Добірка наукової літератури з теми "Strength of competitive influence"

Cue competition refers to phenomena indicating that learning about the relationship between a cue and an outcome is influenced by learning about the predictive significance of other cues that are concurrently present. In two autoshaping experiments with pigeons, we investigated the strength of competition among cues for predictive value. In each experiment, animals received an overexpectation training (A+, D+ followed by AD+). In addition, the training schedule of each experiment comprised two control conditions—one condition to evaluate the presence of overexpectation (B+ followed by BY+) and a second one to assess the strength of competition among cues (C+ followed by CZ−). Training trials were followed by a test with individual stimuli (A, B, C). Experiment 1 revealed no evidence for cue competition as responding during the test mirrored the individual cue–outcome contingencies. The test results from Experiment 2, which included an outcome additivity training, showed cue competition in form of an overexpectation effect as responding was weaker for Stimulus A than Stimulus B. However, the test results from Experiment 2 also revealed that responding to Stimulus A was stronger than to Stimulus C, which indicates that competition among cues was not as strong as predicted by some influential theories of associative learning.

The purpose of this research is to identify the organizational role of the four types of organizational strengths such as: Sharia strength, reward power, strength of expertise, information power in enhancing the competitive advantage of the working managers and their assistants, A questionnaire was designed for the research variables to collect the data, consisting of (21) paragraphs representing the organizational power paragraphs, and (10) paragraphs representing the competitive advantage clauses. The questionnaire outputs (60) were analyzed and processed statistically and presented through the Statistical Package (SPSS). Based on the test of the research plan and its hypotheses, the research reached the following: There is a significant correlation between organizational strength and competitive advantage at the macro level. There is a significant correlation between the types of organizational power represented by (legitimate strength, reward power, strength of experience, information power) and competitive advantage. The existence of a significant influence of the organizational power in the competitive advantage at the macro level. The existence of a relationship of significant influence to the types of organizational power represented by (the legitimate force, the strength of reward, the strength of experience, the power of information) in the competitive advantage. In the light of the conclusions, a number of proposals were put forward, the most important of which was the promotion of awareness within the university at all levels of management of the importance and types of organizational power (legitimate power, reward power, the power of expertise, the power of information) to encourage workers and generate creative ideas and their role. In enhancing the competitive advantage. And the need to work to consolidate the meaning and the positive concept of force in order to unite efforts to benefit from the use of organizational power and the role they play in achieving the objectives of the University. Keywords: Strength / Organizational Strength / Competitive Advantage

Competitive advantage is an ability to create products that have more added value that can be used as strength to win the competition. The study was conducted on the furniture business of the City of Sukabumi, which wants to win the competition in an increasingly increasing number of competitors with similar businesses. The purpose of this study is to determine and understand the effect of differentiation strategies as an effort to realize competitive advantage in furniture SMEs. Starting with the desire to realize competitive advantage, the company needs to create a difference or privilege that is not owned by competitors to be used as strength in winning the competition. The method used to process this research data is quantitative with associative methods. With 50 respondents, namely furniture business owners or managers using IBM SPSS Version 23. The results of this research show that this research is categorized as having a very strong correlation with a value of 0.896. So that the conclusions in this research reveal the differentiation strategy has an influence in realizing competitive advantage by creating a difference both from product, service, personnel and image.

The presence and strength of resource competition can influence how organisms adaptively respond to environmental change. Selection may thus reflect a balance between two forces, adaptation to an environmental optimum and evolution to avoid strong competition. While this phenomenon has previously been explored in the context of single communities, its implications for eco-evolutionary dynamics at the metacommunity scale are largely unknown. We developed a simulation model for the evolution of a quantitative trait that influences both an organism’s carrying capacity and its intra- and interspecific competitive ability. In the model, multiple species inhabit a three-patch landscape, and we investigated the effect of varying the connectivity level among patches, the presence and pace of directional environmental change, and the strength of competition between the species. Our model produced some patterns previously observed in evolving metacommunity models, such as species sorting and community monopolization. However, we found that species sorting was diminished even at low rates of dispersal and was influenced by competition strength, and that monopolization was observed only when environmental change was very rapid. We also detected an eco-evolutionary feedback loop between local phenotypic evolution at one site and competition at another site, which maintains species diversity in some conditions. The existence of a feedback loop maintained by dispersal indicates that eco-evolutionary dynamics in communities operate at a landscape scale.

The aim was to analyze the influence of competitive round on muscle strength, body-fluid balance, and renal function in elite badminton players during a real competition. Body mass, jump height during a countermovement jump, handgrip force, and urine samples were obtained from 13 elite badminton players (6 men and 7 women) before and after the 2nd-round and quarterfinal matches of the national Spanish badminton championship. Sweat rate was determined by using prematch-to-postmatch body-mass change and by weighing individually labeled fluid bottles. Sweat rates were 1.04 ± 0.62 and 0.98 ± 0.43 L/h, while rehydration rate was 0.69 ± 0.26 and 0.91 ± 0.52 L/h for the 2nd round and quarterfinals, respectively. Thus, dehydration was 0.47% ± 1.03% after the 2nd round and 0.23% ± 0.43% after the quarterfinals. There were no differences in prematch-to-postmatch jump height, but jump height was reduced from 37.51 ± 8.83 cm after the 2nd-round game to 34.82 ± 7.37 cm after the quarterfinals (P < .05). No significant differences were found in handgrip force when comparing prepost matches or rounds, although there were significant differences between dominant and nondominant hands (P < .05). The succession of rounds caused the appearance of proteinuria, hematuria, glycosuria, and higher nitrite and ketone concentrations in urine. Rehydration patterns during a real badminton competition were effective to prevent dehydration. A badminton match did not affect jump height or handgrip force, but jump height was progressively reduced by the competitive round. Badminton players’ renal responses reflected diminished renal flux due to the high-intensity nature of this racket sport.

This paper uses a biform game model to study firms’ trade-offs between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and competitive advantage. We focus on the context in which a competitive advantage may lead to a non-profitable scenario. It is possible that the first mover’s investment in competitive strength may deter itself from the market, which encourages firms’ investment in CSR over competitive strength. As a result, in some circumstances, firms may actively choose a CSR strategy over a competitive strategy. Our results show that (1) technological characteristics, (2) industrial structure, and (3) institutional environments are factors that influence the rational equilibrium of our model and the balance between competitive advantage and CSR. The mechanism and boundary on how firms make trade-offs between CSR activities and competitive strength are exhibited by our model, which provides a framework for decision-making and adds new insights into the strategic balance between market and non-market strategies.

Purpose: to determine the influence of circuit training on the level of strength and speed-strength abilities development in basketball players of 18-19 years old at the pre-competitive and competitive stages of the training process. Material: athletes (n = 32) were divided into 2 groups of 16 people. The pedagogical experiment lasted 7 months. Tests were applied to determine speed-power abilities: standing long jump test (broad jump, cm); vertical jump test. Strength was evaluated by the following tests: pull-up bars; hanging leg raises (stall bars)). Results: it was determined that power and speed-power abilities are leading in basketball. It was proposed the set of physical exercises performed on the principle of circuit training. It was confirmed the expediency of the circuit training applying for the development of power and speed-power abilities in basketball players. It is established that the circular training in the preparatory and final parts of the training increases the speed and speed-strength indicators of basketball players. Conclusion: It is recommended the circuit training applying at the pre-competitive and competitive stages of the training process.

Background. The influence of different strength training interventions on strength and competitive performance has been insufficiently examined in elite junior judokas. This study aimed to investigate the impact of different strength interventions in precompetitive training process of elite junior male judokas. Material and Methods. Fifty-three elite judokas (age: 17.22±1.37 yrs, height: 176.34±5.47 cm, body weight: 78.46±6.22 kg, judo training experience: 4.52±0.89 years) performed two different 8-week strength training interventions. Group 1 (n=27) were performed “strength” intervention, group 2 (n=26) were performed “CrossFit®” intervention about 5.3-6.0 hours per week. The base training exercises were as follows: bench press, barbell bench pull and lat pull-down, clean & jerk, snatch, squats and knee flexion curl, pull up. The handgrip strength test, the one-repetition maximum tests, pull up test and competitive performance evalution, were in this study. Results. In post-intervention period, were found that bench press and back squat findings were significantly (p≤0.05) higher in judokas (group 1) as compared to judokas (group 2). There were significantly (p≤0.05) higher pull upfindings in judokas (group 2). No significant differences were observed among the groups with regard to competitive performance values within 3.5 months after post-intervention. Conclusions. This study demonstrated that 8-week of different strength training interventions are not equally effective to increase performance of junior male judokas in specific strength tests and not to change competitive performance of athletes within 3.5 months after strength intervention. The final decision for the particular strength training intervention (“strength” or “CrossFit®”) can be decided according to an judoka's individual challenges during the competitive season.

Identification and development of physical characteristics that lead to efficient performance of military skills or tasks has been a consistently difficult task for the United States military for decades. The literature suggests certain physical characteristics may be more important, although this information is conflicting. Furthermore, the military physical fitness training program that is intended to prepare soldiers for combat is commonly evaluated with the Army Physical Fitness Test (PFT), a test that is more suited for evaluating health and wellness rather than task-specific fitness. All of this testing and training of soldiers focuses on the individual soldiers and their abilities although military skills or tasks are seldom if ever conducted independently. The first purpose of this dissertation was to identify relationships between the PFT, anthropometrics, measures of strength, and power. The second purpose was to identify the team characteristics that influence team performance during the Sandhurst Competition (a 2-day simulated military operation). Strong correlations were found between PFT events and weak correlations were found between PFT measures and evaluations of strength and power. The strong correlations between PFT events could indicate that only one event may be necessary to determine health and wellness. The weak correlations between events of the PFT and measures of strength and power suggest the PFT is not an assessment of strength and power based on the strength and power measures employed in the current study. The evaluation of team characteristics indicated that age (possibly experience) had the largest effect on Sandhurst Competition performance. Further analysis of each event supported the contention that age influences performance but also identified specific aerobic, anaerobic, and anthropometric variables that influenced performance on particular events. The data from this dissertation suggests that teams competing in the Sandhurst Competition should attempt to recruit team members with more experience, very high run scores, and high vertical jump heights.

Дисертаційну роботу присвячено обґрунтуванню теоретико-методичних основ та розробці практичних рекомендацій щодо побудови конкурентної стратегії торговельного підприємства, яка спрямована на формування динамічних конкурентних переваг в процесі забезпечення сталого розвитку підприємства. Розвинено категорійно-понятійний апарат теорії конкуренції, конкурентних стратегій, а також запропоновано концептуальний підхід до формування конкурентної стратегії на основі безперервної інноваційної моделі. Розглянуто і критично проаналізовано еволюціонування теорії конкуренції в перебігу формування економічних систем та доведено, що Індустрія 4.0 докорінно трансформує основні важелі конкурентного середовища, соціальний базис конкурентних стратегій та інструментів суперництва, основаних на інтелектуальній компоненті. Таке бачення уможливлює імплементування основних елементів Індустрії 4.0 в діяльність торговельних українських підприємств, зважаючи на їх роль у ланцюгу створення цінності. Визначено особливості функціонування механізму формування динамічного конкурентного потенціалу, який забезпечує швидкість реагування на зміни ринкової ситуації, стратегічну гнучкість та готовність підприємства до змін. На основі систематизації наукових підходів до формування конкурентної стратегії запропоновано її безперервну інноваційну модель, рушійним механізмом якої мають стати стратегічні дії підприємства щодо вдосконалення бази знань, а отже формування стійких та динамічних конкурентних переваг. До їх числа віднесено: мотиваційні механізми конкурування; системи управління знаннями й продукування генерації ідей та інновацій; інструменти маркетингу, сценарії досягнення лідерства; забезпечення інтересів стейкголдерів; партнерські стратегії. Удосконалено науково-методичний підхід щодо формування концептуального паттерну стратегічного конкурентного потенціалу підприємства роздрібної торгівлі, який на відміну від інших розробок включає: можливості, що склалися у зовнішньому середовищі; споживчий потенціал; потенціал внутрішнього середовища підприємства, і спрямований на підвищення конкурентного потенціалу підприємства. Концептуальний паттерн формування стратегічного конкурентного потенціалу, здатний не тільки формувати й підтримувати конкурентні переваги, але й продукувати інновацію цінностей для забезпечення безперервності розвитку торговельного підприємства. Виокремлено та обґрунтовано забезпечуючий ланцюг системних цінностей, який продукується функціональними підсистемами торговельного підприємства та формує унікальну торговельну пропозицію. Пропонований підхід забезпечить сучасне підґрунтя для формування конкурентної стратегії торговельного підприємства. Ідентифіковано та проведено класифікацію факторів впливу на формування конкурентних стратегій та культуру безперервного інноваційного бізнес-моделювання, яка, на відміну від усталених, виокремлює екзогенні (глобалізаційні процеси, межі ринків, темпи розвитку технологій, невизначеність середовища); ендогенні (динаміка та розмір внутрішнього потенціалу підприємств торгівлі, організаційні знання та навики, рівень між фірмової невизначеності) та стратегічні дії підприємств щодо вдосконалення бази знань та забезпечення безперервності розвитку конкурентної стратегії (партнерські стратегії, сценарії досягнення лідерства, забезпечення інтересів стейкголдерів, співконкуренція, внутрішні інноваційні процеси). Такий підхід дозволяє підприємствам торгівлі при формування конкурентної стратегії базуватися на безперервній інноваційній моделі. Дістала подальшого розвитку теоретизація понятійного апарату конкурентної стратегії підприємства, а саме: визначено сутність поняття «конкурентна стратегія», яка, на відміну від усталених поглядів, розглядається як динамічна модель поведінки підприємства, спрямована на досягнення сталої конкурентоспроможності в межах місії, націленої на задоволення потреб споживачів та забезпечення економічних, масштабних та іміджевих ефектів підприємства. Розвинено трактування сутності поняття «інновація цінності», яку на відміну від інших, запропоновано визначати як стратегію, що забезпечує здатність системи продукувати ринкові зміни на основі збалансованого поєднання виключної корисності, цільової собівартості, стратегічного ціноутворення задля безперервного розвитку підприємства у конкурентному середовищі. На підставі моніторингу ринку канцтоварів України удосконалено науково-методичний підхід до якісного оцінювання ситуації на ринку, який на відміну від інших розробок, ґрунтується на визначенні системи інтегрованих оцінок зовнішнього конкурентного макропотенціалу, в розрізі визначальних екзогенних факторів і залежить від їх варіації та рівня впливу на діяльність підприємства, що дозволило оцінити зовнішній конкурентний потенціал, який впливає на формування конкурентної стратегії підприємств роздрібної торгівлі. Сформовано теоретико-методичний підхід до визначення ефективності управління конкурентною позицією торговельного підприємства, що базується на інтегрованій оцінці масштабу конкурентного потенціалу, сили конкурентного впливу та результативності стратегічних дій конкурентів, та спрямований на трансформування стратегічного бачення позиції підприємства на ринку як конкурентної стратегії, а стійкість конкурентних переваг дозволяє визначати в контексті можливості утримання конкурентної позиції у довгостроковій перспективі. Запропоновано комплексний інтегральний показник ефективності управління конкурентною позицією підприємств роздрібної торгівлі на основі результативності стратегічних дій та сили конкурентного впливу. Все це формує аналітичну складову розробки конкурентної стратегії, яка забезпечить механізм порівняння динамічності, гнучкості конкурентних переваг, для формування сталої конкурентоспроможності в межах корпоративної стратегії спрямованої на задоволення потреб споживачів та забезпечення економічних, масштабних та іміджевих ефектів підприємства торгівлі. Набув подальшого розвитку ресурсний підхід до оцінювання внутрішнього конкурентного потенціалу підприємств роздрібної торгівлі, в основу якого, на відміну від інших, покладено розрахунок інтегрального показника на основі збалансованої системи часткових показників за такими складовими потенціалу, як: споживчий, фінансовий, клієнтський, бізнес-процесів, стратегічний та потенціал розвитку, що дає можливість комплексно визначити рушійні сили конкурентного потенціалу, розглянути синестезію пріоритетних конкурентних складових підприємства роздрібної торгівлі з цілями його корпоративної стратегії та забезпечити порівняння між існуючим станом та прогнозним рівнем конкурентного потенціалу підприємства. Запропоновано системно-раціональний підхід до реалізації тактичного конкурентного позиціювання в напрямку активних стратегічних дій підприємства роздрібної торгівлі в межах загальної конкурентної стратегії комбінування. Даний підхід ґрунтувався на припущенні, що формування мережі магазинів одного підприємства має відбуватися на основі експоненціального приросту корисності, ефекту масштабу, накопиченого досвіду й знань, зростанням довіри з боку зацікавлених осіб. Даний підхід складається з методики перевірки наявності тісноти синергійних зв’язків між магазинами, що входять до складу одного підприємства та моделі визначення раціонального масштабу мережі магазинів, побудованої на основі показника відносного загального доходу, який продукується мережею магазинів. Удосконалено науково-методичний підхід до формування конкурентної стратегії підприємства роздрібної торгівлі канцтоварами, який об’єднує в собі послідовність дій інтуїтивної аргументації сценаріїв досягнення лідерства на ринку та, на відміну від існуючих розробок, враховує структуризацію цілей тактичної конкурентної позиції, виявлення альтернативних тактичних завдань, які формують тактичні конкурентні переваги та тактик конкурування з подальшою ітерацією конвергенції ймовірнісного та бажаного стану системи в умовах ресурсних та часових обмежень. Результати отриманих досліджень та практичне вирішення завдань щодо формування конкурентної стратегії знайшло відображення у практичній діяльності підприємств роздрібної торгівлі канцтоварами міста Вінниці та Хмельницької торговельно-промислової палати. Ключові слова: стратегія, конкурентна стратегія, конкурентоспроможність, конкурентна позиція, конкурентні переваги, сила конкурентного впливу, інтенсивність конкуренції, споживчий потенціал, інновація цінності, функціональна цінність, вартісна цінність, споживча цінність, операційна цінність, організаційна цінність, комбінована конкурентна стратегія, тактична конкурентна позиція, тактика конкурування.
The dissertation is devoted to substantiation of theoretical and methodical bases and development of practical recommendations on construction of competitive strategy of commercial enterprise which is directed on formation of dynamic competitive advantages in the process of maintenance of sustainable development of the enterprise. It is developed categorical and conceptual system of theory of competition, competitive strategies, and also it is proposed a conceptual approach to the formation of a competitive strategy based on a continuous innovation model. It is considered and critically analyzed the evolution of competition theory during the formation of economic systems and it is proved that Industry 4.0 radically transforms the main levers of the competitive environment, the social basis of competitive strategies and rivalry tools based on the intellectual component. Such vision enables the implementation of the main elements of Industry 4.0 in the activities of Ukrainian commercial enterprises, considering to their role in the chain of creation the value. It is defined the peculiarities of functioning of the mechanism of formation of dynamic competitive potential which provides speed of reaction to changes of market situation, strategic flexibility and readiness of the enterprise to changes. Based on the systematization of scientific approaches to the formation of competitive strategy it is proposed its continuous innovative model, the driving mechanism of which should be the strategic actions of the enterprise to improve the base of knowledge, and therefore the formation of sustainable and dynamic competitive advantages. These include: motivational mechanisms of competition; knowledge management systems and production of idea generation and innovation; marketing tools, scenarios of achieving the leadership; ensuring the interests of stakeholders; partnership strategies. It is improved the scientific and methodological approach to the formation of the conceptual pattern of strategic competitive potential of the retail enterprise, which, unlike other developments, includes: opportunities that have developed in the external environment; consumer potential; the potential of the internal environment of the enterprise, and aims to increase the competitive potential of the enterprise. Conceptual pattern of formation of strategic competitive potential is able not only to form and maintain competitive advantages, but also to produce innovation of values to ensure the continuity of development of commercial enterprise. It is highlighted and grounded the providing chain of system values, which is produced by the functional subsystems of trade enterprise and forms a unique trade offer. The suggested approach will provide a modern basis for formation of competitive strategy of commercial enterprise. It is identified and carried out the classification of impact factors on the formation of competitive strategies and culture of continuous innovative business modeling, which, unlike established, carves out exogenous (globalization processes, markets borders, the rate of technology development, the uncertainty of the environment); endogenous (dynamics and size of internal potential of trade enterprises, organizational knowledge and skills, the level interfirm uncertainty) and strategic actions of enterprises to improve the knowledge base and ensure the continuity of competitive strategy (partnership strategies, scenarios of achieving the leadership, ensuring the interests of stakeholders, co-competition, internal innovation processes ). Such approach allows the trade enterprises during the formation of competitive strategy to base on continuous innovation model. Received of further development of theorizing conceptual system of competitive strategy of the enterprise, namely: it is defined he essence of the concept of «competitive strategy», which, unlike established views, is considered as a dynamic model of enterprise behavior aimed at achieving sustainable competitiveness within the mission aimed at meeting consumer needs and ensuring economic, large-scale and image effects of the enterprise. It is developed interpretation of the essence of the concept of «value innovation», which, unlike others, is proposed to define as a strategy that ensures the ability of the system to produce market changes based on the balanced combination of exceptional utility, target prime cost, strategic pricing for continuous development in the competitive environment. Based on the monitoring of the stationery market of Ukraine, it is improved the scientific and methodological approach to qualitative assessment of the market situation, which, unlike other developings, is based on the definition of the system of integrated assessment of external competitive macro-potential, in terms of determinative exogenous factors and depends on their variation and the level of impact on the enterprise activity, which is allowed to assess external competitive potential that effects on the formation of competitive strategy of the retail trade enterprises. It is formed theoretical and methodical approach of determination of management efficiency of competitive position of commercial enterprise, which is based on the integrated assessment of the scale of competitive potential, strength of the competitive impact and effectiveness of strategic actions of competitors, and aims at transforming of strategic vision of the position of the enterprise on the market as a competitive strategy, and the stability of competitive advantages allows to determine in the context of the possibility of maintaining a competitive position in the long prospect. It is suggested a complex integrated indicator of the effectiveness of managing the competitive position of the retail trade enterprises based on the effectiveness of strategic actions and the strength of competitive influence. All it forms an analytical component of the development of competitive strategy, which will provide a mechanism of comparing the dynamism, flexibility of competitive advantages, to form a sustainable competitiveness within the corporate strategy aimed at meeting consumer needs and ensuring economic, scale and image-building effects of trade enterprise. It is acquired further resource approach to assessing the internal competitive potential of the retail trade enterprises, on the basis, unlike others, is laid the calculation of integrated indicator based on a balanced system of partial indicators for such components of potential as consumer, financial, customer, business processes, strategic and development potential, which allows to determine comprehensively the driving forces of competitive potential, to consider the synesthesia of priority competitive components of the retail trade enterprise with the goals of its corporate strategy and to provide a comparison between the existing state and the forecast level of competitive potential. It is suggested system-rational approach to realization of tactical competitive positioning in the direction of active strategic actions of the retail trade enterprise within general competitive strategy of combination. This approach was based on the assumption that the formation of chain store system of one enterprise should be based on the exponential increase of utility, effect of scale, accumulated experience and knowledge, increasing trust from interested person. This approach consists of a method of checking the closeness of synergies between stores that are part of the same enterprise and the model of determining the rational scale of the chain store system, built on the basis of the relative total revenue, which is produced by the chain store system. It is improved scientific and methodological approach to the formation of a competitive strategy of the retail trade enterprise of stationery, which consisits of combination of sequences of actions of intuitive reasoning scenarios of achieving the leadership at the market and, in contrast with the existing developings, takes into account the structuring of tactical competitive position, identifying alternative tactical tasks tactical which forms tactical competitive advantages and competitive tactics with subsequent iteration of the convergence of the probable and desired state of the system in terms of resource and time constraints. The results of the received researches and practical decision of issues to form the competitive strategy were reflected in practical activity of the enterprises of retail trade enterprises of stationery of Vinnytsia and Khmelnytskyi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

In an attempt to determine the value of dry-land weight training on swimming performance, two groups of twenty four intercollegiate male swimmers were equated based upon pre-swimming performance, swim power values, stroke specialities, and collegiate swimming experience. At the start of a swimming season there were no significant differences (p>0.05) between the swim training group (SWIM, N=12) and the combined weight and swim training group (COMBO, N=12). Throughout the 13 weeks of their competitive swimming season, both SWIM and COMBO swam together six days a week. In addition, the COMBO engaged in a weight training program three days a week between the third and eleventh weeks (for eight weeks) of the season. The weight training program, using free weights, was intended to simulate arm actions and muscle actions similar to those used during front crawl swimming. Both COMBO and SWIM groups had significant but similar power gains (p<0.05) as measured on the biokinetic swim bench and during a tethered swim. Swimmers in both groups experienced a significant (p<0.05) increase in competitive swim performance from 1991 to 1992 (0.89 ± 0.60% in COMBO and 0.87 ± 0.4Q% in SWIM) whereas no change in distance per stroke (p>0.05) was observed throughout the course of this investigation. Mean total testosterone levels were not altered during the weight training period in either group. No significant (p>0.05) differences were found between the groups in any of the swim power and swimming performance tests. In this investigation, dry-land weight training did not improve swimming performance despite the fact that the COMBO was able to increase the weights used during strength training by 25 to 35%. The lack of positive transfer between dry-land strength gains and swimming propulsive force may be due to the specificity of training.
Human Performance Laboratory

Purpose: The purpose of this training, monitoring study was to investigate how alterations in training variables affect changes among underlying mechanisms of performance and weightlifting performance and whether certain variables are better suited for monitoring the training process than others. Additionally, the importance of including barbell displacement in volume load (VL) calculations was investigated. Subjects: Seven (4 males, 3 females) competitive weightlifters participated in the study dealing with alterations of underlying mechanisms and performance while 8 weightlifters (5 males, 3 females) participated in the investigation of exercise displacement. Methods: The weightlifters participated in a 20-week periodized resistance training plan. Measurements of maximal strength and explosive strength from the isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) and static jumps (SJ) with 0kg, 11kg, and 20kg were taken toward the end of each training block (weeks 1, 6, 10, 13, 17, and 20). Weightlifting performance was measured at weeks 0, 7, 11, and 20. The detailed monitoring of VL consisted of recording the load, rep count, and with and without displacement for every set for 20 weeks. Results: Very strong correlations were displayed between weightlifting performances and isometric rate of force development (RFD), isometric peak force (PF), and peak power (PP) at 0kg, 11kg, and 20kg. During periods of higher volume loads RFD was depressed to a much greater extent than peak force (PF). For the males, similar to RFD, JH at 20kg responded in a manner fitting an expected fatigue response compared to JH at 0kg and 11kg. VL correlated very strongly to VL with displacement; however, statistically significant differences existed for percent change (4 of the 7 time periods measured) Conclusions: PF is more resistant to volume alterations than RFD and JH at 20kg. Thus RFD and JH at 20kg appear to be superior monitoring metrics. The testing period in which preparedness was the highest happened in concert with a taper. Based on correlations, PF, RFD, and PP are variables on which coaches should focus for enhancing performance. A strong relationship exists between VL and VL with displacement; however, changes from one period to the next are not always the same.

Background: Maximal muscle strength and body proportions are some of the key attributes to be a fast swimmer. Even though dolphin kick (DK) has become essential to be a fast swimmer little is known of its associations to muscle strength and body proportions. Moreover, the effect of feet size has been stated to be a primary contributor to dolphin kick thrust production, but scientific evidence is still scarce. Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the correlation between lower extremity muscle strength, abdominal strength and feet length with dolphin kick performance over 15 meters in active competitive swimmers 15-20 years old Method: Twelve Test subjects (six male and six female) participated. Test subjects performed four 15 meters dolphin kick trials. Lower extremity muscle strength was tested with a three repetition maximum strength test and abdominal strength with brutal bench test. The muscles tested were rectus femoris, biceps femoris and rectus abdominis. Feet length was measured with a measuring tape. The correlations between lower extremity strength, abdominal strength and feet length with dolphin kick performance were calculated with spearman’s correlation. Results: Twelve test subjects between ages 15-20 years old participated. Spearman correlation test showed that lower extremity strength (rectus femoris: rs=-0.57 and biceps femoris: rs=-0.66) had a large association with dolphin kick performance. Abdominal strength (rs=-0.46) and feet length (rs=-0.35) had a moderate association with dolphin kick performance. Conclusion: The present study conclude that lower extremity strength is important for DK performance over 15 meters and that abdominal strength and feet length also is important but is less associated to it. The finding from this study can be used for making training programs for improving DK performance and for scouting swimmers with beneficial traits for specific swimming technique.

In this thesis the influence of the drying pressure on interfibre bond strength was investigated. Five different drying pressures, 0.7, 2.9, 4.5, 6.7, and 15 kPa, were applied during the preparation of fiber-fiber cross test pieces. The nominal overlap area of each fibre-fibre cross was measured in a transmission light microscope. A tensile tester was used to record the loaddeformation behavior of each fiber-fiber cross. The final results of the interfibre bond strength were defined by both the overlap area and the maximum force of each bond. The results showed that the influence of drying pressure to the average strength were very weak, although a maximum could be seen at 2.9 kPa of drying pressure. Moreover, the results suggested the overall trend of decreasing strengths at very high drying pressures. Finally, a statistical significance study of the results was presented. In addition, the influences of fiber type (spring wood vs. summer wood) and press type (steel vs. steel or steel vs. rubber) on interfibre bond strength were also discussed.

Thesis (M.A.)--East Tennessee State University, 2004.
Title from electronic submission form. ETSU ETD database URN: etd-1219103-161923. Includes bibliographical references. Also available via Internet at the UMI web site.

B2B marketing is a rapidly developing direction, the basis of which is the interaction of business organizations with organizations that purchase goods and services for use in their own production of goods and services that are in demand from other organizations, in the markets of end consumers or from society as a whole. Globalization, the increasing influence of digital technologies on competition, the growing awareness of consumers and the tightening of their requirements for purchased goods and services strengthen the strategic role of B2B marketing. Competitiveness in the B2B markets is increasingly determined by their participation and position in competitive and viable value creation networks. For students, postgraduates of universities, researchers and teachers.

Abstract The introduction of species to new locations leads to novel competitive interactions between resident native and newly-arriving non-native species. The nature of these competitive interactions can influence the suitability of the environment for the survival, reproduction and spread of non-native plant species, and the impact those species have on native plant communities. Indeed, the large literature on competition among plants reflects its importance in shaping the composition of plant communities, including the invasion success of non-native species. While competition and invasion theory have historically developed in parallel, the increasing recognition of the synergism between the two themes has led to new insights into how non-native plant species invade native plant communities, and the impacts they have on those plant communities. This chapter provides an entry point into the aspects of competition theory that can help explain the success, dominance and impacts of invasive species. It focuses on resource competition, which arises wherever the resources necessary for establishment, survival, reproduction and spread are in limited supply. It highlights key hypotheses developed in invasion biology that relate to ideas of competition, outlines biotic and abiotic factors that influence the strength of competition and species' relative competitive abilities, and describes when and how competition between non-native and native plant species can influence invasion outcomes. Understanding the processes that influence the strength of competition between non-native and native plant species is a necessary step towards understanding the causes and consequences of biological invasions.

Eco-friendly “green” composites made from flax fibers and biodegradable corn starch-based matrix were successfully prepared by hot pressing. Thermoplastic starch (TPS) was obtained by blending native corn starch with glycerin and water. The plasticized starch was emulsified before being added to the previously NaOH-treated flax fibers. The flax content was varied from 20 to 80 wt%. The composites were preheated and then pressed at 5 MPa and 160°C for 30 minutes. Density measurements showed low porosity for all composites up to 50 wt% fibers. SEM investigation showed strong adhesion at fiber-matrix interface and good fibers wettability. Static tensile and flexural mechanical properties (stiffness and strength) of the composites appeared to increase with the fiber weight fraction increase up to 50 wt%. Increasing fiber content also improved composite stability in thermal degradation, water uptake and biodegradation. Some micromechanical models are used to study the tensile strength and modulus of the obtained composites such as the Kelly-Tyson and Halpin–Tsai equations. The present work shows that 50 wt% composite has competitive properties, qualifying this material to be affordable and appropriate for different applications.

The application of high strength steels like X100 are considered as an economical necessity in order to supply large volumes of gas over long distances in a competitive manner. The development of the grade X100 started more than 10 years ago and has progressed significantly. Therefore the focus of actual development and research work is focused on questions regarding the installation and the service behaviour of such high strength steels. In this context the TAP project has been launched by the ENI group in order to provide answers regarding the economic viability, the technological reliability and the real possibility of constructing high pressure pipelines with this newly developed steel grade. In this paper the manufacturing of line pipe in grade X100 for the TAP project including the two fibre reinforced crack arrestors will be summarized and the production results regarding strength and toughness we presented. Furthermore the analysis of tensile test results regarding the influence of specimen type, anisotropy and the effect of thermal treatment (low temperature ageing) on the stress-strain curve will be discussed.

Abstract Competition is a common design strategy used to enhance user engagement and participation. However, it remains unclear how winning or losing might influence player’s engagement. In a recent study, we used behavioral metrics to quantify player engagement during competitive gameplay in virtual reality. To control for players’ status of winning or losing, we programmed a virtual opponent to either under-perform, over-perform, or tie with them. We conducted a series of experiments and found that players’ engagement was higher when they were losing, compared to when they played alone. Nevertheless, players’ engagement did not change during competition with an under-performing or equally-performing opponent. By applying the information-theoretic notion of transfer entropy, we unveiled a causal relationships between relative performance and engagement, whereby players monitored the scores and adapted their behavior accordingly. However, behavioral metrics are not detached from volition and may be influenced by confounding factors. This limitation is addressed by the use of physiological metrics, which offer largely unbiased measurements of cognitive and emotional processes. In the present study, we sought to strengthen our prior findings by measuring engagement with a physiological correlate. We conducted experiments in the same experimental setting and we measured players’ galvanic skin response during competition. We discovered that players’ skin conductance was higher when they were outperformed by their opponent, indicating that they were experiencing less flow. The results inform the design of technology-mediated applications toward sustaining user engagement and participation.

Competition is the driving force of any economic system, as it creates a challenging environment for service suppliers to provide affordable and reliable services to customers. Rail systems are an important element of the logistic chain, as they provide a unique service category (generally transporting large volumes at low unit costs) to shippers that otherwise would not be serviced by other modes — the so called captive shippers. In this scenario, competition is essential to guarantee the required service levels (availability and reliability), followed by competitive rates, which ultimately may influence shippers’ business competitiveness, both regionally and globally. Brazil and some North American countries (Canada, Mexico and United States), have a common feature, i.e. continental territories allied with the economic exploitation of bulky activities (industrial, mineral and agricultural), and, hence, depend strongly on heavy haul rail systems. These countries have been performing a continuous effort on improving competition practices into their rail systems, which are translated into important, and sometimes controversial, regulatory measures. These initiatives require a tenuous equilibrium, as they are supposed to provide the required competitive service at affordable rates for shippers, as well as a sustainable (financial and operational) environment to rail carriers, to guarantee the required return on long term investments and avoid compromising medium and long term rail network efficiency. This challenging task for rail market stakeholders (rail carriers, shippers and regulators) is far from a consensus. Rail companies claim that, as a capital intensive sector, governmental regulatory intervention into the rail system may inhibit their ability to invest the required funds to provide and expand rail capacity, as well as the maintenance of the required safety levels. Shippers, on the other hand, state that rail systems operate within a strong market concentration (originally formatted or due to subsequent merges and acquisitions) that give some rail carriers a disproportionate market power, that resembles a monopoly, which ultimately leaves a significant contingent of the so called captive shippers with just one freight rail carrier option, sometimes subjected to excessive rates, and, in some special instances (into offer restricted rail markets, for example), are responsible for the unavailability of rail services into the required volumes. In this context, there is currently a controversial debate regarding the effectiveness of competitive regulatory remedies into freight rail systems. This debate includes both market oriented rail systems (Canadian and U.S.), as well as rail contractual granted ones (Brazilian and Mexican). In the formers, the systems are mostly owned and operated by the private sector, and inter and intra modal options may theoretically provide the required competition level, while in the latter, rail systems have been broken into separate pieces and granted to the private sector under a concession arrangement, followed by an exclusive right to serve their territories, with trackage rights provisions, to be exerted by third parties, under previously defined circumstances and subjected to contractual agreements among rail operators. In both systems, competitive regulatory actions may be desirable and effective, as far as they may address the technical-operational-economic boundary conditions of each particular rail system. This work is supposed to present, into a review format, sourced from an extensive research into available international technical literature, and gathered as a unique document, an overview of the Brazilian and North American freight rail competition scenario, followed by a technical and unbiased effectiveness’ assessment of current (existing) and proposed competitive regulatory freight rail initiatives into Brazil, Canada, Mexico and United States, highlighting their strengths and eventually their weaknesses.

High strength steel is widely used in the manufacturing of parts dealing with heavy cyclic loads and corrosive environments. However, processing this type of steel is not easy, and it becomes a hard-to-solve problem when the part to produce is large, thick and quasi-unique. One example of a thick high strength steel axisymmetric part is the conical shape of the crown of a Francis turbine runner. Some Francis turbine runners installed in the dam basement of a hydraulic power plant are 10 meters in diameter with more than 5 meters in height, while plate thickness can exceed 100 millimeters. Several processes can be envisaged for the manufacturing processes of such large parts (welding or casting…), but few processes can deliver one within a reasonable time and at competitive cost. Among them the roll bending process, causing plastic deformation of a plate around a linear axis with little or no change in plate thickness, is considered as an interesting alternative. The main objective of this research is to assess 3D dynamic finite element and analytical models for the computation of the bending forces during the manufacturing of hollow conical parts made of a thick plate and a high strength steel. Numerous parameters such as thickness, curvature, part size, material properties and friction directly influence the reaction forces on the rolls. Therefore, the results of this research provide a better understanding of the phenomena taking place in the process, and an opportunity to establish relationships between the bending forces and the parameters of a final conical part.

Elasticity and strength of proteins influence their biological functions. Under external forces, many proteins exhibit entropic elasticity with a characteristic stiffening elastic behavior and unravel due to the rupture of interstrand H-bonds. We develop a fracture mechanics based theoretical framework that considers the free energy competition between entropic elasticity of polypeptide chains and rupture of peptide hydrogen bonds, which we use here to provide an explanation for the intrinsic strength limit of protein domains at vanishing rates [1, 2]. Our analysis predicts that individual protein domains stabilized only by hydrogen bonds cannot exhibit rupture forces larger than 100–300 pN in the asymptotic quasi-static limit. This result explains earlier experimental and computational observations that suggest such a universal, asymptotic strength limit at vanishing pulling rates. We show that the rupture strength of H-bond assemblies in beta-sheets is governed by geometric confinement effects, suggesting that clusters of at most 3–4 H-bonds break concurrently, even under uniform shear loading of a much larger number of H-bonds. These strength, elasticity and size effect predictions all agree well with recent experimental findings and proteomics data. Our model confirms that fracture mechanics concepts, previously primarily applied to macroscale fracture phenomena, can also be directly applied at nanoscale, to be used for describing failure mechanisms in protein materials. Our strength and optimal size predictions lead to a key hypothesis: confined H-bond clusters are prevalent in alpha helices, beta-sheets and beta-solenoids, perhaps as an evolutionary design principle that derives from generic mechanical properties of the fundamental building blocks of life.

Abstract As recognized as the most economical and effective measure to increase carbonate oil and gas well production, matrix acidising is widely used. The main feature of acidising and the key influence factor of increasing production is what kind of acid etched wormholes can be formed. The actual etched wormholes grow in disorder and randomly, that's why it is extremely difficult to describe by classical mathematical methods. Due to the lack of a quantitative calculation model for the growth law of acid-etched wormholes, penetration depth, competition and distribution patterns among different etched wormholes, an effective method for acidising parameters optimization cannot be formed. The stimulated production of different wells vary greatly. In order to establish the corresponding quantitative calculation model for geometric size of acid etched wormholes, three-dimensional competitive distribution of different wormholes, and production prediction, also to achieve the quantitative optimization of treatment parameters for different wells and improve oil and gas production, firstly, we designed and completed indoor core etched experiments and CT scanning technology to obtain the true three-dimensional morphology of linear acid etched wormholes. Besides, the radial wormholes in 14 cubic feet of super large cores were proven to meet the requirement of fractal. The fractal dimensions of these two wormhole types were also obtained. Furthermore, a quantitative calculation model for the wormhole length expansion was established. Secondly, according to the mathematical model of extending competition among different acid etched wormholes, the fractal distribution law of the length of wormholes in the vertical direction is obtained. Combined with the fractal wormhole length calculation model, a method to solve the dual fractal model by calculating the maximum wormhole length is given. Finally, the classic acidised production rate calculation model was revised. The influence of the three-dimensional expansion length and distribution of wormholes on the skin factor was considered in detail. The sensitivity of key acidising parameters, such as acid strength and pumping rate, was also analyzed. The results show that both the linear wormholes obtained from conventional cores and the radial wormholes obtained from super-large cores can be described by fractal geometry. The fractal dimension corresponding to the optimal pumping rate is 1.46-1.63. Considering the dual-fractal distribution of acid-etched wormholes, the skin factor is larger than that of the conventional equalization model. This is mainly due to the fact that the equalization model only uses the maximum length of the wormholes. This also explains why wells or layers with negative skin factors can still increase production rate after uniform acidising. At the same time, for a specific layer, there is a better acid strength and pumping rate. With these parameters, the acid consumption and predicted production rate are better, which provides a theoretical basis for the quantitative optimization of acidising treatment parameters.

Abstract Owing to its high stiffness and strength, low density, and excellent flexibility, nano-sized graphene oxide (GO) is considered as a competitive material to reinforce metallic materials. Conventional manufacturing methods for GO reinforced metal matrix fabrication include casting and powder metallurgy, both of which demonstrate disadvantages of high reinforcement agglomeration, high cost, and difficulty in fabrication of complex structures. To reduce these problems, it is important to investigate a finely-controlled, cost-saving, and near-net-shaping process for GO reinforced metal matrix manufacturing. Laser additive manufacturing is such a process that mainly includes selective laser sintering / melting (SLS / M) and laser deposition-additive manufacturing (LD-AM). Compared with SLS / M, LD-AM demonstrates parts remanufacturing capability and is capable of fabricating functionally gradient materials. In this investigation, GO reinforced Inconel 718 (IN718) parts, for the first time, are fabricated using LD-AM processes. The effects of GO on flatness, surface roughness, microstructure, microhardness, and wear resistance of LD-AM fabricated GO reinforced IN718 parts are studied. Experimental results show that the introduction of GO is beneficial for enhancing both microhardness and wear resistance but harmful to surface quality of fabricated parts. In addition, the presence of GO has little influence on microstructures.

Abstract The demand for higher efficiency in aircraft propulsion engines leads to materials with increasing thermo-mechanical strengths and new designs inducing filigree geometries of blisks and disks. Because of new designs which induce tighter tolerances, the high mechanical process forces in conventional cutting processes like broaching cause inacceptable geometrical deviations and high tooling costs. Due to the electro-thermal material removal mechanism, electrical discharge machining (EDM) ensures a force free and thus precise machining. The manufacture of fir tree slots in nickel-based alloys by wire EDM has been investigated in the last few years and the process was verified as an alternative technology for broaching. To get a better competitive position, the productivity can be prospectively increased by using an additional indexing rotary axis which ensures a precise and automated production of rotationally symmetric components and reduce production times e.g. for the manufacture of fir tree slots on a disk. Nevertheless, the application of these axes cause changed flushing conditions and can also affect the electrical contacting as well. Both influence the process performance and demand a technology development or adjustment of standard machining technologies. The influence of these changed machining conditions has not been investigated scientifically to date. In this paper, the surface integrity and process performance of fir tree slots machined by wire EDM on the machine table are compared with the manufacture by using an additional indexing rotary axis. The results of the investigations are supposed to create a basis for technology adaptions when using additional axes in wire EDM.