Hasil untuk "Competition"

Kristine Loh, Kale Harbick, Nathan Eylands et al.

Meeting the needs for both renewable energy production and increased food supply to sustain growing communities remains a global challenge. Agrivoltaic greenhouses can meet these dual needs in one plot of land, mitigating land competition. Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) benefit these systems by providing additional design flexibility for crop-specific spectrum modification while allowing sufficient light transmission for crop growth. Silicon quantum dots (Si QDs) have received growing interest as a material candidate for LSC greenhouses as well. We present an investigation into the impact of Si QD film concentration on the energy demands of an LSC greenhouse in Phoenix, Arizona through a comprehensive modelling framework. We then expand upon one Si QD concentration and simulate LSC greenhouses in 48 locations across the United States. We demonstrate LSC greenhouses can supply their annual energy demands in warm climates, where greenhouse heating demands remain low. LSC greenhouses can also be as profitable as the conventional glass greenhouse if the crop yield remains comparable or if the greenhouse can benefit from net metering.  

Ving Fai Chan, Fatma Omar, Eden Mashayo et al.

Objective To present older presbyopic Zanzibari craftswomen’s firsthand experiences with the eyeglasses, the challenges they face in advancing their businesses and proposed solutions to these challenges.Design This participatory action research used solicited diaries, where 10 craftswomen documented their experiences with presbyopia correction for 6 months. The diaries were translated into English for qualitative content analysis. Researchers then held a 2-day listening workshop with 20 craftswomen to discuss the diary findings and gather their perspectives on challenges and solutions. These workshops included group discussions and debates to encourage open communication. Narrative analysis was conducted to identify the key narratives.Setting Zanzibar, Unguja and Pemba Islands.Participants Zanzibari craftswomen entrepreneurs with corrected presbyopia, 40 years and older.Intervention Presbyopia near vision eyeglasses for 6 months.Results The study found that improved vision with eyeglasses significantly benefits craftswomen in Zanzibar. They experience increased work efficiency, quality and income. Craftswomen also reported greater independence, confidence and participation in daily activities. However, limited market access and competition restrict their income growth. Business skills training in areas like marketing and finance is seen as a solution for sustainable success.Conclusions Improved near vision was associated with enhanced productivity, financial confidence and well-being among craftswomen. However, persistent barriers—including limited market access, competition and lack of business skills—highlight that a vision-only approach may not address the intersectional challenges faced by older women entrepreneurs in Zanzibar. These findings suggest that integrated strategies combining vision care with business mentoring may offer more sustainable support.

Nikoletta Tsiarta, Silvia Morović, Vilko Mandić et al.

The removal of persistent organic micropollutants (OMPs) from secondary effluent in wastewater treatment plants is critical for meeting water reuse standards. Traditional treatment methods often fail to adequately degrade these contaminants. This study explored the efficacy of a hybrid ozonation membrane filtration (HOMF) process using CeO₂ and CeTiO_x-doped ceramic crossflow ultrafiltration ceramic membranes for the degradation of OMPs. Hollow ceramic membranes (CM) with a 300 kDa molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) were modified to serve as substrates for catalytic nanosized metal oxides in a crossflow and inside-out operational configuration. Three types of depositions were tested: a single layer of CeO₂, a single layer of CeTiO_x, and a combined layer of CeO₂ + CeTiO_x. These catalytic nanoparticles were distributed uniformly using a solution-based method supported by vacuum infiltration to ensure high-throughput deposition. The results demonstrated successful infiltration of the metal oxides, although the yield permeability and transmembrane flow varied, following this order: pristine > CeTiO_x > CeO₂ > CeO₂ + CeTiO_x. Four OMPs were examined: two easily degraded by ozone (carbamazepine and diclofenac) and two recalcitrant (ibuprofen and pCBA). The highest OMP degradation was observed in demineralized water, particularly with the CeO₂ + CeTiO_x modification, suggesting O₃ decomposition to hydroxyl radicals. The increased resistance in the modified membranes contributed to the adsorption phenomena. The degradation efficiency decreased in secondary effluent due to competition with the organic and inorganic load, highlighting the challenges in complex water matrices.

Prof. Sayed Abdou Ahmed , Prof. osama yousef Mohamed

industrial establishments are the first responsible for environmental pollution as a result of the waste resulting from the products of these institutions, which are (paper, plastic, wooden and metal waste) where they are placed in garbage dumps, burning and disposing of them, which is a waste of the state's natural resources, its scarcity, and its impact on the surrounding environment and the social damage it causes And economic and environmental, and since the field of industrial design is one of the vital areas that always tries to create an intimate relationship between man, his environment and his products that help him to life, the industrial designer must intervene as the main pillar in this field, which works to find appropriate and innovative solutions that contribute to the situation An limit to these problems without affecting the environmental aspects or prejudice to the role of the industrial product in meeting the needs of the consumer, and this is through work within the systematic framework for sustainability so that it can reach environmental considerations for sustainable design, which is an environmental balanced design that is designed according to the concept of sustainability, that is, taking into account the dimensions of sustainability The three economic (on the example of the price of the product and customer experience), the environment (Al -Ta Resource and emissions consumption), social (working conditions and effects of use), and provides products that protect the environment and public health in the entire life cycle, starting from extracting raw materials and until the final disposal of them in order to achieve and activate sustainable design considerations within industrial institutions and create a competitive advantage for the institution , By achieving environmental compatibility between man, and the product where real competition has become through designing the best products suitable for the environment, and continuous improvement for them, as the design in the last stage has become one of the basic pillars to achieve quality requirements and environmental compatibility, as a result of environmental problems resulting from pollution with the end The default life of the product

Louis A. Schipper, Jennifer L. Reeve, Vickery L. Arcus et al.

ABSTRACT Why does the growth of most life forms exhibit a narrow range of optimal temperatures below 40°C? We hypothesize that the recently identified stable range of oceanic temperatures of ~5 to 37°C for more than two billion years of Earth history tightly constrained the evolution of prokaryotic thermal performance curves to optimal temperatures for growth to less than 40°C. We tested whether competitive mechanisms reproduced the observed upper limits of life's temperature optima using simple Lotka–Volterra models of interspecific competition between organisms with different temperature optima. Model results supported our proposition whereby organisms with temperature optima up to 37°C were most competitive. Model results were highly robust to a wide range of reasonable variations in temperature response curves of modeled species. We further propose that inheritance of prokaryotic genes and subsequent co‐evolution with microbial partners may have resulted in eukaryotes also fixing their temperature optima within this narrow temperature range. We hope this hypothesis will motivate considerable discussion and future work to advance our understanding of the remarkable consistency of the temperature dependence of life.

João Rafael Prudêncio dos Santos, Victor Martins Maia, Bruno Soares da Silva et al.

The pineapple belongs to the family Bromeliaceae and is a slow-growing succulent monocot with a reduced superficial root system. For this reason, the interference of weeds in competition with this crop can cause significant losses to the production. One of the bases to elaborate a control strategy is the knowledge of the diversity of weeds that occur in the cultivated areas. The objective of this study was to identify the weed community during pineapple growth in a semi-arid climate region of Brazil. Weeds were collected 60, 120, 180, 240, 300, and 360 days after planting (DAP) the pineapple. These collections were made in three different plots every two months until floral induction, composed of three pineapple cultivars. The weed community found in the irrigated pineapple field, in semi-arid climate conditions, was mostly composed by species belonging to the families Amaranthaceae, Asteraceae, Convolvulaceae, Fabaceae, Malvaceae, and Poaceae. The highest diversity of weed species was found at 60 DAP. The species Ipomoea acuminata was present throughout the development of the pineapple and showed the highest importance value index in most of the periods evaluated during the pineapple growth.

Assel Bekenova

The article, based on a literature review, examines the impact of electoral systems on the fluidity party system in sub-Saharan Africa. Most authors identify institutional and social factors influencing the change in party systems. At the same time, they use the indices Laakso and Taagepera and Rae to operationalize variable parties. However, there is a lack of research in the literature on electoral systems regarding its impact on stability or change of interparty competition patterns. This is due to, firstly, the relative novelty of the recently developed index of fluidity, and secondly, the desire of scholars to use already widely tested, established measures of measurement. We believe that, in contrast to previous studies, where the unit of analysis is the party and not the party system. The Index of Fluidity will allow us to predict how majoritarian or proportional systems and WGI scores will affect the structure or fluidity of party systems in 49 sub-Saharan African countries. The results of study indicate that the changes taking place in electoral systems have significantly affected the fluidity of party systems. The results of the study indicate that measures of WGI and ethnicity negatively affected fluidity of party systems in 49 sub-Saharan African countries. This suggests that the more unstable the party system, the more ineffective the government becomes. Whereas the results of the main hypothesis indicate a statistically significant effect of changing electoral systems on the fluidity of party systems. In other words, the more often political reforms are carried out in the electoral sphere, the higher the indicators of instability of party system, which, according to the typology of party system of Sartori, will change either radically from one-party to polarized pluralism or atomised party system or slightly from one-party to hegemonistic or predominant.

Luna Morcillo, Susana Bautista

Abstract Understanding the factors that control grass–shrub interactions and coexistence is critical to the design of dryland management and restoration strategies. Using Stipa tenacissima tussocks as adult neighbor and Olea europaea var. sylvestris as target woody species, we performed a 5‐year‐long, large‐scale manipulative experiment to investigate the independent and combined effects of water and nutrient availability, and the modulating effects of O. europaea ontogeny on the net outcome of grass–shrub interaction. At two contrasting dryland sites, we conducted experimental plantings of Olea seedlings on two microsites: contiguous to a Stipa tussock (Stipa microsite) and on the intertussock bare‐soil areas (Open microsite), and manipulated resource availability by combining nutrient and water addition. The experiment followed a full factorial design, with all treatment combinations applied at each site. We monitored survival, height, and stem basal diameter of Olea individuals over a study period of 5 years. All across the wide range of conditions considered, negative effects of Stipa on Olea largely prevailed during the first 2 years after the plantation. We found that competition was stronger in the drier steppe, where extra inputs of water favored neutral interactions. Conversely, nutrient addition increased competition strength, particularly when combined with water inputs, pointing to the contrasting role of different resources and the importance of interactions between them in the control of plant–plant interaction outcome. The competition effects of Stipa faded with time and gradually shifted to neutral interaction as Olea individuals aged. Our results are particularly relevant to guide restoration efforts in formerly wooded xeric grasslands and rangelands.

Yuan-Pin Hung, Ching-Chi Lee, Jen-Chieh Lee et al.

Probiotic supplements have been used to decrease the gut carriage of antimicrobial-resistant <i>Enterobacterales</i> through changes in the microbiota and metabolomes, nutrition competition, and the secretion of antimicrobial proteins. Many probiotics have shown <i>Enterobacterales</i>-inhibiting effects ex vivo and in vivo. In livestock, probiotics have been widely used to eradicate colon or environmental antimicrobial-resistant <i>Enterobacterales</i> colonization with promising efficacy for many years by oral supplementation, in ovo use, or as environmental disinfectants. In humans, probiotics have been used as oral supplements for infants to decease potential gut pathogenic <i>Enterobacterales</i>, and probiotic mixtures, especially, have exhibited positive results. In contrast to the beneficial effects in infants, for adults, probiotic supplements might decrease potentially pathogenic <i>Enterobacterales</i>, but they fail to completely eradicate them in the gut. However, there are several ways to improve the effects of probiotics, including the discovery of probiotics with gut-protection ability and antimicrobial effects, the modification of delivery methods, and the discovery of engineered probiotics. The search for multifunctional probiotics and synbiotics could render the eradication of “bad” <i>Enterobacterales</i> in the human gut via probiotic administration achievable in the future.

Byung-il Choi

This paper analyzes how the current Global Value Chain (GVC) of East Asia has been established, and attempts to project the future trajectory of GVC under New Normal in the global trading system. For this purpose, the framework of Ideology-Technology-Institution nexus is presented with focus on the dynamics of interplay between ideology and technology, duly recognizing the dual-aspect of technology- a platform for business and also for national defense. The paper analyzes how the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) of the 1990s played a role of “facilitator” in shaping the GVC of East Asia, where China plays ‘factory for final assembly’ and the US plays ‘the largest consumer’. Under New Normal, digital technology is likely to play the opposite role of “disrupting” the GVC of East Asia, unlike ICT. The paper explores the mechanism behind this great disruption. What is driving New Normal is the US-China power competition, seeking for dominance in East Asia and beyond. This paper argues that New Normal is not temporary shock, but will last for some time. Under this presumption, the paper presents three scenarios for the future trajectory of GVC in East Asia.

Martha Pastari, Syokumawena Syokumawena

Sprain, is an injury to a joint that results in a torn ligament that functions as a binding between bones and as a stabilizer for the joint that occurs due to excessive pressure and sudden movements repeatedly. It is estimated that nearly 1,6 million injuries occur in connection with basketball in Indonesia. The epidemiology of injuries to male basketball players during training is 4,3 per 1000 while the competition is 9,9 per 1000. This study is an experimental study with a Two Group Pre-Test and Post-Test Design. The research subjects were 30 permanent members of the Bangau Basketball Club which were divided into 2 groups: O1 group was a group that was given cold therapy before training alone, O2 group was a group that was given cold therapy after exercise alone. The study was conducted in October-November 2018. There was a difference between pain intensity and the degree of ankle sprain O1 group before and after exercise with the pain intensity difference test value of 0,000 and the value of the ankle sprain degree difference test result of 0,029 (p <0,05). There was a difference between the intensity of pain and the degree of ankle sprain in the O2 group before and after exercise with the test value of the pain intensity difference of 0,024 and the value of the test result of the degree of ankle sprain difference of 0,047 (p <0,05). Wilcoxon test results showed that there was an effect of cold therapy to reduce ankle sprain pain with p <0,05.

Fan-juan MENG, Qing WANG, Hui-xin LI et al.

With the growing of CO2 corrosion problem in multiphase oil and gas in-field pipelines, carbon steel can no longer meet the continuously growing demand for energy consumption. At the same time, the water content in the gathering pipelines and the complex phase distribution of the oil and water phases make the service environment of the pipeline steel increasingly demanding. Recently, the low Cr-containing steel, which shows an excellent performance-price ratio with a better CO2 corrosion resistance, is expected to replace the carbon steel used for pipelines. However, the application of 3Cr is limited under the conditions of oil-water flows, especially those with corrosion inhibitor. For example, the absolute value of the uniform corrosion rate is still relatively high in environments of high-carbon dioxide, and using corrosion inhibitor in the application of Cr-containing low-alloy steels is still necessary. Some researchers found that the corrosion inhibitor of imidazoline quaternary ammonium salt can better control the corrosion caused by carbon dioxide in the application of 3Cr steel. Since the corrosion resistance of Cr-containing low-alloy steel depends on the formation of corrosion products, it is highly susceptible to corrosion inhibitors, and research on its compatibility with corrosion inhibitors is still lacking. In this study, the corrosion resistance of 3Cr steel and the effect of corrosion inhibitor on the resistance were evaluated in an oil-water two-phase environment by using a high-temperature and high-pressure autoclave combined with SEM (scanning electron microscope), XRD (X-ray diffraction), confocal Raman spectroscopy, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results show that the corrosion scales formed on the 3Cr steel consist of two layers, and the inner layer is a Cr-rich layer in this environments, exhibiting good resistance to CO2 corrosion under the conditions of oil-water flows. However, after adding 100 mg·L−1 corrosion inhibitor of seventeen alkenyl amide ethyl imidazoline quaternary ammonium salt, 3Cr steel has not been effectively protected from corrosion. The analysis of the corrosion product and electrochemical tests revealed that competition exited between alkane molecules, corrosion inhibitor molecules and Cr-rich layers and the alkanes interfered with the ordered arrangement of the corrosion inhibitor and thus affected the corrosion resistance of 3Cr steel.

Sainbayar Gundsambuu

The impact of globalization leaves no choice to universities but to go toward internationalization in order to survive in the growing competition in higher education. Following the global trend of internationalization, Mongolian universities plan to increase courses and programs in English in order to improve their competitiveness and ultimately to become internationally visible, at least in Asia. Based on two types of data, documents and an online survey, this study discusses the current process of internationalization at Mongolian universities and explores how faculty members perceive the rationales of implementing English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI). The findings revealed that the Mongolian government is the key player in internationalization through policies, taking initiatives, and encouraging national universities. The faculty members of the two leading private universities in Mongolia perceived that the introduction of EMI at their universities intends to improve their graduates’ English language skills to operate globally and as well as to promote their university’s international profile.

Sylvatera Ayu Puspitasari, Didik Indradewa

Silica is one of beneficial nutrient in plants. Silica functions to strengthen epidermal wall and vascular tissues so that it can affect the stems that are getting bigger and stronger. The present study was conducted to determine the effects of silica fertilizers on growth and yield of chrysanthemum plants in Sheena and Snow White varieties that have different anatomies. The present study used Split Plot Design. The main plot was the concentration of silica with 4 levels, i.e. 0 mg/l/m2, 31.1 mg/l/m2, 62.2 mg/l/m2, and 93.3 mg/l/m2. The subplots were two varieties, Sheena and Snow White. The present study revealed that Si fertilizers with 62.2 mg/L concentration could accelerate harvest age and the stem hardness in Snow White aged 45 days. The Snow White which has bark stem anatomy was more responsive to silica fertilizers than the Sheena with the woody stem anatomy. This research provides benefits for researchers, farmers and policy stakeholders to increased yield and quality for local and international market competition.

G. Endrődi, M. Giordano, S. D. Katz et al.

Abstract We investigate the QCD phase diagram for nonzero background magnetic fields using first-principles lattice simulations. At the physical point (in terms of quark masses), the thermodynamics of this system is controlled by two opposing effects: magnetic catalysis (enhancement of the quark condensate) at low temperature and inverse magnetic catalysis (reduction of the condensate) in the transition region. While the former is known to be robust and independent of the details of the interactions, inverse catalysis arises as a result of a delicate competition, effective only for light quarks. By performing simulations at different quark masses, we determine the pion mass above which inverse catalysis does not take place in the transition region anymore. Even for pions heavier than this limiting value — where the quark condensate undergoes magnetic catalysis — our results are consistent with the notion that the transition temperature is reduced by the magnetic field. These findings will be useful to guide low-energy models and effective theories of QCD.

Esteban Domingo, Celia Perales

Viral quasispecies refers to a population structure that consists of extremely large numbers of variant genomes, termed mutant spectra, mutant swarms or mutant clouds. Fueled by high mutation rates, mutants arise continually, and they change in relative frequency as viral replication proceeds. The term quasispecies was adopted from a theory of the origin of life in which primitive replicons) consisted of mutant distributions, as found experimentally with present day RNA viruses. The theory provided a new definition of wild type, and a conceptual framework for the interpretation of the adaptive potential of RNA viruses that contrasted with classical studies based on consensus sequences. Standard clonal analyses and deep sequencing methodologies have confirmed the presence of myriads of mutant genomes in viral populations, and their participation in adaptive processes. The quasispecies concept applies to any biological entity, but its impact is more evident when the genome size is limited and the mutation rate is high. This is the case of the RNA viruses, ubiquitous in our biosphere, and that comprise many important pathogens. In virology, quasispecies are defined as complex distributions of closely related variant genomes subjected to genetic variation, competition and selection, and that may act as a unit of selection. Despite being an integral part of their replication, high mutation rates have an upper limit compatible with inheritable information. Crossing such a limit leads to RNA virus extinction, a transition that is the basis of an antiviral design termed lethal mutagenesis.

Vivien Nga Man Chan

Purpose: This article examines how individual, school, and social factors shape the perceptions of students in Senior Secondary Three (SS3; in some schools called Form Six [F6]) toward English private tutoring in Macao. Design/Approach/Methods: This is a comparative study of two F6 classes of an English-medium secondary school and four SS3 classes of a Chinese-medium secondary school in Macao, with a total number of 145 students. Mixed-methods approach (questionnaires and interviews) is employed in the study. Findings: The respondents’ participation in English tutoring is not very intensive. They prefer to receive government-subsidized after-school tutoring taught by their schoolteachers more than fee-paying English tutoring taught by tutors outside. Low level of social competition and high tertiary enrollment rates contribute to this phenomenon. Students’ needs and beliefs in English learning play key roles in determining their receipt of English tutoring. Originality/Value: Teachers may need better understanding of their students’ needs so as to design suitable pedagogies. Schools can consider more fully the types of tutoring that they provide for different kinds of pupils. The government-subsidized after-school tutoring could be a plausible way to reduce educational inequality.

Pere Casals, Jordi Camprodon, Antonia Caritat et al.

<p class="Cos"><em>Aim of study: </em>In the Mediterranean region, yew (<em>Taxus baccata</em> L.) usually grows with other tree species in mixed forests. Yew recruitment and juvenile growth may depend on the structure of the forest and the net balance between competition for soil water and nutrients with neighbors and facilitation that these neighbors exert by protecting the plants from direct sun exposure. This study aims, at a regional scale, to analyze the structure of forests containing yew, and, on an individual level, to analyze the effect of the surrounding vegetation structure on the performance of yew juveniles.</p><p class="Cos"><em>Area of study: </em>The structural typologies of yew populations were defined based on field inventories conducted in 55 plots distributed in 14 localities in the North-Eastern (NE) Iberian Peninsula, covering a wide range of yew distribution in the area. In a second step, an analysis of neighboring species' effects on juveniles was conducted based on the data from 103 plots centered in yew juveniles in five localities.<em></em></p><p class="Cos"><em>Main Results: </em>A cluster analysis classified the inventoried stands into four forest structural types: two multi-stratified forests with scattered yew and two yew groves. Multiple regression modeling showed that the δ¹³C measured in last year's leaves positively relates to the basal area of conifer neighbors, but negatively with the cover of the yew crown by other trees.</p><p class="Cos"><em>Research highlights: </em>At a stand-level, the density of recruits and juveniles (625 ± 104 recruits ha^-1, 259 ± 55 juveniles ha^-1) in mixed forests was found to be higher than that on yew dominant stands (181 ± 88 recruits ha^-1 and 57 ± 88 juveniles ha^-1). At an individual-level, the water stress (estimated from leaf δ¹³C) of yew juveniles seems alleviated by the crown cover by neighbors while it increases with the basal area of conifers. Yew conservation should focus on selective felling for the reduction of basal area of neighbors surrounding the target tree, but avoid affecting the canopy cover to contribute to enhanced yew juvenile growth.</p><p class="Cos"><strong>Keywords: </strong>Biodiversity conservation; δ¹³C; forest management; plant-plant interaction; recruitment; <em>Taxus baccata</em>; water use efficiency.</p>

William L. Mason

<p><em>Aim of the study:</em> An experiment was established in 1966 to compare the growth and development of 50: 50 mixtures of Sitka spruce (<em>Picea sitchensis</em>) with either Japanese larch (<em>Larix kaempferi</em>) or tamarack (<em>L. laricina</em>) with that found in pure plots of Sitka spruce. The site was one of moderate nitrogen availability where the presence of heather (<em>Calluna vulgaris</em>) could be expected to limit the growth ofSitka spruce.</p><p><em>Area of the study:</em> North-east Scotland.</p><p><em>Material and methods</em>: There were different patterns of spruce growth in the pure plots and in the mixtures, with faster spruce growth in mixture in the years approaching and immediately following canopy closure (i.e. ages 15-25). Foliage analysis suggested that this was linked with improved nitrogen status of spruce trees in the mixed compared to the pure plots.</p><p><em>Main results</em>: At years 20 and 25 there were significant differences in height, diameter, and basal area between treatments, with the largest basal area being found in the Japanese larch/Sitka spruce mixtures, indicative of overyielding in the mixed plots. However, when the experiment was clearfelled at 41 years of age, all treatments had self-thinned to produce spruce dominated stands of similar height with only an occasional larch tree surviving in plots that were originally 50:50 mixtures.</p><p><em>Research highlights</em>: There were no differences between treatments in basal area, harvested volume or sawlog outturn after 41 years. These results can be interpreted as showing facilitation between the larch and the spruce during the establishment phase followed by competition for light once canopy closure had occurred.</p><p><strong>Keywords</strong>: Mixed stand dynamics; facilitation; nitrogen status; product outturn.</p>