Slow Production Research Articles

The UK Productivity “Puzzle” in an International Comparative Perspective

ABSTRACTThe UK's slow productivity growth since 2007 has been referred to as a “puzzle,” as if it were a particularly UK‐specific problem. We highlight how the United States and northern Europe experienced very similar slowdowns. In all three regions, the slowdown in total factor productivity (TFP) growth accounts for the slowdown in labor productivity growth. We find no evidence in capital‐output ratios, investment rates, or internal rates of return that something substantive changed in the capital‐formation process after 2007—other than a slowdown in TFP and output growth that induced slower capital formation. Hence, capital formation is not an important independent factor in the post‐2007 productivity slowdown. For the UK, weak investment is a longstanding concern going back to the 1990s, though considerations of non‐national accounts intangible assets somewhat ameliorate the investment shortfalls. The common slowdown in TFP growth is fairly broad‐based across industry groups. Industry‐specific issues, such as in mining, account for some of relative ground lost after 2007 rather than indicating a systematic UK competitiveness problem.

Investigating consumers’ slow fashion purchase decision: role of lack of information and confusion

Purpose This study aims to investigate consumers’ slow fashion purchase decision. Specifically, the research empirically examines the relationship between the attributes of slow fashion products, perceived value, lack of information, confusion and consumer decision (intention, deferral and abandonment of the purchase) about slow fashion products. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative study was carried out on a sample of 323 customers. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was applied to analyze the collected data. Findings Purchase intention was enhanced by perceived value. However, only three attributes of slow fashion products (localism, equity and functionality) had a significant influence on perceived value. Lack of information had a significant negative influence on perceived value, as well as on consumer confusion, which can lead to purchase abandonment or deferral of the purchase of slow fashion products. Practical implications Slow fashion product managers should pay particular attention to the attributes of localism, equity and functionality, which have proven to be significant for creating a favorable perceived value. Getting customers more involved in the production process and using slow communication would be among the practices to be encouraged by professionals. Furthermore, such actions are likely to reduce confusion arising from the lack of information about slow fashion products, and thus, avoid the inhibition of customers’ purchase process. Originality/value Existing literature has focused on consumers’ intentions to purchase slow fashion products. These intentions are mainly related to the attributes of slow fashion products and perceived value. Nevertheless, the prediction of sustainable product consumption, such as slow fashion products, is also influenced by typical external barriers such as lack of information and consumer confusion, which are considered in this study.

Evidence of a Catalytic Dyad in F420-Dependent Glucose-6-phosphate Dehydrogenase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

F420-dependent glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (FGD) catalyzes the conversion of glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) to 6-phosphogluconolactone, using cofactor F420 as the hydride transfer acceptor. Our previous pH dependence studies suggested that E109 serves as an active site acid, donating a proton to the N-1 position of F420, while leaving the role of H40 unanswered, which was previously suggested to serve as the active site base. This work utilizes thermodynamic and kinetic studies to elucidate additional mechanistic details concerning the roles of H40 and E13. The E13 residue had not previously been considered as a key player during catalysis. Therefore, the H40A, H40Q, E13A, and E13Q FGD variants were generated and fully characterized to determine their roles in catalysis. Here, we conducted temperature-dependent pH profiles and inactivation experiments using diethylpyrocarbonate (DEPC) to determine the role of H40 during catalysis. The temperature-dependent experiments suggest that an acidic histidine can donate a proton to E13. The inactivation experiments revealed monophasic kinetics, suggesting that the one active site H40 is covalently modified by DEPC. Therefore, the active site base is a deprotonated H40 that abstracts a proton from G6P, and then a hydride is transferred to the C-5 position of cofactor F420. These data suggest that E13 and H40 act as a catalytic dyad. Global analysis of the pre-steady-state experiments revealed the accumulation of an intermediate, the spectrum of which resembles an enzyme-product complex. The global analysis also reveals fast chemistry and slow product release with cofactor association being rate-limiting in catalysis.

Octahedral Iron in Catalytic Sites of Endonuclease IV from Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.

During Staphylococcus aureus infections, reactive oxygen species cause DNA damage, including nucleotide base modification. After removal of the defective base, excision repair requires an endonuclease IV (Nfo), which hydrolyzes the phosphodiester bond 5' to the abasic nucleotide. This class of enzymes, typified by the enzyme from Escherichia coli, contains a catalytic site with three metal ions, previously reported to be all Zn2+. The 1.05 Å structure of Nfo from the Gram-positive organism S. aureus (SaNfo) revealed two inner Fe2+ ions and one Zn2+ as confirmed by dispersive anomalous difference maps. SaNfo has a previously undescribed water molecule liganded to Fe1 forming an octahedral coordination geometry and hydrogen bonded to Tyr33, an active site residue conserved in many Gram-positive bacteria, but which is Phe in Gram-negative species that coordinate Zn2+ at the corresponding site. The 1.9 Å structure of E. coli Nfo (EcNfo), purified without added metals, revealed that metal 2 is Fe2+ and not Zn2+. Octahedral coordination for the sites occupied by Fe2+ suggests a stereoselective mechanism for differentiating between Fe2+ and Zn2+ in this enzyme class. Kinetics and an inhibitor competition assay of SaNfo reveal product inhibition (or slow product release), especially at low ionic strength, caused in part by a Lys-rich DNA binding loop present in SaNfo and Gram-positive species but not in EcNfo. Biological significance of the slow product release is discussed. Catalytic activity in vitro is optimal at 300 mM NaCl, which is consistent with the halotolerant phenotype of S. aureus.

Rethinking the Pace of Productivity in Pharmacy Academia.

In response to rising levels of burnout and stress among pharmacy faculty, there is a growing call to reassess traditional approaches to productivity and well-being within the Academy. We introduce a "slower" approach to faculty work, one that advocates for a deliberate focus on quality over quantity and promoting sustainable practices that prioritize meaningful contributions and personal well-being. The aim of this commentary is to encourage pharmacy faculty to embrace a slow mindset while maintaining the ability to contribute meaningfully to the lives of their students, patients, colleagues, and the profession of pharmacy. Drawing from Cal Newport's book, Slow Productivity, principles of obsessing over quality, doing fewer things, and working at a natural pace are explained. Practical strategies are discussed, including reevaluating workload distribution, setting realistic project limits, and embracing seasonal variations in academic demands. These approaches aim to foster a supportive and balanced organizational culture within pharmacy academia, aligning individual aspirations with institutional goals. This commentary encourages pharmacy faculty to embrace a slower, more intentional approach to their work, promoting personal and professional fulfillment.

(Invited) Modular Electrochemical Synthesis to Exploit Dynamic Electricity Markets and Recover Ammonia Electrochemically

Decarbonizing the power grid requires the widespread adoption of renewable (wind/solar) power sources but the unpredictable and intermittent nature of renewable power presents a grand challenge. This motivates the development of flexible electrochemical manufacturing technologies that can shift power demand/supply across space-time and scales. I will discuss new modular electrochemical synthesis strategies capable of providing demand flexibility at different timescales by participating in multiple electricity markets (day-ahead, real-time, and frequency regulation). Using a fast proton redox material, copper hexacyanoferrate, highly rate-mismatched modular electrochemical synthesis was achieved by decoupling half-reactions with different intrinsic kinetics to produce chemicals under drastically different reaction rates and timescales: the fast hydrogen evolution reaction and slow persulfate production reaction. Such a strategy enables flexible participation in different electricity markets and can reduce electricity cost of chemical production by 30-40%. I will also discuss how the electrochemical manufacturing of chemicals can be integrated with the electrochemical recovery of ammonium (and other nutrient) ions by using similar redox reservoir materials with ion selectivity. These results introduce innovative strategies for flexibly integrating modular electrochemical manufacturing processes various chemicals into the fluctuating power grid to achieve more economical and sustainable operations.

Advancing the software development process through the development of technology-enabled dynamic capabilities in a project-based firm: insights from action design research

PurposeThis study aims to extend the dynamic capabilities (DCs) perspective to the project management context. The authors present supporting evidence for analyzing the creation process of DCs during the redesign of the software development process, and they examine the impact of those capabilities on organizational performance and transformation.Design/methodology/approachAn action design research approach, combined with simulation and qualitative analysis, is adopted to examine the emergence of technology-enabled DCs supported by their microfoundations and the modernization of the software development process in the target firm.FindingsAnalyzing the successful internal transformation of a software development company that was facing a slow and inconsistent product development process reveals the effectiveness of extending the DC perspective to a project-based setting. The implementation of a new project methodology and the introduction of an innovative document-handling system facilitated the renewal of the company's software development process. This led to improvements in lead time and total costs, resulting in enhanced project performance as well as customer and employee satisfaction.Practical implicationsThis study draws managerial attention to the microlevel activities of technology-enabled DC formation, such as precise calculations, external expert consultations and tool deployment.Originality/valueBy applying the sensing–seizing–transforming framework with concomitant microfoundations in a longitudinal way, this article explains the role that technology plays as the basis for DCs and analyzes the cost–benefit balance of DC development in project-based organizations.

Experimental study on microscopic production characteristics and influencing factors during dynamic imbibition of shale reservoir with online NMR and fractal theory

Dynamic imbibition and displacement between the matrix and fractures in shale reservoirs can significantly enhance oil recovery (EOR) following initial depletion. However, the microscopic production characteristics and seepage mechanisms at different pore scales during the dynamic imbibition process remain incompletely understood. In this study, we established an online physical simulation experiment method that combines dynamic displacement and imbibition based on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and fractal theory, and a series of online NMR water flooding dynamic imbibition experiments were conducted. Through real-time dynamic monitoring of multiphase flow and migration behavior of crude oil in each stage of dynamic imbibition, the microscopic production characteristics and influencing factors were quantitatively studied from the recovery and residual oil saturation field distribution of different scale pores. Additionally, we developed a novel two-dimensional (2-D) NMR interpretation model to investigate the dynamic development characteristics of shale oil injection-imbibition-soaking-production integration, and the multiphase and multi-scale dynamic imbibition crude oil migration models were discussed. The results show that shale oil occurrence pores can be categorized into two types based on the corresponding production mode (imbibition + displacement). The water flooding dynamic imbibition process in shale reservoirs unfolds in three stages: strong displacement and weak imbibition stage characterized by the rapid production of large pores and fractures under displacement action; weak displacement and strong imbibition stage involving the slow production of small pores under reverse imbibition; and dynamic equilibrium stage characterized by weak displacement and weak imbibition. When viewing the entire water flooding dynamic imbibition process as an organism, it becomes imperative to maximize the recovery of large pores while ensuring the recovery degree of small pores. High permeability contributes to better pore throat connectivity and a greater imbibition and displacement production degree. The contribution of the.two production modes to the recovery of small and large pores increased by 4.67 % and 3.17 %, respectively. A negative correlation was observed between high displacement pressure and imbibition recovery, yet it is conducive to the contribution of displacement to total recovery. Notably, fractures can effectively reduce oil-water seepage resistance, and increase the contribution of displacement to recovery by 21.65 %. Finally.a positive correlation was noted between increased imbibition amount and free oil recovery, while residual oil gradually shifted towards adsorbed and organic matter-dominated forms, leading to decreased recoverability. Effectively utilizing the bridge flow conductivity of fractures, fluid imbibition displacement, and carrying effect is crucial for achieving optimal EOR. The findings provide theoretical support for clarifying the interaction between matrix-fracture imbibition and displacement and for the efficient development of shale oil.

Study on the changes and transformation characteristics of intermediate liquid products in hydrogen sulfide production from lignite degraded by sulfate-reducing bacteria.

The changes and transformation laws of intermediate liquid-phase products during the anaerobic degradation of lignite by sulfate-reducing bacteria in the formation of hydrogen sulfide play an important role in supplementing and improving the existing theories on the genesis of hydrogen sulfide gas in coal mines. In this paper, H2S gas and key intermediate liquid-phase products produced during the anaerobic degradation of lignite by sulfate-reducing bacteria were detected and analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results showed that the process of hydrogen sulfide production from lignite degradation by sulfate-reducing bacteria can be roughly divided into four stages: slow production phase, rapid growth phase, steady production phase, and slight decline phase. In this reaction system, the SO42- concentration showed a decreasing trend, the pH value showed an increasing trend, and the ORP value decreased and then slightly increased with time. Ten volatile component types were detected during the experiment: straight-chain alkanes, branched-chain alkanes, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, olefins, amines, lipids, acids and phenols. The key components in the intermediate liquid phase products were straight chain alkanes, straight chain alkanes, acids, alcohols, phenols and amines. PAHs, alkanes, and phenols are closely related to H2S production, while amides stimulate nitrogen production. The process is divided into three stages: hydrolysis stage, H2S gas production stage, and decay stage. Liquid-phase intermediates play an important role in the formation process of coal mine BSR hydrogen sulfide and the mechanism of coal mine H2S genesis.

Building a web-based Comprehensive School Portal System Using the CodeIgniter Framework

With the various advantages and conveniences that the internet can provide, various fields of human activity have begun to use internet technology to help facilitate the activities they undertake. Likewise with the education sector in managing its administration. The web is one of the internet technologies that is widely used to facilitate monitoring of school activities because it can be accessed easily anywhere and at any time, from school facilities to school activities. Through the use of a web data system, problems involving redundancy of student information, insynchronization between existing information and slow production of information can be overcome. By designing an information system or web-based portal, you can increase performance effectiveness.

Manganese oxide for heterogeneous Fenton treatment: Catalyst or inhibitor?

Manganese oxide species have been frequently used for Fenton catalyst design, but their role in reaction with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is still in debate. We here revealed the different routes of manganese oxide/H2O2 interactions occurring at bulk surfaces to that at nanopore-confined surfaces, which have been overlooked in literatures. Briefly, particulate manganese oxide species cause a fast H2O2 decomposition influenced by the valence of manganese and solution pH, but without generation of reactive oxygen species (•OH, •O2-, or 1O2) for water treatment; in contrast, manganese oxide/H2O2 interaction under nanopore confinement (ca. 1 nm) led to the production of radicals (mainly •OH and •O2-) and the removal of organic pollutants. We gained insights into the differed reaction routes based on experimental and computational study. Our findings provide caveats on the indiscriminate pursuit of manganese in Fenton catalyst development, against a nullified H2O2 decomposition and impractically slow radical production.

Effect of RE-O/C catalyst on the hydrolysis kinetics and catalytic mechanism of MgH2

The reaction between MgH2 and water produces a significant amount of hydrogen gas, which is beneficial for the development of hydrogen energy in fuel cells. However, the slow hydrogen production rate and the formation of a dense Mg(OH)2 layer limit its application. In this study, MgH2 was doped with 2 wt%, 4 wt%, and 8 wt% of RE-O/C (RE-O = La2O3, CeO2, Pr6O11) catalysts through ball milling technology, and hydrolysis experiments were conducted. The hydrolysis kinetics and activation energy were analyzed using Avrami-Erofeev and Arrhenius equations for linear fitting. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were employed to analyze the hydrolysis mechanism and the effect of the catalysts on particle surfaces. Notably, the addition of 4 wt% RE-O/C exhibited the best improvement in the hydrolysis performance of MgH2. At high temperatures, the maximum hydrogen production rates for MgH2+4La2O3/C, MgH2+4CeO2/C, and MgH2+4Pr6O11/C are 32.05, 30.92, and 29 mL·g−1·s−1, respectively, with maximum hydrogen capacities of 1996, 2140, and 2000 mL·g−1, and activation energies of 21.8, 24.8, and 21.3 kJ·mol−1, respectively. The MgH2+RE-O/C composites studied overcame the key issues of MgH2 hydrolysis, presenting a promising strategy for hydrogen production.

Slow productivity worked for Marie Curie - here's why you should adopt it, too.

Slow productivity worked for Marie Curie - here's why you should adopt it, too.

Predatory Bacteria in the Treatment of Infectious Diseases and Beyond.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an increasing problem worldwide, with significant associated morbidity and mortality. Given the slow production of new antimicrobials, non-antimicrobial methods for treating infections with significant AMR are required. This review examines the potential of predatory bacteria to combat infectious diseases, particularly those caused by pathogens with AMR. Predatory bacteria already have well-known applications beyond medicine, such as in the food industry, biocontrol, and wastewater treatment. Regarding their potential for use in treating infections, several in vitro studies have shown their potential in eliminating various pathogens, including those resistant to multiple antibiotics, and they also suggest minimal immune stimulation and cytotoxicity by predatory bacteria. In vivo animal studies have demonstrated safety and efficacy in reducing bacterial burden in various infection models. However, results can be inconsistent, suggesting dependence on factors like the animal model and the infecting bacteria. Until now, no clinical study in humans exists, but as experience with predatory bacteria grows, future studies including clinical studies in humans could be designed to evaluate their efficacy and safety in humans, thus leading to the potential for approval of a novel method for treating infectious diseases by bacteria.

Role of Direct and Sensitized Photolysis in the Photomineralization of Dissolved Organic Matter and Model Chromophores to Carbon Dioxide.

This study addresses the fundamental processes that drive the photomineralization of dissolved organic matter (DOM) to carbon dioxide (CO2), deconvoluting the role of direct and sensitized photolysis. Here, a suite of DOM isolates and model compounds were exposed to simulated sunlight in the presence of various physical and chemical quenchers to assess the magnitude, rate, and extent of direct and sensitized photomineralization to CO2. Results suggest that CO2 formation occurs in a biphasic kinetic system, with fast production occurring within the first 3 h, followed by slower production thereafter. Notably, phenol model chromophores were the highest CO2 formers and, when conjugated with carboxylic functional groups, exhibited a high efficiency for CO2 formation relative to absorbed light. Simple polycarboxylated aromatic compounds included in this study were shown to be resistant to photomineralization. Quencher results suggest that direct photolysis and excited triplet state sensitization may be largely responsible for CO2 photoproduction in DOM, while singlet oxygen and hydroxyl radical sensitization may play a limited role. After 3 h of irradiation, the CO2 formation rate significantly decreased, and the role of sensitized reactions in CO2 formation increased. Together, the results from this study advance the understanding of the fundamental reactions driving DOM photomineralization to CO2, which is an important part of the global carbon cycle.

Geometric Benchmarking of Metal Material Extrusion Technology: A Preliminary Study

Metal additive manufacturing technologies such as powder bed fusion (PBF) and direct energy deposition (DED) are experiencing fast development, due to the growing awareness of industries. However, high energy consumption, slow production processes, and high costs of both machines and feedstocks hamper their competitiveness, compared to conventional manufacturing techniques. Metal material extrusion (metal-MEX) can represent a cost- and energy-effective alternative for metal additive manufacturing. This article aims to assess the potential of such technology by addressing uncertainties related to product design and process stability through a preliminary geometric benchmarking study. The geometric tolerances and minimum achievable sizes of some simple geometries produced in 316L stainless steel were evaluated using geometric benchmark test artifacts (GBTAs). Process maps were also proposed to forecast the feasibility of achieving acceptable values of the investigated tolerances, based on the nominal dimensions of the features.

Cellobionate production from sodium hydroxide pretreated wheat straw by engineered Neurospora crassa HL10

This study investigated cellobionate production from a lignocellulosic substrate using Neurospora crassa HL10. Utilizing NaOH-pretreated wheat straw as the substrate obviated the need for an exogenous redox mediator addition, as lignin contained in the pretreated wheat served as a natural mediator. The low laccase production by N. crassa HL10 on pretreated wheat straw caused slow cellobionate production, and exogenous laccase addition accelerated the process. Cycloheximide induced substantial laccase production in N. crassa HL10, enabling the strain to yield approximately 57 mM cellobionate from pretreated wheat straw (equivalent to 20 g/L cellulose), shortening the conversion time from 8 to 6 days. About 92% of the cellulose contained in the pretreated wheat straw is converted to cellobionate. In contrast to existing methods requiring pure cellobiose or cellulase enzymes, this process efficiently converts a low-cost feedstock into cellobionate at a high yield without enzyme or redox mediator supplementation.

SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION BEHAVIOR - SLOW FASHION IN BRAZIL

The interest in social justice and sustainability issues in the fashion industry has grown exponentially in recent years, given the concern for the worldwide preservation of the natural goods that remain on the earth and the valorization of professionals in the production chain. Slow fashion emerges as a relevant movement in this context. It seeks to slow down the mass industrial production of the fashion area that is currently known by overriding the valuing of quality and people who work throughout the production chain to the detriment of quantity and exploitation of natural resources. This paper aims to verify whether the five dimensions of the Consumer Orientation to Slow Fashion (COSF) scale fit satisfactorily to Brazil and then draw profiles of slow fashion product consumption in this exact scenario. Thus, we planned and applied a virtual questionnaire using the COSF scale with 414 volunteers from Brazil. We treated the collected data by exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, k-means, structural equation modeling, and analysis of variance. As a result, we observed that the COSF scale did not thoroughly adjust to the Brazilian context. Thus, we identified three orientation profiles for slow fashion consumption: averse to exclusivity, highly, and low orientation.

Machine Learning and image analysis towards improved energy management in Industry 4.0: a practical case study on quality control

With the advent of Industry 4.0, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has created a favorable environment for the digitalization of manufacturing and processing, helping industries to automate and optimize operations. In this work, we focus on a practical case study of a brake caliper quality control operation, which is usually accomplished by human inspection and requires a dedicated handling system, with a slow production rate and thus inefficient energy usage. We report on a developed Machine Learning (ML) methodology, based on Deep Convolutional Neural Networks (D-CNNs), to automatically extract information from images, to automate the process. A complete workflow has been developed on the target industrial test case. In order to find the best compromise between accuracy and computational demand of the model, several D-CNNs architectures have been tested. The results show that, a judicious choice of the ML model with a proper training, allows a fast and accurate quality control; thus, the proposed workflow could be implemented for an ML-powered version of the considered problem. This would eventually enable a better management of the available resources, in terms of time consumption and energy usage.

Impact mechanism of active nanofluid on oil–water two-phase seepage during and after fracturing fluid invasion in tight oil reservoirs

Due to damage caused by fracturing fluid invasion, tight oil reservoirs exhibit slow post-hydraulic fracturing production recovery and low productivity. This study investigates the impact of a nanoclay-based active agent system on oil–water two-phase flow during and after fracturing fluid invasion, emphasizing its potential for enhancing recovery in tight oil reservoirs. Laboratory experiments using crude oil and natural core samples analyze the mechanism of how nanofluids affect oil–water distribution and flow characteristics during fracturing fluid invasion and oil recovery stages. Results show that nanofluids rapidly disrupt the emulsified state of “water-in-oil” emulsions, reducing emulsion viscosity by 84.19% and oil–water interfacial tension by two orders of magnitude, facilitating oil droplet dispersion and deformation and altering the wettability of oil-wet rock surfaces to aid crude oil detachment. Nanofluids increase the accessible volume of the water phase in pores and throats, enlarging flow paths for fracturing fluid flowback and oil recovery. The oil recovery process post-fracturing fluid invasion is delineated into three stages: substantial fracturing fluid flowback in the first stage, with nanofluids reducing the fluid return rate by 11.08% upon crude oil breakthrough; emulsion droplets occupying pores and throats in the second stage, with nanofluids reducing additional resistance during emulsion flow; and continuous oil production in the third stage, with nanofluids consistently and stably altering rock surface wettability to reduce invaded rock matrix resistance to oil flow. The findings of this study hold potential value in mitigating damage from fracturing fluid invasion in tight oil reservoirs.