Effects Of Competition Research Articles

Determinants and spatial spillover effects of inbound tourism in Chinese cities

PurposeBy using a wide range of macro and micro factors, this paper aims to provide a new assessment of the recent literature on inbound tourism demand models.Design/methodology/approachThis study examines the determinants and spatial effects of inbound tourism using Hausman–Taylor and spatial econometric models.FindingsSeveral important factors were identified, including local economic growth, openness to the outside world, regional size, geographic distance, foreign direct investment, level of innovation and average annual temperature. In addition, the study found strong cross-city competition effects on tourism resource endowment and hotel infrastructure.Originality/valueInbound tourism is a crucial link in achieving high-quality economic development. However, previous studies have mainly focused on the analysis of single influencing factors, ignoring the spatial spillover effects of factors.

Digital economy and China's agricultural exports: based on trade cost and market competition effect

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to explore the effect and mechanism of the digital economy’s influence on the binary margin of agricultural exports.Design/methodology/approachBased on the theoretical analysis of the mechanism of the digital economy’s influence on the binary margin of agricultural exports, this study empirically examines the effect and mechanism of the digital economy’s influence on the binary margin of agricultural exports based on China’s customs export data from 2011 to 2016.FindingsThe relevant findings are threefold. (1) The digital economy significantly improves the binary margin of agricultural exports, and its effect on the intensive margin is stronger than that on the expansive margin. After the expansive margin is subdivided, the effects on the three sub-variables of the expansive margin are in the following order: old products exported to new markets > new products exported to old markets > new products exported to new markets. (2) The heterogeneity analysis reveals that the digital economy has a stronger role in promoting the binary margin of exports for enterprises in the eastern region, high-income countries as the destination of exports and state-owned enterprises. (3) Mechanism analysis shows that the digital economy promotes the binary margin of agricultural exports by reducing trade costs and intensifying market competition.Originality/valueFirst, in terms of research perspective, although there are some studies on the impact of the digital economy on export trade in existing literature, the research objects mainly focus on manufacturing enterprises. In fact, agricultural trade is susceptible to natural conditions and seasonal factors, and countries may impose more SPS measures and TBT measures on agricultural trade due to risk considerations. The relationship between the digital economy and agricultural trade also has its own characteristics, but there are few research studies in this area. At present, only Liu and Gao (2022), based on the data of total imports and exports of different agricultural products from 2004 to 2018, have established a vector auto-regressive model to empirically analyse the heterogeneous dynamic impact of the digital economy on the trade volume of agricultural products. In addition, Ma and Guo (2023) conducted an empirical test on the total effect, regional heterogeneity and threshold effect of the digital economy on agricultural export trade based on China’s provincial panel data from 2011 to 2020. Therefore, under the new circumstances of continuous integration of digital technology and agriculture, this study interprets the impact effect and mechanism of the digital economy on the binary margin of agricultural exports from the perspective of the digital economy, providing new research perspectives and approaches for promoting the growth of agricultural exports. Second, in terms of theoretical analysis, the above studies have not been fully analysed in terms of the specific mechanism of the impact of the digital economy on agricultural exports. Based on the positive and negative characteristics of agricultural trade, this study introduces two kinds of roles into the theoretical analysis framework to comprehensively determine the trade impact effect of the digital economy. Third, in terms of research design, this study empirically examines the impact of the digital economy on the binary margin of agricultural products, passing a series of robustness tests and investigating the mediating roles of trade cost and market competition effects, producing an empirical basis for China to leverage the digital economy to promote the binary margin of agricultural exports.

Can competitive effects and responses of alien and native species predict invasion outcomes?

The relative competitive ability of native and alien species, which consists of competitive effect (CE) and response (CR), has often been invoked as a key determinant of invasion success. Previous studies have reported that an alien species with a high CE and/or a low CR would successfully invade a native species. However, no studies have yet empirically examined the hypothesis or tested the consistency of invasion outcomes predicted by the CE-CR framework and modern species coexistence theory (MCT). To fill this research gap, we conducted a pairwise competition experiment between five alien and five native species, quantified CE and CR based on their biomass in the absence and presence of one competitor, and predicted invasion outcomes based on both CE-CR and MCT frameworks. We have demonstrated theoretically that the CE and CR frequently measured in previous work are only approximations of interspecific competitive coefficients, and thus could not completely predict the invasion outcomes. As we expected, the invasion outcomes predicted by the CE-CR framework were partially consistent with the predictions by the MCT framework. Specifically, aliens with low CR and high CE tended to exclude natives, while aliens with high CR and low CE tended to be excluded by natives according to MCT. In contrast, pairs of stable coexistence and priority effects did not conform to the theoretical expectation. Despite the theoretical defects of the CE-CR framework, it can provide some useful value in predicting the invasion outcomes, especially when intrinsic growth rate and intraspecific competition coefficients are not available. Our study is the first to compare invasion outcomes separately derived from qualitative (the CE-CR framework) and quantitative (the MCT framework) methods. We recommend that future research should adopt quantitative approaches such as MCT as far as possible, to more comprehensively understand and predict the biotic outcomes of interacting species.

Effect of Tamarindus indica L. fruit pulp and seed extracts on experimental ulcerative colitis in rats.

Tamarindus indica L. which has anti-inflammatory, radical scavenging, and ulcer healing effects can be useful for the alleviation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Therefore, the effects of T. indica fruit pulp (TIPE) and seed extracts (TISE) were investigated on experimental colitis. TIPE and TISE (125, 250, and 500 mg/kg) were made by maceration (ethanol/water: 80/30) and administered to male Wistar rats with acetic acid-induced colitis. Prednisolone (4 mg/kg) and mesalazine (100 mg/kg) were used as reference drugs. The colon tissues were examined for macroscopic and pathologic parameters and myeloperoxidase (MPO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) values. The total phenols were 45.7 ± 1.1 and 453.0 ± 3.3 mg/g in terms of gallic acid for TIPE and TISE, respectively. Both of the extracts significantly improved most of the investigated parameters including body weight loss, the weight of colons, indices of ulcers, and total colitis. MPO activity and MDA in the treatment groups (except for TIPE at 125 mg/Kg) significantly decreased compared to the control. Both TIPE and TISE were effective in the treatment of colitis however it seems that the effective ingredients were more concentrated in seeds rather than pulp extract so the highest dose of seed extract had a competitive effect with reference drugs. More studies are needed to introduce T. indica as a suitable complementary medicine or food for patients with IBD.

Game On: Team-Based Competition to Enhance Engagement in Obstetrics and Gynecology Graduate Medical Education [ID 2683471

INTRODUCTION: Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy called attention to what he declares a public health crisis of loneliness, isolation, and lack of connection in our country. Three years into the COVID pandemic, the medical profession has experienced a huge increase in burnout that has only exacerbated this crisis. Consistent with national trends, lack of faculty engagement and overall well-being was noted to have suffered on our 2022 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Resident Survey. METHODS: The Brooke Army Medical Center Gynecologic Surgery and Obstetrics residency program implemented a themed team competition for the 2022–2023 academic year, “GYN of Thrones.” Residents and staff were divided into five families, modeled after Game of Thrones to compete for the “Throne of Hysteros.” Points were awarded for participating in program activities, receiving kudos for patient care, and demonstrating clinical excellence. The data from the 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 ACGME surveys were compared to evaluate the effect of this new competition. RESULTS: Faculty interest in resident education increased 41% (P=.002), from 59% to 100% after implementation. Similarly, only 59% felt there was an appropriate amount of teaching in clinical and didactic activities in 2021–2022, whereas this improved to 89% in 2022–2023 (P=.041). Residents were also more satisfied with faculty feedback: 53% prior to the competition improved to 84% after (P=.047). CONCLUSION: Resident perception of faculty engagement in academics and quality of teaching drastically improved after implementation of this program-wide competition. Faculty well-being scores improved as well, indicating this may decrease burnout in the workforce and improve morale and connection.

Blood Pressure and Central Arterial Stiffness before and after a 161-km Ultra-Endurance Race

BACKGROUND: Competing in ultra-endurance running events (>42.2 km) is a tremendous physiological stressor. Training for and competing in these events may be detrimental to cardiovascular (CV) health. However, previous findings on acute changes in key CV health measures like blood pressure (BP) and central arterial stiffness after a race remain equivocal. Therefore, we aimed to characterize the acute CV response to an ultra-endurance race. We hypothesized that BP would decrease while central arterial stiffness would increase following the race. Methods: We measured supine BP with an automated brachial cuff and carotid-to-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV - index of central arterial stiffness) with applanation tonometry (SphygmoCor XCEL, AtCor Medical) among 41 finishers (9F/32M; Age: 44 ± 10 years; BMI: 22.7 ± 1.8 kg/m2) of the 2023 161-km Western States Endurance Run (WSER). Measures were taken 1–3 days before (pre) and ≤1 hour after race completion (post). We present data as mean ± SD after confirming normality using Shapiro-Wilk tests (α ≥ 0.05). We assessed differences between pre- and post- systolic BP (SBP), mean BP (MBP), diastolic BP (DBP), cfPWV, and cfPWV normalized to MBP using paired, two-tailed t-tests (α < 0.05). The magnitude of the difference between time points was represented as Cohen’s d ( d) effect sizes. Results: After the race, there was a significant decrease in SBP (129 ± 9 vs. 122 ± 10 mmHg, P < 0.001, d = 0.78), MBP (94 ± 7 vs. 89 ± 10 mmHg, P < 0.001, d = 0.58), and DBP (77 ± 7 vs. 74 ± 8, P = 0.02, d = 0.38) but no change in cfPWV (6.4 ± 1.0 vs. 6.2 ± 0.8 m/s, P = 0.10, d = 0.26) or cfPWV normalized to MBP (0.07 ± 0.01 vs. 0.07 ± 0.01 (m/s)/mmHg, P = 0.83, d = 0.00). CONCLUSION: We found that systolic, mean, and diastolic pressure were all lower after the 161-km WSER, but cfPWV did not change. These findings suggest that running a 161-km ultra-marathon race acutely lowers BP but does not affect central arterial stiffness. Further research is needed to understand the effect of chronic ultra-endurance training and competition on cardiovascular health. FUNDING INFORMATION: Western States Endurance Run Medical Research Program (GJG), National Institutes of Health K01HL160772 (JCW), American Heart Association 23CDA1037938 (JCW). This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Metal oxide modified MCM-41 on simultaneous removal of HF and HCl: Experimental and theoretical studies

To address the issue of harmful gases Hydrogen fluoride (HF) and hydrogen chloride (HCl) in metallurgical waste gas, this study utilized metal oxide modified molecular sieve (MCM-41) for their simultaneous removal. The adsorption and removal of HF and HCl are mainly influenced by alkaline sites and pore structure, with alkaline sites having a greater impact. MgO affects the alkaline site strength and pore structure, thereby facilitating the removal of HF and HCl. On the surface of the adsorbent, HF and HCl react to form MgF2 and MgCl2, which gradually reduces the adsorbent's performance. HF and HCl have a higher adsorption strength on the MgO surface, and the H…O interaction causes a more stable adsorption configuration. There is a competitive adsorption effect between HF and HCl, with HF having a preference for adsorbing on the MgO surface over HCl. The adsorption energies of HF and HCl are unlimited by adsorption effects. When the O atom in MgO is replaced by HF and HCl, Mg-F bonds, Mg-Cl bonds, and H-O bonds are formed, resulting in the formation of MgF2, MgCl2, and H2O. HF is easier to prioritize removal than HCl.

Is competitive ability the key adaptation to benign environments? Revisiting experiments on closely related species of tidal plants.

A central goal in biology is to understand which traits underlie adaptation to different environments. Yet, few studies have examined the relative contribution of competitive ability towards adaptive divergence among species occupying distinct environments. Here, we test the relative importance of competitive ability as an adaptation to relatively benign versus challenging environments, using previously published studies of closely related species pairs of primarily tidal plants subjected to reciprocal removal with transplant experiments in nature. Subordinate species typically occupy more challenging environments and showed consistent evidence for adaptation to challenging conditions, with no significant competitive effect on non-local, dominant species. In contrast, dominant species typically occupy relatively benign environments and performed significantly better than non-local, subordinate species that faced competition from the dominant species. Surprisingly, when the two species were not allowed to compete, the subordinate species performed as well as the dominant species in the benign environments where the subordinate species do not occur. These results suggest that competitive ability is the most important adaptation distinguishing the species that occupy relatively benign environments. The limited scope and number of suitable experimental studies encourage future work to test if these results are generalizable across taxa and environments.

Determination Procedure of Ecotoxicologically Acceptable Cu Concentration in River Considering the Change of Environmental Factors

Objectives : In this study, considering the changes in the concentration of metal/metalloid and environmental factors over time of the target water system and the toxic effects of metals on various aquatic organisms, determined procedure of ecotoxicologically acceptable metal/metalloid concentration based on a biotic ligand model (BLM) was proposed in detail. As an application example, the ecotoxicologically acceptable Cu concentration for the Numedalslågen river in Norway was calculated.Methods : The Cu concentration and environmental factor time series data of the target water system were collected, and EC50[Cu]<sub>T</sub>, the total concentration of Cu in the water system showing a toxic effect of 50% on the target aquatic organisms, was calculated through BLM. In addition, the predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) was obtained from the species sensitivity distribution using the acute-chronic ratio and adjustment factor, and the ecotoxicologically acceptable Cu concentration of the target water system was determined through the fixed monitoring benchmark (FMB).Results and Discussion : Ecotoxicologically acceptable Cu concentration of the target water system was determined as 1.15 μg/L. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) showed the highest linear relationship with EC50[Cu]<sub>T</sub> (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.94-0.98) compared to various environmental factors, and the Cu toxicity effect on aquatic organisms tended to decrease as the DOC concentration increased. Ca showed a low linear relationship with EC50[Cu]<sub>T</sub> (R<sup>2</sup> < 0.04), which is presumed to be due to the decrease in Ca<sup>2+</sup> concentration due to the complexese formation of DOC and Ca<sup>2+</sup>, which reduced the competitive effect with Cu<sup>2+</sup>.Conclusion : The proposed procedure provides a useful method for calculating ecotoxicologically acceptable metal concentrations for the protection of aquatic organisms in water systems. In addition, it is expected that it can be used to calculate site-specific metal concentrations that can protect aquatic organisms in the target water system by reflecting the timing of sediment resuspension, which can cause rapid changes in the concentration of metals and environmental factors in the water system, and specific time points such as storm and flood seasons.

Competition in French hospital: Does it impact the patient management in healthcare?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt; line-height: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 14pt;">This research paper examines changes in patient care management in acute care hospitals between 2001 and 2011. During this time, there were two opposing factors at play: the competition effect of the reform and the policymaker’s decision to reduce public hospitals across France. By studying the trends, it is evident that there has been a significant overall shift in patient care management during this period. This change could be attributed to the global competition effect and the concentration of in-patients in specific public facilities. Through the difference-in-difference method, the study analyzed time variations in the intensity of local competition. It was found that local competition had a negligible impact on patient care management. Additionally, the study revealed that there was a significant positive competition effect on high-technical procedures for the private sector, which is in line with the market segment where private sector hospitals have a leadership position and the pro-competitive reform intensified this position. The study also uncovered a negative competition effect on the length of stay for public hospitals. Prior to the implementation of the DRG-based payment reform, public sector hospitals were paid a global budget. However, after the reform was implemented, they had to shorten the length of stay to increase the number of stays. For-profit hospitals have always been paid based on the number of stays. The results are robust and consistent when alternative measures of local competition are used.</span></p>

An Empirical Analysis of the Moderating Effect of Organizational Context on the Relationship between Leadership Process and Effectiveness of Freight Forwarding Firms in Nairobi City County, Kenya

Highly competitive and fast shifting market conditions require business enterprises to possess superior organizational capabilities for success. Previous studies have identified persistent challenges including leadership processes and complex work environments as constraints to organizational success. The freight forwarding sector in Kenya grapples with challenges related to high operational costs, poor co-ordination, and rapid developments in information technology and related insecurity. Literature on organizational leadership has neither addressed nor empirically tested the dimensions of gauging effectiveness of freight forwarding firms. Specifically, there is lack of empirical investigation linking organizational context with leadership process and effectiveness of freight forwarding firms. This study sought to investigate the moderating effect of organizational context on the relationship between leadership process (tactical, strategic, and situational influence) and effectiveness of freight forwarding firms in Nairobi City County, Kenya. Through a mixed methods approach, the study adopted explanatory sequential design anchored on the Balanced Score Card model, Institutional Theory and Structuralism Theory. Target population was 400 freight forwarding firms practicing in Nairobi City County, from which 276 respondents were selected through stratified random sampling. Quantitative data was collected through questionnaires with a response rate of 84% while qualitative data was collected from 10 key informants through in-depth interviews. Descriptive statistics used were frequencies, means and standard deviation, while regression analysis was used to test the study hypotheses. Qualitative data was subjected to thematic analysis. Results established that organizational context has a significant moderating effect on the relationship between leadership process and firm effectiveness. With leadership process viewed through input > processing > output logic, the external environment provides streams of opportunities in terms of inputs, which firms can harness to create competitive advantage and effectiveness. Findings demonstrated the link between leadership process, organizational context, and effectiveness. Management should entrench effective leadership process through active deployment of appropriate influence strategies to generate key capabilities and conducive work contexts. Government policies should promote collaborative approaches among supply chain partners. The study recommends future research to expand the conceptual, methodological, and contextual scope for more representative conclusions. Keywords: Freight Forwarding Firms, Leadership Process, Organizational Effectiveness, Organizational Context

How do members of a perpetrator group negotiate multiple past ingroup transgressions? A German case study

How members of perpetrator groups engage with their ingroup’s negative history has received increasing attention over the past years. Yet, little research has addressed how people psychologically negotiate multiple past ingroup transgressions. Across two studies ( n = 362), we exposed German participants to information about two ingroup transgressions, the Holocaust and the colonial genocide in former South West Africa, to test ideas of a multidirectional memory (= one memory productively informs another) versus a competitive memory (= memories stand in competition) effect. Along six indicators of memory (negativity and significance, acknowledging responsibility, collective guilt and shame, willingness to make reparations), we find that people build small memory hierarchies when given the opportunity. Overall, however, it seems that most people show similar levels of history engagement for different transgressions. We discuss how our findings relate to the public discourse on multiple memories.

Atomic insight into the transport mechanism of CO2/N2 molecules passing through UiO-66/PDMS membranes

Mixed matrix membranes (MMM) prepared by adding MOF filler to polymeric membranes are expected to overcome the trade-off effect inherent in membranes and improved the efficiency of separation and CO2 capture. In this work, concentration-gradient-driven molecular dynamics (CGD-MD) was employed to explore gas permeability of pure CO2/N2 and their mixture in PDMS membrane, UiO-66 membrane and UiO-66/PDMS membrane, respectively. The transport mechanism of gas molecules in the membranes was illustrated from molecular level. Moreover, the simulated permeability and predict permeability were compared to investigate the effect of the porosity at the UiO-66/PDMS interface on gas transport in mixed matrix membrane. The competitive effect between CO2 and N2 molecules in mixture could explain their different permeability in different membranes. The pore sizes distribution map and pore connectivity diagrams within UiO-66/PDMS membrane shown that the relative larger pore size and interconnectivity voids are formed in the interfacial region, and the interfacial porosity formed in UiO-66/PDMS membrane shown a positive effect on pure N2 transport and almost no effect on pure CO2 permeability. While the selectivity of UiO-66/PDMS membrane for the mixed gas case is improved because CO2 increases the retention time of N2 in the membrane and decreases the N2 permeability. This work provides a worthwhile perspective on the design of high-performance membranes for separation.

Moderating Role of Environment on the Relationship of Competitive Strategy and Firm Performance: Based on Machine Learning and Text Analysis

The impact of competitive strategy on firm performance has been a fundamental and important issue. However, there is a little research on moderating role of environment on the relationship, especially moderating role of different dimensions of environment. This study employs the technology of machine learning and text analysis to obtain the measure value of competitive strategy and environment. On this basis, the research empirically investigates the moderating effect of environmental dynamism, complexity and competitiveness on the relationship between competitive strategy and organizational performance. The results show that both types of competitive strategy can improve corporate performance, environmental characteristics have a significant impact on the causal relationship mentioned above, and there are differences in the moderating effects of different environmental dimensions. Some conclusions are inconsistent with the research of foreign scholars. The differences in conclusions reflect the impact of China's transitional economic environment on corporate competitive strategy decisions and result.

Cross‐ownership and corporate ESG investment: Promotion or suppression?

AbstractEnvironmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing is the new mainstream of sustainable development in the “dual‐carbon” era and serves as a crucial indicator for assessing enterprises' high‐quality development. Cross‐ownership, as an important participant in the capital market, significantly influences corporate business decisions. However, whether the impact of cross‐ownership on corporate ESG investment manifests as a synergistic governance effect or competitive collusion effect is a vital question. This study empirically investigates the impact of cross‐ownership on ESG investment, using listed companies in heavily polluting industries from the Shanghai and Shenzhen A‐shares between 2015 and 2022 as the research sample. The findings reveal that cross‐ownership positively influences corporate ESG investment by reducing information asymmetry, alleviating financing constraints, and enhancing corporate governance. This research not only expands the theoretical understanding of cross‐ownership and corporate ESG investment but also offers empirical guidance for improving corporate governance mechanisms and attaining sustainable development.

Applications of Ni and Ag metallizations at the solder/Cu interfaces in advanced high-power automobile interconnects: An electromigration study

An advanced Pb-free solder interconnect, Cu line/Cu pillar/Ni/Sn1.8Ag/Ag/Cu lead frame/Sn3Ag0.5Cu/Au/Ni(P)/Cu trace, using the flip-chip quad flat no‑lead (FCQFN) packaging technology was designed for high-power automobile applications. An electromigration study revealing the Ni and Ag metallization effects on the interfacial reaction was investigated. Current stressing was conducted at a 2 A direct current at 160 °C until the defined 200 %-electrical-resistance-rise failure occurrence. Electromigration induced a two-stage electrical resistance increase mode in the advanced automobile test vehicle with a mechanism transition time of 585 h, as evidenced by the in situ resistance monitoring. Phase transformation from the constituent phases into the predominant (Cu,Ni)6Sn5 and Cu3Sn intermetallic compounds (IMCs) at the interfaces was proposed to explain the rapid resistance rise in the early-stage electromigration. Void formation and coalescence due to the Kirkendall effect and volume shrinkage during the phase transformation were proposed to explain the following steady resistance increase after the critical current stressing time. Furthermore, the phase transformation and growth of the IMCs behaved divergently at different interfaces and electron flow directions. The rapid phase transformation occurred in the downstream Sn1.8Ag solder interconnect due to the accelerated Ni metallization dissolution and formed a complete IMC joint. The anisotropic diffusion driven by the competitive or synergetic effect between the electron wind force and chemical potential gradient was proposed to explain the asymmetric microstructures after the electromigration experiment. The application of Ag metallization benefited the flip-chip soldering process, and the layer-type Ag3Sn IMC served as a diffusion barrier against Sn/Cu interdiffusion at the solder/Cu lead frame interface during the solid-state electromigration. In contrast, the Ni metallization was designed as a diffusion barrier to hinder interdiffusion and the undesirable Cu3Sn growth at the solder/Cu interface. The findings presented in this study could benefit the solder interconnect design with an appropriate metallization combination against undesirable electromigration failure.

Molecular simulation of competitive adsorption of CO2/N2/O2 gas in bituminous coal

The main cause of coal spontaneous combustion is the oxidation and temperature rise of coal. Injecting composite inert gas for fire prevention and extinguishing is one of the important methods to prevent coal spontaneous combustion. A large number of studies have macroscopically investigated the fire prevention and extinguishing effects of CO2/N2 and their synergistic actions. However, there is currently a lack of research at the molecular level on the competitive adsorption mechanism between mixed inert gases (CO2, N2) and O2 molecules in coal. Therefore, this study conducted adsorption experiments using Qian Yingzi(QYZ) bituminous coal and compared them with the simulation data of the Wiser coal model to verify the reliability of the Wiser model. Subsequently, employing grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) and molecular dynamics (MD) methods, the competitive adsorption behavior of different proportions of binary mixed component gases (CO2/O2, CO2/N2, O2/N2) at a temperature of 303.15 K was investigated from five perspectives: adsorption capacity, adsorption selectivity coefficient, potential energy distribution, competitive adsorption heat, and interaction energy. The results indicate that among the competitive component gases, CO2 exhibits the strongest adsorption effect on the entire system, which is closely correlated with the distribution range of adsorption energy sites. The adsorption heat and adsorption amount of CO2 consistently exhibit a negative correlation, whereas the relationship between the adsorption heat of N2 and O2 and the adsorption amount shows a positive correlation. Their adsorption capacities depend on the pressure and the proportion of the two gases. Based on the isothermal adsorption curve of CO2/N2, it is recommended that the gas pressure during actual inert gas injection be less than 2.5 MPa. Under this pressure, the competitive adsorption effect is no longer significant, providing a certain theoretical basis for high-pressure injection. Moreover, the preliminary determination of the optimal injection ratio range is from 4:6–3:7. Furthermore, a systematic logical framework for selecting underground inert gas composition is proposed, and an underground mobile inert gas infusion process is adopted. The actual gas composition for infusion is determined based on cost factors in practical engineering. The research results can provide guidance for the selection of gas injection parameters for mixed inert gas fire prevention and extinguishing in goaf.

Yoga, a mindfulness therapy to prevent PTSD as to encompass athletes' performance.

Yoga is one of the physical and mental activities used in elite sports training for risk prevention and medical rehabilitation in case of injuries caused by overtraining or accidents. This study examined the opinions of Romanian elite athletes and coaches on the feasibility of incorporating yoga practice into training regimens for purposes of injury prevention and medical recovery. This study surveyed a group of 500 athletes, coaches, and medical personnel from three universities in Romania, all of which are part of the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport (PES). An online survey was administered which evaluates athletes' experience of yoga integration in pre/post training and its positive effects on reducing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The data were then analyzed with a structural equation model utilizing SmartPLS software. According to the survey, Romanian athletes use yoga both before and after competitions to improve their focus, balance, muscle, and joint elasticity, foster a winning mindset, control their emotions and PTSD, visualize their competition performance, and see themselves as winners. The survey also found that yoga is seen as useful for cardiac rehabilitation, neuropathic pain, pulmonary disease, orthopedic illness, muscle strain, and managing symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This study contributes to enhancing athletes' mindfulness and health, offering valuable insights to trainers and athletes interested in incorporating yoga into professional sports activity. The results support the notion that yoga integration in training activity promises to positively influence athletes' performance and reduce collateral side effects of competitions. The results are also in line with the objectives of the Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018-2030 (GAPPPA) - with the theme of "being more efficient to prevent than to treat" - which places special emphasis on the demands for certain programs and services, sports coverage, and healthy workplace initiatives. The study further indicates that Romanian elite athletes and coaches support the use of yoga is an effective method for enhancing athletic training and medical therapy for post-traumatic illnesses and stress disorders.

Simultaneous Removal of Pesticides Mixture and Natural Organic Matter from Surface Waters by Nitric and Chlorosulfonic Acid Functionalized Powdered Activated Carbon

AbstractBACKGROUNDSeveral studies have addressed the adsorption of pesticides such as alachlor, acetochlor, metolachlor, and fenthion from water and wastewater, yet the interaction of these compounds with natural organic matter (NOM) complicates their effective removal due to competitive adsorption effects. This study aims to fill this gap by exploring the efficacy of nitric acid and chlorosulfonic acid‐modified activated carbons in removing both pesticides and NOM under realistic environmental conditions.RESULTSModifications using nitric acid and chlorosulfonic acid significantly improved the pesticide removal capabilities of Norit SX F Cat (AC1) adsorbents. While both the original and chlorosulfonic acid‐modified adsorbents showed comparable efficacy in pesticide removal, nitric acid‐modified AC Puriss (AC2) adsorbents were less effective. Remarkably, a 100 mg/L dose of both original and modified powdered activated carbons (PACs) removed over 98% of all four pesticides from water samples. Additionally, a lower 25 mg/L dose effectively achieved similar removal rates, demonstrating their utility as feasible options for water treatment.CONCLUSIONModifying powdered activated carbons with nitric acid and chlorosulfonic acid has been proven to enhance their structural and adsorptive properties significantly. These modifications led to improved pesticide removal efficiencies, particularly with the chlorosulfonic acid‐modified PACs, which demonstrated superior performance in adsorption tests. The study also highlighted the competitive adsorption posed by low‐molecular‐weight organic substances in water, which compete with pesticides for active adsorption sites.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

When competitive rewards create obsessions with bottom‐line outcomes: A social interdependence theory perspective of the mediating role of bottom‐line mentality

SummaryWe rely on social interdependence theory to examine bottom‐line mentality (BLM) as a motivational state that explains the effects of competitive rewards on oppositional actions in the forms of decreases in interpersonal organizational citizenship behavior (OCBI) and increases in social undermining. In line with social interdependence theory, we also examine learning goal orientation as a motivational attribute that can weaken these effects, suggesting that in comparison to employees low on learning goal orientation, employees high on the attribute are less likely to respond to their BLMs (that result from competitive rewards) with dysfunctional behaviors, because these employees will pursue their bottom‐line outcomes with an innate motivation to learn. We tested our hypotheses with three studies: an experimental study, a multisource, field study from a U.S. corporation, and a diverse, multisource, time‐lagged field study. Results from the experimental study and first field study revealed that BLM mediated the negative relationship between competitive rewards and OCBI; the second field study replicated these findings and demonstrated support for our full moderated mediation model. We provide theoretical and empirical support for the notion that BLM can serve as a motivational state that explains the effects of competition on workplace behaviors and learning goal orientation influences these effects.