General Morphological Analysis Research Articles

Geometric Analysis of Seed Shape Diversity in the Cucurbitaceae

The Cucurbitaceae is a monophyletic family with close to 1000 species of climbers, including important agronomic species and varieties characterized by tendrils and pepo fruits. The seed’s morphology is varied, and the development and structure of the seed coat have been described in detail on some species. Overall description of the seed shape is based on terms comparing it with geometric figures, but quantitative methods are lacking in the literature. Here we apply a general morphological analysis to seeds of representative genera of the Cucurbitaceae, followed by curvature analysis in the poles and symmetry analysis. These methods are useful for the quantitative description of seed shape and the comparison between species and varieties. Differences between species were found for most morphological measurements, as well as for symmetry and curvature values. The comparison between three species of Cucumis (Cucumis sativus, C. myriocarpus and C. melo) and two varieties of C. melo reveals differences between species and varieties both in curvature and symmetry. The results obtained from both methods, curvature and symmetry analysis, form similar groupings in a cluster analysis. The methods described here were applied for the identification of agronomic varieties and the quantitative description of seed shape in taxonomy.

A fresh perspective on the 3D dynamics of Tycho’s supernova remnant: Ejecta asymmetries in the X-ray band

Context. Even 450 yr after the explosion of the Type Ia SN 1572, the dynamics of the Tycho supernova remnant (Tycho’s SNR) can offer keys to improving our understanding of the explosion mechanism and the interaction of the remnant with the interstellar medium. Aims. To probe the asymmetries and the evolution of the SNR, we tracked the ejecta dynamics using new methods applied to the deep X-ray observations available in the Chandra space telescope archive. Methods. For the line-of-sight (LoS) velocity measurement (Vz), we used the Doppler effect focused on the bright Si line in the 1.6-2.1 keV band. Using the component separation tool called general morphological component analysis (GMCA), we successfully disentangled the red and blueshifted Si ejecta emission. This allowed us to reconstruct a map of the peak energy of the silicon line with a total coverage of the SNR at a 2″ resolution. We then obtained a proxy of the integrated velocity along the LoS. For the proper motions in the plane of the sky (Vxy), we developed a new method, called Poisson optical flow (POF), to measure the displacement of two-dimensional (2D) features between the observations of 2003 and 2009. The result is a field of around 1700 velocity vectors covering the entire SNR. Results. These exhaustive three-dimensional (3D) velocity measurements reveal the complex dynamics of Tycho’s SNR. Our study sheds light on a patchy Vz map, where most regions are dominated by the foreground or the background part of the shell. On a large scale, an asymmetry is seen, with the north being dominantly blueshifted and the south redshifted. The proper-motion vector field, Vxy, highlights different dynamics between the eastern and the western parts of the SNR. The eastern velocity field is more disturbed by external inhomogeneities and the south-east ejecta knot. In particular, a slow-down is observed in the north-east, which could be due to the interaction with higher densities, as seen in other wavelengths. The vector field is also used to backtrace the center of the explosion, which is then compared with potential stellar progenitors in the area. The latest Gaia DR3 parallax measurements exclude most stellar candidates based on their distances, leaving only stars B and E as possible candidates, at respective distances of 2.53−0.20+0.23 kpc and 3.52−1.0+2.0 kpc, which are consistent with the expected distance range of the SNR at 2.5–4 kpc.

Examining the South China Sea Dispute with General Morphological Analysis

The South China Sea dispute is among the most volatile flashpoints in contemporary international relations. This study examines this dispute using the general morphological analysis (GMA) methodology employing eight factors of analysis. These produced 65,536 distinct outcomes in a cross-consistency matrix (CCM) which exist on a spectrum of plausibility. Three scenarios were chosen for foresight analysis which project contemporary trends into the near-to-mid-term future. After the analysis of hundreds of different combinations from the CCM which remained after auditing for analytical noise and plausibility this research found that much of the foresight produced scenarios which were similar to a ‘dispute stagnation’ scenario. This highlights the present realities of the dispute wherein all parties have entrenched into their political and physical positions with little alternative outside of direct confrontation, an outcome which though possible, is unappealing to claimants due to the secondary effects which it would bring.

What future for marine renewable energy in Portugal and Spain up to 2030? Forecasting plausible scenarios using general morphological analysis and clustering techniques

Marine renewables – which include mainly wave, tidal and current energy – have been hailed, for the past decades, as a potential solution to support the decarbonization of the society. Portugal and Spain have been traditionally avid for the testing and demonstration of such technologies, but the implementation of marine capacity is yet marginal, and there are many uncertainties regarding the future of the sector in the region. The main objective of this article is to show a future projection of marine renewable energies in both Iberian and Macaronesian regions for 2030 to research and technological development communities. To obtain this future projection, General Morphological Analysis and advanced clustering techniques have been used. The results are divided into five groups of potential scenarios, which vary significantly due to different political, social and technological parameters. The influence of variables such as innovation speed, infrastructure implementation, and comprehensive metocean data availability emerges as pivotal determinants shaping the sector's course. The knowledge from this systematization is expected to be used by researchers, technicians, governments or by any other agency involved in marine renewable energies in Spain and Portugal, as a guidance for their new projects and research lines.

Cross-border impacts of climate change affect the energy transition: Insights from the Finnish energy sector

The world is currently in the midst of an energy transition, in which renewable and low-carbon energy is replacing the use of fossil fuels. Along the way, however, planning for and adapting to impacts of climate change is urgently needed, as these are projected to intensify in the future, despite ambitious mitigation efforts. Since the low-carbon energy transition is likely to involve many international interdependencies and connections between countries and regions, assessments of cross-border impacts of climate change, i.e., consequences of climate change that occur remotely from the location of their initial impact, are of utmost importance to ensure the decarbonisation of society is safe and sustainable. This paper utilises expert interviews and a general morphological analysis with the shared socioeconomic pathways to situate national decarbonisation efforts within a global context and identify cross-border impacts of climate change that may affect the energy transition, using the Finnish energy sector as a case study. Interestingly, many of the global development trends that were found to have a boosting effect on the Finnish energy transition, also increased the risk from cross-border climate change impacts, stressing the importance of rigorous adaptation planning. The findings affirm the need for studying national energy transitions from a global perspective and highlight the tendency of climate change impacts to be transmitted across borders via complex pathways. The study offers valuable insights into the importance of cross-border impacts for adaptation planning pertinent to any country or region currently engaged, or planning to engage, in the global low-carbon transition.

Examining the South China Sea dispute with general morphological analysis

The South China Sea dispute is among the most volatile flashpoints in contemporary international relations. This study examines this dispute using the general morphological analysis (GMA) methodology employing eight factors of analysis. These produced 65,536 distinct outcomes in a cross-consistency matrix (CCM) which exist on a spectrum of plausibility. Three scenarios were chosen for foresight analysis which project contemporary trends into the near-to-mid-term future. After the analysis of hundreds of different combinations from the CCM which remained after auditing for analytical noise and plausibility this research found that much of the foresight produced scenarios which were similar to a ‘dispute stagnation’ scenario. This highlights the present realities of the dispute wherein all parties have entrenched into their political and physical positions with little alternative outside of direct confrontation, an outcome which though possible, is unappealing to claimants due to the secondary effects which it would bring.

ПРЕДВАРИТЕЛЬНЫЕ ИТОГИ ИЗУЧЕНИЯ КЕРАМИКИ МОГИЛЬНИКА АНДРОНОВСКОЙ (ФЕДОРОВСКОЙ) КУЛЬТУРЫ ЧЕКАНОВСКИЙ ЛОГ-10

This article is devoted to the study of the Andronovo ceramic complex of the Chekanovsky Log-10 burial ground, one of the largest necropolises in the Altai Foothills and the entire Ob-Irtysh interfluve. Both a general morphological analysis of ceramics was carried out, including consideration of the shapes of vessels, methods of surface treatment, ornamentation techniques and decorative stylistics, as well as a technical and technological analysis, which made it possible to identify the traditions of selecting the original materials and composing pottery paste. As a result, eight groups of vessels were identifi ed, differing in the composition of the natural structure and parameters of general proportionality. It was found that most of the vessels had average proportions. When making ceramics, potters gave preference to medium-ferruginous clays containing natural inclusions of minerals. 10 recipes for pottery paste were identified. The leading one at the site was the tradition of using chamotte as a mineral admixture; organic additives were mainly used solutions and squeeze of manure. The correlation of all the data obtained during the analysis revealed that the greatest dependence can be traced between morphological groups, the method of surface treatment and the ornamentation of the vessels. The relationship of morphological groups with the raw materials of vessels and recipes for their manufacture is visible to a lesser extent. A number of vessels had a non-standard shape and decoration (vessels with grooves, a ledge on the shoulder, a drawn comb stamp). The identifi ed unusual signs may be associated with contacts with the population of other territories (presumably with the Alakul population from the Urals or Kazakhstan), since they are not typical for the Andronovo (Fedorovо) culture. A comparison of the obtained results of technical and technological analysis with data from other Andronovo complexes indicates that the ceramics of the Chekanovsky Log-10 burial ground have greater similarities in the ceramics manufacturing technology with the monuments of the Altai plain zone. At the same time, the features of the morphology and ornamentation of the dishes indicate a general similarity with ceramics from the Andronovo sites not only in Altai, but also in the Upper Irtysh region.

Morphological restructuring of smooth muscles elements of the wallgreat saphenous vein of a person on the lower leg during the development of varicose transformation

Introduction. Further study of the structural restructuring of the wall of the great saphenous vein throughout a person’s life with the development of chronic venous diseases is an urgent task of phlebology.The purpose of the study. Research of the morphological restructuring of smooth muscleselements of the human great saphenous vein wall on the calf in norm, ectasia and development of varicose transformation.Materials and methods. The study of morphological restructuring of the great saphenous vein wall on the calf was carried out in 3 comparison groups by light microscopy. In 1th group, the structure of the GSV wall was studied on autopsy material of people who died from various causes at the age of 5 to 80 years. In the 2nd and 3rd groups, fragments of GSV in the calf were taken by biopsy during the execution of the operations for varicose veins. All patients underwent ultrasound mapping before surgery to determine the presence and degree of ectasia, varicose transformation and retrograde blood flow. For histological analysis in the groups, 140 GSV fragments were removed in 1-group, 165 BPV fragments in 2-group, and 250 GSV fragments in 3-group.Results. The general morphological analysis of histological preparations made it possible to visually identify various variants of changes in smooth muscleselements inherent in the inner, middle and outer shells of the GSV wall. The selected variants of reconstruction of the smooth muscleselements were combined into 10 morphological types.Conclusion. Age-related morphological changes in the smooth muscleselements in the GSV wall on the calf, over the course of a person’s life, do not have the same character as changes occurring in its wall during the development of its ectasia and varicose transformation.

Morphological Change and Internal Growth Factors of Firms in the Korean Pharmaceutical Industry in Recent Decades

The pharmaceutical industry is a regulatory-based high-tech industry that requires long-term R&D investments from product development to market entry. This study investigates how pharmaceutical firms in Korea have grown their production size, changed their morphological structure, and identified the internal factors for sustainable growth in recent decades. First, with time series production data of pharmaceutical firms collected based on the production records of finished drugs, we studied the morphological change of the firms to adapt to environmental change by using general morphological analysis. Second, the pharmaceutical firms were divided into above-average growth firms and non-above-average growth firms, high growth firms, and non-high growth firms, using the decision tree technique to analyze and visualize the determining factors of sustainable growth firms. The general morphological analysis result showed that during the past two decades, in response to undergoing policy and environmental changes, the types of products by pharmaceutical firms have significantly changed from over-the-counter to ethical drugs and have shifted from generic drugs to more R&D-intensive ones. Furthermore, the decision tree technique identified the internal factors of growth and non-growth firms for sustainable growth during the past three decades. The decision tree analysis showed the determining factors for above-average and high-growth firms, such as the firm’s size, age, R&D investment, the over-the-counter drug to ethical drug production ratio, and the choice between chemical and bio drugs. The research findings imply that pharmaceutical firms must combine their strategy-side internal factors with the organization-side internal factors to achieve above-average or high-growth firms over the long term. Some detailed business and policy implications and future research topics are also presented.

General morphological analysis of Orosi windows and morpho butterfly wing's principles for improving occupant's daylight performance through interactive kinetic façade

Daylight contains dynamic features such as color and intensity that may vary over time. The ideas of Orosi windows and biomimetic kinetic lessons of butterfly wings are viewed as essential tactics for regulating dynamic daylight. As a result, this research looks at a methodological technique for providing an appropriate combination of kinetic behavior and movement with colorful glass compositions to boost occupants' daylight performance. The research is being carried out using a multidisciplinary method that includes general morphological analysis (GMA) and a kinetic design strategy. The methodology uses GMA for parametric exploration between interconnected principles of Orosi windows and biomimetic lessons of Morpho butterfly wings to make a matrix of relationships between parameters. The kinetic façade changes the depth and scale of the hexagonal modular elements across a south direction in Iran. Moreover, the most optimal depth and scale of the hexagonal grid regarding the daylight performance metrics have been used to change the composition of colored glasses by periodic movements due to dynamic sun-timing and occupant's positions. The annual daylight metrics analysis of all kinetic alternatives represents high daylight performance by UDI, EUDI, sDA of 93.5, 6.29, and 78.37, respectively. The facade increases the amount of UDI up to 5.61 times regarding the base case while decreasing the amount of EUDI in the room by an average of 91.8%. Concerning predicting the risk of glare, as a point in time metric, the façade prevents visual discomfort by keeping most scenarios in the imperceptible range.

Implementing circular economy strategies during product development

Although recent circular economy literature has emphasized the strategic role played by circular product design in private sector organizations, strategic management literature has so far overlooked the management implications of integrating circular economy strategies into new or existing products. As a result, the implementation of circular product design in private sector organizations remains unclear. The present paper aims to describe the managerial factors necessary for the implementation of value retention strategies during design and to designate a range of conditions under which each factor may arise. Examples of implementation processes (n = 24) were collected via expert interviews and compiled within a comprehensive framework based on general morphological analysis. Hence, implementation processes are represented as a combination of a limited number of process conditions. The framework is also used to describe a taxonomy of process configurations using hierarchical clustering, which indicates a strong influence of corporate sustainability maturity profiles in the implementation configurations observed. The contents of the present work help bridge the gap between strategic management and circular product design literature by providing the building blocks necessary for the integration of value-retention strategies during product planning and development.

Future Scenarios of the Data-Driven Healthcare Economy in South Korea.

Although data-based healthcare innovation has been spotlighted in South Korea in recent years, previous studies have made little effort to systematically predict various possible future outcomes in the data-driven healthcare economy. This study investigated possible future such scenarios in South Korea by conducting a general morphological analysis (GMA). Seven key factors were identified that will drive the data-driven healthcare economy: the acceptability of data utilization, the level of data literacy, the status of healthcare data regulation, the healthcare data system, medical costs, the convergence of ICT and biotechnology, and the utilization of data in medical services. The main findings are as follows: Four possible scenarios for the data-driven healthcare economy in South Korea were identified. The first scenario suggested mostly optimistic prospects and close associations between factorial values on the various spectra. The second scenario was similar to the first one, except for medical costs. However, the third scenario contrasted with the first, as it entailed relatively pessimistic factorial values. Finally, most of the elements of the current healthcare status quo were maintained in the fourth scenario. This study makes not only an academic contribution, but also has policy implications based on the four scenarios.

Harmonizing “Smart” Life Cycle Assessment in Manufacturing Companies: Literature Review and Preliminary Morphological Analysis

One of the major challenges for manufacturing companies is finding opportunities to implement green and transparent operational processes to meet a set of macro-economic targets which are defined in strategic initiatives such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the European Green Deal, and the Paris Agreement. Although, in this context, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has become established as a common method for assessing the environmental impact of products or processes, in practice problems often arise due to a large amount of data and information to be processed and the resources required. In this regard, recent Industry 4.0 technologies can be seen as a potential enabler of an automated “smart” life cycle assessment in manufacturing companies. Therefore, this paper systematically reviews the current literature on “smart” LCA implementations and presents a comprised overview of the generic properties of “smart” LCA implementations using a general morphological analysis. The research results of this paper can be used for the further development of a “smart” LCA for science and practical applications, as well.

Creation of winter wheat source material with increased adaptive potential to adverse environmental conditions

The goal until the last day was to create a new sort with high indicators of productivity, adaptability and quality of grain on the basis of the directed selection process and comprehensive study of hybrid material on field and laboratory estimations.
 Creation of initial material with high productivity, adaptability and grain quality by directed selection and hybrid material comprehensive study is described. General scientific, special genetic, field, laboratory methods, morphological analysis and statistical methods were used in the research. Given that the weight of grain from 1 ear is a marker in breeding for high yield (r=0.53), the largest (50 %) positive transgressions were in F1 hybrids using new genetic plasma varieties. Among hybrid populations F2, F3 and F4, selection value is represented by hybrid populations 4971 and 4976, which have the lowest stress resistance (–16.1, –18.6) and variation (16.9, 19.9) and the highest genetic stability (50.0, 50.2) and homeostaticity (19.1, 14.3), respectively. Among Control, Preliminary and Competitive tests, lines UK2621/18 and UK9855/18 have high stress resistance (–4.7, –5.8), homeostaticity (1416.0, 1008.0) and low variability (2.6 %, 3.5 %), respectively. They are the most adaptive and malleable to average and adverse environmental conditions. Line UK1182/17, which in 2020 was submitted for consideration to the State variety testing as "Blahovishchenska" (Kiev, Ukraine), was created using the purposeful method of pedigree in each link of selection. It has high adaptability, resistance to lodging, major diseases, high average yield (90.8 c/ha), and grain quality – it is strong wheat (protein amount 13.5–14.0 %, gluten – 30–35 %). Pedigree is the most effective method of continuous individual selection, which allows creating source material with high productivity, resistance to disease and adverse environmental factors

Morphological restructuring of the connective tissue elements of the wall of the great saphenous vein of a person on the lower leg during the development of varicose transformation

Introduction : the relevance of further study of the morphogenesis of changes occurring in the superficial veins of the lower extremities is due to the high prevalence of varicose veins and the lack of answers to many questions of interest to phlebologists. The aim of the study was to study the morphological restructuring of connective tissue elements of the human great saphenous vein wall on the calf in norm, ectasia and development of varicose transformation. Material and methods. The study of morphological restructuring of the great saphenous vein wall on the calf was carried out in 3 comparison groups (norm, ectasia, varicose veins) by light microscopy. In 1th group, the structure of the GSV wall was studied on autopsy material of people who died from various causes at the age of 5 to 80 years. In the 2nd and 3rd groups, fragments of GSV in the calf were taken by biopsy (miniphlebectomy) during the execution of the operations for varicose veins. In order to conduct a quantitative analysis of the nature of structural changes in the connective tissue elements of the GSV wall on the calf, a visual analog scale of morphological changes was developed-Visual Analog Morphology Scale (VAMS), in which a certain number of points (from 1 to 10) corresponded to a certain character of morphological changes. Statistical analysis of the obtained data in groups was performed using the IBM SPSS Statistics software package (USA). Results . The general morphological analysis of histological preparations made it possible to visually identify various variants of changes in connective tissue elements inherent in the inner, middle and outer shells of the GSV wall. Conclusions . Age-related morphological changes in the connective tissue elements in the GSV wall on the calf, over the course of a person’s life, do not have the same character as changes occurring in its wall during the development of its ectasia and varicose transformation.

An assimilation maturity model for IT governance and auditing

This study develops a conceptual model of organizational IT assimilation maturity based on constructs in the IS literature, qualitative data analysis of three exploratory case studies, and general morphological analysis (GMA). We inductively extract four dimensions of IT assimilation – business processes, information architecture, IT processes, and end-users – and characterize different maturity levels for each dimension. Applying Zwicky's GMA on the combinatorially large space of IT assimilation configurations, we prune the space to a more limited number of internally consistent and empirically feasible IT assimilation maturity profiles. We discuss how the model can support IT audit and governance activities.

Alternative PSS Business Models of ESCO: Towards an Innovative New Model

Product System Service (PSS) was an excellent way to create new customer value under hyper-competition. Both product and service components were not used individually but in integrating product, service, and system and their valid combinations. This paper investigated the case study and was performed between June 2019 and April 2020. The is study aims to explore the introduction of the study's purpose of exploring the company was introducing the latest PSS model in its own " Energy Saving Company (ESCO) model" with its capitals in Indonesia. This new business model was able to tap potential business opportunities in the energy-saving industry. The study used these three methods – Soft System Methodology (SSM), General Morphological Analysis (GMA) & Business Model Canvas (BMC). In this paper, the authors performed SSM to reduce the gap that exists in the real world. GMA and BMC as other tools to ensure collaboration to form the new business model. The result showed that through PSS, the company could develop their own "ESCO model" under Energy Saving Agreement (ESA) or Energy Saving Performance Contract (ESPC), which was known as "saving back arrangement financing." By adopting PSS, the company could gain a competitive advantage since there was increasing demand for energy and limited supply in Indonesia; hence there was a vast, untapped opportunity in the energy-saving industry. Keywords: BMC, Case study, ESCO, Morphological, PSS, SSM

Amazigh-Sys: Intelligent system for recognition of amazigh words

<span id="docs-internal-guid-0264fec3-7fff-a3e5-94ef-c25bcfddc65d"><span>Amazigh-sys is an intelligent morphological analysis system for Amazigh language based on xerox’s finite-state transducer (XFST). Our system can process simultaneously five lexical units. This paper begins with the development of Amazigh lexicon (AMAlex) for attested nouns, verbs, pronouns, prepositions, and adverbs and the characteristics relating to each lemma. A set of rules are added to define the inflectional behavior and morphosyntactic links of each entry as well as the relationship between the different lexical units. The use of finite-state technology ensures the bidirectionality of our system (analysis and generation). Amazigh-sys is the first general morphological analysis system for Amazigh based on xerox finite state able to process and recognize all lexical units and ensures a high recognition rate of input words. This contribution facilitates the implementation of other applications related to the automatic processing of the Amazigh language.</span></span>

A strategic measurement framework to monitor and evaluate circularity performance in organizations from a transition perspective

The concept of a circular economy (CE) transition requires multi-level frameworks regarding the definition of goals and targets for different time horizons, desired change timeframes, sectoral circularity guidelines, and national and regional public policies, among other factors. Another critical issue is how to apply and combine different theoretical approaches and tools to provide consistent frameworks for evidence-based business decisions with implications for the meso and macro levels of CE. In line with both concerns, three research questions arise – “How to calculate composite C-indicators to monitor and evaluate the implementation of circularity strategies in organizations, from a CE transition perspective?”; How to calculate the overall Circularity Performance Index of an organization committed to foster and promote a circular economy?”; and “to what extent the application of a strategic measurement framework that combines general morphological analysis (GMA) with multicriteria decision-making methods (MCDM) can help organizations to monitor and evaluate their circularity performance towards a circular economy?". In an attempt to answer these questions, this paper proposes a strategic measurement framework aiming at monitoring and evaluating the circularity performance at the micro level by integrating GMA and two multicriteria decision-making methods. From a CE transition perspective, the results highlighted practical implications for organizations and value chains. We believe that the proposed framework can be replicated in different business contexts, especially in those organizations that will define their circularity targets and respective agendas concerning CE transitions.

Short-term effects of whole-body vibration on the soleus of ooforectomized rats: Histomorphometric analysis and oxidative stress in an animal model

PurposeThe aim of this study was to analyze the effects of mechanical vibration on the histomorphometry and oxidative stress of oophorectomized rats. MethodSeventy-two Wistar rats were randomized to Pseudoophorectomy (P) and Oophorectomy (O) and subdivided into untreated animals and euthanized after four (P4 and O4) and eight (P8 and O8) weeks and animals treated during four (PT4 and OT4) and eight (PT8 and OT8) weeks. The treatment consisted of use of whole-body vibration for 10 min, three times a week. After euthanasia, the soleus muscle was collected. The general morphological analysis was performed in the right soleus muscle and then the cross-sectional area, the largest and the smallest diameter of the muscle fiber in 100 fibers per muscle, also the nuclei and capillary/fiber ratios, and percentage of connective tissue were measured. The left soleous was used for oxidative stress analysis. ResultsPT4 presented higher values in cross-sectional area than P4 and PT8, while O8 was lower than O4, P8 and OT8; for the fiber diameters, the oophorectomized animals had lower values than the pseudo-oophorectomized animals and the treatments values higher than the ones that had no treatment. In oxidative stress, O8 and OT8 presented higher lipoperoxidation, without any alterations to the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and cholinesterase. ConclusionWhole-body vibration induced muscle hypertrophy in the pseudo-oophorectomized rats after four weeks, as well as being able to reverse the changes caused by the surgery in eight weeks in that variable.