Search

• First, on the basis of theory and industrial development history, this paper puts forward the LASIS model, which can analyze the process of technological innovation promoting industrial upgrading. • Second, this paper may initially open the "dark box" of technological innovation. • Third, this paper holds that incremental technological innovation is universal, while radical innovation is sporadic; radical technological innovation is also based on incremental technological innovation. • Fourth, using the LASSIS model, this paper can analyze the mechanism of gradual technological innovation to promote industrial upgrading. • Fifthly, this paper may also have some contributions to the transformation of paradigms. Industrial upgrading driven by technological innovation follows the LASIS process, that is, technological innovation promotes industrial gradual upgrading through the leading-in of new technologies, architectural innovation, standardization, integration innovation, and paradigm shift. At different stages of technological innovation, there are different internal mechanisms for industrial upgrading. New technology and new products are introduced in the stage of leading-in. Architectural innovation mainly establishes dominant technology and products through design competition to form technical barriers. In the stage of two-way recursive standardization, industrial upgrading is promoted through four intermediate variables: cost saving, value chain upgrading, economies of scale, economies of scope and modularization, and technology diffusion. In the stage of integration innovation, industrial upgrading is driven by diffusive fusion innovation, absorptive fusion innovation, technology crossing integration innovation, and intra-industry technology integration innovation. The stage of paradigm shift is mainly the substitution of the new paradigm for the old one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a pivotal component of rural revitalization, effective management of rural courtyard spaces is crucial for improving environmental quality and economic development. Utilizing the 2023 "Most Beautiful Courtyard" design competition in Guangze County as a backdrop, this study investigates the specific circumstances and practical challenges encountered during the courtyard transformation process. Based on a comprehensive literature review, this research establishes a unified indicator evaluation system; investigates the perspectives of villagers, designers, and managers; and conducts an in-depth analysis of the challenges faced in rural courtyard transformation practice. The goal is to offer substantial reference points for policy formulation and practical implementation, alongside recommendations for effective courtyard transformation. At the construction management level, the government should develop detailed operational guidelines for rural courtyard transformation, closely monitor construction progress, manage funds scientifically, and ensure efficient communication among the three groups. At the localization level, villagers' daily production and life should be integrated with village cultural symbols, respecting and exploring localization factors. Adequate consideration of the ecological environment and climatic conditions is crucial to promoting the sustainable development of rural courtyards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research is focused on addressing the energy-aware distributed heterogeneous welding shop scheduling (EADHWS) problem. Our primary objectives are to minimize the maximum finish time and total energy consumption. To accomplish this, we introduce a learning-based cooperative and competitive multi-objective optimization method, which we refer to as LCCMO. We begin by presenting a multi-rule cooperative initialization approach to create a population that combines strong convergence and diversity. This diverse population forms the foundation for our optimization process. Next, we develop a multi-level cooperative global search strategy that explores effective genes within solutions from different angles and sub-problems. This approach enhances our search for optimal solutions. Moreover, we design a competition and cooperation strategy for different populations to expedite convergence. This strategy encourages the exchange of information and ideas among diverse populations, thereby accelerating our progress. We also introduce a multi-operator cooperative local search technique, which investigates elite solutions from various directions, leading to improved convergence and diversity. In addition, we integrate Q-learning into our competitive swarm optimizer to explore different regions of the objective space, enhancing the diversity of the elite archive. Q-learning guides the selection of operators within the small-size population, contributing to more efficient optimization. To evaluate the effectiveness of LCCMO, we conduct numerical experiments on 20 instances. The experimental results unequivocally demonstrate that LCCMO outperforms six state-of-the-art algorithms. This underscores the potential of our learning and knowledge-driven evolutionary framework in enhancing performance and autonomy when it comes to solving EADHWS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the challenge of defining and evaluating good design, considering the different ways of thinking about what constitutes good Islamic Design in different populations and market segments. The lack of a standard definition raises important issues, such as limiting evaluation tools without a shared understanding. To address this issue, this paper examines the characteristics of good design and the evaluation criteria used by design competition platforms worldwide. The research is based on a qualitative methodology; keyword coding and linking analysis the evaluation criteria of seven prominent design competition platforms. By creating a common understanding of these attributes inspired by the divine attributes of Asma-ul-Husna, this paper will improve communication between designers and critics, allowing them to explore innovative design ideas more freely and confidently. It is intended for perceptions of good design to evolve and be influenced by changing aesthetics, as well as user needs brought about by technological advances. This study reveals a cyclical pattern in which design preferences emerge periodically, as seen in movements such as postmodernism. Therefore, the attributes of good design must be timeless and universal to ensure lasting relevance. This paper proposes an evaluation criterion that considers existing global standards and identifies seven timeless themes universally applicable to evaluating good design. This result highlights the need for further research, including expert opinion, to refine the proposed criteria. Creating a common basis for interpreting the hallmarks of good design from the perspective of the divine attributes of The Creator benefits designers and critics. It contributes to the enduring importance of good design in an evolving design environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 3rd South East Asian Young Engineers Colloquium (YEC) took place from 19-20 January 2024, organized by the National Groups of Rep. of Korea, China, Japan, and Hong Kong S.A.R. China. The event showcased the knowledge and innovation of the engineering community in the region and had a total of 149 registered attendees. The colloquium included a design competition, presentations on structural engineering advancements, and social activities. The event provided a platform for young engineers to connect, exchange ideas, and foster collaboration. [Extracted from the article]

This article contributes to the growing body of literature on intelligence in empire by examining British and Italian intelligence networks as imperial infrastructures in the Arabian Peninsula. Since the mid-1920s, the British and Italian empires had clashing strategic priorities, conflicting commercial interests, and diverging support for warring local leaders in Arabia. In an effort to limit competition, the British and Italians came to an agreement in early 1927 over their respective spheres of influence in Arabia. Many scholars have brushed over what has become known as the 'Rome Understanding' as largely ineffectual and having had little impact on the overall policy of the two empires. Far from being inconsequential, however, the Rome Understanding established a standard over the limits of empire in the Arabian Peninsula and gave rise to an information order in the region designed to enforce it. This article demonstrates that the British and Italians developed imperial intelligence networks as a tool designed to mediate competition and preserve cooperation under the Rome Understanding. I argue that both British and Italian interpretations of intelligence confirmed the policy of cooperation established in Rome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traffic clearance of the river Rhine bridge Schierstein, an environmentally friendly and sustainable building On 13. August 2023, the second superstructure of the river Rhine bridge Schierstein was approved for traffic by Federal Minister Volker Wissing. The longest Hessian road bridge over the Rhine with a length of 1285 m connects the state capitals Wiesbaden and Mainz. This bridge has an important function in the development of the economic areas of Hesse and Rhineland‐Palatinate. The building forms the so‐called Mainzer Ring as part of the A643 with the A60 from highway triangle Mainz together with the federal motorways A671 and A66. The fulfillment of the special boundary conditions with regard to nature conservation, design, robustness, entertainment, traffic, assembly and economy placed the highest demands on all parties involved. The following report explains the measures taken to implement these requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integral truss arch bridge over the A3 at the Fürth/Erlangen motorway junction – sustainability and efficiency achieved by combining traditional structural systems The widening of the A3 between the Fürth/Erlangen and Biebelried motorway junctions to six lanes prompted the construction of a 70 m flyover structure without any intermediate supports. From the submissions to a design competition, an integral truss arch bridge design was chosen for the structure. The innovative combination of arch and truss resulted in a highly efficient and robust structure and an extremely flat bridge spanning the motorway. All sustainability aspects were considered in the design – economic efficiency, durability, environmental friendliness and aesthetics. Innovative details such as linear drainage and an exceptional soffit with a special design of haunched precast elements resulted in maximum functionality and durability in addition to the beautiful design of the bridge. Due to its novel shape, which contributes to the variety in today's bridge construction, the structure was awarded the Deutscher Ingenieurpreis Straße und Verkehr in the category Baukultur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Competition in the design office market is high, therefore it is important to be aware of the conditions determining the competitive advantage, thus increasing the bidding effectiveness. For this reason, the aim of the article is to identify key success factors (KSF) increasing successful bidding of a small design office. The factors were identified and then analysed based on a literature review, expert interviews and using Group Consensus Cluster Analysis (GCCA) – the module of the AHP method clustering a group of decision makers into smaller subgroups with higher consensus. To examine the managerial implications, a KSF analysis was conducted from the perspective of the bidding effectiveness of the selected small design office. The results indicate that 'technical skills and experience' is the factor most influencing the potential of a small design office. Nevertheless the entire proposed procedure provides important guidelines on how to use the organisation's strengths for its development and what needs to be improved in its operation. Detailed analysis of key success factors (KSFs) of the design office operation. KSFs subjected to the AHP method using Group Consensus Cluster Analysis (GCCA). Managerial implications based on KSF analysis from the perspective of the bidding effectiveness of the selected small design office. Combining AHP method with the KSF analysis provides the company with important guidelines regarding strategic efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the effect of bank competition on the design of syndicate loans. We find that competition in the lead lender's market plays a significant role in determining the terms of the syndicate loans. Specifically, higher concentration leads to higher yield spreads, larger issues, shorter maturities, greater contract intensity, and more collateral requirements, but with a greater likelihood of performance pricing. We also find the prior banking relationships, anti‐takeover provisions and whether the lead bank is a national, regional, or state bank influence the designs of these loans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study uses proactivity and play theories to investigate playful work design – the personal initiative to change the psychological experience of work by redesigning work activities to be more fun and/or more competitive. We postulate that playful work design is positively related to job performance through work engagement. In addition, we hypothesize that this indirect relationship is positively moderated by boredom and negatively moderated by conscientiousness. To test these hypotheses, we conducted a two-wave study among 370 Israeli employees (response = 84%), with one month in-between both measurement waves. Consistent with hypotheses, results of mediation analyses showed that playful work design in the form of designing competition (but not designing fun) was indirectly and positively related to both in-role and extra-role performance, through work engagement. As predicted, the indirect effects of designing fun (but not designing competition) on in-role and extra-role performance were strongest for individuals who reported high (vs. low) levels of boredom. In addition, the indirect relationships of designing competition (but not designing fun) with in-role and extra-role performance through work-engagement were stronger for individuals who reported lower (versus higher) levels of conscientiousness. We discuss how these findings contribute to the theory and practice of playful work design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of saving energy and materials by lightening structures is constantly increasing. With its powerful software capabilities, Topology Optimization produces solutions for this exact purpose. In addition, thanks to Topology Optimization, more innovative and competitive structures can be produced. The development of additive manufacturing methods has also increased interest in Topology Optimization. In Topology Optimization, volumetric elements that do not carry any load or carry little load are removed from the structure. Thus, lighter, but sufficiently durable structures can be obtained. In this study, the topology optimization of a bracket used as a fastener in a jet engine was carried out using ABAQUS Finite Element software. Required bracket geometry, load conditions, and material information were obtained from an online design competition announced by General Electric. Ti6Al4V alloy was used as the bracket material. At the beginning of the study, static analysis was performed on the original bracket model to obtain the load paths required for topology optimization. As a result of the static analysis, the load paths within the jet engine bracket were determined and topology optimization was applied to the bracket to minimize the mass without reducing the rigidity. As a result of the analysis studies, it has been proven that nearly 80% material savings can be achieved from the bracket thanks to topology optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to identify determinant factors of attack efficacy considering the effects of reception, attack tempo, attack performance, setting type and attack type. Firstly, 19,454 offensive actions of complex I of the Brazilian Volleyball Men's Super League were considered and analyzed separately from the middle, wing, and opposite attacker standpoints. The middle attack was the most effective, so the 5,259 offensive actions were analyzed considering the setting type and the attack direction. The independent variables were the quality of reception, type and direction of attack, whereas attack performance was the dependent variable. We found that the middle attack efficacy was related to excellent receptions, right tempo and left tempo (near the setter), and power attack. The results can afford coaches with the key information for better training plan designs and preparation for competition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction/purpose: Cutting is a typical material process. However, an appropriate solution for simultaneous optimization of material machinability and tool life in material cutting processes has not been obtained yet. In this article, probabilistic multi-objective robust design (PMORD) is expounded and the robust design problem in the simultaneous optimization of material machinability and tool life is analyzed by taking the machining of ferrite-bainite dual-phase steel as an example. Methods: According to PMORD, the arithmetic mean and its deviation of various performance and utility indexes of alternative schemes are evaluated as twin independent responses, which respectively contribute a part of the partial preferable probability to the performance indexes. In the evaluation, the arithmetic average of the utility index is taken as the representative of the utility attribute, and the evaluation is made in accordance with the function or preference of the utility index. However, the deviation term is generally used as an unbeneficial type of the index (that is, the smaller the better) to participate in the evaluation. The product of the two parts of partial preferable probability is the actual partial preferable probability of the corresponding performance index. The product of the partial preferable probability of all performance utility indexes gives the total preferable probability of the corresponding scheme, which is the only index for each scheme to participate in the competition in robust design. Results: The optimization result of this example is that the tool life is 1297.3333 s (standard deviation is 2.0817 s) and the surface roughness is 2.22μm (standard deviation is 0.2μm), while the corresponding working conditions are that the heat treatment temperature of the material is 790°C, the cutting speed is 150m/min, the feed speed is 0.15mm/rev, and the cutting depth is 0.2mm. Conclusion: The example of the parameter optimization of cutting of ferrite-bainite dual-phase steel by means of PMORD indicates the rationality of the appropriate solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: As a cornerstone of team performance, learning depends on each member's mindset. Drawing on implicit theories of intelligence, the purpose of this study is to investigate the relationships among individual members' mindsets and shared leadership (SL) behaviors in design teams and the mediation role of team growth mindset (TGM) on that relationship. Design/methodology/approach: The authors analyzed survey results based on individuals who participated in an international design competition. To test the hypothesized model, the data was analyzed by using SEM using Mplus 7. Findings: The results indicated that an individual growth mindset (IGM; but not an individual-fixed mindset) has significant and positive direct effects on a team growth mindset and SL behaviors. In addition, a TGM mediates the relationship between an IGM and SL. Originality/value: The research discusses several theoretical and practical implications for human resource development professionals and scholars to improve understanding of a TGM and its influence on individual mindsets and SL behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The terraced concert hall offers a wide range of design options. Yet the knowledge barrier within a design team makes it difficult to effectively deliver a design that satisfies both the needs of creativity and acoustics. The study aims to explore the integration of generative parametric design collaboration workflow into the design of terraced concert halls and apply the cumulative results of the pilot study to the Taipei Music and Library Centre design competition. We propose an enhanced collaborating model between architects and acoustic consultants, integrating geometric design with acoustic verification in concert hall design. This cooperating model embraces and integrates three key steps: defining basic parameters and reference geometries, efficiently generating and composing geometric elements, and conducting geometric and acoustic statistical assessments. This design strategy enables integration of diverse viewpoints, covering both the acoustics within the hall and the space integration with the surroundings. The outcome is a terraced concert hall with an acoustic performance comparable to traditional shoebox-shaped halls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a framework for a Bioinformatics competition that focuses on 4 key aspects: structure, model, overview, and perspectives. Structure represents the organizational framework employed to coordinate the main tasks involved in the competition. Model showcases the competition design, which encompasses 3 phases. Overview presents our case study, the League of Brazilian Bioinformatics (LBB) 2nd Edition. Finally, the section on perspectives provides a brief discussion of the LBB 2nd Edition, along with insights and feedback from participants. LBB is a biannual team competition launched in 2019 to promote the ongoing training of human resources in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology in Brazil. LBB aims to stimulate ongoing training in Bioinformatics by encouraging participation in competitions, promoting the organization of future Bioinformatics competitions, and fostering the integration of the Bioinformatics and Computational Biology community in the country, as well as collaboration among participants. The LBB 2nd Edition was launched in 2021 and featured 251 competitors forming 91 teams. Knowledge competitions promote learning, collaboration, and innovation, which are crucial for advancing scientific knowledge and solving real-world problems. In summary, this article serves as a valuable resource for individuals and organizations interested in developing knowledge competitions, offering a model based on our experience with LBB to benefit all levels of Bioinformatics trainees. Author summary: There are various methods of learning, and one such approach involves a commonly used in the computing field, fostering competition, where communication, teamwork, group learning, and problem-solving play crucial roles. Similarly, in bioinformatics and computational biology, certain institutions or platforms promote learning through challenges. However, national-level competitions in these domains are relatively scarce. Here, we would like to present a framework for a Bioinformatics competition by showing structure, model, overview, and perspectives, using the League of Brazilian Bioinformatics (LBB) 2nd Edition as case study. LBB is the first bioinformatics competition in Latin America and aims to encompass the diverse multidisciplinary aspects of Bioinformatics and promote networking. In LBB, individuals not only have the opportunity to learn but also get to know one another. Further, to stimulate undergraduate training, we promoted teams with a mixture of different academic backgrounds. This approach promotes integration among participants and facilitates the exchange of information. To ensure that all participants have the opportunity to connect and form teams regardless of their background, we have created the MATCH, a script that allows individuals to be randomly paired with others, enabling them to get to know each other and create teams effectively. This approach fosters collaboration and creates a conducive environment for learning and problem-solving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analysis of the unofficial runner-up in the 1961–62 design competition for Boston City Hall—the scheme by the Philadelphia-based team of Mitchell/Giurgola Architects (MGA) in association with David A. Crane and Thomas R. Vreeland Jr.—reveals not the creation of an isolated monument but a humanist restructuring of a city's urban spaces at the heart of a modernist-inspired post-war government centre. Unusually for the time, this scheme was developed through deep dialogue with an existing urban morphology, historic buildings, and the literal "ground" of the city. This paper highlights the scheme as the first in a series of significant urban design projects undertaken by MGA in the United States in the 1960s and 1970s. These projects sought to directly engage with the structure, spaces, and artefacts of the historic American city. Further, MGA's City Hall also crystallised compositional themes that would be pursued and developed by the practice in subsequent decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research presents perspectives on urban design competitions from both professionals and the general public by utilizing two sets of data: a review of professional discussions and social media commentaries on the competition. The international urban design competition for Taksim Square, held during the global pandemic lockdowns, generated a substantial record of the process, offering a rare opportunity to revisit existing literature and gain new insights into urban design competitions. The findings are evaluated through the framework of participation and populism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There appear to be relatively few studies examining the emergence and persistence of hydraulic bureaucracies (hydrocracies) in specific national contexts. This paper addresses this perceived lacuna by considering the case of the century-old Royal Irrigation Department (RID) in Thailand. Drawing upon the concept of 'bureaucratic patrimonialism', this paper seeks to disentangle some of the political economy issues surrounding the RID's rise and prolonged national dominance. It pays special attention to inter-bureaucratic competition amid calls for water sector reform and how the RID has successfully negotiated these challenges through changing political regimes of the last century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many dialogue system competitions have been held on, but no competition has been organized specifically for spoken dialogue with humanoid robots. As the first ever such attempt in the world, we held a dialogue robot competition. To explore the advantages of a spoken dialogue system using a robot, the competition was designed for contestants to compete with their systems' performance of service operations during a task requiring effective physical motions such as facial expressions and body movements. In the task, the robot recommends sightseeing spots near a particular location and is required to use language, gestures, and other multimodal behaviors to interest the user in the recommended sites. The first and second competitions were held in 2020 and 2022, respectively. This paper provides an overview of this competition and the insights and limitations in designing the competition for dialogue robots while introducing the interactive robot technologies proposed for the dialogue robot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are many delays and cost overruns in a project. One of the reasons is that other consultants and contractors carry out the work, so there may be differences in understanding the scope details. Then came the idea to combine FEED and BED stages to be done by one party. For this reason, analyzing the risks and opportunities that arise in the bidding method is necessary. This study will use the SWOT-UPP analysis method to determine risk and opportunity analysis for both internal and external risks. From these results, we obtain the opportunity-threat ratio for each analysis. The result of this study is that the DCB Bidding Method is appropriate for a project using the DBC bidding method for Petrochemical Industries in Indonesia. However, it is necessary to monitor and manage internal risks. Therefore, for internal factors, the classification is Low Opportunity and High Threat. In contrast, the category is recommended to be processed for external factors because it gets an O/T score of more than one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Firms have been proactively holding data science competitions via online contest platforms to look for innovative solutions from the crowd. When firms are designing such competitions, a key question is "What should be a better contest design to motivate contestants to exert more effort?" We model two commonly observed contest structures (one stage and two stage) and two widely adopted prize structures (high spread and low spread). We employ economic experiments to examine how contest design affects contestants' effort level. The results reject the base model with rationality assumption. We find that contestants exert significantly more effort in both the first stage and the second stage of the two‐stage contest. Moreover, it is better to assign most prizes to the winner in the two‐stage contest while it does not matter in one stage. To explain the empirical regularities, we develop a behavioral economics model that captures contestants' psychological aversion to falling behind and continuous exertion of effort. Our findings demonstrate that it is important for contest organizers to account for the nonpecuniary factors that can influence contestants' behavior in designing a competition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses environmental and energy-saving factors in architectural competition procedures. The final assessment of sustainability and environmental aspects of a building is a derivative of the decisions taken during the entire project execution process, especially those taken at the initial stage. Notifications concerning architectural competitions, both in Poland and other European countries, as well as in the United States and Canada, increasingly often list sustainability as a necessary criterion. Aspects such as the use of renewable energy sources, energy efficiency solutions or reducing a building's occupancy costs most often appear as guidelines. In this paper, the authors discuss the essence of solutions in architectural competition procedures announced in Poland in the years 2018–2022, using 154 cases as an example and setting them against the background of Europe. The types and level of detail of the selected criteria and their frequency of occurrence were examined. The study unveiled the absence of comprehensive guidelines in the processes of nationwide architectural competitions that take sustainability into account. The lack of definitions for environmental and energy objectives has a significant impact on their integration into competition designs, and reduces the chances of adapting and adopting these aspects at a further stage. Based on the analysis, a range of recommendations were formulated for implementation in competition procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the organizational transformation of digital design platforms (DDPs) to present the considerations of DDPs' value propositions, service offering, and sustainable business models. When we face large, complex, systemic transformational challenges, especially during the pandemic, we must make meaningful changes to a DDP to rise to these social-technological challenges internally and externally to generate positive social impacts and create value for design individuals and communities. Due to COVID-19, people's daily lives, interactions, and work experiences, and communication patterns dramatically changed, which significantly influenced organizations across scales and industries. DDPs have also been hit by the social-technological impact of COVID-19. We conducted seven semi-structured expert interviews and demonstrated ten case studies across three categories: design competitions, design professional associations, and design companies about DDP transformation associated with COVID-19 through the lens of system engineering. The goal is to analyze organizational change and its impacts on a DDP's service offering, business model, and organizational culture, in an effort to better prepare new capabilities in the era of social-technological transformation. We identified four key takeaways: (1) craft new partnership connections; (2) identify criteria for transformation; (3) create and extend participants' engagement level, and (4) leverage collective talents and sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

University of Obuda Ybl Miklós Faculty of Architecture and Civil Engineering launched an architectural competition to seek for forward-looking solutions for rehabilitation and revitalization of an unused and eroding building. The estate in question is located near the Faculty campus, under 9. Javor Street, 1145, Budapest. When the possibility of a renovation arose, leaders of the Faculty decided to involve the community of the students in order to represent their points of view. The open, secret competition had been launched on 8th September, and by the deadline 30th November fifteen proposals were submitted. Two of the most promising designs were awarded 1st prizes, one got a 2nd prize and two further submissions earned 3rd prize.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is an account of a planning process that is distributed and difficult to follow. By performing a thorough analysis of the design competition of the future Rail Baltic terminal in Tallinn, Estonia, it makes visible and critiques the decisions and dynamics enabled by the often-opaque processes of megaproject infrastructure planning and landmark design competitions. For this, the study first outlines a historiology of expectations for development created by new urban rail terminals. Then it relates the discourses of design, megaprojects and design competitions as trait-making processes with the potential to materialize future visions of society. The case study relies on expansive discourse analysis and in-depth expert interviews to trace key planning decisions, design strategies and stakeholder motivation impacting the planning of the Rail Baltic terminal and its role in the wider public realm of Tallinn. The study finds that the interlinked processes of megaproject planning and design competitions have inherent democratic deficiencies which can be counterproductive to benefitting the public realm. The results also suggest the need for a more socially responsible approach to planning infrastructure megaprojects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Muscular invasion is a critical factor in the surgical selection of bladder cancer (BC) patients. Precise segmentation of bladder outer wall (OW), bladder inner wall (IW) and bladder tumor (BT) using MRI is an essential step in the computer-assisted diagnosis of muscle invasiveness in BC. Our study is aimed to develop a novel deep learning-based model to segment the OW, IW and BT, which could effectively aid physicians in BC diagnosis. We proposed a Dual Attention Vnet triple plus (DAVnet3+) network for the accurate segmentation of BC MRI. To fully utilize the feature maps information, full-scale skip connections between down-sampling layers and up-sampling layers were added. Moreover, spatial and channel attention were introduced to increase the weight of the target region, while suppressing the irrelevant background regions for the segmentation task. Two datasets are used to validate the segmentation performance of the proposed DAVnet3+ model. Dataset1 comes from the 2018 China University Computer Design Competition and includes 2200 T2WI BC slices, of which 1760 slices are used for training and 440 slices for testing. Dataset2 contains 1545 T2WI slices provided by the Urology Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, of which 1236 slices are used for training and 309 slices for testing. Compared to the state-of-the-art deep learning-based methods, the DAVnet3+ model achieves the relatively best segmentation results in terms of dice similarity coefficient (DSC) and average symmetric surface distance (ASSD) on both datasets. (Dataset1: IW: DSC = 0.9626 ± 0.0041, ASSD = 0.3327 ± 0.0363; OW: DSC = 0.8170 ± 0.0266, ASSD = 0.4001 ± 0.0847; BT: DSC = 0.8635 ± 0.0246, ASSD = 0.4884 ± 0.1521. Dataset2: IW: DSC = 0.9840 ± 0.0061, ASSD = 0.2772 ± 0.0268; OW: DSC = 0.8392 ± 0.0188, ASSD = 0.3363 ± 0.0681; BT: DSC = 0.9391 ± 0.0144, ASSD = 0.2921 ± 0.1154). Our findings suggest that DAVnet3+ network is capable of segmenting the OW, IW and BT accurately in T2-weighted MRI. Additionally, it also substantiates the feasibility of the deep learning-based model for multi-region segmentation of BC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Super League is a project competition thought of as an alternative to the present Champions League. In this regard, this new competition was designed to operate independently of FIFA and UEFA, which are the governing bodies of football worldwide and in Europe respectively, and would feature a semi-closed group of European teams (15 permanent and five selected based on their domestic results) from England, Spain and Italy (teams from France and Germany were also on the list but the selected clubs, PSG, Bayern München, and Borussia Dortmund declined the offer to join). This move made FIFA and UEFA condemn the proposed Super League, arguing against the ex-clusiveness of this closed league and considering a dangerous precedent that can be followed by other football clubs. The disagreement has escalated to legal actions and sanctions from FIFA and UEFA against the clubs that joined the Super League which, in turn, have started their own legal actions against the two international bodies. Even if the project seems to be abandoned, the situation is still ongoing and it's difficult to predict the future of sport management after this bold move of several football clubs against the two governing bodies. The present article tries to analyze the situation using conflict analysis in order to find out future scenarios for all the actors involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Architectus is the property of Oficyna Wydawnicza Politechniki Wroclawskiej and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper investigates the effects of reservation prices in all‐pay auctions based on the Bayesian Nash equilibrium of symmetric distributions with binary and correlated types. Our study finds that reservation prices affect players' behavior in two ways. Given the reservation price, some give up the original strategy of offering a bid lower than such minimum requirement. Therefore, the reservation prices may discourage the effort supply of weaker players. However, stronger innovators do not modify their strategies: They will start giving bids above the reservation price. Hence, setting a quality standard is effective in boosting effort supply. Our study contributes to the function of this particular pattern in the contests, thereby gaining more insight into designing and assessing such competition under different circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the auction policy over enrollees' monopoly rights introduced in the Chilean pension system. This policy was designed to promote competition in the pension fund market driven by private firms, after 30 years of operation. Since the Chilean pension fund system has inspired dozens of countries in the last forty years, the analysis of the design and performance of its relatively new auction mechanism is of worldwide interest. We present a theoretical and empirical model. Our theoretical model illustrates firms' incentives to participate in the auction process. Our empirical analysis focuses on the effect of auctions on outcomes, such as fees, mark-ups, demand price elasticity, returns, and risk premiums. Despite the evidence shown for the positive benefits of the auction implementation, the current mechanism design is not considering that the biggest issue is the low individuals' price response levels. Importantly, the current auction design only incentivizes new entrants to participate. Thus, the design generates low competition in the auction processes. Proper design should incentivize all firms to participate. Besides, we find that consumers' price elasticity increased after the implementation of auctions, although demand is still generally inelastic. Interestingly, non-winning auction firms did not react in fees but may have reacted in other characteristics, such as returns and risk premiums. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider a model of monopolistic competition where producers can manipulate an elasticity parameter at an early stage. We interpret this as a choice of product specialization. Lower marginal costs of production lead to more generic products in all equilibria, which lead to fewer varieties under free‐entry. Entry of a new firm increases overall specialization and increases prices, that is, the environment exhibits price‐increasing competition. The loss of consumer surplus due to higher prices and lower consumption is compensated by the value of additional variety, hence entry also increases consumer surplus. Therefore, price‐increasing competition need not be anticompetitive under endogenous specialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fighting fish Betta splendens, long studied for its aggressive territorial competitions, has the potential to be a tractable and relevant model for studying the intersection of cognitive ecology and social neuroscience. Yet, few studies have comprehensively assessed Betta behavior across both social and nonsocial contexts. Furthermore, the present study is the first to quantify the expression of phosphorylated ribosomal protein S6 (PS6), a proxy for neural response, in the Betta telencephalon. Here, we assessed male Betta behavior across a suite of tasks and found that response to a mirror, but not neophilia (a novel object) nor anxiety (scototaxis), predicted behavior in a social competition. To then explore the cognitive aspects of social competition, we exposed Betta to either a familiar or novel opponent and compared their competitive behavior as well as their neural responses in the teleost homologs of the hippocampus, basolateral amygdala, and lateral septum. We did not detect any differences between familiar-exposed and novel-exposed individuals, but by implementing the first use of a habituation–dishabituation competition design in a study of Betta, we were able to observe remarkable consistency in competitive outcomes across repeated exposures. Taken together, the present study lays the groundwork for expanding the use of Betta to explore integrative and multidimensional questions of social cognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an examination of the primary applications of solar energy as the main power source in the maritime sector, focusing on recent developments. A comprehensive review of the existing literature, including journal articles, proceedings, and patents, is conducted to identify three prominent areas for advancing solar energy-powered boats: maritime drones, sporting boats, and short-range touristic vessels. Maritime drones primarily serve as small autonomous boats for research, conservation, or military operations. On the other hand, sporting boats include nautical and energy design competitions involving students and enthusiasts. In terms of commercial interest, there is a growing demand for environmentally friendly and low-noise boats suitable for tourist activities, particularly in protected areas. Furthermore, specific and illustrative cases are explored in a dedicated section. Lastly, potential future perspectives are discussed and elucidated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The "Boska" Department Store is a large building at the historical core of Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina). Its distinctive volume dominates the main city square, and it serves as one of the city symbols. It was built in 1978 as one of the large department stores that characterised Yugoslav cities. However, "Boska" and the less famous neighbouring The Worker's Solidarity House are fragments of an extensive revitalisation project of the city centre and a new imagined megaform. This paper will portray the winning competition design project "Grad" ("City") from 1973 by a team of eminent Yugoslav architects who envisioned a new urban landscape in Banja Luka's centre that never materialised. The paper will interpret its design principles in the context of the period's local and international architectural culture that pursued the new spatial synthesis of fixed and transient space, architecture and the city. Qualitative research is based on analysing the design project "Grad", relevant journal articles from the period, and a recent interview with one of the authors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this article is to provide guidance for instructors who wish to develop a course associated with student participation in the College Fed Challenge (CFC), an academic competition designed to test students' knowledge of current economic events and monetary policy. We eschew a lecture-only methodology and use small-group and team-based learning to effectively prepare students for this endeavor. Under this framework, students play an active role in the classroom experience, develop critical research and public speaking skills, and benefit from cohesive peer interaction. Samples of in-class activities and the accompanying grading rubrics are provided for seamless instructor implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the role of Reflective Practice and Team Learning when architecture teams pitch their proposals in a design competition. Pitching proposals is significant to architects because pitching designs in competitions is one of the ways architects procure jobs. Previous researchers used the principles of Reflective Practice to describe how teams design together. This study adds to those works by using the principles of Reflective Practice to describe how teams communicate their design to clients. Additionally, this case study introduces team learning concepts to describe how clients perceive design teams when pitching their proposal. In 2018, we observed six architecture teams pitch their design in an architecture competition, analysed the documents presented, and interviewed the jury. Results revealed that the winning team demonstrated the most Framing, Moving and Evaluating language in their pitch. They were also perceived to have demonstrated the most team learning behaviours amongst all the competitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we consider green product design in a supply chain consisting of one manufacturer and two retailers, where retailer 1 aims at monetary profit maximisation, and retailer 2 has fairness concern. We consider two kinds of green products: a marginal-intensive green product (MIGP) and a development-intensive green product (DIGP). For the former, the green investment cost depends on the green level and the production quantity; while for the latter, the green investment cost depends on the green level solely. In each case, we investigate the impact of the retailer's fairness concern by comparing the optimal solutions and supply chain performance with those in the basic models in which all the supply chain members aim at profit maximisation. We find that retailer 2 will set a higher retailing price and earn a smaller market share. Such inferiority increases as retailer 2's inequity aversion increases or as the substitutability degree of the products offered by the two retailers increases. We also find that retailer 2's fairness concern will always harm the manufacturer. If an equity outcome is achieved, the supply chain may achieve a better performance; however, if an inequity outcome is attained, the supply chain always performs worse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of ABI Technik is the property of De Gruyter and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The CADE ATP System Competition (CASC) is the annual evaluation of fully automatic, classical logic, Automated Theorem Proving (ATP) systems. CASC-J11 was the twenty-seventh competition in the CASC series. Twenty-four ATP systems competed in the various competition divisions. This paper presents an outline of the competition design and a commentated summary of the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is seen that the design-oriented criteria in the furniture product have been analyzed through consumer or user preferences until today. However, the design criteria determined or evaluated through user preferences are not sufficient for the development of products. For this reason, it is necessary to determine the criteria in the design process in the furniture industry from an expert point of view, to determine the importance and weights of these criteria, and to develop standards. In this context, the aim of this study is to determine the criteria and sub-criteria in the furniture design process, and to analyze the importance ratings and weights of these criteria relative to each other. AHP, which is one of the multiple decisionmaking methods, was applied for the literature review and the analysis of the importance and weights of the criteria and subcriteria determined by five different experts in the field. A total of 4 main criteria and 25 sub-criteria were determined in order to evaluate the furniture design process with the opinion of experts. Accordingly, the main criterion that has the most importance when evaluating the furniture design process is functionality. This criterion is followed by technical, conceptual and aesthetic criteria, respectively. Planning in accordance with the intended use (functional), material quality (technical), sustainability (conceptual) and form / shape (aesthetic) are the most important sub-criteria under the basic criteria. The findings of the study have the potential to contribute to the objective evaluation of the instructors working in the institutions providing education in the field, to determine the evaluation criteria in national-international design competitions, or to make a joint group decision by multiple decision makers in the sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Railway Standard Design is the property of Railway Standard Design Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The AES is one of the most widely used block ciphers in the world, the 3D block cipher is a 3-dimensional AES-like cipher proposed at CANS 2008, and the TANGRAM block cipher is an awardwinning algorithm of the recent National Cryptographic Algorithm Design Competition in China. The yoyo tricks is a powerful cryptanalysis technique based on zero difference, and its main idea is based on whether a plaintext pair and a pair generated by this plaintext pair share the same property after several rounds of encryption. This paper uses yoyo tricks to make an attack on 6-round AES with restricted ciphertexts, reducing the best previously published time complexity by 25:6 in the context of yoyo tricks. Second, the yoyo tricks are extended to n-tuple (n ≥ 3) and relations between the yoyo tricks and related differentials are established, more specifically, the related differentials can be represented by yoyo tricks, and 3-tuple yoyo tricks are used to launch a key recovery attack on 11-round 3D. Finally, the early abort technique is used to the exchange attack, where 2126 chosen plaintexts are used to make a distinguishing attack on 25-round TANGRAM with a 128-bit block size (denoted as TANGRAM-128), which is the first 25-round distinguisher for TANGRAM-128. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hiriya landfill, in central Israel, served Tel Aviv for 50 years and became a byword for neglect and ugliness until it was recently transformed from an environmental hazard, into a beautiful park. This article explores the idea and experience of waste, as concept and matter, and its representations in the 2004 international design competition for Hiriya's rehabilitation. Addressing the global issue of rehabilitating wasted sites, the competition encouraged landscape architects to address a polluted past and outline new cultural and ethical meanings in the reclaimed public space. Drawing from unexplored textual and visual sources, and combining landscape architecture with cultural studies on waste, we reveal that few of the 14 proposals touched upon the complexity of waste, with its cultural, ethical and social attributes. The winning entry by Peter Latz turned the mound into a striking monument to trash, but minimised the visitors' idea and experience of the waste itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]