Cluster Cooperation Research Articles

Enhancing food security through the use of cluster cooperative societies in fish farming enterprises in South-East Nigeria

Food security remains a critical issue in Nigeria, particularly in the South-East, where agricultural productivity faces challenges due to limited resources and infrastructure. This study explores the role of cluster cooperative societies in enhancing food security through fish farming enterprises. By pooling resources and creating collaborative frameworks, cooperative societies in the region have the potential to increase fish production, improve market access, and bolster livelihoods. This paper presents the findings from a study conducted among fish farmers in the South-East, evaluating the effectiveness of cooperative societies in addressing food insecurity. The research utilizes a mixed-methods approach, including surveys and interviews, with data analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics. Results indicate that cooperative societies contribute significantly to fish farming success, with notable improvements in productivity and market linkages. The paper concludes with policy recommendations to support the development of cooperative societies in fish farming to further improve food security in the region. Keywords: Food Security, Fish Farming, Cluster Cooperative Societies, Market Access.

All-body concept and quantified limits of cooperativity and related effects in homodromic cyclic water clusters from a molecular-wide and electron density-based approach.

We strongly advocate distinguishing cooperativity from cooperativity-induced effects. From the MOWeD-based approach, the origin of all-body cooperativity is synonymous with physics- and quantum-based processes of electron (e) delocalization throughout water clusters. To this effect, over 10 atom-pairs contribute to the total e-density at a BCP(H,O) between water molecules in a tetramer. Intermolecular all-body e-delocalization, that is, cooperativity, is an energy-minimizing process that fully explains non-additive increase in stability of a water molecule in clusters with an increase in their size. A non-linear change in cooperativity and cooperativity-induced effects, such as (i) structural (e.g., a change in d(O,O)) or topological intra- and intermolecular properties in water clusters (e.g., electron density or potential energy density at bond critical points) is theoretically reproduced by the proposed expression. It predicted the limiting value of delocalized electrons by a H2O molecule in homodromic cyclic clusters to be 1.58e. O-atoms provide the vast majority of electrons that "travel throughout a cluster predominantly on a privileged exchange quantum density highway" (⋅⋅⋅O-H⋅⋅⋅O-H⋅⋅⋅O-H⋅⋅⋅) using Bader's classical bond paths as density bridges linking water molecules. There are, however, additional electron exchange channels that are not seen on molecular graphs as bond paths. A 3D visual representation of the "privileged" and "additional" exchange channels as well as detailed intra- and inter-molecular patterns of e-sharing and (de)localizing is presented. The energy stabilizing contribution made by three O-atoms of neighboring water molecules was found to be large (-597 kcal/mol in cyclic hexamer) and 5 times more significant than that of a classical O-H⋅⋅⋅O intermolecular H-bond.

Compound catalyst of ReMoSx@HSSZ-39 and SAPO-34 zeolites for high performance conversion of CO2 to C2-4 hydrocarbons

We report here a high-performance catalyst ReMoSx@HSSZ-39 compounded with SAPO-34 for conversion of CO2 to C2-4 hydrocarbons, in which the ReMoSx clusters are responsible for highly efficient hydrogenation of CO2 to methanol as the intermediate and then the surrounding zeolitic acid sites for further conversion of methanol to hydrocarbons. The investigation finds that uniform ReMoSx clusters can be reliably fabricated in zeolitic cages by co-introduction of rhenium and molybdenum species into the HSSZ-39 zeolite and followed by sulfidation, which constitutes an intimate bifunction catalyst through better cooperation of ReMoSx clusters and the zeolitic acid sites. Compared with MoSx@HSSZ-39, the introduction of rhenium significantly suppresses CO generation. By mixing some SAPO-34 zeolite, with increased density of protonic acid, more than 86 % C2-4 hydrocarbons in organic products and only 21 % CO at 32.5 % of CO2 conversion are obtained and the composite catalyst shows excellent stability with more than 95 % C2-4 hydrocarbons in organic products, less than 30 % CO and above 26.6 % of CO2 conversion after 1000 h on stream.

THE IMPORTANCE OF MODELING CLUSTER COOPERATION RELATIONS IN CONTINUOUS EDUCATION

This article describes the dynamic landscape of continuous education increasingly necessitates innovative approaches to enhance collaboration and effectiveness among educational institutions and stakeholders. This paper explores the significance of modeling cluster cooperation relations as a strategy to optimize the functioning and impact of educational clusters. Clusters, defined as networks of interconnected institutions and organizations, are pivotal in fostering collaborative practices that support ongoing professional development, resource sharing, and innovative pedagogical practices. Modeling cluster cooperation relations involves the systematic analysis and design of interactions and relationships within educational clusters to promote synergy and achieve shared goals. This study highlights how structured collaboration models can address challenges such as resource allocation, curriculum alignment, and quality assurance. By employing case studies and theoretical frameworks, the paper demonstrates thateffective cluster cooperation can lead to improved educational outcomes, enhanced professional development opportunities, and greater institutional resilience.

Relative cooperativity in neutral and charged molecular clusters using QM/MM calculations.

QM/MM methods have been used to study electronic structure properties and chemical reactivity in complex molecular systems where direct electronic structure calculations are not feasible. In our previous work, we showed that non-polarizable force fields, by design, describe intermolecular interactions through pairwise interactions, overlooking many-body interactions involving three or more particles. In contrast, polarizable force fields account partially for many-body effects through polarization, but still handle van der Waals and permanent electrostatic interactions pairwise. We showed that despite those limitations, polarizable and non-polarizable force fields can reproduce relative cooperativity achieved using density functional theory due to error compensation mechanisms. In this contribution, we assess the performance of QM/MM methods in reproducing these phenomena. Our study highlights the significance of the QM region size and force field choice in QM/MM calculations, emphasizing the importance of parameter validation to obtain accurate interaction energy predictions.

СІЛЬСЬКИЙ ТУРИЗМ ЧЕРКАЩИНИ: КОМУНІКАЦІЯ, ПАРТНЕРСТВО ТА КЛАСТЕРНА СПІВПРАЦЯ

The article examines rural tourism development in the Cherkasy Region and the possible diversification of the rural economy by analysing communication, partnership and cluster cooperation between entrepreneurs, local authorities, the community and educators. The theoretical block of the study is aimed at studying the concepts of "well-being", "rural area", "rural life", " neo-rural entrepreneurs ", "communication", "network connections", "partnership" and "cluster". The essence and content of the main concepts were revealed, as well as the connection between the concepts of "welfare" and "diversification", "communication" and "partnership", "neo-rural entrepreneurs" and "values of rural life" was established. The application block is based on the results of the hackathon "Diversification of rural economy through a network of public consultation centers of tourism" for active and interested representatives of Cherkasy Region. It has been established that mutual understanding, communication and support, joint work and learning are exactly the model of partnership that solves the problem of network connections, which in turn will lead to diversification of incomes, as well as increased well-being in rural areas, and can become the basis of cluster cooperation, which will allow rational use of the potential of local entrepreneurs to create a high-quality tourist service and product. A four-way partnership with the participation of entrepreneurs, the local community, local authorities and educators is precisely the combination of forces and resources that goes beyond the scope of ordinary business exchange and allows us to realize common goals and achieve success. The obtained conclusions can be the basis for further strategies regarding the diversification of the tourism-oriented rural economy in the region.

On the synergetic effects of cyclic cooperativity in water clusters.

The present study delves into the question of how the strength of a hydrogen bond (HB) common to two or more cyclic HB networks is influenced by the cooperativity contributions (CCs) of these cycles. We employ the molecular tailoring approach-based method to calculate the cyclic CCs in water clusters, Wn (n = 6-20). The energy of an HB in a Wn cluster is estimated by adding the total cyclic CC to its counterpart in the respective dimer. The resulting HB energies closely match their full cluster counterparts, typically within 1.0 kcal mol-1, with substantial CCs of these cyclic networks.

Clusters of successes and problems: results of the European cluster conference

The annual European cluster conference took place in Brussels on May 7-8, 2024. It was organized by the European Commission in cooperation with the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU and support of the European Platform for Cluster Cooperation. The main attention was paid to the role of clusters in ensuring the Single Internal Market and increasing the competitiveness of the EU. A special feature of the conference was a debate on the practical role of clusters in developing the economic and political space of the EU in the next five-year political and economic cycle. The author analyzes main ideas of the conference and shows that in development of management priorities of the European Commission for 2024-2029 cluster policy will play a significant role in promoting industrial development priorities in the EU.

Cluster Mechanism for the Implementation of Industrial Changes in the Russian Economy: The Formation of a Database

Prospects for the development of the domestic economy are determined by the dynamics and pace of industrial changes in the sectors of the industrial sector, the scale and speed of transformation of the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of key industrial resources. This presupposes the implementation of such industrial policy mechanisms that will contribute to solving the problems of accelerated build-up of one's own technological and production potential. The article considers the cluster format of cooperation as one of the mechanisms for implementing industrial changes at the present stage of economic development. An assessment of the current dynamics of cluster interaction between economic entities in domestic practice indicates that the highest level of cooperation, both in the development of product and process innovations, is characteristic of the extractive sector of industry, while in the manufacturing industry, the level of cooperation is higher, the lower the technological level of production in a branch. On the one hand, such trends determine the need for a substantive study of cluster cooperation in the domestic industry, and on the other hand, they update the formation of databases that characterize the most important aspects of the functioning of organizations implementing cluster initiatives. In this article, the authors propose an approach to assessing cluster cooperation of economic entities in the industrial sector, which provides an assessment of the effect of the inclusion of enterprises in the industrial sector of the economy into a cluster association, as well as taking into account such a parameter of cluster interaction as connectedness. The authors formulate a conclusion about the presence of a high degree of relationship between the goals of industrial development and the type of cluster cooperation of enterprises in the industrial sector of the economy.

Social capital, cooperation and innovation in the energy sector clusters

ABSTRACT This paper analyses the relationship between the location of companies in specialised environments, social capital, cooperation and firms’ performance in terms of innovation. After calculating the degree to which the Spanish energy sector is agglomerated at the provincial level, the research hypotheses are tested using the partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) technique. The results show a positive and significant relationship between industrial agglomeration in territorial clusters and the firms’ innovative performance, besides the mediating effect of social capital and cooperation in this relationship. It is concluded that business location in specialised environments is of strategic importance for companies, especially in terms of innovation.

The role of clusters as collective actors in the energy transformation: the case of Mazovia Cluster ICT

PurposeThis paper aims to show the possibilities of implementing the idea of sustainability in the context of energy transformation using the concept of an industrial cluster. The implementation of the idea of sustainability is of particular importance from the perspective of the functioning of the meta-organisations involved in the implementation and promotion of decarbonisation processes. Industrial clusters, as collective actors initiating collective actions and providing complex governance structures, seem to have a great fit with regard to the needs of disseminating and implementing the idea of sustainable development, also in conjunction with energy development.Design/methodology/approachEmpirical evidence is derived from a case study of Mazovia Clustes ICT (MC ICT). Based on the experience of this cluster, this study wants to show the evolution of the industrial cluster through the prism of its growing activity in supporting energy transition. The authors conducted the research in the period 2022–2023 using in-depth personal interviews and an analysis of the secondary data. The primary technique for data analysis and interpretation was conventional qualitative content analysis.FindingsAs a result of this study, the authors have distinguished three main areas of cluster activity covering the strategic, operational/project and institutional levels. Within the first area, the cluster’s efforts focused on the development of a strategy and involvement in lobbying and co-legislating. The second area refers to the cluster’s activity in the carrying out of national and transnational projects on the creation and implementation of various energy solutions. The activities undertaken in the third area include support for the development of start-ups in the field of energy and involvement in the launch of an energy cluster and the development of distributed energy in Poland. Although the strategic and operational/project levels are characterised by a commonality of activities and goals, there is additionally a commonality of interests at the institutional level.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper has its limitations, which primarily relate to the small research sample (the choice of a case study as the main research strategy) and the methods used (qualitative research). Therefore, it is impossible to generalise the results to the entire population of clusters.Practical implicationsThis paper has considerable practical value, as the results of this study may be relevant for public authorities interested in implementing energy transition through industrial clusters. The activities described can also be a source of inspiration for other clusters interested in shaping pro-environmental attitudes.Social implicationsThe cluster’s activities are closely linked to the three pillars of sustainable development, including the social pillar. The solutions developed within the cluster in the context of energy development are aimed not only at increasing energy efficiency and protecting the environment but also at broader social welfare.Originality/valueThis paper makes an additional contribution to the state-of-the-art of the industrial cluster concept by linking it to the idea of sustainable development, in the context of energy transformation. In addition, it sheds new light on issues related to cluster co-operation, combining the case of the industrial cluster with the very fresh and as yet poorly described idea of the energy cluster.

Стратегические приоритеты производства промышленного оборудования в новых экономических условиях

In the face of unprecedented sanctions, Russian industries require a new strategy for industrial equipment production. However, its strategizing in the new conditions require a thorough scientific analysis. This article proposes some strategic priorities for the production of industrial equipment in the modern economic conditions. The research featured enterprises that produce industrial equipment in the Kemerovo Region. The methodology relies on the theory of strategy and the methodology of strategizing developed by Professor V. L. Kvint, as well as on the economic theories about the new normal. The OTSW analysis revealed the key trends in the production of industrial equipment, as well as the possibilities for its development as an object of strategizing. The analysis involved the values and interests of industry stakeholders and the mission of industrial equipment production. Depending on competitive advantages, strategic priorities are divided into first and second order priorities. The priorities of the first order include cluster cooperation and joint projects; an innovative ecosystem based on an open innovation model; strategic synergy of development plans with customers and suppliers. The second-order strategic priorities include the export of products to friendly countries and a complete range of high-quality mining equipment. The results can be used in decision-making by industrial equipment manufacturers, consumers, and regional authorities.

Hierarchical clustering cooperation flocking based on feedback mechanism

The mathematical theory of flocking underlies several omnipresent multi-agent phenomena in biology, ecology, sensor networks, and economics, and also plays an important role in the study of swarm intelligence. Motivated by the results of recent research on flocking estimates, we study a class of hierarchical clustering cooperative models based on feedback mechanism. First, we present hierarchical clustering cooperative models with feedback. By means of new differential inequality techniques and Lyapunov functional method, sufficient criteria on the asymptotic convergence of these models are obtained. Meanwhile, the appropriate initial data that allows collision avoidance between agents are presented. Further, similar results are extended to the case where some pairs of agents do not have direct communication, but the whole system is connected. Moreover, the free-will agents are added to the clustering cooperative models, and unconditional convergence is proved. Combined clustering cooperative flocking with virtual structure, a scenario is simulated with unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) swarms accomplishing coordinated control with multiple formations. The introduction of the cluster-structure and feedback mechanism makes the flocking models more suitable for practical applications.

A transient overcooling in the early Universe? Clues from globular clusters formation

ABSTRACT The mere existence of multiple stellar generations in Milky Way globular clusters indicates that each generation was unable to stop star formation, that instead persisted unimpeded for several million years. This evidence argues for an extended stage of star formation within a forming globular cluster, during which stellar feedback was substantially ineffective and the nascent globular cluster was able to accrete processed gas from its surrounding, and efficiently convert it into successive stellar generations. It has been argued that such delayed feedback results from core collapse in most massive stars failing to trigger an energetic supernova explosion, but rather leading directly to black hole formation. Thus, globular clusters offer a concrete phenomenological example for the lack of feedback in young starbursts, an option that has been widely advocated to account for the unexpected abundance of ultraviolet-luminous galaxies at z = 9–16, as revealed by JWST observations. The paper is meant to attract attention to this opportunity for a synergic cooperation of globular cluster and high-redshift research.

Tourism activities in the frontline areas of Sumy region: problems, opportunities and prospects

The Sumy region has great and significant tourism potential. Before the Russo-Ukrainian War, the region had 3,465 historical and cultural monuments, including 367 architectural and urban planning monuments (five of them of national importance). Before the war, the tourism sector was developing steadily, with new types of tourism services and the formation of tourism clusters. However, Russia's Invasion of Ukraine resulted in a significant decrease in tax revenues, which has a negative impact on tourism. The purpose of this paper is to study the peculiarities and future prospects of tourism development in the Sumy region during the war, based on data from a sociological survey conducted in five Ukrainian frontline regions in the framework of the Estonian-Ukrainian research project "Development of Ukrainian frontline communities and tourism business during the war and future strategy", which was supported by the Estonian Research Agency. The sociological survey was conducted online and included 25 closed and open-ended questions. Survey results were processed using Microsoft Excel 2010 and SPSS Statistics V21.0. A total of 29 respondents (20.1%) from the Sumy region participated in the sociological survey, 69% of whom live in urban areas and 31% in rural areas. Analysis of the areas of activity of the tourism respondents from the Sumy region revealed that urban respondents were more representative of tourism businesses (tour operators, travel agents, sole proprietors, etc.), while rural respondents were predominantly representatives of tourist attractions (museums, educational and recreational facilities, etc.). Responses to the following questions were analyzed: pre-war tourism activities, wartime tourism activities, changes in tourism, prospects for tourism development, threats and opportunities for tourism development, problems in the tourism sector, prospects for tourism development, and advantages in cluster cooperation.

Agricultural mechanization in Ethiopia: hiring service transactions, mechanization clusters and land consolidation

PurposeAgriculture in Ethiopia relies heavily on traditional farm power sources and is designated by the lowest farm machinery access, in contrast to other Sub-Sahara African (SSA) countries. The purpose of this research is to analyze the heterogeneity of mechanization service transactions and factors determining farmers' cooperation in mechanization clusters and willingness to accept land consolidation.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted a cross-sectional survey of producer households in major crop production areas in the Oromia, SNNPR, Amhara and Tigray regions. The sampling design involved three stages: districts were selected using a stratified sampling approach accompanied by simple random samples of kebele units and producer households in the second and final stages, respectively.FindingsThis study’s results show that mechanization service costs, service relationships, clustering and land consolidation exhibit significant heterogeneity across the study areas. Cluster farming was found to be advantageous against diseconomies, rationalized by upgrading the mechanization scale. The probit model parameterization of the probability distributions reveals that household, land, crop, mechanization service, remoteness and location-related factors determine participation in mechanization clusters and willingness to accept land consolidation.Research limitations/implicationsFostering cooperation by focusing on constraints and demand of users is suggested to reduce transaction costs and expand hired mechanization services to unaddressed areas. The findings are relevant to most SSA countries where mechanization development is hampered by land fragmentation.Originality/valueLimited information is available on agricultural mechanization development for smallholder farmers, particularly in Ethiopia, and this study adds empirical evidence about the synergy between cluster farming and mechanization, horizontal coordination and alternative supply models.

On the Short-Range Nature of Cooperativity in Hydrogen-Bonded Large Molecular Clusters.

The variation in the hydrogen bond (HB) strength has considerable consequences on the physicochemical properties of molecular clusters. Such a variation mainly arises due to the cooperative/anti-cooperative networking effect of neighboring molecules connected by HBs. In the present work, we systematically study the effect of neighboring molecules on the strength of an individual HB and the respective cooperativity contribution toward each of them in a variety of molecular clusters. For this purpose, we propose a use of a small model of a large molecular cluster called the spherical shell-1 (SS1) model. This SS1 model is constructed by placingg the spheres of an appropriate radius centered on X and Y atoms of the X-H···Y HB under consideration. The molecules falling within these spheres constitute the SS1 model. Utilizing this SS1 model, the individual HB energies are calculated within the molecular tailoring approach-based framework and the results are compared with their actual counterparts. It is found that the SS1 is a reasonably good model of large molecular clusters, providing 81-99% of the total HB energy estimated using the actual molecular clusters. This in turn suggests that the maximum cooperativity contribution toward a particular HB is due to the fewer number of molecules (in the SS1 model) directly interacting with two molecules involved in its formation. We further demonstrate that the remaining part of the energy or cooperativity (∼1 to 19%) is captured by the molecules falling in the second spherical shell (SS2) centered on the hetero-atom of the molecules in the SS1 model. The effect of increasing size of a cluster on the strength of a particular HB, calculated by the SS1 model, is also investigated. The calculated value of the HB energy remains unchanged with the increase in the size of a cluster, emphasizing the short-ranged nature of the HB cooperativity in neutral molecular clusters.

How inter-firm cooperation and conflicts in industrial clusters influence new product development performance? The role of firm innovation capability

Despite ongoing cooperation among firms in industrial clusters, inter-firm conflicts are also prevalent, and little research has explored how these factors impact new product development (NPD) performance. In this study, we examine the influence of inter-firm cooperation and conflicts (i.e., constructive and destructive) on NPD performance, and explore the mediating role of innovation capability (i.e., incremental and radical) and the joint interactive effects of cooperation and conflicts on innovation capability. Based on data collected from a multi-sourced sample of 181 industrial cluster firms, our results confirm that innovation capability mediates the relationship between cooperation/constructive conflict and NPD performance. Specifically, we find that cooperation and constructive conflict positively affect both types of innovation capability, while destructive conflict negatively affects incremental innovation capability. Moreover, we identify a negative interaction effect of cooperation and constructive conflict on radical innovation capability, and a positive interactive effect of cooperation and destructive conflict on incremental innovation capability. These findings contribute to the literature on industrial clusters and provide practical implications for firm managers and government officials interested in regional development through industrial clusters.

Cluster cooperation as a vector for the development of modern secondary vocational education

The experience of participation of railway clusters in the experiment on the development, testing and implementation of a new educational technology for designing educational programs of secondary vocational education (EP SVE) within the framework of the federal project (FP) “Professionalitet” is analyzed.The purpose of the study is to assess the potential of cluster cooperation using the innovative platform “ProfTranSPOrt. Leaders Boiling Point” to solve the problems of educational and production centers (clusters) of railway transport.In 2022, the educational and production centers of railway transport began implementing the activities of the federal project “Professionalitet”, which is one of the strategic initiatives for the socio-economic development of the Russian Federation until 2030 and is aimed at creating a flexible model for training qualified personnel in the system of secondary vocational education in accordance with current the needs of organizations in the real sector of the economy.At the initial stage of the implementation of the “Professionalitet” JSC “Russian Railways” became the main coordinator of the joint activities of the educational and production centers of railway transport. The most effective result in the design of uniform exemplary educational programs “Professionalitet” in four railway specialties, the modernization of the material and technical base of educational organizations, the development of a universal thematic classifier for the digital constructor of the “Professionalitet”, was achieved by consolidating the efforts of clusters railway transport.At present, there is a need to create tools for the development of cluster cooperation in order to improve the quality of implemented and develop joint solutions in the interests of the development of modern open source software. One of these tools is the creation of an innovative industry platform “ProfTranSPOrt. Leaders Boiling Point” on the basis of the Yaroslavl branch of PGUPS with the support of the Federal State Budgetary Institution DPO “UMTS ZhDT”, which will help synchronize the work of basic OOs to improve the quality and content of the EP SVE.

Nonlinear Energy Harvesting and Clustering Cooperation in WPCNs

Nonlinear Energy Harvesting and Clustering Cooperation in WPCNs