Search

Farm-level decision-making by resource-constrained smallholder farmers, such as investment in improved farm management practices and technologies may considerably be influenced by the age of farm operators. However, evidence of the effect of farm operators' age on farm efficiency and technological endowment, and consequently on agricultural productivity in sub-Saharan Africa has been inexact. To contribute to an improved understanding of the age-efficiency-productivity nexus, this study investigates the impacts of farm operators' age on agricultural productivity by evaluating the managerial performance and technological endowment of the operators, disaggregated across three age cohorts, viz. the youth, middle-aged and the aged. We fit the meta-stochastic frontier statistical framework to a country-wide sample of 24,596 farm households, spanning three decades of data collection in Ghana. The results show that relative to the potentials of each age cohort, more output can be generated using currently allocated inputs, but under improved farm management practices. Whereas we did not find evidence for possible age-related technological differences in agricultural production in Ghana, we did find strong support for possible age-induced managerial differences in farm production, with youth operators being more efficient than their middle-aged and aged peers. Consequently, the age of farm operators significantly affects agricultural productivity in Ghana through their efficiency of resource allocation. We find these results relevant for policy attention, in terms of the targeting of support to farm operators in the various age cohorts and in the country's quest to achieve greater agricultural productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis study was conducted through an experimental study design. Our research question focuses on; (1) how Chinese products have reduced market costs in South Africa, Nigeria, and Egypt? (2) What impact do Chinese products have on the technology development process of the selected countries? (3) Which factors influence the expansion of Chinese products in the international market and how does primary research provide recommendation for using Chinese products to reduces market cost and improve technological performance. 279 responses were collected from the respondent in the selected countries to examine the performance of Chinese products. SPSS statistics software was used to analyze data using snowballing method to access the participants. Result on regression and correlation tests show that the number of Chinese products in the market positively predicted the market price. Technology performances were found to negatively impacts the supply of Chinese products. Our findings make a critical contribution to the existing theories on technology innovation, performance management, and product pricing. More specifically, (1) The increasing supply of Chinese products negatively affects the performance of technology in Africa; (2) A low level of technology adoption in the African market negatively impacts technology performance and technical performance is highly correlated with the availability of Chinese products;(3) The increase in Chinese products contributed to lower market prices. Our findings further suggest the increased demand and supply of Chinese products will adversely affect technology performance. Therefore, this study recommend that African leaders empower the youth to increase their exposure to Chinese technology.

Beetroot is a tuber rich in antioxidant compounds, i.e., betanin and saponins, and is one of the main sources of dietary nitrate. The aim of the present study was to microencapsulate a ready-to-eat beetroot soup by lyophilization using different encapsulating agents, which supply the required amount of bioactive nutrients. Particle size distributions ranged from 7.94 ± 1.74 to 245.66 ± 2.31 µm for beetroot soup in starch and from 30.56 ± 1.66 to 636.34 ± 2.04 µm in maltodextrin. Microparticle yields of powdered beetroot soup in starch varied from 77.68% to 88.91%, and in maltodextrin from 75.01% to 80.25%. The NO3− and total betalain contents at a 1:2 ratio were 10.46 ± 0.22 mmol·100 g−1 fresh weight basis and 219.7 ± 4.92 mg·g−1 in starch powdered beetroot soup and 8.43 ± 0.09 mmol·100 g−1 fresh weight basis and 223.9 ± 4.21 mg·g−1 in maltodextrin powdered beetroot soup. Six distinct minerals were identified and quantified in beetroot soups, namely Na, K, Mg, Mn, Zn and P. Beetroot soup microencapsulated in starch or maltodextrin complied with microbiological quality guidelines for consumption, with good acceptance and purchase intention throughout 90 days of storage. Microencapsulated beetroot soup may, thus, comprise a novel attractive strategy to offer high contents of bioaccessible dietary nitrate and antioxidant compounds that may aid in the improvement of vascular-protective effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beetroot is a tuber rich in antioxidant compounds, i.e., betanin and saponins, and is one of the main sources of dietary nitrate. The aim of the present study was to microencapsulate a ready-to-eat beetroot soup by lyophilization using different encapsulating agents, which supply the required amount of bioactive nutrients. Particle size distributions ranged from 7.94 ± 1.74 to 245.66 ± 2.31 µm for beetroot soup in starch and from 30.56 ± 1.66 to 636.34 ± 2.04 µm in maltodextrin. Microparticle yields of powdered beetroot soup in starch varied from 77.68% to 88.91%, and in maltodextrin from 75.01% to 80.25%. The NO3− and total betalain contents at a 1:2 ratio were 10.46 ± 0.22 mmol·100 g−1 fresh weight basis and 219.7 ± 4.92 mg·g−1 in starch powdered beetroot soup and 8.43 ± 0.09 mmol·100 g−1 fresh weight basis and 223.9 ± 4.21 mg·g−1 in maltodextrin powdered beetroot soup. Six distinct minerals were identified and quantified in beetroot soups, namely Na, K, Mg, Mn, Zn and P. Beetroot soup microencapsulated in starch or maltodextrin complied with microbiological quality guidelines for consumption, with good acceptance and purchase intention throughout 90 days of storage. Microencapsulated beetroot soup may, thus, comprise a novel attractive strategy to offer high contents of bioaccessible dietary nitrate and antioxidant compounds that may aid in the improvement of vascular-protective effects.

In addition to the scalability of new computation technologies considering their potentials and limitations, recent applications of embedded computation ensure its possible uses in the scope of urban computing and policymaking strategies. This study examines methods of crowdsourcing with the aim of incremental transformation of the built environment through the experimental exploration of the traditional infrastructure of the Spice Bazaar in İstanbul using a bottom-up research approach. Thus, this study can be an overarching source of specifications and policymaking for the incremental transformation of the built environment. Accordingly, the agencies of participation and policymaking, the concern of usage and economics as well as technological potentials and limitations are considered as generative parameters. Smart grids and embedded computation in built environments are examined in addition to the utilization of traditional infrastructures for data acquisition and assessment. Under the scope of urban computing, this study evaluates associative learning and prediction models, as well as other sensorial technologies, connected devices, and new methods of computation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was designed to evaluate the impact of differentiated technological innovation efficiencies of industrial enterprises on the local emissions of environmental pollutants in Anhui province, China, during the period of 2012–2016. The econometric models of DEA and SEM-PLS and Malmquist index are used to explore the potential impacts of differentiated technological innovation efficiencies of industrial enterprises on the local emissions of environmental pollutants in Anhui province. After an initial analysis of SEM-PLS model, the models of DEA and Malmquist index are used to evaluate the differentiated degrees and dynamic development levels of local technological innovation efficiencies of industrial enterprises in different regions of Anhui province. With these analyses, the study presents three main results as follows. There is a positive correlation between the technological innovation efficiencies of industrial enterprises and the technological performance levels of environmental disposal. Meanwhile, there is a large gap among the environmental disposing performances of industrial enterprises in different regions of Anhui province. There is also a large gap between the expected and actual technological performances of industrial enterprises' environmental disposal, according to the results of SEM-PLS analysis. Furthermore, there are several obvious characteristics of geographical distribution in the impact of differentiated technological innovation efficiencies of industrial enterprises on local environmental pollutant emissions observed from the results of the DEA and Malmquist index models. However, it is not consistent with the overall provincial development trend and regional distribution pattern of industrial economics in Anhui province over the period of 2012–2016. Under the rapid development of social economics and modern technological advance, there is a weak impact of differentiated technological innovation efficiency on the technological performance of industrial environmental disposal in different regions of Anhui province. Meanwhile, the environmental disposal capacity of enterprises' technological innovation become declining too. Finally, some countermeasures and policy suggestions are put forward based on the investigation and comprehensive analyses of the DEA and SEM-PLS and Malmquist index models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As the application of next generation sequencing (NGS) is moving to earlier stages in the diagnostic pipeline for primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs), re-evaluation of its effectiveness is required. The aim of this study is to systematically review the diagnostic yield of NGS in PIDs. Methods: PubMed and Embase databases were searched for relevant studies. Studies were eligible when describing the use of NGS in patients that had previously been diagnosed with PID on clinical and/or laboratory findings. Relevant data on study characteristics, technological performance and diagnostic yield were extracted. Results: Fourteen studies were eligible for data extraction. Six studies described patient populations from specific PID subcategories. The remaining studies included patients with unsorted PIDs. The studies were based on populations from Italy, Iran, Turkey, Thailand, the Netherlands, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, the UK, and the USA. Eight studies used an array-based targeted gene panel, four used WES in combination with a PID filter, and two used both techniques. The mean reported reading depth ranged from 98 to 1337 times. Five studies described the sensitivity of the applied techniques, ranging from 83 to 100%, whereas specificity ranged from 45 to 99.9%. The percentage of patients who were genetically diagnosed ranged from 15 to 79%. Several studies described clinical implications of the genetic findings. Discussion: NGS has the ability to contribute significantly to the identification of molecular mechanisms in PID patients. The diagnostic yield highly depends on population and on the technical circumstances under which NGS is employed. Further research is needed to determine the exact diagnostic yield and clinical implications of NGS in patients with PID. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Changzhou University (Social Science Edition) is the property of Editorial Department of Journal of Changzhou University 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.)

In the present paper, we explore the relationship between patent performance and relative technological performance. A review of the theoretical and empirical literature shows that patenting is one of the major drivers for enhancing countries’ relative technological performance. Focusing on PCT patent applications for a sample of 16 Mediterranean countries over the period 1995 to 2010, we develop a dynamic model in which countries’ relative technological performance is depending on the capacity of innovative actors and ‟knowledge infrastructure” to exploit internal technological capabilities and to explore external sources of technological knowledge by patents (ambidexterity). The results of our estimations show that Mediterranean countries’ patent performances significantly explain their relative technological performances. Estimations provide also evidence that for this group of countries, relative technological performance depends on technological knowledge absorption capacities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The project fits into the context of management of climatic threats and natural disasters in developing countries. It is example Mozambique, seat of deepening of research, where the negative effects of climatic threats are amplified by the low level of resilience of the built environment. For the progress of the country and the development of the territory. The ability of resilience, adaptability and transformability play a fundamental role in the new forecasting processes and project aimed at the improvement of systems of settlements. The article describes the application testing of a methodology of investigation repeatable in similar contexts, time to outline a cognitive basis to trace possible actions for improvement in respect of the identity of the place.

The project fits into the context of management of climatic threats and natural disasters in developing countries. It is example Mozambique, seat of deepening of research, where the negative effects of climatic threats are amplified by the low level of resilience of the built environment. For the progress of the country and the development of the territory. The ability of resilience, adaptability and transformability play a fundamental role in the new forecasting processes and project aimed at the improvement of systems of settlements. The article describes the application testing of a methodology of investigation repeatable in similar contexts, time to outline a cognitive basis to trace possible actions for improvement in respect of the identity of the place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of combined chickpea protein isolate (CPI, 1%, w /w) and chitosan (CHI, 1%, w/w) on the technological, thermal, and structural properties of phosphate-free pork meat emulsions (PPMEs) were investigated. The results showed that CPI + CHI significantly improved the emulsion stability (P < 0.05), synergistically elevated the hardness and chewiness, and did not negatively impact the color attributes, which endowed the PPMEs with similar or even better technological performances compared to the high-phosphate control. These alterations were related to the reduced myosin enthalpy values, the rearrangement of free water into immobilized water, the synergistic reduction in α-helical structure and increase in β-sheet structure, the increased trans - gauche -trans S S conformation intensity of the Raman bands, and the formation of interactive protein gel networks where small-sized fat particles were evenly dispersed in the protein matrix. Therefore, combined CPI and CHI shows promise as a phosphate replacer for meat products. • Combined CPI and CHI synergistically improved technological performances of PPMEs. • Combined CPI and CHI restored the quality of PPMEs to the high-phosphate control. • Combined CPI and CHI induced protein thermal and structural modifications of PPMEs. • Technological quality improvement of PPMEs was related to protein modifications. • The results are attractive for developing high-quality phosphate-free meat products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a gap between technological opportunities and R&D planning because opportunity information is too broadly defined. Thus, we suggest a method of transforming such technological opportunities into a customized and detailed R&D plan. We identify key information for R&D planning, extract such information from bibliometric data by chunk-based mining, and convert it to a usable form for R&D planning. A systematic analysis of normalized performance gaps, performance structure, R&D feasibility and technological alternatives identified important and feasible target technological performance metrics as well as R&D solutions. Our method can increase the practical value of technological opportunities while reducing the efforts required of experts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functional technical performance usually follows an exponential dependence on time but the rate of change (the exponent) varies greatly among technological domains. This paper presents a simple model that provides an explanatory foundation for these phenomena based upon the inventive design process. The model assumes that invention – novel and useful design – arises through probabilistic analogical transfers that combine existing knowledge by combining existing individual operational ideas to arrive at new individual operating ideas. The continuing production of individual operating ideas relies upon injection of new basic individual operating ideas that occurs through coupling of science and technology simulations. The individual operational ideas that result from this process are then modeled as being assimilated in components of artifacts characteristic of a technological domain. According to the model, two effects (differences in interactions among components for different domains and differences in scaling laws for different domains) account for the differences found in improvement rates among domains whereas the analogical transfer process is the source of the exponential behavior. The model is supported by a number of known empirical facts: further empirical research is suggested to independently assess further predictions made by the model.

Functional technical performance usually follows an exponential dependence on time but the rate of change (the exponent) varies greatly among technological domains. This paper presents a simple model that provides an explanatory foundation for these phenomena based upon the inventive design process. The model assumes that invention--novel and useful design--arises through probabilistic analogical transfers that combine existing knowledge by combining existing individual operational ideas to arrive at new individual operating ideas. The continuing production of individual operating ideas relies upon injection of new basic individual operating ideas that occurs through coupling of science and technology simulations. The individual operational ideas that result from this process are then modeled as being assimilated in components of artifacts characteristic of a technological domain. According to the model, two effects (differences in interactions among components for different domains and differences in scaling laws for different domains) account for the differences found in improvement rates among domains whereas the analogical transfer process is the source of the exponential behavior. The model is supported by a number of known empirical facts: further empirical research is suggested to independently assess further predictions made by the model. Key words: modeling, design, combinatorial invention, technological performance [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

El presente artículo efectúa una rápida revisión a la dinámica y transformaciones de la industria colombiana en la última década. Para tal fin, se analizan: i) su comportamiento en materia de competitividad; ii) la evolución de sus mercados; los cambios y el desempeño productivo al interior del sector; iii) los cambios en la estructura industrial; iv) la relación existente entre los desempeños productivo y tecnológico en la industria; v), finalmente, se plantean algunas conclusiones y consideraciones de política.This paper carries out a brief look of the dynamic and transformation of Colombian industry during the last decade. For this purpose several things are analyzed: i) i ts behavi or in terms of competitivity; ii) the evolution of its markets; the transformations and productive performance within the sector; iii) the transformations of the industrial structure; iv) the existing relationship between the productive and technological performance of the industry; v) and finally, some conclusions and considerations are proposed.

This article examines the effect of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) on the profile of merging firms’ inventive activity. The authors conceive of the inventive process as a recombinant search, whose outcome can be characterized along two complementary dimensions, which define its profile: its depth of impact on subsequent inventions, and its breadth of impact across different scientific domains. The profile of firms’ inventive activity depends on two main factors: the resources available to be recombined and the organizational incentives that guide the recombination process. In turn, these factors significantly depend on the upstream, technological resources available and on firms’ downstream, product-market related assets. Importantly, both of these factors may change in the aftermath of M&A, as their specific institutional features facilitate the exchange and redeployment of upstream and downstream resources. The authors then discuss how variations in the profile of firms’ inventive activity in the aftermath of an M&A reflect the diversity of upstream and downstream resources redeployed by the M&A deal. They test their hypotheses with a panel of firms from the US medical devices and photographic equipment industry. The study finds that diversity in merging firms’ downstream resources exerts a positive impact on post-acquisition profile of inventive activities, whereas diversity in knowledge bases does not seem to exert a significant direct effect on the two qualitative dimensions of inventive activity considered. Yet, technological diversity displays a positive effect in deals characterized by high market relatedness. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The significance of grain (chickpea, pea) and oilseed (soybean) legumes on the nutritional and functional added value of wheat breads was assessed in composite matrices (from 18 to 54% of wheat flour replacement). Gluten (from 1 to 5% of wheat flour replacement) and carboxymethylcellulose (from 1 to 5% of wheat flour replacement) were used as structuring agents. The study allowed the identification of the qualitative (chickpea and pea) and quantitative legumes (up to 42% of wheat flour replacement), providing enhancement of nutritional value of sensorially accepted breads. Associated mixtures of legumes-wheat-structuring agents (42:52:6) have proven to make highly nutritious breads in terms of promoted dietary fibre fractions, lower and slower starch hydrolysis, decreased rapidly digestible starch and reduced expected glycaemic index. In addition, viscoelastic restrictions and sensory standards are met. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We set out in this study to analyse the impact on the technological performance of firms arising from their vertical integration, along with their escalating commitment to capital investment. Our findings reveal a positive relationship between vertical integration and the technological performance of such firms. A positive correlation is also found to exist between vertical integration and escalating commitment to capital investment; in other words, a firm's rising commitment to its capital investment may well strengthen the positive effects of vertical integration on the technological performance of the firm. More importantly, the interactive effects on technological performance will tend to differ, largely dependent on the type of vertical integration. The findings of this study also indicate that vertical integration can effectively neutralise the threat to exit barriers resulting from a firm's escalating commitment to its prior investment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The System, Component and Operationally Relevant Evaluation (SCORE) Framework has been developed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology over the past 3 years to provide formative evaluations of advanced military technologies. SCORE is a unified set of criteria and software tools for defining a performance evaluation approach for complex intelligent systems. To date, SCORE has been used to evaluate a wide range of advanced technologies, including soldier-worn sensor systems, technologies allowing real-time multimedia information sharing among soldiers in the field, two-way speech translation systems, and autonomous robotic platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strategy research typically traces stable performance differences among firms to a priori heterogeneity in initial resource endowments or in expected flows of resources. The objective of this paper is to explore how this heterogeneity is created and how it affects firm technological performance. Within the framework of an evolutionary view of technological change, we develop the notion of technological preadaptation to describe that part of a firm's prior experience that is accumulated without anticipation of subsequent uses. In particular, we hypothesize that (technological) performance differences are positively related to (1) firms' stock of relevant skills and knowledge potentially available for applications other than those for which they were originally developed and (2) the extent to which firms actually build on these skills and knowledge in new domains. The empirical setting is fiber optics technology as it evolved for use in long-distance communications between 1970 and 1995. We find that "preadapted" firms that consistently leveraged their prior experience achieved higher levels of performance than did firms that did not leverage that experience or did not have prior experience. The study illustrates the importance of preadaptation in capability development and technological competition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]