Consumer Resource Research Articles

Cultivating capacities in community-based researchers in low-resource settings: Lessons from a participatory study on violence and mental health in Sri Lanka.

Participatory methods, which rely heavily on community-based data collectors, are growing in popularity to deliver much-needed evidence on violence and mental health in low- and middle-income countries. These settings, along with local researchers, encounter the highest burden of violence and mental ill-health, with the fewest resources to respond. Despite increased focus on wellbeing for research participants and, to a lesser degree, professional researchers in such studies, the role-specific needs of community-based researchers receive scant attention. This co-produced paper draws insights from one group's experience to identify rewards, challenges, and recommendations for supporting wellbeing and development of community-based researchers in sensitive participatory projects in low-resource settings. Twenty-one community-based researchers supporting a mixed-methods study on youth, violence and mental health in Sri Lanka submitted 63 reflexive structured journal entries across three rounds of data collection. We applied Attride-Stirling's method for thematic analysis to explore peer researchers' learning about research, violence and mental health; personal-professional boundaries; challenges in sensitive research; and experiences of support from the core team. Sri Lanka's first study capturing experiences of diverse community-based researchers aims to inform the growing number of global health and development actors relying on such talent to deliver sensitive and emotionally difficult work in resource-limited and potentially volatile settings. Viewing participatory research as an opportunity for mutual learning among both community-based and professional researchers, we identify practice gaps and opportunities to foster respectful team dynamics and create generative and safe co-production projects for all parties. Intentional choices around communication, training, human and consumable resources, project design, and navigating instable research conditions can strengthen numerous personal and professional capacities across teams. Such individual and collective growth holds potential to benefit short- and long-term quality of evidence and inform action on critical issues, including violence and mental health, facing high-burden, low-resource contexts.

Comprehensive Utilization and Sustainable Development of Bauxite in Northern Guizhou on a Background of Carbon Neutralization

As a developing country, China is also a major producer and consumer of mineral resources. At present, China is still in a critical period of rapid development of industrialization and urbanization, which will inevitably lead to huge resource consumption. It is only 30 years between the peak carbon consumption and the timepoint planned to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality. Coming from a background of dual pressure in terms of the total amount and intensity of “carbon neutrality”, the development and utilization of mineral resources has become one of the important factors in affecting and realizing carbon neutrality in China, and comprehensive utilization has become increasingly important. There are abundant bauxite resources in northern Guizhou, more than 700 million tons, and an industrial resource chain could be built around bauxite. The ore-forming process of bauxite is very complex, and there are enrichment phenomena of other useful elements in the ore-bearing rock series, among which the enrichment of associated Ga, Li and rare earth elements is very obvious. It is of great economic and scientific significance to study the migration law of associated Ga, Li and rare earth elements and to find out whether these elements in bauxite have development value. On the basis of systematically collecting and sorting previous research results, this study carried out supplementary tests on some areas with insufficient data; summarized and studied the migration law of associated Ga, Li and rare earth elements in the Wuzhengdao bauxite deposit in northern Guizhou; and conducted a feasibility analysis on the development and utilization prospects of associated Ga, Li and rare earth elements.

Bending the curve of the electronics revolution toward a circular economy of e-waste

Advocacy for a fully circular economy of electronic products has intensified in response to relentless demand for materials and the toxic legacy of electronic waste (e-waste). Convergence of innovation in resource recovery, regulatory policies, and consumer participation is needed to bend the curve of the electronics revolution toward a circular economy.

Assessing the environment for engagement in health services: The Audit for Consumer Engagement (ACE) tool.

Although it is widely accepted that the physical environment can impact health quality and care outcomes, its impact on consumer engagement with health services has not been examined. Currently, no tools exist that assess the opportunities for consumer engagement offered within the physical environment. We aimed to develop and validate an environmental audit tool to assist health services and researchers to assess the extent to which the physical environment in health services creates and supports opportunities for consumer engagement. An iterative, team-based approach in partnership with diverse stakeholders was used to develop the Audit for Consumer Engagement (ACE) tool. A four-stage process consisting of desktop review, concept clarification, identification of domains and validation was implemented. The tool was validated in one cancer service via face and content validation and inter-rater reliability was also assessed. The ACE tool was demonstrated to comprise four main domains (access and signage information; resources for consumers; resources to support diversity; and consumer engagement events or activities) measured with 17 items. Face and content validity was achieved, and preliminary reliability analysis indicated substantial agreement between the two researchers for all four domains with an average of 86% agreement. The ACE is a novel tool that is practical, relevant and reliable, and developed in partnership with consumers and health service providers. The tool can be used by health service providers, researchers and consumer agency groups to assess opportunities for consumer engagement offered within the physical environment of cancer services. The ACE tool has the potential to be used as a guide for enhancing consumer engagement opportunities and for research purposes. Further evidence about the validity of the tool is required, including criterion-related validity and utility in other health settings. This project is part of a wider 'CanEngage' project that includes a consumer investigator and is supported by a consumer advisory group. This study was completed in active partnership with members of a consumer advisory group from diverse backgrounds. Feedback was sought from the members throughout the development process of the tool with findings discussed with the CanEngage group members in scheduled meetings.

Road map for implementing circular construction practices in India: an overview

Globally, the construction industry is considered as one of the biggest consumers of natural resources and is a generator of large quantities of demolition wastes. Hence, the full-scale adoption of circular economy (CE) in the construction industry would not only conserve natural resources but also reduce environmental pollution by reusing demolition waste. Despite the recognised potential of the concept of CE, the application of CE in the construction industry is still in its infancy and is limited, particularly in developing countries such as India. Although circularity elements are applied in the construction sector in India to a certain extent, there is still a long way to go for the large-scale adoption of CE practices. Improvements in the supply chain system, incorporation of reused and recycled materials and minimisation of the use of virgin materials in construction, implementation of modular construction and use of digital tools are some of the solutions that can be adopted towards achieving CE in construction. In this context, the present study discusses the practices currently adopted in the construction sector in India towards achieving CE. Further, the methodologies adopted in other countries and limitations in implementing these technologies in India, towards circular construction, are discussed. Learning from the principles/concepts of other countries that are successfully adopting CE solutions, this study provides a road map for implementing construction practices in India to make this sector less resource intensive.

Irregular population cycles driven by environmental stochasticity and saddle crawlbys

Despite considerable study of population cycles, the striking variability of cycle periods in many cyclic populations has received relatively little attention. Mathematical models of cyclic population dynamics have historically exhibited much greater regularity in cycle periods than many real populations, even when accounting for environmental stochasticity. We contend, however, that the recent focus on understanding the impact of long, transient but recurrent epochs within population oscillations points the way to a previously unrecognized means by which environmental stochasticity can create cycle period variation. Specifically, consumer–resource cycles that bring the populations near a saddle point (a combination of population sizes toward which the populations tend, before eventually transitioning to substantially different levels) may be subject to a slow passage effect that has been dubbed a ‘saddle crawlby'. In this study, we illustrate how stochasticity that generates variability in how close predator and prey populations come to saddles can result in substantial variability in the durations of crawlbys and, as a result, in the periods of population cycles. Our work suggests a new mechanistic hypothesis to explain an important factor in the irregular timing of population cycles and provides a basis for understanding when environmental stochasticity is, and is not, expected to generate cyclic dynamics with variability across periods.

Waste Management Practices Influence on Operating Cost among Selected Classified Hotels in Nakuru County, Kenya

The world is currently battling the challenge of environmental degradation which is rising at an alarming rate. The situation is greatly attributed to poor waste management. The hospitality industry being a major consumer of resources contributes a lot towards waste generation. Regardless of the high level of waste generation, a lot of hotels continue to use improper waste management practices. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of waste management practices on operating cost of classified hotels in Nakuru County, Kenya. The study sought to determine the effect of waste reduction strategies, waste composting, and waste collection and disposal on operating cost of classified hotels in Nakuru County, Kenya. The study also ascertained the moderating effect of stakeholder cooperation on the relationship between waste management practices and operating cost of classified hotels. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. The study population comprised of 61 classified hotels in Nakuru County. Structured questionnaires and semi-structured interview guides were used to gather data. Quantitative analysis employed descriptive and inferential statistics. The research revealed that waste management practices affect operating cost of hotels (R2 = 0.467, p = 0.000). Waste reduction was found to have a negative and statistically significant effect on operating cost (β = -0.167, p = 0.021). Waste composting was found to have a negative and statistically significant effect on operating cost of classified hotels (β = -.161, p = 0.030). Waste collection and disposal was found to have a positive and statistically significant effect on operating cost of hotels (β = 0.299, p = 0.001). Lastly, stakeholder cooperation was found to have a statistically significant moderating effect on the relationship between waste management practices and operating cost of hotels (R2 = 0.532, p = 0.019). Therefore, the study recommend that hotels should prioritize effective waste management practices ascertained to be waste reduction, recycling and waste composting in order to curb the challenge of increasing operating cost. The research also recommended that national waste management policy makers should enact policies that facilitate implementation of effective waste management practices recommended by the study. Keywords: Waste management practices, waste reduction, waste composting, waste collection and disposal, stakeholder cooperation, operating cost

Importance of Shellfish in the Diet of Two Ray Species (Rhinoptera steindachneri and Hypanus dipterurus) in the Upper Gulf of California

The upper Gulf of California, Mexico is a marine protected area (MPA), considered important for the conservation and protection of species. The present study assessed the resource–consumer interactions of two ray species (Rhinoptera steindachneri and Hypanus dipterurus), to know the importance of shellfish in the food-web dynamics of two predators present in this MPA. A total of 33 prey species for R. steindachneri and 48 prey species for H. dipterurus were recorded. The bivalve Tellina subtrigona (%IRI = 99.5) was the most important species in the diet of R. steindachneri; whereas the gastropod Mitrella dorma (%IRI = 32.7) was the primary prey of H. dipterurus. The ray R. steindachneri had a lower Shannon's index of diversity (H' = 0.49) than H. dipterurus (H' = 1.41). Based on Amundsen's graphical method, R. steindachneri have a specialist feeding strategy; whereas H. dipterurus presented a mixed strategy that includes both specialist and generalist organisms. However, the trophic specialization evidenced by these rays may reflect the grouping behavior of their prey, which tend to form large aggregations. Both ray species are secondary consumers (TLR. steindachneri = 3.10 and TL H. dipterurus = 3.12) of shellfish. Nevertheless, there is a low similarity in the prey species composition between them (ANOSIM: R = 0.47), indicating that these two ray species have different diets, and therefore, each ray species has specific resource–consumer interactions. This information allows to understand the importance of shellfish in the food-web dynamics in the ecosystem and MPA effectiveness in the upper Gulf of California for species at risk, like ray species.

DATASET FOR URBAN SCALE BUILDING STOCK MODELLING: IDENTIFICATION AND REVIEW OF POTENTIAL DATA COLLECTION APPROACHES

Abstract. Construction materials play an important role in environmental impacts and make cities big resource consumers. To assess the sustainability of cities, the combined use of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Material Flow Analysis (MFA) is considered effective to analyze construction material stock and flows. However, exhaustive data is required for such analyses, making LCA and MFA difficult to apply at the urban scale. Building information, the essential ingredient, is rarely available openly. Common approaches to gather the required data include both obtaining it directly from available datasets, e.g. open data from official sources, and indirectly generating data based on available data, e.g. using machine learning to fill the missing gaps. This research develops a data collection guideline for buildings’ geometrical features, components and materials at the urban scale in the context of LCA and MFA. First, it identifies the basic steps of urban-scale building stock modelling and the list of data requirements. Second, the factors influencing the data collection are pointed out. In line with these guidelines, this research picks Singapore as a study area, reviewing the relevant authoritative open data sources and methodologies to estimate missing data. Finally, the suggestion on implementation of data collection are provided. When the data collection for urban scale stock modelling is limited by uncertain reality conditions, identifying and combining open datasets and data generation methods for data preparation is a necessity.

Sustainable procurement in construction and the realisation of the sustainable development goal (SDG) 12

As the major consumer of resources and energy, the construction industry has been at the heart of the debate on sustainable development. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide the overarching guidance for the construction industry to promote sustainable development from environmental, social, and economic dimensions. Moreover, sustainable consumption and production (SCP) are highlighted in the SDG 12, while Sustainable Procurement (SP) focuses on promoting sustainable development through procurement processes and decisions. However, little has been written about how the construction industry could turn the challenges of SP into opportunities that promotes procurement practices in accordance with national policies and priorities. This study examines the drivers and challenges on the adoption of sustainable procurement in construction and how it impacts the achievement of SDG 12. The quantitative approach using questionnaires identified the drivers and barriers to SP implementation in construction and the SP practices contributing to the realisation of SDG 12 (Responsible consumption and production). The results confirmed that the construction industry should play a significant role in achieving the SDGs and show that construction SP practices contribute to the realisation of 9 of the SDG 12 targets. The results also suggested that governments should play a more active role in partnership with industry stakeholders and that the social and economic dimensions of sustainability deserve more attention. The value of this study is to provide construction industry stakeholder an insight into the drivers and challenges of SP and how to turn SP challenges into opportunities by adopting initiatives that consider the environmental, social, and economic impact of all procurement decisions. It also highlights the important role of the construction industry towards the realisation of the SDGs, particularly the significance of SP practices in the construction industry to the achievement of SDG 12.

Stability criteria for the consumption and exchange of essential resources.

Models of consumer effects on a shared resource environment have helped clarify how the interplay of consumer traits and resource supply impact stable coexistence. Recent models generalize this picture to include the exchange of resources alongside resource competition. These models exemplify the fact that although consumers shape the resource environment, the outcome of consumer interactions is context-dependent: such models can have either stable or unstable equilibria, depending on the resource supply. However, these recent models focus on a simplified version of microbial metabolism where the depletion of resources always leads to consumer growth. Here, we model an arbitrarily large system of consumers governed by Liebig's law, where species require and deplete multiple resources, but each consumer's growth rate is only limited by a single one of these resources. Resources that are taken up but not incorporated into new biomass are leaked back into the environment, possibly transformed by intracellular reactions, thereby tying the mismatch between depletion and growth to cross-feeding. For this set of dynamics, we show that feasible equilibria can be either stable or unstable, again depending on the resource environment. We identify special consumption and production networks which protect the community from instability when resources are scarce. Using simulations, we demonstrate that the qualitative stability patterns derived analytically apply to a broader class of network structures and resource inflow profiles, including cases where multiple species coexist on only one externally supplied resource. Our stability criteria bear some resemblance to classic stability results for pairwise interactions, but also demonstrate how environmental context can shape coexistence patterns when resource limitation and exchange are modeled directly.

BTPFlux: a building material flow analysis model to enhance the urban metabolism on French territories

Worldwide, the construction sector is the principal consumer of raw resources (50% of the natural resources) and the leading producer of solid waste (2.2 billion tons per year). Because of their quantity and their potential for development, construction wastes constitute a catalyst for establishing strategies and action programs aimed at making the management of resources circular at several territorial scales. Performing these strategies needs a detailed and structured knowledge of flows. In this context, the CSTB has developed a macro-component bottom-up-based model: BTPFlux, that aims to characterize the materiality of the building stock and the associated demolition, and renovation waste flows. A national database with generic information for every building on the metropolitan French territory was used. This database gathers information such as the surface, the typology, or the year of construction of the buildings and is then linked with a specific database characterizing existing construction products. This method provides a detailed characterization of the building material stock available on the French metropolitan territory. So, the environmental impacts, the treatment costs, and the valorisation potentials can be estimated by implementing different management scenarios for each category of waste assessed. The model was already successfully applied to the “Ile de France” region and can be replicated to any other French territory. The results will allow the stakeholders to better understand the materiality of their territory, giving them the possibility of making optimal decisions to implement the reuse and recycling of secondary resources. However, some improvements can still be made in the description levels of macrocomponents or in the description of infrastructures that BTPFlux does not currently model.

AESA approach applied to mineral and metal resources use sustainability in the building sector: The MiMOSA method

Considering the increase of natural resource use, humanity is facing the problem of resource depletion. The building sector is a major consumer of resources. The most consumed resources are mineral and metal resources. Thereby, the identification, and then optimisation, of mineral and metal resource use in the building sector appears as a necessity. One tool to quantify the use of those resources is LCA. Currently, several authors develop absolute environmental sustainability assessment (AESA) methods, combined with LCA, to compare the pressures of the studied project with the global carrying capacity of the planet. However, most of the AESA approaches do not actually include normalization factors about the use of resources, and in particular mineral and metal resources. Besides, the mainly used LCIA characterization methods of mineral and metal resources present several limits when applied to Circular Economy projects within the building sector. Thereby, the goal of this research project is to answer the following question: Can the consumption of mineral and metal resources for a given building project be considered sustainable? To answer this question, a methodology was developed. This methodology is inspired by the AESA approach by proposing a sustainable resource budget for each mineral or metal substance and will combine the MFA methods to the LCA method to calculate sustainability indicators for each mineral and metal resource. The Mineral and Metal absOlute Sustainability Assessment (MiMOSA) method integrates the circular economy actions and considers an appropriate spatial scale for each resource and will be presented in this paper.

Predation probabilities and functional responses: How piscivorous waterbirds respond to pulses in fish abundance

How predators respond to changes in prey abundance (i.e., functional responses) is foundational to consumer–resource interactions, predator–prey dynamics, and the stability of predator–prey systems. Predation by piscivorous waterbirds on out-migrating juvenile steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is considered a factor affecting the recovery of multiple Endangered Species Act-listed steelhead populations in the Columbia River basin. Waterbird functional responses, however, may vary by predator species and location, with important implications to predator management strategies. We used a 13-year dataset on waterbird abundance across seven breeding colonies (three Caspian tern [Hydroprogne caspia], two double-crested cormorant [Nannopterum auritum], and two California and ring-billed gull [Larus californicus and Larus delawarensis] colonies) and steelhead tag-recovery data (>645,000 tagged and >32,000 recovered steelhead) to quantify weekly predation probabilities and functional responses across waterbird species, colonies, and years. Weekly predation probabilities were highly variable, ranging from 0.01 to 0.30 at tern colonies, 0.01 to 0.20 at cormorant colonies, and 0.03 to 0.13 at gull colonies. Per capita predation probabilities were an order of magnitude higher at inland tern and cormorant colonies relative to estuary colonies of the same species. Terns displayed Type II functional responses across colonies and years, where predation probabilities peaked at low steelhead abundances and declined as steelhead abundance increased (i.e., predator swamping). Cormorants nesting at the large estuary colony (several thousand birds) displayed a Type III functional response, but cormorants nesting at the smaller inland colony (several hundred birds) displayed a Type II response. Consumption probabilities of steelhead by gulls remained consistent across a large range of steelhead availability, suggesting a Type I or a Type III functional response, but a lack of colony abundance data prevented quantifying functional responses. The level of tern predation combined with Type II functional responses indicate possible population-level impacts that could destabilize small or declining prey populations. Conversely, the apparent Type III functional responses of gulls and estuary nesting cormorants are indicative of prey switching behaviors targeted at periods of high steelhead abundance. Our results illustrate the complexity of predator–prey interactions and the importance of quantifying predator- and location-specific functional responses when predicting the efficacy of management strategies to enhance prey populations.

Classification of heating conditions in terms of smart control of indoor heating with the use of uncontrolled electric heaters

Purpose. To reduce specific energy consumption for heating municipal and industrial buildings by introducing smart indoor temperature control taking into consideration individual dependences of characteristics of each person as a consumer of energy resources on specific heating conditions. Methodology. The energy-efficient and smart control of indoor heating is based on the fact that a control system is to elaborate and provide a compromise solution as for comfortable perception of proper conditions of someones staying indoors and minimum consumption of energy resources. To do that, first of all the problem should be solved concerning recognition of different heating conditions by a smart control system aimed at providing a process of system learning and database formation. To complete this task, the parameters of one-dimensional dynamic models describing heat-exchange processes are proposed to be used as the information signs for the classification of situations in terms of heating relative to the uncontrolled electric heaters; the input value is the heater capacity, and the output value is the air temperature within the local indoor zone. Within the framework of the development of a method for classifying indoor heating conditions, dependences of the parameters of dynamic models of local indoor heating zones on the characteristics of local heating zones were analysed. Besides, certain regularities of a control process for heaters were determined; that helped provide accurate identification of the models of local heating zones without considerable changes in a preset temperature mode. Computational experiments made it possible to evaluate the accuracy of determination of information signs for the classification of heating conditions while representing real characteristics of indoor heat-exchange processes. Findings. The studies resulted in the development of a method for identifying dynamic properties of indoor heat zones for the cases of using uncontrolled electric heaters with two states. Originality. For the first time, certain regularities have been identified concerning a capacity control process for electric heaters with two states and a process of temperature measurement within the local indoor zones. The regularities made it possible to determine the parameters of dynamic models of indoor heat-exchange processes with high accuracy and without considerable changes in the preset temperature mode, and to use these parameters as information signs while classifying the heating conditions. Practical value. The obtained regularities of the processes of heater control and temperature measurement allowed developing a method for identification of dynamic properties of local indoor heat zones, which makes up the basis for a classification procedure of heating conditions.

Analysis of mixing construction and demolition waste with soil for embankments

In some countries, there are cases of inadequate destination and even final disposal of construction and demolition waste (CDW), which contributes to environmental degradation and material wastes. The construction sector is a great consumer of natural resources, and CDW can sometimes be useful to minimise the need for natural materials, including embankment filling, which could use a large volume of material. In these cases, the use of CDW can be promising if the embankment quality is not affected; and it will have a great economic advantage. This paper aims to assess experimentally the feasibility and potential benefits of employing CDW mixed with soil in embankments. CDW samples were collected from three recycling facilities in Brazil and mixed with lateritic soil. Compaction tests determined optimum parameters of the lateritic soil, and the soil mixed with 25 and 50% of CDW. The maximum dry densities of the mixtures changed slightly compared to natural soil. The mixtures’ optimum water content increased only 2% in relation to the soil without waste, which means that the compaction of the mixtures will require 10–20% more water, depending on CDW quality. Results show that these materials and proportions can be considered for possible application in embankments.

Complex equipment system resilience: Composition, measurement and element analysis

This paper analyzes the resilience composition of complex equipment system. By considering the system itself, resources, and the human factor, the resilience is analyzed from three components: structure resilience, resource resilience and strategy resilience. The impact of subsystems and their interrelationships on resilience are analyzed in structure resilience. In resource resilience, consumable and non-consumable resources are distinguished, and their influences on system resilience are analyzed, respectively. In strategy resilience, how people affect system resilience is discussed, and the nature of strategy resilience in resilience process is analyzed. Based on the above analysis, how these three components of resilience perform in actual systems is analyzed, and the three components of system resilience are refined into five specific factors involved in system resilience. Then, an improved resilience measurement method for complex equipment systems is given. In simulation, the five elements of resilience are analyzed and studied, respectively. Through simulation and comprehensive analysis, this paper can give a deeper understanding of the three components of system resilience. The quantitative and qualitative analysis on how to optimize the system under the framework of resilience engineering and the optimization principles of system are provided.

Consumer (dis)engagement coping profiles using online services in managing health‐related stressors

AbstractOnline health services are a rapidly growing coping resource for consumers to draw on in managing health‐related stressors. We apply a (dis)engagement coping lens to understand consumer coping, identify the distinct purposes of consumer coping captured in six coping scales, and develop an inventory (via multiple studies), to measure consumer positioning on these scales. In a final survey (N = 623), we assess the extent to which consumers use online health services, the ways in which they draw on these services as coping resources using the 6‐scale inventory and the influence of health status on coping efforts. We demonstrate that consumer engagement coping efforts with respect to health‐related stressors are largely directed toward direct management of health stressors (e.g., active planning). We also identify how consumers combine multiple ways of coping through distinguishing three coping profiles based on the enactment and perceived helpfulness of the six coping scales and current health status. Our profiles emphasize the need to understand the progress of health conditions as a determiner of coping efforts. Practitioners and policymakers can use this structured understanding of coping efforts to strategically plan future service provision, although some caution is noted with respect to health inequalities.

Characterizing Long Transients in Consumer–Resource Systems With Group Defense and Discrete Reproductive Pulses

During recent years, the study of long transients has been expanded in ecological theory to account for shifts in long-term behavior of ecological systems. These long transients may lead to regime shifts between alternative states that resemble the dynamics of alternative stable states for a prolonged period of time. One dynamic that potentially leads to long transients is the group defense of a resource in a consumer–resource interaction. Furthermore, time lags in the population caused by discrete reproductive pulses have the potential to produce long transients, either independently or in conjunction to the transients caused by the group defense. In this work, we analyze the potential for long transients in a model for a consumer–resource system in which the resource exhibits group defense and reproduces in discrete reproductive pulses. This system exhibits crawl-by transients near the extinction and carrying capacity states of resource, and a transcritical bifurcation, under which a ghost limit cycle appears. We estimate the transient time of our system from these transients using perturbation theory. This work advances an understanding of how systems shift between alternate states and their duration of staying in a given regime and what ecological dynamics may lead to long transients.

The Influence of Environmental Factors on Product Innovations in Emerging Markets: The Institutional Theory Perspective

This study addresses how environmental factors in emerging markets affect product innovation properties, categorized as frugality, sociality, and technological sophistication. A questionnaire survey among Japanese overseas subsidiaries in 13 emerging countries was conducted to collect data on environmental factors and new product innovation characteristics. Hierarchical OLS regression analysis was employed to estimate the influences. The results reveal that companies in emerging markets tend to adopt frugality, sociality, and technological sophistication innovation when consumers have low purchasing power, institutional voids exist, and resources are available, respectively. Traditional innovation literature has been built on the assumption of consumer affluence and resource abundance. However, the findings might not apply to the context of emerging markets owing to environmental constraints in these markets. This study is the first to empirically show the influence of environmental circumstances on firms' innovation strategies. The issue of generalizability may exist because of the limited number of samples collected from firms originating in one country (i.e., Japanese overseas subsidiaries). However, this study provides a framework to better understand how the innovation decisions of firms operating in emerging markets may vary depending on environmental factors. This study provides critical insights into how firms should adapt their innovation strategies to the market environment.