Psychological analysis of injuries in a first category softball national championship in Cuba

Introduction: the systematic analysis of the relationships between relevant psychological variables for sports performance and injuries is essential to contribute to their prevention in specific sports. Material and methods: a descriptive-correlational and cross-sectional study was carried out in the first category women's national softball championship in Cuba. 88 athletes participated with an average chronological age of 22.91 (SD=6.13) and a sports experience of 10.83 years (SD=4.92). A specific questionnaire, the Competitive Sport Anxiety Inventory and the Psychological Inventory of Sport Execution was applied. Descriptive statistics and Kendall's Tau_b nonparametric correlation coefficient was used for data analysis. Results: A high injury load was verified with a low perception of the role of psychological factors in its etiology, as well as a notable occurrence of new injuries with negative emotional repercussions. Negative correlations of self-confidence, negative coping control, visual-imaginative control, positive coping control, and attitude control with history of injuries were obtained. The high anxiety showed significant relationships with previous injuries and new injuries during the analyzed competition. Conclusions: the findings are especially congruent with previous results in elite softball players, although new and greater relationships between variables were determined. All this means that stimulating psychological skills to control anxiety in competition could contribute to the prevention of injuries. However, longitudinal analyzes are required to confirm the predictive role of these variables before proposing psychological interventions in this regard.

Additive manufacturing integration in E-commerce supply chain network to improve resilience and competitiveness

In light of recently increased e-commerce, also a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, this study examines how additive manufacturing (AM) can contribute to e-commerce supply chain network resilience, profitability and competitiveness. With the recent competitive supply chain challenges, companies aim to decrease cost performance metrics and increase responsiveness. In this work, we aim to establish utilisation policies for AM in a supply chain network so that companies can simultaneously improve their total network cost and response time performance metrics. We propose three different utilisation policies, i.e. reactive, proactive – both with 3D printing support – and a policy excluding AM usage in the system. A simulation optimisation process for 136 experiments under various input design factors for an (s, S) inventory control policy is carried out. We also completed a statistical analysis to identify significant factors (i.e. AM, holding cost, lead time, response time, demand amount, etc.) affecting the performance of the studied retailer supply chain. Results show that utilising AM in such a network can prove beneficial, and where the reactive policy contributes significantly to the network performance metrics. Practically, this work has important managerial implications in defining the most appropriate policies to achieve optimisation of supply network operations and resilience with the aid of AM, especially in times of turbulence and uncertainty. © 2022 The Authors

Stock liquidity and algorithmic market making during the COVID-19 crisis

Much of the liquidity supply in modern markets comes from algorithmic traders (ATs). Prompted by concerns of fragility induced by such voluntary market making, we examine ATs' liquidity-provision role during the COVID-19 crisis. We find that amidst the turmoil as market liquidity declined, ATs did not (disproportionately) withdraw liquidity supply. Stocks with the highest algorithmic trading (AT) experienced lower liquidity reduction compared to stocks with the lowest AT activity. High AT stocks did not experience greater reduction in either competition for liquidity provision or price improvements than low AT stocks. Multiple tests indicate that high AT did not associate with any greater deterioration in price efficiency vis-à-vis low AT stocks. Stocks in the industries hardest hit by COVID-19 did not see any less AT competition for liquidity supply or price efficiency than stocks in the least affected ones. Overall, our results allay some concerns that the current levels of AT make markets more susceptible to liquidity withdrawal in times of crises. © 2022 Elsevier B.V.

Collaborative Networking in Education: Learning Across International Contexts

There is growing consensus on the need to prepare future generations in environments of collaboration and cooperation. This way of understanding education cross borders in the quest for networking. A wide range of theoretical bases supports networking, which underlines its potential in the educational arena. There are few comparative studies that explore the forms that networking takes in education at the international level. This article discusses a series of examples from various countries in order to add to the current knowledge about networking in education in different parts of the world. The examples selected were chosen after a review of the international specialist literature (prior to Covid-19). This was followed by a screening process of the documentary sources based on temporal and thematic criteria, notably including research published in the past decade with content directly related to collaborative networking in diverse educational contexts. Many initiatives have been carried out in a wide range of school settings over the last few years through a combination of top-down interventions, accountability measures and changes in governance arrangements. This article focuses on proposals from countries whose collaboration networks can boast long experiences, together with a synthesis of the main advances reported in the area.

Market Competition, Balanced Scorecard, and Their Effects on Hotel Organizational Performance and Manager's Satisfaction

This study examines the effect of market competition as a determinant of the balanced scorecard (BSC) system and the two consequences of organizational performance and managers' satisfaction. Four hypotheses are tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling. The data were collected from 145 valid responses from four- and five-star hotels in Turkey and focused on the pandemic period. The results revealed that market competition does not affect the use of BSC. Nevertheless, the BSC leads to better organizational performance and system satisfaction for managers. Managers' satisfaction with the BSC was also positively related to the performance of hotel organizations.

It is time for optimal distinctiveness: Corporate social responsibility engagement under dynamic competitive effects during the COVID-19 crisis

Firms tend to seek optimal distinctiveness when choosing CSR engagement timing. Building on the perspectives of optimal distinctiveness and competitive dynamics, this paper explains why firms' CSR engagement timing toward a certain event is affected by dynamic competitive effects. That is, to achieve optimal distinctiveness, focal firms pay more attention to their main competitors that are similar in market, size and resources. We apply a discrete-time survival analysis of 869 Chinese listed firms' CSR engagement action toward the COVID-19 pandemic during the first half of 2020. The results support the mechanism that when a highly similar competitor engages in CSR activities, it raises the probability that the focal firm engages itself beyond levels based solely on its own characteristics and common time-dependent factors. © 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

A study on the changes in the ICT industry after the COVID-19 pandemic

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to explore the changes in the ICT and global value chains (GVCs) after the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach: This study compared the difference between Korea' domestic ICT industries, ICT imports and ICT exports before and after the COVID-19 outbreak by using trade data of ICT products and national economic indicators, and presents growth strategy for the ICT industry in the post-COVID 19 era. For this purpose, this study determined the causalities between Korea's imports/exports of ICT products and composite Indexes before and after COVID-19, and derived implications in the ICT industry environment after the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings: Analysis results showed the following changes in Korea's ICT industry in the post-COVID-19 world. (1) Non-face-to-face and contact-free technologies related sectors in the ICT industry, such as the semiconductor sector, have grown exponentially;(2) as the USA has grown as the new key player, the causal relationship with China, a key player of the GVC in the pre-COVID-19 era, disappeared;and (3) the GVC of the ICT industry is not a rigid one-way vertical structure, but is changing to a flexible structure influenced by cooperation and competition between countries. Originality/value: The results indicate that it is essential to constantly develop new ICT sectors that make use of non-face-to-face and contact-free technologies in the post-COVID-19 era, and the main strategies in response to the changed GVC would be taking the initiative by securing source technologies and expanding through cooperation with other GVCs and resource sharing. © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Modeling of Factors Impacting Remote Workforce During COVID-19

The way an organization operates has a pattern to it. A knowledge-based way of understanding these patterns and implementing according to them retains the competitive advantage of the organizations. Thus, identifying factors is important because, if successful, it results in shared intellectual capital. Changing the core of the pattern upon which the organization works creates several problems in retaining an organization's competitiveness. This research focuses on identifying the elements which have a significant influence on an organization's operations due to the remote working of employees during situations like the COVID-19 pandemic. Further, the relationships of factors among each other have been explored from the available research. Based on the study of various organizations it has been found that not much work has been done to identify such factors even though several organizations have suddenly opted for their workforce to work remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This has resulted in lost productivity and opportunities, organizational dis-balances, and a slower rate of development. The generated model may help organizations to understand the weak notes of remote working and implement structural changes accordingly to improve the productivity in remote working and tackle the productivity and opportunity loss due to remote workforce. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

Fuzzy AHP approach to evaluate incentive factors of high-tech talent agglomeration

To compete with the speedy revolution of high technological innovation and restarted economy for the post-COVID-19 period in China, governments and organizations should be active in attracting high-tech talent to enhance independent and indigenous R&D capability. Talent agglomeration effectiveness is the strongest endogenous force pushing competitiveness for regional economy and industrial development. Due to the complexity of high-tech talent agglomeration, there are still considerable gaps to evaluate the incentive factors. This study evaluates the influential indicator system by using a hybrid fuzzy set theory extended Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) approach for proximity to reality from individual, organizational and environmental dimensions. The statistical analysis is adopted to verify the results of fuzzy AHP analysis. This research explores the founding that individual incentives are more important than environmental factors, and environmental incentives are more influential than organizational incentives. Job satisfaction, welfare system, and geographical location are the highest ranking factors. High-tech start-ups should give priority to combine geographical location with political support to reserve site selection or firm relocation for a great effectiveness of high-tech talent agglomeration. © 2022 Elsevier Ltd

Employee associations with R&D investment, firm performance, disruption risk, and supply chain performance during the COVID-19 pandemic: A multiple mediational model

Purpose: Scholars have concentrated their efforts on COVID-19's impact on industries worldwide in order to manage timely supply chain disruptions. Epidemic outbursts are a unique supply chain risk that is distinguished by prolonged disruption propagation, disruption existence, and high uncertainty. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of R&D investment and firm performance in mediating the relationship between disruption risk and supply chain performance in Pakistani manufacturing industries and supply chain employees during the recovery phase of the COVID-19 pandemic via application of dynamic capability theory. Methodology: From July 21 to August 23, 2020, three hundred and eighteen employees from supply chains of manufacturing industries in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan, participated in this cross-sectional online web-based survey. The four standard research scales were used to examine the research and development, disruption risk, firm, and supply chain performance. The response link was distributed to respondents via Facebook, WhatsApp, and email. The data was analyzed using structural equation modelling and a partial least squares technique in the study. Results: The study's findings suggest that disruption risk, research and development investment, and firm performance all improve supply chain performance, but the mediation effect is unsupported by the data. These measures help to plan a better supply chain in the face of disruption risk, and they provide one of the timely empirical conclusions on the role of R&D investment in mitigating risk disruptions and improving supply chain performance

Balancing the aquatic export supply chain strategy- A case study of the Vietnam pangasius industry

COVID-19 has called more attention to the importance of supply chains (SCs) in the global food market. The supply chain for Vietnamese pangasius is expanding at a rapid rate, and export shares are changing in the EU, the US, China, and ASEAN markets. Increased international competition in the whitefish market and other emerging Asian markets have forced the Vietnam pangasius industry to re-examine its SC strategy. The questions raised are: Should the pangasius industry employ a responsive SC, where aquatic products achieve international certificates and respond to consumer demand, or embrace a cost-efficient supply chain with large export volumes, low selling prices, and increased stakeholder profits? Based on the concepts of cost responsiveness and efficient frontier, using time series data for 2010–2019, we attempted to identify and describe the factors influencing Vietnamese pangasius strategic balance along this frontier. Vietnam's pangasius strategic balance is between a responsive supply chain and a cost-effective SC with greater emphasis on responsive supply chain management. However, there is insufficient attention to changing consumer trends and demands, and although the laws directing each node of the supply chain are numerous, there is inadequate enforcement and oversight of their implementation. The strategy of cost minimization is facing many challenges: the market share is declining in some major markets, profits have tightened due to low selling prices, there is competition with other whitefish species, and distribution channels have improved but remain inefficient. The recommendation requires the adoption of a supply chain strategy that balances between a cost-efficient and a responsive chain for the pangasius industry to remain competitive. • Vietnam's pangasius strategic balance is between responsive and cost-effective supply chain. • A need exists for enforcement and oversight of regulation of trends in consumer demand. • The strategy for a lower price fish improves sales as consumer income increases. • Constant tweakingof the supply chain is necessary to balance between a cost-efficient chain and a responsive chain. [ FROM AUTHOR]

Security Analysis of Sports Competition under the Influence of Covid-19

Introduction: The continuous growth of COVID-19 has harmed sports competitions. Although the existing method of non-opening to spectators is very effective for preventing and controlling COVID-19, it will also seriously blow the sports economy's development. Objective(s): Explore the safety of sports competition under the influence of COVID-19 to realize sports practice in a safe and regulated condition. Method(s): Firstly, the current public's willingness to participate in the competition was analyzed by questionnaire survey. Then, using the literature search method, this paper discusses the safety needs of sports competitions under the normalization of the prevention and control of COVID-19 in the research area at the present stage. Result(s): By completely controlling the crowd shift rule and skillfully controlling the crowd pace, the transmission risk in the competition process can be effectively reduced. Conclusion(s): The relevant departments and stadium managers should fully analyze the current epidemic prevention and control needs and strengthen spectator safety management in the study area in combination with regional characteristics and the actual spectator situation. Level of evidence II;Therapeutic studies-investigation of treatment outcomes. Copyright © 2023, Redprint Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.

Examining ecological strategies adopted by agricultural exporting firms in an emerging country

PurposeThe rising food demand around the globe goes hand in hand with the rapid development of the agriculture industry. However, this development at the same time has detrimental effects on the natural environment. Hence, promoting ecological strategies in agriculture is essential for environmental sustainability. This study aims to investigate the institutional determinants of ecological strategies adopted by agricultural exporting firms and how these strategies enhance the firms' competitive advantage and financial performance.Design/methodology/approachA survey was conducted to collect data from 218 managers of agricultural exporting companies in Vietnam, which is a major exporter of agricultural products. The data were analyzed using different techniques including partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).FindingsThe results reveal that market pressure, regulatory pressure and competitive pressure motivate the adoption of ecological strategies among the surveyed agricultural exporting firms. Furthermore, such strategies help these firms obtain competitive advantage, which in turn increases their export financial performance. In addition, larger firms, compared to smaller firms, are more likely to adopt ecological strategies.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature by developing and validating a unique model examining the institutional pressures of ecological strategies and their outcomes in export markets. The study extends current knowledge about ecological exporting strategies for agricultural products, and its findings have several managerial and policy implications for promoting these strategies among agricultural exporting firms in emerging countries like Vietnam.

Innovative and efficient CNN structure works for chest X-ray images classification

In the era of global transmission of COVID-19, it is a challenge for physicians to efficiently and accurately use chest Xray images to diagnose whether a patient is positive or not. The application of deep learning and computer vision in medical image processing solves this problem, but a highly accurate method is still needed. In this research, we proposed an innovative CNN structure used for chest X-ray classification. Based on deep learning and CNN, this new architecture has an efficient training process and the performance of accuracy is better than other classic nets. The best accuracy on the test dataset is 97.68%. It has competitive advantages over AlexNet, LeNet-5, and Vgg-16. Dropout, Data augmentation, and Grad-CAM technique are added to improve performance. © 2022 IEEE.

Exploring the Effect of Social Media Marketing and Destination image on Destination Loyalty in Covid-19 Times: Sequential Mediating Role of Brand Love and Brand Loyalty

The basic concern for the tourism sector is to retain customers during Covid-19 time. In this regard, it is important to examine the role of social media marketing and destination to develop brand love and loyalty which lead to sustainable competitive advantage. This study used a cross-sectional research design and a quantitative approach to collect data from the respondents. The data were collected from the customers of hotels in UAE. 450 respondents were approached by convenience sampling. The response rate of this study was 55.9 percent. For the analysis of the collected data, PLS-SEM was used. The results of the study support the proposed hypotheses. Besides, the mediating role of brand love and loyalty was also supported. © 2022 IEEE.

Entry and exit strategy of low-cost carriers and global crises

We study the entry and exit strategy of low-cost carriers into the Italian aviation market during the early stage of their expansion. We find that their strategy is mainly driven by population size, GDP per capita, tourism vocation of the area, and degree of competition, although the direction and magnitude of these factors change over time. At the beginning, low-cost carriers mostly focus on tourist routes, scantly served by full-service carriers;after 9/ 11 terrorist attack, they shift to richer destinations;and, when the tourism sector regains momentum, they switch again on leisure routes and also expand their presence on routes operated by full-service carriers. As 9/11 terrorist attack led to a permanent change in the entry and exit strategy of low-cost carriers, our analysis suggests that other global crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic or the Russia-Ukraine conflict, are bound to provoke significant and long-lasting effects in the low-cost carriers developing strategy.

Competition of SARS-CoV-2 variants on the pandemic transmission dynamics.

SARS-CoV-2 has produced various variants during its ongoing evolution. The competitive behavior driven by the co-transmission of these variants has influenced the pandemic transmission dynamics. Therefore, studying the impact of competition between SARS-CoV-2 variants on pandemic transmission dynamics is of considerable practical importance. In order to formalize the mechanism of competition between SARS-CoV-2 variants, we propose an epidemic model that takes into account the co-transmission of competing variants. The model focuses on how cross-immunity influences the transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 through competitive mechanisms between strains. We found that inter-strain competition affects not only both the final size and the replacement time of the variants, but also the invasive behavior of new variants in the future. Due to the limited extent of cross-immunity in previous populations, we predict that the new strain may infect the largest number of individuals in China without control interventions. Moreover, we also observed the possibility of periodic outbreaks in the same lineage and the possibility of the resurgence of previous lineages. Without the invasion of a new variant, the previous variant (Delta variant) is projected to resurgence as early as 2023. However, its resurgence may be prevented by a new variant with a greater competitive advantage.

Examining the Attitudes and Usage Levels of Coaches towards Technology in Terms of Athlete Education

Today, science and technological developments play a role in the field of sports, as in all domains of life. For this reason, coaches may use technology to improve the technical, tactical, condition, and psychological performance of their athletes. Besides, pandemic conditions such as COVID-19 bring about this obligation. The aim of the present study was to examine the attitudes and levels of use of technology by coaches working in individual and team sports in terms of athlete education. The study group consisted of 205 people accessed by convenience sampling method. The data collection tool, "Teacher Technology Acceptance Measure: T-TAM," which consists of 38 items and 11 sub-dimensions and has a reliability coefficient of [alpha]=0.94 for this study, developed by Ursavas et al. was used by participants using an online questionnaire. The data showed normal distribution, analyses were made using parametric tests. According to the results, it can be suggested that 3rd level coaches use technology more widely in training and competitions than their 1st and 2nd level colleagues. Additionally, there is a statistical difference in the sub-dimensions of compatibility and subjective norms in favor of male coaches compared to female colleagues. Consequently, it can be claim that the coaches have a positive attitude towards using technology and try to use it at the highest level.

Reshaping University Continuing Education: Leadership Imperatives for Thriving in a Changing and Competitive Market

University continuing and distance education is at a crossroads. This article asserts that a radical disruption in the competitive landscape for university-based continuing education (CE) is on the immediate horizon. University CE is threatened by external trends beyond its control and will likely not survive in its present form, or survive at all, without adapting to the changing marketplace. This disruption is occurring at the same time and is partially due to the increasing university demands on CE units to produce more income in part by scaling new markets and increasing customers in new ways. The signals and drivers of that change will be detailed, followed by a description of the competitive landscape that university CE will soon face. Universities will experience barriers in combating this competition, which, if not overcome, will spell the decline of many CE units and disruptions will also manifest themselves into major problems for the university as a whole. This article concludes with recommendations for CE and university leaders that may allow them to thrive and prosper as a part of that dynamic landscape.

Protection from unfair competition on the pharmaceutical market in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic

The article reveals the problems and prospects of combating dishonest advertising of medicinal products in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using the example of the USA and Ukraine, the criteria for banning the advertising of medicinal products by researching scientific sources, international and domestic legal acts, prescriptions and instructions of state bodies, etc. were analyzed. The differences and specifics of the regulatory requirements for the advertising of medicinal products in Ukraine and the USA have been determined. It has been established that in the USA it is allowed to advertise prescription drugs, and in Ukraine a ban has been introduced to advertise "antiviral drugs of direct action". Attention was drawn to the qualification of the division of advertising slogans in the USA, which made it possible to draw an analogy with Ukrainian advertising of medicinal products. It has been proven that individual pharmaceutical manufacturers, by providing advertisers with incomplete information about the drug, can mislead consumers about its effectiveness. The Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine has demonstrated cases of countering the spread of false information about the properties of medicinal products, which became more frequent in connection with the emergence of the strain (SARS-CoV-2) in 2019. The advantages and disadvantages of a complete ban on medicines on television and radio, as well as other mass media are indicated in connection with the entry into force of the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine "On the state of the national health care system and urgent measures to ensure the protection of citizens of Ukraine with medical assistance" dated July 30, 2021. As an alternative to the complete rejection of drug advertising it is proposed, the introduction of the mechanism of "corrective advertising", which is actively used in the USA and consists in correcting or making amendments to already published drug advertising and eliminating statements that mislead consumers, contain incomplete, inaccurate, false information about the medicinal product.