Two-factor Analysis Research Articles

Factors Analysis Of Digital Transformation Challenges In Alfamart Company

Technological advancements occur continuously without our notice, requiring us to adapt to them in all aspects of life. Most firms now recognize the importance of digital transformation as a strategy for improving services and business efficiency. Alfamart, a minimarket company in Indonesia's retail industry, is facing a technological transformation. Alfamart offers a range of product categories to accommodate diverse family requirements. The acceleration of digital transformation in Indonesia necessitates the application of digital technology as a digital platform that serves as the foundation for the Industry 4.0 ecosystem by including technologies such as IoT, big data, artificial intelligence, and augmented reality. This study uses quantitative and descriptive approaches to identify the characteristics that challenge digital transformation at PT Sumber Alfaria Trijaya, Tbk (Alfamart), particularly in the International Business & Technology division. The research employs two-factor analyses: CFA (Confirmatory Factor Analysis) and EFA (Exploratory Factor Analysis). According to the research results, 4 (four) factors influencing Alfamart's digital transformation, particularly in the International Business & Technology section, shape the company's digital transformation issues. These challenges include IT, digitalization, digital business, and digital skills.

Effect of a Specific Warm-up based on Oppositional Wrestling Games on The Technical Performance and Mental Health of Physical Education Students

Background and study aim. This study explored the impact of two different specific warm-up protocols (consisting of either opposition games or classical exercises) on technical-tactical performance, intrinsic motivation and stress levels in wrestling schoolchildren. Materials and methods. Sixty-three schoolchildren divided into two parallel groups (specific warm-up opposition game group: EG, n = 18, aged 12.42 ± 0.87 years; and classical specific warm-up group: CG, n = 18, aged 12.41 ± 0.78 years) who completed three 75-minute sessions over four weeks practicing different specific warm-up exercises. Data was analyzed with IBM SPSS to find the normality, mean and standard deviation. A two-factor mixed analysis of variance (ANOVA) model with repeated measures was performed to measure differences in mental health and technical-tactical performance for both group. Results. Several results emerged from this study; (i) EG who followed a specific warm-up program based on opposition games performed better in the wrestling test and were able to improve the number of successful leg attack skills, with a significant interaction compared to CG, (ii) EG obtained a better leg attack score due to their quality of execution and (iii) Compared with children in the CG group children in the EG group feel happy and motivated and their stress levels decrease. Conclusion. Wrestling teaching and training specialists should be convinced of the beneficial effects of exercises based on opposition games on students' technical and mental skills.

Derivation of one- and two-factor experience curves for electrolysis technologies

Green hydrogen is seen as a promising energy carrier contributing to the decarbonization of the energy system. The competitiveness of green hydrogen compared to conventional produced (grey) hydrogen strongly depends on the investment cost of electrolysers and the costs of required green electricity. Accordingly, the expected investment costs and the efficiency of the production process for electrolysis technologies will play a decisive role. Experience curves can help estimate these crucial key parameters better. This paper applies experience curves to electrolysis technologies to enhance the understanding of these developments, specifically for alkaline, proton exchange membranes and solid oxide electrolysis. Experience rates are estimated using one- and two-factor experience curves for CAPEX and one-factor experience curves for electricity consumption. An independent and extensive database of CAPEX, electrical consumption and cumulative installed capacity was developed. Additionally, two different time frames and different data handling techniques are applied to understand the impact on the experience rates and the fit of the experience curve to the data provided. Based on the extensive database developed, CAPEX experience rates for the technologies range from 7%–21%, depending on the technology. In almost all cases, a two-factor experience curve analysis reduces the experience rate based on the cumulative installed capacity with the experience rate based on the size ranging between 7.4-10.2 % for all technologies. Lastly, the experience curve of the electrical consumption expects a reduction of around 1-3.5 % with each doubling of the capacity.

Study on the characteristics of CO2 fracturing rock damage based on fractal theory

CO2 fracturing is emerging as a carbon–neutral technology for underground excavation. Traditional studies on structural stability during excavation have largely focused on the vibration characteristics of rocks. However, the inherent damage in rock layers during CO2 fracturing poses significant challenges for understanding damage mechanisms under complex multi-field coupling. This study introduces a novel approach for calculating rock damage induced by CO2 fracturing.We developed a physical model of CO2 fracturing and applied a “two-stage effect” division method, creating a staged damage calculation model based on fractal damage mechanics theory. Experiments were conducted under combined dynamic and static loads to evaluate rock damage. A two-factor Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to assess the significance of dynamic and static effects on the extent of rock damage.The findings revealed that static loads guide crack propagation direction, reducing the angle between the crack and vertical axis, while initial CO2 dynamic load pressure strongly influences crack patterns, with higher pressures resulting in more fractures. The extent of rock damage observed ranged from 0.680 to 0.845. Although dynamic loads showed no significant impact, static loads exhibited a notable effect, as indicated by a P-value approaching 0.01. This study’s fractal-damage calculation model provides a valuable tool for addressing stability concerns in structures affected by CO2 fracturing.

When less is more for dietary Lactobacillus rhamnosus IMC 501: The complex role gut microbiota play in energy budgets and allostasis of early juvenile Mozambique Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus)

In aquaculture, exposure to stressors results in heightened neuroendocrine responses, increasing metabolic activities and reducing growth to offset additional stressor-related energetic costs for allostasis. Supplementation with probiotics increases metabolic expenditures from elevated fish digestion and upregulated immune systems, but effects of the probiotics concentrations on energy budgets remains unknown. This study used respirometry to determine the effects of five different probiotic concentrations: T0 control (0 × 1011 CFU/g), T1 (5 × 1011 CFU/g), T2 (10 × 1011 CFU/g), T3 (15 × 1011 CFU/g), and T4 (20 × 1011 CFU/g) of a dietary single-strain probiotic (Lactobacillus rhamnosus IMC 501) on feed consumption, and the proportion of feed intake energy (C) allocated to growth (G), and routine metabolic rates (Rr), in the energy budgets of early juvenile (1-3 g wet weight) Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus), weekly over a 28-day experimental period. Two-factor ANOVA analyses revealed that the amount of feed intake energy (C) increased in probiotic treatments over controls. Allocation of feed energy for growth (G) differed among treatments, but not with time, but for routine metabolic activities (Rr), allocation of feed energy differed among treatments and over time. Increases of somatic tissue (TTW) was highest in the T2 treatment (intermediate concentration), while Rr was highest in the T3 and T4 (highest concentration) treatments, but only after 14–21 days of supplementation. Within energy budgets, the highest proportion of feed energy was allocated to growth in all treatments (G; mean ± SE, 43.0 ± 3.1 %), followed by routine metabolic activities (Rr; mean ± SE, 26.12 ± 2.1 %). Overall, the mean net mass-specific cost of growth (cr) (mgO2l−1 g−1) was highest, and the net growth efficiency (% KN) was lowest, in the T3 and T4 treatments indicating that higher probiotic concentrations were related to higher allostatic loads (AL) compared to lower probiotic treatments (T1, T2). Overall, our results revealed that the proportion of C allocated to G and Rr varied differently with probiotic concentration, was tightly related to gut bacteria metabolic expenditures, and highlighted the importance of carefully evaluating the probiotic concentrations for optimization of growth performance in Mozambique tilapia aquaculture.

Analysis and Formation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Canned Minced Chicken and Pork during Processing.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) represent important toxic compounds formed in meat products during processing. This study aims to analyze 22 PAHs by QuEChERS coupled with GC-MS/MS in canned minced chicken and pork during processing. After marinating raw minced chicken and pork separately with a standard flavoring formula used for canning meat in Taiwan, they were subjected to different processing conditions including stir-frying, degassing and sterilizing at 115 °C/60 min (low-temperature-long-time, LTLT) and 125 °C/25 min (high-temperature-short-time, HTST). The quantitation of PAHs in these meat products revealed the formation of only three PAHs including acenaphthylene (AcPy), acenaphthene (AcP) and pyrene (Pyr) in canned minced chicken and pork during processing with no significant difference in total PAHs between the meat types. Analysis of PAH precursors showed the presence of benzaldehyde at the highest level, followed by 2-cyclohexene-1-one and trans,trans-2,4-decadienal in canned minced chicken and pork, suggesting PAH formation through the reaction of benzaldehyde with linoleic acid degradation products and of 2-cyclohexene-1-one with C4 compounds through the Diels-Alder reaction, as well as the reaction of trans,trans-2,4-decadienal with 2-butene. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids were present in the largest proportion in LTLT-sterilized chicken/pork, followed by HTST-sterilized chicken/pork and raw chicken/pork, and their levels did not show a high impact on PAH formation, probably due to an insufficient heating temperature and length of time. A two-factorial analysis suggested that PAH formation was not significantly affected by the sterilization condition or meat type. Principal component analysis corroborated the observed results implying the formation of PAHs in canned minced chicken/pork under different processing conditions with an insignificant difference (p > 0.05) between them, with the individual PAH content following the order of Pyr > AcPy > AcP.

A - 79 Comparison of Neuropsychological Test Performance between Monolingual Older Adults with Varying Cognitive Profiles

Abstract Objective With the rapid aging and cultural differences of the Latinx population, psychologists have expressed concerns regarding neuropsychological evaluations used for Alzheimer’s disease (ad), including the appropriateness of normative data and misinterpretation of test scores. This study explores various facets of neuropsychological performance between Spanish and English-speaking older adults with ad or normal cognition (NC). Method Participants (N = 17,716) from a de-identified database from the National Alzheimer’s’ Coordinating Center were administered Boston Naming Test-30 items (BNT-30), Animal & Vegetable Verbal Fluency, Digit Symbol, Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE), Logical Memory I & II (LM-I & II), and Trail Making Test A & B (TMT-A & B). Correlations, multiple linear hierarchical regressions, and two-factor Analyses of Variance (ANOVAs) were used. Results Significant associations between interest areas (e.g., sex, ethnicity, race, age, education level, and/or age of cognitive onset) and test performances were found in each diagnosis group. Primary language, education level, and diagnosis were found to be significant predictors of LM-I (f2 = 0.19), LM-II (f2 = 0.22), and TMT-B (f2 = 0.15) performance. Significant interactions of primary language and diagnosis group were found among test performances for the MMSE, LM-II, Animals Verbal Fluency, TMT-A, and TMT-B (p < 0.05). Conclusions Further research is warranted to understand the complexity of using neuropsychological assessments to detect ad-related deficits among Spanish-speaking Latinx individuals. Evidence-based neuropsychological practice guidelines must acknowledge the importance of education level and primary language on test performance.

Assessing Healthcare Equity in Orthopaedic Surgery: An Analysis of Over 24,000 Surgical Cases.

Health disparities have been widely studied in the primary care and surgical settings. The purpose of this study was to examine surgical access disparities for orthopaedic surgical cases performed at a large academic health center by comparing the relationship between patient demographic factors and surgical wait time. A total of 24,778 orthopaedic surgical cases from 2018 to 2022 at a public, tertiary care, Level I trauma center were retrospectively analyzed to assess for surgical timing disparities based on patient-specific factors, including race, sex, language, and socioeconomic status. Elective surgical cases were completed with an average surgical wait time of 28.11 ± 26.34 days. Urgent surgical cases were completed with an average surgical wait time of 1.23 ± 1.50 days. Patient race, sex, language, and socioeconomic status had no effect on surgical wait time for urgent case scheduling. Female patients had longer average wait times in elective cases, whereas race had a weak association with increased wait time. Two-factor interaction analysis showed no multifactorial effects of patient demographic factors on surgical wait time. Patient race and socioeconomic status were associated with increased distance from surgical sites, although increased distance did not correlate with increased surgical wait time. Patient demographic factors did not demonstrate clinically notable associations with surgical timing in this patient cohort, in contrast to previous studies demonstrating the effects of race and socioeconomic status on healthcare outcomes and access. Race and socioeconomic status did correlate with increased distance from surgical centers although distance from surgical sites did not correlate with surgical wait time. This contributes to previous literature on healthcare equity and indicates that surgical wait time may not contribute to the known healthcare inequalities seen in minority and marginalized patients.

Peatland vegetation of the Syra Pogonia massif of the Rivneskyi Nature Reserve (Polissia, Ukraine): ecological characteristics

Background. Peat bog complexes are self-sufficient ecosystems in which unique microclimatic conditions leading to a significant diversity of valuable plant communities are formed. Such communities are sensitive to the effects of climate change or any anthropogenic intervention. The lack of reliable information on their distribution on the territory of the Syra Pogonia peat-bog massif of the Rivnenskyi Nature Reserve necessitates a detailed study of the bog vegetation. Therefore, the purpose of the work was to classify the community of peatland vegetation of the Syra Pogonia massif and to determine the features of their syntaxonomic and ecological differentiation for further development of environmental management strategies. Materials and Methods. The study of the peculiarities of peatland vegetation was conducted on transects that represent the variety of local conditions of the complex system. A total of 141 relevés were analysed using the Braun–Blanquet method. The material was analysed using TURBOVEG 2.79 and JUICE 7.0.83 software. Vegetation units were separated using the method of two-factor indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN). Diagnostic species of syntaxa were determined by the fidelity coefficient phi, the fidelity threshold for which was > 25 %. The statistical significance of the phi coefficient was determined with the Fisher’s test at P < 0.001. The DCA-ordination method was used to identify an ecological differentiation of units. Results. Peatland vegetation of the Syra Pogonia massif of the Rivnenskyi Nature Reserve was analysed. We identified 7 associations belonging to 6 alliances, 6 orders and 4 classes and compiled a vegetation syntaxonomic scheme. The leading factor of ecological differentiation of community is humidity of the area. The greatest diversity is inherent in mesotrophic areas, rare species are found and grouped according to diffe­rent ecological conditions. The species composition of 7 associations includes 79 plant species, of which 65 are vascular and 14 are bryophytes. Using methods of phytosociological analysis, we established that the distribution of community in multi-dimensional space of ecological factors occurs under the conditions of their complex action. At the same time, changes in the humidity regime are of crucial importance for the selected syntaxa (Andromedo polifoliae-Sphagnetum magellanicі). The results of the phytoindicative analysis proved that the associations identified on the territory of the Syra Pogonia peat-bog complex are acidophilic in terms of acidity, and oligotrophic in terms of the requirements for the content of nutriens. Conclusions. As orders, and result of the analysis of relevés, 7 associations, which belong to 6 alliances, 6 orders and 4 classes were selected. Based on the results of the dataset analysis, a vegetation classification scheme was compiled. As a result of the cluster analysis of 7 associations, a significant difference between communities of watered and wet habitats was revealed. We established that the differentiation of the vegetation on the territory of the peat massif of Syra Pogonia mainly depends on the change in the moisture regime.

The Effectiveness of Adding Transvaginal Radiofrequency to Pelvic Floor Muscle Training for 6 Weeks in Women with Stress Urinary Incontinence. A Double-Blind Randomised Controlled Trial.

The objective was to evaluate the clinically beneficial effect of adding transvaginal monopolar non-ablative radiofrequency (RF) to pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) on leakage severity, quality of life and urinary incontinence-related symptoms in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). A double-blind randomised controlled trial was conducted, with a 6-week intervention and a 6-month follow-up. Participants were randomly assigned to the experimental group (PFMT plus RF; n = 18) or the control group (PFMT plus placebo; n = 20). The primary outcome was the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form (ICIQ-SF). Secondary outcomes included the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20 (PFDI-20) and the Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire-7 (PFIQ-7), self-efficacy, female sexual function, pelvic floor muscle dynamometry, 1-h pad test and number of SUI episodes per week. Inferential analyses of the data were performed using a two-factor analysis of variance. Both groups achieved a statistically significant improvement in ICIQ-SF over time. However, the differences observed in the experimental group exceeded the minimal clinically important differences by 4 points (MD = -9.4, 95% CI = -12.6 to -6.3), which was not observed in the control group (MD = -3.9, 95% CI = -6.9 to -1.0). This was maintained at the 6-month follow-up with a significant time*group interaction (p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.150). There was no time*group interaction in the other variables (p > 0.05). Additionally, a significant difference in favour of the experimental group was observed in the 1-h pad test and episodes of SUI per week (p < 0.05). This study highlights the beneficial effects of adding transvaginal RF to PFMT on the severity and amount of leakage, as well as on the quality of life and urinary incontinence-related symptoms in women with moderate SUI. Future trials are needed to assess the effects of this intervention in women with severe SUI.

Toward a more culturally nuanced approach to assessing athletic and exercise identities in sport psychology research: a confirmatory factor analysis approach with South Korean male student-athletes

ABSTRACT The identities of “athlete” and “exerciser” share conceptual similarities but can be differentiated by the ways in which their respective objectives, motivations, and intentions significantly diverge. However, there is a gap in the literature addressing the ambiguity and inconsistent use of these terms in the context of South Korea. The linguistic discrepancy in how these terms are conceptualised and operationalised has important implications for the study of athletes’ long-term health and well-being, where a nuanced perspective on identity is necessary for understanding physical activity behaviour and health outcomes through the transition out of competitive sport. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to refine the terminology used in the previously translated versions of the Athletic Identity Measurement Scale and Exercise Identity Scale and examine whether refined questionnaires appropriately represent similar but distinct concepts. Using software program R, this aim was addressed through a two-factor confirmatory factor analysis of the measurement scales within a sample of South Korean male student-athletes (N = 232, Mage = 19.93 ± 1.22 years). Global fit indices of the final model demonstrated acceptable fit χ2 (101) = 208.512, p < .01, CFI = .95, RMSEA = .07 (90% Confidence Interval: .06 – .08), SRMR = .06 and the local fit indices further supported convergent and discriminant validity of the scales within the sample. Recognition of cultural differences and nuances related to the terms “athlete” vs. “exerciser” and “sport” vs. “exercise” is important for fostering a comprehensive understanding of these identities within sport and exercise psychology research.

Xbox Kinect Sports vs. Nintendo Switch Sports and Their Effects on Body Composition and Physical Performance in Older Females: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to compare the effects of Xbox Kinect Sports (XKS) regarding Nintendo Switch Sports (NSS) and an inactive control group (CG) on body composition (body fat percentage, BFP; and fat-free mass) and physical performance (maximal isometric handgrip strength, MIHS; 30-s chair stand, 30-S; timed up-and-go, TUG; sit-and-reach; and 2-min step) in physically inactive older females. Methods: A randomized controlled trial study was conducted with three parallel groups: XKS (n = 13), NSS (n = 14), and CG (n = 16) considering three weekly 60-min sessions for 12 weeks with pre- and post-assessments. Results: A two-factor mixed analysis of variance (ANOVA) model with repeated measures was performed to measure the time × group effect. Multiple comparisons revealed significant differences in BFP (F(2,18) = 6.12; p = 0.005; ηp2 = 0.226, large effect), 30-S (F(2,18) = 20.7; p = 0.000; ηp2 = 0.496, large effect), TUG (F(2,18) = 10.0; p = 0.000; ηp2 = 0.323, large effect), sit-and-reach (F(2,18) = 37.3; p = 0.000; ηp2 = 0.640, large effect), and 2-min step (F(2,18) = 9.85; p = 0.000; ηp2 = 0.319, large effect) in favor of XKS regarding NSS and CG. The intragroup results only present in XKS a significant decrease in BFP (p = 0.02; d = 0.98) and significant improvements in the 30-S (p = 0.000; d = 1.88), TUG (p < 0.01; d = 2.00), sit-and-reach (p = 0.003; d = 2.58), and 2-min step (p = 0.004; d = 1.05). Conclusions: training using XKS significantly decreases BFP and improves 30-S, TUG, sit-and-reach, and 2-min step in physically inactive older females.

Augmented Bodily Self in Performing a Button-Touching Task with Soft Supernumerary Robotic Arms

Extra or supernumerary robotic limbs are actively exploited in the field of body augmentation. The science of self-recognition of additional body parts is an interesting subject. Although the field is primarily led by psychological studies in virtual reality, which facilitate flexible experimental designs, we believe that assessments employing real robots are also essential. In this study, we investigated the sense of body ownership and agency of a dual-arm wearable robotic arm using an inexpensive and safe inflatable structure. We report the results of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) analysis of brain activity during the use of the robotic arm. The questionnaire results from the experiment, which involved a button-touching task, revealed that both the sense of ownership and sense of agency were significantly higher in the goal-oriented collaborative experience compared to the non-goal-oriented condition. This indicates that humans feel ownership of and agency toward an autonomous robot or a remote-controlled robotic arm operated by another person. The analysis of the fNIRS data included a two-factor analysis of variance for the learning and trial phases. While there was no main effect for the conditions within each phase, a significant interaction was observed between the two brain regions of the right angular gyrus and right postcentral gyrus.

Spectral Power Distribution of Heart Rate Variability in Contiguous Short-Term Intervals.

Heart rate variability (HRV) is determined by the variation of consecutive cardiac electrical excitations, usually from RR intervals of an EKG. The sequence of intervals is a time series that yields three HRV parameter categories: time domain, frequency domain, and nonlinear. Parameter estimates are based on widely different EKG sample times: short-term (~5-10 minutes), longer (24 hours), and ultra-short (<5 minutes). Five-minute intervals are useful to evaluate intervention effects that change HRV in a single session by comparing pre-to-post values. This approach relies on knowing the minimal detectible change (MDC) that indicates a real change in clinical and research studies. The specific aims of this pilot study were to (1) evaluate HRV power and its spectral distribution among contiguous five-minute intervals, (2) compare the power distribution in a five-minute interval with a full 45-minute assessment, and (3) provide data to aid estimation of the MDC between pre- and post-interventions during a single session. Methods: Twelve self-reported healthy young adults participated after signing an approved consent. Participation required subjects who had no history of cardiovascular disease or were taking vasoactive substances. Persons with diabetes were not eligible. While subjects were supine, EKG leads were placed, and EKG was recorded for 45 minutes at 1000 samples/sec. The 45 minutes were divided into nine five-minute contiguous intervals, and the spectral density in each was determined. Total power and spectral percentages within each interval were assessed in the very low (VLF, 0.003-0.04 Hz), low (LF, 0.04-0.15 Hz), and high (HF, 0.15-0.4 Hz) frequency bands. These were compared among intervals and to the full 45-minute sample. The MDC was determined by comparing powers in five-minute intervals separated by 10 minutes. The standard error of the measurement (SEME) for each pair was calculated from the square root of the mean square error (√MSE). MSE was based on a two-factor analysis of variance, and MDC was 2×√2×SEME. Differences in total power and spectral power distribution among intervals were not statistically significant. The total mean power±SD was 4561±1434 ms². The maximum difference in total power was 7.85%. The mean power for the VLF, LF, and HF bands wasrespectively1713±1736 ms², 1574±1072 ms², and 1257±1016 ms². The maximum percentage difference in spectral power across all intervals for VLF, LF, and HF wasrespectively3.75%, 8.5%, and 7.4%. The percentage of power in the VLF, LF, and HF bands wasrespectively37.9%, 36.1%, and 25.9%. The ratios of spectral to total power for VLF, LF, and HF bands were respectively 0.80±0.07, 1.20±0.11, and 1.22±0.10. MDC percentage values were 21.0±4.9% for the HF band, 25.7±1.4% for the LF band, and 30.4±5.5% for the VLF band. Results offer initial estimates of variations in HRV power in the VLF, LF, and HF bands in contiguous five-minute intervals and estimates of the minimum detectible "real" changes between intervals separated by 10 minutes. The pattern of variation and data are useful in experimental planning in which HRV spectral power changes are assessed subsequent to a short-duration intervention during a single session. MDC values (21.0% in the HF band to 30.4% in the VLF band) provide initial estimates useful for estimating the number of participants needed to evaluate the impact of an intervention on spectral components of HRV.

Влияние биологических регуляторов роста на содержание фотосинтетических пигментов Campanula alliariifolia

Abstract. The purpose is to study the effectiveness of the action of the natural signaling molecule salicylic acid (SA) and Bacillus subtilis (Bs) on the ratio of photosynthetic pigments (PhSP) in plant materials (leaves) of Campanula alliariifolia Willd. and its decorativeness. Methods. Using spectrophotometric techniques, an analysis was carried out of the dynamics of the content of pigments (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids) under the influence of a strain of the bacterium Bacillus subtilis, isolated at the Bashkir Scientific Research Institute of Agriculture of the Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Ufa) from the arable soil layer of the Republic of Bashkortostan, and its combination with salicylic acid during the growing season. Scientific novelty. The influence of the B. subtilis strain separately and together with salicylic acid on the physiological parameters and decorative properties of Campanula alliariifolia in the conditions of the Bashkir Cis-Ural was studied. Results. The content and ratio of PhSP in dynamics (phases of budding, flowering and fruiting) were analyzed. It was revealed that inoculation of C. alliariifolia plants with Bacillus subtilis significantly increases the amount of carotenoids during the flowering phase. During the fruiting phase, the maximum content of PhSP was noted in the Bs + SA variant of the experiment. Two-factor analysis of variance showed that the significant influence of factor A (vegetation phase), factor B (different experimental options), and the degree of total influence of two factors (A × B) on the content of PhSP in samples of campanula leaves is statistically significant for the studied indicators. It was found that inoculation with the B. subtilis strain maximized indicators such as the abundance of flowering and the density of bellflower inflorescences, thereby improving the decorativeness of C. alliariifolia in the conditions of the Bashkir Cis-Ural.

Preparation and certification of benzoic acid reference material for calorimetry analysis

Benzoic acid reference material is indispensable for bomb calorimeter instrument calibration and validation of gross calorific value (GCV) analysis of any substance. In this work, we demonstrated the preparation of benzoic acid reference material through a homogeneity study, round-robin analysis, and stability study. Two-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) test for gross calorific value in the randomly selected sub-samples of benzoic acid exhibits a lower FTS value than the Fcrit value, indicating that the samples are sufficiently homogeneous. The calculated uncertainty of between-bottle (ubb) and uncertainty of homogeneity (uhom) for GCV of benzoic acid in the sub-samples were found as 1.82 and 4.42 ​cal/g respectively. We found that the observed homogeneity (uhom (Finding)) value is lower than the assumed homogeneity (uhom (Assume)) value for the prepared benzoic acid reference material. Overall observations confirm that the sub-samples are sufficiently homogeneous. Moreover, the round-robin analysis/or inter-laboratory comparison analysis was conducted to assign the gross calorific value and determine the characterization uncertainty. The seventh order of Grubbs' analysis was done using robust estimator Alogoritm A to assign the GCV of benzoic acid. Finally, the measurement uncertainty of the assigned GCV of benzoic acid was calculated with the combined uncertainties from various sources.

Modeling the impact of plastic oil obtained from xlpe cable wastes on diesel engine performance and combustion parameters with the response surface method

The world's expanding population requires alternative energy sources to meet its energy needs. One such alternative is the efficient recovery of plastic waste through pyrolysis. The liquid produced from waste plastics via pyrolysis is a valuable commodity that may serve as fuel substituted for internal combustion engines. In this study, waste plastic oil (WPO) and diesel fuel (D100) blends (10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% by volume) obtained by pyrolysis of waste XLPE cables were experimentally investigated and analyzed using response surface methodology (RSM) to determine their effects on the combustion parameters of a four-stroke, single cylinder diesel engine at different engine loads (750, 1500, 2250, 3000, 3750 and 4500 W). A response surface model was constructed using a two-factor central composite complete design and analysis of variance based on the experimental results obtained. The model determined the optimum values of WPO ratio and engine load that correspond to one of the finest brake thermal efficiency (BTE), brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC), hydrocarbon (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and smoke emission levels. The study's optimization findings indicated that the optimal WPO ratio is 19.6%, and the optimal engine load is 2600 W. The BTE, BSFC, CO, HC, NOx, and smoke were found to be 22.3%, 332.3 g/kWh, 0.033%, 31.5 ppm, 397.9 ppm, and 1.63%, respectively, at the optimal WPO ratio and engine load. The R2 (correlation coefficient) values for BTE, BSFC, CO, HC, NOx, and smoke emissions were determined to be 99.95%, 97.76%, 98.10%, 99.74%, 99.74%, 99.79%, and 95.67%, respectively. The mean error rates, ranging from 0.64% to 4.27%, were deemed satisfactory when comparing the replies to the experimental data. The findings of this study demonstrated that the response surface method is a very efficient approach for forecasting and enhancing a diesel engine's performance and emission characteristics by using waste plastic oil.

The Relationship Between Teachers' Web 2.0 Tools Usage Competency Levels and Self-Efficacy Perceptions

The research aims to determine Web 2.0 tools usage levels of teachers teaching at preschool, primary and secondary school levels, in terms of school levels and educational backgrounds, and to reveal the possible relationship between teachers' use of Web 2.0 tools and their self-efficacy levels. The study comprised 203 instructors from Zonguldak province with various education levels and teaching at various school levels. The data in this study was collected through “Competency in Using Web 2.0 Tools" and "Teachers' Self-Efficacy Perceptions" scales. Correlation and two-factor ANOVA analyses were used to determine the outcomes after verifying the data's normal distribution and the scales' fit indices. According to the study's findings, scores on the "Web 2.0 Tools Usage Competency Scale" were higher in favor of teachers with a master's degree. It was concluded that teachers' usage levels of Web 2.0 tools were significantly related to classroom management, one of the sub-dimensions of the teachers' self-efficacy perception scale, and their educational level, one of the demographic characteristics of the teachers. Furthermore, when the self-efficacy measure sub-dimensions were examined, it can be concluded that teachers' levels of the use of Web 2.0 tools did not differ significantly by school level or educational level, but they did differ significantly in terms of classroom management. The research findings also offer suggestions.

Identification of a lumped-parameter model of the intervertebral joint from experimental data.

Through predictive simulations, multibody models can aid the treatment of spinal pathologies by identifying optimal surgical procedures. Critical to achieving accurate predictions is the definition of the intervertebral joint. The joint pose is often defined by virtual palpation. Intervertebral joint stiffnesses are either derived from literature, or specimen-specific stiffnesses are calculated with optimisation methods. This study tested the feasibility of an optimisation method for determining the specimen-specific stiffnesses and investigated the influence of the assigned joint pose on the subject-specific estimated stiffness. Furthermore, the influence of the joint pose and the stiffness on the accuracy of the predicted motion was investigated. A computed tomography based model of a lumbar spine segment was created. Joints were defined from virtually palpated landmarks sampled with a Latin Hypercube technique from a possible Cartesian space. An optimisation method was used to determine specimen-specific stiffnesses for 500 models. A two-factor analysis was performed by running forward dynamic simulations for ten different stiffnesses for each successfully optimised model. The optimisations calculated a large range of stiffnesses, indicating the optimised specimen-specific stiffnesses were highly sensitive to the assigned joint pose and related uncertainties. A limited number of combinations of optimised joint stiffnesses and joint poses could accurately predict the kinematics. The two-factor analysis indicated that, for the ranges explored, the joint pose definition was more important than the stiffness. To obtain kinematic prediction errors below 1mm and 1° and suitable specimen-specific stiffnesses the precision of virtually palpated landmarks for joint definition should be better than 2.9mm.

ANALYSIS OF VARIANCE SPERMOGRAM INDICATORS OF MEN DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS WITH ASTENOZOOSPERMIA, TERATOZOOSPERMIA AND AZOOSPERMIA

In recent decades, a decline in male fertility due to deterioration in sperm quality hasbeen noted around the world. This is probably explained by the tendency to increase the diseasesof the male genital organs and, as a result, the increase in the percentage of male infertility.In addition, there is a deterioration of the quantitative and qualitative indicators of spermogramsin practically healthy men. The average number of sperm in the ejaculate of a healthy man hashalved over the past 50 years, and the average volume of ejaculate has decreased by one third. Itis known that the multicomponent composition of the internal male genital organs is in constantrestructuring due to age changes, functional activity and the influence of various factors. That iswhy it is important to take into account both physiological and age-related changes in a man'sability to conceive.Diagnosis of male infertility includes clinical research methods and methods of laboratory-instrumental examination. Among the latter, the most important for finding out the functionalstate of the gonads and the fertilizing ability of sperm is the study of ejaculate. The object ofour research was spermograms obtained during the examination of patients at the "AlternativeClinic" reproductive medicine clinic.The purpose of the work was using biometric analysis to the different indicators of menspermograms of younger, middle and older age groups with normozoospermia (N), asthenozoospermia(AZS), teratozoospermia (T) and azoospermia (A). The task of the research wasto analyze the main indicators of spermograms of men of different age groups in normal andpathological conditions, to conduct a one-factor and two-factor variance analysis of the influenceof the studied diseases and age factor.After analyzing the main indicators of spermograms of men of younger, middle andolder age groups with asthenozoospermia, azoospermia, and teratozoospermia, it was establishedthat the indicators that undergo the greatest deviations in the studied diseases are themobility of spermatozoa according to categories A and B, the morphology of spermatozoa, theFarris fertility index, and the activity of spermatozoa.After conducting a one-factor variance analysis, we established that the share of theinfluence of the studied diseases on the overall variability of such indicators of spermograms asthe mobility of spermatozoa according to category A and B and the morphology of spermatozoain the spermograms of men of the studied age groups is within 63–98% of the total contribution(younger age group), 60–96% (middle age group) and 75–96% (older age group). The shareof influence of unaccounted factors is within 2–40% of the total contribution. The share of theinfluence of the studied diseases in the overall variability of such indicators as the Farris index and sperm activity in the spermograms of men of all studied groups is significantly reducedand is within 22–44% of the total contribution. Instead, the influence of unaccounted factors(56–78% of the total contribution) is growing significantly. This may indicate the presence ofconcomitant diseases and other pathologies in the men who took part in the research.After conducting a two-factor variance analysis, we established that the shares of theinfluence of the studied diseases on the overall variability of such indicators of spermogramsas motility of spermatozoa according to category A and B, morphology of spermatozoa, Farrisfertility index and activity of spermatozoa are decisive and are within the range of 90.7–99.9%of the total contribution, the share of the influence of the age factor on the variability of spermogramindicators of men of different age groups is insignificant.