The Solar Radiation Climate of Greece

The solar radiation climate of Greece is investigated by using typical meteorological years (TMYs) at 43 locations in Greece based on a period of 10 years (2007–2016). These TMYs include hourly values of global, Hg, and diffuse, Hd, horizontal irradiances from which the direct, Hb, horizontal irradiance is estimated. Use of the diffuse fraction, kd, and the definition of the direct-beam fraction, kb, is made. Solar maps of annual mean Hg, Hd, kd, and kb are prepared over Greece under clear and all skies, which show interesting but explainable patterns. Additionally, the intra-annual and seasonal variabilities of these parameters are presented and regression equations are provided. It is found that Hb has a negative linear relationship with kd; the same applies to Hg with respect to kd or with respect to the latitude of the site. It is shown that kd (kb) can reflect the scattering (absorption) effects of the atmosphere on solar radiation, and, therefore, this parameter can be used as a scattering (absorption) index. An analysis shows that the influence of solar variability (sunspot cycle) on the Hg levels over Athens in the period 1953–2018 was less dominant than the anthropogenic (air-pollution) footprint that caused the global dimming effect.

Magnesium status in a population of type 2 diabetes mellitus in Morocco

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) contributes to 90% cases of diabetes–the ninth leading cause of death. Magnesium (Mg) levels have been found consistently low in the patients with T2DM around the world. Objective: The objective of our work was to assess the Mg status in the patients with T2DM. Material and methods: A descriptive prospective study including 103 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was carried out at Avicenna Military Hospital in Marrakesh over a period of four months (October 2019 - January 2020). The patients with T2DM and age above 35years with no history of Mg supplementation, cancer or autoimmune disease were included in the study. Blood samples were analyzed for fasting glucose, lipid profile, HbA1c, and serum magnesium. The data were analyzed by SPSS version 16, Pearson correlation was performed to establish the relationship between Mg and metabolic variables in T2DM patients. Results: The study included 103 T2DM patients with 56 (54.4%) males and 47 (45.6%) females. Prevalence of hypomagnesemia was 14.56%. Mean age of the patients and duration of diabetes were 59±9 years and 9±4years, respectively. Most common antecedent conditions were dyslipidemia (43.7%), hypertension (42.7%), and retinopathy (25.2%). Hypomagnesemia was significantly associated with HbA1c (P=0.003) and arterial hypertension (P=0.002). Magnesium had negative linear relationship with increased fasting blood sugar and HbA1c. Conclusion: In Morocco, the prevalence of hypomagnesemia in T2DM patient is low, but it has negative linear relationship with fasting blood sugar and HbA1c.

A dimensional measure of safety behavior: A non-dichotomous assessment of costly avoidance in human fear conditioning

Safety behavior prevents the occurrence of threat, thus it is typically considered adaptive. However, safety behavior in anxiety-related disorders is often costly, and persists even the situation does not entail realistic threat. Individuals can engage in safety behavior to varying extents, however, these behaviors are typically measured dichotomously (i.e., to execute or not). To better understand the nuances of safety behavior, this study developed a dimensional measure of safety behavior that had a negative linear relationship with the admission of an aversive outcome. In two experiments, a Reward group receiving fixed or individually calibrated incentives competing with safety behavior showed reduced safety behavior than a Control group receiving no incentives. This allowed extinction learning to a previously learnt warning signal in the Reward group (i.e., updating the belief that this stimulus no longer signals threat). Despite the Reward group exhibited extinction learning, both groups showed a similar increase in fear to the warning signal once safety behavior was no longer available. This null group difference was due to some participants in the Reward group not incentivized enough to disengage from safety behavior. Dimensional assessment revealed a dissociation between low fear but substantial safety behavior to a safety signal in the Control group. This suggests that low-cost safety behavior does not accurately reflect the fear-driven processes, but also other non-fear-driven processes, such as cost (i.e., engage in safety behavior merely because it bears little to no cost). Pinpointing both processes is important for furthering the understanding of safety behavior.

Appraisals of the Socio- Economic Characteristics of Waste scavengers in Mubi Metropolis, Nigeria

The study examines the socio-economic and demographic characteristics of waste scavengers, practitioners of a common form of solid waste resource recovery practices in Mubi metropolis. A total number of two hundred sets of questionnaire were administered to waste scavengers and eight waste merchants out of which 176 sets of the questionnaire were retrieved and analysed. The purposive and Snowball Sampling Techniques were employed to identify the respondents. Tables, percentage Charts, point bisereal correlation, t-test and one way ANOVA technique were used for the analysis. The results revealed that majority of the scavengers within Mubi metropolis are male (93.2%). The female counterparts do not partake much in these types of trade. The reason could not be far fetched from the unwholesome nature of the business and its demands. Generally, the educational status of respondents’ shows that majority of practitioners 44.3% pass through formal education or may not have attended any school system. This attest to the fact that they may not be knowledgeable with regard to the rudiment of resource recycling or reuse. Further result revealed that practitioners were overwhelmingly pushed into scavenging business (93.8%) by poverty/unemployment. Be as it may, all (100%) scavengers revealed that scavenging has increased their income and consequently their standard of living. The Pearson's point-biserial correlation coefficient shows a very weak negative linear relationship between both variables of income and impact of scavenging on health of scavengers. (rpb = -0.071, n = 176, p = 3, At p > 0.05) This relationship goes to show that there is no significant relationship between monthly income and impact (positive and negative) of scavenging on health of Merchants and scavengers in Mubi metropolitan area of Adamawa State. Conclusively, scavenging practice plays a greater role in poverty alleviation and creation of employment especially among those categories of scavengers that attended informal education or not any other school system. However, most scavengers (61.4%) affairs to be urgent need of capital to sustain and boost their businesse.

Impact of Sustainability Reporting and Inadequate Management of ESG Factors on Corporate Performance and Sustainable Growth

The purpose of this research study is to examine and explain whether there is a positive or negative linear relationship between sustainability reporting, inadequate management of economic, social, and governance (ESG) factors, and corporate performance and sustainable growth. The financial and market performances of companies are both analyzed in this study. Sustainable growth at the company level is introduced as a dimension that depends on sustainability reporting and the management of ESG factors. In order to achieve the main objective of the paper, the methodology here focuses on the construction of multifactorial linear regressions, in which the dependent variables are measurements of financial and market performance and assess corporate sustainable growth. The independent variables of these regressions are the sustainability metrics and the control variables included in the models. Most of the existing literature focuses on the causality between sustainability performance and financial performance. While most impact studies on financial performance are restricted to sustainability performance, this study refers to the degree of risk associated with the inadequate management of economic, social, and governance factors. This work examines the effects of ESG risk management, not only on performance, but also on corporate sustainable growth. It is one of the few studies that addresses the problem of the involvement of companies in controversial events and the way in which such events impact the sustainability and sustainable growth of the company.

Impact of traumatic perinatal events on burnout rates among midwives

Background Little is known about the prevalence of burnout among Irish midwives and how traumatic perinatal events in work contributes to this. Aims To establish the prevalence of burnout among midwives in Ireland and whether exposure to traumatic perinatal events in work contributes to this. Methods A cross-sectional study utilizing a designed questionnaire was carried out in a tertiary-referral maternity hospital involving all clinical midwives (n = 248). Demographic details and frequency of perinatal events deemed traumatic were recorded. The extent of distress was documented on two visual analogues read in combination to reflect the impact of the distressing events. Burnout severity was assessed using the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory. Results The response rate was 55% (n = 137). Mean scores for personal, work-related and patient-related burnout were 56.0, 55.9 and 34.3, respectively. Over 90% of respondents experienced exposure to a traumatic event in work in the previous year, with 58% reporting a frequency of monthly or greater. No significant relationship was demonstrated between frequency of trauma and burnout; however, the extent of distress experienced was positively related to burnout in each domain (R2 = 0.18, 0.15 and 0.09, respectively, P < 0.01). A modest negative linear relationship exists between personal and work-related burnout and increasing age (ρ = −0.25 and −0.27, P < 0.01). A significant difference in work-related burnout score was evident between midwives with less experience and more experienced colleagues (P < 0.01). Conclusions Burnout is common among midwives. Exposure to discrete traumatic perinatal events experienced by women under their care contributes to this.

Retentive Characteristics of a Polyetheretherketone Post-Core Restoration with Polyvinylsiloxane Attachments

A new application of a polyetheretherketone (PEEK) post-core restoration combined with polyvinylsiloxane (PVS) attachments was proposed and substantiated. This study aimed to evaluate retentive characteristics of the PEEK post-core restoration with PVS attachment systems. Specimens with PVS attachments were fabricated to evaluate retention force during 10,000 cyclic dislodgements. Additionally, the retention forces of PVS attachments with three different values of Shore hardness were further measured before and after aging treatments. The results of cyclic dislodgement test indicated a strong negative linear relationship between the cyclic times and retention force (p < 0.0001, r = −0.957). Furthermore, the retention forces of the PVS were significantly improved with Shore hardness increased, which was also affected by the aging treatment (F (2, 138) = 10.95, p < 0.0001). Therefore, the PEEK post-core restoration with PVS attachments exhibited the favorable retention force, which could be a promising alternative for dental prostheses.

Effects of Additive Type on Fermentation and Aerobic Stability and Its Interaction with Air Exposure on Silage Nutritive Value

As farm profitability and sustainability of animal production are largely affected by overall losses of dry matter and nutritive value of silage from field to trough, the objective of the study was to assess the effects of different additive types on fermentation, aerobic stability (ASTA) and changes in in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) and metabolisable energy (ME) of grass and grass–clover silage exposed to air. Three trials were performed, where grass and grass–clover forages were treated with biological and chemical additives and ensiled in 1.6-L glass jars. Upon silo opening, fermentation characteristics, yeast counts and ASTA were determined as well as changes in IVOMD and ME during subsequent air exposure for up to 336 h. All silages were well preserved. The ASTA was improved by Lactobacillus buchneri-containing additives in all trials and by chemical additives in trial 3. In untreated silage, aeration reduced IVOMD and ME but variable effects of additives were observed. The nutritive value was maintained throughout aeration by all additives in trial 1, whereas in trial 3, only chemical additives were successful. A strong negative linear relationship across trials was detected between the extent of aerobic deterioration and changes in ME during air exposure (r = −0.756, p < 0.001). Silage additives improving aerobic stability have the potential to prevent the loss of nutritive value of grass and grass–clover silage during feed-out.

What determinants influence the diffusion of ISO 9001 by countries?

PurposeThis study has the main aim of analyzing the influence of six factors on ISO 9001 implementation: Economic Development, Exporting to Europe, Reputation, Competitiveness, Innovation and Business Sophistication. As a complement, a new factor relating to quality by country has been added: the World Quality Scoreboard.Design/methodology/approachHypotheses are proposed that establish a (positive or negative) linear relationship between the diffusion of ISO 9001 and the indicators of the different factors analyzed in each country. The SPSS program was used to evaluate the hypotheses using data from 2009 to 2018.FindingsThe results indicate strong positive relationship for the country's economic development only when countries with low levels of income are considered. For the rest of the variables, the results indicate that their behavior varies according to the degree of development of the countries. When only developed countries are considered, significant and negative correlations are obtained for reputation, competitiveness, innovation and business sophistication, while considering the group of less developed countries, the results are reversed. The new World Quality Scoreboard has the same behavior whereas regarding exports; we did not obtain conclusive results.Originality/valueThis study adds important information on the studying of ISO 9000 phenomenon diffusion/evolution by analyzing the effect of six variables on the degree of implementation of the ISO 9001 standard in different countries. This information is interesting for companies and certification bodies across the world because it allows a better understanding of the reasons and conditions of implementing a quality management system.

The Effect of Tractor Speed and Canopy Position on Fungicide Spray Deposition and Peach Scab Incidence and Severity

Peach scab, caused by Venturia carpophila, is a damaging disease of peach in the southeastern United States. Thus, fungicides are applied to reduce peach scab. Tractor speed was investigated as a variable affecting spray deposition and disease control in relation to volume applied. In experiments in 2015 and 2016, trees were sprayed with fungicide to control scab at petal fall to 1% shuck split and at shuck split to 10% shuck off. Speeds were 3.2, 4.8, and 6.4 kph resulting in 1,403, 935, and 701 liters/ha, respectively, with the dose of active ingredient (a.i.) per ha kept constant. Deposition declined for all speeds with later spray dates. There was a negative linear relationship between tractor speed and spray coverage on three of four dates the experiment was repeated. Tractor speed (different volumes, equal doses) affected peach scab. In 2015 and 2016, mean incidence at 3.2, 4.8, and 6.4 kph was 68.6, 59.2, and 38.3%, and 64.2, 53.0, and 40.4% of fruit scabbed, respectively. Effect of speed on lesion number per fruit depended on year: in 2015, lesions per fruit were reduced at 6.4 kph compared with 3.2 and 4.8 kph but were not different in 2016. Control trees had fewer lesions per fruit high in the canopy, but there was little effect of sample height in fungicide-treated trees. Concentration of a.i. in lower volumes applied at higher speed may provide some benefit in reducing incidence of peach scab, but there appeared to be less effect on severity.