•The SO-PLS approach to path modelling is presented within the context of consumer science.•The method solves some challenges met in a standard path modelling study and simplifies analysis.•The ...approach is pragmatic and useful for exploratory purposes.•The methodology reveals important relations between consumers, products and acceptance data.
This paper discusses the use of the new path modelling approach based on Sequential Orthogonalised PLS regression within the context of consumer science. The method is based on splitting the estimation process into a sequence of modelling steps for each dependent block versus its predictive blocks. Focus will be on how the method can be used to combine individual variables or specific groups of variables in more general blocks with a broader interpretation, such as for instance consumer habits, attitudes and demographic variables. It will be discussed how the methods can solve some of the challenges met when starting a path modelling process. It will be explored how the method handles multidimensionality of the blocks and thus how the analysis is simplified, at least for explorative purposes, as compared to other more traditional path modelling approaches. The study shows that important relations are revealed in presence of different types of information like product attributes, consumer characteristics and acceptance.
A new endemic epigean pseudoscorpion species from Mt. Orjen, Montenegro, is
presented, described, and illustrated. Its main morphometric characters and
important diagnostic features are analyzed and ...compared to its closest
congeners.
The aim of this study was to determine pollution by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and heavy metals in seawater and sediment in Kostrena coastal area, as well as their toxicity using ...bioluminescence based tests. Total PAH concentration in seawater ranged 1.7-155.3 ng/L. The share of carcinogenetic PAH was relatively high, ranging 22-48.3%. Nickel concentrations in seawater were beyond detection limits (< 0.1 microg/L), vanadium concentrations ranged 0.66-1.96 microg/L, chrome concentrations were beyond detection limits, and copper concentrations were also beyond detection limits or extremely low (up to 0.32 microg/L). EC50 values in seawater ranged 23.80-90.90 ng/L. Correlation between total PAH concentration and toxicity of seawater showed strong connection between them (r = 0.9579). Total PAH concentration in marine sediment ranged 58.02-1116 microg/kg dry weight (d.w.). The share of carcinogenetic PAH was extremely high ranging 10-53%. Nickel concentrations in marine sediment ranged 8-24 mg/kg d.w., vanadium concentrations ranged 24-42 mg/kg d.w., chrome concentrations ranged 11-19 mg/kg d.w., and copper concentrations ranged 7-25 mg/kg d.w. EC50 values in marine sediment ranged 818-4596 microg/kg d.w. Correlation between total PAH concentration and toxicity of marine sediment showed weak connection between them (r = 0.2590). Previous studies of seawater samples from areas of the Adriatic sea under the direct influence of oil industry did not include concentrations of heavy metals, which makes our study the first to present such comprehensive results. Our results point out the need for further evaluations and following of marine environment pollution and its consequences on living organisms and marine ecosystem in whole.
Brassica rapaauxin amidohydrolase (BrILL2) participates in the homeostasis of the plant hormones auxins by hydrolyzing the amino acid conjugates of auxins, thereby releasing the free active form of ...hormones. Herein, the potential role of the two conserved Cys residues of BrILL2 (at sequence positions 139 and 320) has been investigated by using interdisciplinary approaches and methods of molecular biology, biochemistry, biophysics and molecular modelling. The obtained results show that both Cys residues participate in the regulation of enzyme activity. Cys320 located in the satellite domain of the enzyme is mainly responsible for protein stability and regulation of enzyme activity through polymer formation, as has been revealed by enzyme kinetics and differential scanning calorimetry analysis of the BrILL2 wild type and mutants C320S and C139S. Cys139 positioned in the active site of the catalytic domain is involved in the coordination of one Mn super(2+) ion of the bimetal center and is crucial for the enzymatic activity. Although the point mutation Cys139 to Ser causes the loss of enzyme activity, it does not affect the metal binding to the BrILL2 enzyme, as has been shown by isothermal titration calorimetry, circular dichroism spectropolarimetry and differential scanning calorimetry data. MD simulations (200 ns) revealed a different active site architecture of the BrILL2C139S mutant in comparison to the wild type enzyme. Additional possible reasons for the inactivity of the BrILL2C139S mutant have been discussed based on MD simulations and MM-PBSA free energy calculations of BrILL2 enzyme complexes (wt and C139S mutant) with IPA-Ala as a substrate.
The aim of this study was to determine whether appropriate dosage adjustments were made in patients with renal impairment discharged from the Department of Internal Medicine and to evaluate a ...possible role for family medicine physicians in reducing the number of inadequate drug dosages.
The study included all patients discharged from the Department of Internal Medicine. Data regarding serum creatinine levels, age, sex and prescribed drugs and their dosage were collected from the patients' medical records and discharge letters after discharge from hospital. We calculated the estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) using the abbreviated MDRD equation. Drug dosage adequacy was controlled in the patients with GFR less than 60 ml/min per 1.73 m2.
At the time of discharge from the hospital, 161 of 712 patients (22.6%) had estimated GFR <60 ml/min per 1.73 m2. These patients were prescribed 874 drugs, which amounted to 5.43 per patient. Dosage adjustment according to renal function was necessary for 171 prescriptions (19.6%). This adjustment was performed adequately in 81 cases (47.4%) and inadequately in 90 cases (52.6%). Digoxin metformin and the combination of ACE inhibitors and spironolactone amounted to 65.6% of the inadequate prescriptions. There were significantly more incorrect drug dosages in women.
Drug dosage in patients with renal impairment can be improved. Since a computerized dynamic alert system is not available in our hospital the role of family medicine physicians is significant in reducing the number of inadequate drug dosages at hospital discharge.
A new endemic epigean species from the village of Adzina Livada, nr.
Kragujevac, Mts. Gledicke Planine, western Serbia, is erected, described and
thoroughly illustrated. Its main morphometric ...characters and important
diagnostic features are analyzed and compared to the two closest congeners,
Roncus ivanjicae B. Curcic, and R. golijae B. Curcic from western Serbia,
respectively.
nema
PR Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br.173038
When Croatia enters the European Union (EU) in the year 2013, Croatian agriculture will be faced with the new rules of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for the period between 2014 and 2020, which ...aim to intensify environmental standards in agriculture. To determine how informed Croatian farmers are about the new environmental standards of the CAP, and how these environmental standards will affect their future work and business decisions, a survey was conducted on a sample of 112 Croatian farmers. The research results show that respondents believe that the adjustment of Croatian agriculture to the CAP will be demanding, as a consequence of a generally bad situation in the country, poor education of farmers and a large administrative burden imposed by the EU. Although the majority of the surveyed farmers intend to continue to engage in agriculture after accession to the EU, more than half of the respondents do not use measures which are mandatory as part of cross-compliance and which will be further extended as part of the "greening" measures in the following year. Therefore it is necessary to intensify farmers' education and increase the use of set control measures at the national and local levels.The results are important for agricultural policy makers, as well as for numerous agencies and organizations responsible for informing farmers.
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