First record of Heteropsylla tenuata from Argentina (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), and additional notes on other psyllid species

The Psyllidae family is the most diverse within Psylloidea, with more than 1,300 species worldwide. Some psyllid species are important pests mainly of fruit trees, forest and ornamental plants. Despite being an economically relevant group, there are few studies on its biology, geographic distribution, natural enemies or host plant associations for many Argentinean psyllid species. This work records one species from Argentina for the first time, extends the distribution of another two psyllid species and provides information on host plants.

Reflective Practices to Study Group Dynamics: Implement Empowerment and Understand the Functioning of Groups

Introduction: Individual and group reflection practices are qualitative methods useful in a group context to develop group skills and more awareness of the dynamics that take place within the group to which one belongs.Aim: The aim of this work is to highlight how individual reflective practices and group reflections contribute to the development of group skills. More specifically, the effectiveness of relevant group dynamics is investigated, with the aim of creating a space for reflection, and activation for individual and group empowerment.Participants: The participants were 130 university students (86% female), resided in northwestern Italy, and had a mean age of 27.5 years (SD = 7.52). They were randomly divided into 23 groups (ranged from four to nine members).Method: The participants engaged in several online training activities and at the end of every activity they completed individual reflection practice in which they presented both positive and negative aspects related to the group experiences. Then they participated in online group reflections that allowed them to reflect on the group dynamics, particular attention given to factors such as climate, participation and roles played by each participant in a variety of training activities. This study analyzes 130 individual reflective practices and 23 group reflections. The data collected through individual reflective practices and the transcripts of the group reflections were analyzed using grounded theory. Two independent judges analyzed and categorized the data and then identified the main common categories that emerged by the support of Nvivo software.Results: From the analysis of the content, it is determined that the participants, based on the construction of the individual and group reflections, paid greater attention to the dynamics that occurred within the group during the various activities in which they participated, thus allowing them to be more aware of the various factors that affected the importance attributed to the different roles, the climate, and their active participation.Conclusion: Combined, these factors allowed participants to strengthen their relationships with each other and enhance the cohesion of the group.

Pliocene marine Bivalvia of Vale do Freixo (Pombal, Portugal): updated taxonomic list and discussion

The exceptional Pliocene marine faunal assemblages of west central Portugal have been known since the late 19th century. They include highly diverse molluscan faunas whose study is far to be completed. Discovered nearly 40 years ago, Vale do Freixo (Carnide, Pombal) is perhaps the most outstanding fossil site. Neverthless, the bivalves remain relatively unknown. This study focuses on the taxonomy of this relevant group of marine Mollusca. The research, based on a detailed sampling of three fossiliferous beds from the Carnide Formation, yielded a list of 85 species belonging to 75 genera and 32 families. Forty-three species are new for the Carnide area and twenty-three are reported for the first time in the Portuguese Pliocene, increasing to 115 the number of known species in the Mondego Basin in the Beira Litoral.

Literature Review of Measurements of Personality Traits across Cultures

After more than one century’s exploration from academia, both researches and measurements related to human personality traits have been fully developed with the effort of many researchers. Big Five, as one of the most popular assessments for personality traits, was formed based on the etic approach assuming there should be a universal or generalizable measurement for personality traits across cultures. However, with the increasing impact from different cultures as well as in-depth understanding from researchers, more doubts of etic approach on measuring personality were proposed. Emic approach stressing the significance of specific-cultural method in anthropological research has been accordingly investigated. The following Big Six and Big Seven scales were constructed under this approach. These measurements were already examined to have higher validity and reliability on measuring personality traits when implementing in the relevant group of people. Therefore, this study was supposed to give a literature review summarizing the definition process towards personality traits, the specific content and development of the mentioned measurements using etic and emic approach, the measurement issues based on the relevant researches, and some further considerations for etic and emic approach in assessing personality traits

Longitudinal Cognitive Performance of Older Adults With ADHD Presenting to a Cognitive Neurology Clinic: A Case Series of Change Up to 21 Years

Background: The neuropsychological features of older adults with ADHD are largely unknown. This retrospective chart review aims to elucidate their cognitive trajectories using a case series of six older adults with ADHD presenting with memory complaints to a cognitive neurology clinic, whom we argue are a particularly relevant group to study due to their potential to mimic neurodegenerative syndromes.Methods: Participants were included if they were age 40 or older at intake, had ADHD based on DSM-5 criteria, and had cognitive data collected prior to 2014 with follow-up at least 5 years later.Results: Five men and one woman were included (M = 53.8 years at intake) and had an average of 135.0 months of follow-up data available. Despite notable between- and within-subject variability, cognition generally improved or remained stable across visits. Two participants experienced notable memory decline, but a global consideration of their performance in other domains suggests these deficits may be frontally-mediated.Conclusion: In this small sample, cognition remained generally unchanged across 5–21 years. Isolated impairments likely reflect substantial intra-individual variability across time and measures.

Enabling the Voices of Marginalized Groups of People in Theoretical Business Ethics Research

The paper addresses an understudied but highly relevant group of people within corporate organizations and society in general—the marginalized—as well as their narration, and criticism, of personal lived experiences of marginalization in business. They are conventionally perceived to lack traditional forms of power such as public influence, formal authority, education, money, and political positions; however, they still possess the resources to impact their situations, their circumstances, and the structures that determine their situations. Business ethics researchers seldom consider marginalized people’s voices and experiences as resources to understand their lives, as demonstrated through a review of 7500 articles published in the Journal of Business Ethics and Business Ethics Quarterly (2000–2019). Only 78 studies included aspects of marginalized groups. 69 of those studies discussed the topic of marginalized groups of people, but without integrating their explicit voices into the text. Only 9 of the 78 articles featured marginalized people’s explicit voices about their marginalization experiences incorporated into the text as a source for exploration. None of the identified studies discussed the potential for theorizing based on such voices. This paper contributes to business ethics theory by developing four theoretical possibilities vis-à-vis the critical voices of marginalized people’s experiences in business: (a) marginalized theory on critical agency and freedom of speech; (b) the gatekeeping role of academia; (c) primary sources; and (d) a participative perspective. Discussing the theoretical potential of quoting the above voices can enrich business ethics research in terms of the theoretical understanding of marginalized groups in business.

Stramenopile microalgae as “green biofactories” for recombinant protein production

Photoautotrophic microalgae have become intriguing hosts for recombinant protein production because they offer important advantages of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic expression systems. Advanced molecular tools have recently been established for the biotechnologically relevant group of stramenopile microalgae, particularly for several Nannochloropsis species and diatoms. Strategies for the selection of powerful genetic elements and for optimization of protein production have been reported. Much needed high-throughput techniques required for straight-forward identification and selection of the best expression constructs and transformants have become available and are discussed. The first recombinant proteins have already been produced successfully in stramenopile microalgae and include not only several subunit vaccines but also one antimicrobial peptide, a fish growth hormone, and an antibody. These research results offer interesting future applications in aquaculture and as biopharmaceuticals. In this review we highlight recent progress in genetic technology development for recombinant protein production in the most relevant Nannochloropsis species and diatoms. Diverse realistic biotechnological applications of these proteins are emphasized that have the potential to establish stramenopile algae as sustainable green factories for an economically competitive production of high-value biomolecules.

INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT OF THE LEVEL OF INVESTMENT SUPPORT OF THE REGIONS OF UKRAINE

The methodical approach to the integrated assessment of investment provision of the regions of Ukraine is developed and tested in the article. The purpose of the article is to present methodological and practical aspects of integrated assessment of thelevel of investment support of the regions of Ukraine. An approach to the diagnosis of investment support of regional development based on the use of the method of integrated index analysis, which involves the calculation of individual, group and integrated indices. Based on the available information base, it is proposed to determine the level of investment support for the development of regions on the basis of three evaluation criteria (concentration of investment resources, diversification of sources of investment, investment efficiency). Each of these criteria will be met by a set of 4 main indicators that will allow the most accurate assessment of their contribution to the over all indicator. After standardization of individual indices of indicators of the level of investment support for the development of the region, the calculation of the relevant group (or criterion) indices, and on their basis - the integrated index of investment support. During the period of 2017-2019, a relatively high level of investment support for development among all regions of Ukraine was achieved only in Kyiv. The regions with an average level of provision on a permanent basis through out the analyzed period included Volyn, Kyiv, Kharkiv, Chernivtsi regions, and for the last two years alsoTernopil region. That is, ingeneral, there is no dependence of the level of investment support for the development of regions on their labor, production, financial potential. It is concluded that the lowest level of investment security is characterized by regions with low capital investment, small foreign direct investment, as well as a small share of investment inhousing construction at the expense of the population. Keywords: investments, investment support, integrated assessment, integrated index, regional development. JEL Classіfіcatіon R15, R51, C51 Formulas: 4; fig.: 2; tabl.: 2; bibl.: 12.

INDICATIONS OF CAESAREAN ACCORDING TO ROBSON’S CRITERIA

Introduction: There has been an increase in rate of caesarean section over past five decades. This is matter of public health concern as it increases the caesarean section related maternal morbidity and mortality. Asadvised by WHO guidelines and US health initiative C-section rate should not beyond 15%. According to NHFS-4 C-section rate in India 17.2%. The aim of present study aimed to assess the rate of CS and perform and analysis based on Robson classification system. Methods: In present study all the cases delivered by caesarean section during period of six months were recorded. Data were collected from medical records of women who delivered from October to march 2021.They were classified according to Robsons’10 group classification system. This was an attempt to see which relevant group contributed most to the c- section rates. Results: There was a trend of increased percentage of caesarean section in group5 patients in present study. Poor tolerance to pain and increased rate of previous c section contributes to this. Conclusion: We should make use of vaginal delivery after caesarean section but not at the cost of maternal and fetal health. These target groups require more in depth analysis to identify modifiable risk factors and apply specific intervention to reduce cs rates. Keywords: Indications, Caesarean, Robsons criteria.

A behavioral propagation and competition model based on pressure

The influence of node behavior by the relevant group behavior in complex networks is a topic of recent interest. In order to measure the direct and indirect influence of the neighborhoods, the behavioral propagation and competition model was established based on the pressure. The pressure is described by the impact of group behavior on nodes, which is related to the length and number of reachable paths between two nodes for measuring the nodal behavioral influence. In addition, the pressure range has an effect on the pressure. By modeling and analyzing the change of nodes motivation and the rules of behavioral propagation, and numerical simulations are performed on the small-world networks and the scale-free networks. The results show that pressure is the major factor in the node behavioral motivation, where the pressure generated from behavior in related group network is dependent on the relative location and number of participators. At the same time, network structure also plays an important role at behavior propagation process. Further, competition arises when multiple behaviors are spread among people, while winning behaviors are widely spread among people.