scholarly journals Macro- and Micronutrient Cycling and Crucial Linkages to Geochemical Processes in Mangrove Ecosystems

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 456
Author(s):  
Daniel M. Alongi

High mangrove productivity is sustained by rapid utilization, high retention efficiency and maximum storage of nutrients in leaves, roots, and soils. Rapid microbial transformations and high mineralization efficiencies in tandem with physiological mechanisms conserve scarce nutrients. Macronutrient cycling is interlinked with micronutrient cycling; all nutrient cycles are linked closely to geochemical transformation processes. Mangroves can be N-, P-, Fe-, and Cu-limited; additions of Zn and Mo stimulate early growth until levels above pristine porewater concentrations induce toxicity. Limited nutrient availability is caused by sorption and retention onto iron oxides, clays, and sulfide minerals. Little N is exported as immobilization is the largest transformation process. Mn and S affect N metabolism and photosynthesis via early diagenesis and P availability is coupled to Fe-S redox oscillations. Fe is involved in nitrification, denitrification and anammox, and Mo is involved in NO3− reduction and N2-fixation. Soil Mg, K, Mn, Zn and Ni pool sizes decrease as mangrove primary productivity increases, suggesting increasing uptake and more rapid turnover than in less productive forests. Mangroves may be major contributors to oceanic Mn and Mo cycles, delivering 7.4–12.1 Gmol Mn a−1 to the ocean, which is greater than global riverine input. The global Mo import rate by mangroves corresponds to 15–120% of Mo supply to the oceanic Mo budget.

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (10) ◽  
pp. 19-33
Author(s):  
Nadiia NOVYTSKA ◽  
◽  
Inna KHLIEBNIKOVA ◽  

The market of tobacco products in Ukraine is one of the most dynamic and competitive. It develops under the influence of certain factors that cause structural changes, therefore, the aim of the article is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of transformation processes in the market of tobacco and their alternatives in Ukraine and identify the factors that cause them. The high level of tax burden and the proliferation of alternative products with a potentially lower risk to human health, including heating tobacco products and e-cigarettes, are key factors in the market’s transformation process. Their presence leads to an increase in illicit turnover of tobacco products, which accounts for 6.37% of the market, and the gradual replacement of cigarettes with alternative products, which account for 12.95%. The presence on the market of products that are not taxed or taxed at lower rates is one of the reasons for the reduction of excise duty revenues. According to the results of 2019, the planned indicators of revenues were not met by 23.5%. Other reasons for non-fulfillment of excise duty revenues include: declining dynamics of the tobacco products market; reduction in the number of smokers; reorientation of «cheap whites» cigarette flows from Ukraine to neighboring countries; tax avoidance. Prospects for further research are identified, namely the need to develop measures for state regulation and optimization of excise duty taxation of tobacco products and their alternatives, taking into account the risks to public health and increasing demand of illegal products.


2022 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Ilknur Taştan Boz ◽  
Özden Ibrahimağaoğlu

Industries have undergone three fundamental transformation processes that were revolutionary. Following these processes, industries have been confronted with the phenomenon of Industry 4.0, known as the 4th Industrial Revolution, that is acknowledged as a new transformation process. The basic dynamics of this phenomenon include smart robots, simulation, the internet of things, cloud, additive manufacturing, and big data. It is of utmost importance for businesses that are involved in this process, that are new and trying to adapt to the process, to be prepared and adapt to the effects of Industry 4.0 dynamics. These dynamics lead to significant developments in business models, business processes, organizational structures, employees, and human resource processes. When Industry 4.0 and its dynamics are evaluated in general, businesses that follow the process and make necessary managerial adjustments will be ahead of the competition.


Author(s):  
Wolfgang Merkel ◽  
Hans-Jürgen Wagener

Methodological individualism is widely accepted in the social sciences as a fundamental theoretical paradigm. In this context, it means attributing collective decisions or societal acceptance to individual behaviour. From the perspective of action theory, the outcome of transformation processes therefore depends less on objective circumstances (structures) or power configurations than on the subjective assessments, strategies, and actions of the relevant actors. As a rule, elites are the predominant actors in political and in economic system change. Since in the transformation process the basic institutions of society are generally reformulated at the negotiating table, much of the attention is centred on negotiation theories that use game-theoretical tools. By contrast to modernization, culturalist, and structuralist theories, actor theories set out from the micro and meso levels of the actors. Different approaches can be discerned. Historical-empirical approaches do not go beyond the description of transformation processes. Economic public choice approaches assume rather simplistic motivational structures of actors. In actor-centred institutionalism, the social sciences find a typical fusion of paradigms: action- and structure-theoretical approaches are combined.


Author(s):  
Haiko van der Voort ◽  
Hans de Bruijn ◽  
Marijn Janssen

This chapter presents a set of critical choices for initiating a Shared Service Center (SSC) in a large public organization and the management of the transformation process towards it. A move to concentratingorganizational support functions in SSCs in public administration is encouraged by successes in the private sector. There is a lot to gain by concentrating functions including improved services through specialization, efficiencies through standardization, and cost reductions through economies of scale. Yet the transformation process does not resemble the simplicity of the concept of SSC and many challenges need to be bridged. In this chapter, the complexities of transformation processes of the introduction of a government wide SSC for human resource management are studied. By analyzing the perceptions of key stakeholders from a policy network theoretical lens, we found some major patterns determining success or failure in both designing and implementing SSCs. By listing these, we aim to clarify the complexities of transformation processes towards SSCs in public administration and provide some strategic suggestions for these transformations.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Margarita ILIEVA

The transformation processes in Central and Eastern Europe, including Bulgaria, are subject of many investigations in the last two decades. Up to now there is no geographical survey on the territorial differences and their course in Bulgaria. The aim of this investigation is to study these differences in the transformation process in Bulgaria by 28 administrative districts (NUTS3). On the basis of analyses and comparisons of GDP per capita in different units (an indicator, accepted by specialists as the most common parameter) and the calculated values of integral indicator (reflecting the influence of 15 interlocked factors), the existing significant differences in the achieved level of transformation in the country are shown. At this stage there is no sufficient research to determine the threshold value of the integral indicator and to say with certainty that the territorial units, having values above it, are winners from the transformation process, and those with values below it, are losers.


1996 ◽  
Vol 04 (01) ◽  
pp. 57-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
PETER WITT

The transformation of East Germany from a socialist to a market economy has brought about the need to restructure all East German firms. Managing this transformation process is comparable to the planning and controlling of a large project in a quickly changing economic environment. The main goal for the managers of firms in transition is to ensure the survival of their companies and to reduce the time required for the restructuring processes. The purpose of this study is to assess stochastic activity network analysis as a tool for the management of transformation. Network analysis allows to identify the necessary management activities, to plan the optimal sequence of these activities, and to control ongoing transformation processes. Our experiences so far suggest that the stochastic activity network technique GERT is a well suited technique for the analysis of transformation processes. To illustrate this new application of GERT, the study presents a simulation of a GERT activity network for the transformation process of a firm. The simulation is based on more than 20 in-depth case studies conducted in East Germany.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 3721 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoxiao Cai ◽  
Bruno De Meulder ◽  
Yanliu Lin ◽  
Hong Sun

Social background and planning objectives differentiate two kinds of development modes for new towns. One starts in the period of post-urbanization and post-industrialization and is committed to improving living conditions and dispersing urban central areas. The other begins in the stage of pre-urbanization and pre-industrialization with the purpose of promoting the development of urbanization and industrialization. However, academics have not given enough attention to researching the relationship between the different modes and their respective social backgrounds. This paper first proposes these two kinds of development modes and analyses how their different social contexts and institutional backgrounds lead to different planning and construction characteristics. Then, taking Beijing as an example, this paper presents a complete review of the development and transformation history of the planning and construction of China’s new towns with different urbanization levels and in an institutional context. The whole history and transformation process can be considered a demonstration and evolution of the two different development modes. Accordingly, by analyzing the respective characteristics and transformation processes in different periods, this study reveals the impact of social background on the new towns’ development and the problems caused by different development modes.


Author(s):  
Huay Ling Tay ◽  
Stephen Wee Kiat Low

Purpose Lean is considered as a major management approach for improving operational productivity and organizational performance. It is a systemic philosophy that emphasizes on fulfilling customer needs, waste minimization, and a commitment to a culture of continual improvement. In recent years, many higher education institutions (HEIs) have leveraged on the use of technology to provide flexibility in learning and just-in-time training for learners in the efforts to improve both the internal processes of course delivery and enhance the provisions of education quality. In recognizing these trends in HEIs, the purpose of this paper is to identify the key factors that facilitate the conversion of printed learning resources to e-learning resources in a HEI. Design/methodology/approach This study used a qualitative exploratory case study approach and examined a unique case of a HEI that is undergoing the transformation process from printed learning resources to digital sources to simplify the processes involved in educational service delivery and operational complexity. Data sources include semi-structured interviews with key personnel directly involved in the project of converting printed learning resources to digital sources, notes taken from informal discussions, and secondary data such as minutes of meetings, learning resource archives, and relevant literature. A retrospective perspective was adopted in the case analysis since the HEI has already completed 50 percent of the conversion phase when this study was carried out. Findings Abductive reasoning approach and well-established lean principles were used to make sense of the digital transformation process of the HEI. Based on the retrospective case analysis, the authors found evidence that characterizes lean management principles and identifies the critical factors (CFs) that have facilitated the HEI to achieve the key milestones in the conversion journey. These include common vision, top management support and leadership, timely information sharing, and relationship management with key stakeholders in the transformation processes. Research limitations/implications Since this research is an exploratory case study, the results obtained cannot be generalized. Future research can be conducted to provide an impact analysis of the potential risk factors of a system that employs only the use of e-study materials. In addition, future studies can also assess the quality of the learning services that is supported by the e-resources by gathering student feedback on their e-learning experience that is supported by the online digital learning resources and learning management system. Practical implications This study provides managerial insights into the levers to engender the transformation from a traditional print learning resources model to leaning with digital e-learning resources. The insights into the CFs aid education managers to introduce process innovations and encourage behavioral changes that will benefit learners, instructors, and administers. Originality/value The study is one of the first to apply lean management principles in making sense of the transformation processes involved in the use of digital innovation in higher education context. The findings provide a holistic view of the process transformations.


2021 ◽  
pp. 097340822110050
Author(s):  
David Löw Beer ◽  
Verena Holz

Within socio-economic transformation processes, the task of education is often reduced to short-term economic factors, that is, a suitable qualification profile of the local population. Transformative education should, however, be based on the broader claim that education contributes to successful transformation processes in the sense of facilitating a high and sustainable quality of life within a democratic society. In this article, we look at the transformation process in the German region of Lusatia. Coal, the region’s predominant industry, will be phased out by 2038. We examine what types of programme content might enable learners to participate in the transformation process, and discuss how different educational concepts (education for sustainable development and related approaches including transformative learning, socio-economic and civic education) could be used to develop an educational approach towards the transformation process. We derive competences that students should possess in two areas and provide recommendations for educational processes and policy.


2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 112-124
Author(s):  
Sarah-Allegra Schönberger

This article aims at an integration of the topic of iconographic transformation processes into a wider context of meaning, in order to enhance its importance from a religious and cultural-scientific point of view. In this sense, my research is not interested in asking how a deity is depicted, but why it is depicted in a particular way; what conclusions can be drawn, and what factors might influence artistic work? Thus, the topic of the image’s context, its usage, and its meaning become the focus of attention. By taking the example of the god Vaiśravaṇa, my analysis of ‘religious images’ of him is composed of two interlinked parts: an exemplary study of a transcultural iconographic transformation process, as well as an analysis of the images’ context. 


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