal role in the professional development of educators, encompassing aspects such as career progression, research output, and scholarly contributions. Productivity, on the other hand, is crucial for the attainment of individual and institutional goals, including knowledge generation, student engagement, and academic excellence. Understanding the relationship between these two aspects is vital for fostering a supportive and conducive environment for academic growth and institutional success. Two questions and a hypothesis were raised to guide the study. The result from the analysis showed that there was a moderate level of encouragement of academic advancement leadership practice exhibited in public universities in Delta and Edo States and the academics showed a low level of productivity in research. Generally, the result showed that there was a positive but no significant relationship between the Encouragement of academic advancement leadership practice and productivity in public universities in Delta and Edo States, Nigeria.

Berseem Clover (Trifolium Alexandrinum L.) Seed Yield and Seed Quality Response to Irrigation Frequency and Foliar Spray of Plant Bio-Regulators

The primary challenges in Berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) seed production in Nepal are low productivity levels and substandard quality indicators. To address this issue, the experiments were conducted at the Regional Agricultural Research Station, Khajura, Banke, Nepal, and replicated in farmers' fields using a Randomized Complete Block Design from November 2018 to June 2019. Four irrigation schemes and three levels of foliar sprays of plant bio-regulators were used. The experiment result revealed that three and four irrigations were most suitable for achieving higher seed yield (p<0.05), resulting in 0.99 and 0.93 t ha-1 at on-station and 0.87 and 0.85 t ha-1 at on-farm, respectively. Similarly, two and three sprays of plant bio-regulators yielded better (p<0.05) seed yields of 0.89 and 0.94 t ha-1 at on-station and 0.79 and 0.85 t ha-1 at on-farm, respectively, without significant alteration on days taken to seed maturity and biological yield. The interactions between the levels of irrigation and plant bio-regulators spray were non-significant (p>0.05) for seed yield and biological yield. The experiments demonstrated that three irrigations @ 666.67 kiloliters of water ha-1 at 15-day intervals after one cut at 60 days after sowing, and three foliar sprays of plant bio-regulators (P2O5 @ 2 kg ha-1 + KNO3 @ 4 kg ha-1) at 7-day intervals in the pre-flowering stage, significantly enhanced the seed yield and quality of Berseem clover. SAARC J. Agric., 21(2): 131-143 (2023)

Hyper-Production of Pullulan by a Novel Fungus of Aureobasidium melanogenum ZH27 through Batch Fermentation.

Pullulan, which is a microbial exopolysaccharide, has found widespread applications in foods, biomedicines, and cosmetics. Despite its versatility, most wild-type strains tend to yield low levels of pullulan production, and their mutants present genetic instability, achieving a limited increase in pullulan production. Therefore, mining new wild strains with robust pullulan-producing abilities remains an urgent concern. In this study, we found a novel strain, namely, Aureobasidium melanogenum ZH27, that had a remarkable pullulan-producing capacity and optimized its cultivation conditions using the one-factor-at-a-time method. To elucidate the reasons that drove the hyper-production of pullulan, we scrutinized changes in cell morphology and gene expressions. The results reveal that strain ZH27 achieved 115.4 ± 1.82 g/L pullulan with a productivity of 0.87 g/L/h during batch fermentation within 132 h under the optimized condition (OC). This pullulan titer increased by 105% compared with the initial condition (IC). Intriguingly, under the OC, swollen cells featuring 1-2 large vacuoles predominated during a rapid pullulan accumulation, while these swollen cells with one large vacuole and several smaller ones were prevalent under the IC. Moreover, the expressions of genes associated with pullulan accumulation and by-product synthesis were almost all upregulated. These findings suggest that swollen cells and large vacuoles may play pivotal roles in the high level of pullulan production, and the accumulation of by-products also potentially contributes to pullulan synthesis. This study provides a novel and promising candidate for industrial pullulan production.

Growth and Instability Analysis of Sugar Exports from India

Aims: To work out growth trends and instability in export of sugar and jaggery from India
 Place and Duration of Study: Department of Agricultural Economics, Junagadh Agricultural University (between June 2018 and July 2020).
 Methodology: The present study focused on analyzing the growth and instability in sugar and jaggery export quantity, value and unit value as well for the period from 1996-97 to 2005-06. Exponential growth model and Cuddy-Della index used for growth and instability analysis, respectively.
 Results: study results indicate a notable annual growth rate in sugar export from India, specifically at 17.42, 23.44 and 5.13 per cent for quantity, value and unit value, respectively during the time span from1996-97 to 2018-19. Similarly, jaggery export also followed a comparable trend However, the export of both sugar and jaggery exhibited high volatility, attributed to low production levels during years of scarcity.
 Conclusion: The potential for expanding sugar and jaggery exports is considerable, contingent upon enhancing quality to meet the specific requirements of importing nations. Jaggery, renowned for its nutritional value, warrants increased domestic consumption, thereby contributing to the augmentation of sugarcane farm income.

Metal-Organic Frameworks Based Autonomous Water Harvesting & Sustainable Energy Generation from Ambient Air

Recently, hydro-electric nanotechnology is touted as promising next-generation renewable energy because it can employ environmentally friendly sources for producing electricity. However, conventional hydro-electric nanotechnology is hampered by limitations, such as artificial induction of water stream and a low production level of energy. In this work, we developed an autonomous water harvesting & sustainable electrical energy generation system that overcomes the limitations of conventional renewable energy. Autonomous water harvesting & sustainable electrical energy generation system was successfully achieved with two distinctive metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), that are, an amine-functionalized Zr-based MOF (UiO-66-NH2) particles for atmospheric water harvesting, and a highly conductive Ni3(HITP)2 (HITP = 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexaiminotriphenylene) MOF-grown cotton-fabric for producing electrical energy. The environmentally responsive UiO-66-NH2 harvests water from airborne air and the condensed water spontaneously produces electrical potential between wet- and dry-Ni3(HITP)2, resulting in electrical energy generation with a maximum power and energy densities of 2.6 μW cm-3 and 1.1 mJ cm-3, respectively. Our integrated water harvesting and energy generation systems can pave the way for realizing a hydro-electric nanogenerator as a next-generation energy harvesting system. Figure 1

Identification of maturation-inducing steroid in sturgeons via comprehensive analyses of steroids produced during oocyte maturation

Although 17α, 20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (DHP) and 17α, 20β, 21-trihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (20β-S) have been identified as maturation-inducing steroids (MIS) in several teleosts, to date, no MISs have been identified in sturgeons. As it remains possible that an unidentified steroid is an MIS in sturgeons, this study aimed to identify a sturgeon MIS via comprehensive analyses and maturation-inducing (MI) assay of C21 steroids. In vivo and in vitro comprehensive analyses of C21 steroids revealed that serum DHP concentrations were rapidly elevated in the oocyte maturation phase and the DHP production level was notably high among C21 steroids. MI assay indicated that the MI activity of DHP, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP), a precursor of DHP, 17α, 20α-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (αDHP), and 20β-S was high among C21 steroids, but the MI activity of these steroids were similar. In the C21 steroids produced in ovarian follicles during oocyte maturation, 17OHP, αDHP, and unidentified compounds had a low production level, and 20β-S was suggested to be metabolized from DHP after oocyte maturation. Against this background, this study concluded that DHP is a steroid that possesses strong MI activity and is highly produced during oocyte maturation. Although this study could not identify an MIS in sturgeons by fractionation of plasma and subsequent bio assay, it was suggested that DHP is a major MIS in sturgeons.

Industrial intelligent production and firm ESG Performance

ABSTRACT This study confirms the positive impact of industrial intelligence on corporate ESG performance with the data of Chinese manufacturing listed companies from 2010 to 2019. This positive effect is manifested through green technology innovation and internal controls, and it is particularly pronounced in heavy-polluting industries, high-tech sectors, and enterprises with lower productivity levels.

Pelatihan Umkm Pada Desa Sumber Rejo, Kabupaten Semarang, Jawa Tengah

This training discusses human resource management (HR) in the digital era and efforts to increase the productivity of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This training involves analyzing the competencies required by human resources professionals and their role in designing effective strategies and policies for HR management in organizations. Apart from that, this training also highlights the challenges faced by SMEs, especially in terms of low levels of productivity, added value and product quality. The training results show that human resources professionals need to master strategic competencies which include an understanding of organizational values, talent management, leadership, and the use of digital technology. Apart from that, it is also important for them to be able to position the business strategically, build relationships based on trust, and manage various pressures in the business. This training provides valuable insight for human resources professionals and SME stakeholders in understanding the importance of HR management in the digital era and increasing SME productivity. Implementing effective strategies in managing human resources and increasing productivity will help achieve the goals of sustainable SME development and a more significant contribution to the national economy.

PGPR Preparation Training to Improve Cassava Production for KOPASAMU Farmers in Kalasan

Cassava farmers grouped in Koperasi Sejahtera Muhammadiyah (KOPASAMU) in Kalasan often faced challenges of low production level of cassava (5 - 10 tonnes/ha) due to lack of growth and unhealthy conditions as a result of plant pest disturbance. Previous studies have demonstrated that such problem may be alleviated by the application of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR). PGPR is a consortium of bacteria-producing plant growth hormones that improve cassava plant health and increases production. In addition to the use of PGPR, plant productivity may also be improved by using organic fertiliser, inoculated with mycorrhiza, stem wounding, and foliar fertiliser spray. The purpose of this community service was to improve farmers’ understanding and skills in applying PGPR to increase cassava production. The activities of the services were: (1) extension training on PGPR, (2) training on PGPR preparation, and (3) mentoring in the application of PGPR in cassava production demonstration plots (demplot). The results of the community services demonstrated that the extension programme has increased farmers’ understanding of PGPR by 100%, also resulting in an increase in farmers’ spirit and passion for applying PGPR. Following the extension programme, it was observed that the farmers’ skills have improved by 100%. However, among the farmers who were involved in the extension programme, 54.55% stated that they already mastered the PGPR preparation, while the other 45.45% stated that they required further training to improve their skills.

Pengaruh Religiusitas, Pengetahuan Zakat dan Pendapatan Terhadap Kesadaran Berzakat Perkebunan Sawit

This research is motivated by the large potential of oil palm plantations which is not in line with the community in paying zakat on oil palm plantations which is still low. The purpose of this study was to determine and analyze how the partial influence of religiosity, zakat knowledge and income on awareness of zakat on oil palm plantations in Bantan District. This research uses a quantitative approach with the help of SPSS 26.0. The results showed that partially religiosity and zakat knowledge had a positive and significant effect on zakat awareness of oil palm plantations in Bantan District while income had no effect on zakat awareness. This is due to the low income level of oil palm farmers. This is because most of the respondents' income cannot be categorized as large. This can be seen from the amount of palm oil productivity which is still low. Most oil palm farmers have land under 1 hectare and with a low level of productivity. So that the income they get is only able to meet the daily needs of their families.

The productivity effects of polycentricity: A systematic analysis of urban regions in Europe

AbstractWe focus on the extent to which polycentric urban regions can substitute for the agglomeration economies provided by large cities. Building on an open‐source software tool that helps identifying polycentric developments in urban regions, we analyse the spatial structure (in terms of size, dispersion and polycentricity) of 94 regions across 34 European countries and link this to their level of total factor productivity. We find that both more polycentric regions and more dispersed regions are associated with lower productivity levels.

Livestock Practices: Traditional Animal Holdings Classification in Qatar 2020 Towards Sustainable Food Security

Background: Traditional animal holdings (TAH) in Qatar face many managerial challenges, such as inadequate usage of land capacity, low levels of animal productivity and low economic returns. The top priority of the Ministry of Municipality strategy is to take care of TAH to ensure the sustainability of this activity and to maximize its role in national food security. To support future policy choices and services provision, the ministry initiated a TAH classification system. In 2020, the Social and Economic Survey Research Institute (SESRI) of Qatar University conducted a comprehensive agriculture census that followed a well-known methodology. The census form consisted of questions that guided the classification of TAH. The aim of this study is to help assess TAH performance using data from the census. Results: The Animals Holdings Classification Index (AHCI) divided the current holdings into one of five categories (A, B, C, D or E) in accordance with seven factors as classification criteria. These factors were levels of land and barn capacity utilization, livestock productivity, economic return, biosecurity measures, husbandry system and usage of technology for animal production. The results showed that most of the holdings fell into categories C and D. The lowest-scoring criteria were commitment to biosecurity measures and economic benefit. We recommended intensifying extension and enacting legislation to organize holdings to comply with biosecurity measures and initiating marketing programs and market outlets for TAH. According to Qatar’s 2021 agriculture census, there are three different types of holdings: roving holdings (mobile), 33.6%; holdings in compounds, 57.6; and holdings outside rural houses, 8.8%. Conclusions: The AHCI not only determines a holding’s actual productivity capability but also encourages holders to develop and upgrade their holdings. Furthermore, it helps the government fill gaps and provide services based on information and evidence.