Search Results (40)

Faced with the challenges of the energy crisis and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Poland needs to increase the share of renewable energy sources in the energy mix. Development trends in the waste-to-energy market reflect the global energy transition. Poland generates about 13 million tonnes of municipal waste annually, a significant percentage of which is biodegradable waste that should be converted into biogas or used in thermal processes to produce electricity and heat. Despite the benefits of recovering energy from waste, there are technological, economic, and regulatory barriers that limit the development of this sector in Poland. Creating an efficient waste management system is one of the most important challenges today in terms of energy, the environment, and the economy. The circular economy is a fundamental element of the European Union’s environmental policy, including the European Green Deal, the main objective of which is to combat the carbon footprint. The amount of energy produced is decisively influenced by the structure of the deposited waste and the share of the calorific fraction in the total mass of municipal waste. This study aimed to develop forecasts for biodegradable municipal waste, using the simulation and optimisation of the exponential Brownian smoothing constant, and to estimate the value of recovered energy. The forecasts were based on data on selective waste collection from different provinces of Poland. The study reveals that the forecast for biodegradable municipal waste in the coming years shows an increasing trend, amounting to 2,696,500 tonnes in 2030, which will allow for a significant increase in energy recovery. Full article

The share of European shipbuilding in the world market, with the constant exception of the cruise ship niche, has been in continuous decline for decades, while at the same time, state-supported Asian competitors are recording accelerated growth. With the already long-standing ban on subsidizing the shipbuilding industry by EU member states, its shipyards can maintain their market position primarily by continuously improving business processes, including adopting Industry 4.0 doctrines. In order to contribute to the European shipyards’ competitiveness growth, the authors of this paper use the case study methodology to investigate the applicability of blockchain technology in the process of financing the construction and purchase of ships according to a bareboat charter model, which is recognized as risk-balanced for all parties involved in the process. The empirically analyzed implementation of the blockchain application of smart contracts, using the example of three ships built and purchased according to the proposed model, theoretically results in an almost one-year shortening of the financing process, with a significant reduction in the costs of legal activities. The originality of this study is also emphasized by the correlation of smart contracts and the process of early ship outfitting in the sense of the possible improvement in its level, thus achieving savings in working hours and energy and ultimately shortening the process of realizing the shipbuilding project. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study examines the transformation of Turkey’s hospital sector from 2002 to 2022, focusing on physical capacity, service utilization, and workforce distribution in the public and private sectors. Methods: Longitudinal data from the Ministry of Health were analyzed using trend and breakpoint methods to evaluate hospital beds, qualified beds, intensive care beds, service volumes (outpatient visits, inpatient admissions, surgeries, and hospitalization days), and staffing (physicians, nurses, and midwives). Results: Findings reveal a marked shift in the balance between public and private providers. Due to public regulations effectively controlling resource allocation, the private sector’s share expanded to around one-fourth of the system. Private capacity in total beds rose from 7.53% to 21.00%, outpatient visits from 4.58% to 15.07%, and inpatient admissions from 10.10% to 30.63%. Breakpoint analyses indicate crucial turning points around 2005, 2008, and 2011, when policy changes restricted public capacity but facilitated private investment. Although the public sector’s share in total beds declined, its proportion of qualified and intensive care beds, as well as dialysis machines, increased, suggesting a strategic shift toward complex, high-quality services. Conclusions: Over the past 20 years, Turkey’s hospital sector exemplifies privatization without ownership transfer. Although delayed, private hospital expansion aligned with global neoliberal trends. Policy regulations played a key role in both promoting and limiting sector growth. A constant conflict exists between market-driven resource allocation and public health needs, which must be considered in restructuring efforts alongside private sector motivations. Full article

This study evaluated the competitive performance of Mexican fresh grape exports in the United States market from 2002 to 2022. Over this period, Mexican exports exhibited a pronounced declining trend, while competitors such as Chile and Peru significantly increased their market shares. Employing the Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) index and Constant Market Share analysis (CMSA), the growth dynamics of the export performance were systematically decomposed. The findings reveal a substantial contraction in Mexico’s export volumes and market share, which plummeted from 27.5% in 2002 to a mere 6.1% in 2022, alongside a marked decline in its RCA from 2.4 to 0.3. In stark contrast, Peru demonstrated remarkable growth, expanding its market share from 0.7% to 39.4%, driven by structural advantages and superior competitiveness. While Chile maintained consistent export volumes, it experienced a relative decline in its market share, ceding ground to emerging players like Peru. The analysis underscores the structural and competitive challenges confronting Mexico in the U.S. fresh grape market, emphasizing the urgent need for strategic policy interventions. These should focus on enhancing productivity, capitalizing on market opportunities, and bolstering agricultural competitiveness. Peru’s success underscores the critical role of dynamic production strategies and alignment with evolving market demands in securing sustained export growth. Full article

In recent years, with the formal implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the rise of the blue economy, the trade cooperation between China and ASEAN in aquatic products has been further deepened and expanded. This paper utilizes United Nations Commodity Trade (UN Comtrade) data from 2001 to 2023 and combines the perspective of the blue economy to systematically analyze the characteristics of bilateral trade volume, growth rate, market distribution, and trade types of aquatic products between China and ASEAN. By applying the modified Constant Market Share (CMS) model, the paper conducts a factor decomposition and effect analysis of the growth factors in China’s aquatic exports to ASEAN. The analysis indicates that the competitiveness effect has the highest contribution rate, and competitiveness has been the primary driver of growth in China’s aquatic product export trade to ASEAN, followed by the growth effect increasing year by year, which shows the impact of the scale of demand, while the product effect is relatively low. In particular, product structure urgently needs improvement to meet the requirements of the blue economy. In ASEAN’s aquatic product exports to China, demand scale serves as the main driving force, with the product variety adapting to the Chinese market as a secondary contributor. However, under the blue economy framework, product sustainability and environmental friendliness have emerged as new considerations, while the contribution of competitiveness remains relatively low, suggesting a need for further enhancement to align with green trade standards. Full article

Peptides are an important class of biomolecules that perform many physiological functions and which occupy a significant and increasing share of the pharmaceutical market. Methods to determine the solid-state structures of peptides in different environments are important to help understand their biological functions and to aid the development of drug formulations. Here, a new magic-angle spinning (MAS) solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR) approach is described for the structural analysis of uniformly ¹³C-labeled solid peptides. Double-quantum (DQ) coherence between selective pairs of ¹³C nuclei in peptide backbone and side-chain CH₃ groups is excited to provide restraints on (i) ¹³C–¹³C internuclear distances and (ii) the relative orientations of C–H bonds. DQ coherence is selected by adjusting the MAS frequency to the difference in the resonance frequencies of selected nuclear pairs (the rotational resonance condition), which reintroduces the dipolar coupling between the nuclei. Interatomic distances are then measured using a constant time SSNMR experiment to eliminate uncertainties arising from relaxation effects. Further, the relative orientations of C–H bond vectors are determined using a DQ heteronuclear local field SSNMR experiment, employing ¹³C–¹H coupling amplification to increase sensitivity. These methods are applied to determine the molecular conformation of a uniformly ¹³C-labeled peptide, N-formyl-l-methionyl-l-leucyl-l-phenylalanine (fMLF). From just six distance and six angular restraints, two possible molecular conformations are determined, one of which is in excellent agreement with the crystal structure of a closely related peptide. The method is envisaged to a useful addition to the SSNMR repertoire for the solid-state structure determination of peptides in a variety of forms, including amyloid fibrils and pharmaceutical formulations. Full article

In response to the growing significance of hydrogen as a clean energy carrier, this study investigates the advanced rectifier technologies employed in electrolytic hydrogen production. First, the topologies of three rectifiers typically employed in industry—24-pulse thyristor rectifiers, insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) rectifiers, and 24-pulse diode rectifiers with multi-phase choppers—are described in detail. Subsequently, at a constant 5 MW power level, the three rectifiers are compared in terms of rectifier efficiency, grid-side power quality, power factor, and overall investment cost. The results indicate that in comparison to the other two rectifiers, the thyristor rectifier provides superior efficiency and cost advantages, thereby maintaining a dominant market share. Additionally, case studies of rectifier power supplies from three real-world industrial projects are presented, along with actual grid-side power quality data. Finally, the challenges, potential applications, and future prospects of rectifiers in renewable energy-based hydrogen production are discussed and summarized. Full article

This article provides a novel approach to the traditional constant market share (CMS) analysis recognizing the importance of global production networks and fragmentation that necessitate using trade in value added (TiVA) rather than gross trade. We discuss how the components of a CMS analysis need to be (re)interpreted and apply our Constant Value Added Share (CVAS) analysis to the Philippines in the years 1995–2020 using the latest TiVA 2023 dataset (released in November 2023) and compare CMS to CVAS in order to facilitate understanding the contribution of the novel approach. The CVAS analysis finds that while Philippine and world Value Added grew at par, the country lost competitiveness. Traditional CMS suggests a smaller loss of competitiveness. Our approach also identifies specific sectoral weaknesses (i.e., computer and electronics exports) and emerging strengths (technology-related business services) that are unclear in CMS analysis. We argue that Constant Value Added Share analysis is useful for assessing the global value chain performance of other developing countries as well. Full article

Tuna products are among the most popular seafoods in the world and widely traded across the globe. China is a major contributor to the worldwide tuna industry as both a producer and an exporter. Employing the Constant Market Share model, this study examines the factors influencing the variations in China’s tuna exports from 2002 to 2022, focusing on global, country, and product type levels. Results show that (1) China’s expanded tuna exporting trade is partially due to the rising worldwide demand for tuna, which is mostly prominent in China’s tuna exports to the USA, Vietnam, and Malaysia, as well as its exports of frozen tuna products. (2) China’s competitive edge in tuna exports has steadily strengthened in most of its principal exporting markets, especially in Japan and the fresh tuna markets. Nevertheless, the competitiveness structure of Chinese tuna exports has challenges in satisfying the diverse requirements of different nations (regions) for various types of tuna products. (3) The second-order effect has been the primary driver of the expansion in Chinese tuna exports, with its contribution rate consistently rising in recent years. In response to the changes in international and domestic tuna markets, China must implement strategies to maximize the potential of the tuna importing market, further improve its global competitiveness, enhance communication and coordination among domestic and international tuna stakeholders, and cultivate domestic tuna markets. Full article

The security of agricultural product supply is crucial for social development. For populous and resource-rich countries like China and Russia, strengthening their bilateral trade in agricultural products is essential to ensure stability and security in the global food market. However, current research on their agricultural product trade lacks sufficient detail. This article aims to analyze the overall trend of agricultural product trading between China and Russia based on trade data from 2007 to 2021. Different trade indexes will be used to examine the four aspects of the agricultural product trade characteristics of both countries. The constant market share model will be employed to analyze the growth factors of agricultural product trade between the two nations, providing insights into the driving force behind changes in agricultural exports. The findings of this study demonstrate that bilateral agricultural trade between China and Russia shows complementarity and high trade intensity. Intra-industry trade represents the primary form of agricultural product exchange, while inter-industry trade serves as a supplemental form of trade. In terms of trade growth impact, the bilateral agricultural trade between China and Russia is primarily influenced by the effect of product structure, followed by competitiveness. Therefore, in the face of uncertain situations, such as counter-globalization and localized trade frictions, specific recommendations will be provided to optimize the trade structure of agricultural products between the two nations. Full article

This paper presents a scientometric and bibliometric literature review of the research on transitions to autonomous and electric vehicles. We discuss the main characteristics, evolution, and various transitional issues, identifying potential trends for future research. The Scopus and WoS search for relevant research articles generated a corpus of 4693 articles, which we analyzed using VOSviewer visualization software. This result shows that the transition research is interdisciplinary, with 54 scientific areas identified. Analysis requires an understanding of the broader aspects of the automotive industry, trends related to sustainability, environment protection, road safety, public policies, market factors and other business, and legal and management issues. This study highlights the need for more research to address the challenges of this global transition in the automotive industry. Topics for future research are constant improvements in AI algorithms used in AVs, innovations in green energy sources, and storage solutions for EVs. This is leading to new innovative business models and platforms. Further to that, the conclusion is that the impact of the transition to a shared economy, the emergency of mobility as a service, and public acceptance of the technology have to be comprehensively considered. The vehicle of the future is seen as a smart electric car, running on green energy, and utilizing various levels of automation up to full autonomy. Full article

The food contact materials (FCMs) industry is forced to develop substitute materials due to constant pressure from consumers and authorities to reduce fossil-based plastic. Several alternatives are available on the market. However, market share, trends, and consumer preferences are still unclear. Therefore, this study aims to provide an overview of the Belgian FCMs market, the available substitute materials, and their uses. The market analysis was performed with an integrated web-based approach. Fifty-two sources were investigated, covering e-shops selling materials intended to replace disposable plastic materials or being advertised as environmentally friendly and websites describing homemade FCMs. The first screening identified 10,523 articles. The following data cleaning process resulted in a homogeneous dataset containing 2688 unique entries, systematically categorised into fifteen material categories and seven utilisation classes. Paper and board was the most popular material category (i.e., 37% of the entries), followed by bagasse, accounting for 9% of the entries. Takeaway and food serving (44.4% and 22.8% of the entries) were the most common usage categories. The study pursued to provide insights into current trends and consumer preferences, highlighting priorities for safety assessment and future policy making. Full article

Increasing wind capacity and capacity factors (CF) are essential for achieving the goals set by the Paris Climate Agreement. From 2010–2012 to 2018–2020, the 3-year mean CF of the global onshore wind turbine fleet rose from 0.22 to 0.25. Wind turbine siting, wind turbine technology, hub height, and curtailed wind energy are well-known CF drivers. However, the extent of these drivers for CF is unknown. Thus, the goal is to quantify the shares of the four drivers in CF development in Germany as a case. Newly developed national power curves from high-resolution wind speed models and hourly energy market data are the basis for the study. We created four scenarios, each with one driver kept constant at the 2010–2012 level, in order to quantify the share of a driver for CF change between 2010–2012 and 2019–2021. The results indicated that rising hub heights increased CF by 10.4%. Improved wind turbine technology caused 7.3% higher CF. However, the absolute CF increase amounted to only 11.9%. It is because less favorable wind turbine sites and curtailment in the later period moderated the CF increase by 2.1% and 3.6%, respectively. The drivers are mainly responsible for perennial CF development. In contrast, variations in wind resource availability drive the enormous CF inter-annual variability. No multi-year wind resource change was detected. Full article

The current paper presents the results of a study that analyzed and evaluated the efficiency of the largest container ports in the wider area of the Mediterranean Basin. The research question that this paper seeks to respond to is how the resources (inputs) of a container port reflect its level of activity and efficiency. In particular, what is the relationship between ports’ infrastructures, equipment and their productivity and the ports’ ability to attract economic activities as well as the extent of their effect on a port’s efficiency? The methodology uses the data envelopment analysis (DEA) output-oriented model following a cross-sectional approach. The research conducts two modeling approaches, the CCR and the BCC model. The analysis goes deeper and compares port efficiency estimates in relation to medium-sized and large ports’ classification and their total market share. The main findings indicated an average efficiency of 0.88 and 0.89 assuming constant and variable returns of scale, respectively, implying that the ports can increase their output levels up to approximately 1.2 times without any change in their inputs. Full article

Indonesia has been striving to become the world’s largest ornamental fish exporter for the past two decades, but success has been limited. This study analyzes Indonesia’s export competitiveness and identifies the barriers encountered. A trade analysis using the UN-Comtrade database for 2012–2021 was conducted using the Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA), Constant Market Shares (CMS), and Competitiveness Matrix formulas to evaluate the competitiveness. Qualitative data from interviews with forty-three industry stakeholders were analyzed using NVivo to evaluate export barriers. The findings revealed that Indonesia had not been optimally exporting to some of the world’s largest markets and faced various barriers, such as product quality and continuity, regulations, marketing, shipment, and other internal and external barriers. The government’s role in overcoming those barriers is crucial while maintaining environmental sustainability. We also propose a matrix model for export barrier levels consisting of export readiness, export market accessibility, export operational challenges, and dynamic export environment. Full article