1. Developing a framework for closed-loop supply chain and its impact on sustainability in the petrochemicals industryLobna Tag el Sheikh, Rebeka Kovačič Lukman, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: Companies rely on formulating, implementing, and monitoring strategies in social, environmental and economic aspects to ensure that they achieve their goals and keep abreast of developments related to sustainability requirements. Therefore, our study develops a system to integrate the closed-loop supply chain approach in the petrochemical sector. The research follows the quantitative-based approach by collecting data through a questionnaire directed to employees in the supply chain departments, including 230 questionnaires that were collected. Correlation and structural equation models (SEM) were used. This technique consists of multiple regression analysis and factor analysis and analyses the structural relationship between the underlying structures and the measured variables. The results indicated a significant relationship between the supply chains that have a loop from the following perspectives: economic motivations, customer awareness, environmental legislation, and sustainability. By increasing financial reasons, customer awareness and environmental legislation, sustainability will increase as they all move in the same direction. Therefore, the overall effect of a closed-loop supply chain is positive and significant.
Keywords: closed-loop supply chain, petrochemicals, cost effectivity, product stewardship, multiple regression analysis, factor analysis, sustainability
Published in DKUM: 12.12.2024; Views: 0; Downloads: 4
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2. Single-cell transcriptomic and targeted genomic profiling adjusted for inflammation and therapy bias reveal CRTAM and PLCB1 as novel hub genes for anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha therapy response in Crohn’s diseaseMario Gorenjak, Boris Gole, Larisa Goričan, Gregor Jezernik, Uršula Prosenc Zmrzljak, Cvetka Pernat Drobež, Pavel Skok, Uroš Potočnik, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: The lack of reliable biomarkers in response to anti-TNFα biologicals hinders
personalized therapy for Crohn’s disease (CD) patients. The motivation behind our study is to shift
the paradigm of anti-TNFα biomarker discovery toward specific immune cell sub-populations using
single-cell RNA sequencing and an innovative approach designed to uncover PBMCs gene expression
signals, which may be masked due to the treatment or ongoing inflammation; Methods: The singlecell
RNA sequencing was performed on PBMC samples from CD patients either naïve to biological
therapy, in remission while on adalimumab, or while on ustekinumab but previously non-responsive
to adalimumab. Sieves for stringent downstream gene selection consisted of gene ontology and
independent cohort genomic profiling. Replication and meta-analyses were performed using publicly
available raw RNA sequencing files of sorted immune cells and an association analysis summary.
Machine learning, Mendelian randomization, and oligogenic risk score methods were deployed to
validate DEGs highly relevant to anti-TNFα therapy response; Results: This study found PLCB1 in
CD4+ T cells and CRTAM in double-negative T cells, which met the stringent statistical thresholds
throughout the analyses. An additional assessment proved causal inference of both genes in response
to anti-TNFα therapy; Conclusions: This study, jointly with an innovative design, uncovered
novel candidate genes in the anti-TNFα response landscape of CD, potentially obscured by therapy
or inflammation.
Keywords: inflammatory bowel diseases, Crohn’s disease, tumor necrosis factor alpha, adalimumab, single-cell gene expression analysis
Published in DKUM: 10.12.2024; Views: 0; Downloads: 6
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3. Multi-criteria measurement of ai support to project managementVesna Čančer, Polona Tominc, Maja Rožman, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: This paper aims to measure the level of artificial intelligence (AI) support to project management (PM) in selected service sector activities. The exploratory factor analysis was employed based on the extensive survey on AI in Slovenian companies and the multi-criteria measurement with an emphasis on value functions and pairwise comparisons in the analytic hierarchy process. The synthesis and performance sensitivity analysis results show that in the service sector, concerning all criteria, PM is with the level 0.276 best supported with AI in services of professional, scientific, and technical activities, which also stand out concerning the first-level goals in using AI solutions in a project with the value 0.284, and in successful project implementation using AI with the value 0.301. Although the lowest level of AI support to PM, which is 0.220, is in services of wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, these services excel in adopting AI technologies in a project with a value of 0.277. Services of financial and insurance activities, with the level 0.257 second-ranked concerning all criteria, have the highest value of 0.269 concerning the first-level goal of improving the work of project leaders using AI. The paper, therefore, contributes to the comparison of AI support to PM in service sector activities. The results can help AI development policymakers determine which activities need to be supported and which should be set as an example. The presented methodological frame can serve to perform measurements and benchmarking in various research fields.
Keywords: artificial intelligence, factor analysis, multiple criteria, performance sensitivity, project management
Published in DKUM: 12.02.2024; Views: 369; Downloads: 35
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4. The KIDSCREEN-27 scale: translation and validation study of the Slovenian versionLeona Cilar Budler, Majda Pajnkihar, Ulrike Ravens-Sieberer, Owen Barr, Gregor Štiglic, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: Background: There are many methods available for measuring social support and quality of life (QoL) of adolescents, of these, the KIDSCREEN tools are most widely used. Thus, we aimed to translate and validate the KIDSCREEN-27 scale for the usage among adolescents aged between 10 and 19 years old in Slovenia.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 2852 adolescents in primary and secondary school from November 2019 to January 2020 in Slovenia. 6-steps method of validation was used to test psychometric properties of the KIDSCREEN-27 scale. We checked descriptive statistics, performed a Mokken scale analysis, parametric item response theory, factor analysis, classical test theory and total (sub)scale scores.
Results: All five subscales of the KIDSCREEN-27 formed a unidimensional scale with good homogeneity and reliability. The confirmatory factor analysis showed poor fit in user model versus baseline model metrics (CFI = 0.847; TLI = 0.862) and good fit in root mean square error (RMSEA = 0.072; p(χ2) < 0.001). A scale reliability was calculated using Cronbach's α (0.93), beta (0.86), G6 (0.95) and omega (0.93).
Conclusions: The questionnaire showed average psychometric properties and can be used among adolescents in Slovenia to find out about their quality of life. Further research is needed to explore why fit in user model metrics is poor.
Keywords: social support, adolescent, psychometrics, factor analysis, quality of life
Published in DKUM: 23.08.2023; Views: 335; Downloads: 34
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5. Private forest owner willingness to mobilise wood from dense, small-diameter tree standsMatevž Triplat, Satu Helenius, Ruben Laina, Nike Krajnc, Thomas Kronholm, Zdenka Ženko, Teppo Hujala, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Forests are a source of renewable biomass, and their utilisation will play a vital role in the transition towards a climate-neutral economy. Small-diameter tree management could contribute to this transition via providing renewable biomass for sustainable uses and fostering tree growth towards long-lifecycle bioproducts. The utilisation of small-diameter trees in the EU is still low since new technologies and work models are required to make the operations economically profitable, environmentally sound, and socially attractive. The supply of biomass from small-diameter tree stands is dependent on forest owners with diverse perceptions on their forests and diverse ownership objectives. However, there is scarce research on forest owner perceptions on small-diameter tree management, which encompasses home consumption, self-active work, and commercial forestry services. A survey in four EU countries was designed to identify the main factors affecting the motivation of forest owners to mobilise biomass from small-diameter stands. Factor and clustering analyses were used to identify four forest owner segments: weakly-engaged traders, well-being seekers, self-active profit-seekers, and well-informed service users. The willingness to utilise biomass from small-diameter tree stands and participate in the market was shaped by forest owner knowledge of forestry, economic and socio-cultural motivations, and sensitivity to service offerings. Forest owner preferences for market participation are heterogenous, and thus different policy implementation approaches are needed and proposed.
Keywords: profili strank, faktorska analiza, gozdarske storitve, upravljavski cilji, biomasa, komunikacijske strategije, customer profiles, factor analysis, forestry services, management objectives, biomass, communication strategies
Published in DKUM: 10.07.2023; Views: 475; Downloads: 43
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6. Statistical analysis of the development indicators' impacts on e-commerce of individuals in selected European countriesKsenija Dumičić, Ivana Skoko Bonić, Berislav Žmuk, 2018, original scientific article Abstract: The aim of this paper is to analyse the influence of the development level indicators on the e-commerce, i.e. on the online purchase by individuals, in selected European countries in 2013. In the analysis, the main variable under study and all the independent variables are included as standardised. Based on nine variables, the principal component analysis with varimax rotation was performed and the two extracted factors were used as the regressors in the multiple regression analysis. In the regression model both components, Factor 1, which includes seven variables, called Prosperity, Investing in Education and IT Infrastructure, and Awareness, and Factor 2, comprised of two variables, called IT Skills, are statistically significant at the significance level of 1%. Both factors show a positive correlation with the online purchase of individuals. Inclusion and analysis of distributions and impacts of even nine independent variables, which make up two distinct factors affecting the e-commerce, make a new contribution of this work.
Keywords: e-commerce, broadband access to the Internet, factor analysis, multiple regression analysis
Published in DKUM: 10.10.2018; Views: 1313; Downloads: 383
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7. Container throughput forecasting using dynamic factor analysis and ARIMAX modelMarko Intihar, Tomaž Kramberger, Dejan Dragan, 2017, original scientific article Abstract: The paper examines the impact of integration of macroeconomic indicators on the accuracy of container throughput time series forecasting model. For this purpose, a Dynamic factor analysis and AutoRegressive Integrated Moving-Average model with eXogenous inputs (ARIMAX) are used. Both methodologies are integrated into a novel four-stage heuristic procedure. Firstly, dynamic factors are extracted from external macroeconomic indicators influencing the observed throughput. Secondly, the family of ARIMAX models of different orders is generated based on the derived factors. In the third stage, the diagnostic and goodness-of-fit testing is applied, which includes statistical criteria such as fit performance, information criteria, and parsimony. Finally, the best model is heuristically selected and tested on the real data of the Port of Koper. The results show that by applying macroeconomic indicators into the forecasting model, more accurate future throughput forecasts can be achieved. The model is also used to produce future forecasts for the next four years indicating a more oscillatory behaviour in (2018-2020). Hence, care must be taken concerning any bigger investment decisions initiated from the management side. It is believed that the proposed model might be a useful reinforcement of the existing forecasting module in the observed port.
Keywords: container throughput forecasting, ARIMAX model, dynamic factor analysis, exogenous macroeconomic indicators, time series analysis
Published in DKUM: 12.12.2017; Views: 2198; Downloads: 440
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8. Trend analysis of journal metrics: a new academic library service?Peter Kokol, 2017, original scientific article Abstract: Objective: Temporal trends in source normalized impact per paper (SNIP) values for the three top-ranking nursing journals were analyzed and compared to explore whether predicting future SNIP values based on trend analysis could be an innovative service provided by librarians.
Methods: The International Journal of Nursing Studies, Journal of Nursing Scholarship, and Journal of Advanced Nursing were the three top-ranked nursing journals according to 2015 SNIP values. SNIP values for the selected journals were retrieved from the Scopus database, and extracted data were exported to Joinpoint trend analysis software to perform trend analysis.
Results: The trend in SNIP values for the International Journal of Nursing Studies was the most stable and positive, whereas the trend in SNIP values for the Journal of Advanced Nursing was the most negative. The annual percentage change of the most recent trend line, which is the best indicator for predicting future SNIP values, was the largest for the International Journal of Nursing Studies.
Conclusions: Predictions of journal metrics based on statistical joinpoint regression may not be completely accurate. Using this technique, however, a librarian can reasonably claim which journal will retain or even improve its prestige in the future and thus safely advise prospective authors on where to publish their research.
Keywords: publish or perish, medical library, trend analysis, journal impact factor, joinpoint regression
Published in DKUM: 09.10.2017; Views: 1638; Downloads: 359
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9. The impact of the implementation of a learning organization on the formation of a positive organizational identityMarko Peršič, Duško Uršič, Draško Veselinovič, 2014, original scientific article Abstract: This paper examines the results of a broader research of the impact of the implementation of a learning organization on the formation of a positive organizational identity in the Slovenian entrepreneurial practice. On the basis of an analysis carried out in 2012 on a sample of 132 enterprises in Slovenia, the authors derived their own definition of organizational learning. With the aid of factor analysis and a regression model, we established that each factor defined in this paper independently affects the formation of a positive organizational identity. However, in the event of joint factors of the learning organization, only the factor empowerment and organization have a statistically significant impact on the formation of a positive organizational identity. The findings from our research are applicable in almost every company in Slovenia, where the management can use them to form the company’s organizational identity with the aim of increasing the competitiveness of the company’s business.
Keywords: learning organization, positive organizational identity, organizational learning, factor analysis
Published in DKUM: 03.08.2017; Views: 1475; Downloads: 140
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10. Motor structure and basic movement competences in early child developmentRado Pišot, Jurij Planinšec, 2010, original scientific article Abstract: Motor development consists of dynamic and continuous development in motor behaviour and is reflected in motor competences (on the locomotive, manipulative and postural level) and motor abilities (coordination, strength, speed, balance, flexibility, precision and endurance). This is a complex process in which a child acquires motor abilities and knowledge in interaction with inherited and environmental factors. A sample of 603 boys and girls, of which 263 were aged five (age deviation +/– 3 days; 18,5 ± 3,1kg body weight; 109,4 ± 4,3 cm body height) and 340 were aged six and a half (age deviation +/– 3 days; 23, 7 ± 4, 3 kg body weight; 121 ± 4,8 cm body height), were involved in this study after written consent was obtained from their parents. The children’s motor structure was established through the application of 28 tests that had been verified on the Slovene population and established as adequate for the study of motor abilities in the sample children. The factor analysis was applied to uncover the latent structure of motor space, and PB (Štalec & Momirović) criteria were used to establish the number of significant basic components. The analysis of the motor space structure revealed certain particularities for each age period. In the sample of 5 year old children, the use of PB criterion revealed four latent motor dimensions, in 6.5 year old children, the latent motor space structure was described with four (boys) and five (girls) factors. Despite the existence of gender differences in motor space structure and certain particularities in each age period mostly related to the factors which influence movement coordination, several very similar dimensions were discovered in both sexes.
Keywords: early childhood, motor development, motor skills and knowledge, motor structure, factor analysis
Published in DKUM: 21.07.2017; Views: 20300; Downloads: 226
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