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Copyright of Folia Cardiologica is the property of VM Medica-VM Group (Via Medica) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

DNA hydrogels, which hold potential for use in medicine, biosensors, and tissue engineering, can be produced through enzymatic rolling circle amplification (RCA) using phi29 DNA polymerase (DNAP). This paper introduces new DNAP variants designed for RCA‐based DNA hydrogel production, featuring enzymes with modified DNA binding, enhanced thermostability, reduced exonuclease activity, and protein tags for fluorescence detection or specific immobilization. We evaluated these enzymes by quantifying DNA output via quantitative PCR (qPCR) and assessing hydrogel mechanical properties through micromechanical indentation. The results showed that most variants generated similar DNA amounts and hydrogels with comparable mechanical properties. Additionally, all variants successfully incorporated non‐natural nucleotides, such as base‐modified dGTP derivatives and 2′fluoro‐dGTP, during RCA. This study's robust analytical approach offers a strong foundation for selecting new enzymes and producing DNA hydrogels with tailored material properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The paper presents the basic assumptions and the plan of the research work, which is directed at implementing a CMMS class system in a selected manufacturing enterprise to support selected maintenance tasks. Design/methodology/approach: The research conducted at the company was based on participant observation, using social research techniques and a tool from the Root Cause Analysis group. Findings: The analysis and diagnosis results were used to develop proposals for implementing a system to support maintenance and repair tasks in selected segments of the production system. These proposals included tool and organizational solutions to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of maintenance activities. Research limitations/implications: While the issue of maintenance is a key component of manufacturing engineering, the article does not address other equally important areas, such as process design, optimization or quality control, which, with an integrated approach to manufacturing engineering, could lead to synergistic results. Practical implications: The introduction of solutions based on the TPM paradigm will make it possible to systematically increase the stability of the production process by improving maintenance processes and reducing the risk and severity of the consequences of downtime and failures. Originality/value: The paper's novelty is its systematic approach, which provides a practical framework for implementing a CMMS in a manufacturing environment. The diagnostic process and the resulting proposals for using the system to support maintenance and repair tasks in selected segments of the production system represent a form of process innovation. The paper is aimed at manufacturing companies seeking to improve maintenance operations and increase productivity by implementing modern management systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyses global trade flows in knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS) over the period 2005 to 2021, focusing on the competitive position of Europe in general with additional emphasis on Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Using data from the OECD-WTO Balanced Trade in Services (BaTIS) database, the study examines major global exporters and their revealed comparative advantages (RCA), as well as the structure and shifts in the structure of intra- and extra-continental trade flows. We establish some stylised facts. The results indicate that Europe in 2021 was still the largest KIBS exporter globally, however, with declining shares due to Asia and the Americas' growth over the analysed period. The article further explores the competitive position of the CEE region which became an integral part of the sector in Europe and a favourite destination for nearshoring as well as backshoring projects. We conclude with a set of general policy recommendations. The EU, specifically, should focus on fostering innovation, digital transformation, and skills development by enhancing R&D support, investing in digital infrastructure, and promoting science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) talent pool development to strengthen, in particular creation of high-value-added services in KIBS sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The focus of this paper is to provide an assessment of the impact of imports from China on Indian manufacturing and capture the multifarious dimensions of India–China bilateral trade flows. By examining the comparative disadvantage imports (RCA<1), the paper critically examines their significance on India's industry output and performance and underlines factors beyond trade competitiveness. Design/methodology/approach: For examining the impact of India's manufacturing imports from China on industry performance, four stages of analysis is adopted. First, the imports with RCA <1 have been identified. For these, BRCA was also computed. Second, trends in industry performance associated with high imports from China. Third, for estimating the impact of imports on industry output, augmented production function was specified and estimated with imports from China as a potential determinant. And fourth, comparison of industry performance between India and China. Findings: The impact of imports from China on industry output is positive and significant. A 1% increase/decrease in the share of China in world imports will result in output increasing by 0.31%. The rise in imports from China seems to be on account of non-availability of necessary intermediate and capital goods domestically, thereby making these imports critical and complementary for production. This negates the threat perception of imports from China. Research limitations/implications: The paper recognizes the need for understanding the firm heterogeneity in import decisions and R&D intensity of imports. Across industries, the drivers for firms' decisions to import are "learning by importing' and "self-selection" (Camino-Magro et al., 2020). Also, another important dimension at the firm-level analysis is the elasticity of substitution between foreign and domestic inputs. If the elasticity of substitution is low then high import barriers will lead to reduction of domestic output. These firm-level issues are important for effective policy interventions. Practical implications: One, the inward looking focus of the industry which is exhibited in low export intensity will not provide the necessary impetus to propel the manufacturing sector to a higher technology frontier and translate the productivity gains to export competitiveness. Two, unless the domestic manufacturing is propelled from the current low/medium technology to high technology products, the current policy thrust on "self-reliance" cannot be realized. Originality/value: Analysis is based on manufacturing imports with RCA<1 from China thereby underlining factors beyond trade competitiveness not covered by RCA methodology. Complementing the quantitative analysis with economic policy developments in China and India and contrasting the same has provided insights into the real factors determining India–China bilateral trade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A problem statement is often written during Root Cause Analysis to describe exactly what the problem being investigated is and an is/is-not is a recommended quality tool for problem statement creation. This study seeks to determine if use of an is/is-not leads to capturing more key information in a problem statement than not using an is/is-not. This study used two forms with a quality failure scenario. One form was with an is/is-not one was without an is/is-not. University students were randomly assigned a form and tasked with writing a problem description based on the failure scenario. The results were then assessed to determine if there was a statistically significant difference in the number of required pieces of information identified by the two groups. The same study was then repeated with employees in a manufacturing organization after completion of training on problem statement writing. The students with an is/is-not correctly identified more key information than those without. There was no difference between the employees in industry with and without an is/is-not. An is/is-not used for problem statement writing can be useful for ensuring more key details are captured when inexperienced people are writing a problem statement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We aimed to determine the prevalence and radiological characteristics of myocardial bridging (MB) and intra-atrial course anomaly (IARCA), which are rare course variations of the right coronary artery (RCA), in the adult patient population. Methods: Radiological images of cases over the age of 18 who underwent coronary CT angiography (CTA) examination in our clinic were scanned from the archives retrospectively, and cases with MB of the RCA and IARCA detection were included in the study. The number, age and gender distribution of the cases, whether there were any other accompanying vascular anomalies, whether there was atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries (calculation of Agatston total calcium score, calculation of atherosclerotic stenosis as a percentage, if any) were evaluated. Results: The prevalence of MB in the RCA was 2.06%, and the prevalence of IARCA was 0.44%. In one case, both anomalies were detected together. The average MB segment length in RCA was 21.9 mm, and the average IARCA segment length was 37.9 mm. There was no atherosclerotic disease in the RCA segment where anomaly was detected. Conclusion: Recognition of rare course anomalies of RCA before treatment procedures such as ablation and surgery is important to prevent complications that may have potentially fatal consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cascaded amplification showed promising potential for detection of trace target miRNAs in molecular diagnosis and prevention of many diseases. In this study, miRNA21 was chosen as the target, and rolling circle amplification (RCA)-based DNA nanoscaffold was integrated with target triggered RNA-cleaving DNAzyme for sensitive detection of miRNA21. That is, the H1 probe was bound with the long-chain product of RCA to self-assemble into DNA nanoscaffold. Target miRNA21 triggered the hybridization chain reaction (HCR) located on the nanoscaffold, and led to rapid proximity of DNAzyme fragments modified at both ends of the H2 probe, which realized the cyclic cleavage of self-quenching substrate probe efficiently, and the fluorescence signal was restored. The results demonstrated that the proposed assay was sensitive, 0.76 pM of miRNA21 can be detected. The proposed assay was specific; only one-base mismatched miRNA21 can be effectively recognized, other nucleic acid sequence and the serum matrix did not cause any interference. The proposed assay was accurate; recoveries from 82.1 to 115.0% can be obtained in the spiked fetal bovine serum (FBS). The flexible and programmable characteristics of DNA nanoscaffold and DNAzyme provide a confident and robust strategy for more sensitive nucleic acid detection, and can be developed to be a universal sensing platform for detecting other miRNAs just needing modification on the corresponding sequence of H1 probe in HCR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a chronic inflammatory disease with multiple well-known risk factors. Although epidemiological studies report improvements in classical CAD risk-factor control, except for diabetes and obesity, cardiovascular diseases remain the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the current population. The question regarding the atherosclerotic plaque location in particular arteries remains unanswered. Research on novel possible aspects that could help to properly understand atherosclerosis pathophysiology is essential. This study was based on a body trace-elements analysis, measured in scalp hair samples, as possible co-factors of various enzymes that may be crucial for CAD development. Methods: A total of 133 consecutive male patients with a median age of 71 (65–75) years, who presented with anginal symptoms of CCS class 2.0 (0.3) without previous heart-related interventions, were included in the analysis. The results of the cine-angiography were compared with the demographical, clinical, and laboratory results, followed by scalp-hair trace analysis. The possible predictors for coronary disease locations in the left descending artery (LAD), the circumflex artery (Cx), and the right coronary artery (RCA) were the subjects of this study. Results: Statistically significant differences in the scalp-hair trace elements concentration between the CAD and normal angiogram groups were noticed for magnesium (p = 0.003), calcium (p < 0.001), chromium (p = 0.011), and copper (p = 0.043). The multivariable analysis for epicardial atherosclerotic disease revealed the co-existence of diabetes mellitus (OR: 2.94, 95% CI: 1.27–6.79, p = 0.012) as a possible causative factor for the LAD location. The multivariable analysis for the atherosclerosis location in the Cx artery presented scalp-hair magnesium as a possible predictive factor (OR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.96–1.00, p = 0.024). The multivariable model for the RCA location of atherosclerotic plaque indicated scalp-hair Zn concentration (0.99, 95% CI: 0.98–1.00, p = 0.002) and serum HDL (OR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.04–0.09, p = 0.016). Conclusions: Possible hypothetical distinctive pathomechanisms, in particular, coronary artery involvement, in atherosclerosis processes are presented in the male group. Diabetes mellitus was found to be the primary factor for left descending artery disease. The low scalp-hair magnesium concentration was found to be a possible risk factor involved in the circumflex artery atherosclerotic plaque location. The inverse relation between serum high-density lipoprotein, the scalp hair zinc concentration, and right coronary disease was noticed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using treated recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) in asphalt with waste steel reinforcement benefits the economy and the environment while delaying asphalt pavement deterioration. This study examined the impact of using RCA in several percentages reinforced by three dosages of waste steel: 0.3, 0.6, and 0.9 added as a proportion of mixture weight. The RCA was immersed in a 0.1M Hydrochloric acid solution for one day to treat the weak cement mortar in RCA and reduce the thickness of this layer. The assessment was carried out in a laboratory using the typical Marshall test to determine the optimum quantity of asphalt contents, the volumetric properties of asphalt mixtures, and the wheel tracking test; the study involved ten rectangular slabs measuring 30×40×5 cm, and they were repeatedly subjected to 700 N wheel loads at 55°C to test their rut resistance. According to the study, while Marshall's stability increased, adding waste steel and RCA did not significantly alter the volumetric properties of asphalt mixes. The greatest improvement in Marshall stability, 45.18% over the conventional mix, was seen in the mix, including 75% RCA and 0.9% waste steel. The rutting performance decreased with the addition of RCA and rose with the inclusion of waste steel. The results indicate that adding waste steel to asphalt mixtures effectively increases the rutting resistance. The mixture with 50% RCA and 0.9% waste steel showed less rutting depth of 25.01% than the conventional mix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to determine the export competition specialization level of the cereal sector of Türkiye and the ten countries (USA, Germany, France, India, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Ukraine, Australia and Russia) that have the largest share in cereal exports and to analyze them from a comparative perspective. In this direction, the export and import values of the said countries for the period 2013-2022 were taken from the WITS (World Integrated Trade Solution) database. Analyzes, SITC Rev. it was made using the Revealed Comparative Advantages (RCA) method for 3 cereal sub-product groups in the product group "04-Cereals, cereal products" belonging to 3 groups. According to the Net Export Index results, it has been detected that Germany, India, Brazil, Türkiye, Ukraine (except 0481), Russia, Argentina and Australia (except 0471) specialize in the export of all subproduct groups. However, it is concluded that the USA could not specialize in the export of any of the aforementioned sub-product groups. In addition, it has been determined that France and Canada only specialize in the export of the 0472 coded product group. Balassa Index results show that these countries have a competitive disadvantage in all cereal sub-product groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the influence of different concentrations of recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) on the fresh and hardened properties of self-consolidating concrete (SCC) in order to assess the structural suitability of the use of RCA in a precast concrete plant. The study particularly emphasizes the early strength of the produced concrete. The RCA was sourced from crushed concrete used in roadway applications and was sieved to replicate the characteristics of natural aggregate. Five different SCC mixes were produced, with RCA substituting 0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, and 70% of the natural coarse aggregate (NCA) by weight. For each different mix design, the hardened properties tested were the compressive strength and tensile strength. The fresh properties investigated were the passing and filling ability. Additionally, aggregate properties including grain size distribution and absorption of coarse aggregate were studied. The selected mix design follows a typical well-graded self-consolidating concrete mix with 28-day strength of 8000 psi (55.16 MPa). It was found that replacing up to 50% of the NCA with RCA improves the early strength of concrete without a significant impact on the fresh and hardened concrete properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we propose a random cropping augmentation (RCA) based on an optimized YOLOv8 algorithm by introducing a tiny object detection layer to improve the accuracy of surface defect detection on the inner wall of micro-holes of cylindrical high-precision parts. The inner surfaces of cylindrical high-precision parts possess attributes like high smoothness, elongated channels, limited visibility, minute flaws, and challenges capturing image data. These characters impose significant difficulties in automating defect detection for this part type. Taking the automobile fuel injector valve seat as an example, industrial CCD cameras and lenses are combined with a circular light source to acquire magnified image data. The images are preprocessed using tile and adaptive histogram equalization algorithms. Then, the RCA algorithm expands and randomly combines the image data. We compare the proposed algorithm with the original faster RCNN, YOLOv5 and YOLOv8 algorithm for surface defect detection on the inner wall of the automotive fuel injector valve seat. The experimental results demonstrate that after extending the dataset with the RCA algorithm, there have been significant improvements in the mean average precision (mAP) for the faster RCNN, YOLOv5, and YOLOv8 algorithms. The mAP@0.5 for these algorithms has increased from 37.1%, 48.7%, and 62.2% to 60.9%, 72.6%, and 81.1%, respectively. Furthermore, the improved YOLOv8 algorithm, which incorporates tiny object detection module, achieved an mAP@0.5 of 87% on the dataset extended by the RCA algorithm, with precision and recall reaching 89.7% and 80.6%, respectively. The improved YOLOv8 + RCA algorithm performs better than mainstream algorithms in surface defect detection on the inner wall of the fuel injector valve seat while meeting the requirements of industrial production quality inspection for detection speed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Agribusiness Forum / Forum Agribisnis is the property of IPB University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The administration of waste from constructing-demolition and the reuse of industrial waste materials are the main focuses of the sustainability initiatives. There are economic and environmental benefits to using recycled concrete aggregates (RCA). Nevertheless, the RCA mixes' poor performance necessitates the addition of more enhanced substances. This study investigated the moisture resistance of asphaltic mixes that included RCA and silica fume (SF). Coarse aggregates were replaced with RCA at three different percentages 15%, 30%, and 45%, which were pre-treated by immersing it in acid with a concentration of 0.1 mol. for a duration of 24 hours. Then the mixes containing RCA were incorporated with various amounts of SF, with 3%, 6%, and 9% of the binder's weight. These mixes were used to measure the Marshall characteristics and evaluate moisture resistance using indirect tensile strength, compresive strength tests. A thermal camera was employed to assess the modified asphalt's homogeneity. The thermal images demonstrated that after 30 minutes of mixing SF at 160 ℃, the asphalt cement has been uniformly distributed SF particles, as evident by the colour convergence. The findings revealed that the addition of RCA to the asphalt mix increased TSR and IRS levels by 6.68% and 8.93%, respectively, at RCA 30% compared to the original mixture. Additionally, the inclusion of silica fume led to a rise in TSR and IRS until 6%, after which there was a drop, but the levels remained above the original mix. The use of 30% RCA ratio with 6% silica fume resulted in the highest improvement in TSR and IRS, with a rise of 13.72% and 14.13%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitral valve repair clip detachment and embolization is a rare phenomenon, with few reported cases. We describe a case of subacute transcatheter mitral valve repair clip embolization presenting as an inferior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, with subsequent successful percutaneous device retrieval. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.).

The aim of the study is to determine Türkiye's ornamental plant export competitiveness and specialization level and to make a comparison of Türkiye with the world leaders in ornamental plant exports (Netherlands, Colombia, Italy, Ecuador and Germany). In the study, data for the years 1996-2022 were taken from the World Bank database. Analyses were carried out for ornamental plants product groups coded "0601", "0602", "0603" and "0604" of the Harmonized System (HS) 1996 classification by using the Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) method. According to the results of the analysis, the Netherlands seems to have a strong advantage in the export of ornamental plant products, while Germany and Türkiye are at a competitive disadvantage. The results of the Net Export Index show that Ecuador specializes in the exports of the "0603" coded product group and has a significant competitive advantage. Finally, the results of the analysis with the Export-Import Ratio Index reveal that the export specialization of the ornamental plant export leader Netherlands decreased in the 1996-2022 period, while Ecuador and Germany increased their specialization gradually. The same index results show that Colombia and Türkiye's and Italy's export specialization in ornamental plants product groups coded "0602", "0601" and "0602", respectively, is gradually increasing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fundamental ways of building innovativeness of the economy are the creation and diffusion of innovation, the latter of which is the dispersal of new technological, organizational, marketing solutions as well as knowledge among imitator enterprises, and copycats (the 'spillover effect'). Important determinants of innovation diffusion include the inflow of foreign capital (in the form of FDI) and foreign trade. Few empirical studies exist that attempt to explain the sources of innovation diffusion in the Polish economy applying quantitative tools used in contemporary statistics and econometrics. The existing research gap makes it difficult to reliably assess the actual cause-and-effect relationships between spillover processes and macroeconomic variables. This article sought to determine the nature and strength of the impact of investment specialisation (and investment attractiveness) as well as industry export specialisation on the phenomenon of penetration of innovation in the Polish processing industry. The occurrence of innovation diffusion and its dynamics were investigated using the logistic function econometric model. To study the impact of the specialisation, according to FDI located in Poland, and specialization of export on the process of innovation diffusion, dynamic models of error correction estimated for selected industrial processing industries were used. The obtained results allowed to answer the questions: in which industries has innovation diffusion occurred, in which was it the fastest, and to what extent was it the effect of investment attractiveness, and to what degree of the export specialization of the industry? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzed the competitiveness of Peru's exports of grapes, blueberries, avocados, and asparagus from 2019 to 2023. Data were obtained from the customs declarations of all exporting companies of the analyzed products, along with data from the International Trade Center. Competitiveness was measured using the absolute revealed comparative advantage (RCA) index. The results indicate notable growth in the exports of grapes and blueberries, while asparagus and avocados face challenges in market and exporter diversification. The RCA index suggests a strong and stable specialization in these products. This study concludes with specific recommendations for institutions such as Ministerio de Desarrollo Agrario y Riego (MIDAGRI), Comisión de Promoción del Perú para la Exportación y el Turismo (PROMPERÚ), Asociación de Exportadores (ADEX), and Instituto Nacional de Innovación Agraria (INIA), aimed at enhancing competitiveness through market diversification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Indonesian Agribusiness / Jurnal Agribisnis Indonesia is the property of IPB University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Indonesian Agribusiness / Jurnal Agribisnis Indonesia is the property of IPB University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Indonesia is known as one of the world's spiceproducing countries. One of the spices produced by Indonesia is cinnamon, which has many benefits and a high economic price. However, the existence of various obstacles in exporting cinnamon makes Indonesia have to select cinnamon export markets in destination countries. The purpose of this study is to analyze the potential development of Indonesia's cinnamon export markets. This research uses the analysis methods of Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA), Export Product Dynamic (EPD), and X-model potential export product. The results of the study can be concluded that the destination countries of China and India are in the position of optimistic market. While the Netherlands and Thailand are in the position of potential market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building demolition produces construction waste in large amounts and this waste impose environmental problems. The use of recycled coarse aggregate obtained from demolished concrete will reduce environmental problems, landfill space and also saves natural aggregate sources. Though the use of recycled materials from construction is in practice, addition of recycled concrete aggregate reduces compressive strength, increases porosity and possesses poor ductile property. Addition of steel fibres can significantly improve the mechanical properties. In this study, the influence of steel fiber on the mechanical behavior of concrete made of different percentages of recycled concrete aggregate is evaluated. Water cement ratios of 0.3 and 0.4 were considered. Steel fiber volume fraction was varied from 0%, 0.5%, 0.75% and 1%. The results of compressive strength, split tensile strength, flexural strength, flexural toughness and residual strength factor are evaluated for varied percentages of recycled concrete aggregate and steel fiber contents. Results showed that with increase in steel fibers content there is improvement in compressive strength, split tensile strength, flexural strength, flexural toughness and residual strength factor of concrete made of recycled concrete aggregates. Addition of steel fiber improves the mechanical property of concrete by making it a ductile material. Natural coarse aggregates can be replaced with RCA up to 60% along with steel fibers and it is possible to achieve strength equal to that of normal concrete. The recommended optimum percentage of steel fibers is 0.75%. The models developed in this study could be used for the prediction of mechanical properties of concrete under unreinforced and fibre reinforced conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are many possible quality tools available for RCA and this research seeks to identify which quality tools are used by quality professionals specifically when performing an RCA. An anonymous survey was emailed to an organization’s quality leaders at locations around the world. The survey asked the respondents to list the quality tools that they use when performing an RCA as well as the quality tools that they think everybody should know for RCA. The results were then statistically analyzed. The Ishikawa diagram is both the most commonly used quality tool and the most recommended quality tool for RCA. Five whys and is/is-not were also commonly used quality tools. This research identifies which quality tools are actually used by quality professionals in industry when performing an RCA. This information can be useful for organizations when selecting a limited tool set for RCA.

Background: Rubisco activase (RCA) is a pivotal enzyme that can catalyse the activation of Rubisco in carbon assimilation pathway. Many studies have shown that RCA may be a potential target for genetic manipulation aimed at enhancing photosynthetic efficiency and crop yield. Objective: To understand the biological function of the GhRCAβ2 gene in upland cotton, we cloned the coding sequence (CDS) of the GhRCAβ2 gene and investigated its sequence features, evolutionary relationship, subcellular localization, promoter sequence and expression pattern. Methods: The bioinformatics tools were used to analyze the sequence features of GhRCAβ2 protein. Transient transformation of Arabidopsis mesophyll protoplasts was performed to determine the subcellular localization of the GhRCAβ2 protein. The expression pattern of the GhRCAβ2 gene was examined by analyzing transcriptome data and using the quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Results: The full-length CDS of GhRCAβ2 was 1317 bp, and it encoded a protein with a chloroplast transit peptide. The GhRCAβ2 had two conserved ATP-binding domains, and did not have the C-terminal extension (CTE) domain that was unique to the RCA α-isoform in plants. Evolutionarily, GhRCAβ2 was clustered in Group A, and had a close evolutionary relationship with the soybean RCA. Western blot analysis demonstrated that GhRCAβ2 was immunoreactive to the RCA antibody displaying a molecular weight similar to that of the RCA β-isoform. The GhRCAβ2 protein was found in chloroplast, aligning with its role as a vital enzyme in the process of photosynthesis. The GhRCAβ2 gene had a leaf tissue-specific expression pattern, and the yellow-green leaf mutant exhibited a decreased expression of GhRCAβ2 in comparison to the wild-type cotton plants. The GhRCAβ2 promoter contained several cis-acting elements that respond to light, phytohormones and stress, suggesting that the expression of GhRCAβ2 may be regulated by these factors. An additional examination of stress response indicated that GhRCAβ2 expression was influenced by cold, heat, salt, and drought stress. Notably, diverse expression pattern was observed across different stress conditions. Additionally, low phosphorus and low potassium stress may result in a notable reduction in the expression of GhRCAβ2 gene. Conclusion: Our findings will establish a basis for further understanding the function of the GhRCAβ2 gene, as well as providing valuable genetic knowledge to improve cotton photosynthetic efficiency and yield under challenging environmental circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Management & Agribusiness / Jurnal Manajemen & Agribisnis is the property of IPB University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Management & Agribusiness / Jurnal Manajemen & Agribisnis is the property of IPB University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Agribusiness Forum / Forum Agribisnis is the property of IPB University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The objective of this paper is to explore a multidisciplinary problem-solving team investigating a customer-reported failure using an Ishikawa diagram with a spreadsheet for prioritizing and tracking investigation actions in a manufacturing organization. A case study methodology is used with the actions taken to investigate a customer-reported failure explained. The highest priority failure hypothesis was found to be unrelated to the failure. Two medium-rated hypotheses were found to be causing the problem; leakage was occurring at the connection between two components due to a diameter deviation of one of the components. Identifying and prioritizing hypotheses from the Ishikawa diagram provided structure to the investigation and gave the investigation team leader a tool for tracking the investigation actions. This approach is suitable for all types of failure investigations in which an Ishikawa diagram is used to list hypotheses.

This study explores the influence of different concentrations of recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) on the fresh and hardened properties of self-consolidating concrete (SCC) in order to assess the structural suitability of the use of RCA in a precast concrete plant. The study particularly emphasizes the early strength of the produced concrete. The RCA was sourced from crushed concrete used in roadway applications and was sieved to replicate the characteristics of natural aggregate. Five different SCC mixes were produced, with RCA substituting 0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, and 70% of the natural coarse aggregate (NCA) by weight. For each different mix design, the hardened properties tested were the compressive strength and tensile strength. The fresh properties investigated were the passing and filling ability. Additionally, aggregate properties including grain size distribution and absorption of coarse aggregate were studied. The selected mix design follows a typical well-graded self-consolidating concrete mix with 28-day strength of 8000 psi (55.16 MPa). It was found that replacing up to 50% of the NCA with RCA improves the early strength of concrete without a significant impact on the fresh and hardened concrete properties.

For the automated root cause analysis (ARCA) method and simplified RCA technique, their empirical assessment is presented in this study. A focus group meeting is a foundation for the target problem identification in the ARCA technique. This is compared to earlier RCA methodologies which rely on problem sampling for target problem discovery and high beginning costs. In this research, we suggest a naïve Bayes based machine learning method for identifying the underlying causes of newly reported software issues, which will facilitate a quicker and more effective resolution of software bugs. The ARCA technique produced a large number of high-quality corrective actions while requiring a reasonable amount of effort. The strategy is an effective way to find new opportunities for process improvement and produce fresh process improvement ideas in contrast to the organization’s corporate practices. In addition it is simple to utilize. Ultimately, we compared the methodology with other machine learning classifiers including support vector machine and decision tree.

Nowadays, industrial businesses are more aware of the value of machine maintenance, and more especially, the adoption of an effective maintenance strategy. Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), which involves everyday chores involving the entire workforce, increases equipment efficiency, prevents breakdowns, and promotes autonomous operator maintenance. TPM is a fantastic technique for maintaining buildings and machines. This article provides research and a review of TPM implementation in an RMG Industry to help enhance Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE). Data from the past have been studied, and the findings obtained in terms of motivated employees, improved OEE, and a decrease in the number of rejects/accidents on the production line are fairly positive. The methodology calls for gradually applying lean principles, Autonomous Maintenance (AM), 5S, and planned maintenance. After TPM deployment on the critical machine, improvements in availability, performance, and quality are seen boosting the overall efficacy of the equipment. A comparison of OEE before and after implementation demonstrates the effectiveness of TPM deployment throughout the industry.

Conference management is one of the core business processes at the Research and Community Service Institute (LPPM) and it is conducted by online. The problem is the lack of a business process model for conference management, hence the committee had not a clear understanding of its activities. Furthermore, there has been no evaluation of the business processes, leading to unidentified weaknesses in the activities. The purpose of this research is to map and summarize the business processes using Business Process Management (BPM). BPM proves to be suitable for achieving the research objectives as it focuses on process approaches and provides tools and techniques to enhance the quality of conference management. The analysis employs qualitative process analysis with Value-Added Analysis and Root-Cause Analysis using the Why-Why Diagram approach to identify the root causes of issues and propose improvement measures for each business process. The research methodology used is qualitative with data collection technique involving interview, observation, and literature studies. The business process modeling adopts the Business Process Modelling Notation (BPMN). The research outcome presented a to-be process model that illustrated the recommended conference management business process which consisting of 7 main business processes, 27 sub-processes, 21 activities, and 200 tasks.

The best way to dispose of construction waste and plastic materials (in Mosul city in the north of Iraq) is to use them as subbase layer of the road to make them both environmentally friendly and cost-effective. Because these materials are not cohesive, a certain percentage of clay was added. The research aimed to dispose of these materials scientifically and deliberately with appropriate California Bearing Ratio (CBR) values obtained from a mixture of (clay soil + recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) + polyethylene). These values are much greater than the CBR values obtained from natural materials used in the design of the road subbase layer. Clay was added to soil in specific proportions: 10 % to type A and 20 % to type B. Various tests were carried out for the mixture to determine Maximum Dry Density (MDD) and Optimal Moisture Content (OMC), and then CBR and swelling. Tests were also carried out to determine the soil permeability (both the permeability rate in centimeters per hour (cm/h), and the coefficient of permeability k in meters per second (m/s)). Polyethylene was added in different proportions as a replacement for the remaining fine aggregate on the sieve No. 8. Multiple percentages of polyethylene terephthalate were used, ranging from 2.5 to 10 for type A (2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10 %) and from 5 to 20 for type B (5.0, 10, 15, 20 %), in order to obtain an ideal mixture of (RCA + polyethylene + clay). The CBR was 12 %, which had been more than that of natural soil. The coefficient of permeability was more than 32 m/day, indicating that these mixes could be used for subsurface drainage purposes. This value was reasonable and no noticeable erosion was observed. The subbase would help draining and prevent settlement and channeling. Apart from the sustainable benefit, the mixture (clay soil + RCA + polyethylene) was found to be suitable for use in road pavements, according to the methodologies used in this study. Due to the encouraging results it is recommended to use these techniques to dispose of the waste and debris materials and obtain optima benefits.