Vertical Coordinate Research Articles

Mechanical properties and shape-control abilities of a cable dome under asymmetrical loads

This paper focuses on an adaptive cable dome and investigates its mechanical properties and shape control abilities under asymmetrical loads. The analysis includes studying its force and displacement responses as well as the feasibility of shape control under these conditions. All the units of the structure have been specially designed to allow for length adjustment. First, an intelligent algorithm is used to determine the optimal adjustment amounts of the established structural shape control mathematical model. Then the mechanical properties and shape active control performance of the structure are studied through tests and simulations. Results show that, the actual internal forces of the test model show small discrepancies with the theoretical values, with a maximum error of only 3.52%, after assembly and tensioning. The changes in internal forces and displacements of the test model under 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 span asymmetric loads are obtained and found to be in good agreement with the theoretical values, which verifies the design and construction of the test model are reasonable. Moreover, under asymmetric loads, the test model can approximately restore the upper free joints' vertical coordinates to their initial state through active control, and the average decrease in internal forces of the units is at a minimum of 14.56%. These results demonstrate the shape control feasibility of adaptive cable dome structure under asymmetric loads and validate the accuracy of the simulated results.

Horticulture producer's willingness to participate in contract-based supply chain coordination: A case study from Queensland (Australia).

Product export provides an option for horticulture producers in Queensland (Australia) to diversify their market and increase returns from production. Vertical supply chain coordination in the form of contract-based marketing agreements between producers and export agents/distributors could facilitate increased export. The aim of this study was to investigate the willingness of horticulture producers to participate in export focused contract-based marketing agreements. To achieve this aim, a survey including a discrete choice experiment was conducted. The results from a mixed logit model and a latent class model suggest that there are three clusters of producers: a) the export interested, b) the likely risk averse, and c) those well established in the domestic markets. Only producers in group a) expressed a preference for contract-based export marketing agreements. These producers appear to be younger, already have some export experience, and have a relatively high level of collaboration in their product supply chains. Producers in groups b) and c) expressed an interest in stronger coordination within the domestic retail sector, potentially in the form of contract farming. Prices of produce and potential higher production costs are determinants identified by all producer groups as important for their decision-making about changes to their supply chain.

On the superposition of solutions of the (3 + 1) dimensional Charney–Obukhov equation for the ocean

New exact solutions describing Rossby waves and vortices in ocean propagating along the zonal direction at a constant velocity are found for the (3 + 1)-dimensional nonlinear Charney–Obukhov equation. These solutions are a partial superposition of previously discovered exact solutions of the Charney–Obukhov equation. Partial superposition is found for that part of the solution of the Charney–Obukhov equation, which complements the zonal stream. The presence of such a superposition in the solutions of a nonlinear equation with two nonlinear boundary conditions is a remarkable property of the Charney–Obukhov equation for the ocean and allows one to simulate a wide class of fluid flows based on exact solutions. As an example, we discuss solutions that include superposition of trigonometric functions and the functions of Bessel in a horizontal plane, and superposition of spherically symmetrical solutions in the vertical coordinate. Visualization of the solutions found shows that, depending on the values of the parameters included in the solutions, they can describe both a flow with a large number of vortices and a periodic structure with alternating high and low pressure fronts.

Challenges and opportunities for inclusive value chains of niche forest products in small island developing states: Canarium nuts, sandalwood, and whitewood in Vanuatu

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are a distinct group of nations with unique development challenges, such as skill shortages, lack of economies of scale, high transport and energy costs, poor infrastructure, small domestic markets with a heavy reliance on a few distant external markets, and limited opportunities for private sector growth. A development strategy based on natural resources where local and regional producers can secure some level of intellectual property value has been recommended for Pacific SIDS to break out of commodity and low value-added trade. This paper explores the potential for developing niche forest product value chains that are inclusive of small-scale producers in the island nation of Vanuatu. Using existing academic and grey literature and on- site research for three forest products, the paper describes the current situation with the industry and then proposes inclusive value chains (IVC) that improve on the business-as-usual scenario. Our results indicate that although market analyses confirm the potential for smallholders to benefit from participating in niche product value chains, difficulties inherent in sourcing from smallholders, which are aggravated in SIDS, must first be overcome. Problems such as small production volumes in numerous dispersed plots with difficult access, high transport costs, low technical know-how, difficulties in accessing inputs and finance, unreliability of supply in terms of quality and quantity, and lack of reliable information about the resource base hinder IVC development. Increased vertical and horizontal coordination within the value chains address many of these issues, but in the Pacific context, some forms of coordination may be more feasible than others. The Pacific region does not have a strong cooperative tradition, so temporary horizontal coordination, long-term agreements, and contracts between producers, processors, and buyers may be necessary to make IVCs for niche island products achievable.

Rozwój administracji stosunków gospodarczych w PRL. Zagadnienia prawne

Rozwój administracji stosunków gospodarczych w PRL. Zagadnienia prawne

Marangoni convection in a dielectric fluid layer with an AC electric field and nonuniform volumetric heat source due to incident radiation

AbstractThe role of a uniform AC electric field and a nonuniform volumetric heat source arising due to an external incident radiation on the onset of Marangoni convection in a horizontal layer of an incompressible dielectric fluid is investigated. The bottom rigid surface is fixed at a constant temperature while the top free surface at which the surface tension acts is considered to be nondeformable and a Robin boundary condition on the perturbation temperature is invoked. The nonuniform internal heating within the fluid layer alters the conduction temperature profile from linear to nonlinear in the vertical coordinate. The linear stability of the quiescent basic solution is studied with respect to normal mode disturbances. The resulting stability eigenvalue problem with variable coefficient is solved numerically using the Galerkin method. The impact of governing parameters on the instability of the system is discussed thoroughly. The forces causing instability reinforce together and are found to be tightly coupled. It is observed that the strength of nonuniform heat source and the electric Rayleigh number is to hasten, while an increase in the Biot number is to delay the onset of Marangoni electroconvection. Finally, the results obtained under the limiting cases are shown to be in good agreement with those published earlier.

Examining the influence of health sector coordination on the efficiency of county health systems in Kenya

BackgroundHealth systems are complex, consisting of multiple interacting structures and actors whose effective coordination is paramount to enhancing health system goals. Health sector coordination is a potential source of inefficiency in the health sector. We examined how the coordination of the health sector affects health system efficiency in Kenya.MethodsWe conducted a qualitative cross-sectional study, collecting data at the national level and in two purposely selected counties in Kenya. We collected data using in-depth interviews (n = 37) with national and county-level respondents, and document reviews. We analyzed the data using a thematic approach.ResultsThe study found that while formal coordination structures exist in the Kenyan health system, duplication, fragmentation, and misalignment of health system functions and actor actions compromise the coordination of the health sector. These challenges were observed in both vertical (coordination within the ministry of health, within the county departments of health, and between the national ministry of health and the county department of health) and horizontal coordination mechanisms (coordination between the ministry of health or the county department of health and non-state partners, and coordination among county governments). These coordination challenges are likely to impact the efficiency of the Kenyan health system by increasing the transaction costs of health system functions. Inadequate coordination also impairs the implementation of health programmes and hence compromises health system performance.ConclusionThe efficiency of the Kenyan health system could be enhanced by strengthening the coordination of the Kenyan health sector. This can be achieved by aligning and harmonizing the intergovernmental and health sector-specific coordination mechanisms, strengthening the implementation of the Kenya health sector coordination framework at the county level, and enhancing donor coordination through common funding arrangements and integrating vertical disease programs with the rest of the health system. The ministry of health and county departments of health should also review internal organizational structures to enhance functional and role clarity of organizational units and staff, respectively. Finally, counties should consider initiating health sector coordination mechanisms between counties to reduce the fragmentation of health system functions across neighboring counties.

CSMOT: Make One-Shot Multi-Object Tracking in Crowded Scenes Great Again.

The current popular one-shot multi-object tracking (MOT) algorithms are dominated by the joint detection and embedding paradigm, which have high inference speeds and accuracy, but their tracking performance is unstable in crowded scenes. Not only does the detection branch have difficulty in obtaining the accurate object position, but the ambiguous appearance of features extracted by the re-identification (re-ID) branch also leads to identity switches. Focusing on the above problems, this paper proposes a more robust MOT algorithm, named CSMOT, based on FairMOT. First, on the basis of the encoder-decoder network, a coordinate attention module is designed to enhance the information interaction between channels (horizontal and vertical coordinates), which improves its object-detection abilities. Then, an angle-center loss that effectively maximizes intra-class similarity is proposed to optimize the re-ID branch, and the extracted re-ID features are made more discriminative. We further redesign the re-ID feature dimension to balance the detection and re-ID tasks. Finally, a simple and effective data association mechanism is introduced, which associates each detection instead of just the high-score detections during the tracking process. The experimental results show that our one-shot MOT algorithm achieves excellent tracking performance on multiple public datasets and can be effectively applied to crowded scenes. In particular, CSMOT decreases the number of ID switches by 11.8% and 33.8% on the MOT16 and MOT17 test datasets, respectively, compared to the baseline.

Ordering Gospel Textuality in the Second Century

Abstract This article interrogates how several second-century figures ordered a pluriform Gospel corpus. Focusing on approaches to Gospel plurality visible in the Epistula apostolorum, Tatian the Syrian, Irenaeus of Lyons, and Ammonius of Alexandria, we argue that a number of Christian readers—across the Roman Mediterranean, from Alexandria to Gaul and from Syria to Rome—employed similar approaches. Drawing on evidence for second-century reading practices, we demonstrate continuities in both textual practices and conceptual frameworks that illuminate Gospel reading and writing. These figures engaged Gospels in multiple dimensions—horizontal juxtaposition of parallel material and vertical coordination of narrative sequence—in order to map relationships between imperfectly parallel texts. These spatial textual practices enabled synthetic reading of an emergent pluriform Gospel corpus.

Pathways towards improved water governance: The role of polycentric governance systems and vertical and horizontal coordination

Persistent challenges in dealing with water management problems arise from complex interdependencies of diverse water uses. Water-related crises, such as prolonged droughts or extreme floods, may have severe impacts across scales and in different sectors. At the same time, numerous, largely independent decisions in different sectors affecting water resources and water-dependent ecosystems introduce further uncertainties. Conceptual consideration and empirical evidence suggest that polycentric governance systems have a high capacity to deal with such challenges. Polycentric governance systems combine decentralization of authority and decision-making with some kind of coordination of the different (semi-)autonomous governance units. However, the nature of and pathways towards polycentric governance are still quite poorly understood. This paper analyses requirements (1) for governance systems to become polycentric and (2) for such systems to effectively tackle water management challenges. The analyses are based on a data set of 26 cases from developed and less developed countries. Results from Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) confirm the hypothesis that polycentric governance systems are characterized by high performance in supporting effective coordination. Fragmented as well as centralized, not coordinated (rent-seeking) regimes show poor performance. The QCA analyses highlight further the importance of high institutional capacity for the effectiveness of formal coordination instruments. Results show as well a strong interdependence between vertical coordination and horizontal coordination. The results from QCA analyses are substantiated with findings from in-depth studies of selected cases from the larger data set.

Alkylamine-Confined Thickness-Tunable Synthesis of Co(OH)2-CoO Nanosheets toward Oxygen Evolution Catalysis

Thickness regulation of transition metal hydroxides/oxides nanosheets with superior catalytic properties represents a promising strategy to enhance catalytic performance, but it remains an enormous challenge to achieve precise control, especially when it comes to the ultrathin limit (several atomic layers). In this work, a facile strategy of alkylamine-confined growth is proposed for the synthesis of thickness-tunable metal hydroxide/oxide nanosheets. Specifically, ultrathin cobalt hydroxide and cobaltous oxide hybrid (Co(OH)2-CoO) nanosheets (Co-O NSs) with a thickness in the range of 2-6 nm (5-13 atomic layers) are synthesized by using alkylamines with different carbon chain lengths as the ligand to modulate vertical coordination ability. Co-O NSs with a thickness of 2 nm (Co-O NSs-2 nm) exhibit excellent oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance with an overpotential of 278 mV at 10 mA/cm2. The maximized number of active sites including oxygen vacancies, optimal adsorption strength, and the highest electrical conductivity are considered as the potential factors contributing to the excellent OER performance of Co-O NSs-2 nm. This work holds great significance for the precise thickness-tunable synthesis of transition metal layered hydroxide nanosheets with modulated and improved catalytic performance.

IMPLEMENTING THE COORDINATION FUNCTION OF CONTROLLING OF SPATIAL UTILIZATION IN THE NORTH BANDUNG AREA AS A STRATEGIC AREA OF WEST JAVA PROVINCE

The North Bandung area (KBU) based on Regional Regulation of West Java Province Number 22 of 2010 is designated as a provincial strategic area because it has a function as a water catchment area which supplies around 60% of the water needs of the people below it, if it is not maintained properly it will potentially cause environmental problems that have a very broad impact on life. However, KBU has extraordinary attractiveness that can provide economic benefits for many investors, so massive commercial development in this area is unavoidable. KBU is administratively located in 4 (four) districts/cities, namely Bandung Regency, West Bandung Regency, Bandung City and Cimahi City. Therefore, controlling development in this area requires good coordination between the provincial government as the representative of the central government and the four district/city regional governments. In reality, coordination did not run optimally, coordination carried out by the Province only with the district/city government based on the location of the land requested, without considering the granting of development permits in one area could have an impact on other districts/cities. For district/city governments, there is no vertical coordination regarding the granting of building permits at the KBU, because the district/city governments only implement the governor's recommendations in issuing these permits. Thus, when the investor has pocketed the governor's recommendation, the district/city government will follow up on the licensing process. On the other hand, the Provincial Government thinks that the governor's recommendation is not a ticket to obtain a permit, but as a consideration for the district/city government when they want to issue a land use permit or construct a building in a KBU. The different perceptions between the Provincial and Regency/City Governments show that coordination in the issuance of permits at the KBU has not been perfect, which in fact provides benefits for investors, even though it has the potential to harm the surrounding community if the increasingly rampant development at the KBU does not take into account environmental damage.

Designing vocational training policies in an outermost European region: Highlights from a participatory process

This paper presents a systematic framework of the most needed Vocational Education and Training (VET) reforms in The Azores, a Portuguese outermost region. Our report is based on a participatory research approach involving the perspectives of five different groups of stakeholders. Our data was collected in 18 virtual world-café sessions ( n = 164 participants—58 trainees; 21 trainers; 42 institutional representatives; 21 unemployed people registered at local public employment agencies; and 22 businesspersons; M age = 45.20; 60.37 women). Based on content analysis, we identified three main priorities to restructure vocational training policies: (a) VET perception and valorization, comprising strategies to disseminate a more positive social representation of VET in the region; (b) horizontal coordination between stakeholders, including effective ways of coordinating and sharing information; and (c) vertical coordination in terms of VET improvements of curricula, funding models, and investments in the sector’s human capital. Our correspondence analysis did not show significant differences regarding the prevalence of the three priorities across the five groups of stakeholders. We interpret and contextualize our results according to relevant publicly available data about the region, and an integrated governance lens to inform policy design in outermost territories.

Fabrication of Carbon Coated Nickel/Nitrogen Doped Graphene Composite Film and as Enhancer for Sensitive and Rapid Determination of Sunset Yellow

The innovative glassy carbon electrode used in the determination of sunset yellow is modified using a carbon-coated nickel/nitrogen doped graphene composite film. (C-Ni/NGE/GCE). The morphology and structure of different materials (C-Ni and NG) were characterized by transmission electron microscope. When HAc-NaAc (pH=4) was selected as the electrolyte solution, the maximum current of C-Ni/NGE/GCE oxidation peak was reached when the electrolyte concentration was 0.15 mol·L−1, which was a reversible redox peak. The maximum linear range is 1.0×10−4 mol·L−1 and the minimum is 4.0×10−6 mol·L−1. Taking the peak current as the vertical coordinate and SY concentration as the horizontal coordinate, the working standard curve equation obtained by differential pulse voltammetry is Ip(μA)=0.187+56.91c (μmol·L−1 )(R2=0.9992). The detection limit was 5.0×10−8 mol·L−1. The electrochemical behavior of SY shows proton number (X=1) and electron transfer number (n=1). The recovery rate of SY in beverage was 101.5%-103.3%. The following research of sensor to nitrite was the linear range, recovery rate and uL, produced in small experiments.

Trajectory and Velocity Planning Method of Emergency Rescue Vehicle Based on Segmented Three-Dimensional Quartic Bezier Curve

In order to ensure the driving safety, comfort, stability and high mobility of emergency rescue vehicle, and considering the actual characteristics of emergency rescue vehicles like large vehicle width, high center of gravity and large turning radius, a trajectory and velocity planning method for collision avoidance based on segmented three-dimensional quartic Bezier curve is proposed. The velocity information is regarded as the vertical coordinates of corresponding trajectory coordinates, and the three-dimensional Bezier curve is used for vehicle trajectory planning, so as to make the velocity information and vehicle trajectory coordinates correspond one by one in planning results. In addition, in order to realize the effective fit between the multiple optimization objectives and the actual needs in intelligent driving, the segmented Bezier curve is used to design the vehicle trajectory, and the vehicle trajectory is divided into collision-avoidance process and lane-alignment process, so as to realize the dynamic optimization of trajectory design objectives. The results show that the proposed trajectory and velocity planning method based on segmented three-dimensional quartic Bezier curve can effectively improve the mobility of trajectory planning results, improve lane-changing efficiency and reduce lane-changing time while ensuring the design objectives of vehicle safety, comfort and stability.

How China adopted eco-friendly forest development: Lens of the dual-track mechanism

Since 1998, China has experienced ecological forest restoration on an unprecedented scale, and the government has played a critical role in this process. Considering a dual-track mechanism—meaning a local-led administrative subcontract system and a central-led project system—this study proposed intergovernmental coordination and examined its effect on eco-friendly forest governance. Using a case-centric process-tracing approach, this study aimed to determine how central and local authorities developed a shared mission to transform forest development from economic to ecological. Through the dual-track mechanism, central and local governments can share common formal and informal interests in eco-friendly forest development. Meanwhile, the power of central and local governments separately dominates policy instruments to realize their interests. Therefore, both central and local authorities have the motivation and resources to promote eco-friendly forest development. Our findings show that vertical coordination among central and local governments for adopting eco-friendly forest development is possible, and proper policy instruments are required to achieve this.

COORDINATION OF VILLAGE COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT INSTITUTIONS (LPMD) IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF DEVELOPMENT IN BUTU VILLAGE, TILONGKABILA SUBDISTRICT BONE BOLANGO DISTRICT

<p>The purpose of this study is to describe how the coordination of the Village Community Empowerment Institution (LPMD) in the implementation of development in Butu Village, Tilongkabila District, Bone Bolango Regency. The research method is descriptive with a qualitative approach. The results of the study indicate that the vertical coordination in Butu Village has not been maximized, this can be seen by the absence of togetherness between all parties in the institution, so that the problems that arise cannot be overcome together. Horizontal coordination between institutions in the village can be said to have not gone well, this can be seen from the lack of cooperation between the LPMD management and other institutions, so that planning and decision-making related to village development does not involve LPMD. LPMD is a partner of the Village government, it should know the duties and functions of each administrator. Every important decision making related to development in an area can be well coordinated between the village government and other institutions. The coordination carried out by the LPMD can assist the village government in implementing village development programs, but this has not gone well, because the Butu LPMD has not played an active role in the activities carried out by Butu Village.</p>

The horizontal and vertical coordination of policy mixes for industrial upgrading in China: an ambidexterity perspective

ABSTRACT The established literature demonstrates the critical role of the policy mix in the formulation and implementation of government policies for industrial upgrading. However, existing studies mainly examine the policy mix from either a horizontal or a vertical coordination perspective; very few examine both dimensions. To gain further insights, the current study involves an analysis of how China’s central government manages horizontal and vertical coordination to pursue upgrading in manufacturing industries on the basis of an ambidextrous policy mix perspective and a thorough examination of both the external attributes (i.e., policy level) and content (i.e., policy instruments and themes) of policy documents. This analysis reveals several viable policy implications in relation to China’s manufacturing transformation. In particular, it finds that China’s policy mix for achieving manufacturing upgrading is highly coordinated on both horizontal and vertical dimensions. Governments at all levels apply the same set of policy instruments; environmental instruments are the most frequently used, followed by supply- and demand-side instruments. The core policy topics within the manufacturing upgrading structure include innovation, industrial transformation, industrial agglomeration, demonstration projects and service-oriented manufacturing. Therefore, this study establishes recommendations for future policies, which should focus on reinforcing guidance regarding national policies, encouraging local governments to apply innovative policy tools and increasing the use of demand-side policy instruments.

Do market outlet combinations improve smallholder gross margin for smallholder French beans producers?

ABSTRACT Procurement of fresh produce necessitates a consistent, high-quality, supply. This study examined effects of a single, and combined, market strategy on gross margin of smallholder French bean[s] (Phaselous vulgaris L.) farmers. A random sample of 215 farmers was used and a multinomial endogenous switching regression model analyzed the data. The choice of a market outlet combination was influenced by gender of the household decision-maker, household size, education, off-farm income, group membership, extension service, farming experience, off-farm income, credit access, and market reliability. Participating in multiple market outlets increased gross margin per season. Smallholder farmers reported USD 225.66 per season when selling in all vertical coordination options. Growers were worse off by participating in the contract option only, with reduced gross margin. Adoption of all market outlets was positively influenced by education and off-farm income. Smallholder French bean farmer’s socio-economic circumstances matter in shaping the choice of market outlet combinations, while market diversification is important for smallholder producers.

Unpacking policies for the development of agricultural growth poles in West Africa

ABSTRACT This paper investigates public policies implemented in Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali and Senegal to support the agricultural growth pole model. We critically assess assumptions regarding expected positive spillover effects through vertical coordination and tenure formalisation. Using a comparative analysis based on a typology informed by public economics, we show that policies centre on tax exemptions and land tenure, providing only limited support to coordination of actors along the value chain – through agricultural extension services or access to funding. The ongoing implementation of agropoles in West Africa, therefore, exacerbates the risk of the model, bearing negative impacts for smallholders.