Competitive Products Research Articles

Marine Renewable-Driven Green Hydrogen Production toward a Sustainable Solution and a Low-Carbon Future in Morocco

Oceanic energy sources, notably offshore wind and wave power, present a significant opportunity to generate green hydrogen through water electrolysis. This approach allows for offshore hydrogen production, which can be efficiently transported through existing pipelines and stored in various forms, offering a versatile solution to tackle the intermittency of renewable energy sources and potentially revolutionize the entire electrical grid infrastructure. This research focusses on assessing the technical and economic feasibility of this method in six strategic coastal regions in Morocco: Laayoune, Agadir, Essaouira, Eljadida, Casablanca and Larache. Our proposed system integrates offshore wind turbines, oscillating water column wave energy converters, and PEM electrolyzers, to meet energy demands while aligning with global sustainability objectives. Significant electricity production estimates are observed across these regions, ranging from 14 MW to 20 MW. Additionally, encouraging annual estimates of hydrogen production, varying between 20 and 40 tonnes for specific locations, showcase the potential of this approach. The system’s performance demonstrates promising efficiency rates, ranging from 13% to 18%, while maintaining competitive production costs. These findings underscore the ability of oceanic energy-driven green hydrogen to diversify Morocco’s energy portfolio, bolster water resilience, and foster sustainable development. Ultimately, this research lays the groundwork for comprehensive energy policies and substantial infrastructure investments, positioning Morocco on a trajectory towards a decarbonized future powered by innovative and clean technologies.

Antiparasitic Activity of Enterocin M and Durancin-like from Beneficial Enterococci in Mice Experimentally Infected with Trichinella spiralis.

Beneficial/probiotic strains protect the host from pathogens by competitive displacement and production of antibacterial substances, i.e., bacteriocins. The antiparasitic potential of bacteriocins/enterocins and their producing strains in experimental murine trichinellosis were tested as a new therapeutic strategy. Enterocin M and Durancin-like and their producers Enterococcus faecium CCM8558 and Enterococcus durans ED26E/7 were administered daily to mice that were challenged with Trichinella spiralis. Our study confirmed the antiparasitic effect of enterocins/enterococci, which reduced the number of adults in the intestine (Enterocin M-43.8%, E. faecium CCM8558-54.5%, Durancin-like-16.4%, E. durans ED26E/7-35.7%), suppressed the Trichinella reproductive capacity ex vivo (Enterocin M-61%, E. faecium CCM8558-74%, Durancin-like-38%, E. durans ED26E/7-66%), and reduced the number of muscle larvae (Enterocin M-39.6%, E. faecium CCM8558-55.7%, Durancin-like-15%, E. durans ED26E/7-36.3%). The direct effect of enterocins on Trichinella fecundity was documented by an in vitro test in which Durancin-like showed a comparable reducing effect to Enterocin M (40-60%) in contrast to the ex vivo test. The reducing activity of T.spiralis infection induced by Enterocin M was comparable to its strain E. faecium CCM8558; Durancin-like showed lower antiparasitic activity than its producer E. durans ED26E/7.

Optimization-based design support for engineer-to-order product quotation

AbstractQuotation of engineer-to-order products provides substantial challenges in effectively managing engineering resources. This paper describes an approach that rationalizes this process by integrating multi-disciplinary design analysis and optimization with a new open-source library for managing engineering knowledge before and after optimization. The approach is applied and evaluated on mechanical rock excavation machines. Adapting the approach and considering the user feedback gathered can lead to an enhanced design space overview during quotation and thus more competitive product offerings.

Online sales and stock price synchronicity: Evidence from China

This paper investigates the effect of online sales on stock price synchronicity using the unique data of Chinese listed companies' online sales from e-commerce platforms. We document three notable findings. First, online sales are negatively associated with stock price synchronicity, suggesting that online sales facilitate the incorporation of firm-specific information into stock prices. Second, online sales reduce stock price synchronicity through analyst coverage and media coverage. Third, the synchronicity-reducing effect of online sales is stronger in firms with lower levels of urban Internet development, more competitive product markets, and worse earnings quality. Overall, our analyses suggest that online sales are an important determinant of stock price synchronicity.

Studying of Community Book Resources Sharing Service Design Based on Social Behavior Organization

This article studies the design of community book resource sharing services, analyzes the nature of social behavior organizations and how to effectively intervene through design methods, analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of existing competitive products, observes the needs of community residents for book resource sharing, and conducts service design research from the perspective of social behavior organizations. Through the "Book · Meeting" - Community Resident Book Resource Sharing Service System, it has been put into practice. We carry on innovation design from reading in idle resources sharing, planning and implementation, online interactive sharing, offline communication experience, build “read + share” community books resources sharing service system based on social behavior, carry on the practice and verification, conclude that studying service mode on social behavior organization is feasible, realize interdisciplinary research and broaden the research field of community development.

Determination of the cellulose- and lipid-containing components influence on the extrudate technological indicators

The effect of cellulose- and lipid-containing components on the technological parameters of the extruded mixture based on protein- and starch-containing raw materials on the technological parameters of the extrudate was studied. The use of components that modify such technological indicators of the extruded mixture as water resistance and swelling is substantiated. It is proposed to use sunflower husks and sunflower phosphatide concentrate as modifying additives to the mixture for extrusion. A rational ratio of the specified components in the extrudate was established to obtain indicators of water resistance in the range of 220...300 min and swelling in the range of 100...120 %. This is an important aspect of expanding the range of extruded products from the waste of oil and fat industries and obtaining high-quality competitive products. The object of the study is the dependence of water resistance and swelling of the extruded mixture on the content of modifying additives. Their rational ratio in the extrudate is: sunflower husk – 6.0 %; sunflower phosphatide concentrate – 5.0 %. The manufactured extrudate sample corresponds to commercial fish feed in terms of chemical composition and technological parameters, and also has a 4 times lower cost. A feature of the obtained results is the possibility of regulating the water resistance, swelling and porosity of the extrudate based on protein- and starch-containing raw materials, depending on the ratio of cellulose- and lipid-containing modifying additives. This allows to change the technological parameters of the finished product depending on the chemical composition of the mixture of raw components according to the requirements of the consumer. The results of the conducted research prove that cellulose- and lipid-containing secondary products of production can be successfully transformed into new competitive products

Beyond revolutions: Mao-era China’s market entry strategies in Latin America

How did the People’s Republic of China develop commercial relations with the Global South during its Maoist years? This paper aims to explore the question through China’s market entry strategies in Latin America. Latin America posed significant challenges for Mao-era China in establishing robust relations. Under intense US pressure and the dominance of conservative politics, most Latin American nations maintained minimal commercial and political ties with China until 1971 when Beijing replaced Taipei in the UN. Notable exceptions were Cuba, following its armed revolution in 1959, and Chile, after its peaceful revolution in 1970, which formally recognised the PRC, leading to substantial trade agreements. This paper examines Chinese trade promotion in the region during the 1960s and early 1970s, contending that commercial ties, particularly Chinese exports to Latin America, were not simply the inevitable outcome of these revolutions and the establishment of diplomatic relations. Policy makers in Beijing and Chinese commercial representatives in Latin America strategically navigated market entry by leveraging cultural promotions, focusing on competitive Chinese products, notably processed foods, and tapping into the Chinese Overseas community as intermediaries. These strategies not only cultivated a favourable image of China in the region but also acquainted Latin American consumers with Chinese brands and products. Moreover, the paper analyzes how Chinese trade promoters recognised and addressed the nuances and disparities among Latin American countries, comprehended the significance of Cuba and Chile within the region, and contextualised Latin America’s position in the global market.

IoT Solutions for Smart Parking- Sigfox Technology

Sigfox technology has emerged as a competitive product in the communication service provider market for approximately a decade. Widely implemented for smart parking solutions across various European countries, it has now gained traction in Germany as well. The technology's successful track record and reputation in the market demonstrate its effectiveness and reliability in addressing the communication needs of IoT applications, particularly in the context of vehicle parking systems. This is noted in terms of a city like Berlin-Germany, for on which the study is conducted. The major challenge being on how to relate the parking techniques in a more user friendly, cost effective and less energy consumpmti0n mode where the questions had at the beginning of the paper, relatively at the end the answers are sought to it via Sigfox and its comparison with other related technologies like LoRA WAN and weightless. But more so future areas of research study is also pointed out on areas which are not clearly identified in this particular research area. This paper entails the pros, cons adaptive, emerging and existing technology study in terms of cloud, big data, Data analytics are all discussed in tandem to Sigfox.

Research on the Purchase Intention of Intangible Cultural Heritage Creative Products based on Tourist Perceived Value

This study aims to explore in depth the purchasing intentions of tourists towards creative products of intangible cultural heritage, aiming to reveal the level of recognition and importance that tourists place on the intangible value carried by intangible cultural heritage during the purchasing process. By using a questionnaire survey, a total of 500 valid samples of tourists from different backgrounds and experiences were collected, allowing for a more comprehensive understanding of their purchasing preferences and decision-making factors. The statistical analysis and discussion of data reveal a series of factors that affect tourist purchase intention. Firstly, uniqueness is an important influencing factor, and tourists tend to purchase products with unique cultural characteristics and historical significance because these products can arouse their interest and sense of identity. Secondly, the expression of cultural symbols also has a significant impact on purchase intention. Tourists are more willing to purchase products that reflect local culture and traditions, as these products not only have aesthetic value but also convey deep cultural connotations. In addition, emotional identification is also one of the important factors affecting purchase intention. Tourists tend to purchase products that can evoke emotional resonance and identification, as these products can stimulate their emotional experiences and memories. Finally, although price factors also have a certain impact on purchase intention, they are not decisive factors. Tourists are more willing to pay reasonable prices for products with rich cultural connotations and emotional experiences. Overall, this study reveals that tourists pay more attention to the cultural connotations, emotional experiences, and emotional identity of intangible cultural heritage creative products when purchasing them, rather than simple material attributes. This provides important references for relevant enterprises and organizations to better understand the needs and preferences of tourists, thereby developing more attractive and competitive intangible cultural heritage creative products.

Analysis of innovative financial instruments in modern Ukrainian scientific literature

Innovative financial instruments act as a driving force for economic development. In the modern economy, the role of innovative financial instruments has grown significantly. With the application of financial innovations, it is almost possible to obtain high profits, minimize costs, develop new markets, and create competitive products with a high degree of novelty. So, in the market economy, innovative financial instruments are an effective means of competitive struggle, as they lead to the creation of new needs, a reduction in the cost of products, an inflow of investments, and an increase in the image of the manufacturer of new products, to the attraction of new customers. This article aims to define the essence of innovative financial instruments, drawing on an analysis of existing definitions of the concept of 'financial innovation' in contemporary Ukrainian scientific literature. Building on the reviewed material, this article presents an analysis of the types of innovative financial instruments put forth by Ukrainian scientists. L. B. Kolinets offers a classification that includes innovations related to equity instruments and debt instruments. Another group of scientists, S. V. Radinsky and O. D. Dyachun, identify financing instruments, hedging instruments, and special financial services as innovative financial instruments. The article also references other types of innovative financial instruments explored in the works of contemporary Ukrainian scientists. We analyzed statistical data on the development of derivatives and fintech and implemented business projects in Ukraine with the help of the «Big Idea». The expediency of using innovative financial instruments has been determined. The main advantages of using innovative financial instruments are that they accelerate business development, expand access to capital, and support the development of new products and services. In conclusion, ways were suggested to contribute to developing innovative financial instruments. Keywords: financial instruments, financial innovations, derivatives, crowdfunding platforms, cryptocurrency, blockchain technologies, fintech, payment system.

Analisa Perbaikan Mesin Cutting Guna Mengurangi Frekuensi Kerusakan dan Jam Perbaikan Mesin

The smoothness of the production process in the midst of increasingly tight product competition is one of the important factors that needs to be prioritized, especially in production facilities or machines used for operation. losses for the company in terms of time, costs and reduced machine capacity. So an improvement analysis is carried out by looking at historical data on the cutting machine. This historical analysis can determine corrective and maintenance actions that must be carried out. After carrying out historical analysis, it was found that in 2023 the average percentage of machine damage was 44% with a total downtime of 1115.98 hours and total production of 2541.48 hours. loss amounted to Rp. 132,057,145, while in 2024 the average percentage of damage was 46% with a total downtime of 373.24 hours and total production of 809.33 hours. It is said that the company experienced a production process due to damage to the plong machine amounting to 54% with a total loss amounting to Rp. 65,228,673. Historically this machine is a reference in reducing the frequency and time of damage

Optimizing New Product Development in The Hijab Industry: A House of Risk Analysis on Marketing and Design Process

XYZ Company, a Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) based in Yogyakarta, specializes in producing hijabs but faces challenges in maintaining customer interest due to a misalignment between product designs and consumer preferences. To address this, the company actively engages in new product development (NPD), focusing on trend analysis and model innovation to cater to customer needs better. An essential part of minimizing risks during the NPD process involves evaluating and identifying potential pitfalls, particularly in marketing and design. This study employs the Hazard and Operability Review (HOR) method to assess risks systematically. Initial findings from HOR phase 1 reveal that inadequate competitor information (A3) leads to significant risks in competitor product identification (E3), contributing approximately 70.34% to the total Aggregate Risk Priority (ARP). Subsequently, in HOR phase 2, XYZ Company prioritizes ten mitigation actions, with conducting a comparative study of competitors' products (PA1) being the most critical, reflected by an ETDk value of 540. Keywords: House of Risk (HOR), Hijab Fashion, Hijab Industry, New Product Development (NPD)

Escaping the patent trolls: The impact of non‐practicing entity litigation on firm innovation strategies

AbstractResearch SummaryNon‐practicing entities (NPEs) are firms that accumulate and acquire patents but do not further develop or implement the patented inventions (known as patent trolling). NPEs seek to receive royalties or profits through out‐of‐court settlements in patent infringement cases. We examine how firms targeted by NPEs in NPE‐initiated litigations (i.e., target firms) shift their innovation strategies and trajectories in response to heightened litigation risks. We theorize and show that after the initial lawsuit, target firms draw more upon their in‐house technologies to reduce the legal ground for further lawsuits. Furthermore, nontarget firms in related technology areas shift their innovation activities away from those of target firms under high NPE litigation risks. These effects are more pronounced with higher innovation costs and under more competitive product markets.Managerial SummaryNon‐practicing entities (NPEs) are known as patent trolls that accumulate and acquire patents but do not further develop or implement these patented inventions. These patent trolls aim to obtain royalties or profits through out‐of‐court settlements in patent infringement cases. We investigate how firms targeted by patent trolls in litigations (i.e., target firms) change their innovation strategies and trajectories to deal with increased NPE litigation risks. After the initial lawsuit, we find that these target firms use their in‐house technologies more to reduce the legal ground for future lawsuits. Moreover, nontarget firms in related technology areas move their innovation activities away from those of target firms under high litigation risks. These effects are stronger when innovation costs are higher and under more competitive product markets.

Active Sites Formed on InVO4/Co3O4 S‐Scheme Heterostructure for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production

AbstractThe reasonable design of S‐scheme heterojunction to avoid unwanted charge transfer paths in hybrid semiconductors is considered to be an attractive method to obtain efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity. The photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance of the system was improved by loading ultra‐thin InVO4 nanosheets on the surface of hollow cube Co3O4 to form an S‐scheme heterojunction. Benefiting from the unique nano‐cage structure derived from the zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIF) series, it not only provides a good carrier for activating and stabilizing InVO4 nanosheets but also effectively avoids the masking of active sites caused by self‐agglomeration, which is more conducive to the exposure of more active sites. In the presence of sensitizer and sacrificial reagent, the optimized InVO4/Co3O4 has a more competitive H2 production, which is undoubtedly due to the construction of S‐scheme heterojunctions and unique spatial structure that facilitates the spatial separation of photoexcited charges. It is further confirmed that the photogenerated carrier transfer follows the S‐scheme mechanism by in‐situ irradiation XPS test.

International managerial skill and big Colombian exporting firms' performance, 2006–2014

AbstractThis paper uses a sample of the biggest private Colombian exporting firms to propose and estimate a two‐step methodology for measuring international managerial skill and calculating its impact on international firm performance. The first step quantifies the managerial team's organisational capital contribution to rise firms' export proficiency through the average of a regression residuals group conformed by export unit value residuals for differentiated products (multiplying by −1 the price competition products' residuals) and export quantity residuals for homogeneous products. The second step results indicate that: (i) international managerial quality has a significant and robust positive effect on export value, (ii) better managers in the international market do not increase the number of products exported but upgrade export basket's quality and (iii) export value elasticity relative to international managerial quality is around 5 times larger than export value elasticity relative to exogenous global demand shocks.

ПРОГНОЗУВАННЯ ВЛАСТИВОСТЕЙ ЛЕГУЮЧИХ ДОБАВОК – ВАЖЛИВА СКЛАДОВА ОДЕРЖАННЯ ЯКІСНОГО МЕТАЛУ

The main goal of the work is to predict the complex of physicochemical and thermophysical properties of additives from the standpoint of their contribution to the directed formation of the quality of steels. As a scientific basis for the development of analytical dependencies, the work uses the original concept of directional chemical bonding, the core of which is the consideration of metal melts as chemically unified systems, and not a mechanical mixture of constituent elements, and taking into account the contribution of all components, even in small concentrations, as well as the accumulated experience of creating information and analytical systems for forecasting and management of iron and steel smelting processes at the Iron and Steel Institute of Z.I. Nekrasov National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. The information component is a database on the properties of metallurgical melts, namely the "Ferroalloys" database chosen as the starting point for modeling, which is continuously updated with modern data. A successful combination of information and scientific resources ensured the development of stable models with high forecast accuracy (R2 ≥ 0.95) for domestic brands of ferroalloys (ferromanganese, ferrosilicomanganese, metallic manganese). The findings presented in this work are recommended for integration into the automated technological process management systems of steelmaking with the aim of further forming a competitive final product.

Standard & Poor’s Capital IQ NetAdvantage Revisited

Standard & Poor’s (S&P) Capital IQ NetAdvantage is an integrated Web-based market intelligence platform. NetAdvantage offers global news, market analytics, counterparty analytics, fund analytics, industry research, powerful screening tools, and people search capabilities, offered separately in many competitor products, under one platform using transparent and trusted industry-standard sources. Users can analyze the global business operating environment with information on public markets and indices, basic information on foreign exchange rates and interest rates, sovereign profiles, peer groups generated with S&P Capital IQ’s proprietary relevancy score, and detailed CFRA Industry Research Reports. The streamlined interface with mostly intuitive menus and links plus a free-text search bar make this platform more accessible than its more sophisticated counterparts. Limitations include lack of depth in some content areas, certain ADA compliance issues, and some clunky aspects of the search interface despite significant improvements over the years.

Techstreet Enterprise

Techstreet Enterprise is a subscription-based platform dedicated to industry codes and standards, offering users online access to complete standards documents in PDF format. Delving into its features and functionality, this review highlights Techstreet Enterprise’s content customization options, including the innovative Building Blocks feature. It also examines the platform’s variable pricing structure, interface, and competitive products and discusses the platform’s strengths and considerations. This review is intended to guide academic libraries in deciding whether to adopt Techstreet Enterprise as their standards resources. Overall, Techstreet Enterprise is an excellent resource for engineering standards access, and academic libraries are strongly encouraged to consider it as a top choice when navigating purchasing decisions.

Design, Analysis and Optimization of Composite Propeller Shaft

Most of the automobiles have Rear wheel drive and front engine installation consists of a transmission shaft. Substitution of conventional metallic (SM45C) Propeller Drive Shaft with the composite (CFRP) structure has many advantages. Composite materials have acquired prominence in the engineering industry due to their remarkable strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and adaptability. This paper explores the multifaceted process of designing, analysing, and optimizing composite propeller shafts, with a primary focus on their application in marine and automotive industries, aiming to maximize performance while reducing weight. The design phase initiates by establishing precise requirements, encompassing torque loads, rotational speeds, environmental conditions, and safety factors. Material selection is a pivotal decision point, considering factors like fiber type, resin matrix, and layup orientation. Advanced Finite Element Analysis (FEA) technologies are used to simulate the mechanical behaviour of composite propeller shafts under a variety of operational scenarios, assisting in the identification of stress concentrations. Deformations, as well as key failure modes. The design process is iterative. The feedback from these simulations is used to improve the basic design. The analysis phase stress distribution, torsional vibrations, and dynamic behaviour of the composite propeller shaft. A comprehensive study of various layup configurations and boundary conditions is conducted to assess their impact on structural performance and reliability. Additionally, manufacturing considerations, encompassing fabrication techniques, quality control, and cost-effectiveness, are addressed to ensure practical feasibility. The goal of the optimization phase is to lower the weight of the composite propeller shaft while retaining structural integrity and operational reliability. The optimisation outcomes provide information on the best material mix, layup sequence, and geometric factors that achieve the best balance of weight reduction, greater performance and productivity. The findings from this study contribute substantially to the advancement of composite propeller shaft technology, offering engineers valuable insights into the intricacies of design, analysis, and optimization processes. By harnessing the ability of composite materials effectively, industries can realize significant benefits, including reduced fuel consumption, improved efficiency, and enhanced overall system performance, resulting in more sustainable and competitive products for the maritime and automotive sectors.

The Effect of Competitive Strategy and Product Quality on Business Performance Study On: Unilever Indonesia Tbk

Currently, in the global market era, many daily necessities are circulating in the world goods market domestic and foreign products. Many companies are developing in Indonesia, both domestic companies and foreign investment companies. One of them is Unilever Indonesia which operates in the primary consumer sector. This research aims to describe efforts to create the influence of competitive strategy and product quality on business performance at Unilever Indonesia Tbk. The urgency of research is to fulfill assignments for the Strategic Management course and as a requirement to take the Final Semester Examination. This research is intended for readers as supporting material for further research in the future and is also useful for writers to develop the process of creating scientific work. This research uses a descriptive quantitative approach method with Explanatory Research research, using annual financial data for the last 3-year period. This method aims to find variable relationships that exist in a community. Using company financial reports to determine the results and influence of competitive strategy and product quality on company sales over several decades and determine the effectiveness of company strategy in the company's business performance. This research was created based on references from several journals by previous researchers with variables that are closely related to the title of the research created by the author.