Potential Competitors Research Articles

DSB's General Rules in Dealing with Tariffs on Similar Imported Products and Their Implications for Domestic Practices: Taking the WTO Chilean Wine Duty Case as an Entry Point

The principle of national treatment ensures that foreign nationals receive(natural persons, legal persons, or things) economic treatment comparable to that given to a states nationals. In international trade, national treatment is reflected primarily in the taxation of imported goods of the same kind (including but not limited to substitutable and directly competitive goods). A lack of uniform standards exists in defining similar goods, and the WTO Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) mainly considers the identification of similar products in terms of their use, substitution elasticity, physical characteristics, consumer preferences, sales channels, prices, tariff categories, etc., and at the same time, it needs to take into account the potential competition. On the other hand, the identification of different taxes is mainly based on the different tax principle, and the determination of different taxation is mainly judged by whether it is more than a minor difference and whether it provides protection for domestic production. This lack of codified standards contributes to disputes regarding the application of the national treatment principle. Through the introduction and analysis of the Chilean Wine Duty case combined with the opinions of the Panel and the Appellate Body, this paper will try to draw the general rules of the DSB in dealing with similar cases, and use them to guide China's future practice, to playing the role of a large developing country on the road of international trade

Feeding Habits and Individual Specialization in Adult Female South American Sea Lions (Otaria flavescens) in Patagonia

Studying trophic feeding habits and their variation over time is crucial for understanding individual and population success. Although many generalist feeders’ populations appear to use diverse trophic resources, they are often composed of individuals that specialize in only a subset of these resources, a phenomenon known as individual trophic specialization (ITS). The South American sea lion (SASL) (Otaria flavescens), widely distributed along the South American coast, is an opportunistic and generalist predator with a diverse diet, making it a good model for studying ITS. We aimed to estimate the diet composition and the degree of ITS among SASL females on Isla Arce, Argentina, over a period of three years (2012 to 2014). For that, we analysed stable isotopes (δ15N and δ13C) in vibrissae from 12 females. Over the three years studied, females from this colony primarily fed on pelagic prey. At the population level, the most commonly consumed prey varied between the Argentine anchovy (Engraulis anchoita) in 2012 and 2014 and the Patagonian squid (Doryteuthis gahi) in 2013. Consuming mostly pelagic resources throughout the year, unlike previous studies in nearby colonies, suggests the existence of different foraging strategies in lactating females. Although the prey contribution varied between years, the analysis indicated that SASL females breeding on Isla Arce show some degree of ITS, which could be a mechanism adopted by individuals to mitigate the potential competition given by sustained population increases.

Interactions Between Woolly Whiteflies and Their Parasitoid Wasp: Development, Competition, and Reproductive Potential

Interactions Between Woolly Whiteflies and Their Parasitoid Wasp: Development, Competition, and Reproductive Potential

Structural modulated NH4V4O10 cathode materials for low temperature zinc ion storage devices

With the characteristics of nontoxicity and environmental benignity, aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs) are rapidly emerging as potential competitors for high-performance energy storage systems. Nevertheless, several issues hinder their further...

Highly sensitive and selective detection of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein S1 using optically-active nanocomposite-coated melt-blown masks.

Detection of viruses, including coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), via facile, fast, and optical methods is highly important to control pandemics. In this regard, optically-active nanomaterials and nanoparticles (NPs) are a wise choice due to their long-term stability, ease of functionalization, and modifications. In this work, a nanocomposite based on NiFe layered double hydroxide (LDH) and ZIF-67 metal-organic framework (MOF) was designed and synthesized, and decorated on the surface of the melt-blown mask. The developed nanocomposite has a fluorescence emission at 625nm. The selectivity of the nanocomposite towards the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein S1 was increased by adding CuO NPs. The limit of detection (LOD) of 1.5nM and 24.5nM against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein S1 was recorded by NiFe LDH@ZIF-67@CuO nanocomposite, and NiFe LDH@ZIF-67@CuO decorated on the surface of melt-blown. Also, in the presence of potential competitors and other types of pathogens, including Influenza virus types A and B, Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, and even cations/macromolecules, the fluorescence intensity changes had more than 40% difference.

Necrophagy in cave environments: ecological pressure due to food scarcity? A case study of necrophagy by a harvestman Discocyrtanus canjinjim Carvalho & Kury, 2017 (Arachnida: Opiliones) preying on an Eidmanacris sp. (Orthoptera: Phalangopsidae) carcass

Cave environments present stable abiotic conditions, including permanent darkness, high humidity, and mild temperatures, while biotic factors reflect simplified ecological networks and energy constraints. Cave invertebrates, primarily detritivores and generalists, demonstrate specific adaptations to these conditions. Predation and necrophagy are critical behaviors shaped by the cave's scarcity of food resources. In this study, we report a rare necrophagy event involving Discocyrtanus canjinjim Carvalho & Kury, 2017 (Arachnida: Opiliones) feeding on a deceased cricket (Eidmanacris sp.) (Orthoptera: Phalangopsidae) in the Ponte de Pedra I Cave, Brazil. This limestone cave features large entrances and supports an oligotrophic system. The event occurred in an aphotic zone, where the harvestman displayed no flee behavior despite external stimuli. The presence of other predatory arachnids suggests potential intra-guild competition. Opiliones in the Cerrado and Caatinga exhibit opportunistic carnivory, consuming various prey taxa, including insects and vertebrates. Necrophagy, intra-guild predation, and cannibalism are behaviors reported in subterranean populations due to limited food availability. Climate change and anthropogenic pressures, such as deforestation and mining, threaten the stability of cave environments. Observations like this contribute to understanding the ecological dynamics within caves, highlighting the importance of preserving these fragile ecosystems.

Managing Customer Satisfaction of Residential Real Estate Consumers in Terms of Business Adaptation to the New Economic Reality

The dependence of the competitive development of the regional economy and the possibility of effective implementation of large-scale innovative transformations in their sectoral spheres on the level of provision of the labor resource with comfortable and well-maintained housing that meets modern requirements for a wide range of different indicators is indicated. The necessity of developing the residential real estate market and the housing sector within individual territories in the vector of increasing the demanded quality of residential facilities under construction is argued. The quality of residential real estate objects becomes the criterion that allows you to measure tasks for innovative changes of various nature in different components of the functioning and development of society with the possibility of their successful solution by the efforts of the labor resource, as well as by increasing the professional and creative activity of its human-centered link. The purpose of the study is to develop and test a methodological approach to assessing and managing customer satisfaction with residential real estate in the context of marketing and behavioral adaptation of business to the requirements of innovative changes in the interests of strengthening the competitiveness of the regional economy. The achievement of this goal can be achieved by creating marketing and communication fields balanced in terms of resources and motivations by various subjects of market relations focused on partnership in solving the problems of meeting the needs of their workforce in high-quality housing that meets the requirements of the new economic reality reflecting the various boundaries of the VUGA era. The regional aspect of solving the problem of providing residential real estate for the labor resource in the Krasnodar Territory is considered. Some significant issues of the development of the housing market and related spheres of activity are outlined in the framework of solving priority tasks of innovative renewal of sectoral spheres of activity and the country's acquisition of technological and economic sovereignty. A methodological approach to managing customer satisfaction of residential real estate consumers is proposed and analyzed, taking into account the mutual influence of various factors that determine the marketing and behavioral adaptability of business to the requirements of society in terms of building the potential of competitiveness of the regional economy.

Hotel HR management: modern features

The importance of studying the issues of HR management development strategy for the formation of competitive potential is obvious, since the human factor determines the success of the implementation of management decisions and the quality of service in the hotel business. The article examines the peculiarity of HR management and its direct dependence on external factors, such as exchange rate volatility and state economic policy, seasonal occupancy of the hotel room stock and variability of consumer demand, etc.

Utilization of the Greater Mekong Subregion Cross-Border Transport Agreement (GMS-CBTA)

The aim of this study was to analyze spatial data on the current status and progress in the implementation of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Cross-Border Transport Agreement (CBTA). Problems, obstacles, and opportunities related to the agreement during implementation were examined. This qualitative research was performed using field surveys, stakeholder interviews, and brainstorming in focus groups. The results revealed that there is a need to develop road and rail transportation systems that connect with the customs houses of Mae Sai, Chiang Saen, Chiang Khong, Nakhon Phanom, and Nong Khai in Thailand. Cross-border transportation with neighboring countries needs to be improved as well because the transportation through customs houses is cheap and provides certain schedules. Cross-border regulations were found to be a major obstacle. In order to promote smooth cross-border transportation, negotiations at the state-to-state level and private-to-private level are needed. The connection of logistics networks under the GMS-CBTA framework will be flexible and can be adjusted according to the changing situations in the region and globally. Cooperation of the GMS in the transportation system could provide a mainland link that connects the Indian Ocean with the Pacific Ocean. It could provide a short and fast alternative route that could promote the potential of GMS competition at a global level, enhance bargaining power, and maintain the balance of power in the region.

Venetian Control of Information Flows with Constantinople and the Soft Power of a Renaissance State

Abstract The ability to control international flows of information constitutes one of the core elements of the soft power of any modern state aspiring to exercise some level of regional or global hegemony. This phenomenon has been previously examined by those who study long-distance communications mainly in the context of the nineteenth-century telegraph or the twentieth-century broadcast. However, inquiries focusing on the analogous historical role performed by the postal service during the early modern era are much more scarce. Building upon this premise, this study examines the strategic advantages gained by the Republic of Venice through its control of the mail exchange between Europe and the Middle East – a de facto postal monopoly established during the sixteenth century. Venice deliberately subsidized this service in order to prevent the rise of potential competition. Despite the substantial cost, this was seen as an effective investment through which the republic gained a set of tangible strategic advantages. In particular, it helped to extend Venice’s relevance on the European political scene long past the point when its traditional political, economic, and naval–military power was already fading away.

Trends of Industrial Waste Generation in Manufacturing Enterprises in the Context of Waste Prevention—Shift-Share Analysis for European Union Countries

The problem of waste in the European Union is still present—from 2010 to 2022, the amount of hazardous waste generated increased by an average of 2.25% per year, while non-hazardous waste decreased by an average of 0.06% per year. The increase in the amount of hazardous waste and the very slight decrease in non-hazardous waste over the 13-year period testify to the ever-present problem of waste generation. To effectively address this issue, it is necessary to understand the trends that characterize the amount of waste generated. This study focuses on the amount of waste generated in manufacturing companies. Panel data from 27 European Union countries from 2010–2022 were analyzed to examine what factors contribute to the generation of hazardous and non-hazardous waste. For this purpose, a shift-share analysis was used. The research showed that, in comparison to 2010, the total amount of EU waste generated by manufacturing companies in 2022 was 3,632,096 tons lower for hazardous waste and 15,149,754 tons lower for non-hazardous waste. A shift-share analysis of hazardous waste suggests that companies in the manufacturing sectors should show an upward trend in the amount of waste generated in all the European Union countries. In fact, however, there has been a decline in the amount of this waste overall across the EU (though only in 15 countries), driven by both structural (industrial mix) and geographic (regional shift) factors. The dominance of the geographic component was particularly pronounced in countries with a decrease in hazardous waste (negative total effect). The situation was different for non-hazardous waste. Negative values of the national shift component for all the countries suggest a decline in non-hazardous waste at companies in the manufacturing sector. In reality, the decline occurred in only 16 countries, and in most, due to the regional shift component. The analysis shows that policies on hazardous and non-hazardous waste management in European Union countries vary. Positive changes in hazardous waste have taken place in 12 EU countries that differ in terms of levels of economic and social development, suggesting the need for further analysis of the reasons for these trends. In the case of non-hazardous waste, the largest number of countries have made positive changes related to their competitive potential, indicating that the decline in non-hazardous waste is mainly due to their macroeconomic situation. Thus, there is considerable regional heterogeneity in the spatial distribution of the waste change component. The research provides valuable insights for companies and institutions responsible for shaping waste management policies, helping them to recognize the regional advantages and disadvantages of waste reduction and strengthen regional cooperation in this regard.

Методический подход к выявлению ключевых точек роста занятости в экономике арктических регионов.

Developing an effective employment system in the Arctic regions in the context of stagnant demographic and migration trends requires identifying types of economic activities that significantly influence employment growth. This necessity underscores the relevance of the research. The study aims to determine sectoral priorities for boosting employment by identifying key employment growth drivers. The research hypothesis posits that sectors of economic specialization with a positive regional component in structural changes (indicating favorable regional factors) should be classified as employment growth drivers. To analyze the sectoral employment structures of the Arctic regions, the shift-share analysis method was employed, enabling the evaluation of the impact of national, sectoral, and regional factors on regional employment. This was complemented by the calculation of localization coefficients to assess the competitiveness and growth potential of economic activities from an employment perspective. The study's primary contribution lies in developing an algorithm for identifying key employment growth drivers through structural change analysis and specialization analysis. The research introduces a novel classification system for economic activities based on localization coefficients and regional structural shifts. This classification distinguishes three groups: key employment growth drivers, potential employment growth drivers, and possible future employment growth drivers. The proposed methodology was tested using official data from the Federal State Statistics Service for the Arctic regions. The study assessed the employment growth potential of various economic activities and classified them according to the defined criteria. Identifying key employment growth drivers contributes to the scientific foundation of regional employment policies, a critical component of socio-economic development in the Arctic economy. This emphasizes the study's relevance and its scientific and practical significance. Future research should focus on developing models that account for interrelations between economic activities and their multiplier effects.

Growth substrate limitation enhances anaerobic arsenic methylation by Paraclostridium bifermentans strain EML.

Microbial arsenic methylation is established as a detoxification process under aerobic conditions (converting arsenite to monomethylated arsenate) but is proposed to be a microbial warfare strategy under anoxic conditions due to the toxicity of its main product, monomethylarsonous acid (MMAs(III)). Here we leveraged a paddy soil-derived anaerobic arsenic methylator, Paraclostridium bifermentans strain EML, to gain insights into this process. Strain EML was inoculated into a series of media involving systematic dilutions of Reinforced Clostridial Broth (RCB) with 25 µM arsenite to assess the impact of growth substrate concentration on arsenic methylation. Growth curves evidenced the sensitivity of strain EML to arsenite, and arsenic speciation analysis revealed the production of MMAs(III). Concentrations of MMAs(III) and arsenic methylation gene (arsM) transcription were found to be positively correlated with RCB dilution, suggesting that substrate limitation enhances arsM gene expression and associated anaerobic arsenic methylation. We propose that growth substrate competition among microorganisms may also contribute to an increase in anaerobic arsenic methylation. This hypothesis was further evaluated in an anaerobic co-culture system involving strain EML and either wild-type Escherichia coli K-12 MG1655 (WT) or E. coli expressing the MMAs(III)-resistance gene (arsP) (ArsP E. coli). We observed increased MMAs(III) production in the presence of E. coli than its absence and growth inhibition of WT E. coli to a greater extent than ArsP E. coli, presumably due to the MMAs(III) produced by strain EML. Collectively, our findings suggest an ecological role for anaerobic arsenic methylation, highlighting the significance of microbe-microbe competition and interaction in this process.IMPORTANCEMicrobial arsenic methylation is highly active in rice paddy fields under flooded conditions, leading to increased accumulation of methylated arsenic in rice grains. In contrast to the known detoxification process for aerobic arsenic methylation, the ecological role of anaerobic arsenic methylation remains elusive and is proposed to be an antibiotic-producing process involved in microbial warfare. In this study, we interrogated a rice paddy soil-derived anaerobic arsenic-methylating bacterium, Paraclostridium bifermentans strain EML, to explore the effect of growth substrate limitation on arsenic methylation in the context of the microbial warfare hypothesis. We provide direct evidence for the role of growth substrate competition in anaerobic arsenic methylation via anaerobic prey-predator co-culture experiments. Moreover, we demonstrate a feedback loop, in which a bacterium resistant to MMAs(III) enhances its production, presumably through enhanced expression of arsM resulting from substrate limitation. Our work uncovers the complex interactions between an anaerobic arsenic methylator and its potential competitors.

Implementation Mapping of Integrated Cost Management Concepts with the Phases of Product Development

The alteration in the business environment is always dynamic, and the companies must respond to these issues. It is necessary for the management to always be conscious of the prevailing condition, especially in the cost aspect. Cost aspect is substantial for profit-oriented companies to lead to the profit as optimum as possible. Therefore, the cost management is requisite in order to manage cost in the proper manner. Cost management is considered as one of the essential tools to enhance the competitiveness of business potential. Through a well-defined cost management system, man-agement is capable to acquire accurate information which pro-spective to be exploited for decision-making instruments and con-trol the internal business process entirely. Many studies have been conducted to provide a more appropriate and proper cost man-agement system for the companies. The current development in-cludes integrating cost management with Kaizen, Target Cost Modeling, Target Value Design, Cost Effectiveness Analysis, and even with the Monte Carlo Simulation in order to accommodate the uncertainty factor in the cost. Therefore, this paper provides an overview related to the cost management implementation by mapping those current development into the modified Generic Product Development framework.

METHODS OF DETERMINING THE COMPETITIVENESS OF CONSTRUCTION ENTERPRISES

This article analyzes the competitiveness potential of construction companies and methods for its assessment. Defining competitiveness is crucial for ensuring the resilience and success of construction companies in the global market. Competitiveness is characterized by a company’s ability to sustain advantages over rivals in producing goods and services that satisfy market demands, emphasizing quality, cost efficiency, and timely delivery. For construction enterprises, competitiveness involves delivering high-quality products and services on schedule and at competitive prices. The competitive capacity of construction companies is complex, depending on various factors like product quality, resource management, process innovation, and adaptability to change. In a highly competitive construction market, assessing a company’s potential to attain competitive advantages becomes a core element of strategic planning and business stability. The study considers the influence of external factors, such as market conditions, regulatory policies, and technological advancements, on the competitiveness of construction firms, alongside internal factors like resource management and production quality. Prior research indicates that the construction market undergoes constant environmental shifts, fluctuating consumer demand, and rising risks, requiring companies to uphold economic security and financial stability - especially critical during wartime. Managing competitiveness and potential enables companies to maintain and strengthen market positions amid unpredictability. The article also examines several methods for evaluating competitiveness, recognizing that the unique characteristics of the construction sector require a combined approach. These methods include SWOT analysis, benchmarking, Porter’s Five Forces model, product life cycle analysis, and financial efficiency evaluation. SWOT analysis is valuable for an initial assessment of competitiveness, identifying critical internal and external factors. Benchmarking provides comparisons in specific areas like innovation and financial performance, offering insights into improvements. Porter’s model helps understand market dynamics, essential for strategic planning. Product life cycle analysis can benefit long-term project assessment but is limited in evaluating overall company activity. Financial efficiency evaluation is important for measuring financial stability, particularly during large projects, though it does not capture intangible assets and innovation metrics.For construction firms, competitiveness is achieved through project-based strategies aimed at productivity, cost reduction, quality, and innovation. Adapting global best practices and technologies to local conditions is vital for competitiveness in modern construction. Comprehensive assessment requires analyzing market conditions and internal capabilities for sustainable growth. Competitiveness factors include quality, cost, innovation, and service, each crucial for influencing market position. High quality, achieved by meeting client expectations, impacts all operational areas, from design to project completion, fostering client satisfaction and loyalty. Additionally, factors like marketing, resource management, and strategic planning are essential to business success. Construction companies that integrate these aspects are better positioned for sustainable development in a competitive environment.

Pentyl leaf volatiles promote insect and pathogen resistance via enhancing ketol-mediated defense responses.

Plants emit an array of volatile organic compounds in response to stresses. Six-carbon green leaf volatiles (GLVs) and five-carbon pentyl leaf volatiles (PLVs) are fatty acid-derived compounds involved in intra- and inter-species communications. Unlike extensively studied GLVs, the biological activities of PLVs remain understudied. Maize (Zea mays L.) contains a unique monocot-specific lipoxygenase, ZmLOX6, that is unable to oxidize fatty acids and instead possesses a hydroperoxide lyase-like activity to specifically produce PLVs. Here, we show that disruption of ZmLOX6 reduced resistance to fall armyworm (FAW; Spodoptera frugiperda) and fungal pathogens Colletotrichum graminicola and Cochliobolus heterostrophus. Metabolite profiling revealed that reduced resistance to insects and pathogens was associated with decreased production of PLVs and ketols, including the better studied α-ketol, 9,10-KODA (9-hydroxy-10-oxo-12(Z)-octadecadienoic acid). Exogenous PLV and 9,10-KODA treatments rescued the resistance of lox6 mutants to FAW and the pathogens. Surprisingly, the susceptible-to-herbivory lox6 mutants produced greater levels of wound-induced jasmonates, suggesting potential substrate competition between JA and PLV pathway branches and highlighting a strong role of PLVs in defense to insects. Similarly, likely due to substrate competition between GLV and PLV synthesis pathways, in response to C. graminicola infection, lox6 mutants accumulated elevated levels of GLVs, which promote susceptibility to this pathogen. Mutation of the GLV-producing ZmLOX10 in the lox6 mutant background reversed the susceptibility to C. graminicola, unveiling the contrasting roles of PLVs and GLVs in resistance to this pathogen. Overall, this study uncovered a potent signaling role of PLVs in defense against insect herbivory and fungal pathogens with distinct lifestyles.

Weed nutrient content in commercial orange orchards in the region of Manaus, Amazonas

Weeds compete for nutrients causing productivity losses with crops, so the quantification of nutrients in these plants can indicate their nutrient absorption efficiency. In this research we aim to identify weed species representative of three commercial orange orchards (Citrus sinensis L.) in the region of Manaus (AM), and to determine their potential for nutrient absorption. A survey of the floristic composition of orchards was carried out from August to October in 2019, and the phytosociological indicators of species were identified. The main species were selected according to the Importance Value Index (IVI). Weeds and C. sinensis leaves samples were analyzed to obtain nutrient contents. Weeds showed competitive potential in commercial orange orchards, once they had a high nutrient content in their dry matter. Weeds with greater amounts of nutrients were Alternanthera Ficoidea (L.) P. Beauv. (N, K, Mg, Cu, Mn and Zn), Commelina benghalensis L. (P, S and Fe), Pseudelephantopus spiralis (Less.) Cronquist (N, P, K, Mg, Fe and Zn), Acalypha arvensis Poepp. (P and Ca), Cyperus diffusus Vahl (Fe and Mn) and Stachytarpheta cayennensis (Rich.) Vahl (Mg and Zn).

Observations, perceptions and concerns of the American lobster industry regarding the range-expansion of Black Sea Bass

Fisheries in the U.S. Northeast are being impacted by the effects of climate change in part due to the range expansion of potential predators and competitors. In the Gulf of Maine, the American lobster (Homarus americanus) fishery has expressed concerns about the range-expansion of Black Sea Bass (Centropristis striata). Black Sea Bass occupy similar habitats to lobsters and commonly prey upon decapod crustaceans. However, state independent trawl surveys do not effectively track the Black Sea Bass range expansion, highlighting the value of fishers’ observations and perceptions of this dynamic change. Using a quantitative mixed-mode survey, commercial lobster fishers’ ecological knowledge of Black Sea Bass in the Gulf of Maine was assessed. Fishers noted increasing abundances of Black Sea Bass that coincided with warmer years. Furthermore, the degree to which lobster fishers view that Black Sea Bass will negatively impact the lobster fishery was best predicted by if they think that Black Sea Bass are eating lobsters. This study revealed that fishers are observing the range-expansion and increased prevalence of Black Sea Bass in the waters that they fish for lobsters, which is extremely valuable because it addresses an important gap in our understanding of how climate change is impacting the Gulf of Maine ecosystem. Documenting species range shifts and their potential impacts will benefit ongoing and future fisheries management decisions such as whether efforts to target and remove these species in their newly expanded range should occur.

Механізм стратегічного управління конкурентним розвитком aгрaрних пiдприємcтв

The article defines the potential of competitiveness as the totality of the enterprise’s capabilities to create sustainable competitive advantages. The direct competitiveness of products and the enterprise is recognized as the result of implementing these advantages in production, commercial, and sales activities. The theoretical and methodological basis of the research in the article is formed by modern concepts of management theory and competition and the scientific work of domestic and foreign scientists on theoretical and practical principles of forming strategies for competitive advantage in the agricultural sector of the economy. The structure of the involved elements and tools of the strategic management system is established taking into account the dual nature of the management object, which is defined as the process of realizing the potential of competitive advantage through the implementation of the connection between the implementation of innovative solutions and the creation of competitive advantages, the nature of which is determined by the potential of the enterprise and the situation in the target markets. The theoretical and applied principles of constructing a synthesized organizational and economic mechanism for managing the potential of competitiveness on an innovation and investment basis are substantiated. The specified concept provides for the construction of an appropriate management mechanism. It also recognizes the priority of the enterprise’s investment activity as a source of resources to maintain the stability of its development. In forming the specified mechanism of enterprise development management, the results of the decomposition and further synthesis of development and management mechanisms are laid down. At the same time, the development management mechanism provides for the production and implementation of enterprise investment strategies depending on the enterprise’s economic potential, mission, and goals of the activity, as well as the scale of production, size, and specialization. Competition forces entrepreneurs to mobilize all available and potential resources to develop and implement strategies for effective behavior in the market. To take into account and compare all aspects and factors influencing an enterprise’s competitiveness level, it is necessary to formulate a concept of a modern approach to defining and managing competition. Keywords: competitiveness, enterprise potential, strategy, competitive advantages, management mechanism, innovation, economic efficiency.

Distinct transcriptome and traits of freshly dispersed Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells.

Dispersion is considered a transitionary phenotype, enabling bacteria to switch between the communal, biofilm lifestyle, where cells share resources and are protected from harmful conditions to the planktonic state. Here, we demonstrate that within minutes of leaving the biofilm, dispersed cells express genes and display phenotypic traits that are distinct from biofilms and planktonic cells. Our findings suggest that dispersed cells quickly adapt to a less structured and protected but more nutrient-rich environment, with this trade-off in environment coinciding with an awakening and a switch in virulence, specifically a switch from directly intoxicating host cells and potential competitors toward more broadly active virulence factors and strategies of evasion. To our knowledge, this is the first report of dispersed cells' distinct (trade-off) phenotype and their enhanced resilience so soon after egressing from the biofilm.