The purpose of this research is to use the SWOT-AHP approach to help real estate enterprises to make an effective strategy choice. From strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, the internal ...resources and external environment of a real estate enterprise are analyzed systematically to identify the factors that affect the business objectives. Then quantify the influence of the factors and determine the best strategy through the AHP method. The combination of SWOT and AHP provides more accurate data for decision makers than the qualitative analysis models. The measures of factor identification and strategy selection.
The marine microplastic (MMs) is an interdisciplinary problem. The polymer debris are ubiquitous (soil, hydrosphere, atmosphere) and the majority ends, transported by the freshwaters, in the global ...ocean system: from pelagial waters, surface gyres and benthos up to the animals at different trophic levels. Their quantitative, qualitative and eco-toxicological analyses, based on analytical, physical and chemical methods, are still a challenge due to the complex matrices, materials weathering, limited concentration, and size. Moreover, further fragmentation due to the waves and UV radiation leads to the constant increase of their surface. The aim of this article is to present the advantages, drawbacks and future perspectives of using SEM-EDX method in the analyses of marine polymer debris from macro to the nanoscale. Theoretical issues are presented in comparison to the commonly used approaches. The practical aspects will be discussed based on case studies. Examples of the results, high-resolution SEM pictures are included.
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•Article addresses the problem of characterisation of ubiquitous microplastic debris.•SEM-EDX method applicability to MMs discussed in comparison to other techniques•The efficient and simpler than the currently-used approach to MMs analysis by SEM-EDX•The introduction to the rising complex problem of nanoplastics•Practical conclusions from case studies
Restrictive gender norms and gender inequalities are replicated and reinforced in health systems, contributing to gender inequalities in health. In this Series paper, we explore how to address all ...three through recognition and then with disruptive solutions. We used intersectional feminist theory to guide our systematic reviews, qualitative case studies based on lived experiences, and quantitative analyses based on cross-sectional and evaluation research. We found that health systems reinforce patients' traditional gender roles and neglect gender inequalities in health, health system models and clinic-based programmes are rarely gender responsive, and women have less authority as health workers than men and are often devalued and abused. With regard to potential for disruption, we found that gender equality policies are associated with greater representation of female physicians, which in turn is associated with better health outcomes, but that gender parity is insufficient to achieve gender equality. We found that institutional support and respect of nurses improves quality of care, and that women's empowerment collectives can increase health-care access and provider responsiveness. We see promise from social movements in supporting women's reproductive rights and policies. Our findings suggest we must view gender as a fundamental factor that predetermines and shapes health systems and outcomes. Without addressing the role of restrictive gender norms and gender inequalities within and outside health systems, we will not reach our collective ambitions of universal health coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals. We propose action to systematically identify and address restrictive gender norms and gender inequalities in health systems.
Entrepreneurial orientation (EO) has received substantial conceptual and empirical attention, representing one of the few areas in entrepreneurship research where a cumulative body of knowledge is ...developing. The time is therefore ripe to document, to review, and to evaluate the cumulative knowledge on the relationship between EO and business performance. Extending beyond qualitative assessment, we undertook a meta–analysis exploring the magnitude of the EO–performance relationship and assessed potential moderators affecting this relationship. Analyses of 53 samples from 51 studies with an N of 14,259 companies indicated that the correlation of EO with performance is moderately large (r = .242) and that this relationship is robust to different operationalizations of key constructs as well as cultural contexts. Internal and environmental moderators were identified, and results suggest that additional moderators should be assessed. Recommendations for future research are developed.
To raise the superconducting-transition temperature (T
) has been the driving force for the long-sustained effort in superconductivity research. Recent progress in hydrides with T
s up to 287 K under ...pressure of 267 GPa has heralded a new era of room temperature superconductivity (RTS) with immense technological promise. Indeed, RTS will lift the temperature barrier for the ubiquitous application of superconductivity. Unfortunately, formidable pressure is required to attain such high T
s. The most effective relief to this impasse is to remove the pressure needed while retaining the pressure-induced T
without pressure. Here, we show such a possibility in the pure and doped high-temperature superconductor (HTS) FeSe by retaining, at ambient pressure via pressure quenching (PQ), its T
up to 37 K (quadrupling that of a pristine FeSe at ambient) and other pressure-induced phases. We have also observed that some phases remain stable without pressure at up to 300 K and for at least 7 d. The observations are in qualitative agreement with our ab initio simulations using the solid-state nudged elastic band (SSNEB) method. We strongly believe that the PQ technique developed here can be adapted to the RTS hydrides and other materials of value with minimal effort.
Application of the shallow water waves in environmental engineering and hydraulic engineering is seen. In this paper, a (3+1)-dimensional generalized nonlinear evolution equation (gNLEE) for the ...shallow water waves is investigated. The
N
th-order Wronskian, Gramian and Pfaffian solutions are proved, where
N
is a positive integer. Soliton solutions are constructed from the
N
th-order Wronskian, Gramian and Pfaffian solutions. Moreover, we analyze the second-order solitons with the influence of the coefficients in the equation and illustrate them with graphs. Through the Hirota-Riemann method, one-periodic-wave solutions are derived. Relationship between the one-periodic-wave solutions and one-soliton solutions is investigated, which shows that the one-periodic-wave solutions can approach to the one-soliton solutions under certain conditions. We reduce the (3+1)-dimensional gNLEE to a two-dimensional planar dynamic system. Based on the qualitative analysis, we give the phase portraits of the dynamic system.
Where and what restorative materials have being 3D printed using stereolithography-based technology
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To present through a systematic review a qualitative analysis of studies published ...on stereolithography-based 3D printing of restorative materials and their clinical applicability.
The literature search was conducted based on the question: “What is the state-of-the-art of available restorative materials for 3D printing based on stereolithography?" Online search was conducted in three databases (MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science) with no restriction for year of publication. Data are reported based on PRISMA, including publication details such as authors and their countries, year and journal of publication, and study design. The synthesis is focused on describing the dental restorative materials and properties evaluated, applied methods, 3D printers used and clinical applicability.
Studies that fit the inclusion criteria were performed in Asia (21), Europe (16) and USA (10), mostly using polymer-based restorative materials (38) for 3D printing constructs. Stereolithographic-printed ceramic-based restorative structures were evaluated by 9 studies. Many studies reported on dimensional accuracy (14), strength (11) and surface morphology (9) of the printed structures. Antibacterial response, cytotoxicity, internal and marginal fit, fracture and wear resistance, density, viscosity, elastic modulus, hardness, structural shrinkage and reliability, degree of conversion, layer cure depth, fatigue, and color were also evaluated by the included studies. Many of them (11) published a proof of concept as an attempt to demonstrate the clinical feasibility and applicability of the technology to print restorative materials, but only 5 studies actually applied the 3D printed restorative structures in patients, which highlights an increasing interest but limited early-stage translation.
The fast expansion of stereolithographic-based 3D printing has been impressive and represents a great technological progress with significant disruptive potential. Dentistry has demonstrated an incredible willingness to adapt materials, methods and workflows to this promising digital technology. However, esthetic appearance, wear resistance, wet strength and dimensional accuracy are the main current clinical limitations restricting the progression to functional part production with 3D printing, which may explain the absence of clinical trials and reports on permanent/definitive dental restorative materials and structures.
Mobile technologies and their applications have the potential to benefit various learning contexts. Users’ perceptions of mobile learning (m-learning) technologies are of great importance and precede ...the successful integration of these technologies in education. M-learning adoption has been investigated in the literature with reference to various factors and learning analytics, but largely without considering the role of different configurations (i.e., specific combinations of variables), and how these configurations might affect the adoption of various user groups. For instance, users with different backgrounds, experiences, learning styles, and so on might not be represented by the one-model-fits-all produced from the common regression approaches. In this study, we briefly review factors that have been proven important in the context of mobile learning adoption, and build on complexity theory and configuration theory in order to explore the causal patterns of factors that stimulate the use of mobile learning. To test its propositions, the study employs fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) on a data sample from 180 experienced m-learning users. Findings indicate eight configurations of cognitive and affective characteristics, and social and individual factors, that explain m-learning adoption. This research study contributes to the literature by (1) offering new insights on how predictors of m-learning adoption interrelate; (2) extending existing knowledge on how cognitive and affective characteristics, and social and individual factors, combine to lead to high m-learning adoption; and (3) presenting a step-by-step methodological approach for how to apply fsQCA in the area of learning systems and learning analytics.
•How technology acceptance research can capture complex multidimensional phenomena.•How predictors of m-learning adoption interrelate to form complex configurations.•Eight different solutions can explain high m-learning adoption.•A methodological approach on how to apply fsQCA in learning systems and analytics.
Recent climate warming and scenarios for further warming have led to expectations of rapid movement of ecological boundaries. Here we focus on the circumarctic forest–tundra ecotone (FTE), which ...represents an important bioclimatic zone with feedbacks from forest advance and corresponding tundra disappearance (up to 50% loss predicted this century) driving widespread ecological and climatic changes. We address FTE advance and climate history relations over the 20th century, using FTE response data from 151 sites across the circumarctic area and site‐specific climate data. Specifically, we investigate spatial uniformity of FTE advance, statistical associations with 20th century climate trends, and whether advance rates match climate change velocities (CCVs). Study sites diverged into four regions (Eastern Canada; Central and Western Canada and Alaska; Siberia; and Western Eurasia) based on their climate history, although all were characterized by similar qualitative patterns of behaviour (with about half of the sites showing advancing behaviour). The main associations between climate trend variables and behaviour indicate the importance of precipitation rather than temperature for both qualitative and quantitative behaviours, and the importance of non‐growing season as well as growing season months. Poleward latitudinal advance rates differed significantly among regions, being smallest in Eastern Canada (~10 m/year) and largest in Western Eurasia (~100 m/year). These rates were 1–2 orders of magnitude smaller than expected if vegetation distribution remained in equilibrium with climate. The many biotic and abiotic factors influencing FTE behaviour make poleward advance rates matching predicted 21st century CCVs (~103–104 m/year) unlikely. The lack of empirical evidence for swift forest relocation and the discrepancy between CCV and FTE response contradict equilibrium model‐based assumptions and warrant caution when assessing global‐change‐related biotic and abiotic implications, including land–atmosphere feedbacks and carbon sequestration.
Recent climate warming and scenarios for further warming have led to expectations of rapid movement of ecological boundaries, but northward advance of the subarctic forest–tundra ecotone (FTE) has been 1–2 orders of magnitude smaller than expected if vegetation distribution remained in equilibrium with climate. This mismatch makes poleward advance rates matching predicted 21st century climate change velocity (CCV) unlikely. The lack of empirical evidence for swift forest relocation and the discrepancy between CCV and FTE response contradict equilibrium model‐based assumptions and warrant caution when assessing global‐change‐related biotic and abiotic implications, including land–atmosphere feedbacks and carbon sequestration. Photo: Taymyr, Russia. Courtesy of Nikolai Kolupanov.
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