A Cleaner Process for Short-Term Preservation of Hides using Wheat Bran

Salting is the most common method to preserve hides and skins. However, this preservation system requires the generation of large amounts of contaminated salt, approximately three million tons per year. In recent years several researchers have suggested different methods for the short-term preservation of hides using plant-based formulations, which either minimize or even completely eliminate the use of salt in the process. In this work, the possibility of using wheat bran for this purpose was studied. Two methods of application (dry and aqueous solution) have been developed. They enable the preservation of hides for one month, reducing by half the salt used in the preservation stage without undermining the quality of the final leather. These two methods contribute to the improvement of the overall sustainability of the tanning process. With dry application, the use of salt is avoided and preservation occurs because the hide is dried. The application in aqueous solution (10% wheat bran) requires its previous hydrolysis and a minimum amount of salt (10ºBé). The preservation occurs because the acidity of the hide is increased.

Debt, Financial Vulnerability, and Repayment Behaviour in Older Canadian Households

Earlier research has documented that debt at older ages has increased significantly in Canada over the period from 1999 to 2016. In this article, we explore the consequences of a growing proportion of older Canadian households experiencing financial vulnerability. After controlling for household characteristics, we find among older households that a high debt-to-asset ratio and very low liquid wealth are significantly and positively associated with skipping or delaying a mortgage or non-mortgage debt payment and with usually paying the minimum amount or less on credit cards in the previous year. The debt-to-income ratio, however, is not an important indicator of financial vulnerability for older households.

Logicamente: uma Plataforma Digital para Estimulação das Funções Executivas

Resumo As funções executivas têm um papel fundamental para o desempenho acadêmico, pois elas são responsáveis pelo controle, monitoramento e regulação das ações, pensamentos e emoções. Desta forma, o estímulo a essas funções pode trazer contribuições importantes para o processo de aprendizagem e uma das estratégias que vem sendo utilizada para essa estimulação é através do uso de variados jogos digitais. Portanto, este artigo tem por objetivo relatar os achados iniciais das interações de diversos usuários com o jogo Torre de Hanói, que compõe a plataforma de jogos intitulada LogicaMente. Para tanto, foram coletadas informações de 3.524 partidas realizadas por 1.324 jogadores de diferentes faixas etárias e de ambos os sexos e dentre os resultados, foi identificado que apenas 32,5% dos jogadores conseguiram finalizar o jogo Torre de Hanói com o número mínimo de movimentações no modo fácil (com 3 discos) e menos ainda, 12,2% no modo difícil (com 4 discos). Como conclusão, foi identificado que houve um predomínio do público adulto de gênero feminino, que os interatores demonstram ter uma dificuldade em concluir o jogo na menor quantidade de movimentos, mas observou-se que a persistência pode ter sido um dos motivadores para que os jogadores obtivessem êxito a partir das suas novas tentativas. Palavras-chave: Funções Executivas. Jogos Digitais. Torre de Hanói. Abstract The executive functions play a key role in academic performance, as they are responsible for controlling, monitoring, and regulating actions, thoughts, and emotions. In this way, stimulating these functions can bring contributions for the learning process and one of the approaches that have been used for this stimulation is through the use of various digital games. Therefore, this article aims at reporting initial findings of the interactions of several users with the game Tower of Hanoi, which is part of the game platform entitled LogicaMente. For this purpose, information were collected over 3,524 matches played by 1,324 players from different age groups and both genders and among the results, it was identified that only 32.5% of the players managed to finalize the Tower of Hanoi game with the minimum number of movements in easy mode (with 3 discs) and even less, 12.2% in difficult mode (with 4 discs). As a conclusion, it was noticed a predominance of adult female players, the interactors had difficulty in completing the game with the minimum amount of movements. However, it was observed that persistence may have been one of the motivators for the players to succeed from their new attempts. Keywords: Executive Functions. Digital games. Tower of Hanoi.

Do Capital Market Training, Online Facilities and Social Environment Matter in Investment Decision

This study aimed to determine if capital market training, on-line facilities, social environment, and a minimum amount of investment affect Indonesian and Malaysian university-students’ decisions in investing in the capital markets of each country, as they are potential smart investors. Based on 229 respondents from both countries, a survey was conducted comprising 24 questions. Respondents were selected using they random sampling method. The results found that capital market training and on-line facilities were not factors that influenced university students’ decisions in Indonesia and Malaysia in making investment in the capital markets. The other two variables, social environment and a minimum amount of investment proved influential. The mediating variable, investment interest partially influenced the relationship between social environment and a minimum amount of investment-to-investment decision, but did not mediate capital market training and on-line facilities to the investment decision. Keywords: capital market training, on-line facilities, social environment, minimum amount of investment, university-students

BamToCov: an efficient toolkit for sequence coverage calculations

Many genomics applications requires the calculation of nucleotide coverage of a reference or counting how many reads maps in a reference region. Here we present BamToCov, a suite of tools for rapid and flexible coverage calculations relying on a memory efficient algorithm and designed for flexible integration in bespoke pipelines. The tools of the suite will process sorted BAM or CRAM files, allowing to extract coverage information using different filtering approaches. BamToCov tools, unlike existing tools already available, have been developed to require a minimum amount of memory, to be easily integrated in workflows, and to allow for strand-specific coverage analyses. The unique coverage calculation algorithm makes it the ideal choice for the analysis of long reads alignments. The programs and their documentation are freely available at https://github.com/telatin/bamtocov.

Biological features of Allium nutans L. samples in the Bashkir Cis-Urals in the introduction

The purpose – to study under cultural conditions in the Bashkir Cis-Urals three samples of Allium nutans L.: Bashkir, Novosibirsk (broadleaf and narrow-leaved form). Studied: phenology, biomorphology, reproduction, agricultural technology and biochemical composition. Methods. The study was conducted in 2017–2020 at the collection site of onions in the South Ural Botanical Garden-Institute of the UFRC RAS. Analysis of the seasonal rhythm of growth and development, winter resistance, resistance to adverse weather conditions, pests and diseases, reproduction rate and seed productivity was carried out according to generally accepted recommendations. Results. Drooping onion is a long-lasting medium-late-flowering plant. Spring growth of A. nutans samples occurs in the 2nd–3rd decade of April, leaf growth in the spring is initially expressed in accelerating the growth processes of last year's etiolated leaves, and only then new young leaves come to the soil surface. The appearance of the flower arrow occurs in mid-June, the beginning of budding falls on the 2nd–3rd decades of June and lasts 30–35 days. Novosibirsk samples bloom in mid-July, the Bashkir sample – a week later. The flowering phase lasts an average of 35–41 days. Seeds ripen in August-September. In Novosibirsk samples, seeds mature in 16–19 days, in the Bashkir sample – in 25 days. The maximum number of seeds forms the Bashkir sample 647–1031 pcs. (average 835.0 ± 53.5). Scientific novelty. For the first time, the biochemical composition of samples of this onion was made and analyzed. According to the maximum accumulation of vitamin C and carotene, the Bashkir sample differs (104.92 mg% and 166.4 mg/kg, respectively). In the Novosibirsk sample (narrow-leaved form), the maximum amount of sugar and starch (8.8 and 6.12%, respectively) and the minimum amount of vitamin C (41.53 mg%) were found. The Novosibirsk sample (broadleaf form) contains more protein (17.06%) and a minimum amount of carotene (83.2 mg/kg). According to other indicators (solid, nitrogen, raw fat), the studied samples differ little from each other.

Developments of Mathematical-Physical Biology, Matrix Mechanics in Pharmacology, and Medicine with Time Sequences

First, some mathematical and physical developments of biology and medicine are discussed, including biofield and biological electromagnetics. Second, we research nonlinear biology and biotopology, in which some knots may describe the protein folding. Third, symbolic dynamics of biology and the extensive quantum biology are researched. Fourth, we study the biothermodynamics and entropy. In thermodynamics of pharmacology, the main effects of various drugs are to promote internal interactions in body, and entropy decrease. Further, we introduce the diagnostic space, treatment space and some medicinal vectors, and propose the matrix mechanics of pharmacology. Finally, we research biology, medicine and pharmacology with time sequences. If we master the medication time, this will be able to get the minimum amount of medication, and the drugs can play the maximum treatment effect. If period is accurate, it can determine the time of play, negotiations, attack, etc. But, period of each individual should be change follow age, etc. This is a very valuable research.

PSI-1 A minimum amount of hydrochloric acid for pig urine collection to inhibit nitrogen volatilization

The objectives were to demonstrate that nitrogen volatilization from pig urine can be inhibited by the addition of acids and to determine a minimum amount of HCl for nitrogen preservation in pig urine. In experiment 1, five urine samples were collected and had nitrogen concentrations of 0.29% to 0.68%. Each sample was divided into 2 groups that were supplemented with 100 mL of distilled water and 100 mL of 6 N HCl, respectively. The samples were placed in open containers at room temperature for 10 d. The nitrogen concentration was determined every 2 d. The amount of nitrogen in urine supplemented with distilled water decreased linearly (P < 0.001) with time, whereas that supplemented with 6 N HCl remained constant. In experiment 2, three urine samples with different nitrogen concentration (0.12%, 0.53%, and 0.94%) were added with different amounts of 6 N HCl used to make varying acidity (pH = 0.6, 1.1, 2.2, 4.7, 7.1, and 9.3). All urine samples were placed at a room temperature for 5 d followed by nitrogen analysis. Based on a linear broken-line analysis, nitrogen was not volatilized at a pH less than 5.12 (SE = 0.71), whereas nitrogen was volatilized at a pH greater than 5.12 (r2 = 0.98). An equation was developed for the minimum amount of 6 N HCl in urine to avoid nitrogen volatilization: 6 N HCl in urine (g/L) = 0.11 × nitrogen in urine (g/L) + 0.2 with r2 = 0.93 and P < 0.01. Assuming that up to 200 gram of nitrogen is excreted for 5 d, the addition of 100 mL of 6 N HCl to the urine collection container can inhibit nitrogen volatilization. Taken together, a minimum of 100 mL of 6 N HCl is recommended for 5 day-total collection of pig urine.

EXPRESS: Minimum Payments Alter Debt Repayment Strategies across Multiple Cards

US Households currently hold $770 billion in credit card debt, often managing repayments across multiple accounts. We investigate how minimum payments (i.e., the requirement to allocate at least some money to each account with a balance) alter consumers’ allocation strategies across multiple accounts. Across four experiments, we find that minimum payment requirements cause consumers to increase dispersion (i.e., spread their repayments more evenly) across accounts. We term this change in strategy the dispersion effect of minimum payments and provide evidence that it can be costly for consumers. We find that the effect is partially driven by the tendency for consumers to interpret minimum payment requirements as recommendations to pay more than the minimum amount. While the presence of the minimum payment requirement is unlikely to change, we propose that marketers and policymakers can influence the effects of minimum payments on dispersion by altering the way that information is displayed to consumers. Specifically, we investigate five distinct information displays and find that choice of display can either exaggerate or minimize dispersion and corresponding costs. We discuss implications for consumers, policy makers, and firms, with a particular focus on ways to improve consumer financial well-being.

PELATIHAN PERENCANAAN KEUANGAN : INVESTASI UNTUK PASANGAN MUDA

AbstrakPemberian materi mengenai pelatihan perencanaan keuangan untuk pasangan muda menjadi penting mengingatsalah satu masalah didalam keluarga adalah masalah keuangan. Mitra pengabdian ini Komisi Keluarga Dekanat 1Keuskupan Agung Palembang mempercayakan pemberian materi ini pada tim dosen Fakultas Bisnis dan AkuntansiUniversitas Katolik Musi Charitas Palembang. Pelatihan ini diikuti 53 peserta dari berbagai paroki, namun yangmengisi kuesioner yang dibagikan tim sebanyak 45, adapun distribusi peserta berdasarkan gender adalah 24orang pria (53%) dan 21 wanita (47%). Sebelum pelaksanaan pelatihan , tim meminta peserta untuk mengisikuesioner sebelum dan setelah pelatihan, yang bertujuan sebagai masukan bagi tim untuk mengetahui efektifitaspemberian materi. Peserta diminta untuk mengisi kuesioner sebelum dan setelah melakukan pelatihan. Kuesionerterdiri dari 10 pertanyaan yang digunakan untuk mengukur pengetahuan mengenai ada peningkatan sebelum dansesudah pelatihan. Presentase peningkatan jawaban yang cukup tinggi adalah pertanyaan tentang alokasi danapendidikan dan minimal dana darurat yang dimiliki. AbstractProviding material on financial planning training for young couples is important considering that one of theproblems in the family is finance. This service partner, namely the Family Commission of Deanship 1 of theArchdiocese of Palembang, entrusted this material to a team of lecturers of the Faculty of Business and Accounting,Musi Charitas Catholic University Palembang. This training was attended by 53 participants from variousparishes, but 45 of the questionnaires were distributed by the team, while the distribution of participants based ongender was 24 men (53%) and 21 women (47%). Before the implementation of the training, the team askedparticipants to fill out a questionnaire before and after the training, which was intended as input for the team tofind out the effectiveness of the material. Participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire before and afterconducting the training. The questionnaire consisted of 10 questions that were used to measure knowledge about anincrease before and after training. A fairly high percentage increase in answers was the question of the allocationof education funds and the minimum amount of emergency funds they had.