Greater Production Research Articles

How flood-resilient port infrastructure can reduce economic impacts of climate change: a case study of the US inland waterways

ABSTRACT The US inland waterways are critical to the domestic economy but prone to disruptions from extreme weather events, notably floods, which have cascading impacts on supply chains. Although floods are expected to increase in intensity and frequency as a result of climate change, no research has been done to analyse economic impacts of disruptions from floods along inland waterways under future climate scenarios or to analyse how flood-resilient port infrastructure can help mitigate losses. This study combines climate, agent-based, and economic input-output modelling to estimate impacts of future flood disruptions along the Upper Mississippi River and to evaluate a case study where the development of a climate-resilient port can help mitigate economic impacts of such events. Results show that disruptions tend to become more severe with higher degrees of warming. Additionally, Illinois and Louisiana are the states in the region expected to suffer the greatest production losses, and agriculture and chemical manufacturing are the most adversely impacted industries. The study finds that the development of a flood-resilient port near the mouth of Upper Mississippi River can help cost-effectively reroute shipments and mitigate losses during many future disruption scenarios.

Johnny Ray Austin: Curious Engineers Make Great Product Managers

Johnny Ray Austin: Curious Engineers Make Great Product Managers

On the quick–return motion capability of drag–link driven crank–slider mechanisms

Quick–return motion is used in machines where a tool needs to move slowly in one direction and return rapidly for efficiency. Typical applications include shaper machines, powered saws, mechanical presses, and others. It is characterized by a time ratio (TR), which compares the duration of the slower stroke to that of the faster stroke. While a higher TR indicates greater productivity, it usually corresponds with a lower motion transmission quality. Therefore, when designing a mechanism, it is essential to identify the feasible TR ranges the linkage can achieve while maintaining acceptable transmission quality. Another constraint that often limits the attainable TR is the space occupied by the mechanism. This paper explores the feasible TR ranges of the mechanism using transmission quality and space occupation as design requirements. A non-dimensional model is developed and an inverse analysis is performed to find the time ratio function. We explore the design space by varying the pressure angles in the mechanism from 0 to 90 degrees. For each pressure angle, the mechanism proportions are calculated while independently varying the slider’s offset and crank–slider’s rigid connection angle to the drag link. Sample computations are presented in charts showing the TR adjustability ranges. A design example demonstrates how the charts can help select a mechanism for a desired stroke and TR. The methodology is applied to a deep-drawing press redesign case study, resulting in a smaller mechanism. The case study demonstrates how altering the connection angle impacts the overall output velocity profile, not just the time ratio.

La grandeza societal de le producción literaria cervantina y su aportación a la política exterior española

Miguel De Cervantes is considered as the Spanish author best known throughout the world thanks to his rich literary production. Of this great production, El ingenioso hidalgo don Quijote de la Mancha is the most accomplished work; the one that made him known on a global scale. In addition to its linguistic and stylistic richness, Don Quixote is the literary work that has an international and diplomatic dimension. This work is dedicated to the societal greatness of Miguel de Cervantes' literary production and his contribution to the prestige of Spain's foreign policy with the clear objective of revealing its scope in terms of international cooperation and expansion.

Associations Between Daily-Use Products and Urinary Biomarkers of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals in Adults of Reproductive Age.

Daily-use products, including personal care products, household products, and dietary supplements, often contain ingredients that raise concerns regarding harmful chemical exposure. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) found in daily-use products are associated with numerous adverse health effects. This pilot study explores the relationship between concentrations of EDCs in urine samples and products used 24 h prior to sample collection, and ingredients of concern in those products, in 140 adults of reproductive age in Northern Nevada. Having higher numbers of products and ingredients of concern, especially in the personal care category, was associated with higher levels of mono-(-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate (MECPP). Similarly, taking more supplements was associated with higher levels of methylparaben (MePB). In contrast, using household products with more ingredients of concern was associated with lower levels of monobutyl phthalate (MBP). Generally, women used more products, were exposed to more ingredients of concern and had higher urinary metabolites than men. Participants who rated themselves as being in poor/fair health were exposed to more personal care and supplement ingredients of concern than those in better health. Interestingly, those in excellent health also took supplements with more ingredients of concern. Greater product use and more ingredients of concern are associated with urinary metabolites of known EDCs and self-ratings of poor health. Women and people who take supplements are at greater risk, and even people who consider themselves to be healthy can be highly exposed. More education among the general public is needed to make people aware of the presence of these chemicals in their everyday products so they can make efforts to avoid them.

Soil quality does not predict plant nutrition available to white‐tailed deer

AbstractMorphometric variation of white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus; hereafter, deer) is caused by multiple environmental factors, including temperature, precipitation, soil quality, and forage availability. The effects of temperature and precipitation on plant growth are well documented, but it is unclear how soil mineral concentration affects deer morphometrics. Although it is recognized that deer have larger morphology and greater productivity in areas of the United States with mineral‐rich soils, the question remains as to whether this trend is driven by increased food availability in areas with mineral‐rich soils because of land use (i.e., agriculture) or if nutrient concentration of plants is greater in soils with greater mineral concentration. We collected plant tissue from 40 species commonly selected as forage by deer at 36 sites in 16 states across the eastern United States, representing a wide range of soil quality conditions over a broad geographical area. We categorized plant sampling locations into 5 soil quality classes based on a soil productivity index and analyzed plant nutrients to assess if soil productivity index classifications could be used to predict deer forage quality. We then made direct soil‐plant comparisons by pairing each plant sample with a soil sample collected around the base of the plant to determine if soil nutrient concentration explained variation in plant nutrient concentration. We tested soil samples for phosphorus, potassium, and calcium. We analyzed plant samples for crude protein, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium for the soil productivity classification comparisons, and we analyzed phosphorus, potassium, and calcium for the direct site‐specific analyses, as these macronutrients are critical to deer body mass, productivity, and antler growth. We analyzed forages by plant type (i.e., forb, semi‐woody, shrub, or tree) and plant tissue age (i.e., young or older tissue). Nutrient concentration varied by plant type and tissue age. Plant type explained the majority of variation in plant nutrients, with forbs containing greater concentrations of all nutrients than the other plant types. Young plant material contained more crude protein and phosphorus, whereas older plant material contained more calcium. The soil productivity index was a poor predictor of deer forage quality. Calcium was the only mineral that differed by soil productivity class, but calcium was not limiting for deer at any site, as plant calcium levels exceeded maximum requirements for deer across all soil productivity classes. Site‐specific soil phosphorus, potassium, and calcium explained little variation in plant mineral concentration (partial R2 = 0.00). Our results provide evidence that naturally occurring plants, especially forbs, can provide nutrition sufficient for maximum deer body weight, reproduction, and antler size, within a given area, across the eastern United States regardless of the dominant soil type. As such, the availability of naturally occurring native forbs may be a primary limiting factor regulating age‐specific deer body mass and antler size, not limitations in plant nutrients resulting from soil mineral concentration. Land managers should be encouraged to influence plant composition toward greater forb coverage where increased forage quality for deer is desired, even in areas with soils low in mineral concentration.

How to Build a Culture of Ownership

The article explores how leadership can foster a strong organizational culture where employees feel a true sense of ownership and investment in the company's vision and success. It defines an "ownership culture" as one where all individuals feel personally accountable and act with an entrepreneurial mindset. Research shows organizations with high employee ownership have greater productivity, profitability, stability, and long-term viability. The article outlines key strategies for cultivating this culture, including involving employees in decision-making, implementing compensation structures that reward shared success, communicating an inspiring collective purpose, providing development opportunities, and demonstrating ownership through leadership actions. Ultimately, the article argues that building a culture of employee ownership is crucial for long-term organizational success and sustainability, and provides a roadmap for how companies can work towards this goal.

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS, ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES OF Pavonia glazioviana Gurke (Malvaceae)

Species from Pavonia genus (Malvaceae) are traditionally used as antioxidant, n‑anti‑inflammatory and antimicrobial remedies. Previous studies have revealed their diversity of specialized metabolites widely used in the development of new medicines. This is the first study on Pavonia glazioviana Gurke, a Brazilian species known as “Malva‑da‑Chapada”. The research led to identify fifteen compounds: 132‑(S)‑hydroxy‑pheophytin a; and 132(S)‑hydroxy‑173‑ethoxyphaeophorbide, n‑decanol, cycloart‑23Z‑ene‑3β,25‑diol, cycloart‑24S‑25‑ene‑3β,24‑diol, sitosterol‑3‑O‑β‑D‑glucopyranoside, stigmasterol‑3‑O‑β‑D‑glucopyr anoside, quercetin, acacetin, kaempferol, tiliroside, 5‑hydroxy‑3,7,8,4’‑tetramethoxyflavone, 5,7‑dihydroxy‑3,8,4’‑trimethoxyflavone, 5,7‑dihydroxy‑4’‑methoxyflavone, 5,7,4’‑trihydroxy‑3,8‑dimethoxyflavone and 5,7,4’‑trihydroxy‑3‑methoxyflavone. The major flavonoids were tested for their antimicrobial activity, and the compound 5,7‑dihydroxy‑3,8,4’‑trimethoxyflavone showed strong activity against Escherichia coli (MIC = 512 μg mL‑1), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC = 512 μg mL‑1), Candida albicans (MIC = 512 μg mL‑1), Candida tropicalis (MIC = 512 μg mL‑1), Candida parapsilosis (MIC = 512 μg mL‑1), Aspergillus flavus (MIC = 512 μg mL‑1) and A. fumigantus (MIC = 512 μg mL‑1). The total phenolic content, flavonoid content, and radical scavenging potential were determined showing its great production of phenolics and flavonoids, along with interesting radical scavenging potential (DPPH EC50 = 6.36 ± 0.029 mg mL‑1). Our findings contributed to characterize P. glazioviana as a source of methoxylated flavonoids with antimicrobial potential.

Biofertilization increases soil organic carbon concentrations: results of a meta-analysis

ABSTRACT Protecting and building soil carbon has become a global policy priority, and novel agronomic fertilization practices may contribute to soil protection and climate-smart agriculture. The application of microbial inoculants (biofertilizers) is considered beneficial for soil and climate -smart agriculture. Therefore, an exhaustive meta-analysis of biofertilization studies was carried out worldwide to quantify the benefits of microbial inoculants on SOC concentration. Based on 59 studies and 267 observations, was found that biofertilizers significantly increased SOC concentration by an average of 0.44 g C kg−1 soil. All biofertilizer types were estimated to contribute positively to SOC (0.18–0.70 g C kg−1soil), but only cyanobacteria, mixtures of organisms, mycorrhizal fungi, and nitrogen fixers were statistically significant. In terms of crop type, results were significant and positive for cereals, fruits, legumes and root/tuber crops (0.44–0.82 g C kg−1soil). A significant positive linear relationship was observed between crop yield and SOC changes, supporting the notion that greater productivity helps explain SOC increases, accounting for 7% of the dataset variability. This study provides the first evidence from a global assessment that biofertilizer use is associated with an augmented terrestrial agricultural organic carbon sink contributing to soil protection and food security where climate-smart solutions are sought.

Designing Ru-B-Cr Moieties to Activate the Ru Site for Acidic Water Electrolysis under Industrial-Level Current Density.

Developing highly efficient non-iridium-based active sites for acidic water splitting is still a huge challenge. Herein, unique Ru-B-Cr moieties have been constructed in RuO2 nanofibers (NFs) to activate Ru sites for water electrolysis, which overcomes the bottleneck of RuO2-based catalysts usually possessing low activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and poor stability for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The fabricated Cr, B-doped RuO2 NFs exhibit low overpotentials of 205 and 379 mV for acidic HER and OER at 1 A cm-2 with outstanding stability lasting 1000 and 188 h, respectively. The assembled acidic electrolyzer also possesses great hydrogen production efficiency and durability at a high current density. Experimental and theoretical explorations reveal that the formation of Ru-B-Cr moieties effectively optimizes the atomic configurations and modulates the adsorption/desorption free energy of reaction intermediates to achieve exceptional HER and OER performance.

RETRATAMENTO ENDODÔNTICO EM DENTE PORTADOR DE FÍSTULA E LESÃO PERIAPICAL – RELATO DE CASO CLÍNICO

This article examines the challenges and trends that impact people management in modern organizations, with a focus on adapting to technological, social and cultural changes that are transforming the corporate environment. The main objective is to discuss how companies can adopt more strategic and innovative management practices, aligned with the current needs of employees and market demands, in order to guarantee their competitiveness and sustainability. The methodology adopted is a bibliographic review, which is based on updated and relevant sources, such as Chiavenato (2022), Deloitte (2023), Great Place to Work Brasil (2023), Souza and Andrade (2023), among others, which discuss the main trends and challenges in people management. The conclusion of the article reinforces that organizations that adopt strategic, human-centered management benefit from greater productivity, lower turnover and greater alignment between individual and organizational objectives. As pointed out by Moura e Silva (2020), in addition to the tangible benefits, companies that incorporate sustainable and inclusive practices also stand out as leaders in social responsibility. Therefore, people management, by adopting these trends, not only responds to market challenges, but actively contributes to the construction of a more innovative and sustainable organizational culture.

Tourism and productivity in NUTS regions: revisiting the tourism-led-efficiency hypothesis

ABSTRACT We employ data on 155 NUTS regions over 1996–2018 and assess the relationship between tourism and regional total factor productivity (TFP). We expand in two directions the literature on the Tourism-Led-Efficiency hypothesis at a sub-national level: methodologically, we are the first to use a large panel dataset framework; conceptually, this is the first study to disentangle the productivity effects of domestic tourism from those of foreign tourism. Our analysis reveals that domestic tourism is the key contributor to TFP. A large number of domestic tourists and the ease with which they can interact with local suppliers are primarily behind the contribution of domestic tourism to productivity gains. There is some evidence that foreign tourism can be associated with greater productivity in regions that are relatively open to foreign tourists, with a dynamic and competitive tourism industry that weighs significantly in the regional economy.

Interferon gamma kinetics associated with immunodiagnostic techniques in experimental goats infected with biofilm producer and non-biofilm producer strains of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis

Caseous lymphadenitis can be diagnosed using serological tests, mainly the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In this work, we evaluated interferon-gamma production in goats infected and not infected with Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, correlating it with the ELISA diagnostic test and analyzing the cellular and humoral responses, respectively. Eighteen Canindé goats experimentally infected with biofilm-producing and non-biofilm-producing strains were used. The sensitivity of the antigens was above 80%, with seroconversion observed from 14 days post-infection. A significant band between 64 and 70 kDa was shown in Western blotting. The production of IFN-y shows a tendency towards greater production in goats infected with the biofilm-producing strain stimulated by the TPP antigen of the same strain. The results help better understand the cellular and humoral response and antigenicity of the strains under study, correlated with the production of IFN-y, which plays a vital role in infection.

Sustainable intensification of livestock systems using forage legumes in the Anthropocene

AbstractSustainable intensification of livestock systems implies greater efficiency in resource utilization resulting in greater output of products and other ecosystem services per unit of resource input. Integrating forage legumes into livestock systems is a viable way to reduce the input of industrial N fertilizer, reducing the use of fossil fuels and helping to mitigate global warming, a major problem during the Anthropocene. Some forage legumes have greater concentrations of secondary compounds, such as condensed tannins, that might reduce the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) from ruminant eructation and excreta. Furthermore, forage legumes might enhance cattle performance because of greater nutritive value, resulting in greater production per unit of GHG released. Shortening the production cycle and improving cattle reproductive efficiency could have a major impact on reducing the overall carbon footprint of the system. Grazing systems with more diversified plant species are typically more resistant and resilient, adapting to current climate changes during the Anthropocene. Novel technologies might accelerate the development of future grazing systems using forage legumes as a key component. Breeding efforts for the next‐generation legumes must focus on adaptation and potential use for mitigation of negative environmental impacts. There are examples of successful integration of forage legumes into livestock systems in different regions of the world, with a major reduction in off‐farm inputs and maintaining the system productive. These successful examples could be used to increase adoption and improve the efficiency of current livestock systems.

Opportunities for CRISPR-Cas9 application in farm animal genetic improvement.

CRISPR-Cas9 has emerged as a powerful tool in livestock breeding, enabling precise genetic modifications to address genetic diseases, enhance productivity, and develop disease-resistant animal breeds. A thorough analysis of previous research highlights the potential of CRISPR-Cas9 in overcoming genetic disorders by targeting specific mutations in genes. Furthermore, its integration with reproductive biotechnologies and genomic selection facilitates the production of gene-edited animals with high genomic value, contributing to genetic enhancement and improved productivity. Additionally, CRISPR-Cas9 opens new avenues for developing disease-resistant livestock and creating innovative breeding models for high-quality production. A key trend in the field is the development of multi-sgRNA vectors to correct mutations in various genes linked to productivity traits or certain diseases within individual genomes, thereby increasing resistance in animals. However, despite the potential advantages of CRISPR-Cas9, public acceptance of genetically modified agricultural products remains uncertain. Would consumers be willing to purchase such products? It is essential to advocate for bold and innovative research into genetically edited animals, with a focus on safety, careful promotion, and strict regulatory oversight to align with long-term goals and public acceptance. Continued advancements in this technology and its underlying mechanisms promise to improve poultry products and genetically modified livestock. Overall, CRISPR-Cas9 technology offers a promising pathway for advancing livestock breeding practices, with opportunities for genetic improvement, enhanced disease resistance, and greater productivity.

The financial and industrial situation of NVIDIA

NVIDIA has been gaining the world’s attention in recent years. Since its operation, it has shown great creativity and productivity. Most people in the world will come up with NVIDIA in mind when it comes to gaming GPUs. Thus, a brief introduction to this company seems significant. Previous studies have looked into technologies, investments and some specific ratios. However, few focus mainly on financial statements and the industrial environment. This passage gives insight into the income statements and balance sheets from the 2022-2024 fiscal years of NVIDIA, together with an environmental SWOT analysis. After these studies, NVIDIA has been stated to have a robust financial situation and a stable position among close competitors. NVIDIA owns the industry environment and a larger seller market. The passage also shows some of the strategies NVIDIA has adopted or is suitable for it to adopt. Further studies may be included afterwards in a more empirical way.

Hospital productivity and value in pay-for-performance healthcare programs

ABSTRACT Pay-for-performance (P4P) reimbursement models were launched in 2013 to incentivise the value of healthcare delivered by including quality outcomes, such as mortality, readmission, and patient satisfaction, in hospital reimbursement in the U.S. Although a decade has passed, the efficacy of these P4P programs remains unclear. This research intends to evaluate their long-term performance implications along two critical dimensions – productivity and healthcare value. Drawing on a nationwide sample of U.S. hospitals collected from 2008 to 2019, we utilise data envelopment analysis to measure hospital performance and the Malmquist index to evaluate their longitudinal trends. Although average hospital productivity and value improved since the rollout of the P4P programs, we observe that a large proportion of laggard hospitals were unable to catch up with improvements to the performance frontier, raising concerns about disparities in the impact of future value-based programs. Our analyses also indicate that horizontal integration across hospitals is associated with greater productivity and value. While greater physician-hospital (vertical) integration is associated with higher hospital productivity, it does not have a positive impact on value. Our study provides new insights into the antecedents and performance consequences of implementing value-based healthcare initiatives and their implications for hospital managers and policymakers.

Integrated crop management for long-term sustainability of maize-wheat rotation focusing on productivity, energy and carbon footprints

Modern agriculture, driven by diesel-fed machinery, is both energy and carbon-intensive, primarily due to the improper use of inputs. Designing a production module with lower carbon emissions, greater productivity, and enhanced energy use efficiency is crucial for achieving the environmental sustainability. Conservation agriculture based integrated crop management (ICMs) practices have shown promise in improving the productivity, energy-use, and reducing the carbon emissions. In our extensive long-term field study, we explored the crop yields, energy use, and carbon linkages of a maize-wheat rotation under different ICMs practices. Eight ICMs were evaluated over the course of nine consecutive years, which included ICM1&2: conventional (CT) flat-bed maize and wheat, ICM3&4: CT raised bed maize fb wheat without residues, ICM5&6: conservation agriculture (CA)-based double zero tilled (ZT) maize fb ZT wheat with residues and ICM7&8: CA-based triple ZT maize and wheat with residues and green manures. Our results indicated that the system productivity under CA-based ICMs was 16.5–22.9% greater than that under the CT-based ICM1-4. CA based ICM5-8 (125.2–131.5 × 103 MJ ha−1) needed higher energy input than CT-based ICM1-4 (32.7–39 × 103 MJ ha−1), with 76–80% shared by renewable crop residues. Furthermore, the CA-based ICMs recorded significantly higher levels of specific energy, human energy profitability, non-renewable energy use efficiency, and nutrient energy use efficiencies compared to CT-based. Likewise, the CA-based ICMs produced 12.5% more total output energy than the CT-based ICMs. In contrast, the CT based ICMs demonstrated, energy productivity, higher net energy returns and energy profitability. Compared to conventional ICMs, CA-based ICMs produced a 23–36% reduction in spatial carbon emissions and a 31–44 % reduction in yield-scale emissions. Nevertheless, the CA-based practices recorded the higher C- output, C- sustainability and C- efficiency ratio. Greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI) was 33.3–76.2% greater with the ICM1-4 practices than with the ICM5-8 practises. Thus, the present study proposed that adopting the integrated crop management practices based on the conservation agriculture could prove to be productive, as well as carbon and energy-use efficient approach for the maize-wheat rotation. This approach is envisioned to make substantial contributions to both food security and environmental sustainability.

Challenges and Adoption of Bivoltine Hybrid Silkworm Rearing in Karnataka's South-Eastern Dry Zone, India

The present study explores the adoption of bivoltine hybrid silkworm rearing practices in the South-Eastern Dry Zone of Karnataka, specifically within the Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts. Data collected from thirty sericulturists using a pretested interview schedule, reveal a mixed picture of practice adoption. The adoption levels of recommended practices vary significantly among rearers. While high adoption rates were observed for certain practices, such as the use of recommended mulberry varieties and irrigation techniques, other practices show only moderate adherence. Specifically, cent per cent of the sericulturists have adopted the recommended mulberry variety and 93.33% follow suggested irrigation schedules. However, there is only a 60% adoption rate for the use of prescribed fertilizers and pest management practices. The study also highlights several key constraints impacting the adoption of these practices. Major constraints include limited access to quality inputs, insufficient technical knowledge and inadequate extension services. Financial constraints and environmental challenges further exacerbate these issues, affecting the overall effectiveness of sericulture practices. Recommendations to improve adoption levels include enhancing access to quality inputs, enhancing educational and extension services which talking financial obstacles. By implementing these recommendations, it is anticipated that sericulturists in these region will be better equipped to adopt and benefit from advanced silkworm rearing practices, resulting in greater productivity and long-term sustainability in the sericulture sector.

Influencing the powder particle transport in high-speed laser melt injection

Using high-speed laser melt injection (HSLMI), it is possible to generate wear-resistant metal matrix composite (MMC) surfaces on tools with great productivity. Since high laser intensities are required for reaching high process speeds, strong interactions can occur between powder particles and the laser beam. In order to reduce the interaction time and gain a better understanding of the role of particle transport in the HSLMI process, trajectories of spherical fused tungsten carbide (SFTC) particles were analyzed using high-speed imaging. The trajectories were divided into a path outside the laser beam and a path inside the laser beam. The identified interaction mechanisms were particle deformations, the formation of agglomerates, and particle disintegration. The volume flow rate of the feeding gas was found to have a decisive influence on the travel time of the particles, whereas the powder feed rate and the working distance of the powder nozzle only had a minor influence. Consequently, an increased volume flow rate led to a significant reduction of interactions between SFTC particles and the laser beam.