The competitor, stress tolerator, and ruderal strategy (CSR) framework has been widely applied to explain ecological processes across species. However, its utility in revealing intra-specific trade-offs and genetic adaptation to climate remains unclear. In this study, we examined whether the CSR strategy estimated by leaf traits can identify adaptations to climate in the common reed Phragmites australis. For this purpose, we integrated functional trait data from field surveys and a three-year common garden experiment to compare CSR scores between two typical populations of P. australis from western and eastern China. We further assessed the associations of CSR scores with latitude, bioclimatic factors, and phylogeographical sources using a global dataset including two invaded lineages in the North America. We found that competitor scores were positively correlated with latitude, whereas stress tolerator scores were negatively correlated. Competitor scores were positively correlated with bioclimatic factors, even when controlling for phylogeny. All CSR scores displayed significant phylogenetic signals, with the invasive lineage in the higher latitudes (haplotype M) exhibiting higher stress tolerator scores than the native lineage. Differences in competitor and stress tolerator scores between western and eastern Chinese populations of P. australis were consistent across field and common garden experiments. Although intra-species variation in CSR strategy may be influenced by phylogenetic history, our finding that CSR strategy in P. australis populations is correlated with latitude suggests these plants have adapted to local climates along a latitudinal gradient.
Research on human–environment interactions remains fragmented, with limited exploration of how diverse park features jointly relate to multiple physical activity (PA) levels and sensory perceptions. Large-scale textual data offer new opportunities to capture public experiences of parks. However, prevailing natural language processing approaches, such as lexicon-based and prompt-based methods, often lack contextual sensitivity and accuracy. To address these limitations, we developed a landscape character named entity recognition (LCNER) model fine-tuned on a manually curated dataset to simultaneously extract park features, sensory perceptions, and three PA levels from online reviews. Among six pre-trained language models evaluated, the DeBERTa-large–based LCNER achieved the highest mean F1 score (0.896 ± 0.001) and outperformed domain-lexicon baselines, with the largest improvements observed for the best-performing entity categories: ＋0.558 in precision, ＋0.231 in recall, and ＋0.395 in F1 score. Quasi-binomial analyses revealed that facility-related features provided better model fit for moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and sound perception than for other activities and sensory types. Several features exhibited opposite associations with MVPA and sedentary behavior. Moreover, certain activity-oriented facilities were negatively associated with sensory perceptions, suggesting a potential trade-off between active engagement and sensory awareness. Overall, LCNER demonstrates the potential to unify the extraction of park features, activity levels, and sensory perceptions from online texts, advancing understanding of how park environments shape human experiences and behaviors. Code and prompts are available at https://github.com/Wenpeimuzi/Landscape-NLP.
Yasmim Isabel Retore, Bruno Figueiró Fregonezi, João Paulo Silva Pavan
et al.
Soybean breeding in Africa is constrained by environmental heterogeneity and strong genotype-by-environment (G×E) interaction, which limits the identification of high-performing and stable genotypes. We evaluated 145 soybean genotypes across 24 environments in seven African countries for grain yield (GY), number of days to maturity (NDM), 100-grain weight (W100), oil content (OIL), and protein content (PROT). Likelihood ratio tests indicated significant genotype, environment, and G×E effects for all traits. GY ranged from 1.404 to 3.391 kg ha?¹, with variation in maturity and grain composition associated with altitude and cropping season. Genetic correlations revealed important trade-offs, including positive associations among GY, NDM, and W100, and antagonism between OIL and PROT. Multi-trait selection with 10% intensity identified 14 genotypes closest to the ideotype, with expected gains of 15.7% in GY and favorable responses in the other traits. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of multi-trait, multi-environment strategies for soybean improvement in Africa.
Dimitrios P. Reklitis, Nikolaos T. Giannakopoulos, Marina C. Terzi
et al.
This study examines the statistical associations between commercialization-related cost structures and financial outcomes on revenue growth, profitability, and scale within a centralized financial system. We estimate four OLS models (M1–M4) using aggregated annual data from 2020 to 2025 and enhance our analysis with a fuzzy cognitive map (FCM) scenario assessment. The findings demonstrate that revenue growth correlates positively with both SG&A growth and commercialization efficiency (revenue per unit of SG&A); however, SG&A intensity exhibits a negative relationship with net margins. Logarithmic estimations indicate a robust co-scaling between operational expenses and revenues, implying growth driven by capacity rather than operating leverage. Lagged analysis also reveals an intertemporal trade-off, wherein phases of accelerated SG&A expansion are succeeded by diminished subsequent growth. The findings underscore the necessity of differentiating between commercialization intensity and efficiency, and advise against viewing SG&A growth as a consistent alignment of financial performance.
Assessing urban resilience under compound shocks requires observable and comparable process evidence that can inform resilient land governance and cross-jurisdiction planning. Using China’s Pilot Free Trade Zones (PFTZs) as a staged institutional setting, this research examines whether institutional exposure is associated with deviation–recovery trajectories of urban activity during the 2020 COVID-19 shock and whether these associations propagate through spatial spillovers with an identifiable scale profile. Institutional exposure is operationalized by the prefecture-level cities actually covered by PFTZ functional areas. With harmonized administrative boundaries, we construct an annual city-level VIIRS nighttime light (NTL) series for 2013–2024 and treat NTL as an activity-change signal rather than a direct proxy for output. We trace shock deviation in 2020 and subsequent recovery via staged differencing. Spatial interaction frictions are represented by least-cost path distance (LCPD) derived from a multi-source cost surface, which is used to build a gravity-based spatial weight matrix. Estimation relies on the Spatial Durbin Model (SDM), with LeSage–Pace impact decomposition to distinguish direct and spillover effects, complemented by distance-threshold diagnostics to map attenuation patterns. Results indicate persistent clustering within the PFTZ-related urban system. The shock year is characterized by compressed connectivity and fragmented brightening, whereas recovery proceeds in a layered manner with earlier core repair, partial corridor reconnection, and weaker adjustment at the periphery. Spatial dependence in activity change is statistically significant. Associations linked to institutional exposure are realized primarily locally, while structural and scale conditions more readily operate through spatial externalities. Spillovers are most detectable at meso-scales and attenuate gradually across distance thresholds. Overall, the integrated earth-observation and spatial-econometric framework provides replicable geospatial evidence to support resilient land governance and regional coordination under common shocks.
The relevance of the topic stems from the growing role of civil society as a key actor in shaping bilateral relations between Brazil and the European Union (EU). In the context of global challenges, ranging from human rights protection to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, cooperation between nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and non-pro t associations is gaining strategic importance, while remaining insu ciently studied in the scienti c literature. It is especially important to understand how civil society in uences foreign policy decision-making, including the complex processes such as negotiations on the EU - MERCOSUR agreement. The study uses an institutional and systematic approach complemented by historical and political analysis. Methods of comparative analysis, generalization of statistical data (including that from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, IBGE), as well as the qualitative analysis of policy documents, reports and public statements from civil society organizations and EU institutions are used. The scienti c novelty of the work lies in the comprehensive consideration of the interaction between Brazilian and EU civil societies as an independent level of international partnership. For the rst time in the Russian scienti c researches, the mechanisms of in uence of NGOs on Brazil’s foreign policy have been analyzed in such detail, including their role in suspending the rati cation of the trade agreement with the EU, and cyclical dependencies between the domestic political situation and the level of activity of the civil sector have been identi ed. The results of the study demonstrate that Brazilian civil society not only engages in dialogue with European partners through such formats as the EU - Brazil Round Table, but is also able to in uence the country’s foreign policy course. While EU support strengthens democratic institutions and promotes a “green transition,” there is also a risk of NGOs being used for external interference. In conclusion, it is emphasized that a sustainable partnership between Brazil and the EU is impossible without the involvement of civil society, which is both a resource for cooperation and a potential source of tension.
International relations, Political science (General)
Abstract This chapter explains how a synthesis of incentive-theoretical and resource dependency approaches provides a sound foundation for specifying central organizational trade-offs that confront membership-based organizations reliant on voluntary support when engaging in processes or activities essential to their democratic contributions (e.g. the cultivation of member activism, political engagement and societally responsive behaviour). These trade-offs make clear why organizations often realize their democratic potential in some way but not another. How these trade-offs are handled by CSOs essentially depends on the interplay of three groups of intra-organizational actors. Members, organizational leaders, and managers can be associated with different orientations and priorities with regard to CSO self-maintenance and external goal attainment, two demands that can be difficult to reconcile. The two contrasting governance templates—‘voluntary association’ and ‘professionalized voluntary organization’— in which these three actor types have different positions allow us to theorize how these trade-offs (such as between member control and leader autonomy; between stable linkages and the maximization of external, short-term support) play out on the level of individual CSOs that share characteristics associated with each template.
Juan P Wisnivesky, Nikita Agrawal, Jyoti Ankam
et al.
<h4>Background</h4>Post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) is associated with worse asthma outcomes in individuals exposed to the World Trade Center (WTC) site.<h4>Research question</h4>Do WTC workers with coexisting PTSD and asthma have a specific inflammatory pattern that underlies the relationship with increased asthma morbidity?<h4>Study design and methods</h4>We collected data on a cohort of WTC workers with asthma recruited from the WTC Health Program. Diagnosis of PTSD was ascertained with a Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel of Mental Disorders) and the severity of PTSD symptoms was assessed with the PTSD Checklist 5. We obtained blood and sputum samples to measure cytokines levels in study participants.<h4>Results</h4>Of the 232 WTC workers with diagnosis of asthma in the study, 75 (32%) had PTSD. PTSD was significantly associated with worse asthma control (p = 0.002) and increased resource utilization (p = 0.0002). There was no significant association (p>0.05) between most blood or sputum cytokines with PTSD diagnosis or PCL-5 scores both in unadjusted and adjusted analyses.<h4>Interpretation</h4>Our results suggest that PTSD is not associated with blood and sputum inflammatory markers in WTC workers with asthma. These findings suggest that other mechanisms likely explain the association between PTSD and asthma control in WTC exposed individuals.
Abstract
The purpose of the current research is to use the metacombination approach in order to design a native model of new product development. The research method is applicable-developmental in terms of purpose; exploratory in terms of the nature; and qualitative in terms of the method of implementation, and a meta-composite method. The statistical population of the research includes all sources related to the development of new indigenous products during the years 2000 to 2023, totaling 225 sources. For this purpose, by systematically reviewing the subject literature, articles indexed in WOS, SCOPUS, Science Direct and Google Scholar were collected, and 143 articles were selected based on the abstract; then 75 sources were selected based on the content, and finally 67 sources were selected through checking the author information sources as the final sources of analysis and synthesis of the selected findings. The selected sources were analyzed using maxqda 2020 software, resulting in 104 primary codes. Finally, the findings of metacombination led to the identification of 15 categories in the localization of new product development research.
Extended Abstract
Introduction
The environment of companies is changing dramatically with short life cycles, demand for product customization, technical innovations, rapid growth of technology, increased risk taking and risk in global trade and ever-increasing changes in customer needs; and companies have to reduce the expenditures and introduce the product to the market quickly. Before launch, each new product goes through a significant research and development process that includes product opportunity, cost, and timeline to produce a product. After sufficient research, a new product enters the development phase, where a company creates a product or service using the concept presented in the research phase. Companies that succeed in commercializing a new product and technology in a fast and accurate manner are able to gain greater market share, superior pricing, and dominant designs that lead to sharp competitive differences. The difference between success and failure is often found in the basic processes of management, specifically in the interfaces between different stages of research and development (Krishna et al, 2009). Research and development is not only a source for new ideas, but can also be used to solve identified problems (Clark & Watson, 2019). In fact, new products are the answer to the biggest problems of organizations. The dairy industry, with its long value chain and numerous links, is an effective and efficient industry in Iran's economy, and yogurt, as one of the most popular dairy products, is consumed daily by many customers. Therefore, identifying and understanding the subjective expectations of customers about this product as one of the important external sources of creating new knowledge and providing products in accordance with the expectations and demands of customers is a necessary condition for the survival of dairy producers in the competitive market (Mashhadhi et al, 2018).
Therefore, the researcher asks the main question: what is the application of the metacombination approach in order to design the native model of new product development?
Theoretical Framework
Research and Development
The term research and development means constructive activities arising from a systematic foundation that aims to increase human knowledge and social culture and use this knowledge in new applications. Research and development are activities that revolve around the innovation of new products or services in a company. Localization of the research and development network means that the companies affiliated to the countries carry out research and development activities in cooperation with local universities and research institutes. High-quality R&D personnel are relatively scarce in some places, and most of them are available for universities or research institutes in regions with higher innovative capacity. To fully utilize the benefits of local R&D knowledge and human resources, frequent interaction with universities and research institutes to create an R&D network for companies is very important (Lashgari et al, 2021).
Alizadeh et al, (2023) investigated the identification of dimensions and components affecting research and development strategies in domestic automobile companies. The findings showed that the dimensions and components affecting research and development strategies in domestic automotive companies have 33 sub-themes in 7 main themes including business strategy, support policies, investment attraction, intellectual capital, cultural development, research and development implementation network, and research and development management. Finally, the pattern of main themes affecting research and development strategies in domestic automobile companies was drawn. The results of this study have many applicable implications for the managers and officials of domestic automobile manufacturing companies, and they can take an effective step in the direction of research and development based on the results of the main and sub-themes identified in the present study.
Kruachottikul et al, (2023) in a research titled "New Product Development Process and Case Studies for Academic Research with Deep Technology to Commercialization" propose a new product development framework for innovation-based deep technology research for commercialization. The proposed framework, called Gateway-Completed Phase, integrates the development process with design thinking and lean deployment approaches. The framework consists of six steps and five gates, and focuses on critical thinking to help entrepreneurs avoid mental traps and make sound decisions. Early activities focus on searching for potential socio-economic impact research in deep technology, developing a business case, market analysis, and strategy for problem-solution fit; and then moving into a build-measure-learn activity with an authentic learning feedback loop. In the next step, appropriate exploitation methods are decided using weight factor analysis, development of intellectual property strategy, completion of university technology transfer process and participation in fund raising.
Research methodology
The research method is applicable-developmental in terms of purpose; exploratory in terms of the nature; and qualitative in terms of the method of implementation, and a meta-composite method. The statistical population of the research includes all sources related to the development of new indigenous products during the years 2000 to 2023, totaling 225 sources. For this purpose, by systematically reviewing the subject literature, articles indexed in WOS, SCOPUS, Science Direct and Google Scholar were collected, and 143 articles were selected based on the abstract; then 75 sources were selected based on the content, and finally 67 sources were selected through checking the author information sources as the final sources of analysis and synthesis of the selected findings.
Research findings
The selected sources were analyzed using maxqda 2020 software, resulting in 104 primary codes. Finally, the findings of metacombination led to the identification of 15 categories in the localization of new product development research.
Conclusion
The current research was carried out with the aim of using the metacombination approach in order to design the native model of new product development. The results of this research correspond with the results of Alizadeh et al, (2023), Kruachottikul et al, (2023), Askarifar et al, (2022), Vidor et al, (2022), Adomako (2021), Tajik (2021), Qiao et al, (2019), Altuntas et al, (2019), Zedtwitz et al, (2018), Cuervo-Cazurra et al, (2017), and Silinevica et al, (2017). Askarifar et al, (2022) showed that innovation in production technology, products, work processes and sustainable and green production have the highest priority in the innovative needs of these cooperatives. Also, the stages of commercial production, research, and marketing are the most important in the research and development process; which sponsors, suppliers and customers in the commercial production phase;, research units including universities, research and development centers and research institutes in the research phase; and customers in the marketing stage are more important.
According to these results, it is suggested that organizations not only need to combine product features and strengthen production capabilities to develop new product research, but a wide range of responsibilities and considerations should be anticipated in their research and development stage. In fact, organizations should consider local issues related to service capabilities, financial solutions, performance and sales development, marketability, and distribution channels for current and future customers. Also, organizations can consider the exchange and sharing of experience and knowledge among employees in local research and development activities in order to increase the performance level through various sources, including market research, collaborative research, and expert associations. Also, focusing research and development activities on existing assets and designing strategic plans based on the amount of assets should be considered. In the end, culture creating is suggested in order to create the willingness of managers and shareholders to implement and develop a new product.
Abstract The core objective of this article is to explore the viability of uncovered interest parity and to reconnoiter major determinants of domestic interest rates of the Pakistan and China economies. It is imperative to study the interest rate parity that assistances to comprehend that exactly how exchange rate and domestic interest rate influence foreign interest rate of two economies in emerging trends in international trade. The World Development Indicators is main source of data gathering, and it ranges from 1980 to 2023 for the analysis of both models. This study considers two models, Engle–Granger causality has been applied in Model 1, to analyze the uncovered interest parity, and findings indicate that the exchange rate of each country has no effect on the interest rate of the other country. However, Model 2 investigates the main determinants of domestic interest rate and their long-run associations for Pakistan and China. To capture the long-run association, ARDL estimation technique has been deployed, and findings show the long-run relations and co-integration among the policy variables of both countries. In Pakistan, consumer price index and exchange rate hold positive linking with the domestic interest rate; however, output level is adversely correlated. The error correction term is 91%, confirming the rapidity of equilibrium adjustment when a shock occurs. Regarding the Chinese economy, consumer price index and exchange rate have a negative impact on China domestic interest rate. The results of the error correction model indicate an 80% speed of convergence in the long run. This study suggests that improvement in productivity and exchange rate may assist both economies to experience steady exchange rate and interest rate.
Bruno T. Scodari, Andrew P. Schaefer, Nirav S. Kapadia
et al.
ABSTRACT Background Oncology outreach is a common strategy for addressing cancer workforce shortages, where traveling oncologists commute across clinical settings to extend their services. Despite its known benefits specifically for rural patients, oncology outreach reallocates physician resources to satellite clinics and may negatively impact the coordination of cancer care. Methods In this retrospective study, we identified patients with incident breast, colorectal, and lung cancers from 2016–2019 nationwide Medicare claims and linked them to oncologists using Part B. We considered encounters occurring outside the physician's primary hospital service area as “outreach visits” and calculated the proportion of outreach visits by oncology specialty for contiguous US hospital referral regions (HRRs) using 2016–2017 claims. We constructed a nationwide physician patient‐sharing network from 2018–2019 claims and computed median care density—a measure of physician team familiarity—and local transitivity—a measure of physician cohesion/clustering—for each HRR as proxies for care coordination. Generalized linear models were used to explore the associations between oncology outreach and care coordination measures at the HRR level. Results We found that HRRs with high medical oncology outreach were associated with 16% decreases in care density (95% CI: 5–25) and 4% decreases in local transitivity (95% CI: 1–8) compared to HRRs with low medical oncology outreach. HRRs with high radiation and surgical oncology outreach were not associated with network‐based measures of care coordination. Conclusions While medical oncology outreach increases access for underserved patient populations, it potentially fragments care delivery across clinical settings. Health systems may consider this trade‐off to inform decisions concerning the implementation of outreach programs or policies aimed at hedging against fragmentation in markets with active outreach arrangements.
Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens
Amerita Ravuvu, Joe Pakoa Lui, Adolphe Bani
et al.
Abstract Background A large body of literature exists on trade liberalisation and the ways in which trade agreements can affect food systems. However, the systematic and objective monitoring of these and their impact on national food environments has been limited. Using a case study, this paper undertakes a systematic analysis of how Vanuatu’s obligations under WTO agreements has impacted its food environment. Results Data collection was guided by the INFORMAS trade monitoring framework’s minimal approach and seven selected indicators outlined in three domains: trade in goods, trade in services and FDI, and policy space. Strong associations between trade liberalisation and imported foods, especially ultra-processed foods were evident in measured indicators as follows: (i) food trade with 32 WTO countries showing high levels of import volumes; (ii) a marked increase in ‘less healthy’ focus food imports namely fatty and other selected meat products, sugar, savoury snacks, ice-cream and edible ices and energy-dense beverages; (iii) actual and bound tariff rates impacting import trends of ice-cream and edible ices, bakery products and confectionary; and in other instances, a sharp increase in import of crisps, snacks and noodles despite tariff rates remaining unchanged from 2008 to 2019; (iv) policies regulating food marketing, composition, labelling and trade in the domestic space with relatively limited safeguard measures; (v) 49 foreign-owned food-related companies involved in food manufacturing and processing and the production of coffee, bakery products, confectionary, food preservatives, fish, local food products and meat, and the manufacturing, processing and packaging of palm oil, coconut oil, cooking oil, water, cordial juice, flavoured juices, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages. These were largely produced for local consumption; (vi) 32 domestic industries engaged in food and beverage production; and (vii) an assessment of WTO provisions relating to domestic policy space and governance showing that the current legal and regulatory environment for food in Vanuatu remains fragmented. Conclusions The analysis presented in this paper suggest that Vanuatu’s commitments to WTO agreements do play an important role in shaping their food environment and the availability, nutritional quality, and accessibility of foods.
Adaptive capacity indicates the capacity to cope with and adapt to a disturbance in a complex social-ecological system. Cultural landscapes can be understood as such systems that are confronted with land abandonment and agricultural intensification as key disturbances. However, responses to such cultural landscape loss have not been systematically investigated so far in terms of adaptive capacity. Taking this gap as a starting point and following a context-sensitive approach, this study addresses the question: how can the adaptive capacity of cultural landscape systems for a disturbance such as land abandonment be understood? We answer this question through a comparative case study of four landcare associations in Germany. A conceptual framework that distinguishes between coping and adaptation responses and allows for the analysis of different levels of fit of responses is used. Management of abandoned agricultural land, the establishment of cultural landscape features, provision of consultation and mediation services, and machinery are implemented as coping responses by the four associations. Adaptation responses include the organization of events, public relations work, education, regional brand promotion, lobbying work, and the promotion of regional products. The interactions between the responses that have either synergetic or counterproductive effects were identified. The results of this study emphasize the fit between different responses as an important factor for understanding the adaptive capacity of cultural landscape systems in addition to investing in coping and adaptation responses in isolation. In this sense, adaptive capacity needs to be understood not only in terms of coping (short-term adaptive capacity) and adaptation responses (longer-term adaptive capacity) but also through a good fit, which reduces trade-offs between responses and thus offers a broader range of future options. We conclude by calling for a holistic analysis of different responses to a disturbance that takes account of their fit.