Online Competition Research Articles

Real-time Visualization of "Small Molecules-ssDNA" Complexes for Aptamer Screening based on Online Competition CE-SELEX

Capillary electrophoresis-based systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (CE-SELEX) is one of the most efficient techniques for aptamers screening. However, CE-SELEX is generally considered challenging for small molecule targets due to a slight charge-to-mass ratio (z/m) difference that fails to create a clear separation between small molecule-ssDNA complexes and ssDNA libraries, thus heavily restricting the screening target scopes. Herein, a novel online competition CE-SELEX (ocCE-SELEX) strategy was introduced for real-time visualization of "small molecules-ssDNA" complexes to screen aptamers for small molecule targets in free solution. To achieve this vision, the "pair-wise" interaction-based "Catcher-ssDNA-Target" ternary system was flexibly designed via online CE mode. First, we introduced a conceptual protein of an ssDNA catcher (Catcher) that is capable of capturing all sequences in ssDNA library completely through an online controllable procedure by adjusting the injection time of different zones, resulting in the disappearance of original peaks of the ssDNA library in electropherogram. Then, the "pair-wise" interaction would restore the peaks through an online competition process, in which the Catcher with a faster migration rate would traverse the equilibrium zone of small molecule/ssDNA mixture and capture free ssDNA, as well as compete with small molecules to capture weakly bound ssDNA sequences. Due to the different z/m changes, the ssDNA captured by Catcher continues to migrate rapidly and the retained ssDNA in small molecule-ssDNA complex approximately maintains its original migration rate. Consequently, the peaks of Catcher-captured ssDNA and small molecule-ssDNA complex achieved complete separation and real-time visualization, allowing the complex to be collected readily. Furthermore, the implementation of ocCE-SELEX strategy was verified with two small molecules (vitamin B12 and ofloxacin) and six polypeptides. The study expands the application of CE-SELEX in small molecules in terms of real-time visualization and accurate collection of small molecules-ssDNA complexes, opening a new path for aptamer screening for small molecule targets in their natural state.

Choking under pressure in online and live esports competitions

This paper explores the phenomenon of choking under pressure within the context of esports, particularly focusing on the difference between online and live competitive settings and on high-pressure situations during overtime rounds. Employing a quasi-experimental design, the research leverages an extensive dataset covering professional CS:GO matches from 2012 to 2022 (match-level) and from 2015 to 2023 (round-level), including performance metrics such as players' ratings, headshot percentages, and teammate damage. The findings indicate a substantial decrease in the performance of esports players during overtime. This effect, however, is significantly mitigated in online competitions compared to live events. The study also reveals that while individual performance suffers under pressure, the impact on team coordination is less pronounced in online settings, suggesting that the virtual environment might offer a buffer against the negative effects of stress on team dynamics. This study enriches our understanding of performance psychology in digital settings but also opens up new avenues for research on stress, teamwork, and performance in professional and virtual environments.

David's Bridal bankruptcy: take two

Research methodology The case is a secondary sourced case. Information for the case was found from news articles and interviews. Case overview/synopsis David’s Bridal was a privately held corporation generating $1.3bn in annual revenue and employing over 12,000 employees. David’s Bridal filed bankruptcy not once but twice. This case examines the bridal industry and the environmental factors that led to the two bankruptcies. Bridal dresses are at the top of wedding categories. Environmental factors causing bankruptcy included online competition, reputation as seen through the eyes of the consumer, COVID, and supply chain challenges. David’s Bridal first looked to Jim Marcum to turn the corporation around and when this failed, they created a new management team after the second bankruptcy to save the company. Complexity academic level The case is designed as an interdisciplinary case for undergraduate leadership, advanced accounting or undergraduate strategy courses. The case was tested in MGMT 330: Leading People in Organizations. This case is appropriate for junior- and senior-level students.This case will be used in ACCT 402: Advanced Accounting – a senior-level course. The case gives perspective on going concern opinions and the strategic implications of bankruptcy.Possible textbooks▪ Christensen, T., Cottrell, D. and Budd, C. (2023). Advanced Financial Accounting (13th ed.). McGraw-Hill.▪ Hoyle, J., Schaefer, T. and Doupnik, T. (2024). Advanced Accounting (15th ed.). McGraw-Hill▪ Rothaermel, F. T. (2024). Strategic Management (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill

Location and Price Competition on a Uniform Path with Different Pricing Policies

AbstractThis paper models duopolistic competition between an online retailer and a physical store retailer with the online retailer modelled as a firm with uniform delivered pricing policy and the physical store as a firm with a mill pricing policy. Both firms seek to maximize their respective profits through an appropriate choice of location and price. The market is assumed to be given by a “uniform path” - a tree whose node weights and arc lengths are equal. Modelling reality, we consider two alternate types of transportation costs faced by the online retailer: either dependent on the relative location of the firm and a customer or independent of it. Beginning with the framework of a Stackelberg, i.e., sequential game, optimal location and price strategies are analytically derived for both sequences of market entry by the two competitors. Cases in which the leader faces the first entry paradox or can become a monopolist by strategically deterring entry by the follower are delineated. Thereafter, Nash Equilibrium solutions to the simultaneous game are identified. Salient insights from the results include: (a) the competitive pressure faced by the physical store in the presence of online competition (b) the inability of an online retailer to compete in “large” markets under the first type of transportation cost and (c) the advantage to the physical retailer of being a market leader.

Соотношение понятий киберспорта, компьютерного спорта, электронного спорта, дистанционного спорта, онлайн-спорта, цифрового спорта

This article attempts to identify the correlation between the concepts of cybersports, computer sports, e-sports, distance sports, online sports, digital sports on the basis of the current legislation regulating computer sports in the Russian Federation and scientific literature on the topic of research. Based on the analyzed information, the author has made the following conclusions: it is acceptable to apply to the term “computer sports” such synonyms as “cybersport”, “e-sports” and “digital sports”; the term “online sport” is incorrect to use as a synonym to the concept “computer sports”, because online sport or online competition is not a synonym for the term “computer sports”, but directly one of the ways of its implementation; regarding the use as a synonym to the concept “computer sports” the term “distance sports” is made.

The Impact of Online Competition on Local Newspapers: Evidence from the Introduction of Craigslist

Abstract How does competition from online platforms affect the organization, performance, and editorial choices of newspapers? What are the implications of these changes for the information voters are exposed to and for their political choices? We study these questions using the staggered introduction of Craigslist — the world’s largest online platform for classified advertising — across US counties between 1995 and 2009. This setting allows us to separate the effect of competition for classified advertising from other changes brought about by the Internet, and to compare newspapers that relied more or less heavily on classified ads ex ante. We find that, following the entry of Craigslist, local newspapers reliant on classified ads experienced a significant decline in the number of management and newsroom staff, including in the number of editors covering politics. These organizational changes led to a reduction in news coverage of politics and resulted in a decline in newspaper readership, particularly among readers with high political interest. Finally, we document that reduced exposure to local political news was associated with an increase in partisan voting and increased entry and success of ideologically extreme candidates in congressional elections. Taken together, our findings shed light on the determinants of the decline of print media and on its broader implications for democratic politics.

An Investigation into the Influence of E-commerce Platforms on Local Retailers: A Case Study of Kollam District

The impact of the Internet and e-commerce on traditional retailing has been a topic of extensive debate, with divergent views ranging from apocalyptic predictions of the demise of physical retail to assertions of minimal impact on traditional retailing. Despite the exaggerated hype, occasional high-profile failures, and the multitude of conflicting perspectives, e-commerce processes offer the potential for a profound reevaluation of retail operations and retailer behavior. Indeed, the advent of e-commerce necessitates a reassessment of existing retail practices and cost structures in response to the influx of new technologies and evolving retail structures. While the e-commerce market continues to expand rapidly, it is important to note that this growth does not necessarily translate to a significant decline in the traditional retail market. Shopping malls are not shuttering at an alarming rate, nor are the retail outlets of beloved brands disappearing due to online competition. However, there is undeniably a paradigm shift underway, with consumers increasingly turning to online platforms for their shopping needs. This shift presents a unique challenge for private sector employers in the retail industry, who must navigate the changing landscape and adapt their strategies to remain competitive. While online shopping offers unparalleled convenience and accessibility, traditional retailers must leverage their strengths in areas such as personalized customer service, immersive shopping experiences, and community engagement to differentiate themselves in an increasingly crowded marketplace. As e-commerce continues to reshape the retail landscape, it is imperative for retailers to embrace innovation, invest in digital capabilities, and explore new business models to thrive in this evolving environment. By understanding and harnessing the potential of e-commerce technologies, retailers can not only survive but also thrive in the dynamic and interconnected world of modern retailing.

Social networks as an effective tool of business promotion in the world

The article discusses the main aspects of using SM as an effective way to promote your business. Data on the use of social networks are considered. Recently, marketing communications have acquired a new direction of activity. The global spread of social media, especially social networks, has led to increased online competition among companies. Traditional media channels such as outdoor advertising, print publications, television, etc. are mainly used to inform consumers about new products and their exceptional quality. However, today, with the development of media, online advertising has taken a leading position and offers more diverse opportunities to attract new customers. As society began to prioritize communication in the online space, companies, in order not to lose sight of their target audience – consumers, began to look for new means of communication. This is why social media is increasingly being used by companies as their primary communication tool. The development of internet technologies and new business processes contributed to the emergence of a separate direction in business marketing - Social Media Marketing (SMM).

Urban/rural spatial price discrimination with online competition

Urban/rural spatial price discrimination with online competition

Investigating the impact of remote neuroanatomy education during the COVID-19 pandemic using online examination performance in a National Undergraduate Neuroanatomy Competition.

Neuroanatomy is a notoriously challenging subject for medical students to learn. Due to the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic, anatomical education transitioned to an online format. We assessed student performance in, and attitudes toward, an online neuroanatomy assessment compared to an in-person equivalent, as a marker of the efficacy of remote neuroanatomy education. Participants in the National Undergraduate Neuroanatomy Competition (NUNC) 2021 undertook two online examinations: a neuroanatomically themed multiple-choice question paper and anatomy spotter. Students completed pre- and post-examination questionnaires to gauge their attitudes toward the online competition and prior experience of online anatomical teaching/assessment. To evaluate performance, we compared scores of students who sat the online (2021) and in-person (2017) examinations, using 12 identical neuroradiology questions present in both years. Forty-six percent of NUNC 2021 participants had taken an online anatomy examination in the previous 12 months, but this did not impact examination performance significantly (p > 0.05). There was no significant difference in examination scores between in-person and online examinations using the 12 neuroradiology questions (p = 0.69). Fifty percent of participants found the online format less enjoyable, with 63% citing significantly fewer networking opportunities. The online competition was less stressful for 55% of participants. This study provides some evidence to suggest that student performance is not affected when undertaking online examinations and proposes that online neuroanatomy teaching methods, particularly for neuroradiology, may be equally as effective as in-person approaches within this context. Participants perceived online examinations as less stressful but raised concerns surrounding the networking potential and enjoyment of online events.

Features of digital competence of schoolchildren and students and the specifics of their use of the Internet for educational purposes

Introduction. Modern adolescents can spend from 5 to 8 hours a day on the Internet. As a result, the distinction between the digital and real world is gradually blurring. On the other hand, there are only conflicting studies on how digital competence develops and how it is linked to academic activities among students and teachers. Therefore, the purpose of our research is to identify the characteristics of digital competence among pupils and students, as well as the specifics of their use of the Internet for learning objectives. Materials and methods. The methodological basis of the study consists of survey techniques: a questionnaire regarding Internet usage, a questionnaire on the frequency of utilizing the Internet for educational purposes, and a questionnaire on the Index of Digital Competence (Soldatova et al., 2013). An analysis of 606 respondents' results is presented in the article. The questionnaires described above were included in specially created Google Forms filled out by 275 schoolchildren and 331 students. Statistical analysis was carried out using the Python programming language and included descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis, and binary regression analysis. Results. Exploratory factor analysis showed that more developed digital competence of pupils is associated with a higher frequency of use of such educational web activities as modeling experiments in the digital environment and participation in online competitions, even if digital knowledge and skills can also be used for noneducational purposes (factor 2). Students, as factor 3 describes, more often search for information on the web and use the Internet for educational purposes. Regression analysis revealed: despite the fact that schoolchildren declare that they less often use the Internet for educational purposes (p < 0,001), they use educational web activities in a more diverse manner: they watch video lessons (p < 0,001), use tests and simulators for self-testing (p < 0,001); take part in online competitions (p = 0.00). Students, in turn, report using web searches more often (p = 0.02) and watching movies for educational purposes (p < 0,001). Also, schoolchildren have a higher declared level of some indicators of digital competence (p ≤ 0.01) compared to students. Conclusion. The conducted research contributes to drawing up a portrait of the digital natives. Future research could focus on identifying actual digital skills. The results of this work can be used in educational practice to develop effective methods for improving the digital competence of schoolchildren and students.

Sejahtera Ulu al-albab with 5S at Senyum Printing Enterprise

Senyum Printing Enterprise, under the leadership of Encik Asri, exemplifies the transformative power of the 5S methodology in lean management. Over two decades, Senyum evolved from traditional offset printing to adopting a digital-focused approach, adapting to changing technologies and consumer demands. Encik Asri's leadership effectively embraced the 5S principles (Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, Sustain), fostering an environment of efficiency, quality, and continuous improvement. This case study explores how Senyum balanced traditional and digital printing methods, adopted eco-friendly practices, confronted online competition, and diversified its services. Encik Asri's approach not only ensured business resilience during economic fluctuations but also instilled a culture of 'sejahtera ulu al-albab'—a state of well-being and wisdom—reflecting a holistic approach to business and personal growth.

Digital marketing increases competitiveness of msmes in the city of Gorontalo

The significant increase in the use of digital technology, especially through digital marketing strategies, has become a major catalyst in changing the global business landscape. This research aims to investigate how Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Gorontalo City can utilize digital marketing to increase their competitiveness. By understanding the challenges and opportunities faced by MSMEs at the local level, this research uses scientific study methods with a qualitative metasynthesis approach. The research results show that the use of digital marketing has a positive impact on MSMEs in Gorontalo City. Online marketing strategies, such as promotions through social media and online buying and selling platforms, not only increase product sales but also expand product visibility and fame. Even though there are obstacles such as intense online competition and a lack of understanding of MSME players about digital marketing, outreach, training and mentoring activities have succeeded in increasing their understanding and skills.

Research on Marketing Communication Strategy of Soft Advertising in Xiaohongshu APP

With the rapid development of the Internet, the role and effect of online sales are constantly emerging. In this process, advertising marketing is an indispensable and important part. However, traditional hard advertisements do not show advantages in this online competition, while soft advertisements show irreplaceable marketing advantages. In order to promote the development of soft advertising and provide more efficient advertising methods for more e-commerce companies, this article will take Xiaohongshu as a case to analyze in detail the application strategy, advantages and disadvantages of soft advertising in the platform. Through case analysis, bibliography method and comparative analysis, this passage finds that Xiaohongshu suffers from flooding of brand soft ads, low flow of brand soft ads, KOL’s selection risk and serious content homogeneity. In order to solve these problems, Xiaoshongshu is supposed to create explosive notes, improve flow, choose the right KOL, strengthen the supervision mechanism and optimize the content of soft ads. Through these studies, it is able to enrich the content of soft advertisements and improve their communication efficiency, promote platform operations, help merchants obtain higher profits, and provide business models for other cases.

Venn Diagrams Tasks for Concept Formation in the Elementary School

Opportunities to use Venn diagram tasks for concept formation in elementary school are presented. The results of solving such tasks by students in 3rd and in 4th grade in the online competition "VIVA Mathematics with a computer" organized by the Institute of Mathematics and Informatics of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences were analyzed. An illustration was made with similar tasks from other subject areas, inverse tasks were discussed, the role of computer models for their compilation and the competitions for their distribution.

A69: Data Visualization of Core Literacy of Physical Education

Purpose: Physical education (PE) in colleges and universities in the new era focuses on mastering smart PE technology, deepening the connotation of big data education, and cultivating and achieving disciplinary core literacy. The paper designs a monitoring plan based on three key aspects of core literacy, namely, athletic capabilities, health-related actions, and PE morality. It aims at strengthening the value of AI-powered methods in core literacy cultivation, providing more teaching methods to traditional PE classroom teaching, and promoting students’ core literacy. Methods: The paper selects 105 college students from 5 classes who voluntarily take part in the research. It also carries out a 10-week teaching practice, during which students are assigned with homework supported by AI sports software for 33 times and conducts both single-item and general data analysis over 7 items of physical fitness training, 1 competition, and students’ behavior. All the data is provided by the AI software as an auxiliary part to PE and art courses. Results: In the single-item analysis of the physical fitness data comprised of 7 items and 48 times of completion, the final grade of 42 items and times of completion is higher than those of the first-time grade, accounting for 87.5%. There is a substantial increase of the grade of balancing, displacement, and sensitivity-related items, and the maximal fluctuation goes to the grade of coordination items. Besides, single-foot standing (a kind of balancing item), two-person Tetris (a kind of displacement and sensitivity-related item), and dancing (a kind of coordination) are the most popular. As to the general data, the highest degree of class-level participation reaches 84.2%, the lowest degree reaches 68.1%, and the degree of completion, however, is unsatisfactory. There is a substantial fluctuation in the 33 times of completion, showing both rising trend and downtrend to some degree. Besides, most students complete their homework from 21:00 to 3:00 of the next day, accounting for 32.9%, and the general degree of participation of online competition reaches 39.1%. Conclusion: The AI sports software improves the level of physical fitness, a part of athletic capabilities, but needs improvement in strengthening the awareness, habits, and management of individual health of health-related actions, and the ability of keeping forging ahead and going beyond oneself of PE morality.

ЗАДАЧИТЕ ОТ ОНЛАЙН СЪСТЕЗАНИЕТО „VIVA МАТЕМАТИКА С КОМПЮТЪР“ – РЕСУРС ЗА РАБОТА В STEM ЦЕНТРОВЕТЕ

It is shown how a well-known task, also used in the „VIVA Mathеmatics with Computer“ and “Theme of the Month” online competitions, can become a base for regular classes and/or explorations in school STEM centers. The task is related to a special case of the classical Holditch theorem and allows the development of various substantive studies using the GeoGebra system. The structure of the necessary GeoGebra auxiliary files for these studies is described. The analysis of the results of the participants in the mentioned competitions gives a reason to consider that the tasks in the article are accessible to students from upper secondary education. In addition to work in STEM centers, the article can be used in preparation for participation in the "VIVA Mathematics with a Computer" competition, as well as for developing skills for working on independent student research. The article would also be useful in the preparation of future teachers.

Suç Kategorisi Tespiti için Yığınlama Topluluk Öğrenimi Modeli Kullanan Çatı Tasarımı

Crime refers to an action legally defined as harmful to society, and it is important to understand the type of crime to prevent these actions. However, crime can occur at any time and place, making it difficult to predict. Data generated based on previously committed crimes contributes to overcoming this difficulty. This study proposes a novel model for classifying criminal activities using a Doc2Vec that can cause a numerical representation of texts regardless of length and a stacking ensemble model that includes 8 different machine-learning models. Unlike the literature, the model processes the features as text and converts them into vectors rather than categorically. In this way, it enables using features that cannot be used in the literature. The proposed model is tested using a distributed online competition database, Francisco Crime Classification, which contains crimes committed over 12 years. An accuracy value of 99.28% was obtained for the 15 crime categories with the highest crime records, while precision, recall, and f-score values were 99.18%, 99.38%, and 99.20%, respectively. With cross-validation (k=10), 99.80% performance was achieved with a std. value of 0.001. These performance values are higher than those of all the studies in the literature using categorical feature structures. The results show that converting criminal activity reports, which contain text-based features, into vectors that can be processed with natural language processing techniques such as Doc2vec instead of using them categorically in model training can directly contribute to the classification performance and provide a more efficient model with less preprocessing.

The first Global e-Competition on Astronomy and Astrophysics

The first global e-competition on astronomy and astrophysics was held online in September–October 2020 as a replacement for the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics, which was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the short time available for organization, 8 weeks, the competition was run successfully, with 325 students from over 42 countries participating with no major issues. The feedback from the participants was positive and reflects the ways in which such events can boost interest in astronomy and astronomy education. With online activities set to become more prevalent in the future, we present an overview of the competition process, the challenges faced, and some of the lessons learned, aiming to contribute to the development of best practices for organizing online competitions.

온라인 독서토론대회 본선 참가자 인식 연구

The purpose of this study is to conduct a survey of participants in the final round of the online reading debate contest to check the educational effectiveness of the contest, collect students’ perceptions, and revitalize the online reading debate contest, which is one of the extracurricular activities. A survey conducted on students who advanced to the finals of the 1st and 2nd Online Sookmyung Reading Debate Competition was conducted to determine the effectiveness of university liberal arts education on the Reading debate competition, the educational effectiveness of the competition, the appropriateness of the Reading discussion method, and the effectiveness of the online competition operation. It was conducted with appropriateness and effectiveness. Through this, students’ perceptions were compared and analyzed throughout the reading discussion contest held in real time online (ZOOM) and areas for improvement were sought. In order for the Reading debate competition to be conducted more effectively, discussion and writing education must be activated in university liberal arts education, connection between subject and non-curricular subjects is necessary, and there is a need to select appropriate topics and designated books to increase student participation in the Reading debate competition. It was suggested that the role and participation of the audience in online space is necessary.