Size Categories Research Articles

Investigating hailstorm updrafts and nowcasting hail size using a novel radar-based updraft detection

Abstract Nowcasting hail size poses a major challenge in operational practice due to physical limitations of weather radar technology once hailstones are sufficiently large to enter the resonance scattering regime. Numerous radar-based hail size proxies have been derived in recent decades, but their performance is generally poor in identifying giant hail (≥ 10 cm). Using a novel thunderstorm updraft detection method, we examine the updraft characteristics of hailstorms in the U.S. Great Plains based on a NEXRAD dataset of 114 hail events between 2013 and 2023. We find that some radar-derived variables within the detected updraft are well suited for discriminating between small (1.0 - 3.0 cm) and severe (≥ 3.5 cm) hail, e.g. minimum co-polar cross-correlation coefficient in the mid-level updraft, whereas other radar metrics such as the area of reflectivity > 50 dBZ in the upper portion of the updraft suggest the presence of giant hail. However, the statistical distributions of each variable overlap for different hail sizes and there is no single metric which performs well across the entire hail size spectrum. Therefore, we trained a Random Forest model to nowcast hail size categories using a multitude of these radar metrics. The model shows promising performance for discriminating hail sizes > 5 cm but requires further refinement for smaller hail. We showcase the model’s capabilities for a set of hailstorms in the Great Plains.

The Correlation between the Weight of Ovary, Number of Follicles, and Quality of Oocytes of Culling Female Bovine in Slaughterhouse

The purpose of this research was to determine the correlation between the weight of the ovary, the number of follicles, and the quality of the oocytes from the culling female bovine obtained from the slaughterhouse. The variation may affect the potential of the ovary to produce follicles. Paired ovaries were obtained from female bovines. Follicle numbers were recorded and divided into three size categories (small: 3 mm, medium: < 3 mm-8 mm, and large: > 8 mm). Oocytes were aspirated and the number of oocytes was recorded and graded into four categories (grades A, B, C, and D). There was a positive correlation between the weight of the ovary and the number of follicles, which is 0.560 with the regression equation y = 3.52 + 0.501 x. There was a positive correlation between the number of follicles and the number of oocytes, which is 0.546 with the regression equation y =2.48 + 1.204 x. There was a positive correlation between the number of oocytes and the grade of oocytes, which is 0.520, with the regression equation y = 0.93 + 0.800 x. There was no correlation between the weight of the ovary and oocyte grade A, which is 0.013.

Quantifying the importance of ontogeny and prey type in modeling top-down and bottom-up effects of an ectothermic predator

Dietary decisions by predators can affect prey abundance and overall food web dynamics. Many predators do not forage on the same prey at the same frequency throughout their lives. Ontogenetic shifts in prey preference are not, however, often accounted for when modeling food web relationships, despite growing literature that suggests that stage specific dietary relationships may be an important consideration when modeling trophic interactions. We investigated the importance of considering size-structure of a predator population with ontogenetic diet shifts in evaluating relationships with prey response using a manipulative experiment with the brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis) in Guam. After removing ~ 40% of the snake population via toxic mammal carrion, we measured the strength of the relationship between snake density and the response of two types of prey (lizards and mammals). We evaluated these relationships based on total population size or division of the population into stage specific size categories based on diet preference predictions. We hypothesized that the density of juvenile snakes would correlate more strongly with lizard detections, while adult snakes would better correlate to rodent detections. We also measured reproductive output following changes in rates of prey detection. As expected by known ontogenetic shifts in dietary preference, explicit stage-based models better predicted shifts in rates of observed prey items than did total predator density for both lizards and mammals. Additionally, rodent detections were predictive of one reproductive pulse from snakes, while lizard detections were not predictive or correlated. Our findings support that consideration of predatory species stage-based dietary preference can be meaningful for understanding food web dynamics, particularly when a predator has a broad diet or one that changes through time.

Classification of different size of potholes based on surface area using convolutional neural network

Potholes are a significant hazard, causing severe damage to vehicles and potentially leading to fatal accidents. The automatic detection of potholes is crucial for timely maintenance and reducing these risks. This research evaluates the performance of three pre-trained Convolutional Neural Network models—ResNet 50, ResNet 18, and MobileNet—in classifying pavement images. Initially, the models distinguish between images containing potholes and those without (Potholes vs. Normal). Subsequently, they categorize pavement images into three classes: Small Pothole, Large Pothole, and Normal. Pavement images were captured from two different heights: 3.5 feet (waist height) and 2 feet. Among the models, MobileNet v2 demonstrated the highest accuracy of 98% for detecting potholes. For images taken at 2 feet, the classification accuracies for large potholes, small potholes, and normal pavement were 87.33%, 88.67%, and 92%, respectively. For images taken from waist height, the accuracies increased to 98.67%, 98.67%, and 100%, respectively. The study highlights the potential of these models in enhancing road safety through reliable and automated pothole detection, providing valuable insights for infrastructure maintenance.Article HighlightsPotholes are dangerous and can cause serious vehicle damage.Train CNN models for the classification of potholesThese CNNs, for different sizes of potholes can be used for the rehabilitation of potholes.Among all CNN modes, MobileNet v2 achieves 98% accuracy in detecting the presence of a pothole.

Update on antithrombotic therapy and body mass: a clinical consensus statement of the European Society of Cardiology Working Group on Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy and the European Society of Cardiology Working Group on Thrombosis.

Obesity and underweight are a growing health problem worldwide and a challenge for clinicians concerning antithrombotic therapy, due to the associated risks of thrombosis and/or bleeding. This clinical consensus statement updates a previous one published in 2018, by reviewing the most recent evidence on antithrombotic drugs based on body size categories according to the World Health Organization classification. The document focuses mostly on individuals at the extremes of body weight, i.e. underweight and moderate-to-morbid obesity, who require antithrombotic drugs, according to current guidelines, for the treatment or prevention of cardiovascular diseases or venous thromboembolism. Managing antithrombotic therapy or thromboprophylaxis in these individuals is challenging, due to profound changes in body composition, metabolism and organ function, and altered drug pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, as well as weak or no evidence from clinical trials. The document also includes artificial intelligence simulations derived from in silico pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic models, which can mimic the pharmacokinetic changes and help identify optimal regimens of antithrombotic drugs for severely underweight or severely obese individuals. Further, bariatric surgery in morbidly obese subjects is frequently performed worldwide. Bariatric surgery causes specific and additional changes in metabolism and gastrointestinal anatomy, depending on the type of the procedure, which can also impact the pharmacokinetics of antithrombotic drugs and their management. Based on existing literature, the document provides consensus statements on optimizing antithrombotic drug management for underweight and all classes of obese patients, while highlighting the current gaps in knowledge in these complex clinical settings, which require personalized medicine and precision pharmacology.

Perforated Peptic Ulcer in Lagos. Risk Factors and Management Outcome

Abstract Background: Complications of peptic ulcers, such as bleeding, gastric outlet obstruction, and perforation, can be life-threatening and may require surgical intervention. Perforated peptic ulcer (PPU) presents mostly as a surgical emergency and is one of the leading causes of secondary peritonitis with significant morbidity and mortality. The clinical outcome of surgical treatment of peptic ulcers varies due to the varying patterns of presentations and interventions between countries. There are few documented series on PPU in Nigeria. This paper reviews the management outcome of PPU in our institution. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of the available medical records of patients managed for PPU between February 2008 and February 2023 was conducted. All patients had a single anterior peptic ulcer perforation managed by a modified Graham’s patch. Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS for Windows, Version 23 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Results: There were 107 PPU patients comprising 93 males and 14 females. The mean age of all patients was 41 years. The peak prevalence of PPU was found among patients aged 30–39 years. Delayed presentation was recorded in about half of the patients. Ingestion of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) was the most common risk factor for PPU. Among the 93 documented cases, perforated gastric ulcers (71 cases) were found in a much higher proportion than duodenal ulcers (22 cases). Large ulcer (10–30 mm) was the main perforation size category found in 47 out of 83 recorded PPU cases. PPU size was not associated with the incidence of complications or mortality. The median duration of hospital stays was 13 (1–19) days. Surgical site infection was the most common complication after surgery. Conclusion: PPU is present in our predominantly male patients in their fourth decade of life. Ingestion of NSAIDs is a major risk factor. Duodenal ulcers were the predominant type seen in our patients. Documented perforated ulcer sizes in our patients are predominantly in the large category. Surgical site infection, systemic sepsis, and superficial wound infection were major complications in our patients.

Application of text mining in analysing notes to financial statements: A Hungarian case

Company stakeholders must have reliable and accurate information about the companies falling into their sphere of interest. In Hungary, one of the key sources of information for company stakeholders is the financial statements and related explanations, which are included in the notes of the financial statements (notes). This study used text mining to analyse the Hungarian annual financial statements notes for 2017, 2019 and 2021. The selection of the notes was based on the proportions of each sector in the national economy. The research analysed 28,700 company notes annually, totalling 86,100 documents for the three years. The text mining and generation of the Term Frequency Matrix have performed 'quanteda' packages of the R statistical system, which incorporate the results of artificial intelligence research to enhance the efficiency of text mining. Based on the results, the contents of the notes to the financial statements appear to be a rather mixed picture in Hungary. Analysing the term frequency matrix for the 67 most common terms has revealed no significant difference between the years. However, considerable differences have been caused by size categories and sectors. The notes are statistically significant using Jaccard similarity analysis, considering the year, corporate size, and sector.

A Taxonomy of Knowledge Management Systems in the Micro-Enterprise

Knowledge Management Systems enhance innovation, increase operational efficiency, and improve decision-making in business organisations. The administrative and resource overheads required to implement and maintain such systems inherently exclude the smallest of firms from reaping these benefits. This research aims to identify, evaluate, and summarize the distribution of research on knowledge management and supporting systems across business size classifications with a particular focus on micro-enterprises. It also seeks to establish if existing knowledge management models, practices, and systems have invested due consideration in their design to cater for the limited resources typically found in the micro-enterprise. It contributes new insight into the applicability of knowledge management systems to micro-enterprises and it stimulates a possible re-think of how such systems can cater to the specific constraints of this prolific business type. This taxonomy is the result of a thorough analysis of 168 research papers from a total of 10511 papers published in reputable conference proceedings since 2012. It focuses on key knowledge management themes covered, including the size of the enterprise, the adoption challenges, the potential benefits, the technologies used, and the aspects of the knowledge management cycle that are being employed. Furthermore, it draws on this analysis to highlight the appropriateness of existing knowledge management systems to the distinctive risk and opportunity characteristics of the micro-enterprise.

Effectiveness of using Balanced Scorecard in Management Accounting: Meta-analysis

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the use of Balanced Scorecard (BSC) in management accounting through a meta-analysis approach. The Balanced Scorecard is a strategic tool used to measure a company's performance from various perspectives, including finance, customers, internal business processes, and learning and growth. This meta-analysis integrates the results of previous research to provide a comprehensive picture of how BSC affects managerial and organizational performance. The results show that the implementation of BSC significantly contributes to increasing management effectiveness, especially in aligning the company's strategy with operational goals, improving the quality of decision-making, and strengthening managerial accountability with an effect size value of 1,042 (high effect size category). Nonetheless, this study also identifies several factors that can affect the successful implementation of BSC, such as organizational culture, management commitment, and information system quality. These findings have important implications for practitioners and academics in evaluating the benefits and challenges of BSC in the context of management accounting.

Adaptive large neighborhood search for drayage routing problems involving longer combination vehicles

Longer combination vehicles (LCVs)—tractor-trailer combinations with two or more trailers—can move more cargo per trip than standard trucks, potentially reducing costs and emissions. Acknowledging this, the drayage industry has recently launched initiatives to increase the adoption of LCVs, aiming to mitigate supply chain issues. This paper aims to support these kinds of initiatives by tackling drayage routing problems involving LCVs and further aspects, such as heterogeneous truck fleets, containers of any size and cargo category, and compatibility constraints based on the containers’ sizes and loads. As solution method, we propose an adaptive large neighborhood search (ALNS) heuristic, whose search operators account for aspects such as truck/container compatibility and load configurations specific to each truck. The proposed ALNS heuristic also incorporates a novel acceptance criterion that seeks to escape local optima while allowing for revisiting the current best solution and avoiding search stagnation. Through a series of benchmark tests against a state-of-the-art exact approach, we show that the proposed ALNS heuristic can consistently find high-quality solutions for a wide range of instances while, in some cases, cutting runtimes from hours or even days to a few minutes. We also show that the proposed acceptance criterion enables improved performance. Finally, we use the proposed ALNS heuristic to derive managerial insights into the savings delivered by different types of LCVs in drayage operations.

Female-biased sex ratios and delayed puberty in two fish species with different Ecologies in an Anthropogenically affected urban lake

In aquatic ecosystems, endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) pose a growing concern for their potential adverse effects on fish reproduction and development. In lake Pyhäjärvi, located in the urban boreal region of Tampere, Finland, a significant number of sexually immature pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) individuals have been identified in size and age categories that are expected to be sexually mature. To explore if this phenomenon is attributed to estrogenic endocrine disruption, we conducted a comprehensive study comparing fish from lake Pyhäjärvi with those from a nearby reference lake, lake Näsijärvi. Roach (Rutilus rutilus), known for its susceptibility to EDCs, was also included for comparison. We examined various parameters in both pikeperch and roach, including size, condition factor, age, reproductive indicators, biometric indices and gonadal histology. We also assessed liver vitellogenin mRNA levels and genetic sex in roach, and measured estrogen levels in lake waters and wastewater treatment plant effluents. Results revealed that approximately one-third of fish in both species exhibited sexual immaturity in lake Pyhäjärvi, with a female-biased sex ratio. Surprisingly, we found no signs of estrogenic endocrine disruption, indicated by the absence of intersex fish in both species. Furthermore, vitellogenin levels in roach closely resembled those in the reference lake. Estrogens were undetectable in the lake waters, suggesting that factors other than estrogenic EDCs, including other potential endocrine disruptors such as PCBs or heavy metals, may be influencing delayed sexual maturity and skewed sex ratios. Further inquiry is needed to pinpoint these underlying causes. Our study provides essential baseline information on fish sexual development in lake Pyhäjärvi, emphasizing the need for ongoing monitoring and research to understand delayed sexual maturity and biased sex ratios. This is vital given the increasing concern about EDC impacts on aquatic ecosystems and the necessity for effective management strategies to protect these ecosystems' health and integrity.

Crossmodal Correspondence Mediates Crossmodal Transfer from Visual to Auditory Stimuli in Category Learning.

This article investigated whether crossmodal correspondence, as a sensory translation phenomenon, can mediate crossmodal transfer from visual to auditory stimuli in category learning and whether multimodal category learning can influence the crossmodal correspondence between auditory and visual stimuli. Experiment 1 showed that the category knowledge acquired from elevation stimuli affected the categorization of pitch stimuli when there were robust crossmodal correspondence effects between elevation and size, indicating that crossmodal transfer occurred between elevation and pitch stimuli. Experiments 2 and 3 revealed that the size category knowledge could not be transferred to the categorization of pitches, but interestingly, size and pitch category learning determined the direction of the pitch-size correspondence, suggesting that the pitch-size correspondence was not stable and could be determined using multimodal category learning. Experiment 4 provided further evidence that there was no crossmodal transfer between size and pitch, due to the absence of a robust pitch-size correspondence. These results demonstrated that crossmodal transfer can occur between audio-visual stimuli with crossmodal correspondence, and multisensory category learning can change the corresponding relationship between audio-visual stimuli. These findings suggest that crossmodal transfer and crossmodal correspondence share similar abstract representations, which can be mediated by semantic content such as category labels.

The Impact of Machine Learning Technology on E-Learning Platforms on Student Learning Behavior

This study aims to determine the influence of Machine Learning Technology on the E-Learning Platform on student learning behavior. This research is a type of meta-analysis research. The data source comes from 10 national journals indexed by SINTA published in 2022-2024. Deep collection technique through direct observation. The process of searching for virgin sources through google scholar, ERIC, and IEEE. Data analysis is statistical data analysis by calculating the effect size value with the help of the JSAP application. The results of the study concluded that the average effect size value was 0.791 in the medium effect size category. These findings explain that there is a significant influence of machine learning technology on e-learning platforms on student learning behavior.

Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Gastric Cancer Regulate Macrophage Polarization through RCN3 Pathway.

To explore the role and molecular mechanism of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the tumor microenvironment of gastric cancer (GC). The expression of CAFs in GC patients was first assessed for abundance, and survival analysis was performed. Subsequently, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data were used for differential analysis, survival analysis, and EPIC analysis, while single-cell data (GSE183904) were downloaded for differential analysis of CAFs. Clinical data pooling, univariate and multivariate Cox analysis, and immunofluorescence were carried out on clinical GC tissue samples to explore RCN3 expression within patient CAFs. Western blot and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) were used to detect the expression of RCN3. The relationship between RCN3, PCSK6, and STAT1 was explored by chromatin immunoprecipitation (CHIP) experiments, and the effects of the genes on macrophage polarization were detected by detecting biomarkers of biological M1/M2. CAFs in GC were found to be significantly higher compared to the normal group. Revealing the results of TCGA differential analysis, it was observed that GC exhibited a substantial upregulation in the expression levels of RCN3. The clinical statistics indicate a positive correlation between an elevated level of RCN3 expression and the T-stage classification of tumor size. In addition, RCN3 was found to have a significant impact on the overall survival of patients with gastric cancer, acting as an independent prognostic indicator. Analysis of single-cell data showed high expression of PCSK6 in macrophages, and immunofluorescence staining of samples from GC patients showed increased expression of PCSK6 on the cell membranes of macrophages in GC tissues. The subsequent cellular experiments confirmed RCN3 protein can regulate the expression of PCSK6, and PCSK6 regulates macrophage polarization through STAT1. CAFs regulate macrophage polarization through the RCN3/PCSK6/STAT1 pathway in GC.

The rise and fall of notoungulates: How Andean uplift, available land area, competition, and depredation driven its diversification dynamics

Unraveling the biotic and abiotic drivers likely influencing clades’ diversification dynamics (differential speciation and extinction rates) is crucial for understanding life on Earth. Here, we present a comprehensive analysis of the diversification dynamics of notoungulates (Mammalia: Notoungulata), the most diverse and widespread Cenozoic herbivore mammals that evolved in South America (SA) but are now entirely extinct. Employing fossil occurrences restricted to the southern part of the SA and a Bayesian framework, we examined the historical speciation and extinction rates across all notoungulates, suborders, and three body size categories and tested whether these dynamics could be driven by biotic (e.g., diversity dependence, competition) and abiotic (e.g., Andean uplift and temperature changes) factors. Our findings reveal significant variability in diversification rates over time and groups driven by biotic and abiotic factors. We observed an increase in notoungulate speciation rates correlated with lower group self-diversity, likely related to limited environmental productivity and more extensive emerged continental areas that can provide increased environmental and ecological heterogeneity. In contrast, elevated extinction rates were correlated with intensified Andean uplift events, which can trigger landscape modifications and the arrival of placental carnivores after the Great American Biotic Interchange, probably due to notoungulate vulnerability to novel predation pressures. Furthermore, sparassodont diversity appears to increase speciation and extinction rates of notoungulates, although the direct mechanism relating them remains uncertain. The heterogeneity in the observed patterns of speciation and extinction across distinct size categories and taxonomic clades provides valuable perspectives on how ancient global and regional changes impacted the diversification dynamics of mammals and underscores the intricate interplay between environmental changes and biological interactions in shaping the evolution of life on Earth.

Socio-Economic Perspective of Milk Producers of District Ghazipur of Uttar Pradesh, India

Socio-economic analysis play crucial role in implementation of any policy. This study, conducted in the Gazipur District of Uttar Pradesh, focuses on the current state of milk production costs. The research employs a descriptive and analytical design, using a survey methodology to categorize cattle owners into small, medium, and large-scale operations based on the number of cattle owned. A total of 10 villages were randomly selected from two blocks, with 150 milk producers chosen for in-depth study from each size category (small, medium, and large). The survey collected data on various demographics, including age, gender, education level, and social categories, as well as detailed information on milk marketing and socioeconomics. Results indicate that out of the 150 respondents, 76 were small-scale farmers, 43 were medium-scale, and 31 were large-scale. The majority of respondents (78%) were male. Economic analysis revealed that small households had an average annual income of Rs. 198,879, medium households Rs. 158,044, and large households Rs. 274,970. Non-farm income was highest for large farms (Rs. 148,140), followed by medium (Rs. 123,024) and small farms. This comprehensive study provides valuable insights into the economic conditions and marketing practices of milk producers in Gazipur, highlighting key areas for potential improvement and policy intervention.

Meta-analysis Problem Based Learning on Students' Problem-Solving Skills in Higher Education

This study aims to determine the influence of problem-based learning on the problem-solving ability of students in higher education. This type of research is a quantitative research with a meta-analysis approach. The sample of this study comes from the analysis of 12 national and international journals published in 2023-2024. The data source was taken from the Google Scholar, ERIC and Mendeley databases. The sampling technique is direct observation through a journal database. Data analysis is a quantitative analysis with the help of the STATA application. The results of this study show that there is a significant influence of the problem-based learning model on the problem-solving ability of students in higher education with ES = 1,014; z = 9.013 with a high effecrt size category. These findings show that the problem-based learning model is very effective in being applied by lecturers in the learning process in higher education.

Role of ultrasound-guided vacuum-assisted breast biopsy in the management of radiologic-pathologic discordance: a retrospective single-centre study.

To evaluate the efficacy of US-guided vacuum-assisted biopsy (US-VAB) in radiologic-pathologic (rad-path) discordance in women with suspicious breast lesions. Two thousand three hundred and sixty patients with 2385 BI-RADS category 4 and 5 lesions underwent percutaneous US-guided CNB. Thirty-six lesions were classified as discordant benign and underwent second-line US-VAB. A 14-gauge needle was utilized for CNB and 10-gauge for US-VAB. Final pathology was the reference standard for women who underwent surgery, imaging follow-up in other cases. Rates of malignancy for US-VAB and subsequent surgery were evaluated. Lesions with upgrade and no upgrade to second-line VAB were compared in terms of patient's age, lesion type and characteristics, size and BI-RADS category. Positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) for BI-RADS categories and diagnostic performance for second-line US-VAB were calculated. p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant (t-test, Mann-Whitney, χ2). US-VAB identified 10 B2, 9 B3 and 17 B5 lesions with upgrade to malignancy of 47.2% (17/36). There were 8 invasive no special type, 7 ductal in situ, 1 invasive lobular carcinoma and 1 angiosarcoma, and their distribution among BI-RADS categories was: 2/2 in BI-RADS 5 (100%), 12/18 in BI-RADS 4C (67%) and 3/16 in BI-RADS 4B lesions (19%) (p = 0.006). Of the remaining 19 lesions, 6 underwent surgery and 2 were upgraded to ductal carcinoma in situ; 13 underwent radiological follow-up and one resulted malignant. False-negative rate for US-VAB was 15.8% (3/19) with final upgrade to malignancy of 55% (20/36). The univariate analysis revealed mass shape (p = 0.008) and BI-RADS categories (p = 0.006) to be associated with upgrade to malignancy. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy for US-VAB were 85, 100, 100, 84 and 92%, respectively. US-VAB identified almost 50% of cancers missed by CNB, avoiding surgical biopsies and validating as an effective mini-invasive approach in rad-path discordance.

Suddenly 50: the aging workforce and its relationship with the company

Purpose This paper aims to discuss the findings of a study to identify the characteristics of organizations that implement policies and practices to attract and retain older workers. Design/methodology/approach This exploratory and descriptive research adopts a quantitative approach. The data analyzed were gathered from the database compiled during the 2020 edition of the “FIA – Employee Experience” survey. Notably, it identified the top 100 companies prioritizing investment in human resources policies and practices, awarding the “Amazing Places to Work” prize to those demonstrating the highest indices. Findings The findings highlight the proactive stance of both national and multinational companies, typically falling within the medium to large size category, in implementing strategies to attract and retain an aging workforce. These companies predominantly employ individuals with high school education and undertake affirmative action, targeting at least four other minority groups alongside older workers. Practical implications The insights provided in this article regarding the strategies and initiatives implemented to attract and retain older workers can empower other interested companies to enhance their preparedness in addressing the demographic shift toward an aging Brazilian workforce. Originality/value The analysis of the findings contributes to advancing understanding of the relationship between organizations and older workers, an area that remains underexplored in Brazil and worldwide. Furthermore, it furnishes insights into the specific policies and practices adopted by these organizations, equipping interested companies with knowledge to address the challenge of adapting to Brazil’s aging workforce.

ANALYSIS OF WORKING CAPITAL EFFICIENCY FOR ARABLE CROP FARMS IN HUNGARY

Our study is a thematic analysis of the literature on working capital, aiming to present the latest research and interpretations on working capital management. In the second part of the paper, we present an assessment of capital adequacy and working capital efficiency and their results, based on our own data collection and compared with the findings of the literature. There is a substantial international literature on the impact of working capital, which examines the returns and the impact on profitability of the stock of inventories, the turnover of various current assets and the cycle days associated with working capital management. In our study, we used these aspects to select asset endowment and turnover-income profitability indicators from the EMIS database for Hungarian arable crop farms, searching for correlations by regression analysis for three years 2018, 2020 and 2022. Our results show that working capital endowment specifically showed significant correlations with operating revenue in all three years, while the other explanatory variables mostly gave significant correlations only for the year 2022. The size of the Hungarian agricultural economy is specifically characterised by micro and small enterprises, therefore we categorised the enterprises into micro, small, medium and large enterprises based on the value of their assets and their revenue. The number of enterprises specifically engaged in cereal and oilseed production by size category thus differed significantly, and multivariate regression was no longer possible for the two larger categories. In these cases, correlation analysis preceded regression analysis. Examining working capital efficiency by firm size, small farms showed significant correlations with profitability, but they also tended to do so only for the year 2022.