Dual activity of Serratia marcescens Pt-3 in phosphate-solubilizing and production of antifungal volatiles

Background Soil fertility decline and pathogen infection are severe issues for crop production all over the world. Microbes as inherent factors in soil were effective in alleviating fertility decrease, promoting plant growth and controlling plant pathogens et al. Thus, screening microbes with fertility improving and pathogen controlling properties is of great importance to humans. Results Bacteria Pt-3 isolated from tea rhizosphere showed multiple functions in solubilizing insoluble phosphate, promoting plant growth, producing abundant volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and inhibiting the growth of important fungal pathogens in vitro. According to the 16S rRNA phylogenetic and biochemical analysis, Pt-3 was identified to be Serratia marcescens. The solubilizing zone of Pt-3 in the medium of lecithin and Ca3(PO4)2 was 2.1 cm and 1.8 cm respectively. In liquid medium and soil, the concentration of soluble phosphorus reached 343.9 mg.L− 1, and 3.98 mg.kg− 1, and significantly promoted the growth of maize seedling, respectively. Moreover, Pt-3 produced abundant volatiles and greatly inhibited the growth of seven important phytopathogens. The inhibition rate ranged from 75.51 to 100% respectively. Solid phase micro-extraction coupled with gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry proved that the antifungal volatile was dimethyl disulfide. Dimethyl disulfide can inhibit the germination of Aspergillus flavus, and severely destroy the cell structures under scanning electron microscopy. Conclusions S. marcescens Pt-3 with multiple functions will provide novel agent for the production of bioactive fertilizer with P-solubilizing and fungal pathogens control activity.

Known in the nursing home: development and evaluation of a digital person-centered artistic photo-activity intervention to promote social interaction between residents with dementia, and their formal and informal carers

Background To address the lack of social interaction and meaningful activities for persons with dementia (PWD) in nursing homes an artistic Photo-Activity was designed. The present study aims to develop a digital version of the Photo-Activity and to investigate its implementation and impact on nursing home residents with advanced dementia, and their (in)formal carers. Methods First, within a user-participatory design, a digital-app version of the Photo-Activity will be developed and pilot-tested, in co-creation with (in)formal carers and PWD. Next, the feasibility and effectiveness of the Photo-Activity versus a control activity will be explored in a randomized controlled trial with nursing home residents (N=90), and their (in)formal carers. Residents will be offered the Photo-Activity or the control activity by (in)formal carers during one month. Measurements will be conducted by independent assessors at baseline (T0), after one month (T1) and at follow up, two weeks after T1 (T2). Qualitative and quantitative methods will be used to investigate the effects of the intervention on mood, social interaction and quality of life of the PWD, sense of competence of informal carers, empathy and personal attitude of the formal carers, and quality of the relationship between the PWD, and their (in)formal carers. In addition, a process evaluation will be carried out by means of semi-structured interviews with the participating residents and (in)formal carers. Finally, an implementation package based on the process evaluation will be developed, allowing the scaling up of the intervention to other care institutions. Discussion Results of the trial will be available for dissemination by Spring 2023. The digital Photo-Activity is expected to promote meaningful connections between the resident with dementia, and their (in)formal carers through the facilitation of person-centered conversations. Trial registration Netherlands Trial Register: NL9219; registered (21 January 2021); NTR (trialregister.nl)

Plant Growth-promoting and Bio-control Activity of Micrococcus luteus Strain AKAD 3-5 Isolated from the Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) Rhizosphere

Background: Applications of bioinoculants for improving crop productivity may be an eco-friendly alternative to chemical fertilizers. Rhizosphere or soil-inhabiting beneficial microbes can enhance plant growth and productivity through direct and indirect mechanisms, i.e., phosphate solubilization, nutrient acquisition, phytohormone production, etc. Objective: This study is based on the hypothesis that diseases resistant plants can act as a source of potential microbes that can have good plant growth-promoting traits and bio-control potential. Methods: In this study, we have isolated the rhizobacterial strains (AKAD 2-1, AKAD 2-10, AKAD 3-5, AKAD 3-9) from the rhizosphere of a disease-resistant variety of soybean (JS-20-34) (Glycine max (L.) Merr.). These bacterial strains were further screened for various plant growth-promoting traits (phosphate solubilization, indole acetic acid (IAA), ammonia, biofilm, HCN, Exopolysaccharide (EPS), and enzyme production activity (catalase, cellulase, and chitinase)). Results: Among four, only bacterial strain AKAD 3-5 has shown plant-growth-promoting and biocontrol (98%) activity against Fusarium oxysporum. Morphological, biochemical, and molecular characterization (16S rRNA) revealed that this rhizobacterial isolate AKAD 3-5 closely resembles Micrococcus luteus (Gene bank accession: MH304279). Conclusion: Here, we conclude that this strain can be utilized to promote soybean growth under varied soil stress conditions.

People with nicotine dependence use-disorder exhibit more prefrontal activity during preparatory control but reduced anterior cingulate activity during reactive control

Reduced inhibitory control and a hypersensitivity to reward are key deficits in drug-dependents, however, they tend to be studied in isolation. Here we seek to understand the neural processes underlying control over reward and how this is different in people with a nicotine use disorder (pNUD). A novel variant of the monetary incentive delay task was performed by pNUD (n = 20) and non-smokers (n = 20), where we added a stop-signal component such that participants had to inhibit prepotent responses to earn a larger monetary reward. Brain activity was recorded using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). We estimated stop signal reaction times (SSRT), an indicator of impulsivity, and correlated these with brain activity. Inhibitory accuracy scores did not differ between the control group and pNUD. However, pNUD had slower SSRTs, suggesting that they may find it harder to inhibit responses. Brain data revealed that pNUD had greater preparatory control activity in the middle frontal gyrus and inferior frontal gyrus prior to successful inhibitions over reward. In contrast, non-smokers had greater reactive control associated with more activity in the anterior cingulate cortex during these successful inhibitions. SSRT-brain activity correlations revealed that pNUD engaged more control related prefrontal brain regions when SSRTs are slower. Overall, whilst the inhibition accuracy scores were similar between groups, differential neural processes and strategies were used to successfully inhibit a prepotent response. The findings suggest that increasing preparatory control in pNUD may be one possible treatment target in order to increase inhibitory control over reward.

CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS REGARDING THE QUALITY AND SUPERVISION OF AUDIT DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

This article addresses the issues faced by auditors, audit firms, and the business environment in the country and abroad, during the Covid-19 pandemic crisis, such as remote work and the issue of communication. At the same time, the author describes the solutions offered by the institutions of different states to overcome this crisis. The problems of the audit and control activity of the banking institutions were addressed, as well as the implementation of some software that would allow performing audit remotely. Solutions for facilitating the lending of entities during this period have also been described. Separately, the issue of contractual relations during the pandemic period was addressed. Using different research methods and analyzing the opinions of different auditors and economists, the author was able to present his own conclusions and recommendations in order to overcome this crisis by both audit firms and state institutions.

Research on Powdered Activated Carbon Modification Using Chosen Chemical Methods

Activated carbon has many applications in the environment, cosmetology, medicine and industry. The surface of each activated carbon can be modified to obtain the desired adsorption properties. Chemical activation can greatly affect the adsorption efficiency, control activity and application of the activated carbon. The aim of the study was to modify the selected activated carbon by chemical and physical methods, while maintaining these parameters so that it could be used in medicine. Powdered activated carbons with higher mechanical strength, large specific surface area and large macro-, meso- and micropore volume were prepared using natural waste wood material. This was followed by the digestion process and the washing of activated carbon. The study results indicate a significant influence of the centrifugal washing of activated carbon on the changes in the ash content and methylene index in the final product.

Environmental safety evaluation of geopark based on CPTED concept and fuzzy comprehensive analysis

In recent years, with the increasingly popular and openness of Geoparks, Environmental safety has become a major concern for sustainable geo-tourism. It is therefore necessary to conduct an environmental safety performance evaluation for promoting geo-tourism development. In order to identify and figure out the factors influencing the tourists’ environmental safety perception, an index system was established based on six principles of Crime Prevention Through environment design (CPTED) theory. A Questionnaire was adopted for data collection, and the overall evaluation value and concrete index scores at all levels were obtained via the fuzzy comprehensive analysis and Importance-Performance analysis. Empirical results show that: (1) tourists’ perception of environmental safety performance in Shilin Park from high to low was: image and maintenance, Natural Surveillance, territoriality, Access control, Activity support and target hardening; (2) The sub-factors influencing tourists’ safety perception mostly include electronic monitoring device, Lighting system, Public safety management, Road layout, environmental sanitation; While attention should be paid on the following aspects including park service center, inter-personal surveillance, surrounding environment, unobstructed view, parking lot, Signpost, for they are considered as high-importance items with relatively poor performance. Based on the analysis, three optimization measures were proposed, including optimizing the layout and design of each space, strengthening the deterrent force of the park and maintaining a good environmental image. This research provides useful suggestions for Geopark decision-makers on determining the priority of Geopark spatial planning and management, as well as achieving the optimal allocation of resources to promote the sustainable development of Geopark.

Investigation of bioluminescence-based assays for determination of kinetic parameters for the bifunctional Neisseria meningitidis serogroup W capsule polymerase

Objective Neisseria meningitidis is a Gram-negative bacterium that causes meningitis. N. meningitidis serogroup W (NmW) capsule polymerase synthesizes capsular polysaccharide of this serogroup. This enzyme could be a tool for meningococcal glycoconjugate vaccine development. Our long-term goal is to control activity of the NmW capsule polymerase for production of defined carbohydrates for vaccines. The enzyme lacks a simple, high-throughput activity assay. Here, we describe the use of high-throughput bioluminescence assays (CMP-Glo and UDP-Glo by Promega) to investigate NmW capsule polymerase activity. These assays detect free nucleotides produced during transfer of sugar from UDP-Galactose and CMP-Sialic Acid to an acceptor. Kinetic studies using NmW hydrolyzed polysaccharide (PS) acceptor are described as well as preliminary work with a sialic acid trimer (DP3) acceptor. Results In CMP-Glo kinetic studies, with constant donor (80 µM) and varied NmW hydrolyzed polysaccharide (0–2000 µg/mL), a Km of 629.2 ± 101.4 µg/mL and a Vmax of 0.8965 ± 0.05823 µM/min was obtained. Using UDP-Glo, Km and Vmax values of 13.84 ± 9.675 µM and 0.6205 ± 0.1331 µM/min were obtained with varied CMP-NeuNAc (0–80 µM) and constant acceptor (400 µg/mL) and UDP-Gal (80 µM). This is the first report of using bioluminescence assays for NmW kinetics.

Helicopter handling qualities: A study in pilot control compensation

The research reported in this paper is aimed at the development of a metric to quantify and predict the extent of pilot control compensation required to fly a wide range of mission task elements. To do this, the utility of a range of time- and frequency-domain measures to examine pilot control activity whilst flying hover/low-speed and forward flight tasks are explored. The tasks were performed by two test pilots using both the National Research Council (Canada)’s Bell 412 Advanced Systems Research Aircraft and the University of Liverpool’s HELIFLIGHT-R simulator. Handling qualities ratings were awarded for each of the tasks and compared with a newly developed weighted adaptive control compensation metric based on discrete pilot inputs, showing good correlation. Moreover, in combination with a time-varying frequency-domain exposure, the proposed metric is shown to be useful for understanding the relationship between the pilot’s subjective assessment, measured control activity and task performance. By collating the results from the subjective and objective metrics for a range of different mission task elements, compensation boundaries are proposed to predict and verify the subjective assessments from the Cooper-Harper Handling Qualities Rating scale.

Development of tax control in the context of digitalization of the economy

Tax control is the main fiscal and regulatory tool of the modern economy, and digital technologies, in turn, are the main tool of tax control. The article considers the impact of digitalization processes occurring in the modern economy on tax control procedures. Modernization of tax processes is explained by the active use of the latest digital technologies in tax administration in the form of various tools in order to minimize tax risks from tax evasion of legal entities and individuals. As an example, a comparative analysis of the indicators of the control work of the Departments of the Federal Tax Service of Russia for the Republic of Adygea and the Krasnodar Territory for 2017-2019 has been carried out and conclusions drawn as to how the effectiveness of tax audits has changed in connection with the expansion of the informatization of the tax service. It has also been concluded that improving the efficiency of in-office inspections based on the introduction of new modern technologies can be called a promising direction of the control activity of the tax service, especially since in-office inspections are carried out permanently with almost complete quantitative coverage of all business entities. To make informed management decisions at different levels of management, a comprehensive comparative assessment of the effectiveness of the control work of tax authorities is necessary. In general, it has been noted that the development of digitalization has a positive impact on the effectiveness of tax control and allows moving away from conducting direct tax audits to creating incentives for taxpayers to voluntarily pay taxes and clarify their tax obligations. In addition, digitalization eliminates such a competitive advantage in the market as the tax component, and leads to more favorable conditions for the implementation of business activities and the growth of the state economy.